Families Cambridgeshire May-June 2015

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Cambridgeshire MAY / JUNE 2015 ISSUE #30

WIN A TRIP TO DISNEYLAND PARIS! WITH THE YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION SEE PAGE 4

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS GUIDE • CHOOSING CHILDCARE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

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St Faith’s, an outstanding all-round, education for girls and boys (4–13)

www.stfaiths.co.uk FOR MORE FILMS AND SHOWTIMES PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE

Box Office: 01945 588808 www.theluxecinema.com The Luxe offers a lounge area for pre and post-film drinks and nibbles and a waitress service in the auditorium whilst relaxing in the comfort of a two seater sofa or an armchair!

SPECIAL OFFER! HALF PRICE CHILDREN’S TICKETS WHEN BOOKING ANY KID’S FILM WITH THIS ADVERT Prices from £18 for a Family Ticket, Children (16 and under) £5, Adults £6 off-peak Alexandra Road | Wisbech | PE13 1HQ

Contents & Competitions The sights, scents and sounds of Mother Nature are in full swing right now! There is no excuse not to get outside in the fresh air and do something with the children – even if it’s just a walk with the dog after school.

This issue is packed full of ideas to get everyone outdoors in May and June, including the return of the annual Midsummer Fair in Cambridge. This ancient fair has been visiting the city’s Midsummer Common for over 800 years, making it one of the country’s oldest travelling fun fairs! Another way to get up close and personal with the

countryside this spring is to visit one of the many farms across the country who will be opening their gates to welcome the public for the 10th Open Farm Sunday which is an annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), that offers a great way for children to find out more about where their food comes from and talk to the farmers who produce it.

To find out which farms in your area are taking part visit www.farmsunday.org.

What’s in this issue?

@familiescambs facebook.com/ CambridgeshireFamilies

DON’T MISS A COPY! Receive Families Cambridgeshire by post for just £9.30 for 6 issues (1 year) or

Last month’s winner was Laura Arrowsmith, March, Cambridgeshire

£18 for 12 issues (2 years). Call or email editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk for a subscription form.

WIN

A FAMILY TICKET TO BEN & HOLLY’S LITTLE KINGDOM! SATURDAY 27 JUNE 4PM AT CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE…

H WORT ! £57

The popular children’s show returns!

From the makers of Peppa Pig comes this stage version of the BAFTA award-winning television animation.

Packed full of games, songs and laughter, take an enchanting journey through the Magical Kingdom. With actors, masks and colourful costumes, this beautiful story of elves, princesses and childhood innocence will delight all the family.

To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket worth £57 visit www.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk and answer the competition question online…

Families Cambridgeshire is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West.

All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license..

We take every care preparing the magazine, but the publishers and distributers cant be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any correspondences.

4 News & Views 17,000 copies of Families Cambridgeshire available through schools, nurseries, hospitals, clubs and classes, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let us know. Cover image: ©National Trust Images

Dear Reader,

6 What’s On Great days out and events to keep you and your family occupied this May half term.

10 Why invest in a prep school?

Chris Moxon, Headmaster of Magdalene House Prep School, gives his reasons.

11 A parent’s guide to Independent Schools We all want to give our children the best start in their educational life. Hanah Hunter tells us why we should choose an independent school.

13 Childcare Quiz: What’s best for me?

Joanna Moorhead guides you through the questions you need to ask yourself when deciding what childcare is going to be best for you.

15 Family Meal Times Top tips on how you don’t need to cook ‘Children’s meals’.

EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336 editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk DESIGN: David Slade davidslade1@me.com

As a busy mum it’s important to make time for yourself… Natural style and simple elegance designed for you.

019 4 5 5 8 427 2 | t e a m @ t o p t o t o e l t d . c o. u k | 27 H i l l S t r e e t , W i s b e c h , C a m b r i d g e s h i r e , P E13 1B A M AY / J U N E 2015

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News & views

The National Young Writers’ Awards Return!

Miranda Hopkins and Bronwen Angel.

Waste not want not

OurMarketplace launches to help schools, clubs and charities raise money from unwanted uniforms and equipment. A new online noticeboard where schools, clubs, charities and community groups can trade uniforms, instruments and equipment has been launched by two Cambridge mothers, Miranda Hopkins and Bronwen Angel. The website allows schools and clubs to set up customised landing pages, where supporters can see all the items currently listed for sale that are linked to that organisation, helping local buyers and sellers connect to exchange kit for the schools and activities they support.

Schools listed so far include Sir John Gleed School, Buckden CE Primary, Kimbolton School, and Hinchingbrooke School.

