Families Suffolk May/June Print

CONTACT US:

EDITOR: Stacey Phillips

T: 07951 946736

E: editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk

Design: Stacey Phillips

Printed by: Buxton Press

Next Issue: July/August 2023

Welcome

Welcome to our latest issue, I hope as we go into the summer season the longer and brighter days bring more fun adventures for you and your family. To help you plan your family days out, we have a packed WHAT'S ON guide, including the Hadleigh Show and South Suffolk Show both taking place in early May followed by the fantastic Suffolk Show over half-term on Wed 31st May & Thu 1st June. Plus, so much more, you even have the chance to win a family day pass to Colchester Zoo on p6.

This issue also includes a CLUBS & CLASSES feature, and we introduce you to piano teacher Sarah Riddick who has recently moved to Suffolk with her family and will be offering group piano lessons in Acton, nr Sudbury. My daughter Emily had her first lesson with Sarah last week and absolutely loved it. There is also an EDUCATION feature and our friends at Bates Wells & Braithwaite have provided a useful FAMILY LAW article. I hope you enjoy.

Best Wishes

Stacey Phillips

SOUTH SUFFOLK SHOW

WHERE: Ampton Racecourse BSE, IP31 1HU

WHEN: Sun 14th May

www.southsuffolkshow.co.uk

WHAT'S ON

OUR TOP PICK OF LOCAL FAMILY DAYS OUT

EAST COAST PIRATES 12TH VISIT TO NASAM

WHERE: Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum

The Street, Flixton, Bungay, NR35 1NZ

WHEN: Sun 14th May

www.aviationmuseum.net

HADLEIGH SHOW

WHERE: Holbeck's Park, Hadleigh, IP7 5PE

WHEN: Sat 20th May

www.hadleighshow.co.uk

THE SUFFOLK SHOW

Trinity Park, Ipswich, IP3 8UH

Wed 31st May - Thu 1st June

Top 5 fun things to try for free!

Our county’s biggest family day out, the Suffolk Show, is back at Trinity Park in Ipswich this half-term. Every year, the Suffolk Show promises great value for money with free entry for under 15's, free parking and hundreds of free activities once you’re through the gates.

HERE’S OUR TOP 5 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

1. Super sports: Cycling, archery, climbing, trampolining… there’s so much to discover in the action-packed Sports Zone.

2. Giant machinery: Climb aboard giant tractors, learn about harvesting food and watch the magnificent pea viner in the Farming Live Area.

3. Farm Discovery Zone: Brush a pony, feed a lamb, meet a cheeky goat or ride a mini tractor!

4. Military Zone: Have a go on a parachute swing or play underwater games with a military diver.

5. Grand entertainment: From horses, to motocross, to parachuting. Enjoy a packed schedule of displays across the 12 Show Rings.

TO BOOK VISIT: www.suffolkshow.co.uk

LEESTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHERE: Kentwell Hall, High Street, Long Melford, Sudbury CO10 9BA

WHEN: Sat 27th - Sun 28th May www.leestock.org

RSPCA SPRING FAMILY FUN DAY

WHERE: RSPCA Martlesham Rehoming Centre, Mill Lane, Martlesham, IP12 4PD

WHEN: Sun 28th May

www.facebook.com/rspcasuffolkcentral

BURY ST EDMUNDS SPRING FAYRE

WHERE: Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

WHEN: Sun 28th - Mon 29th May www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk

MIDDY IN THE 1940'S

WHERE: Mid Suffolk Light Railway, Brockford Station, Wetheringsett, Stowmarket, IP14 5PW

WHEN: Sun 28th - Mon 29th May

www.mslr.org.uk

SPECTACULAR SCIENCE SHOW

WHERE: Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR

WHEN: Tue 30th May

www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk

FRAMLINGHAM CASTLE & KIDS RULE!

WHERE: Framlingham Castle, IP13 9BP

WHEN: Tue 30th May - Sun 4th June 2023

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whatson/framlingham-castle-kids-rule/

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with information about local events: www.facebook.com/FamiliesSuffolkMag

If you have an event in July or August that you would like us to include in the next issue please email: editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk.

