Families Warwickshire issue 7, Sept-Oct 2012

Take me, I’m Free!

September/October 2012 Issue 7

®

warwickshire

Back to School: Education Special

Clubs & Classes: How to pick the best ones for your child

Happy Birthday to us – we’re 1 year old! www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

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Contact details Call: 01789 764667 E: editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Design by Caroline Smith www.carolinesmithdesign.co.uk Cover by Linda Scannell Photography www.lindascannell.com All content Copyright 2012 Families Warwickshire Families Warwickshire is a bi-monthly magazine for parents, covering Stratfordupon-Avon and Warwick Districts with 21,000 copies. Towns covered include Stratford-uponAvon, Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, plus Studley, Alcester, Bidford, Henley-in-Arden, Wellesbourne, Welford-on-Avon, Shipston-onStour and Southam.

Advertise with us: Prices from just £50 Next issue: November/December 2012 Main features: Christmas, “Where’s Santa?”, family restaurant reviews and the rise of selling from your home.

This Issue

5 Education Special Feature 9 Parenting q Choosing Pre- and After-School Classes t Kids pages Regular Features

3 News u What’s on o Regular Groups a Competitions and Offers

5 t Welcome...

17 November 2012 – 12 jaNuary 2013 royal ShakeSpeare TheaTre STraTford-upoN-avoN

Well, the summer holidays have whizzed by and it’s back to school – and amazingly, a whole year has whizzed by since I started Families Warwickshire!

Thanks so much to everyone who helps me make it, and everyone who reads it and enjoys it. In this issue we’re focusing on Education and Clubs & Classes, but we’ve still got loads of news, great competitions, fun for the kids and of course our trusty What’s On guides. There’s even more online, too! illuSTraTioN by: peTer ferguSoN

Deadline: October 12 Families Warwickshire is part of the Families Group, established in 1990 and headed

by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. We take every care in preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the content, nor for any consequence.

Image courtesy of M&S

Contents

Issue 7 | September/October 2012 | Families Warwickshire

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0844 800 1110 www.rsc.org.uk/mouse

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Love Scandinavian design?

Care about ethical manufacturing?

Looking for a fresh challenge?

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Please support our local advertisers – and mention Families when you call.

And please head over to Facebook and “Like” us to keep up to date.

Many thanks,

Gabrielle Starkey Editor

www.facebook.com/ familieswarwickshire Twitter: @familieswarks

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www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

Who? What? When? Why? Where?

Stylish Swedish fashion swings into Warwickshire

News & views

Local mum to launch revolutionary lollipop at the Stratford Food Festival

Funky children’s clothing company Me&I are bringing their Scandinavian brand to the Midlands – and they’re looking for mums who’d like to combine a love of fashion with a new part-time career.

With their quirky prints and super-soft fabrics (all of which are eco-friendly, free from chemicals and made in Europe, not sweatshops), Me&I has taken Scandinavia by storm. Selling is done at your own home, party-style, meaning that busy mums can fit it into family life. And there’s even a grown-up range, so the children don’t get all the fun!

If you’d like to find out more about the quality of Me&I clothes and the opportunities of becoming one of their personal shoppers, pop along to their open event at The Almanack in Kenilworth on Sunday 16 September, 10am-2pm.

See www.meandi.eu for more details.

And if you’d like to win a family meal for four at The Almanack, turn to the back page for details.

Warwick Words needs you!

Warwick’s annual Festival of Literature and Spoken Word returns at the end of the month (Fri 28 September-Sun 7 October), and in the run-up, a storyteller is on the look out for residents’ own stories to go on the website.

Fancy finding a lollipop that is kind to your children’s teeth, doesn’t give them the dreaded, tantrum-inducing blood-sugar spikes and even delivers 100% of their recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C? Louise Carr-Smith, a Stratford mother-of-two, claims to have come up with just that, and she’ll be launching her Clever Pop at the Stratford Food Festival. “What I’ve created,” says Louise, “is entirely made of fruit and vegetables, but it delivers like a good lollipop.” What makes Louise’s claim believable is the fact that, before having children, she worked as a food scientist and International Product Manager for Unilever, and it’s taken her four years to develop Clever Pops.

There are also plans in the pipeline to extend the range to include Vitamin D3 and Omega 3 oils, all to be sold at the same price as rival, sugar-laden sweets. “I want to explode the myth that it costs more to produce healthy food,” says Louise. “It doesn’t.”

Meet this inspirational mum – and the Fabulous Baker Brothers – at the Stratford-upon-Avon Food Festival, which runs Saturday 22-Sunday 23 September. www.stratfordfoodfestival.co.uk

17 NOVEMBER 2012 – 12 jANUARY 2013

Campbell Perry is looking for extraordinary stories that have actually happened to Warwick residents, either as individuals or families. Did something happen on the day the Olympic Torch came through Warwick? Was an ordinary day transformed into an extraordinary day that you feel you would like to share? If you have a story to tell, then send it to Campbell and he will edit it and put it online as part of the festival.

Send stories to creativitymatters@hotmail.co.uk

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Young Words, the children’s part of the festival, will also be back, with fun sessions including paper making, a tour of the Touch FM radio studios and chances to meet authors. For details, see our listings on p18 or the website – www.warwickwords.co.uk (look under What’s On for Young Words).

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News & views

Who? What? When? Why? Where?

DINOSAURS UNCOVERED 21 JULY 2012 – 6 JANUARY 2013

Head lice? Call the Bug Busters!

Warwickshire’s head lice are getting their marching orders from a local mum with a gun!

Sam Smith, a freelance haridresser and Scout leader, is opening a brand new salon to provide a service for anyone infested with the nasty little critters (and studies show that’s up to 50% of 4-11-year-olds).

says Sam. “And with sessions lasting just 30 minutes, we fit around busy modern parents’ schedules.”

For more details or to book an appointment, call Sam on 07773 222747 or email trusthair@thehairforce.co.uk

Instead of the potentially dangerous pesticides used in over-the-counter products, Sam uses a special invention called The Lousebuster, which uses air to dehydrate the lice and nits. “We are using state of the art technology that actually gets the job done,”

HAVE YOU BEEN YET? DER 4S FREE/FAMILY TICKETS £18.00 TICKETS: CHILDREN £4.95/ADULTS £5.95/UN RG OR PAY ON THE DAY SAVE 10% BY BOOKING AT WWW.THEHERBERT.O

A brand new community hall, next to the new Waitrose in Stratford-upon-Avon, opened its doors on September 1, and is already home to a Sing and Sign class.

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“I’m very excited about this,” said Sing and Sign’s Pippa Jenkins.

“The hall is very much in demand, so I’m thrilled to get a day”.

Comfortable Villa Excellent Views (Sea & Mountain) Sleeps 6. Shared Pool.

Close to Beach & Shops.

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Phone for availability. 0121 777 7766 e: rebeccajackson99@hotmail.com

Pippa will be leading the new Stage 1 classes (for babies from 6 months) on Thursdays at 9.45am and 11am, from 20 September.

Do you have any news to share?

Let us know! Email editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

To book, or for more details, call Pippa on 01789 415591, email pippajenkins@singandsign.co.uk or see www.singandsign.co.uk

Storytelling workshop Gloucester storyteller Leo Sofer is offering a workshop for parents, teaching them his special skill.

“Children need stories like food,” says Leo. “Telling your own stories to your children is a way of nourishing their hearts and minds.”

The Intuitive Storytelling Workshop for Parents is at Hawkwood College in Stroud, Fri 26-Sun 28 October.

For more details see www.leosofer.com

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Rosebird Community Hall is new Sing & Sign venue

Does exercise help children to learn?

Research has begun to test whether moving to nursery rhymes can improve children’s school results. The Primary Movement project is working with 40 schools in North East England. Nine-yearolds must do a carefully designed set of movements every day for 10 minutes over 2 years. Researchers will then examine the impact on reading and numeracy levels.

The physical sequences have been based on reflex movements that babies make in the womb or first few months of life and will be accompanied by nursery rhymes and songs.

Helen Harrington, founder of music and dance organisation MAD Academy, says: “Movement in the early years is so important for children’s development. It will be really interesting to see the impact on children’s academic achievements.”

Keep up to date online

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk www.facebook.com/familieswarwickshire

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Education Cursive handwriting If your child is in infant school, you may be surprised to find them being encouraged towards joined up (cursive) writing. But, as Learning Difficulties Therapist Usha Patel explains, this approach will actually benefit your child in the long run.

Introducing cursive handwriting in the first years of schooling is a daunting task for parent and child alike. Yet more and more primary schools are insisting that a child entering school should embark on writing at this seemingly complicated level.

There are a number of arguments against this idea. Opponents feel it causes confusion as cursive writing does not appear in printed form in books, or that it is too complicated to create and looks illegible.

The process may appear contrived but cursive script is a more natural progression from the curved and circular forms of preschool scribbles than print block writing is.

Printed letters require more developed motor control of the hand, and more strength in the child’s wrist than can be mustered by a five-year-old. Just by looking at a child’s pre-school drawings you can see that curved shapes are more frequent than angular linear shapes.

The key advantages to this system are:

By making each letter in one movement, the child’s hand develops a ‘physical memory’ of it, making it easier to produce the correct shape; Because letters and words flow from left to right, children are less likely to reverse letters that are generally difficult (like b/d or p/q); There is a clearer distinction between capital letters and lower case letters; The continuous flow of writing ultimately improves speed as well as spelling.

I have worked with many dyslexic children who do not reverse their letters when writing because they have been taught to write using cursive script – moving from left to right when writing, without taking their pencil off the page and always starting at the same point when moving across the page.

Initially it is not an easy route (early years are a challenge!) but it is worth persisting.

Contact your local Instructor for a Free Assessment.

Leamington Spa Study Centre Joanne Cox 01926 513130

Usha Patel runs the Raviv Practice in London.

Call 07766 837 616 for more details.

The Croft School goes wild! www.croftschool.co.uk ISI Outstanding 2009 and 2012

The Croft Open Mornings for children aged 2-11 years Early Years: Saturday 29 September 10.00am - 12 noon Whole School: Wednesday 3 October 10.00am - 12 noon For further information, please contact Mrs Sally Jeffcoate, Head of Admissions, on 01789 293795 or office@croftschool.co.uk

Tel: 01789 764667

Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to develop your child’s confidence and independent study skills so they excel throughout the new term and beyond.

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

The Croft Preparatory School is celebrating the success of their Forest School Leaders, Miss Gemma Morris and Miss Angela Irwin, in passing their Level 3 Forest Leadership course. This means that The Croft is now an officially accredited Forest School.

0800 854 714 kumon.co.uk

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The Croft’s Forest School is located in a beautiful mature wooded area in the 30-acre grounds, with a giant tepee as headquarters.

Originally a Scandinavian concept, the Forest School was introduced to The Croft in February 2011, followed by a year of trials across Early Years, Year One and Year Two. During the trials, Miss Morris and Miss Irwin completed their Level 3 Forest Leadership course. Both were impressed by the level and intensity of the qualification, which uses the theories of Vygotsky, Bruner and Piaget to scientifically underpin the benefits of an outdoor classroom.

Educational and conservation-based activities, including bushcraft skills, mini-beast hunting and den building, give children the opportunity to investigate, experiment and collaborate. Skills encouraged by the Forest School include team building, independence, self esteem and emotional resilience.

Forest School lessons can be robust, with trees to climb and puddles to test; safeguarding the children is paramount to The Croft’s Forest Leaders, who are specialised Forest First Aiders. The children are encouraged to go out to Forest School no matter the weather, and can be seen sporting their waterproofs, enjoying their lessons on the rainiest days!

The Forest School has quickly become a school favourite, with the true benefit of outdoor learning being demonstrated when the children bring skills learnt in the great outdoors into their classrooms and homes.

Miss Morris and Miss Irwin have created an outdoor learning environment of awe and wonder, which has proved so successful and beneficial that the Forest School will be available to the rest of The Croft School from September. Congratulations to Miss Morris and Miss Irwin!

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Education How to encourage reading Step one: Set up reading time every day

Many of us know the value and enjoyment of reading. Good readers become better writers, better learners and well-rounded individuals. Taking an active part in helping your children become interested in reading is vital.

Despite busy days, tired kids, limited time and many distractions, we outline five simple steps that can help.

Step two: During reading time...

Decide when and where a reading session will take place, which fits into your household schedule, and keep to it. 10 minutes is fine. Encourage your child to read aloud. They don’t have to get every word right, and praise them often. If they are discouraged by their own reading, you read aloud.

The pleasure of listening to you read can restore their enthusiasm. Offer to read every other sentence, page, chapter, and have conversations and discussions about the content. Make it fun. Children love sound effects, different voices, pulling faces.

Introduce the bookmark. Stop after a few pages, then pick up where you left off.

Step four: Plan specific readinglinked activities

Extend your child’s positive reading experiences, e.g. if they enjoyed reading Provide an accessible, special place for about dinosaurs, visit the Dinosaurs children to keep their own books Uncovered exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Encourage Use special incentives, e.g. an extra 5 activities that require reading, e.g. minutes to finish a chapter, a promise read a recipe, instructions and to take them to see the film, sticker directions, play games that require charts and certificates. reading, use a reference book to look up something you have seen. Visit the Notice what attracts your children’s attention, even if it’s only pictures, and library and give your child their own library card. They can choose their own build on that interest. Gather more library book or listen in on storytime. information on the same subject.

