Families London SW Issue 248 July/Aug 2015

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SouthWest MASSIVE SUMMER FEATURE

JULY/AUG 2015

Camps, workshops, activities, sports, dance drama, days out…

Simon Webbe stars in exciting new show… see page 35

“Families® SW” – useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds in SW London.

Find us online: FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Contents July/Aug 2015

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SouthWest

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06-09

News & info • Local news • Clubs and activities news

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10-13

Education • Local school news. Local Open days.

• Free Schools in South West London: why you should consider them • The Peace curriculum: peaceful teachers = peaceful children

All content ©Families SW 2015 FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680 Editorial: editor@familiessouthwest.co.uk News: news@familiessouthwest.co.uk Adverts/artwork: adverts@familiessouthwest.co.uk Events, diary dates, what’s on info: whatson@familiessouthwest.co.uk Next issue: September 2015.

Deadline: Early July 2015 • 'Families SW' London, established in 1990, is part of

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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, Temple House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of 'Families SW' are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher.

There are nearly 40 UK local editions with a print run of more than 700,000 copies in all, in which you can advertise too.

MOVING? Families® magazines can be be franchised in new areas. Read initial franchise information on the website.

Printed by Ridgeway Press Ltd, Pewsey, Wiltshire.

Designed by Shirley Trimmer We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Paper used to print Families is from fully-managed sustainable sources — meaning trees which are felled are continuously replaced. Inks are soyabased, which can be re-cycled.

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Advice to mothers wanting to go back to work

10-13

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Alternative Health • Cranial • Osteopathy

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Summer activities • Why contact with nature increases creativity and language development.

• Music • Arts & craft • Sports • Camps, • Workshops, • Days out and much more • Free cycle training • Swimming

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What’s On • Theatre • Museums & Galleries • Days out • Diary dates & events • ‘Top Five’ holiday workshops 32-39

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News Compiled by Joanna Parry

Break a record

Be inspired and join the 2015 Summer Reading Challenge this summer – get your children reading and help set a Guinness World Record at the same time! The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4-11 to have fun reading during their summer holidays. In 2014 820,000 children took part in the scheme, and this year the Summer Reading Challenge have partnered with the Guinness Book of World Records to see if the record for children pledging to read 6 or more books can be broken.

Compete the challenge and you can win a medal, plus collect the stickers and chart along the way. Sign up at your local library at the start of the summer holidays – it’s absolutely free! The challenge starts on 11 July. www.recordbreakers.org.uk, www.readingagency.org.uk/summerreadingchallenge

ves Ever yone lo Families!

Families is 25 years old young!

Did you know that Families South West was the first title in the Families group? It was launched in Fulham by Nancy Shafee, who was an NCT volunteer. She saw the need for a local magazine, providing practical information for local parents, events, things to do, schooling, activities etc. She was right, Families grew so much that group wide we print 1 99 over 700,000 copies and there 0-2 0 1 5 are now nearly 40 Families magazines in the UK! That's something to celebrate isn't it?

Wish us a happy anniversary on Facebook/FamiliesSW if you care to do so!

Going for gold Mayor of Merton Councillor Agatha Akyigyina presented over 300 young people from Merton with a certificate and badge at a special ceremony celebrating their Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Awards at bronze, silver and gold level.

The event, held at Ricards Lodge High School, was hosted by children who shared their experiences of the DofE and explained to guests what it meant to them to achieve the award. The DofE is a great way to get involved in a number of different activities including volunteering, sports, debating, playing musical instruments, journalism or even learning to drive. You also get the chance to take part in an expedition as far afield as Africa! Find out more at www.dofe.org

Play street forever A project to promote safe play for children in one London street is being made permanent.

Roxwell Road in Hammersmith hosted a successful ‘play street’ day last November, where the street was closed to traffic and children were able to play games including hopscotch, street football, hide and seek and making chalk drawings. The previous traffic order for Roxwell Road only permitted one closure per year, but now Hammersmith & Fulham Council has now applied for permission to allow residents to host multiple play street events and the council is also inviting residents to nominate other streets in the borough to become play streets. ‘This initiative helps residents come together and gives children the chance to play in the streets safe from traffic,’ said Councillor Wesley Harcourt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Residents Services. ‘The Roxwell Road pilot proved immensely popular. We are now looking for other streets where residents want to do something similar.’ Roxwell Road resident Daniel Goddard added, ‘Our first play street was a great afternoon, for children and adults alike.

We all met new neighbours and made new friends and after the bikes and scooters had been put away, the street was left with some amazing chalk drawings.’ www.londonplay.org.uk

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Opening of London Early Years Foundation's 34th nursery, in Fulham, Townmead Community Nursery

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

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Art market returns

Get volunteering

The popular Putney Pier Art Market returns to the Putney Embankment this summer, following their lengthy winter break. Don’t miss the opportunity to stroll along the river, browse and buy locally-made arts and crafts and meet local artists and craftspeople. The market is held on the first Sunday of the month on the Embankment between the Thai Square Restaurant and Thames Place, 10am-4pm. Find out more about the market, including how to apply for a pitch, on its Facebook page www.facebook.com/artonputneyembankment

Help improve the wildlife areas of Holland Park through Taskforce 4 Nature days, which take place every third Saturday of the month. The Ecology Service offers a great opportunity to help carry out practical conservation work, with tasks ranging from meadow cutting, building dead-hedges and pond maintenance, to building stag beetle loggeries, woodland management and more. So if you are looking to try something new, gain new skills, meet new people or just get your hands dirty then why not sign up? Upcoming dates include 18 July, 15 August, 19 September and 17 October, 10.30am to 3pm (if arriving after 10.30am, call Daniel on 07702 942141 to confirm where to join them). Feel free to come for all or part of the session, and don’t forget your waterproofs! www.groundwork.org.uk/london, daniel.brittle@groundwork.org.uk

Happy Birthday Third Door!

Workspace/nursery Third Door have turned five, what an incredible milestone to celebrate. If you are a member of Third Door, it would be worth contacting your friends as they have a 25% extra-special referral offer for their members referring their friends to Third Door as part of their five year birthday celebrations.

Check out the details on www.third-door.com

Breastfeeding pilot closes Sad news for local pilot scheme Wandsworth Breastfeeding Support as despite all the positive feedback that they received from the mums they supported, funding for their Proactive Telephone line was not renewed by Wandsworth Public Health and will close this summer. Mums can find support with feeding through the National Breastfeeding Helpline, which is still available. To speak to an NBH volunteer call 0300 100 0212 or go to www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

Mural restored

Well done Little Forest Folk Wimbledon-based forest nursery Little Forest Folk, has been announced as one of the winners of this year’s UK Big Venture Challenge, a programme for ambitious and scalable social ventures. There were over 450 social ventures expressing their interest in being part of the programme. The Big Venture Challenge will provide Little Forest Folk with support in scaling the business as well as the ability to pitch for up to £100,000 of match funding which can be used to leverage up to £500,000 of social investment.

Little Forest Folk provides full time, Ofsted registered outdoor childcare for 2-5 year olds.

Their nursery, through the magic of forest play, is reconnecting the next generation with nature in the unbounded outdoors, vastly improving their physical and mental development, encouraging families to live a healthier lifestyle and producing the future custodians of our planet. www.littleforestfolk.com info@littleforestfolk.com 07707 545 913

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A mural dedicated to much-loved BBC children’s programme Blue Peter is to be restored as part of the £200m re-development of Television Centre in White City. The children’s TV programme was filmed at the former BBC Television Centre for more than 50 years before moving to Salford’s Media City in 2011, and the beloved mural depicts former pets and presenters from the show, past to present. The developer will restore the mural after it moves the wall within the garden area, and will be accessible to the public for the first time as it opens onto Hammersmith Park. ‘I have many fond memories of Blue Peter,’ said former Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon, who starred on Blue Peter from 2004 to 2008. ‘It holds a very special place in the hearts of all of us who worked on the programme and preserving this mural for future generations is fantastic.’

Looking for gentle help with chemo?

Georgiana Monckton has been practicing reiki for 15 years, her clients find that Reiki helps with the side effects of chemotherapy, but also depression, insomnia, grief and bereavement.

She can also help women who are pregnant (baby gets the benefit too!), as well as children of any age, including teenagers dealing with hormonal problems, exam stress, etc Free parking.

07831 346 607. georgiana@georgianamoncktonreiki.com www.georgianamoncktonreiki.com

Manage your maternity leave Calling all professional mothers about to go on maternity leave! Would you like to learn how to empower yourself through the maternity leave process? Or how to identify the skills you have developed as a mother and ensure these make you even more outstanding in the workplace? Or would you just like to know what your employment rights are? With Maternity Matters you can do just that.

A unique concept, Maternity Matters teaches mothers to manage their maternity leave like a project, so that they have a more positive experience. If you have spent years building a successful career, becoming a mother and then sustaining that career can be full of challenges. Maternity Matters works with women who want to learn how to make their whole experience of maternity leave and the return to work a positive one. They also work with mothers who are looking for a change of career to a more ‘mummy friendly’ role. For more details see www.maternity-matters.co.uk or email sarah@maternity-matters.co.uk

Inclusion in these pages is always FREE: send to news@familiessouthwest.co.uk

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Clubs and Classes Tiny Tunes pay-asyou-go classes

Born to dance Calling all young dancers! This summer Danceworks launches their Ballet Academy Summer School, an elite summer camp for ages 8-16. The 2-week intensive course runs 20-31 July, heralding the launch of the Danceworks International Ballet Academy which opens in September to become London’s newest centre of excellence for young ballerinas. It will offer elite training to dancers wishing to develop their love of dance, and at the end of the course students will take part in a fully staged performance. To find out more about the summer school go to http://danceworks.net/summerschool, and for information on after-school classes from September onwards visit http://danceworks.net/ballet-academy. Worth a look! Danceworks, 16 Balderton Street W1K 6TN, 020 7629 6183

Kim teaching

Put on your dancing shoes… …and join Stagecoach Performing Arts School in Battersea to bust some moves in their summer holiday camps. Taking place 27-31 July, your little one can dance, act and sing for five days before putting on a show for their mums and dads.

It’s the week of the summer the kids will talk about all year!

Find out more at www.stagecoach.co.uk/battersea or call Micky on 07956 288928. Prices and times vary for different age groups

Please see our comprehensive Summer Holiday Listings pages 18-29. For the full listing, including part 1 published in our June issue, go to FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Swimming’s a joy!

The joys of baby swimming go beyond the first classes and can lead to a lifelong love of swimming. Waterlife run small classes in warm pools with enthusiastic, fully qualified “in water”, instructors guiding you through a structured programme from your child’s initial submerge, to swimming small distances between parent and instructor.

For the most rewarding activity your baby can fully participate in, an investment in their future safety, swimming is a must.

020 8947 2149 www.waterlifeswimschool.com

See the Wetlands for less ‘It must be very difficult to think of anywhere other than London Wetland Centre that’s better in London, with a greater variety of species and wonderful things to see,’ said Sir David Attenborough. And he knows a thing or two about the planet! This summer, enjoy WWT London Wetland Centre with friends for less, as they offer a new 15% discount on the standard admission price for groups of 12 or more. Discover more about wildflowers and see the August butterflies on one of the new guided tours, plus meet their family of otters and visit the interactive digital pond. For full details of group visit benefits see wwt.org.uk/london and check the Group Visits page or email groups.london@wwt.org.uk

It’s curtains up for the Lyric…

Inspirational classics Get your baby dancing, crawling, singing and laughing with new classical music concerts from Do-Re-Mi Babies. Professional musicians will play different instruments each month to introduce fun, interactive and educational concerts for babies, toddlers and their parents and carers. Each concert is designed to help develop skills and senses with activities encouraging listening, singing, moving to the rhythm and exploring classical instruments.

Concerts take place in Chelsea, Fulham, Battersea and Kingston, find out more at www.doremibabies.co.uk

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Tiny Tunes provide baby and toddler music and dance classes for 3 months to 5 year olds. They also provide nursery sessions as well as Parties. Join their song, rhyme and fun bubble sessions for pre-school children.

No need to book, just turn up. Hide under a parachute, shake the maracas, dance with bubbles and sing along! As well as the all time favourite rhymes and songs they will get you dancing to some of the well known pop classics.

Tuesdays 10am, William Morris House, 267 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SD £5 (Sibling £2.50) info@tinytuneslive.com 07977 585020 www.tinytuneslive.com

…as the theatre unveils its summer activities for young people. The Lyric Young Company – West London’s largest youth project – has revealed its exciting new art activity projects for ages 2-25 this summer, offering budding actors everything from drama to music and dancing to film. Standouts include Acting Up, a workshop to develop acting skills for 7 to 21-year-olds, and Ballet for Beginners taught by members of the New English Ballet Theatre. Meanwhile, young musicians are offered the chance to play in a real orchestra and film lovers will be offered a chance to see their name in lights. Sounds amazing! To take part you must be a Lyric Young Company member, membership is £10 from the box office or call 020 8741 6850. Prices for activities vary, from £7 per session. www.lyric.co.uk

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

News 0%Emission: a safer way to monitor baby Babymoov’s pioneering Babycamera 0%Emission is designed to provide parents with a better alternative to monitoring baby. Although a standard wired device is always preferable, this one significantly reduces exposure to harmful electromagnetic waves in the nursery.

Used in tandem with an intuitive App, which can be downloaded and controlled through iOS/Android devices, the camera provides plug ‘n’ play adaptability to monitor baby. Available from babymoov.co.uk

Happy anniversary to Jigsaw 2015 is a very exciting year in the Jigsaw calendar as they look back over the past 20 years that they have been offering Performing Arts classes to 3-16 year olds across London. Here are their top 5 reasons why your child should attend a Performing Arts school: 1. Creativity: Being able to think on your feet and think ‘outside the box’ is a useful skill for children to have whilst growing up.

