Families Suffolk Magazine Jan/Feb 2021

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IN THIS ISSUE

Education Feature Family Health & Wellbeing Find out more about children’s research here in Suffolk.

Family Law Lockdown relationships: For better or for worse?

Winter Adventures with Children

Cover Image supplied by Ipswich High School

Issue 57: Jan/Feb 2021

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Families urgently need a research breakthrough now www.wearahatday.org

MARCH 2021

#WearAHatDay | Together we will find a cure

Registered charity number 1153487 (England and Wales) SC046840 (Scotland). Company limited by guarantee number 08570737.

Photos by Venture Studios

Home from Home

with Chilly Powder growing closer

We’re Suffolk

through and through We’re interested in what our

members and the local community are doing and we’re happy to roll

up our sleeves to help them grow and prosper.

w w w.ibs.co.uk

0330 123 0723

Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps… or both?

Francesca, Paul and their three children live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people. Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski and summer holidays for either families, couples or mixed groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and outstanding facilities, with unrivalled in-house childcare facilities.

For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home.

For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com

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Hello...

Happy New Year. Welcome to our first issue of 2021 As I write this welcome note, we have just heard the news that the whole country will be going back into a national lockdown - not how we hoped the year would begin! So I want to begin this new issue with a genuine offer of support to anyone who may need it. As Editor of Families Suffolk magazine, I have been very fortunate to work with so many fantastic local businesses and charity organisations. During these troubling times if you need help, support or guidance and unsure where to turn, please get in touch, and I will do my utmost to guide you towards the help you may need.

Cover Image supplied by Ipswich High School

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

IN THIS ISSUE...

The main focus in this new issue is the EDUCATION FEATURE. I have worked with local schools and education providers to bring you lots of useful information and helful advice.

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Winter Adventures with Children

I am also delighted to introduce our new Family Law contributors - Bates Wells & Braithwaite. In this issue Denise Head, Managing Partner and Family Law specialist will be discussing the latest divorce statistics and explores whether Covid 19 has played a role in the current apparent increase in divorce cases.

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Family Health & Wellbeing

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Family Law

In our Family Health & Wellbeing feature we find out more about the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust research project and how well protected we are from infectious diseases, including Group C, meningococcus (MenC), diphtheria and the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

You can also read about our family visit (pre lockdown) to Clip 'n Climb and Jump In and enter our competitions on p6 for your chance to win family passes to these great local attractons when they reopen again.

Don't forget you can also sign up to receive the FREE digital edition of Families Suffolk magazine. Simply visit: www.bit.ly/2XolhJe. Stay Safe & Best Wishes

Stacey Phillips

Editor

Follow Us: FACEBOOK /FamiliesSuffolk | TWITTER: @familiessuffolk

Contact Us: Editor: stacey@familiessuffolk.co.uk | 07951 946736 Advertising: editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk | 07951 946736 Events & What’s On: editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk Our Next Issue: March / April 2021 Print: Printed in the UK by Warwick Printing.

PRINT DISCLAIMER: Families Suffolk Ltd is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company.

All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Suffolk Ltd are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Suffolk Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Suffolk Ltd; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

20 - 32 Education Feature Get hatty and help find a cure for brain tumours!

Wear A Hat Day is back for 2021! Taking place on Friday 26th March, this is one of the UK's biggest and most important brain tumour research fundraising and awareness-raising days.

After the very challenging year of coronavirus pandemic and on the back of our ongoing campaigning and successful new petition, we know that Wear A Hat Day 2021 is perfectly timed to become a huge event, bringing hope and inspiring the nation like never before!

Thanks to the brilliant charity partnership with Venture Studios, we’ve been gifted with inspirational and uplifting portraits of key worker families who, despite having their own devastating brain tumour stories, are determined to show the joy and positivity that is being involved in Wear A Hat Day. Join thousands of families across the country and create entertaining hat-themed fundraising events in support of the Brain Tumour Research charity.

Whether your event will take place virtually or in person, there are plenty of ideas, resources and a FREE digital fundraising pack available online. To take part, register at: www.wearahatday.org Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Wear A Hat Day offers hope for patients as well as their families and friends.

TOGETHER WE WILL FIND A CURE.

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Winter adventures with children

By Naomi Gornall

Naomi Gornall is mum of 2 girls, aged 7 and 3. She moved to Ipswich in 2007 and has adopted Suffolk as her own. Naomi, a former journalist, works part time as a freelance writer and communications specialist. She launched a new Instagram account and blog, Mini Suffolk Ad-ventures, last year to provide a guide to the county's best family friendly outings and document the highs and lows that come with raising small children!

You can follow Naomi at: @minisuffolkadventures

If last year taught me anything, it was to embrace the great outdoors and take my children on new adventures. I have two daughters, aged 3 and 7, so when the first lockdown hit, which saw the closures of playgrounds/libraries/soft play (basically all my go-to venues to keep them entertained), I was aghast. How would I cope? Could we really just go on daily circular walks around the local area that would engage and interest them?

T

he short answer was yes, of course. As adults, we often overthink things but children’s needs are fundamentally simple. You know how it is; you plan for a full, exciting day somewhere (usually at great expense), and it’s the muddy puddles that makes them happiest.

Over the years, particularly since becoming a mum, I have found that I must get out every day for my own wellbeing, and my children seem to have inherited this need too. Yes, they may moan when I tell them we’re off on “another adventure” and copious amounts of snacks are always on hand for bribery purposes, but they love it when we’re out and gain so much from it.

I’ve noticed that since we have started taking the girls on countryside walks, away from the usual comfort blanket of playgrounds, they have a keener interest in nature. Their inquisitiveness and eagerness to learn is wonderful to observe.

They actually stop to notice and appreciate things.

Recent findings from a survey by Natural England revealed that 48% of children (aged 8-15) said coronavirus has had an impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Of those asked, 83% agreed that being in nature made them happy. Data from a previous survey showed that people who spend two hours a week among nature are “significantly more likely to report good health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who don’t visit nature at all”.

During the summer, I generally find this 2-hour goal easier to achieve. We spend plenty of time in the garden, park and beach. However, in the winter, cold and wet conditions can rule these out and it can be tempting to stay indoors.

This year though I’m determined to be different and utilise the confidence I’ve gained in exploring new places.

5 FREE IDEAS FOR WHERE TO TAKE THE CHILDREN THIS WINTER

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Pin Mill

There is a wonderful varied circular walk around the woods in Pin Mill.

The path begins opposite the car park, and takes you past a field of horses, through some wild woods, with ready-made dens, before undulating down towards the River Orwell and past the house boats. The final part goes alongside the Butt and Oyster pub before reaching the car park again. If the tide is in, there is a path through the pub car park. It’s the perfect walk to do with families, as there is so much variety to keep the children occupied. It takes roughly an hour and is dog friendly (pushchairs wouldn’t be suitable though). www.nationaltrust.org.uk/pin-mill.

JANUARY 2021 UPDATE: Please remember to abide to the new lockdown restrictions, and only visit these places if you live near them, or use this information to plan your winter adventures for when the current lockdown eases.

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Newbourne Springs

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Dunwich Heath Dunwich has always been my favourite Suffolk beach but in the winter, that fierce North Sea wind can make it feel glacial. Why not veer off to the sheltered cover of the nearby heathland owned by the National Trust? There are numerous paths, a pond, fungi, den building, and minibeasts to discover. There are lots of family activities to do, including the Smugglers Trail and the Discovery Trail. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ dunwich-heath-and-beach/ features/family-fun-atdunwich-heath

This quaint village seems to have it all. A great playground and village hall, a café (Nourish) selling delicious locally sourced food and drink, a classic village pub (The Fox) and Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve, Newbourne Springs.

The car park is right next to the site so you are free to explore straightaway. The spring running through dense woodland acts as a good marker if you get distracted and wonder where the exit is (as we did). The forest is alive with birdsong and interesting tree shapes, perfect for exploring and playing imaginative games. There are numerous paths to take, which add to the fun. Dogs allowed on leads but paths are narrow so pushchairs would not be suitable. www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/newbournesprings.

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Grove Wood, Felixstowe

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Abbey Gardens If you are looking something a little less wild, Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds is still full of adventure and just a stone’s throw from the bustling town centre.

The Abbey ruins, with St Edmundsbury Cathedral as a backdrop, make for good hide and seek opportunities.

There are also hidden gardens dotted around, as well as an aviary, a playground, and the world’s first internet bench.

What’s not to love?

Dogs welcome on a lead and pushchair friendly. www.bbeygardensfriendsburystedmunds.com

I used to associate Felixstowe with just the beach but then a friend told me about these special woods on the edge of the town that appeals to fairy fans. There is no map or route to find the special fairy tree but that is part of the thrill for children. When we did find the tree, which is adorned with miniature doors and trinkets, my children were enthralled and they both left the fairies some offerings from nature.

The adventure continued as we found a bridge (which obviously have to have trolls under, right?) and took routes off the main path in a bid to find more fairy evidence. A car park is on site. Dog and pushchair friendly. www.visitfelixstowe.org.uk/things-to-do/attractions/thegrove-and-abbey-grove/

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OUR FAMILY REVIEW Before we went back into national lockdown and prior to the stricter Tier 4 restrictions here in Suffolk, I took my children, Thomas and Emily, to visit two great local indoor attractions – Clip n’ Climb and Jump In. Read below what we thought and then enter our competitions for the chance to visit yourself.

Clip n' Climb

We went for an after school climbing session and booked the Climb ‘n Dine deal. For just £16.50 per person we got an hour climbing followed by a meal in the Paddy & Scott's café upstairs, which I thought was really good value for money as a climbing only session would be £14.50.

Once we completed the safety briefing we went into the main climbing arena, where there are over 30 different climbing walls to test all ages and abilities. Children have to be over four to climb, so this was Emily's first visit, and I wasn't really sure how much she would be able to do, but was so pleasantly surprised by the number of different walls she could have a go on. Both Thomas (8) and Emily (4) loved the whole experience, and with reduced numbers being allowed in the climbing arena it meant no waiting around and plenty of climbing walls to keep us all busy for the whole session.

On arrival we pre-ordered our dinner so it was ready for when our climbing session had finished, which was fantastic as we were very hungry after all the climbing. The staff in the cafe were friendly and efficient, and the food was delicious, all home made and plenty of it, in fact the children both had leftover pizza to take home!

I also need to highlight how well maintained the centre is. With plenty of hand sanitizing stations, and a one way system, I certainly felt very reassured they were taking every possible step to ensure visitors were safe. We had a great time, and looking forward to lockdown coming to an end so we can visit again soon.

Jump In

When we heard the old Bounce trampoline park was under new management and reopening we couldn't wait to visit. This is one of Thomas' favourite places, so on a wet and cold day in December we took a drive over to Jump In to let the children burn off some pre Christmas energy!

The booking process was straight forward and on arrival the staff were friendly and very helpful explaining everything that we would need to know with regard to their existing safety measures and new Covid measures, such as table service and how we could order drinks.

The children were straight in and with very little persuasion I too was soon bouncing around the different areas and laughing a lot at their attempts to somersault and leaping into the foam pits (which now has a protective covering for easy cleaning). I was particularly impressed by how friendly, happy and enthusiastic the team of young staff were, and it was great watching them organise the children in the dodge ball area to not only ensure they were playing safely but also encouraging harmless competition, a particular highlight for Thomas too.

Emily and I also visited the Busy Bees play area, and I was so impressed by how clean both areas were. During these challenging times, staff have their work cut out, but I saw a number of staff walking round with the 'anti bac' spray, and I can honestly say I've never seen an inside play centre looking and smelling so clean.

