Families Surrey West Jan Feb 2014

The really useful magazine for families with children aged 0-12

FR EE ® Nurseries Feature

Jan/Feb 2014

Flexible Working What’s On Listings and Lots more!

Netmums Winner Best pre-school activity in Surrey

Now in Woking Lightwater West Byfleet Frimley Green Guildford and Mychett Call Alysia on 07811 346482 www.diddidance.com

Parties for children up to 7!

Hattie’s Nannies & Wedding Crèches

Godalming’s Premier Nanny Agency

01483 415 406

www.hattiesnannies.co.uk

Confidence Building Fun Try a Free Drama Class

Watch your child’s self-esteem soar with our weekly classes for 4–12s Child development is at the heart of everything we do. So our drama, dance and singing sessions will boost your child’s confidence, improve their concentration and give them an outlet to have fun.

Call 0845 400 1280 or visit perform.org.uk for a free class at your nearest venue.

Covering Guildford, Woking, Camberley, Farnborough, Farnham, Haslemere, Godalming, Cranleigh and surrounding areas

What’s in this issue News and Views Clubs and Classes News Flexible Working How to help your child overcome wetting the bed 10-12 Nurseries Feature 13-15 Schools and Education 16-23 What’s On

Hope you had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year from Families Surrey West! We have a packed issue for you with some great activities to book up for all ages in the What’s On section. The Electric Theatre and West End Centre have their Half Term festivals with loads of fantastic activities, and G Live has some interesting workshops including Street Magic, Comedy and Circus Skills!

4-5 6-7 8 9

16-20 Activities, events, children’s workshops - by date

Sarah Hatch, Editor

Next issue: March/April issue Ad booking deadline: 1st February. If you would like to reach over 24,000 local families call Sarah on 01737 558898 or email editor@familiessurreywest.co.uk Front Cover: Image by Lillian Spibey Photography (www.lillianspibeyphotography.com).

Lillian is a professional photographer specialising in family and children’s photography. She will capture beautiful images of your children for you to display on your walls for years to come.

20-21 February Half Term Sports Courses &Holiday Camps 21 Nearly New Sales 22 Children’s Theatre

24 Classifieds Special Offers and Competitions in this Issue • Save 30% on a School trip to Fishers Farm - page 5 • Zero joining fee in January with Busylizzy - page 6 • £10 off for new students starting before 1st February with Dynamic Performing Arts - page 6 • Save £40 with new Perform classes in Frimley - page 7 • £2 off per person to Bocketts Farm - page 19 • Win one of two family tickets to The Gruffalo at G Live - page 23 • 10% off bookings in Jan & Feb for Theatrebugs Parties - page 24 • Discounts with Larah Au Pairs - page 24 T&Cs may apply for these offers, please see relevant page for information

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GUILDFORD – FARNHAM, GODALMING, EWHURST T: 01483 821 932 E: guildford@monkeymusic.co.uk LEATHERHEAD & DORKING – BOCKETTS FARM PARK, BOOKHAM, OXSHOTT T: 01483 841 303 E: leatherhead.dorking@monkeymusic.co.uk WOKING – BYFLEET, GOLDSWORTH PARK, HORSELL, OTTERSHAW, PYRFORD T: 01932 429 240 E: woking@monkeymusic.co.uk

- Guildford, Godalming, Wondersh & Cranleigh becky@zebedeesmusic.com

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- Merrow & Woking amanda@zebedeesmusic.com

The MultiSports Group Motivate • Inspire • Achieve

MultiSports �

Woking

Weekend sports for boys and girls aged 4 - 16 of all abilities

Tel:

0844 3350450

www.themultisportsgroup.co.uk

Book now for the Spring term! Little Sporties classes for 4 & 5 year olds. Main school classes for 6 - 16 year olds.

18 exciting sports a year plus weekly team building challenges. Ofsted registered - childcare vouchers accepted.

www.littlekickers.co.uk Approved football training for kids aged 18 months to 7 years Localclasses classesatataavenue venuenear near you you Local For Merrow, Fernhurst, Guildford and Godalming call Call 01753 831902

00000 000000

For Farnham, Crondall and Fleet call 01252 651 329 For Chobham, Lightwater and Lyne call 01276 600393 for details For Woking, Pyrford and Byfleet call 01932 847439 info@littlekickers.co.uk

Where learning’s a ball

walking to 5 years

Kiko

soccer schools

More than just football skills...

• Developing physical skills, balance and co-ordination • First football skills and technique • Learning about numbers, shapes, letters • Building confidence and self esteem Sessions Weekdays and Saturdays Throughout Guildford and Waverley BC

FREE Trial SE SSIO N

Call Bruce Laudy on

01372 451352

or email: kikosoccerschools@btinternet.com bruce@kikosoccerschools.com

www.kikosoccerschools.co.uk www.kikosoccerschools.com

To advertise here call Sarah on 01737 558898 or email: editor@FamiliesSurreyWest.co.uk ®

Surrey West

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News and Views ‘Cooking for Baby’ Project Gets Lottery Boost Specialist Baby and Toddler Swimming Classes and Aqua-Natal Yoga Classes

Come out of your shell and learn to swim the Turtle Tots Way!

Tel: 07786 176219 www.turtletots.com Email: rachel.davies@turtletots.com

surrey’s zero joinineg fe

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A Lottery grant of almost £160,000 will guarantee the long-term future of The Organic Cookery School’s innovative weaning project ‘Cooking for Baby’, teaching parents to cook healthy meals for their little ones as they wean onto solids, and understand their unique nutritional needs. A series of pilot projects delivered in partnership with over 30 Surestart children’s centres successfully engaged more than 1,000 parents and infants across the South East. The grant will create a more cohesive project, enabling it to meet the massive demand for courses in new and current project areas. The successful funding bid follows new research by the University of Glasgow, which found that many shop-bought baby foods contain high levels of sugar. Nutrition experts found babies would need to eat twice as much manufactured food to get the same energy and protein found in homemade purees and meals, despite many of the shop-bought foods being organic. The launch of ‘Cooking for Baby’ is at Bushy Leaze Children’s Centre on 18th January and if anyone is interested in attending, they can contact helen@ organiccookeryschool.org. It is aimed at parents with infants around 6 months old.

Pui Fan Lee from Cbeebies will be attending! To find out where ‘Cooking with Baby’ is running near you email info@organiccookeryschool.org or call 01428 787594.

Explore Learning wins Mumsnet innovation award Explore Learning, the English and maths tuition company, has won an ‘innovation award’ in the Mumsnet Family Friendly Awards. Explore Learning won the award in recognition of their free workshops for parents seeking extra support to help their children with phonics or maths homework.

The sessions aim to take the mystery out of the National Curriculum and new teaching techniques, allowing parents to ask questions in a relaxed environment.

visit busylizzy.co.uk for details

Baby Signing

in Dorking, Reigate and Bookham  ½ hour baby signing & singing  ½ hour playtime & social time  Structured/educational approach  Fun & friendly atmosphere

Contact Katherine katherinep@tinytalk.co.uk

Aerial Adventure Course Gets Green Light in Stoke Park Craggy Island Ltd and Guildford Borough Council have agreed a lease for Peacock Wood in Stoke Park which allows the company to build and operate the largest tree top adventure activity park ever built in the UK. The construction phase is set to start during early January 2014 and carry on through to the end of March with the aim to be operational before the Easter school holidays. Wild Wood Adventure will consist of 2 junior circuits at lower levels and 2 Adult courses at higher levels throughout the woods.

These will include everything from simple wobbly bridges to extreme challenges set high in the tree tops with easy options for those who aren't quite as brave as they thought they were!

Friday 28th March - Wear A Hat Day Join other families and schools (as well as companies, groups, shops and associations across the country) in supporting #WearAHatDay on Friday March 28th - it’s going to be bigger, hattier and more fun than ever! #WearAHatDay is the UK’s premier brain tumour awareness event, taking place every March. Thousands of families and children in homes and schools take part every year – wearing hats of all shapes, sizes and colours, getting involved in an amazing array of fun and inventive events, making and collecting donations all helping to raise awareness and funds for vital research. Brain tumours are scary – this disease is the biggest cancer killer of both children and adults under 40 yet the science is woefully underfunded, receiving less than 1% of national cancer research spend. Register today for your #WearAHatDay event: www.wearahatday.org

Award winning classes for 0-5 yrs

Book your FREE trial class today!

Basketball Special Offer Surrey United play their home basketball games at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford. For some of their home games they have a special offer “kids for a quid” - a child’s ticket (under 16) is just £1. Adult tickets are from £12. This offer is valid for games on Sat 11 Jan, Sun 23 Feb, Sun 23 March and Sat 19 April. For more information see www.surreyunited.co.uk.

gymnastics fun* Explore* develop

Gymboree West Byfleet westbyfleet@gymboree-uk.com

01932 353 313

Gymboree Horsley

horsley@gymboree-uk.com

07443 568 347 gymboree-uk.com

‘Best National Preschool Development Activity in the UK 2013’

www.gymnasticsfactory.co.uk

Book a free trial TODAY - 01483 455060 27/11/2013 10:50:19

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News and Views No more BPA By Susan Tomlinson

Strictly Come Dancing comes to Surrey

Banned in plastic baby's bottles across the EU, Canada and the US, yet the UK government is convinced the chemical Bisphenol A, or BPA is entirely safe. Is it? From tins, and plastic bottles, to boxes, dental fillings and even shopping receipts, the chemical is present in a huge range of objects.

A new dance craze is beginning in Surrey! FitSteps® is Fitness that’s “Strictly fun!” This dance program mixes the graceful steps of Ballroom and the up tempo steps of the Latin dances.

It's main job is to make plastic shatterproof, so, in the world of packaging and manufacturing, it's crucial. The trouble is, since the 1930's, it's been associated with all sorts of health problems. It’s what’s known as a suspected endocrine disruptor, meaning it mimics the body’s hormone system, and has been linked with diabetes, obesity, cancer and even behavioural problems in children. But the jury’s not out yet. Other research shows that the small amounts of the chemical that leach into our food and drink are of an acceptable level and at present that’s where the UK’s Food Standards Agency sits. But the EFSA is presently reassessing all the data and is due to report back in 2014. In the meantime, if you’ve got you’re doubts, here’s how to avoid it: * More and more BPA-free products are coming onto market. In fact, many food companies are beating government policy by using alternatives.

If a product isn’t labeled BPA free, you can avoid the chemical by looking at the plastic recycling code on the side of the container. Anything marked with the recycle code 7 (as above) or 3, may contain BPA. * Cut back on using cans, as most of them are lined with a BPA resin. * Avoid heating plastic containers in the microwave or the dishwasher, as they may break down over time and allow the BPA to seep into food or drink. * Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel wherever possible. * Join the Breast Cancer UK, in their "No More BPA" campaign www.nomorebpa.org.uk

Classes are taught by Rachael Hurton, a local dance teacher and choreographer, who trained at RADA. She also works as a professional actress. Rachael recently started FitSteps® classes in Guildford and Cranleigh. The program she teaches was devised by Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe, from Strictly Come Dancing and Mark Foster.

Discounted Trips for Schools Fishers Farm Park have teamed up with Knights Travel and Sussex Coaches who’ll give schools 20% off the normal cost of a coach in January if you book a visit to Fishers! Plus, Fishers will take an extra 10% off your admission if you book before 31st January 2014. Call 01403 700063 for details.

Career Development Event For All The Hungarian Cultural Association is running a year long programme, funded by the Big Lottery, which aims to increase employability skills of Hungarian and wider community members who are currently not in employment due to childcare responsibilities or other reasons. The project offers 20 volunteering opportunities and several employability workshops to assist individuals with their career development. The first workshop is on Monday 24th March from 8-11pm and will focus on “Successful Job Applications”. It is free for HCA members, and is £5 for non-members per workshop. Advanced booking only. Please call 01483 808 643 or 07843 054 940 or maria.chambers@hcaguildford.org.uk, www.hcaguildford.org.uk http://www.facebook.com/#!/HCAGuildford

Rachael’s classes are already over subscribed, as local people are keen to “sparkle” in the classes and get fit at the same time, but she Rachael with Ian Waite is opening new classes to meet demand. The mixture of choreography and music is catching on fast as people try their hand at steps they have seen in the Strictly show. No dance experience is necessary. Rachael says “Classes suit all levels of fitness and ages, with options, levels and a good breakdown of steps given for routines, such as the Jive, Cha Cha, Waltz, Quick Step, Tango, Rumba and Samba.

FitSteps® is unique. It is the first time that classic Latin and Ballroom dances have been brought together with proven fitness techniques and principles to create not only a program that can have extraordinarily wide appeal, but one that also has the potential to make a real and lasting impact on the health of the nation.”