Bronwen, who is organising an event this June set to raise £20,000 for the Cambridgeshire Red Cross, explains “Fundraising is integral to our concept.

We thought schools and clubs should see some benefit from their kits and uniforms being traded online. We set up the OurMarketplace registered charity so users can add Gift Aided donations to their purchases, driving funds to their chosen good causes.”

The site is already supporting national and local charities, including the British Red Cross, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) and the Neuroblastoma Society. Visit ourmarketplace.co.uk to find out more about how the website can support your child’s organisation.

The National Young Writers’ Awards return for an electrifying, time-defying seventh year!

Back by popular demand, children from all over the country will compete in one of the biggest writing contests of the year – taking on the challenge of putting pen to paper and writing a 500 word story to theme of ‘Strange Events & Peculiar Happenings’.

THE Since launching seven years ago, tens of ENTER ION IT T E thousands of children have battled it out to COMP ERE! H be crowned National Young Writer of the Year where they are awarded the coveted prize of a trip to Disneyland Paris for their whole family – and £500 worth of books for their school!

The contest is organised by English and maths tuition provider, Explore Learning, which has 111 centres located across the country.

This year’s theme of ‘Strange Events & Starting them early on Peculiar Happenings’ is anticipated to attract their creative path… more entries than ever before as children are for comedy and uses that comedic flair in his encouraged to let their imaginations go wild and writing with great success, with The World of tell stories of the most peculiar happening or Norm being a best-selling, household favourite strange events they can think of! Previous judges with children, teachers and parents up and down of the competition have so far included some the country. of the UK’s most prolific authors, like Cressida Children aged five to 14 can enter for free by Cowell, Liz Pichon, Andy Cope and Alan Durant submitting a 500 word story via and this year’s judge is none other than author www.explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters or of the hugely popular The World of Norm series popping into your local Explore Learning centre. of books, Jonathan Meres. A former standThe closing date is Friday 5th June. up comedian, he has won a Time Out award

National Theatre comes to the classroom This September, three acclaimed National Theatre productions will be available on demand in schools. Danny Boyle’s production of Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, and Nicholas Hytner’s productions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet with Rory Kinnear, and Othello with Adrian Lester, will be free to stream on demand in every secondary school classroom in the UK. Each play is recorded in front of a live theatre audience by National Theatre Live, and comprehensive learning resources will support each play. ‘This new initiative underlines the National Theatre’s passionate commitment to supporting teachers and schools across the UK,’ said Alice King-Farlow, Director of Learning at the NT. ‘In giving young people access to inspirational theatre, we aim to help schools to keep the arts as a vital part of the curriculum.’ Find out more at nationaltheatre.org.uk/schools

New development checks for kids Parents are to get a complete picture of their child’s development at the age of two, as part of new reforms to help families. With over £2million pledged to support joined-up checks on education and health development, parents will now have a better picture of their child’s progress at this early stage. ‘No parent should be left in the dark about their child’s development,’ said Childcare Minister Sam Gyimah. ‘There should be an accessible check for all at the age of two, which is a pressure point where issues such as speech delay and behavioural problems

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begin to appear. Today’s announcement will mean more families can get valuable information in a more convenient way.’ Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter added, ‘We know it’s important to check children’s health and development when they are two, so that if extra support is needed it can be identified early. Integrated reviews and the huge increase in health visitors will lead to better outcomes for children and families.’ The Integrated Review, which will be implemented nationally from September 2015, will be available to children between 24 and 30 months old.

News & views

Share-A-Story This May welcomes the annual National ShareA-Story Month, a rousing celebration of the power of storytelling and story sharing. Run by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, it is a wonderful opportunity to bring children and stories together. There are a whole host of events running across the country, from storytelling workshops to craft activities and puppet shows, and this year the theme for National Share-A-Story Month is Dragons! Find out about the culture of Chinese, Welsh and Viking dragons in stories and poems, explore myths and legends about dragons, and even discover what a dragon might like for tea. Take a look at the website for loads of ideas, activity packs, posters and Dragon competition prizes. www.fcbg.org.uk/national-share-a-story-month

s Familie

VES!

LO Ed’s Easy Diner screeches into Grand Arcade Cambridge!

Bringing great food, retro fun and a great soundtrack to Grand Arcade, Ed’s Easy Diner has arrived in the heart of Cambridge.

Whether you’re looking for a pre or postshopping pit-stop, treating the kids at the weekend or just hankering for a hot dog, you simply must rock into Cambridge’s destination Diner. To celebrate the new arrival, anyone who signs up to the Ed’s Club at www.edseasydiner.com will receive a free burger!