Definitely worth a visit when they open again and my advice to parents is to wrap up warm, as whilst the children are happily running around, it can get a bit chilly in the seating areas!

COMPETITION

WIN A FAMILY PASS Enjoy a one-hour Jump In session for up to five people including at least one adult.

Families Suffolk magazine competition T&C's visit: www.bit.ly/ClipnClimbComp

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TO ENTER VISIT: FAMILIESMAG.CO.UK/GO For competition T&C’s visit: www.bit.ly/JumpInComp

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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WIN A FITBIT VERSA 2 S M A RT WATCH!

Get a move on in 2021...

Get the new year off to the best possible start. Regular activities and exercise not only improve your health — they help you feel better and meet new people.

We have lots of online and safely distanced activities and information sessions for all ages and abilities. All free and provided by trained experts.

Book a relaxed, informal session now!

www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/jumpstartjanuary

Suffolk Libraries is a charity. Please support your library service and consider making a regular or one-off donation. For details please visit www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/donate familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

HMRC charity number: XT34476

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COULD YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND CHILDREN’S IMMUNE RESPONSE TO COVID-19?

You are invited to take part in a study looking at how children's immune systems respond to COVID-19, and to vaccines for other infectious diseases. The study is being run by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, and the Oxford Vaccine Group which is part of the University of Oxford.

If you/your child are/is aged 0-19 you may be able to volunteer.

We are especially looking for people from the following postcode areas: CB8, CB9, CO10, IP14, 1P24, IP28.

The main study is just 1 visit, a blood sample, approximately 45 mins of your time.

whatsthestory.org.uk/suffolk

Wsh-tr.Childrensresearch@nhs.net Tel:07561 687790 W hFamilies a t ’ s t hSuffolk: e S T Issue O R Y57 ?; OVG 2019/01; REC Ref 19/LO/1040; IRAS 263097; Poster 1; Version 8

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#bepartoftheSTORY

What’s the STORY? West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is researching a new way of surveying how well protected we are from infectious diseases, including Group C meningococcus (MenC), diphtheria and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Families Suffolk magazine has been speaking to Helen Cockerill, a Paediatric Research Nurse at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust who is leading this study to find out more about children’s research here in Suffolk.

I have worked as a children’s nurse for 20 years, having trained at Great Ormond St Hospital and then working across the South East until taking my position within the brilliant research department at West Suffolk Hospital in 2016. I feel very lucky to work closely with the amazing paediatric staff at the hospital to ensure that our children and families receive the very best of care when it comes to research. I have the added bonus that my job allows me the flexibility and time to really get to know my research families.

My Role as Paediatric Research Nurse for the trust involves the set-up, management and recruitment of children to appropriate research studies within our local area. Over the last 4 years we have recruited children to studies covering a wide range of specialities, including cancer and haematology, diabetes, epilepsy, kidney disease, orthopaedics and prematurity. More recently we have been conducting research for a number of Covid-19 studies.

We have now been approved as the eastern regions study site for a study called “What’s the STORY” run by the Oxford Vaccine Group. It is looking at the levels of immunity against infectious diseases in England and will be inviting children in designated Suffolk postcode areas to participate (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria).

Over the next few weeks, please look out for an information sheet in the post. You can also visit our website to find out more about the research project and register an interest in the study: www.whatsthestory.org.uk/suffolk

Get in touch...

If you are interested in participating, or would like some more information, you can email Helen at: wsh-tr.childrensresearch@nhs.net or call on: 07561 687790

About the Study...

Why are we doing this study?

One of the ways our bodies develop protection against infectious diseases is by developing antibodies, either after an infection or following a vaccination. We would like to do a blood test to measure the antibody levels against important diseases, including those that are vaccine preventable.

We would like to take a blood sample from people aged from birth to-19 years of age to look at their antibody levels against important infectious diseases. We are particularly interested in Group C meningococcus (MenC) and diphtheria and in the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This would help us understand whether we need to make any changes to the UK vaccine schedule, and tell us about the number of infections with COVID-19 in the UK.

What happens in this study? ∞ We are looking to enrol children and adults aged 0 to 19 years old. ∞ There will be a single visit with a blood test. ∞ We will ask if you would be happy to take be approached for additional blood and saliva samples at 2 monthly intervals (this is optional and the maximum number of additional visits is 3) ∞ We will ask you some basic information including age, gender, vaccination history. ∞ We will arrange to see you in a clinic in a location near to you or in some cases in your home. ∞ Local anaesthetic skin cream can be used for children to reduce any discomfort from blood sampling. ∞ The whole appointment should take around 45 minutes.

Taking part in this research study is completely voluntary.

Which postcode areas are we looking at?

The postcodes initially selected for this region are as follows: ∞ CB8 ∞ CB9 ∞ CO10 ∞ IP14 ∞ IP24 ∞ IP28

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Sleeping Suffolk

Keep your baby smoke free

Put your baby to sleep on their back with their feet to the foot of the cot

Place your baby to sleep in a cot.

Never fall asleep with them on a sofa or chair

Keep your baby’s head and face uncovered and make sure they don’t get too hot

Breastfeed your baby if you can – support is available

Never fall asleep with your baby after drinking or taking drugs / medication

#safersleepingsuffolk More support and information is available from Suffolk’s children’s centres and health visiting teams. Visit www.suffolk.gov.uk familiesonline.co.uk 10 Families Suffolk: Issue 57

The flu vaccination is one of the most effective ways to reduce harm from flu. It reduces the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and even death among those who are most at risk.

THE FLU JAB IS FREE FOR THOSE MOST AT RISK. THIS INCLUDES: • All pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy (including those women who become pregnant during the flu season) • All children aged two and three years old on 31 August 2020 (date of birth on or after 01/09/16 to 31/08/18) • All primary school aged children (those in reception class and school years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) • All year 7 pupils in secondary school.

This year, adults and children living with someone who is on the NHS shielded patient list will also be eligible for the free flu vaccination for the first time, along with anyone aged 50+.

If you or your child is eligible for a free flu vaccination you will be contacted by your local GP or Pharmacy.

Make sure you claim your vaccine – it’s free because you need it.

Looking after your emotional wellbeing, mental and physical health is incredibly important, and never more so than during the current coronavirus COVID-19 situation.

Having good mental health helps us build resilience to be able to face life’s challenges. It can also help us feel healthier and happier and there are often simple ways to achieve this.

Visit www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/covidhub for tips to simple steps to look after your mental and physical health over winter.

What's Included...

• Information to help children understand coronavirus, and support for children who may be worried about coronavirus.

• Tips to reduce stress and anxiety for young people.

• Help to keep the whole family active at home.

• Advice for parents.

For more information, visit: www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/ projects/flu-vaccination familiesonline.co.uk

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Self-Care when Self-Isolating

By Charlotte Beaumont Trainee Counsellor at Just Talk 2019 Self-Care is important at the best of times but it’s especially important at this uncertain time. So how can you look after your mental wellbeing if you have to self-isolate?

Here are five ideas to look after yourself when self-isolating if you are feeling well enough:

About Just Talk 2019

1. Acknowledge how you are feeling.

It’s important to stay in tune to how you are feeling and acknowledge any anxieties that you might have. Write down any worries you have in a journal or talk to someone you trust on the phone. Reach out if you are struggling and remember it is ok to feel unsettled.

2. Limit how much time you spend on social media and on the news.

It’s really easy to get overwhelmed by the constant news articles and Facebook posts about Covid-19. It can be anxiety provoking to keep reading about something that feels so uncertain and scary. It may be helpful to limit your social media and news usage to a small window of the day. It’s also important to fact check what you read. Only take on board reliable news sources and websites that have been backed up by Government, NHS, or WHO information.

3. Keep in touch.

Being in social isolation doesn’t mean you can’t be social! Call or Skype friends and family. Keeping in touch with our loved ones is so important for our wellbeing and connecting with others can boost our mental health.

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Go for a virtual coffee with a friend by skyping whilst having your favourite brew. Have family dinner over skype, that way you can all cook your favourite meals and chat to family over food.

4. Do the things you love!

A good distraction whilst self-isolating is to get back in touch with hobbies and activities you love. Do you like reading or listening to audiobooks? Is there a show you’ve been meaning to watch? What about that scarf you’ve been knitting but hadn’t got around to finishing? Do you like puzzles or craft?

How about writing a short story? Could you try yoga? What about trying baking?

5. Keep a routine.

Something that may help is keeping a routine. Getting up and going to bed at the same time everyday can really help keep a routine, it may also help to change after you wake even if it’s just clean pyjamas. Keeping a routine can enhance your mood and keep some anxiety at bay.

Doing all these things can help you stay positive during social-isolation and look after your mental health. This is a difficult time for all of us so remember to check in with your loved ones and reach out if you need help. Be kind, stay safe and practice self-care.

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Just Talk 2019 was established as an independent, non-profit making, arm of ExploringU whose focus is to support those with brain trauma and injury.

Just Talk based in Sudbury Suffolk, is an affordable counselling service made possible by Glenda Roberts & the ExploringU team.

ExploringU are a well established team of qualified and experienced therapists.

They believe that everyone has the right to speak to a person they can confide in with complete confidentiality.

With this belief came the idea of a more affordable and accessible counselling service.

Just Talk is provided through ExploringU to serve all people who require counselling services in a warm, safe and confidential environment. Just Talk can offer individual counselling sessions with a student counsellor on placement. All potential clients are assessed by their trained counsellors to make sure they are providing the appropriate treatment plan for them.

For more information visit:

www.justtalk2019.com familiesonline.co.uk

Follow the rules and keep each other safe #IpswichNeedsYou

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Follow the rules and keep each other safe #IpswichNeedsYou

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Follow the rules and keep each other safe #IpswichNeedsYou

Follow the rules and keep each other safe #IpswichNeedsYou

Find out more at www.ipswich.gov.uk/coronavirus familiesonline.co.uk

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Make your resolution to support Suffolk’s communities!

The Communities team at Ipswich Borough Council work with several business and charitable partners to spread the word about their services. For 2021, why not make your resolution to support the services who mean the most to you?

From volunteering to donations, putting back into the community to helping young people, there’s plenty to do to help these organisations help more people in 2021.

Make your resolution to support Ipswich and Suffolk’s communities!

The Communities team at Ipswich Borough Council work with several business and charitable partners to spread the word about their services. For 2021, why not make your resolution to support the services who mean the most to you?

From volunteering to donations, putting back into the community to helping young people, there’s plenty to do to help these organisations help more people in 2021.

Support a charity The Mayor’s charities at Ipswich Borough Council It is traditional for the Mayor to support chosen charities during their term of office. The Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Jan Parry, is keen to support our young people, and has chosen two local projects supported by the charity Volunteering Matters, which help to do this.

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WASSUP (Women Against Sexual Exploitation and Violence Speak Up) WASSUP is an award-winning youth social action project delivered by 30 young women in Ipswich. The group has collectively built a toolkit which it delivers in schools across Suffolk. The sessions are based on a fictional character called Astra and use film, spoken verse, imagery and flashcards the group has created to journey young people though various decisionmaking scenarios based on Astra’s life.

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We Are Patrick Patrick is Astra’s brother. The We Are Patrick project uses the WASSUP methodology of engagement and governance structure to allow boys across Ipswich to build Patrick’s toolkit addressing the issues that Patrick faces as a 12 year-old boy living in the same home.