Listen to audio books (in the car too).

These help develop visualisation, a critical pre-reading skill.

Step five: Be a role model

Let them choose their own books.

Don’t worry the books are too young or too easy, early reading success can came from several “non-traditional” sources such as comics.

Read aloud everyday items: menus, road signs, food labels etc.

Step three: See the teacher and judge what level your child is at Find out what reading program the school follows, get to know the levels, and aim to supplement the program at home. Prepare a timetable. Know what level your child’s at and the next, with some idea of when it can be

mickyso - Fotolia.com

achieved. There is no race to be the first to read, it just puts things into context.

Let your children see you reading for pleasure.

Give books as gifts. Leave books, magazines, and colourful catalogues around your home.

Write short notes for your child.

Reading opens up new worlds to your children and gives them a chance to use their imaginations. There are many ways to encourage your child to read, and the best ways always include participation on your part.

Maths & English tuition Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition to children aged 5-14, designed to improve knowledge, confidence and enjoyment of learning.

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Sainsbury’s, Leamington Spa www.explorelearning.co.uk/leamingtonspa 01/08/2012 www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 0178914:51 764667

Would you like to see your school’s news or achievements on these pages?

Email editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Help with reading for children with learning difficulties Books and Audio Follow a book as the audio book plays. Listen to a chapter, and then read it together

Alcester Rd, Wootton Wawen, Henley in Arden B95 6AY Tel or Fax:

Visits Warmly Welcomed 50% Level 3 in all subjects at Key Stage 1 Results at end of Key Stage 2 are well above national average Over 50% achieved Level 5 in Reading and Maths tests

Sub-titles on your TV or DVD help increase sight word vocabulary, whilst developing a sense of flow of written and spoken language

Make your child the star of their own audio book

Everyone joins in Reserve 30 minutes each evening for family reading time. Each family member reads different material and then shares information about it, or take turns reading aloud from the same book.

Support their learning To ensure your child doesn’t get behind in reading material necessary for school subjects, you can ask for help with obtaining textbooks on CD ROM. Together identify unfamiliar words you come across and show your child how to look up the meanings of words.

Children with specific learning difficulties and dyslexia could benefit from the PQ4R strategy (http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/ instructionalmaterials/a/pq4rstrategy.htm).

Tel: 01789 764667

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Wootton Wawen Primary School

01564 792574

Turn on the TV subtitles

Your child can read into a recorder, then you can follow the book together during playback

Education

Open Day Weds 24 October, 1.30-3pm “Thank you for a wonderful year...she has blossomed.”

Full- and half-day places available during term-time. n Freshly cooked lunches. n Nursery funded places. n Come and visit us on our open afternoon between 4 and 6pm, 28 September. n Last Ofsted inspection was ‘good’.

Small class sizes Before and after school club Pre-school next door Free bus from Bearley 10 min drive from Alcester and Studley Good community links Warm and welcoming

The Bridge Pre-School

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The Bridge Pre-School, Byron Road, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 7JP. Telephone 01789 264745.

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Education School Open Events Notice Board Independent schools

The Kingsley School

Beauchamp Hall, Beauchamp Avenue, Leamington Spa CV32 5RD Year 5 and 6 Taster Morning Saturday 6 October Girls looking to join The Kingsley School in September 2013 or September 2014 are invited along.

Open Day: Prep and Senior School Saturday 10 November Prep School open 11am-1pm and Senior School 2-4.30pm.

To register for a place on the Taster Morning, or for further information, please contact School Registrar Mrs Carole Watson on 01926 421368 or email carolewatson@kingsleyschool.co.uk www.kingsleyschool.co.uk

Emscote House School and Day Nursery

46 Warwick Place, Leamington Spa CV32 5DE. Open Week Monday 17-Friday 21st September, 9.30am-4pm Thursday 20 September, 6-8pm Saturday 22 September, 10am-2pm For more information, please call 01926 425067, and take along the advert on p7 for free registration. www.emscotehouseschool.co.uk

The Croft Preparatory School

Alveston Hill, Loxley Road, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7RL. Co-ed, ages 2-11 Open Mornings Early Years: Saturday 29 September, 10am-12noon Whole School: Wednesday 3 October, 10am-12noon Please contact Mrs Sally Jeffcoat, Head of Admissions on 01789 293795 or office@croftschool.co.uk www.croftschool.co.uk

Arnold Lodge

Kenilworth Road, Leamington Spa CV32 5TW. Open Day Saturday 6 October, 10am-12.30pm For more information contact the office on 01926 778050 or email info@arnoldlodge.com www.arnoldlodge.com

Warwick School

Warwick CV34 6PP. Open Day Saturday 29 September, 2-4pm For more information, please call Pauline Norton, Admissions Registrar on 01926 776414 or email pno@warwickschool.org www.warwickschool.org

State schools The Bridge Pre-School

Byron Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 7JP. Open Afternoon Friday 28 September, 4-6pm Call 01789 264745 www.bridgepreschool.co.uk/

Warwick Preparatory School

Bridge Field, Banbury Road, Warwick CV34 6PL. Open Morning Saturday 6th October 2012, 9.30am-12noon Headmaster’s talk at 10.45am, last tour commences at 11.30am.

For more information, please call 01926 491545 or email admissions@warwickprep.com www.warwickprep.com

Wootton Wawen Primary School

Alcester Road, Wootton Wawen, Henley-in-Arden B95 6AY. Open Day Wednesday 24 October, 1.30-3pm Call 01564 792574 or email woottonwawen@yahoo.co.uk www.woottonwawen.warwickshire.sch.uk/

An Independent Day School and Nursery for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-11

OPEN MORNING Saturday 6 October – 9.30am to 12noon

ALSO PLACES FOR GIR L AT 7+ S

If you’d like your school’s open events listed for free in the next issue, please call Gabrielle on

01789 764667

or email editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Warwick Preparatory School, Bridge Field, Banbury Road,Warwick CV34 6PL For further information please visit www.warwickprep.com alternatively call 01926 491545 or email admissions@warwickprep.com

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www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

Parenting Being a new mum can be tough, but there’s help out there

POTTY TRAINING TIPS FROM DRY LIKE ME

TIME TO START?

By Joanna Parry

So, you’ve had a baby. You’re a new mum and of course you’re tired, but you’re also elated and amazed at this tiny new being that has entered your life. You spend every waking hour staring in adoration at their tiny little toes and gorgeous little mouth. Your exhaustion doesn’t matter as you drift from day to day in a haze of milky delight.

Or maybe you don’t. If you are like me, those first few weeks – even months – of being a new mum are the hardest days of your life. Not only are you exhausted after weeks of unbroken sleep but you’re also struggling with breast feeding and getting your baby to take a bottle, your baby suffers from reflux and why oh why won’t it just go to sleep?

Even if it’s your second or third baby, it’s still just as hard. You’ve got baby blues, or perhaps even postnatal depression. Now the most important thing you can do, even if you don’t feel like it, is to get some support.

Postnatal Depression Postnatal Depression (PND) is often not fully understood by mums who experience it, yet one in three mothers will suffer from it. “Baby blues” typically occur between 3-5 days after the birth, and may be caused by hormonal changes that occur as the breast milk starts to come in, the ‘come down’ after the effects of endorphins, or a sort of physical shock reaction after the upheaval of birth. You may feel weepy, irritable, moody or lack confidence in looking after your baby but these feelings usually subside after a week or so.

However, PND is more serious and must be treated immediately.

Symptoms can include: sleeping problems; crying a lot; not eating or over-eating; physical pains such as headaches or stomach pains or blurred vision; a lack of motivation to do anything; a constant sense of anxiety, sometimes escalating into panic attacks; a feeling of being lonely or isolated; having difficulty concentrating; feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope; having no interest in sex; feeling guilty about everything and wondering if you are a bad mother; being overly protective or emotionally disconnected from your baby; having frightening thoughts about harming yourself or your baby or about bad things happening.

If you feel any of the above, it is important to seek professional help. Your GP may suggest antidepressant medication and/or counselling and your health visitor will know about local PND support groups. You can also go to www.apni.org or www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk for information, support and advice. Also, tell your family and close friends, as talking about your feelings is part of the cure.

If you’re expecting or have just had a baby, pop along to the Pregnancy and Birth Network’s annual show, at Leamington Spa Town Hall on Saturday 22 September, 10am-4pm.

It’s free and there’ll be talks, demos and workshops on issues such as Birthing Essentials, Boost Your Breast Milk, Sleep Solutions, Calming New Babies and How to Teach Your Baby to Swim.

For more information, see www.pregnancyandbirthnetwork.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

Not sure if your little one is ready to start potty training?

Research shows that around the age of two is the best time. In fact, nappies could be ‘masking’ that your child is ready.

Look for the clues…… Can your child communicate with you? Does he/she have good physical skills, such as being able to walk and climb stairs? Can he/she take direction, like being shown how to wash hands? If you answer yes to these and your little one is around two or more then don’t be afraid – go for it!

Don’t put off taking the nappy off Although it can be tempting to wait for a holiday to start potty training, you will reap the benefits if you start when your child is ready (research shows it can take longer if you wait too long).

Simple Steps to Potty Success you start potty training, begin teaching the routine of going to the 1 Before toilet. Take your child into the bathroom with you to ‘practice’ everything from turning on the light to waving off the poo, washing hands and closing the door. using nappies and nappy-style training pants and put your little one in 2 Stop ‘grown-up’ pants. (You can pop in a Dry Like Me pad to catch accidents). your child on the potty or toilet 20 minutes after food and drink. Do this in 3 Pop the bathroom when you can. are a key part of learning. When your child has little accidents, 4 Accidents remember that they will be starting to understand and react to what’s happening. This awareness is key to making real progress, so try not to use a product that makes it difficult for them to realize they have had an accident. know that potty training can be a stressful time, but try not to get too 5 Westressed.

It can help if you turn any anger or frustration towards the accidental poo or wee! “What a naughty poo!”

For more tips from Dry Like Me go to www.DryLikeMe.com

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We have 4 potty training packs to be won!

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9

Clubs & Classes Choosing after-school activities

By Elisabeth Dolton

As the new school year starts, so does the time to choose after-school activities, but take a quick look and you will find a whole range of classes available, from Scouts to ballet, from French to karate. How can we know which ones are the best for our child, offer value for money, and critically, which ones they will enjoy!?

After-school activities definitely offer value to your children. Reports indicate that those who participate in after-school programs have better school attendance, higher grades and loftier aspirations.

They’re less likely to get into trouble and are at lower risk of obesity. It is also a great opportunity for children to develop social and leadership skills. The benefits are there, but with which classes?

Talk to your child and find out how they feel about the activity, and let them choose at least one club or activity themselves. Help them choose activities that reflect who they are and what they want to learn, don’t Open_days_87x130_A:Layout 2

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impose your preferences. Explain that it’s important and fun to try new things, and remember that switching activities is normal amongst children.

Always check out the quality of an activity.

Discipline-based activities that create a quality product over a period of time are great, e.g. putting on a play. Don’t think that high cost equals high quality, some activities – such as football – are just cheaper to run.

Staff members should be professionals with skills and experience.

Consider the mix of activities. The benefits of exercise are huge, so including a sport would be a good start. Extracurricular activities are ideal for children to explore and practice what it means to be a group leader, e.g. Brownies. If you are stuck between two similar activities, consider the usefulness, e.g. drum lessons might be cool, but the guitar might have wider applicability.

11:49

Finally, remember logistics. The after-school programme affects you too. Avoid signing on to too many activities that leave you scrambling from one to the next. No one will have fun doing anything if it means arriving late, leaving early, and going without dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Look hard for places you can walk to – it reduces your carbon footprint while keeping you fit for free! Finally, do build in some downtime.

Children need to have independent play as well as structured activities, so ensure time is built in for dinner, watching TV and relaxing.

Leave some activities perhaps for the summer, when different interests can be tried, without the pressure of school demands.

After-school activities can provide enrichment, adventure and variety. They can enhance knowledge and build character.

Spend a bit more time choosing the right activity programme for your child and you will reap the benefits.

Page 1

Ever wanted to run your own business?

Image courtesy of Jaykays Dance Co.

Consideration for special needs children …but feel unsure how to get started?

MAD Academy has been providing music and dance classes for preschool children since 2004. However, there are some key locations where children do not currently have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our high energy, yet educational classes.

So we are looking for enthusiastic business minded people to join our team of franchisees to help us close the gaps. Experience with children and a love of music and dance is an advantage but a desire to build a flexible business based on term time working, is more important.

For a no obligation chat and a presentation on what’s All involved, join us at one of our Open Days on attendees will September 16th in Solihull receive a £500 October 14th in Bristol discount voucher

PLUS For details email free gift! franchise@madacademy.com or call Laura on 07732 322540 or 0118 926 1384

10

Consider your child’s interests, rather than their needs. Many regular activities can use technology or planning to help their participation, e.g. drama, athletics, cooking, academic tuition.

Evaluate your child’s stamina. Will they have the energy for an extracurricular activity?

Talk with the activity leaders about your child’s unique medical and communication needs. Provide them with emergency contact information.

Make sure that family downtime is a regular part of the schedule.

Sometimes your family needs to have nothing to do — as a group.

