Families Thames Valley West September/October 21

H ME KE TA

EE FR E OM

Thames Valley West

IN THIS ISSUE

Back to school Getting the job you really want Half Term and Halloween days out

Issue 114 September/October 2021

familiesonline.co.uk

...endless ideas for families of young children in Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham Families® Thames Valley West • Issue 114 • September/October 2021 Visit us at www.familiesonline.co.uk

In this issue...

4-6

News and views

7

Meet the Head

8

Education news

9

Open days

10-11 Getting the job you really

want 12

Starting a business – the practicalities made easy

14-15 Clubs and classes directory

and news 16-18 What’s on 19

Help for your child

20

Fun and games with maths

21

Changes to the new Early Years framework

23

Top Halloween pranks for families.

Hello (and goodbye) from the Edit or...

Back to school time is suddenly upon us, and many families are considering next steps for their child’s education journey. Don’t miss our Open Days guide and features about everything from the new Early Years framework to having fun with maths.

Now the summer is behind us, the plans begin for October half term. Our What’s On guide contains dozens of ideas to make the most of the new freedoms, and some great spooky Halloween events.

We’ve had some fantastic feedback on our new career features and, in this issue, will be asking local academic publisher, Taylor & Francis, how you can get the job you really want. Our experts also offer their advice on making the practicalities of starting a business easy.

This is my last issue as editor.

The magazine is being taken over by the wonderful Lesley Chambers and I look forward to seeing her taking Families Thames Valley West from strength to strength. A huge

thank you to all the readers, advertisers, collaborators and suppliers who have supported my little business – it’s been a real pleasure!

Rachel x.

The Families team...

Editor: Rachel Jones Production: Ridgeway Press 01256 300420 www.ridgewaypress.co.uk Next issue: Nov / Dec 2021 – Christmas Booking deadline: 1 October 2021

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Families Thames Valley West To advertise: If you are reading this, so are your customers! We can help you reach an audience of over 47,000 parents in Reading, Henley, Newbury, Wokingham, Bracknell and West Berkshire. Drop us a line at editor@familiestvw.co.uk to find out how we can help support your family friendly business!

Families Thames Valley West 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 Thames Valley West are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Thames Valley West. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but 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.

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Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 3

NEWS AND VIEWS

Mini Maestros is coming to Burghfield and Caversham!

Did you know that music can help to develop speech, motor skills, social skills and more?

There are lots of ways to enjoy music with your baby or toddler, from dancing to familiar tunes to singing lullabies at bedtime. If you love live music, however, Berkshire Maestros Mini Maestros classes are the perfect choice. With real musical instruments (anything from a flute to a cello!) and qualified teachers, they nurture a love of music through play, sharing and lots of swinging, tickling and cuddles.

Chase your dreams Most of us spend a lot of time and money on our outward appearance to look our best, but how much time and attention do we devote to achieving our internal happiness and wellbeing?

To many, the pandemic has been a stark reminder how precious and limited our time really is, and Berkshire-based life coach Gillian Billington of Dream Ladder Coaching believes many people are now starting to reassess their lives.

Says Gillian: “With ever increasingly busy lives, many of us do not stop to think about our goals in life and spend our time either in catchup mode or think we will only be happy when we have achieved a certain milestone rather than being happy right now. Others become lost along the way, feel overwhelmed or overthink the process, never moving forward.”

Her solution is a style of coaching that provides space and dedicated time, tools, and strategies to help establish a sense of purpose and direction, and to get you from where you are today to where you really want to be.

Gillian offers a free 15-minute session to assess how she can help.

Dreamladdercoaching.com

New classes are opening in September in Caversham (Milestone Centre) and Burghfield (St Mary’s Church Hall) for babies and toddlers from birth to three years old.

Free family fun with Heritage Open Days Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture. This year’s festival will run from 10 to 19 September and feature more than 1,000 free events.

Every year in September, places across the country that are either not usually open to the public or would normally charge an entry fee, throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history.

There will also be hundreds of FREE interactive activities for children, including dressing up, craft, woodland walks and railway rides.

Co-ordinated nationally by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, the celebration brings together thousands of organisations and properties across England.

Across Berkshire, events include Hungerford Heritage Market and an opportunity to see Reading’s Green Park wind turbine up close and personal, find out what it does and experience a few experiments. heritageopendays.org.uk

Term time lessons!

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4 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

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NEWS AND VIEWS

World’s biggest coffee morning returns

Pandemic causes surge in home education The number of children registering for home education in the UK rose by seventy five percent in the first eight months of the last school year, according to BBC research.

of more than two hundred percent. Simultaneously, an online independent school that educates children virtually at home has seen a doubling in size.

More than forty thousand pupils were formally taken out of school in the UK between September 2020 and April 2021, compared with an average of twenty three thousand over the previous two years.

The rapid rise, generally attributed to parental health fears and worries that their children’s learning would suffer because of the pandemic, comes as the government has announced plans to require home educating parents to sign up to a mandatory register. bbc.co.uk/news/education

Some of the country’s largest local authorities reported increases

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan Cancer Support’s biggest fundraising event for people facing cancer and is dedicated to bringing people together over a cuppa to raise vital funds.

This year’s official event date is 24 September but Coffee Mornings can be held at any time.

Before Covid-19, many patients told Macmillan that being diagnosed

with cancer and going through treatment was the scariest thing that they could imagine. These anxieties and concerns have only increased during the pandemic, meaning that Macmillan needs support from the British public more than ever to continue to provide the crucial support needed by people living with cancer.

More info: coffee.macmillan.org.uk

Jeans for Genes Day Jeans for Genes Day is a chance to raise money for children affected by a genetic disorder. From 13 to 19 September, get your nursery, school or workplace to wear their jeans and raise funds to support children with genetic disorders.

Around one in twenty five children are affected by a genetic disorder,

with thirty thousand babies and children newly diagnosed in the UK each year. Jeans for Genes Day is an annual fundraising event for Genetic Disorders UK which is a charity that aims to provide support to the individuals and families affected by genetic disorders.

More info: jeansforgenes.org

New free GetOutside App Keep your children happily occupied outside with the new FREE GetOutside app from Ordnance Survey.

The free GetOutside app helps you instantly find ideas and information on things to do outside wherever you are, from a short walk or child friendly cycle paths to a playground. For activities near you,

6 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

simply search by activity type. Or if you're visiting somewhere new, search by location.

You can also share your favourite finds with friends and family.

The GetOuside app is available FREE on Android and iOS. More info: getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

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Meet THE head

Thomas Garnier has been the Head at Pangbourne College for 16 years. He lives with his wife Alex and their two sons on the beautiful 230-acre site, which was where the school was established in 1917. Originally set up to train boys to become naval officers, it moved on to become a mainline independent day / boarding school more than 50 years ago and has been co-educational since the 1990s.

How would you summarise the Pangbourne College ethos?