Located opposite Topshop on the upper floor of the shopping centre, Ed’s allAmerican menu will serve the best US diner classics every single day for breakfast, lunch and dinner (plus everything in-between)!

Combat tantrums and tears with Ed’s Junior Bites menu featuring burgers, childsized puppy dogs and mini moo milkshakes There is even a Gluten Free menu – Ed’s is the first burger chain to be accredited

by Coeliac UK, the national charity for people with coeliac disease and the new menu offers a mega 85% of the dishes from the non-GF menu. For more details and exclusive competitions and promotions please check twitter @eds_easy_diner, facebook.com/edseasydiner.

01223 311319 www.edseasydiner.com

Dress up and dance Macmillan Cancer Support is delighted to announce that fundraising event Dress Up and Dance will be returning to schools, nurseries and uniform groups across the UK this summer on Friday 19th June 2015.

The fundraising event encourages schools and uniform groups to sign up and ask their students to get dressed up and have a dance, in exchange for making a suggested donation of £2 to Macmillan. This year’s special theme is ‘Legends’ and those taking part are encouraged to go to school channelling their favourite inner champions - be it a pop icon, a super hero, a sports personality or a film star! www.macmillan.org.uk/dressup

New Director of Music at St Faith’s is coming home!

James Gorick has joined St Faith’s to build on the excellent foundations laid by Mrs Lucy Bunce, former Director of Music, to ensure that each Fidelian is as inspired by the artform as he is.

Everyone has something to say about music. Even if it’s that “I don’t like music” that person has made a choice about it and is entitled to their opinion. James’ mission in life is to equip young people with musical opinions, without losing touch of the idea that music exists to enhance our lives. He would like to encourage a respect for the power that music can hold and its transcendent capability to express emotion where words often fail.

James says, “There remains a negative stigma surrounding the subject of class music, and yet music is a universal language.

It transcends age, religion, race, culture, gender and is capable of communicating with us individually or as an audience; be that a television audience of millions, in a concert hall, or in an informal school setting to an

Piano Man! James Gorick returns to St. Faith’s

audience of one. St Faith’s pupils will be given the opportunity to make a fun, engaging and stimulating start in music. They will develop musical independence at their own pace. But, ultimately Fidelians will enter into the spirit of an ever expanding art-form; one that comprises a creative, technological and cutting-edge multibillion dollar global industry”.

Before St Faith’s, James was Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral School, London. He then moved to Bilton Grange School, Rugby. He is a graduate of the Royal College of Music with a Masters Degree in conducting, having studied with Paul Spicer.

His music education began as a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.

James is married to Clare, a teacher and musician who grew up at St Faith’s. Her father, Mr Dyson, was Headmaster at St Faith’s from 1989 -2002.

Bespoke Cake Designs in Wisbech & Kings Lynn

01945 587111 joanna@simply-scrumptious-cakes.co.uk | www. simply-scrumptious-cakes.co.uk M AY / J U N E 2015

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Families Fun The Superworm Trail at High Lodge WHEN? May and June WHERE? High Lodge, Thetford Forest

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HOW MUCH? FREE The brand new Superworm trail is now open. You can buy your activity pack from High Lodge Information Point for £3.50, which contains an exclusive mini book, trail activity leaflet and stickers. www.forestry.gov.uk/ superworm

Tomorrow Land WHEN? May

Hanhams Wakeboarding WHEN? May and June, TuesdaySunday until 8pm.

WHERE? Stretham, Nr Ely

HOW MUCH? from £20 per session A BWSW accredited wakeboard facility north of Cambridge with an inspiring cable facility that will help you to progress your ability on a wakeboard or wakeskate, whether you are trying it for the first time or are a well seasoned rider. Ben and Terry Hanham are two of the first level 2 cable wakeboard coaches in the UK so you know you will be getting the best tuition possible. www.hannamswakehub.com

W hat’s On places Things to do, e h a d… to go, fun to b

WHERE? The Luxe Cinema, Wisbech HOW MUCH? Family tickets from £18 off peak Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boygenius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory. Take your advert with you to get half price childrens tickets. www.theluxecinema.co.uk 01945 588808

… for k ids o f a

ll ages!

