Families Thames Valley West November/December 2023 PRINT

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IN THIS ISSUE

What’s on at Christmas Education Parenting Issue 127 November/December 2023

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CONTENTS

Editor’s Welcome Welcome to the last issue of 2023! I hope it’s been a happy year for you and that it will be rounded off by a very special festive season.

The Team:

We have gathered together details of loads of local family events happening in November and December, including places to see Father Christmas, Christmas markets and pantomimes – something for everyone!

EDITOR: Lesley Chambers 07863 790592 editor@familiestvw.co.uk SALES SUPPORT: Claire Clarricoates 07812 218331 claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk DESIGN: Rebecca Carr rebecca@familiesmagazine.co.uk

Embracing different generations of the family is a theme in two of our features this issue, including my family’s intergenerational staycation in Torquay earlier in the year and a look at different parenting styles, encompassing traditional and modern.

NEXT ISSUE: JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 Booking deadline: 30 November 2023

In our education section we look at multiple intelligences, and there is a great round-up of children’s chapter books in case you need some inspiration for a gift for the children in your life.

This product is made of material from well-managed, FSC®-certified forests and other controlled sources.

IN THIS ISSUE: 4-5: 6-9: 10: 11: 12: 13: 14: 15: 16: 17-23:

I hope you have a happy and peaceful end to the year, whatever you do!

Winners

News Education Early years Parenting Out and about Giveaways Work Travel Directory What’s on

Congratulations to our winners of giveaways in the September/October 2023 issue! Caroline Grant won a free escape room game at Puzzalogical in Bracknell and Alex Delmonte, Baiba Pizica and Che Yan Leung each won a set of four Factology books.

Welcoming girls in Year 7

Where is Families Thames Valley West?

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Discover the academic and co-curricular opportunities Reading Blue Coat has to offer your child

Register for our Open Morning open events Saturday 7 October Book Here

rbcs.org.uk

A Co-educational Independent Day School for Students 11-18

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NEWS & VIEWS

Pre-school play with friends lowers risk of mental health problems Children who learn to play well with their peers by age 3 are likely to enjoy better mental health later in childhood, according to research from the University of Cambridge.

The study is said to be the first to establish a connection between ‘peer play ability’ before children go to school and improved mental health at age 7. Researchers say it is the quality – rather than quantity – of play that matters.

Researchers analysed data from almost one thousand seven hundred children in Australia, taken at ages 3 and 7, and found those with better peer play ability when younger showed fewer signs of poor mental health four years later.

These children tended to have lower hyperactivity, fewer conduct and emotional problems and were less likely to get into fights or disagreements with other children.

Fun, creativity and adventure at The Beehive Holiday Clubs

Birds of Prey Bubble Entertainer Build a Snowman Soft Toy The Grinch Christmas Party Italian Pizza Making Class Face Painting

Christmas Holiday Clubs 18-22 December

Festive fun at...

www.beehiveclub.co.uk

AND MORE…daily activities include arts and crafts, games, baking and lots of playtime!

Days are 8am-6pm with morning sessions from 8am-1pm (£22) and all day between 8am-6pm (£38). Please note, an additional £5 fee will be charged for the Italian Pizza Making Class activity.

The Beehive Christmas Holiday Clubs are open to all children aged between 3-11 years. Easy online registration, booking and payment with childcare vouchers accepted and 10% sibling discount applied. www.beehiveclub.co.uk www.facebook.com/thebeehivekidsclub 4

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The NHS in England will no longer limit the number of Caesarean sections it performs, under plans to improve care for mothers and babies.

Maternity units were previously encouraged to promote natural births and keep the Caesarean rate to about twenty percent.

There were concerns these targets led to women pursuing natural births when a C-section would have been more appropriate, jeopardising their safety. Pregnant people will now be able to choose a caesarean section, even if this is not for medical reasons, in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

Most caesareans are carried out under spinal or epidural anaesthetic, and caesareans account for around twenty five per cent of births in the UK. More info: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng192

More info: www.bit.ly/PeerPlay

The Beehive Holiday Clubs return to Crown Wood, Nine Mile Ride Primary School and Hatch Ride Primary Schools for the Christmas holidays from 18 to 22 December! Join them for lots of festive fun with…

NHS England drops limit on Caesarean births

Video games may bring cognitive benefits School-age kids who spend hours a day playing video games may outperform their peers on certain tests of mental agility, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that compared with children who never played video games, those who regularly spent hours gaming had higher scores on two standard cognitive tests: one measuring short-term memory and another gauging impulse control.

Previous studies have reported links between gaming and higher rates of depression, violence, and aggressive behaviour.

While this study did not find that to be the case, the gamers did report higher levels of mental health and behavioural issues, although the researchers said that the findings were not statistically significant.

The study authors also insist that their results do not allow for cause and effect analysis and that children who are better at these cognitive tasks may simply choose to play computer games.

More info: www.bit.ly/NIHVideoGames Familiesonline.co.uk

NEWS & VIEWS

Parents raiding children’s savings to cover mortgage costs One in five parents and grandparents have taken money set aside for children to cover surging mortgage costs, research suggests.

Research complied by Direct Line Life Insurance found that so far this year, parents and grandparents have withdrawn a total of thirteen million pounds a day from their children’s savings, to help with the cost-of-living crisis. On average, each adult who has dipped into a child’s saving account has withdrawn £433.

Over half of parents and grandparents have said that they have reduced the amount that they save for their children or put a stop to it altogether. It’s expected that on average the amount of savings contributions for children will be reduced by £123 per month.

More info: www.bit.ly/DirectLineKidsSavings

Reading to infants daily can improve language development A recent study has found that daily reading can improve language development in infants 12 months and younger.

The study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine in December analysed the development of language in toddlers and found that infants who read at least one book a day demonstrated improved language scores at as early as 9 months of age.

Parents were given a set of twenty interactive children’s books specifically chosen by researchers to support early language development in toddlers. Families agreed to read to their infants at least once per day and have their children regularly tested.

‘One book each day is an easy goal for new families to try. To see that there is a measurable improvement in speaking and understanding before one year old is very exciting’ said the authors.

More info: www.bit.ly/BabyReading

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Make a noise about bullying Anti-Bullying Week 2023 Anti-Bullying Week runs from Monday 13 to Friday 17 November this year, with the theme ‘Make a Noise About Bullying’.

The week will kick off with Odd Socks Day on Monday 13 November, during which adults and children wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

The theme of Make a Noise About Bullying came about following consultation with teachers and pupils by the AntiBullying Alliance which coordinates Anti-Bullying Week.

Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.

In 2022, eighty percent of schools marked the week, reaching over 7.5 million children.

More info: www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

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EDUCATION NEWS

Local swim teacher dives into business ownership The new owner of local swim school, Puddle Ducks North Hampshire and Reading is a familiar face to many having been a teacher at the popular swim school for several years.

Leighton Park shines in national awards Leighton Park has been nominated as a finalist for Senior School of the Year in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Awards 2023, one of only three schools to make the final stage.

The ISA is the largest independent schools’ body in the UK. This nomination comes on the back of Leighton Park also being acknowledged as a finalist for Independent Senior School of the Year in the prestigious TES Schools Awards 2023.

The co-ed school for girls and boys aged 11-18 is particularly well known for its STEAM academic approach and the strength of its music department. Among the factors being considered by the judges are the school’s distinctive emphasis on problem-based learning, values-led education based on the school’s Quaker foundation and nurturing future-ready leaders. www.leightonpark.com

Lizzie Moore, who lives in Tilehurst, is so passionate about Puddle Ducks that she decided to buy the business where she had previously been Senior Teacher. The opportunity came about at the right time, just as she was considering her next challenge.

Lizzie commented: “I have loved being able to teach so many children in my local area the important life skill of swimming, so to be able to actually own the business that provides these awardwinning classes feels like the stars have aligned”.

Many children across Hampshire, Berkshire and parts of Surrey, including Sonning Common, Reading and Bagshot, have learnt to swim with Puddle Ducks, something Lizzie is justifiably proud of.

To find out more about Puddle Ducks North Hampshire and Reading, call 0118 229 3232 or visit: www.puddleducks.com/ local-teams/north-hampshire-and-reading

If your school or familyfriendly venue would like to receive FREE copies of Families Thames Valley West magazine, contact us at editor@familiestvw.co.uk

Open Days: November & December 2023 Open days may need pre-booking. Please check before visiting.

Just imagine – a school that combines the best academic progress in Berkshire, with award-winning personal development and sector-leading pastoral care

Registration Deadline for 2024 Entry Friday 17th November Find out more at www.leightonpark.com/imagine-better

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Crosfields School, Shinfield Road, Reading, RG2 9BL 0118 987 1810 crosfields.com Wednesday 1 November, 9:30am: Nursery stay and play Thursday 2 November, 6pm: Scholarship and bursary event Tuesday 7 November, 9:15am: Senior school open morning Thursday 9 November, 9:15am: Junior school open morning Friday 17 November, 9:30am: Reception taster session Wednesday 29 November, 9:30am: Nursery stay and play Horris Hill School, Newtown, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 9DJ 01635 40594 horrishill.com Saturday 4 November, 9:30am: Whole school open morning Wednesday 8 November, 9:30am: Reception discovery day

Kidmore End Primary School, Chalkhouse Green Road, Reading, RG4 9AU 0118 357 3149 kidmore-end.co.uk Thursday 30th November, 1:30pm: School open day Leighton Park School, Reading, RG2 7ED 0118 987 9609 leightonpark.com Thursday 9 November, 8:30am: Years 7 and 8 taster morning Friday 10 November, 9am: Open morning Tuesday 14 November, 8:30am: Year 6 taster day St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5JT 0118 966 1000 sjcr.org.uk Wednesday 1 November, 9:30am: Prep school open morning Wednesday 15 November, 9:30am: Stay and play for preschool children

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An independent co-educational prep school and nursery for children age 2 to 13 years.