WHERE’S WOOLLY CORONATION TRAIL

WHERE: Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, IP4 2BE

WHEN: Available until Sun 4th June

www.ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk

GET WILD IN THE STOUR VALLEY

WHERE: Friars Meadow, Sudbury, CO10 2SS

WHEN: Friday 2nd June

www.riverstourtrust.org/events/ wild-in-the-stour-valley/

NEARLY FESTIVAL

WHERE: Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1XL

WHEN: Sat 10th - Sun 11th June www.nearlyfestival.com/bury/

SUFFOLK DAY

WHEN: Wed 21st June

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.suffolkday.co.uk

DRAGON FEST 2023

WHERE: West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, IP28 6HG

WHEN: Sat 24th - Sun 25th June www.weststow.org

'FRIENDS OF KERSEY' DOG SHOW

WHERE: Kersey Playing Field, IP7 6EG

WHEN: Sun 25th June

E: friendsofkerseyschool@gmail.com

SUFFOLK’S GREEN STORY: REFLECT I LEARN I ACT

Closing on 18 June 2023 Free entry

Our free exhibition Suffolk’s Green Story: Reflect I Learn I Act explores several themes ranging from the natural environment to agricultural change, through to the impact of our domestic homes and what we can all do to slow down climate change and choose greener ways of living.

The exhibition will feature fascinating original archive material from our collection in addition to special loans from Britten Pears Arts and the Met Office.

Don’t miss this thought provoking and engaging exhibition.

www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/whatson

FREE CINEMA CLUB - WALL-E

The Hold, Ipswich. Rated ‘U’. Sun 21 May, 1.30pm - 3.30pm.

LET’S GET CRAFTY - ENVIRONMENT

Suffolk Archives, Bury St Edmunds. Craft session. £2 per child. Wed 31 May, 10.30am - 12.30pm.

FAMILY HISTORY FOR BEGINNERS

Suffolk Archives, Lowestoft. Free workshop. Thurs 18 May, 11am - 12pm.

Image (c) Felixstowe Times

Exhibition images

© Simon Lee Photography

Let off some Steam at The Long Shop Museum

STEAM is at the heart of The Long Shop Museum’s family experience!

The Long Shop Museum is housed in part of the factory that powered Richard Garrett & Sons to engineering greatness. No prizes, then, for guessing that Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths form the core of the museum’s offering to families. Over the decades Garrett’s made and used a great variety of products, which the museum has many examples of. In its galleries you will find steam engines, mechanical toys, moulded plastics, trolleybuses, farm tools, aircraft, and family portraits; clocks, castings, design drawings, radios, munitions, and fire engines!

Lately, video and audio interpretation has been introduced around the museum, with animated videos explaining how many of the machines on display work, and giving voice to many of the characters associated with Leiston and the Garrett works. There is a range of activities and interactive trails aimed at families with children from pre-school age to sixteen. As you make your way around the galleries, you’ll discover how 19th century machines were designed and built, how the activities of the Garrett family changed the world throughout the Victorian era and the early twentieth century, and how invention and industry links the past with the present and the future. When you need a break from exploring, the museum has a safe, secure garden area where families can play and picnic together, and the Community Hub includes a children’s play space, family games & puzzles, books, and refreshments. Oh, and your pup is welcome, too!

The Parent’s Guide to...

TikTok is the most downloaded social media app in the world and is particularly popular with children. In fact, users ages 10 to 19 made up twenty five percent of TikTok’s users in 2021, the largest share of all age groups.

Whilst the app is a great platform to use fun filters that change your appearance, it’s important to consider your child’s data security and safety when using the app. Families asked cyber security experts at VPNOverview.com for their input and advice. TikTok’s privacy policy was studied to reveal what types of data they collect from ‘younger users,’ ages 12 and below.

What is the ‘Younger Users’ version of TikTok?

For children under 13, TikTok has created a ‘younger users’ version of the app to comply with Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) that limits what data the app can collect from them. It is not a redesign for kids, but rather an absence of features from the regular version. Less data is collected from TikTok’s younger users compared to users ages 13 and over. Younger users also cannot publicly share personal information, including videos or profile details.

Still, the app collects a significant amount of information regardless. According to TikTok’s privacy policy, it collects information such as: name, birth date, username, password, the IP address of your child’s device, browser details and location.

It is important to note that children can set up a regular TikTok account simply by changing their birth date. If this is the case, your child could be at risk of much more data being collected.

WHAT DATA DOES TIKTOK YOUNGER USERS COLLECT?

According to TikTok’s privacy policy, it collects the following data about user activity with its ‘Younger Users’ version and shares this data with third parties, like business partners, service providers and advertisers, among others.