Remember the inclusion of children with special needs is beneficial to all. Special needs children achieve more and improve in behaviour and enhanced motivation. Children without special needs learn from working cooperatively and grow in confidence through helping others.

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

Clubs & Classes Choosing pre-school activities See our Local Directory of clubs & classes,

plus What’s On at www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

By Gabrielle Starkey

Some classes run single, stand-alone sessions, but most require you to book up for a term of 6-8 weeks (usually with a free first session to see if you and baby like it). September is traditionally when the terms start again, and many book up quickly, so start looking and trying them out now. See our advertisers, listings on p12-13 and our Online Directory at www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk for ideas.

There are also many free and low-cost groups and sessions available locally – see our Regular Groups pages (p18-19) for some near you.

Here are a few of the types of baby and toddler classes available in Warwickshire: Baby signing: Babies can learn to sign long before they can talk, and the increased communication reduces tantrums and promotes family harmony.

musical instruments. Promotes motor skills, rhythm, listening and confidence.

Messy play: Allows your child to experience all the messy fun you don’t want to have to clear up at home! Think paint, water, glitter, sand, gloop – even cold baked beans.

Cooking Classes and Parties Ages 2 -11 Ages 2 - 11

Cooking: Letting your child get involved in the kitchen can promote confidence, encourage an understanding of where food comes from and combat fussy eating – as well as being fun!

Baby swimming: Can be done from birth and promotes a love of and safety in the water. The pictures are fab, too!

Physical activity: Fun exercise sessions, allowing mums a much-needed rest while the youngsters get busy! Promotes motor skills, balance and confidence.

Baby massage: Simple techniques calm baby and promote bonding. Has been proven to help with postnatal depression. Some local authorities run free or low-cost sessions at Children’s Centres.

Yoga: A step on from massage, this can help promote mother-child interaction and general calm and wellbeing.

Baby development: A more recent development in baby classes, incorporating sensory stimulation, signing, music and play.

Promotes communication, motor skills, listening and confidence.

www.kiddycook.co.uk landscape ad.indd 1

09/05/2012 20:56:14

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Come along for a free no-obligation class

BABY SENSORY award-winning baby development classes

Classes run weekly in: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa To find your nearest class contact

Gemma: 07989 502712

email: warwickshire@babysensory.co.uk

www.babysensory.com

Fun music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers FREE trial session!

CLASSICAL BALLET CLASSES

Music: Fun sessions of singing and playing with

at the Greig Hall, Alcester Royal Academy of Dancing syllabus Ages: 3-18

Pre-school class news!

Congratulations to Alix Hay, who came up with the concept of Make A Mess messy play sessions last year. Her classes have been so popular that she is in the process of turning her business idea into a franchise, to allow many more children to experience Make A Mess. Alix says “What a fantastic first year for Make A Mess!

Thank you to everyone that has supported this fun, friendly, hassle free activity group”.

If you’d like to explore the idea of running a Make A Mess group, contact Alix on 07977 196 047 or hello@make-a-mess.co.uk for more details

Contact Charlotte on 07506 034899

class es fro

Practically as soon as your baby is born there will be a class that will welcome you with open arms! They are great places for meeting other mums, which can really help if you’re feeling isolated or overwhelmed (many have time for a cup of coffee, biscuit and a chat built into the routine). They also promote bonding with your baby, which is beneficial at all levels, but especially so if you’re experiencing any kind of “baby blues”.

Whether your baby is your first, third or fifth, a class will give you a fun focus to the week.

Call Sue on 01926 886995

[[[ VL]XLQXMQI RIX We do many classes but Dandy is by far the best of the bunch!

(01789) 766884 info@ballet.uk.com

www.ballet.uk.com

Anna, mum to Lottie.

Calypso Kids Pre-school Music Classes for children aged 6 months - 4 years Classes are held at Townsend Hall, Sheep Street, Shipston on Stour CV36 4AE Wednesdays at 9.20am, 10.15am & 11.00am Fridays at 10.00am & 11.00am What’s in the lilly pad today? £3.50 per class when paying for a half-term block in advance or £4.50 a class to pay-as-you-play.

Discounts are available for siblings.

NEW and exciting baby and toddler development classes that combine baby sign, music, sensory experiences and fun!

Classes in Leamington, session on Barford, Offchurch 07890 241301 and now Long LawfordCon- nikki.sayers@hotmail.co.uk tact Nikki for a free trial

talk, share and play: we’ll grow in every way!

Book a FREE Taster Class.

Tel: 01789 764667

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

11

Clubs & Classes Listings Pre-school Classes Sing and Sign Stratford and Warwick Fun sessions to aid bonding and communication with your baby.

Call Pippa Jenkins on 01789 415591 or email pippajenkins@ singandsign.co.uk www.singandsign.co.uk Rhythm Time Leamington, Lillington, Warwick, Hatton Park, Kenilworth, Wellesbourne and Stratford.

Music classes for babies and toddlers. Call Sue Thomas on 01926 886995 or email fandhthomas@callnetuk.com http://rhythmtime.net/ franchisee/4/ Dandy Development Leamington, Barford, Offchurch and Rugby Award-winning classes for babies and toddlers, incorporating music, signing, language and sensory development. Call Nikki Sayers on 07890 241301 or email nikki.sayers@hotmail.co.uk www.dandydevelopment.co.uk Make A Mess Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Chipping Campden Popular messy play sessions.

Call Alix Hay on 07977 196047 or email hello@make-a-mess.co.uk www.make-a-mess.co.uk Baby Sensory Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa Award-winning baby classes using visual, auditory and tactile experiences.

Call Gemma O’Rourke on 07989 502712 or email warwickshire@babysensory.co.uk www.babysensory.com/en/ ClassDetails.aspx?id=283 For Baby Sensory classes in

Alcester, call Abeer Corbett on 07896 977465 or email pershore@babysensory.co.uk www.babysensory.com/en/ ClassDetails.aspx?id=218 Kiddy Cook Leamington Spa and Warwick.

Cookery classes for ages 2-4 (Cookie Tots) and up to 11 (Kiddy Cook). Call Charlotte Bayley on 07506 034899 or email leamingtonspa@kiddycook.co.uk www.kiddycook.co.uk/ leamington-spa Monkey Music Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Bidford and Alcester Music classes for babies and toddlers. Call Claire Haydock on 01789 415526 or email claire. haydock@monkeymusic.co.uk www.monkeymusic.co.uk Tumble Tots Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and Coventry South Physical movement class for ages 6 months-7 years.

Call Laura Gould on 01926 856313 or 07426 139124, or email tumbletotswarwick@gmail.com www.tumbletots.com Rugby Tots Stratford-upon-Avon Sunday morning classes, at 9am (ages 2-3.5) and 9.40am (ages 3.5-5). Call 0845 313 3242 www.rugbytots.co.uk

01789 766884 or email info@ballet.uk.com www.ballet.uk.com Jaykays Dance Company Leamington Spa and Bishop’s Itchington Classical ballet and tap, street dance, freestyle, gymnastics and Zumba, for ages 2.5-15 yrs.

Call Jeren on 07738 954258 or 01926 422380, or email enquiries@jaykaysdance.co.uk www.jaykaysdance.co.uk Tap n Groove Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington Spa Urban tap, hip hop and street dance classes taught by a former West End professional.

Also does SwingSing (vocal classes for 4-14s).

Call Mary Grigg on 07966 168043 or email mary@tapngroove.co.uk www.tapngroove.co.uk IntaDance Kineton Ballet, tap, musical theatre syllabus, ballroom, Latin, freestyle, cheerleading, salsa, street, plus movement classes for younger children from 18 months.

Call Geraldine Rouse on 01926 640452 or email info@intadance.co.uk www.intadance.co.uk

Dance

Learning Curves School of Dance Southam and Solihull Modern jazz, freestyle, lyrical and street styles.

Call Lian Fisher on 07989 448862 or email lian@learningcurvesdance.com www.learningcurvesdance.com

Rutleigh Norris Ballet School Alcester Classical ballet classes, for ages 3-18.

Call Edwina Norris on

Rosalind Caplis Dancing Academy and Gymnastics Club Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon and Banbury

After-school Classes

PHOENIX SCALEXTRIC CIRCUIT ** As seen on BBC2’s James May’s Toy Stories!! **

We run a 3 hour party for up to 24 kids for just £85! Price includes free hot drinks throughout and 3 good quality medals!!

We also have a kids club and can provide adult special events! Visit our website for more details!

We are located in Studley, near Alcester.

Contact: Jon on 07949 656577

www.phoenixscalextriccircuit.com 12

Ballet, tap, hip hop and gymnastics lessons.

Call Rosalind on 01608 664231 www.rosalindcaplisacademy.co.uk Hadland School of Dance and Drama Stratford-upon-Avon Teaches ballet, modern theatre dance, tap, drama, singing and musical theatre.

Call Lesley Hadland on 01789 296133, or email impressionPR@btinternet.com www.hadlandschool.co.uk Stratford Gymnastics Club Stratford-upon-Avon Special class for under-5s, plus cheerleading, ballet and tap.

Call 01608 664231 Dance with Dash Shipston-on-Stour and Chipping Norton Pre- and after-school classes in ballet, modern, jazz and tap.

Call Sarah Dash on 0160 864 1253 or 0797 074 2256, or email sarah@dancewithdash.co.uk www.dancewithdash.co.uk/

Performing Arts Stagecoach The original part-time performing arts schools, offering fun weekly classes for ages 4-18 yrs. Focuses on the core performance skills of singing, dance and acting.

For classes in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth, call Jacqui Dance on 01789 263 464 or email leamingtonspa@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk/ leamington For classes in Stratford-uponAvon, call Pat Stovell on 01926 313660 www.stagecoach.co.uk/ stratforduponavon Playbox Theatre Company Warwick, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Stratford-uponAvon, Solihull and Banbury Performing arts courses for ages 3-25, covering a wide range of disciplines including acting, dance, circus skills, musical theatre, stage management, directing and stage design.

Call Nikki Cross on 01926 419555 or email Nikki@playboxtheatre.com www.playboxtheatre.com The Academy of Performing Arts Henley-in-Arden Classes for 5-17 year-olds in dance, drama and singing on Saturdays.

Call Glyn Trefor-Jones on 01234 742440 or 07875 078309, or

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

Clubs & Classes Listings Swimming

email a.p.a@live.com www.theacademyof performingarts.com Stratford Music Centre Stratford-upon-Avon South Warwickshire’s largest independent music school runs regular groups learning musical instruments (including orchestra, jazz, ukelele and rock groups) and singing, plus new speech and drama sessions.

Call Margaret Tattersall on 01789 263620 or 01789 266245, or email info@stratfordmusiccentre.org.uk www.stratfordmusiccentre.org.uk

Football Club Futsal Warwick and Kenilworth Fast-moving football skills based on the South American street game. For ages 2+.

Call Paul Holmes on 07745 565745 or email info@clubfutsaluk.co.uk www.clubfutsaluk.co.uk Go4Goals Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon After-school and weekend sessions.

Call Jason Davies on 07747 562469 or email jason@go4goals.co.uk www.go4goals.co.uk Leamington Lions FC Girls’ football team, for ages 6-16.

Also run free weekly training sessions for Young Lions (5-10 yrs).

Call Paul O’ Rafferty on 07917 445594 or email paulorafferty@talktalk.net www.leamingtonlions.com/ Leamington Juniors FC Boys’ teams, from under-8s to adult.

Call 01926 744500 www.leamingtonjuniorsfc.co.uk/

Martial Arts Master Johnson’s Family Karate Alcester, Henley-in-Arden, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Rugby and Stratford-upon-Avon (Personally recommended, as this is where my own son goes – he loves it!) Call Master Johnson on 07961 853552 www.johnsonskarate.co.uk

Wing Tsun Martial Arts Kung Fu School Leamington Spa Classes for Little Dragons (4-6 yrs) and Juniors (7-12 yrs) every weekday. Call 01926 350 401 or 07960 772223 www.martialartsleamingtonspa. co.uk/ Tel: 01789 764667

Broom Swim School Nr Alcester Lovely warm pool and very small class sizes, plus baby swimming. (I can personally recommend, as my son improved hugely with just a few intensive lessons).

Call Sallie Walters on 01789 772249 or 07732 990789 Warwick Swim School Based at Warwick School.

Saturday morning swimming lessons. Stage 1 and 2 are currently full with long waiting lists, but contact the school about other age/ability groups.

Call 01926 776466 or email bm@warwickschool.org www.warwickswimschool.org Bunkers Hill Swimming Welford-upon-Avon Private swimming lessons, aqua natal and baby swimming.

Call Carol Kibblewhite on 01789 751016 or email carol@ bunkershillswimming.co.uk www.bunkershillswimming.co.uk Everyone Active Stratford-upon-Avon, Studley, Shipston and Southam Swimming lessons for all ages at the leisure centres. www.everyoneactive.com

Tennis Inspire2Coach Alcester, Aston Cantlow, Studley, University of Warwick and War Memorial Park, Coventry Runs comprehensive tennis coaching courses, for ages 4-adult.

Call Mel Farrow on 02476 150688 or email info@inspire2coach.co.uk www.inspire2coach.co.uk Napton Tennis Club Junior and Mini tennis coaching.

Call 01788 890652 www.naptontennis.co.uk

ages 9-12).