Family We are a family school providing tailored academic and pastoral support

50 week nursery for children 2+

academic and pastoral tracking so they can be challenged and supported in equal measure. We have small class sizes and the Horris Hill family is an inclusive, modern and broad community.

Freedom

Freedom to learn and play

Our school sits in 65 acres of beautiful countryside, just minutes from Newbury town centre and with easy access to Basingstoke, Winchester and surrounding villages. We are a small school with many outstanding facilities and resources that enable children to develop aspiration,

Flair

We celebrate flair in all areas

not only in academic work, but also in the many musical and artistic opportunities our children enjoy. A progressive, pupil led, characterbased curriculum creates global citizens with the desire to make a

You will be guaranteed a warm welcome at one of our many events.

Visit horrishill.com/events A registration fee and acceptance fee are an additional charge.

www.horrishill.com/admissions/fees-and-bursaries-british-forces

Horris Hill School, Newtown, Newbury, RG20 9DJ admissions@horrishill.com (01635) 40594

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EDUCATION

Understanding multiple intelligences

By Zuzu Jordan

Look up the word intelligent in the thesaurus and you will find words like ‘smart’, ‘clever’ and ‘bright’. Traditionally in schools, pupils with regular high scores in academic or IQ tests are recognised as intelligent. Yet, as a society, we marvel at great artists, musicians and Olympians for their outstanding talent.

How intelligence is measured is a debatable topic and leaves many people divided.

Howard Gardner (a well know theorist) proposed that there are many types of intelligences.

Logical relates to someone who can carry out mathematical problems, hypothesise and investigate scientifically.

natural objects to create patterns and images.

Linguistic describes someone who is considered word smart and can easily learn languages.

Children are required to learn to read. Choose books that tap into their interests and intelligences.

Spatial refers to artists and architects who can visualise with their mind’s eye.

Discuss your child’s strengths with their teachers. The more they understand your child’s leanings, the better lesson planning can involve multiple intelligences.

Kinaesthetic is being able to use the whole body or parts of the body exceptionally well, such as a dancer or athlete.

Musical refers to someone who can perform, compose and appreciate musical patterns.

Play games such as Junior Scrabble, Monopoly, making sound effects in a story, charades, puppets and role play or garden activities.

Interpersonal is working effectively with people, knowing their intentions and motivations.

Nurture their particular intelligences with after school activities/clubs.

Intrapersonal refers to strong self-awareness and using this understanding in everyday life.

Use online quizzes which help identify children’s intelligences.

Naturalistic is the ability to identify different species and work well with all things natural.

Children may show strong signs of intelligence in more than one area, perhaps with a tendency to a dominant one. Sometimes their intelligences may shift when exposed to different experiences and activities.

How do we support our children in harnessing their intelligences?

Not all educational establishments will fully cater for your child’s intelligences but parents can play a vital role by using some of these ideas at home: Start by observing what your child enjoys across a range of activities. What are they like outside? Do they naturally tap out rhythms in the car whilst the radio is playing?

Read books that help children understand the importance of working on their intelligences, for example You are Awesome by Matthew Syed.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page Edumateuk.

Mind mapping Mind mapping is a useful way to organise information, helping children see connections between points around a central topic.

Celebrate what they CAN do so they develop a sense of pride.

Does your child know which intelligences they lean towards?

Mind maps can include pictures and diagrams and can be ‘messy’ like a ‘brain dump’ or presented in a more organised format. Sub-topics break off the main topic like tree branches.

Play to their strengths. For example, if your child is spatially smart, ask them to draw what they are learning. If they show signs of naturalistic intelligence, give them sticks and other

The information is a summary of ideas in either a few words or a sentence. Children can create their mind maps by hand or use software which allows them to move the sub-topics around.

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EDUCATION

Seven of the best new chapter books for children

By Sarah Campbell

From animal lovers to budding detectives, fantasy fans to comedians, there’s a book out there for everyone!

Here are some of our recent favourites, perfect for your next reading adventure.

Around the world The Last Mapmaker Christina Soontornvat Set sail on the high seas with 12-year-old Sai in this extraordinary adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. As assistant to Mangkon’s most celebrated mapmaker, Sai seizes the chance to join an expedition to a land of dragons, dangers and riches beyond imagining. But Sai carries a secret that could ruin her dreams and she isn’t the only one.

Ages 8+.

Animal lovers

Kids who love fantasy

Michael the Amazing MindReading Sausage Dog Terrie Chilvers, illustrated by Tim Budgen

Spellstone Ross Montgomery

A fun, illustrated early chapter book perfect for young dog-lovers!

Michael’s dream is to become a global superstar but becoming famous is no walk in the park. How long will it take the other residents of Snuffles-by-Sea to recognise Michael’s amazing talents; and those of his trusty sidekick, Stanley Big Dog? Ages 5+.

One of our all-time favourite children’s authors delivers a brilliant new fantasy adventure.

Evie is used to going unnoticed.

But then she meets the mysterious Wainwright and is recruited to a secret magical organisation.

Suddenly Evie finds herself at the heart of an ancient battle to protect the most powerful magical weapon in the world. Ages 8+.

Reluctant readers

Funny books

The Day the Hiccups Took Over Jo Simmons, illustrated by Lee Cosgrove

My Name is Sunshine Simpson G. M. Linton

Hilarious and super accessible, this is a book packed with madcap reading magic from one of our favourite funny authors. Frank has a big day ahead of him, with a trip to the dentist, a trumpet exam, a swimming contest and tickets to see his hero live on stage. But he wakes up with hiccups and they just won’t STOP! Can Frank turn calamity into a dramatic triumph?

Ages 5+.

This book will make you both laugh and cry! Sunshine Simpson is a brand new best friend for independent readers. Grandad is always telling her to get out and find her own adventures but bad luck has a habit of coming her way.

Sunshine needs to find her voice and show the world she can shine.

Ages 8+.

Kids who love adventure

Budding detectives

The Thames and Tide Club Katya Balen, illustrated by Rachael Dean

The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder Kereen Getten

Clem and her friends are members of a mudlarking club, searching for treasures on the banks of the River Thames. Before they know it they’re on the weirdest, wildest adventure they could imagine on a mission to save underwater London! The first in a new series.

Ages 5+.

Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens’ Murder Most Unladylike series, this is a gripping mystery. Fayson’s cousins recruit her to their top-secret gang but seem more interested in food, squabbling and falling asleep! So Fayson takes charge and tries to track down clues about the strange shadow that has been appearing in the island’s lighthouse. Can she solve the case? Ages 8+.

Sarah Campbell is co-founder of Parrot Street Book Club (www.parrotstreet.com), an online children’s bookshop offering a handpicked collection of high-quality children’s chapter books, plus an award-winning monthly book subscription for kids ages 5 to 14.

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EARLY YEARS

Developing your child’s social skills Some children may find socialising more difficult than others.

If your little one struggles or seems reluctant to be with other people, they may need some support to learn social skills.

Here are some things you can do to help.

Practise talking Chat about what you are doing, seeing or feeling to help build your child’s vocabulary and exposure to conversations. Role play, games and storytelling are all good for developing language.

Model good manners, such as saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’

This will encourage children to act this way with their peers.

Listen and take turns Children learn both verbal and non-verbal skills from the people around them. Try showing them what good listening looks like through your own behaviour and using games like Simon Says.

Find ways to make taking turns fun. Choose an object and tell your family they need to be holding it when they talk. Pass it between you. If your child is a little older, take it in turns to make up funny sounds as if you are having an alien conversation.

Show the importance of body language Use eye contact and body language with your child. Experiment by asking them to talk about something while you use poor body language. This could be crossed arms, looking away, fidgeting or frowning. Ask them how your actions made them feel. Then show them attentive body language. Take it in turns.

Teach them about personal space Consider teaching your child about personal space. Ask

them to put their hands on their hips and stick their elbows out to understand their personal space. Introduce the idea of boundaries by asking first if you can come into their space for a hug.

Develop their emotional skills When you help your child understand, express and cope with emotions, it helps them recognise the emotions of others and develops empathy. Teach them to problem-solve, guiding them with questions such as ‘What could you do?’ or ‘What could you say?’ Try to avoid answering for them.

You can also talk to your child about friendships and what it is to be a good friend. If you can, arrange and support opportunities for socialising.

With thanks to Action for Children (www.actionforchildren.org. uk) for this article. For further support on child development, visit its Parent Talk website at www.parents.actionforchildren. org.uk

Listen and learn

Learning moments in play

Develop your child’s listening and concentration skills by engaging them with short, simple instructions and fun ‘listen and play’ games:

Musical statues The old party favourite; dance or jump around to music and when it stops, freeze! Simple and fun, especially when other children play along.

