Families Pennines Issue 12 Jan-Feb 13

FREE Issue 12

January/February 2013 www.familiespennines.co.uk

Pennines

Mealtime Menus and Savvy Shopping FREE

DELIVERY!

How to save time and money.

Child Benefit What the changes mean for you

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

Alexander Technique for your family

FREE

DELIVERY!

Simple Spellings and Fun Fractions It’s a piece of cake with our guide!

The really useful magazine for parents in the boroughs of Calderdale, Kirklees, Oldham, Tameside and Littleborough

Something to smile about

5 things you need to know about the changes to Child Benefit

H M Revenue and Customs/flickr

We ensure that every one of our children is properly channelled to succeed.

Entrance Exam

Wednesday 16th Jan 2013 8.45am www.ohgs.co.uk tel: 0161 624 4497

YOUR CHILDREN ARE AMAZING ALREADY. WE JUST HELP THEM PROVE IT.

From 7 January 2013 high earners will have to pay a tax charge on their Child Benefit payments. Confused about how it will work? This guide tells you all you need to know about how you may be affected.

as childcare vouchers and the cycle to work scheme).

1. Child Benefit is not being stopped for high earners.

4. You can choose to keep or stop receiving Child Benefit.

Anyone receiving Child Benefit, regardless of their income, is entitled to carry on receiving it.

But from 7 January 2013, high earners may have to pay a tax charge on any Child Benefit payments they or their partner receive. This applies whether they’re married or not.

If you or your partner’s adjusted net income is over £60,000, it could make sense to stop receiving Child Benefit as the tax charge will wipe out any financial gain to you and you won’t have to complete a tax return. But if you don’t know exactly how much your income will be, or you’re under the

2. The tax charge increases in line with your income.

For every £100 of income you or your partner have between £50,000 and £60,000, there is a tax charge of 1% of your total Child Benefit. Once your annual income is £60,000 or more, the tax charge is equal to the Child Benefit payments. It’s the higher earner who pays the tax.

3. Your income is based on your adjusted net income.

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Even if you or your partner have an income of £50,000 a year or more, you may find that the tax charge doesn’t apply.

This is because the tax charge is based on your adjusted net income. This is your income less any payments you make to a pension scheme, donations to charity through Gift Aid and reductions due to membership of salary sacrifice schemes (such

You could even consider increasing payments to your pension, for example, to bring your annual adjusted net income down.

£60,000 threshold, it’s best to carry on getting it.

5. If you decide to keep Child Benefit, you’ll have to do a tax return.

If either you or your partner has an adjusted net income of £50,000 or more then the highest earner must complete a tax return, declaring the Child Benefit as income. It’s that person’s responsibility to make sure they’re registered for selfassessment by 6 October 2013 or they’ll face a penalty. They then have until 31 October 2013 to file their return with HMRC (or 31 January 2014 if filing online).

This information was provided to Families by MoneyVista, a free online service that provides access to financial experts.

www.moneyvista.com.

tel: 07580 612800

Word from the editor

CONTENTS

Hello and welcome to the first issue of Families Pennines magazine in 2013!

Pages 4 & 5

This issue sees us through from a Happy New Year to February half-term – see the BUMPER What’s On guide over the last few pages of this issue for loads of things to do in and around our wonderful area.

Page 6

If you are tightening the purse strings after the festive season, then take a look at the savvy food guide article on page 8 and also go to the Families Pennines website for a closer look at what the changes to Child Benefit will mean for you – www.familiespennines.co.uk. If you fancy getting away from it all then look no further than our holidays feature on page 12.

And finally... Families Pennines is YOUR magazine, so if you have a local business, cause, interest or organisation we can help promote then please get in touch.

Your Families Pennines Editor,

Contact us Rachel Bentley : editor@familiespennines.co.uk

Tel: 07580 612800 www.familiespennines.co.uk Next issue: March/April 2013 Families Pennines is free to our readers thanks to our advertisers.

Design by Russell Finneran 0161 625 1560 www.stonehousecreative.co.uk Printed by Warners Midlands PLC Tel: 01778 391035 www.warners.co.uk Editor's photo by Toni at MiaFoto. www.miafoto.co.uk Copyright Families Pennines January/February 2013 Families Pennines is one of a group of magazines established in 1990. It is a Families Franchise independently owned and operated under licence. We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequences. Any original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s own risk and, while every care is taken, neither Families not its agents accept liability for loss or damage.

Menus4Mums

News – what’s happening near you Are You Sitting Comfortably?

– Alexander Technique for your family Page 8

Mealtime Menus and Savvy Shopping – How to save time and money.

Page 10

Simple Spellings and Fun Fractions

– It’s a piece of cake with our guide.

Pages 14 - 16

What's On – January and February Next issue - March-April 2013 including Easter!

To promote your business or event get in touch by early February.

Scamp Theatre & Watford Palace Theatre are delighted to present:

COMPETITION

Visit www.familiespennines.co.uk to win We have a 6 month membership to Menus4Mums (worth £40) to give away this issue.

Members get a new meal plan each week for dinners the whole family will enjoy, with recipe cards and a handy shopping list broken down into supermarket aisles, taking advantage of supermarket special offers to keep grocery bills down.

& other terrific tales from Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

To enter and see terms and conditions visit our website www.familiespennines.co.uk the closing date is 28 February 2013.

Issue 10 September-October 2012 Tom Tag Competition Winners were: Linda Marshall of Littleborough Dave Sykes of Blackley Rebecca Smith of King Cross A big thank you to Clare and Deborah of Orkid Ideas for donating the prize for each winner of a set of TomTag, the kids’ organiser – see www.orkidideas.com for more information about the product.