Setting up a safe TikTok account

Sign up with a unique username or email. It’s not recommended to sign up using another app, like Instagram or Google. The most secure option is to use a username or email that doesn’t relate to your child’s identity in any way (no real names). It’s a good idea to create an email just for social media in case the account gets hacked, which is known to happen on other social media like Facebook.

Have your child choose interests or skip this option.

The app will ask if it can send notifications.

The app will ask you if it can sync device contacts. Say ‘no’ to this because it gives TikTok access to details about your device and contacts.

Set a profile picture. Encourage your child to use an avatar instead of a selfie or other photograph, since this picture will be visible to everyone, whether their account is public or private.

Set up the privacy security settings. To find these settings, go to the homepage and find the Profile icon in the bottom right corner. Next, click on the three lines at the top right corner and click on ‘Privacy.’ From that menu, you’ll be able to change several security settings. Make sure your child has a private account by clicking the slider until it turns green, this will make sure that only approved users can follow their account and watch videos.

Safety

A large part of keeping children ages 13+ safe on the standard TikTok app is about reducing contact with strangers or harmful content. These features hold the key to how your child interacts with others on the platform.

Downloads: If the account is set to private, this is automatically turned off and others cannot download your child’s videos. Users under 16 cannot have their videos downloaded.

Comments: You can choose who can comment on videos, approve comments before they become visible and filter out offensive words. 13 to 15-year-olds can only choose from ‘Friends’ or ‘No one’ for the comment setting.

Following List, Duet, Stitch: You choose who can see your Following List, Duet videos (videos that show your content side-by-side with another user’s), Stitch videos (adding your video to someone else’s) and your liked videos. You can set your privacy settings to ‘Friends,’ ‘Followers,’ or ‘Only Me.’ No one can Duet or Stitch with a video created by a user younger than 16.

Direct Messages: You choose who can send your teen direct messages from either ‘Friends’ or ‘No one.’ Depending on your teen’s age, direct messages may not be available.