It can be helpful to spot opportunities for learning social skills in your child’s play. For instance, you can ask your child to help with tasks and see if they’ll try activities with others, to learn teamwork skills.

March and sleep Grab a noisy object and a quieter object; a simple wooden spoon as drumstick and rattly cereal box will do. When you use the noisy object, get your child to march around the room. When they hear the quieter one, they lie on the floor and pretend to sleep. Swap roles so your child can make the noises, test your skills and learn about taking turns.

What did you hear?

Hide a selection of noisy objects under a blanket and make a sound with one of them. Your child has to guess which one made the sound. Gradually increase the number of objects to up the challenge. Try making sounds from several toys or objects at once.

10 Families Thames Valley West

You can also teach your child positive ways of responding to winning, losing or not getting their way. Show them you understand when they’re upset but help them see what the positives could be. Might the outcome have made their friend happy? You can also show them what sharing looks like when playing at home.

If your child hits or bites, help them recognise how others feel when they’re hurt. Praise your child when you see them playing well.

You can also gently encourage your child to apologise if they do hurt someone during play. If they don’t feel comfortable doing this, model apologising for them until they feel more confident. You could say something like: ‘Freddie feels sad that he’s hurt you and he wants to say he’s very sorry.’

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PARENTING

Granny knows best?

By Ellie Malt Respect for your elders is still considered an important principal but perhaps it’s another way of saying we need to pay attention to the wisdom of grandparents. They are the bearers of family traditions and their advice helps pass down values, stories and customs, helping a child understand their roots.

But how far should we follow their parenting advice?

Grandparents grew up with punishments that seem old fashioned and even inappropriate now, such as spanking or being sent to bed for not finishing everything on your plate.

Traditional ‘authoritarian parenting’ which used external punishments to drive unquestioning obedience has fallen out of favour. So why is this and what has replaced it?

A major reason for the change comes down to modern scientific research. In the UK, research with children who were separated from their parents during the Second World War led to the development of theories like ‘attachment parenting’. This suggested that trust and a good rapport between child and parent was, in the long term, much more effective in changing behaviour than physical punishment.

Since then, advances in MRI scanning have generated new insights into the development of children’s brains. Parenting styles based on this science are called ‘neuro-parenting.’ Each new step-up in scanning technology reveals more detail about how children’s brains grow. However, the link between structural changes in the brain and child behaviours is still subject to interpretation and pre-conceived bias.

Sometimes, neuro-parenting has pressured parents into worrying about the impact of every action on their child’s future success. Yet there are limits on how far parenting can affect children.

We now understand that genetics intervene and that perhaps our children won’t ‘fail at life’ if we don’t constantly stimulate their brains. Recently, there’s been more concern about overstimulation, while the latest brain scans show brains remain impressively elastic throughout life.

Who is the best source of parenting advice: modern science or granny?

‘authoritarian’) as achieving the best outcomes. It is a parenting style that combines one aspect of traditional parenting (setting limits and holding a child to rules) with the science of brain development, by adopting different methods in enforcing the rules.

Rather than punish, authoritative parents now coach their child on the consequences of behaviour. They are firm but kind. They may be strict but they are not mean.

They have learned that children are born with different types of brain and differences in sensory processing abilities. A child might have good reasons for not clearing their plate. Whereas a more traditional parent might issue punishment, an authoritative parent may question whether this is a rule worth setting in the first place.

On the other hand, suppose you have decided a fixed bedtime is a rule you want to be consistent about. Having established the rule, as an authoritative parent, you discuss the reasons and involve your child in establishing how it will work. You then give positive praise for any progress.

Refusal or delays are met with reminders about the rule and why it exists; always in a calm and warm manner. The parent will stand firm. Phew! No one said it was easy but it does have scientific evidence behind it. In long-term studies, non-punitive discipline was found to promote children’s own self-control and honesty and prevent aggressive behaviour.

I wonder what granny will think of that?

Ellie is a journalist, writer and mum of two daughters. She and her family live in Surrey.

Research supports ‘authoritative parenting’ (as opposed to

Different parenting styles

Finding your own style

Developmental Psychologist, Diana Baumrind, highlighted four parenting styles: Neglectful parenting: nothing is demanded and parents have a low responsiveness to their child.

Authoritarian parenting: parents demand unquestioning obedience but responsiveness to their child is low.

Permissive parenting: parents demand little from their children but are highly responsive.

Authoritative parenting: parents place demands on their children to obey rules but are also responsive to their children, allowing for reasoning.

Parenting fashions come and go, from the ‘we were outside playing all day until teatime and it didn’t do us any harm,’ through to so-called ‘helicopter parenting’ at the other end of the scale.

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There is no absolute right or wrong, just as there is no blueprint child. While mindful of research, what’s more important is that you are consistent as parents and bring up children in a loving and engaging home where the ‘rules’ are the ones you know work for your family.

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11

OUT & ABOUT

Children’s reviews

By Elsie, ag e 1 0

Gardens at Englefield Estate

Wokingham Superbowl

Englefield, near Theale, RG7 5DU Open every Monday from 10am–6pm.

Phoenix Plaza, Wellington Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AT, wokinghamsuperbowl.com

Taking the children to visit the garden of a mansion may not seem like the first choice for an outing, but my children and I have visited the gardens at Englefield Estate several times and always had a good time.

My name is Elsie, and I will be telling you about Wokingham Superbowl; I highly recommend it! It was a great experience.

Appealing to younger visitors are hidden nooks and crannies around the garden, including a magical grotto and benches inside a wooden shelter. There is also a swing on a hill and a little play area. My children also love dipping their fingers in the ornamental pool from which there is a sweeping view over fields where deer sometimes roam. It is a peaceful place with plenty of space to run around.

Englefield village has a café for refreshments after fresh air and adventures in the garden.

Food and drink: The food was very tasty, adult options included pizza and burgers, and on the children’s menu, options were, chicken nuggets, sausages, and fish fingers (there were more options). Let me tell you about the drinks now, I think there was a lot of choice for the drinks, including smoothies, hot drinks and slushies.

Bowling: Bowling was highly enjoyable! You could have the bumpers up if you were a beginner or your aim wasn’t that straight, the bowling staff were very friendly. People and/or families could park next to the bowling alley with the car park.

Arcade: The arcade was amazing! I loved all the games, especially the Mario kart game! But I do not recommend the game where you press a button, and the scissors move forward to cut the teddy bear. I wasted £2 on it, all because the scissors stopped randomly.

Other activities: There were three other activities, Laser quest, Hologate VR, and you could host parties.

Dinton Pastures Country Park Davis Street, Hurst, Wokingham RG10 0TH, wokinghamcountryside.co.uk

Review ed by Jo Ans ell

Dinton Pastures Country Park is a fantastic place to visit with plenty on offer for the whole family.

It is an excellently laid-out park with multiple lakes and connecting paths which are accessible for wheelchair users and pushchairs. The lakes offer a multitude of activities from duck feeding to boat hire, including canoes, paddle boards, pedalos and even sailing courses.

There is a wonderful large wooden playground featuring giant’s chair, willow tree tunnel, racing zip wires, sand pit and much more.

If you are peckish during your visit there are two cafes, The coffee house located next to the main car park and The Deck is located on the upper deck of the Dinton activity centre with enviable views over the lake. Picnics are also highly encouraged with lots of benches all around the park.

Dinton also boasts an 18-hole adventure golf course, indoor climbing wall, nature buggies for hire, an orienteering trail and one of the only permanent disc golf courses in the country!

Open 365 days a year, it is as perfect on a hot summer day as it is on a frosty winter one, especially if you’ve got a delicious hot chocolate from The Coffee Deck to enjoy.

12 Families Thames Valley West

By Bear, ag e 9

Coral Reef Waterworld Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7JQ, everyoneactive.com/centre/coral-reef-waterworld

In the summer holidays I went to Coral Reef Water World as a special treat. It is such an amazing place with slides, rapids and a real pirate ship!

There are five waterslides, some of which you ride together in a rubber ring and some you have to be brave enough to ride alone.

The slides even play music and light up as you slide down! My favourite slide was ‘The Canon’, it’s the fastest slide and tells you how quick you went down when you shoot out the end!

Inside the swimming pool there are rapids, an erupting volcano and buckets of water which fill up and tip on your head. In the middle there is a huge pirate ship with canons that you can aim and fire water at people in the pool!

I love everything about Coral Reef but my favourite part of my whole day was when Mummy shot out of the fast slide holding her bikini and screaming!

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GIVEAWAYS

Zero gravity or weightlessness?

Do astronauts REALLY experience zero gravity when they are in space?

You might be surprised to find out the answer is ‘no’!

Astronauts however do experience ‘weightlessness’ which is the sensation you feel when you are falling. You can experience the sensation of weightlessness on Earth by sky diving or even on some roller coasters. But imagine feeling like you are falling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

That’s what astronauts experience while on board the International Space Station anywhere from 3 to 12 months!

And that’s why more than 50% of astronauts experience ‘space sickness’ which is the exact opposite of motion sickness. Our bodies weren’t designed to live in freefall. Luckily our bodies are amazing acclimators and astronauts usually start to feel better after a few days.