Call 07812 608221 www.art-group-studios.co.uk

LCF Clubs: French and Spanish Call Monica Martin-Castano on 07796 175137 or email monica. martin.castano@gmail.com www.lcfclubs.com/ monicamartincastano

Academic Explore Learning Leamington Spa Maths and English tuition.

Call Krishma on 01926 422800 or email leamington@ explorelearning.co.uk www.explorelearning.org.uk

Spanish Amigos Warwick, Leamington, Kenilworth and South Coventry Call Lourdes Camargo on 07971 901988 or email warwick@spanishamigos.co.uk

Kumon Study Centre Leamington Spa Maths and English tuition Call Joanne Cox on 07971 987095 or email leamingtonspa@ kumoncentre.co.uk www.kumon.co.uk/ Leamington-Spa/index.htm

Something different!

Phoenix Scalextric Circuit Studley Race slot cars on a huge 6-lane track. Family Club every Tuesday, 6-8.30pm, and Junior Club every Saturday, 10am-1.30pm.

Call Jon on 07949 656577 or email jon@phoenixscalextric circuit.com www.phoenixscalextriccircuit. com

First Class Learning Kenilworth Maths and English tuition Call Alex Hawthorn on 01676 534741 or email alexhawthorn@yahoo.co.uk

Onboard Surf & Sail Rugby Classes in sailing and windsurfing for ages 8-16, at Draycote Water Reservoir.

Call Harriet on 01788 814418 or email info@onboardsurfandsail.co.uk www.onboardsurfandsail.co.uk

French Tuition Call Marie Delvaux-Lunn on 07918 110656 or email mariedelvaux@hotmail.com www.frenchlessonsmidlands. co.uk/

LITTLE RASCALS PRE-SCHOOL DANCE CLASSES

BOYS ONLY

THEATRE PARADE

STREET MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE CLASS CLASS

Jaykays Dance Company

Leamington Spa

I.D.T.A Ballet & Tap, Street Dance, Freestyle, Gymnastics, Zumba H: 01926 422380 M: 07738 954258 E: enquiries@jaykaysdance.co.uk W: www jaykaysdance.co.uk

NEW ZUMBA CLASS

Arts and Crafts Potter In Craft Studio Leamington Spa After-school clay making workshops on Fridays.

Call Joanna Whitby on 01926 886655 or email info@potterin.co.uk www.potterin.co.uk/ The Art Group Kids Club Leamington Spa Tuition in a purpose-built art studio. After school on Wednesdays (ages 9-12) and on Saturdays (mornings ages 5-9; afternoons

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

One-to-one tuition Small groups 3:1 Private sessions for family/friends

01789 772249 Summer Holidays Flexible booking to suit your individual availability

We cater for all standards, from tiny tots to triathletes!

Est 1986

13

Ed’s Reading Room

(Orion £4.99)

(Simon and Schuster £4.99)

ED SAYS: ‘Threptus is the apprentice of the soothsayer Floridius. He is trying to find information to help his master who fears he is losing his power of seeing into the future. Threptus angers the gods when he eats a honey cake that has been left as an offering to them. And he is poisoned – as well as already being nearly starved. Will he be able to survive this latest disaster?

ED SAYS: ‘Harriet Houdini, star of the television programme Superpets, is picked to take part in the London Animalympics. She begins training for the triple jump with the world famous athlete Calvin Cross. With such a great personal trainer and with Harriet’s enthusiasm she should be well on her way to success but all does not run smoothly when the bunny-napping Maldini appears on the scene. Will Harriet be able to hop, skip and jump to the gold medal?

‘This is a brilliantly written story that is action-packed and very funny – as well as being historically accurate. It is exciting and entertaining and will appeal to boys and girls alike.’

‘This wacky character is great fun. Medal Mayhem is a laugh out loud story with fantastic illustrations throughout. It will entertain children reading on their own or reading together.’

The Abduction

by John Grisham (Hodder £6.99)

Super Soccer Boy and the Raging Robots

by Judy Brown

ED SAYS: ‘Theo Boone is the son of two lawyers and at the age of 13 he has already acquired an amazing knowledge of the law. However the issue here is personal to Theo as his best friend April has disappeared from her home in the middle of the night and this time even Theo doesn’t have any answers. Will his powers of investigation be enough to discover what exactly has happened to April?

(Piccadilly Press £4.99) ED SAYS: Harry and his friends are excited to be going to a tournament at Wembley with lots of top players taking part. Harry can’t believe it when his favourite player is sent off the field and later other players also start to behave in very unusual ways. Harry notices strange things happen when the owner of one of the teams, Anton Antovich, is around.

Could Antovich be responsible? Harry has to use all his Super Soccer Boy powers to

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‘This adventure in the fantastic Theodore Boone series is fast-moving and full of suspense. It will have you on the edge of your seat.’

2 4 5 1

Junior Sudoku Write the numbers in the squares so each row, column and thick lined square contains the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

3

4

7

8

The Poisoned Honey Cake

by Caroline Lawrence

Medal Mayhem

by Tamsyn Murray

4

2 5

FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS

FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS

1

1

reveal Antovich’s plan.‘This is a humorous and gripping story. It is very well written and brilliantly illustrated by the author. If you enjoy it as much as I did, look out for the other books in the series.’

Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my Autumn book selection for you to enjoy. The books are all available online from Ed’s Reading Room at www.edontheweb.com.

5 6

Crossword

10

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Across 1 You can drive this when you’re 17 3 Move quickly on foot 5 Short for university 6 A label or a playground game 10 What you do when you’re sad 11 Liquid inside pens Down 1 To applaud 2 Oxidation of iron, or a reddish-brown colour 3 Something you’d wear on your finger 4 A short letter 7 To total up numbers 8 What you’d say if pointing out a girl 9 A container for rubbish

See p16 for quiz answers

FRUNIOM KOSBO CSAEEPNILC SDEK SSAEBMYL ETCHARE CSLAS YGARPOLUND

Back to School Rearrange the letters to find the words

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

22/08/2012 13:59

Kids’ pages Have a safe and fun Hallowe’en Many parents don’t like the idea of children wandering the streets trick or treating but don’t want to be party poopers either. The solution is to hold your own traditional Hallowe’en party.

Becky Fairclough explains how.

A home-based party can be fun and inexpensive. Decorate the house with spiders, skeletons, ghouls and broomsticks – hand drawn if you’re artistic or cheap plastic tat if you’re not – no-one will notice the quality in the dark!

Flimsy fake cobwebs will add to the ghoulish atmosphere (though I must admit I found a disconcerting number of real ones when I embarked on this exercise one year).

Games Even in this high-tech age, the old-fashioned Hallowe’en games still have great appeal to children. Try Swing Apple, where you hang an apple on a door lintel and children try to bite the apple without touching it. And have a go at Bob Apple where children try to retrieve a bobbing apple from a large tub of water without using their hands. This can obviously get very messy, so is perhaps best outdoors.

For a Hallowe’en-style lucky dip game, fill a large cauldron-style tub with slimy, coloured goo (we used blood red Gelli baff – www. gellibaff.co.uk); wrap a variety of ghoulish gifts in clingwrap (e.g. fake eyeballs and false teeth) and dare the children to dip their hands in the witch’s brew to see what she is using in her spells!

Then blindfold your guests and invite them, one by one, to enter the Witch’s lair and challenge them to identify by touch and smell the ingredients she has laid out for her next spell. You can use herbs like mint,

lemon rind, sugar, breadcrumbs, grass or coffee beans. Children love the challenge of guessing the ingredients and you can give a prize to the person identifying the most.

You can also try a variation of the party favourite Pin the Tail on the Donkey, but make it Pin the Tail on the Witch’s Cat. If you’ve had enough of witches and wizards, have a go at the Make a Mummy game. For this you will need one toilet roll per person.

Split your party guests into teams and allocate one person on each team to be the Mummy. The teams have to race against the clock to cover their Mummy from head to toe in loo roll and the team with the most convincing Mummy wins the game. This is so much fun as everyone gets into a muddle wrapping the rolls and the kids love it.

Halloween piñatas Piñatas are great fun for little witches and wizards who can bash the piñatas with broomsticks. It makes for a sweet ending to the party when guests can fill their own party bags with goodies from the piñata.

Make a CD of songs that will work for Hallowe’en – Thriller, Monster Mash, Ghostbusters, Bat out of Hell. Play it in the background, have a disco or play Hallowe’enthemed musical statues. funky_party_10:Layout 1 07/06/2012 16:54 Page 16

Food With a little bit of creativity you can put on a Hogwartianstyle feast of healthy novelty foods.

Try traditional toffee apples and nuts (unless any of your guests have a nut allergy); make Wizard’s blood cocktails from cranberry and pomegranate juice or blackcurrant squash and sparkling water; make monster eyes by cutting boiled eggs

monster burgers A devilishly good snack. feeds 6 1 small red onion, finely chopped 2 slices of wholemeal bread (crusts removed) 250g/9oz beef mince 1/2 tsp of thyme leaves sunflower oil 6 mini hamburger buns (or small soft rolls) to decorate red pepper cucumber or olives cheddar cheese slices Sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon of oil for 5 minutes until it is soft. Tear the bread into small pieces and put it into a food processor with the onion mixture and whizz together.

Combine the mince, thyme and onion mixture in a bowl and then divide into 6 equal portions. Roll each portion in a ball and then flatten into a burger shape.

While your burgers are cooking, prepare the decoration by cutting two triangles of red pepper for horns and two circles of cucumber or olive for the eyes. Push the horns and eyes into the top half of the burger bun.

To make the teeth, take a slice of cheese and along one edge cut a zigzag pattern.

When your burgers are ready, place them on to the bun base and lay the cheese slice on top just off centre so the teeth hang over the edge of the burger. The heat of the burger will slowly melt the teeth and bend them downwards.

Finish it off with a blood thirsty drizzle of ketchup oozing from the mouth.

funk it up...

Why not create a different looking monster burger for each party guest by using different styles of horns and eyes.

Fry the burgers gently over a medium heat for about 4–5 minutes each side until cooked through. Alternatively, cook them under a preheated grill.

funky party 17

Looking for Hallowe’en events?

Check out our listings on p17

Pumpkin Soup Recipe

pumpkin flesh then cook for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

With all these lovely pumpkins being used for lanterns, what better way to use up the flesh than in a fantastic soup? It’s warming, it’s healthy, it’s seasonal, and it also freezes well so you can take a flask of it with you to the fireworks display on Bonfire Night!

Add the vegetable stock then season with a little salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

2 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 1kg pumpkin flesh, chopped into chunks 700ml vegetable stock 142ml pot double cream Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, then gently cook the chopped onions for about 5 minutes until they start to turn soft. Add

p14-15 Kid page Sept12.indd 15

For more ideas try www.bbc.co.uk/food/ occasions/halloween or www.goodtoknow. co.uk/recipes/halloween.

Music

Pumpkin Soup

Tel: 01789 764667

in half, adding a raisin for the pupil and using red food colouring for the veins; or try witches fingers, made of chicken or fish goujons with an almond flake for the finger nail. Make bat-shaped biscuits, Hallowe’en cupcakes iced with cobwebs, or marshmallow ghosts and ghouls. Or buy the new book Funky Party, by Mark Northeast, which is full of great ideas like the Monster Burgers in the picture (see www.funkylunch.com).

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

At this stage the pumpkin should be very soft. Add the cream, bring to the boil then purée with a hand blender. If you don’t have a hand blender you can mash the pumpkin for a chunkier soup.

Serve with warm crusty bread.

If you like your soup with a bit more of a kick you can always add a little chilli powder when you’re softening the onions.

Some roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top before serving also add a touch of interest – get creative!

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22/08/2012 13:42

OnWarwickshire events calendar What’s On Things to do and placesWhat’s to go in

Ongoing events & exhibitions

Events Highlights

details call 07811 287036. www.brightsky-events.co.uk

Dinosaurs Uncovered The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 5QP. Running until Sun 6 January, 10am-4pm Fun interactive exhibition, with life-size dinosaurs, real and replica fossils and video presentations featuring wildlife expert Chris Packham. There are also many free activities to take part in, including the CGI prehistoric aquarium Monsters of the Deep.

Tickets cost £4.95 for children/concessions, £5.95 for adults or £18.00 for a family (two adults with two children OR one adult with three children) www.theherbert.org/

September

October

Kids Run Free Newbold Comyn, Newbold Terrace East, Leamington Spa, CV32 4EW AND War Memorial Park, Coventry Sat 1 September, 9am (be there by 8.45am) Free running races for children, from toddlers to 16, held monthly. Register online then come and join the fun. www.kidsrunfree.co.uk

Southam’s 1st Scarecrow Competition Southam Farmer’s Market, Market Hill, Southam Sat 13 October, 10am Schools, families and clubs that have made scarecrows will parade through the market and prizes will be awarded.

Flight and the Artistic Imagination Compton Verney Art Gallery, Warwickshire CV35 9HZ. Running until 30 September 2012 Exhibition exploring the human desire to fly, featuring works by Leonardo de Vinci and Francisco Goya. To book, call 01926 645500 or see www.comptonverney.org.uk

Theatre Lark Rise to Candleford Royal Spa Centre, Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa CV32 4HN. Sat 8 September, 2.30pm and 7.30pm and Sun 9 September, 7.30pm The area’s first community play, produced by the Spa Centre and Teatro Theatre Company working with the villages of Lapworth, Barford and the local community. Up to 60 people of all ages have taken part in retelling the life-affirming story of Laura Timms.