We are interested in who our young people turn out to be as much as in the qualifications they gain. Ours is a caring community where every individual matters, and we want to see them flourish – to love learning, develop values, skills, experience and ultimately to be able to make a positive difference to the world. We see evidence of our values in the way pupils behave towards each other and how they respond when things go wrong.

How well has the school (and indeed its pupils) coped with the added stresses that the pandemic has thrown at you all?

I think we have coped very well.

From the first day of the first lockdown we were able to go fully online with live lessons thanks to work that had been going on previously. Online learning has gone exceptionally well and we have had lots of good feedback from parents. I think we have emerged from the pandemic in good shape and there are aspects of the experience that we have definitely learned from.

How do you balance the drive for academic achievement with personal growth and wider skills?

Our curriculum is structured to help us achieve the right balance. The academic curriculum is obviously the largest part of what we do, but subjects outside that are very important and they come together in our ‘Challenge Curriculum’, which includes the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Combined Cadet Force. We also run a ‘Taking Responsibility’ course in Year 12 to encourage leadership, and in Year 13 we ask our final year students to mentor younger pupils. That’s where we see the most growth happening as the older pupils reach out to the younger ones - so they grow too.

For many years, your pupils numbered around 200 but that has since grown to double that and you have become co-educational. Has that big increase in size worked out well for you?

The growth since we went fully coeducational in 1996 has been mainly in girls and that has been a very good thing for the school. We had 457 pupils on the roll last term, which I think is small enough to know everyone yet large enough to provide opportunities and generate sufficient resources.

There has been a lot of emphasis recently on the mental health of young people. How do you ensure that your pupils cope?

It’s been a challenging time for all of us but particularly difficult for young people in coping with all the uncertainty and change plus periods of isolation. Seeing so much online, they have inevitably worried about what’s going on that is outside their control. We benefit from strong pastoral care and place great emphasis on thinking about others.

We provide opportunities to engage through talks and workshops. We have also introduced a wellbeing hub to enable pupils to find out more about things that might be worrying them, and we have created a new role for an Assistant Head responsible for pupil mental wellbeing.

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You have around 50% boarders. Do your day pupils get the same value from school life?

We have 40 to 45% boarders overall but increasing from 25% in Year 7 to around 75% in Year 13 . Neither day pupils nor boarders dominate so it integrates very well. Most of our activities take place within the school day and we have sufficient events outside of school hours which involve everyone.

Yours is a school that still has a lot of ceremonial traditions. Are they still as relevant as they once were?

The commitment isn’t as great as it used to be but we maintain enough of it so that we can do it well. We host seven or eight major events each year that have a ceremonial aspect. We feel it’s a tradition that gives a lot to the students and they have made clear to me that it’s not for touching. The benefits they get from it include self-discipline, team work, leadership opportunities and (most of all) a strong sense of community.

What more would you like the school to achieve in the next five years?

It is going to be an exciting time as the world settles into the new normal. We are spending the next year working up a new development plan which will include growing to about 500 pupils which is a size we

think will enable us to do more. We also want to build on our reputation by making sure that our teaching is of the highest quality. I would also like to broaden our catchment a bit. We are sometimes described as Berkshire’s best kept secret - I would like to share that secret a bit more widely!

An Independent Prep School for Boys & Girls aged 3-13

Please visit our website to learn more or contact Kate Spooner admissions@dolphinschool.com www.dolphinschool.com 0118 934 1277 Waltham Road, Hurst, Berkshire, RG10 0FR

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 7

EDUCATION NEWS

Farmyard friends join St Joseph’s infants Early Years and Reception pupils at St Joseph’s College were given the opportunity to pet and feed some fluffy friends as part of a mobile farm that visited during Enrichment Week. The farmyard friends ranged in size from tiny mice to a Shetland pony and a baby calf.

St Joseph’s offers a whole range of trips and activities throughout their

school journey, from visiting farms and country parks to minibeast workshops.

During Enrichment Week, pupils across the school also enjoyed a range of other exciting opportunities including a circus skills workshop, nature trail, a big party, trip to Legoland, healthy eating day and adventurous pursuits on the river.

Top accolades for Waverley Nursery Celebrations are in order for Waverley Nursery, which has been awarded not one, but two, industry awards. Quality Counts is the National Day Nurseries Association quality improvement scheme. It showcases nurseries that reflect on, review and improve their practice to the highest quality standards. Wokingham-based Waverley Nursery achieved the Platinum award, which is the highest level.

Millie’s Mark was awarded for all Waverley's educators and teachers consistently completing their 12 hours Paediatric First Aid training, in recognition of the nursery going above and beyond to keep children safe.

Mr Shore, Head of Waverley

Preparatory School and Nursery, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received these two awards in quick succession. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of our nursery team, particularly through such a challenging period. Our nursery delivers an exceptional standard of care which is constantly reviewed, assessed and updated by our team. These awards reflect this incredible dedication to provide the very best care for our children and peace of mind for parents.”

Waverley Nursery has limited places left for children joining in 2021 and places are now being allocated for children joining in 2022.

Oak Tree Day Nursery goes green At the three-time Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Oak Tree Day Nursery in Finchampstead, practitioners are on a mission to give children the best possible start in life. For the team of professionals at the setting on Nine Mile Ride, each child from six weeks to nearly five years is unique, and this individuality is actively celebrated. From imaginative learning spaces to state-of-the-art ICT, toys and equipment, children’s days are filled with exciting activities which are planned around their personal interests. In the garden outside, pre-schoolers are able to immerse themselves in activities such as vegetable planting and insect observations, for which the nursery has gained a prestigious ‘Green Flag’ award as part of the international Eco-Schools scheme.

Oak Tree is also accredited with the sought-after ‘Food for Life Served Here’ award, which acknowledges the use of ethically sourced

ingredients, and has recently gone ‘climate positive’ after saving more greenhouse gas emissions than it generates.

For more information, contact the nursery on 0118 973 3231 or email at Oaktree.nursery@childbase.com

Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney

8 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

Leighton Park rewarded for community support Leighton Park School has been recognised for its support of front-line workers during the pandemic with a prestigious award. The Independent Schools’ Association (ISA) selected the Reading school as the winner of its Award for Outstanding Local Community Involvement.

Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, CEO of ISA, said; “Leighton Park School’s contribution to its local community is outstanding, most notably its work during the pandemic to support various front-line workers. As an association, we are delighted to be able to recognise this work through our ISA Awards. Well done to everyone at the school.”

At Leighton Park, the school’s Quaker values focus activities into building young people of real character and confidence, with a determined desire to change the world. A sense of responsibility, a commitment to helping others and a determination to make a difference is the beating heart of the school.

Head, Matthew Judd, added: “This is in recognition of the work we have been doing for the last year in outreach and partnership.”