Outdoor Fun

DAYS OUT DIRECTORY

Animal encounters

Africa Alive

Whites Lane, Kessingland, Lowestoft, NR33 7TF www.zsea.org

Camel Park Oasis

Orchard Farm, Linstead, Halesworth, IP19 0DT www.oasiscamelpark.co.uk

Hilly Ridge Alpacas

Clay Hill Farm, Clay Hill Lane, Wattisham, IP7 7JS www.hillyridgealpacas.co.uk

Alton Water

Stutton, Holbrook, Tattingstone IP9 2RY

www.anglianwaterparks.co.uk/ alton-water

Beach Street

Micklegate Road, Felixstowe IP11 2GN www.beachstreetfelixstowe.co.uk

Congo Rapids Adventure Golf

Ufford Park Hotel, Yarmouth Road, Melton, IP12 1QW www.uffordpark.co.uk

Go Ape | High Lodge

High Lodge Forest Centre, Downham Brandon, IP27 0AF

www.goape.co.uk | www. forestryengland.uk/high-lodge

Phoenix Cycleworks

Bury Road, Kentford, CB8 7PZ www.phoenixcycleworks.co.uk

Fun on the

Pleasurewood Hills

Leisure Way, Lowestoft, NR32 4TZ

www.pleasurewoodhills.com

Southwold Maize Maze Old Hall Southwold, Reydon, Southwold, IP18 6SG

www.southwoldmaizemaze.co.uk

Stonham Barns Park Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT

www.stonhambarns.co.uk

Suffolk Leisure Park

Bourne Hill, Wherstead, Ipswich, IP2 8NQ

www.suffolkleisurepark.co.uk

The Playground

Haysborder Road, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 5BE

www.theplaygrounduk.com

Wild Tracks Outdoor Activity Park

Chippenham Road, Kennett, Newmarket, CB8 7QJ

www.wildtracksltd.co.uk

Baylham House Farm

Mill Lane, Baylham, IP6 8LG

www.baylham-house-farm.co.uk

Field of Dreams Farm

Beyton Road, Thurston, IP31 3RA

www.fieldofdreamsfarm.co.uk

Hollow Trees Farm

Semer, Nr Hadleigh, IP7 6HX

www.hollowtrees.co.uk

Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park

Pannington Hall Lane, Ipswich, IP9 2AR

www.jimmysfarm.com

Lavenham Falconry

The Owl Barn, Bridge Farm Barns, Monks Eleigh, www.lavenhamfalconry.co.uk

Suffolk Punch Trust

Woodbridge Walk, Hollesely, IP12 3LA

www.thesuffolkpunchtrust.co.uk

Suffolk Owl Santuary

Stonham Barns Park, Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT

www.owl-help.org.uk

Explore & Learn

Framlingham Castle

Framlingham, IP13 9BP

Leiston Abbey

Leiston, IP16 4TD

Orford Castle

Orford, IP12 2ND

Saxtead Green Post Mill

Saxtead Green, IP13 9QQ

www.english-heritage.org.uk

Ickworth House & Gardens

Bury St Edmunds, IP29 5QE

Lavenham Guildhall

Lavenham, CO10 9QZ

Melford Hall

Long Melford, CO10 9AA

Pin Mill

Chelmondiston, IP9 1JJ

Sutton Hoo

Woodbridge, IP12 3DJ

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

The Hold (Ipswich Branch) 131 Fore Street, Ipswich, IP4 1LN

New Shire Hall (Bury St Edmunds Branch) 77 Raingate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2AR

Lowestoft Library (Lowestoft Branch) Clapham Road South, Lowestoft, NR32 1DR

www.suffolkarchives.co.uk

It's Rocket Science

Unit 14, Hill View Business Park, Claydon, Ipswich IP6 0AJ

www.itsrocketscience.co.uk

Kentwell Hall

Long Melford, CO10 9BA

www.kentwell.co.uk

St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LS

www.stedscathedral.org

Easton Farm Park

Pound Corner, Easton, IP13 0EQ

www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk

Wilderley

Church Farm, Beccles, NR34 8HJ

www.wilderley.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUFFOLK MUSEUMS VISIT: WWW.suffolkmuseums.org

Photo Credit: Pleasurewood Hills

Indoor fun

Abbeygate Cinema

4 Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LZ www.abbeygatecinema.co.uk

Anglian Indoor Karting

Unit 12, Farthing Road Ind Estate, Ipswich, IP1 5AP www.angliakarting.com

Bury Bowl

The Autopark, Eastgate Street Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1YQ www.burybowl.co.uk

Clip 'n Climb

2 Berwick Road, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, IP3 9ST www.ipswich.clipnclimb.co.uk

CurveMotion (Roller Skating)

Lark Valley Business Park, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6LJ www.curvemotion.uk

Geek Retreat Ipswich

41A Upper Brook Street Ipswich, IP4 1DU www.geek-retreat.uk

Jump In Trampoline Park

Anglia Retail Park, Bury Road, Ipswich, IP1 5QP www.gojumpin.com

Lazer Tag (Play2Day)

11A Gloster Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3RJ www.play2day.biz/lazer-tag-3/

Planet Laser

Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3SP www.planetlaser.co.uk

Tenpin Ipswich

Gloster Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3RJ www.tenpin.co.uk

GET CREATIVE

Coffee Craft N Moore

78 High Street, Needham Market, IP6 8AW www.cmmoore36.wixsite. com/coffeecraftnmoore

Create by the Bridge Project Borehamgate Precinct, Sudbury, CO10 2EG www.thebridgeproject.co.uk

Glass & Craft

Kersey Mill, Hadleigh, IP7 6DP www.glassandcraft.co.uk

Swimming

Crown Pools

Crown Street, Ipswich, IP1 3JA

www.ipswichfit.co.uk/crown-pools

Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre

Bury Saint Edmunds, IP33 3TT

Hadleigh Pool & Leisure Centre

Hadleigh, IP7 5BH

Haverhill Leisure Centre

Haverhill, CB9 0ER

Kingfisher Leisure Centre Sudbury, CO10 2SU

www.acleisure.com

Play centres

CurveMotion (Soft Play)

Lark Valley Business Park, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6LJ