Rachael currently runs classes at QEP Community Centre in Guildford, Railton Road, on Saturdays from 9.45-10.45am and at Emmanuel Church, Stoughton on Tuesdays from 9.45am-10.45am and a Thursday “lunch time” class from 12.15-1pm, for local people who work and want to exercise at lunch time. Rachael also runs a morning and evening class at Cranleigh Golf Club on Wednesdays 9am and Thursdays 7.30pm, and has more classes starting up soon. For more information, contact 07713 254260/ rachael.swann@gmail.com or see http://synergydance.co.uk or www.facebook.com/FitStepswithRachaelHurtoninSurrey

New Café Bar in Camberley Theatre Families in Camberley now have more reasons to visit the theatre.

Camberley Theatre’s recent front of house makeover includes a stylish new Café Bar open to the public. The central Camberley location is ideal for parents’ and carers’ morning coffee meet ups and lunches and their range of food includes a selection for children. There is plenty of room for buggies, highchairs are available, and there are baby changing facilities.

The Café Bar opens 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and late into the evening on show nights.

The Theatre itself hosts a range of children’s shows, events and mum and baby film screenings throughout the year. The Café Bar and function rooms are ideal spaces for birthday parties, christenings and other family events. To find out more about the Café Bar and Theatre visit www.camberleytheatre.biz

“Inspiring and enriching young people through the performing arts”

coeaatrce h e g Arts a Th St

For 4-18 year olds, after school, at weekends and holiday workshops Book now - limited places

Farnham 01252 216 277

Woking 01483 235 216

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he

Guildford North 01737 216 794

Giggle, Play, Grow

osical Journ ey o ore and Deve l p lop f Ex

o AM

Discovery! o ry ns cow Way! Se Moo

Farnborough 01252 545 324

baby moove

Godalming 01252 319 133

www.stagecoach.co.uk

Weekly Classes 01428 658858 info@mollymoocow.com www.mollymoocow.com

Contact us on Editor@FamiliesSurreyWest.co.uk

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Clubs and Classes News New Instrumental Lessons Available Musical Minds is a new company, providing top quality instrumental lessons, at good rates to children and adults. The company only uses experienced teachers who have a love of their own instruments, and take a pride in passing on their love of making music. Teachers will either visit schools to give lessons during school hours, or lessons can take place outside school in the Musical Minds music school base. A large part of the ethos of Musical Minds is keeping parents involved in their child’s progress, and having good communication between parent and teacher. They strive for excellent customer service, both in admin matters, and providing reliable teachers. For further information, including costs please visit the website www.musical-minds.co.uk

The voice is the first instrument” – Zoltán Kodály Colourstrings Music Groups for children aged 0-7 are starting in Guildford from the 14th January. The music sessions are led by Colourstrings Associate Teacher Maria Chambers and are primarily a practical and natural way to introduce children to the world of music.

The Curriculum is based on the work of Kodály, a Hungarian musician who developed a system of teaching children through singing, movement and dance. Maria is herself Hungarian and draws on her heritage to make these sessions richly rewarding but also great fun.

One of the strengths of this approach is that the children sing, dance and play percussion instruments in a constructive way from the very start. They are the ones who create the music and this enhances their confidence, social skills and wellbeing. Many of the songs used are English, with a strong emphasis on folk and nursery melodies. To book your first free session please contact Maria Chambers on 01483 808 643 or 07843054940 or email: colourstringsmusicgroups@gmail.com. www.facebook.com/maria.chambers.969

A Headstart in French with Alouette Researchers agree that acquiring a second language is easiest and most natural at a young age. They have also demonstrated that it helps to develop concentration and memory as well as increasing a child’s cognitive ability and motor skills.

To benefit from these advantages and gain a headstart at school, why not enrol your child at Alouette where French is taught in a fun and relaxed atmosphere? In classes or private tuition, the local qualified teacher, who is originally from Paris, promotes communication skills and encourages confidence in the language.

Alouette classes are held in Farnham and in Frimley Green.

For French private tuition please enquire. For more information call 07759 812 016, email alouetteclub@yahoo.com visit www.alouette-french.com

Why Modern Mummies love Busylizzy Those technical whizzes at Busylizzy, the award winning family club, have made life even easier for modern mummies on the go – Busylizzy members can now view, book, cancel and reschedule classes on the move with its new smartphone app. The app is super-easy to navigate - there’s Zero even the added functionality of interactive maps for class joining fee location info and directions so you’ll never get lost on your in January way to a new class whilst juggling buggies and nappy bags!

- save £99

It’s also Busylizzy bargain time with their zero joining fee offer during the month of January (typically £99). Join today and have immediate access to the online booking system and App where you can book into over 50 different classes, talks and events all in fabulous venues across Guildford and Farnham. What more could a modern mummy ask for? Visit www.busylizzy.co.uk to join and view joining fee offer terms.

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Turtle Tots swim into Farnham and Guildford!

Turtle Tots is coming to West Surrey in January 2014 with classes in warm water pools in Farnham, Bordon and Guildford.

The unique swimming programme begins with aqua natal yoga and continues with specialist and progressive baby and toddler classes. Your little one will develop water confidence and learn key lifesaving skills in a sociable environment, whilst carers are also put through their paces and can burn off up to 250 calories!

Rachel has taught babies to swim for the last 4.5 years and has a wealth of experience working in physiology and coaching roles with the GB Swimming team & Disability Swimming Team. She also provides Performance Lifestyle advice to the GB Synchronised Swimming team based at the Garrison pool in Aldershot. So come out of your shell and learn to swim the Turtle Tots way. For more information contact Rachel on 07786 176219 or email surrey@turtletots.com or visit www.turtletots.com.

£10 off for new students who start before 1st Feb 2014 Dynamic Performing Arts offer a wide variety of classes from street

New Classes at the School that Loves to Dance, Perform and Act!

dance, ballet, drama, ISTD modern and all round performance classes in Surrey for 2 - 16 years. All students will gain confidence and performance skills with the guidance of their friendly and expert tutors. New classes are launching in 2014 in the following areas: Woking, Worplesdon, Wokingham, Pyrford, Guildford and Esher. The school has 5 areas of interest: * Dynamic Tots – fun and creative ballet and street dance classes for 2-6 years * Dynamic Dance and Drama – graded syllabus and performance classes for all levels and abilities * Dynamic Parties – tailor made dance parties for 2-6 years * Holiday Stars – themed dance, drama and arts & crafts camps for 3-6 years Get in touch today and become part of this vibrant performing arts school. Visit www.dynamicperformingarts.co.uk or email: info@dynamicperformingarts.co.uk or call Antonia on 07766 077043.

Brand New Spanish and French Classes La Jolie Ronde classes are based on games, songs and interactive activities, where children aged 4 to 11 learn while having fun and using lots of energy!

Sessions are in small groups of 12, so that children get plenty of individual attention and support. Camila Leslie is launching new Spanish and French classes in Shalford (10 mins from Guildford town centre). The first class is free, so children can try before enrolling. To book call Camila on 07748424204 or email camilacharria_leslie@yahoo.co.uk.

TinyTalk Introduce New Interactive Sensory Activities to Help Babies to Talk Now in its 12th year, TinyTalk is taking its classes to the next level in January, with new hands-on, sensory activities and a range of bright sensory toys. As well as teaching baby signing using BSL signs, classes will help babies develop their fine motor skills and hand co-ordination skills needed to make signs, develop babbling skills needed to make spoken words and help them to focus their visual skills, needed for watching someone speaking to them.

Tiny Talk teacher Katherine Preston took her own babies to Tiny Talk classes before training to run classes over two years ago. The new training brings an even wider range of activities to Tiny Talk classes. As Katherine said’ “We’re all happier when we understand each other!”

Classes in Dorking, Reigate and Bookham. Find your nearest class at www.tinytalk.co.uk or call Katherine on 07599 551882.

Clubs and Classes News MultiSports Encourages Children to get Active Local parents seeking to provide their children with exciting weekend activities can enrol their children now for the MultiSports Woking Spring term. MultiSports offers a wide variety of sports and team building challenges which stimulate and educate children aged 4-16 of all abilities, boosting their physical activity levels, while providing freedom and peace of mind for parents, who can relax in the knowledge that their children are safe and having fun.

Activities are categorised into three main groups – Team Sports, Individual Sports and Team Building Challenges and include archery, football, fencing, martial arts, badminton, netball, volleyball, cricket and basketball as well as more unusual sorts such as tambourelli and tchoukball. Across the course of a year your child will participate in and enjoy 18 different sports!

Little Sporties sessions run for 90 minutes for 4 & 5 year olds and Main school sessions are for 3 hours for 6-16 year olds at the weekends. To enrol your child or find out more about MultiSports Woking call 0844 335 0450 or visit www.themultisportsgroup.co.uk

SYNERGY Dance™ - Get Your School Involved in a New Sponsored Dance Program Many children and teenagers are not suited to team sports and prefer a dance option.

The SYNERGY Dance™ program mixes Street, Jazz, Break-Dancing, Disco, Ballroom & Latin and Football anthems™ routines. Class models are tailored to fit specific age groups and music tastes for both boys and girls. SYNERGY Dance™ also combines Drama & Dance (Impro-dance™), with pupil-led choreography and an optional section on improvisation and creative work with steps/freestyle dance.

We also do parties for 2-11yrs

Join us for weekly adventures in Godalming, Farnham & Guildford Active Adventures, Arty Adventures and Outdoor Adventures for walking up to 5yrs

Also holiday events for up to 8yrs

07956 182488 www.actoneadventures.co.uk

Location: Classes are currently running in State and Private schools, during or after school and may be hosted at Godalming Leisure Centre. 20% discount offered to schools offering classes to more than one year group.

After School Clubs, Holiday Clubs, Private tuition, teambuilding workshops for adults and dance party packages for children also available.

If you would like your school to offer SYNERGY Dance™ please contact Rachael Swann for a taster class, brochure or further information on: Info@synergydance.co.uk or tel: 07713 254260. See website: http://synergydance.co.uk/

Save £40 Special Offer for New Perform Venue at Perform Perform is excited to announce they are opening another drama school for 4-8 year olds in Frimley

Frimley in January. They offer an impressive range of after school classes, holiday workshops, drama in schools and drama themed birthday parties. The focus is exclusively on the 4 C’s, Confidence, Concentration, Communication and Co-ordination. Each term, Perform focuses on a different theme and in Spring 2014 the children will visit ‘The Wonderful Wild West’ and be trained up as junior cowboys and cowgirls and go on an adventure to rescue the horse with the golden mane.

Perform are offering every reader a £40 discount off a block of 10 sessions in January. Please quote Families offer. To book a free trial contact 0845 400 1280 or email enquiries@perform.org.uk. www.perform.org.uk.

0845 052 1347

www.sport4kids.biz

FOOTBALL CLASSES S4K TOTS

18 months to 3 years

S4K KICKERS 3 to 5 years

S4K STRIKERS 5 to 7 years

S4K ACADEMY 7 +years

Classes in Haslemere for babies, toddlers & preschoolers.

Contact Ali for a FREE trial session!

07867 558807 ajar.wynne001@btinternet.com www.kindermusikwithali.co.uk

Guildford ITF Taekwon-Do

. .

Fitness Fun Self-defence Programmes for 3-6 year olds,

Classes Haslemere 7-11in year oldsfor and 12-adult babies, toddlers & preschoolers.

Teaches life skills

Contact Ali for a FREE trial session! including: 07867 558807 ajar.wynne001@btinternet.com www.kindermusikwithali.co.uk Self Discipline

POPULAR DEVELOPMENT CENTRES

WOKING/GUILDFORD

CHERTSEY

FARNBOROUGH

CAMBERLEY

Christ’s College

Salesian School

Wavell School

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Work and Money Aiming to work flexibly? Think carefully before you ask your employer

By Mandy Garner, editor of Workingmums.co.uk

This year the right to request flexible working, which has previously only applied to parents and carers, will extend to all employees. Employers can turn down a request on any of eight grounds so it pays to think carefully before you lodge a request. Below are some tips which might get you the flexibility you need.

1. Check out what your company’s policy is on flexible working. All companies are obliged to consider flexible working, but they are not obliged to agree to every request. However, some companies are more innovative in their policy on flexible working and may already have trialled different forms of flexible working from the usual ones of working different shift patterns or cutting your hours. For instance, they might offer term-time only working or working from home or annualised hours.

