Family Matters Easter 2019 | Midsomerset Edition

MID SOMERSET EDITION

ISSUE 63 • MARCH/APRIL 2019

prizes to be won!

the value of pocket money

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

easter play ideas

WELCOME Easter is nearly upon us and we’re excited to share a whole new set of Easter-themed events with you as well as all your school news! It looks like you have all been very busy during the first few months of 2019!

We’re hoping that the weather starts to brighten up so you can enjoy your time off school and have some family time in the sunshine, though lighter nights are on the way, so make sure you make use of them by taking some walks and getting out in the countryside – it’s the perfect way to enjoy each other’s company while working off all that extra energy from the chocolate eggs and treats you'll have been eating!

Have a wonderful Easter break!

p4 Easter around the world

p7 the history of mother's day

p19 staying safe online

p11 leaving children home alone 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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Easter celebrations around the world In the UK, Easter is a time to spend together as a family, some focus on more traditional Christian activities and go to Church services where they celebrate the resurrection of Christ, while others exchange Easter Eggs and enjoy Simnel Cake and Hot Cross Buns. While Easter is an important celebration here, it isn’t something that is celebrated all around the world, but for those that do celebrate it, the traditions are very different to here in the UK. Here are a few of the Easter celebrations across the world:

Dressing up as the Easter Witch

Easter In Sweden, children dress up as urful colo ts, skir long ring witches wea eks. che red ted pain and s arve dsc hea ing trad e hom They walk from home to e hop the in ings draw paintings and of receiving sweets.

Beating up straw dolls

In Brazil one of their main Easter traditions is creating small straw dolls to represent Judas, who in the Bibl e stories was the apostle that betrayed Jes us.

These little dolls are then hung up in the streets and beaten. On Easter Sun day, or SĂĄbado de Aleluia, there are carnivals held to celebrate the end of Lent.

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Presidential parties

osts President h y Easter the er n ev w , la A e S U th In the Roll on Easter Egg . It ay d on M r the Annual aste House on E of the White ave started in the 19th h is thought to each president has century and nal touches r own perso brought thei ti ra on. to the celeb

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Massive omelettes

Decorating trees with eggs

of Haux in n square adition to w to e th In ual tr n is an ann France, it melette in the tow o n 0 a 0 te ,0 crea nd 5 sing arou square u elette is so huge om eggs. The y feeds a few it usuall people. thousand

ey ing eggs, th ther than hid ra s y, et an re m st er d in In G d on trees an are displaye elebrations C e. ir m ad to e n yo er d it is for ev Thursday an here start on en only eat gre tradition to things.

Egg fights

In Bulgaria, eggs aren’t hidden, they’re thrown! Whoever finishes the game with an unbroken egg is the winner and assumed to be the most successful member of the family in the coming year!

Smashing pots

In Corfu, reside nts have been known to take part in Po t Throwing, w hich takes place on the m orning of Holy Saturday.

People throw pots and pans out of their window s so that they sm ash on the street outside.

Showering girls with water

is for In Hungary and Poland the tradition or cologne ume perf er, wat nkle spri to men because over young women. It’s supposedly lityferti and ling hea , ning water has a clea it is t pec sus we but ct, effe cing indu a lot of fun for young boys with sisters they like to torment!

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Easter Holiday Fun

for Families at The Bishop’s Palace 6th-22nd April 2019 If you’re looking to keep little ones busy this Easter Holiday, why not head over to The Bishop’s Palace & Gardens in Wells to join in with a whole range of family-friendly activities with a variety of Easter themes.

The holiday fun kicks off on Saturday 6th April when the new Easter Egg Trail will be in place. Challenge the kids to follow the clues around the Palace & Gardens and find coloured eggs hidden in unexpected places – and if they find them all, they can claim a chocolate prize from the Visitor Centre on the way out!

On Tuesday 9th and 16th April (10:30am-3pm), our Crafty Cats sessions will take place in the Undercroft of the Palace. On 9th the theme will be ‘Bugs and Buds’ and the children will have the chance to create Bug Hand Puppets, Coffee Filter Butterflies and Tree Blossom Picture, and on 16th the Easter-themed activities will include making Bunny Masks, weaving Easter baskets and creating Easter Egg Mosaics!

On Thursday 11th and 18th April (11am-3pm), the Palace Garden team will be holding “Nature Ninjas” activity sessions in the Community Garden, aimed at getting little ones engaged with nature and gardening.

The team will have lots of horticulturally-based fun activities for all ages.

