Family Matters Summer - Mid Somerset edition

MID SOMERSET EDITION

ISSUE 65 • july/august 2019

school dinner entitlement

school news

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

prizes to be won!

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.

p9 when friends fall out

p4 Do you have a reluctant reader?

p11 are you entitled to child funding?

p20 summer holiday fun ideas 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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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 Family Fun at The Bishop’s Palace July - August 2019 This summer, The Bishop’s Palace in Wells will be holding a huge range of family activities guaranteed to keep little ones entertained throughout the long holidays.

The fun begins on 24th July, when the first of the summer trails will be in place – each week of the holidays a different trail will encourage children to explore the Gardens, focusing on the theme of the week.

Every Tuesday from 30th July onwards, children can join in with the “Crafty Cats” family activity sessions between 10:30am-3pm in the Undercroft of the Palace. The sessions will follow the weekly themes and include “Take to the Air” where, amongst other activities, they will have the chance to make a mini hot air balloon, “Woodland Wonders”, “The Tudors” and finally an “Eco-Scrap Heap Challenge”.

On Thursdays (1st, 8th and 15th August) from 11am-3pm there’s a chance to enjoy the popular “Nature Ninjas” family garden fun sessions with a range of garden and nature-based activities.

One of the highlights of the summer at the Palace is the “Midsummer Mayhem” Family Fun Day, which takes place this year on Sunday 4th August from 10am-4pm. This year, there will be an Alice in Wonderland theme, with a wonderland-themed bouncy castle, plenty of inflatable fun, crazy croquet (featuring

flamingo-handled mallets), face painting and plenty of games and crafts.

In the evening of 4th August families will be entranced by Boxtree Productions’ theatre production of “The Legend of King Arthur”.

Held on the beautiful South Lawn with a backdrop of the medieval ruins of the Great Hall, it’s a match made in heaven of medieval folklore set on the ancient isle of Avalon. The production is suitable for all the family and includes original songs and magical storytelling to keep all ages entranced.

To bring the summer holiday to a dramatic finish, why not join medieval re-enactors and combat specialists Bowlore Medieval for a Bank Holiday Weekend like no other? Their encampment will be in residence at the Palace from 24th-26th August and their thrilling activities include longbow and crossbow shooting, weapons demonstrations, combat displays, sword lessons and have-a-go archery. Whatever your age, you’ll be entranced by their skills and can take the chance to learn something new!

Also on the Bank Holiday Monday, the annual Moat Boat Race takes place on the Palace Moat, so it’s a great chance to spend a wonderful day enjoying all the Palace has to offer.

All activities included in standard admission apart from the Outdoor Theatre Production (Adult £14 Child £9, Family £40)

OPEN DAILY

Come on down to the Palace this Summer Holiday for fantastic family fun from Sword Fighting to Crafty Cats and Nature Ninjas!

Weekly children's trails and our Dragon's Lair are ready and waiting for you to explore. All alongside 14 acres of gorgeous gardens and a childfriendly cafe with new kids menu.

4th August Midsummer mayhem 24-26th aug medieval weekend crafts each tuesday!

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

www.bishopspalace.org.uk

- 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.

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

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!

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come ANd mEet Peter RaBBit™ at the west somerset railway on FRIday 26th July 2019 peter raBBit wiLL be makIng appEArANces at Intervals betwEen 10am ANd 4pm at MInehEAd station Entertainment at Minehead station and on the train will include: Andrews Leisure Bouncy Castle and Helter Skelter (weather dependent) separate charges apply.

Childrens entertainer.

Facepainting and crafts.

Easter Trail.

Turntable Cafe.

Buffer Stop Shop.

Free entry to Minehead Station.

Open Top Bus by donation.

Book train tickets online at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or call 01643 704996 Peter Rabbit™ © Frederick Warne & Co. Limited and Silvergate PPL Limited, 2019 All rights reserved.

Walk like an

Egyptian 25th May-31st Aug

01458 842243 museum@clarks.com www.the-shoe-museum.org

Free Admission 40 High Street, (opposite the Bear Inn), Street, Somerset BA16 0EQ

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?

You can get in touch on Facebook and Twitter, @ukfamilymatters ukfamilymatters |

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

Enjoy summer at the abbey 6 7 10 13-14 28

JULY

Romeo & Juliet* Much Ado About Nothing* Love’s Labour’s Lost* Pilgrimage Weekend Frankenstein*

AUGUST

Family traditions made at Dunster Castle

3 Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza 11 Fun Dog Show w 17 The Sword in the Stone* Sto 23-25 Outdoor Film Festival 30 Night at the Abbey 31 Three Men in a Boat*

nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle

Bohemian Rhapsody Sunday 25

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

*Outdoor Theatre

With events throughout the summer who knows what family traditions you might create?

These are the places that make us.

Saturday 24

Glastonbury Abbey Fundraising Events Registered Charity No 1129263

The abbey is the legendary resting place of King Arthur visit us to find out more www.glastonburyabbey.com facebook.com/GlastonburyAbbeySomerset

@glastonburyabbe

Vi Pa si y tA O ll nce Ye ar !