At Space Store in Oxford, you can experience space first hand through their Astronaut Experience for Two. Get into a replica Tim Peake spacesuit, go into space in virtual reality, and learn to identify rocks from the Asteroid Belt.

For more information, contact Space Store at 01865 246698 or email: oxford@spacestore.co

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Therapeutic Fairytales series Inspired by children’s natural affinity with fairy tales, Pia and illustrator Sarah Pimenta have developed their own set of Therapeutic Fairytales (Routledge & CRC Press) to help open up conversations in families around specific emotions and experiences.

Into The Forest shows a boy with anxiety; The Sky Fox, a girl feeling lonely and The Waves, a girl suffering traits of OCD. A magic animal helper helps each child develop their own selfcalming techniques through a nurturing relationship and an active connection with nature.

Each story has been brought to life with sensitive, vibrant illustrations to help children recognise they are not alone in feeling like they do. Children often say: ‘Yes, this is just what it’s like! I can feel like this sometimes.’ These books are designed to open up conversations with children about the different emotions we all experience and how we can learn to support ourselves.

Parents don’t have to model perfection; more an openness to themes and a willingness to share their own experiences when relevant and useful.

GIVEAWAY!

Therapeutic Fairytales Volume 2

GIVEAWAY: My First Space Atlas and My First Dinosaur Atlas

WIN!

Buckle up for countdown and hold on tight for lift off! You’re about to visit the International Space Station, take a space walk, land on the moon and ride in a moon buggy. You’ll also tour the planets, explore the Milky Way and see our universe! But watch out for space junk, dark matter and black holes.

This is the perfect book to share with young children from four years old. It has bright, quirky images and an evocative narrative to bring the experience to life.

We are excited to be able to give away a copy of My First Space Atlas along with a copy of My First Dinosaur Atlas.

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning them both, please e-mail editor@familiestvw.co.uk by 30th November. A winner will be selected at random.

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APPLY NOW!

This is the chance for THREE lucky families to receive a complete set of three new Therapeutic Fairytales (Volume 2), which show how being in nature can support children through different feeling states including anxiety, feelings of loneliness and OCD. Animal guides lead the way, offering gentle, mindful breathing exercises to help children find stillness inside.

Beautifully illustrated and sensitively written, these books explore the anxiety and loneliness we can all feel, while offering practical, self-calming strategies that can be learnt together as a family. ‘A truly wonderful set of resources – of value to us all’ – Sarah Temple, GP and author.

For more info, visit www.bit.ly/fairytalestherapeutic For those interested in storytelling as a therapeutic, creative tool, author Pia Jones and illustrator Sarah Pimenta have also written a manual full of practical, creative exercises on how to read with children therapeutically. More at www.bit.ly/ storybookmanual

APPLY AT www.familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 1 December T&Cs at www.bit.ly/fairytalestcs Families Thames Valley West 13

WORK

Are you suffering from tech stress?

By Mandy Garner I once asked my son what he thought I did for a living. ‘Stare at the computer all day and then get very cross’ he said. This is the kind of levelling comment that keeps your feet on the ground as a parent. There you are thinking you were doing something exciting that you feel passionately about and all your child sees is someone glued to the computer, getting angry because the screen has frozen and they have minus ten minutes to get everything done before school pick-up.

Tech stress has not eased over time and is something remote workers struggle with more than most, simply because there is no one else to ask for help. I long for someone to come over, press a button or two and bingo, everything works.

But, unless a digital-native child is around (and even they are often nonplussed by work-related things), the main ploy is to rely on what I loosely call workarounds: basically any strategy you can devise to do whatever it is that your computer won’t. This can result in fairly surreal situations, which, when you look back on them seem really quite amusing but at the time are definitely not.

Take the other day. I have just changed my phone. I was after a better deal, having been suckered into getting a more up-to-date iPhone but was bedazzled by the promise of 5G and a special offer. In my house mobile reception is very patchy. One minute you have bars, the next…nada.

The world of work now functions on 2FA which means it sends codes to your phone. Not if there are no bars. I have to run up into the furthest corner of daughter three’s room and dangle the phone out the window to get them. This is not what I call progress. In any event, I have since been informed that 5G

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS TOY GIVEAWAY

Miraculous Magic Dolls bundle

My Emotions & Me Book 100 available

I had to go to a meeting the other day and do an online call on Zoom half an hour beforehand. As the Zoom audio doesn’t work on my laptop – no idea why – and I can’t access the Zoom app on my phone, I borrowed a laptop and headed to a quiet cafe opposite the place where my next meeting was.

Unfortunately, there was a big graduation ceremony taking place outside the cafe with groups of students and lecturers in gowns thronging the streets. Inside it was quieter and I even had a plug socket to charge the laptop. Then the cafe started playing loud classical music and it began to fill up with people. I found myself having to get very close to the computer to hear what the meeting attendees were saying. I think my colleagues must have basically been looking at my ear for most of the meeting.

By next week, all should be resolved... provided Apple verifies my id, although my phone informs me that my work gmail password is ‘compromised.’ The Apple man told me I should ring google for advice. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Sometimes I think maybe I struggle more with technology due to my age, conforming to all the negative stereotypes. But then I think it really isn’t an age thing. It’s more of a time thing. Time poor people need technology that works intuitively - which means modelling it on a diverse range of customers - and instantly. And they need humans, not robots, to understand their frustrations when it doesn’t.

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14 Families Thames Valley West

I didn’t want to stay with Apple, but felt I needed to in order to keep all my photos and videos. But my phone doesn’t recognise my Apple id password. One of its robots has assigned me an icloud.com address with a password which I don’t know because I didn’t even know I had an icloud account. This means I cannot get into any app on my phone, including Zoom and WhatsApp for at least seven days. I can reset my bank password in minutes but Apple takes up to seven days because they are so security conscious. One day they will shut me out of my own (online) life.

Mandy Garner is editor of www.workingmums.co.uk, a job site and community for working parents. Visit the website for more working mum blogs, advice and support and to search for flexible jobs with family-friendly employers.

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makes no difference to bars. Where are your tech advisers when you need them?

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TRAVEL

Inter-generational staycation in Torquay Back in August my children and I enjoyed a four-night stay in Torquay. This year we were at the Devonshire Hotel, part of the independently-owned coach holiday group Daish’s Holidays, and we had three generations in the party!

Devonshire Hotel

DAY DAY11 We were excited to be off on our first trip to Torquay and all met up at the Devonshire Hotel shortly after 4pm: a boy, a girl, a mum, a grannie and a grandad.

The Devonshire Hotel is a large, grand hotel above the harbour, and we had a quick explore on foot nearby before dinner. The highlight was a steep flight of steps with a sweeping view of the peaceful harbour and sparkling sea.

Dinner was in the large dining room, and there was a contented atmosphere amongst the diners, all of whom had arrived on the same day for a four-day stay.

Babbacombe Model Village

Before dinner we had a little time to enjoy the hotel’s underground games room, a bit of a haven for young visitors. My daughter had her first experiences of pool, air hockey and table football – almost a natural!

DAY DAY33 Unfortunately the sun had disappeared today, and it was grey and quite cold for August. We optimistically packed our beach gear in the car but first headed to the nearby Babbacombe Model Village, which seemed like a good destination for all three generations…

We caught a bus from the hotel to the harbour after a filling cooked breakfast.

The neatly moored white boats looked beautiful on a glittering sea, and there was a definite holiday feeling in the air.

…And it was! The model village has been evolving over the last fifty years, and it showcases a wonderful selection of buildings of quintessential Britain (plus, inexplicably, the Statue of Liberty!) My son loved the dragon that breathed real fire (from a Game of Thrones-type scene – I did say ‘quintessential Britain’!), and the free crazy golf course was also a big hit. There were lots of humourous touches in each scene, including a naked streaker running through the football match and a host of celebrities to spot outside the mansion.

I was with my daughter for the morning, and we wandered through a seafront market with a very international feel and along the seafront, as well as taking a trip on a mini ‘train’ (along roads). The nickname ‘English Riviera’ seemed very apt, with sunshine, palm trees and grand old buildings in abundance. The Pavilion was a particularly attractive example of Torquay’s opulent architecture.

After lunch in the café and some shopping in the gift shop (my daughter purchased a squidgy purple worm – the perfect souvenir of Devon!?), we drove to nearby Clary Park, which has a good playground for burning off some excess energy. The weather was still dull, so we scrapped the beach plan and instead went back into the centre of Torquay and to the temporary funfair in Abbey Gardens.

After lunch in one of the many popular town centre cafes, we went via the hotel to Meadfoot Beach, which is walkable from the Devonshire Hotel. It has a mixture of pebbles and small stones, and the water was wonderfully clear and refreshing on our visit. Swimming and throwing a snakeskin-patterned piece of seaweed about were the children’s favourite activities!

The top generation enjoyed a walk to Torre Abbey, the oldest building in Torquay, while the middle and youngest generations threw themselves into the fun of the fair. The ghost train was seriously scary, and the circus-themed house of fun definitely wasn’t a rip-off! On the walk back along the beachfront we were treated to the beautiful view of a dolphin or porpoise swimming nearby.

DAY22 DAY An early wakeup from two whispering children started the day; luckily it was a sunny one!

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Fun in the pool

Back at the Devonshire Hotel, the heated outdoor pool was back in action after a short closure, and there was just time for a quick dip before dinner and the end of another day.