2. Confidence: Performing Arts encourages children to step out of their comfort zone and challenges them to open up in front of others and believe in themselves.

3. Perseverance: Teaching children that by learning new skills, practicing and not giving up you will achieve success in all that you put your mind to.

4. Problem Solving: Helping to develop children’s skills in reasoning and understanding by working as a team.

5. Fitness: A fun source of exercise for children - it never feels like 'hard work'!

Electro-sensitivity is a modern-day concern. If you can, use wired devices, avoid prolonged time of your Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), mobile phones, and Wi-Fi around the home¬; definitely switch your router off at night when not in use to decrease exposure to electromagnetic radiation to your children.

Connect/wire your laptop via an electricity socket with a simple Ethernet box.

Have you read the article by the Telegraph: “Is WiFi making your child ill? As France bans Wi-Fi in nursery and primary schools, a British expert who has given up using wireless gadgets says we should do the same.” It makes an interesting read.

Lots of EMR related info on familiesonline.co.uk/radiation

Avoid the summer learning slide with Explore Learning this July Research has revealed that two thirds of children fall behind in their studies over the holidays* meaning that when they finally go back to school, many children are lacking in confidence and unable to recall things they learnt in the previous school year.

Carey Ann Dodah, Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning says: “It’s surprising how much children’s academic ability slips over the summer holidays and it seems such a waste of all the time and effort they have put in over the previous year. Of course, we’re not saying it should all be work, work, work – but just a couple of hours a week to keep you topped up can make the world of difference when September comes around.”

Families joining in July will save £50 registration fee at participating centres**.

Explore Learning has maths and English tuition centres across the UK - try them for free. To book your trial, visit www.explorelearning.co.uk or call your local centre. *Research; COOPER, H., NYE, B., CHARLTON, K. and GREATHOUSE, S. (1996). ‘The effects of summer scores: a narrative and meta-analytic review’, Review of Educational Research, 66, 227–68. **Offer terms and conditions: 1. Only applicable when joining at the full membership rate when you join by 31/07/2015. 2. The offer may be used for more than one child from the same family. 3.The offer entitles new members to join without paying the registration fee. 4. Your induction session must be held by the 15/08/2015 5. Only available at participating centres. Centres not participating: Barking, Bradford, Colchester, Hayes, Orpington, Sale, Westfield.

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New children cookery classes In response to demand from local parents, Cookease will now run classes throughout the day on Thursdays, as well as the ever popular Fridays. Over the Summer term the children have learnt how to cook up some fantastic dishes, which are to be enjoyed by both them and their families (take a look online at the delicious recipes cooked during the term). There are lots of exciting and nutritious recipes planned for the Autumn so, to ensure your child gets a fun, early introduction to cooking, book your space now.

For more information and to find out what parents think about Cookease classes for 2-4 year olds, please visit www.cookease.org.uk and check out the testimonials. info@cookease.org.uk 07825 78844.

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Education Fighting hunger in the Philippines Local primary school Belleville Primary in Wandsworth is helping to battle hunger in the Philippines, as Battersea based charity In-Visible kicks off its first ‘Kids Can Make a Difference’ initiative at the school.

The project involves an educational and interactive 15 minute assembly for primary school children teaching them about global issues and how they can make a difference in a fun, age appropriate way. Over the course of 2 weeks, Belleville students will learn about hunger in the Philippines, understanding that it takes only 16p to feed a malnourished child, and that this meal is likely the only one they will have that day.

Following the assembly there will be a school wide challenge to see which class raises enough pennies to provide the most meals. ‘At In-Visible we have a vision of a world of universal children,’ said Adina Belloli, local mum of 2 and Founder of In-Visible. ‘We believe giving children a chance to learn about different cultures and help their friends on the other side of the world paves the way for them to be more aware of the needs of others and to grow into well-rounded universal adults.’ Find out more at www.in-visible.org

School Open Days

Hornsby House School SW12 4-11 Co-Ed 15/10 9am 8673 7573 www.hornsbyhouse.org.uk

Hill House School SW1 4-13 Co-Ed Tours every weekday morning in term time, 8.30am booking required 7584 1331 www.hillhouseschool.co.uk

Tower House Preparatory School 4-13 Boys 25/9 9.15am 8876 3323 www.thsboys.org.uk

Parkgate House School SW4 2-11 Boys and Girls 10/10 020 7350 2452 www.parkgate-school.co.uk Parsons Green Prep (formerly Eridge House) SW6 4-11 Co-Ed Open Day 3/10 plus tours on Tuesday mornings in term time by appointment 7371 9009 www.parsonsgreenprep.co.uk Kensington Prep School SW6 4-11 Girls 16/9 and 6/10 1.45pm booking required 7731 9300 www.kensingtonprep.gdst.net Redcliffe School SW10 3-11 Girls 3-8 Boys Tours Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time 9.30am booking required 7352 9247 www.redcliffeschool.com Dolphin School SW11 4-11 Co-Ed Tours most Thursdays 9.1510.30am by appointment 7924 3472 www.dolphinschool.org.uk Northcote Lodge SW11 8-13 Boys 17/10 10am-12pm 8682 8888 www.northcotelodge.co.uk Broomwood Hall Lower School SW12 4-8 Co-Ed 13/10 9-10.30am 8682 8830 www.broomwood.co.uk

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Streatham Nursery Cavendish Lodge has just been awarded overall 'outstanding' status, following a recent Ofsted inspection. The nursery on the Streatham Common site opened four years ago and is the second in the familyrun business. Both Cavendish nurseries now have this coveted top rating and, with their excellent facilities and large gardens, are proving very popular with local parents. Call 020 8835 8500 to arrange an appointment to visit this delightful nursery. Cavendish Lodge Nursery School, 52 Lewin Road, Streatham Common SW16 6JT www.cavendishlodgenursery.co.uk

Call to book your place now

Westminster School SW1 13-18 Boys 16-18 Girls 14/9 booking required 7963 1003 www.westminster.org.uk

Broomwood Hall Upper School 8-13 Girls 13/10 9-11am 8682 8830 www.broomwood.co.uk

Cavendish Lodge is tops

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Ibstock Place School SW15 3-18 Co-Ed Prep 23/9 9.30am Senior School 16/9 5-7pm and 19/9 9am-12.30pm Sixth Form 24/9 6-8pm booking required 8876 9991 / 020 8392 5803 www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk Granard Primary School SW15 4-11 Co-Ed 23/9 and 8/10 9.30am booking required 020 8788 3606 www.granardprimary.co.uk Broomwood Hall Lower School SW16 4-8 Co-Ed 15/10 9-10.30am 8682 8830 www.broomwood.co.uk

News from Streatham & Clapham Prep School This year Streatham & Clapham High (SCHS) welcomed Mr Thomas Mylne as new Head of the Junior School. In September, the Junior School will become Streatham & Clapham Prep.

Mr Mylne outlined his vision for SCHS Prep: “To deliver lessons of the highest calibre, with the opportunity for exceptional personal development accompanied by an array of choices beyond the classroom. There will be a greater emphasis on expertise in science and languages, a greater promotion of creative opportunities in music and art, and in physical endeavour through sport.

Above all, there will be a sharper focus on personalising our provision to ensure we provide the opportunities for every girl to have a platform and to be heard and seen as often as possible.”

For more information visit www.schs.gdst.net

Streatham & Clapham High School SW16 3-18 Girls Nursery and Prep School 3/10 10am-12pm Senior School 26/9 10am-1pm and 14/10 9.15am-11.30am Sixth Form 8/10 6.30-8.30pm 8677 8400 www.schs.gdst.net Finton House 4-11 Co-Ed 8/10 6-8pm 8682 0921 www.fintonhouse.org.uk

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Saint Cecilia's Church of England School SW18 11-18 Co-Ed 14/9 9am-12pm and 17/9 6.308.30pm 8780 1244 www.saintcecilias.london Wimbledon Common Preparatory School SW19 4-7 Boys 14/10 9.15-10.45am 8946 1001 www.wimbledoncommonprep.co.uk Mr Thomas Mylne, Head of Streatham & Clapham Prep

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Education Free Schools in South West London Sarah Pearson, interim director of national education charity, New Schools Network, discusses the growth of free schools and why they are the first choice for many parents.

Outstanding, it’s unsurprising that more and more parents see these schools as their preferred option.

South West London is currently facing a significant squeeze on primary school places. By September 2017, the boroughs of Hounslow, Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth, Lambeth, Merton, Sutton, and Hammersmith & Fulham are expected to need 15,689 new primary places.

There are currently nine primary free schools in South West London and two all-through schools, which have together created 4,828 new places.

How do they work?

Choosing the right school for your child can be a daunting decision, even more so if it is a new school. Many parents have told me about the leap of faith needed to decide to send your child to a new school that lacks the traditional track record to help guide you; but more tell me how excited they are about having a new, and hopefully better, option available to their child.

Pressure on school places means that many parents are competing for places at good local schools that are substantially oversubscribed.

Unfortunately, the reality is that a lot of parents will not be able to send their child to their first choice, and in some cases will have to settle for their third or even fourth. Last year, an average of 1-in-5 primary pupils in England were not offered their first choice of school. In South West London this amounted to more than 4,500 pupils not getting their first choice. Too often parents have to settle for a school that is not quite right for their child. This is slowly changing though.

Nine new free primary schools in SW alone Since 2011, more than 400 new free schools have opened or been approved to open across the country and, with nearly a quarter of those that have been inspected so far being judged

New free schools in South West London have embraced the opportunity to use the freedoms available to them. Some are encouraging innovation and creativity whilst others are encouraging pupils to grow in knowledge, respect and aspiration. Some schools are offering exploration and outdoor learning, and others are offering new provision for children with autism.

ARK Conway Primary opened three years ago in Acton and has was named as the highest performing in the country.

The fact is that free schools have to put parents at their heart. The groups that set up free schools are led by parents, teachers, community groups, charities and existing schools but, whoever they are, they must have educational expertise and must show that they are both wanted and needed by local parents. The application process to set up a new school is incredibly rigorous – as it should be. Groups have to demonstrate a high level of educational expertise and have to prove that parents would want to send their children to the school, making parents the driving force behind every school.

Whilst schools have the freedom to be innovative with the subjects they teach and their teaching methods, they must teach a broad and balanced curriculum and uphold British values.

The schools that have been created as free schools are extremely diverse, but they are all underpinned by a belief that the best way to raise attainment for all children is by delivering high quality education within the state sector.

In a survey of parents by Populus, NSN discovered that 87% of parents in London would welcome the chance to have a new school in their area and 79% would consider sending their child to a free school if one opened locally, compared to 73% nationally.

I would say to any parent: consider taking that leap of faith and find out more about your local free school. With the government committing to 500 new free schools, this is an exciting time and we are beginning to hear from new groups who are passionate about improving education in their communities.

Further information can be found at www.newschoolsnetwork.org/ or to find a free school near you: www.newschoolsnetwork.org/what-arefree-schools/find-a-free-school

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Primary Free schools in South West London

•Tooting Primary A primary school for 4-11 year olds in Wandsworth. The school, which opened in 2013, was established by an Outstanding local secondary school, Graveney School and is part of the Graveney Trust. It will serve 420 pupils when full; it has facilities for autistic pupils, which include two classrooms and a sensory room. The facilities also offer students access to their own garden.

•Rutherford House School is in Wandsworth - a primary school for 4-11 year olds in London. The school, which opened in 2013, will serve 420 pupils when full and is focused on high academic attainment as well as offering a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The school offers wrap around care from from 7:45am to 6pm.

Dawmouse Montessori Nursery School “To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will able him to develop freely” Maria Montessori

Celebrating 20 years of excellence in Montessori teaching Come and visit one of our two Dawmouse Montessori Nursery Schools in Fulham and discover why we have enjoyed such a long period of success teaching children from 2yrs to 5yrs in their early years education.

To learn more about us just visit our new web site at www.dawmouse.co.uk or email miss.emma@dawmouse.com

www.dawmouse.co.uk

Tel: 020 83989294

Passionate about teaching and learning

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Education

Ofsted Registered

We accept Childcare Vouchers

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Education Peace at Paint Pots In Montessori Schools across the World, environments are created where each child has the opportunity to learn and develop through specifically designed materials and activities.

The Montessori Method of Teaching focuses clearly on child led and child centred classrooms as well as the education of the ‘whole’ child - body, mind and spirit.

Paint Pots Montessori Schools in Central London create an environment where each child can develop, grow and flourish to their true potential with a strong focus on development of their inner-self. The children are encouraged to see the beauty and light within themselves and others and to start to grow spiritually. This soft and gentle approach to understanding the connection between mind, body and spirit will help the young child develop their self esteem, confidence and a strong sense of themselves. This all round “education of life” is what Maria Montessori and Montessori teachers passionately believe in.

Under the expertise and guidance of Georgina Hood, Founder and Principal of Paint Pots Montessori Schools and Anita Looby, Deputy Head of Paint Pots Montessori School Chelsea, the Paint Pots Peace Curriculum was created. The curriculum is designed to help the children begin to understand themselves, their emotions, feelings and to learn to manage and support them. The Peace activities, like the Montessori materials, encourage development and learning in an indirect way. The first step is easy - peaceful teachers = peaceful children. Peace starts within and if the adult believes then the children will believe. Teachers have the very special and fortunate gift to be able to shape young lives and must embrace this opportunity.

The introduction of the Peace Curriculum encourages and supports a calm, peaceful environment which honours and nurtures the light within both teacher and child.