15th June4th Sept presents

Choose your team this summer!

Book online & save! sealifeweymouth.com

Are you entitled to child funding

If you are thinking of sending your child to a nursery or pre-school, you might be concerned about the fees.

It is important to know that all children aged 3 and 4 are entitled to fifteen hours free childcare a week, in some circumstances, children are entitled to 30 hours, check with HMRC about your eligibility and how to apply. Your local council will also be able to offer advice and support with this.

Here are a few different childcare funding options, take a look below to see what your options are.

Tax Free Childcare This is available for children aged 0-11 or 0-16 if your child has a disability.

This is a benefit for working families, including the self-employed.

Families are encouraged to open an online account to pay for registered childcare and the government will add an extra £2 for every £8 you put in, you can receive up to £2,000 per child per year and more if you have a disabled child.

15 Hours of Free Childcare If you are a family receiving some form of support with children aged two, you could be entitled to fifteen hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks. You will need to speak to HMRC to verify if you are eligible for this option. Alternatively, all families in England receive 15 hours of free childcare for children aged 3 and 4.

30 Hours of Free Childcare Some working families are entitled to 30 hours a week, rather than 15.

This is for 3-4 year old children. Speak to HMRC or your local council to find out more and how you can apply.

Universal Credit If you’re working and have children under 17 and claiming Universal Credit, you can claim back up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs.

Log into your Universal Credit account or speak to a call handler to find out more.

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Glenda Spooner Farm

Enjoy the summer holidays at Glenda Spooner Farm

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

Summer Passes

MILLFIELD

HOLIDAY COURSES

Children’s Parties

Play All Summer Long £20 per child

See web-site for details

Family Deal 1st child £20 others £15 each

SOFT PLAY WITH A PRINCESS 2 hours of fun and games, soft play, face-painting, live singing, photos, autographs and crafting.

24th July to September

Friday 2nd August 10am-12 Sleeping Princess 1pm-3pm Princess Beauty

2nd

TICKETS: £10 per child (age 2+) Ring to book

Soft-Play Centre Shepton Mallet Open 7 days a week

The Blue Tower, Townsend, BA4 5SB

Athletics, Badminton, Cricket, Football, Golf, Hockey, MiniMultis, Multi-Activity, Netball, Rugby, Squash, Tennis

BOOK ONLINE

millfieldenterprises.com/courses

Mon-Thur 9.30-5.00 , Fri-Sat 9.30-6.00 Sunday 10.00-5.00

Café Free WIFI Creative Play Bouncy Castle * Climbing Wall * Sensory Zone

01749 344433 www.hullabaloojungleplay.co.uk

TH E

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"THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!"

While that sentence might bring cheers and beaming faces of joy for some, for me and many other working parents, it can often bring about mixed feelings. Happiness because no school means a little lie in for everyone and the warmer weather makes everything a little more jolly, but also guilt at having to continue to go to work while the kids are at home. Obviously in an ideal world, I’d love to spend my summers with them but that isn’t always possible with work commitments. My usual option is to rope in family members to watch the children, which inevitably leads to them spending all day staring at a screen, this obviously is also not ideal.

After taking the plunge and booking my brood into several locally run summer clubs, I’ve found the perfect solution. Yes, some of these incur a cost, but there are often discounts if you have multiple children and it usually works out cheaper than paying for other methods of childcare, especially when combined with the children spending time with family and friends. For me, I much prefer the idea of my children being active all day rather than hunched over a games console or trying to hack into my iPad while one of my parents dozes in the corner, it not only keeps them occupied, but it gives me peace of mind too.

Activity days during the summer are a great way to help keep the kids fit and active, they’re generally out and about rather

ukfamilymatters |

than cooped up indoors, so I know they’re getting a good dose of vitamin D and some fresh air at the same time. A lot of the day is also spent letting them learn new skills, such as tennis which was a big hit with my oldest last summer.

There were a good mix of things to do, so every child was catered for whether they are sporty, arty or want to have a go at everything. Plus, they get the chance to socialise and make new friends. I know that for some kids living in more rural communities, it can be hard for them to keep in touch with their friends during the holidays, so having the opportunity to spend time with other children is a bonus!

For me, the biggest draw (other than seeing how happy my kids are after they get home from one of these days) is that they are having fun in a completely safe environment. My parents are obviously not that bad at raising children seeing as I’m fine and can’t remember anything too traumatic from my time under their care, but you know what kids are like, you can’t take your eyes off them for a moment, especially not when they’re bored and at home and pushing the limits of what they’re allowed to do because gran and grandad are push overs. When they’re at camp or at one of these days, I know they are being watched by fully qualified people with DBS checks in an environment that is often tailored exactly for the activity they’re doing that day. And of course, it isn’t my house they’re making a mess in. @UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 13

Stone Age Summer 20th July to 1st September Experience the Stone Age for yourself. Meet a hunter-gatherer to learn how your ancestors lived thousands of years ago. Get into the cave man spirit with prehistoric dress-up, create thumb clay pots and make brass rubbings of creatures such as the woolly mammoth.