2. Be clear about the hours you want to work and how you want to work them, for instance, could you do some of your work at home in order to cut down on travelling time? Look at your childcare options too and ensure they fit with your working hours. Can you afford to work part time? Or does working full-time and paying full-time childcare work out to be uneconomical? Can your partner also go part time so you can split the childcare or picking up times?

3. Once you know the hours you want to work and how, make a business

plan which emphasises the advantages for both you and the company of working this way. For example, you could say there are aspects of your job – research, reading, data input – that could be done better at home with

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no other distractions around. Think through the logistics from both your and your employer’s perspective and prepare a compromise solution. Give yourself plenty of time for negotiations. It is best, for instance, to at least open conversations on flexible working before you go on maternity leave rather than a week before you return, even if your situation or ideas about working patterns might alter after the birth.

4. Talk to other people in your company and elsewhere who have

negotiated flexible working and ask them about their experiences and tips.

5. Put your request in writing to your line manager and sign and date the letter.

6. Your employer then has 28 days to arrange a meeting with you to discuss your request. Be calm and business-like in your negotiations. Don’t lose your calm if they turn you down flat [this is actually proof that they are not abiding by the legislation as they should at least consider your case properly and give you reasonable grounds for turning you down].

Similarly if they do not reply to your request, this goes against the legislation. Try to pre-empt any concerns they have and suggest ways that you would address them. This is where a compromise suggestion may come in handy or you could propose that you work the new pattern for a trial period, subject to review. Your employer should reply in writing within 14 days of the meeting.

7. If you suspect your manager has not followed procedures properly or

has not given due attention to your case, make an appeal to his or her line manager within 14 days of receipt of their decision. Reasonable grounds for dismissing requests for flexible working include that it would have a detrimental effect on other staff or on the company’s ability to meet customer need, but these need to be fleshed out.

8. If this appeal is not successful, you could lodge a claim with an employment tribunal on the grounds of sex discrimination, particularly if the decision forces you to leave your job.

Mandy Garner is editor of Workingmums.co.uk, Jobsite and community for workingmums. Visit the site to search for flexible jobs, or to find advice on flexible working or starting your own business.

For more ideas about working around your family why not visit The Work & Family Show (www.theworkandfamilyshow.co.uk) which takes place beside the hugely popular Baby Show at London’s ExCeL in February 2014. The event will give working parents and career break women access to practical advice, inspiration and ideas to help you create a happy and healthy work/life balance.

Banishing the wet monster:

Parenting

How to help your child overcome wetting the bed

By Elisabeth Dolton

W

etting the bed has been the hardest childhood ailment for my children to grow out of.

Banishing that wet monster did not come easy and we are not alone. Although all children eventually gain bladder control at night, they do so at different ages, and many children over the age of five still frequently wet the bed. In fact, around 1 in 7 children aged five, and 1 in 20 children aged ten, are frequent bedwetters.

Why children wet the bed is hotly debated.

The majority of bedwetting is inherited. For three out of four kids, either a parent or close relative also wet the bed in childhood. Other causes are overactive bladder syndrome (involuntary passing of urine), or not enough hormone that regulates urine production.

Researchers have found that deep sleepers are more likely to wet the bed, as the brain doesn't get the signal that the bladder is full. Children sometimes don’t go to the toilet due to fears such as being scared of the dark. Starting to wet the bed especially after being dry can be due to emotional problems such as stress and anxiety. Although rare, constipation, diabetes, or an infection can cause bedwetting. Experts agree there is no one single cause of bedwetting, and there are a number of methods that can help.

Drinking and eating

“Avoid or limit foods that are spicy, or high in sugar or fat, including fizzy drinks,” says Alyson Carter, a Registered Nutritional Therapy Council Practitioner. “These foods can irritate or inflame the bladder, loosening the muscles, making it harder for a child to keep control.”

Fresh foods, and calming foods such as oats, are recommended. Alyson also advises restricting fluids from around 1 ½ hours before bedtime.

Support

Parents may be embarrassed to broach the subject, but your GP can take blood and urine tests to rule out any illness or infection, or refer you to a clinic. “We went to see our child’s teacher,” said Sarah, with 7 year old Isabella “and discussed how children asked and went to the toilet. We asked her to help ensure our daughter went to the toilet regularly.”

Exercises

There are specific exercises that can strengthen or expand a child’s bladder. “Our doctor suggested that when my son needed to toilet, I make him wait at least 10–20 minutes longer.

This helped his bladder expand,” said Lisa, mum to three boys. Another exercise is when they are on the toilet have them go, then stop for

a few seconds, then go again, so that they are strengthening the muscles.

Lifting and night pants

Waking your child to go to the toilet, and wearing night pants can increase confidence and help for sleepovers. However some believe these should be avoided because they interfere with the child’s individual motivation to wake up and use the toilet.

Medical treatment

In persistent cases, desmopressin, a manufactured form of the hormone that decreases urine production, can be prescribed.

The effects are short term and the problem likely to reoccur when treatment is stopped.

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Behaviour therapy

For younger children motivating them with a sticker chart and rewards is effective. Selfawakening therapy helps older kids recognise when their bladder is full. A simple selfawakening routine may be just before they go to the toilet during the daytime, they lie down in their bedroom, pretend to sleep and think about their full bladder and needing to go.

Re-training

Bedwetting alarms specifically help train your child to wake when they have a full bladder.

The alarm’s sensor detects dampness and eventually, the child’s brain learns to pay attention to bladder signals and wakes up naturally before wetting the bed. “They have been so easy to use, the girls had no problem with them and the message really got through,” said Kim, mum of two daughters. “The results were amazing. Not every child will react so quickly, but I would highly recommend giving it a try,” Sam. There is no doubt bedwetting feels embarrassing to talk about and it can be stressful, but every year 15% of children who wet the bed, become dry, with no intervention.

They will all outgrow it eventually, but if you and your child are motivated to get dry, choose your method and stay positive. It worked for us.

Thanks to Alyson Carter, Registered Nutritional Therapy Council Practitioner, www.nut4life.com You can contact her on 07816 981858.

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9

Nurseries Childcare Vouchers Are Being Replaced - it’s Mostly Good News!

By Ben Black

A

new Childcare Vouchers scheme comes into force in October 2015 and, despite what you might have read, the changes are mainly positive.

Here’s what you need to know: What’s Wrong with the Current Set Up? A number of things. Childcare Vouchers are employer-sponsored. About half of all employers STILL don’t have a childcare voucher scheme set up and if you’re selfemployed, vouchers are no help at all. In addition, if you’re one of the quarter of a million working parents who uses nannies/ au pairs or some form of informal childcare, you’re unlikely to have access to vouchers.

How Will the New Voucher Scheme Help?

The new scheme is broader and there is more money in the pot. In theory, it will cover 20% of all childcare costs up to £6,000 per year per child, for any family with parents who earn less than £150,000 each. There are far fewer hoops to jump through, nearly all working parents are supported and it’s a simple scheme.

accessing their scheme, but are likely to be eschewed by employers in favour of cheaper providers.

Under the new arrangements, parents will probably be able to register directly with voucher providers who are likely to be the same providers that currently dominate the market. The difference will be that the quality providers, such as care-4 and Computershare will be able to differentiate themselves by the level of consumer experience and service that they offer, rather than price alone.

So What are the Downsides?

There have been a few justifiable criticisms levelled at the new proposals. Chief amongst them is that not all the detail has been worked out yet. Some working parents may be worse off than before, whilst some wealthier parents may benefit slightly more.

The scheme will also only help those with children under 5.

Overall though, it looks like the majority of working parents will be better off under the new scheme. So, if you fall into this category, it’s good news. If not, then now is the time to be shouting as loudly as you can!

Children’s Day Nursery

Is it a Bad Thing to Take Employers Out of the Mix?

In a word, “no.” Many employers don’t have a vested interest in getting the best quality childcare voucher provider. Some, like care-4, offer a range of extras for parents

Ben Black is Managing Director of My Family Care which provides childcare support to employers at businesses such as P&G, Barclays, KPMG, Deloitte, and IBM. He is also one of the founding members of Tinies Childcare which has 20 nurseries/crèches and 30 childcare agencies under management throughout the UK. For further information, visit www.myfamilycare.co.uk

Nursery inspections get tough Ofsted are to toughen up their inspections of nurseries, day-care facilities and pre-schools, as figures show that over 150,000 children are enrolled in substandard settings. In future, all nurseries will be expected to achieve an outstanding or good rating, while those with lower ratings will potentially face closure.

Nurseries will now be in line with schools, in that there will no longer be a ‘satisfactory’ category.

Instead, nurseries considered to be underperforming must improve dramatically within two years, while those rated as inadequate will be reinspected in a matter of weeks, with the prospect of being de-registered and ultimately closed.

‘I wouldn’t have wanted my child to go to an inadequate nursery and I don’t believe that any other parent would either,’ said Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief executive of Ofsted. ‘So we’re going to be less tolerant. When we go back to re-inspect an inadequate setting and it hasn’t improved, it’s likely that we may take steps to cancel the registration.’

This is all part of Ofsted’s overhaul of the early years inspection system, amid fears that too many young children are languishing in inadequate and substandard care. But is this move as positive as it sounds? Davina Ludlow, director of daynurseries. co.uk, said, ‘While we believe that every child deserves the very best education, we are concerned about the impact this ‘downgrade’ could have on nurseries and hard-working staff members. The change being brought in by Ofsted risks adversely impacting staff motivation, resulting in more harm than good.’

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Nurseries How to choose your child’s nursery

By Joanna Moorhead

I

Looking round

t’s one of the most important decisions you’ve made for your child in his or her life so far. So which nursery is the right one – and how do you know? Joanna Moorhead shares some tips

To kick the process off, you’ll need to put together a list of nurseries in your area (or perhaps in the area where you work, if you’re thinking your child can be cared for at nursery while you work nearby).

Comb through the nurseries in your area online (see www.

FamiliesSurreyWest.co.uk/nurseries for a listing in your local area); look at the Ofsted reports for any you think sound promising. Think about what factors matter most to you in a nursery (see our checklist below) and then make appointments to look around a selection of those that have, or might have, vacancies.

There are all sorts of different nurseries out there. Big ones, small ones; ones run by the local council, and ones run by independent companies. There are nurseries attached to schools, and there are stand-alone nurseries. When you start out looking for one, the plethora of what’s out there can make it all seem very daunting.

When you look round, don’t be too anxious about all the questions you need to ask or whether you’re going to miss something vital.

Instead, switch on all your ‘vibes’ and take in the holistic sense of the place. Does it feel friendly, and welcoming, and a fun place to be, from what you can see of it? Do staff treat you warmly – are you convinced by what they’re telling you? Do you, in a nutshell, feel a sense of confidence about the place; would you feel confident about leaving the most important person Nursery & Preschool NurseryNursery & Preschool & Preschool in your life, your child, here in the Nursery & Preschool Nursery & Preschool care of the people you’ve met? If the answer is yes, the nursery you’ve just seen is a possible one for you; if you have any doubts whatsoever about this most crucial thing, cross it off your list at once.

But here’s the first, the most important, and possibly even the only thing you need to know about how to make your choice. Listen to the voice inside your head, heed your instinct about what’s right for your child, and you’ll almost certainly make the ‘correct’ choice. Because the truth, of course, is that there isn’t a ‘right’ nursery or a ‘wrong’ one; there is, however, a nursery that will suit your child best, because it will mesh in with your own and your partner’s ideas about how to raise a child, and what matters most in his or her life. All of which is why what you feel inside you about a nursery will give you the biggest guide as to what to go on.

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3toOpening Months 5 Years 3 Months AgeAge 3 Months 5 Years toto 5 Years times: 7.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday •Opening Safe Environment times: 7.30am 6.30pmMonday Monday to Friday Friday Opening times: 7.30am Opening to 6.30pm Opening times: Monday 7.30am times: to7.30am to Friday 6.30pm toto6.30pm Monday to Friday to

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about how important outdoor play is to your child, and decide how much 105 Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Surrey GU16 7AA. importance you’re going to attach to whether the nursery has a garden, 105 Portsmouth Road, www.treasuremontessori.co.uk Frimley, Surrey GU16 7AA. visit our website: how big it is and how many activities take place in it. You might alsoFrimley, want to Portsmouth 105 Portsmouth Road, 105 Surrey 105GU16 Portsmouth Road, 7AA. Frimley, Road, Surrey Frimley, 7AA. GU16 7AA. Age 3 Months to GU16 5Surrey Years consider how close it is to any busy roads, if traffic pollution is a concern. visit our website: www.treasuremontessori.co.uk visit our website: www.treasuremontessori.co.uk visit our website: visit Full our www.treasuremontessori.co.uk website: Day www.treasuremontessori.co.uk Care Opening times: 7.30am to 6.30pm Monday Wifi: do you have worries about wifi and its potential impact on young Age 3 Months to 5 Years children? If so, make sure you ask about whether there’s a wifi network at the nursery, and how extensive it is. See www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation Opening times: 7.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday for more on this issue.