Tickets £12/£10. To book and for more details see www.warwickdc.gov.uk/WDC/RoyalSpaCentre/ Metropolis The Dream Factory, Shelley Avenue, Warwick CV34 6LE. Thurs 27-Sat 29 September, 7.30pm; Sat 6 October, 7.30pm; Sun 7 October, 4pm Inspired by the 1927 iconic silent movie, Playbox Theatre takes Fritz Lang’s masterpiece into the 21st century in an explosive, dynamic and multi-disciplinary remix. £11.50 Standard, £7.50 Concession, £6.00 Members To book, call 01926 419555 ext 2 or book online at www.playboxtheatre.com The Mouse and His Child Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BB. Sat 17 November-Sat 12 January (Relaxed Performance on Mon 7 Jan, 1.15pm, for children with ASD) A clockwork mouse and his child are discarded by children on Christmas Day. Lost and alone, they desperately want to get back home to the toyshop. A family classic, adapted by the RSC. Suitable for ages 7+. Booking now. See the back page to win tickets!

To book, call 0844 800 1110 or see www.rsc.org.uk/

Warwick Words and Young Words Warwick Words 2012 Various venues around Warwick Fri 28 September-Sun 7 October Festival of Literature and Spoken Word with performances, talks and workshops plus afternoon teas, Warwick Slam, Poetry Café and Young Words children’s festival, including: Hubble Bubble Granny Trouble Friends’ Meeting House, Warwick Fri 28 September, 10.30-11.30am Come along and meet the world’s witchiest granny and make a batty hat to take home. With the book’s author Tracey Corderoy and illustrator Joe Berger. £5 per child (1 free adult per child). Call 01926 776438 to book.

Children’s Paper-Based Workshops St John’s Museum, Warwick CV34 4NF. Sat 29 September and Sat 6 october, 10am-1pm and 2-5pm A set of four workshops – Paper Making, Calligraphy, Design Your Own Paper and Make Your Own Book – suitable for ages 6-12. £15 per session or £50 for all four. Only 15 places available for each workshop – call 01926 776438 to book.

Smell & Bogey and the Magic Carpet Touch FM Studios, Holly Farm Business Park, Honiley, Kenilworth CV8 Sat 29 September, 12noon-1.30pm Join author Jason Moss at Touch FM studios to learn about the peculiar creatures in his debut novel, and have a tour of the studios. £5 per child (1 free adult with each child). Suitable for ages 5-11.

There are only 20 tickets available, so call 01926 776438 to book.

Jamila Gavin Northgate Methodist Church Hall, Warwick Sun 30 September, 3pm Meet the author of the award-winning Coram Boy to look into the worlds of storytelling, myth and legend. Tickets £5. Call 01926 776438 to book.

Storybox at the Museum Market Hall Museum, Warwick Mon 1 October, 10.30-11.30am Storytelling session for under-5s and their families. £1 per child, payable on the door, adults go free.

Curtis Jobling: A Life in Words and Pictures Bridge House Theatre, Warwick Sat 6 October, 2pm Join author and illustrator Curtis Jobling for a tour through his career and characters, from Bob the Builder to his latest series of fantasy novels for older children, Wereworld. Suitable for ages 8+.

Tickets £5. Call 01926 776438 to book.

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Warwickshire Countryside Day Hatton Country World, Dark Lane, Hatton CV35 8XA. Sat 2 September, gates open 9am A full day of fun including ferrets, falconry, gundogs, hounds and lots of stalls and things to have a go at. Will be opened by Clarissa Dickson-Wright.

Entry £5, children under 15 Free. www.warwickshirecountrysideday.co.uk/ Family Sleepover Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Kenilworth CV8 1NE. Fri 7-Sat 8 September, 7pm-10am A chance to spend a night in a castle!

Suitable for children aged 8+. Adult: £85/ Child: £55 English Heritage Members: Adult: £79/ Child: £49. Booking is essential.

Purchase tickets from the dedicated Ticket Sales Team on 0870 333 1183 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm).

Apple Day Southam Farmer’s Market, Market Hill, Southam Sat 8 September, from 9am Bring your windfall apples and pears to Market Hill to be turned into Southam Juice, which will be sold to fund future town centre activities. Plus family activities.

Cheese and Pickle Festival Coughton Court, Nr Alcester B49 5JA. Sat 15-Sun 16 September, 11am-5pm Local produce fair, featuring cheese, ales, cider and wines, plus stalls, music, countryside demonstrations and falconry, and the local school’s cheese-carving competition winner! For more information please call 01789 400777. Usual National Trust property entry prices Bubbenhall Annual Show and Car Boot Sale Recreation Ground, Bubbenhall Village Hall, Lower End, Bubbenhall CV8 3BW. Sat 15 September, from 12noon Fruit, flower and vegetable show, with car boot and local CAMRA ale and cider festival. Children’s entertainment includes fancy dress competition, donkey rides, face painting and entertainer. To sell, call Rose Cragg on 01926 07850.

Lapworth Scarecrow Festival Lapworth Village Hall B94 6LT. Sat 15-Sun 16 September, 12noon-5pm Lots of scarecrows on show, plus a children’s fairground, hot food, bar, band, bouncy castles, donkey rides, craft fair, beer festival and talent contest.

Pregnancy and Birth Network Show Leamington Spa Town Hall, The Parade, Leamington Spa CV32 4AT. Sat 22 September, 10am-4pm Free show for expectant and new parents, with stalls, talks and demonstrations. www.pregnancyandbirthnetwork.co.uk/ Stratford-upon-Avon Food Festival Recreation Ground, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BB. Sat 22-Sun 23 September, from 10am Includes demos by The Fabulous Baker Brothers and Alan Coxon, plus a huge range of stalls. Kids go free, and there will be cake decorating and face painting. Adult tickets £4 in advance, £5 on the door.

For more info, call 01789 262 701, email info@stratfordfoodfestival.co.uk or see www.stratfordfoodfestival.co.uk Children’s Fair Coventry Rugby Football Club, Butts Park Arena, Coventry CV1 3GE. Sunday 23 September, 10.30am-4.30pm All sorts of things for babies, toddlers and children up to 12 years. Free entry, free parking and free prize draw. For more

Apple Day Hill Close Gardens, Bread and Meat Close, Warwick CV34 6HF. Sun 14 October, 10.30am-4.30pm Activities and seasonal crafts for all the family. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Entry: children 5-16 yrs £1, adults £3.50, members free. Call 10926 493339 or email centremanager@hcgt.org.uk www.hillclosegardens.com Fantastic Fun with Words Launch Sat 20 October Warwickshire’s celebration of local authors across libraries. The launch will be in 5 libraries across the county. Stand-up comic and author Ian Billings will present “Running Gag”, travelling between the venues. Full itinerary tbc, but keep the date free for a laugh-out-loud session. All events are free! www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childrenslibrary Comedy 4 Kids The Studio, Royal Spa Centre, Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa CV32 4HN. Sat 20 October, 2.30pm Three great stand-ups doing routines without the rude bits, for ages 6+. Tickets £6.50 onine/£7.50 at Box Office. To book and for more details see www.warwickdc. gov.uk/WDC/RoyalSpaCentre/ Children’s Fair Coventry Rugby Football Club, Butts Park Arena, Coventry CV1 3GE Sunday 21 October, 10,30am-4.30pm All sorts of things for babies, toddlers and children up to 12 years. Free entry, free parking and free prize draw. For more details call 07811 287036 www.brightsky-events.co.uk Intuitive Storytelling Workshop for Parents Hawkwood College, Stroud, Gloucestershire Fri 26-Sun 28 October Learn how to spin fascinating tales for your children. For more details see www.leosofer.com

Coming Soon…

The Velvet Bulldozer Holiday Inn, 212 Abbey End, Kenilworth CV8.

Weds 7 November, 7.30pm Sandy Row talks about how to find your way around the Special Educational Needs system. A must for all parents and carers with children who have additional needs.

Tickets £6. Call 0845 6801926 or see www.oxboffice.com/

Puzzle Answers Uniform Books Pencilcase Desk Assembly Teacher Class Playground

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www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

What’s On

Please phone before you go, in case details have changed since we went to print.

Due to space restraints, it has not been HOLIDAY possible to include all events.

CAMPS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS Please go to www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk for full listings.

October Half-term/Halloween Events Family Fun & Hallowe’en Activities Heritage Motor Centre, Banbury Rd, Gaydon CV35 0BJ. Sat 27 October-Sun 4 November Activities are free but normal museum admission prices apply. www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/ Spooky Shakespeare Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote CV37 9UN. Sat 27 October-Sun 4 November Walk the haunted trail, if you dare. Make soul cakes and carve a pumpkin. Normal admission and opening times apply Bubbling Cauldron and Tudor Medicines Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Henley St, Stratfordupon-Avon CV37 6QW. Sat 27 October-Sun 4 November Meet and help the Apothecary make the potion from Macbeth, see the cauldron bubble and learn about Tudor medicines.

Normal admission and opening times apply.

Toss of a Coin Nash’s House & New Place, Stratford-uponAvon CV37 6EP. Sat 27 October-Sun 4 November Match the dates of the coins we have excavated with important historical events.

Get hands-on with our Family Archaeology activities. Also, last chance to see The Dig before it closes on 4 November. Normal admission and opening times apply.

The Plague Returns Hall’s Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BG. Sat 27 October-Sun 4 November Would you have survived the plague? Try our quiz to find out and learn about the cost of colour in clothing in the Elizabethan era.

Normal admission and opening times apply.

Witchery Afoot Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shottery, Stratfordupon-Avon CV37 9HH. Sat 27 October-Sun 4 November Find out about Tudor superstitions and how to repel a witch with our Cottage Trail.

Normal admission and opening times apply.

Children’s Spooky Trail The Visitor Centre, Ryton Pools Country Park CV8 3BH. Sat 27 October-Sun 4 November Follow the trail of spooky clues around the park, crack the code, and chase the ghouls away. £1.50 per trail sheet.

Stratford Hallowe’en The Falstaff Experience, 40 Sheep Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EE. Sat 27 October-Sat 3 November A full rosta of scary goings-on at the Falstaff Experience, including a Plague Doctor roaming the streets, daily shows including Vile Villains and Crime and Punishments and a special Hallowe’en Quiz Trail around the museum. May be too scary for small children. www.falstaffexperience.co.uk Large Model Aircraft Show Heritage Motor Centre, Banbury Rd, Gaydon CV35 0BJ. Sun 28 October This annual indoor show has over 100 Large Scale Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft on display, plus demonstrations and aircraft simulators. Normal Museum prices apply with discounted rates for LMA & BMFA members.

Hallowe’en Lanterns The Education Centre, Kingsbury Water Park B76 0DY. Mon 29 October, 10.30am-12noon Make a lantern using willow cut from the park and tissue paper. They cast an eerie light – perfect for Hallowe’en! A family event. £3 per child. Booking essential – call 01827 872660.

Witch and Wizard Wands The Visitor Centre, Ryton Pools Country Park CV8 3BH. Mon 29 October, 11am-1.30pm

Tel: 01789 764667

THE ROAD TO A GREAT FAMILY DAY OUT

Make a magic wand for Hallowe’en using willow and sparkly treasures. An event for children aged 3-12 years, who must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book, just drop in anytime. £2 per child.

Fun Family Sessions in the Libraries Free storytelling sessions. Each performer will be in the library for an hour and a half, offering two separate sessions of around half an hour at the start times shown below. Be there in good time – first come, first served!

Mon 29 October: Campbell Perry at Rugby Library, 10.30 and 11.30am and Leamington Library, 2 and 3pm.

Tues 30 October: Meg Harper at Warwick Library, 10.30 and 11.30am and Stratford Library 2 and 3pm.

Weds 31 October: Sally Tonge at Bedworth Library, 10.30 and 11.30am and Atherstone Library, 2 and 3pm.

Thurs 1 November: Graham Langley at Nuneaton Library, 10.30 and 11.30am and Rugby Library, 2 and 3pm.

SOMETHING FOR ALL THE FAMILY  Interactive exhibits  Cars to sit in  Land Rover Experience rides  School holiday activities

BEST OF BRITISH MOTORING    

Over 180 cars on display FREE guided tours Specialist motoring events NEW Jaguar Exhibition

Batty Hallowe’en The Information Centre, Kingsbury Water Park B76 0DY. Tues 30 October, 10.30am-1pm Accessorise your Hallowe’en costume with some brilliant batty creations – choose from masks, hats or flying bat whirlies. A family event. No need to book, just drop in any time. £2 per child.

Hallowe’en Masks The Visitor Centre, Ryton Pools Country Park CV8 3BH. Tues 30 October , 11am-1.30pm Make a Hallowe’en horror mask, using a variety of natural and man-made materials, to frighten the ghosts away! For children aged 3-12 years, who must be accompanied by an adult. £2 per child. Booking essential – call 024 7630 5592.

Scary Hallowe’en Masks The Education Centre, Kingsbury Water Park B76 0DY. Weds 31 October, 10.30am-12noon Come along and make a witch, skeleton or pumpkin mask – perfect for Hallowe’en. A family event. £3 per child. Booking essential – call 01827 872660.