On a daily basis, the children are given an opportunity to stop, rest and order their mind before the end of the school session. They join the group, sitting or lying down, listen to some soothing music or just listen to the sounds within the environment. This is the child’s first introduction to their mind and during this session the teacher introduces peaceful activities such as focusing, breath awareness and the mind jar. “Rest your Mind” time has been introduced to children aged 2 – 5 years in all four Paint Pots Montessori Nursery schools. The children love this time and respond so well to being able to relax and order themselves before they move on to their next task.

As with everything at Paint Pots Montessori Schools, this is free choice for the child but the teachers have noticed that they really look forward to each session. It helps to awaken the child’s understanding and awareness of their mind and they display an inner calmness as they leave school to go home.

“Within the child lies the fate of the future” Dr. Maria Montessori.

For more information about Paint Pots Montessori Schools please visit www.paint-pots.co.uk or call the school office on 020 7223 0123.

Spotlight on Wimbledon Hill Pre-school

Healthy, organic meals are prepared on site daily, with the children taking an active role with the belief that food is not just fuel but an essential part of education itself.

Mother Suzy was nervous about returning to work, who would look after her young son, care for him as well as her, love him and invest in him as much as she had done over the past year?

Who could she entrust her most precious child to?

Highlights from the 2014 Ofsted report include:

She wasn’t only looking for somewhere that would care for him, but an environment her imaginative and developing son could grow and be challenged as well. After a tip off from a friend she discovered Wimbledon Hill Preschool.

• ‘Children have strong, warm relationships with their key staff which build their confidence and feelings of happiness’

• ‘Staff plan effectively to meet the needs of children by providing challenging, interesting activities’

• ‘Parents and carers have good opportunities to take part in their children's learning’

What is the SMART learning system?

Founded by mother of two Malin Hogstrand and built on her unique SMART learning system, this exclusive preschool offers its own educational curriculum, blending the UK curriculum with the highly acclaimed Scandinavian system centred around learning, play, care, fundamental values, and a heavy emphasis on outdoor learning.

With a dedicated team of experienced teachers and specialist staff, they pride themselves on guiding the children their natural and physical development in the welcoming home environment of the school.

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Great demand has encouraged the preschool to offer more highly sought after places from 1st September and with extra teachers and staff on hand to encourage and inspire the growing family.

“A blessing for any parent looking for a nurturing and enriching environment for their child”

Contact Wimbledon Hill Preschool, Leopold Road SW19 7JD Wimbledon. 020 8240 1472 admission@smartpreschool.co.uk www.smartpreschools.uk

Parent, Wimbledon Hill Preschool

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Work - life balance Further to the big shake up on parental rights for babies born after 5 April 15, we asked SW19Lawyers for advice to mothers wanting to go back to work.

Working flexibly: is it the best solution for you?

How am I going to juggle returning to work full time and the demands of a small baby and my family? As a working mum you may decide that when you return from maternity leave, you’d prefer to work part time, or different days or hours. Maybe you need to leave half an hour earlier to pick up your child from nursery or perhaps you’d like to work from home one day a week.

What’s the best way to go about asking for this?

If you have been working there for at least 26 weeks then you have a right to ask to work flexibly. You should put this request in writing to your employer as early as you can, and it’s worthwhile spending time putting together a well thought through and detailed application. Think about how your request will impact on the rest of the business, anticipate why your employer may say no and provide solutions. Perhaps suggest a trial period. Do remember that you will have to wait for 12 months before you can put another request in, and also that any change agreed by your employer will be a permanent change to your contract.

Your employer has up to 3 months to consider your application, and will usually hold a meeting with you to talk through the changes before responding. The law says they have to deal with the request in a ‘reasonable’ manner. If they are going to say no it has to be for one of 8 specified reasons. These are pretty wide-ranging and include: the burden of additional costs, inability to

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reorganise work among existing staff and detrimental impact on the quality of your work or its performance.

What can you do if your request is turned down?

Well you can always appeal but don’t hold your breath here, expecting an about turn. You may have a claim against your employer if they haven’t handled your request properly or if the way they have behaved towards you amounts to discrimination. You would need to legal advice to explore this properly and you’d also need to carefully consider if that’s a route you want to go down.

My job’s changed after maternity leave-what can I do?

One of the hardest things about returning from maternity leave is discovering that your job’s gone, or been watered down and hollowed out, leaving you effectively demoted. Is there anything you can do?

Well, the answer depends on how long you’ve been on maternity leave. If you’ve only taken Ordinary Maternity Leave (26 weeks) then you have a right to the same job as before. Your terms of employment must be the same as or not less favourable than they would have been had you not been absent. So it’s not acceptable for your employer to decide that they prefer your maternity cover to you, and leave them in your old job, or push you into a different, lesser role on your return.

If you have taken Additional Maternity Leave (a further 26 weeks) then you still generally have the right to return to your same job on the same terms and conditions, but there’s a difference. If, after AML it’s not ‘reasonably practicable’ for you to return to your old job, because, for example, there’s been a reorganisation and your job’s gone, then you’re entitled to return to a different job but it must be one that’s suitable and appropriate, and on no less favourable terms and conditions. So your employer has a bit more flexibility in what can be offered to you, but they can’t offer you a demotion such as reducing the number of staff who report in to you, or putting you in a back room role when you were in a key client facing role before.

So what can you do if you’re unhappy about the role you’re coming back to after maternity leave?

Well the first thing you should do is discuss your concerns with your manager. If you’re not satisfied with the response, you could raise a formal grievance. If you’re thinking of doing this, it’s a good idea to get some legal input here. You may have claims against your employer, but your approach will really depend on what you want to achieve – have you decided that you would like to leave or ideally, do you want to remain with your employer and find a solution to keep everyone happy?

This article is not meant as a substitute for advice on particular issues and is written in general terms. You should seek specific advice before taking any action based on the information in this article.

Contact www.sw19lawyers.co.uk 020 8947 7997

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

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'Meet your baby before your baby meets you'

THE PARK GARDENS DAY CARE AND NURSERY SCHOOL (adjacent to King Georges Park, London SW18 4DN) We are delighted to announce that from September 2015, and after a total refurbishment during the summer holidays, we will be offering full and part time day care alongside our well-established nursery school rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We offer a cheerful environment with a variety of activities for the children to have fun, make friends and enjoy learning through play.

Private scans available on Clapham High Street for: •antenatal •infertility •gynaecological ultrasound Prices start from £120 per scan Clapham SPMS Tel: 020 3049 6611

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Breakfast club, Nursery school, Lunch club, After school and holiday clubs are all available and Sports, Music, Ballet, Cooking and Tennis are included in our weekly programme. The nursery grant is available to 3 and 4 year olds.

For more information please look at our website www.gardenschildcare.co.uk or email joh@gardenschildcare.co.uk or alternatively call Johanna Wilson on 020 8871 9478 ext 1

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Alternative Health Cranial osteopathy helps premature baby Q: What was ailment or condition treated?

A: Baby A was a premature baby girl of 5 weeks old when I first saw them.

She was born 2 months early, via emergency C section after a very stressful time for the mother, where both of their lives were engaged. Because her lungs were not fully mature and because of her fragile state, she needed respiratory assistance and intensive care for a week in hospital. For a premature new born and their parents, this is a very stressful and frightening time.

The family came to seek my help as an osteopath because baby A was recovering from a small chest infection, had trouble putting on weight and she was also suffering from mild reflux. They had never tried osteopathy and were highly recommended by the hospital and friends to do so.

Q: What therapy was used and how long for?

A: In 4-5 sessions in 7 weeks I used mainly subtle cranial osteopathy techniques. I was aiming to calm down her nervous system, improving her breathing mechanics and lungs expansion, enhancing decrease inflammation and irritation of the digestive system. I now see her on regular formal checkups.

Q: Patient feedback: A: Parents were relieved, surprised but thrilled, as improvements were noticeable from the first appointment. Baby A started to eat more and put more on weight, and her respiratory condition improved. Baby A is now a 5 months old healthy, happy and thriving baby. It was an entire family healing process, demonstrating on how much parents needs our support as much as little one does.

NB: osteopathic treatment went alongside medical support and check-ups from midwife and doctors and I feel grateful for having been part of it.

Contact Emma Nicolau, Master of Osteopathy, Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy, in practice since 2014.

07918148179 emma.nicolau90@gmail.com Emma is in practice at long established www.physio4all.com Physiotherapy & Osteopathy with centres in Chelsea and Battersea.

Summer is the perfect time for children to see an osteopath Children often do the bulk of their growing during the summer holidays. During this time, your child’s eating patterns change, sleeping patterns change and their physicality changes.

Observably the net result of this is an accelerated growth pattern.

Osteopathy for ‘growing pains’ Isn’t it amazing how all children seem to have grown so much on that first school drop off day in September? Naval Mair and his team of Osteopaths and Physiotherapists have treated children successfully with ‘Growing Pains’ for almost a quarter of a century. They can nurture the painful impact of these massive surges on their young bodies.

Osteopathy helps the physical and mental exhaustion after exams and post Sports Day! Osteopathy during the summer Children often see Osteopaths and Chartered Physiotherapists when school breaks for summer. They can help during the summer or pre summer camps. Osteopathy can assist when children return from camp and are getting ready to get back to school. Summer might involve a tennis camp or a soccer camp. It could be a summer camp away with the Scouts or a Bear Grylls survival course for kids. Summer bliss for our kids might involve playing outside all day everyday. You can call an Osteopath in an emergency, as a pre-emptive measure or simply to keep your children healthy this summer. Seeing an Osteopath before camp will tone and ease their tissues ready for the physical onslaught of summer.

Get your children ready for school Before school starts again in September, they are experts with sports injuries, treatment of growth pains and aches prior to returning to school. Osteopaths are here to minimize your child’s pain this summer and beyond, do call Naval Mair on 020 8812 3733 or visit www.navalmair.com Disclaimer: While, to the best of our knowledge, the therapists are bona fide, experienced and qualified, it is your responsibility to check their references and qualifications. Names of patients have been changed.

To feature in this column write to editor@familiessouthwest.co.uk

July/Aug 2015

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Summer holiday activities

Nature’s classroom

By Hannah Hunter

As parents, we know that children are happy in the outdoors, and once even the most hardened of city-dwellers have got used to the damp and mud, they revel in unstructured time spent in the natural world. This applies not only to small children, but older ones too – contact with nature is known to impact positively on teenage anxiety and depression.

Outdoor play can develop children’s understanding of risk, as well as testing their emotional and physical strength. Learning how high they can climb or how brave they can be, teaches them about themselves as well as how they relate to the environment. Contact with nature has even been shown to increase creativity and language development.

Tried-and-tested outdoor organizations, the Scouts and Girl Guides, offer a range of activities and camps. The less traditional Woodcraft Folk, (http://woodcraft.org.uk) focus on developing children’s connection with activities exploring issues around nature and the natural environment.

Children’s activity levels automatically go up when they are outdoors. As childhood obesity has a direct link with inactivity, outdoor learning could be a key to tackling this growing problem.

As well as providing accessible venues for school and group outings, the Wildlife Trusts run activities across the UK just for families and children, organised by local groups, ranging from ‘nature tots’ toddler groups to family pond-dipping days. Visit their website to find local information wildlifetrusts.org

Despite this, many of today’s children are missing out. According to Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts: “Children in 2015 are spending half as much time outdoors as they were a generation ago and it can not be unrelated that one in ten children suffer from depression. Society is starting to realise the risks that this separation from our natural environment poses to our children’s health and happiness.”

Family nature days

Go to the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk, to find your nearest woodlands. They have a free app with maps and local information on camping, trails and activities. At many of their forest centres you can buy a pack that will take you on a ‘Superworm’ kids trail, which includes activities and challenges for younger children.

So what can you do as a parent to increase your kids’ contact with nature? Here we explore some of the options:

To get the whole family moving, you could try geocaching. The National Trust has set First Hand Experiences up free trails– all you need is a GPS enabled Forest schools device that uses coordinates (you can use a Inspired by Danish ‘open air life’ nurseries, the first UK Forest School was smartphone). Download co-ordinates to find the caches (small waterproof started in Somerset in 1993, at Bridgewater College. Since then the boxes of ‘treasure’). The Trust also provide less ‘techy’ outdoor activities for movement has spread across the UK, with many Local Authorities families – their 50 things to do before you're 11¾ is a good starting point. employing trained Forest Schools practitioners to deliver a woodland learning experience each week, usually to primary-aged children and You can pledge some ‘wild time’ with your children by signing up to nurseries.

The Wild Network – an organisation dedicated to reconnecting children with nature, at projectwildthing.com They have a calendar of different Leading charity, The Forest School Association, lists the principles governing events, and lots of fun activity ideas that will get you and your kids outdoors. the sessions. Small groups of children are taken into woodland or other The film that inspired the organization is available to watch online, it’s an natural environment, “to support the development of a relationship between interesting take on how to ‘re-brand’ nature to appeal to the younger the learner and the natural world.” Children are encouraged to explore their generation, who they claim are suffering from ‘nature-deficit disorder’. environments, taking supported risks, and the learning is child-centred rather than teacher-led.

Clubs and classes If you’re not lucky enough to live close to a forest school, there are afterschool clubs and classes that can support children’s learning outdoors. Many schools have nature or gardening clubs, often run by parent volunteers.

Other useful links rspb.org.uk - local and national information and ideas for families english-heritage.org.uk –historical sites in natural settings

Colour your world...

with our fun packed, group keyboard tuition!

Small group classes, perfect for 4-11 year old beginners Read, write & play music to first grade Term classes & holiday courses Herne Hill, East Dulwich, Forest Hill (new!), Brixton To find out more, check for new centres & book a trial:

0800 107 7949

www.funkymonkey.info 18

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Summer holiday activities listings part 2 Compiled by Joanna Parry

Arts and Crafts, mixed activities

Eddie Catz Wimbledon

Eddie Catz Putney First Floor, 68-70 Putney High Street SW15 1SF 0203 4755268 eddiecatz.com 28 July. Cookie Crumbles - Little Pudding Club / Little Toddler Pudding Club Join the fun and whip up some amazing pudding creations such Eton mess and chocolate fondant pudding. Age 4-8, 10am-1pm, £25; age 2-4, 2-3pm, £13.