For something a little different, join Raptorcare on Saturday 13th April for the Palace’s Medieval Falconry Day. Taking place from 10am-4pm, Tony, the master falconer, will be hosting flying displays, suitable for all ages, on the South Lawn.

The displays will illustrate how these birds would have been used in Medieval times and why. Marvel at their skill and training as they show off their well-honed moves in front of the audience and in between displays, visitors will also have the chance to handle some of the birds.

The 14 acres of Gardens will be open daily throughout the Easter Holidays and the Dragon’s Lair Play Area is the perfect place to exercise little legs – climb the Dragon’s Wings, explore the Tree Pods, crawl through the Dragon’s belly or pump the water to spill the bucket and send the Dragon to sleep – the choice is yours!

There’s also a choice of The Hungry Dragon Snack Bar (adjacent to The Dragon’s Lair), serving drinks and snacks, or The Bishop’s Table Café, which is open daily, serving child-friendly menus alongside lunches, cakes and hot drinks to refresh the grown ups too!

All activities are included in standard admission.

OPEN DAILY

Join us this Easter Holiday for a new, Easter-themed family trail, Tuesday family craft activities, Falconry Day and Thursday gardening fun. Make use of The Dragon's Lair Play Area and relax in our family-friendly Cafe.

crafty cats 9 & 16th Apr 10:30-3 nature ninjas 11 & 18th Apr 11-3 falconry day 13th apr 11-4

The Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset BAS 2 PD 01749 988111

www.bishopspalace.org.uk

The history of Mother’s

Day

In the UK, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent (exactly three weeks before Easter) and is nothing to do with the American holiday of the same name.

Historically it’s a religious holiday in Christianity.

Originally the idea of Mother’s Day was when children who worked as servants, mainly girls, were given the day off of work to spend it at home with their mothers.

Children of poorer families were often sent away to other towns or villages to work, so getting a day off to return home was something to be celebrated.

Because Mother’s Day always falls on a Sunday, it would be expected that when they got to their family home they would also visit their ‘Mother’ church, ie, the church they had attended when they lived with their parents.

Back then, it was customary to return to their family church in the middle of Lent, and as many children would pick wild flowers to take home to their mothers as a gift after the service, historians think this is where the idea of heading to your mum’s home with a gift came from.

These days, Mother’s Day is a way we can all celebrate mothers, whether they are biological mums, step mums, adoptive mums or if your mum is no longer with you.

There are lots of ways to honour your mum on Mother’s Day whether that’s by quietly reflecting on your relationship or indulging her with gifts and treats. However you are choosing to spend the day, we hope that it is one that is filled with love and happiness.

There are some easy and thoughtful ways you can celebrate your mum this Mother’s Day. Dad’s, older siblings, grandparents or mum’s partner are great helpers to help create something special for mum like a scrapbook, memory box, breakfast in bed or a bunch of flowers.

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The Value of

Teaching children the value of money and how to budget is an important lesson and one that can be stressful to parents, especially if your child’s peers are receiving large allowances each month that are just out of your price range.

Pocket money can be the cause of many family arguments, we’re sure your children use the “but (insert name here) gets more than me” routine all the time but it is important to stick to your guns when it comes to your children and pocket money.

Clear boundaries will ensure you remain in control and that your children get the chance to learn more about how money works.

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POCKET MO NE Y With society becoming more and more consumer focused, it is no wonder that studies are reporting that 71% of under sixteen year olds are using savings accounts or current accounts to keep track of their spending. According to reports the average child is now earning around £13 a week, which amounts to over £600 a year, so showing children how to understand the value of money and the importance of saving and budgeting is becoming more and more important.

Financial advisers are therefore handing out information to parents on how to make their kids as money savvy as possible, so here are a few tips to help you out along the way.

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

Start talking to them about money from a young age

We understand that this isn’t always easy, explaining wages and taxes is something that goes over most adults’ heads, let alone kids and we’re not all comfortable talking about our finances, but letting them play with coins or handing them money and letting them pay for goods when out shopping is a good way to equate money with products. It will also help them not only understand the value of money, but also will give them a head start when it comes to adding and subtracting, especially if you supervise them counting out what they’ll need or get them to wait for change.

Show them the importance of saving

These days children, particularly older ones, will get given money for their birthdays or as Christmas presents and this can really add up, particularly if you are part of a large family. While they might be tempted to blow the lot, see if you can encourage them to save the money instead. Many banks offer savings accounts to under sixteens and some even have current accounts with differing interest rates.

Encouraging the use of an account like this can be useful in helping them save for something really big or even just as a useful tool for understanding how interest rates work.