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OPEN DAYS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 Schools across the Thames Valley are still keen to show prospective families what they can offer. At the time of going to press, the details in this feature were correct, but government guidelines continue to change so please make contact with each school to check the details and to book your place if required.

OXFORDSHIRE MOULSFORD PREPARATORY SCHOOL (independent boys day & boarding school 4-13yrs), 01491 651 438, moulsford.com Open day: Fri 24 Sept 9am-2pm, and open morning: Sat 25 Sept 8-11am.

THE ORATORY PREPARATORY SCHOOL (independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 2-13), 0118 984 4511, oratoryprep.co.uk For more information about the Autumn open day, please contact Mrs Aktinson: c.atkinson@oratoryprep.co.uk.

CRANFORD HOUSE (a non-selective independent day school for girls aged 3 to 16 and boys aged 3 to 11) 01491 651218 cranfordhouse.net Whole school open morning: Sat 9 Oct. Please register your place in advance by emailing admissions@cranfordhouse.net.

READING THE ABBEY (independent day school for girls aged 3-18), Junior School 0118 931 3111, Senior School 0118 987 2256, theabbey.co.uk Senior School Open Evenings: Thurs 23 and 30 Sept 5.30-8.30pm Junior School Open Morning: Fri 1 Oct 9am-12pm LEIGHTON PARK SCHOOL (independent co-ed day and boarding 11-18yrs), 0118 987 9608, leightonpark.com Annual open morning: Sat 25 Sept 9-11am.

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Weekday open mornings: Tues 12 Oct and 9 Nov 9.15-11.15am Taster Days for Year 7 entry: Thurs 14 Oct and Tues 16 Nov To book, please visit leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE (independent coed day school 3-18yrs), 0118 966 1000, sjcr.org.uk Early years open morning: Wed 22 Sept 9.30-10.30am Years 7-11 open morning: Wed 22 Sept 10.30am-12pm Years 7-11 open evening: Thurs 7 Oct 6.30-9pm.

Online bookings at sjcr.org.uk QUEEN ANNE’S CAVERSHAM (independent girls day & boarding school 11-18yrs), 0118 918 7300, qas.org.uk Open day: Sat 11 Sept. To book a place, visit qas.org.uk.

DOLPHIN SCHOOL (independent day school and nursery for boys and girls 3-13 years), 0118 934 1277 dolphinschool.com Families are welcomed to book private tours. Please contact Kate Spooner at admissions@dolphinschool.com

SOUTH OF READING CROSFIELDS SCHOOL (independent coed day school 3-16yrs), 0118 987 1810, crosfields.com Junior School open event: Tues 28 Sept 9am

Senior School open evening: Thurs 23 Sept 6pm WAVERLEY PREPARATORY SCHOOL (independent prep school and day nursery for boys and girls 3 months-11yrs), 0118 973 1121, waverleyschool.co.uk Prospective parents are invited to contact the Admissions team on admissions@waverleyschool.co.uk to arrange a 1-2-1 visit or to a 1-2-1 virtual tour.

WEST BERKSHIRE BROCKHURST & MARLSTON HOUSE SCHOOL, Hermitage (independent boys (Brockhurst) and girls (Marlston House) day and boarding prep school 2-13yrs), 01635 200 293, brockmarl.org.uk Please contact Rachel Harper, Head of Admissions (r.harper@brockmarl.org) for information or to arrange an individual tour.

PANGBOURNE COLLEGE (independent co-ed day and boarding school 11-18yrs), 0118 984 2101, pangbourne.com Whole college open morning: Sat 18 Sept Dunbar (Year 7) Open morning: Saturday 16 Oct Pre-book: 0118 984 2101 or admissions@pangbourne.com www.pangbourne.com DOWNE HOUSE (independent day and boarding school for girls), 01635 200286, downehouse.net

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Open mornings: Sat 11 Sept and Sat 9 Oct (virtual). Visit downehouse.net or contact our Registrar at registrar@downehouse.net ELSTREE SCHOOL (independent day and boarding co-ed school 3-13yrs), 01189 713 302, elstreeschool.org.uk Open mornings: Sat 2 Oct and Sat 16 Oct, 10am to 12pm (pre-prep and prep).

Contact the Registrar for more information: registrar@elstreeschool.org.uk ST ANDREWS PANGBOURNE (independent co-ed day & boarding school 3-13yrs), 0118 974 4726, standrewspangbourne.co.uk Open morning: Fri 1 Oct. Book your line online or contact Director of Admissions, Jane Taylor: TaylorJ@standrewspangbourne.co.uk or 0118 974 4276

WOKINGHAM LUCKLEY HOUSE SCHOOL (independent co-ed day & boarding school 11-18yrs), 0118 978 4175, luckleyhouseschool.org Open morning: Sat 2 Oct 9am. luckleyhouseschool.org or contact the Registrar: registrar@luckleyhouseschool.org.

REDDAM HOUSE BERKSHIRE (independent day and boarding co-ed school, 3 months to Sixth Form), +44 118 974 8300 Open morning: Sat 18 Sep, 10am-12pm.

Individual visits also welcomed during term-time. Contact the Registrar for more information: registrar@reddamhouse.org.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 9

Getting the job Making the decision to go back to work after starting a family is just the start of a process that’s full of challenges. In our last issue, Sarah Parascandolo, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at international academic publishers Taylor & Francis gave us some top tips to help you clarify your thinking.

Here, she takes you through exactly how to secure the job that’s right for you.

Sarah went back to work after having daughter Alice (5), and now shares childcare with partner Gary. As she told us in our previous feature, many companies are now open to taking on employees who want to work at least part-time from home.

The job market is a competitive one right now but Sarah insists that if you do your research well and adopt the right approach to selling the strengths you already have, you will have every chance of landing a truly fulfilling role.

‘Beyond all else, you need to have confidence in yourself and your abilities,’ she says. It’s important to recognise that if you worked before having children then you will have retained those skills – and don’t underestimate the added ones you will have developed as a result of parenthood and running a family.

Think about your organisational skills, time management, communication and the way in which you have influenced your children.

Those are really important in the jobs market, so don’t just gloss over them.

‘Also think about the extra curriculum activities you may have done, for example, serving as a school governor or doing charity work of some sort – these all provide rich experiences you can demonstrate to employers. If you want to boost your experiences, you might think also about voluntary projects you could take on now that will help to strengthen your CV – schools in particular are keen for people to give time in a variety of ways and you build skills by doing them.’

How your CV bolsters your chances Creating or updating a CV is a task that worries many people in a return-to-work situation.

Sarah works her way through many

applications in her role with Taylor & Francis and advises keeping the CV to no more than two pages.

disheartened if you don’t make it through this stage – it’s a competitive market and you need to stick with it.’

Armed with your CV, you then need to find roles that would suit you. Sarah’s advice is to do plenty of research using the facilities on offer from LinkedIn, Glassdoor and other websites to build your contacts, develop your profile and explore content about companies.

