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Education Autumn activities Halloween Family life

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September/October 2021

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CONTENTS

In this issue

Welcome

4 12 14 15

Back to school already! Our Education feature will help ease the transition and provides helpful tips and support.

Education Autumn activities Environment Scavenger hunt downloadable 16 Halloween 18 Family life 20 Early years 21 Bonfire Night 22 Black History Month 24 Toys

Autumn is a beautiful season and a great time for getting outside with the family. Hunt down some autumn trees in our downloadable Scavenger Hunt, enjoy some Autumn crafts and get organised early for Halloween with our great costume and decoration ideas.

Get in touch Competition winners from our May/June issue. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

Get prepared for Ride to School Week with our family cycling feature and challenge your kids with our Black History Month quiz. How many faces can they match to names? Whether you’re an existing subscriber to this magazine or haven’t signed up yet, take advantage of our fabulous free gifts for you in this issue!

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Maths online tuition

Small groups on Zoom - All abilities years 7 to 13 Qualified teacher, senior examiner, 31 years experience. Affordable and effective. Free no-obligation trial lesson.

Call, Text, WhatsApp 07737 853527 www.acetutors.com

BELONGING | BELIEVING | ACHIEVING

Open Events for Years 3, 4 and 5 (ages 7 - 9) entry

“You are the light of the world.”

Please visit the Admissions section of our website to book a place for one of our Autumn Open Events. Find out more about our holistic approach to education from the Master, Head of the Junior School and members of staff, including the many opportunities in Sport, Drama, Music and Art. All applications to Year 3 are automatically considered for Academic Scholarships. The offer of a place in the Junior School is the offer of a place at Dulwich College to age 18. Visit www.dulwich.org.uk/admissions or please call the Junior School Registrar on 020 8299 8432. We look forward to hearing from you.

• No geographical catchment area • Breakfast Club and After School Care (until 6pm) • Specialist Music and Spanish teachers Contact us to arrange a visit to the school and a meeting with our Headteacher, Mrs Rachel Jewitt. St Matthew’s Primary School and Nursery 18 Old Pye Street | Westminster | SW1P 2DG office@stmwschool.org.uk | 020 7504 0500 www.stmwschool.org.uk | @stmwschool

Adult Learning Lewisham

DAY, EVENING AND WEEKEND COURSES

30 YEARS 1990 | 91 2020 | 21

Our courses can help you develop your creativity or gain the skills and qualifications you need for work and further education. We also have lots of fun and creative courses for you and your child to enjoy together. All photos are of our classes

Find out about the wide variety of courses on offer at: www.lewisham.gov.uk/adultlearning Adult Learning Lewisham

4 Families South East • September / October 2021 4 September/October

ALL

TOGETHER WE FLOURISH

To advertise please call 07980 556813 Familiesonline.co.uk

Nothing should hold a girl back. Visit us this autumn to discover how we develop fearless pupils who write their own future.

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

@sydenhamhighschool

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EDUCATION

Teacher talk

Getting your school acronyms muddled? Confused by terminology your child’s teacher is using? Check out our handy guide. Blended Learning: A mixture of face-to-face and online teaching. Blending: The merging together of the separate sounds in a word. CAMHS: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services CATS: Cognitive Abilities Tests. These assess strengths and weaknesses in reasoning and are used in some primary and secondary schools. Circle time: This is time that children spend sitting on the mat or on chairs in a circle to discuss a particular topic. Core subjects: These are the subjects making up the core part of the overall curriculum, such as English and maths. Differentiation: Teachers can vary activities in class depending on the ability of different children and make sure that each student is appropriately challenged. DfE: Department for Education. EAL: English as an additional language. Early Help Assessment (EHA): An assessment which identifies children and families who need support. Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): The Early Years Foundation Stage includes Nursery and Reception classes. The focus here is learning through high quality play. When your child moves from 6 September/October