29 July. 'Frozen' with A Little Bit Productions Join Elsa, Anna and Olaf in the magical land of Arendelle as you bring this magical Disney tale to life.

Sing along to your favourite songs, learn some cool dances and go on an adventure to save Arendelle from the spell of eternal winter.

Age 5-11, 10am-1pm, £22.

30 July. Mini-Engineers Tall Towers Workshop Learn what makes big buildings stand tall in this Mini-Engineers LEGO workshop. Age 5-9, 2.304.30pm, £28.

31 July. Butterfly Ballet Wizard of Oz Workshop Follow the yellow brick road and meet all the characters in this fun and creative workshop. Age 4-7, 10am-1pm, £24.

10, 11 and 12 August. Barnes Film Academy Stop Motion Workshop A fun, exciting and stimulating 2day stop-motion animation course, inspiring young people through storytelling, character crafting and

July/Aug 2015

filmmaking fun. Age 8-12, 9am4pm, £200 for 3 days.

14 August. Dynamic Dance Street Dance Summer Camp Dynamic Dance are back with their popular street dance camps. Learn the coolest street dance moves as well as performing in a mini show.

Age 5-10, 10am-1pm, £23.

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42 Station Road SW19 2LP 0203 4755268 eddiecatz.com 24 and 31 July, and 7 August.

Creation Station Join the Creation Station for some Arts and Crafts fun. Age 2-8, 10.4011.30am, £9 per child, £6 siblings.

30 July. Mini-Engineers Tall Towers Workshop Learn what makes big buildings stand tall in this Mini-Engineers LEGO workshop. Age 5-9, 10am12pm, £28.

5 August. 'Frozen' with A Little Bit Productions Age 5-11, 10am-1pm, £22.

26 August. Butterfly Ballet Cinderella Workshop Fun and creative workshop exploring the story of Cinderella, enabling children to discover the magical world of ballet through dance, crafts, make up, costumes and storytelling. Age 4-7, 10am1pm, £24.

27 August. Cookie Crumbles Summer Cooking Fun in the Sun/Summer Toddler Cooking in the Sun Create yummy breads, scrumptious cakes and luscious biscuits. Age 4-8, 10am-1pm, £25; Age 2-4, 2-3pm, £13.

13 August. Dynamic Dance Street Dance Summer Camp Age 5-10, 10am-1pm, £23.

Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH 020 7601 4878 bankofengland.co.uk/museum 23 July – 28 August.

MASKerade Explore the Bank’s Flora and Fauna by following the trail, and then

Studio Film School

Broomwood Hall School, 68-74 Nightingale Lane SW12 8NR. 020 71019329 www.studiofilmschool.co.uk Summer Film shoot 2015 A week action-packed with fun filmmaking. 5 days to produce a hit summer blockbuster ready for the Red Carpet Premiere cinema event. 13th - 17th July and 27th 31st July, 10am-4pm. 7-18yrs (in age appropriate groups) Summer Startups Advanced filmmaking programme. Learn production techniques following a professional model and how to edit using Final Cut Pro. 3rd - 14th August 2015, 10am - 4pm,14-18yrs.

Make a Movie Musical!

Learn performance techniques through music, dance and acting for camera, and then put them in practise as you shoot your own music video.24th - 28th Aug, 10am - 4pm, 7-16yrs.

Acting for Camera week Using games, improvisation and acting exercises, explore the role of the actorintheworldoffilmandTV. 3-8 Aug,10am-4pm,7–16yrs.

become the animal of your choice by colouring a mask to take home.

Take your pick from a variety of creatures including mighty lions, wise owls, and the popular characters from ‘The Wind in the Willows’, whose author Kenneth Grahame worked at the Bank for 30 years.

10am–4.30pm.

Sensory Homes and Gardens Three weeks of free exciting summer activities, exploring the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the gardens and period rooms.

Create lotions and potions, gardeninspired drinks and more. Age 5-16, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

Fun with Fimo West London 020 8992 3767 funwithfimoclay.co.uk 10, 16, 24, 31 July and 1, 2, 8 September. Summer Craft Activity Sessions Fun and creative sessions, fully supervised and non-messy! Includes Chocolate Heaven, Patchwork and Teddybear, and Make your own Jigsaw Puzzle. Age 6+, bring a packed lunch. 10.15am-4.15pm. £50, book by emailing fimofun@tiscali.co.uk

Geffrye Museum 136 Kingsland Road E2 8EA 020 7739 9893 geffrye-museum.org.uk 28-31 July, 4-7 and 11-14 August.

Summer Holiday Activities –

Kaleidoscope Two locations: The Hut, Alpha Place SW3 5SZ and St Luke's Hall SW3 3RP. 020 3651 7870 www.kalscope.co.uk Arts and crafts, music, cooking, drama, sport, and games.

They aim to get children outdoors as much as possible too, so there are also 3 or 4 excursions every week to parks, farms, forests, museums, and castles etc. The children are always engaged and fully occupied to explore, create, make new friends, learn things and, above all, to have fun.

8:30am to 4:30pm. £240 or £55 per day. For two siblings, the cost is

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Cont p.20

We took every care in preparing these entries but sometimes events are cancelled or times changed. Please double check event with the organiser to avoid disappointment.

Have you seen Part 1 of this li It was pu sting? blished in our June issu e. See familiess outhwest. co.uk to read it .

from p.19

Summer holiday activities listings part 2 £375/week total or £95/day total.

Six consecutive weeks of courses this summer from 6th July to 14th August.

Mother Nature Science 020 8863 8832. www.mnature.co.uk info@mnature.co.uk Their Super Scientists will ensure your children 'get ahead in science', make friends and explore fun, educational and action-packed programmes with a spectacular array of scientific themes and topics.

Four different programme weeks to choose from. Ultimately over each five day week, your child will do 50+ hands on science experiments.

Chromatography and forensics, creepy crawlies, magnets, solar system, dry ice, thaumatropes, periscopes, electrical crazy circuitry.. For 5-12yrs. Camps in Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Richmond, Croydon, Sutton, Kingston and Twickenham.

The Horniman Museum 100 London Road SE23 3PQ 020 8699 8924 horniman.ac.uk 21 July – 21 August.

Summer Family Events A summer full of events at the Horniman Museum, including craft activities, pond dipping, mini-beast hunting, storytelling, Punch and Judy, African dance and so much more. Many activities are free.

Landmark Arts Centre Ferry Road, Teddington TW11 9NN 0208 977 7558 landmarkartscentre.org 28-31 July and 4-20 August.

Summer Art School A range of arts and crafts classes, courses and clubs throughout the holidays. See website for details.

Summer Club at Sinclair House School

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59 Fulham High Street, SW6 3JJ Thursday 9th July to Friday 24th July nikki@sinclairhouseschool.co.uk 020 7736 9182.

Shooting Starz will be running a fun-packed sports activities Holiday Club at Sinclair House Preparatory School, offering a super multi-sports and arts and crafts camp. Open to all children. “Shooting Starz holiday club was excellent! My child really enjoyed the variety of activities and looked forward to going every day. They also varied things so the kids didn't get bored. I would definitely recommend them for future holiday clubs.”

Languages Club Petit Pierrot Across SW London 020 7385 5565, admincpp@btconnect.com clubpetitpierrot.co.uk 16-24 July. Fun French Tuition Fun activities (all in French), including songs and rhymes, dance, theatre, role-play, movement games, arts and crafts, puppets… all great fun! Parent and toddler groups and drop-off classes available. Ages 1-3 9.15-10am, age 3-5 and 6-8 10.15am-1.15pm, from £16 per session, dates vary, see website for details.

Et Patati et Patata Fulham Start Centre and St Andrew’s Church, Fulham SW6. 07966 893674

atata ti et P

ta Et Pa

caroline@etpatatipatata.com etpatatipatata.com 20 July-7 August. Fun in French 100% French club, 100% fun. An unforgettable summer of learning – all en francais! French classes, workshops and fun activities, with French dancing and storytelling, ages 3-12, Monday to Friday 9am- 3pm.

Exchange Theatre www.echangetheatre.com 020 7403 8560.

46 Oxford Drive, Magdalen Street, SE1 2FB, London Bridge. fanny@echangetheatre.com French and Drama Summer Clubs: The mornings are dedicated to the creation of a theatrical performance and the afternoon offers some theatre and art related activities. Fed by a week of discovery and experiences, the group will showcase their work in front of parents and friends at the end of the camp.

Lead by French native actors, very experienced in working with children and used to teach French in an unconventional way. They will welcome children of all levels and will adapt the activities to the children. From 7 year olds. 27th July to 21st Aug.

Le petit conservatoire 07792 483030 lpconservatoire@gmail.com lepetitconservatoire.co.uk Take three “frenchies” passionate about any form of art and see them create “le petit conservatoire” … a French club for children aged 3 to 10 in the heart of Fulham. With classes after school, they want to inspire all children to develop their potential, share their talents and enrich their lives through a variety of stimulating workshops. All in French! Summer explorers from 317 July 2015 9.30-1.30pm. 5 days of arts and crafts, theatre, dance, music and lots of fun. (local outing scheduled, discovery of instruments and sounds of the sea, stories and activities around Jacques Cartier, Jean-Yves Cousteau and

many more) £175/child for one week, discounts for two children.

Little Trees Language Club 020 3598 0719 littletreeslanguageclub.com Language classes during the summer holidays in Chelsea and Notting Hill.

They organise parent & toddler, as well as children groups, in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Mandarin, Arabic and English as a second language. Courses are delivered by qualified and experienced teachers.

20th July-14th August.

The Spanish Club 07984 907 270, 07876 828908 info@clubespanol.org.uk www.clubespanol.org.uk The Spanish Language workshops will run from 16 June-21 July, creative movement project for children and young people.

Music and Drama act... Creative, Fun, Inspiring, Builds, Confidence!

Act Summer Drama Week New Venue this summer: Broomwood Upper School, 68-74 Nightingale Lane, SW12 8NR. 07976 873161. actdrama@googlemail.com actdrama.co.uk 20th- 24th July, 10am-3pm. Cost: £175 (£145 sibling discount). For ages 4-14yrs.

Rehearse and perform a play in a week... A comedy version of Treasure Island & the Mermaids!!

Broomwood Upper School is a fantastic venue as it has a great facilities, including beautiful gardens and a small amphitheatre. Be a part of a fantastic play and wow your family and friends, laugh all week long and make new best friends!

Lead by professional actors, classes are high energy, fun and inspiring.

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Summer holiday activities listings part 2 First Steps Academy of Dance 232-234 Lillie Road SW6 7QA 020 7381 5224 firststepsacademy.co.uk 10-14 August. Summer School Dance drama and singing with a show on the Friday afternoon for parents and friends. Picnic and play time in the park every day for ages 5–12. 9.30am-3.30pm, £35.

Allsorts Drama Notting Hill Prep School, 95 Lancaster Road W11 1QQ 020 8969 3249 allsortsdrama.com 20-24 and 27-31 July.

Summer Drama Workshops Have lots of fun creating props and costumes and devising a show for family and friends.

Ages 4–6 and 7–11, 9.30am3.30pm, £180, 20% sibling discount.

Monkey Music

Chase Side, Southgate N14 4PE 020 8292 9222 chickenshed.org.uk 12 July. Summer Arts Festival A free family arts festival. Try your hand at a variety of arts activities as well as be entertained by music, theatre and dance. 10am-4pm.

27-31 July and 3-7 August.

Summer Shed A brilliant summer holiday workshop for 5-12 year olds with a performance on the Friday. Explore and develop a wide range of performance skills through workshops involving drama, dance, singing and story-making. 10am4pm, £130 for 5 days, 50% discount for siblings.

27- 29 July and 3-5 August.

Space Race Workshops with the Tales Team An amazing backstage experience for Years 1-6 to work with the Tales team as they prepare for the summer show, Darnaby's Space Race. Half-day workshops giving children an exciting backstage experience. 10am-12.30pm, £50.

July/Aug 2015

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The Music House for Children 306-310 Uxbridge Road W12 7LJ 020 8932 2652 musichouseforchildren.co.uk 21 July. The Lamb Who Lost Her Jump Whatever has happened to Lamb’s jump? It has completely vanished!

Come along to find out why with music, singing, dancing and huge adventures. 10.45am, £7/£6.

22 July. Musical Theatre – Mary Poppins Recreate this wonderful musical with singing, moving, dancing, instruments, composition, art and design. Musical Theatre is high energy, great fun and extremely creative. 10am-3pm, £40 per child, includes lunch, age 5-11.

Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB 020 8543 4888 polkatheatre.com

Monk ey Mu sic 22 July. Monkey Business Create your own puppets inspired

by Polka’s production of Anthony Browne’s Gorilla. Age 4-5, 9.45am10.45am, £18; ages 5-6, 11am12pm, £18.

23 July. Behind the Scenes: Designer for a Day Work with the Polka Designer to design costumes and sets and learn the tricks of the trade. 7-11 years, 10.30am-3.30pm, £30.

24 July. Monkey Around Go ape, swing from the treetops and practice your best monkey moves in this and dance and creative movement workshop inspired by Gorilla. Ages 3-4, 9.4510.45am, £18; ages 4-5, 11am12pm, £18.

29 July. Shapes and Shadows Experiment with colour, shape and shadow in this music and creative drama and craft session based on their Adventure Theatre show Dot Squiggle and Rest. Ages 3-4, 9.4510.45am, £18; ages 4-5, 11am12pm, £18.