www.curvemotion.uk

Felixstowe Leisure Centre

Seafront, Felixstowe, IP11 2AE www.placesleisure.org

Jump In Soft Play

Anglia Retail Park, Bury Rd, Ipswich IP1 5QP www.gojumpin.com

Jumppin Jacks Funhouse

86 Gregory Road, Mildenhall, IP28 7DF

www.jumppinjacks.co.uk

Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre

Play World

Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1LH

www.everyoneactive.com/centre/ mid-suffolk-leisure-centre/

Deben Leisure Centre

Station Rd, Woodbridge, IP12 4AU

www.placesleisure.org

Felixstowe Leisure Centre

Seafront, Felixstowe, IP11 2AE

www.placesleisure.org

Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre

Gainsborough Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1LH

www.everyoneactive.com

Hatter Street Studio

22b Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1NE

www.hatterstreetstudio.co.uk

Pennikkity Pots

1 Crown & Anchor Mews, Tower Ramparts, Ipswich, IP1 3DJ www.pennikkitypots.co.uk

Partyman World

9 Cavendish Street, Ipswich, IP3 8AX

www.partymanworld.co.uk

Play2Day

11A Gloster Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3RJ

www.play2day.biz

Rainbow Fun

1 Addison Road, Sudbury, CO10 2YW

www.facebook.com/ rainbowfunsudbury/

Yaya's House

Birch Farm, Nr Hadleigh Ipswich, IP8 3NJ

www.yayashouse.co.uk

It's Show Time...

Ipswich Regent

3 St. Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE www.ipswichtheatres.co.uk

Spa Pavillion

Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe, IP11 2DX

www.spapavilion.uk

The Apex

Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD

www.theapex.co.uk

The Quay Theatre

Quay Lane, Sudbury, CO10 2AN

www.quaysudbury.com

Theatre Royal Westgate Street, Bury St

Edmunds, IP33 1QR

www.theatreroyal.org

The New Wolsey Theatre

Civic Drive, Ipswich, IP1 2AS

www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUFFOLK LIBRARIES VISIT: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk

Piano lessons for children now available in Acton

Sarah Riddick and her family moved to Suffolk in January this year. Now living in Acton (near Sudbury) Sarah offers KeyNotes Music Classes to children from just four years old. Sarah tells us more about herself and her music classes.

I am a piano and music theory teacher based in Acton (nr Sudbury) having recently moved to the area earlier this year. I have almost 18 years experience of teaching the piano to students aged 3 1/2 to adults of all levels and abilities. I first started learning to play the piano myself aged 6 in a very traditional one to one environment and wasn’t able to be creative, or to play music that I actually enjoyed. I never knew what improvising was and my first teacher wouldn’t play duets or encourage me to compose and so my first lessons felt a little dull which is why I wanted to teach in a different way, and to really encourage my students to have a lifelong love of the piano. When I found KeyNotes Music, I believed this was the best way for beginners to embark on their musical journey. I now offer small group classes using the Keynotes Music curriculum which is an innovative, creative and positive introduction for beginners wanting to take up the piano without the intensity of a one to one lesson. In our groups students are also able to start at a younger age, they learn through play, improvise, compose, play rhythm games and theory games and it develops positive peer motivation being in a group environment where they make friends along the way.

About the Classes

There are between 3-5 students in each class and we have two digital pianos and three keyboards. For the students aged 6+ we also use headphones for a short practice time during the lesson. Each lesson begins with a listening or rhythm activity, we listen to music of different genres, we discuss, and move to the music. I feel it really benefits children to start listening to all types of music through history at a young age.

During each lesson the students will learn a new song, we gather round the piano where I demonstrate the song first, we sing the words, the notes and finger numbers and the children then play for each other and at the end we perform as an ensemble to backing tracks.

Theory and a range of activities away from the piano are provided in each lesson to reinforce the concepts we are learning in that particular lesson.

The children are not simply sat on the piano bench for the duration of the lesson and there are lots of changes of activities so they will never get bored!

Little KeyNotes & Storytellers Classes

The lessons for ages 4-5 are called Little Keynotes and are 30 minutes long and cost £44 a month. This includes all the books and materials used in the lessons.

The lessons for ages 6+ are called Storytellers as the books are based around stories and fairy tales and are 45 minutes long and costs £64 a month, again including the books and materials.

With the Keynotes curriculum parents are constantly supported with free access to the Keynotes website where they can watch videos of the songs the students are learning and weekly parent practice sheets are sent home with activities and ideas on what to do at home in between lessons plus I keep in touch with my parents with regular updates. Owning a piano or keyboard at the beginning is not essential, just a willingness to learn! I am also happy to suggest a good starter keyboard or suitable piano if space and finances are available.

Book a three week trial

I offer a three week trial for students to try the lessons before signing up to weekly lessons and they get the third lesson for free so it's just £22 for Little Keynotes and £32 for Storytellers class. I am also happy to have a meet and greet before starting the classes with students and parents. (Please note payment is made up front before the first lesson and the final lesson is free).