Reception into Year 1, more formal teaching is introduced. Fine motor skills: The ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists. These are important when learning to write or threading a needle, for instance. Foundation subjects: Non-core subjects eg History, Geography, IT, DT, Modern Foreign Languages, RE, Music, PE and Art. Want the rest of the alphabet? READ MORE

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Alex Matthews Blackheath Prep

Alex Matthews joined Blackheath Prep as Head in 2020. He was formerly Deputy Head Co-Curricular at Dulwich College, London, before moving to St Paul’s Juniors, London as Pastoral Deputy Head. Q: What inspired you to get into teaching? I was fortunate to be inspired by some wonderful teachers when I was at school so that certainly helped set me on the path of teaching. As a teacher you can make a huge difference, and be a positive influence in the lives of young people and future generations which is personally very rewarding. And of course I love working with children. I find them inspiring, stimulating, and exciting to be around. I love the enthusiasm they have for life—it’s wonderful! Q. How would your pupils describe you? First and foremost, I hope our pupils would describe me as kind. I hope they’d describe me as curious—I want to know every pupil as an individual and support their interests and endeavours. I also hope they would describe me as fair, supportive, fun and enthusiastic. Q. What is your vision for Blackheath Prep? Our vision is to offer our pupils an education without boundaries, where every child is given the freedom to shine, and the courage to strive for excellence in all their endeavours. I want every child to make the most of all that is on offer at Blackheath Prep so that when they leave us, they are ready for the next stage of their education. It’s important to me, and all the teaching staff at Blackheath Prep,

that we provide our pupils with the firm foundation for a successful, happy, and fulfilled life.

teachers to lead English, Maths, Science and Music. We have also appointed four new Governors.

I also strongly believe strongly in a values-based education and we have recently introduced seven core values that underpin our school culture—kindness, curiosity, freedom, ambition, courage, community and joy. These values inform our approach to teaching and learning, to pastoral care and to wellbeing and they guide our engagement with our community.

Another positive change was to bring in a new catering contractor. Food is an important part of everyone’s day, including our pupils! Holroyd Howe provide outstanding food, and innovative nutrition and sustainability programmes making them an excellent partner.

Q. What makes Blackheath Prep a special school? Our pupils are amazing. They are kind, considerate and respectful. They’re curious and courageous and they possess a real love of learning. We also have a talented team of creative and passionate teachers who make learning engaging, fun and interesting. Q. You have been at the school for a year now. What has changed in that time? A lot! My priority during my first year was to get to know the school community—pupils, parents and staff— and understand the school’s strengths and areas for development. In terms of changes, we have invested in an IT infrastructure that is fit for the 21st century. My aim is to improve our digital learning by harnessing the benefits of new technology and making better use of digital communications. We have refurbished our Science Laboratory to create an innovative STEM Hub and we have plans to refurbish and enhance other school facilities in the coming months.

And finally, in June this year we formally re-named the school Blackheath Prep. We launched a new identity and a brand-new school crest, taking inspiration from our iconic red door and a contemporary re-working of the griffin which featured in the original school crest. Q. Tell us about Magnus Magnus is a one year old whippet and a very popular member of our school community. He is in training to be the school’s therapy dog and can often be seen around school, visiting the children and supporting their endeavours. Whippets are increasingly used as therapy dogs owing to their size and gentle, calm and affectionate temperament. He’s an incredibly fast runner but actually he loves nothing more than cuddles and gentle walks on the heath. We love him!

We have also invested in our staff. We have strengthened the expertise of our Senior Leadership Team with new appointments: our Deputy Head and Assistant Head Academic are both new. We have recruited outstanding

6 Familiesonline.co.uk Families South East • September / October 2021

Tours for prospective parents take place every Wednesday during term time. Reserve your place via the website www.blackheathprep.co.uk To advertise please call 07980 556813 7 September/October

EDUCATION

Tips for a positive Parents’ Evening By Annabel Gray Despite the sore throat and spinning head by the end, as a teacher, I used to love parents’ evenings. Those ten minutes can make all the difference to a child’s experience and outcomes at school. So, to make the most of them:

What do you want to know? Their level? Their test results? How they interact with others? How confident they are? What the homework is about? How to do long division? This is your chance! Don’t waste it!

