Family Matters Summer edition - Frome and West Wilts

FROME AND WEST WILTS EDITION

ISSUE 55 • july/august 2019

school dinner entitlement

school news

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

prizes to be won!

Brand New For 2019

Whitehall’s Maize Maze Sat 13th July - Sun 1st Sept 10:00am - 5:00pm

At Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2LZ Book Online At: www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk

WELCOME So here we are, summer is here again and I’m sure you’re all looking forward to a well deserved rest.

For all the parents out there, summer can be a challenge, especially when you’re working and looking for things to do to keep the children amused, which is why we’ve filled this issue with some ideas to help keep them busy!

There’s nothing better than seeing the kids enjoying themselves, but you don’t have to break the bank to have a good time this summer, hopefully our ideas will inspire you to make some great memories without having to spend a penny!

When we next catch up, it’ll be September and the new school year will have started, so of course, we have a few hints and tips when it comes to booking places at nursery for your younger family members and a few other helpful bits of advice for the new term.

From all of us here at Family Matters, we hope you have a wonderful summer break and we’ll see you on the other side.

p5 when friends fall out

p8 Do you have a reluctant reader?

p16 summer holiday fun ideas

p19 THIS YEAR'S PLAY DAY

Published by Ignyte Media Ltd - email: info@ignyte-uk.co.uk call: 01761 410141 While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in the publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Ignyte do not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher.

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FAMILY EVENTS SUMMER 2019 All events subject to change or cancellation without prior notice

21 AUGUST Enjoy Elizabeth Gaskell’s classic tale of 19th century family life including the coming of the railways to this sleepy community

1861

OPEN AIR THEATRE - ‘CRANFORD’

AUGUST

20 & 21 JULY

Board the time-travelling train to see your favourite characters at our first Sci-Fi weekend

2034

JULY

SCI-FI FUN

AUGUST & SUNDAY 4 SATURDAY 3

LEBRATE THE JOIN US TO CE ERSARY OF 150TH ANNIV OF THE LINE G THE OPENIN

Tel: 0117 932 5538 www.avonvalleyrailway.org

© National Trust 2019 . Registered charity, No. 205846. © National Trust Images \Arnhel de Serra.

Stretched out summer days made at Lacock Lacock has something for everyone, from fun holiday crafts and outdoor theatre, to acres of space to let off steam.

These are the places that make us. nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock

24 – 26 AUGUST Grandparents travel for half price when accompanied by at least one paying child. Bring them along for a fun day out!

2035

august

GRA NDP ARE NTS WEE KEN D

Bitton Railway Station, Bath Road, Bristol BS30 6HD

Summer days at Lacock Abbey Strike your best yoga pose, meditate, or simply smell the roses to take you away from a busy day and calm the mind. Improve your wellbeing with positive thoughts and feelings this summer in Lacock’s peaceful grounds on our Mindful Moments family trail.

Artist Maggie Taylor returns to the Fox Talbot Museum’s gallery on 20 July with an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ inspired exhibition ‘Through the Looking Glass’. Downstairs in the Little Gallery, 100 ‘pencils’, handmade from antique photographs will be on display in the exhibition ‘Pencils of Nature’, by artist Tom Butler from 17 August.

Summer holiday activities in our colourful Botanic garden return once again, more information about each week will be up on the website and our Facebook page soon. Find us at www.facebook.com/LacockNT/ On Friday 2 August we present ‘Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves!’ one of Illyria’s most popular outdoor shows, adapted from the One Thousand and One Nights. Gates open at 6pm for picnics, the performance starts at 7pm.

Find out more www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock

lp when friends fall o e h o t ut How So first you get over the hurdle of your child going off to school, then you have to deal with the competitive nature of the other parents and so and so gets more pocket money than me and then you have the never ending drama that is your child’s friendships.

When your children enter primary school, your big fear is that they won’t like it, they won’t make friends, they won’t fit in, so finding out they have a group of friends is a big relief, until of course, the first childhood falling out happens.

Sadly, friendship drama affects us all, whether we’re four and it’s all about Timmy saying he was your best friend but then giving Oliver the toy tractor before you or when you’re eight and Sophie ignored you and went to play with Claire instead. These dramas start young and continue throughout your life, sad, but true. While many of you may still consider the friends you made in childhood to be your bffs, there are just as many of us who can barely remember what a big deal those friendships and the subsequent fallings out were. For the kids though, this is what is happening to them right now and the first few times they experience it, it’s going to be hard to navigate.

Obviously parents are going to be concerned about how their child is coping with these things, so here are a few ways you can help.

If your child comes home and says they have fallen out with the person they were best friends with the day before, don’t pass it off as nothing. This is a BIG DEAL to them, so be sure to listen, ask questions about the issue and empathise with them.

We don’t want any “OMG she’s the worst!” but we do want “oh no, sorry to hear that, how did you feel when that happened?”.

Not only does this help them get their emotions out and help them think about the situation, but it will show that they can come to you with problems in the future.

You can ask how you can help, especially if it sounds to you like this is a bullying issue rather than a falling out, but don’t just jump in and try to fix the problem yourself. If you are concerned that it is a bullying problem, keep your eye on the situation and speak to the class teacher, but jumping in and talking to the other child or their parents, could make things worse if it is just a falling out.

Keep the conversation with your child open and talk about their friendships and check in on them for any updates. Chances are they’ll be best buds again in a few days, but just in case it is something that is ongoing and becoming a problem, make sure you’re in the loop. Trying to keep up with who likes who and why and what so and so did to who is harder than dipping in and out of a soap opera, but it is important that your child knows they can count on you to help them navigate and feel confident in their friendships.

Do you have any other tips for helping your child through a friendship break down?

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Our core purpose is to inspire all pupils to believe in their abili�es and to achieve their highest level.

Mendip Studio School Open Evening We warmly invite you to find out more about our unique offer and hope you can come and see how you can benefit from our school.