The seasons of our lives

By Sophia Howard

Whether we are in tune to it or not, much of our lives are governed by the seasons; our wardrobes, our diets and our social life included. Patterns of seasonality could also be applied to the ‘seasons of our lives’: Spring mirroring childhood with new growth, Summer reflecting the prime of early adulthood, the shifting sunlight hours of Autumn likened to the Perimenopause and Winter being the Menopause.

The good news however, is that Post-Menopause is our Second Spring. Though, as is true for the varying weather, women’s menopause can also be varied - with every woman's journey being different. Some years there's an easy winter and spring comes early, other years, a long winter and late spring.

This was something reflected upon in a menopause yoga workshop I ran yesterday. Every woman, in various stages of their menopause had different experiences, from their ages (ranging between late 30's to early 60's) to their symptoms (a couple of minor symptoms to some life changing ones).

Confusion however was a point of commonality. What symptoms are due to Menopause? Could these be due to

aging, stress or medical histories? When to get help? Where to get this help from? What form might this take? The answer to these often isn’t straightforward or simple.

Support too can vary. This might include talking to friends/ family, finding online menopause groups, attending menopause workshops or booking an appointment with your Practice Nurse/GP to enquire about HRT, which many find effective in mitigating the ‘rain’ of the Menopause. Just like choosing winter boots over sandals in Winter, getting the appropriate support for where you are now instead of continuing to process things in ‘summer mode’ when your life season is mid-winter, is going to help.

So whatever the weather or season, take care of yourself and seek support when you need it.

The benefits of Yoga during the Menopause

Yoga is like dropping anchor in a storm, it can help us reduce stress, which in turn can reduce the severity of menopause symptoms or at least allow us to navigate them with more ease. Combine yoga and spending time with like minded women on a seasonal weekend retreat and it might just help fill your sails and take you into your Second Spring with a little more direction and energy.

Menopause Yoga

Menopause Yoga is a therapeutic approach to help manage symptoms and share experiences in a supportive space, and ease stress in the mind and body

Your local accredited teachers:

Sudbury

Sophia Howard www paperkiteyoga co uk paperkiteyoga@gmail com

Ipswich

Kate Wyman

www.yoga-by-kate.com

katewy71@gmail.com

Pollution causes asthma in children and stunts lung growth

Asthma

Asthma is a common, long-term condition which affects the airways in the lungs.

Asthma causes the airways to become tight, which makes it harder to breathe. Simple treatments can help to keep asthma well controlled in most children. The severity of asthma symptoms varies between children, from very mild to severe.

Triggers for asthma include colds and flu, pollen, exercise, house dust, mites, pets like cats and dogs, stress, cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes from vehicles.

A good way to avoid excess exhaust fumes from vehicles is to always switch your engine off when parked.

Keeping a personal log and action plan is important in proactively managing asthma. It is also important to make sure children have enough medications.

The Healthy Suffolk website has more information about asthma in children including signs and symptoms, triggers, and treatment and management, as well as other common childhood illnesses. Visit ‘Take asthma seriously’ and ‘Health and Wellbeing in the First Few Years’, at: www.HealthySuffolk.org.uk

Have you heard about Asthma Friendly Schools?

To prevent avoidable harm to children with asthma, all schools in Suffolk are being encouraged to join the Asthma Friendly Schools initiative.

An Asthma Friendly School:

1. Has an asthma policy which is regularly reviewed and refreshed.

2. Has an up-to-date register of children with asthma to support the pupils throughout the school year.

3. Has a copy of their pupils’ Asthma Annual Plan to effectively support them.

4. Has access to an emergency asthma kit and can evidence that it is regularly checked and has well trained staff who can use them during emergency.

5. Trains all its staff to be able to support asthmatic children well at school.

6. Has a named Asthma Champion who can provide support. Ask your school about what support they have in place for children with asthma.

Be Well, Feel Well: A healthier Suffolk in 2023 is a partnership between Suffolk Mind, Public Health & Communities and a range of community groups teaming up to focus on ways for you to be well.

The campaign for 2023 which focuses on 12 ‘emotional needs’ – one for each month - to bring you practical tips, people’s stories and support to keep you well.

MAY: Achievement

We all need to feel that we are achieving things and growing. These don’t have to be huge achievements either. Achievements can be small tasks, like cooking a meal for ourselves, which give us the sense that we are in control of our lives and managing. Achievement is good for our self-esteem, especially if we are doing something we are good at and learning to get better.

JUNE: Sleep

We all need the right amount of sleep in a 24-hour period, about eight hours for the average adult and less as we get older. What can we do to get better sleep?