DAY44 DAY Beach weather had deserted us again, but the children decided to have a dip in the hotel’s pool in the morning instead, after which we headed off to Kents Cavern.

It was a good destination for a cloudy day and suitable for all three generations. The cave was occupied by prehistoric humans millions of years ago, and lots of tools and bones from that era have been discovered there. Nowadays, guided tours through the spacious tunnels and chambers educate visitors about its early dwellers and the geology of the caves. The ‘Donald Trump’ rock formation and the bears’ cave were particularly memorable for us.

Back at the hotel, the children were ready for ANOTHER swim in the hotel pool, even though it was raining and quite cold by now. This time I joined them, and it was actually very pleasant being in a heated pool in the rain.

Unbelievably, this was our last night in Torquay; it’s amazing how quickly a place becomes familiar!

DAY DAY55 Everything was on fast forward this morning, as we had breakfast a bit earlier and packed up to leave. As we drove away from the Devonshire Hotel and towards the sea, the water was a beautiful shade of turquoise, and we were able to drive past the now-familiar town centre of Torquay: a beautiful town!

Devonshire Hotel Torquay Devon, TQ1 2DY Call: 01803 291 123 Visit: www.daishs.com/torquay/ devonshire-hotel Families Thames Valley West 15

DIRECTORY

Directory

DANCE & DRAMA

Please get in touch if you would like to be included in our directory: editor@familiestvw.co.uk DEVELOPMENTAL CLASSES BilinguaSing French, Spanish and Italian classes from age 0-11. Fun sensory music classes with the added bonus of a second language! Trial slots available, as well as sibling discounts. Classes in Wokingham, Bracknell, Theale, Caversham and other Berkshire locations Monday-Friday.

Contact Cari Weston at cari@bilinguasing. com or call 07729261018 for more information.

Master Builders Club Brick Building Workshops for Children Master Builders Club is a LEGO® & DUPLO® lovers paradise! Our weekend and holiday workshops, after school clubs, birthday parties and nursery/primary school events are designed to provide children with an exciting and captivating experience.

We provide 1000’s of LEGO® or DUPLO® bricks in a calm and supportive environment along with the imaginative stimulus to transform a room into a world of creativity.

If you are passionate about providing engaging and stimulating play opportunities that nurture your child’s mind, then Master Builders Club is for you! To book your brick building fan a place or to find out more about our events, visit the webite. www.masterbuildersclub.co.uk

GYMNASTICS, SPORT AND SWIMMING Bulmershe Gymnastics Club Based at a purpose-built gym in Woodley.

Gymnastics classes for all ages including Leap Frogs for walkers to five years lead by qualified coaches. www.bulmershegymnastics.co.uk GR Swimming Schools Swim England Swim School of the Year 2022!

Uniquely structured, safe, FUN, children’s swimming lessons from 3 years old. Lessons include continual assessment and lane progression. Maximum of 6 children per class. Aquaphobia lessons, Adults Beginners, Improvers and Advanced. Shy, nervous and anxious children welcome. Call 07853194327 jo@swimlessons.co.uk, swimlessons.co.uk Puddle Ducks Puddle Ducks teaches children, from birth to 10 years, to swim independently, beautifully and confidently and to love and respect the water. We teach essential life skills and water safety to over 25,000 babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary school children across the UK, every week. Call 0118 229 3232 or email: northhampshireandreading@ puddleducks.com St Joseph’s Swim School Fun and engaging swimming lessons, small class sizes in private learning pool following Swim England programme for 4+. FREE onsite parking. Register your interest now! For more information contact us on swimschool@sjcr. org.uk, www.sjcr.org.uk/swimschool

To include your business in our directory call Lesley on 07863 790592.

Progress Youth Theatre Workshops for ages 7-18 involving theatre games, improvisation and skills development, leading to a stage production every year. We are an Arts Award Supporter and also offer LAMDA courses. Classes held at Progress Theatre, Reading.

Email us to book a FREE taster session. youthgroup@progresstheatre.co.uk progresstheatre.co.uk/youth-theatre PARTIES Halls for hire Two church halls available for hire – ideal for parties or other lets. Includes kitchen, car parking and tables and chairs. £30 p/h All Saints Hall, Downshire Square, Reading, RG1 6NH and St Mark’s Hall, Cranbury Rd, Reading, RG30 2TA. Contact the parish office for further information – 0118 9502620 Table and Chair Hire Kiwi Jade is a family-owned and operated business offering a selection of children’s tables and chairs to hire for your event.

Our goal is to help you create a unique and magical party for your special little person, with our range of children’s tables and ontrend chairs available to rent at affordable prices. A selection of seat heights and a range of styles and themes are available. Send us an e-mail: kiwijadeuk@gmail.com or WhatsApp 07765892938 to begin discussing your event!

GR SWIMMING SCHOOLS ■ CHILDREN FROM 3 YEARS (TEACHERS IN THE WATER)

■ MAXIMUM 6 CHILDREN PER CLASS ■ FUN! UNIQUELY STRUCTURED LESSONS! ■ CONTINUAL ASSESSMENT & LANE PROGRESSION

■ SHY, NERVOUS & ANXIOUS CHILDREN WELCOME

■ AQUAPHOBIA CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE ■ ROOKIE LIFEGUARD PROGRAMME (SUPPORTS DOFE)

■ ADULTS: BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED LEVELS

■ STROKE TECHNIQUE ■ GO WITH THE FLOW FOR A WATER BIRTH Swim England Swim School of the Year 2022

16 Families Thames Valley West

After school, evening and weekend classes...

Brockhurst School, RG18 9UL St Andrews School, RG8 8QA The Downs School, RG20 6AD Contact us: 07853 194327 Jo@swimlessons.co.uk swimlessons.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON

Santa on a bike!

On Sunday 26th November Santa Claus is coming to town (Reading, to be precise) on a bike. Last Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed R(e)i(n)d(e)er gave Santa a sleigh ride in his bike.

This year Santa and Rudolph will lead the Kidical Mass Reading ride on a tandem. The people of Reading are hereby invited to join them for a fun, free and family friendly bike ride.

Come as reindeer, elves, or just as you are, as our marshals help us ride safely through the town. Remember to wrap up warm, especially your hands, feet and ears, so that you don’t end up feeling as cold as Frosty the Snowman. Bring your best jingle bells, we’ll bring the tunes, and we’ll be riding and rocking around the Christmas tree in the town centre together.

Santa will bring a small present for every child, and after the ride, though we can’t provide mistletoe and wine for the adults (you’ll have to find that when you’re safely home if you’re so inclined), the Lido have very kindly offered to provide free hot chocolate for the children. One of Santa’s elves will join us to offer minor bike repairs and to show the children how to check their brakes and gears.

We will meet on bikes at Thames Lido at 2pm. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. We will ride a 5km circular route at the pace of the slowest rider, suitable for anyone on two (or three) wheels from small children to grandparents. Hopefully

after the exercise and the excitement we will all have a silent night!

Kidical Mass Reading exists to help children have fun on bikes, and to highlight the need for cycling infrastructure that works for children. All I want for Christmas is you all being able to ride safely through our town every day, not just when our marshals are present to protect you.

For details of further rides, or for updates in extreme weather (e.g. an early white Christmas), find us at kidicalmassreading. co.uk or on Facebook under “Family Cycling Reading”.

We wish you a merry Christmas!

CHALLENGE: In this article there are 12 (sometimes not very) hidden Christmas song titles. Can you find them all?

Answers are on our website.

Enjoy Sleeping Beauty at South Hill Park Following South Hill Park’s most successful pantomime ever (Jack and the Beanstalk 2022), the magic and mayhem returns to the Wilde Theatre with a brand-new version of the timeless tale Sleeping Beauty, running from Fri 24 Nov–Sun 31 Dec.

Magical Lights at the MERL Whenever you visit The Museum of English Rural Life, you’ll find a range of fun family things to do!

Have a go at free trails, make and takes and other activities in the galleries and garden, or choose from a selection of great value seasonal Family Activity Packs available in the gift shop.

Why not book a place at the Magical Lights event which this year includes a session for neurodivergent visitors and their families!

For more details visit merl.Reading.ac.uk/families Familiesonline.co.uk

A young princess is cursed to die on her birthday by an evil witch. After pricking her finger on a spinning wheel’s spindle, she falls into an eternal sleep from which she can only be awoken by true love’s kiss. Will the Princess be awoken from her eternal sleep, find her true love and live happily ever after?

Join us as we spin a tale filled with laughter, silly songs, colourful characters, slapstick comedy, and dangerous dragons – in this Great British pantomime favourite full of creative sparkle. This promises to be the pantomime of your dreams which is sure to keep you enchanted. www.southhillpark.org.uk/shp-events/sleeping-beauty2023-christmas-panto

Families Thames Valley West 17

WHAT’S ON

Where to see Father Christmas

Pantomimes and Christmas Shows It’s a Wonderful Life at Reading Rep Theatre

Seeing Father Christmas is one of the highlights of the season for many children. Here are some places where you can catch up with him locally this year.

Enjoy some sparkle and silliness with a trip to the theatre!

Here is a roundup of long-running family performances this season.