Join us for an access all areas Open Evening at Mendip Studio School on

Thursday 12th September 2019 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Open Day / Evening 2019 Thursday 12th September 2019 Day�me Tours: 9.15am & 11.20am (by appointment only) Open Evening: 6.00pm—7.30pm Head’s Presenta�on: 6.00pm T: 01373 462539 E: oakeldacademy@educ.somerset.gov.uk

DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS, DEFINING YOUR FUTURE.

Part of the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership

Writhlington School Open Evening We are very proud of our unique offer and would like to invite you to come and see what we do best.

Join us for an access all areas Open Evening at Writhlington School on

CREATING OPPORTUNITY. INSPIRING ACHIEVEMENT.

Thursday 12th September 2019 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Part of the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership

CHOOSING THE right SECONDARY SCHOOL for As hard as it might be to accept that your little darling is no longer so little, you can’t put off your decision on which secondary school is most suited to them and can help shape them into an upstanding young member of the community.

Selecting a secondary school is a big decision. There are many factors to take into consideration, some times more so than choosing a primary school, now you know a little more about your child’s interests, their strengths and weaknesses and their friendship groups.

Plus there is the added issue of travel, is there a bus? Is it on route to work? Your child will also need a say in where they want to go to school and of course, the school has the choice of accepting or rejecting applications and for many of them, this is an equally tough criteria. There are postcodes, class spaces and more that can determine their decision, so we know how overwhelming the whole process can be.

Don’t panic though, we’re here with some advice to make the whole thing as stress free as possible.

Firstly, know when the deadline for applications is and get yourself sorted in advance. The deadline will depend on your local authority, which can be a minefield for those living on borders with more than one local authority or academy trust running nearby schools. As a general rule, it tends to be around October time for those in their final year of primary school, so if your child is in Year 6, the start of the school year is a good time to start thinking seriously about your options.

Because of the time line of the application process, we’d recommend considering secondary schools while your child is still in Year 5.

Schools have open days at different points in the year and some even have open days in the summer term, so you can always make an early start and find out more about your prospective schools well ahead of time.

It's important to note that if you’re considering a grammar or selective school you’ll definitely need to start preparing by Year 5 at the latest.

These schools have entrance exams in the summer for Year 5 pupils or September for Year 6 pupils, so the more preparation you can have for these the better.

We’d recommend doing some online reconnaissance beforehand and making a note of all the admission deadlines and criteria, that way you can save a huge amount of time and stress as the time nears.

Before you even start looking at individual schools, take a moment to consider your child and what their strengths and weaknesses are. You can then use this to help narrow down what kind of education would best suit them and give them the best start in their future career. If they’re highly academic a school that focuses on academic subjects would be a better idea. If they’re sporty, a sports academy which focuses on training would be worth looking into. Perhaps they’re more into practical skills or creative arts? If so, there are schools that cater for these subjects. Does your child need strong pastoral care or more educational support? Would they be happy at a co-ed or an all boys' or all girls' school? It can help if you and your child get together,

you

maybe with some input from their classroom teacher, to come up with a list of the key things you would like your first choice of secondary school to have. This can automatically cut down the list of schools for you to search through. You’ll probably already know a bit about the local secondary schools as your child progresses through primary, but it won’t hurt to check what options you have from your local authority, who will list all the state schools in the area and which ones are controlled by academy trusts. Schools run by an academy are free from local authority control and these generally consist of a selection of secondary and primary schools, so your child could stay within the same group of schools if you find that they are working well for you.

You will need to check the routes and how it ties in with your morning routine, especially if you have other children you need to cater for.

Once you’ve taken into account what schools are on offer and which ones are best for your child, you’ll need to look at the admission criteria. Each school has a different criteria and some are more particular than others, especially grammar and other select schools.

Some nearby schools could have catchment areas that excludes your address, others might be oversubscribed. If you have your mind set on a faith school, your place will depend on how well subscribed it is from members of its religion, even if you are of the same denomination, it is worth confirming with the school what you will need to provide to them.

Now you hopefully have a better idea of what schools are right for you and what you need to do to be considered for them, it's time to get into the real nitty gritty of the selection process. Take a look at the school’s Ofsted reports and think about how it could have gotten the results it did. You can then weigh up whether you want to keep it on your shortlist. League tables will also give some idea of how well a school performs, but these can be skewed as schools that are highly selective will naturally have higher results than schools that offer more support to those with additional needs.

The reputation of the school is also something to consider, especially if you know parents of older children you can talk to. Underperforming schools can be easily turned around with staff changes, and of course, what works for someone else, might not necessarily work for you.

You do need to consider what school your child feels more comfortable at as well. They’re likely to choose the same school as their peers, but this might not necessarily be a bad thing. Just as long as you keep the bigger picture in mind about their future.

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While many of you and your children’s teachers will encourage reading and some of your kids might even be taking part in summer reading challenges, there are many children who simply don’t enjoy reading. For some it’s because they haven’t found the right book, for others it’s because they struggle to make sense of the words and for some, they just prefer to watch stories play out rather than read about them.

Not reading if you don’t want to is fine when it’s for fun, but when it’s to help benefit them at school, it can be a bit of a challenge. If you have a child that struggles with reading because of dyslexia or just generally being a bit reluctant to open a book, here are some tips to help them.

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Find something that appeals to their interests There are a lot of books out there and while you might want them to pick up something academic, sometimes, the key to getting your child to read is all about finding them the right subject matter. Why not take them to the library and have them browse through some of the books on offer and see if anything interests them.

Set aside some quiet time For kids that struggle with reading because they’re easily distracted or they need to concentrate, you can help them by making sure there is some time where the home is quiet. Turn off the TV and any music and maybe sit with them quietly and let them have a go at reading.

That way you’re on hand to help if they get stuck with any words and you can monitor the volume around them to help them concentrate.