Hallowe’en Train The Harvester Station, Kingsbury Water Park B76 0DY. Weds 31 October, 2-8pm Dress up and make yourself look really scary for a spooky train ride in the park. Look out for witches and zombies, who only come out after dark! A prize for the best costume – judging at 4.30pm and 6.30pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Hallowe’en Fright Night The Visitor Centre, Ryton Pools Country Park CV8 3BH. Weds 31 October, 6.30-8.30pm Watch out for witches, wizards and ghostly gatherings whilst joining in with spooky games. Do you dare to meet Old Warty down dead end? Have you seen the ghostly night train? Hot drinks and squash provided. An event for children aged 5 and upwards, who must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring a torch. £5.50 per child. Booking essential – call 024 7630 5592.

Ghost Walks Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shottery, Stratfordupon-Avon CV37 9HH. Weds 31 October, 11.30am and 2.30pm Dare you enter the haunted wood? Brave the ghost walks at to hear dark tales of bloody deeds and ghostly happenings. Normal admission and opening times apply Friday Fright Night Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote CV37 9UN. Fri 2 November, 6pm Join us for some fiendish fun. Tickets £5, includes mulled wine and nibbles.

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES  Large Model Aircraft Show 28 Oct  Halloween activities 27 Oct -4 Nov  Free Craft day Thursday 1 Nov

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Must present voucher. Not valid with any other offer, on special event days, or with group, education, family, GiftAid or online tickets. Valid 1 Oct -23 Dec 2012

www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk JUNCTION 12 M40 WARWICKSHIRE TEL: 01926 641188

The Big Draw

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The Big Draw is a national event 16/08/2012 11:08:15 aimed at getting everyone drawing.

The Big Draw Celebration Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, Royal Pump Rooms, The Parade CV32 4AA. Saturday 6 October, 12noon-4pm Spend the day with members of the Association of Midland Artists. Take inspiration from their artworks and experiment with drawing techniques. Free, drop in and join in. Suitable for the whole family. See www.midlandartists.co.uk Big Draw 2012 Rugby Art Gallery & Museum, Little Elborow Street, Rugby CV21 3BZ. Sat 13 October, 10.30am-3.30pm A drawing extravaganza for all the family, linked to the “We are Extinked” exhibition.

For more information, see www.ragm.org.uk The Big Draw The Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL. Thurs 25 and Fri 26 October, 11 am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm To run alongside our autumn exhibition by Aeneas Wilder, The Mead Gallery is offering visitors the opportunity to use linear sections of wood to make their own kick-down sculptures. Admission £3. www.meadgallery.co.uk Structures of Splendour Coventry Cathedral, 1 Hill Top, Coventry CV1 5AB. Sat 27 October, 10am-2pm The Cathedral will be working with The Herbert Art Gallery to celebrate two architectural masterpieces. View the art exhibition for free, create beautiful drawings, and build and decorate large structures that reflect the detail of the Cathedral. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/ Compton Verney Art Gallery Compton Verney, CV35 9HZ. Tues 30 October- Sun 4 November, 11-4pm Drop-in and take a line for a walk by using threads to map out your journey on an aerial view of Compton Verney’s grounds. Activities are free but museum admission prices apply. For more details call 01926 645 500 or see www.comptonverney.org.uk Craft Day for The Big Draw Heritage Motor Centre, Banbury Rd, Gaydon CV35 0BJ. Thurs 1 November Come and join in the doodling, drawing, painting and sticking and make your own works of art. Activities are free but normal museum admission prices apply. www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/

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What’s On Regular Classes

If you’d like your group on this page, call Gabrielle on 01789 764667.

See the What’s On section of www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk for more listings.

These listings are compiled by for us www.nearlynewforbaby.co.uk. As with all our listings, please check before you go, and please tell them you saw it in Families!

Alcester and Studley Districts Mondays: Baby Nosh at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 9.30-11am. Three follow-on sessions from Introducing Solid Food.

Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Movers & Crawlers at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 10.30am12noon. For active babies. Call 01789 764093.

Goslings Toddler Group at Crawford Memorial Hall, Salford Road, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4EZ. 1011.30am. Fun activities. Just drop in.

Art & Craft Time at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 10-11.30am. A 6-week course, with creche, starting 10 Sept. Call 01527 850136 or email studley@parentingproject.org.uk The Nurturing Programme at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 1-3pm. A 12-week course on how to get the most out of family life. Course starts 10 Sept. To book call 01527 850136 or email studley@parentingproject.org.uk

Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 11am-12noon. 10-week programme of early social fun for babies. Call 01789 764093 to book.

Buggy Breakfast (all year round, including school holidays) 9-10am at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. For 0-5 years, £1 per family.

Stay & Play at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 10-11.30am. Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Drop-in and Chat at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Rd CV8 1JP. In the Garden Studio 10-11.15am.

Children welcome. Call 01926 853394 for details.

Breastfeeding Club at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 1-2pm. Just drop in. Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End Car Park, CV8 1QJ. 10am12noon. Ages: 0-13m, 13m-3yrs and 3-5yrs. Call Sue 01926 886995 for a free taster session.

Chatter Matters at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 11am-12noon. 8 weeks of fun for ages 4-6 months. To book call 01527 850136 or email studley@parentingproject.org.uk Messy Play at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 2-3pm. Bring your 2-5 year old and get messy! Just drop in.

Fridays: Adult and Family Learning at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 9.15-11.15am. 10-week course, with creche. Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Crafty Little Monkeys at Henley in Arden Outreach Site, The Hub, Henley High School B95 6AF. 1011.30am. Drop in for craft, singing and snack time.

Babes & Tots Healthcare at Bidford Church Rooms, Bidford. 9.45-11.30am. Drop in to see a Health Visitor and play.

Chatter Matters at Henley in Arden Outreach Site, The Hub, Henley High School B95 6AF. 1-2pm.

8 weeks of fun for ages 4-6 months. Call 01527 850136 or email studley@parentingproject.org.uk

Rolling Programme (Baby Massage & Chatter Matters) at Crawford Memorial Hall, Bidford.

11.45am-1pm. 10-week programme of early social fun for babies. Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Baby Massage at Henley in Arden Outreach Site, The Hub, Henley High School B95 6AF. 4-week course for babies under 6 months, arranged through Health Visiting Team. Call 01527 850136.

Group Triple P at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 1-3pm.

10-week Positive Parenting Programme. Creche provided. Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Tuesdays:

Bumps and Bundles at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 10-11am. A session for newborns, starting 7 Sept. To book call 01527 850136 or email studley@parentingproject.org.uk

Babes & Tots Healthcare at Church Rooms, Church St, Bidford-on-Avon. 9.45-11.30am. Drop in to see the Health Visitor and play. Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Toddler Talk at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Nicholas’ Primary School, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 10-11.30am. Focused language group for ages walking-3yrs. Just drop in. Call 01789 764093.

Bring a Story to Life at Church House, next to St Nicholas Church, Alcester B49. Fun with stories and activities. Call 01789 764093 for more details.

Toddler Chatter Matters at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 2-3pm. 6 weeks of fun for ages 12-24 months. To book call 01527 850136 or email studley@parentingproject.org.uk Bumps and Bundles at Henley in Arden Outreach Site, The Hub, Henley High School B95 6AF. 10.3012noon. A session for newborns, including Support with Breastfeeding. Just drop in.

School Nurse at The Hub, Henley High School B95 6AF. 12noon-2pm. Health drop in.

Multiple Mayhem at Henley in Arden Outreach Site, The Hub, Henley High School B95 6AF. 2-3.30pm. For twins, triplets and their parents.

Fortnightly – call 01527 850136 for dates.

Wednesdays: Swimming Group at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Nicholas’ Primary School, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 12.30-1pm and 1-1.30pm. 6-week course at St Nicholas School pool. £10 payable on booking. Call 01789 764093.

Childminders R Us at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 9.30-11am.

Play & support group. Just drop in.

Babes & Tots Healthcare at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 1-3pm. See your Health Visitor for advice and weighing. Just drop in.

Cradle Club at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 1-3pm. Activities in the playroom & easy access/advice from staff. For ages 0-walking. Just drop in.

Babes and Tots Healthcare and Weigh & Stay at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 10am-12noon. Drop in to see the Health Visitor, and use the playroom for free play.

Antenatal Checks at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 1-5pm, by appointment.

To book call 01527 850136 or email studley@ parentingproject.org.uk

Open House at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 10-11.30am. No sessions running – just drop in to use the playroom.

The Playhouse at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 12noon-1.30pm. A group for parents to learn about the Children’s Centre.

Monkey Music (term time only) at Alcester Methodist Church, Priory Road, Alcester B49 5DX. Morning sessions available, suitable for ages from 3mths-3yrs. Call Claire on 01789 415526 for details.

Saturdays: Daddy Cool at Alcester & District Children’s Centre, St Faith’s Rd, Alcester B49 6AG. 10-11.30am. 1st Saturday of the month. Fun activities and a bacon roll! Just drop in. Call 01789 764093 for details.

Musical ABC at Kenilworth Wardens, Glasshouse Lane CV8 2AL. Musical classes from birth-5yrs. Call Anne on 07876 518770

M.A.C. Club at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Rd CV8 1JP1. For dads and male carers and children up to 4yrs. MONTHLY 10-11.30am. Drop in, £2 per family, with toast and drinks. Call 01926 853394.

Dad’s Group at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. MONTHLY. 10-11.30am. For dads/carers and children aged 0-5 years. Expectant dads welcome. £1 per family, includes sausage batch (or veggie alternative). Call 01926 856397 for details and dates. www.stjohns-kenilworth.ik.org

Leamington Spa and Warwick Mondays:

Little Crackers Toddler Group at Crackley Hall School, Coventry Rd CV8 2FT. Term time only, 10-11.30am for 0-5 years. £2 per family. Please call 01926 514444 to check term dates.

Kiddy Cook at Leamington Spa Baptist Church, 10.30am AND ALSO at The Octagon, Lillington, 2pm. Fun cooking sessions for ages 2-4yrs. Booking essential, contact Charlotte at leamingtonspa@ kiddycook.co.uk or call 07506 034 899.

Baby Music at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Road CV8 1JP. At 12noon. Drop in, no booking required. For babies/non-movers. Suitable from birth. Call 01926 853394 for further details.

Sing & Sign (term time only) at Busy Bees Nursery, Macbeth Approach, Gallagher Business Park CV34 6AD. 9.45am & 11am. Suitable for children aged 6-24m. Call 01789 415591. Free trial available.

Stay & Play at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Rd CV8 1JP. 9-10.15am, 10.15-11.30am and 1.453pm. For babies and children from birth-3yrs. Just drop in. £2 per family.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at St Mark’s Church, Rugby Rd, CV32 6DL. 9.30am-12noon. Ages: 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs, 3-5yrs. Call Sue on 01926 886995 for a free taster session

NCT breastfeeding support drop-in at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Rd CV8 1JP. 10.30-11.30am fortnightly. Free. Call 01926 853394 for details.

Creative Stay & Play at Warwick Children’s Centre, Coventry Rd CV34 4LJ. 9.30am -11am. Just call in. For babies and children 6mths-5yrs. Also do a “wellie walk” at 10am in the park.

Twins and More & also Childminders’ Stay and Play group at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. Both 10.30-11.30am, both fortnightly, £1 donation. Call 01926 856397 to check dates then just drop in. Expectant parents welcome.

Let’s Get Physical! at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 1.30-3pm, for children aged 2-4yrs. £1 per family, no need to book, just come along. Call 01926 856397 for details.

Baby & Child Health Drop-in at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. From 1011.30am. Fortnightly, call 01926 856397 for details.

Free, no need to book. Expectant parents welcome.

Baby & Child Health Drop-in Clinic at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Road CV8 1JP. 10-11.30am, fortnightly, call 01926 853394 for dates. Free, no need to book. From birth-5yrs. NCT Breastfeeding Support also available.

Little Fishes Baby & Toddler Group (term time only) at St Paul’s Church, Friar Street. For 0-4 years, £1 per family. Call Liz on 01926 496779 for details.

Tiddlers Mother & Baby group (term time only) at Castle Hill Baptist Church CV34 4EX from 10am12noon. Bump-1yr, 50p including tea and biscuit!

Please call Liz on 01926 400368 for details.

Monkey Music (term time only) at St Mary Immaculate Hall, West Street CV34 6AB. Classes at 1.40pm, 2.20pm and 3pm, call Claire on 01789 415526 for details.

Little Saints at All Saints Church, Vicarage Green CV34 5NJ. 9.30-11am. Free/donations, activities and sing along. Tel 01926 492073.

Thursdays:

Daddy Cool at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 10-11.30am. Monthly (dates tbc - call 01527 850136 or email studley@ parentingproject.org.uk).

Get Together & Play 11am-2pm; just come along, no booking required! Free, fun activities for the whole family. Organised by parents. Call 01926 853394 for more details.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at Hatton Park Village Hall, Barcheston Drive CV35 7TR. 9.30am12noon. Ages 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs, 3-5yrs. Call 01926 886995 for a free taster session.

Kenilworth

Monkey Music at Kenilworth Youth Centre, Abbey End CV8 1QJ. Morning sessions. Call Claire on 01789 415526 for times etc. Free trail class available.

Tuesdays:

Mondays: Mother and Toddler Group (term time only) at St Francis Church, High Street CV8 2FT between 10am - 11.15am. £1.50 per family. Suitable from birth-4yrs. Call Sue Bird on 01926 514 4418 or email cbird@crackleyhall.co.uk for details.