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Routine v Freedom: How much of a daily schedule is there? Some

nurseries are quite structured, while others prefer to be child-led, with children moving between activities as they please. While freedom may seem preferable, if your child is very sensitive, he or she might prefer the security of a more calm, structured day.

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11

By Joanna Moorhead

A fierce battle has broken out between the Department of Education and a group of campaigners who say British children are being disadvantaged by going to school aged four.

Joanna Moorhead investigates.

When children start much too early at four, what is it that stems their creativity and reduces their chance of good exam results further down the line?

According to a growing group of educationalists, thinkers, teachers and parents, the blight on the lives of young children is...school. Or at least, it’s too much school too soon – and that, according to the backers of a new campaign, is exactly what’s happening to thousands of British fouryear-olds each year.

The argument put forward by the Save Childhood Movement, which is running the ‘Too Much, Too Soon’ campaign in favour of waiting until children are six before they go to school, is that young children need the chance to play, and should not be shoehorned into ‘learning’ too early.

The campaigners say that in other parts of the world, early childhood is recognised as a valuable phase of development in its own right – whereas in Britain, it’s seen solely as preparation for school.

Misconceptions

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There’s a misconception in Britain, say the campaigners, that starting early with school means settling down to learn more quickly, and achieving more in the long term. But, they say, that’s not borne out by what happens in other countries. “Children who enter school at six or seven – after several years of high quality nursery education – consistently achieve better educational results as well as higher levels of wellbeing,” said 127 senior educational figures in a letter to the Daily Telegraph in September.

“The success of the Scandinavian system suggests that many problems in English education – such as the widening gap in achievement between rich and poor, problems with boys’ literacy, and the ‘summerborns’ issue – could be addressed by fundamentally re-thinking our early years policies.”

Specifically, the Too Much Too Soon campaign is calling for

• the early years to be re-established as a unique development stage in its own right

• protection for the rights of young children to develop naturally • an end to baseline testing • a new emphasis on the importance of play Link with mental health For the Too Much Too Soon lobby, the emphasis on formal education from a young age is part of a mindset that sees testing and academic pressure as good for young people – whereas they believe it’s harmful rather than helpful. They point out, for example, that the now-implemented Year One Phonics Screening Check in English primary schools is unnecessary and say there’s little correlation between the results of the phonics check and a child’s reading achievements at the end of Year 2.

They point out, too, that prescriptions of Ritalin for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, have quadrupled in the last ten years, and many believe the drug is being used to ‘normalise’ behaviour that may partly have come from having too many expectations heaped on them at too young an age. Mental health disorders among children and young people are also on the rise – again, the question the campaigners ask is whether that could be linked with early pressure at school.

The Department for Education has hit back at the Too Much Too Soon campaign, saying it amounts to a call for dumbing down. Those behind it were a “powerful and badly misguided lobby who are responsible for the devaluation of exams and the culture of low expectations in state schools,” according to a DoE spokesman. “We need a system that aims to prepare pupils to solve hard problems in calculus or be a poet or engineer – a system freed from the grip of those who bleat bogus pop-psychology about ‘self image’, which is an excuse for not teaching poor children how to add up.”

Barfield Nursery Celebrate in Nursery World Awards Barfield Nursery are thrilled to announce that Miss Ange, one of their long standing nursery teachers, came joint-second in the Nursery World Awards 2013 and was awarded Highly Commended as Nursery Practitioner of the Year 2013. Miss Ange was shortlisted to eight finalists from hundreds of applications from across the country. The judges praised Miss Ange for her long standing loyalty to Barfield having taught there for 22 years, personally caring for over 250 children. The judges felt she showed a deep understanding of the needs of individual children, seeking out and supporting their individual interests. Barfield Nursery was also a finalist in the Enabling Environments category which judges nurseries on the creation of stimulating, child-centred learning environments, inside and out, in line with the principles of EYFS. www.barfieldschool.com

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19 Boxgrove Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 2TD Tel: 01483 877975 email: starfish@brighthorizons.com

A home from home environment for your child Come and see how our nursery and preschool caters for all of your child's needs. We welcome babies from 3 months up to 5 years old

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www.brighthorizons.co.uk

01252 782271 • admin@barfieldschool.com • www.barfieldschool.com Registered in England. Company No. 755754 - Registered Charity No 312085

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Schools and Education INDEPENDENT SC HOOL OPEN DAYS Please contact the school to see if you need to register in advance for their open day School

Open Day Date

Aldro School, Shackleford 01483 409020

Sat 1 March 11am-12.30pm.

Boys 7-13 years.

Amesbury School, Hindhead 01428 604322

Thurs 6 Feb. Mixed 2-13 years.

Barfield School, Runfold, Farnham 01252 782271

Fri 24 Jan 9.30-11.30am.

Barrow Hills, Witley 01428 683639

Sat 8 March and Mon 10 March 10am-12pm.

Mixed 3-13 years.

Belmont Preparatory School Holmbury St Mary 01306 730852

Fri 7 March.

Mixed 2-13 years.

Coworth Flexlands School, Chobham 01276 855707

Thurs 6 March 9.30-11am, Sat 8 March 10am-12pm.

Boys 3-7 years, Girls 3-11 years.

Cranleigh Prep School, Cranleigh 01483 542051

Sat 1 March 9.45am.

Mixed 7-13 years.

Cranmore School, West Horsley 01483 280340

Fri 28 Feb and Sat 1 March 9.30am -12pm Boys 2 ½-13 years, Girls 2 ½-4 years.

Mixed 2-13 years.

Duke of Kent School, Ewhurst 01483 277313

Fri 28 Feb from 9.30am Mixed 3-16 years.

Edgeborough, Frensham 01252 792495

Please contact the school.

Mixed 2-13 years.

Farlington School, Horsham 01403 254967

Wed 15 Jan 9.15am Boys 3-4 years, Girls 3-18 years.

Frensham Heights, Rowledge 01252 792561

Please contact the school.

Mixed 3-18 years.

Glenesk School, E Horsley 01483 282329

Thurs 13 Feb 10am.

Mixed 2-7 years.

Greenfield School, Woking 01483 772525

Please call the school.

Mixed 3-11 years.

Guildford High School, Guildford 01483 543853

Junior School: Thurs 30 Jan, Wed 5 March 10am.

Senior School: Wed 29 Jan, Tues 11 Feb, Thurs 13 March 10am.

Girls 4-18 years.

Halstead Prep School, Woking 01483 772682

Sat 8 March.

Girls 3-11 years.

Haslemere Prep School, Haslemere 01428 642350

Please call the school.

Boys 2-13 years, Girls 2-4 years.

Highfield and Brookham School Liphook 01428 728000

Sat 8 Feb 9.30am-12pm (for ages 8-13) and Mon 10 Feb 9.30-11.30am (for ages 3-7). Mixed 3-13 years.

Hoe Bridge School, Woking 01483 760018

Mon 3 March 9.30-11.30am.

Mixed 2 ½-13 years.

ISL Surrey Woking 01483 750409 admissions@islsurrey.org

Every day is an Open Day at ISL Surrey. Booking essential.

Mixed 2-15 years, increasing to age 18 by 2016

Lanesborough School, Guildford 01483 880650

Please call the school.

Boys 3-13 years.

Longacre School, Shamley Green 01483 893225

Please call the school.

Mixed 2 ½-11 years.

Manor House School, Bookham 01372 457077

Tues 11 Feb 9.30-11am.

Girls 2-16 years.

Moon Hall School, Holmbury St Mary 01306 731464

Please contact the school.

Specialist school for dyslexic children aged 7-11 years.

Pennthorpe School, Rudgwick 01403 822391

Sat 8 March, Tues 11 March 9.30am-12pm. Mixed 2-13 years.

Ripley Court, Ripley 01483 225217

Please contact the school.

Mixed 3-13 years.

The Royal School Haslemere/Hindhead 01428 603052

Please contact the school Girls 6 wks-18yrs, Boys 6 wks-11yrs

Rydes Hill School, Guildford 01483 563160

Fri 31 Jan, Mon 10 Feb, Sat 22 March 10am-12pm.

Boys 3-7 years, Girls 3-11 years.

St Andrews School, Horsell 01483 760943

Fri 14 March 9-11am.

Mixed 3-13 years.

St Catherine’s School, Bramley 01483 899665

Mon 20 Jan, Mon 3 March 9.30am.

Girls 4-18 years.

St Edmund’s School, Hindhead 01428 609875

Sat 8 March.

Mixed 2-16 years.

St Hilary’s School, Godalming 01483 416551

Mon 10 Feb, Tues 13 May 10-11.30am.

Boys 2-7 years, Girls 2-11 years.

St Ives School, Haslemere 01428 643734

Fri 28 Feb, Sat 1 March 9.30am-12pm.

Girls 2-11 years, Boys 2-4 years.

St Nicholas’ School, Fleet 01252 850121

Sat 1 March 10am-1pm.

St Teresa’s Effingham 01372 452 037

Fri 2 May. Girls 2-18 years.

Tormead School, Guildford 01483 796040 Girls 4-18 years.

Junior School: Tues 11 March, Fri 25 April 9.15-11am.

Senior School: Wed 5 March, Mon 24 March 9.30-11.30am

Boys 3-7 years, Girls 3-16 years.

Bringing out ‘‘ the best in boys’’

A day in the life of Aldro... come and see for yourself ALDRO OPEN MORNING Saturday 1 March 2014 • 11:00am–12:30pm If you would like to attend an Open Morning, to request a prospectus, or to arrange an individual tour, please contact the Admissions Manager on 01483 409019 or email: admissions@aldro.org Aldro, Lombard Street, Shackleford, Godalming, Surrey GU8 6AS www.aldro.org

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Surrey West

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Schools and Education

School News When Words Are Worth a Thousand Pictures In his eighth year as Headmaster of Barrow Hills School, Mr Matthew Unsworth decided his school needed a new prospectus. The result is probably unique in the UK – a book of good quality, fitting well in the hand.

Something to take time over, to read and ponder. And there are no pictures.

The prospectus speaks from the heart, his heart, about what he personally loves about Barrow Hills, what the school stands for and why parents and their children should come and see it for themselves. The pictures are in the words.

GCSE 87% A*–B 2013

Mr Unsworth comments, ‘Take half an hour in an armchair with this little book.

Devote the time to think more deeply about your child’s future. If what you read chimes true, then come and visit. I ask no more.’ For more details or to request a prospectus please call 01428 683639 or visit www.barrowhills.org.uk

Open Morning

Cranmore School to Take Girls up to 7 from September 2014

Come and look around Manor House School, meet the pupils and staff and discover what makes our girls happy, successful and conf ident.

Cranmore School in West Horsley, which has been an independent preparatory school for boys since its foundation almost 50 years ago, has announced that it will expand to educate girls up to the age of 7 from September 2014. It introduced girls into its nursery department, Bright Stars at Cranmore, four years ago.

Tuesday 11 February | 9.30–11.00am Head’s welcome talk at 9.30am

The independent school for girls aged 2–16 Manor House School, Manor House Lane, Little Bookham, Surrey KT23 4EN

To register or for further information call 01372 457077 or email marketing @ manorhouseschool.org www.manorhouseschool.org

Headmaster, Michael Connolly, commented, “The introduction of co-education in our nursery has been a tremendous success and there has been considerable demand for us to extend this so that girls can benefit from the exceptional opportunities which are currently enjoyed by the boys. Our 2013 Inspection Report endorsed the ‘outstanding’ provision for young children at Cranmore.”

St Nicholas’ School FLEET•HAMPSHIRE

CONFIDENT LEARNING Open Morning Saturday 1st March 10am-1pm

✆ 01252 850121 st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk registrar@st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk St Nicholas’ School, Redfields House, Redfields Lane, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 ORF Registered in England Reg. No. 872200 Reg. Charity No. 307341

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Surrey West

6 steps to a smarter child School is about to get tougher, but there are many ways you can help boost your child’s brain power.

Education Secretary Michael Gove’s plans for a more rigorous school curriculum introduces fractions for five-year-olds, a complete sweep of British history and a comprehensive survey of Shakespeare. But there is plenty you can do to help your children meet these tougher standards.

1. Give them a good breakfast. A

high-protein diet can feed those little grey cells, increasing the size of the brain’s caudate nucleus, associated with higher intelligence. Add nuts to cereal to boost the protein content of their cereals or make a high-protein smoothie with yoghurt.