Emmaus Suffolk and Help Our Homeless are working together to support those experiencing homelessness and those at risk of losing their home in Suffolk. They have teamed up to install a Tap to Donate button on the window of the Emmaus shop in Sailmakers. People can donate £2 just by tapping their card on the button.

All proceeds will be split between Emmaus and Help Our Homeless to provide support for those experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness. emmaus.org.uk/Suffolk

For more information and how to support, visit volunteeringmatters.org.uk

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Make vital donations FIND For 30 years, Families in Need (FIND) Ipswich has offered a lifeline to people in Ipswich and the surrounding areas who are experiencing poverty and despair.

They provide free food parcels and personal care items to help people get through a crisis, as well as furniture, bedding and other household items where the person or family has none. The demand for food parcels has risen year on year and FIND now distributes an average of 100 parcels every week and even more at Christmas - more than 6,000 every year. www.findipswich.org.uk/support-us

Castle Hill Community Centre Community Pantry Castle Hill Community Centre are a venue in North West Ipswich for local people to attend community groups such as arts and crafts and well being sessions. Together with the North West Ipswich Big Local Trust, they have a new food bank to support the community and are accepting donations. www.castlehillcommunitycentre.co.uk/ North West Ipswich Big Local Trust NWI BLT will provide over a million pounds worth of funding, which will be available over a period of 10+ years. Local residents are the decision makers on how the Lottery funding is used based upon resident consultation. nwipswichblt.co.uk

Volunteer in your community Discover the Suffolk Good Neighbour Network at their new website Good Neighbour groups are voluntary initiatives run by local residents who want to help people in their community to enjoy a better quality of life by offering them support with everyday tasks. This helps to build a stronger and more resilient community! www.suffolkgoodneighbours.co.uk

and Chantry Walled Garden in Chantry Park, and at its main outreach project in Belle Vue Park, Sudbury. For more information on the ActivLives projects, placements and volunteering opportunities, please visit www.activlives.org.uk/activgardens

Community gardens keep people active and connected In the midst of the uncertainty and insecurity of the current situation, the reassurance and hope that nature provides has never seemed greater. Throughout these difficult times, ActivGardens continues to bring people together in a healthy and active way at its two sites in Ipswich - the People’s Community Garden on Maidenhall Allotments

Keep your town tidy

Join a GoodGym

Love Your Street Where we live matters. Cleaner streets, parks and open spaces provide the backbone for strong and thriving communities. You can hire a litter picking kit from Ipswich Borough Council, we can supply kit for your event free of charge. This includes litter picking sticks, sacks, and a safety brief.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, groups are limited to six people.

Find out more on the Love Your Street website www.ipswichloveyourstreet.co.uk

GoodGym helps you get fit by doing good. They are a group of runners that combines regular exercise with helping communities.

Get fit by doing good in the following four ways: community missions, group runs, mission runs and coach runs. Visit the website to find out how you can get involved and read their Covid-19 guidance and updates: www.goodgym.org/areas/ipswich

Follow Ipswich Borough Council and the Area Committees team on Facebook to hear more about opportunities to support your community in Ipswich and Suffolk. familiesonline.co.uk

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LOCKDOWN RELATIONSHIPS For better or for worse?

Denise Head, Managing Partner and Family Law specialist at Bates Wells & Braithwaite Ipswich, discusses the latest divorce statistics and explores whether Covid 19 has played a role in the current apparent increase in divorce cases.

Christmas has always traditionally been blamed for increasing the number of couples consulting divorce lawyers at the start of every new year. Whether this is true or not, the focus on family and spending time together over the Christmas holidays is, for some, indeed the happiest time of the year. For others however, it can be a time of absolute dread, with recognition and confirmation that things are not as they should be and bringing in to focus those problems that may have been previously unspoken.

BATES WELLS & BRAITHWAITE

For you and your family Providing help when you need it most

Our services include: FAMILY LAW:

RESOLVING DISPUTES:

PRIVATE CLIENT SERVICES:

• Divorce & separation

• Personal injury

• Wills, trusts & probate

• Financial & property issues

• Clinical negligence

• Residential property

• Pension agreements & entitlements

• Houses, property & neighbours

• Family mediation

• Contentious wills & probate

• Commercial legal advice for owner-managed & family businesses

• Pre-nuptial/living together agreements • Civil partnerships

• Contract disputes • Consumer affairs/ faulty goods & service

• Same sex relationships FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Denise Head Partner/Solicitor & Mediator T 01473 219282 E denise.head@bates-wells.co.uk

Christopher Mason Head of Dispute Resolution T 01473 295524 E christopher.mason@bates-wells.co.uk

29 Lower Brook Street Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 1AQ

www.bates-wells.co.uk

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“Lockdown” is not a comforting word. The effect of couples being “locked up together”, can have consequences; sometime good, sometimes not. These unusual times have for some people, created a vacuum in which couples can reflect and consider the state of their marriage. For many that assessment of their relationship has not been either good or welcoming news.

The latest data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the biggest rise in divorces since the Divorce Act came into force in 1972. So even before I reflect on my personal experiences as a family lawyer, there does seem to be some truth in the claim that divorce is on the increase.

S O L I C I T O R S

• Children & social care

Spending a concentrated amount of time with your “loved ones”, with no respite offered by going to work or enjoying a non-family orientated social life, can highlight the health of your very closest relationships. The restrictions faced by us all following the 2020 Christmas bubbling was a small snapshot of time compared with the on/off lockdown restrictions in play since March.

The media is awash with stories of the increased strain on relationships. Finances have become tighter. There were those conducting extra-marital affairs forced in to revealing their relationship and having to choose which relationship to continue during lockdown, not to mention the effect upon the other spouse of discovering this infidelity.

Charities reported the exponentially dangerous increase in domestic abuse affecting both adults and children. Families, normally happy with the balance of the work/home divide, were soon bickering over whose job was more important and the new division of who is responsible for not just childcare but also home-schooling. Homes, especially those without gardens, were suddenly very confining.

But marriage is “for better and for worse”. Divorce is the legal solution, and last resort, when there is no possibility of a relationship improving but it is also worth considering that things might even get better when the pandemic life pressures once again ease.

For more information visit: www.bates-wells.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

familiesonline.co.uk

Helpful Career Advice for Mums

By Naomi, Owner of UPskillCV

Our society has a tendency to undervalue the role of the mother. Raising non-toxic children, who will become the future citizens of our world, is the most important job there is. Don’t let anyone make you feel like this isn’t enough. you do want to do something more, or need to Bearnut iffinancially, there are so many transferable skills that you could take and use from being a parent. Take a deep breath and believe that you can have the life/job that you want. Priorities change after having kids and there will be time constraints, financial constraints and lifestyle constraints that might make it impossible to go back to your old job.

Naomi, Owner of UPskillCV shares her TOP 10 TIPS to help you along your journey of having the work/life balance that you want.

1. Figure out how you actually like to work.

Be honest with yourself! Do you miss the banter and company of other adults and enjoy being in a team or at the office? Do you like to work with one other trusted person? Or are you self-motivated and have the drive to work on your own?

2. Make a list of the skills and qualities that you do have.

This doesn’t mean just qualifications or academic skills. Are you perceptive? Can you sense other people’s emotions and empathise? Do you enjoy conversing with strangers and can easily hold multiple conversations. Is cooking for 30 a pleasure? Or are you creative and enjoy making things?

3. Think about what you actually enjoy doing.

What are your hobbies or interests? Can you sew creatively?

Are you able to cook? Do you love helping at your child’s school? Do you really enjoy doing the maths homework?

4. Get some advice

If you need help then call UPskillCV and use their bespoke career guidance service. Sometimes all you need is a critical friend to help you on your journey.

5. Listen to your heart, not your head!

Don’t listen to the head voice that says ‘what if’ and ‘you’re not good enough’ but to the ‘heart’ voice that knows that ‘you can’. Research shows that women can struggle with ‘imposter syndrome’.

6. Boost your self confidence

This is one of the most challenging aspects for a career

change mum. You have been out of the workplace for a couple of years and you feel de-skilled. Go and do something that will boost your self confidence e.g. get a new haircut.

7. Brainstorm ideas.

Try to connect the dots between how you like to work, what you are good at, and what you actually like to do. Doodle, draw or write down any ideas that come to mind in five minutes.

Example...

You are very creative and crafty. You have loads of ideas and can work on your own. Could you set up a Facebook page selling handmade items to your local community?

Example... You like maths and working as a part of a team.

Could you take an online accountancy qualification? There is a real shortage of qualified accountants and I’ve had at least three people approach me to help them recruit candidates.

Part time and remote working from home are becoming the reality due to Covid.

Example...

You are passionate about healthy eating. You want to work during school hours and enjoy providing a service to help people. Could you cook healthy meals for busy working mums and charge a set rate per portion?* Or create an e-book or online content showing mums how to help kids eat seasonally and healthily.

8. Research, Research, Research

Understand any industry requirements. *For any home cooking related businesses you would need to register with the local authority for your kitchen and have a current food safety certificate etc.

Whilst the internet is a wealth of information, don’t forget to use your established contacts and networks.

9.Decide on your next goal and make a plan to achieve it.

You will probably need to upskill in some way, so embrace this.

10. Update your CV and apply for jobs or create your own work.

On average recruiters spend about 7 seconds scanning your CV. Make sure you tailor your CV to EVERY job that you apply for.

Alternatively, if you need expert help and guidance, get in touch at: www.upskillcv.com or call: 07712 578302.

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE Home-Start in Suffolk has been dedicated to supporting Suffolk families struggling to cope with mental health, social isolation, poverty, illness, bereavement, family breakdowns and domestic abuse since 1999. Tara Spence, Home-Start in Suffolk’s CEO explains more about the organisation and their ethos.

"Supporting children to become healthy and happy adults is crucial to developing thriving communities and ultimately to making society fairer and more prosperous.” says Tara.

“Parents and family dynamics clearly play a fundamental and critical role in any child’s life; having a huge impact on a child’s health, social interaction and educational attainment.

As families break down, there is greater involvement of costly state interventions such as child protection, children in care, educational support and mental health support.”

In the last year Home-Start volunteers supported 568 families but with over 33,000 children living in poverty across the county and potentially 16,000 families that need the help of Home-Start, the need to recruit more volunteers is ever increasing.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED

VOLUNTEERING?

Could you offer support and friendship to a Suffolk family?

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Join our amazing community of over 250 volunteers and make a difference to a family in your area!

Our volunteers support Suffolk Families on a weekly basis via telephone, video call and home-visiting.

By joining our team you will receive full training with the option to complete accredited work, as well as on going support from our staff team.

Call today to find out more 01473 621104

Scan here to to find out more

headoffice@homestartinsuffolk.org

Charity Number: 1105001

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“We believe the best opportunity to break cycles of adversity, reduce the likelihood of children passing on their negative experiences to their children and improve the health and wellbeing of our society occurs in the early years of being a child and those first few years of being a parent and a family.

Our vision is to empower parents and guardians with the skills, knowledge and emotional resilience to raise children to flourish.” says Tara. “We are lucky to have an amazing network of over 250 fully trained volunteers offering regular confidential support and practical help to vulnerable families in their own homes and via the telephone.”

“Our volunteers are what make our organisation special and without their dedication, valued experience and support we would not be able to provide the families with this vital service.”

We asked long-serving volunteer Monica to explain what her role as a volunteer means to her.