Encourage them to talk about what they’re reading Sometimes it isn’t so much that they don’t want to read, it’s that they don’t really know how to arrange their thoughts when they are reading. Talk to your child about what they are reading, either at school or in their free time and discuss it with them. This can make them more eager to read other books that they can then also talk to you about.

Make it fun You might love reading and think it is your ideal recreational activity, but for those that want to play video games or be on a tablet or phone, you will need to think a bit outside the box. Why not read with them taking it in turns to do each character in different voices or get them to act out scenes with you? Some children learn better by doing rather than reading, so it can help them get to grips with new words and understand different scenarios doing it this way.

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It isn’t just about traditional books Why not have your child read out recipes or information to you from the paper or forms? It’s a sneaky way to get them reading and if they get stuck on a word, you’re on hand to help them.

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Encourage them to swap books with their friends Book clubs aren’t just for adults and can be a great way to make sure your kids get to see their friends during school holidays, why not offer to host them one afternoon so that they can talk about the books they’re reading and swap others they’ve enjoyed.

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Normalise reading For some, reading is just a school thing and not something they associate with doing in their free time.

If you have the space, set up a family bookshelf with a variety of books on it. If they see you taking an interest in this shelf and reading books from it, they’ll follow suit.

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Pick books with dyslexia friendly fonts With the raise in awareness of dyslexia and other conditions that can make reading difficult, publishers now produce a number of books with dyslexia friendly fonts and different coloured paper and printing which makes it easier for them to get to grips with it. See if your local library has access to these or if the school can recommend any.

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Audio books Yes, getting children to read words and understand them is the key, but audio books are a completely valid medium to help them widen their vocabulary and get into reading. For children with sight problems or difficulty with reading, listening to an audio book can be a great way to get them involved in reading and story telling. Plus, many libraries now offer an audio book service where you can hire and download digital audio books much the same way as you can traditional books.

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SUMMER FUN MON 29 JUL – FRI 23 AUG

*See online for full programme

HIRE R AT WILTS E V O E K A T N! KIDS ORD ON AVO F D A R B , E R T MUSIC CEN

ACTIVITIES FOR TOTS, TIKES AND TEENS!

SAT 22 JUN 10AM-4PM

ly Matters Quarter Page Summer Fun.indd 1

Enjoy a whole month of creative activities from crafting to DJing, drama, dance and music!*

BOOK NOW 01225 860100 / wiltshiremusic.org.uk Vi Pa si y tA O ll nce Ye ar !

20/06/2019 13:53:29

15th June4th Sept presents

Choose your team this summer!

Book online & save! sealifeweymouth.com

Enter now at www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

Win Prizes

Win a family ticket to Wookey Hole There’s always fun and adventure to be had at Wookey Hole Caves and Attractions... Hidden away beneath the Mendip Hills is a spectacular underground network of breath-taking caverns! Wookey Hole is the UK’s largest show caves system, home to the infamous Witch of Wookey Hole and the new Chamber 20 with rare rock formations. With these world famous caves PLUS over 20 magnificent attractions, Wookey Hole is a great day out for all the family. Prize is for 2 adults and 2 children.

Win a family ticket to Crealy Theme Park Resort Set in 100 acres of glorious Devon countryside, with over 60 rides and attractions and over 75,000 sq ft of indoor fun, there is something for the whole family to enjoy whatever the weather.

Win a Family Ticket to Bath Racecourse’s Dino Family Raceday on Sunday 15 September!

Alongside seven exciting races, kids can meet T-Rex, Raptors and baby dinosaurs as Europe’s largest and most realistic animatronic dinosaurs make appearances throughout the day at Bath Racecourse. Kids can try their hand at ‘Ranger Training’ in the interactive workshops and have a go at making their own dinosaur masks in the craft area. There will be tons of unique dinosaur photo opportunities and even a giant egg to climb into plus face painting throughout the day.

For tickets and more information visit www.bath-racecourse.co.uk

Win a family ticket to Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show

Frome's Big Cheesey Day Out! Come & enjoy this action packed country show with plenty for all the family to see, eat, drink & do plus lots and lots of CHEESE! There's something for everyone at this superb annual event. Whether coming with family, friends or to compete you're in for a treat - and a whole lot of cheese! West Woodlands Showground - BA11 5ES (4 miles from the centre of Frome).

Family ticket gives access to the show for 2 adults and 3 children aged 5-15 years old. Under 5’s go free. Ticket is for Saturday 14th September 2019. Full info and Ts and Cs on their website.

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING THESE FANTASTIC PRIZES, simply visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk, click on the Competitions button and complete the form. It couldn’t be easier! Closing date for entries: 15th August 2019

Wolvershill Road, Banwell, Weston-super-Mare

what’s on throughout the holidays

1st July - 8th September Whitehall Beach Build your very own Sand Castle or laze by the sand on our deck chairs. Book online at www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock.

1st July - 8th September Lauren Child: The Art of Illustration - Children go Free Go in search of Charlie and Lola and their friends, and discover trinkets and animals from Lauren Child’s stories in unusual and surprising places! www.holburne.org, Holburne Museum, Bath 13th July - 1st September Whitehall Maize Maze Covering over 8 acres made from maize which can grow over 7ft tall. Open daily from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Book online at www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock.

15th July - 8th September Are we there yet?

It’s time to pack a picnic and join us for a nostalgic journey of summer holiday makers past! A nostalgic journey following the route holidaymakers have taken along the A303 heading west to the sun for seaside holidays. Haynes Motor Museum, Somerset. www.haynesmotormuseum.com 20th July - 1st September Stone Age Summer Join us for a super summer of fun, we've got lots of exciting hands-on activities and demonstrations planned to help make the holidays extra exciting and educational!