Work these top tips into your parents’ evening and you’ll feel positive, productive and informed by the end of it. Want other tips to support your child’s learning? READ MORE

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Holiday act ivities Summer Lea rning Health Family food

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ME HO

Celebrate their work. Pandemicpermitting, let your child show you their work on display and their books. Most parents are surprised at the quality of the work their children do at school.

Be proud. Your kids are amazing! Tell them that!

Come armed with questions. The most productive meetings are when a parent brings all the queries they have to the meeting so they can be ironed out quickly.

Smile. The teacher you are meeting spends just as much time as you do with your child and will know them very well. Make them feel at ease and create a positive vibe from the outset.

Focus on solutions. If there are tricky issues to tackle, from either side of the desk, focus on solutions rather than blame. Like you, teachers want the best for your child. If an issue can’t be resolved, book a further meeting.

Attend. Obvious maybe – but vital if you want to show your child that you value their learning.

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EDUCATION

Dealing with back to school anxiety By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble For most children, back to school anxiety fades quickly. But how do we support our children when it lingers? Prevent common worries from becoming deep-rooted by establishing good practice and routines. For children whose worries persist, this simple five step programme can to our children is that they don’t help. need to worry. Take care of the basics. Ensure a Not sure how to be an ‘active good sleep routine, healthy snacks listener?’ and regular exercise. Provide empathy. Find READ MORE uninterrupted opportunities to listen to your child’s worries, expectations and fears. Car journeys, bath time and walks are ideal. Listen actively, withholding judgement and advice. Validate their feelings. Ages Problem solve. Discuss coping Art Lab 6+ strategies, ideally led by your child. Pouring Showing confidence in their own Art problem solving abilities nurtures Studio greater resilience. Highlight the positives. Encourage 3 your child to recognise the fun available elements of school and not fixate on the negatives. Use questions like: ‘What was your favourite thing for Let budding artists lunch?’ and ‘What was the funniest explore colour & design thing that happened today?’ Be mindful of your own emotions T&Cs apply and reactions. They can create APPLY HERE learnt behaviour. By staying calm Magazine and seeming positive, the message

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EDUCATION AUTUMN

Ride to school safely It’s Ride to School Week starting 27 September! To get your family riding to school (and beyond) safely, check out our great videos and articles.

Teaching your child to ride a bike

Cycling as a family By Catherine Ellis

There’s no better time than the Autumn to start cycling: it’s generally mild but not too warm, it’s a beautiful season and cycling is a great way to see it unfold. But preparation is key to ensuring you get the best out of the experience and take an appropriate route. READ MORE 10 September/October

Safety-checking your child’s bike

Transporting children by bike

It can be difficult to know how to best transport your growing family by bike. What if you have a baby? What if you also have a toddler? What if you have an older child too? Cycling UK explains how to make the best cycling choices for your family. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Top questions to ask on a school visit By Emma Lewry Choosing a school for your child is a big decision that can feel charged with pressure and uncertainty. As a teacher, former head teacher and a mum, I’ve been through the process from both sides of the classroom door, so here’s my simple advice to make the most of your visits. Firstly, read my tips on preparation for your visit here: So what should you ask at the school? • What’s the best thing about your school? • What are you working on to improve as a school currently? • What do the children say about your school? (or ask a child if you can!) • How are your classes organised? Are the mixed ages and abilities? • How do you deal with behaviour incidents and bullying? • About any logistics that are important to you; Do you offer a breakfast club? Do you teach

Watch Emma’s top school visit tips

particular sports or musical instruments? What time does the school day start? Looking for more essentials to get the most out of a school visit? READ MORE

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September/October 11

AUTUMN

Best Autumn crafts for all ages Celebrate the season and get creative with these colourful and rewarding activities.