2. Make sure they eat their greens

(and yellows, reds and oranges).

Children who eat a diet high in fruit and veg have higher IQs than those who subsist on processed and sugary foods.

3. Feed them the good fats. Omega-3

essential fatty acids (EFAs) in fish oils can dramatically accelerate learning, as well as protecting the brains of your children from the worst effects of junk food. Don’t shy away from fish. Although concerns have been raised about mercury levels and other pollutants, the goodness in fish outweighs any dangers. Also, always choose butter over margarine and fullfat milk over skimmed.

Schools and Education

4. Chuck them outside. Children stay

indoors so much these days that many are low in vitamin D, which can lead to high blood pressure, rickets and unhealthy bones. Vitamin D is also crucial for the development of the nervous system, including the brain.

Make sure children are outside for at least 15 minutes a day, and unless they burn easily, don’t put sunscreen on them until they’ve been out in the sun for at least 10 minutes.

5. Don’t allow your children to have ‘silver’ fillings. Research has found a direct link between levels of mercury in the mother’s hair at the time of birth and the likelihood of the child developing ADHD. Aluminium sulphate present in our water supply has also been found to cause brain damage.

Never cook with aluminium utensils and opt for an under-sink filtration system that removes all heavy metals like lead from the water supply.

6. Encourage them to meditate.

Meditation appears to permanently enhance brain receptivity. Besides increasing mental ability, meditation also seems to integrate emotional and cognitive processes, so aiding intuitive learning.

This is a shortened version of a story that was first published in the magazine What Doctors Don’t Tell You, available in selected retailers like WHSmith or by subscription. See www.wddty.com.

Where every child has a front row seat • Self-contained Nursery • ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted • Low student-teacher ratio • Ages 2-15 (rising to 18 by 2016) • Means-tested bursaries available

To arrange a visit, contact 01483 750 409 admissions@islsurrey.org Less than 10 minutes from Woking train station

Old Woking Road Woking, Surrey GU22 8HY www.islsurrey.org

GCSE shake up In the latest in a number of moves to make GCSEs more demanding, the Education Secretary has announced the introduction of a new curriculum. Under these more challenging examinations, students will be expected to memorise maths formulae and concentrate more on spelling, punctuation and grammar, plus studying more pre-20th century authors. The new curriculum begins in September 2015 with the first exams being taken in English and Maths in summer 2017. The exams will also end the use of A* to G letter grades in favour of a numbered scale from nine to one, with nine being the highest grade. Plus, course modules and assessments will be dropped, with grades determined by only one exam for most subjects.

ST HILARY’S SCHOOL IAPS Preparatory Day School & Nursery Boys 2-7 • Girls 2-11

OPEN DAYS 2014

Monday 10 February • 10am - 11.30am Tuesday 13 May • 10am - 11.30am

EXPLORE • ENCOURAGE • EDUCATE

www.sthilarysschool.com • registrar@sthilarysschool.com 01483 416551 • Holloway Hill, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1RZ

Please let our advertisers know you saw their details here - thanks

®

Surrey West

15

What’s On Diary Wed 1 - Fri 31 January Playzone Pass, Fishers Farm Park Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, W Sussex 01403 700063 Fishers have recently opened their brand new Baby Sensory Room, Toddlers ‘Squishy Farmyards’ and the Giant Super Slides as an added extra to their fantastic Indoor Soft Play Facilities. This Playzone Pass gives you entry to all the indoor soft play.

Adult £2, child £6.

Friday 10 January No Place Like Home Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 10.30-11.30am for under 5s with an adult. Adult £1, child £2, no need to book. Come and see the amazing dolls’ house, listen to a story and make your own collage of a house.

Saturday 11 January Museum Explorers Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 10.30am-12pm. For 5-11 years.

Mem £5, non-mem £7 booking advisable. Try out new trails and visit parts of the Museum you have not seen before.

Wild Club, Sayers Croft Trust Cranleigh Rd, Ewhurst 01483 275990 10am-12pm. Free drop-in club for 0-5 years with an adult.

stargazing and planet spotting with telescopes and expert advice.

Thursday 16 January Stars at Clandon See listing on Wed 15 January.

Friday 17 January Museum Monkeys Chertsey Museum 33 Windsor St, Chertsey 01932 565764 9.30-11am. For Under 5s with an adult. Please pre-book. £4.50 per child (discounts for siblings). Singing, stories and crafts.

Painting for Under 5s The Lightbox Chobham Rd, Woking 01483 737837 11-11.45am. £3 per child, adult goes free. Please pre-book.

Saturday 18 January Jaunty Jacobeans, Elmbridge Museum Church St, Weybridge 01932 843573 Learn about the Jacobeans and create your own print. 2.10-4.30pm (doors open 2pm). £1.50 per child payable on the door. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Sat 18 Jan - Sun 9 March Butterflies in the Glasshouse RHS Garden Wisley Woking GU23 6QB Exotic butterflies take flight amongst the plants in the glasshouse. Included in admission.

Sat 18 Jan - Mon 5 May

Watts Gallery Down Lane, Compton, Guildford 01483 810235 Art Club: Crochet £6, £5 friends. 10.30am-1pm for 1012yrs and 2-4.30pm for 13-16yrs. Try this traditional craft and make unusual accessories. Please pre-book.

Mini Curators: Folktales, Fairies and Fans 11am-12pm. Free. For ages 5+. Hear strange stories, find the fairies and make a folktale or fairy fan. No booking needed.

Brain Drain Show The Look Out Discovery Centre Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell 01344 354400 Shows only run at weekends and Bracknell school holidays. The show investigates how the human brain works, including memory, imagination and optical illusions.

For 4yrs+. At 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3.15pm. £1.85 + admission to the hands-on science and nature exhibition. (Minimum of 10 people are needed for shows to proceed).

Sunday 19 January

Half Price Entry, Painshill Park Portsmouth Rd, Cobham 01932 868113 10.30am-4pm (last entry 3pm).

Adult £3.85, child £2.10. Half price every Monday in January.

Family Fun Sundays, Clandon Park West Clandon, Nr Guildford 01483 222482 11am-3pm. Enjoy a wintry trail through the grounds and arts and crafts activities in the vaulted servants’ hall. Adult £5.10, child £2.50, NT members free.

Tuesday 14 January

Tuesday 21 January

Camouflage Masks Surrey Heath Museum Knoll Rd, Camberley 01276 707 284 For under 5’s. Drop-in from 10.30am-12pm. 50p donation.

Storytelling for under 5s The Lightbox Chobham Rd, Woking 01483 737800 11-11.40am. Suggested donation £2.

Stories and hands-on creative fun.

First-served basis from 10.30am.

Monday 13 January

Wednesday 15 January Stars at Clandon, Clandon Park West Clandon, nr Guildford 01483 222482 Adult £2, Child £1, prebooked schools free. An evening of

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

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Surrey West

Friday 24 January Space Explorers Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112

1.30-2.30pm for under 5s with an adult. Adult £1, child £2, no need to book. Learn all about the wonders of space, listen to a story and create your very own universe!

Saturday 25 January Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend Claremont Landscape Garden Portsmouth Rd, Esher 01372 467806 10am-3pm. Included in admission.

Big Garden Birdwatch Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 11am-4pm for all the family. Free no booking needed. Have fun making bird cakes, doing craft activities and discovering the birds in both the Museum grounds and galleries.

3D Winter Wonderland Surrey Heath Museum Knoll Rd, Camberley 01276 707 284 Drop in craft session from 10.30am12pm. £2.50 per child. Create a winter scene.

Sunday 26 January Family Fun Sundays Clandon Park See entry on 19 Jan. Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend Claremont See entry on 25 Jan.

Monday 27 January Outdoor Adventure Newlands Corner Shere Rd, Guildford. 10am. Come for a Chinese New Year themed walk in the woods. £3.50 per family places must be booked in advance. Call Joanne on 07956 182 488 or email joanne@actoneadventures.co.uk.

Saturday 1 February Shiver Me Timbers Alice Holt Forest Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham 01420 23666 10.30am-12pm. £8 per family.

For 6yrs+. An active ranger-led family walk with games for children and facts for adults. Take a closer look at the timber cycle, growing wood for building and wood for fuel. Includes a campfire, so bring marshmallows! Please pre-book.

15 Minutes of Fun - Paper Cut Monsters, Chertsey Museum 33 Windsor St, Chertsey 01932 565764 Free drop-in family event from 1.303.30pm.

Gong Hey Fat Choy Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 10.30am-12pm. For 5-11 yrs. Mem £5, non-mem £7 booking advisable.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year by exploring the traditions of this festival and have fun creating your own Chinese decorations and crafts.

Sunday 2 February Family Fun Sundays Clandon Park See 19 January.

Monday 3 February Wow Said The Owl Pop Up Adventure Enchanted Wood Toys 1-3 East St, Farnham 10am. Story, craft, drama and dance. Free but places must be booked in advance on 07956 182 488 or email joanne@actoneadventures.co.uk

Tuesday 4 February Storytelling for under 5s The Lightbox See entry on 21 Jan.

Friday 7 February Fascinating Fossils Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 10.30-11.30am for under 5s with an adult. Adult £1, child £2, no need to book. Travel back into the past to discover a time long ago through looking at fascinating fossils.

Saturday 8 February Playtime! Elmbridge Museum Church St, Weybridge KT13 8DE 01932 843573 Bring along a friend to play with a selection of historical games and toys. Then make your own terrific toy! Doors open 2pm.

Starts 2.10pm, finishes 4.30 pm. £1.50 per child. Children must be with an adult (Max 40 children).

Watts Gallery Down Lane, Compton, Guildford 01483 810235 Art Club: Draw £6, £5 Friends. 10.30am-1pm for 10-12yrs and 2-4.30pm for 1316yrs. Have fun developing drawing techniques and skills using an array of materials. Please pre-book.

Mini Curators: Seasonscape 11am-12pm. Free. Recommended for children aged 5+. See seasonal pictures and hear seasonal sounds then create your own seasonal work of art. No booking needed.

Wild Club - Grand Designs Sayers Croft Trust Cranleigh Rd, Ewhurst 01483 275990 10am-12pm. Free drop-in club for 0-5year olds with an adult. This month they will be making dens and testing them out.

Forever Young Family Crafts: Decopatch Animals West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 For ages 3+ with an adult. £3 each.

Please pre-book.

Sunday 9 February Family Fun Sundays Clandon Park See listing on 19 Jan.

Tuesday 11 February Buckingham Palace Soldiers Surrey Heath Museum Knoll Rd, Camberley 01276 707 284 For under 5’s. Drop-in from 10.30am-12pm. 50p donation.

Contact Families Surrey West on 01737 558898

What’s On Diary The Sayers Croft Trust The Sayers Croft Trust involves the local community, especially young people, in the enjoyment and care of the environment. We have 56 acres of ancient woodland, meadows, ponds and fields waiting to be explored and a huge number of ways that you can get involved...

Adventure activity days Conservation Birthday parties

Youth clubs

From Budget Bouncers to Serious Show Stoppers Stunning Castles for All Occasions

.

.

.

.

Castles Soft Play Sports Slides Toys

School and group day visits

...so don’t delay! Check out upcoming events on our website today and get ready for some fun!

Cranleigh Rd, Ewhurst, GU6 7SS www.sayerscrofttrust.org.uk 01483 275 990 trust@sayers-croft.org.uk

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

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0800 8620909 / 07890 400909

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SportsCoach Guildford is now taking bookings for SportsCoach Guildford the Spring term is now taking bookings for the Spring term

Book a taster session Multi-sports at weekends FREE two week trial New class for 4-16 year olds Improve your child’s study skills kumon.co.uk

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Multi-sports at weekends for 4-16 year To book call: olds

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Early Sporties for 4-6 year olds Main School for 6-16 year olds

Sportscoach is ideal for girls and boys of all abilities!

Childcare vouchers accepted

Razzle Dazzle Cheer and Dance Our bespoke children parties are a great way to entertain your child and their friends.

Now offering hula hooping and street dance parties, classes and workshops as well as Cheerleading!

Email us for more details. info@razzledazzlecheerleading.com Parties Classes Workshops Aftershool Clubs

www.razzledazzlecheerleading.com

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Surrey West

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What’s On Diary Friday 14 February Painting for Under 5s The Lightbox See entry on 17 Jan.

Saturday 15 February Comedy Club 4 Kids February Workshop, G Live London Rd, Guildford 0844 7701797 11.30am-2pm. Creative writing, sketch based comedy and comedy based games; similar to what you would see on Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. £20.

Please pre-book.