Giving out pocket money

We know this can be a tough one, but it is a great way to give children control over their own spending and to gain a real insight into saving and budgeting.

The trick is to be consistent about how much you give them and when, so start out with small amounts over a regular payment cycle that is in line with your own budgets. This can help them get used to being paid on a certain day and how to make their money last until the next pay day. You can also use house hold chores as a way to teach them how to earn money, so instead of paying for a cleaner or a gardener every week, save a few jobs for the kids to do and pay them instead.

Learning by experience

We never want to let our kids make mistakes and it can be particularly difficult where money is concerned, but one great way to teach your children about the value of money is to let them learn by experience. If they want to spend all their cash in one go, let them but be sure that they know they won’t be getting any more until the next pay day and if they have an advance, they’ll have it docked from their usual amount. They’ll soon learn about the importance of budgeting and saving when they realise that the Bank of Mum and Dad has a limit.

Don’t overcompensate

If you are co-parenting with an ex, it can be tempting to overcompensate with money, particularly if it is a messy break up. It’s important that you are on the same page when it comes to pocket money.

Grandparents can also feel that they have a right to spoil the children and can compete with each other and you with pocket money. Make sure you speak to everyone involved so that they understand your goals and come to a compromise, perhaps the Grandparents would like to open and maintain an ISA or something similar, so that they are giving pocket money without undermining what you’ve decided.

ukfamilymatters |

At the end of the day, whether or not you give out pocket money and if so, how much, is entirely down to you and your family.

If you want to find out more about the benefits of pocket money, there are lots of online guides that offer great resources.

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 9

Glenda Spooner Farm

Easter Holiday Fun Activities from 11.30am through to 2.30 pm Wednesday to Friday throughout the holidays (limited places each day) Cookie decorating in the café from 10am – 4pm Free admission to the farm Activities will incur a small charge

Enjoy summer at the abbey

for our packed calendar of events from Shakespeare, Opera, concerts and more...

Glastonbury Abbey Fundraising Events

Medieval Fayre

Sat 20 - Sun 21 April Easter weekend

Now Here’s a Funny Story

Musical Performance Sun 7 April | Abbey House

PLUS

● Outdoor cinema ● Exhibitions ● Night at the Abbey ● Wildlife Tours ● Afternoon Tea Registered Charity No: 1129263

World Horse Welfare Glenda Spooner Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre Brincil Hill, Kingsdon, TA11 7LA +44 (0) 1935 841442 www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Farm/Glenda-Spooner-Farm

Tickets available from the abbey shop or www.glastonburyabbey.com

We look forward to seeing you

Should you leave your child home alone?

Leaving your children home alone is a pretty contentious issue, some parents think that at a certain age, children should be left alone for short periods to help them learn independence, others think children should be in their late teens before you even think about it. For the vast majority of parents, they feel safe leaving their children alone for a few hours once they start secondary school, especially if they have older siblings that can keep an eye on them. For some, with busy lives, leaving them alone for a few hours can be the only solution.

If it is something you’re considering, it is important to know that there is no legal age limit for leaving a child on their own, but it is an offence if it places the child at risk. It is generally advised that children under 12 shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time. The only real question is whether or not your child is mature enough to be left on their own. Just with everything else when it comes to parenting, if you’re worried about it, don’t do it. If you’re worried about being over protective, you could always leave them for a short time, such as popping into the garden or out to the car, to see how you feel and they react.

If you find yourself thinking about whether you can leave the children alone for a little while, here are some things for you to consider.

• How far away will you be and how long do you think you’ll be?

• How mature/responsible are your children?

• Do they feel comfortable being in the house without you?

• How well do they know the neighbours? Would they be comfortable approaching them for help if they need it?

If you do need to leave your children at home on their own for a little while, the general advice is to ease into it. Don’t put any extra pressure on yourself by having a deadline or important appointment the first time. It is also a good idea to be close by for the first few times, so it is easy to get home straight away if you need to. If you decide that your child is mature enough and happy to be left alone for short periods of time, there are some things you can do to ease both your and their minds.

• Make sure they understand how important it is not to answer the door if they are at home alone.

• Leave clear instructions in case of emergency and make sure they know not to use any appliances such as the oven or microwave.

• Tell them what time you will be back and stick to it.

• Leave contact numbers and make sure your children know how to use the phone to get hold of you.

• Leave a contact number for someone else you trust in case you are unavailable.

• Set some ground rules so your child knows what they can and can’t do while you’re not there.