Please say you saw us in Families Pennines

Fountain Street, Halifax HX1 1BP

Wed 27 & Thu 28 March Wed 3pm, Thu 11am & 1.30pm

Box Office: 01422 351158 www.victoriatheatre.co.uk

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News

What's happening near you

Get planning for school visits Even though we are just starting the new year, entrance examinations for local independent schools are underway and plans are in place for their respective open events for early spring. Now is the time for you to get the dates in your diary and take the opportunity to have a look round and see what they have to offer.

We have many independent schools in our area including Heathfield (the Junior school to Rishworth School) which has an open morning on Saturday 2 March and Hipperholme Grammar School which has an open evening for the Senior School on Friday 1 March and an open morning for the Junior School on Saturday 9 March.

Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools

Most schools will be happy for you to call ahead to make an appointment for a visit during a normal school day too.

Some websites you may find useful are :

www.hgsf.org.uk www.ohgs.co.uk www.heathfieldjunior.co.uk www.firwoodmanor.org.uk www.huddersfield-grammar.co.uk www.bgs.bradford.sch.uk

Kick-off the New Year with a new business!

Start the New Year as you mean to go on – work for yourself and run your own franchise business with Kiddikicks toddler and child football-themed and football skills classes, sporty merchandise and cool clothing. Kiddikicks has franchise opportunities across the UK. If you have a sporty, supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing,

recruitment or self-employed background and would like to work from home, Kiddikicks could be the best New Year’s resolution you make and keep.

To find out more, contact details are below AND quote “Families” in your enquiry for a 5% discount.

020 7937 7965, sarah@kiddikicks.co.uk, www.kiddikicks.co.uk

Get crafty and support disabled Excercise info for mums-to-be children National children’s disability charity Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children (Reg. Charity No. 1001817) is calling on crafters to support disabled and terminally ill children around the UK. Whatever your craft, getting involved is simple.

Either make something and sell it at local sales and donate the proceeds to Newlife or donate your handcrafted goods and

they’ll sell it for you. Alternatively spread the word or simply donate cash. Newlife guarantees that 100 per cent of funds received will directly support disabled children in your area.

For further details contact Vicky Jones or Anna Szymczak on

01543 468888, e-mail getcrafty@ newlifecharity.co.uk or go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk.

Great Mums Get Together CLIC Sargent’s Great Mums Get Together is looking for groups of mums to help raise money whilst raising a cup. Taking place between 10 and 17 March 2013, this is a chance to get together with other mums over tea, coffee and cakes to raise vital funds for children and young people with cancer.

To find out more or register straight away please call

08451 206658 or visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/gettogether.

Great Mums Get Together The

10 – 17 March 2013

have a cuppa for children and young people with cancer

Tanya Stagg, co-owner of Pure Body Solutions Ltd, Huddersfield, has been invited to join the Committee of the Guild of Pre and Post Natal Exercise Instructors.

Tanya, who has been teaching pre and post natal exercise in Pilates and fitness for over two years, says, “Many mums-to-be do not know that it is not only safe to exercise but

actually beneficial to both mother and baby.

Equally, many mums don’t know who they should trust to safeguard their health during this important journey. The Guild of Pre and Post Natal Exercise Instructors was set up to guide mums and has minimum standards for members.”

For more information please contact Tanya Stagg on 07814866012

Stirling performance for Saddleworth Kart Star

Saddleworth go-karter and Heathfield pupil, Ewan Bennett, 10, met racing hero Sir Stirling Moss last November.

Ewan represented the UK at the Bahamas Speed Week Revival. “It was an amazing time,” said Ewan. “The racing was great, but talking with Sir Stirling, Government Ministers and all the local children was incredible too.”

Ewan Bennett with Sir Stirling Moss

Championship for Honda Cadets and is interested in hearing from potential sponsors.

Ewan will compete in the UK National E-mail karting@dsps.net.

Get together with other mums over tea, coffee and cakes to raise vital funds for children and young people with cancer.

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www.familiespennines.co.uk

Find out more or register now

08451 206 658 www.clicsargent.org.uk/gettogether

tel: 07580 612800

Printing YOUR news is always FREE - send to editor@familiespennines.co.uk

Stock up on winter warmers It’s time for wrapping up warm and getting out and about in our region – see our What’s On section. So go along to your local kidswear outlet to get kitted out. Try out Benetton in Peter’s, King Street, Huddersfield (www.benettonhuddersfield.com) for the new range coming early in the New Year with sale bargains to be had up to the end of January.

Magical world of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler coming to Halifax!

Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales is coming to life on the stage at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax.

Part of a worldwide tour, this fantastic show lands in its one venue in the Families Pennines area on 27 to 28 March, 2013.

Featuring their best-loved titles, Tiddler, Monkey Puzzle, The Smartest Giant in Town and A Squash and a Squeeze, funky moves, toe tapping tunes and giggles are guaranteed! Get

How about a browse round the Swimbabes shop in Holmfirth which stocks a wide range of clothing that suits all seasons not only swimming gear but also top-to-toe snow and rainwear!

booking by contacting the Victoria Theatre Box Office on 01422 351158.

Also available online, visit www.swimbabes.co.uk or call 01484 689100.



Would you like to work from home with flexible hours that fit around you?

Turn spare kids’ stuff in to spare cash!

Coming to the Pennines and surrounding areas in 2013 are the firmly established Table Tots Nearly New Sales, run by Andy and Jude Gill. A Table Tots sale is an indoor, table-top sale for nearly new baby and tots items.

Buy quality pre loved toys, books, equipment and clothes for mums to be, babies and children up to age ten.

Why not turn your surplus items into cash by booking a table and selling at one of their sales? Book direct on www.tabletots.co.uk or go along to grab a good quality bargain – check online before you

Become a Phoenix Trader selling quality, exclusive greeting cards, invitations, thank yous, gift wrap and stationery at up to 50% less than high street prices.