31 July. Behind the Scenes: Songwriter for a Day Work with their songwriter to compose your own songs and lyrics, then perform them to family and friends. No previous experience necessary but if you play an instrument feel free to bring it along. 10.30am-3.30pm, 8-14 years, £30.

3-7 August. Summer School:

Musical Puppet Theatre Create your own puppet and bring it to life, working with a director, musician and puppeteer in a musical story to share with family and friends on Polka's stage. Age 6-9, 10.30am-3.30pm, £100.

10-14 August. Summer School: Page to Stage Budding actors can spend a week training and working with a professional theatre director to explore a variety of drama techniques. Learn new skills and create a piece of theatre to perform for friends and family on the Polka Main Stage. 10.30am-3.30pm, 8-14 years, £100.

Education Fire Tech Camp www.firetechcamp.com Digital skills are in demand but, with technologies rapidly changing, it can be hard for educators and parents to keep up. A chance for your children to make their own future, literally. Using state-of-the-art equipment, campers get to grips with robotics, code, the digital arts, 3D printing and all sorts of exciting new tech. Check out summer options in London, Bristol, Manchester, Cambridge and Reading, plus a residential programme in Buckinghamshire.

5-day camps start at £400 with shorter workshops available.

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The Chickenshed Theatre

Wandsworth and Tooting 020 8764 5185, wandsworth.tooting@monkeymusic. co.uk monkeymusic.co.uk 4, 6, 11 and 13 August.

Holiday Workshops Keep your little monkeys swinging this summer with these 60-minute holiday workshops, 9.45-10.45am.

Call or email Bronwen Jones to book your place. Monkey Music will also be holding summer workshops at other venues across London over the school holidays. Visit www.monkeymusic.co.uk to find your nearest class.

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Summer holiday activities listings part 2 FireTe

ch

interviewed and have considerable SEN experience. £60/day, discounted to £50/day if 5 days are booked. Childcare vouchers are accepted for the Wandsworth camp. Local authority funding is also available.

Summer Resilience Course

Touch typing course info@typeright.org.uk www.typeright.org.uk Intensive four days course, 3 hours each day on 4 weekdays. Students are individually tutored as they follow an onscreen programme. Thereafter they move on to TypeRight’s own programme of teaching aids including copy typing and blindfold dictation exercises.

Contact Phoebe on 07984 738283 or phoebe@rolemodels.me www.rolemodels.me From July 27th – 31st for Years 5 & 6 at the Chelsea Academy School. The course combines core competencies looked for by the top selective schools with a more general focus on growth mindset; encouraging children to embrace challenges and learn from feedback.

Special Needs Summer SEN Camps Contact Hugo on 07825 598344 or Hugo@rolemodels.me www.rolemodels.me Two special educational needs (SEN) holiday camps for 6-12 year olds with mild-moderate special needs such as autism, dyspraxia and down’s syndrome. Ofsted

Intensive School Support Classes 020 7084 6357 www.oxbridgemasterclasses.co.uk Venues in Mayfair and Victoria.

Weekends only.

Week long intensive courses provide much needed boost in confidence and produce happy, proficient and successful learners.

Students return to school refreshed and fully equipped to take on the demands of the new academic year.

For students from Year 3-13 including the gifted & talented and SEN. Each child assessed before course commencement, intensive revision of core topics, maximum of 8 students per class, teachers work individually with students, examination techniques taught and promotes independent thinking.

11+/13+ classes also offer opportunities for debating, public speaking and current affairs to help students prepare for interview.

Role M o

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Day camps First Hand Experiences All Saint's Church Hall, 70 Fulham High Street SW6 07917 583759/ 07825 738398 firsthandexperiences.co.uk 6-10 and 20-24 July, 27 July-31 August, 3-7, 17-21 and 24-28 August. Summer Holiday Camps Fantastic holiday camps, taking your child into a world of drama, art, music and a whole load of old fashioned fun. Focusing on outdoor adventure, campers visit local farms, woodlands and foreshores. Picking and preparing fresh fruit and veg, stalking animals, building dens and hand crafting keep-sake camp mementos make fun-filled days that end with rousing tailor-made song and dance. . Ages 4-11, 8.30am4.30pm, £65 per day, £240 for 5 days, sibling discounts available.

registered camps in Wandsworth (SW18 4DN) from July 27-31 and Ravenscourt Park (W12 9JA) from Aug 3-7 involve a variety of calming & dynamic activities such as balloon tennis, biscuit decorating, sensory play and papier mache. Each day is 9.30am – 3.30pm.

All staff are specialists from Blossom House School and other special needs schools. They are DBS checked, double reference checked,

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Supercamps Several sites across SW and beyond.

See website for all locations.

01235 467 300 supercamps.co.uk From 8am to 6pm. For ages 4 to 14yrs.

A brand-new programme of wellorganised games, sports and creative activities designed to keep children energised and entertained in the holidays. Also buschcraft weekly outdoor holiday adventure, and learn new skills and develop interests camps. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for running superb holiday activities that stretch young bodies and inspire young minds in safe, secure settings.

Wild Learning Wimbledon Common 01483 424 400 wild-learning.net 13 July – 20 August. Summer Holiday Camps Fun, outdoor holiday clubs giving children the chance to play, learn, get muddy and just be kids in a safe, nurturing but wild environment.

10.15am-4pm, from £38 per day.

Sport Barnes RFC Barn Elms Sports Trust, Queen Elizabeth Walk SW13 0DG alastairlydon@icloud.com

Barne s RFC

First H a Exper nd iences

Inspiring Creative Learning 020 7731 0695 or 07912610366 yellowbirdeducation.com hello@yellowbirdeducation.com Monday to Friday, 10-12.30: 13, 20 July, 24 Aug. Yellowbird Education’s Creative Writing Workshops inspire children far beyond exams. ‘We believe that all children can write creatively, it’s just that often they don’t really understand how to put it all together.’ Yellowbird’s method is to show not tell. They lead with structure and grammar; add excitement and a twist then let natural creativity flourish. Run by a published author and former Head teacher, suitable for 6-12yrs.

swimming, crazy crash mats, foam stick hockey, obstacle courses, the list goes on and on… Dates and times vary according to venue, from £37 per day.

Activ Camp Barnes, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Tooting 07896 546067 activcamps.com 6 July – 28 August. Summer Camps Fun-packed multi-activity camps for children aged 4-14, including dodgeball, quad biking, inflatables, water slides, indoor rock climbing,

barnesrfc.org 27-30 July. Barnes Minis Summer Rugby Camp An exciting, fun rugby camp led by ex-professional players, for minis aged 6-13. Team and individual training methods will be used for kids to enhance their learning. £150 for 4 days, 9am-3.30pm.

Fit For Sport Several locations in W and nearby check website. fitforsport.co.uk 0845 456 3233 10% discount with code Families10 Four year olds can now stay all day.

Fit For Sport is on a mission to get the UK’s children active. They provide children’s activity camps and activity leadership training.

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Summer holiday activities listings part 2

Have you seen Part 1 of this li It was pu sting? blished in our June issu e. See familiess outhwest. co.uk to read it .

Summer golf camps 6 July - 4 Sept.

Junior taster every Sunday Clgc.co.uk Their dedicated and qualified team have been providing school, family and community programmes for over twenty years, supporting and delivering in-school services, after school clubs and holiday camp activities for children in numerous locations across the UK. Ofsted registered and run by trained and DBS-checked activity professionals.

Julian Cousins Tennis Clapham Common 07802 851453 julian@tennisteaching.com tennis-teaching.com Throughout July and August.

Summer Tennis Camps For children aged 3-12, 10am-3pm every day, £150 for the week or £35 per day, 10% sibling discount, book early! Plus they offer a Multi-Sport Programme including tennis, athletics, parachute games, soccer and team games for minis, and football, tennis, cricket, rugby, netball, hockey, rounders, golf, volleyball, table tennis and athletics for older ones.

Kiddikicks Across South West London 020 7937 7965, sarah@kiddikicks.co.uk kiddikicks.co.uk Throughout Summer Holidays.

Holiday Sessions Half day football camps for children 5-11 years. From £6 per hour.

Online booking in advance is essential.

Skyride cycling rides Cycle this summer and join either traffic-free bike events, or easy cycling rides, social rides or even women only rides, check goskyride.com Clapham Common - Santander Cycles Ride Sunday 12th July 2015 at 10.00am Starting from: Windmill Drive, Clapham Common SW4 9DE 4 miles, 45 mins, suitable for anyone.

FREE Test Cycle ride Friday 17th July 2015 at 5.25pm Starting from: Outside Big Yellow Storage SW2 5DX 9 miles, suitable for anyone. FREE.

020 8123 2217 www.playballlondon.com Two locations: •Battersea Park SW11 4NJ •Oak Lodge school 101 Nightingale Lane, London, SW12 8NA There will be water bombs, a water slide, treasure hunts, Playball games

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35A Killieser Avenue SW2 4NX 020 8674 5979 telfordparktennisclub.co.uk Throughout Summer Holidays.

Tennis Camps A series of fun, 5 day coaching sessions for all levels and abilities from 5 to 15 years, Mondays to Fridays, 11.30am-4pm, £30 per day or £140 for the week.

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Telford Park Tennis Club

Playball Holiday Camps

July/Aug 2015

and skills and a whole lot more…

You may do as many days as you would like and you do not have to be a Playballer to join… Parents may drop children off for the duration of camp, as there will be 7 coaches present… 3-8 year olds, 10am-1pm.

Spaces are limited.

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Summer holiday activities listings part 2 Activities to do at home Kids en cuisine Info@kidsencuisine.com www.kidsencuisine.com Kids en cuisine will allow your children to use various cooking items, help them to develop their fine motor skills, senses, and expand their vocabulary. They will try new flavours, textures and above all will learn by having fun. Your gastronomes will be proud to prepare dishes and will learn the various measures used in the kitchen. Activities take place at home for a fun playdate or during a birthday party for an immersion in the benefits of a healthy and balanced nutrition.

Urban Ascent Rock Climbing Unit 5 Parsons Green Depot, 33-35 Parsons Green Lane, Fulham SW6 4HH 020 7751 0913, info@urbanascent.co.uk www.urbanascent.co.uk Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout Summer Holidays. Climbing Club Sessions run at 1.30pm, 3pm and 4.30pm, £12. They also run family taster lessons for a maximum of 2 adults and 4 children, 30 minutes long and after the lesson the adults are able to supervise children without the help of an instructor, £20 per adult and £5 per child. Please call ahead to check availability.

Wigmore Tennis tenniscoaching.london 6th July through to 1st September. Full or half days. £60 - £110.

A great club that is open to on members in the summer. Lots of enthusiasm and great

teachers. In age group and per ability. From 3 to 17yrs. Also adult coaching, social tennis and private lessons.

Spencer Cricket Club Fieldview, Earlsfield, London, SW18 3HF www.spencerclub.org Week long cricket courses for members and non-members with qualified cricket coaches from 13th July to 21st August; suitable for all abilities. New this year, in addition to their standard coaching weeks , girls only week and teenage weeks .

Each day runs from 10am until 4pm. All details and booking form can be found on the Spencer Website under cricket/junior/holiday courses.

Play tennis for free 1+2 August, Countrywide www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/O penDays To find our further information on where your local event is please visit www.lta.org.uk/gbtw.

The Great British Tennis Weekend is back. Thousands of free events across the country will

July/Aug 2015

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offer the the chance for the whole family to experience Highland Spring Mini Tennis, Cardio Tennis, coaching and relaxed free play.

Rackets and balls are provided and absolutely anyone can get involved, whether you've never picked up a racket before or are a seasoned regular. Find a venue and book your session on the event website.

Spark4kids summer workshops July & August 2015 at Belair House, Dulwich 020 8090 1444,

www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids summer holiday workshops are designed to teach robotics, coding, electronics, games development, touch-typing as well as Minecraft in a fun, engaging environment. Ages 8+. Term-time classes are also available - see website for details.

Help make your street come alive with vibrant colour by planting wildflower seeds or plants in the tree pit outside your house. Wildflower seeds are tough and easy to grow, all you have

to do is sprinkle them on the ground around the trees, cover them lightly with a sprinkling of soil or compost, and occasionally water them if it is dry. Wildflowers prefer poor soil so tree pits are ideal.

For details on how to prepare and tree pit and plant your seeds go to the Furzedown Community Network website at www.furzedown.net Wandsworth council are happy for tree pits to be planted with wildflower seeds. Check for other Councils or just do it if you feel a guerilla gardener at heart.

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Guerilla gardening

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Summer holiday activities listings part 2 Londo n Seali fe Aqu arium

Do arts & crafts at home www.littlelettercompany.co.uk 0845 838 2499 Love doing crafts but no time to think what to do or shop for material? The Little Letter Company posts craft kits to children addressed to them in

bright packages. Their summer fun box set has 10 sand, sea and sun themed crafts, see website.

Subscription available for children aged 3 to 5.

Two kits posted fortnightly from £20 inc p&p.

Boxed are themed according to the season. Ten complete craft kits for £20 and 4 kits for just £10. inc p&p. Perfect activity to enjoy at home or away. You guessed it we love it.

Days out Swim in the Thames www.henleyswim.com/henley-mile July 12th The Henley Mile is an open water swimming event, held on a beautiful stretch of the River Thames. Throughout the day there are a number of events from elite swimmers racing to win, to the more leisurely Sporting category, where swimmers want to enjoy the river, and achieve the personal challenge of completing the distance, often while raising money for charity.

This day-time event is a rare opportunity for all the family to swim in a safe, monitored environment in the Thames. The course is closed-off from river traffic, and there are safety experts on the water. Events are for adults and children aged 8+, there are three distances to chose from - the mile, half mile and 200m.