Use this QR code to find out more about how achievement as well as getting a good night’s sleep can support our wellbeing.

COERCIVE CONTROL IN RELATIONSHIP BREAK-UPS –How the law is changing to provide better recognition and protection

Bates Wells & Braithwaite partner Scott Emsden, a specialist in family law issues, explores where we

are in terms of the law and coercive control in abusive relationships.

Itis hard to believe but coercive control was only made illegal in England and Wales in 2015, and even now there is a surprisingly low level of conviction rates for the crime. Despite storylines on coercive behaviour in popular dramas such as The Archers and Eastenders, and real-life reporting in the media, this form of abuse has only relatively recently, been highlighted and understood. This is largely down to the fact that “coercion” is all about emotional impact, rather than the often more difficult to hide, physical abuse. Coercive

It is often the victims themselves who are the last to recognise their relationship as abusive. The controller may deliberately control finances, or isolate the abused from friends, family and other support networks so they simply don’t have the conversations with people they trust to enable them to recognise that the relationship is far from right and it is time to leave.

RED FLAGS – Do you recognise any of the following in your partner’s behaviour?

• Isolating you from family and friends – destroying your support group.

• Constant negative criticism – lowering, even destroying, your self-esteem.

• Economic abuse – managing joint bank accounts and controlling your access to money or resources.

• Telling you what to do – controlling what you eat, wear etc and ensuring that you live by their rules.

• Making jealous accusations – this is not about love but ownership.

• Parental alienation – turning your children against you.

• Monitoring and tracking your activity – stopping you doing things independently of them so that your world becomes small and reliant on them.

• Gaslighting – making you second guess yourself, confusing you and making you feel even a little crazy.

• Regulating the sexual relationship – not recognising the need for consent.

Making threats of violence or even blackmail in terms of exposing secrets shared in confidence.

There has been some recent progress, at least in terms of the law, on how domestic abusers are to be treated. In February, the Government announced proposals which go further than ever before in protecting women and girls from harassment, aggression and violence, and which focus on stopping domestic abuse before it takes place. For the first time, controlling or coercive behaviour will be put on a par with physical violence, which will mean offenders sentenced to a year or more imprisonment or a suspended sentence will automatically be actively managed by the police, prison and probation services under multi-agency public protection arrangements. In addition, S.68 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 came into force in April amending and widening the definition of ‘personal connection’ so that you no longer need to have been cohabiting when controlling or coercive behaviour occurs. This means the offence can take place post-separation or by a family member who does not live with the victim. Coercive control can be reported to the police and it will be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service (‘CPS’) to decide if the abuser will be prosecuted. Protection from the Family Court can also be sought in the form of injunctions. And of course, it does not need to be the extremes of feeling endangered for this style of behaviour to be the trigger for you to get out of the relationship and, in the case of a marriage or civil partnership, seeking a divorce.

Progress is being made in terms of the law, but coercive control remains a complex legal issue both in criminal and family law. However, you do not need to deal with this abuse alone and we are here for you if you need our legal advice.

Rethinking school attendance

By Catherine Lynch

During the pandemic, school absence was understandably high with some parents and children anxious about going to school and others absent with Covid 19. However, throughout the past year, problems with school attendance remain ongoing.

Historically, good attendance has been extremely important to schools – and to their Ofsted rating. Attendance is important in a child's overall attainment and achievement. However, a lot has changed since the postwar schooling system. Parents may remember the days of attendance awards being given out to those who managed an impressive one hundred percent attendance across the school year. Tough for those whose attendance suffered because of circumstances out of their control. Not to mention children who had a chronic illness or disability and required absences for doctor and hospital appointments. These children would have never had the chance at receiving a one hundred percent attendance award.

These problems are still very much part of school life but now children's mental health is very much at the forefront of non-attendance at school. In a survey conducted in summer term 2021, the most common reasons reported by the DfE for absence were that:

• pupils were anxious;

• pupils or parents had specific health needs, including those identified at that time as clinically vulnerable or extremely clinically vulnerable;

• pupils had disengaged from education during the pandemic.

The DfE reported that children's anxieties are often unrelated to school, relating instead to factors such as family members being ill, seeing parents under more stress than usual, domestic violence and financial hardship.

Many employees are entitled to time off due to their mental health but a child needing time off from school because they are suffering from anxiety isn't always met with the same level of understanding as a physical ailment. To add to the pressure felt by families, if a child is off for a prolonged period of unauthorised time, this can result in a fine.