01733 234193

Noah: A Musical Adventure

WHEN? 18th May 6.30pm WHERE? Key Theatre, Peterborough

HOW MUCH? from £12 This brand new, spectacular, fun-filled family musical is based on the story of Noah. Come on board and join Noah and his three sons as their incredible adventure unfolds, supported by amazing puppetry, dance and innovative scenery. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 01733 207 239

Room on the Broom WHEN? 5th-9th May

WHERE? Cambridge Arts Theatre

HOW MUCH? from £12.50 Tall Stories’ magical musical stage adaptation of Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler flies into town direct from a smashing WEST END season! www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 01223 503333

climbing and evening talks, just to name a few. To visit one of the events you can just turn up and enjoy on the day – be a wildlife detective and follow the trail at Ferry Meadows, join a bug hunt, help form the Dragonfinder mapestry or pick up tips to garden for wildlife. Visit the www. familiescambridgeshire.co.uk website for the festival programme. www.neneparktrust.org.uk

Love Your Zoo Week

WHEN? 25th May, 12pm-4pm

WHERE? Shepreth Wildlife Park

HOW MUCH? Starting from £10.90 per person

Raising awareness in a fun way about the world’s wildlife and conservation work taking place. www.sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk

Sing Along Frozen

WHEN? 26th May, 11am and 3 pm

WHERE? Key Theatre, Peterborough HOW MUCH? Family ticket £50 Disney’s FROZEN is the new Singa-long-a must-see! A full screening of Disney’s FROZEN with lyrics on screen to help you sing along with Anna and Elsa during the film. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 01733 207 239

The Tiger Who Came to Tea WHEN? 10th-13th May

HOW MUCH? from £12.50 The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger! www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 01223 503333

VE Day Anniversary Air Show

Lets Go Fly a Kite

WHEN? 17th May 10.30am-12pm WHERE? Ferry Meadows

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HOW MUCH? Free.

Suggested donation £2 Take a trip to Ferry Meadows where the rangers will help you to make a kite. Then go and fly it on the meadows. This event takes place indoors and is suitable for all abilities. Suitable for ages: 5 and above. Booking is essential. www.neneparktrust.org.uk

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M AY / J U N E 2015

Festival

WHEN? 23rd-30th May WHERE? Nene Park

HOW MUCH? FREE The festival programme includes bird walks, moth and bat evenings, meeting mammals, pond dipping, children’s craft activities, tree

WHEN? 23rd and 24th May 2-5pm

WHERE? IWM Duxford The Show pays tribute to the people who endured the Second World War. Accompanied by music, speeches and audio recordings of veterans’ memories, the flying display shows how the Second World War was won in the air. In a poignant spectacle commemorating the 70th anniversary of VE Day and its own 70th anniversary, B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B will lead a VE Day anniversary salute, accompanied by a host of must-see historic aircraft. You can revel in the VE Day street party atmosphere, sing along to wartime music and song performed on the Second World War stage and even experience the era when ‘Beauty was Duty’ through with 1940s hair and make-up demonstrations www.iwm.org.uk

Please quote Families when booking any of these events

WHERE? Cambridge Arts Theatre

Families Fun Family Fun Drop In

Pirate Tales

WHERE? Wood Green, The Animals Charity, Godmanchester

WHERE? Peterborough Museum

WHEN? 26th May, 1-3pm

HOW MUCH? £5 per child Learning Centre for a morning of fun and activities making pet toys, colouring, vet role play and animal story time. Suitable for all ages. www.woodgreen.org.uk 0844 248 8181

WHEN? 29th May, 10am-4pm

HOW MUCH? £3 per child Try your hand at some nautical crafts and enjoy exciting pirate tales on the high seas. Storytelling sessions (crafts available all day): www.vivacity-peterborough.com 01733 864280

Botanical Animals

WHEN? 6th June 11-3pm

WHERE? Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Animal Carer Experience Day

WHEN? 27th May, 10am-3pm

WHERE? Wood Green, The Animals Charity, Godmanchester

HOW MUCH? Standard Garden admission for adults, £3 per child The Botanic Garden is home to lots of animals from tiny wood mice to the funny squirrels that can be spotted running about. Make picture collages of the different animals using leaves from the Garden and find out more about our upcoming Bioblitz event. www.botanic.cam. ac.uk 01223 336265

Meet a Farmer WHEN? 7th June

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WHERE? Various locations across Cambridgeshire

HOW MUCH? £75 per child + free adult space Do you know a young animal enthusiast who would love to spend the day as an animal carer? This unique experience day allows children to get Hands-on with essential animal carer duties including: cleaning out the rodents, making enrichment toys, health checking the guinea pigs, making feeding time fun, visiting the vet surgery and having a go at dog training! www.woodgreen.org.uk 0844 248 8181

HOW MUCH? FREE Hundreds of farms across the country will be opening their gates to welcome the public for the 10th Open Farm Sunday. This annual event organised by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), offers a great way for people to find out more about where their food comes from, talk to the farmers who produce it and get up close and personal with the countryside.