Hampton Court Palace KT8 9AU www.hrp.org.uk Daily until 31 Aug Time plays Meet characters from the palace’s past and witness scenes of five hundred years of life at the Palace, from the Tudors to the present day.

4, 9, 11 Jul Multi-sensory workshop inc music, movement and messy play for 0-4yrs.

Booking essential.

1, 2, 29, 30, 31 August Watch the cooks toiling in the Kitchens of King Henry VIII, preparing the exotic dishes for his majesty.

11 Jul Explore the Georgians through the use of clay animation.

Bring your nimble fingers ready to mould your own take on this fun period of history.

10.30am – 4.30pm.

11-12 Jul Tudor Summer Palace A grand weekend of jousting and Tudor entertainment.

12 Jul, 2, 9 and every Tues and Weds in Aug Drop-in Drawing station: Free children’s dropin workshops. Create a picture which may be included in the film. For ages 4 – 11.

1 Aug Find out how the Victorians were the inventors of animation and bring typography into the 21st Century by creating digital film credits.

10.30am – 4.30pm. 8, 9 Aug Explore the court of Queen Anne with music, dance, ceremony and ritual-lessons in dining and court etiquette and the chance to picnic in the gardens with the court. 15 Aug Half day workshop to get a taste of the art of animation with expert facilitators.

Create your very own short film about them. For ages 7-11, 10.30am-1pm and 2-4.30pm.

Furzedown Summer season July and August in Furzedown Art exhibitions, Bat walks, botanical walks, Family Film Favourites Singalong, Caribbean Lawn Bowls All Dayer and more. Download the full program from http://furzedown.net

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo Battersea London SW11 4NJ 020 7924 5826 www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk We love this fantastic little zoo in Battersea park: they have squirrel monkeys, capuchin, lemurs, otters, agoutis, donkeys, ferrets, pigs, Shetland pony, chipmunks, and more. Make your visit coincide with feeding times, see website for timings. 21 July snake day, 23 July Meerkat fun day, 28 July Wildcat day.

WWT Londo nW Centr etland e

WWT London Wetland Centre Queen Elizabeth's Walk SW13 9WT 020 8409 4400 www.wwt.org.uk 25 July – 30 August Have your children ever been pond dipping? Do they know how to identify animal poo? During the summer holidays children of all ages can discover their inner adventurer at WWT London Wetland Centre by going on an array of ‘wild’ adventures and recording them in their own Nature Explorer passport.

– free with paid admission. If children don’t have enough time to fill in their passport on the day they can visit again for free to complete their mission if they bring their passport back with them.

Paul Lawston, learning manager at London Wetland Centre, said: “Exploring the natural world is one of the most fascinating gifts you can give children and encourages them to protect nature in the future. We’ll be on hand to help Nature

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Summer holiday activities listings part 2 Explorers complete some of their challenges.” Summer is a great time to visit, get up close to birds, mammals and amphibians in a safe, accessible environment. The Centre also has adventure play areas for children.

London Sealife Aquarium London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7PB, 0871 663 1678, www.visitsealife.com/london See thousands of sea creatures in over two million litres of water, living in over 65 displays over three floors. Brave the Shark Reef Encounter, join in with public feeding sessions and watch the diving displays. There are real penguins too! Open from 10am daily, admission from £19.98 adults, £14.41 children.

100 STEPS. New for summer 2015, visitors can walk the length of the Thames in just 100 steps by entering a secret portal into the Thames Walk area, discovering the history of the river from the 'Great Stink' of Victorian times to today's impressive cityscape. The zone also reveals the hidden world of hundreds of creatures and freshwater plants, swimming just feet away in the Thames.

Golden Hinde SE1 9DG www.goldenhinde.com Every Sat Public guided tour. Let the costumed educators bring the Golden Hinde and its history to life. Learn about life at sea and Drakes voyage around the world in this family-friendly tour.

11 Jul Tudor Battle workshop Children will be transported back to the 16th century to become crew members of the Golden Hinde. As well as experiencing life on board for the sailors, they will learn how they defended the ship and tended to the wounded.

25 Jul, 22 Aug Family overnight experience. Children will be dressed as Tudor sailors and become members of the crew. After learning the ship’s rules, they will be trained in navigation, barber surgery and gunning, before bedding down to sleep amongst the weapons on the Gun Deck. A Tudor style dinner and continental breakfast is provided. For age 6+.

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Make it a real break and take a holiday nanny!

The demands on hard working parents with busy careers, plus the hectic schedules of the children, with school, homework and clubs, means many families have less and less opportunity to spend quality time together, which makes holidays extremely precious to them.

Many parents desperately need some holiday relaxation, too, but the children still need supervision and care, and this is where a good nanny can step in to help. Greycoat Lumleys can provide a wide spectrum of fantastic, experienced nannies who specifically do temporary jobs - from the fully qualified to the ‘muck-in’ type, combining sensible child care with other duties. All nannies are fully DBS checked and have valid First Aid. Call Greycoat Lumleys Childcare & Education to find out more.

020 7233 9950 www.greycoatlumleys.co.uk

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Lambeth families offered free cycle training With cycling ticking boxes for health, convenience, economy and environment, London’s Borough of Lambeth is keen to ensure that as many people as possible take to their bikes with safety and confidence. So they’ve teamed up with London’s biggest cycle training provider, Cycle Confident, to offer completely free training to anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough.

Individual training

Family training

Cycle maintenance

There’s an individual training option (though you can also do this with a friend or 2 friends) in which a qualified instructor meets the trainee at their home, in a park or wherever suits and then tailors the 2-hour session to their particular needs.

This can be great for complete beginners, those who haven’t cycled since they put their Chopper in the back of the shed in 1979, right through to the experienced commuter who’d like advice on complex routes in and out of Central London.

Cycling as a family, whether to the park at the weekend or on the school run, is a great way to introduce children to the benefits of cycling and to the bike as alternative to the car. To this end, the borough offers family training which caters for a mix of adults and children doing a session together as a group.

Or if getting to grips with your own bike repairs is your thing, subsidised bicycle maintenance classes are available monthly and Lambeth also provides weekly Dr Bike services at different roadside locations around the borough, offering passing cyclists free bike safety checks and adjustments.

Adults training

A scheme for over 18s that helps you to find out if cycling is for you. At only £10 to borrow a bike for 4 weeks and lots of support such as free tailored cycle training, route planning and an option to buy the bike at a reduced cost over 4 months, it’s a great way to give cycling a try and get the whole family out on some summer rides.

Social cycling And if you just fancy getting out on your bike for a sociable ride this summer, why not join one of British Cycling's organised rides? There is something for everyone, from family rides of a few miles to hardcore 100 mile pedals. You can find the weekend outing to suit you and your family by going to the Goskyride website and entering your location and the range you’re comfortable cycling.

Then there’s beginners and improvers weekend group training for adults on Clapham Common.

Numbers are small, the vibe is friendly and unpressured and trainees are taken through useful skills, both on- and off-road, by 2 qualified instructors.

Holiday cycle courses for children If your child missed out on Bikeability training at school or if they just need a bit more road skills practice, four-day group courses for children aged 9 and over take place during the school holidays in Brockwell Park and on Clapham Common.

Try Before You Bike

Information and booking directions for all training, maintenance courses and Dr Bikes can be found at www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/lambeth/ For the Try Before You Bike loan scheme, visit www.lambeth.gov.uk/TryBeforeYouBike For organised weekend rides, visit www.goskyride.com

Dive in this summer at Wandsworth Leisure Centres Swimming is one of the best forms of all round exercise available, an activity for everybody, whether you want to get healthier, fitter, or just have fun or relax.

No matter what your age, weight and physical ability, swimming and waterbased activities can provide you with a whole body workout, great for shaping up and even a gentle swim can burn over 200 calories in half an hour. It is also a great way to relax and refresh you after a stressful day.

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With five great swimming pools including Tooting Bec Lido (Europe’s largest outdoor pool), Wandsworth Leisure Centres offer a swimming experience to suit everyone.

Find your nearest pool today www.placesforpeopleleisure.org

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Summer holiday activities listings part 2

Nurturing and developing young people's potential through dance, drama and singing.

For 4-18 year olds, after school, at weekends and holiday workshops.

Stagecoach Schools enrolling now Battersea Fulham Merton Park & Tooting Putney Wimbledon www.stagecoach.co.uk

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020 8946 0845 202 020 8942 0845 265 020 8946

2986 5727 3502 7050 3400

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What’s On

See more events in our online What’s On calendar

Bloomsbury Theatre WC1H 0AH thebloomsbury.com National Youth Ballet Gala Performance 30 August The National Youth Ballet returns with its 2015 Gala and a glorious programme spotlighting this talented young company.

Amongst the ballets being performed is Wayne Sleep’s Cinderella, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and a variety of jazz, contemporary and sparkling musical theatre pieces by emerging choreographers. £28-£38.

The Cambridge Theatre Seven Dials, 32-34 Earlham Street WC2H 9HU uk.matildathemusical.com Matilda The Musical.

Throughout July and August Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, Matilda revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dares to change her destiny.

The Chickenshed Theatre Chase Side, Southgate N14 4PE chickenshed.org.uk Youth Theatre Festival. 15-18 July A festival of work comprising five different ensemble pieces across the week. An exciting, dynamic event for everyone - from those interested in joining the Youth Theatre to those looking to watch vibrant and energetic theatre. £7/£5.

Planet Play - Tales from the Shed's Amazing Summer Show 6-7 August Join the Tales team for a fun and interactive sensory session based on the themes and characters from Darnaby's Space Race. 0-3yrs, 10am, £6, adults go free (1 adult per child).

Tales from the Shed's - Darnaby's Space Race 30 July to 8 August Tales from the Shed proudly presents a summer show that is truly out

King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT 020 8312 6608 www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark Have you visited Cutty Sark yet, the ship that has travelled across the globe, visiting every major port in the world through the course of her working life? This remarkable 19th-century sailing ship was the last surviving tea clipper and the fastest and greatest of her time, and in admiration of her beauty she was preserved for the nation by Captain Wilfred Dowman in 1922. Since then, the old clipper has been berthed in Falmouth and Greenhithe, finally arriving at her current resting place in Greenwich in 1954. And she is well worth a visit in 2015.

As well as housing a collection of objects from figureheads to newspaper cuttings, Cutty Sark welcomes young visitors on board daily. Join them for Toddler Time at 2pm every Wednesday for activities and workshops for the under 4s. And don’t miss Family Fun Weekend: Pirate Takeover on 1-2 August - come on a swashbuckling adventure with all your family, dressed like a pirate (or as you arrr!) for a fun-filled weekend that’ll shiver yer timbers. 11.30am-4pm, adult £15, child £7.50, under 3s free, all tickets include admission to Cutty Sark.

Plus, the Cutty Sark Studio Theatre, situated in the lower hold, converts this July into an eclectic performing arts space as it launches its first ever warm-up for the Edinburgh comedy festival. Be the first to see brand-new material from some of today’s hottest comedians and catch the stars of the future on their way up, including Josh Widdecombe, Sara Pascoe and Mitch Benn, 24 July–3 August.

And don’t miss Cutty Sark’s all time family favourites – the Cutty Sark Characters! This summer, come aboard to hear Cutty Sark’s incredible stories brought to life by characters from the ship’s past. Meet Captain Woodget, the ship’s most daring master, Jock Willis, the man who built Cutty Sark, Nannie, the ship’s figurehead, or the ship’s cook, James Robson, who all have an extraordinary story to tell. Cutty Sark Characters takes place every weekend and weekdays throughout the school holidays.

Cutty Sark opening hours are 10am-5pm, admission from £7. Arrive by Thames Clipper and get great discounts on tickets! See website for details

of this world! It's Sports Day but Barnaby has a cold - so there's no school for him today. He is completely miserable, and can't even say his own name properly because his nose is so blocked...

0-6yrs, £7.

Lyric Hammersmith Lyric Square, Kings Street W6 0QL www.lyric.co.uk Bugsy Malone To 1 August Get your splurge guns at the ready as Alan Parker’s world famous musical Bugsy Malone hits London! Join Bugsy,

Blousey and Tallulah for an unforgettable theatrical experience as Fat Sam’s Grand Slam comes to Hammersmith. Age 6+, from £15, 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue WC1 www.gruffalolive.com The Gruffalo 1 July – 6 September Tall Stories’ production roars into the West End. The must see family show for lovers of the timeless story.

345 is proud to be entering its 32nd year as an independent nursery school where 'children become independent, inquisitive and motivated in a rich and vibrant environment' (Ofsted).

An exceptionally warm welcome and a very large outdoor space awaits every child. We also have Music, Sport and Spanish plus Playball, Relax Kids and Ballet in afternoon clubs.

Please do visit us to capture some of the children's excitement in learning.

Contact: Annabel Dixon 345nurseryschoolwandsworth@gmail.com www.345 nurseryschool.co.uk 020 8870 8441 Fitzhugh Grove, Trinity Road, London SW18 3NH

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Jock Willis 2 (C) National Maritime Museum, London

Drama

LOVES!

Cutty Sark

Dewdrops Play Scheme & Nursery A vibrant new environment for children 3m-5 years.

We offer both full and part-time packages, plus Saturday flexible care 9am-4pm.

Situated conveniently just behind Nandos on Streatham High Road, SW16, we give little ones the opportunity for play and fun, plus learning and developing new skills.

Ofsted registered for 20 children.

To visit call 020 8769 8967 or 0785 279 7990

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

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We took every care in preparing these entries but sometimes events are cancelled or times changed. Please double check event with the organiser to avoid disappointment.