Sat 15 - Sun 23 February Half Term at Bocketts Farm Young Street, Leatherhead KT22 9BS 01372 363764 10am - 5.30pm.

There are up to 90 lambs due from 12th Feb - you may even see one being born! Birds of Prey will also be at the farm Monday-Friday where you can meet them up close and watch the flying demonstrations twice daily, along with the Pony Parlour, which will be open for pony grooming sessions throughout the day. There is a full programme of fun farm activities including pony rides, tractor rides, animal handling and pig racing. Plus there’s a large indoor area with a giant heated playbarn, trampolines and ride-on tractors for fun whatever the weather!

Bocketts Farm

Animal Fun Aldershot Military Museum Queens Av, Aldershot 0845 6035635 Open Wed - Fri 10am-5pm and Sat and Sun 11am-4pm. Drop in for animal-themed craft activities.

Butterflies, RHS Garden Wisley Woking GU23 6QB 0845 260 9000 Butterflies in the Glasshouse, plus different butterfly activities daily.

Please check www.rhs.org.uk/wisley for details. Free with admission.

Sunday 16 February Family Fun Sundays Clandon Park See listing on 19 Jan.

Mon 17 - Fri 21 February Half Term Fun Brooklands Museum Brooklands Drive, Weybridge 01932 857381 Vintage-style car rides from 11am-1pm and 2-3.30pm (subject to weather).

Half Term Story Telling Ham House and Garden Ham Street, Richmond TW10 7RS 0208 9401950 Popular holiday storytelling - included in admission.

MON 17 - SAT 22 FEBRUARY The Electric Theatre Family Festival, The Electric Theatre Onslow St, Guildford 01483 444789 Theatre, puppets, film, dancing and free storytelling.

Children’s Festival The West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 Great workshops, theatre and more.

Monday 17 February

Children’s Half Term Trail Winkworth Arboretum Hascombe Road, Godalming 01483 208477 10am-4pm. Admission + 50p for the trail. Get some fresh air as you walk around the Arboretum with the children’s trail.

Children’s Half Term Trail Claremont Landscape Garden Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG 01372 467806 Available daily 10am4pm. Have fun as you walk around the Garden with the children’s trail Admission + 50p for trail.

Match the Polesden Pairs Polesden Lacey Gt Bookham 01372 452048 Fun trail for half term. Admission + £1 per child for the trail. 11am-3.30pm.

Wiggly Week! Fishers Farm Park Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, W Sussex RH14 0EG 01403 700063 Meet a fang-tastic selection of creepy critters! Hug a bug, cradle a corn-snake, giggle with a gecko or tickle a tarantula. Discover the exhilarating new indoor soft play centre or snuggle inside the Barn Theatre for a special “Magic Show”!

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Surrey West

Street Magic Masterclass, G Live London Rd, Guildford 0844 7701797 10-4pm. Learn the tricks of the magical trade from awardwinning, professional magician Max Somerset. Discover sleight of hand, memory and misdirection techniques and receive specialist coaching to create a short performance routine. Put these new skills into action with an informal ‘mix and mingle’ event in the foyer at the end of the day. All abilities welcome. £30, Please pre-book.

Get Animated! PAG Family Festival, West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 A day full of music, art, dance and complimentary therapy for young people with special needs and their families. 10am-3pm. £3.

Tuesday 18 February Amazing Mazes Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 10.30am-12pm. For 5-11 yrs. Mem £5, non-mem £7 booking advisable.

Explore the world of mazes and how they feature in mythology and make a maze toy to take home.

West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 LEGO® Model Making Workshop Join the UK’s only LEGO®certified professionals, Bright Bricks, to make your own awesome LEGO® structure to take away.

For ages 6+ (over-12s may attend unaccompanied). 10am, 11.15am, 2.30pm and 3.45pm. £12.50. Please pre-book. Running time: 45 mins.

Music in the Morning A fun-filled 40 mins of music, games, songs and percussion activities for pre-school children and their families. Age: 0+ with an adult.

10.30am, 11.30am and 1.15pm.

FREE (please pre-book).

Edible Monsters Create a mouth-watering monster covered in delicious treats! For ages 3+ with an adult. 10.30am-12pm. £3. Please pre-book.

Woodland Animal Pinch Pots Make a pot featuring your chosen animal and take it home to be decorated. Dress for mess! For ages 3+ with an adult. 2-4pm. £6. Please pre-book.

Cake Decorating Decorate cupcakes together. For ages 8+ with an adult. 2-4pm. £5.

Please pre-book.

Pre School Drama and Music Workshop, Guildford Spectrum Parkway, Guildford 01483 443322 10-10.30am for 18 months - 2½yrs, £4 (with guardian) and 10.45am11.30am for 3-5 yrs, £5.60 (without guardian). Please pre-book.

Animal Themed Under 5’s Disco Mummas and Beans 10 Queen St, Godalming 10am.

Come and help celebrate Act One Adventures 5th Birthday with dancing, disco lights and animal songs. £5 and £2.50 siblings. Places must be booked in advance on 07956 182 488 or email joanne@actoneadventures.co.uk.

Creative Orchestra Course G Live London Rd, Guildford 0844 7701 797 On Tues 18 & Wed 19 Feb, 10am4pm. Young musicians will spend two days creating and performing a brand-new piece of music about their local area…from scratch! It is not essential to read music notation to join and any instrument/ background is welcome (participants must have their own musical instrument). £60 for 2 days. Please pre-book.

Holiday Activities Chertsey Museum 33 Windsor St, Chertsey 01932 565764 11am-12.30pm or 2-3.30pm for 5-12 yr olds. £4.50. Booking essential.

Penguins, The Lightbox Chobham Rd, Woking 01483 737800 Drop in family workshop from 1.304pm. Suggested donation £2. Make your own penguin. For ages 4+ with an adult. You may have to wait if the studio is full.

Den Building, Alice Holt Forest Alice Holt Forest Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham 01420 23666 Winter Wellies Ages 3-5 years with an adult. 10.3011.30am. £4 per child. An action packed session with some wild games to keep you warm. Wellies essential. Please pre-book.

Den Building Ages 8yrs+. 1-3pm. £8 per child.

Please pre-book. Rangers will show youngsters how to build a fun, safe shelter in the forest - book early!

Making Magic Photograms Farnham Maltings Bridge Sq, Farnham 01252 745444 10am–12pm or 2pm–4pm. Create amazing photograms in the Maltings’ darkroom. No camera required. £10.

For ages 7–12yrs. Please pre-book.

Craft Workshop, Princes Hall Princes Way, Aldershot 01252 329155 10am-4pm. £16. For ages 4-7 years. Please pre-book.

Fun in the Forest Meet at: Pucks Oak Barn, The Street, Compton GU3 1EG 10am-3.30pm.

Spend the day in the woods with Surrey Wildlife Trust playing games, cooking on a camp fire, building dens and being creative with wood. For ages 7-11. Booking essential on 07968 832509 or email outdoorlearning@ surreywt.org.uk. £15 per child.

Tues 18 - Fri 21 February Half-term at Clandon Clandon Park West Clandon, Guildford 01483 222482 11am-4pm. Fun activities for all the family. Adult £5.10, child £2.50, NT members free.

Wednesday 19 February Alice Holt Forest Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham 01420 23666 Now You See Us, Now You Don’t Ages 6 yrs+. 10.30-12pm. £8 per family. An active ranger-led family walk with games for children and facts for adults. Take a closer look at the animals living in the forest, the signs and traces they leave behind.

Includes making simple wildlife homes! Please pre-book.

Brilliant Bushcraft with Nigel Ages 8+. 11am-2pm. £12 per child. Grab yourself some bushcraft skills - food round the campfire, marshmallows, den building and a whole lot more! For more information and to book call 01420 476808 or see www.wildernesswatch.co.

Creative Orchestra Course G Live See entry on 18 February.

Reuse and Recycle Your Treasures, Surrey Heath Museum Knoll Rd, Camberley 01276 707 284 Holiday drop in workshop from 10.30am-12.30pm. £2.50 per child.

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

Undersea Explorers, Foxhills Stonehill Rd, Ottershaw, KT16 0EL 1.30-3pm. £12.50 per child. Jump into a swimming pool transformed into an underwater environment to discover the amazing marine wildlife in UK seas. For ages 7-11.

Booking essential on 07968 832509 or outdoorlearning@surreywt.org.uk.

Fantastical Creatures Museum of Farnham 38 West St, Farnham 01252 715094 Drop-in anytime from 11am–2pm, no booking needed. £3 per child.

Explore the world of Victorian story time with this fantastical creatures craft session. Open to all ages.

Wild Wednesday - Whatever the Weather!

Meet at: Newlands Corner Visitor Centre, Shere Rd, Guildford, GU4 8SE 10am-12pm or 1-3pm. Wildlife themed crafts and a walk with Ranger Lucy, to search for wildlife and the first signs of spring. For ages 5-9 with an adult. Booking essential on 01483 795471. Child £6, adults free.

Dance in a Day, Princes Hall Princes Way, Aldershot 01252 329155 10am-4pm for ages 6-10 years. £16 please pre-book. Learn new dance moves and skills, meet new friends, build confidence and work on a number of short choreographed pieces that will be performed to parents at the end of the day.

Water Landscape Painting The Lightbox Chobham Rd, Woking 01483 737837 2-4pm for 8-16 year olds. Join Jan Rubin to have a go at painting your own water landscape on canvas using acrylic paints. Please pre-book. £6.50.

Guide Headquarters, Guildford Places must be booked in advance for both these sessions on 07956 182 488 or email joanne@actoneadventures.co.uk Pirate & Princess Party for Under 5’s 9.45-11.30am. Come and help celebrate Act One Adventures 5th Birthday with stories, drama, dance, games and arts and crafts. £10 and £5 for siblings.

Superhero Adventure Afternoon 2-4pm. For 4-8 year olds. Become your own superhero. Make a Superhero costume, learn Superhero skills and save the world.

Play in a Day The Electric Theatre Onslow St, Guildford 01483 444789 10am-5.30pm. Learn a play and perform it in just a day. £25, suitable for ages 8-12 years. Please pre-book Point! Shoot!, Farnham Maltings Bridge Sq, Farnham 01252 745444 10am–12pm. £10. Angela Walker will give simple tips to improve your pictures, then help you explore the Maltings on a photo trail. Bring your camera and get clicking! For ages 11–16yrs. Please pre-book.

What’s On Diary

West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 Funky Junk!

Learn to creatively transform everyday items that are usually thrown away or no longer used into beautiful art and handy objects. For ages 8+ with an adult. 10.30am12.30pm. £3. Please pre-book.

Adventure Story Session 10.30-11.30am. Join in the exciting interactive adventure story to find the stolen pirate treasure! For ages 3+ with an adult. £2. Please pre-book.

Amazing Art Afternoon!

Make something amazing in just 45 mins! Dress for mess! For ages 3+ with an adult. 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm. FREE (please pre-book).

Thursday 20 February Wonderful, Weird and Wacky Walking Staffs, Alice Holt Forest Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham 01420 23666 Ages 10 yrs+. 10am-12noon. £10 per child. Whether you are hiking through forests or across mountain ranges, as a keen explorer you are bound to need a trusty walking staff.

Come along and make your own personalised staff from the trees of Alice Holt. Please pre-book.

West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 Tobacco Factory Theatre – Kid Carpet: Blast Off! A super-duper fast adventure around a rock ‘n’ roll musical universe with the biggest band in the world. For ages 4+ with an adult. 11.30am & 2.30pm. £6.50. Please pre-book.

Jetpacks Become an astronaut and blast off into space with your very own jetpack! For ages 4+ with an adult.

10am & 1pm. £3 (£1 for Blast Off! ticket holders). Please pre-book.

Sock Monkeys Make your own cuddly monkey chum out of a pair of socks. For 8+ (ages 3+ are welcome to come and make a simpler version; all children must be accompanied). 10.30am-12.30pm. £4. Please pre-book.

Pirate & Fairy Crafts Transform into a swashbuckling pirate or a beautiful fairy by decorating your own accessories. For 3+ with an adult. 10.30-11.30pm. £3.

Please pre-book.

we

Exciting forest activities for all ages.

Winter Wellies, Den Building, Activity Walks, Caterpillar Crafts, Brilliant Bushcraft, Wacky Walking Staffs and much more!

Booking essential call 01420 23666 forestry.gov.uk/aliceholt Alice Holt Forest

Bocketts Farm Park 15th - 23rd Feb 2014

FEBRUARY

HALF TERM FUN

70

US GORWGBEOORN NE BS DUE LAM

NEWLY HEATED PLAYBARN & SEATING AREA!