“Deciding to become a Home-Start volunteer was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I can truly say that I have really enjoyed my time as a volunteer and feel privileged to be part of the wonderful charity that is Home-Start. Who’d have thought, that by giving up a few hours a week of my life, I could make a difference to the life of a struggling mum. And the great thing about it is, that most of what I do when visiting a family are things that I really enjoy, like having a chat and playing with and entertaining babies or little children.

I always feel a bit nervous on the first couple of visits to a new family – will we get on? Will the children like me? And then the satisfaction to see week by week the trust develop and our relationship grow, even sometimes into a real friendship.

I have shared laughter, tears, sympathy, worries, family stories and experiences but at the end of most visits, I come away hoping that I’ve made a difference. In one rare case, however, I would often come home and cry because of what was going on in the family but then the lovely office staff and coordinators were always there to talk me through and offer advice and support".

With the demand for support from Home-Start growing year on year, and the impact that COVID-19 has had on everyone, it is paramount that the organisation continues to grow and recruit new volunteers so even more families can benefit from the Home-Start support service.

The children of Suffolk are our future. Can you help to give Suffolk a brighter future? Then Home-Start in Suffolk would be delighted to talk to you!

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

familiesonline.co.uk

LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE IN 2021 - OR PERHAPS A CAREER CHANGE?

BECOME AN

ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER YOU MAY BE MORE SUITABLE THAN YOU THINK. On-call firefighters are a vital part of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. They provide an efficient, effective service that gives emergency cover across the country. In Suffolk, on-call firefighters make up 66% of the workforce and are generally located in rural communities, small towns and villages.

There are some common myths about being an on-call firefighter that we want to expel:

• There is no maximum or minimum height.

• There is no upper age limit.

• No previous experience and/or formal qualifications are

ng for new recruits n-call firefighters

required due to the comprehensive training programme that is provided.

In this issue we hear from Alexandra, a Suffolk on-call firefighter who certainly breaks the stereotype and who we hope will inspire others to consider this challenging yet hugely rewarding role.

?

MEET THE onable level of personal fitness?

ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER within five to eight minutes of a I’m a single Mum with k? a 6 year old Son. I work full-time as a manager d from your main employment at Tesco, plus I’m an on-call firefighter at cy incidents?

Newmarket fire station. heights and in confined spaces?

Although it is a commitment, the fire service has always pressure?

“

ese questions it could for.

Alexandra, a single mum, a full-time manager and an on-call firefighter.

supported me and been flexible around my availability and my home life. I have also had great support from my family and my fulltime employers.

-call firefighter, I have always made sure that my availability and my ov.uk/oncall home life have had an equal balance so I can further

my career and be a mum. This has assisted me for both of my jobs, which are supportive of each other and always communicating to ensure the perfect work life balance, also allowing me to respond to my alerter even when at Tesco’s.

I have even been able to successfully attend a number of courses for both job roles.

“

I’m proud to say that I’m a manager, an on-call firefighter and a mum .

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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The New Year is a great time to get

Food Savvy! www.foodsavvy.org.uk

Follow our simple #FoodSavvy steps to reduce your food waste, save money and help the planet.

Approximately 52,000 tonnes of food is wasted in Suffolk every year! (That’s the equivalent of 52,000 African Elephants).

Not only is this a terrible waste of food that impacts on our environment, but the average family could also save £730 per year if they stopped wasting food. Food Savvy is a campaign to help you do just that.

Check out the Food Savvy website for ways to reduce your food waste, including top tips, handy hints and recipe ideas to keep good food out of the bin. Research shows that most food is wasted because we either buy or prepare too much.

PLAN Planning saves time and money, and it helps to only buy what you need. A few minutes of plan-making will save you hours of fussing over what to eat.

• Plan meals for 3-4 days. Which meals will your household want and be able to prepare and eat?

PORTIONING • Get your portions right and your purse will see the benefit.

• Try this portion planner from Love Food Hate Waste – it provides guidance on how much food you need for each person, for each meal. It’s simple to use as they’ve calculated the typical serving sizes for you!

• Leftover ingredients or meals can always find a happy home in another dish.

STORAGE Don’t ignore where to store! Storing food in the right place can make it last longer and taste better. Check out our simple guide to storage and making the most of your freezer.

ARE YOU CLEAR ON YOUR DATES?

• Check your fridge and cupboards, what is in stock? What needs eating up?

Dates on food packaging can get confusing but the main two to remember are:

• Next, choose what you want to eat! We are lucky to live in a world full of recipes! Choose dishes that have some common ingredients.

Best before date is about food quality and is still good to eat after this date.

SHOP SMART • Use your list and don’t be seduced by offers that you may not be able to eat.

• Keep an eye on date labels and buy in small quantities when you can.

• A deal is only a deal if you can eat it!

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Use by date is about food safety. Eat before or up to the use by date. If you can’t eat it by the use by, pop it in the freezer to eat another time!

LOVE LEFTOVERS Leftovers make great lunches or quick meals when time is of the essence! Some top tips for making the most of your leftovers.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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A Food Savvy recipe to try this new year.

Chinese curry!

INGREDIENTS • 400g firm tofu, sliced into chunks • 3tbsp soy sauce • 1tbsp cornflour • 1tsp Chinese five-spice powder • 1tbsp oil (vegetable, sesame or coconut) • 2 onions, sliced • 2 garlic cloves, chopped • 3tbsp curry powder • 600ml stock • 200g pineapple chunks • A small bowl of veg sliced into bitesize chunks (peppers, broccoli, green beans and mushrooms are all good options) You need enough to feed your family!

Our Chinese curry recipe is 100% plant based and we have paired it with marinated tofu to give an amazing texture to go with the flavour. This is a great recipe to use up leftover veg that is looking for a home.

Remember, to swap things in and out and use up what you’ve got in your fridge and cupboards.

METHOD Step 1. Mix together the tofu with the soy sauce, cornflour and Chinese five-spice. Toss to coat evenly. Leave to one side.

Step 2. Heat the oil in a wide, non-stick wok or frying pan and add the onions. Stir-fry over a medium heat for 5 minutes, or until softened and lightly browned.

Step 3. Stir in the garlic and curry powder and stir for 1 minute. Add the marinated tofu and stock and simmer for 8 minutes. Add the pineapple, whatever veg you have got your hands on. Cook for 5 minutes or until the veg is just tender and the curry has thickened!

Step 4. Serve with basmati rice, or if you feel like pushing the boat out, try this Egg Fried Rice recipe!

Hungry for more? CLICK HERE for a great selection of recipes from breakfasts, main meals, sweet treats, preserves, pickles and much more. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates, top tips, recipes and more.

Want to go one step further? Play a starring role and help your workplace or community to get FoodSavvy.

SIGN UP to receive free campaign communication packs full of fun digital materials. familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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EDUCATION FEATURE

Image supplied by

Ipswich High School 22

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

familiesonline.co.uk

BROADENING EXPERIENCES, BROADENING MINDS Ipswich High School is a prominent day and boarding school, for boys and girls from Reception through to Sixth Form, situated in an idyllic 87-acre campus at Woolverstone Hall, on the banks of the River Orwell.

We are renowned for ensuring our pupils are equipped to be so much more than highly skilled at passing exams. We believe great results are a by-product of an outstanding education, not its sole focus. We do this by providing them with the widest possible range of experiences, both in and outside of the classroom, to broaden their minds and create new opportunities for every pupil to thrive.

Book your visit today to see for yourself how we can help your child thrive in a community that focuses on broadening horizons not limiting them.

01473 201058 | admissions@ipswichhighschool.co.uk

WWW.IPSWICHHIGHSCHOOL.CO.UK

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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NOTHING BUT...

GOOD NEWS STORIES At the end of 2020 Families Suffolk magazine invited local primary schools to send us their GOOD NEWS STORIES as we wanted to start this year by sharing some positive news. Sadly as we now face the worst possible news for schools again we hope sharing these lovely stories will help bring some much needed joy during these challenging times.

CHILDREN AT CLIFF LANE PRIMARY SCHOOL GET PASSIONATE ABOUT BOOKS At Cliff Lane we are passionate about promoting the joy of reading. In order to do this we have developed reading corners in each of our classrooms - this creates a designated space for reading and a place to share work from fantastic authors. Next, as the passionate reading lead within the school, I decided that another step would be needed. I wanted to bring a fantastic range of authors to our library. We priced up a substantial book order and researched where we would be able to purchase these from. This request was put forward to our incredible PTA (Cliff Lane Friends Association) to see if it would be possible for them to use the amazing fundraising monies to make this dream become reality.

In this day and age, we believe that a push towards supporting local business would be beneficial for all involved. We therefore approached Andrew Marsh at Dial Lane Books in Ipswich. He was able to supply the books at a competitive price and out of sheer generosity, he then donated a substantial range of books to the school in addition to the book order. It is fantastic that we have created a link with such an amazing local business. The books arriving in the school have already created a buzz and the children can't wait to dive into the different worlds portrayed in the texts. Liam Godbold, Year 6 Teacher The Bees Nursery children at Cliff Lane Primary School have also been exploring the great outdoors, by making regular visits to a 'wildlife' area which is part of the school field. The children are actively learning through all of their senses to find out more about nature and what the environment has to offer, as well as how they can make positive contributions in return. The children are building lifelong skills to be developed through their time at Cliff Lane and beyond into the wider world. Tessa Briggs, Nursery Teacher

CHELMONDISTON PRIMARY SCHOOL EMBRACE OUTDOOR LEARNING At Chelmondiston Church of England Primary School we have embraced outdoor learning, making as much use as we can of our fantastic school grounds, our outdoor classroom and the local area in which we live. Not only does this support the current government Coronavirus guidance to be outside but also reaps the benefits of supporting well-being, fitness and helping children develop a curiosity and knowledge of nature and the environment This all started back in September when we

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began the ‘Daily Mile’ initiative which involved all children going outside to run each day. In early October, the school took part in ‘Walk to School Week’ and also celebrated an ‘Outdoor Classroom Day’ in which we used our environment to enrich our learning across the entire curriculum and made the most of some glorious autumnal weather!

In November, our Yr5 & 6 children participated in the Bikeability (cycle safety) course and throughout November and December most classes went on a village walk.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

CHARSFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL SPREAD A LITTLE HAPPINESS In this unprecedented time, pupils at Charsfield Primary School have been looking at how they can make a difference in the community and improve mental health and wellbeing of themselves and others around them. For a small school of just 38 pupils, they have made an incredible difference to the lives of many others this term. Here is just one of the things that the school has been involved in.

The school has formed a link with Handford House Nursing home in Ipswich. During the summer term, having learnt about the type of residents they have, pupils wrote to them to tell them about school life during lockdown and what they were doing to stay fit and healthy both in mind and body. Recently, the Handford House residents kindly sent the pupils a handmade Christmas card and the children reciprocated with great enthusiasm creating a wonderful collection of Christmas drawings made into a large book full of good wishes.

Mrs Foster, who is a Teaching Assistant at the school and the lead for Mental Health and Wellbeing, has helped to form the link with Handford House, and said: “The staff are so proud of how the children have thrown themselves into this task, and how much they thought they gave about the people it was going to; with a genuine desire to bring happiness to other people that they don’t even know. We look forward to continuing links with this nursing home in 2021.” familiesonline.co.uk

Introducing your child to

PHONICS Sam Allen an Early Years Teacher, Suffolk Mum of two and owner of Humble Home & Classroom provides this helpful guide to introducing your child to phonics.

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As a parent, the thought of phonics can leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. Have you ever sat down with ‘Alphablocks’ on the TV and ever wondered what on earth is going on? It may even sound completely foreign to you.