Earn a useful part-time income, or make it a full-time business.

You decide how busy you are!



set out for current dates, times and venues, with a few listed here:

Saturday Feb 9th 1-3pm Wakefield Kettlethorpe High School, Standbridge Lane, Sandal WF2 7EL Saturday Mar 2nd 1-3pm Castleford Lock Lane Sports Centre, Castleford WF10 2JU Sunday Mar 3rd 1-3pm Brighouse Brighouse High School, Finkil Street, Brighouse HD6 2NY Saturday Mar 16th 1-3pm Lofthouse Rodillian School, Longthorpe Lane, Lofthouse WF3 3PT

Please say you saw us in Families Pennines

• No targets to be met • Simple, flexible • Home based

Please contact me for a brochure or to find out more:

Rachel Bentley Independent Phoenix Trader 7093

07976 621496 rachelscardshop@gmail.com www.rachelscardshop.co.uk

5

Set a good example with The Alex The Alexander Technique works by helping identify and prevent the harmful postural habits that aggravate, or may be the cause of, stress, pain and under-performance.

Not only for adults, children and young people can be taught to understand the importance of good posture and free movement.

This may help them with performance in sport, music and in other areas of their lives - whilst warding off future aches and pains.

For more information about how the technique can help you and your family or to make an appointment with a local teacher, please see contact details below or go to www.stat.org.uk.

Grant Ragsdale Alexander Technique Teacher Hebden Bridge and Leeds One to one lessons and group courses 07939 521934 or 0113 2445559 grant@ragsdale.co.uk www.ragsdale.co.uk

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Andrea Walsh

Valerie Hirst Alexander Technique Teacher

Uppermill, Oldham and Slaithwaite Individuals, workshops, groups and taster sessions

01457 820735 or 07949 083629

andrea@alexandertechniqueworks.co.uk www.alexandertechniqueworks.co.uk

Huddersfield area Individuals, from children to adults

01484 667 695 v.hirst@ntlworld.com

tel: 07580 612800

ander Technique Grant Ragsdale has taught the Alexander Technique in West Yorkshire since 1994. With a base in Leeds, on Fridays he visits Hebden Bridge to teach in the Salem Centre, near the Co-Op. Grant says, “Whilst most of my work with the general public is the traditional one to one lesson I am also an enthusiast at teaching the Technique in group courses, which I run three times a year.” Grant’s next course in Hebden Bridge will start on Friday 1st February 2013. If you are interested in booking some lessons, or if you simply want to contact Grant to find out a little more please get in touch either by email – grant@ragsdale.co.uk – or by phoning 07939 521934 or 0113 2445559. For more information about availability, prices and introductory workshops please take a look at Grant’s website on www.ragsdale.co.uk.

Valerie Hirst is an Alexander Technique teacher based in the Huddersfield area, qualifying in 1998 and coming from a nursing background. Valerie works with a wide age range of people from children, young adults to people in their 80s and says, “As most problems begin when we are quite young it is useful for children to have an increased awareness of how they are using their bodies.”

Valerie’s lessons are tailored to the individual’s needs, and the overall goal is to create balance and increase a person’s awareness of why and how they are holding tension. After only one lesson this awareness is greatly increased and then begins the process of essential change.

“The Alexander Technique recognises that what we do with

our body is totally related to our minds i.e. our thinking. As my prior work concentrated on thinking patterns and health, it has greatly increased my effectiveness and expertise in increasing my pupil’s awareness of their mind/body connection.”

Valerie can be contacted by phoning 01484 667 695 or emailing v.hirst@ntlworld.com.

Andrea Walsh works around the Oldham, Upper Mill and Slaithwaite areas. She has a little experiment for you. Fold your arms. Then fold them the other way. Takes a little thinking about doesn’t it? Now do you notice a slightly uncomfortable feeling with the arms folded the other way? This is a habit in operation.

Andrea says, “One of the most common things people say to me when discussing the Alexander Technique is - I’m concerned about my poor posture. When we look at children they move with such poise and grace.

Mums and Dads don’t teach that, the child uses his/her body as nature intended but as we grow and get older we can develop habits which affect everyday movements and interfere with poise and balance.”

In Andrea’s lessons you learn to ‘unlearn’ those less than useful habits which frees you up to move more easily and with less effort. Andrea offers a taster lesson to see if it’s for you.

Andrea can be contacted on 01457 820735 or 07949 083629, e-mail andrea@ alexandertechniqueworks. co.uk or see her website www.alexandertechniqueworks. co.uk.

Please say you saw us in Families Pennines

HeadSmart Campaign HeadSmart is a campaign to help raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours in children. Families Pennines talks to one Yorkshire father about how a speedy diagnosis put his son back on the road to recovery.

Research has shown that there is considerable variation in the time taken to diagnose childhood brain tumours in the UK. Half of all children and young people diagnosed with a brain tumour take longer than three months to be diagnosed. The aim of the HeadSmart campaign is to reduce the time taken to diagnose brain tumours so that all children and young people with a brain tumour are diagnosed within five weeks of developing symptoms or signs of a brain tumour. In 2008 a guideline was appraised and endorsed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The guideline advises healthcare professionals on the identification, assessment and investigation of children presenting with symptoms and signs that could be caused by a brain tumour.

Recent Radio One Teen Hero Award winner George Stocker was diagnosed quickly in 2008, George’s father, Roger says, “In April 2008 George became ill with headaches and vomiting.

He was also falling asleep at school. We took him to the doctor, who wasn’t unduly worried and said it was quite common for children of his age.

At the end of April his condition appeared to worsen over the following week. After another trip to the doctor, we were referred to the local district

hospital and then to Leeds General Infirmary. Following the MRI scan, we were taken into a small room where George’s mum and I were given the devastating news that George had a brain tumour. George underwent over 80 weeks of treatment, including multiple operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. What I did not know at the time was how rare brain tumours are – we were so lucky George was diagnosed so quickly. It just so happened that the consultant we saw had diagnosed another boy from the area 6 months before.

I subsequently found out that this had taken nearly 3 months to diagnose. With the number of children’s brain tumours being less than 300 per year nationally, the truth is that most doctors won’t come across one.”

The symptoms covered by the guideline have also been used to produce age-specific symptom cards in order to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms among parents and young people.

They can be seen and downloaded at

www.headsmart.org.uk.

The Brain Tumour Trust are looking for nurseries, schools and businesses to help them raise money by taking part in BTR’s Wear a Hat Day on 28 March 2013.

For more information visit

www.braintumourresearch.org

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Savvy Food Shopping – Or How To Cut Your Food Bill!

With food prices rising and incomes staying the same, many families are looking to cut their food bill this New Year.

eat for Start by writing a plan of what your family will ones the week , making a note of any days when loved you’ll will be away, when there will be gues ts, or when need a quick meal. ls Look online at supermarket offers and build mea for each around these ingredients. Plan a suitable meal in day, ensuring that you have a good balance of prote rice, (eg meats, fish, pulses), carbohydrates (eg potatoes, pasta), and vegetables. s Think about using up leftovers and see what need de an using up in your freezer or fridge. And try to inclu use this interesting variety of tastes and textures. Then to draw up your shopping list.

Tip 2: Stick To Your List!

When at the shops, stick to your shopping list! Don’t be tempted by extra items, and when you get to the checkout put back anything that’s slipped in (we often save a fiver each time we do this!) It also really helps not to go food shopping when you’re hungry – otherwise, you’ll end up with a whole load of carbs in your trolley! If you’re easily tempted , why not give online grocery shopping a go, preferably looking for slots with no delivery charges.

Tip 3: Watch The Deals!

Check the maths on deals – som e savings are only wor th a few pence, and some lar ger “value” packs are actually not any cheaper. Only buy Buy One Get One Free items if you know you will use them both. Fresh meat can be a good deal if you put the extra in the freezer and use it later. Howeve r, we struggle to use up BOGOF items of fresh fruit and veg. One day, those two bags of pears are rock hard, the next they all need to be used up within 24 hours before they become over-ripe!

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www.familiespennines.co.uk

P R S h o ts :M

Tip 1: Meal Plan :

o th e rc a re

Alison Pinto of Menus4Mums, the online family meal planners, has given Families Pennines readers these 5 tips to save money whilst grocery shopping.

Tip 4: Try Discount Supermarkets :

An easy way to lower your food bill is to try out the discount supermarkets. We investigated these for Menus4Mums members in 2012 and were very impressed . On quality, we found some products came with the Good Housekeeping Institute seal of approval , and we were surprised to find quite a bit of organic fruit and veg at Lidl and free-range chicken at Aldi . Price -wise , we thought most products came out about 30% cheaper than the standard supermarket own -brand equivalent, making a great saving on weekly grocery bills

Tip 5: Shop Elsewhere:

Try buying your meat at your local butcher – you’re likely to be impressed by the quality. Plus you can buy exactly the quantity you want, saving money and waste. Seasonal fruit and veg is often cheaper at your local market or farm shop. And if you find you’ve run out of milk mid -week, pop in to your local corner shop rather than the supermarket . That way you’ll just buy the milk rather than spend an extra £20 on items you didn’t know you needed.

Alison Pinto, Menus4Mums

Why not see if you can shave £20 off your shopping bill this week?

Over a month that is £80 saved, and £960 over a year……. And if you need any help or inspiration for meal planning, check out Menus4Mums which is a handy online family meal planning service for busy parents. Anna, a Menus4Mums member from Yorkshire says, ‘I had a new baby in July and Menus4Mums has been my saviour ever since.’ and Liz, a working mum of 2 from Lancashire, says, ‘The meals are varied, seasonal and very simple to prepare and mealtimes are much easier to manage now, as well as reducing my shopping anxieties.’

Membership costs from around a fiver a week. See page 3 to win a 6 month membership.

Visit www.menus4mums.co.uk for more information and to download a FREE one week sample menu plan.

tel: 07580 612800

Clare Burkhill-Howarth, from Book Events for Children, tells Families Pennines about how to encourage children to read by approaching books from a different route – though visiting live events.

Take a quick look around most homes with young children and what will you see? If your house is anything like mine, I’ll guarantee you’ll find a mountain of Lego, Playmobil, discarded dolls houses and the usual electronic games and handheld devices. … oh, and of course, some books.

Whilst children often have a bookshelf full of books, how do we encourage them to read for pleasure and to choose reading as an enjoyable activity, when they have so many other means of entertainment?

Face to face If your child needs a bit of encouragement to try and read something new, why not arrange for them to meet an author ‘in the flesh’. Attending book-related events is a fantastic way for children to see authors/illustrators as ‘real’ people, who may or may not have loved reading as children and to hear about what inspired

To read or not to read… them to create their stories. Local libraries and bookshops hold regular events with authors and these small sessions encourage children to chat to authors informally. Keep looking out for upcoming children’s events at Waterstones in Huddersfield and Wakefield.

Taking to the stage Taking a child to see an adaptation of a children’s book at the theatre can be a magical experience, as they are drawn into the story unfolding before them, particularly if it is a familiar tale. Theatre companies excel in bringing to life adaptations of popular books, including Julia Donaldson’s much-

loved books and classics like The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Locally, there’s a lot of book-related theatre in the next couple of months, including The Gruffalo’s Child and Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales at Victoria Theatre in Halifax. Also in Halifax, at Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, don’t miss adaptations of Romeo and Juliet and The Emperor’s New Clothes. Traditional tales get the theatrical treatment at The Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, with performances of The Pied Piper of Hamelin and Rapunzel. (Ed - See our What’s On guide for more details.)

So why not make the most of these cold winter months

and head indoors to your local bookshop, library or theatre and enjoy some book-related treats.

About us Book Events for Children is a dedicated website listing bookrelated events for children across the UK. Run by Clare BurkhillHowarth, it features events at bookshops, literary festivals, theatres and libraries, as well as interviews with authors, bookshop owners etc.

Website: www.bookeventsforchildren.co.uk Twitter: @ChildBookEvents Facebook: Book Events for Children

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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0161 300 6260 Inside Sainsbury’s, Ashton-Under-Lyne www.explorelearning.co.uk/ashtonunderlyne

9

Fractions and Spellings – getting active!

Steve and Judith Utley run Number Works ‘n’ Words in Huddersfield. Families Pennines asked Steve how to tackle common issues for our primary aged children and to share some tips to help busy families.

Steve says, “For children in mid to late primary school, it is clear that many struggle with the concepts of fractions in maths and spelling in English. So here are some things parents can do to help.”

Spelling Needs To Be Taught

Food Fractions Don’t let your food go to waste by just eating it! Breakfast toast and lunch sandwiches are excellent for fractions.

Ask if your child if they would like halves, quarters, sixths, eighths, sixteenths, tenths today.

When making quarters, cut four small squares one day, four triangles the next and four long rectangles the next day. Or, you can cut one half into squares and the other into long rectangles or triangles to show that the different shapes are still equal quarters.

Now your child’s turn - get them cutting! This will really help their estimation skills, trying to get their cuts accurate.

Of course, the ultimate way to get fractions right is the ‘you cut, I’ll choose’ method of sharing with siblings. ( I remember agonising over where to cut the cake so I always got the biggest piece!)

PR Shots: Marks and Spencer

Different schools do different things – some approach spelling with environmental cues, children finding words they want to use and hopefully learning them. Other schools have a weekly spelling list, where students rote learn from a graded word list, practise them in preparation for a test at the end of the week.

Neither of these methods alone is enough for long term retention of spelling - English is a very tough language and spelling rules and tips need to be taught actively. We think we know all of the sounds and rules and then a word pops up, like “cough” or “women” and that knocks the confidence!

However, even though rules

and traditional sounds don’t always apply, they provide a starting point - a place from which to then think about the exceptions.

When spelling an unknown word, encourage your child to ‘hear’ the parts of the word and think of letters and patterns they know make those sounds, and then think of special rules like ‘i before e’.

Get it down on paper and finally, ask “Does it look right?”

This is where they can think about the exceptions. Think back ... do you remember how you learnt to spell these commonly misspelled words: maintenance, restaurant, sincerely, thorough, deceive, peculiar?

Steve and Judith are based in Huddersfield and offer specialist Maths tuition and English tuition. For more help or information please call 01484 487911 or visit www.numberworksnwords.co.uk.

PR Shots: Marks and Spencer

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tel: 07580 612800

Heathfield Families Pennine AD 180x130mm_Layout 1 11/12/2012 17:20 Page 1

What did you do at school

today?

Heathfield The Junior School to Rishworth School

Heathfield provides a caring environment and a stimulating education for boys and girls from the ages of 3 to 11.

OPEN MORNING Saturday 2nd March, 9:30am-12 noon

Nursery places available from third birthday

Rishworth, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom HX6 4QF. Tel: +44 (0)1422 822217 Fax: +44 (0)1422 820911 E-mail: admissions@rishworth-school.co.uk Website: www.rishworth-school.co.uk

Ask for details

‘Outstanding 2011/12’

Please say you saw us in Families Pennines

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Top Tips for a great family holiday No matter what your budget there is a vast range of options for a great family holiday. Here are a few ideas to help you plan your great escape this year.

Fantastic family holidays don’t just happen. They are crafted, planned, plotted, budgeted and double-checked to stop hiccups becoming disasters.

Where a family with children are concerned, getting a framework right is the backbone of every holiday. So how do you do it?

Here are my top ten secrets.

Don’t cut corners.

The money you spend on your holiday is a big outlay. So doing the homework matters. What sort of holiday are you’re looking for? Think about location, facilities, nearby attractions, accommodation, airport transfer time, and so on.

Give yourself parameters, and then get Googling. Keep a list of possible resorts/villas/hotels; whittle it down to a shortlist; and then make a decision.

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Location, location, location. Some of the villas I’ve looked at are twice the price of others, simply because of where they are. On holiday I want a great view and shops and restaurants we can walk to. If you’ve got younger children, a beach within walking distance may be your number one location priority. Know what you need, and don’t settle for less.

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Friends matter, so think very carefully about who to holiday with. However close you are, nothing scratches away at a friendship’s weakest points as much as sharing two weeks together. You think you know that couple, and you think you like their kids? Take it from me, you’re going to know a lot about them, and you may have totally reassessed their kids, by the flight home.

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Don’t expect a bargain.

After two decades of planning holidays for my family I’m sure of one thing: bargains are as rare as hen’s teeth in school holidays. Look for the best deal, the best quality that you can possibly afford: but if somewhere seems a lot cheaper than other places, scrutinise it very carefully indeed.

Be honest about the sort of experience you want. Holidays aren’t times to be aspirational, or eyeing up the Joneses, or following the in-crowd. They’re about being honest about how you’d really love to spend a fortnight with your family – and who cares what anyone else might think. Work out what’s right for your family, and make it happen.

Space is crucial.

You know those places that say ‘sleep 4/6’ and turn out, on closer inspection, to have a pull-down bed in the sitting room? Avoid them (at full capacity) like the plague.

Squeezing as many people as possible in is fine for students, less good for grown-ups. You want a bit of luxury on holiday – and space is luxurious.

Once you’re there, alternate busy days with quiet ones.

Even if you’re a busy, boisterous, action-packed family, everyone needs some downtime. If you went to a water park yesterday, relax by the pool today. If you went fell-walking yesterday, read a book and have a cream tea today.

Overloading is the enemy of a good holiday.

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PR Shots : Next

Joanna Moorhead has been planning her family’s holidays for the last 20 years – here she shares her tips with Families Pennines.

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Don’t over-plan.

Have ideas, but leave space to be open to what you find when you get there. It’s well worth doing some research about the area you’ll be staying in but don’t plan every detail of your stay before you arrive. You want to explore, to discover, to be surprised, to make friends – and all these things will only happen if you’ve left the space for them to unfold.

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Embrace change.

As your family grows up, be ready to move on to new destinations and new

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experiences. For three years my family had wonderful holidays in an inland villa in Mallorca. By the third year it was obvious my older daughters needed something more: shops, places to hang out, a beach they could walk to.

Although unhappy about giving up the villa, the following year I found somewhere even better.

Set boundaries.

It might be a holiday, but rules ensure everyone – especially the parents – get a break. Put your rules in place, because then everyone can relax and have what they came to do: have a wonderful fortnight away.

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Registered charity:1093411

WEAR A HAT DAY Thursday 28 th March

2013

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www.familiespennines.co.uk

REGISTER NOW | Tel: 01296 733011

www.braintumourresearch.org tel: 07580 612800

At home and abroad with Families Pennines Ski with an independent tour operator Established 21 years ago, Ski Famille offers families a range of handpicked properties in France and Austria. All chalet holidays include 5 days of free childcare and all properties are ski in/ski out or very close to the piste.

Chris Thompson, managing director says, “the business has a high rate of repeat business and the majority of

new guests choose Ski Famille as the result of a personal recommendation.” The Ski Famille office team are all keen skiers or boarders with young children of their own so they know how to ensure families book the right holiday for their needs.

Visit www.skifamille.co.uk for more details.

Where to go... the Alps The Alps are much too good to save for your skiing holidays – in fact, those who’ve tried the area summer and winter often say summer is the best time to be there. For a wonderful family Alpine holiday, you’ll be hard-pressed to improve on the Chilly Powder formula – choose from a luxurious hotel or a villa, all set in a picture-perfect location, complete with in-chalet childcare and – for the foodies – an in-chalet chef. Sports on offer include white water rafting, rock-

Glamping Enjoy the best of the beautiful British countryside from the comfort of a luxurious canvas lodge equipped with a wood burning stove, comfy beds, a nice warm shower and much more inside.

climbing, trekking, tennis and summer tobogganing (which is one of the most fun summer sports and kids adore it). Prices vary depending on what sort of package you’re after, but as a forinstance, Chalet des Amis (three bedrooms; sleeps up to eight) is £1,200 in the midsummer. More

information at www.chillypowder. com

Want an exciting holiday with a difference?

Try a castle!

Halifax based Celtic Castles have a wide range of properties with family castle accommodation offering that little something extra to make your family stay both special and memorable.

How could your children resist the opportunity to live like Harry Potter for a night? They could explore the castle grounds, get lost in a maze or, for those rainy days, enjoy inside play areas and even a cinema! These are just some of the many additional features which some of the castles offer.

In terms of family accommodation, many of the castles have either specially designed family rooms or can add extra beds to Mum and

Stay on a Farm or in a Pod!

There is also a self-catering farmhouse on this family-run, organic farm. With acres of grassland for kids to run wild, and lots of local attractions such as Stonehenge and Longleat there really is something for everyone!

T: 01380 828351 E:info@millfarmglamping.co.uk

Where to go... north Devon

from stairgates to babysitters, for the hard-pressed family.

There’s an indoor pool, games room, play areas inside and out, Devon is one of the UK’s most fishing lake and woods – all on popular holiday destinations, and for good reason: wonderful a rolling, 40-acre estate, and with the sea a half hour’s drive beaches, plenty to do (even in away. Perfect for big families or the rain), beautiful scenery and families holidaying together – the a wide choice of where to stay.

Libbear Barton, a country estate farmhouse sleeps up to 14. Prices on the north side of the county, vary, but for example Moley’s Place, sleeping eight in four hits just the right note of luxury bedrooms, costs around £1,700 a (beamed cottages that are beautifully laid out and furnished) week in high summer.

More info at www.libbearbarton.co.uk and has everything on hand,

Please say you saw us in Families Pennines

Dad’s room. If you have older children who are brave enough to sleep alone, there are also interconnecting rooms. Roger “The Castle Man” Masterson says, “Our venue finding service is completely free of charge so if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will aim to source the most suitable castle property for you and your family. “

Call 01422 323200 or visit www.celticcastles.com. camping, with a bit of glamour.

Some pods sleep 2 but there are also family pods which sleep 4-6.

Facilities at each site will differ with some being part of an established campsite, and others are part of a smaller venue.”

For more details visit www.Farmstay.co.uk and

Farm Stay UK is a farmers cooperative that celebrates its 30th birthday next year.

All its members are working farms, smallholders or rural enterprises and they offer holiday accommodation ranging from B&B in a farmhouse to selfcatering in converted barns and even a converted pig sty. Many also run traditional campsites.

Chief Executive Andy Woodward says, “In the last few years many of our members have begun to offer alternative accommodation such as pods, wigwams and shepherds huts. They are great because you have all the fun of

if you are interested in staying in a pod, wigwam or shepherds hut search for “alternative & camping” in the “accommodation type” field.

The National Youth Hostel Association also offer pods at two of their Youth Hostel sites - Hawkshead, Ambleside in the Lake District and Grinton Lodge in North Yorkshire, which have proved very popular with visitors.

The pods come equipped with power, heat and light and are insulated with sheep wool to ensure a warm night’s sleep for all the family. They also have a covered seating and cooking area. See www.yha.org.uk for more

details.

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What's On January/February Theatre to 19 jan

27 JAN i The many mishaps of mr vinegar Square Chapel, Halifax

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wind in the willows West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

01422 349422 www.squarechapel.co.uk

0113 213 7700 www.wyp.org.uk

to 19 jan i sleeping beauty West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds 0113 213 7700 www.wyp.org.uk

27 Jan X Factor Live Manchester Arena

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0844 847 8000 www.men-arena.com

8 – 23 Feb david copperfield Oldham Coliseum

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0161 624 2829 www.coliseum.org.uk

10 FEB The emperor’s new clothes Square Chapel, Halifax various dates to 20 APR i Lion King Palace Theatre, Manchester

29 - 31 Jan Moscow State circus St. George’s Hall, Bradford

0844 871 7660 www.manchestertheatres.com

01274 432 000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

12 - 19 JAN i Cinderella Huddersfield Light Opera Society Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield

31 JAN - 1 Feb Strictly Come Dancing Live Manchester Arena

01484 430528 www.thelbt.org

13 JAN i ROMEO and juliet (puppets and clowning) Square Chapel, Halifax 01422 349422 www.squarechapel.co.uk

15 – 17 JAN Moscow City Ballet’s Swan Lake Opera House, Manchester

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8 – 9 Feb GRuffalo’s child Victoria Theatre, Halifax 01422 351 158 www.calderdale.gov.uk/victoria

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26 JAN i The Pied Piper Of Hamelin Professor Popup’s Puppet Theatre Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield 01484 430528 www.thelbt.org

26 Jan, 28 Jan - 2 Feb i Cinderella Halifax YMCA, Marlborough Hall, Halifax 01422 353626, 01422 353626 www.halifaxpantomime.co.uk

www.familiespennines.co.uk

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01422 349422 www.squarechapel.co.uk

26 feb – 2 march i james and the giant peach Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

01422 351 158 www.calderdale.gov.uk/victoria

19 FEB mavis sparkle Square Chapel, Halifax i

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01422 351 158 www.calderdale.gov.uk/victoria

24 – 25 FEB The fish’s wishes Square Chapel, Halifax

01422 349422 www.squarechapel.co.uk

13 – 14 Feb Chinese State Circus presents ’Ying Yang’ Victoria Theatre, Halifax

0844 847 8000 www.men-arena.com

0844 871 7660 www.manchestertheatres.com

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24 Feb the chuckle brothers – meet the phantom Victoria Theatre, Halifax

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01274 432 000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

01422 349422 www.squarechapel.co.uk

19 feb i Milkshake! come out to play St. George’s Hall, Bradford 01274 432 000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

21 – 23 feb i stuck West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds 0113 213 7700 www.wyp.org.uk

22 - 23 Feb i Rapunzel Tutti Frutti and York Theatre Royal Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield 01484 430528 www.thelbt.org

Want your event listing? email the details to editor@familiespennines.co.uk

Distributors Wanted...

Families Pennines is looking for distributors in the Halifax, Huddersfield and Oldham areas. If you have a car, a few hours spare every two months and want to earn some extra money, please contact: Rachel on 07580612800 or email editor@familiespennines.co.uk

tel: 07580 612800

To keep up to date visit www.familiespennines.co.uk/whatson

Half term

15 - 24 Feb Neverland Eureka! Halifax

17 feb wildlife wander Fountains Abbey (NT)

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01765 608888 fountainsabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk

17 feb Play longshaw! and lunch/celebrate play Peak District: Longshaw and Eastern Moors (NT) Booking essential

01422 330069 info@eureka.org.uk www.eureka.org.uk

16 -17 feb woodland friends Hardcastle Crags (NT)

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01625 374400 tatton@cheshireeast.gov.uk

16 - 24 Feb i simply skate at stockeld park Stockeld Park, Wetherby 01937 586333 www.thechristmasadventure.com

01423 780688 brimhamrocks@nationaltrust.org.uk

18 -22 feb woodland creatures Hardcastle Crags (NT)

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01422 844518 hardcastlecrags@nationaltrust.org.uk

18 feb Socks! Activity session Northowram Library

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01765 608888 fountainsabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk

20 – 22 feb bird box making Fountains Abbey (NT) Booking essential

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21 feb i wild instrument making Brimham Rocks (NT) Booking essential 01423 780688 brimhamrocks@nationaltrust.org.uk

21 Feb Wild Woods Bardsley car park, Ashton under Lyne, OL7 9PG.

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0161 330 9613 www.tameside.gov.uk/countryside

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Purchase tickets in advance from Library.

21 feb vile victorians Halifax Central Library

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Purchase tickets in advance from Library.

19 Feb i Junior Ranger Castle Clough car park, Stalybridge, SK15 3PJ. 0161 330 9613 www.tameside.gov.uk/countryside

19 feb vile victorians Todmorden Library

20 feb geocaching taster day Fountains Abbey (NT) Booking essential

01765 608888 fountainsabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk

17 feb i Creepy crawly creature comforts Brimham Rocks (NT)

01765 608888 fountainsabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk

16, 17, 19 - 24 feb scarecrow festival Tatton Park (NT)

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01433 670368 PeakDistrict@nationaltrust.org.uk

01422 844518 hardcastlecrags@nationaltrust.org.uk

16 - 24 feb bird brains Fountains Abbey (NT)

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22 feb i Socks! Activity session Sowerby Bridge and Shelf Libraries Purchase tickets in advance from respective Library.

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Purchase tickets in advance from Library.

20 feb i Socks! Activity session Elland and Hebden Bridge Libraries 16 - 24 feb mud and mess mayhem Clumber Park (NT)

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16 - 24 Feb i the art of useful things Harewood House, Leeds

01909 544917 clumberpark@nationaltrust.org.uk

0113 218 1010 info@harewood.org www.harewood.org

16 - 24 Feb i Horrid Henry’s House of Horror National Media Museum, Bradford

16 - 17 Feb i UK Holidays at Home Show Manchester Central (G-Mex) Manchester

0844 856 3797 info@nationalmediamuseum.org.uk www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk

16 - 24 Feb Jorvik viking festival Coppergate, York 01904 615 505 jorvik@yorkat.co.uk www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk

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www.ukholidaysathome.co.uk 01942 496855

17 Feb and 24 Feb Snowdrop Days Goldsborough Hall, North Yorkshire, HG5 8NR 01423 867321 www.goldsboroughhall.com

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Purchase tickets in advance from respective Library.

23 feb lumb falls and lunch Hardcastle Crags (NT)

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01422 844518 hardcastlecrags@nationaltrust.org.uk

24 feb family muck in day Peak District: Longshaw and Eastern Moors (NT)

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01433 670368 PeakDistrict@nationaltrust.org.uk

Families Pennines tries to get the details right – but sometimes things change so please check before you travel.

Want your event listing? E-mail the details to editor@familiespennines.co.uk

See back page for days out in January and February Please say you saw us in Families Pennines

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What's On January/February January

To 27 jan i Seeing the Whole Picture National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield 01924 848 806 www.ncm.org.uk

10, 17, 24 and 31 Jan bookstart busy babies Halifax Central Library

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12 Jan i greenhead park art club Greenhead Park Community Room, Huddersfield drawandexplore@gmail.com

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12 - 13, 19 - 20 Jan i Glasgow Science Centre On Tour: BodyVision Exhibits Workshop Eureka! Halifax 01422 330069 info@eureka.org.uk www.eureka.org.uk

drawandexplore@gmail.com

27 Jan i Dowley Gap Locks & Aqueduct Open Day Dowley Gap Locks and Aqueduct, Bingley BD16 1WA

9 – 10 feb sculptures and shapes The Hepworth, Wakefield

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February

2, 9 and 16 Feb Youth Theatre or scart (youth Art Group) Square Chapel, Halifax

01904 472027 joanne.parker@nationaltrust.org.uk

12 jan i stargazing at hardwick Hardwick Hall (NT) 01246 850430 hardwickhall@nationaltrust.org.uk

12 - 13, 19 – 20 & 26 – 27 jan i there’s nuffin like a puffin Lyme Park (NT)

19 feb bookstart busy babies Brighouse Library

01422 392620

The cool tool that helps kids pack their bag for school

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2 - 3, 9 – 10 and 16 – 17 feb i there’s nuffin like a puffin Lyme Park (NT)

3 feb ramble with a ranger Hardcastle Crags (NT) Not suitable for pushchairs

3 Feb K.I.T.E (Kids in the Environment) Park Bridge Heritage Centre, Ashton under Lyne

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Tel: 01904 213 123

www.orkidideas.com

0-12 & Ladies Store Ground Floor

PETERS Department Store 25-31 King Street Huddersfield i

www.teenstarcompetition.co.uk

7, 14 and 28 feb bookstart busy babies Halifax Central Library

To find out more visit

BENETTON

0161 330 9613 www.tameside.gov.uk/countryside

3 Feb TeenStar Auditions The Palace Hotel, Manchester

This colourful daily checklist clips to your child’s school bag so they always know what to take to school and to bring home again.

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01422 392620

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www.benetton-huddersfield.com

Check out our unique swim, holiday and outdoor shop online and in Holmfirth.

Baby and toddler swimming lessons at warm, local pools for ages 1 to 18 months.

01422 392620

SEE PAGES 14 and 15 for WHAT’S ON AT THE THEATRE AND DURING HALF TERM

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01422 392620

01422 330069 info@eureka.org.uk www.eureka.org.uk

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01422 392620

07706 227742 tabletots@live.co.uk www.tabletots.co.uk

01422 349422/01422 353073 www.squarechapel.co.uk

4, 11 and 18 feb bookstart busy babies Hebden Bridge Library

01663 762023 lymepark@nationaltrust.org.uk

26 - 27 Jan McEureka! Burns Night Weekend Eureka! Halifax

www.hepworthwakefield.org

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01422 844518 hardcastlecrags@nationaltrust.org.uk

14, 21 and 28 Jan bookstart busy babies Hebden Bridge Library

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9 Feb i Table tots nearly new sale Kettlethorpe High School, Sandal

20 feb bookstart busy babies King Cross Library

01663 762023 lymepark@nationaltrust.org.uk

12 jan bedknobs and no BROOMSTICKS Beningborough Hall (NT)

9 feb i greenhead park art club Greenhead Park Community Room, Huddersfield

www.nprms.org

2 – 3 Feb Chinese New Year Eureka! Halifax

01422 349422/01422 353073 www.squarechapel.co.uk

01422 330069 info@eureka.org.uk www.eureka.org.uk

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www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/winterstoppages

01422 392620

12, 19 and 26 Jan Youth Theatre or scart (youth Art Group) Square Chapel, Square Road, Halifax

26 - 27 Jan Pontefract Model Railway Show New College, Pontefract

www.swimbabes.co.uk t:01484 683570

Please say you saw us in Families Pennines

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