ENJOY FREE RANGE FAMILY FUN THIS FEBRUARY HALF TERM!

Make! Drawing Big & Small Watts Gallery Down Lane, Compton, Guildford 01483 810235 11am-1pm or 2pm-4pm. £6, £5 Friends. Pre-booking essential.

Recommended for ages 5+ with an adult (max 1 adult per child, adult is free). Have fun creating drawings.

Miniature Landscapes Cranleigh Arts Centre 1 High St, Cranleigh 01483 278000 11am-1pm. Design your own tiny world in a tray using an array of materials, natural and crafted. Please pre-book. £12.

spring...

› Daily birds of prey flying demonstrations! (Mon-Fri) › Plenty of indoor play & activities! › Early Spring lambing starts!

PLUS

D AR AW WI NN ING !

Animal handling, goat milking, tractor rides, pig racing and pony rides daily!

www.bockettsfarm.co.uk

#

SPECIAL

OFFER

£2 OFF full price farm entry per person

(max 5 people) valid any day from 2nd January - 14th February 2014. Only with this voucher.

®

Surrey West

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What’s On

Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure… For Kids!

West End Centre

Thurs 20 Feb Cont.

Arboretum. For 5-12yrs, 17-21 Feb. 10.15am - 4pm daily. From £37.50 per day. Book 5 days and only pay for 4. More details at www.wildlearning.net or call 01483 424 400.

Traditional Folktales Museum of Farnham 38 West St, Farnham 01252 715094 11am–2pm. £5 per child. Delve into traditional folktales through craft and storytelling. Sessions start on the hour. Booking essential either at the museum or by phone. For all ages.

Introduction to Circus Skills G Live London Rd, Guildford 0844 7701 797 On Thurs 20 Feb and Fri 21 Feb, 10am-4pm. Join expert instructors from the UK’s leading Youth Circus to try your hand at a wide range of circus skills, including stilt walking, unicycle, diablo and acrobatics! All abilities welcome. £60 for 2 days.

Please pre-book.

Pop Up Animal Cards The Lightbox Chobham Rd, Woking 01483 737800 Drop in family workshop from 1.304pm. Suggested donation £2. Have fun making surprising pop-up cards.

For ages 4+ with an adult. You may have to wait if the studio is full.

Playful Paper Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 Family drop-in event from 11am3pm for 5-11 years. No booking needed. Mem £2, non-mem £4.

Come along and make jumping jacks, tab dolls and other toys.

Cupcake Decorating Workshop Farnham Maltings Bridge Sq, Farnham 01252 745444 10am–12pm. £7.50 per child; 1 adult and 1 child £15. For ages 7+.

Please pre-book.

Play in a Day, Princes Hall Princes Way, Aldershot 01252 329155 10am-4pm for ages 7-11 years. £16 please pre-book.

Holiday Activities Chertsey Museum 33 Windsor St, Chertsey 01932 565764 11am-12.30pm or 2-3.30pm for 5-12 year olds. £4.50 per child. Booking essential.

Friday 21 February West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 Felty Pebbles Create some beautiful felt-covered stones, perfect as paperweights, decorative ornaments or add some googly eyes to make your own rock pet! For 3+ with an adult. 10.30am12.30pm. £3. Please pre-book.

Comedy Club For Kids A cracking stand-up comedy show for ages 6+ with an adult. 2.30pm. £8, accompanying adults FREE. Please pre-book.

Parent & Toddler Bounceabout Guildford Spectrum 01483 443322 9-10am. From walking - 4 yrs, £5.60. Please pre-book.

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Museum Monkeys Chertsey See listing on Fri 17 Jan. 3D Miniature Still Life The Lightbox Chobham Rd, Woking 01483 737837 1-2.30pm (4-8yrs) or 3-4.30pm (816yrs). Create mini still-life pictures on canvas using air-drying clay.

Please pre-book. £6.50. Under 8s need to be with an adult, adult free.

Saturday 22 February G Live Family Day, G Live London Rd, Guildford 0844 7701 797 10am-4pm. Free, fun activities throughout the day for 3 – 7 year olds and their families.

Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure…

For Kids! West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 Become a sidekick to this sonic superhero and world recordbreaking beatboxer who makes all kinds of music using just his mouth and a mic. Suitable for all ages, but children must be accompanied.

2.30-3.15pm. £8. Please pre-book.

Kids Disco, The Electric Theatre Guildford 01483 444789 With a special disco dancing workshop and a DJ. See www.guildford.gov.uk/ electrictheatre for times and prices.

For children aged 8 and under.

Please pre-book.

Quick March – Make a Marionette Soldier Surrey Heath Museum Knoll Rd, Camberley 01276 707 284 Drop in craft session from 10.30am12pm. £2.50 per child.

Sunday 23 February Half-term at Clandon See listing on Tues 18 - Fri 21 Feb.

Friday 28 February Bear Shadow Haslemere Educational Museum 78 High St, Haslemere 01428 642112 1.30-2.30pm for under 5s with an adult. Adult £1, child £2, no need to book Listen to this story, learn about shadows and make a shadow puppet.

Half Term Sports Courses & Holiday Camps Wild Learning Holiday Club Explore the woods, make dens, sculpt mud, try wild art, make an assault course, play woodland games and much much more! At: Alice Holt, Claremont Landscape Garden, Polesden Lacey and Winkworth

Three Peaks Outdoor Pursuits Activity day camps at Barfield School, Farnham for all 4-13 year olds - all camps are open to nonBarfield pupils. Activities include zip wire and climbing, quad biking, archery, team games, assault course, high and low ropes and more. Camp runs 17-21 Feb from 8.30am-4pm (early drop off and late pick up available). 0700 393 2610. www.3pks.co.uk Supercamps Multi activity camp runs in February half term at Christ’s College, Guildford. £170 a week or £42 per day. Each child will explore and experience a daily schedule of different activities with children their own age, under the guidance of superbly-trained staff. www. supercamps.co.uk 01235 467300.

Wild-Lifecamps Camps run from 17-21 Feb 9am4pm in Cobham for ages 4-10 years.

All outdoor activities based around winter. Find out more and book online at www.wild-lifecamps.co.uk.

Surrey Sports Park Book online or call 01483 689111.

Tiny Tots Tennis Camp Mon 17-Wed 19 Feb 9-10am. £18 mem/£19.50 non-mem. For 3-6 yrs.

Red, Orange, Green Ball Tennis Camp Mon 17 - Wed 19 Feb 10am12pm. £36 members / £39 nonmem. For 6-10 yrs. Drills, skills and plenty of fun.

Yellow Ball Tennis Camp Mon 17 - Wed 19 Feb 12-2pm.

10yrs+. £36 members / £39 non-mem. Concentrating on basic techniques of all strokes, mixed with plenty of fun and games.

All Day Tennis Camp Thurs 20 Feb and Fri 21 Feb 10am4pm. Attend one or both days. Per day: £40 members / £45 non-mem.

Price includes lunch. For 8-14yrs.

The day will include lots of games with chances to win prizes, technical advice on all shots and a mini tournament to finish the day.

Junior Squash Camp Thurs 20 Feb 12.30-3.30pm. £15 mem / £22.50 non-mem. Emphasis on skills and gameplay development.

For all levels. For 8-16yrs.

Junior Basketball Camp Tues 18 Feb 11am-4pm. £40 members / £45 non-mem. For 1418yrs of all abilities. Learn new skills and improve existing skills.

Junior Badminton Camp Mon 17 Feb and Tues 18 Feb 11am4pm. Attend one or both days. Per day: £40 members / £45 non-mem.

For 8-12 years. Price includes lunch.

For all standards, including beginners.

Tennis at Surrey Sports Park

Learn to Swim Camps: Group Learn to Swim Holiday Courses: Stage 1-3 Intensive swim instruction in a group setting with a ratio of 6 swimmers to 1 teacher. Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb. Stage 1: 9.30-10am or 10-10.30am, Stage 2: 10-10.30am or 10.30-11am, Stage 3: 9.30-10am or 10.30-11am.

Each camp is £35 per child.

Group Learn to Swim Holiday Courses: Stage 5+ Intensive swim instruction in a group setting with a ratio of 6 swimmers to 1 teacher focusing on particular skills and techniques. Each camp is £35.

Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb. Aqua Fun (Introduction to Synchro): 9.30-10am.

Improvement to Breaststroke: 10-10.30am.

1:1 Learn to Swim Customised Holiday Courses (3.5+ years) Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb. 30 minute slots available between 9-10.30am and 1-4pm. £90 per child.

High Performance Club Swimmers Course (3.5+ years) Customised individual instruction for club swimmers personal development. Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb 30 minute slots are available: 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm. £90.

High Performance Swim Camps: High Performance ‘Racing Skills’ Training Camp Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb 9-11am. £119. Aimed at ASA registered county level swimmers aged 9-12 years in preparation for County Championships 2014.

Super Intensive High Performance Stroke Clinic Aimed at ASA registered competitive club swimmers aged 9+. Butterfly Mon 17 Feb 1-2.30pm or 3-4.30pm.

Turns Tues 18 Feb 1-2.30pm or 3-4.30pm, Breaststroke Wed 19 Feb 1-2.30pm or 3-4.30pm, Turns Thurs 20 Feb 1-2.30pm or 3-4.30pm, Frontcrawl and Backstroke Fri 21 Feb 1-2.30pm or 3-4.30pm. Each clinic is £54.

Junior Storm Netball Camp School years 4, 5 and 6. Mon 17 Tues 18 Feb 10am-4pm £85 mem / £90 non-mem. Price includes lunch.

Senior Storm Netball Camp School years 7 & 8. Thurs 20 - Fri 21 Feb 10am-4pm £85 members / £90 non-mem. Price includes lunch.

Pleiades ‘Teen Camps’ Tues 18 -Thurs 20 Feb 10am-3pm.

For 12-15yrs. £30 per day or £75 for 3 days. To book: call 01483 270160.

Activities include climbing, urban rebounding, dodgeball, trampolining, boxing, water polo and more.

What’s On

All holiday camps and sports courses need to be pre-booked.

Guildford Spectrum Parkway, Guildford 01483 443322 Xtreme Activate holiday camp runs from Mon 17-Fri 21 Feb for 5-12 yrs from 10am-4pm, £23.50 per day.

Xtreme Activate Xtra runs from 8.30am-6pm, £32.50 per day Archery Mon 17 Feb and Fri 21 Feb 12.302.30pm, 8-14 yrs, £14.70.

Trampolining Tues 18 and Thurs 20 Feb 2.304pm, 4-12 yrs, £8.60 per session.

Rugby Tots Wed 19 Feb 10-10.30am, 2-3½ yrs, £5.20. 10.45-11.45am, 3½-5 yrs, £8.20.

Little Golfers Fri 21 Feb 1.30-4.30pm, 5-11 yrs, £16.40.

Ice Skating 5 Day Courses Ages 5-10 years, £50. Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb 10.30-11am and 11-11.30am.

Swimming Lessons Learn to Dive courses; Mon 17-Fri 21 Feb: Flip n Fun 9.30-10am, 5yrs+ £31.50.

Beginners 10-10.30am, 5yrs+ £31.50.

Learn to Swim Courses; Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb 9-9.30am, Stage 1, 4yrs+, £31.50.

9.30-10am, Stage 2, 4 yrs+, £31.50.

10-10.30am, Stage 3, 4 yrs+, £31.50.

Swimming; Technical Workshops and One to One lessons ( 1 hour intensive sessions) - please enquire.

KOOSA Kids www.koosakids.co.uk 0845 0942322 info@koosakids.co.uk Come along to KOOSA Kids during half term, 17-21 Feb, and join in the fun! With high-energy sporting activities and lots of creative challenges on offer for 4-13 year olds, your child is sure to have a fun packed day with KOOSA Kids!

Ash Manor School, St Joseph’s Juniors Guildford, Bohunt School in Liphook and St Edmunds Primary in Godalming. Standard Day 10am4pm, Extended Days from 8.15am6pm. Fantastic low prices from £18.25, 8% discount when booking full week, 3rd child goes free.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS? For more information on venues and courses visit our website

WWW.SUPERCAMPS.CO.UK

or call 01235

467300

OVER 80 OFSTED REGISTERED VENUES WITH DBS/CRB CLEARED STAFF

40+ ACTIVITIES: SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS

OPEN 8AM - 6PM MON-FRI

WE ACCEPT CHILDCARE VOUCHERS AS PAYMENT

ActivKids ActivKids Fun Half-term ‘Multisports’ and ‘Football Only’ Camp for 3-11 year-olds run from Mon 17 - Fri 21 Feb at Edgeborough (near Farnham) GU10 3AH. Excellent indoor & outdoor Facilities...... whatever the weather!! Please register at www.activkidsclubs.co.uk (bookings page). Single day bookings upwards are taken. Half day option for 3-5 year olds. 9.30am-3.30pm.