To the untrained ear, phonics can be a little bit confusing, especially as most of us parents never learned phonics in the way in which it is taught in schools today.

What is phonics and how is it taught

Essentially, a phoneme (sound) is the 'purest' sound that the letter makes. The most important thing to know when we help our children with their phonics is to try to avoid teaching them their sounds 'the old way'. When I say this, I refer to sounds such as "buh" "cuh" "duh" - adding an "uh" sound onto the end. Letters do not sound like this in their purest form.

By teaching our child sounds in the old way, we make it more difficult for them to begin reading. The easiest way to retrain our brains as parents is to teach phonics by taking a word 'cat' for example and breaking it down. When we do this, we say the sounds in their purest form. You wouldn't read it as "cuh"-"ahh"-"tuh" or it would sound like "cuhahtuh".

The concept of phonics therefore is to break down the letters within words into sounds vice versa, to build sounds into words. You may have also heard of terms such as 'decoding'.

This is when you break down a word into sounds which helps you to read the word. A child with a good understanding of the different phonemes (sounds) will find that in time they are much more confident tackling new or tricky words.

If your child goes to Nursery or a Pre-School, it is likely that they will be introduced to phonics within their setting. They will certainly be learning phonics by the time they are in their Reception year.

If you would like to introduce your child to phonics at home, then it can be a bit of a minefield as to where to begin.

Many schools and Early Years settings follow the 'Letters and Sounds' government backed phonics scheme.

Phase 1 Phonics In this scheme, you start learning phonics by not actually learning any specific phonemes at all. This is known as Phase 1.

In Phase 1, you introduce your child to listening games, rhyme, repetition, sounds and more all through play and games.

igloo

nursery rhymes and being able to differentiate the different sounds that things make, such as which animals make which sounds are all things you most likely do very naturally at home with your child and have made up an integral part of Pre-School children's learning for decades.

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Phase 2 Phonics

Next, once your child has been introduced and is able to listen and 'discriminate' different environmental sounds, recognise rhyming words and has developed their listening skills, they are ready to begin Phase 2. Many Nurseries and Pre-Schools provide learning opportunities across both Phase 1 and Phase 2 combined, and you can do so too at home.

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Phase 2 is where your child begins to learn phonemes. If you have a child in Nursery or Reception at the moment, you might be wondering why your child did not learn sounds in alphabetical order. Well, this is because phonics programmes such as 'Letters and Sounds' or 'Read Write Inc' have been developed to systematically introduce your child to sounds in an order in which they are able to begin blending sounds and essentially reading and writing words from the moment they learn the first few sounds. For example, in letters and sounds, your child is taught the phonemes 's,a,t,p,i,n' first. This is so they can be introduced to reading and spelling many different words which are a combination of these sounds such as 'pit', 'sat', 'pin', 'tap' etc.

Useful resources For more information about Humble Home & Classroom please visit: www.humblehomeandclassroom.wordpress. com/ My website is updated frequently with lots of free resources which are available to download as well as quick videos which introduce the sound.

Another great webiiste is: www.letters-and-sounds.com.

I would also highly recomment Teach your monster to read. Please visit: www.teachyourmonstertoread.com The one drawback I would say is that your child will need to be proficient at using a computer to use the free site - which in my opinion is a bit of a barrier to younger children. However, they do also offer an app which is much more user friendly for little hands.

Simple activities such as going on a 'listening walk', learning familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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build yo own dol ur ls house

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make edible dinosa ur poo

are e r e h t s a e d i lots oft stuck to gento i

There are lots of family activities to try at home on our website Visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/museumfromhome to discover fun things to do Explore #MuseumFromHome with Ipswich Museums

IPSWICH

MUSEUMS 26

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

Colchester + Ipswich Museums @IpswichMuseums familiesonline.co.uk

Pathways to Learning with Suffolk Museums Watch out for the fantastic new trail created by the Children’s University in collaboration with the AfSM when exploring Suffolk Museums.

The Children’s University in Suffolk is committed to ensuring that children have a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom - museums offer a great space to start unlocking this learning potential. The trail is free and has been designed for children aged 5-10 but can be completed by older children too.

Follow the trail to explore museums’ collections and discover their stories. Once the trail has been completed, those taking part will receive 2 learning credits for their CU Passport to Learning.

There’s 14 questions to answer, which vary in difficulty and ask questions about the experience of the museum visited.

The questions include: Q. What was your favourite object?

Q. What year does the object date from?

Q What was it used for?

Can you answer them all?

So, make sure to prick up your ears and keep your eyes peeled the next time you’re exploring Suffolk Museums!

For further details of the activities and work that the Suffolk Children’s University is involved with, visit suffolkchildrensuniversity.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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Census 2021 - Let's Count Education Programme The census is unique and only happens once every 10 years. So, The Office for National Statistics wants to inspire the next generation to take part.

To support this important event, they will be running FREE primary and secondary education programmes.

These will help educate children and young people on the importance of the census and about how the information it collects will help shape the society we live in.

ONS, together with education resource centre, iChild, have developed Let’s Count! to support Census 2021. Let’s Count! is an exciting free education resource programme that teaches children about the census.

The Let’s Count! programme includes 14 cross-curricular resources for you to choose from, covering key areas of the English and Welsh curriculum. Let’s Count! has achieved accreditation from MEI, NATE and the Geographical Association.

Flexible and time-saving resources will support your school through COVID-19, to re-engage children and families in learning and to celebrate local community, as part of your recovery curriculum. They’ve been designed to teach children both in the

classroom and at home. You’ll have access to best practice video lessons from MEI that can also be used for remote learning.

This easy-to-use education programme can help improve maths and writing skills, using Census 2021, a significant real-life event, as a stimulus.

The resources even offer professional development training for your teachers, with an exclusive session about progression in statistics across the primary years.

Find more information and register for the FREE resources at: www.letscount.org.uk

Take part in Let’s Count! day and your school could win £1,000 of equipment.

• Schools can choose any day before Census Day on Sunday 21 March 2021 to do their counting.

• On Let’s Count! Day children in participating schools will count things, perhaps on a walk in the local area.

Schools will count and collect data on any subject that matters to them.

• With the information gathered from the counting, pupils will then develop colourful census wall displays, including charts and graphs.

OPENING SOON IN 2021 Layla Educates is a purpose-built Special Needs Centre within easy reach of Cambridge, West Suffolk, Huntingdon and St. Ives.

With dedicated dance, music and yoga facilities as well as a safe learning space, this new facility offers full and part-time education for Special Needs children.

Set in beautiful and tranquil surroundings, Layla Educates boast fantastic facilities. The Centre is located on the outskirts of Cambridge in beautiful surroundings, with space and nature at our door.

Layla Educates is sensitive to the needs of every child, reducing barriers to learning and making the curriculum accessible to every pupil. Reasonable adjustments to physical and other arrangements of the centre are considered where necessary, taking into account the nature of any impairment, pupil and parent views and advice from teachers and other professionals.

Email: info@laylaeducates.org.uk Visit: www.laylaeducates.org.uk 28

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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GET YOUR CHILDREN READING AT HOME THE BEST BOOKS FROM 2020 The year 2020 has come to a close, and has been memorable for many

By Freya Mclaughlin

BEST PICTURE BOOK

reasons. But one of the positive things

Clean up!

to come from last year was a wealth

Written by Nathan Byron and illustrated by Dapo Adeola (age 4+)

of new children’s fiction, providing

much needed comfort and escapism. Here are a few wonderful books that you may have missed, and may even be helpful to try and encourage your children to read while they are home schooling again.

BEST FANTASY The Wolf’s Secret Written by Myriam Dahman and Nicolas Digard and illustrated by Julia Sarda (age 6+) As this beautiful fairy tale begins, we are introduced to the fearsome Wolf, the terror of the mountainous forest where he lives.

But there is more to the wolf than appearances would suggest.

The secret referred to in the title is his vulnerability: his need to follow the music of a young woman’s voice. After he is warned that ‘every choice has a consequence’, will he choose to trust his instincts, and will they lead him to happiness?

The Wolf’s Secret is a truly stunning book. Every page is a visual treat, whether Julia Sarda’s illustrations focus on the epic, mystical landscape, or the characters’ soulful expressions. These works of art are matched by the gripping tale and the richness of the description. A dreamy, evocative world, perfect for a bedtime story (for children made of stern stuff!)

BEST COMEDY The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates Written by Jenny Pearson and illustrated

by Rob Biddulph (age 8+) Since his mother’s death, Freddie Yates has lived with his (step) dad and Grams in their cramped house, full of knitting. But when a further bereavement hits Freddie, he decides to set off on a mission to find his biological father: a mission that will take him and his best friends Ben and Charlie (each escaping from family miseries of their own) on a very unusual road trip to Wales. Despite the heart wrenching premise, The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates is one of the funniest books I have read. Layer upon layer of slapstick mishaps and confused exchanges build to a perfect climax, bringing together many of the quirky characters of the road trip. But it is Freddie’s narrative voice with his astute observations and deadpan asides that make this book constantly fresh and witty. Jenny Pearson expertly manages her readers’ emotions by signposting losses and moving briskly on with the pacy plot. Yes, you will probably cry, but only after you have done a lot of laughing, and quite possibly WHILE you’re doing a lot of laughing. The perfect antidote to tough times.

The sequel to the prize winning ‘Look up!’, ‘Clean up!’ features the same enthusiastic protagonist Rocket, who visits her grandparents on the Caribbean island where they live. Whilst there, she is shocked by the levels of plastic pollution she can see in the water and sets out to save the island!

Narrated by the exuberant Rocket, she is desperate to share her determination with all around her, including her nonchalant, phone obsessed brother Jamal. Clean Up works perfectly as an entertaining story of a child’s concern for the natural world, and she frequently gives her readers facts and information.

Engaging and inspiring, Clean Up is an empowering book for a parent and child to share together, and the perfect starting point for conversations about the environment.

BEST ADVENTURE Orphans of the Tide Written by Stuan Murray (age 9+) The City where Ellie lives has no need of another name. It is the only one left. Surrounded by the sea and piled on top of a mountain, the last bastion of human life is under the rule of the merciless Inquisitors. When Ellie pulls a mysterious boy from the belly of a washed up whale, she unwittingly begins a chain of events which will impact the whole City.

This debut novel from Struan Murray was launched earlier this year to critical acclaim and great praise on social media, all of which is thoroughly deserved. The vivid characters, gripping plot and sparkling writing style make this story completely absorbing. In a wonderful age for children’s adventure stories, Orphans of the Tide stands out. Whatever the step above ‘highly recommended’ is, this is it!

BEST SCI FI Elle receives an anonymous SOS text, she is reluctantly drawn Written by Patience in to the mystery. From its first

The Infinite

Agbabi (age 10+)

Elle is a leapling: a person born on the 29th February. But more unusual than this is that she is a leapling with The Gift, and can jump through time and space.

As she reaches 3-leap (the age of 12) she will finally be allowed to use this gift, on a very unusual school trip to 2048. But all is not as it should be. Leaplings have been disappearing, and when

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gripping sentence, The Infinite is an utterly absorbing story.

Elle’s distinct narrative voice builds her character expertly and every sentence sparkles with life and originality. With a range of neuro-diverse characters (Elle and her best friend Big Ben are both autistic) Patience Agbabi has created a memorable cast, but none more so than Elle.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

29

The power of positivity!

Brookes School & Cherry Trees Early Years, Risby, Bury St Edmunds If you ask parents what they wish for their children, above all they say to be happy and healthy. Brookes School near Bury St Edmunds has built its ethos around that concept, giving children a positive foundation for learning, creativity and innovation.