To find out which farms in your area are taking part visit www.farmsunday.org

Pond Dipping and Minibeast Hunt

Bioblitz The Botanic Garden

WHEN? 27th May, 10.30am-3.15pm WHERE? Wicken Fen

HOW MUCH? £2.75 Enjoy a 30 minute pond dipping session searching for creatures from the deep, followed by a minibeast hunt. For children aged 3+.Booking essential. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/Wickenfen 0844 249 1895

Den Building

WHEN? 29th May 10.30am12.30pm & 2-4:00pm WHERE? Wicken Fen

HOW MUCH? £4.75 per child Little dens for minibeasts and big dens for you. Plus games and challenges inspired by sticks.

For children aged 3-10 years.

Booking essential. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/Wickenfen 0844 249 1895

WHEN? 12th-13th June WHERE? Cambridge

Midsummer Fair

WHEN? 24th- 29th June

WHERE? Midsummer Common This ancient fair has been visiting the city’s Midsummer Common for over 800 years, making it one of the country’s oldest travelling fun fairs. www.cambridgesummerinthecity.co.uk University Botanic Garden HOW MUCH? FREE Citizen scientists young and old can book to join one of the many free, expert led surveys and forays including twilight bat walks using ultrasound detectors, midnight moth-trapping in pursuit of these mysterious night-time beauties from the tiny and exquisite to the enormous privet hawk moth, bee identification workshops and early bird walks and many more. www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/ events/bioblitz.cambridge.2015

Ben & Holly

WHEN? 27th-28th June

WHERE? Cambridge Corn Exchange HOW MUCH? Family Ticket £57 From the makers of Peppa Pig comes this stage version of the BAFTA award-winning television animation. Packed full of games, songs and laughter, take an enchanting journey through the Magical Kingdom. www.cornex.co.uk 01223 357851

Jurassic World

WHEN? 12th and 14th June WHERE? The Light Cinema, Wisbech

HOW MUCH? Family tickets from £20 Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfill a corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re-spark visitor’s interest, which backfires horribly. On a wet weekend why not head to the Light for one of the Family AM screenings, a fantastic selection of family friendly movies at an amazing £3.00 per ticket! between 10am and 10.30am on a Saturday and Sunday, as well as during the school holidays. www.wisbech.lightcinemas. co.uk/jurassic-world

Wildlife Trust Bat Safari Punt Tours WHEN? 15th May-25th September

WHERE? Scudamores Punting Cambridge

HOW MUCH? Under 12’s from £8 The family suitable tours are led by a Wildlife Trust expert and include the use of specialist electronic bat detectors. Your guide will outline the notable characteristics and habitats of bats likely to be encountered on your trip and teach you how to use the detectors.

The hand-held detectors convert the bats’ sonar signals into audible frequencies. Different species of bats operate at different frequencies and the ear can be trained to recognise specific calls.. 50% of the proceeds go to the local wildlife trust. www.scudamores.com 01223 359750

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VE DAY ANNIVERSARY AIR SHOW Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May

THE ULTIMATE FAMILY DAY OUT PRIVATE FAMILY LESSON £99 AND A FAMILY SLEDGING SESSION FOR A SENSATIONAL PRICE OF £10!

#DuxfordAirShows iwm.org.uk/duxford

JOIN US

SNOZONE MILTON KEYNES | TEL 0871 222 5673 WWW.SNOZONEUK.COM

A range of free, exciting and fun activities for all ages during the summer months…

MIDSUMMER FAIR

WEDNESDAY 24 – MONDAY 29 JUNE

Midsummer Common

JAZZ & BRASS IN THE PARKS THE BIG WEEKEND SELECTED SUNDAYS

June to September 3pm-5pm

FRIDAY 10 – SUNDAY 12 JULY

Parker’s Piece

Full info and line-ups will be listed on: www.cambridge.gov.uk/summer

Provided by

Organised by

LEARN TO WAKEBOARD OR GET YOUR MONEY BACK! - INTRODUCTION SESSIONS ONLY £35 -

A NEW RT G SPO EXCITIN ALL R FUN FO ILY! THE FAM

BUILDING & ROBOTIC FUN!

CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PROGRAM FOR 7 - 12 YEARS OLD

Early bi

£25

rd offer

Availabl

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Morning Session £15 (10am - 12.30pm) Afternoon Session £15 (1pm - 3.30pm) – or £30 for both St Paul’s Centre, Cambridge CB1 1JP (corner of Hills Road and St Paul’s Road) Also available - Birthday party in different Lego theme.