Autumn garland

Apple stamping

Hanging leaves

Pine cone peanut butter bird feeder

Leaf people

Paper plate flappy owl

Pine cone people

Nature ‘tic tac toe’ game

Nature wand

12 September/October

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AUTUMN

Autumn outside It’s a great season to be outside with the kids and here’s how to keep them happy and busy enjoying nature.

Track local wildlife

Create a journey stick

Spider web safari

Geocaching

Make a leaf stack

Build a den

Discover a wood near you

Make a mini garden

Build a hedgehog home

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September/October 13

ENVIRONMENT

Growing oak trees from acorns According to the Woodland Trust, trees are our most powerful weapon in the fight against climate change. Join Luke Cook and The Acorn Project to give nature a helping hand in encouraging acorns to grow into trees. 1

Here’s what to do. 1. Start looking for green or brown acorns around mid-September. Make sure they have no insect damage or holes/cracks from falling. 2. Take the caps off your acorns. Fill a clear container up with water and drop in the acorns. Fertile acorns will sink. Non-fertile ones can be put outside for birds and squirrels (but out of reach of dogs, as acorns are poisonous for them). 3. Keep your fertile acorns in a cool, dark place until they sprout. When the roots appear, fill a small

14 September/October

container with compost and some gravel. A yoghurt pot or plastic bottle cut in half, with drainage holes at the bottom works well. Make a hole and plant the acorn (about an inch below the surface). Cover with compost and put outside/in a dark spot until shoots appear (usually in the spring). 4. Look around your local area to see where trees could be planted. Council-owned parks, schools and hospitals are likely to be grateful for your saplings!

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Autumn tree Scavenger Hunt

Get outdoors and go on a treasure hunt with your kids, matching leaves to their trees and trees to their fruit. Download this activity and instructions.

DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR KIDS HERE

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September/October 15

HALLOWEEN

Halloween decoration ideas Get into the spirit of the Halloween season with these fabulous decoration ideas.

Milk carton ghosts

Halloween shadow puppet activity

Easy jar lantern

Witches cauldrons

Pumpkin paper plates

Puffy ghosts

Conker spider

Mini broomstick

Flapping bat

16 September/October

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HALLOWEEN

DIY Halloween costumes Does your heart sink when your child asks if you can make them a costume for Halloween? If so, check out this great but simple ideas.

No sew spider

Luna Lovegood

No sew ghost

Zombie

Mummy

Pirate

Duct tape skeleton

Velcro vampire

Halloween face painting - step by step

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September/October 17

FAMILY LIFE

Is it really over?

Journaling for kids

All relationships have ups and downs but when the balance has tipped very much in favour of downs, you may be wondering whether your marriage can be saved or whether divorce could be the right decision.

Journaling is an excellent activity for kids. It creates an outlet for thoughts and feelings and a safe space for children of all ages to explore their emotions.

By Rhiannon Ford

You may have talked to your spouse about your unhappiness and not received a satisfactory response? Or feel you’ve done everything you can to improve your relationship and it’s just not working? Find out what to do next.

By Stacie Swift

Journaling can foster greater self-awareness, self-belief and help with decision making. It’s also a great tool for encouraging gratitude, kindness and positivity. Check out my five starter activities for children. READ MORE

Dozens of family activities! Check out the FREE resources at Only Mums & OnlyDads and find out about 101 Questions Answered About Separating With Children, an invaluable resource for parents in the early days of separation. 18 September/October

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FAMILY LIFE

The benefits of family pets

Kids’ books that promote diversity

By Caroline Wilkinson

By Tamsy Ashman

While raising kids can feel like enough of a job without the added responsibility of pets, bringing animals into your family home can be incredibly beneficial. A pet can provide huge confidence-boosting opportunities for children and can also reduce anxiety levels. READ MORE

As conversations about race continue to dominate the headlines, it’s the perfect time to explore books featuring people from different racial backgrounds with your child.