1 child for 1 day = £18, 1 child for 2 days or 2 children for 1 day = £32, 1 child for 3 days or 3 children for 1 day £48. Early drop off at 8.30am available. Payment by BACS, cheque, cash or childcare vouchers.

GO WILD

Wild Learning holiday clubs

this Spring half term

● Fire

lighting building ● Nature walks ● Tracking ● Games ● Bushcraft ● Wild adventures Ages 5-12 ● Den

Alice Holt, Claremont Landscape Garden, Polesden Lacey, and Winkworth Arboretum www.wild-learning.net or call 01483 424 400 Spring HT ad.indd 1

18/12/13 18:30:21

Spring Term Junior Sports Activities Squash

Surrey Storm Netball

Tennis

Climbing

Badminton Basketball

Football Tiny Tots

Swimming

Flair Gymnastics T: 01483 689111

6406-1213 SSP Junior Spring Camps Families West Magazine Advert.indd 1

surreysportspark.co.uk

04/12/2013 15:29 ®

Untitled-2 1

Surrey West

21

What’s On Children’s Theatre

Camberley Theatre Knoll Rd, Camberley 01276 707600 Gruffalo Live!

15 - 16 Feb 11am & 2pm. The perfect family treat with plenty of songs, laughs and scary fun for ages 3+ and their grown-ups. £12.

Cranleigh Arts Centre 1 High St, Cranleigh 01483 278000 Little Sparks Regular Saturday morning show at 11am for the under 5s. 11am11.45am. Child £4, adult free.

London Wrestling Sat 15 Feb 7.30pm. £10 in advance (£12 on the day). Family of 4 £35.

How to Catch a Star Sat 1 March 11am & 2pm. For ages 3-7 years. £6.50.

The Electric Theatre Onslow St, Guildford 01483 444789 Family Festival Mon 17-Sat 22 Feb. Theatre, film, puppets, dancing and free storytelling. For more details see www.guildford.gov.uk/electrictheatre Film Fun Day Mon 17 Feb from 11am. Including a screening of Lady and the Tramp, Be My Valentine Charlie Brown and arty craft fun. Tickets £6.50.

Suitable for the whole family.

Three Little Pigs Tues 18 Feb 11am & 2pm.

A hilarious and innovative retelling of this classic story. Tickets £6.50, suitable for ages 3+.

Spraoi (Let’s Play) Thurs 20 Feb 11am & 2pm. Top class theatre for families supported by Culture Ireland. £6.50, for ages 3-6.

The Story Box Fri 21 Feb 11.30am (relaxed performance) & 4pm. A wonderfully vibrant show, full of puppets, fun and surprises, that brings to life three tales from around the world; each, in its own way, reminding young and old alike of the joy of reading and sharing stories. £5.50, suitable for the whole family.

Kids Disco Sat 22 Feb. With a special disco dancing workshop and a DJ. See www.guildford.gov.uk/electrictheatre for times and prices. For children aged 8 and under. Please pre-book.

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The Gruffalo, G Live Farnham Maltings 01252 745444 Mazymeg and the Honey Bees Sat 25 Jan 2.30pm. £7. Albert lives alone with his beloved honey bees but one day a stranger steals his bees but then a little Pisky, Mazymeg, promises to rescue his bees. For ages 4+.

Taiko Meantime: Japanese Taiko Drummers Fri 31 Jan. £15, under 15s £7.50, family (2+2) £40. theatre maltings: In Praise of Elephants Wed 19 Feb 7.30pm. £12 (£10 conc.). A glorious celebration of the greatest animals on the planet – and a touching story of a man turning 60, whose life is about to be turned upside down. For ages 8+. theatre maltings: I, Peaseblossom, I, Caliban Tue 25 Feb 7.30pm. £12 (£10 conc.).

Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it before. Ages 8+.

G Live London Rd, Guildford 0844 7701 797 Southern Pro Musica: Family Classics Sun 26 Jan 3pm. A lively and colourful orchestral concert for all the family, including excerpts from such favourites as Bolero and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Adult £12, child £10 + booking fee (one U18 free with each transaction, at least one adult ticket must be purchased).

Children’s Concert – An Orchestral Performance for 5-11yr olds Thurs 30 Jan 10.45am & 1.30pm. A wonderful hour of music for 5-11 year olds. £4 + booking fee.

Cirque Berserk Mon 3 - Tue 4 Feb. Mon 7.30pm, Tue 5pm & 7.30pm. Direct from three sold-out seasons in London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, don’t miss Britain’s favourite circus on its first nationwide theatre tour.

Combining contemporary ‘cirque’ style skills with off the scale thrilling stunt action, Cirque Berserk is a danger-filled spectacle that will amaze audiences of all ages. £9.50 - £24.50 + booking fee. Under 16s save £5 on top three ticket prices.

Concessions save £2.

Bananas in Pyjamas Sun 23 Feb, 1pm. Join B1, B2, Amy, Lulu and Morgan in this brand new, all singing, all dancing show. With plenty of audience participation, and slapstick fun ... can you help the Banana Detectives solve the case? £14, U16s £12, family (of 4 min. 1 adult) £48 + booking fee.

The Gruffalo Thurs 27 Feb-Sun 2 Mar 10am & 1.30pm. Don’t miss Tall Stories’ hit musical stage adaptation of the award winning picture book, The Gruffalo. £12 (+ booking fee).

Charlie & Lola’s Best Bestest Play Fri 4 – Sat 5 March. Fri 4.30pm, Sat 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm. Don’t Three Little Pigs, The Electric Theatre

miss everyone’s favourite brother and sister, Charlie and Lola, in their extremely everso wonderful stage show! The stars of the hit BBC TV series and books by Lauren Child are brought to life by a magical mix of puppets, live action and music. £12.50-£13.50 + booking fee, concessions save £1.

Jamie Allen: I Magician Fri 25 Mar 7.30pm. Jamie performs incredible modern illusions with iPads, Laser Beams, Facebook and Twitter in addition to stunning sleight of hand relayed by HD Mini Cams live to the audience via projection screens. £18.50 + booking fee, groups 8+ save 10%.

In G Live Studio: Shakespeare’s Globe presents Shakespeare Stories: King Lear Sat 25 Jan 2.30pm King Lear storytelling for family audience ages 6+! £8 + booking fee.

Comedy Club 4 Kids February Sat 15 Feb 3pm. Cracking entertainment for everyone over 6 and under 400 years old (no vampires or Highlanders). £10.

Family £31(2+2).

POP! Sat 22 Feb, 11am & 2pm. ‘POP’ tells a mysterious and enchanting story through physical theatre, illusion, video and puppetry. £10, concessions £8 + booking fee.

The Comedy Club 4 Kids March Sat 15 March 3pm. £10, family (2+2) £31.

Haslemere Hall Bridge Rd, Haslemere 01428 642 161 Dick Whittington Fri 10 - Sun 12 Jan and Sat 18 Jan. Presented by The Haslemere Thespians. £6-£10.

The Mytchett Centre 140 Mytchett Rd, Mytchett The Elves and the Shoemaker Fri 24 Jan 7pm, Sat 25 Jan 2pm & 7pm. Presented by The Playmakers amateur dramatics group. Adult £8, Under 16/Over 65 £5. 01252 375030 boxoffice@theplaymakers.org.uk Princes Hall Princes Way, Aldershot 01252 329155 Pepper Pig’s Big Splash Sat 1 Feb 1pm & 4pm and Sun 2 Feb 10am & 1pm. £15.50 & £13.50, child £13.50 & £11.50. Family (of 4) £54.

The West End Centre Queens Rd, Aldershot 01252 330040 Children’s Festival Mon 17 - Sat 22 Feb. Lots of great workshops, theatre, art, Lego and more. Workshops are listed in our What’s On Diary.

Comedy Club For Kids Fri 21 Feb 2.30pm A cracking stand-up comedy show for ages 6+. £8, accompanying adults FREE. Tobacco Factory Theatre – Kid Carpet: Blast Off! A super-duper really really fast adventure around a rock ‘n’ roll musical universe with the biggest band in the world! For ages 4+ with an adult. 11.30am & 2.30pm. £6.50.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford 01483 440000 Grease Sat 8 – Sat 15 Feb. Mon - Thurs 7.45pm, Fri and Sat 8pm and Thurs and Sat 2.30pm. GSA present their graduate show.

Kidnapped Wed 19 Feb 7pm and Thurs 20 Feb at 2.30pm & 7pm. A Family Adventure tale adapted from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson for ages 6+. Adults from £19.50, Under 18s £10, family ticket £44.

In the Mill Studio: The Tinderbox Sat 8 Feb 11am & 2pm. A musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson classic tale for ages 4+.£9.

Mother & Baby Film Screenings Camberley Theatre Knoll Rd, Camberley 01276 707600 Blue Jasmine (12A). 11am.

Nearly New Sales Godalming and Cranleigh District NCT Nearly New Sale On Sat 22 March at Rodborough School, Milford. Pregnant ladies from 11am, members from 11.15am (with a valid card). Public 11.30am - 1pm.

Registration for sellers and helpers will open on 17 Feb for members and 20 Feb for non-members. www.nct. org.uk/branches/godalming/sales/ nearly-new-sale.

Guildford NCT Nearly New Sale On 8 March at St. Joseph’s Church Hall, 12 Eastgate Gardens Guildford, GU1 4AZ from 11am - 12.30pm.

Seller registration opens a month before and no membership is needed. nnsguildford@yahoo.co.uk.

Knaphill & District NCT Nearly New Sale Sat 1 March at 10.30am-12pm (10.15am for NCT members with an NCT card) at Knaphill Methodist Church, The Broadway, Knaphill. knaphillnctsale@yahoo.co.uk

What’s On Wed 19 - Thu 20 Feb

Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre 01483 44 00 00 yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

FAMILY SHOWS AT G LIVE

CIRQUE BERSERK MON 3 – TUE 4 FEB

BANANAS IN PYJAMAS SUN 23 FEB

THE GRUFFALO

THU 27 FEB – SUN 2 MAR

CHARLIE & LOLA’S BEST BESTEST PLAY FRI 4 – SAT 5 APRIL

BOOK ONLINE

GLive.co.uk GUILDFORD

We have two family tickets to give away to The Gruffalo at G Live!

Win!

TICKET DESK 0844 7701 797 London Road, Guildford GU1 2AA

The romping, stomping Gruffalo is heading to Guildford! Don’t miss Tall Stories’ hit musical adaptation of the award-winning picture book, The Gruffalo, live on stage at G Live from Thu 27 February – Sun 2 March.

This show is an ideal introduction to theatre for pre and primary school children and their families with plenty of songs, laughs and fun. For more information visit GLive.co.uk.

Families Surrey West is excited to offer two lucky winners the chance to win a family ticket. For your chance to win visit www.FamiliesSurreyWest.co.uk/ competitions. Competition closes 17 February, 5pm.

®

Surrey West

23

CLASSIFIEDS Parties

Baby Gifts

LANGUAGE CLASSES

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BRAND NEW SPANISH CLASSES Children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 Thursdays at 3:30pm in Shalford (10 mins from Guildford town centre). First class is FREE. Booking essential on 07748424204 or email: camilacharria_leslie@yahoo.co.uk

Babysitters Cookery Birthday Parties Tailor made to

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Advertise here from only £10 an issue! Call Sarah on 01737 558898 or email editor@FamiliesSurreyWest. co.uk

Cranleigh Babysitters 07427 423430 CRB checked, mature, experienced babysitters in Surrey. Reference available. email cranleighsitters@gmail.com.

buy/sell 2nd hand

Firing Earth www.FiringEarth.co.uk

Pre-owned quality kid’s clothing.

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The Kids Shed Tel 01483 272529 Open Tues-Fri 10-2.30, Saturday 11-4

TUITION

CHILDCARE

Ceramic & ART Studio Paint your own Ceramics and Art studio.

Parties, workshops, baby prints, gallery.

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Nannies, Maternity Nannies, Mobile Crèches Surrey, Hampshire, W.Sussex 01483 415406 www.hattiesnannies.co.uk

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

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Maths & English tuition centre For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities • Courses mapped to the National Curriculum.

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are s c ild her ! h C uc pted Vo acce

Copyright: Families Surrey West Magazine 2014. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owners’s risk and, whilst every care is taken, neither Families Surrey West nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families Surrey West 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 this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor the accuracy of the contents nor any consequence.