Reading Winter Wonderland 12 November–2 January readingwinterwonderland. co.uk Santa’s grotto

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at CATS Crowthorne from 30 November – 3 December Ticketsource.co.uk/ crowthornecats

Henley Christmas Festival 24 November Henleytowncouncil.gov. uk/event/christmasfestival-2023 Santa’s grotto including a sensory hour for children with special needs

Kidical Mass, Reading 26 November Kidicalmassreading.co.uk Father Christmas bike ride Bucklebury Farm Park 27 November–23 December Santa’s grotto De Vere Wokefield Estate, Reading 3 and 10 December DeVere.co.uk Santa afternoon tea

Chocolates for Chocoholics 25 November–21 December Chocolateparties.com Christmas chocolate grotto

Hobbs of Henley 16-20 December Hobbsofhenley.com Santa cruises

Odds Farm Park 25 November–24 December Oddsfarm.co.uk Santa’s grotto

Cantley House Hotel, Wokingham 18–21 December Cantleyhotel.co.uk Santa afternoon tea

Wokingham Winter Carnival 26 November Wintercarnival.co.uk Santa’s grotto

Pinewood Railway, Wokingham Various dates Pinewoodrailway.co.uk Train rides to Santa’s grotto

NEW TUESDAY SWIM SESSIONS We are adding Tuesdays to our current after school and Saturday timetable. Swimming lessons for age 4+ following the Swim England Learn to Swim programme

Whoops! A Moo Moo’s Christmas at Caversham Park Theatre, Reading from 7–9 December Cavparktheatre.org.uk Beauty and the Beast at The Corn Exchange Newbury from 24 November–31 December Cornexchangenew.com Sleeping Beauty at The Hexagon, Reading from 9 December–7 January Whatsonreading.com Jack and the Beanstalk at Kenton Theatre, Henley from 9–31 December Kentontheatre.co.uk

Aladdin at The Whitty Theatre, Wokingham from 29–30 December Luckleyhouseschool.org Hogfather at Progress Theatre, Reading from 7–16 December Progresstheatre.co.uk Potted Panto at Reading Rep Theatre from 27 November–31 December Readingrep.com It’s a Wonderful Life at Reading Rep Theatre from 30 November–30 December Readingrep.com Sleeping Beauty at South Hill Park, Bracknell from 24 November-31 December Southhillpark.org.uk The Wizard of Oz at Watermill Theatre, Newbury from 17 November–31 December Watermill.org.uk

WOMEN ONLY SWIM LESSONS Introducing our new Women only swim lessons on Tuesday evenings for beginners and improvers

Book now to start in November www.sjcr.org.uk/swimschool 18 Families Thames Valley West

Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON

Potted Panto comes to Reading!

Reading Rep Theatre brings the West End family hit Potted Panto to Reading this Christmas From 27 November to 31 December.

Neverland Illuminova sparkles in Wellington Country Park In the heart of Wellington Country Park, an illuminated kingdom awaits you this Winter with even more Neverland to discover.

Join Hope on a journey into Neverland as they take you through their ideas, re-discover their curious and wandering mind, and take you on a journey that will ignite your imagination along the way.

Be immersed in the poetic paths as you walk into the night and embark upon the enchanting adventure of Neverland Illuminova, the illuminated night trail that never grows old.

New for 2023, explore the awakened woodlands and reach for the stars with our extended trail. Enjoy a magical quest with your friends and family - there is something for everyone.

This is a heartwarming adventure with big memories. There are limited spaces for a truly bespoke experience. Brighten the end of your year!

Bring the whole family as Reading Rep attempts to perform not one but 7 pantomimes in just 70 minutes! Enjoy all your favourite festive shows in one production, from Cinderella, Aladdin and Dick Wittington - will their dastardly double act be able to get through them all?

Filled with interactive songs, hilarious jokes and a few surprises too, this is a great festive treat for all the family!

Get 20% off your tickets with the code TVFM20.

Other family discounts available.

For ages 6+. Tickets from just £5 at readingrep.com

Christmas lights switch-ons: Newbury - 18 Nov Henley - 24 Nov Bracknell - 25 Nov

Hungerford - 26 Nov Thatcham - 1 Dec Wokingham - 2 Dec

Christmas is coming to Odds Farm Park this November The countdown to Christmas is on at Odds Farm Park as the Buckinghamshire-based leisure attraction gears up for one of its biggest events of the year.

The farm’s Christmas Spectacular will see visitors walk through the sparkling enchanted woodland as they head to meet Father Christmas for a special oneto-one meeting in his Grotto, where littles ones can be sure to tell him all their Christmas wishes.

Families can then head to ‘Cuddle Creation’ in the Elves’ workshop, where children can make their own soft toy bear, cuddle and take home, complete with a birth certificate.

Next stop is a visit to the Christmas Toyshop, where younger guests can choose their gift from Father Christmas.

New for 2023 is the Reindeer Flying School. Visitors can join Flurry, the Professor of Magical Christmas Flight, and Rudy the Reindeer in an exciting new interactive Reindeer Flying School Show, as Rudy beats his fear of heights to join The Sleigh Team.

For more information visit www.oddsfarm.co.uk, call 01628 520188 or like and follow @OddsFarmPark on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest news and updates.

Familiesonline.co.uk

Families Thames Valley West 19

WHAT’S ON

Great festive activities Here’s a roundup of events which are taking place over an extended period of time this season.

Until 3 Dec Toys and Teens Appeal readingfamilyaid.org/donatetoys Donate toys at one of their donation points (or they will collect) or donate money to their appeal, to go towards additional toys.

12 Nov–2 Jan Reading Winter Wonderland Hills Meadow, Reading, RG4 8DH, readingwinter wonderland.co.uk Rides and attractions, festive food and drink, Father Christmas and a real ice rink.

18 Nov–23 Dec Neverland Illuminova Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road, Riseley, RG7 1SP, wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk In the heart of Wellington Country Park, an illuminated kingdom awaits you with even more Neverland to discover.

25 Nov–24 Dec Christmas Spectacular Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common Road, Wooburn Common, High Wycombe, HP10 0LX, oddsfarm.co.uk Soak up the seasonal splendour with the return of this sellout Christmas Spectacular Experience, where the Farm Park has been sprinkled with yuletide wonder and festive frivolities, and families will be joined by a very special guest!

26 Nov–24 Dec The Magical Christmas Adventure 4 Kingdoms Adventure Play and Family Farm, Headley, RG19 8JY, themagicalchristmas adventure.co.uk Santa is excited to welcome you to visit the North Pole for a magical Christmas adventure.

Fun for all the family.

The National Trust Basildon Park, Reading, RG8 9NR, nationaltrust. org.uk/visit/oxfordshirebuckinghamshire-berkshire/ basildon-park A Wind in the Willows Christmas, 18 Nov–5 Jan Immerse yourself in a wonderland of beautifully adorned trees, garlands, and twinkling fairy lights, all inspired by the captivating story. 10am–4pm An Adventure with Mr Toad Children’s Trail, 18 Nov–5 Jan Mr Toad is obsessed with cars, the problem is - he’s crashed seven of them! Race around the garden to find the activity stations and help him stay out of trouble. 10am–4pm £2 Greys Court, HenleyOn-Thames, RG9 4PG, nationaltrust.org.uk/ visit/oxfordshirebuckinghamshire-berkshire/ greys-court

20 Families Thames Valley West

A Christmas Memory, 25 Nov –5 Jan Experience the charming nostalgia of the festive season as Greys Court warmly welcomes you to the estate adorned with beautifully decorated trees, twinkling fairy lights, and pure magic.

10am–4pm Christmas Children’s Trail, 25 Nov–5 Jan Take part in a children’s trail around the grounds. 10am– 4pm £2 Nuffield Place, Huntercombe, Near Henley-on-Thames, RG9 5RY, nationaltrust. org.uk/visit/oxfordshirebuckinghamshire-berkshire/ nuffield-place Driving Home for Christmas, 2–31 Dec During December, Nuffield Place will reopen its doors to beautifully decorated trees, garlands, and fairy lights - and lots of car-inspired decorations! 11am–4pm

Christmas markets Enjoy Christmas crafts and mulled wine at a cosy Christmas fair!

Sat 4 and Sun 5 Nov The Herb Farm, Sonning Common, RG4 9NJ, herbfarm.co.uk Local crafts and produce plus hot food and drinks.

Fri 10 Nov Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Newbury, RG20 8AE, watermill.org.uk With a delicious range of sandwiches and menus available and even a taster craft session for families, there’s something for everyone this festive season.

Sat 11 and Sun 12 Nov South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org. uk/whats-on Come and enjoy some of the UK’s best handmade crafts throughout the Mansion and Wilde Theatre.

Tue 15 Nov – Sun 24 Dec The Malls, Basingstoke, RG21 7QU, themalls.co.uk/ home/whats-on This annual event is in the heart of this busy shopping centre.

Sat 18 Nov Hampstead Norreys Community Shop and Café, Thatcham, RG18 0TD, hncs.co.uk With about 50 artisan stallholders selling original goods, live music, food and drink, and free activities for children, there is something for everyone at this candlelit market.

Sun 19 Nov Creative Spaces, Caversham, Reading, RG4 5AF, madebytamalia.co.uk A quirky take on the traditional outdoor Christmas market.