Cheddar Gorge and Caves, Cheddar. www.cheddargorge.co.uk 20th July - 1st September Paint a Summer decoration Choose from a variety of wooden shapes and decorate it as you please! Barrington Court, Somerset. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court

20th July - 1st September Fairyland & Pirate Cove This Summer come and explore this magical world. Open daily from 10:00am - 4:30pm. £3.99 per person. Book online at www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock.

From 22nd July Tottington Hall comes to Montacute House Montacute House was the inspiration for Tottington Hall - the setting for Wallace and Gromit's adventures in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Check website for other dates throughout July, Aug and Sept. Montacute House,Somerset. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house 22nd July - 30th August Summer holiday crafts at Lacock These Monday - Friday summer holiday activities in our colourful Botanic Garden lets little explorers make the most of every second of sunshine. Lacock Abbey, Lacock. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock-abbey-fox-talbot-museumand-village 24th July - 1st September Nostalgic Outdoor Summer Sports Make the most of the warmer weather, with a variety of familyfriendly sport activities taking place on Barrington’s south lawn and across the estate. Good fun that will put you through your paces! Barrington Court, Somerset. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court From the 30th July Terrific Tuesdays at Hestercombe There will be a different theme each week so your little ones can try something new each Tuesday. From meeting creepy crawlies to having a go at archery, Hestercombe, Somerset. www.hestercombe.com/terrific-tuesdays

what’s on

20th - 21st July Civil War Weekend Join the Taunton Garrison at their Living History Camp. Rolling skirmishes and weapons demonstrations throughout the day!

Dunster Castle, Somerset www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle 20th July Sci - Fi Fun Come along boys & girls, young & old and join us for a super hero day of steaming with Darth Vader, K9 and other worldly life forms for a fantastic family day. Avon Valley Railway, Bitton. www.avonvalleyrailway.org

1st August Bugs and Butterflies - Family Fun Art and craft activities inspired by creatures found in our orchard. Try your hand at badge making, flapping butterflies, finger puppet bees and mini beast hunting. Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. www.swheritage.org.uk 2nd August Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves Outdoor Theatre Bring along a rug and a picnic and settle in for an evening of theatre beneath the stars. Gates open at 6pm for picnics, the performance starts at 7pm. Lacock Abbey, Lacock. www. nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock-abbey-fox-talbot-museum-and-village

24th July Make a twig loom Make twigs into a loom, add wool and you’re weaving!

Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset. www.glastonburyabbey.com

2nd - 4th August Family Festival 2019 A relaxing weekend of Performance, Music and Workshops set in the beautiful grounds of Paddington Farm, Glastonbury. £5 From the 25th July Victorian Explorers with Exmoor Zoo per person, per day. Under 5s free. Tickets available online via Get up close to a variety of animals, big bugs and creepy crawlies http://buytickets.at/childrensworld or on the door. and learn all about the Victorian age of exploration. Dunster Castle, Somerset www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle 3rd - 4th August Farringtons Mud Run A playground of obstacles including cargo nets, a spider’s web, 26th July Roll a Beeswax Candle tunnels, mud pits, hay bales to climb, tire runs and much more!

Try your hand at making a beeswax candle like the monks Farrington Farm, Farrington Gurney. www.farringtons.co.uk would have used. Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset. www.glastonburyabbey.com 3rd August Night at the American Museum What goes on at the American Museum when the lights are 26th July Meet Peter Rabbit at West Somerset Railway turned off? With games, activities, and the opportunity to Peter Rabbit will be making personal appearances at intervals experience the Museum at night, you never know who you might between 10am and 4pm. Entertainment on the day will include: meet! Suitable for ages 6+. American Museum & Gardens, Bath. steam train ride, vintage bus ride trips, face painting and much Book online at www.americanmuseum.org more. West Somerset Railway, Minehead. www.west-somersetrailway.co.uk 4th August Midsummer Mayhem - Family Fun Day This year, there will be an Alice in Wonderland theme, with a 1st August Children's Festival of Play Wonderland-themed bouncy castle, plenty of inflatable fun, Bouncy Castle, Outdoor Games, Face Painting and much more. crazy croquet (featuring flamingo-handled mallets), face Raising funds for East Harptree Nursery and Forest School. East painting and lots of games and crafts. 10am-4pm, with last Harptree Playing Fields 10am - 3pm. Bring a picnic. entry at 3:30pm. The Bishops Palace, Wells. www.bishopspalace.org.uk 1st - 28th August Summer Craft Workshop Now's the chance to get creative and build something for our 4th August Folksy Theatre presents ‘Mr Magnolia’ friends in the wild and try out designs such as bird feeders and bee Based on the book by Quentin Blake. Join Mr Magnolia on his houses. Stourhead, Wilts. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead wacky adventures, filled with music, puppetry and wonderful characters, this family show is one not to be missed. www.hestercombe.com, Hestercombe, Somerset.

For further information about each event

7th - 28th August Summer Camp Fun We are offering a small taste of camp fun with indoor and outdoor activities for a variety of age ranges, running every Wednesday. Book online at www.americanmuseum.org American Museum & Gardens, Bath.

7th August Illumination - paint using a quill brush and ink family activity Make a brush from a quill and have a go at illuminating the initial letter of your name using coloured ink. Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset. www.glastonburyabbey.com 8th -10th August Blitz Following the sensational production of Seussical last summer we are delighted to be performing Blitz! a musical by Lionel Bart set during the air raids of the Second World War in London.

Frome Memorial Theatre, Frome.

8th August Character Breakfast Come and have breakfast with your favourite superhero or princess! Join us from 8.30 -9.30am for breakfast and a meet and greet plus photo opportunity. Feel free to come dressed up too! Farrington Farm, Farrington Gurney. www.farringtons.co.uk 9th – 17th August Music for Miniatures Join us for a musical journey to the zoo with a lively morning of amazing live classical music for you and your little one.

Bring your cuddly animals along too or dress up as an animal!