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this program.

www.build4fun.co.uk build4fun.uk@gmail.com tel: 07466 546146

DISCOVER SAILING AT PAXTON LAKES SAILING CLUB (NEAR ST NEOTS)

FULL COURSE PRICE IS £85 FOR JUNIOR OR £125 FOR ADUL S TS. EXLUSIVE FAMILIE S OFFER OF JUST £75 FOR JUNI OR £115 FOR ADUL ORS TS WHEN QUOTING CODE

FCPAX

CAMBRIDGESHIRE’S FRIENDLIEST SAILING CLUB

We’re an official RYA Training Centre and welcome people of all abilities. We have a large selection of club-owned boats & equipment available.

Booking now for Easter Holiday & May Half-Term Adults £115 Children £75

All equipment included.

For more information contact Pat Overs 07812 124690 (evenings only) sailing.courses@paxtonlakes.org.uk | www. paxtonlakes.org.uk

Families Advertorial

WHY INVEST IN PREPARATORY SCHOOL EDUCATION? Because these are the years you can give your child a head start.

When you walk into Magdalene House, you will immediately experience an atmosphere of happiness and exuberance exhibited by our children.

hildren aged 4 to 11 are experiencing those crucial, impressionable years of remarkable intellectual and physical development: that stage of the greatest personal and social growth, when character and personality are shaped and moulded; attitudes formed and work habits established.

It is also the time when the foundations of learning are laid down: when literacy and numeracy skills are made secure, when language is acquired, curiosity and imagination developed and when children learn most of the skills and knowledge they will require for life.

Here at Magdalene House Prep School in Wisbech as well as delivering academic excellence, we offer a tailored education to enable each child to fulfil their potential. Equally important, we teach the fundamental attributes children need to become confident, well-balanced and independent individuals, able to cope with the demands of an ever-changing

C

world: kindness, curiosity, good manners, self-reliance, courage, the difference between right and wrong, independence of thought and strength of character.

Your child only has these crucial, formative years once. Our current parents know this and take heart in the knowledge that there is no greater investment they can make for their children.

We warmly invite you to come and visit us and see for yourselves. When you walk into Magdalene House you will immediately experience an atmosphere of happiness and exuberance exhibited by our children.

Personal tours can be arranged through our Admissions Team. Our Open Mornings on Saturday 9 May and Saturday 26 September will also give you the opportunity to meet our staff and pupils and sample our first class facilities.

Chris Moxon Headmaster of Magdalene House Prep School, Wisbech

Find out what makes us extraordinary.

Come along for a tour or join us at one of our open events.

•M agdalene House Preparatory School Open Morning, Saturday 9 May •M agdalene House Preparatory School Open Morning, Saturday 26 September •W isbech Grammar School Sixth Form Open Evening, Wednesday 30 September To book, contact the Admissions Team: t: 01945 586 750 e: admissions@wisbechgrammar.com www.wisbechgrammar.com www.magdalenehouseprep.com

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Families Education

St. Mary’s

Kings Ely

Kings Ely

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (4-13) A Parent’s guide By Hannah Hunter

e all want to give our children the best start in their educational life.

If you can afford it, the independent sector provides an alternative to the state system, which can often operate like a postcode lottery.

An increasing number of parents are looking at the independent sector– a report from the association of Teachers and Lecturers shows numbers rising at their fastest rate since 2008.

W

A VARIETY OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

An independent school is a school that is free to operate outside of many of the rules and regulations of the state system (there are, of course, statutory education, health and safety standards). Independent schools are also feepaying, and governed by an elected board.

Within the umbrella term of ‘independent’, you will an array of different types of schools. Pre-prep is the name sometimes given to schools which cater for infant aged children (4-7), that usually are feeder schools for a prep (preparatory) school (for 8-13 year-olds, and sometimes younger).

The preparatory school takes its name from its original function of preparing pupils for entrance to senior schools. This might be a ‘public’ school – the older private schools, whose name derives from the fact that they are open to the public (providing they can pay the fees of course!).

You will also find different kinds of Independent schools that will cater for infant and junior-aged children. These include schools with different learning styles, such as Montessori schools (often for younger children) and Steiner schools.

WHY CHOOSE AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL?

Independent schools can offer smaller class sizes, meaning more time for one-to-one attention, helpful for children with learning difficulties or other additional needs. Teachers have time to challenge more able children - prep schools often have specific gifted programmes.