Sat 25 Nov The Base, Greenham Business Park, RG19 6AB, thebasegreenham.co.uk Come along and visit the magical gallery grotto where you will be able to meet makers and buy unique and unusual gifts for loved ones directly from artists.

Sat 25 and Sun 26 Nov Yattendon Village Hall, Yattendon, RG18 0UE, modernmakerscollective. co.uk The theme this year is Celebrating Modern Craft, and the carefully curated group of exceptional local makers reflects this.

Sun 26 Nov Museum of English Rural Life, University Of Reading, Reading, RG1 5EX merl.reading.ac.uk/event Find special gifts in our gift shop, seasonal treats in the café, meet our local suppliers, try some Christmassy crafting AND feel a warm glow knowing that all your purchases help support The MERL’s work with collections and communities.

Sat 2 and Sun 3 Dec The Little Play Lounge, The Old Rectory, Padworth Common, RG7 4JD, thelittleplaylounge.co.uk Stalls selling wooden toys, creations by local artisans, puzzles, storybooks and more.

Sun 3 Dec Shaw House, Newbury, RG14 2DR, westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on Explore the house to see over 65 stalls selling locally made gifts and craft; the perfect time to shop for unique gifts for friends and family – or for yourself!

Sun 10 Dec Emmbrook Junior School, Wokingham, RG41 1JR Various stalls including bottle and confectionery tombolas, arts and crafts, plus mulled wine, hot chocolate, homemade cakes, mince pies, hot dogs and more.

Sat 16 and Sun 17 Dec Northbrook Street, Newbury, RG14 1ND, lsdpromotions. com/newbury Newbury Artisan Market Christmas Edition Welcomes the heart of handmade to town this festive season.

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WHAT’S ON

What’s on

November & December 2023 All listings are correct at the time of publication. Please check with the venue before you visit in case anything has changed.

NOVEMBER Until 12 Nov Spectacle of Light Welford Park, Welford, Newbury, RG20 8HU, welfordpark.co.uk Explore this wonderful after-dark experience and follow the new illuminated trail around the beautiful grounds.

Until 19 Nov 20 Historical Women Who Changed the World The Base, 1 Communications Road, Greenham Business Park, Greenham, RG19 6AB, thebasegreenham.co.uk This bold, colourful and historically inspired exhibition features the works of Nigerian-born artist, Chinwe Russell featuring remarkable women from around the world. Open Wed – Sun, 10am–5pm. Tickets from £5.75, under-18s free Until 4 Nov Chitty Chitty Bang Bang South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org.uk/whats-on Chitty’s eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, and his children, Jeremy and Jemima, join confectionery heiress Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa Potts to outwit the evil Baron and Baroness Bomburst along with the Child Catcher in this non-stop adventure for all ages. From £19.50 1, 8, 22 and 29 Nov Mini Messy Museum West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5AS, westberkshireheritage.org/whatson At each session, you and your child will take part in a fun and simple art and craft themed around a museum object, and then you’ll have the opportunity to do a self-led gallery visit to find the museum object linked to the morning’s art and craft. 10:15am–10:45am £12 for five sessions.

2–4 Nov Young Frankenstein Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk The comedy genius, Mel Brooks, adapts his legendarily funny film into a brilliant stage creation – Young Frankenstein! From £22.50 4 Nov Family Jam Session Readipop Studios, 15 Trafford Road, Reading, RG1 8JP, Readipop.co.uk A family music session for kids and adults to experience and learn to play together. 10am. £3 4 Nov Elemental Regal Picturehouse, 2 Boroma Way, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BZ, picturehouses.com In Element City, fire, water, land, and air residents live together – but they don’t always mix.

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4 Nov Meet the Puddle Ducks mascot Aldworth School, Basingstoke, RG22 6HA, mum2mummarket. co.uk/m2mmbasingstoke.html Puddle Ducks North Hampshire are proudly partnered with Mum2mum Market Basingstoke. 12pm–2pm 4 Nov Wokingham Fireworks and Torchlight Procession Cantley Park, Wokingham, RG40 5QG, Wokingham-fireworks.co.uk The display will be bigger and better than ever and sure to wow the audience just like previous years.

5:30pm 4 Nov Chieveley Fireworks The Recreation Centre, Chieveley, RG20 8TE, mychieveley.co.uk Spectacular Fireworks display designed by multi-award winning Illusion Fireworks. 5:45pm 4 Nov Firework Fiesta Pangbourne Primary School, Pangbourne, RG8 7LB, Fopps.org.uk Enjoy a thrilling fireworks display and bonfire. 5:30pm 4 Nov Reading Children’s Book Group Fourbears Books, 20 Prospect Street, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8JG, fourbearsbooks.co.uk Come and help celebrate National Non-Fiction November with some brilliant new information books and an exciting competition. Ages 5-8.

10am-11am Free entry 5 Nov The Wizard of Oz South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA, southhillpark.org.uk/whats-on Join Ballet Theatre UK and follow the yellow brick road and discover all the wonders of Oz. 3pm. From £16 5 Nov Newbury Fireworks Spectacular Newbury Showground, RG18 9QZ, newbury-fireworks.co.uk Watch in awe as the night sky lights up with a breathtaking display of fireworks, perfectly synchronised to the beat of the music. 3pm 5 Nov Gorse Ride Glow Show Gorse Ride School, Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead, RG40 4EH, pta-events.co.uk/grspta Glow stick disco and family-friendly laser lights show. 5:45pm Adults: £5.50, children: £3.50 12 Nov Ultimate Dinosaurs: Pre-show workshop Corn Exchange, Market Place, Newbury, RG14 5BD, cornexchangenew.com Join artist Gemma Kirby in the Balcony Bar for a pre-show family craft session where you’ll make your own dinosaur spotter’s guide. 1pm £4 per child

12 Nov Ben Garrod’s Ultimate Dinosaurs Corn Exchange, Newbury, RG14 5BD, cornexchangenew.com Get ready to go on an exciting prehistoric adventure as Ben talks you through the deadliest predators that ever roamed the planet. 2pm £17.25 18 Nov The Wizard of Oz Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk The Wizard of Oz is a two act, fulllength, ballet adaptation of the iconic tale by L. Frank Baum, told through the magic of classical dance. 2pm/ 6pm From £17.50 18 Nov Glow Walk Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst, RG10 0TH, wokinghamcountryside.co.uk/ dinton-pastures-country-park A 2-mile walk around Black Swan Lake under starlight and take in the illuminated woodland, various light features as well as jugglers, singers and illuminated Stand Up Paddleboarders. 5–8pm 19 Nov Reading Children’s Book Group Fourbears Books, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8JG, fourbearsbooks. co.uk As part of our National Non-Fiction November celebrations we’ll be sharing some new information books & testing your general knowledge with a quiz. Ages 9-11. 10am-11am Free entry 23 Nov Can Bears Ski? Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, RG14 3BQ, Arlington-arts.com Join Little Bear and Dad Bear as they learn how there are many ways to communicate love, and to find your place in the world. 1:30pm 23 Nov A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings South Street Arts Centre, Reading, RG1 4QU, whatsonreading.com Using a combination of music, puppetry and live video projection this magic-realist gem is brought to the stage with beautiful, strange, emotional richness. 7pm 24 Nov Henley Christmas Festival Henley Town Centre, henleytowncouncil.gov.uk/event/ christmas-festival-2023 The town centre will be closed to traffic and filled with stalls and rides to entertain the whole family. 5–9pm

25 and 26 Nov, 2 and 3 Dec Lantern Making Workshops 101 Outdoor Arts, Greenham Business Park, RG19 6HN, cornexchangenew.com Create a traditional pyramid lantern out of willow and paper ready to carry in the Festival of Light procession. 11am/3pm Free entry 26 Nov Wokingham Winter Carnival Wokingham Town Centre, wintercarnival.co.uk Includes amazing attractions, traditional fun fair, food and drink.

26 Nov Festive Clay Decoration Making The Base, 1 Communications Road, Greenham Business Park, Greenham, RG19 6AB, thebasegreenham.co.uk These family fun sessions are perfect for unique gifts, or Christmas tree decorations. 10.30am-12.30pm Tickets £20 (per child, includes a gingerbread biscuit and drink).

26 Nov Kidical Mass Bike Ride Thames Lido, Napier Road, Reading, RG1 8FR, kidicalmassreading.co.uk Circular ride. 2pm 28 Nov Storytime Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst, RG10 0TH, wokinghamcountryside.co.uk/ dinton-pastures-country-park At the Coffee House. 11am. Free entry

DECEMBER 1 and 22 Dec Bach to Baby Festive Concert Reading Minster, Chain Street, Reading, RG1 2HX, bachtobaby. com/reading Magical music, festive frolics, sparkles and spice. 11am £15 2 Dec Family Jam Session Readipop Studios, 15 Trafford Road, Reading, RG1 8JP, Readipop.co.uk A family music session for kids and adults to experience and learn to play together. 10am. £3 2 Dec Museum on Wheels Southcote Library, Reading, RG30 3BA, whatsonreading.com You can take part in free, family friendly activities to discover and celebrate natural heritage and add your voice to our consultation on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 10:30am– 12:30pm Free entry.

Families Thames Valley West 21

WHAT’S ON 2 Dec Children’s Christmas Printmaking The Base, Greenham Business Park, Greenham, RG19 6AB, thebasegreenham.co.uk Create beautifully seasonal Christmas cards and decorations.