Locations include Bath, Midsomer Norton, Trowbridge and Frome. Tickets available online or on the door. www.musicforminiatures.co.uk 11th August Steam into Summer with Joyce Family Fun day with train rides, sand, water, ice creams, face painting and play. Experience the seaside at the station but also see the gardens, museum, buffet and shop. Steam train rides on the 10th too. Somerset and Dorset Railway, Midsomer Norton 14th August SummerZest Children’s Festival The festival will feature a range of activities; along with variety of trade stands, local crafts and range of exciting storytelling throughout the day. Taunton Racecourse, Somerset.

15th August Woolly Wonders - Family Fun Join us at the museum for a creative, fun-filled session of arts and crafts activities inspired by the Exmoor Horn sheep who live at the museum. Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury. www.swheritage.org.uk 17th August Insect Festival - Free entry Explore real wild bugs outside and learn about these incredible creatures through fun activities and demonstrations throughout

the museum. 10.30am - 4pm. www.bristolmuseums.org.uk Bristol Museum, Bristol.

17th - 18th August Outdoor Adventure Weekend You will find a selection of activities including archery, axe throwing and an 8-metre climbing wall. Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock. Book online at www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk 18th August Bubble Day A bubbleologist will be making an array of bubbles including giant bubbles, bubble clouds, smoke bubbles and lots more. Also balloon modelling, face painting, bubble wand making, bubble painting and lots more! Farrington Farm, Farrington Gurney.

18th August Trowbridge Soapbox Derby.

All ages welcome. Build a soapbox and race against the clock, can you be this year's winner? Castle St, Trowbridge.

23rd- 25th August Outdoor Film Festival Three films in three nights across the Bank Holiday weekend including Mamma Mia 2 and Bohemian Rhapsody. Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset. www.glastonburyabbey.com 24th - 26th August Bowlore Medieval Weekend The encampment will be in residence at the Palace with thrilling activities including longbow and crossbow shooting, weapons demonstrations, combat displays, sword lessons and have-a-go archery. The Bishops Palace, Wells. www. bishopspalace.org.uk 26th August American Garden Party See out the summer in fine style. Bring a picnic and join us for a day of music, food, fun and games. Music in the garden by Sticky Toffee Jazz. 11am - 4pm. American Museum & Gardens, Bath.

29th August Have a go Archery With expert guidance, bring the whole family together to learn a traditional skill in one of our have-a-go archery sessions.

Barrington Court, Somerset. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court 7th September Carnival County Fayre This all includes 60+ stalls, live entertainment, fairground rides and car boot sale! If that doesn't sound inviting enough, we are also having our Dog Show on the same day. Trowbridge Park, Trowbridge.

14th September Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show A jam packed day of entertainment that the whole family will enjoy plus lots and lots of cheese! West Woodlands Showground - near Frome. www.fromecheeseshow.co.uk

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Ideas for your

summer holiday

“Summer’s here and the and the Vandellas said ves Ree rtha cing Ma at gre As the we don’t think that dan g in the street”. While warmer the at joy time is right for dancin for g cin dan y safe or sensible, in the street is particularl acceptable. of free time is perfectly nce nda abu and weather idays planned but have your summer hol Some of you may already ways to keep everyone and do to think of things others may be trying to ybe you’re a little short ma ’re on a tight budget or you s t’s hap Per d. ine erta ent we have going on. If tha life and everything else gs you can thin of s tion on time with work and ges sug ’re here with some top the case, don’t fret, we holiday. r me sum r you do during

Do some crafts

There are loads of arts and craft activities you can get involved with this summer. You could make bird feeders using pine cones and peanut butter and rolling them in birdseed. Or you could grab some items out of your recycling, such as cardboard and bottles and make rockets or houses. There are lots of house hold items you can use to create some art with the kids.

Baking, cooking and moulding!

You could use this opportunity to keep the kids learning by getting them to help you do some baking or cooking. You could have a go at making your own ice cream, baking cakes which they can then decorate or even have them help with making dinner. Let them choose what they want and then assemble the ingredients so they can learn more about what goes into their food. Easy choices include pasta dishes, pizzas or burgers.

It is also easy to make your own ice lollies using fruit juice and freezer moulds, plus the idea that they get to eat their creations at the end makes them more interested in seeing the task through!

m

Go to the museu

in the area that offer There are several museums ents. If you resid discounted or free entry to r a Discovery fo ply live in B&NES, you can ap try to a number ee en Card which will give you fr area, as well as the of council run museums in n find out more: u ca some in the wider region. Yo vices/tourism/ser https://www.bathnes.gov.uk d and-heritage/discovery-car

Spend some time together

When you have busy lives it can be difficult to find the time to just be together, this summer, why not see if you can free up some time to just hang out. You can play board games, cards, Pictionary or charades and enjoy some bonding time.

Do a spot of backyard camping

If you have a tent lying around or some sheets handy, why not set it up in your garden and do some camping?

You could even have an outdoor sleepover when it gets warmer! Even if you don’t have a garden yourself, perhaps grandparents, family members or friends do and you can turn it into a huge event.

Getting back to nature

Days out don’t have to cost a fortune to be me why not find a free day and explore som morable, e of the local open and green spaces for a few hours?

There are lots of great nature trails and woodland wal area that don’t have an entry fee and allo ks in the w visitors to bring picnics, dogs and spend as much time as they like there. Why not let the kids pack a picnic (wi supervision of course!) and then while th your you’re about get them to make notes of the var out and ious they see? They could even collect leaves, wildlife twigs or take a camera to take photos of what they see and make a collage when they get home.

ing, but when n n la p e m o s ht require ch? There This one mig , why not head to the bea , you could e h the sky is blu beaches within easy reac train a w are quite a fe ad trip, or if you fancied, stles, rock o a have a little r your day building sand c d trip and spen ecting shells. ll pooling or co e beach

Visit th

Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter, you can find us at @ukfamilymatters

made at Stourhead Whether it's tree climbing with the Great Big Tree Climbing Company or getting crafty creating treats for wildlife, there's loads of family fun on offer at Stourhead this summer.