Building a relationship with local job agencies and spending time studying businesses’ own websites and understanding what makes them tick are also great routes to finding the perfect role.

She adds: ‘When the time comes for an interview, it will help if you have asked a friend to do a mock session with you first. Prepare your one-minute personal pitch and practice it.

You will probably have limited time, so if they ask you to talk about yourself don’t spend too much of it on your GCSEs! Make sure you have some questions ready – it’s often worth asking the interviewers what they like about the company. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the interview is not to fall down on the basics by getting the company’s name wrong or showing that you haven’t understood what it does.’

‘You may not have to send a cover letter with your CV, but if you do it’s important to tailor it to the company and the ad you are responding to,’ advises Sarah. ‘If they use certain language in their ad or on their website try to get that into your letter or CV.’ Best foot forward in interviews Like a lot of companies, Taylor & Francis uses pre-screen interviews (questions appear on screen and you have a set time to answer each one) to narrow down sometimes large fields of applicants. ‘Make sure you have thought about what you want to say about yourself and your experience in advance,’ says Sarah. ‘Don’t be

10 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

Sarah adds: ‘If you have gaps or short stays on your CV just be honest, but don’t be too negative about the company you have worked for or someone you have worked with. It’s fine to explain that you didn’t get the development you needed.'

And her overriding advice? ‘Be yourself, value the skills you have learned from becoming a parent – and be persistent.’

Careers in Taylor & Francis https://taylorandfrancis.com/careers

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you really want Tips to make it work...

We asked Sarah’s colleague Phil Haseldine, Director of Business Planning and Reporting at Taylor & Francis, for best tips for those returning to work in finding true fulfilment.

Will it make you happy?

‘It’s probably obvious, but picking a profession that will make you happy is the first priority,’ he says. ‘Unless you have a chance of enjoying it, it really will be a waste of time. Not a lot of people take the time to evaluate where they are and where they want to be. So, create a long term mission and plan towards it. It’ll never happen without a plan.’

‘Also, come prepared with the right answers Use examples of situations in a professional environment that have been both successes and failures. This preparation, will make for a more relaxed conversation. Personality and demonstrating team work are good attributes to make a first impression, and will go a long way in the interviewer(s) decision making process.’

Take time out ‘Even though lockdown has enforced home working and I get to see my family a lot, it’s not always quality time. So, I’ve started to pause and spend time with the family each day even if it is before the end of the working day. I can always come back to finish off any work later, but it helps just to decompress sometimes.’

Be honest at interview ‘I guess my overriding advice, is to be authentic and honest. Talk about what you enjoy and if something hasn’t worked for you in the past say so in a constructive manner.

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Perfect your CV ‘A concise CV is key when submitting for a job.

There is an optimal level of displaying the most amount of information into the least amount of space. So, use every word and format wisely.

After the first one to two pages, everything else gets lost.’

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 11

Starting a business – the practicalities made easy

By Riina Trkulja

Starting your own business is incredibly exciting. Nevertheless, many people are unclear about the legalities and structures they need. Here are the key things to consider.

Company structure The most common legal forms your business can take are sole trader or limited company. A company is a separate legal entity from you and liability will be limited by shares, so if someone sues you, the company will be liable and your personal assets are protected.

Whereas, as a sole trader or partnership, you are personally liable, meaning if someone successfully sues you, any personal assets you own, including your house could be used to repay business debt.

Because limited companies offer the above personal protection, they must disclose accounts and a confirmation statement annually to Companies House where they can be accessed by anyone for free.

They must also submit a corporation tax return to HMRC annually. This is not made public.

Bear in mind that the deadline to file a return is 12 months after the year end but the deadline to pay is only 9 months and 1 day after the year end.

A sole trader is only required to disclose its income and profits on a

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Self-Assessment tax return due by 31 January annually. This information isn’t made public.

In terms of tax payable, there’s little difference between sole trader and limited company on income levels up to £50,000.

Other considerations VAT. You must register when your VAT-able turnover exceeded £85,000 over the last 12 months or if you expect your income to exceed £85,000 in the next 30 day period. Sometimes it might be useful to register earlier or speak to a specialist about one of the many VAT schemes.

Insurance. Service providers usually have Professional Indemnity insurance and Public Liability insurance is necessary if you are servicing the public in your building. Speak to an insurance broker to get specific advice for your business.

Data protection. If you collect and process people’s personal data, you will need to register with the ICO. To find out more, visit ico.org.uk or get specialist advice.

Becoming an employer. Even if you are a sole director of your limited company, you will have to register as an employer if you decide to pay yourself a salary. Find out more at gov.uk/registeremployer

12 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

Bookkeeping – do I need an accountant?

Bookkeeping is simply tracking all your incoming revenue and outgoing expenditure regularly and matching them to the bank statement. You can do it using Excel (or similar) first, depending on the amount and type of transactions. Or you can select an accounting programme like Xero or cheaper alternatives. If you have a limited company, it’s best to speak to an accountant before you choose.

Retain your receipts and invoices from suppliers and invoices you issue to clients. It is a legal requirement to keep track of your records if you are operating a business, but if you have a cloudbased drive and keep all your records digitally, then there is no requirement to keep paper records.

If you are concerned about spending valuable start-up capital on an accountant, bear in mind that having one doesn’t mean spending lots of money immediately. You can do your bookkeeping and basic admin yourself and get your accountant to manage the annual accounts and tax return which are due nine to twelve months after the year end.

Riina Trkulja is founder of Accounts Assistants (accountsassistants.co.uk) which offers quality bookkeeping, accounting and financial advice for small businesses.

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One of the country’s foremost independent girls’ schools from 3-18

The Abbey invites you to attend you of our forthcoming Open Events: Junior School - 1 October, 9.00am - 12 noon Senior School - 23 September, 5.30pm-8.30pm Sixth Form - 30 September, 5.30pm-8.30pm

To register your place, please visit:

www.theabbey.co.uk/events

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Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 13

Drama and theatre arts

Clubs and classes directory Regular clubs, classes and out of school activities give your child a chance to shine and for you to have fun together, and there really is plenty of variety to choose from. Here are a few of our favourites for babies, toddlers and school-aged children. Do check latest details directly with each provider as some elements may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more clubs and classes in your area, check out familiesonline.co.uk Developmental classes

Master Builders Club Brick Building Workshops for Children proud winners of the Every Giggle 2020 Award for Best Paid For Activity For Primary School Children In The South East Weekend and holiday workshops, after school clubs, birthday parties and nursery/primary school events are designed to provide children with an exciting and captivating experience.

Gym, sport and swimming GR Swimming Schools – children’s swimming lessons from 3yrs in Newbury, Thatcham, & Pangbourne. Places for non-swimmers through to advanced academy levels. Also holiday crash courses in swimming, diving and coming soon SYNCHRO!! Uniquely structured lessons, following Swim England Award Scheme.