As ever though, you know your child best and everything depends on their maturity and your comfort level. There are so many variables, as your eldest child might be completely trustworthy and sensible, but your younger child might not be. It is all down to your discretion.

Do you have any thoughts on this? Get in touch on Twitter and Facebook @UKFamilyMatters

New for 2019

Jungle Grotto

Sat 30th March - Sun 2nd June 10:30am - 4:00pm ÂŁ3.99 per person

Book tickets online at: www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN152LZ

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

Win Prizes

Win Kids Takeover Racing Funday tickets with Bath Racecourse on Monday 6th May

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been racing, the whole family will love seeing the horses up-close in the Parade Ring before soaking up the atmosphere as the horses thunder down the home straight and across the finishing line in the seven races taking place throughout the day.

The sweetest race of the year will also be taking place as Shetland Ponies battle it out with young jockeys on board in the track's annual Shetland Pony race. The prize is a family ticket for two adult tickets and up to four kids tickets (under 18s) and a bag of donuts.

Win 4 tickets to Splashdown Poole or Quaywest Spring is in the air and it's time to shake off the Winter blues to get out and about with the family and where better than at a Splashdown Waterpark where there are flumes galore, twisting tyre rides and a whole lot of fun for the family. We have 2 family tickets for 4 people to be won at the south west’s favourite waterparks; best of all you can choose whether you wish to go to Splashdown in Poole, Dorset or Splashdown Quaywest right on the beach in beautiful South Devon (opens for Easter Bank Hols). Tickets may be used anytime in 2019 subject to opening it doesn’t include any transport, just admission for up to four people. Worth over £60 per family.

Win a family ticket to The Royal Bath and West Show 3 x pairs of adult tickets to giveaway (children go free). Taking place at the Bath & West Showground from 29 May to 1 June; England’s Royal four day show offers an array of attractions for all the family to enjoy.

Keep the little ones entertained with hands-on demonstrations including mozzarella making, butter making and apple juice making. Or meet everyone’s favourite little green tractor, Tractor Ted. Jumping into the Main Ring with their daredevil stunts is this year’s Main Ring attraction, the Extreme Bike Battle! The impressive team will be pushing boundaries twice daily at this year’s show. Adult tickets are now on sale, with children under 15 years going FREE. Visit www.bathandwest.com to get your tickets today!

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.

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: 25th April 2019

10 quick and easy

Easter Play Ideas The holidays were made for play and Easter has to be one of the most fun times of the year for children - I can’t think why?! If you are looking for some suitably themed activities to keep little ones busy over the break without the chocolate component, while hopefully giving yourself five minutes peace for a quick cuppa (and a Malteser bunny!) then here are my favourites, all using everyday items which can be found around the home or sourced cheaply from a pound shop and all super quick and easy to set up.

Salt Dough Hot Cross Buns Paper Envelope Bunnies

All you need are some brown paper bags, a pink highlighter, black marker pen, sellotape, scissors and pink or white fluffy balls. Draw the bunny’s face on the paper bag then cut and colour his ears and feet before sticking on along with the fluffy tail!

Perfect for collecting sweet Easter treats!

Mix together half a cup of flour, half a cup of salt and one cup of water. Make dough and shape! Put in the oven on a low heat for two to four hours then cool overnight before painting and playing! Perhaps you could use some old takeaway coffee cups and get them to open their own bakery?!

Perfect for some Easter role play!

Plastic Eggs Plastic eggs are a great Easter resource, offering so many opportunities for suitably themed play and can be used throughout the year providing real value for money.

Easter Tray

Gather together all of your Easter resources and present them to your child on a dip tray. Then just let the play unfold and develop naturally, inviting your child to use their own initiative and imagination to create whatever activities their mind allows. Simple but effective!

Planting Flowers

Invite little ones to plant their very own spring garden for lots of fun filling, scooping, pouring, planting and smelling. Just fill a tray with soil then provide chickpeas, black beans, pots, tools and faux flowers sprayed with perfume.

Feeding The Rabbits

Fill a tray with beans, lentils, peas and of course carrots (real or fake), pop in some cuddly rabbits and add little pots, utensils and tongs for transporting the food from tray to the rabbits hungry mouths!

Make Noisy Shakers Make noisy shakers by filling with leftovers from your kitchen cupboards i.e. Rice Crispies, sugar or pasta shells.

Alternatively add different herbs to alert their sense of smell! Great for babies!

Practise Hand Muscle Control

Get your child to practice hand muscle control by filling them with rainbow rice or pasta using a spoon.

Easter Egg Hunt Finally, of course, a good old-fashioned Easter egg hunt never fails to keep the kids entertained!