Daisy Birthing at The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End Car Park, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ at 7.30pm.

Exercise class for pregnant ladies. For details or to book email Sarah Cockrill on scockrill@gmail.com Childminders Stay & Play (term time only).

Fortnightly (started 18th June) at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 1011.30am. Call 01926 856397 for details.

The Spring Playgroup Toddler Group at Kenilworth Youth Centre, Abbey End CV8 1QJ. Term time only. 9.30-11.45am. For 0-3 years. £1.50 per family. Please call Jackie on 01926 864443.

Stay & Make Music at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Rd CV8 1JP at 9am, 9.50am, 10.40am & 11.30am. For children up to 3. £2 voluntary contribution. Call 01926 853394.

Tuesdays: Mini Messy Play at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 10-11.30am. For children 8-20 months, £1 per family, no need to book, just turn up. Call 01926 856397 for details.

Water Babies at Thorns Primary School, Blackthorn Rd CV8 2DS. 10am-1pm, call Tamsin on 01295 709221 for details.

Well Baby Clinic at Henley in Arden Outreach Site, The Hub, Henley High School B95 6AF. a drop-in session with the Health Visitor.

Music Together at Kenilworth Methodist Church Hall, Priory Road CV8 1LQ. Suitable from birth-5yrs.

Call Helena on 07503 906468 for details.

Thursdays:

Cradle Club at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 10-11.30am, suitable for nonmobile babies and expectant parents. £1 per family, just drop-in. Call 01926 856397 for details.

18

Toddlers Trundle at Ryton Pools Country Park CV8 3BH. 10-11.30am. Short walks followed by fun with toys while the adults have a hot drink. Meet at the Visitor Centre Courtyard. £3 per toddler.

Creepy Crawly Kids Club at Ryton Pools Country Park CV8 3BH. 8 Sept and 13 Oct, 10am–12noon.

Monthly session suitable for ages 3-12. Meet at the Visitor Centre. £1 per child.

Sing & Sign (term time only) at St Mary Immaculate Parish Hall, West St CV34 6AB. Classes at 9.45am and 11am. Suitable from around 6-24mths. Free trial classes available. Call 01789 415591 for details.

Baby Massage at Studley & District Children’s Centre, High St B80 7HJ. 1.30-2.30pm. A 4-week course for babies under 6 months, arranged by the Health Visiting Team. Call 01527 850136.

Rolling Programme (Baby Massage, Chatter Matters & Buggy Walk) at Alcester & District

Wednesdays:

Saturdays:

St John’s Toddler Group at St John’s Church Hall, Warwick Rd CV8 1HY. 10-11.30am. 50p donation.

Call Kate on 01926 779159 for more information.

Buggy Breakfast at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 9-10am. From birth-5 years.

Just drop-in. £1 per family. Call 01926 856397.

Little Foresters at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 10-11.30am. Outdoor play and discovery session for ages 0-5yrs. £1 per family.

Call 01926 856397 for details.

Breastfeeding Buddies at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 1.30-2.40pm. Support group. £1 per family. Call 01926 856397 for details.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at the Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End Car Park, CV8 1QJ. 1.40-3pm.

Ages: 0-13m, 3-5yrs. Call Sue 01926 886995 for a free taster session.

Fridays: Cradle Club at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Road CV8 1JP. 10- 11.15am. Call 01926 853394. For babies/non-movers and expectant parents. Drop in, no booking required, £2 per family.

Movers & Crawlers at Kenilworth Children’s Centre, Bertie Rd CV8 1JP1. 1.30-2.45pm. For newly mobile babies. Call 01926 853394 for further details. Drop in, £2 per family.

Rhyme Time at Kenilworth Library, Smalley Place CV8 1QG.10-10.30am on 2nd and 4th weeks of the month. Free music and singing sessions for 0-2 years – just drop in. Call 01926 748900 for details.

Baby Sensory at Dale Street Methodist Church. 1011am (0-13mths) and 11.30am-12.30pm (0-6mths).

Call Gemma on 07989 502712. £6 per class.

Leamington Spa & District Twins Club Baby & Toddler Group at Leek Wootton Village Hall, Warwick Road, Leek Wootton CV35 7RB. 1011.30am. See www.leamingtontwinsclub.co.uk Little Splashers at Oddfellows, Warwick St CV32 5LD. 12.30-3pm. 10 week course for 2mths-4yrs.

Call Jo on 07968 015292.

Tiddlywinks at St Paul’s Church Hall, Leicester St CV32 4TE (term time only). 10-11.30am, for 0-3 yrs.

Call 01926 427149 for details.

North Leamington Parent & Toddler Group at Lillington Free Church Hall, Cubbington Road at 1.30-3pm, term time only.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at The Octagon, St Mary Magdalene Church, Vicarage Rd, Lillington CV32 7RH. 9.30-11.30am. 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs, 3-5yrs. Call 01926 886995 for free taster session.

Leamington Spa & District Twins Club Baby & Toddler Group at Leek Wootton Village Hall, Memorial Recreation Ground, Warwick Road, Leek Wootton CV35 7RB. 10-11.30am. Visit www. leamingtontwinsclub.co.uk Tiddlers Mother & Baby Group (term time only) at Castle Hill Baptist Church CV34 4EX. 10am-12 noon.

Bump-1yr, 50p including tea and biscuit! Call Liz on 01926 400368.

Emscote Toddler Group at All Saints Church, All Saints Rd, CV34 5NJ. 9.30-11am. 0-4yrs, £1 + 50p per sibling. Call Kate on 01926 403503.

Stay & Play at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. 10-11.30am for 0-5 years, just drop in. £1 per family. Call 01926 856397 for further details.

Tiny Talkers Stay & Play at Warwick Children’s Centre, Coventry Rd CV34 4LJ. 9.30-11.30am. Fun session for 6mths-5yrs. Just drop in.

Early Explorers at St John’s Children’s Centre, Mortimer Rd CV8 1FS. Sensory communication for babies 4-12 months. 2-3pm, just drop in. £1/family.

Tiny Treasures at Warwick Children’s Centre, Coventry Rd CV34 4LJ. 12.45-2.30pm. Sensory activities. Baby Sign included. For birth-18mths.

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk Tel: 01789 764667

Sing & Sign at The Unicorn, Hardwick Field Lane, Meadow Chase CV34 6LN. Classes at 9.45am and 11am. Suitable from around 6-24mths. Free trial classes available. Call 01789 415591 for details.

Sing & Sign (Term time only) at Busy Bees Nursery, Macbeth Approach, Gallagher Business Park CV34 6AD. 9.45am & 11am. Suitable for 6-24m. Free trial class available. Call 01789 415591.

Baby Weigh & Play at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1.30-3.30pm on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. No need to book, just turn up. Call 01789 266 624 for details.

Community Family Allotment at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1.303pm. Group sessions for outdoor enthusiasts. Call 01789 266 624 for information.

Wednesdays:

Weston Toddler Group at Weston Village Hall, Sabin Drive. 9.30-11am, all year round. New members welcome, call Danielle on 01926 633706.

Adult and Community Learning at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 9.3011am. “Our Place” 5-week course starts 25 Sept. Call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject. org.uk to book and for details.

Weaning at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 3.15-4.15pm, on 6 Sept and 8 Nov. Health Visiting Team provide nutritional advice. Call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@ parentingproject.org.uk to book and for details.

Family Nosh Specials at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1-3pm, every 3rd Tuesday, starting in October. Cooking and learning with your child. Call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk to book.

Monkey Music (term time only) at Alveston Malt House, Alveston CV37 7QX. Morning and afternoon sessions available, suitable for ages 3mths-3yrs. Call Claire on 01789 415526 for further details.

Arty Tots at Leamington Art Gallery & Museum (term time only). 11am-12noon, first Wednesday of the month. For 0-5 years, free. Call 01926 742700.

Tiny Stars at Leamington Baptist Church, Chandos St CV32 4RN. (term time only) 1.30-3pm for 0-4 years. £1.30. Welcoming group. Call 01926 336650.

Dandy Development (term time only) at Offchurch Hall Playgroup, School Hill Offchurch CV33 9AL. For babies and toddlers up to 4yrs, groups from 9.30am. Call Nikki on 07890 241301.

Kiddy Cook at Leamington Spa Baptist Church at 13:30. Fun cooking sessions for 2-4yrs. Booking essential, contact Charlotte at leamingtonspa@ kiddycook.co.uk or call 07506 034 899.

Rhyme Time at Whitnash Library, Franklin Rd CV31 2JH. (Term time only) 11.15-11.45am, third week of the month. Free music sessions for 0-2 years – just drop in. Call 01926 421 464 for further details.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at St Marks Church, Rugby Road, CV32 6DL. 9.30am-12noon. Ages: 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs, 3-5yrs. Call Sue on 01926 886995 for free taster session.

Make A Mess at the Girls Marching Band HQ, Hampton Road. 10.15am and 11.30am. Messy and tactile play sessions in term time. Call Alix on 07977 196 047 or email hello@make-a-mess.co.uk

Mums, Bumps & Babies Group at Ken Nennett Centre, Justins Ave CV37 0DA. 10-11.45am. For bump-1yr. Free. Call Vic Bean 0844 243 6284.

Rhythm Time at St Peter’s Mission, Manor Road CV37 7EA. 10.10am Babies (0-14mths) 9.30am and 10.50am Toddlers (14mths-3yrs). Call Sue on 01926 886995 for details and free taster session.

Rhyme Time at Stratford-upon-Avon Library CV37 6PZ. 11-11.30am fortnightly. Free music and singing sessions for 0-2 years, just come along. Call 01789 292209 for dates.

Make A Mess at Stratford Armouries, 10am and 11.15am. Weekly messy and tactile play sessions in term time. Call Alix on 07977 196 047 or email hello@make-a-mess.co.uk to book or for details.

Little Acorns Meet & Play at Methodist Hall, Old Town CV37 6BG. 10-11.30am. Please call 01789 293098 if you’re planning to visit.

Monkey Business Music at Our Lady of Peace Church, Church Lane, Shottery. (term time only). 1011am. Live music for pre-school children. £5, free taster. Email glynis.fletcher@talk21.com

Rhythm Time (term time only) at St Mark’s Church, Rugby Road, CV32 6DL. 9.30-11.30am. Ages: 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs. Coffee served. Call Sue on 01926 886995 for free taster session.

Baby and Toddler Playgroup (term time only) at Hatton Park Village Hall, Barcheston Drive, Hatton Park CV35 7TR. 10-11.30am. First visit free.

Then £2.50 per child, 50p for siblings. Call Jayne Greenwell on 07957 610 514.

Jack in the Box Toddler Group at Warwick Gates Community Centre, CV34 6DZ. Term time only, 9.30-11.30am. £2 per child or £3 for a family. Free play, crafts, baby area and singing. Snacks and drinks included. Call Emma on 07792 067936

Sing & Sign Baby Signing Classes (term time only) at St Mary Immaculate Parish Hall, West St CV34 6AB. Classes at 9.45am and 11am. Suitable from around 6-24mths. Free trial classes available. £55 for 10 week term, call 01789 415591 for details.

Jack & Jill Toddler Group at Baptist Church, Gerrard Street CV34 4HD. 10-11.30am. Ages 0-4yrs. £1 per family.

Toy Library at Warwick Children’s Centre, Coventry Rd CV34 4LJ. 10am-2pm. £3 annual membership for free toy hire. Call 01926 492701.

Dandy Development at Barford Memorial Hall, Church Street, Barford, CV35 8EN. Stage 1 (4-14 mths) 10-10.40am. Stage 2 (14mths-2½ yrs) 1111.50am. Call Nikki on 07890 241 301.

Stay & Play Drop In at The Gap Community Centre, Oakwood Grove, Spinney Hill, CV34 5TD. 9.3011am. For ages 0-5 years. Free. Call 01926 492701.

Aqua Babies Swimming Lessons (term time only) at St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre. 11.30am (4m-2yrs) & 12noon (2-4yrs). Call 01926 495353.

St Nicholas Parent & Toddler Group (term time only) at St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Church St (Entrance around back) CV34 4JD. 10am-11.30am.

Aged 0-5, £1 per family. Call 01926 312593.

Parents & Babies Swim (term time only). St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre CV34. 11.30am12.30pm. 01926 495353. Child under 4 swim free.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at The Methodist Church, Bridge St, Wellesbourne, CV35 9OP. 9.3011am. Ages: 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs. Coffee served.

Call Sue 01926 886995 for a free taster session.

The Yummy Mummy’s Club at St Paul’s Church Hall, Friars St (Nr Racecourse) CV34 6HD. 2-3.30pm.

For bump-10mths. Call 07738 294082 for times.

Babies at The Gap Community Centre, Oakwood Grove, Spinney Hill CV34 5TD. 1-2.30pm for 0-18mths. Free. Just call in. Call 01926 494200 Health Visitor Clinic at Warwick Children’s Centre, Coventry Rd CV34 4LJ. 10-11.30am. 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month, just drop in.

Breastfeeding drop-in support group at Westgate Children’s Centre, Westgate Primary School, Bowling Green Street CV34 4DD. 10.30am12noon. Call 01926 490629 for details.