01635 34862 swimlessons.co.uk Reading Swimming Club – formed in 1885, the club offers a structured learn to swim programme, squad training for all ages and competition opportunities from within the club, up through to county, regional and national level. We are keen to welcome new members of all ages and abilities.

Please contact readingswimclub.org or email info@readingswimclub.org

Fun workshops start with a short story which Master Builders ‘bring to life’ through the LEGO® models they build.

Thousands of LEGO® bricks are supplied in a calm and supportive environment along with the imaginative stimulus to transform a room into a world of creativity. If you are passionate about providing engaging and stimulating play opportunities that nurture your child's mind, Master Builders Club is for you!

Music & dance

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RABBLE theatre – Reading’s leading

The Academy of Magic – created by Radek Hoffman, an international magician with 15 years of experience in the art of magic. The Academy of Magic shares Radek’s enthusiasm for entertainment and performance with young magicians through weekly online lessons. Fun and exciting after school clubs instil confidence, nurture self-esteem and help to develop children’s social skills.

Visit radekhoffman.com for more information or to sign up for a free trial session.

Suitable for children aged 8+.

Portuguese Language Club – offering tuition to help you talk fluently in Portuguese, but we don’t stop there. For us, it’s all about you and ensuring that you enjoy your stay with us whilst also making sure that your Portuguese language skills are vastly improved. We offer a range of services to suit all needs; including one-to-one and group lessons, in-school clubs, holiday Portuguese and GSCE and A Level tuition. Based in Tilehurst, Berkshire.

Contact Maria on 07427630331, 0118 942 4591, info@portugueselanguageclub.co.uk, portugueselanguageclub.co.uk

Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow – COVID secure, fun, energetic theatre classes for 3½ to 18yrs. Dance, drama, singing, tap, street dance, pop styles and musical theatre. Regular awardwinning classes in Wokingham and Woodley, plus summer schools. Call Shelley on 07970 034 488, or email shelley@steppinoutstars.co.uk, steppinoutstars.co.uk Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes – confidence-building fun for 4-12s. A unique mix of drama games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination. Classes are delivered in line with government COVID-19 guidelines. Visit perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class. Venues: Newbury, Twyford, Caversham, Earley, Wokingham, Winnersh, Crowthorne, Henley-on-Thames and Goring.

Contact: 020 7255 9120,

award-winning after-school drama enquiries@perform.org.uk, perform.org.uk classes for kids who love to ACT! Burghfield, Tilehurst, Lower Earley, Mortimer and Wokingham. High-energy classes mean that students never get bored, can't wait to get to class and develop confidence, creativity and focus.

Free trial class and a Pay-As-You-Go option for infants. Ages 5+. Full listing of available classes, prices and venues at: https://stageability.class4kids.co.uk Come and join the fun!

E: jackie@berkshire.stageability.co.uk M: 07721 565898 T: 0118 933 3791

professional theatre company. Runs LAMDA classes in Public speaking, Verse & Prose and Acting. Classes run at Kendrick school 5-6pm on Tuesdays for 6-18yrs.

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RABBLE also runs private lessons online and in person.

Contact dani@rabbletheatre.com

Berkshire Maestros – fun, lively music classes for children from birth to seven years led by professional musicians and using a wide range of inspiring resources and real instruments.

Lots of singing, dancing, games and playing instruments, building confidence and friendships, as well as developing creative, intellectual, physical, social and emotional skills. Classes in Lambourn (Tue), Hampstead Norreys (Wed), Arborfield (Thu), Woolhampton (Fri), Reading (Thu/Sat), Emmer Green (Fri) and Newbury (Sat).

Session times and more details at: berkshiremaestros.org.uk/mini_maestros_ma in.html or email admin@berkshiremaestros.org.uk

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new members invited to join. We are a non-auditioned youth choir and rehearse every Thursday in term time.

Juniors (7-11 yrs) from 5.30-6.15pm, Seniors (12-17 yrs) from 6.15-7pm.

Location: d:two Community Centre in central Henley-on-Thames.

Costs are £55 for the Autumn Term which concludes with spectacular Christmas Concert. Come and join us for a rehearsal (free) to see if you like it: contact Fi Harding on 07947 658252.

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Join Perform for confidence building fun this Autumn term Perform weekly classes are packed with drama, dance and singing but have a special focus on developing confidence, communication, coordination and concentration. They don’t worry about whether children get their lines or moves right. Instead, they use a mix of drama games and fun activities which boost self-esteem and allow every child to shine. The magical end of term shows for friends and family are a wonderful celebration of everything the children have achieved.

The Perform curriculum focuses on fun, friendship and laughter alongside catchy songs and funky dances. Class material is specially designed by Perform, with apps, downloads and videos for the children to enjoy at home. Classes are available for ages

Clubs and classes news

4-7 and 7-12 with a new creative theme each term. This term, 4-7s will be taken to Outer Space while the 712s will be appearing in Bluebeard’s Bride.

To book a no-obligation FREE trial class at Newbury, Twyford, Caversham, Earley, Wokingham, Winnersh, Crowthorne, Henley-onThames and Goring visit perform.org.uk/try We’re offering Families readers a special £40 introductory discount on bookings made by 15th October – just quote TVW151021. T: 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk

New owner for Puddle Ducks

Puddle Ducks North Hampshire and Reading has recently been taken over by longstanding franchisee, Jo Gribben. Jo says: “Swimming is an essential life skill and, at Puddle Ducks, we nurture your little one from the moment they enter the pool to instil a love for water whilst teaching the importance of water safety.

“Many of our team are parents themselves so we understand how important your child is and how daunting it may be bringing them to swim for the first time. Puddle Ducks

teachers are highly and continually trained so, during a lesson, you can be assured that you and your baby are safe with a loving and caring teacher who will treat your child as an individual.”

Jo, along with her amazing team, look forward to welcoming you and your little one to a Puddle Ducks lesson which are held in Bagshot, Frimley, Reading and Yateley.

For more information call 01257 262 622 or email

Back with a splash!

The past eighteen months have been challenging for the sports industry and many local clubs have been affected, including Reading Swimming Club.

With the closure of swimming pools around the country, members were unable to enjoy the sport they love and had to resort to alternative exercise; land workouts, running, cycling and more.

In April, swimming was back and members were raring to go, and have since returned to the thing they miss most of all – racing! Over the past few weeks, Reading Swimming Club has run internal time trial events for all members, covering distances from 50m to 200m, in all strokes. 115

members so far have taken part and many have set personal best times.

The club’s learn to swim programme has also flourished, with close to 400 swimmers now taking part in regular swimming lessons. From beginner stages to lane swimmers, young children and older adults, the programme provides lessons for all.

There is also a promising water polo section, which is going from strength to strength and is now welcoming new members.