Scooping Practise

Add to a water tray with tongs and a sieve for scooping practise. Great for outdoor play when the weather warm and sunny!

Content supplied Claire Russell, founder of www.playhooray.co.uk

what’s on 19th March - 20th May Spring Escapades Explore St Michael's Hill, steeped in wildlife and history. Pick up a trail from reception. Montacute House, Montacute.

23rd - 24th March Super Hero Weekend Children and their grown-ups are invited to dress up as their favourite heroes and enjoy amazing activities throughout the weekend including fancy dress discos!

Puxton Park, Hewish. www.puxton.co.uk 23rd - 31st March Mothering Sunday Afternoon High Tea This Mothering Sunday, why not treat your Mother to an Afternoon High Tea in our Lavender Lodge Tea Room & Bistro at Whitehall Garden Centre in Lacock.

Book online at www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk 30th March - 2nd June Explore the Jungle Grotto NEW this 2019 Begin your quest through the Jungle with your map to complete tasks and answer questions. Find the monkeys and spot the parrots. Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock.

31st March Mother's Day Gert Posh Tea Farrington Farm, Farrington Gurney www.farringtons.co.uk 31st March Sparkling Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Set in the old library of the manor. Bookings must be made

before 29th March 2019 to allow the chef time to create your special menu. Avebury Manor, Avebury 6th April Animals of Lytes Cary Trail Head down to the woodland walk and follow the Explorers' trail to find out more about the animals that lived at Lytes Cary.

Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset.

6th - 24th April Easter Egg Trail Search the museum to find hidden clues in this Easter trail.

Normal admission applies. Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury.

8th - 12th April Get your Cape On A super hero spectacular of arty, crafty action packed selfytastic fun. Meet our special hero guest plus enjoy the chance to win a super prize bundle.

The Galleries, Bristol.

8th - 22nd April Lacock Easter Egg Hunt Bring the whole family together for fun and nature-filled discoveries as you spot the first signs of spring. Follow the clues to finish your adventure with a delicious, chocolatey treat Lacock Abbey and Gardens, Lacock.

9th April Crafty Cats ‘Bugs and Buds’ The theme will be ‘Bugs and Buds’ and children will have the chance to create bug hand puppets, coffee filter butterflies and a tree blossom picture. www.bishopspalace.org.uk 10th April Make a tissue paper flower - Family Activity Spring is here and the flowers are blooming. Make a tissue paper flower to take home and keep. Normal admission applies - free to members. www.glastonburyabbey.com

For further information about each event

11th - 18th April Nature Ninjas The Palace Garden team will be holding “Nature Ninjas” activity sessions in the Community Garden, aimed at getting little ones engaged with nature and gardening.The team will have lots of horticulturally-based fun activities for all ages. 11am - 3pm.

Included in admission. www.bishopspalace.org.uk 12th April Paint a glass tea light holder - Family Activity Decide on how to decorate your tea light holder and the colours you wish to use before painting or drawing these onto your glass tea light holder with glass pens and paint. www.glastonburyabbey.com 12th - 19th April Easter Trail Follow the Easter trail around the abbey - collect letters to claim your prize. Costs £2 plus normal admission. www.glastonburyabbey.com

13th - 14th April Come along and bring the family to see Magic Moments animals, Chuffy the train, Children’s entertainment, Face painting and Farm Shop Tastings. You can also come and meet the Easter chicks from Lackham College. This is a free event, no ticket or pre-booking needed.

Whitehall Garden Centres, Lacock.

13th & 14th April Fire & Water Join the ‘Star Tugs’ from 1980s children’s TV and take a trip down memory lane! Admire some of the original models from the TV series on their first outing to the Avon Valley Railway.

Enjoy a trip onboard Bristol’s historic fire-boat ‘Pyronaut’ which will be offering short trips on the River Avon at the end of the line (small extra charge applies). www.avonvalleyrailway.org 13th - 22nd April Easter Egg Hunt at Stourhead This Easter the animals have been inspired by Palladian architecture. Judge for yourself who has made the most fashionable habitat to enjoy a chocolatey prize at the end.

Stourhead Garden, Stourhead.

19th - 22nd April Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Bunny is back and this year he's brought some friends along with him. Hear the tales of famous rabbits throughout literature, solve the clues and claim your Cadbury chocolate prize at the end. Dunster Castle, Dunster.

19th - 22nd April Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Barrington Court is the best place for a great Easter Egg Hunt. Lots of space to run around, plenty of fresh air and a chocolate prize!

Barrington Court, Somerset.