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Families ‘top five’ this month The summer holidays are on their way, and we’ve found some fantastic holiday workshops for the whole family. Don’t miss out – book now!

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The Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

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Royal Arsenal, Woolwich SE18 6ST www.firepower.org.uk Holiday Weeks 28 July – 21 August Not been to the Firepower Royal Artillery Museum before? Then this summer is the perfect opportunity to visit, with a programme of fun-packed activity weeks. Blast off your summer with the amazing Rocket Week, 28-31 July, with exciting family activities and workshops, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm. Then, take the kids back a century in time to World War One Week, running 11am-4pm every day, 4-7 August.

Go even further back in time with Roman Week, 11-14 August – there has been a settlement at Royal Arsenal since at least the Roman times. Come along this week and learn all about our first settlers.

Wrap up your summer with Heroes Week, 18-21 August, when the museum will run a thrilling event programme for young visitors.

Admission price plus £4.50.

Battersea Park SW11 4NJ www.batterseapark.org Summer Events and Animal Story Time Days Every Tuesday and Thursday from 21 July to 27 August. A great way to fill those long summer days, the Children’s Zoo runs a number of summer events every Tuesday and Thursday during the holidays. It’s your chance to meet the animals, help feed them and learn more about them through fun art activities. This year enjoy ssssSnake Day, Meerkat Day, Wildcat Day, Australian Animal Day, Piggy Day and more. On their Animal Story Time Days you can hear an animal story, make a picture from the story and a badge before meeting the real life characters! These drop-in sessions run 11am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm, with story times and meet the animal characters at 11.45am and 2.15pm. Admission fees apply, plus a small fee for various activities.

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Foundling Museum

40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk Family Workshops 28 July, 1 and 4 August The Foundling Museum is famous for its workshops for all the family, and this summer is no exception. Design and make a hand-held mirror inspired by the exhibition Lines of Beauty and the Rococo plasterwork in the Museum’s Court Room. In Family Workshop: Rococo Mirrors you can use modelling materials to create a mirror frame that you can take away and use, 28 July at 10.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Come back again on 1 August and create your own clay token using traditional sculptural techniques, inspired by the elaborate artistry of the Court Room ceiling and the tokens left by mothers with their children at the Foundling Hospital.

10.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Finally, make and take home your own ceiling tile, inspired by the famous Rococo ceiling in the Museum’s Court Room, in Family Workshop: Rococo Plaster Casts. The workshop takes place on 4 August, 10.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. All workshops are free with museum admission.

Natural History Museum

V&A Museum of Childhood Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA www.museumofchildhood.org.uk It’s holiday fun all summer long at the Museum of Childhood! Start off the summer in style with their Summer Festival summer in the city just wouldn’t be the same without a visit to this ever popular annual event. An action packed afternoon of live music, dance, walkabout acts, delicious food, designer stalls, henna, face-painting, games and lots of crafty make and do, 11.30am-4.30pm, 26 July. Then, join the museum for Summer Holidays Fun Fridays, with storytelling, art activities and much more every Friday from 31 July to 28 August, all ages 11am4pm. Activities are free and drop-in (sign-up for some workshops on the day). Summer Games Run, Jump, Hop and Skip are great outdoor fun for active families - join the race, get to the top of the leader board or simply let off steam in the Museum grounds (weather permitting). Free, drop-in, all ages, 11am-4pm, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11-27 August.

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Cromwell Road SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk Bat Festival and A Night in the Jungle 17 August The animals come alive at the Natural History Museum this summer as we find out about the pesky creatures that live there…

Where do bats live? What do they eat? How many types of bats do we have in the UK? One out of every four British mammal species is a bat but most people know very little about them and few have ever seen one. The Bat Festival is a rare opportunity to learn more about bats, get involved in some batty activities, talks and workshops as well as getting to meet some bats up close. 10am to 5pm, 29-30 August.

Sleepless nights are an occupational hazard when your job is collecting moths. Armed with light traps, insect repellent and sharp eyes, the museum’s scientists go all over the world to study moths. Find out how they collect these creatures of the night in A Night in the Jungle and hear about some of the adventures they've had on their travels.

12.30–1pm and 2.30-3pm.

July/Aug 2015

Firepower Royal Artillery Museum

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If you are still at a loss for something to do, sign up for the Dolls House Colouring Workshops on 12 August. Meet illustrator Emily Sutton and join a creative colouring workshop inspired by her delightful Dolls’ House colouring book, based on the collection. Free, sign up on the day, ages 412, 1-2.30pm and 3-4.30pm.

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What’s On New Wimbledon Theatre The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1QG atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledontheatre 3-4 August English National Ballet School's Summer Performances 2015 English National Ballet School returns for their annual Summer Performances, with a programme featuring a blend of classical and contemporary works. From £15.

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 11-12 August 'Somewhere, hidden amongst the thorny brambles is a little kingdom where everyone is very very small...' Holly is a young Fairy Princess, who is still learning how to fly and her magic doesn’t always go quite according to plan. From £16.40.

There's no room to list more here, but use our unique local searchable What’s On calendar on FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Fowl Play 12-30 August, 4, 5, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 September A farmyard adventure in which a foal is born causing much excitement among the animals and leading to an unexpected turn of events. Age 3+, 2.30pm, £10/£8.50.

The Three Pigs and The Wolf 25 July to 9 August A lively show that breathes new life into these well-known characters.

2.30pm, £10/£8.50.

18-19 August Celebrate the world's longest running classical music festival by learning about the orchestra and its instruments, and make celebratory bunting. Age 5–11, 10am and 2pm, £3.50.

Royal Court Theatre Sloane Square SW1W 8AS www.royalcourttheatre.com Primetime 18-25 July A series of new short plays written by primary school children aged 811. The production of eight ten-minute plays will run in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, alongside two free family playwriting workshops. Age 7+, £10/£5.

Sadler's Wells Rosebery Avenue EC1R www.sadlerswells.com Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man 14 July to 19 August Matthew Bourne’s internationally acclaimed dance thriller, loosely based on Bizet’s popular opera and with one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures’ repertoire. From £6.

Royal Court Theatre Short plays written by primary school children

Shrek’s adventure

Putney Arts Theatre The Lyric Hammersmith

The Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB polkatheatre.com Dot, Squiggle and Rest To 16 August What will you discover at the bottom of the garden? Join in a playful adventure as a fantastical garden becomes a miniature universe of dots, squiggles and shapes of all different shapes and sizes. £11.50/£9.

STATIk 2-5 July Rebellious radios, secret sweets and accidental adventures. It's Mikey’s first day at work in the regimented radio factory. When a mysterious voice comes through the airwaves, chaos ensues and it brings about the hilarious destruction of the factory regime. Age 5+, £13.50/£10.

Puppet Theatre Barge Little Venice, Blomfield Road W9 2PF www.puppetbarge.com

Ravenna Road SW15 6AW www.putneyartstheatre.org.uk Pride and Prejudice – Open Air Performance 18-19 July First seen at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, this sparkling adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice brilliantly brings to life the gossip, the scandal and the romance that has enthralled generations of readers. Performed at Putney’s Old Burial Ground, Ravenna Road SW15. 3pm, £12/£8.

Riverside Building, County hall, South Bank SE1 9PB, www.shreksadventure.com 1 July until December Step into the action and star in a hilarious and unforgettable all-new Shrek adventure. Your journey will take you - via a spectacular 4D bus ride - to famous Far Far Away locations. At the end of the adventure there's

The Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com Storytelling and Music Sessions Every Wednesday to 15 July A series of sessions for babies and toddlers using musical instruments, singing, movement and stories. Ages 0-4, 10am and 11.30am, £4.

Discover Mosaics 4-5 August Explore the 244m frieze that spans the circumference of the Hall and make your very own mosaic masterpiece. Age 5–11, 10am and 2pm, £3.50.

Discover the Orchestra

Shrek Adventure 4D London Bus Ride

Throughout South West London Mummy & Me Ballet, Baby Ballet, Tiny Tap, Mini Movers Hip Hop, Didi Drama & Singing

16 months - 5 years

07801 886101 info@thepetiteperformers.com www.thepetiteperformers.com

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

What’s On more fun to be had with a colourful line-up of other DreamWorks characters in themed sets from the worlds of Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. Open 10am-6pm daily, timed tickets from £18.72 children, £23.40 adults.

The St James Theatre 12 Palace Street SW1E 5JA www.stjamestheatre.co.uk Ballet Central and Central School of Ballet’s End of Year Performance 16-18 July A chance to see students from all year groups perform a variety of dance styles, including classical ballet, contemporary, jazz and Spanish dance.

free activities from rocket building to portrait painting, giant Jenga tournaments, cake decorating and lots more. 12noon-1.30pm.

Palace Theatre Cambridge Circus, Shaftsbury Avenue W1D 7DY, 0844 482 9676. www.nimaxtheatres.com/palace-theatre 5 August - 6 September The Three Little Pigs He can huff and puff until the cows come home, but will the Big Bad Wolf get the better of the

Geffrye Museum Fulham Palace storytelling

Museums & Galleries

Belvedere Road SE1 8PX www.southbankcentre.co.uk Bromance To 19 July A hilarious, bittersweet and downright jaw-dropping celebration of everything blokey. From £12.50.

The King of Tiny Things 11-13 July One magical midsummer's night two sisters huddle together, fearful of what the darkness holds. Suddenly, a mysterious winged creature appears and leads them on a moonlit walk. £10.

Ali McGregor's Jazzamatazz 11-19 July Jumpin', jivin' jazz for kids from cabaret star Ali McGregor. An hour of jazzy beats to get children singing and prancing, twisting and dancing. £10.

James Bustar - Hilarious Antics & Mayhem 11-25 July World record-holding comedy juggler James BuSTAR brings Hilarious Antics & Mayhem to London Wonderground. Expect juggling, laughs and randomness, direct from Australia. £10, family ticket £32.

Brat Kids Carnival 29 July to 2 August See the finest circus artists and mischief makers from Briefs in this familyfriendly show. Hula hoops at top speed, acrobatics at alarming heights and seriously cheeky clowning antics. £10.

three little superstar piglets in this brand new retelling of the classic story? Full of catchy songs, jokes and japes for little ones and parents alike, this endearing musical will leave you squealing with glee and howling with laughter. For ages 3+.

May not be suitable for vegetarians. Tickets from £15.

Streatham Festival The British Home, Crown Lane, Streatham SW16 3JB www.blackshawonline.com Alice in Wonderland 4-5 July Following a sell-out run at Battersea Library, Wandsworth-based theatre company Blackshaw presents a new adaptation by Richard Stratton.

Age 4+, with plenty of jokes for the grownups.

1.30pm and 3pm, £6/£3.

The Unicorn Theatre 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ www.unicorntheatre.com Up Club Every Saturday in July and August Join the Unicorn play club every Saturday. Take part in

See more events in our online What’s On calendar

Bank of England Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum MASKerade 23 July – 28 August Explore the Bank’s Flora and Fauna by following the trail, and then become the animal of your choice by colouring a mask to take home. Take your pick from a variety of creatures including mighty lions, wise owls, and the popular characters from ‘The Wind in the Willows’, whose author Kenneth Grahame worked at the Bank for 30 years. 10am-4.30pm.

Firepower Royal Artillery Museum Royal Arsenal, Woolwich SE18 6ST www.firepower.org.uk In Their Own Words Throughout July and August . A new exhibition about the Great War bringing to life artillerymen of different nations, through extracts from their diaries, letters home and photographs.

Our skilled staff prepare children aged 2­5 years for their next school and start them on a journey of life­long learning.

Incorporating art, cooking, music, sport, drama and all aspects of the Early Years Curriculum. Please arrange a visit to see the learning and excitement in action. www.oaktreenurseryschool.com Ramsden Hall, 21 Ramsden Road, SW12 8QX Tel: 020 8166 5932

July/Aug 2015

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What’s On The Florence Nightingale Museum 2 Lambeth Palace Road SE1 7EW www.florence-nightingale.co.uk Miss Nightingale Said Every Wednesday in July and August. An illustrated talk given by one of the museum’s curatorial team examining the incredible life and achievements of Florence Nightingale. 3.30pm, £5.80/£4.80.

There's no room to list more here, but use our unique local searchable What’s On calendar on FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk London Places & Spaces To 6 September The Prize for Illustration 2015: London Places & Spaces exhibition will display 100 illustrations that capture a variety of aspects of London’s unique character and qualities.

£4.95/family £16.95.

Coral Reefs: Secret Cities of the Sea Throughout July and August. Plunge into spectacular seascapes and explore the richness of life beneath the waves at the Museum’s exciting new exhibition on coral reefs. £12.60/£6.30.

The Museum Of London

Science Museum

London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk Museum Explored Every Sun from 1 July Join one of the Museum's Hosts and explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities. 12-2pm.

Exhibition Road, South Kensington SW7 2DD sciencemuseum.org.uk Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age Throughout July and August For the first time in the UK, the remarkable story of Russian scientific and technological ingenuity that kick-started the space age will be explored in a landmark new exhibition at the Science Museum. Age 8+, charges apply.

The National Gallery

The Bank of England

Imperial War Museum Lambeth Road SE1 6HZ www.iwm.org.uk Fashion on the Ration - 1940s Street Style To 31 August Explore how fashion survived under the strict rules of rationing during the Second World War in new and unexpected ways. £10/£5.

Object Conversations Every Sunday from 10 August Explore objects from the collections and see how they connect with iconic objects on display in the Terraced Galleries. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm FREE.

Trafalgar Square WC2N 5DN www.nationalgallery.org.uk Welcome Wednesdays Every Wednesday in July and August Bring paintings to life through interactive music, storytelling, art, and messy play activities especially designed for little walkers and their grown-ups. Suitable for sitting babies up to toddlers. 10.30am, 11.30am and 1pm.