With 2022 bringing the arrival of two new leisure centres in Reading, the swimming club is looking to the future, hoping to build on previous successes in its new home pools and welcoming members of all ages and abilities to join a fantastic sport.

northhampshireandreading@puddleducks.com

Budding singers welcomed by new choir director Henley Youth Choir has recruited a new Musical Director, Alex Haigh. “I grew up in Henley and have close connections to the area,” says Alex.

“I’ve also had the privilege of facilitating multiple education projects in partnership with the Henley Educational Trust, so when the position with Henley Youth Choir came up, I jumped at the chance!

“As a professional singer, I feel I have an intensive working knowledge of vocal development and techniques to get the best out of the choirs I work with, so I am confident they are going to sound incredible!”

To budding singers Alex has the following message: “We welcome everyone, no experience necessary, so if you’re a seasoned pro or someone willing to give us a go, I promise you’ll have fun. You don’t need to read music either, as lots of our learning is familiesonline.co.uk

done together as a group, so no homework! Come for one session, or a whole term and we’ll make some amazing music, all together.”

Rehearsals recommence on 9 September in D:two in Henley, 5.306.15pm for Juniors (7-11 yr olds) and 6.15-7pm for Seniors (12-17 yr olds).

Registration forms can be found here: http://www.henleychoralsociety.org.u k/youth-choirs. For more information, contact Fi on fi.harding@sky.com or 07947 658252 Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 15

WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

ONGOING THE LOOK OUT DISCOVERY CENTRE, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW, 01344 354 4000, bracknellforest.gov.uk/thelookoutdiscover ycentre There are over 90 science exhibits for children of all ages to enjoy at The Look Out Discovery Centre.

New exhibits include Tennis ball launcher and Body Mirror – have fun with our interactive screen, looking at the bones and muscles in your body. You can also launch a hydrogen rocket and play with boats in the indoor stream.

Activities and exhibits are organised in ‘zones’ which correspond with what your child may be learning about in school: Forces & Movement, Body & Perception, Light & Colour, Woodland & Water and Build It where you can design a house or drive a dumper truck. For more information and to book a timed session, please visit the website.

SEPTEMBER From September CODE CLUB ONLINE, Wokingham Libraries Code Club for 9-12 year olds will restart in September. Code Club session one: first and third Saturdays 10.30-11.15am. Code Club session two: first and third Saturdays 11.30am to 12.15pm.

Place must be booked by emailing libraries@wokingham.gov.uk or calling 0118 978 1368.

From September ONLINE CODE CLUB for 9-11 year olds, West Berkshire Libraries, westberks.gov.uk/libraries Each week, you will be emailed a fun project to try at home. Full instructions and a step-by-step video guide are always included. If you don’t have a computer at home, you can use one in any West Berkshire library. Please sign up your child for our next course by Monday 6 September. For more information and to sign up, please email: library@westberks.gov.uk

Various dates POP-UP PLAY VILLAGE Various dates across Berkshire and South Oxfordshire, including: Goring: 9 Sept Hurst: 13 and 20 Sept Sulhampstead: 15 Sept Sonning Common: 16 Sept Harpsden: 17 Sept Earley: 23 and 30 Sept 11 Sept TRAVELLING BY TUBA – Olympics, The Brownlow Theatre, Horris Hill School, Newbury RG20 9DJ, cornexchangenew.com Packed with audience participation, this is an unforgettable musical journey for all the family. The Olympic Games originated in Greece and this hour-long family

concert will feature the ancient Greek Pan Pipes before visiting every continent.

Full price £5.

15-19 Sept HENLEY FESTIVAL, Leander Club, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2LP, henleyfestival.co.uk Audiences are in for a treat with Henley Festival’s epic line-up of award-winning comedy, critically acclaimed artists and the biggest names in popular, world, jazz and classical music. From glitter face painting, eccentric comedy and theatre shows to interactive performance art, Family Sunday is a whole day dedicated to nurturing adventurous, curious and creative little minds.

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17-18 Sept PADDLEBOARDING, Dinton Pastures, Davis Street, Hurst, Wokingham, RG10 0TH Harvest Moon Paddle, 8-10pm on 17 & 18 Sept for age 8+.

Adults are £30 and children £25 Enjoy a guided nature paddle around the lake on either sit-ontop kayaks or stand-up paddleboards.

18 Sept INTERACTIVE FAMILY STORYTIME, Bracknell Library, Town Square, RG12 1BH We're Going on a Bear Hunt theme.

Sessions include storytelling, children's rhymes and crafts.

Cost: free.

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WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 Brick or Treat at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort for the most spook-tacular time of the year, Halloween! LEGOLAND Windsor Resort will be transformed into a pumpkin-filled wonderland for what is sure to be the most frightfully fun event of the year perfect for the young, and the young at heart! Tickets from £39 22 Oct KALEIDOSCOPE, Reading Arts, 21 South Street, Reading, RG1 4QU, whatsonreading.com For babies aged 6 - 18 months & their grown ups by Filskit Theatre.

11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3pm.

Inspired by research into how a baby’s sense of sight develops and how they instinctively begin to categorise colour, watch as a multi-coloured Kaleidoscope is brought to life for you and your baby. £8 to include baby & parent(s)/carer.

25-31 Oct SPENCER’S WOOD HALLOWEEN TRAIL The annual Spencer's Wood & Three Mile Cross Halloween trail is back with a bang this year! The local residents go to huge efforts to create spooky masterpieces and all funds raised go towards the regeneration of the village hall.

Photograph: The National Trust

18-19 Sept BERKSHIRE GAME AND COUNTRY FAIR, Newbury Showground, Hermitage, RG18 9QZ There will be an array of country sports displays and demonstrations with areas for you to watch and enjoy. Expert tuition will be on hand for those wishing to participant in the have a go events from fishing, casting, shooting and dog handling. Tickets on the Day: adults £15 and child: £5.

19 Sept PINEWOOD MINIATURE RAILWAY, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham, RG40 3AQ The railway runs for nearly half a mile

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through a woodland setting. Rides cost just £1 each, but if you buy five, you get a sixth ride free. Children under three travel free. 13.30-4pm.

Also running on Sun 17 Oct.

OCTOBER 3 Oct PADDLEBOARDING, Dinton Pastures, Davis Street, Hurst, Wokingham, RG10 0TH Autumnwatch Paddle, 10.30am12.30pm or 1.30-3.30pm on 3 Oct for ages 4+. Adults are £30 and children £25. Enjoy a guided nature paddle around the lake on either sit-on-top kayaks or stand-up paddleboards.

5-6 Oct IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE, The Hexagon, Reading, RG1 7UA, whatsonreading.com You’ll see all your favourite characters beautifully brought to life with full-size costumes, magical puppets, and enchanting music. And be amazed as the world’s only real-life flying Pinky Ponk takes off and flies above you!

Tickets start at child £16 and adult £18.