19th - 22nd April Chocolate Train This Easter sees the return to steam of the old Fry’s chocolate factory steam locomotive from Keynsham. Plus there’ll be FREE Fry’s chocolate for every child! www.avonvalleyrailway.org 19th - 22nd April Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Hop along to Lytes Cary Manor this Easter Weekend and follow the clues to be rewarded with a Cadbury chocolate prize.

Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset.

26th - 27th April Wells Film Festival - The Kid Who Would Be King The Bishop’s Palace in Wells is delighted to be hosting the Wells Film Festival for its 4th outdoor screening on the Croquet Lawn. This year’s film is “The Kid Who Would Be King”, a family fantasy action-adventure film about a band of young kids embarking on an epic quest to thwart a medieval menace. www.bishopspalace.org.uk 6th May May Day Fun With plenty of fun activities going on, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at Barrington Court's May Day celebration – including a traditional maypole dance!

Barrington Court, Somerset.

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KEEP THEM SAFE ONLINE With the amount of gadgets and phones being given as Christmas presents, it is likely that your children are accessing more and more digital features and spending more time on social media. Cyber bullying and children being groomed or scammed online is a huge problem, it’s something that parents and schools are doing their best to tackle, so we’ve put together some resources to help navigate the difficult world of the internet.

ACCORDING TO STUDIES ON CYBER BULLYING: Girls are more likely to be victims of cyber bullying Children are 7 times more likely to be bullied online by people they consider friends than strangers.

70% of students have reported seeing bullying online.

Children who are being bullied online are also more likely to be the victim of identity theft.

Victims of cyber bullying have a higher risk of the behaviour having a negative impact on their mental health in comparison to more traditional methods of bullying.

Bullies aren’t using the internet to find victims but are accessing the profiles of people they are already having issues with.

BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THE SITUATION? Without alienating your children by banning all devices that connect to the internet, there are a few things that can help the situation.

• Create a safe environment where children feel comfortable enough to discuss the harassment, either at home or at school, so that the situation can be monitored and the perpetrators spoken to. Listening to your child’s concerns is an important first step and talking to them through the situation will help them feel supported.

• Become familiar with parental controls on social media sites and how to use them.

• If your children are actively using social media platforms, make sure they know about blocking, muting and reporting when they see bullying taking place.

• Use parental controls on games consoles, this is an important thing to do if your child is regularly messaging others when playing games.

• Because the majority of cyber bullying cases involve people that are known to each other, make sure the school is aware of any examples of bullying.

• Collect as much information as you can, screen shots can be helpful if you need to go to the school or if something criminal has taken place, for you to hand over to the police.

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MILLFIELD

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© 2019 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PAW Patrol and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Spin Master Ltd. Nickelodeon and all related titles and logo are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

CHASE AND MARSHALL ARE COMING TO THE wEST SOMERSET RAILWAY WHERE THEY WILL BE MAKING APPEARANCES AT INTERVALS ON EACH DAY AT MINEHEAD STATION.

TRAIN TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE! visit www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or phone 01643 704996

Barrington Court Sow and grow 6 & 20 Mar, 11.30am-12.30pm £2 each Springtime nature trail 6–22 Apr, 10.30am-4pm

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts Barrington Court Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 19–22 Apr, 11am-4pm Barrington Court is the ideal place for a great Easter egg hunt – there’s lots of space to run around, and a Cadbury chocolate treat. £2.50 per trail nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court

Lytes Cary Manor Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 19–22 Apr, 11am-4pm Hop along to Lytes Cary and follow the clues of the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt to receive your tasty prize. £2.50 per trail nationaltrust.org.uk/lytes-cary-manor

Normal admission applies unless otherwise stated.

Photography: ©National Trust Images/Megan Taylor Design: timjulierdesign.co.uk ©National Trust 2019. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846.

Paint a hand-cut Easter decoration 6–22 Apr, 11am-4pm £2 – £5 each May Day Fun 6 May, 10.30am-4pm Paint a hand-cut springtime decoration 25 May–2 Jun, 11am-4pm £2 – £5 each Wildlife days 28–31 May, 10.30am-3pm

nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court

Lytes Cary Manor Animals of Lytes Cary trail 6–23 Apr, 10.30am-5pm

nationaltrust.org.uk/lytes-cary-manor

Montacute House

‘Elizabeth of Bohemia: the Winter Queen’ Every day, see website for opening times Exhibition in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery Levels Best farmers’ and craft markets 30 Mar, 27 Apr, 18 May, 10am-2pm Free entry to the market Easter holiday activity See website for details nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house Normal admission applies unless otherwise stated.

Photography: ©National Trust Images/John Millar Design: timjulierdesign.co.uk ©National Trust 2019 The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846.

Do YOU struggle to help with homework?

Parents, we all know that homework is part of everyday life once your kids start school and we’ve all been there when they’ve asked for help and you are stumped.

Teaching practices and curriculums change regularly and the maths problems you whizzed through when at school might not be approached the same way by your child’s teacher. Of course, you want to offer your child some additional help and you want to make sure that they are getting the most out of their education, so being unsure of how to answer homework questions can be frustrating.

When it comes to homework, it is important to also remember that everyone learns in different ways and for your child, filling in answers on a worksheet might not help them retain and recall information in the same way as a visual presentation might and that goes for you too.

We’ve put together a few suggestions to help get over the homework hurdle.

REMEMBER, there is no shame in asking for help, you know this, your child knows this, so don’t be afraid to ask school staff or your friends with children if you’re not sure.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, speak to the teacher. Your child’s teacher will want them to succeed and will be happy to point them and you in the right direction to help them understand their homework. They may be able to give them a bit of extra support in the classroom so they’re more confident in the work they’re doing and also offer you some reassurance in the best way to help out.

WHY NOT SET UP A STUDY GROUP? Speak to a couple of other parents and see if they are having similar problems, you could host a group of kids and supervise while they do their homework, it could be some peer to peer learning is all your child needs for the solution to click.

Homework is an important part of school life and helps to reinforce what they have learned at school, so do make sure to take an interest in the work they bring home and any projects they do outside of the classroom, so you can make sure that they are getting the most out of it.

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LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews DITCHEAT PRIMARY SCHOOL GOES BACK IN TIME To start their topic of toys, the children from reception through to Year 2 had an afternoon workshop with the South West Heritage Trust.

Firstly, all of the children sorted a range of different toys into old and new toys and looked at the differences between them. They then took part in some Victorian playground games and made their own thaumatropes, which were popular in Victoria times. They are a piece of card with a picture on each side that when twirled can combine the two images into one.

Rose Boyce, a teacher at the school, said: “It was lovely seeing the children playing with such old fashioned toys and enjoying it so much.”

FASHION SHOW FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS Before half term, children came from a number of schools to Ditcheat Primary School to create wonderful clothes from recycled materials. The children from Lovington, Castle Cary and Evercreech Primary Schools joined children from Ditcheat for a whole day of learning about how it is possible to reuse items that we would ordinarily throw away.

The children made gloves from old socks, bows from recycled newspapers and handbags from old cereal boxes. The day culminated with a fashion show on a catwalk in front of the whole school and parents.

Dawn Knight, class teacher, said “We feel it is vital that this next generation grow up being aware of the necessity to reuse and recycle and today is a first step towards that goal.”

FAMILY RUN THREE SCREEN CINEMA wellsfilmcentre.co.uk PRINCES RD, WELLS, 01749 673195 BA5 1TD SAT AM SHOWS £5.20

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SUNDAY £5.20 AFTER 7PM

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PUPILS WOW IN SNOW QUEEN PRODUCTION

St Aldhelm’s children took part in a fantastic production of the Snow Queen, lines were learned, songs were practiced and stage directions fulfilled to put on a very slick and polished production of the Snow Queen.

The school want to say a big thank you to the staff

team who worked together to make it happen, especially to Mrs Newman, Miss Hodsman, Miss Horgan, Mrs Horton, Mrs Manship, Mrs Tizard and Mrs Bassett for your patience, creativity and commitment in leading and supporting the children to prepare and perform.

WAR TIME CAFÉ AT HORRINGTON

YOUNG VOICES IN BIRMINGHAM

Earlier in the term Horrington Primary’s Voyager Class hosted a war-time café for their parents and families. Everyone was treated to a selection of popular war-time songs accompanied by Mrs Jenkins on piano, Tegan on recorder and the class orcarina orchestra. Pupils also performed a number of plays inspired by the class book, Letters from a Lighthouse.

Many of the Foxglove and Gentian children from St Vigor and St John Church School joined 7,000 others from around the country at the NEC in Birmingham last month for Young Voices 2019. The event was absolutely amazing and the children were a real credit to the school as they sang and joined in with all their might. Well done everyone, especially Mrs Tyler for organising it.