Aqua Babies Swimming Lessons (term time only) at St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre. 11.30am-12noon (4m-2yrs) & 12noon-12.30pm (2-4yrs). No need to book. For more details call 01926 495353.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at All Saints Church, All Saints Rd, ( off EmscoteRd) CV34 5NJ. 9.30am12noon. Ages: 0-13mth, 13mth-3yr, 3-5yr. Call Sue on 01926 886995 for a free taster session Thursdays: Whitnash Stay & Play at Whitnash Children’s Centre, Nursery Lane CV31 2PW. 1.30-3pm Free. Call 01926 315586 for further information.

Sing & Sign (term time only) at Dormer Conference Centre, 3A Dormer Place CV32 5AA. 9.45am & 11am. Suitable from 6-24mths. Call 01789 415591.

Monkey Music (term time only) at Dale St Church Centre, Dale St CV32 5HL. Call Claire on 01789 415526 for times and details. Free trial available.

Lillingtots Toddler Group at Lillington Free Church Hall, Cubbington Road between 9.3011.30am. Come along and join us. Term time only.

Saturdays: Art Cart Family Fun Sessions at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, Royal Pump Rooms, The Parade CV32 4AA. 1-3pm, last Saturday of the month.

Free, just drop in. Call 01926 742700 for details.

Dads Aloud at Warwick Children’s Centre, Coventry Rd CV34 4LJ. 10am-12noon. Fortnightly. Activities for dads/carers and their child(ren). For children aged 0-4yrs. Call 01926 492701 for details.

Action Dads! at The Gap Community Centre, Oakwood Grove, Spinney Hill, CV34 5TD. 10am12noon on 14 and 28 July. £1. Call 01926 494200.

Stratford-on-Avon District Mondays: Baby Signing Classes at Badger Valley Children’s Centre, Tileman’s Lane, Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4HP. 10-11am. Book a place on 01608 664771.

Bumps and Babes at Wellies Children’s Centre, Kineton Road, Wellesbourne CV35 9NF. 10am12noon. For expectant parents and babies. Drop in.

Baby Sensory at Bishopton Community Centre. 1011am. Baby development class from birth-13mths.

10-week terms. Call Gemma on 07989 502712.

Sing & Sign (term time only) at The Malt House, The Rookery, Alveston CV37 7QP. 9.45am and 11am.

Baby signing for babies from around 6-24mths. Free trial classes available. Call 01789 415591.

Tumble Tots at Shottery Memorial Hall CV37 9BL. Strucured play for 6 months up to school age. Call Georgina on 01926 337800 for more information.

Rag Tag Toddler Group at Snitterfield Village Hall, Bearley Road CV37 0HJ. 11-11.45am. £1.50 plus 50p per child. For 0-4 years. Call Hilary on 01789 731246.

Sing & Sign (term time only) at Our Lady of Peace Church, Church Lane, Shottery CV37 9HQ. Classes at 9.45am and 11am. For babies from around 6-24mths. Free trials available. Call 01789 415591.

Wednesdays: Breast-feeding Group at Badger Valley Children’s Centre, Tileman’s Lane, Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4HP. 12-1.30pm. Just drop in.

Little Treasures at Wellies Children’s Centre, Kineton Road,Wellesbourne CV35 9NF. 10.30am12noon, for Grandparents caring for the under 5’s.

Just drop in.

Early Weeks at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 9.30-11am. Session with Health Visiting Team for new mums with 0-16 week old babies. 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. No need to book. Call 01789 266 624 for details.

Fun with English at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 2-3pm, covering basic conversation for families where English is a second language. Call 01789 266 624 for details For parents/carers of children with special needs, at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 9.30-11am on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. No need to book, just turn up. Call 01789 266 624 for details.

Chatter Matters for Babies at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 2-3pm. .6 weeks of fun through songs and rhymes. Please call 01789 266 624 for details and to book.

Story Stomp at Stratford-upon-Avon Library, 12 Henley Street CV37 6PZ. 11-11.30am (4th week of the month). Free story time sessions for 2-4 year olds. Call 01789 292209.

Story Stomp at Wellesbourne Library, Kineton Rd CV35 9NF. 10-10.30 (2nd & 4th weeks of the month). Free story time sessions for 2-4 year olds.

The Big Scream at Stratford Picture House, Windsor St CV37 6NL. 11am. Special screenings for parents with babies. Call 0871 902 5741.

Thursdays:

Baby Sensory at Hatton Park Village Hall, Barcheston Drive, Hatton Park CV35 7TR. 10-11am (for 0-13mths). Call Gemma on 07989 502712.

Claverdon Parent & Toddler Group (term time only) at Claverdon Church Centre, Claverdon CV35 8PD. 9.15-11am. £2 per family, includes healthy snack and drinks. Call 01928 843353 for details.

Lots of Fun at Badger Valley Children’s Centre, Tileman’s Lane, Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4HP. 10am12noon. For families with children less than 18 months apart, twins, triplets etc. Just drop in.

Rhyme Time at Warwick Library, Shire Hall. 9.30am and 11am. Fortnightly, call 01926 412 189 for dates.

Free music sessions for 0-2yrs, just drop in.

Henley-in-Arden Baby Group at St John’s Church Hall, Beaudesert Lane B95. 10am-12noon, for mums-to-be, mums & carers with babies 0-18 mths.

Breastfeeding Cafe at Wellies Children’s Centre, Kineton Road,Wellesbourne CV35 9NF. 11am12.30pm. Just drop in.

Woodloes Toddler Group at Woodloes Comunity Centre, Deansway CV34 5DF. 9.30-11am for 0-4 yrs, £1 per family. Call Liz on 07981 606 163. Entry through red door of the last building of school site.

Monkey Music (term time only) at Stratford Leisure Centre, Bridgefoot CV37 6YY. Suitable from ages 3mths-3yrs. Call Claire on 01789 415526 for details.

Buggy Walks at Wellies Children’s Centre, Kineton Road, Wellesbourne CV35 9NF. 1.30-3pm. No need to book - just drop in.

Meet & Play at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 9.30-11am, a fun play session for under 5s. No need to book, just come along.

Sing & Sign at the Rosebird Community Hall, Shipston Road CV37 8LU. Classes start from 20 Sept, 9.45am and 11am for Stage 1 (from 6 months). Call Pippa on 01789 415591.

Baby Clinic at The Gap Community Centre, Oakwood Grove, Spinney Hill CV34 5TD. 10am12noon, 3rd Thursday of month. Drop-in for baby weigh-in. Call 01926 494200 for details.

Fridays: Rhyme Time at Leamington Spa Library, Royal Pump Rooms, The Parade CV32 4AA. 10.30-11am on the first and third week of the month. Free music sessions for 0-2 years. Drop in. Call 01926 742721.

Dandy Development at St Paul’s Church, Leicester Street CV32 4TE. Stage 1 at 10-10.40am, Stage 2 1111.50am. Call Nikki on 07890 241301. £4.50/£5.

Emmanual Toddler Group (Term time only) at Emmanual Evangelical Church, Heath Terrace CV32 5LY. 10-11.30am. 0-4yrs, £1. Call 01926 774439.

Namaste Group at Whitnash Children’s Centre, Nursery Lane CV31 2PW. 9.30-11.30am, free group for Asian families. Call 01926 315586.

Tel: 01789 764667

Young Parents at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1.30-3pm, for parents under 24yrs. No need to book, just come along.

Antenatal Parentcraft Group at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 6.30-8.30pm. Call 01789 266 624 to book.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at St Peter’s Mission, Manor Road, CV37 7EA. 9.30am-12noon. For ages 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs, 3-5yrs. Call Sue 01926 886995 for a free taster session.

Tuesdays:

Baby Massage at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 9.30-10.30am, fourweek rolling class. Call 01789 266 624 to book.

Bumps and Babes at Badger Valley Children’s Centre, Tileman’s Lane, Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4HP. 10am-12noon. For expectant parents and babies up to 1yr. Just drop in.

Group Triple P at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1-3pm, starting 13 Sept.

Help with behavioural problems. Call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk

Baby Resuscitation at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1-3pm. 4 Sept, 2 Oct, 6 Nov and 4 Dec only. A one-off session that could save the life of a baby. Call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk for details.

Breastfeeding Support at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 11am-12.30am.

No need to book, just come along. Call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Fridays: Little Shoots Gardening Club at Badger Valley Children’s Centre, Tileman’s Lane, Shipston-onStour CV36 4HP. 2-3pm, for under 5s. Just drop in.

Story Stomp at Wellesbourne Library, Kineton Rd CV35 9NF. 10-10.30am (1st & 3rd weeks of the month). Free story time sessions for 2-4 year olds.

Lots of Fun at Wellies Children’s Centre, Kineton Road,Wellesbourne CV35 9NF. 9.30-11.30am, for families with children less than 18 months apart, twins, triplets etc. Just drop in.

Cruisers and Crawlers at Wellies Children’s Centre, Kineton Road,Wellesbourne CV35 9NF. 1.30-3pm, for babies on the move up to the age of 2. Drop in.

Rhythm Time at St Peter’s Mission, Manor Road CV37 7EA. 10.20am Baby Group, 9.40am and 11am Toddlers, 11.40am Pre-school group (3-5yrs). Call Sue on 01926 886995 for free taster session.

Monkey Business Music at Our Lady of Peace Church, Church Lane, Shottery. (term time only).

10- 11am and 11am- 12noon. £5 per session, free taster. Email glynis.fletcher@talk21.com for details.

Baby Play at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 11am-12.30pm. For children under 18 months, with Chatter Matters. Just drop in. Call 01789 266 624.

Toddler Chatter Matters at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 9.30-10.30am.

Head start for learning through songs, language and play. To book, call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk Talk & Play at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 9.30-10.30am. Six weeks of language enrichment activities for 2-3yrs, starting in Oct. To book, please call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk Speech & Language Development Check at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 11am-12.30pm. For children up to 5yrs. Please call 01789 266624 to book an appointment.

Speech & Language at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1-2.30pm on first Friday of the month. Drop in for any language needs.

Play & Learn at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 1-2.30pm. Six weeks of finding out about your child’s development, starting 14 Sept. For details, please call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk Adult & Community Learning at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB, with creche, five week sessions. To book, call 01789 266 624 or email stratford@parentingproject.org.uk Family Nosh Specials at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 2nd Friday of each month. Please call 01789 266624.

Rhythm Time (term time only) at St Peter’s Mission, Manor Road, CV37 7EA. 9.30am-12noon. Ages: 0-13mths, 13mths-3yrs, 3-5yrs. Call Sue 01926 886995 for a free taster session.

Saturdays: Daddy Cool at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 10-11.30am on second Saturday of the month. Group for dads and other male carers to spend time with their children. Just drop in.

Saturday Family Meet + Play at Stratford Children’s Centre, Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB. 10-11.30am on fourth Saturday of the month. Just drop in. Call 01789 266 624 for details.

Kids’ Club at Stratford Picture House, Windsor St CV37 6NL. Morning matinees. Call 0871 902 5741.

The Story Garden at Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Ruinart Circle Bar. 10-11am. Story session for 4-8 yrs inspired by Shakespeare’s themes and plays. £3 per adult, £2 per child. To book call 0844 800 1114.

Monkey Music (term time only) at Alveston Malt House, Alveston CV37 7QX. Morning sessions, suitable for ages from 3mths-3yrs. Call Claire on 01789 415526 for further details.

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Competitions & Offers WIN A FAMILY MEAL FOR FOUR AT THE ALMANACK!

WIN TICKETS FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR! 17 November 2012 – 12 jaNuary 2013 royal ShakeSpeare TheaTre STraTford-upoN-avoN

illuSTraTioN by: peTer ferguSoN

The Almanack is a modern British gastropub in the heart of Kenilworth.

Visit any time and find a warm welcome and great quality fresh seasonal food and drink – “We only serve the good stuff”.

Go online for the chance to win a family meal for four.

0844 800 1110 www.rsc.org.uk/mouse

WIN A ‘SMARTER WAY TO POTTY TRAIN’ PACK FROM DRY LIKE ME!

WIN A POPPIN HOPPIES GAME!

Dry Like Me are giving away 4 ‘Smarter Way to Potty Train’ packs worth £15.

Poppin Hoppies is a brand new, retro-styled game for ages 4+, which is great fun to play.

Each pack contains four boxes of Dry Like Me pads and a lovely reward chart and stickers – all the tools you need to help your little one achieve potty training success!

Playing pieces spring into the air, and players must catch the right ones to win!

Go online for the chance to win Poppin Hoppies for your family.

Go online to win.

Enter all competitions online at www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk/competitions ENJOY A crEAm tEA

BUy one Cream tea

whatever the weather!

get one free* Available daily from 2.30pm, until 31/10/12 *With this voucher. Buy one cream tea (home made scone, jam, clotted cream and regular tea/ filter coffee) get one free.

Free cream tea worth £3.99. No cash alternative.

Please enter postcode to validate

Come rain or shine there’s nothing better than a home baked scone and tea at Studley Garden Centre!

Available daily after 2.30pm. Offer ends 31st October 2012.

Studley Garden Centre (formerly Hillier Garden Centre), Henley Road, Mappleborough Green, Studley, Warwickshire B80 7DR Tel: 01527 852266 www.studleygardencentre.co.uk.

YOu’ll lOv e tHe CAfé At StudleY G Arden Centre

Open 9 - 5.30 Monday - Saturday, 10.30 - 4.30 Sunday. Our café closes half an hour before the garden centre.

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www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk