Families SELondon SeptOct19 issue 199

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FR EE

TAKE M E

South East ONLINE EDITION

with working website links

BACK BACK TO TO SCHOOL SCHOOL Open Open day day listings listings and and school school news news

CLUBS CLUBS AND AND CLASSES CLASSES New New friends, friends, new new skills, skills, new opportunities to shine new opportunities to shine

THE THE FUTURE FUTURE OF OF WORK WORK Preparing Preparing our our children children for for aa 21st century job market 21st century job market

LONDON LONDON CALLING CALLING What's What's On On listings listings

Issue 199 September October 2019

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I could’ve really done without spraining my ankle bringing in washing from a rainstorm during the school holidays and being out of action. Hopping mad? Haha thank you and enough of the jokes already - the children were ahead of you there.

But onto a new term at school - here comes autumn and enforced not going out at least meant there was plenty of time to bring you our newest issue, filled with the best reasons to appreciate living in southeast London happy reading.

Robina Cowan, editor

IN THIS ISSUE 3-4

Local News and Views Celebrate ageing in Lewisham, Elmer comes to Elephant & Castle, Zipping around in shared cars, and free joining fees at Dulwich College Sports Club

5

The Future of Work Many of the jobs our children will do don’t even exist yet how can we prepare our children?

6-11

Education News Local schools’ news, open day tips and dates for your diary

12

What’s New Bringing back the art of writing (on real paper), tummy time for babies, and we’re loving the great outdoors

13-17

Clubs and Classes Inspiring, out of school fun throughout southeast London and the many benefits they bring

18

The Book Page Your smartphone is full of cross people making each other miserable. Put it down, and read a real book instead, chosen

by Justine Crowe - a real bookseller from a real southeast London bookshop

19-23

LocalNews email your news to editor@familiesse.co.uk

Age Against the Machine Festival This autumn Lewisham borough is playing host to a new and inspirational cultural festival, running from 13 September to 6 October.

Centred around creative approaches to positive ageing, Age Against the Machine includes plenty of fantastic, free, family-friendly and intergenerational events. Great options include an Outdoor Performance Trail of interactive art, circus and dance performances (28 September), food and dance at the Vietnamese Moon Festival (29 September) and three lunchtime concerts from City of London Sinfonia’s Comfortable Classical series where little ones can colour, wander about and join in during the performances (23 & 24 September). Take a look at the full line up by searching under Family fun on the festival website: www.ageagainstthemachine.org.uk/events/Family_fun

What’s On Our pick of the best events, shows and workshops to see you up to and into half term Front cover: Children wear schoolwear from Marks and Spencer, instore and online at www.marksandspencer.com Nov-Dec issue out 8 November, deadline 14 October

Families South East PO Box 11591, London SE26 6WB 020 8699 3958, editor@familiesse.co.uk

www.familiesse.co.uk for back issues and our media pack

Families South East London

@FamiliesSELon

Families South East is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families South East are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families South East. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families South East, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

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Yoga parties If you’d love to host a fun and healthy party idea - how about a yoga party?

As well as running weekly yoga classes for children, Dandelion and Clover run creative Yoga parties which include movement, breathing, songs, stories and art. Lily told us: “Our aim is to develop imagination and creativity and promote balance and friendship. We bring the mats, music and materials, you provide the venue. Our parties can be tailored to a theme of your choice from pirates and space to mermaids and fairy tales, as well as TV shows such as Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol. We also offer party bags and gifts to enhance your party experience.” www.dandelionandcloveryoga.com

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New cycling studio in Dulwich

New Cycling Studio!

Dulwich College Sports Club are introducing an exciting new Activity Access Card for non-members and opening an indoor cycling studio in September, offering Les Mills Cycling classes and Keiser bikes.

With a full audio-visual experience, featuring Les Mills RPM, Les Mills Sprint and Les Mills The Trip instructor-led and virtual classes, this is a fantastic new addition to The Sports Club. Classes will be free to members, with 10 days advanced booking.

With the new Activity Access Card, adults can join the cycling classes, £8 for 30 minutes, £10 for 45 minutes with four days’ advanced booking. Cardholders can also book tennis courts, squash courts and 5v5 football pitch - all the details and T&Cs are online.

Dulwich College Sports Club is a friendly and affordable place to get fit, have fun and meet people.

READER OFFER: the club is offering a ‘no joining fee’ throughout September and October, saving £100 when you quote NJF-FM19. www.dcsportsclub.co.uk

From A to B in safe hands There can be many reasons why parents and carers are not able or available to transport children to and from school, supervised contact appointments, between estranged parents or other necessary trips.

Holding Hands can help. Based in Beckenham and working across southeast London, the social care agency services include safe transportation with professional, highly trained and enhanced DBS staff. To ask for their affordable rates, call 020 8313 0700 or 07400 252184, or read about the full range of Family Support services online. www.holdinghandsocialcare.com

NO JOINING FEE Sept & Oct NEW Cycling Studio classes included

Family Learning Festival Running from 19 October to 3 November, The Family Learning Festival celebrates a love of learning in family life.

With this year’s theme ‘Future Families’, activities will encourage families to become earthy explorers, digital discoverers or wellbeing warriors!

The festival is organised by the Campaign for Learning charity, which believes that learning together as a family should be valued as much as learning within school classrooms and formal education; fostering important life skills and positive attitudes to learning.

Schools, libraries, museums, children’s centres and galleries will be staging a range of free learning activities.

Discover more at www.familylearningfestival.com

Zipping around town Londoners are increasingly signing up to the convenience of shared electric vehicle schemes, according to new data from leading car sharing network Zipcar.

Interesting stats: each round-trip car club car replaces 12 vehicles from the road as members report selling their cars to join the service; 23% of car club members cycle regularly as opposed to only 9% of all Londoners; 62% of car club members are regular users of the tube compared with 37% of Londoners.

A South London is leading the way - the borough of Lewisham has the most Zipcar EV sharers, followed by Wandsworth, Southwark and Lambeth. There are approximately 3,000 Zipcar vehicles in London; find and book online. www.zipcar.com/en-gb

Elmer at the Elephant Take a trip to Elephant and Castle this autumn and you might just see... some elephants!

To mark the 30th anniversary of David McKee’s book Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, ten painted ‘life sized’ elephants have arrived in green spaces and streets around Elephant Park, where they are free to view, admire and squeal at until the end of October. Read more and download the trail map online to read about who is behind each colourful Elmer, and where they are off to next. www.elephantpark.co.uk/elmer

GRANT SAW SOLICITORS LLP

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Offices at Canary Wharf and Sidcup by appointment only

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The Future of Work What can we do to prepare our children?

By Gabrielle Nash

It is exciting when your child heads off to school for the first time. What will their first day be like? What will spark their interest?

The goal of school is to give your child the necessary tools and skills to enter our grown-up world and ultimately find a job. But what kind of job will that be? The world of work is undergoing a transformation and future careers will look very different from those of today. Many of the jobs our children will do don’t currently exist, just as the top ten jobs in 2011 didn’t exist in 2004. As new technologies explode onto the scene, new job opportunities are created. According to Randstad, it is estimated that today’s students will have 10 to 14 jobs before their 38th birthday!

What type of jobs?

Just as our parents had never heard of job titles like ‘social media manager’ or ‘app developer’, neither can we fathom what our own children might grow up to do. Redundant is the traditional question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Our children will need to keep an open mind about their career path.

Predicting which jobs will be in demand is difficult. They could perhaps include biomedical engineers creating artificial organs; interpreters (a growth industry despite automated translation tools becoming popular); or new healthcare roles looking after our increasing number of over-65s. All of these industries we know have a future.

Naturally our images of the future workplace are dominated by artificial intelligence, robotics

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and automation. And while it is predicted that the “march of the robots” will remove a quarter of jobs, experts believe that the future of AI is not to replace humans, but to change what humans are capable of.

Interactive Scientific, a British software company, believes that we can teach children key skills like good communication, persistence and problem-solving, all before knowing what future technologies will look like. These skills will be vital for our children to navigate an unpredictable jobs market.

What can you do to prepare your child?

However good an education your child is receiving, there are very few establishments with a futureproof curriculum, one that can wholly offer the development of skills needed for getting a job in 15 to 20 years’ time.

This is perhaps why more and more emphasis could be placed on vocational education.

The Edge Foundation works on developing the future of education. They argue that old certainties like a university degree will no longer guarantee a job. Edge chief executive Alice Barnard believes “We need to support young people to capitalise on their creativity, develop the problem-solving, communication and team-working skills that employers are crying out for.”

While as parents, we might think that giving our kids a head start with coding, for example,

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will equip them with the kind of skills they will need for the future, this is surprisingly not the case. Whilst fostering a curiosity about technology and digital fluency is paramount, gaining complex skills like coding is not the recipe for success (partly because machines will do that very well); instead it’s more the personal or “soft” skills that will help our children excel. The key things to remember?

1.

Interpersonal and communication skills are vital, because the human factor in a job will always be valuable

2.

The ability to adapt is crucial. One set of skills will not last 20 years, so teaching a child to be resilient and comfortable with change will help them to continuously learn and evolve.

So if your child seems like they’re not excelling in traditional measures of excellence, don’t panic. Instead, focus on developing their other skills and exploring all pathways. A child who is behind on maths and English might in fact have fantastic potential people skills. If they’re empathetic and kind, or adaptable and able to find solutions, that could take them further than their academic ability and give them the foundation to tackle a myriad of roles in the future.

For more from Gabrielle Nash, read her blog @londonishmum

Children’s Yoga Parties Need something different for your next children’s party - why not try a yoga party?

Creative yoga, art, games and dance parties. Yoga gift and party bags available too.

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E D U C AT I O N N E W S

Dulwich College celebrates 400th anniversary Dulwich College has marked its 400th anniversary in 2019 with a wonderful almanac of commemoration and celebration for its diverse and vibrant community.

Highlights included the Dulwich Olympiad with 900 students from 11 international Dulwich College schools participating in sport competitions, music and drama performances and art masterclasses; the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral; and School Service Day which involved 1,400 pupils and 200 staff helping in community-focused projects and fundraising events.

The 400th Anniversary celebrations continue throughout the year and include events open to the wider community. www.dulwich.org.uk/400th/programme-of-events

From Blackheath High to the Royal Academy Out of over 6,000 works submitted, Blackheath High School GDST student Mia Dyson’s GCSE Art exam piece has been selected to be exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts as part of the inaugural Young Artists’ Summer Show.

Entitled ‘Babcia’, the Polish word for ‘Grandmother’, Mia’s work portrays how one can face an overwhelming loss of identity from being impacted with dementia in their life.

One of Blackheath High’s Art Scholars, Mia will be studying A-Level Textiles at the school, making use of the brand new Art and Design studios which opened this year as part of a wider £18 million redevelopment.

Blackheath High School is shortlisted for Best Independent Girls’ School, and teaches from nursery through to sixth form.

Scholarships are available for gifted girls at 11+ and 16 entrance.

Find out more at their 12 October open day. www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net

Beautiful Burgess Hill “Almost non-selective and yet achieves better results than many more competitive schools.” - Good Schools Guide 2019.

Burgess Hill Girls is a top performing school for girls aged 2 to 18, with weekly, flexi and full boarding options from age 11. The school is set in 14 acres of beautiful grounds within a conservation area in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. Close to Burgess Hill station and the M23, London is reachable in less than an hour.

If you are looking for a friendly, empowering community for your daughter, you can see it for yourself by booking on to their September 28 Open Day, by phone on 01444 241050, or online. www.burgesshillgirls.com

6 Families South East

New Head of Prep at Sydenham High School Victoria Goodson has joined Sydenham High School GDST as Head of the Prep School.

Previously head of the Lower School at Newton Prep, Victoria has a wealth of educational experience and is passionate about educating and empowering girls. Drawn to Sydenham High School’s warmth and commitment to offering excellent teaching and learning, Victoria is committed to providing an outstanding education where every girl can reach, if not exceed her potential, through a range of academically ambitious and inspiring educational opportunities. She will be supporting all girls to develop the confidence and skills that they need to be strong, resilient and successful learners. www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

Pupils join forces to save the planet ‘Ideas to Save the Planet’ topped the bill at this year’s Maritime Trust Invention Expo as 600 eco-warriors aged 4-11 from seven schools spanning Blackheath, Eltham, Greenwich, Woolwich, Plumstead and Gillingham joined forces to showcase and celebrate ingenious inventions to make our world a better place.

Creations ranged from a whale designed to consume plastic waste from our seas, robotic bees to pollinated plants in the face of global bee extinction, an eco-friendly washing machine driven by pedal power and a tree-cloning machine designed to generate much-needed oxygen for our planet. The whole event was 100% sustainable too - waste food and coffee cups were composted and crisp packets were saved for recycling into emergency thermal blankets. www.maritimeacademytrust.org

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ED UC AT I ON N EWS

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E D U C AT IO N N E W S

WHITGIFT OPEN MORNING 21 SEPTEMBER 2019

Open Day Tips

3Don’t miss the head teacher’s talk. A good school will have an inspiring, enthusiastic and committed headteacher, supported by a loyal and united management team - and it will show

3Don’t be shy of asking lots of questions - good school staff have nothing to hide and will appreciate your interest. Take your child with you to gauge their initial impressions and to see if the staff are interested in them as well as making a good impression on parents

3In senior schools, look beyond the headline exam results. Ask

about the wider offer of sports, music, drama, school visits and life skills which enhance and enrich the exam curriculum. Can pupils sit exams in all the subjects they want; are some dissuaded from sitting certain (harder) exams - or even asked to leave (it happens)

3Where do pupils go on to from this school? Is the school realistic and supportive of their students’ next steps?

3You’re bound to talk to other parents, and they can be helpful, but don’t get pulled along by their tide. Your child is different - do your own research and develop your own views: knowledge is power

3If you are set on a particular school, do your homework about

whether your child fits its entry requirements. If you don’t fulfil the requirements, could you change something so you do? If not, move on: there’s no point in wasting a choice or railing against something you can’t change

3Nothing advertises a school like its pupils. Do they seem motivated and happy? Are they polite? If you have time, pass by at home time.

Could you see your child spilling out of the school gates with them?

3Remember that there is no all-round perfect school. Each one has strengths and weaknesses. There’s more than one school that can be right for your child

Set in 45 acres of parkland, we offer pathways for IB and A Levels plus a Section Française.

EL

YEARS

EBRATIN G

C

Whitgift is one of Britain’s finest independent day and boarding schools for boys aged 10 to 18.

YEARS

Generous bursaries and scholarships are available.

Join us at our Open Morning on 21 September to find out more about our inspiring school community.

admissions@whitgift.co.uk +44 (0)20 8633 9935 www.whitgift.co.uk/opendays Whitgift School Haling Park | South Croydon | CR2 6YT

8 Families South East

Whole School Open Morning

Senior School Open Morning

Saturday 21 September 9am -12 noon

Saturday 9 November 9am -12 noon

Sixth Form Open Evening

Book your place online today

Thursday 10 October 6pm - 8pm

www.colfes.com

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BLACKHEATH PREPARATORY SCHOOL IAPS co-educational school for 3-11 years

Open Morning for Years 3-6 (ages 7-10) Saturday 12 October 9.30 – 12 noon (entry via Hunts Slip Road) Parents and boys will tour the College with our current pupils, meet staff and hear the Master, Dr Joe Spence, talk about Dulwich College and Dr Toby Griffiths about the Junior School.

No appointment is necessary.

The offer of a place in the Junior School is the offer of a place at Dulwich College to age 18.

Mid-week visits are also available by appointment. Please call Junior Admissions on 0208 299 8432 or visit dulwich.org.uk/junior-school

PICTU R E YOU RSELF AT

James Allen’s Girls’ School

Overlooking Blackheath and set in five

acres of beautiful grounds, this leading prep

school an outstanding

offers education.

Regular open mornings are held throughout

the term when you can come and join us on

working

a normal day.

Applications for entry to Year 3 in September 2020 (7+ assessment) are invited and should be received by 1st January 2020.

PORTR A IT OF A JAGS GIR L

LEADING INDEPENDENT GIRLS’ SCHOOL 4–18 YEARS OPEN MOR NINGS W ED 25 SEPT* SAT 5 OCT THU 17 OCT* *11+ & deferred 13+ entry only. 100% BURSARIES AVAILABLE FROM 11+.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.JAGS.ORG.UK JAMES ALLEN’S GIRLS’ SCHOOL 144 EAST DULWICH GROVE, LONDON, SE22 8TE | 020 8693 1181

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4 St. Germans Place, Blackheath, London SE3 0NJ Tel: 020 8858 0692 Email: info@blackheathprepschool.com www.blackheathprepschool.com Company limited by guarantee No. 672569 Charitable Status No. 312732

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Open Days Southeast London offers the full spectrum of secondary schools - co-ed, single-sex, subject-specialist, academies, faith schools - and some of the best independents in the country offering scholarships and bursaries towards the fees. Every school has its own ethos, shaping the next generation of adults, and beyond websites and Ofsted ratings, open days complete the picture.

Some open events welcome allcomers, while others ask parents to book first check the websites of those you’re interested in for more information

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ALLEYN’S SCHOOL 11, 28 September and 6 November seniors 11+ and 13+ entry; 10 and 28 September 16+ entry; 21 September, 3 October and 5 November juniors, Townley Road, East Dulwich SE22 8SU, 020 8557 1519, www.alleyns.org.uk

BISHOP CHALLONER SCHOOL 28 September whole school 228 Bromley Road, Shortlands, Kent BR2 0BS, 020 8460 3546, www.bishopchallonerschool.com

BLACKHEATH HIGH SCHOOL GDST 2 October Sixth Form, 12 October whole school Vanbrugh Park, Blackheath SE3 7AG, 020 8853 2929, www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net

BLACKHEATH PREPARATORY SCHOOL Regular open mornings during termtime 4 St Germans Place, Blackheath SE3 0NJ, 020 8858 0692, www.blackheathprepschool.com

BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL GDST 5 October plus regular taster events Blackbrook Lane, Bromley, Kent BR1 2TW, 020 8781 7025, www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net

BURGESS HILL GIRLS 28 September whole school, 9 October Sixth Form Keymer Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0EG, 01444 241050, www.burgesshillgirls.com

COLFE’S SCHOOL 21 September whole school; 10 October sixth form; 9 November senior school Horn Park Lane, Lee SE12 8AW, 020 8852 2283, www.colfes.com

DULWICH COLLEGE

ROSEMEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL 12 October, 5 November, plus frequent group show-rounds during term time 70 Thurlow Park Road SE21 8HZ, 020 8670 5865, www.rosemeadprepschool.org.uk

St DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE

12 October Years 3-6 junior school; 12, 27 September and 14 October Year 7 lower school; 11 September, 9 October, 7 November Year 9 middle school Dulwich Common SE21 7LD, 020 8299 9263, www.dulwich.org.uk

12, 19 September and 1 October junior school; 28 September and 16 November 11+ seniors; 9 October 16+ sixth form Stanstead Road, Catford SE6 4TY, 020 8516 7200, www.stdunstans.org.uk

DULWICH PREP LONDON

SYDENHAM HIGH SCHOOL GDST

28 September 38-42 Alleyn Park, West Dulwich SE21 7AA, 020 8766 5500, www.dulwichpreplondon.org

JAMES ALLEN’S GIRLS’ SCHOOL (JAGS) 5 October pre-prep and prep school 2 Dulwich Village SE21 7AL, 020 8693 3465 25 September, 5 and 17 October 11+ and 13+ seniors 144 East Dulwich Grove, SE22 8TE, 020 8693 1181, www.jags.org.uk

OAKFIELD PREPARATORY SCHOOL

14 September whole school; 17 October prep school; 26 September, 8 and 16 October senior school; 1 October sixth form 15 and 19 Westwood Hill, Sydenham SE26 6BL, 020 8557 7000, www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

THAMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 24, 28 September and 9 October Wye Street, Clapham Junction SW11 2HB, 020 7228 3933, www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk

SECONDARY SCHOOLS ADDEY AND STANHOPE SCHOOL 472 New Cross Road SE14 6TJ, 020 8305 6100, www.as.lewisham.sch.uk

ARK ALL SAINTS ACADEMY 21, 26, 30 September, 2, 7, 9 October 140 Wyndham Road SE5 0UB, 020 7450 5959, www.arkallsaintsacademy.org

ARK EVELYN GRACE ACADEMY 23, 24, 25, 26 September 255 Shakespeare Road, Herne Hill SE24 0QN, 020 7737 9520, www.evelyngraceacademy.org

ARK GLOBE ACADEMY Primary school by appointment; 1, 3 and 8 October secondary school; 5 December sixth form Harper Road SE1 6AG, 020 7407 6877, www.globeacademy.org

ARK GREENWICH FREE SCHOOL Adair House, 403 Shooters Hill Road SE18 4LH, 020 8319 3692, www.arkgreenwichfreeschool.org

TRINITY SCHOOL

ARK WALWORTH ACADEMY

24 September, 15 October and 5 November 125-128 Thurlow Pak Road, West Dulwich SE21 8HP, 020 8670 4206, www.oakfield.dulwich.sch.uk

5 October Shirley Park, Croydon CR9 7AT, 020 8656 9541, www.trinity-school.org

17, 18, 19, 20 September, 8 October Shorncliffe Road SE1 5UJ, 020 7450 9570, www.walworthacademy.org

RIVERSTON SCHOOL

WHITGIFT SCHOOL

CHARTER SCHOOL

21 September Haling Park, South Croydon CR2 6YT, 020 8633 9935, www.whitgift.co.uk

24 September, 2 October Red Post Hill, Herne Hill SE24 9JH, 020 7346 6600, www.charter.southwark.sch.uk

63-39 Eltham Road SE12 8UF, 020 8318 4327, www.riverstonschool.co.uk

A rst-class education for girls aged 4 to 18, since 1887

Nothing should hold a girl back.

Visit us to discover how we develop fearless girls, happy and con dent about their futures.

Open events and taster days throughout the autumn.

Book online at www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net admissions@syd.gdst.net | 020 8557 7004 15 & 19 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL

10 Families South East

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E DUC AT ION NEWS CHARTER SCHOOL EAST DULWICH

HARRIS ACADEMY GREENWICH

17, 25 September 11 Southampton Way SE5 7EW, 020 3873 2290, www.chartereastdulwich.org.uk

27 September Middle Park Avenue, Eltham SE9 5EQ, 020 8859 0133, www.harrisgreenwich.org.uk

CONISBOROUGH COLLEGE

HARRIS ACADEMY PECKHAM

18, 24, 26 September, 1, 9, 15 October Conisborough Crescent, Catford SE6 2SE, 020 8461 9600, www.conisboroughcollege.co.uk

DEPTFORD GREEN SCHOOL 23, 25 September Edward Street, New Cross SE14 6AN, 020 8691 3236, www.deptfordgreen.lewisham.sch.uk

THE ELMGREEN SCHOOL 17, 23 September, 1, 9 October senior school Elmcourt Road, Tulse Hill SE27 9BZ, 020 8766 5020, www.the-elmgreen-school.org.uk

LANGLEY PARK SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 3 October year 7; 17 October sixth form Hawksbrook Lane, South Eden Park Road, Beckenham BR3 3BE, 020 8639 5200, www.lpgs.bromley.sch.uk

LANGLEY PARK SCHOOL FOR BOYS

16, 18, 19, 20 September 112 Peckham Road SE15 5DZ, 020 7703 4417, www.harrispeckham.org.uk

South Eden Park Road, Beckenham BR3 3BP, 020 8639 4700, www.lpsb.org.uk

NORWOOD SCHOOL

HARRIS BOYS’ ACADEMY East Dulwich

Crown Dale SE19 3NY, 020 8670 9382, www.thenorwoodschool.org

Peckham Rye, East Dulwich SE22 0AT, 020 8299 5300, www.harrisdulwichboys.org.uk

HARRIS GIRLS’ ACADEMY East Dulwich 26, 30 September, 1 October Homestall Road, East Dulwich SE22 0NR, 020 7732 2276, www.harrisdulwichgirls.org.uk

22 and 25 September, 3 and 12 October Eltham Hill SE9 5EE, 020 8859 2843, www.elthamhill.com

FOREST HILL SCHOOL 23, 26, 27 September; 3 and 4 October Dacres Road, Forest Hill SE23 2XN, 020 8699 9343, www.foresthillschool.co.uk

HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S HATCHAM COLLEGE

HARRIS CITY ACADEMY

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF GREENWICH

PRENDERGAST VALE SCHOOL

THE JOHN ROAN SCHOOL Maze Hill, Blackheath SE3 7UD, 020 8516 7555, www.thejohnroan.greenwich.sch.uk

THE HALLEY ACADEMY

St JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

Corelli Road, Blackheath SE3 8EP, 020 8516 7977, www.thehalleyacademy.org.uk

Beulah Hill SE19 3HL, 020 8761 1426, www.stjosephscollege.org.uk

HARRIS ACADEMY BERMONDSEY

KINGSDALE FOUNDATION SCHOOL

55 Southwark Park Road SE16 3TZ, 020 7237 9316, www.harrisbermondsey.org.uk

Alleyn Park, Dulwich SE21 8SQ, 020 8766 7051, www.kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk

23, 25, 30 September Llewellyn Street, Bermondsey SE16 4UN, 020 7237 6432, www.stmichaelscollege.org.uk

St PAUL’S ACADEMY

New Kent Road SE1 4NN, 020 7407 1843, www.ssso.southwark.sch.uk

PRENDERGAST SCHOOL

Jerningham Road, New Cross SE14 5NY 020 7652 9510, and Pepys Road, New Cross SE14 5SF, 020 7652 9510, www.habshatcham.org.uk

St MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

3 October Old Mill Road, SE18 1QF, 020 3260 3133, www.plumsteadmanor.com

11, 13, 18, 20 September Adelaide Avenue SE4 1LE, 020 8690 3710, www.prendergast-school.com

23, 24, 25, 25 September, 2 October 21 Meadowcourt Road, Lee SE3 9DU, 020 3096 0781, www.iaog.org.uk

145 Bexley Road, Eltham SE9 2PT, 020 8850 7678, www.scwa.org.uk

Finchale Road, Abbey Wood SE2 9X, 020 8311 3868, www.stpaulsacademy.org.uk

10, 12, 17, 19, 24 September Manwood Road, SE4 1SA, 020 8613 7490 (primary), 020 8690 1114 (secondary), www.prendergast-ladywell.com

Maberley Road, Crystal Palace SE19 2JH, 020 8771 2261, www.harriscrystalpalace.org.uk

STATIONERS’ CROWN WOODS ACADEMY

PLUMSTEAD MANOR SCHOOL

PRENDERGAST LADYWELL SCHOOL

ELTHAM HILL SCHOOL

SEDGEHILL SCHOOL Sedgehill Road, Catford SE6 3QW, 020 8698 8911, www.sedgehillschool.co.uk

Elmira Street SE13 7BN, 020 8297 2540, www.prendergast-vale.com

St SAVIOUR’S & St OLAVE’S

SYDENHAM SCHOOL 18, 24, 28 September, 4 October Dartmouth Road, Sydenham SE26 4RD, 020 8699 6731, www.sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk

St THOMAS MORE RC COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL 25 September Footscray Road SE9 2SU, 020 8850 6700, www.stmcomprehensive.org

St THOMAS THE APOSTLE COLLEGE 24, 25, 26 September Hollydale Road, Nunhead SE15 2EB, 020 7639 0106, www.stac.uk.com

ROYAL GREENWICH TRUST SCHOOL

St URSULA’S CONVENT SCHOOL

25, 26, September, 3, 7, 8 October 765 Woolwich Road SE7 8LJ, 020 8312 5480, www.rgtrustschool.net

21 September 70 Crooms Hill, Greenwich SE10 8HN, www.stursulas.com

SAINT GABRIEL’S COLLEGE

THOMAS TALLIS SCHOOL

24, 25, 26 September, 4 October Cormont Road SE5 9RF, 020 7793 3901, www.saintgabrielscollege.org

25 September Kidbrooke Park Road, Blackheath SE3 9PX, 020 8856 0115, www.thomastallisschool.com

e bl la + ai 11 av a t e ps ls nc h i gi r t r a rs l a te d e n h o gi f 6 + Sc or d 1 f an

AIM HIGHER The all-new Blackheath High School, shortlisted for Best Independent Girls’ School

Open Morning – 12 October Book online at www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net New school minibus routes added for September 2019

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We get out more!

What’sNew “Loves, hugs and kisses” Do you click and forget?

Hasty, emoji-strewn text messages have their place but will never beat the joy of a thoughtful, handwritten message arriving in the post.

Whether a thank you note to a friend, a drawing with adorable first attempts at writing from children to far flung relations, or a message from home to teens heading off to uni - proper, posted messages mean so much more; are kept and treasured.

Initialled with Love is a new range of premium quality stationery, pressed in gold or silver onto luxury cream or white paper and personalised to you. Choose from chatty cards in keepsake boxes, notelets, brightly coloured luxury greetings cards and personalised headed stationery with a choice of fine paper and envelope colours. All are conceived and lovingly created by the Beckenham-based design duo at Lancaster Stationery, who are on a mission to celebrate and bring back the art of writing.

Show you care by saying it with style. For orders and inspiring blogs, read more online. www.lancasterstationery.com

London parents are spending almost four times as much time outside with their children than rural based parents, according to a recent Elastoplast survey.

Over a third of London parents reported spending at least 7-9 hours outside with their children per week, compared to only 15% of parents in the south east and Northern Ireland.

A healthy 17% said they spend 10-13 hours outside with their children per week. The parents who get out more said they felt more relaxed and forgot about things that made them stressed after playing as a family.

With so many wonderful parks, playgrounds and museum gardens to choose from, and a Great Outdoors section in our What’s On pages - there’s no reason not to be inspired.

New baby must-have Nearly half of all babies from eight weeks old suffer from reflux, which is painful for them, and distressing for parents. An award-winning new product - the Babocush - is being hailed by parents as a lifesaver. The womblike heartbeat sound and gentle vibration soothes colicky babies in an upright position, giving parents the ability to get on with their day-to-day lives without tears.

With tummy time recommended as vital in a baby’s daily routine, the safe, comfortable support strengthens babies’ necks, backs and trunks in a very natural position, allowing their airways to relax and stay open as opposed to sitting slumped over in a bouncer or a car seat.

Stockists include JoJo Maman Bebe, or online direct. www.babocush.com

A nursery for children aged 6 months to 5 years old inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.

TRANSPORTING CHILDREN We take children and young people where they need to go comfortably, safely and on time.

Our transporters are trained to the highest standards with an enhanced DBS.

Call us today for more information www.holdinghandsocialcare.com 020 8313 0700 07400 252 184

Top Floor 2-4 Fairfield Rd Beckenham BR3 3LD www.Befabulousboutique.co.uk

12 Families South East

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they’re following their instincts, but those slumped in front of a screen could definitely do with a nudge towards a regular activity they’ll come to look forward to. Different sports suit different children; lively, outgoing boys and girls relish competitive team games; tennis develops hand-eye coordination as well as stretching young limbs; swimming builds strength without overstressing joints and ligaments; martial arts teach children to ‘read’ their opponents’ intentions; while dance adds poise, grace and flexibility to everyday movement.

Clubs and Classes Out of school fun in southeast London Developing interests outside the home is rich in rewards. Children meet new adult role models, make new friends outside the classroom, and non-school skills can last into adulthood (I’m still proud of my Brownies badges and martial arts belts)...

If you’d like your child to join a local class but don’t know which one, let their interests guide you. There’s no point sending a painfully shy child to a drama class if they’ll be cowering in the corner when a good drum-bashing session or IT club would bring them out of themselves more effectively. If they babbled from an early age, they may find a second language comes easily; if they’re forever throwing themselves all over the sofa, consider a gym, swimming or dance class to focus their energies; if they’ve scribbled on the walls since an early age and can’t eat their fish fingers, carrots and peas until they’re carefully rearranged on the plate, consider art and craft or pottery classes, for example.

Sports and exercise Pass any school playground at breaktime and the majority of children are running around, for the sheer exhilaration of moving at speed (typically exercising their lungs too by screaming at the same time).

If your children are naturally active then

Theatre and performing arts Drama is a wonderful extension of the ‘let’s pretend’ games young children love to play.

Classes open and extend children’s imagination through role play and characterisation. Working to a theme or play introduces literature, classic stories and make-believe worlds which come to life through speech, song and movement. Students explore empathy for their characters and classmates, and learn to work effectively in groups, growing in confidence as they learn to express themselves more fully.

Before too long, students learn to make eye contact, speak clearly in front of others and stand up tall when entering a room - attributes which will serve them well whatever their choice of career. All this and usually there is an end of term performance where the students have the chance to showcase their new talents in front of an appreciative audience.

Unlock your child’s potential

with our expertly led singing, dancing and acting classes for 4-18 year olds.

GREENWICH 020 7112 8242 stagecoach.co.uk/greenwich DULWICH 020 8949 4116 stagecoach.co.uk/dulwich UPPER NORWOOD 07442 532386 stagecoach.co.uk/uppernorwood SYDENHAM 020 7228 0981 stagecoach.co.uk/sydenham BROMLEY 020 3780 4893 stagecoach.co.uk/bromley Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.

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®

Creative Courage For Life

®

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Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools

dr ama singing dance Schools in:

Bexleyheath Deptford Bridge Dulwich Plumstead AND MORE!

3–18 years TWO WEEK TRIAL AVAILABLE. BOOK NOW!

T: 020 8447 4530 W: Jigsaw-arts.co.uk

LET'S DRUM! Established 2001

Forest Hill & Penge Drum School

6 Pro Drummers coaching adults & children

7 days a week/ 10am - 10pm including summer, all bank holidays & half terms

*100% success for Trinity College and Rock School Grades 1-8 - mostly with merit or distinction!

Experience the joy of creating!

Call or text now! 07930 415185 www.schoolofrhythm.com

KRAV MAGA SELF DEFENCE FOR KIDS

REALISTIC SELF DEFENCE

REALISTIC SELF TRAINING FORDEFENCE 8-15 YEAR OLDS TRAINING 8-15 YEAR OLDS The course is taught in a funFOR environment Mondays 5:30-6:30pm

by highly recommended instructors from the European Federation of Krav Maga.

Adult classes are also available 3 times per week.

St Martins Sports Hall, 155 Tulse Hill Road, SW2 3UP

EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF

Simon Pither 020 8432 2023 training@kravdefence.co.uk

SELF DEFENCE - SOUTH LONDON

www.kravdefence.co.uk/kids

KRAV MAGA

Music Numerous studies demonstrate that no matter the level of skill, music is one of the best ways to help early language development. Like speech, music has structure, rhythm and rules. It introduces new words and concepts through repetition, encourages turn-taking (just like in conversation), and helps children develop listening skills and attention spans.

While some children - particularly those from musical families - can take to an instrument like ducks to water, it may be more rewarding to try group singing, percussion and rhythm classes first to learn and appreciate the basics before taking on trickier instrument tuition. Even preschool music classes which include rhythmic singing and clapping songs are contributing so much more than a bit of weekly fun.

Dance It’s a rare child who does not enjoy dressing up games, and dance is the perfect way to move ‘in character’, whether as a graceful fairytale ballerina princess, or grooving to a funkier street beat. Great fun, dancing also helps develop coordination, fitness and a sense of rhythm, musicality and expression, promoting self-discipline and confidence.

Arts and crafts From the earliest age, children just love to make things. Admittedly they start by making a mess, but in time their painting, sticking, kneading and moulding start to take a pleasing, recognisable form. When clutching a big paintbrush, sticking pasta to a piece of card and squeezing real or play-dough, children are developing motor skills which will later be fine-tuned to manage tasks such as writing and using cutlery effectively.

Furthermore, the early attempts are stimulating many senses while introducing new techniques and textures.

Languages Children who learn a foreign language at an early age do so effortlessly.

At the most receptive stage of their development they are like sponges and develop a wonderful accent. They learn through verbal and physical participation and communicate without inhibition and self-consciousness.

If children enjoy their early exposure to a foreign language and culture, they will absorb and retain this, ensuring not only a head start in secondary school, but building confidence in all areas of the curriculum.

Language classes for children are extremely well designed - they are fun, happy and busy with plenty of activities including games, dances, songs and even cooking, to introduce the culture as much as the vocabulary.

School support As soon as children have a grasp of numbers and words, countless other tasks become easier. In almost every other subject and in many walks of life, maths and reading are needed and a weakness in these areas will hold your child back. Extra classes not only help ground the fundamentals, but help in confidence and add to children’s achievements long-term.

Meanwhile, with computers now standard in schools, learning to touch-type makes work faster and more accurate. It is also better for young hands (using every finger rather than just ‘pecking’ with two index fingers) and backs (looking straight at the screen rather than hunching over the keyboard). By starting young before bad habits take hold, children have a very useful skill that they will use throughout their lives.

And finally In your enthusiasm to bring out the child prodigy in your child, don’t lose sight of the fact that they’re already worked hard at school. If you have signed up Archie for cello lessons purely in the hope of a specialist school place, or believe that dance school will mean definite fame and fortune via Britain’s Got Talent - think again!

First and foremost, find an activity your child will really enjoy. If their interest flags, or changes after giving it a good shot, don’t be afraid to look around for a new activity which might suit them better as they grow and develop.

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Improve your child’s study skills

Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to improve your child’s skills, develop their confidence and inspire a passion for learning.

Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

OUTSTANDING DANCE CLASSES FOR BOYS & GIRLS FROM 18 MONTHS

Herne Hill Study Centre Juhi Prasad 020 8819 3857 This centre is Ofsted Registered.

ballet - tap - modern - street national - contemporary - jazz

kumon.co.uk

south-london—dance-school

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

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1 4/2/2013 5:05:13 PM

Next issue Out 8 November Christmas events, pantos, holiday workshops, Gift Guides Tiny Tots age 2.5-3

Booking deadline 14 October

Little Aces Junior Champs Grand Slammers age 3-4

age 5-7

age 8-11

fun filled tennis games and activities indoors with sponge balls and mini tennis rackets

FREE introductory session phone

07877 391005

www.tennis-4-kids.com email: gordon@tennis-4-kids.com

South East

Email info@familiesse.co.uk

www.familiesse.co.uk

Register with us before Sept 15th and be part of our great ABC deal!

A

ttend a free trial

B

ook for a term

C

laim 2nd free class!

Ts & Cs apply. See website

1 For 4-8457 year100 olds 01732 Read, write & play music!

01732 457100

www.funkymonkey.info familiesonline.co.uk

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Clubs News Freedom Academy Saturday school With children currently starring in the West End, prime time TV, advertisements and block buster films, Freedom Academy’s coveted Saturday School leads the way in part time performing arts training.

The Academy offers a wide range of genres during fun technique classes where children are provided with a host of opportunities to learn new skills, develop confidence and celebrate their individuality.

Working towards full scale productions and LAMDA examinations, students aged 7 to 19 attend three 1 hour classes, while 3 - 6 yearolds enjoy three half hours of acting, singing and dance classes lead by industry professionals and guest workshop leaders from the world of TV, Theatre and music.

And for those children wanting to further their career within the performing arts, Freedom Academy also has its very own talent agency.

Classes are held on Saturdays at Kingsdale Foundation School and Dulwich Prep School.

Free trial classes are available. www.freedomacademy.co.uk

Natural born swimmers Learning to swim is a vital life skill which every child should experience. Swimming lessons teach children independence and give a sense of accomplishment as they feel themselves improving. Swimming offers a whole-body workout like no other, helping children to keep active whilst having fun. Notably, learning to swim also gives children the ability to get themselves out of potentially dangerous situations, enabling them to fully enjoy trips to the seaside and beach holidays.

Everyone Active’s awarding winning learn to swim programme offers lessons for all ages of swimmers, from child classes starting at 4 months right through to adult classes and are available at over 120 sites. All swimming teachers are Swim England level 2 (or equivalent) qualified. All stages are progressive and continually assessed, initially developing water confidence and then teaching children to swim. As they improve, this distance is increased and all strokes are introduced. They also have the opportunity to develop water safety skills and other aquatic disciplines such as Rookie Lifeguard, synchronised swimming diving and water polo.

Classes are held locally in Dulwich, Peckham, Rotherhithe, Camberwell and Elephant & Castle. www.everyoneactive.com/contenthub/swimming

16 Families South East

A confident start with Jigsaw Performing Arts A new school year is here - time to try something new with your weekend?

Jigsaw Performing Arts’ popular dance, singing and drama weekend classes for 3-18 year-olds are designed to develop confidence, self-expression, focus and social skills, while having fun and making lots of new friends.

Parents share in the excitement and their children’s progress with regular presentations, shows and reports from a team of highly experienced teachers.

For more information or to book a two-week trial, call 020 8447 4530, or find your nearest school online. www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk

Free tennis trials Tennis-4-kids are running an open day of free tennis lessons for 3-11 yearolds on Monday 21 October at St Clements and St Peter church hall in Barry Road, East Dulwich.

The sessions will start at 10.30am for 3-4yrs, 11am for 4-5 yrs, and 11.45am 6-11 yrs.

Have fun and learn young! For your free taster and more class information, book online. www.tennis-4-kids.com

Diddi dance - for a love of movement diddi dance founder AnneMarie Martin is committed to get the nation’s toddlers and pre-schoolers active, following government’s latest guidelines that children under the age of 5 should be doing at least three hours of physical activity each day. diddi dance offers fun and funky dance classes for the under 5s, encouraging activity and movement in a fun and safe environment.

With a new dance style introduced every half term, from ballroom to hip-hop through to rave and Bollywood, every child’s taste is catered for and with fun props to use, children leave the 45-minute classes full of energy and excited for the next week.

Classes follow a structured plan yet are taught in a relaxed atmosphere where children can learn at their own pace as their confidence builds. For more information, bookings and adorable videos showing parents what to expect from a class, log online www.diddidance.com

Stagecoach Performing Arts Stagecoach Performing Arts aim to provide the best for every child through the magic of singing, dancing and acting.

Lloyd Bagley is Principal of Stagecoach in Bromley. He told us: “Our aim is to insure all our children grow and gain confidence, make friends and look forward to coming to Stagecoach. At Stagecoach Bromley it’s about more than teaching our students how to perform. We help them blossom into well-rounded individuals, ready to embrace life and all its opportunities.

So come and join our brilliant Early Stage classes for 3-6 year-olds or our Mainstage classes for 6-18s with our dedicated, industry professional teachers!”

Two-week trials are available at Hayes Primary School. Call 020 3780 4893 or read more online. www.stagecoach.co.uk/bromley Stagecoach Greenwich has been offering high quality Performing Arts classes to children for over 25 years. Two years ago principal Kirsty Cox launched her newest branch and all the classes are thriving with talented students keen to explore their Creative Courage.

Launching as part of Stagecoach Greenwich from September 2019 are BRAND NEW Further Stages. A Performing Arts class for students aged 14+ (academic Year 10), Further Stages is a challenging creative class for students looking to expand their understanding for the Performing Arts, both on stage and off. www.stagecoach.co.uk/greenwich Stagecoach Dulwich is opening a brand new Main School on Saturday mornings at Bessemer Grange School.

Principal Claire Guy also runs Stagecoach in Forest Hill and invites children to join the theatrical family by enrolling in singing, dancing and acting classes for 4-18 year-olds. Classes take place after school on Thursdays and Fridays, and Saturdays, with two-week trials available. www.stagecoach.co.uk/dulwich www.stagecoach.co.uk/foresthill

Yoga for young people Yoga is extremely beneficial for all, improving balance and concentration, and promoting an all round healthy lifestyle - but most classes are just for adults.

Dandelion and Clover runs Saturday morning classes for 5-11 year-olds in Beckenham. The classes include movement, mindfulness and games in order to create a relaxing, fun and creative experience. Single session or block bookings are available - read more and book online www.dandelionandcloveryoga.com/classes

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SPACES AVAILABLE NOW

SWIMMING LESSONS DON’T PANIC, WE’VE GOT THIS

Enrol today at www.everyoneactive.com/swim-lessons

DULWICH AGES 3 TO 19 YRS

ACTING SINGING DANCE THEATRE PERFORMANCES / LAMDA EXAMS DANCE BADGES / TECHNIQUE CLASSES TALENT AGENCY

EST. 2007 AS SEEN ON

familiesonline.co.uk

BOOK A FREE TRIAL CLASS TODAY!

info@freedomacademy.co.uk www.freedomacademy.co.uk Families South East 17

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The Bookseller Crow

is a fantastic, volume stuffed shop run by some of the most knowledgeable bookworms in the business.

Call in for the feel of a real bookshop, or if you’re too busy, pick up the phone or head to their website for a fast mailorder service. Justine Crow recommends this month’s best titles.

Where does the time go, eh? One minute you are proudly watching them wrestle with a ginormous nylon book bag that they barely know how to grip (let alone tackle the Velcro) on their very first day at school, hoping that all that frightful Mumsnet stuff about nits is an exaggeration (it isn’t) and the next, six or seven years of institutionalisation have whizzed by, the book bag will have become the absolute bane of your life and any spare storage room you have, from garage to attic, will be crammed with drawings, exercise books, disintegrating models of Roman amphitheatres and good work certificates with the gold stars peeling off.

This ephemera, along with the crate-loads of Match Attack cards, Bratz Dolls, Batman Lego, Playmobil and other assorted brightly coloured merchandise that you now loathe more than Fortnite itself, will send the kids flopping about like birds with broken wings the moment you mention getting rid of ANY of it.

SO MUCH by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury - Walker rrp £7.99. A new forward and “gold features” are promised in this fresh edition that celebrates twenty five years of the doorbell ringing followed by that winsome babe in a red growbag being squeezed and kissed and giddy-upped by his family so very much indeed. Having stared at the now faded poster on the wall of our shop for two decades, I can’t help but ponder what the diminutive toddling subject of their exuberant love has grown into someone taller and more sensible than me that’s for sure.

THE FATE OF FAUSTO by Oliver Jeffers Harper Collins rrp £16.99. Undoubtedly in short trousers when the above was originally published, this author has gone on to produce a great deal more than several modern classics of his own. Despite the title, the blurb describing it as “cautionary” and the tantalisingly small selection of Jeffers-esque images available online, I think it is safe to say that thankfully the story doesn’t feature the seduction of Gretchen. It does however promise a protagonist whose massive pomposity and self-entitlement is about to get pricked. What could possibly have inspired him to undertake this particular homage?

HELLO FRIEND by Rebecca Cobb Macmillan rrp £11.99. One for the book bag brigade just starting school, here’s a spirited little girl who is about to learn everything about making friends in the classroom. My first encounter with my eventual best friend for those primary school years, Tessa Coleman, was when I wanted to play with the bricks and she lay on them - all of them - rather than share.

There she remained uncomfortably for a full hour until the bell rang. Then she got up and said there you go, as the class emptied out.

THIS IS GUS by Chris Chatterton - Macmillan rrp 6.99. I was sold by the jacket alone, although given that I’m currently trying to complete this page from home with Mussolini the Pug barking his squashed little head off nextdoor on one side while the pre-schooler on the other side of us roars his own head off non-stop in response, I’m not at all surprised that I was drawn to the implacable countenance of one heck of an unimpressed Gus. Did I mention it was a story about bad moods and compromise?

NELLIE CHOC-ICE & THE PLASTIC ISLAND by Jeremy Strong, illustrated by Jamie Smith - Little Gems rrp £6.99. By a writer of considerable renown, the latest in the excellent young readers imprint from Barrington Stoke, specialists in encouraging those who learn differently, recounts our indomitable penguin explorer’s journey home only to find her route blocked by a vast island of plastic. And we parents know just how that feels.

THE SPACE WE’RE IN by Katya Balen Bloomsbury £10.99. “I am ten and Max is five.

There are twenty six days until Max starts school and we’re going to buy new shoes.” So begins this debut novel but this is no ordinary uniform shopping trip because Frank’s little brother, humming louder and louder, doesn’t want to have his feet measured which is going to be difficult as he doesn’t like being touched and he doesn’t like anything new. Which is doubly difficult for everyone, given what happens next for this family living life on the spectrum.

LORI AND MAX by Catherine O’Flynn Firefly rrp £6.99. A resourceful crime adventure starring recognisable characters and an awful lot of stolen cash. And a pleasing ‘what happens next?’ chapter at the end - no spoilers but someone catches a lovely big perch and gets their photo in Angling News.

HOW TO WRITE A GREAT STORY by Caroline Lawrence, illustrated by Linzie Hunter Picadilly Press £6.99. Using examples from obvious favourites such as Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland alongside representatives from other cultural media influences like Star Wars and Black Panther, every aspect of the process is keenly investigated. If anyone one knows how, it’s the creator of the Roman Mysteries series!

THE SILVER SPOON FOR CHILDREN Phaidon rrp £17.95. Whenever we are asked to recommend a good cookbook for kids, I keep

my fingers crossed and look this up in the hope it is back in print. After too many years this delicious tome full of accessible recipes featuring Italian dishes has finally returned.

Unlike the frazzled customer whose payment swipe failed when she was buying it from me the last time it was on our shelf back in 2015, along with a birthday card and sheet of wrap.

Like a trusting fool, I told her to drop the money in at the weekend. She ruddy never did. Which was nice.

KIDS FIGHT PLASTIC by Martin Dorey, illustrated by Tim Wesson - Walker rrp £7.99.

One minute it’s an innocent miniature human in teeny tiny new school shoes, the next they are the plastic police snatching cling film off all the bowls in the fridge and replacing the electric toothbrushes with bamboo sticks. Gah! Arguing that all it takes is two minutes to turn your average indifferent schoolchild into a swashbuckling recycling superhero, campaigner Martin Dorey presents 50 missions to fight plastic at home, at school and on days out. Make that 51 and include emptying all the reusables from the dishwasher regularly WITHOUT being asked, and I’ll be a convert.

PLASTIC SUCKS! by Dougie Poynter Macmillan rrp £9.99. Aaaaand as I’ve pointed out before, never eager to risk an original idea when there is a bandwagon to be jumped on, suddenly the whole of publishing has woken up and there’s a tranche of similar books due, as big as the raft of rubbish spotted in the Pacific.

This, from Dinosaur that Pooped fame, advises youngsters on how they can make an individual contribution (“Ahem. Dishwasher?”) to the eradication of plastic waste as well as introducing the reader to key thinkers.

GUARDIANS OF THE PLANET by Clive Gifford - Buster Books rrp £12.99. With the theme expanded to take on board ditching the Primani habit and re-using clothes, learning to compost as well as getting involved with wildlife conservation, accompanied by suggestions for easy-to-do projects, this also features a foreword by none other than vinyl blast-fromthe-past Brian Eno. Now there’s a bit of recycling of ancient material I can relate to. In fact, so much so that I am inspired to secretly go down to the basement right now with several charity bags and wade deep among the Furbies to do some serious single-use plastic and paper recycling of my own. Ssshhhhhhh...

The Bookseller Crow, 50 Westow St. Crystal Palace, London SE19 3AF Telephone: 020 8771 8831 email: info@booksellercrow.co.uk Twitter @booksellercrow www.booksellercrow.co.uk 18 Families South East

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SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS SHOW

PERFORM JUNGLE BOOK WORKSHOP

What’sOn

FUNKY MONKEY KEYBOARD WORKSHOPS

DI AR Y DATES FOR G RO WNUP S LONDON CAR FREE DAY

H AL F T E R M C AM P S A ND WO RK SH OPS HOLIDAY DROP OFF MULTI SPORTS CAMPS

PERFORM JUNGLE BOOK HOLIDAY COURSE

21 October - 1 November and Christmas camps from 16 December at DULWICH COLLEGE SPORTS CLUB SE21, www.holidaydropoff.com Your children will have a blast at HDO’s fantastic multi-sports camps! Children from age 5+ can take part in a whole range of incredible indoor and outdoor sports to keep them happy and active through the school holidays, including swimming pool inflatable sessions and many new exciting activities www.holidaydropoff.com. If your children simply can’t wait for the holidays, you can book one of their amazing weekend party packages www.eventdropoff.com.

21 - 23 October in BLACKHEATH SE3 0TP, 020 7255 9120, www.perform.org.uk/junglebook This October, Perform have got the bare necessities of life covered. Your young cub will love putting on a show about Mowgli and his animal friends. Journeying deep into the jungle, the energetic team will fire your child’s imagination with lots of confidence-boosting songs and games to bring The Jungle Book to life. It’s going to be the wildest half term ever! Ages 4-7, 10am-3pm each day, bookable online.

NIMBLE ARTS HOLIDAY CLUBS Every school holidays (except Christmas) in EAST DULWICH SE22, 0333 014 2576, www.nimblearts.co.uk Sign up your child for creative holiday fun where no two days are ever the same. Immersive adventure and arts activities are tailored around a different theme every day. Ages 4-11, open 8am-6.30pm, from £48 a day, sibling and full week discounts available.

COMPUTER CODING WORKSHOPS IN DULWICH 020 8090 1444, www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids run all-day holiday workshops that introduce children to computer coding through the medium of games. Available are courses on Minecraft Modding, Roblox Coding, Robotics, Games Design, MicroBit & Arduino coding, Python, HTML/CSS, JavaScript and Unity/C# in a fun, engaging environment.

Ages 5-7, 8-12 and 13-16 years.

FRIGHTFUL FINGERS: FUNKY MONKEY KEYBOARD WORKSHOPS 21-25 October, VARIOUS VENUES, 01732 457 100, www.funkymonkey.info Waggle a witchy finger or five at Funky Monkey Keyboard’s Frightful Fingers Electronic Keyboard Workshop this Hallowe’en!

Each half day music workshop is a brilliant all-round introduction to the electronic keyboard for 4-8 year old beginners. It’s a carefully devised fun-packed four hours which incorporates reading and writing notes C-G alongside learning basic keyboard technique. Wrap this around Halloween inspired activities and you have the perfect day of music making that little ones love, all with a spooky twist! All equipment and workbook provided. 9.30am1.30pm, £35 for first child, £30 subsequent siblings.

22 September across London, www.londoncarfreeday.com Get on your bikes, rollers or trainers: many roads will be closed in 18 London boroughs to highlight and help tackle the capital’s air pollution crisis. London mayor Sadiq Khan wants to help Londoners reclaim our streets and get out and about enjoying hundreds of free events including ‘play streets’.

THE BABY SHOW 18-20 October, OLYMPIA, Hammersmith Road W14 8UX, www.thebabyshow.co.uk/olympia Complete with over 200 exhibitors, exclusive show offers, an abundance of expert advice and the opportunity to try before you buy, The Baby Show is for all new and expectant parents. This autumn’s promises one of the best line-ups yet with an amazing collection of babycare authors and experts, plus parenting insight from the likes of Loose Women favourite Stacey Solomon, star and author of ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby’ Giovanna Fletcher, TOWIE star and new dad Mario Falcone, and fitness fanatic, founder of YogaBlitz and reality TV star, Casey Batchelor. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, advance tickets from £14.70, tickets £20 on the door.

VEGFEST LONDON 26+27 October, OLYMPIA, Hammersmith Road W14 8UX, www.london.vegfest.co.uk Now in its seventh year, Vegfest celebrates all things vegan, with over 300 exhibitors, 200 speakers, demonstrations and sampling across healthy eating, bodycare and wellbeing for all ages. Tickets from £12, concessions £8.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS SHOW 4-10 November, OLYMPIA, Hammersmith Road W14 8UX, www.spiritofchristmasfair.co.uk Uncover exquisite gifts in unrivalled and exciting new collections from 900 independent boutiques and designer makers, all hand-picked by the Spirit of Christmas Fair gifting experts for their quality and originality. Take part in expert-led interactive workshops, shop, dine and be inspired, all whilst enjoying an unmissable day out. Open from 10am daily, advance tickets from £20.50, under 12s free, children £13.50.

T H E GR EAT OUT D OOR S ZIP NOW LONDON

BECKENHAM PLACE PARK

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN

Until 15 September, Archbishop’s Park SE1 7LE www.zip-now.co/london2019 Zip Now London is the biggest and fastest city centre zip wire.

Launching from a 35-metre high tower, riders travel 225 metres with a stunning backdrop including the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the Gherkin, Lambeth Palace and The Shard.

For full adrenaline, add on the ‘Mega Drop’ freefall experience.

Open daily, ages 8+, from £25.

Beckenham Hill Road BR3 5BS, www.beckenhamplace.org, www.beckenhamplaceparkfriends.org.uk Bigger than Greenwich Park, the newly revitalised Beckenham Place Park has something for everyone - a Georgian mansion, a swimming lake, cafe, BMX track, children’s play area, woodlands, formal gardens; and a programme of regular classes and events.

BECKENHAM MARKET, third Sunday of every month. Head to the park for your monthly fix of global streetfood, talented designers and makers from London and beyond. 10am-3pm.

PECKISH PLACE PARK, Thursdays 5, 12 and 19 Family-friendly workshops, food, drinks, and outdoor fun. 4-10pm.

CHEEKI MONKEYS NEARLY NEW BABY & CHILDREN’S MARKET, 21 September. Sell and buy pre-loved children’s goods, browse crafts and meet the owners of local businesses.

Noon-3pm.

66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3 4HS, 020 7352 5646, www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk Tucked away beside the Thames, Chelsea Physic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in London and houses around 5,000 different medicinal, herbal, edible and useful plants. Family activities include exploring the world of mini-beasts to learning how to make your own herbal remedies and chocolate blends.

Admission from £11 adults, under 5s free, children £6.50, families £34.50.

CHOCOLATE TUESDAY, 22 October. Learn about the history, geography and science of chocolate and celebrate this very special plant-based food. The day includes craft activities, a garden tour, chocolate tasting and the chance to create your own mixture to take home. Ages 6-11, 10.30am - 2.30pm, tickets £15.

THE ART OF THE GARDEN, 23 October. Create art and craft inspired by a ‘world tour’ of the garden, taking in vampire plants, spiky cacti, tropical treasures, perfumes, seeds and ferns, birds, vegetables and more. Ages 7+, 10.30am - 2.30pm, tickets £15.

LOTIONS AND ‘MAGIC’ POTIONS’, 24 October. Can poison be a medicine? Explore a brief history of medicine and find out about the folklore of plants and ‘witchcraft’. Learn how to make some of your own natural and low-cost healing potions and plant a mini-medicinal garden to take home. Ages 8+, 10.30am - 2.30pm, tickets £15.

HEVER CASTLE HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG, 01732 865224, www.hevercastle.co.uk Explore the historic Castle and grounds of the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, where children can go wild in the Tudor Towers or Acorn Dell play areas. Gardens open 10.30am, castle 12noon, exit 4.30pm. Admission £17.74 adults, under 5s free, £9.95 children, £46.85 families.

HALLOWEEN HALF TERM FUN, 19-31 October. Treat the children to a spine-tingling programme of entertainment over the Halloween half term break with prizes for the best Halloween costumes. Creepy craft workshops, awesome activities and a spooky trail to follow in the grounds.

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WWT LONDON WETLAND CENTRE Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT, 020 8409 4400, www.wwt.org.uk From birdwatchers to families there is plenty to discover all year round. With experiences to suit all ages offering access to a huge variety of wildlife, WWT offers an award-winning day out. Open 9.30am-5.30pm daily, admission £8.70 children, £14.30 adults, £39.10 families.

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SHOWSTOPPERS KIDS SHOW

ZIP NOW LONDON

KEW GARDENS

MoreWhat’sOn KEW GARDENS ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, www.kew.org Discover the world of science behind Kew’s botanical collections, with over 50,000 living plants to be found across the UNESCO World Heritage site. From Victorian glasshouses to an Alpine rock garden, there’s something to see in every corner. Open 10am-7pm Mondays to Thursdays, to 8pm Fridays to Sundays. Admission from £4.50 children, £16.50 adults.

MINI FRINGE FESTIVAL, 19 October - 3 November. Roll up, roll up to festival tents to explore Kew’s wild stories and the discoveries that have shaped the gardens. The festival will feature plant-based storytelling, children’s comedy workshops, treasure trails and workshops.

STORYTIME. Children can play and explore through a vast landscape playground filled with over 100 mature trees, discovering hidden treasures and adventure, and developing their love of nature, plants and the outdoors along the way.

STORY TIME, every Sunday. Inspired by some of the rarest and most threatened plants in the world, Kew stories bring to life the gardens’ amazing collections and newly discovered science.

See the amazing rare plants for yourself growing in the beautiful Temperate House. 1, 2 and 3pm, included with admission ticket.

FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR FAMILY RACEDAY 2 November, ROYAL ASCOT, High Street, Ascot, Berks SL5 7JX, www.ascot.co.uk The Jump Season gets off with a bang at Ascot. The £100,000 Sodexo Gold Cup Chase over three miles is the feature race of seven and there is plenty of fun to be had off the track with fairground rides and an epic fireworks display after racing.

White-knuckle fairground rides and adrenaline attractions will be on offer throughout the day, with gentler rides such as Mini Jets and dodgems for younger children. Gates open 10.45am, adult admission from £26, all under 18s tickets free per paying adult.

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, 21 + 22 September. Little Angel Theatre bring Michael Rosen’s thrilling and funny adventure to life in this entrancing puppetry production directed by Peter Glanville and with music and lyrics by renowned singer-songwriter Barb Jungr. 2 and 4pm, ages 2+, tickets £7, families £24.

KALEIDOSCOPE, 9 October. Bursting with mirrors, lights, colours and sound, Kaleidoscope is the perfect introduction to theatre for your little one. Inspired by research into how a baby’s sense of sight develops and how they instinctively begin to categorise colour, watch as a multi-coloured kaleidoscope is brought to life for you and your baby. Ages 6-18 months, tickets £7, families £24.

EMILY RISING, 22+23 October. Emily wakes up one bright autumn morning to find that her feet can’t touch the ground, and no one can understand why. To everyone’s surprise Emily keeps rising higher and higher. From sleeping upside-down on her ceiling to soaring over a starry-skied London, Emily’s adventure is just beginning. Emily discovers a world that looks completely different and she’s not scared at all, it’s fun being high up. 1 and 3pm, ages 7+, tickets £7, families £24.

THE SNOW DRAGON, 2 November. Billy has everything a young goat could need, and more besides. On New Year’s Eve, Billy is looking forward to the annual visit of the legendary Snow Dragon, who will bring him even more goodies. But when Billy bumps into some hungry wolves in the forest, New Year’s Day seems a long way off. How will Billy escape? And has he been naughty or nice?

Expect toe-tapping songs and lots of laughs. 1 and 3pm, ages 3+, tickets £7, families £24.

LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE

M US I C AN D T H EAT R E UNDERBELLY FESTIVAL SOUTHBANK Belvedere Road Coach Park, London, SE1 8XX, 0333 344 4167, www.underbellyfestival.com A wealth of comedy, music and family performances burst to life at this year’s Underbelly Festival at the Southbank. See the full line up on the festival website.

THE SHOW STOPPERS’ KIDS SHOW, 8-29 September. If your children could create their very own dream musical show, where would they start? A magical castle under the sea? A spooky graveyard? And who would the characters be? A super hero? A crocodile? A fairy? From their imaginations straight onto the stage - the Showstoppers bring their ideas to life. Ages 6+, tickets from £14.50.

BASIL BRUSH’S FUN FAMILY SHOW, 15 September. Britain’s most loveable fox takes you on a journey of laughs, storytelling and song in show for all the family specially written for the live stage and packed with fun and excitement. Come join in the mayhem. Ages 4+, tickets from £10.25.

THE LOVELY BUG BALL, 21+22 September. In a forest like no other, caterpillars, butterflies, beetles, fireflies and more are all on their way to a very special event. There is making and dancing and puppets of all shapes and sizes. Set to an original soundtrack by the composer Tom Ashbourne this is a unique and magical show which is designed to be ASC friendly. Ages 4-104, tickets from £10.50.

CIRCUS 1903 19 December - 5 January, ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX, www.circus1903.com Experience the thrills and daredevil entertainment of a turn-of-thecentury circus this Christmas. Circus 1903 returns to Southbank Centre, with new acts for 2019 including the Brazilian Wheel of Death. The show includes sensational life-sized elephants stunningly created by puppeteers from War Horse, putting elephants back in the ring as never before. The circus boasts a huge cast of jaw-dropping and dangerous acts from all corners of the globe. Featuring acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, trapeze and high-wire performers and more, this show captivates and transports audiences of all ages to the golden age of circus.

Ages 3+, tickets from £29.50, concessions 25% off.

THE ALBANY Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG, 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk KALEIDOSCOPE, 7 October. Bursting with mirrors, lights, colours and sound, Kaleidoscope is the perfect introduction to theatre for your little one. Inspired by research into how a baby’s sense of sight develops and how they instinctively begin to categorise colour, watch as a multi-coloured kaleidoscope is brought to life for you and your baby. Ages 6-18 months, tickets £7, families £24.

20 Families South East

HOCUS POCUS, 13 October. Leaving room for the imaginations of children to soar, this international hit features two awesomely dextrous performers, vivid costumes and eerie props.

Lausanne-based choreographer Philippe Saire directs the dreamlike family show with dance, theatre and stage trickery set to music from Grieg’s Peer Gynt. 2 and 5pm, ages 7+, tickets from £8.

THE BEAR, 22 -24 October. Based on the book by Raymond Briggs, this is the funny and heart-warming story of a little girl who befriends a mischievous polar bear. With dazzling puppetry, delicious music and dozens of laughs, The Bear is an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Tickets £7, families £24.

STELLA, 3 November. Stella is a Star Engineer. From her home on the Moon she keeps the stars shining bright for when we need them most, to make a wish or find our way back home. Featuring projection, playful performance and aerial circus, Stella talks about how sometimes it is important to turn out the lights and wish upon a star. 2 and 4pm, ages 3+, tickets £7, families £24.

THE SYDENHAM CENTRE 44a Sydenham Road SE26 5QF, www.spontaneousproductions.co.uk PINOCCCHIO, weekends 14 September - 20 October. A new, magical version of the children’s classic telling the story of the little wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy.

Produced and directed by Jonathan Kaufman, Spontaneous Productions’ 10th original show for families since Spring 2017 is one of the most magical yet. Using innovative shadow puppetry effects, original songs by Paul Tornbohm, and choreography by actor-dancers, this promises to be a fantastic show for all ages.

Tickets £6 children, £10 adults, available in person and by phone from Kirkdale Bookshop 020 8778 4701; online and on the door, subject to availability.

CANADA WATER THEATRE 21 Surrey Quays Road SE16 7AR, 020 7525 2931, www.thealbany.org.uk ERROL’S GARDEN: WORK-IN-PROGRESS READING, 20 September. Errol is a young boy living in the inner city who longs for his own garden. He discovers that his flat has a rooftop that would be perfect for a garden. But the rooftop is full of rubbish and transforming the space into a garden will be a big task, so he invites his neighbours to join him. Soon there are flowers, fruits and vegetables for everyone to share. Based on the book Errol’s Garden by Gillian Hibbs, this work-in-progress sharing of an interactive children’s musical is filled with catchy songs, humour and imagination. 12noon start, ages 3+, pay-what-you-decide.

6 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX, 020 77134 2222, www.leicestersquaretheatre.com MUSEUM OF MAGIC, Saturdays 28 September - 14 December.

Once a month the Museum of Comedy is transformed into the Museum of Magic. Magicians from the prestigious London Magic Circle and West End Magic congregate to present an unforgettable afternoon for children and families alike, which includes magician & Hogwarts professor Wayne Trice teaching young wizards. Ages 7+, tickets from £7.50.

STICK MAN, 19 October - 26 January. What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree? Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is brought to life on stage in an award-winning production featuring a trio of top actors, puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.

All ages welcome, tickets from £19.

LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE, 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street N1 2DN, 020 7226 1787, www.littleangeltheatre.com THE BED, 12 September - 6 October. Take a journey sprinkled with fantasy and escapism, where you will meet elephants, macaws and parakeets. Venture underwater, to the North Pole and even outer space without ever leaving the comfort of your own bed. This enchanting poem by Sylvia Plath, written for her own children, is brought to life in a special show. Ages 18 months - 3 years, with a separate baby version for under 18 months. Tickets £9 children, £11 adults.

THE DONG WITH A LUMINOUS NOSE, 14 September - 10 November. A shy and troubled boy, Edward makes no effort to get on with other people. Instead he is always watching the horizon, waiting for something to happen. Then one day “the Jumblies” arrive, and his life is turned upside down. With a huge and colourful cast of abstract and figurative puppets, this absurd take on Lear’s nonsense classic explores that difficult age between being a child and becoming an adult. Ages 7 to adult, tickets £12 children, £14 adults.

THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT, 27 September - 17 November. When their beautiful golden ring is stolen, the Owl and the Pussy-cat must travel far from the safety of the Bong-tree glade as their search for the thief leads them across the Sea, to the Chankly Bore and beyond. Find out what these two beloved characters did next and join them on a journey through a nonsensical land full of adventure. Ages 3-8, tickets £11.50 adults, £13.50 adults.

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ, 020 7845 0580, www.unicorntheatre.com ANANSI THE SPIDER, 18 Sept - 27 October. In celebration of Black History Month, these classic West African and Caribbean tales about the spider hoaxster are brought vividly to life here in artistic director Justin Audibert’s newest production for the Unicorn. Ages 3-7yrs, tickets from £10.

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EMILY RISING

STICK MAN

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PINOCCHIO

E V E N T S AN D MUSEU MS THE TOWER OF LONDON AGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 13 September - 6 October, VARIOUS VENUES in Lewisham, 020 8692 4446, www.ageagainstthemachine.org.uk What a great title for a brand new Festival of Creative Ageing!

Three weeks of celebrations, events and activities include music, dance, interactive theatre, talks, discussions, talent shows, pop-up choirs and more, highlighting the ways in which creativity can help us age well and make a radical impact on quality of life. The project is co-produced with The Albany and supported by London Borough of Lewisham’s Cultural Impact Award as part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture initiative. All ages welcome the festival includes plenty of opportunities to join in together across the generations - see the website for the full line-up.

OPEN HOUSE LONDON 21-22 September, various venues, www.openhouselondon.org.uk Each year over a quarter of a million people take part in the Open House weekend, visiting over 800 buildings not open to the public every day; taking part in walks, talks and tours across London, discovering historical gems along the way. The programme includes family-friendly events - check the website for full details and local venues.

THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk The museum’s music gallery and hands-on base, regular weekend and holiday drop-ins and workshops allow family visitors to explore the collection through arts and crafts, music, stories and hands-on sessions. All this within 16 acres of beautiful green space which has the oldest nature trail in London, an animal corner, a butterfly house, a crazy golf course and a Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning. Museum open 10.30am-5.30pm daily, admission free, charges apply for special exhibitions and the aquarium.

BRICK WONDERS, until 27 October. Discover amazing wonders from around the world made entirely from LEGO bricks. From an ancient Egyptian pyramid to Old London Bridge, and from the natural wonder of a coral reef to the modern marvel of the international space station, travel through history and explore over 70 models made using half a million LEGO bricks. Build your imagination at the interactive play areas, and don’t miss two special models of Horniman icons, designed especially for the show. Admission £5 children, £9 adults, £20 families.

ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10, 020 8858 4422, www.rmg.co.uk Royal Museums Greenwich holds the world’s largest maritime collection. It is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen’s House, and Cutty Sark. The Museums works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people, and is also a major centre of education and research. On Saturdays and Sundays free performances and workshops entertain family visitors, while on Tuesdays preschoolers can make music and play with parents and carers.

Open 10am-5pm daily. General admission is free; some buildings, special exhibitions and events have an admission fee.

AHOY! Drop into NMM’s brilliant children’s gallery for a boatload of fun and adventure. Stoke the boiler of a steamship, land a fish and work in the interactive boatyard. Polar exploration, pirates and a host of other maritime themes are brought to life in this playful and immersive gallery, which also has a buggy park and easy access to all the facilities you need to have a stress-free visit. Ages 0-7, free and open daily (sometimes pre-booked for schools groups).

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THE GREAT EXPLORER is an interactive game for families.

Borrow a tablet device and set sail across The Great Map to explore distant lands and discover treasures from all around the world. Where will you visit and what will you find? Take a photo and share your adventure. 11am-4pm, free.

CHARACTER ENCOUNTERS, Saturdays. Join an exciting performance and journey bringing maritime history to life. 12noon, 1, 2 and 3pm.

CUTTY SARK CUTTY SARK, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT, 020 8858 2698, www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark The world famous 19th century tea clipper offers visitors four levels to explore. Take in the views from the main deck and steer at the ship’s wheel, meet the crew who worked on board, explore the various cargoes from wool to whiskey, and see how tea was loaded on board through interactive displays, props, information boards and animations. Family friendly events run at weekends and during school holidays. Open 10am-5pm daily, admission from £6.30 children, £12.15 adults, from £24 families. Bundled tickets are available with the other Royal Museum Greenwich attractions.

GHOST SHIPS AND SPOOKY SHADOWS, 5+6 October. Set sail with storyteller Olivia Armstrong for an adventure across the high seas. Enjoy fantastic tales of faraway lands before making the return journey home to dry land. 11am-4pm, free with admission to the ship.

PORTS OF CALL, 21-26 October. Set sail on a half term adventure across the high seas. Enjoy daily-changing music and dance performances inspired by Cutty Sark’s voyages and take part in music-inspired arts and crafts. 11am-4pm, free with admission to the ship.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, 2+3 November. Make a beautiful lantern inspired by Cutty’s Sark’s journeys to India and create a colourful Diwali display. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-4pm, free with admission to the ship.

HALLOWEEN HALF TERM AT GREENWICH MARKET 23-25 October, GREENWICH MARKET SE10 9HZ, www.greenwichmarket.london CRAFTY WORKSHOPS, 23+24 October. Get Halloween ready with clever designer makers over half term - sewing, painting and crafting workshops. 11am-4pm daily.

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN FUN, 25 October. Halloween fun and games with creepy storytelling, dancing and a freaky fashion show. The Gore Store returns for some scary face painting. Dress in your frightful best and remember to bring your carved pumpkins - there are medals to be won! 12noon - 5pm.

IWM LONDON IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, Lambeth Road SE1 6HZ, www.iwm.org.uk IWM shows and records war through the eyes of the people who lived it. Be moved. Be inspired. Be transformed. Open 10am to 6pm daily, admission free.

ANIMALS IN CONFLICT, 19+20 October. See the new Puffin/ IWM publication ‘Tales of Amazing Animal Heroes’ jump off the page, with interactive storytelling adventures in conjunction with leading vet charity PDSA. 10am-4pm, free drop-in.

DOCUMENTARY CHALLENGE, daily. Make and feature in your own mini-documentary, featuring stories ranging from spies to bomb shelters and from refugees to ration books, then download the result. £10 per family, no need to book.

STORY SEEKERS, 21, 23 and 26 October. Learn about the global impact of conflict from the First and Second World Wars to today, getting hands-on with real artefacts and exploring unusual stories from the museum collection. 10am-1pm and 2-4pm, free drop-in.

St KATHARINE’S & WAPPING, EC3N 4AB, www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london Discover London’s castle - a secure fortress, royal palace and infamous prison. Open 9am-4.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10am Sundays and Mondays. Admission £17.70 children, £22.70 adults.

ACTIVITY TRAILS, daily. Explore the home of the Queen’s Crown Jewels and the rooms of Edward 1 with a family trail, packed with fun quizzes, activities, facts and illustrations.

ROYAL BEASTS, daily. Discover the fascinating stories of the many exotic animals kept at the Tower of London and explore how they lived in the Royal Menagerie.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R, 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the UK’s central bank. Examine intricately-designed banknotes, feel the weight of a genuine gold bar and see the pikes and muskets that were once used to defend the Bank. Children’s activity sheets provide fun for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm Mondays to Fridays, admission free.

THE BIG DRAW, 28 October - 1 November. The museum building is more than 80 years old. It was designed and built to last, but what could it look like in the future? Drop in, imagine and design a new look - which materials would you use to make the building strong and sturdy? What things would you have in place to keep the building, staff and gold safe? 10am-4.30pm daily, free, including a competition for different age groups.

THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ, 020 7841 3600, www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk Britain’s first home for abandoned children and London’s first public art gallery reveals the stories of the Foundling Hospital’s founder Thomas Coram, the artist William Hogarth and composer George Frideric Handel. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 11am Sundays. Admission free for under 16s, from £10 adults.

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM COVENT GARDEN PIAZZA, WC2E 7BB, 020 7379 6344, www.ltmuseum.co.uk HIDDEN LONDON, from 11 October. Experience an ‘abandoned’ Tube station underworld and discover secrets beneath our busy streets. Hidden London - The Exhibition will take visitors on an immersive journey of some of London’s most secret spaces belonging to the oldest subterranean railway in the world. These ‘forgotten’ parts of the Tube network have incredible stories to tell about Britain’s wartime past such as the Plessey aircraft underground factory which had 2,000 members of staff, mostly women, working in the two 2.5 mile-long tunnels on the eastern section of the Central line during the Second World War. Open 10am-6pm daily, adult tickets from £16.50 valid for a whole year; children free.

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM’S DEPOT 118-120 Gunnersbury Lane, Acton W3 9BQ, www.ltmuseum.co.uk/visit/museum-depot OPEN WEEKEND, 28+29 September. Discover another side to the stations and journeys that are part and parcel of everyday life in modern London. From Waterloo’s hidden features and the ambitious infrastructure project that transformed London Bridge into an award-winning station, to the neighbourhoods that have been created and shaped by the network, the weekend offers a lively programme of talks, workshops, guided tours, demonstrations and family activities. 11am-5pm, adults £12, children free.

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AGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

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LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

MoreWhat’sOn NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3 4HT, 020 7730 0717, www.nam.ac.uk The National Army Museum is a leading authority on the British Army and its impact on society past and present. Through its collections the museum preserves and shares stories of ordinary people with extraordinary responsibilities; exploring the role of the army and its relevance today. Free children’s trails cover a wide range of topics and suit a variety of age groups. Open 10am 5.30pm, admission free.

PLAY BASE, daily. Whether your child wants to take on the soft play assault course, climb aboard a truck or prepare scoff in the cookhouse, Play Base lets every child shine. Ages 0-8, £4.50 per child for an hour-long session.

CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM 48 Doughty Street WC1N 2LX, 020 7405 2127, www.dickensmuseum.com Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission £9 adults, £4 children. A visit to the Museum includes a free family trail for each child. Suitable for children between 4 and 12 years, the trail takes children on a journey of discovery through No. 48 Doughty Street, where Dickens once lived with his wife and young family.

Exploration of the basement reveals a wonderful Victorian kitchen, full of period and replica items you can interact with. Try your hand at grinding coffee and look out for resident hedgehog, Bill Spikes!

There are costumes for dressing up in both the kitchen and the attic to give a flavour of what life was like upstairs and down. There is even a beautiful Victorian toy theatre in the timeline room where you can put on your own play.

FULHAM PALACE Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham SW6 6EA, 020 7736 3233, www.fulhampalace.org The Museum of Fulham Palace charts the long history of the palace site, from Prehistoric times and Roman settlement, through Medieval, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian bishops to the present day. The museum collection includes paintings, archaeology and artefacts. Open noon-4pm Sundays, 12.30-3.30pm Mondays to Thursdays, admission free.

PALACE EXPLORERS, Mondays and Tuesdays for accompanied 2-4 year-olds, £5.50 per child.

FAMILY FUN, 22 September. Take part in plant themed activities, games and crafts, meet the dedicated garden team who keep the garden looking so good. 11am-3pm, ages 3+, free.

NATURAL PLAY AREA, from 22 September. Logs and wooden objects saved from onsite tree work have been built into a new play area, sparking creativity in order to encourage a lifelong love of nature for the children who use it. Open daily from dawn to dusk, suitable for all ages, entry free.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD, 020 7942 5000, www.nhm.ac.uk Dinosaurs, volcanoes, precious gems and creepy crawlies discover the diversity of the natural world through the nation’s finest collection of natural history specimens. Fascinating exhibitions display up to 70 million plants, animals, fossils, rocks and minerals, with a hands-on education centre where you can meet real scientists at work. Museum open 10am-5.50pm, admission free.

MUSEUM OF THE MOON, until 5 January 2020. See the far side of the moon via UK artist Luke Jerram’s six-metre spherical sculpture, which offers a new and exciting perspective of Earth’s celestial neighbour. Featuring detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface, the sculpture is accompanied by a surround-sound composition by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones. Suitable for all ages, free to visit.

VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES, until January. Discover how the powers within shape the world we live in, through dramatic film footage, exhibits, interactive games and the museum’s famous earthquake simulator. See lava bombs, volcanic glass hair, and crystals created under intense pressure beneath the Earth’ surface.

22 Families South East

INVESTIGATE FOR FAMILIES, every weekend. Get a feel for how scientists work by having a go yourself. Explore hundreds of real nature specimens that form the evidence Museum scientists use in their daily work. Drop-in, ages 3-11, 11am-5pm.

DINO SNORES, once a month on Saturdays. Discover what really happens at the museum when the staff and visitors have gone home. Children aged 7-11 years, from 7pm to 9.50am the following day. Tickets from £54.

SCIENCE MUSEUM SCIENCE MUSEUM, Exhibition Road SW7 2DD, 0870 870 4868, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk The Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. Open daily 10am-6pm except 24-26 December.

General admission free; tickets required for some events and special exhibitions.

DRIVERLESS; WHO IS IN CONTROL? until October. Get up close with examples of real self-driving vehicles. From self-driving cars to autonomous flying drones and smart underwater vehicles like the Autosub Long Range fleet which includes ‘Boaty McBoatface’, this new exhibition explores how much of the seemingly futuristic technology already exists and extends far beyond the cars we’re familiar with, how much control we’re willing to transfer to them and how their wider deployment could shape our habits, behaviour and society. Admission free.

TOP SECRET: FROM CIPHERS TO CYBER SECURITY, until 23 February 2020. Explore the challenges of maintaining digital security in the 21st century and the unique technologies used throughout the 100-year history of GCHQ - one of the UK’s intelligence agencies. The exhibition features over 100 never-before-seen objects, interactive puzzles and first-person interviews, revealing fascinating stories of communications intelligence and cyber security from the last century including cipher machines used during the Second World War, secure telephones of the type used by British Prime Ministers, and an encryption key used by Her Majesty The Queen. Admission free.

MUSEUM OF LONDON MUSEUM OF LONDON, 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN, www.museumoflondon.org.uk From specially-designed interactive children’s galleries, free activity bags and stimulating online games, as well as all-important details like high chairs and baby-changing spaces, the Museum of London is a perfect fun family venue. Open 10am-6pm daily, admission free.

BEASTS OF LONDON, until 5 January 2020. Step into an immersive tour through London’s history, narrated by the animals who once lived here. Beasts of London explores the fascinating role animals have played in shaping the capital. Be guided through time, from the Roman era through Medieval London and right up to present day, narrated by the beasts themselves. Discover how animals - from lions and elephants, to horses, rats and pigeons - have shaped the city and its beastly history. Ages 7+, family tickets from £20.

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS, Warehouse 1, West India Quay E14 4AL, www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands Find out more about London’s history, through displays covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners’ jobs and occupations, and Roman life. Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. On Sundays, museum hosts help visitors explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities at 11am and 2pm.

SECRET RIVERS, until 27 October. For centuries Londoners have existed beside a series of waterways, which have shaped the city and people within it. Discover the forgotten secrets and stories of London’s rivers, streams and brooks through excavated artefacts, paintings, prints and contemporary art. Ages 5+, free.

TOP SECRET

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Bow Street, Covent Garden WC2E 9DD, 020 7304 4000, www.roh.org.uk The Royal Opera House is in the heart of London’s theatreland.

Open daily, there are plenty of events and behind the scene tours as well as world-class productions to enjoy.

OPERA DOTS, Mondays 9 September - 23 February. Discover the world of opera through fun participatory workshops for children and adults, full of singing, music and stories.

THE BRITISH LIBRARY 96 Euston Road NW1 2DB, 01937 456030, www.bl.uk The British Library is open to everyone and offers Reading Rooms for research and study, exhibitions and events for curious people of all ages, tours and great places to eat, drink and shop. Open 9.30am - 8pm Mondays to Thursdays, to 6pm Fridays, 7pm Saturdays, and 11am-5pm Sundays, admission free.

MAKE AND CREATE, 22 September. Enjoy playful multisensory activities exploring the library’s sound collection. A selection of children’s books will be available to read and even perform if you wish! A range of materials will be on hand to inspire you to make, create and invent something to take home. 12noon - 4pm, free drop-in.

BUDDHISM, 25 October - 23 February. How did Buddhism grow from its beginnings in 6th-century India to having over 500 million international followers today? How did the life of the Buddha unfold? What inspires Buddhist practice? Encounter the outstanding beauty of Buddhist manuscripts and artworks in the largest exhibition of its kind ever held at the British Library. Rare treasures include colourful scrolls, artefacts decorated with great detail and lavishly illuminated books spanning 2,000 years and 20 countries. Admission £14 adults, under 11s free, 12-17 yr-olds £7.

TAKE A BREATH, 26 October. Take time out of busy life to look, make and relax as a family. Explore a selection of multi-sensory activities, experimenting with sound, mark-making, colour, drawing and collage. You can also choose to take part in a simple meditation exercise, before finishing with our short mindful sculpture walk through the Library. 10.30am and 1pm start.

Ages 5-11, free drop-in.

VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM V&A MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL, 020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk/families Pick up a family trail from the Information Desk and explore the museum through puzzles, drawing and observation. Suitable for 7-12 year-olds. There are also hundreds of exciting hands-on exhibits containing plenty to touch and try out. Museum open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.

BACK-PACKS, Saturdays. Pick up a back pack and explore the museum with fantastic jigsaws, stories, puzzles and games.

10.30am-5pm.

POP-UP PERFORMANCES. Be a part of an immersive play in the galleries, listen to music, join in with a dance or be transported through historically-themed storytelling and puppetry.

Performances take place every Saturday and throughout the school holidays and are suitable for all ages. On selected dates throughout the year, deaf audiences can enjoy British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation of performances.

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www.museumofchildhood.org.uk This gem of a museum houses dolls, dolls’ houses, puppets, teddy bears, games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography. Everyday drop-in activities include storytelling, arts and crafts, and trails. There’s dressing-up, role play and an under 3s area, an indoor sandpit, and regular special events. Open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.

PLAYING WITH BUILDINGS, until March 2020. Seventy first-year BSc Architecture students from UEL re-think how visitors might interact with the museum and designed new inventive spaces for playing and learning. Pupils from Morpeth Secondary School and St Johns Primary School have user tested their prototype designs and created their own inventive responses.

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BEASTS OF L

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ASTS OF LONDON

SECRET RIVERS - MUSEUM OF LONDON

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MUSEUM St THOMAS’S HOSPITAL, 2 Lambeth Palace Road SE1 7EW, 020 7188 4400, www.florence-nightingale.co.uk Known as ‘The Lady with the Lamp’, Florence Nightingale was a pioneering nurse, writer, and noted statistician. The Florence Nightingale Museum celebrates her life and work, through personal material associated with Florence Nightingale, items relating to the Crimean War and nursing artefacts. Open 10am7pm daily, admission £7.50 adults, £3.80 children.

MEET MISS NIGHTINGALE, every last Saturday of the month.

Meet Miss Nightingale and hear all about how she became a nurse, why she went to the Crimea and how she improved the conditions for the soldiers and nurses. Free with admission.

OPERA DOTS AT ROH

BUDDHISM AT THE BRITSH LIBRARY

WOOLWICH CONTEMPOARY ART FAIR

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER

BRITISH MUSEUM, Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG, 020 7323 8181, www.britishmuseum.org The British Museum was founded in 1753, the first national public museum in the world. Each year nearly 6 million visitors pour through the doors to see the museum’s collection of ancient and historical artefacts including the ever-popular Egyptian mummies, or to take in the latest block-buster exhibition. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free, charge for some exhibitions.

DIGITAL DISCOVERY CENTRE, weekends. Learn, discover and create in the Museum’s digital centre. Free activities and workshops using the latest Samsung digital equipment, enabling children to bring the world’s history and cultures to life through advanced technology.

WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR LONDON, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden WD25 7LR, 0345 084 0900, www.wbstudiotour.co.uk Follow the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione deep into the grounds of the Forbidden Forest. The unique attraction offers visitors the ultimate chance to get up close to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series. Tickets £25 children, £43 adults, £140 families, book first.

A RT A CT IV IT IE S DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY, Gallery Road, Dulwich Village SE21 7AD, 020 8693 5254, www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Fridays, from 11am weekends and bank holidays. Admission free for accompanied children, £8 adults. Listed activities free for families with a gallery ticket or £3 per child.

THE COLOUR PALACE, until 22 September. The Colour Palace is inspired by the buzz of fabric markets in Lagos and Nigeria, incorporating symmetry, curves and right-angles. On each side of the Pavilion, brightly coloured timber slats create layers that shift when viewed from different angles, bringing the Gallery’s grounds into technicolour life in a fusion of West African and European influences. The pavilion will act as an outdoor welcome and orientation space for visitors to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, as well as a flexible public space for performances, talks and other events.

ART PLAY, first and last Sunday of each month. Creative drop-in workshops for adults and children, with a different activity each session. Make anything and everything from bunting to block printing and all things in between. 2-3.45pm.

FREE FAMILY TRAIL. Ask a gallery assistant or stop by at the Gallery Friends desk for a free trail; updated frequently and available for the permanent and temporary exhibitions.

GERALD MOORE GALLERY Mottingham Lane SE9 4RW, 020 8857 0488, https://geraldmooregallery.org Southeast London’s Gerald Moore Gallery is a contemporary art gallery which brings together a rich mix of people to offer innovative learning opportunities and foster meaningful experiences through art. After school and Saturday Art Classes are available for children, and beginners’ painting courses for adults.

NEW: NEW ORIGINAL WORK, 12 September - 5 October. An exhibition of artworks by some of the top London art school graduates Alexandra Searle, (The Slade School of Fine Art), Jung Min Park (Chelsea College of Arts), Susan Rocklin and Joseph Yaeger (Royal College of Art). Works include sculptures, paintings and installations across two gallery spaces.

ANIMAL LIFE DRAWING WITH OWLS, 31 October. Draw your favourite feathered friends up close and learn about the magical world of owls in a 2 hour class run by Wild Life Drawing. 10am12noon, ages 7+, £25 per adult and child.

TATE MODERN BANKSIDE SE1 9TG, 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk OLAFUR ELIASSON: IN REAL LIFE, until 5 January 2020.

Olafur Eliasson returns to Tate Modern for an unmissable exhibition of his career to date, offering a timely opportunity to experience the immersive world of this endlessly inquisitive artist; both inside and outside the gallery. Driven by his interests in perception, movement, and the interaction of people and their environments, Eliasson creates artworks which offer experiences that can be shared by visitors of all ages. Open 10am-6pm daily and to 10pm Fridays and Saturdays.

PICK UP AND PLAY, weekends during school holidays. Take part in family activities, discover playful ideas and create large-scale artworks in learning-assistant workshops. 11am-4pm free drop in.

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WOOLWICH CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR 7-10 November, No. 1 Street, ROYAL ARSENAL, Woolwich SE18 6ST, www.woolwichprintfair.com London’s only fair dedicated to contemporary printmaking, presents a curated selection of limited-edition artworks. Featuring over 500 artworks for sale from celebrated artists such as Sir Peter Blake, Mat Collishaw and Stephen Chambers to the newest talent selected through an open call, the fair showcases the latest innovations in printmaking. Buy from artists and enjoy a programme of interactive demonstrations, workshops and talks, as well as a New Collectors Evening for visitors seeking advice on starting a print collection. Tickets from £8.

TATE BRITAIN Millbank SW1P 4RG, 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk Tate Britain is the home of British art from 1500 to the present day.

Young people are encouraged to explore art and take ownership of the gallery through regular activities and events for visiting families. Open Mondays to Sundays 10am to 6pm, general admission free WILLIAM BLAKE, 11 September - 2 February. William Blake (1757-1827) created some of the most iconic images in the history of British art and has remained an inspiration to artists, musicians, writers and performers worldwide for over two centuries. This ambitious exhibition brings together over 300 remarkable and rarely seen works and rediscovers Blake as a visual artist for the 21st century.

TATE MODERN BANKSIDE SE1 9TG, 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk OLAFUR ELIASSON: IN REAL LIFE, until 5 January 2020.

Olafur Eliasson returns to Tate Modern for an unmissable exhibition of his career to date, offering a timely opportunity to experience the immersive world of this endlessly inquisitive artist; both inside and outside the gallery. Driven by his interests in perception, movement, and the interaction of people and their environments, Eliasson creates artworks which offer experiences that can be shared by visitors of all ages. Open 10am-6pm daily and to 10pm Fridays and Saturdays.

PICK UP AND PLAY, weekends during school holidays. Take part in family activities, discover playful ideas and create large-scale artworks in learning-assistant workshops. 11am-4pm free drop in.

THE DESIGN MUSEUM DESIGN MUSEUM, 224-238 Kensington High Street W8 6AG, www.designmuseum.org The museum offers a programme of regular events and activities with plenty of opportunities to get creative, offering free and ticketed workshops and gallery experiences for adult visitors and families with children aged 5-11 years. Open 10am-6pm daily.

CREATE AND MAKE, once a month on Sundays and during school holidays. Be inspired by the museum and its exhibitions through informal drop in sessions focusing on light-touch design and making. Ages 5-11.

GET INTO DESIGN workshops and courses run for families and young people. Led by specialist tutors, they include input and inspiration from some of the rising stars in contemporary design.

Check the website for dates and details. Ages 8-11.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, St Martin’s Place WC2H 0HE, 020 7306 0055, www.npg.org.uk The gallery features thousands of portraits of the most famous people in British history, from the 16th century to the present day.

Open 10am-6pm daily.

DROP IN FAMILY SUNDAYS. On the third Sunday of every month, families are invited to drop-in with children aged 3+ to take part in portrait-related events.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION THE WALLACE COLLECTION, Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500, www.wallacecollection.org The Wallace Collection displays wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess, in their main London townhouse. Family multi-media tours and trails bring the exhibits to life for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm daily, admission free THE LITTLE DRAW, 6 October, 3 November, 1 December.

Discover the Wallace Collection through drawing, observation and plenty of creative experimentation. 1.30-4.30pm, suitable for all the family, free drop-in workshops.

SOMERSET HOUSE SOMERSET HOUSE, Strand WC2, 020 7845 4600, www.somersethouse.org.uk Art and culture in the heart of London in a stunning riverside setting. Open daily, admission free with a charge for some exhibitions. Free family workshops run on occasional Saturdays check the website for details. Children aged 6-12 years must be accompanied by an adult.

GET UP, STAND UP NOW, until 15 September. A major exhibition celebrating the past 50 years of Black creativity in Britain and beyond. Beginning with the radical Black film maker Horace Ové and his dynamic circle of Windrush generation creative peers and extending to today’s brilliant young Black talent globally, a group of around 100 interdisciplinary artists showcase work together for the first time, exploring Black experience and influence, from the post-war era to the present day. Historic works and new commissions will sit alongside items from personal archives, much of which has never been seen by the public before, Under 12s free, adults £12.50.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY TRAFALGAR SQUARE WC2N 5DN, 020 7747 2885, www.nationalgallery.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, Fridays to 9pm, admission free.

With over 2,300 paintings in the collection, there are hundreds of reasons to visit the gallery, along with free hands-on art workshops and magic carpet storytellling for families at weekends and during school holidays. No need to book, but places are limited and allocated on arrival up to one hour before the start.

GAUGUIN PORTRAITS, 7 October - 26 January. ‘The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Gauguin Portraits’ is the first-ever exhibition devoted to the portraits of Paul Gauguin. Spanning his early years as an artist through to his later years spent in French Polynesia, the exhibition shows how the French artist revolutionised the portrait. Tickets from £20.

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Festival of Creative Ageing 13 September – 6 October

FEATURING SUSTAINABLE, RECYCLED & REPURPOSED ARTS & CRAFTS Albert & Edward Lighting

Tailor & Forge

A three week festival about creativity & ageing in Lewisham Arty Globe by Hartwig Braun

Many FREE Events. For all ages.

Eco Cards, Origin Gallery

MARKET

ARTS&CRAFTS MARKET ANTIQUES&COLLECTABLES

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Weekends Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays

AgeAgainstTheMachine.org.uk 020 8692 4446

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Nearest Station DLR Cutty Sark

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THE SPORTS CLUB

get fit, have fun, meet people

LONDON’S FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SHOW

What are you looking for in a Sports Club?

Based on Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman Music and lyrics by Howard Blake

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Have you been looking for a friendly, affordable place to get yourself fitter and healthier, or to take up a new sport?

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(normally £100)

£120 LY TICKET ONLY FAMI fee applies. Max £3 , must include at least 1 child Transaction

Please see our website where you can also take a virtual tour, book a club visit or arrange for a taster swim with our compliments.

21 Nov – 5 Jan

NO JOINING FEE IN SEPT & OCT 2019

4 tickets

We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Quote code: NJF-FM19

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Families South East Tel: 020 8699 3958 Email: info@familiesse.co.uk Contact: Robina Cowan Website: www.familiesse.co.uk MAGAZINE DESIGN: Lancasters 020 8658 9975 www.lancasters.co.uk Printed on paper from sustainable forests. www.ridgewaypress.co.uk

AT GREENWICH 14-22 SEPTEMBER