14 - 31 Oct BRICK OR TREAT, LEGOLAND Windsor, Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4AY Calling all little monsters and their monster families! This October Half Term, Lord Vampyre invites you to

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29-31 Oct THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA, Corn Exchange Auditorium, Market Place, Newbury RG14 5BD, cornexchangenew.com Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, singalong songs and clumsy chaos. Don’t miss this stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem... expect to be surprised! Full price £14, family of four £48.

31 Oct THE DONG WITH THE LUMINOUS NOSE, The Kenton Theatre, 19 New Street, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk With a huge and colourful cast of abstract and figurative puppets, this absurd take on Lear’s nonsense classic explores that difficult age between being a child and becoming an adult. 2pm.

Tickets: adult £16, concessions £13, family £46.

Families Thames Valley West • 17

WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Spotlight on...

Beale Wildlife Park

To advertise in

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Beale Wildlife Park is a 350-acre site set on the banks of the River Thames near Pangbourne. There are 160 species of birds and animals from all over the world, beautiful gardens, a train, cafes and play areas.

Children are spoilt for choice when it comes to fun and adventure.

There is an exciting variety of play areas to choose from with everything from a bouncy pillow, adventure playground, zip wire, and rope play, to a splash pool and a sandpit.

The park is well known for its annual Halloween event and this year promises even more spooky fun across the October half term.

The narrow gauge railway will be transformed into a ghost train.

Visitors can enjoy a pumpkin and skeleton trail, make broomsticks and bat boxes, and there will be a special session of Meet the Creepy Crawlies. One child in full fancy dress goes free with a paying adult.

Pre-booking recommended at bealepark.org.uk Beale Wildlife Park, Lower Basildon, RG8 9NW

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HELP FOR YOUR CHILD

A hybrid approach to developing language for under 5s: face to face and telehealth

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Understanding dyslexia

By Jane Constantine

he majority of people reading this sentence will do so with ease. But did you know that one in ten people in the UK struggle with reading because they suffer from dyslexia?

Most of us have heard of dyslexia but how much do we know about the condition and can we identify the signs?

According to the British Dyslexia Association, the early signs of dyslexia in pre-schoolers can include difficulty learning nursery rhymes, paying attention, sitting still and listening to stories, slow speech development, muddling words eg ‘flutterby’ or ‘cubumber’ and forgetting names of teachers and friends.

Signs of dyslexia in children ages 5 to 12 include speed of processing, eg slow spoken and/or written language, poor concentration, forgetting words, confusion by letters which look similar eg b/d or p/g, poor handwriting, spelling a word several different ways in one piece of writing, slow reading progress, difficulty blending letters together when reading, confusion of numeric symbols, eg + and x signs and difficulty remembering sequential order, eg days of the week/the alphabet.

Identifying these early signs in your child can sometimes be very difficult, sometimes beginning with incorrect judgements being made about your child. Mum, Cate, told me about her experience: “Sebastian got through Reception and Year 1 with no problem” says Cate. “But, in year 2, his teacher kept telling me that he was lazy and task avoidant. As a teacher myself I was concerned, but I couldn’t put my finger on the

T

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problem - he certainly wasn’t those things in my eyes. He started junior school and we were again told he was just a lazy boy who would catch up. I was confused, as his reading was good but spelling seemed to be an issue. With daily work on his spelling, he would pass the weekly test, but not retain the words he’d learned.

“By year 4, I was working for a company which specialised in therapeutic approaches to learning. My line manager suggested a dyslexia assessment.

At the end, I was told Sebastian was dyslexic, but had specific issues around attention, working memory and processing. So we went into year 5 able to explain Sebastian’s struggles and with detailed strategies to support him.

My insistence that he have a reader and scribe for tests meant he went from 10/50 in Year 4 to 43/50 in Year 5 for reading. His spelling, punctuation, grammar and maths also improved – although not to the same level.”

Dyslexia Awareness Week takes place from 4 to 10 October. It raises awareness of the condition through various events, educational resources for schools, colleges, universities and the workplace. It also invites people with the condition to share their experiences with others.

The British Dyslexia Association offers a wealth of advice and support to dyslexia sufferers of all ages, supporting young people and their families into adulthood. bdadyslexia.org.uk Jane Constantine is a writer and mother of two children living in Hampshire.

ince the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists have made use of technology to deliver assessments and intervention to both children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and their parents or carers. Adapting to telehealth has been a challenge, but equally has proven to be exceptionally productive.

From my experience, parents have felt anxious about using this approach to therapy, especially since natural communication is of course face to face. Nevertheless, once I have explained the many benefits, including the reduction in travel time and costs; parents have been receptive to adopting a combination of in person and telehealth.

One family reported: 'The underlying approach is sound. The guidance / insight that Camilla provided allowed us to start intervention and get some results. However, we personally feel that virtual / video sessions on their own are not that useful for a child of

Adam’s age but as part of a hybrid setup, e.g. once weekly F2F session with homework being set following a 30 minute virtual session to review, would ensure efficacy.'

If you do choose to find a speech and language therapist, I highly recommend that you find one who has experience using both of these models of service delivery. Opportunities include:

Camilla Crystal is an Independent Speech and Language Therapist and Teacher of English as a Foreign Language.

My voice counts Striving towards inclusion and participation for your child/young person Camilla Tanya Crystal

Independent Speech and Language Therapist and Teacher of English as a Foreign Language

+44 07581 067 499

Camilla@ccsandl.onmicrosoft.com

Email: editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West • 19

By Daisy Upton

Fun and games with maths There are a few different things that our kiddos will be learning when it comes to numeracy in their early school years and it really helps for parents to get up to speed with these and brush up on their own basics.

Firstly, what’s the terminology?

Maths Glossary A lot of maths terminology will be familiar but it’s useful to have a reminder. And, as always, some things HAVE changed.

Multiple: This is the ANSWER number to times tables. So the multiples of 5 are 5, 10, 15, 20 etc.

Numeracy: This is a word that refers to using maths in real life, such as working out change in a shop. It’s the term that lots of schools now use instead of simply ‘maths.’

Number sentence: This is the phrase that has replaced the general word ‘sum.’ A number sentence is simply a mathematical sentence such as ‘3 + 2 = 5.’

Number bonds: These are pairs of numbers that make a certain total number. For example, number bonds making 10 are 5&5, 1&9, 2&8, 3&7 and 4&6.

Tens and ones: In my day (I feel like a grandma when I say this!) we used to say ‘tens’ and ‘units.’ But now teachers tend to refer to ‘tens’ and ‘ones, so 27 has 2 tens and 7 ones.

I believe in mixing up tricky maths learning with a big dollop of fun.

Try this game.

Bond Boogie Have you ever played one of those dance games where you have to step on the arrows in time with the screen and music? I’m so bad at them but cannot resist playing because I’m guaranteed laughter. I’ve tried to incorporate the fun of that game into number-bond learning here. Whack the music up . . . !