From the moment you arrive at Brookes’ 7-acre rural campus, you can sense the school’s alternative approach. There’s a close-knit family environment and a positive culture of wellbeing where everyone looks out for one another.

“At Brookes we know that relaxed, happy and confident children are much more likely to flourish and go on to achieve great things,” said Principal Graham Ellis “We also operate an inclusive entrance policy which keeps us grounded and brings wonderful diversity into our school.

There’s no entrance exam or tick-box criteria – we assess every pupil based on our ability to unlock their true potential.”

Small class sizes and child-centred learning ensure that every child has a voice and can be themselves. That also means Brookes teachers get to know each pupil really well, allowing tailored support throughout their education, from their earliest years at Cherry Trees Montessori nursery through to their iGCSEs in the main school.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all at Brookes,” said Mr Ellis. “We flex in all directions – and our children come out inspired, resilient and confident to take their next step. The school is also pursuing a ‘positive education’ model where teaching is focused on both the skills required for academic achievement and the skills that support personal wellbeing.”

Located near Risby, just outside of Bury and a few minutes from the A14, the school became part of the international Brookes Education Group five years ago. Since then it has extended its provision to year 11, investing in facilities like a modern boarding house that’s currently home-from-home to almost 20 boarders from Britain and overseas.

“Our local students get to share learning experiences with children from around the world,” said Mr Ellis, “giving them insight into different countries and cultures, and helping them to become global citizens.”

To find out more and to arrange a visit...

Email: office@uk.brookes.org, Call: 01284 760531 Visit the Brookes UK website: uk.brookes.org.

Unlock your child’s potential at Brookes Brookes near Bury St Edmunds is one of Suffolk’s most remarkable independent schools, with a closeknit family environment, unique child-centric approach to learning and positive culture of wellbeing.

As an international school, we embrace diversity and ensure inclusivity, nurturing each child’s natural strengths, helping them to become dynamic global citizens. Above all, children at Brookes are relaxed, happy and confident – the key to unlocking their full potential.

+ Small class sizes + Experiential learning + Tailored education

+ Children aged 2 to 16 + Day students & boarders + UK & international pupils

+ Inclusive entrance policy + Competitive fees + Scholarships available

+44 (0) 1284 760531 office@uk.brookes.org uk.brookes.org A member of the Brookes Education Group

30

Flempton Road, Risby, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6QJ

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS FOR HOME LEARNING OAK NATIONAL ACADEMY SHARES ADVICE FOR FAMILIES AS THIRD LOCKDOWN BEGINS

O

ak National Academy, the national online classroom and resource hub created by teachers from across the country, is today providing parents with some top tips to support them with home learning as the third national lockdown begins.

Oak provides free access to nearly 10,000 high-quality video lessons and resources for every year group from Reception through to GCSE. There are also lessons for SEND children.

On the first day of term (4 January) – before lockdown had even been announced, Oak had 120,000 pupils use their online lessons, five times as many as the first day of term in September.

This is expected to rise rapidly in the coming days with all children - bar those of key workers and vulnerable pupils - learning from home.

OAK NATIONAL ACADEMY’S TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS: 1. Follow the advice of your child’s school Your child’s school will be developing a clear plan for what your child should learn, and when. They’re also experts in how children learn, so listen to their advice and follow their plan as closely as your situation allows.

Given how quickly the changes were announced, be patient. Teachers will be working hard to create new plans and communicate these as quickly as possible to parents. Many schools will make use of resources such as Oak National Academy, allowing your child’s teachers to assess work, provide 1-2-1 support and advice as well as teach the vulnerable and key worker children who will still attend school.

2. Establish a clear routine

“

Matt Hood, Principal of Oak National Academy said:

Supporting your children

with home learning can be a daunting prospect for many

parents. This is especially true

for those working from home

“

or supporting more than one child at a time.

“For many, it’s been a fair few years since we’ve polished up our poetry skills or recalled the equation to measure a change in thermal energy, so suddenly being the adult supporting a child in their learning can be overwhelming.

This is such a difficult time for everyone, but we hope these top tips help in some small way as parents navigate the challenges of the coming weeks.”

Children are creatures of habit and routine and applying themselves to learning at home in the same way they do at school will take some time to fall into place.

Oak National Academy lessons have been designed to give a clear structure to learning, but you should also work up a clear structure to your ‘school’ day.

For younger children in particular, it can be really beneficial to write a timetable up together and display it.

If you have the space, set a clear area for learning to take place - somewhere welllit is ideal - and remove any distractions before the lessons begin. Make sure to have a clear start and end to the day so children’s wellbeing is prioritised as well.

3. Build time for other things into your day Times are challenging for all of us, not least children, and a child’s physical and mental wellbeing is as vitally important to look after as their learning.

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Building in time for cooking, daily exercise, puzzles or reading for pleasure is a great way to break up learning into manageable periods and help with any difficulties with focus or screen fatigue children might experience.

4. Don’t try to replace the teacher The vast majority of parents embarking on supporting home learning during national restrictions will not be trained teachers. Luckily, no one is expecting you to be!

It’s OK to tell your child if you’re unsure of a topic or skill they are learning. In fact, it can be a really powerful and rewarding experience to approach the learning of something new to you both together. Learning alongside them can be really encouraging for a child - getting frustrated that you don’t know all the answers is not good for either of you. So embark on the learning journey together!

5. Recognise their effort and stay positive!

We’ve heard the word ‘unprecedented’ enough times now - we know we’re living through unusual times and challenges that none of us expected to face.

Keep your child’s motivation up by keeping positive and encouraging their efforts. Chances are they are worried, confused, missing their friends and navigating a brand new way of learning.

And if they have a tough day when it’s not going to plan… that’s fine, start afresh tomorrow.

Oak National Academy’s lessons can be accessed for free via their online classroom:

www.classroom. thenational.academy

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

31

Kate Lindsay is an English Teacher with an impassioned vision for education. It was this vision that led to the establishment of Christchurch Education Ltd in 2020, after many years teaching in a variety of settings, including one to one teaching, working with looked after children, refugees, SEND as well as in the mainstream classroom.

Kate identified a growing need for English resources to be provided to students who Kate Lindsay had gaps in their learning, for any number of reasons.

Unfortunately, for some young people, school can be a challenging environment in which to meet their full potential.

For others, missed school is the reason for such gaps. The results however are the same; the need for further academic, and sometimes pastoral support.

Kate's vision for Christchurch Education was rooted in the desire to deliver a tailored, accessible English curriculum to the young people most in need of it. Through the provision of engaging, graphically rich resources that meet the needs of each leaner, accompanied by interactive talk/lecture style videos, it is Kate's ambition that all students will be able to access learning, and make progress.

The pursuit of knowledge and progress through education is not a privilege, it is a right. Kate hopes that with the establishment of Christchurch Education, young people who may feel estranged from learning can be re-engaged and supported at every step to meet their potential.

Kate talks to Families Suffolk magazine about her teaching background and vision for Christchurch Education.

As we reflect on the 2020 academic year, in spite of the heroic and dedicated efforts of school leaders and their devoted staff, so many children are entering 2021 with significant gaps in their learning. The Marcus Rashford campaign has gone to great lengths to highlight the extraordinary difficulties some families have faced during the pandemic, over and above the unique circumstances they may already be living in.

As an English Teacher working for large secondary schools during lockdown and during the re-opening in September, I was overwhelmed by the disparity of provision that young people had been able to access. Some children had experienced no learning at all, others had engaged consistently with the online learning provided and continued to do so upon their return. Some children were suffering from severe anxiety and were unable to return to the classroom,

32

despite their impending GCSE’s. Others were happy to be back amongst peers and staff. The gap between the state and the private sector was also stark, with young people from economically privileged backgrounds where a daily, full time programme of teaching had been provided, having no discernible gaps at all.

On an almost daily basis, I was receiving inquiries from parents in a professional and personal capacity, asking how they could support their child to ‘fill the gaps.’ Long phonecalls home speaking to each parent after school as they told me about their child’s needs and struggles meant I was spending so long at work, I wasn’t meeting my own children’s needs at home. And frustratingly, I could not meet their child’s behavioural, emotional and academic needs in the classroom because of curriculum pressures and targets.

As a classroom teacher, I struggled with the obligation I felt to teach to the test, whilst wanting more than anything to ‘teach to the child.’ I was conflicted. Behaviour in school was erratic and less able students were struggling to engage with the challenges of the curriculum. I was professionally and personally unfulfilled, and I was desperate to better meet the needs of both parents and students who most required what I knew I could provide them with.

That is when I founded Christchurch Education. I left the classroom in November 2020 and established the company whose vision it is to offer consultancy and assessment to parents and carers whose children are struggling to attain in English. We then provide differentiated (bespoke) schemes of learning to the young person, at exactly the level they require, allowing them to meet their potential and fulfil their learning objectives. Pastoral and SEND needs are all taken into consideration and built into the resources, allowing them to work in their style and at their pace, and access to the resources costs less than it would to pay for a private tutor.

We are already working with Career Ready, Catch 22 and Anglia Youth Pledge as well as with private clients, to support the future prospects of young people through education, and we can’t wait to continue our journey into 2021.

For more information, please visit: www.christchurcheducation.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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Welcome to The Hold The Hold is a new heritage centre based on the waterfront in Ipswich, created thanks to support from the National Heritage Lottery Fund and other partners.

It is shared between Suffolk Archives and the University of Suffolk, and everyone is welcome. Once we can reopen, why not pop in and discover our range of family friendly archiveinspired displays and changing programme of exhibitions?

You can also grab a coffee or bite to eat in our café and browse our gift shop. We have plenty for all to see and do!

Unleash your hidden historian and create your very own time capsule Budding archivists will soon be able to benefit from a brandnew, all-inclusive time capsule kit created by Suffolk Archives.

The easy to use, child-friendly kit is being designed to help families work together to capture a moment in time, preserving those details of daily life that we can so easily forget. With so much of our lives lived digitally today, creating a time capsule will give you physical records that you can preserve to look back on and enjoy in the future.

It contains everything you need to gather unique information about your family, neighbourhood, and life, including a selection of professional standard archiving materials designed to preserve documents and artefacts for the future.

Activities include a daily diary, household record sheet, suggestions for effective interviews, future predictions record, guidance around other notable items to include, and much more. Some activities come with a unique QR code which launch ‘how to videos’, such as how to fold a letter into its own envelope!

The kit has been created to show how fun archiving can be, and to create an opportunity for families to work together. Creating a present-day time capsule gives you the opportunity not only to make a gift for your future selves, but also to create an opportunity to talk about your family’s history together.

The Making History Time Capsule Kits will be available to purchase from Suffolk Archives branches soon.

For more information and to register your interest, visit: www.suffolkarchives.co.uk

Pride in Suffolk's Past

FAMILY ACTIVITIES February - June 2021 er rainbows Pap g lourin pages o C s of t o l

other cr af ts

+ A range of FREE online craft activities

For more information: www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/pride familiesonline.co.uk

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

33

FREE REGISTRATION

UNTIL 31

MARCH Your local Instructor will conduct an individualised maths and English assessment, and explain how Kumon can develop your child’s confidence, skills and abilities to thrive at school.

To find out more about online and in centre Kumon classes, contact your local Instructor and register for free today!

Ipswich Central Study Centre 01473 614 665

at home | in centre | online Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Participating study centres only. Please refer to your local study centre.

Subject to availability.