These are the places that make us. nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

Š National Trust 2019 . Registered charity, No. 205846. Š National Trust Images \Nick Daly.

Your family memories

- D AT E F O R Y O U R D I A R Y -

Did you know there is a national day for play in the UK? Well there is, Playday is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday in August, this year, it’s taking place on 7th August and has a theme of Play Builds Children. As well as being a day focused on play, Playday is also an opportunity to campaign on issues affecting children’s play.

We all know that play is fun, but did you know it is also beneficial for children? According to Playday, playing builds friendships, resilience, health and well-being and communities, allowing children to learn more about the world around them and make connections to the people in those communities.

This year’s theme aims to highlight the way in which play benefits children and young people and there are a number of community events being held across the UK to help celebrate this fact. Events range from street parties, festivals, adventures and events at community venues from small scale ones to huge ones!

You’re welcome to put on your own events if you choose, or head to one of the organised events, you can find out more about how to do this at

www.playday.org.uk

WORKSHOP WEEK 5 - 9TH AUGUST

Junior Summer School Disney’s Aladdin (30 mins) with the performance on the 9th at the Merlin Theatre Frome No audition required Total cost for the week £70 For ages 7-12 Email tri.arttheatreschool@gmail to register MERLIN THEATRE BATH ROAD, FROME, SOMERSET BA11 2HG 01373 461360 WWW.MERLINTHEATRE.CO.UK

Saturday 7th September Trowbridge Park Boot Sale from 8am (£5 cars / Vans £10)

PRO OF

Tri.art Theatre

You could be reading YOUR advert 01761 410141 info@ignyte-uk.co.uk

Sunday 18th August Castle Street, Trowbridge 10am

Country Fayre from 10am

Registration 9am

Attractions include:

(Head Protection, Long Sleeves and Gloves must be worn)

Stalls – Sideshows – Displays - Music Games - Refreshments

Entry only £3 per Driver Make your Soap Box - Join in the fun - Win Prizes Contact: Andy - lazerlightroadshow@yahoo.com

Is my child entitled to

free school meals?

Yes, we know, school might be about to wind down for the summer, but you will need to start thinking about getting prepared for the new term in no time at all.

For some parents, whether their child is entitled to free school meals is a big question, so here is everything you need to know.

Firstly, what is it?

Free School Meals are available for the children of people who have an income-based benefit. Depending on your circumstances, you can also qualify if you get working tax credits, but this depends on the income your credits have been worked out on and where you live in the UK, so be sure to check with your local authority if you think you might be eligible.

So, who can apply?

You can apply for free school meals of you receive any income-based benefit, such as Universal Credit, State Pension Credit, Income-related Jobseeker’s or Employment Support Allowance, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit. In some areas, Universal Credit has been rolled out and other forms of benefit won’t be in existence. You can check by logging into

ukfamilymatters |

your account or by speaking to a call handler. Alternatively, your school or local authority will be able to talk you through what you are entitled to.

How do I claim?

So, you’ve established that you’re eligible, now what? Well, firstly, free school meals are administered by local authorities, so you will need to contact them to begin your claim.

Some parents may qualify for Healthy Start – this is a scheme run by the Department of Health and claims will need to be made through them. This will entitle you to coupons you can use in exchange for vitamins, milk, fruit, vegetables and formula milk. It is available to people on certain benefits who are at least ten weeks pregnant or have a child under four.

Younger mums, aged 18 and under, will automatically qualify for this, but do check with the Department of Health to check whether you can claim.

Any questions about benefits, please speak to your local authority, Citizen’s Advice or go online to www.entitledto.co.uk where you can calculate which benefits you could be entitled to.

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 21

LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews HEADTEACHER HAS A DOG’S DAY!

CHARTERHOUSE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CENTRE VISIT

On Thursday 9th May Oakfield Academy welcomed Chritchill School’s “school dog” Dolly. Dolly is a pet Labradoodle, and her visit is helping the Academy investigate the positive benefits of having a “school dog” on the premises on a regular basis.

As well as joining Year 8’s assembly, Dolly toured the school and assisted Headteacher Emma Wilkes in her office!

Pupils from Oakfield Academy visited Charterhouse Outdoor Adventure Centre recently and experienced archery, caving, abseiling and a variety of other outdoor pursuits. A fantastic time was had by everybody.

STEAM MUSEUM VISIT

On Wednesday 19th June Westbury Leigh’s Year 3s visited Swindon Steam Museum. The pupils, dressing up as evacuee children from WW2, went to experience how evacuees felt when leaving home on the steam trains. The children got to partake in a workshop where they packed suitcases for different children and got to explore different artefacts. They then sat inside the steam train and learnt all about how to put on a gas mask and why these were important, they got to see the children's and baby's gas masks too.

The children explored the museum where they found out how steam trains were built and got to look inside lots of different steam trains throughout the ages. Hollie from Sarum said “I really enjoyed watching the films about women helping build the trains because we have learnt in school that women took over the men’s jobs when they went off to the war to fight”. We’re now learning how to write recounts and diary entries and the trip is helping us to imagine writing a diary entry from an evacuee in WW2.

Miss Cole said 'It was a fantastic day! The children were submerged into understanding how evacuees would have felt leaving home. The trip has consolidated their learning so far and allowed them to ask new questions that we will explore in class in the last few weeks of term.'

22 |

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SELWOOD ACADEMY WIN ‘BEST SCHOOL’ IN LIONS SWIMMING TOURNAMENT This year’s annual tournament saw CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) being named as the Lion’s main charity for the event. More than half the money raised was donated to the local branch of CRY, the Julian Wort Memorial Fund, which supports the charity in the Frome area and arranges various services, including heart screenings for the young.