The School attendance: Schools Bill Factsheet (https:// bit.ly/schoolattend) published by the government last year addresses problems regarding attendance, with a focus on school being the 'best place for children's attainment and wellbeing.' However, it could be argued that the guidance falls short of considering individual circumstances and applies pressure to parents to make sure children, no matter how they are feeling, are attending school.

What is good attendance?

Of course, children’s attendance has direct implications for parents and the school's relationship with a child’s family but there is some argument to say that parents are, in fact, not aware of what makes good attendance.

According to the DfE report: ‘attendance data is misunderstood by parents – while ninety percent may be good as a mark in a test, in attendance terms it means one day a fortnight being missed.’

This may come as a shock to some, as the majority would assume ninety percent sounds like a good amount of time spent in school. The DfE describes the hard line some schools are taking with parents:

‘Leaders who are successful in improving attendance and maintaining high levels of attendance over time have expectations that are high for all pupils. They make it clear to parents that parents are responsible for ensuring that their children attend school. Expectations are also communicated as soon as the child joins the school.’

But can good attendance allow children to look after their mental health? Maybe it’s time to rethink what constitutes good attendance.

Catherine is a former UK primary school teacher and now writes for PlanBee (www.planbee.com).

Go to school or stay at home?

Parents are encouraged by schools to keep infectious children, suffering from Covid, flu, chicken pox or diarrhoea and vomiting at home. But with such a focus on good attendance, some parents may feel pressure to send children back to school before they are fully recovered.

Additionally, there is a perception that some parents take advantage of the system, taking children out of school for regular holidays or days out here and there. This is where fines play a part in encouraging parents to keep their children in school.

There is, however, a counter argument to this. Taking a family on holiday during the school holidays is expensive and potentially beyond the reach of some families. According to one report by Inews, parents can pay up to sixty three percent more to go abroad in August in comparison to September, when children are back in school.

Yet parents and children work hard and holidays are important in providing the chance to spend relaxed, quality time together away from the usual responsibilities of life.

THE head Meet

In this issue we talk to Amanda Childs, Head of Prep School at St Joseph’s College An independent day and boarding school for children aged 2-18 years. The Prep School was rated as "excellent" for pupil attainment, quality of teaching, curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

What advice would you give to parents choosing a school? Do your homework, find a school that matches your values and expectations; they will not change theirs just for you. Meet the children, meet the Head and watch for the relationships between the staff and the children. Ask lots and lots of questions and most importantly, find a school that best suits your child. The number one priority is for your child to be happy

What attracted you to St Joseph’s College? The school’s ambition and the breadth of opportunities it provides within and beyond the classroom, underpinned by excellent pastoral care; these are all elements of educating children which I value highly. I was delighted by the thoroughly warm welcome I was given by all I met when I visited St Jo’s, as well as the impressive engagement of the children. It was really lovely to see their self-confidence and pride for their school, a sentiment I hold dear.

What was it about the school that made you want to apply for the position at St Joseph’s College? Firstly, I wanted to come back to Suffolk.

I love the county with its beautiful countryside, coast and big skies. I grew up in Colchester and so this area of the country is home to me. When I arrived back, it was like having a warm blanket put around me. Secondly, I wanted to find a school which matched my values. I try to live by my values every day. St Jo’s could be described as ‘St Joy’s’, the people are incredibly friendly and the environment is supportive to everyone in it; its creativity helping the children to reach their potential. What more could you ask for?

Who inspired you to teach?

I had an amazing teacher at Primary School called Gina James, she was kind and inspired me to be my best self. To become a headteacher though, would be Robert Emuss, he was the headteacher of the first school I worked at. He was understanding and kind, whilst expecting high standards, and most importantly, the children always came first. He happened to come to Ipswich Prep whilst I was working there, as one fact I didn’t know about him was that he was an Old Ipswichian! He beamed at me with a huge hug and said ‘I always knew you would become a Head!’.

What do you think are the key skills that children should be mastering at the start of their school journey?

To love learning and to know what makes a great learner and how they can use that knowledge to further their own learning. Social skills and positive interaction, and how to appreciate something in everyone can help them go a long way in life.

Are you a cat or a dog person? I had cats growing up, and up until recently, I would have definitely said ‘cat’. I now have a golden retriever called Lola who is also a trained school wellbeing dog. I would not say that I have swung completely to the ‘dog’ side but I adore Lola.