Magic Carpet Storytelling Every Sunday in July and August For children aged 2-5. Fly away on the magic carpet, coming to land in front of a different painting each day.

10.30-11am and 11.30am–12pm.

National Maritime Museum Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk Against Captain's Orders To 31 August An exhibit for 6-12 year olds and their families, taking audience members on the adventure of a lifetime through the National Maritime Museum’s extraordinary collection of maritime artefacts. £19.75.

London Transport Museum

Natural History Museum

Covent Garden Piazza WC2E 7BB www.ltmuseum.co.uk

Cromwell Road SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk Wildlife Photographer of the Year Throughout July and August. Combining the extraordinary work of talented professionals and gifted amateur photographers from around the globe to showcase the beauty, magnificence and diversity of life on our planet. From £5.

Dino Snores 18 July Discover what really happens at the Museum when the staff and visitors have gone home. Ages 7–11, 7pm, ends 9.50am the following day. £60/£54 members.

Lates 31 July and 28 August. Visit the Museum after hours and experience London’s most unique Friday night out. 6-10.30pm.

Sensational Butterflies Throughout July and August Wander through a tropical enclosure full of these beautiful creatures. Discover the science behind them and their amazing life cycles as they evolve from crawling caterpillars into beautiful butterflies.

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Fulham Palace river archeology walk

V&A Museum of Childhood Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA www.museumofchildhood.org.uk The Alice Look Throughout July and August Get a whole new view of Lewis Carroll’s heroine in this display marking the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. FREE Montessori for Families 23 August Montessori educators will lead a practical workshop teaching fun, creative and useful techniques you can use at home to help your child’s learning. Free, drop-in, all ages, 11am-4pm. FREE

The Wallace Collection Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN www.wallacecollection.org Press it 13-14 August Experiment with various printmaking techniques using both hand tools and a professional press. Using the Collection as inspiration you will create a series of designs which you will turn into beautiful prints to take home. 11am-4pm, £24.

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

What’s On

Please send info for consideration to: whatson@familiessouthwest.co.uk

diary dates & events

DAys out See more events in our online What’s On calendar

Brixton Windmill Windmill Gardens, end of Blenheim Gardens SW2 5EU www.brixtonwindmill.org Windmill Tours Every weekend in July and August Visit the 'two mills in one' and hear the intriguing story of the Ashby family. You will see the original wind-powered machinery and find out how it was once used to make stone ground flour.

Booking required.

See more events in our online What’s On calendar

Balham Comedy Festival The Bedford 10 – 18 July www.balhamcomedyfestival.com

Streatham Festival Alice in Wonderland

66 Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HS chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk Family Activity Days Every Tue, Wed, Thurs 4-19 August An assortment of drop-in activities for families including Art Safari, Pulp Fiction, Chocolate Tuesday, Water World and Creepy Crawling. Times and ages vary, admission fees apply.

Isis Education Centre Hyde Park W2 2UH www.supporttheroyalparks.org A Walk in the Park- Bat Walk 7 August If you’re batty about bats then why not come and see the night creatures that reside in the park? Discover several different bat species and learn how they hunt.

8.30-10pm, £5.

A Walk in the Park- Peter Pan 7 August and 14 August J.M. Barrie was inspired by the magical Royal Parks to write the Peter Pan plays and stories. Join the expert team on an interactive walk and discover how Peter made the perilous journey from Bird Island in the Serpentine to the magical shores of the Long Water in Kensington Gardens. 11am12.30pm, £5.

Holland Park Ecology Centre Holland Park W8 6LU www.rbkc.gov.uk Open day- Busy Bees 18 July Discover the world of bees and their importance as pollinators through exploration of the Ecology Centre and garden. There will be bee craft activities for children.

Drop-in, free, 2-6pm.

Tickets start at £8.00.

The 2015 Balham Comedy Festival, co-produced by Banana Cabaret’s Dave Vickers and comedian John Moloney, will see an aggregation of comedy talent descend on The Bedford, the home of Banana Cabaret. Names confirmed for the 2015 Balham Comedy Festival include Harry Hill and Tim Vine who return to the Festival for the second time as special guests.

Table Top sale St Barnabas Church Clapham North Side, SW4 9SW. 07956 493646 Saturday 11th July 11am-3 pm in the church grounds. Items for sale will include items for children and adults as well as for the home.

Nomad Cinema Across London www.whereisthenomad.com Throughout July, August and September Nomad Cinema returns with a full pop-up programme across London’s great outdoor venues. This year there are more secluded squares and cemeteries, more parks and secret gardens, and more unforgettable movie memories to be made. Includes Fulham Palace, Hyde Park Lido and Brompton Cemetery. See website for full schedule

Kew Gardens Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB www.kew.org Full of Spice

July/Aug 2015

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To 6 September: Explore the wonderful world of spice at Kew this summer. From the distant lands in which pepper, vanilla and cinnamon grow, to the botanists authenticating them at Kew for hundreds of years, their stories come to life through a programme bursting with flavour, interactive installations and exhibitions. Don’t miss Spicy Saturdays, following the ancient spice trade routes from East to West, every second and fourth Saturday in July and August. You can even take a Cinnamon, Pepper or Cardamom Rickshaw for an immersive, theatrical ride around the Gardens. We love the sound of the giant nutmeg, garlic, ginger and 14 metre chilli inflatables!

NCT Kensington And Chelsea www.nct.org.uk/branches/kensin gton-chelsea NCT Kensington And Chelsea Meet Up Gambado Chelsea, 7 Townmead Road SW6 2PY Every Wednesday in July. A great opportunity to meet other mums with babies under 1. 9.30-11am, £1, show your NCT card to get in

French Coffee Morning Contact Teresa at info@leclubtricolore or 020 7924 4649 / 07889 967003 Every Wednesday morning in July. Get together ‘between the Commons’ for coffee and to speak French for an hour. Lively discussions on a topic (articles are distributed in advance) and a great opportunity to practise your French.

Royal Opera House WC2E 9DD www.roh.org.uk Every Sunday in July. Family Sundays. A regular event for families to explore the Royal Opera

House, its artists and the world of opera and ballet. Packed full of creative and practical activities for all the family including informal performances from Royal Ballet dancers, plus interactive singing and dance activities. 12–4pm, £5 adults, £3 children.

NCT Wimbledon & Wandsworth www.nct.org.uk/branches/Wimbl edon Coffee, Me and Baby. Every other Wednesday in July, 2pm onwards at The Old Frizzle, Wimbledon. Come along and meet new and expectant mums in the area over a relaxing cup of coffee Breastfeeding Drop-in. Every Thursday in July, 10am–12pm, Gooseberry Bush Café (upstairs studio), Wimbledon SW19 1LT.

Dulwich Picture Gallery SE21 7AD dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk First and last Sunday in July.

Family Sundays. Enjoy being creative together in these drop-in Artplay sessions, making everything from bunting to block prints.

2.10pm and 3.10pm, no booking necessary, free for families with a Gallery ticket or £3 per child

Orleans House Gallery Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3DJ www.richmond.gov.uk/arts Mini-Fest 28 July – Hampton Square. 11 August – North Sheen Recreation Ground. The mobile summer arts festival returns to the parks and open spaces of Richmond upon Thames, featuring performances from high profile outdoor artists Pif Paf Theatre and Motionhouse, celebrating the arrival of the Rugby World Cup in the borough

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What’s On

Fulham Palace SW6 6EA fulhampalace.org Every Monday in July. The Palace Explorers For children aged 2-4. £3 per child, which includes a drink and healthy snack. Booking essential, 10.30am12pm 5 July. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice The original boy-wizard story, performed by award-winning outdoor theatre company Illyria in the historic Walled Garden.

Features breathtaking magical illusions, non-stop laughter and more water than you have ever seen in a play before! Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied by an adult. £13/£8, 2.30pm 12 July. Museum Drop-in Try on period Viking costume, handle artefacts and learn about the history of Fulham Palace. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Free, no booking necessary, 2pm3.30pm 18 July. Young Archaeologists’ Club Did you know that the Holm oak on the main lawn is 500 years old?

During the final session this term for the Young Archaeologists' Club, investigate the important role trees play in archaeological research. 8-16 years, £15, booking essential, 10.30am-12.15pm 19 July. River Foreshore Archaeology Walk Join the Thames Explorer Trust for this walk along the foreshore to investigate the stories of the river and discover the clues to our history that can be found there. Age 5+, £8/£5, booking essential, 11am1pm 5, 12, 19 and 26 August. The Art Marquee

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There's no room to list more here, but use our unique local searchable What’s On calendar on FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Get creative at the Art Marquee in these drop-in sessions offering a different themed craft every week, including Georgian, Viking, Tudor and Roman. £2 per child, no booking necessary, 1pm-4pm 9 August. The Three Musketeers Alexandre Dumas' classic swashbuckling tale full of sumptuous costumes and fast-moving action.

Age 8+, £13/£8, 5pm 31 August. Wild Capital Road Show A marquee of wildlife discovery on the main lawn with activities for all the family, including minibeasts tanks and microscopes to examine fascinating details of nature. Free, no booking necessary, 1pm-4pm.

In The Night Garden Live www.NightGardenLive.com Richmond Old Deer Park, to 4 July.

An amazing musical theatre experience for all the family.

Children’s favourite CBeebies’ stars - Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends - are all brought to life on stage using full-size costumes, magical puppets, enchanting music and breathtaking projections. Book online or at the box office 0333 300 0023, £12.50-£33.

Putney Pier Art and Craft Market

First Aid for Life

St Mary's Battersea Battersea Church Road, SW11 3NA Saturday 18th July, the Church on the river will open its doors for a community production of Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat. Tickets family of 5 £12 plus a booking fee, single adult tickets are £5 plus a booking fee, concessions for pensioners, students and children are £3 plus a booking fee. Tickets: https://eventbrite.co.uk/event/169811 59104/

NCT Putney & Fulham www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com

8 and 22 July. Fulham FC coffee morning. 10am–12pm at Cafe at the Cottage, Fulham Football Club, Stevenage Road SW6 6HH. Join Debs if you’re new to the area, starting to get out with your baby or just need an excuse for a welldeserved cup of coffee 8 and 22 July. Putney new mums' group. 10.30am–12.30pm at Tried and True Cafe, Upper Richmond Road SW15 6SP. Contact sophie.bartholomew@gmail.com

The Embankment, Putney (Between the Thai Square Restaurant and Thames Place) www.facebook.com/artonputneye mbankment On the first Sunday of each month until December. An exciting market showcasing a range of arts and crafts such as paintings, sculpture and photography, wood carvings and furniture from established and emerging artists. 11am–5pm.

BFI Southbank South Bank SE1 8XT www.bfi.org.uk/Southbank BFI Family To 18 July. Wonderful films and fun activities for all the family. Includes Mini Filmmakers Club for 8-11 year olds, 10.30am-12.30pm, every Saturday to 18 July, Saturday Young Filmmakers for 12-15 year olds, 2-4.30pm, every Saturday to 18 July.

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Classified First Aid for Life

ELOCUTION

Balham and Westminster firstaidforlife.org.uk 8, 11 and 29 July. The Emergency Course A 3-hour course covering care of the unconscious baby and child as well as most commonly occurring injuries and illnesses such as choking, bleeding, breaks, bleeds, burns, head injury and febrile convulsions. 9.30am-12.30pm, £60/£65

Public Speaking Speech & Drama Individual Tuition Clare Price. LGSM, ALAM (020) 7735 3156 clareprice@tiscali.co.uk

Funky Moves Dance Pop-Up Workshops

Reliable Handyman

• Garden maintenance and building work (fences, patios, sheds, etc..)

• Jobs around the house (carpentry, painting, fitting furniture, etc…)

• Upcycling furniture and Shabby Chic items available £30/hour.

Call Brian: 0774 513 6424

HEALTH

www.funkymovesdance.com/lon don-workshops 15th August - Pop Up Workshop. Come and learn from the pros! 2.5 hours of amazing street dance, choreography, performances and creativity from the Funky Moves Team. 2.30-5pm, ages 5-12, venue in Kensington.

Face Painting & Balloon Modelling Contact Susie 07814 925462 www.magicaldesigns.co.uk Clown Pirate Jester Wizard

Waterloo Food festival

www.charlietheclown.co.uk

From the 1st to 31st July.

A whole month of exciting food & drink events and promotions taking place in central London inc ‘Super Saturdays’ when Lower Marsh Market will take on a celebratory feel, outdoor Cocktail making & tasting event on Thursday 16 July, Waterloo Family Fete on Saturday 18 July.

Waterloo World Showcase on Thursday 30 July www.wearewaterloo.co.uk

Astronaut, Magician, Explorer

07808 732 390

MUSIC PIANO TUITION

Friendly, experienced and qualified teacher of children 6+ and adults.

Home visits possible.

Mark Lester MA, CT ABRSM

020 8870 7830 www.marklester.biz

CHILDCARE

SERVICES PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE & QUOTE

PARTIES

John:- James & Lamont

020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

Larah Au Pairs 01932 341704 Au pairs, mother’s helps and couples with refs and police checked. Est 21 Years.

Personal, friendly Discount for Families readers service. All areas. www.larahaupairs.co.uk

VACANCY Distributors Wanted...

TUITION

Silly Millie the Clown Parties for 3-9 year olds Funny Magic Show, Puppet’s, Party Games, Silly Songs and Balloon Animals Call 020 7823 8329 - 07939 239397 www.sillymillietheclown.co.uk

July/Aug 2015

Families South West is looking for distributors in the Chelsea area, the SW3 and SW10 postcodes. If you have a car, a few hours spare every month and want to earn some extra money, please contact Silvana on 07801 227334 or email her on distribpromoter@ familiessouthwest.co.uk

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FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680