Their better working conditions, with more resources and higher salaries, mean that independent schools can attract the best teachers. There is also a higher staff to pupil ratio, on average about 1:10 (it’s around 1:20 at state primaries), giving staff and pupils more time to get to know one another.

If you’re looking at an independent secondary school, a pre-prep will ensure that your child gets the best out of their common entrance exam (necessary in getting a scholarship or bursary). In grammar schools areas, these schools may also offer preparation for the 11+.

It’s not just the academic kids who will benefit from what a prep school offers.

Sport is taken very seriously, and they will offer a wide range, from rugby to badminton. They also cater for other interests, offering a variety of extra-curricular activities, such as dance, drama and music, which might not be able to access in the state system.

Independent schools can offer smaller class sizes, meaning more time for one-to-one attention, helpful for children with learning difficulties or other additional needs.

HOW TO FIND A SCHOOL

Your first port of call should be the government’s database of all UK schools, which allows you to search by area and type (private or state

funded). You might want to look at this early on according to the Good Schools Guide, getting a place can be cutthroat: ‘For a small number of schools (mostly in or near to London) the only way to gain a place is to register your child’s birth then head straight to the school and etch their name on the waiting list; try not to deliver in July/August - places are likely to have been nabbed by autumn births.’

Expect an interview, even for early years places – this is likely to involve some sort of assessment of basic speech, interaction and social skills. By age 7 or 8 you might expect a test of Maths and English ability, with possibly an IQ test. This could be accompanied by a school visit, to assess how your child will be placed at the school.

As with any school, you should make appointments to visit the school and check their inspection reports (these may be delivered by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, or Ofsted).

USEFUL LINKS Government school search www.gov.uk/find-school-in-england Independent Schools Inspectorate www.isi.net Ofsted www.ofsted.gov.uk Independent Schools Council www.isc.co.uk Independent Association of prep schools https://iaps.uk Good Schools Guide www. goodschoolsguide.co.uk Advice on choosing a prep school www.telegraph.co.uk/ education/9264856/How-to-choose-theperfect-prep-school-for-your-child.html

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Families Parenting

CHILDCARE QUIZ WHAT’S GOOD FOR ME?

HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU HAVE? Different forms of childcare suit different sizes of family, primarily for cost reasons. For example, even though some nurseries offer reductions for a second child your bill for two children is still going to be a lot more than it will be for one, whereas with a nanny the cost is the same whether it’s one child or three, because you pay for the nanny’s time.

SCORE 1 per child; plus 1 if there’s a high chance you’ll be pregnant again in the next 18 months!

WHAT AGES ARE YOUR CHILDREN? The younger your youngest child is, the more individually-tailored care you’re likely to need.

SCORE 3 if your youngest is under a year, 2 if he/ she is under two years, and 1 if he/she is three-plus DO YOU LIVE IN A RURAL OR AN URBAN AREA? The more populous your area, the more childcare options there will be available, in terms of more nurseries, and a higher number of childminders. If you live somewhere really remote, hiring a nanny might be the only option.

SCORE 3 for a rural area, 2 if you live in the suburbs, 1 if you’re an urbanite ARE YOU A SINGLE PARENT? If so you’re likely to have less back-up, but also a lower disposable income.

SCORE 2 if yes HOW MUCH DISPOSABLE INCOME DO YOU HAVE? The money you spend on childcare is less about what you’ve got left over and more about investing in your career for the future. But you still need to have some spare income to pay for it.

SCORE 3 if you have what you’d consider a high disposable income; 2 if medium; and 1 if low

IS YOUR WORK PREDICTABLE? Knowing you’re going to start and finish work at the same time each day makes nursery a much more realistic option than if you’re likely to be called in to your workplace at the drop of a hat, or in the middle of the night, or if you might end up staying til the early hours with little or no warning.

SCORE 1 for yes, 3 for no DO YOU HAVE A LONG COMMUTE? You need to add travel time to your working hours, and if you’re commuting a long distance a nursery or a childminder might be trickier.

SCORE 3 for yes DO YOU HAVE A SPARE BEDROOM? A live-in nanny needs a place to sleep; though if you don’t have the space, you can still consider sharing a nanny who lives in the other family’s home.

SCORE 3 for yes DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE AN ALLERGY OR HEALTH ISSUE OF ANY KIND? A health issue could make a nanny the best bet, because her care can be concentrated on your child and all activities/ meals/outings can be planned with your child at the centre.

SCORE 3 for yes ARE YOU A ‘LAISSEZ FAIRE’ OR A ‘CONTROLLING’ PARENT? If you’re the kind of parent who’s going to be happy to leave your childcarer to make decisions on your behalf through the day, you’re probably going to be happier with a childminder or nursery setting than if you want to be able to lay down exactly what you want to happen while you’re at work.