Selwood Academy took part in the swimming tournament and the six participants did an amazing job, swimming 50 lengths in their allotted half hour. As a result of this tremendous effort, they raised over £260, half of which will be used to help fund the school's community drama projects and the rest to go to CRY. Selwood’s team also won a cup as the 'Best School!’

Congratulations to the following Year 6 pupils for this great achievement: Alex G, Callum M, Imogen L, Eddie T, Oscar S and Oliver N.

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WILDCATS HEAD TO WEMBLEY! Frome Town Youth Wildcats Girls Football Centre were chosen to join 9 other centres from across the country to parade around Wembley Stadium at the SSE Women's FA Cup final on Saturday 4th May. Fourteen girls aged 5-11 from Frome took part in the parade around the pitch to celebrate and promote the female game.

All County FAs across England were asked to nominate one outstanding girls’ football centre in their area. Somerset FA put the Frome based centre forward and were chosen as 1 of the 10 lucky winners.

Somerset FA's Women and Girls' Football Development Officer, Rachael Lawler-Edwards congratulated the centre saying they fully deserved the prize, as they have been a truly fantastic centre.

Frome Wildcats Lead Coach, Sarah Davis, was delighted the centre was chosen for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

She said: “Frome Town Youth FC travelled in numbers to support our young Wildcats, with over 80 tickets purchased for family and friends.

The 14 Wildcats beamed from ear to ear as they waved to their parents, high fived the mascots and flew the flag for our club and for girls’ football in general. It was such a great day and one the girls won't forget for years to come. This was the first time many of the girls had attended a live football match, let alone one at Wembley, so it was fabulous to hear 9 year old Margot announce to her Mum "I loved that, can we come more often.”"

GOODBYE TRACEY! After years of dedicated service to the Oakfield Academy Fundraisers, Mrs Tracey Malley has finally decided to hand over the reins to the next generation of Fundraisers. Mrs Malley who has been the driving force behind this hard working team has organised countless Christmas Fairs, Bingo Nights and other money generating events to support our school.

Over the years Mrs Malley has raised thousands of pounds, which have helped pay for (amongst many other things) :- an Outside Classroom, outside play equipment, benches for the playground, modernisation of the toilets, refurbishment of the quad area, outside exercise equipment and much more.

Everybody at the Academy would like to say a huge thank you to Tracey… they are all incredibly grateful for her hard work and enthusiasm over the years, we are sure the Fundraisers will miss her.

Wildcat parent, Amanda Spicer, said: "It's amazing to give them such an opportunity at this age. Thank you Wildcats. Here's to the next generation of female footballers."

When asked what watching the Women's FA Cup and attending Wildcats has taught her, Lily, aged 7, said: "It has taught me that I can do anything that I want to."

If your daughter is aged 5-11 and would like to give football a go, please contact Sarah for more details: wildcats@frometownyouthfc.co.uk or 07832 035552

OAKFIELD IS THE NEW BLACK An educational trip with a difference took place recently for a group of pupils at Oakfield School. Pupils who had applied for a place on the trip experienced being arrested by PCSO Gary Maule, which included photographs and finger printing. This was followed by a full day in Shepton Mallet Prison.

BIKEABILITY CONTINUES AT OAKFIELD 12 more Oakfield Academy pupils have completed Bikeability training. Special thanks to parents Mr Thomas, Mrs Sharpe, Ms Irving and Mr Owen for giving up their time to help make the course happen, and to Somerset’s Road Safety Team for their fantastic hard work training the pupils. ukfamilymatters |

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CARE HOME VISIT With great enthusiasm from all parties, children from Westbury Leigh Primary School have been lucky enough to benefit from visiting the residents of Westbury Care Home.

On 24th May, representatives from year 3, who are currently studying WWII, visited to share their learning and to interview the residents, bringing their learning to life with real faces and stories of involvement. Previously, groups of children have benefitted from the opportunity to read to residents and complete craft activities with them. This has been a really valuable partnership for the children because it gives their learning real purpose – to have a real life audience to share their learning with and to learn from.

It is also valuable in teaching social skills and a sense of responsibility with regards to being a part of the local community, and the opportunity to read their school books and practice their times tables with an adult is invaluable.

Harry, year 2, said: “The care home is lovely, and the people are really kind to you. I like reading to them because it helped me.”

Neil Hardy, care home manager, said: “Our residents love to talk about their past life experiences and educate the younger generation.”

Overall, a positive experience for all involved.

WESTBURY LEIGH SUPPORT UNICEF Westbury Leigh showed their support for UNICEF by taking part in this year’s Soccer Aid Fundraiser. The school have raised money to help change the lives of children around the world who don’t have easy access to their rights, such as Article 31 – the right to relax and play and take part in a range of activities. The children showed their support by donating money to wear their favourite football kits and sportswear and to take part in a wide range of football themed obstacle courses.

Year 6 set up these courses across the school fields and children took part during lunch time. The school also hosted a Father’s Day lunch, so dads were able to take part in the fundraiser with their children.

“It was so nice to be able to take part in different activities with my child after having such a lovely lunch cooked in the Love Leigh Diner,” quoted a year 4 Dad. Lilly-Ella in year 6 who helped set up the event, said: “That was such a success, we should do things like this more often.” Mrs Atwill, who organised the fundraiser, added: “It was so lovely to see all children from across the age ranges take part. Children were engaged, excited and enthusiastic and couldn’t wait for lunch time.” The school look forward to seeing what they have raised. For every £1 raised the government double.

OOL! BACK TO SCH STICK ON IRON ON

SELWOOD ACADEMY ATTACK ON CHEPSTOW CASTLE! As part of their topic on the conquest of England, Year 7 had a trip to Chepstow Castle last term.

The castle has the oldest keep in Britain; the building was started in 1067, just one year after William’s victory at Hastings.

Students studied the inside of the Castle looking at how easy it would have been to defend and what it might have been like to live there.

They then studied the castle from the outside and how difficult it would have been to attack and break in; what weapons and tactics might have been used and what was the likelihood of achieving victory against a Castle like this.