34

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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Step Forward Education Providing small group English & Maths tuition for home educated children in Felixstowe and Ipswich.

Join our exciting new English and Maths group sessions for Home Educated children aged 8 – 16, with qualified teachers & SEN specialist.

Class Timetable Monday: 10am - 12.30pm The Ferry Centre, Felixstowe, IP11 9RS Wednesday: 10am - 12.30pm The Meeting Place, Ipswich, IP1 5LR

£20.00

per child per session

NEW FOR 2021...

After School English catch up tuition Tuesday: 5pm - 6.15pm (KS2) & Wednesday: 5pm - 6.15pm (KS3) The Ferry Centre, Felixstowe, IP11 9RS

£13.50

per child per session

(Please note you must commit to 6 sessions)

Special Education Needs services are also available including assessments & reports

www.stepforwardeducation.co.uk 07734 701957

Set up by Suffolk mum Jacquelyn MacDonaldFawcett who had a vision to provide the kind of education she believed would nourish and prepare her own son; allowing him the flexibility to learn about things that interested him, rather than the things someone else had decided he needed to know.

Each week, Step Forward Education teach a new concept or skill that is both useful in the ‘real world’, as well as being linked to the National Curriculum, for those wishing to work towards formal qualifications.

It was also important for Jacquelyn to create a calm, relaxed and nurturing environment, and for the teaching spaces to be bright, spacious, and welcoming. Step Forward Education focuses on building confidence and resilience, as well as improving student wellbeing.

Jacquelyn comments “Many of our students struggle with social interaction; so we really help them to connect with their peers and feel understood and valued. Since launching, feedback from the students and parents has been incredible, many of whom tell us attending our sessions is the highlight of their child’s week”.

For more information about Step Forward Education visit: www.stepforwardeducation.co.uk. You can also call Jacquelyn on 07734701957.

Stoke by Nayland C of E Primary School and Nursery Offering private school class sizes without the price tag Instilling Courage, Creativity, Compassion and Curiosity and always striving to be the best we can be

ilable Places ava rsery u n in W NO ar and most ye s. p u gro

Dreaming of a friendly village school with small class sizes that can catapult your child’s learning?

Then look no further. Stoke by Nayland C of E Primary School and Nursery, set in an idyllic and historic village just minutes from the A12 and A134 road to Colchester, offers class sizes that match those found in the independent sector without the expensive fees. Traditional values are enriched with modern teaching techniques and young minds are nurtured with outstanding pastoral care and academic excellence. Our unique school stretches young minds and grows independent thinkers. Come and visit us and witness our team of inspiring teachers offering an environment in which talents can flourish and every child reaches their maximum potential.

Make an appointment to see our recently appointed Headteacher: Mrs Sarah Smith Call: 01206 262418 | Email: admin@sbn.suffolk.sch.uk | Visit: www.stokebynaylandprimaryschool.org.uk ∞ Rated ‘Good’ in the most recent SIAMS report (Statutory Inspection of Anglican & Methodist Schools) ∞ Achieved ‘Gold’ French Linguamarque ∞ Achieved Music Mark award for excellence in music education provision ∞ Feeder school for Thomas Gainsborough Secondary School

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Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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The arrival of 2021 has seen us all return to another national lockdown and schooling has once again returned to the kitchen table!

So we want to help!

Our film ALICE IN WONDERLAND is now available to stream for FREE for a limited time of 2 WEEKS! PLUS...

We've created a a fantastic activity pack for you to download that's perfect for little learners while schools are closed!

Meeting the W hite Rabbit

”I’m late! I’m late for a very important date!”

Follow the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole to enter Wonderland!

! k c a p y t i v i t Ac

A

Ta ke t h e ke y t o t he tin y d o or !

arty

Find the w a ll ords!

This really is the madde st tea party!

Can you he lp Alice and complete the page?

What happens when Alice drinks from the bottle? _______________________

lice in o n d e rl a n d

W

Fill in t an s w h e ers!

T h e M a d Te a P

What can Alice see through the tiny door? _______________________

What does Alice eat to grow taller? __________ Fill in the blanks:

Did you know Alice’s nd was Adventures in Wonderla in written by Lewis Car roll 1865!

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wn adevnture do the biggest of Join Alice on into the magical wor ld le the ra bbit ho onderland!

W ns to ncils and pe ab your pe gr d an t t! ou ee Pr int me activity sh complete this

©Red Rose

36

tre Company Chain Thea

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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A message from the Principal As Principal of St Joseph’s College Ipswich, I have almost grown accustomed to being proud: proud of our delightful, funny, clever students, of our inspired and inspirational teachers, of our sporting and cultural successes, and of our ethos of kindness. The responsibilities of headship are certainly considerable but my job is a daily delight.

St Joseph’s holds Aspiration, Respect and Confidence as core values and all three came to the fore as the Covid-19 pandemic arrived. We were fully prepared for lockdown and I was fiercely proud as we switched from physical to online lessons, losing not a single hour of teaching time. Full timetables were maintained throughout the summer term and students are now back on our beautiful campus and thriving.

If you want to share in our pride, do visit us online at www.stjos.co.uk, and take up a place at one of our virtual events for prospective families.

Danielle Clarke Principal of St Joseph’s College Ipswich

We see BRILLIANCE in every child

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Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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Come and find out more at St Joseph’s College Prep School To find out more on our means-tested support, scholarships at Y5 entry or to book an individual appointment please visit: www.stjos.co.uk/admissions, email: admissions@stjos.co.uk or telephone: 01473 694576

We see BRILLIANCE in every child 38

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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CONTENTS CONTENTS

In This Issue

Welcome

4

Education

8

New Year’s Resolutions for Kids

10

Activities: Craft

12

Early Years

14

Outdoor Activities

16

Health

We have the dark, chilly days of winter to get through and, despite the Christmas break, many of us are feeling battle-weary and fatigued. So it’s a great time to make some New Year’s resolutions that will get the family’s health back on track, mentally and physically.

Check out our great health tips and ideas, as well as a fabulous ‘pull out’ New Year’s resolutions chart for kids on page 8.

21

Activities: Cooking

As we continue our 30th anniversary celebrations, there are lots of giveaways to come so be sure to sign up to receive free future issues of this magazine.

22 Family Life 24 Online Classes

Hang in there everyone – better times are coming!

Get in touch Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Easter activities & What’s Ons for * Win chocolates Mother’s Day & family day out tickets * Play café guide * School open days * Reader offers

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EDUCATION

Classic Free Audio Books for Kids A great way to introduce your child to these classic stories with no cost attached.

By Carlo Collodi.

Ages 3+.

The Wind in the Willows

By Kenneth Grahame.

Ages 6+.

When We Were Very Young

The Secret Garden

The Railway Children

Peter Pan

Adventures of Pinocchio

By Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Ages 8+.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

By Lewis Carroll.

Ages 4+.

42

By E. Nesbit.

Ages 8+.

Aesop’s Fables Ages 4+.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

By A.A. Milne.

All ages.

By J.M. Barrie.

Ages 8+.

The Swiss Family Robinson

By Johann David Wyss.

Ages 7+. familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Books for Navigating Tricky Times

Encouraging Constant Learning

By Smriti Halls

By Dr Cath Bishop

A book can be a friend in lonely times, a delightful escape, a comfort blanket to wrap around us when the going gets tough. As a parent, sharing this understanding with your children is one of the best gifts you can give them. Find out how.

READ MORE

“Who’s going to win?” From a young age, it seems natural to compare and compete with others. But, historically, what distinguished us from our ancestors was learning by cooperating, communicating and connecting. How can we help our children learn in this way?

READ MORE

Getting Ready for SATs in 2021

How to Improve your Child’s Concentration

By Claire Winter

By Gail Hugman

Preparing for exams is a stressful time for everybody under normal circumstances. Added to this, children’s education has been severely disrupted by Covid with pupils estimated to be at least three months behind on their learning. So how to prepare children for SATs this year?

READ MORE

If ever there was a time to help your child improve their learning skills, it’s now! Even without disrupted routines, many young children need help developing the skills of listening and concentration required in the classroom. Here’s how you can help your child.

READ MORE

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Families Suffolk: Issue 57

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EDUCATION

Learning Challenges for Kids From Bella Learning, these are open-ended, purposeful tasks, differentiated by age, that your child can do as part of home-schooling or at the weekend.

Challenge 1

Challenge 3

Create a poster.

Create a rainbow collage.

Audit your toys.

Challenge 4

Challenge 5

Challenge 6

Celebrate a story.

Make a family tree.

Make a sunshine picture.

Challenge 7

Challenge 8

Challenge 9

Create an observation chart.

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Challenge 2

Interview a relative.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

Make a treasure hunt.

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EDUCATION

Online Tutoring Providers for Primary School Children Does your child need to catch up on some learning?

Teachers to Your Home

MyTutor

Dulwich Tutors Online

Bigfoot Tutors

Tutorful

Owl Tutors

Mentor Education

Kings Tutors

Think Academy

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My New Year’s Resolutions!

This year I want to:

This year I need to:

This year I am going to start:

This year I am going to stop:

This year I am going to learn:

Signed.................................

Magazine 46

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NEW YEAR

New Year’s Resolution Ideas for Children Pre-School

Ages 5 to 8

I need to brush my teeth every morning and before going to bed.

I need to go to bed on time every night.

I need to wash my hands before every meal.

I will start eating at least three fruits and vegetables every day.

I will start doing my chores every day.

I will stop fighting with my brother/sister/others.

I will stop interrupting when someone is talking.

I will learn how to tell an adult if I see anyone being bullied.

I need to wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before I eat anything.

I am going to start tasting a new food every week.

I am going to start listening to my mum/dad.

I will learn a new word every day.

I will learn how to help clear the table when I have finished eating.

I will stop hitting my brother/ sister/others.

Ages 9 to 11

I will learn to make a simple meal.

I will learn how to tidy my room properly.

I want to choose one author and read every book they have written.

I will start having one screen free day every week.

I want to save ÂŁ20 in my piggy bank.

I need to eat fruit or vegetables with every meal.

I need to do my homework before anything else after school.

I will stop leaving my clothes on the floor. familiesonline.co.uk

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ACTIVITIES

Fabulous Crafts to Celebrate Chinese New Year 11-26 February

Easy Chinese Lantern

Egg Carton Dragon Dancing Puppet

Paper Dragon Slinkie

Dragon Mask

Chinese Lantern Suncatcher

Chinese Fan

Panda Paper Bag Puppet

Year of Ox Headband

Year of Ox Paper Plate

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ACTIVITIES

Get Moving with our Family Dance Party Playlist!

A-B-C, Easy as 1-2-3!

ABCmouse.com

Happy Pharrell Williams (feat. Minions)

Can’t Stop the Feeling!

Justin Timberlake

Gangnam Style PSY

Twist & Shout The Beatles

YMCA Village People

Dancing Queen ABBA

Who Let the Dogs Out Baha Men

Roar!

Katy Perry

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EARLY YEARS

Best Nursery Rhymes & Action Songs for Pre-Schoolers

Little Peter Rabbit Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

Baby Shark

Finger Family Song

Little Bo Peep

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Little Miss Muffet

The Ants Go Marching

Itsy Bitsy Spider

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EARLY YEARS

The Benefits of Nursery and Things to Consider

The Lowdown on Potty Training

By Gabrielle Nash

By Andrew Campbell

Choosing good quality childcare is one of the most important decisions parents make. So whether you are assessing options for returning to work or considering part time childcare for your toddler, a nursery may be what you need. So what factors should you consider?