BROWNES GARDEN CENTRE COME AND RELAX IN OUR COFFEE SHOP AND THEN SELECT FROM OUR LARGE SELECTION OF CONTAINER GROWN SHRUBS, CONIFERS &PERRENIALS NEW SEASON ROSES, FRUIT &ORNAMENTAL TREES HUGE SELECTION OF TERRACOTTA & GLAZED POTS PLUS ALL YOUR GARDEN SUNDRY REQUIRMENTS OPEN 9-5:30PM MON – SAT 10-5PM SUN COFFEE SHOP 10.30-4PM TUES—SUN

GLASTONBURY ROAD WELLS

TEL 01749 673050

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PRIDDY AND ST LAWRENCE’S FEDERATION

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Priddy & St Lawrence’s children were treated to an interesting explanation of trade within the EU. James Small of Warren Farm and the NFU, gave the children an insight into the possible impact of Brexit on farming in our local community and answered their questions about food production, trade and farming.

Children’s Nursery Ltd Ages 3 months - 4 years Monday - Friday 7.15am - 6pm Breakfast & Afterschool Club School Age We offer 15 - 30 hours funding 01458 446999 jabberwockynursery@outlook.com www.jabberwockynursery.co.uk www.jabberwocky-kids-club.co.uk The Tanyard, Leigh Rd, Street BA16 0HD 24 |

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OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AT ST ALDHELM’S COMPLETED In January staff and pupils at St Aldhelm’s were excited to see the completion of their new outdoor classroom.

Everyone at the school are grateful to those who have contributed to make it possible, in particular, Tesco, Wainwright Quarry and Aggregate Industries.

This new resource is a welcome addition to their facilities enabling the school to offer a good provision for outside learning. The plan is for classes to use the new space when they are learning outdoors in any weather for shelter from wind and rain and for shade from the sun. Outdoor learning and the outdoor environment is a good way to help the children develop in character, individually and socially and to broaden their understanding of their surroundings and the wider world. All children have the opportunity to play outdoors, take part in PE, science activities and Forest School. Reception and Year 1 enjoy weekly forest school activities all year around and the other classes all take their turn throughout the school year.

SNOWDROP FESTIVAL SUCCESS Croscombe Primary had some success in the Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Poetry Competition. Josh W and Tilia in Conkers class both received Commended, Declan in Chestnut class received Highly Commended and Nancy, also in Conkers, received the Croscombe School Commendation.

Both Declan and Nancy were also invited to read out their poems in a prize giving event at St Peter and St Paul Church in Shepton Mallet.

Cheddar Crazy Golf Family Fun for all ages

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18 hole course in attractive setting Open daily from 11am

Only £4.50 per player 01934 741112 The Cliffs, Cheddar BS27 3QE info@cheddarcrazygolf.co.uk

REWARD DAY AT EVERCREECH CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

FIREFIGHTERS VISIT EVERCREECH

As the winning house, children from Kingfisher House enjoyed a visit from Carymoor Environmental Trust. They took part in a variety of activities such as: bird ID trail, bird egg trail, willow butterflies/dragonflies, egg hunt.

They managed to dodge the showers and lots of fun was had by all that took part. Well done Kingfishers!

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service visited Evercreech School recently to deliver a fire safety talk.

The children all enjoyed the visit and learned a lot during the day.

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Explorer Pianist Horse Rider SOPHIE, AGE 8

Millfield Prep and Millfield Pre-Prep’s next Open Day is Saturday 4 May

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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: Amirah Age: 8 Achievement: Well done Amirah on achieving your Stage 8 & 7 gymnastic awards.

Name: Olivia Age: 6 Achievement: Star of the Week for "progressing so well in all areas of the curriculum, especially with reading and writing".

Name: Dean Age: 7 Achievement: Beaver Lodge Leader.

Name: Amber Age: 7 Achievement: 1st & 2nd place with her crew, The Rugratz at Dweamahs Dance Academy, at the WDO Dance Championships!

Name: Tirza Age: 10 Achievement: Spelling competition winner.

Would you like to be a CHARITY WORK!

Sports awards!

in WOW ?

MUSICAL TALENT!

CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT! Just click the button!

THIS COULD BE YOU!

We want to know all about it!

Take a photo on your mobile and upload to our website.

Easy!

submit your WOW photos here

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A Rabbit's Tale Dunster Castle and Garden 6 - 28 April 10am - 4pm Bunny's back and this year he's brought some friends.

Escaping from the pages of some of your favorite books you'll need to answer questions about these famous rabbits to earn your Cadbury chocolate prize.

Normal admission applies. £2.50 per trail including prize.

In partnership with

nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle

© National Trust 2019 . Registered charity, No. 205846. © National Trust Images .

Join us for an Easter egg hunt