Saving tips for families

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By Clare Francis

Over the last tumultuous eighteen months, families have realised the importance of having a financial safety net. Financially supporting the various stages of your child’s life requires planning and the earlier you start to save, the less you will feel the impact on your day-today budget. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk

Here’s some recommendations. READ MORE

Turn your child’s life adventures into personalised tales with a Tales of Me book 5 of each book available APPLY HERE Magazine

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September/October 19

EARLY YEARS

Bonfire Night for under 5s It’s a fun night for older kids but little ones can sometimes get overwhelmed by the loud bangs and noise. So here are some ideas to help them celebrate more quietly!

Firecracker pull string pinata

Firework star hat

Sparkly fireworks picture

Fork stamped fireworks

Edible sparklers

Shaving foam fireworks

Toilet roll rocket

Pretend bonfire

Firework cookies

20 September/October

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BONFIRE NIGHT

Staying safe on Bonfire Night Animals and children (particularly younger ones) often find fireworks scary. Help them relax and stay safe using a few simple tips. Indoor pets Keep your pets in the house whenever you think there will be fireworks; Walk dogs during daylight hours; Shut windows and doors, close blinds and curtains; Put on some music or television to mask the firework sounds; Create a quiet space or hiding places where your pet can feel secure; Make sure your pet can’t escape if startled by a sudden noise.

Outside pets Partly cover outside cages, hutches and pens with blankets. Provide extra bedding inside cages and hutches so small animals can burrow in. Consider bringing outside pets indoors – this may need to be done gradually so plan ahead. More at RSPCA

Enjoy fireworks with kids

Bonfire Night safety tips

Invest in a pair of earmuffs to protect their sensitive hearing;

Don’t build a bonfire too high;

Sparklers offer fizz and glow without the bang but never give them to a child under 5;

Keep a bucket of water nearby; Only buy fireworks with the CE mark;

Decorate the garden with fairy lights;

Never go near a firework that has been lit;

Hide glow sticks in the garden for a treasure hunt in the dark;

Never give sparklers to a child under 5;

Let off some party poppers;

Light fireworks at arms length;

Invest in torches tinted with cellophane;

When a sparkler is finished, put it in a bucket of cold water;

Giant bubbles are easy to make and are great fun at night.

Follow ROSPA’s sparkler safety advice.

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September/October 21

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Month ‘Who’s Who’ Quiz Look at these photos and clues with your kids and match them to the list of important figures from black history on the next page. How many do you know?

His art is displayed in galleries all around the world.

Famous for her books for young adults, including Noughts and Crosses.

First black driver to win a Formula One championship.

Born a slave in Maryland, She paid her own way to the Crimean War, setting USA, she led military campaigns to free slaves. up a hotel for soldiers.

He served twenty seven years in prison and was finally freed in 1990.

She was a ‘human computer’ making the calculations required for space flight.

He campaigned for laws to end racial segregation and discrimination in the USA.

He served two terms as president, leaving office with a sixty percent approval rate. 22 September/October

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

What do you know about Black History Month? October marks Black History Month (BHM) in the United Kingdom. The event was first officially recognised by the US government in 1976 and was first celebrated in the UK in 1987. Events celebrating African and Caribbean cultures will take place across the UK until October 31. People from African and Caribbean backgrounds have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries. However, many have highlighted that their value and contribution to society is often overlooked, ignored, or distorted. Many schools still teach a history curriculum which focuses on traditional events and the achievements of white figures. BHM gives everyone the chance to

share, celebrate and learn about the impact of black heritage and culture – something we should, of course, be doing all year round. BHM also goes further than the traditional concentration on slavery and segregation in the history of African and Caribbean people, giving us the chance to uplift figures previously disregarded in British and world history. www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk

Answers. Left to right Row 1: 1. Chris Ofili 2. Malorie Blackman 3. Lewis Hamilton Row 2: Harriet Tubman, Mary Seacole, Nelson Mandela Row 3: Barack Obama, Katherine Johnson, Martin Luther-King Jr.

Who’s Who Quiz names Barack Obama Chris Ofili Harriet Tubman Katherine Johnson Lewis Hamilton Malorie Blackman Martin Luther King Jr Mary Seacole Nelson Mandela Familiesonline.co.uk

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