SATS SUCCESS AT WESTBURY LEIGH Mrs Grimsey, Westbury Leigh’s Head Teacher, said: “It has been an amazing time for our Y6s. With calm and purposeful attitudes, they have embraced each SATs paper and have shown exemplary attitudes both during the tests and in the build up to it. A big thank you goes to staff across the school who all pulled together to serve a varied breakfast menu each morning to our eager learners and to all the support the team have received in supporting the children in their readiness.

Westbury Leigh has a lot to be proud of and Y6 have been an inspiration to us all!”

The Friends of Westbury Leigh School treated them all to ice cream and lollies as a celebration of their hard work – thank you FoWLs! A BIG thank you to the Y6 teachers and all the Westbury Leigh CofE Primary School staff who helped out during SATs week. Mrs Grimsey said: “It’s been great to see the children relaxed and taking everything in their stride. Year 6, Westbury Leigh Primary School is proud of you!”

You name it we label it!

Call us on: 01635 298326

SEW ON SEW NO IRON - NO GS PENCILS & BA 24 |

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SPELLIARMUS! A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES BY CHILDREN FROM ST JOHN’S FIRST SCHOOL NOW AVAILABLE TO BORROW FROM FROME LIBRARY! Children from St John’s First School in Frome have presented Frome Library with two copies of their book of magical short stories, Spelliarmus! The copies are now available to borrow from the children’s section of the library.

Spelliarmus!, a collection of magical short stories and picture books, was created by children from St John’s for a competition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter book. The winners of the competition were chosen by Barry Cunningham OBE, publisher at Chicken House Books, based in Frome, who was instrumental in bringing JK Rowling’s stories to publication.

With support from Chicken House, the Friends of St John’s School created a book from all the entries so that the children could see their work in print and become published authors! With design and production from Postscript, and a cover created by Emma Hopkins using the children’s own artwork, the limited-edition book can be borrowed free from the library or purchased from Hunting Raven Books in Frome Town Centre at £5.99 each or £10 for two. All proceeds go to the Friends of St John's (registered charity) which provides additional resources, materials and opportunities to enrich the children's experience at school.

Photo shows: Cerian Amery, manager of Frome Library, receives copies of Spelliarmus! from two of the short story competition winners, Daisy and Summer.

OAKFIELD KITCHEN HELPERS When for various reasons a number of catering staff were unable to work, Oakfield Academy Prefects stepped into save the lunch service!

They all did a fabulous job helping in the kitchen, serving and tidying up. Nobody missed out on their fish and chips.

OAKFIELD PARKOUR On Friday 10th May, Oakfield Academy welcomed Parkour Free Runner, Alex Grinter, and Gymnast, Jessica Brain. The pupils took part in sponsored circuits during a day of fundraising for GB athletes. In the afternoon, there was a breath-taking display of Parkour outside in the sunshine, with Alex leaping over pupils and staff, leaving the audience of pupils amazed!

FORD FUEL OILS

www.fordfueloils.co.uk Suppliers of Home Heating Oil, Agricultural Diesel and Lubricants Also: Oil Tank replacement service Monitored top up service Boiler servicing and waste oil collection can be arranged

Farrington Fields I Estate Farrington Gurney

01761 452222

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WOW

UPLOAD YOUR WOW! PHOTOS AND DETAILS TO OUR ONLINE WOW! FORM VISIT WWW.FAMILYMATTERS-UK.CO.UK

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Name: Luke Age: 9 Achievement: 7th kup in taekwondo from DES school of taekwondo.

Name: Ryley Age: 9 Achievement: All about me and Safety Badge.

Name: Dominic Age: 10 Achievement: All about me and Safety Badge.

Name: Tiah Age: 8 Achievement: Tiah won the Spring 2019 "Julie Ann Cup" for outstanding achievement. She always works hard and is eager to learn.

Name: Felicity Age: 4 Achievement: Stanley Level 4 swimming award.

Name: Beth Age: 8 Achievement: 50 metre swimming badge.

Name: Darci Age: 5 Achievement: Darci is now an enrolled member of Rainbows. She remembered her promise word perfect.

Name: Megan Age: 8 Achievement: 7th Kyu yellow belt in karate.

Name: Amirah Age: 9 Achievement: Amirah completed three 5km races and one 2.5km race at Runfestrun.

Name: Chloe Age: 6 Achievement: Chloe has achieved her level 4 in Beam Apparatus Proficiency for gymnastics.

Name: Daisy Age: 6 Achievement: Daisy has achieved a distinction in her tap preparatory Grade with Sue Hill school of dancing.

Name: Dylan, Achievement: Dylan swam four races at his swimming squad gala and received a Gold in each race swimming against his age group.

Would you like to be a Visit 26 |

in WOW ?

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk to find out how! ukfamilymatters |

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Summer Fun IT’S ALL ABOUT

All es ti i v i t Ac FREE! are

Punch & Judy Shows, Crazy Golf, Balloon Modelling, and much more...

For more details on all of our events please visit our website. www.shirescentre.co.uk The Shires, Court Street, Trowbridge BA14 8AT 01225 777255

Whatever place you're into

“Build their skills this summer.�

Summer swimming, trampolining, diving & gymnastics courses Contact your local Places Leisure Centre to find out more

wiltshire.placesleisure.org Visit website for full terms and conditions.

Free swimming for under 16's (selected sessions)

Places for People Leisure Ltd working in partnership with Wiltshire Council

Bradford on Avon Swimming Pool

01225 862970

The Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham

01249 444144

Lime Kiln Leisure Centre, RWB

01793 852197

Trowbridge Sports Centre

01225 764342

Melksham Blue Pool & Gym

01225 703525

Warminster Sports Centre

01985 212946

The Activity Zone, Malmesbury

01666 822533

Westbury Swimming Pool

01373 822891