10am–12pm £20 per child 2 Dec Gingerbread Trail Shaw House, Newbury, RG14 2DR, westberkshireheritage.org/whatson Follow the clues to find the gingerbread characters hidden around the historic rooms. 11am–2pm Suggested donation of £1 2 Dec Oskar’s Amazing Adventure workshop Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, RG14 3BQ, Arlington-arts.com A fun-filled arts and craft workshop inspired by the theme of winter hibernation and the animals in the play. 12pm £3 2 Dec Oskar’s Amazing Adventure Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, RG14 3BQ, Arlington-arts.com This original play for young children uses a rich mix of storytelling, physical theatre, clowning, puppetry and music & song to tell the tale of a puppy’s search for friendship in the wilderness of the Alps. 11am/2pm 2 Dec Meet the Puddle Ducks mascot Aldworth School, Basingstoke, RG22 6HA, mum2mummarket. co.uk/m2mmbasingstoke.html Puddle Ducks North Hampshire are proudly partnered with Mum2mum Market Basingstoke. 12–2pm

3 Dec Reading Children’s Book Group Fourbears Books, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8JG fourbearsbooks.co.uk Join us for some seasonal fun - there will be book-themed party games, stories and treats. Ages 5-8. 10-11am Free entry 3 Dec Children’s Magic Show Shaw House, Newbury, RG14 2DR, westberkshireheritage.org Featuring Mr Muddle the charming, if muddlesome, magician who captivates and amazes children with his comical slapstick magic. 11am/ 12:30pm/2pm £7 per child 3 Dec The Nutcracker Kenton Theatre, New Street, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BP, kentontheatre.co.uk Back with a dazzling treat, the Let’s All Dance Ballet Company presents their family festive favourite!

1pm/3pm Adults: £18, children: £16 8 Dec Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza High Street, Hungerford, RG17 0DL, hungerfordextravaganza.com The Extravaganza heralds the arrival of Christmas in the town, as though by magic it is transformed into a wonderland of delights.

9 Dec Family Willow Decoration Making The Base, Greenham Business Park, Greenham, RG19 6AB, thebasegreenham.co.uk Make willow trees, stars and mini reindeer to decorate your tree and home this Christmas. 2–4pm £12.50 per child (and accompanying adult)

Festive fun at...

Christmas Holiday Clubs

10 Dec Jingle Bell Jog Emmbrook Junior School, Emmbrook Road, Wokingham, RG41 1JR Join in a festive jog to the sound of jingle bells to run a 2-mile safe route around Emmbrook. 10:30am–1:30pm 10 Dec A Grumpy Christmas Shaw House, Newbury, RG14 2DR, westberkshireheritage.org/whatson Young audiences will be entertained with a fun sing-a-long, themed games and story time. 10am/ 11:30am/1pm £7 per child 10 Dec Charity Christmas Show Shinfield Players Theatre, Reading, RG2 9DF, shinfieldplayers.org.uk This Christmas collection is staged for the local community and raises funds for worthy charities. 7pm £5 10 Dec Festival of Light Northbrook Street and Market Place, Newbury cornexchangenew.com This stunning winter event brings the community together. 4pm Free entry 11 Dec Magical Lights Museum of English Rural Life, University Of Reading, RG1 5EX, merl.reading.ac.uk/event Explore the magic of light in the MERL garden and enjoy a host of craft activities inspired by light and the MERL gardens and collections.

4:30pm–5:45pm: geared towards neurodivergent visitors and their families, 6–7:30pm: general session. £5

12 Dec ACE Winter Dance Showcase Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, RG14 3BQ, Arlington-arts.com Local schools and youth dance groups combine to showcase their latest pieces of choreography in this relaxed and welcoming evening of dance. 7:30pm 15 Dec Christmas Carol Concert Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, RG14 2DR, westberkshireheritage.org/whatson Cantemus, a small chamber choir based in Newbury, will be giving a concert of old and new festive music in the Great Hall at Shaw House to get you into the Christmas spirit.

7.30–9pm Adults: £12, children: £6 16 Dec Make Your Own Christmas Baubles Made by Tamalia, Marsack Street, Caversham, Reading, RG4 5AF, madebytamalia.co.uk Learn different decorating techniques to create three different bauble styles of your choice; filled, marbling, painted and gold leaf.

11am–12:30pm £25 16 Dec Kidical Mass Bike Ride Elms Field Playground, Wokingham, RG40 2AA, kidicalmassreading.co.uk Circular ride. 2pm 16 Dec Chance to Dance Stars Christmas Production South Street Arts Centre, Reading, RG1 4QU, sendanceclub.co.uk Put your hands together for a spectacular show with upbeat music and sparkly costumes! £12.50

An Independent Prep School for Boys & Girls aged 3-13

18-22 December

Birds of Prey Bubble Entertainer Build a Snowman Soft Toy The Grinch Christmas Party Italian Pizza Making Class* Face Painting ...and much more! activities & Times & 8am-1pm £22 Incl.snacks!

Pizza making All Day £38 additional £5 Prices

Dolphin School inspires a love of learning that lasts a lifetime

Open to all children aged 3-11 years

www.beehiveclub.co.uk 22 Families Thames Valley West

Please visit our website to learn more, or contact Kate Spooner admissions@dolphinschool.com www.dolphinschool.com 0118 934 1277 Waltham Road, Hurst, Berkshire, RG10 0FR Familiesonline.co.uk

WHAT’S ON 16–17 Dec The Wizard of Oz Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, RG14 3BQ, Arlington-arts.com Set to a classical score bringing the story to life, this production is family-friendly and is the perfect way to introduce children to classical ballet.

17 Dec Festive Family Upstage Mini Club Roseate Reading, RG1 3EJ, roseatehotels.com Enjoy a three-course festive lunch, followed by popcorn and screening of the film ‘The Grinch’. 12:30pm 19 Dec Storytime Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst, RG10 0TH, wokinghamcountryside.co.uk/ dinton-pastures-country-park At the Coffee House. 11am Free 21 Dec A Christmas Eve Escapade Sonning Common RG4 9SL, masterbuildersclub.co.uk Children’s brick-building workshop for LEGO fans. 9:30–11:30am 21 Dec Breaking the Ice South Street Arts Centre, Reading RG1 4QU, whatsonreading.com This is a playful and light-hearted show inspired by an unlikely friendship between a Husky and a polar bear. 11:30am/2pm £11

22 Dec A Christmas Eve Escapade Woodcote Village Hall, Reading Road, Woodcote, RG8 0QY, masterbuildersclub.co.uk Children’s brick-building workshop for LEGO fans. 9:30–11:30am 22 Dec Movie in the Hall: Polar Express Shaw House, Newbury, RG14 2DR, westberkshireheritage.org On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery and the spirit of Christmas. 10am Adults: £5, children: £3 22 Dec A Christmas Eve Escapade The Heights Primary School, Caversham, Reading, RG4 7LB, masterbuildersclub.co.uk Children’s brick-building workshop for LEGO fans. 2:30–4:30pm 28 Dec A Christmas Eve Escapade Dorchester on Thames Village Hall,Dorchester, OX10 7HR, masterbuildersclub.co.uk Children’s brick-building workshop for LEGO fans. 9:30–11:30am 28 Dec A Christmas Eve Escapade Badgemore Primary School, Hop Gardens, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2HL, masterbuildersclub.co.uk Children’s brick-building workshop for LEGO fans. 2:30–4:30pm

CHRISTMAS WORD SEARCH Find the names of lots of lovely Christmas things in the grid below CAROL STOCKING PRESENTS REINDEER TURKEY CRACKER

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21 Dec Messy Museum Morning West Berkshire Museum, Newbury, RG14 5AS, westberkshireheritage.org/ whats-on Decorate a festive ceramic hanging ornament with paint pens to take

home to place on your tree.

10am–1pm £2.50 per child

South Hill Park’s award-winning family pantomime returns this Christmas

The MERL Family Event:

MAGICAL LIGHTS

Monday 11th December 2023 6.00 – 7.30pm Explore the magic of light in the MERL garden.

MAGICAL LIGHTS, MY WAY For neurodivergent visitors and their families

4.30 – 5.45pm £5 per participating child, Booking required.

merl.reading.ac.uk/ whats-on

Writer Joyce Branagh Director Adam Stafford Fri 24 Nov – Sun 31 Dec 2023 Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park Bracknell RG12 7PA

southhillpark.org.uk · box office 01344 484123 /southhillparkartscentre

Familiesonline.co.uk

southhillpark

/shpartscentre

Registered charity 265656 Please support the future of the arts

Families Thames Valley West 23

20% off tickets with code TVFM20

27 Nov - 31 Dec

The illuminated night-time adventure that never grows old

The perfect family treat at Reading’s only professional producing theatre!

In the heart of Wellington Country Park, an illuminated kingdom awaits you, with even more Neverland to discover with our extended trail.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY neverlandilluminova.co.uk

Established co-educational school 6 Forest School sites

54%

Bilingual

Over 40% girls

Extensive list of co-curricular activities

In-house Mental Health Practitioner

Over 40 languages spoken

Weekly fixtures

Specialist subject teachers

Leading boys and girls sports teams

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25 metre swimming pool

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www.crosfields.com/events 24 Families Thames Valley West

Familiesonline.co.uk