SCORE 1 for Laissez Faire, 3 for Controlling

There are a whole host of factors to take into account in working out what childcare is going to be best for you and your child or children.

Joanna Moorhead guides you through the questions you need to ask yourself - and offers a key to what kind of care your answers might point towards.

THE SCORES

0-10

Could a nursery be the right choice for you? Look round some of the nurseries in your area and see what your instinctive feel about them is. Nurseries provide more structured care that can suit many families, though it’s harder for them to cater for parents who work very long or unpredictable hours.

10-20

Are you the perfect fit for a childminder? For families who like the idea of childcare in a different setting from home, with other children but with some flexibility on timings, this can be a perfect option - and childminders tend to be lower-cost than nurseries or nannies.

20-30

If you have the space and the income, hiring a nanny means you can provide care that’s tailored precisely to your child or children. Plus if your family is still expanding, a nanny can be a cost-saver in the long term.

We hope you enjoyed this quiz, it is just to make you think of your options in a different way and it may not provide the correct answer for you!

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Families Food

FAMILY MEALTIMES: LET’S ALL EAT THE SAME! Top tips on how you don’t need to cook ‘Children’s meals’.

By Kathryn Mewes know, I know, I can hear: “My children eat too early, they eat food I don’t want to eat, my husband/wife is home so late.”

The aim is that you prepare one meal for dinnertime. The children eat and you have a small portion with them. When your husband/ wife arrives home they have the same meal. A portion has been set aside for them.

I believe that it is so important for children to realize that they cannot have their ‘favourite’ meal each and every day. My ethos is simple ‘A meal is prepared and there are 2 options – Take it or Leave it!’ Once this attitude is adopted and you remain consistent you will find that the children adjust and adapt to your ‘new way’ at mealtimes.

I think that there is too much emphasis today on children having to eat all of their meal. This is what leads us to only giving them food we know they will eat. It is important to realize that your children may leave some of their meal but as they start to realize this meal is going to appear at least once a fortnight they will adjust.

Slowly but surely they will ‘tuck in’.

The key is that your children are seeing a variety of foods and you are eating with them.

I often suggest creating a ‘meal plan’ so that everyone knows what is on offer that night (see box below). You can alter the menu plan every week or have 2 – 3 that you simply rotate.

I

This has so many advantages: • The food shopping can be done once a week, ordered online for ease.

• Everyone knows what is going to be served.

• You don’t have to think each morning about the ‘evening meal’.

• You are only cooking one meal for the family.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS “WHAT IF MY CHILD WON’T EAT IT?” Please don’t expect your family to instantly adapt. They will ‘dig their heels in’ before accepting the permanent change. If a meal is not eaten simply allow fruit for dessert and a cup of milk to line their stomach before bed.

The most important thing is not to offer them something else – you will them be back to where you once were.

“WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TASTES.” You should be able to create a meal where there is something for everyone. For example a curry. You might find one family member prefers the rice, the other the vegetables and the other picks out the meat. In time they will

MONDAY

Spaghetti bolognaise and green vegetables

TUESDAY

Fish cakes and potato wedges and roasted vegetables

WEDNESDAY

Thai chicken curry with rice

THURSDAY

Sausages and mash and onion gravy with carrots

FRIDAY

Fish and Chips night!

SATURDAY

Pizza and Pasta night!

SUNDAY

Roast dinner

expand on this and start to eat more of the meal. A salad can always be served as an accompaniment to cater for all.

“I DON’T WANT TO EAT EARLY WITH MY CHILDREN.” The important thing is that if you are introducing change you need to lead by example. You can have a small portion, or mainly vegetables while sitting with the children. I have ALWAYS found that children behave far better at the table when an adult is sitting with them, ideally eating not just observing.

CHILDREN’S MEALS It is very common for children to like ‘dry food’. By this I mean nuggets, fish fingers, chips, potato wedges, pesto pasta and sausages. There is nothing terribly wrong with any of these meals but at some stage your child needs to expand. There is a whole world of exciting food beyond ‘children’s menus’! I suggest these meals are on the weekly menu and they are enjoyed but then there are meals to suit you.

It is a life lesson. There needs to be give and take at meal times. Everyone needs to see their favourite meal once a week.

Mealtime can be for the entire family – not just the children.

For further information and advice on guiding your child at mealtimes please purchase the book The 3 Day Nanny by Kathryn Mewes or go to her website to find out about her bespoke service www.bespokenanny.com.

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