1. On twelve A5 sheets of paper, write the numbers for your number bonds.

2. Place the numbers randomly in a circle around your kid.

3. Put on music that you can pause. When it plays, your child can boogie.

4. When you stop the music, shout a number. They have to put one foot on the number you’ve shouted and the other on the matching bond to make ten. So if you shout, ‘Eight!’ then they have to jump on eight and two.

5. Once they’ve got the correct numbers, start again. Or they can just jump on the paired bonds while the music plays.

Five Minute Mum: Time for School Five Minute Mum, Daisy Upton has recently published a new book, called Five Minute Mum: Time For School. Daisy told Families: ‘I am hoping that my new book will act like a little bridge: a paperbound stepping stone between what happens in the classroom and what happens at home. I wrote it to help parents who are preparing their children to start school or have children in the first few years of education, so you can learn together as you go.’

The book is aimed at parents of children ages 4 to 8, and includes lots of fun games, including number games, that kids will enjoy playing. Daisy says: ‘Fun is always the desired outcome for my games, so it’s not crucial to play 20 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

them daily. I hope that by playing them children’s confidence with numbers will increase. I use these games myself to get back into the swing of times tables, mental addition and subtraction, and all the other bits and bobs I regularly did my best to avoid at school.’

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Changes to the Early Years Framework (EYFS) What do they mean for your family?

By Emma Lewry

A new Early Years Framework has been trialled in the UK and becomes statutory in September 2021.

So what does this mean for the children and families attending Early Years settings and classrooms?

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s an Early Years teacher and former head teacher, I don’t think anyone could argue with the aim of the changes – to raise outcomes and to enable practitioners to spend more time with children. From my experience working with schools trialling the changes, there are many elements which will be brilliant for children and families.

Let’s start by looking at what is staying the same; Children learn best through play – playful experiences remain at the heart of the EYFS. The curriculum is broad – the EYFS curriculum includes everything from reading and writing to understanding simple maps; from learning social skills to throwing a ball. There are new parts but children will still be supported to learn a wide range of skills and knowledge.

So what is different?

One of the biggest changes is the need for children to be taught new words and develop a love of reading. Teaching words has always happened but now it is being given centre stage to support children’s communication and language development.

The second biggest change, and one which families who have a child in an Early Years setting already may notice, is the recommendation to reduce recording of children’s learning.

This means carers will be able to spend more time playing and supporting the learning of children.

It might mean that you see fewer pictures or less written information

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about your child’s learning but what is recorded and shared with you will be the really valuable parts – the new learning and the ‘wow’ moments.

The new framework includes some other new learning too, including supporting children to learn about equality, difference and communities and develop positive relationships and attachments which help them understand their own feelings and those of others.

Staff will need a few terms to settle into using all of the new elements but, as with all things education-related, do ask your child’s key workers, teachers and support staff if you would like to find out more about how the new framework is being used in your setting.

wonder if...’ Children are more likely to engage in a conversation this way than give one word answers.

Have conversations with your child. Back and forth interactions (chatting) is incredibly valuable for children. Try to use new or different words when talking and be excited when your child learns and uses them.

Emma Lewry is a school leader, former head teacher and co-owner of Every Day’s a School Day (edasd.co.uk) where parents can find support for matters relating to school and education.

Supporting your child to learn new words Supporting children to develop their communication and language and to use new words at home is easy to encourage. My three top tips are: Share books with your child as much as you can. Sharing books is more than just reading. It means taking time to let children comment and ask questions about the book and the words. When you share books with your child, stop at new or unusual words and explain what they mean.

Use a comment instead of asking direct questions. When talking to your child about an object or a picture in a book, rather than asking a question like: ‘What is it?’ try using a comment instead. Start with an open-ended phrase such as: ‘I

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Families Thames Valley West • 21

22 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

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Top Halloween pranks for families

By Claire Winter

Over the years, Halloween has become a fun celebration embraced by many, but it doesn’t have to be all about the treats! It’s also a great time to play some fun tricks on your family. So check out these ghoulish ideas and get ready for the most spooktacular season of the year.

Skeleton fun Pranking your family with a skeleton is both easy and creative. Your family won't expect a skeleton at the dinner table, in the passenger seat of your car or in the shower. Glow in the dark ones are a particularly great and unexpected surprise.

Glowing eyes Looking to spook your family at night? Try making some glowing eyes to put in your garden. Simply draw some eyes onto the tube of a toilet roll, cut them out and place glow sticks into them. Some carefully placed ones could also spook the neighbours too!

Spooky insects It's not Halloween unless fake creepy crawlies are involved. You can hide them in beds, the bathroom or even freeze them in ice cube trays. It's an easy scare and relatively low cost.

Fake treats We all know Halloween is synonymous with treats, so, with this prank, you get the best of both worlds. You can cover fruit or vegetables in chocolate to make them look like a tasty treat and watch your loved ones grimace when they take a bite! Popular options are Brussel sprouts, onions or chocolate covered grapes wrapped in sweet wrappers. familiesonline.co.uk

Mirror messages Use a little bit of liquid soap on your finger and write on the bathroom window. When your unsuspecting victim gets in the shower and fogs up the mirror, they will see your secret message. It could be their name, or something more in tune with Halloween like ‘I’m watching you.’ Or something simple like 'Happy Halloween' or 'Boo!’ Gory food This may require a little more creativity but making sausages look like chopped fingers (don't forget the ketchup!) or Rice Krispie treats look like brains is usually something kids relish.

Another idea is to peel green grapes – the texture and look of the inside of the grape is surprisingly similar to an eyeball…

Guess the body parts The idea is to blindfold your kids and get them to feel food and guess which body part it is.

You can use foods like spaghetti for a brain, sausages for fingers, jelly for a heart or perhaps pickled onions for eyes. The options are endless, and it is so much fun to see the look on their faces when you reveal the truth at the end.

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Bloody handprints A simple but effective decoration. Simply find some removable fake blood, place it on your hands or on some plastic gloves and get creative. Maybe try putting bloody hand prints across the window or on a floor – definitely not one for the carpet though.

Spooky noises These days, finding sound clips on YouTube can be the answer to scaring people when they least expect it. Especially when you can connect your phone to devices such as speakers or an Alexa. Have a search to find ghost noises or perhaps creaky floorboards, then play your prank when your victim least suspects it. (But make sure it isn't when someone is driving, using the stairs or wielding sharp objects – safety first!).

Hand of doom Cut a hole in the bottom of a plastic container or cardboard box, big enough to put your hand through and cover it with tissue paper. Fill the bowl or box with candy. Offer a treat to an unsuspecting victim, and as he reaches in, pop your hand through the tissue paper to grab his hand.

Remember, Halloween isn't for everyone; so only visit houses decorated with a pumpkin or decorations, and don't play pranks on people you don't know!

Families Thames Valley West • 23

24 • Bracknell • Henley • Reading • West Berkshire • Wokingham

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