READ MORE

There are various potty training methods and none of them are right or wrong! Each comes with advantages and disadvantages.

So it’s important to consider what style is the best fit for your family. Slow and gentle, get it over quick or somewhere in between….

READ MORE

Working with Little Ones at Home

By Dr Sarah Mundy

Like me, you may be thinking that your multi-tasking skills were pushed to the limit before Covid! Working from home whilst looking after a preschooler isn’t easy so here are my tips on maximising your work time whilst still meeting your little one’s needs.

READ MORE familiesonline.co.uk

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OUTDOORS

RSPB Bird-Related Garden Activities

Celebrate the Big Garden Birdwatch from 29 to 31 January!

Build a Bird Bath

Make a String Bird Go Bird Watching

Make a Flock of Fingers

Build a Bird Box

Go on an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Play ‘Hungry birds’ Online

Make a Recycled Bird Feeder

Make a Speedy Bird Cake

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OUTDOORS

Outside Activities Whatever the Winter Weather Rain

Wind

Float your boat. Make a boat and float it in a puddle or stream.

Wet chalk art. Rain intensifies and blurs the colours of chalk for a spectacular effect.

Make mud pies. Use old aluminium or plastic containers and have a bake off!

Gauge the rain. Make a rain gauge with a plastic bottle and keep a log.

Puddle jumping. Try jumping over, rather than in – who can jump the biggest?

Collectathon. Gather some different sized containers outside and guess which will fill first.

Fly a kite. Make one from different materials and see which works best.

Blow bubbles. Let the wind do the blowing and watch them swirl.

Parachute play. Make a toy parachute using a handkerchief and toy figurine and throw up.

Make wind chimes. Hang spoons, keys and beads from a coat hanger.

Play Frisbee. Go somewhere with lots of space and let it rip!

Make a wind sock. Attach streamers or ribbons to one end of a toilet roll holder and string to the other.

Cold

Break out the binoculars. Since leaves have fallen from trees, it’s a lot easier to spot birds and other creatures.

Take a night hike. Using torches explore your neighbourhood during these dark early evenings.

Build a campfire. Bring out hot chocolate and roast marshmallows and cook jacket potatoes in the embers.

Go stargazing. Cold nights generally mean clear skies, perfect for watching stars.

Hunt for treasure. Look for holly leaves, lichen, leaf skeletons, sticks, pinecones and acorns.

Frost art. On a frosty morning, draw or write in the frost on the pavement familiesonline.co.uk

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HEALTH

Kids’ Wellbeing Books All books can be purchased via Bookshop.org, an online bookshop with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.

First Emotions: How am I feeling?

Don’t Worry, Little Crab

The Worrysaurus

Mindful Kids

A gentle and simple A picture book working introduction to strong through anxiety and emotions for little ones. building courage.

A fun, reassuring tale about dealing with worries, by a bestselling author.

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Ollie uses superpowers to overcome school bullies.

No Worries

50 creative mindfulness Interactive self-care games/exercises to activities for children help children find calm to find happiness, calm and relaxation. and confidence.

Mind Hug: The First Ruby’s Worry: A Story Big Bright Feelings A picture book Book adventure into mindfulness.

Ollie and His Superpowers

A perceptive and poignant story.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

Worry Angels

Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers.

Ages 8+. familiesonline.co.uk

HEALTH

New Year Family Mental Health Resolutions

Five Tips for Feeling Fab in 2021

By Helen Spiers

By Karlin Sloan

On 1 January 2020, many of us made resolutions with no idea that a global catastrophe was imminent. The impact of the pandemic on our wellbeing is huge. So let’s use our 2021 resolutions to be kinder to ourselves and prioritise our family’s mental health.

READ MORE

From the Covid-19 pandemic to the wave of economic loss, personal loneliness, isolation, and deep uncertainty about what’s in store, this is a time when even the toughest of us can find ourselves struggling.

Here are some ideas to get you get back on track.

READ MORE

Eating for Immunity

By Claire Winter

Maintaining a balanced diet can be difficult in a world where unhealthy and processed foods are advertised frequently and are convenient. But during the pandemic, it is more important than ever to eat well and stay hydrated. How do you start off on the right foot?

READ MORE familiesonline.co.uk

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HEALTH

Support Your Child’s Mental Health Help your child to understand how they are feeling and why with these free downloadable resources from PlanBee.

Feelings and Emotions Cards

These cards will get your child thinking and talking about feelings.

Design your Own Emotion Emojis

Your child can draw emojis that represent their feelings.

Worry Monster Activity Sheets

Help your child deal with their emotions.

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Mood Tracker

Children can express emotions they are experiencing by colouring in an object.

Synonym Emotions Booklet

Identify words that are similar to emotions like angry, sad and happy.

Draw the Emotion

Feeling Check-in Cards

Emoji Emotion Faces Cards

Mindfulness Colouring Sheets

Challenge your children Check in with your to think about how different emotions are child and see what they are feeling. expressed facially.

Ask your child to talk about when they’ve felt these feelings.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

Perfect to help young minds relax.

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HEALTH

Six Steps to Good Mental Health Help support your child’s mental health with these steps from PlanBee. Name emotions and feelings This helps your child develop a vocabulary to explain their feelings.

Explain the physical sensations Help your child recognise how different emotions feel physically.

Understand when/why Once your child can spot/name their emotions, help them understand the triggers.

Help regulate Once they understand the source of an emotion, help them regulate.

Keep everyone safe When feeling a big emotion, your

child’s brain doesn’t work in the same way as when they are calm.

Help them stay safe and maintain boundaries.

Once your child is calm, relate Listen, empathise and share similar experiences to help them understand their feelings and know you care.

Example of Steps 1-3

Example of Steps 4-6

Name/Explain/Understand

Regulate/Keep Everyone Safe/ Relate

Name “I can see you are really angry.”

Regulate “Take a deep breath with me.”

Explain “Your face is scrunched up and your fists are clenched.

Keep Everyone Safe “I cannot let you hit me. If you need to get your anger out, try hitting this cushion.”

Understand “I am wondering if you are angry because someone didn’t let you play.”

Relate “Once I was so angry I wanted to throw things. Your grandad helped me calm down by giving me playdough to squeeze.”

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FAMILY LIFE

Find ‘Me-Time’ and Achieve your Goals

Vegan Food for the Family – By Stealth!

By Carina Lawson

By Louise Palmer-Masterton

The pandemic arrived like a whirlwind, changing the way we live. Whilst it is still here, we have to make sure we and our families are motivated to stay on top of things and enjoy life as best we can. Here are some tips.

In my view, the way to win hearts and minds to veganism is by serving ridiculously delicious vegan food! But children can be notoriously difficult nuts to crack food wise and it helps to master the art of getting healthy food in by ‘stealth!’

READ MORE

READ MORE

Family Fitness

By Claire Winter

It’s easy to use excuses like ‘too tired’ or ‘too busy’ to exercise. Exercising through the pandemic, with gyms and sports clubs often closed, is challenging. But regular exercise promotes physical and mental health in many ways. How can your family get fit this year?

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FAMILY LIFE

9 Best Pancake Recipes for Shrove Tuesday Experiment with some pancake-making on and around 16 February!

Banana Pancakes

Fluffy Black Forest Pancakes

Vegan Pancakes

Flourless Rainbow Pancakes

Upside-Down Pineapple Pancakes

Teddy Bear Pancakes

Mary Berry’s Easy Drop Scones

Easy Pancakes

Baby’s First Pancakes

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FAMILY LIFE

Handling Co-Parenting Differences

The Guilty Parent Syndrome

By Rebecca Giraud and Bob Greig

By Dr Jan MacGregor Hepburn

Co-parenting is not easy, mistakes can and will be made but it’s the effort that we as parents put in that will really be of long-term benefit to our children. After all, loving our children is what we have in common with our ex-partner.

READ MORE

As a parent, do you feel constantly guilty? About what you’ve said/done or not said/ done? If so, you’d be forgiven for thinking that guilt and parenting must be inextricably linked. And you would be right! BUT they don’t have to be…....

READ MORE

Embracing your Inner Child

Special 15% Discount!

By Ed James, Mark and Nicky Taylor

Despite your intentions to parent your kids differently to the way you were parented, they probably view your parenting style in much the same way. But imagine the difference if you could combine the essential parts of adulthood and still be in touch with your inner child....

READ MORE 60

101 Questions Answered About Separating with Children has become an indispensable guide to divorce/ separation for parents.

To mark the publication of the second edition, enjoy an exclusive 15% discount for Families readers from Only Mums and Only Dads. Use code FM10121 here.

With legal help, tips and insights from professionals and parents, this book will save you time and money.

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FAMILY LIFE

The Impact of Covid-19 on Working Mums

By Mandy Garner The Covid-19 pandemic has been hard for many individuals and groups, with working mums, particularly single working mums, being one of them.

But the picture is complex. Women dominate in many of the most risky frontline sectors such as health, social care and education and in some of the hardest hit sectors such as hospitality and retail. Parttime jobs, traditionally done by women, have seen a precipitous fall, BUT women are less likely to be unemployed than men and many have gone into full-time roles.

Then there is self-employment which has seen a big decline. A recent report from IPSE and Starling Bank showed women freelancers have been hardest hit financially by late payments of money owed to them and the associated mental impact and women-led businesses have suffered disproportionately.

What is clear is that the impact of childcare problems during the pandemic has been most keenly felt by women, with countless studies, including our own surveys, showing women have been carrying most of the childcare/home schooling burden, despite dads increasing their input generally.

Our latest survey shows lockdown restrictions and school or year group closures are still causing huge challenges.

READ MORE

Bella Learning Games

Fun educational games to download, print and play.

Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 Packs

Available Now!

For examples, tips and advice, find Bella Learning Games on Facebook and Instagram.

www.bellalearning.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

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ONLINE CLASSES

Live and Pre-Recorded Online Classes for Kids

Singing Hands

Live online baby/ toddler signing sessions.

Kidslingo LIVE

Mother Nature Little Gym at Home Science Online Club Online pre-recorded Live online science activity classes.

Ages 4-12.

gymnastics based activities.

Ages 4mths-12yrs.

Tots Play

SA Dance

Live online language classes. Ages 0-11.

Live online baby and toddler play classes.

Live online dance classes. Ages 2½+.

Teddies Online Music Club

La Jolie Ronde

Parrot Street Book Club

Pre-recorded online musical fun and arty ideas for under 5s.

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Live online French and Spanish classes.

Ages 5-11.

Families Suffolk: Issue 57

Monthly subscription book club.

Ages 5-11. familiesonline.co.uk

ONLINE CLASSES

Live and Pre-Recorded Online Classes for Kids

Lingotot

The Place

Funky Moves

Live online language classes.

Ages 0-12.

Live online dance classes. Ages 4-18.

Live online yoga and ballet classes.

Ages 4-11.

Tiger Crane Kung Fu

Music Monsters

Smart Raspberry Cookery School

Live online martial arts classes. Ages 5+.

Go Sketch Club

Live online and prerecorded drawing and painting classes.

Ages 7-12.

Live online piano lessons. Ages 3-18.

Funky Monkeys Keyboard Classes Online pre-recorded tutorial programme.

Ages 4-12.

familiesonline.co.uk

Live online cookery classes. Ages 2+.

Bright Light Creative Writing Live online creative writing courses.

Ages 6-11.

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Now from age 2 to Reception

Up to 30 hours funded childcare from age 3 For further information please call 01473 694576 or visit www.stjos.co.uk

We see BRILLIANCE in every child 64

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