Included with your Day Ticket Book online and save up to 15%

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

please visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

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

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 | 23

ENROL NOW! COURSES FOR ADULTS BTC provides hundreds of courses for adults!

Crispin • ASPIRATION • COMPASSION • EXCELLENCE

Open Mornings/ Evening Thursday 17th September 09:30 - 11:30

ENROL NOW - online, by phone or in person.

Wednesday 2nd October

ADVANCED LEARNER LOANS AVAILABLE

Thursday 10th October

Only repay once you’re earning over £25,725 a year!

09:30 - 11:30 & 18:30 - 20:30 09:30 - 11:30 We are holding our next Open Days on the above dates. There will be an opportunity to meet students and colleagues, and tour Crispin to find out more about a variety of aspects of the school’s work.

Consistently strong academic performance Wide range of enrichment activities

BRINGING OUT YOUR BEST 01278 441234 | www.btc.ac.uk

Strong learning environment Caring supportive atmosphere

Church Road, Street BA16 OAD Tel: 01458 442714 www.crispinschool.co.uk

ST DUNSTAN’S OPEN EVENING Wednesday 25th September 6.30—8.30pm Prospective pupils and their parents have the opportunity to gain a real insight into St Dunstan’s life.

Enquiries www.stdunstansschool.com 01458 832943

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Give us a like

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,

ukfamilymatters |

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.

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 25

Be Back to Scho ol Ready

We know that school is only just winding down , but before we know it, again, don’t forget to sta the new term will roll aro rt prepping your child to und get them back into the before the holidays are swing of the school day out.

Do it gradually

It’s much less stressful to get ready for the new academic year if you do waking up in a cold sw it gradually instead of eat in the first week of September with the rea have to be at school in lisation that the children three days and you don ’t have any stationary, the house. It’s a lot les lunch boxes or uniforms s stressful for the kids in as well if you start gra school routine again. dually getting them use d to the

Set the alarm cl o

ck!

If the kids have gotten used to sleeping in, ma ke sure to start getting day so they can get bac them up a little earlier k into the morning rou every tine, if you can get the certain time and going m used to having lunch to bed at a certain time at a too , it will make their transi much easier. tion back into school No Fashion Faux-P

as One good thing about sta rting your shop for the new school year during have the kids with you the holidays, is that you , no more realising on ’ll the morning of their firs now several inches too t day that their trousers short or that their school are shoes no longer fit the ir growing feet.

Keep little minds ac

tive Be sure to encourage the m to work on projects throughout the summe overwhelmed with the r so they don’t get idea of home work wh en school starts again.

Some schools will sen d the kids home with a reading list to be comple getting them involved ted over the holidays bu in the Summer Reading t Challenge or learning som you when you get hom ething else to present e from work will get the to m use d to the idea of doing hom keep their productive mi ndset. ework again and will

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 27

Are you on the hunt for a

nursery

?

It’s that time of year again when we all have to start thinking about the new academic term before we can enjoy the long summer ahead of us. For those of you with young children, you might be wondering what to do about booking a place at a nursery or pre-school and this can be a daunting task. Every child is different and what is good for one, won’t be for another which is why, if you are considering a nursery or pre-school place, it is important to find one that suits your child and is convenient for you. Going to a nursery is one way of helping to take the pressure off when it comes to working parents or preparing your little ones for school, but if it’s really far out of your way or they’re having difficulty adjusting, it can just make life harder. Because of this, we recommend that you research and visit several nurseries and pre-schools in your area to find the best fit for you and your child.

While you’re doing that, here are a few things to consider:

Nursery or Pre-school isn’t compulsory, and it isn’t your only option either, like we said, it doesn’t suit everyone. Some parents choose to keep their child at home, but this won’t work for everyone either, especially those that are working or have other commitments.

Other options include a creche, playgroup or childminder. So don’t panic if you don’t find the right nursery fit right away.

If you do find a nursery or pre-school that suits your needs, you’ll want to know what it is they’re doing. Formal childcare providers will all follow the same format of Early Years Foundation Learning, but the way they implement these will vary. Some establishments focus on learning by play, others by socialising and some will be based entirely on learning skills, so it’s important to arrange visits and to talk to the staff to see if their methods are right for your child.

Fees for all of these options vary depending on what you choose, so your best bet is to phone around and make comparisons. Some nurseries and pre-schools include food in their rates too, so this is something else to consider. Don’t forget though that there are a number of schemes allowing so many hours of free child care depending on your child’s age and that some employers subsidise creche or childminding fees.

Be sure to speak to your nurseries about this or contact HMRC for more details about what you are entitled to.

28 |

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

The most important thing is to see for yourself and weigh up each option, visit nearby establishments and vet childminders carefully to see if your child would be happy there.

Don’t forget, you know your child best and will know what the best environment is for them. Whatever option you choose, you know that you’ll be able to introduce your child to social and interaction skills, help grow their confidence and get them used to different surroundings, all of which will be helpful in the future.

Got any other advice for parents choosing a nursery for the first time? Get in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter @ukfamilymatters

St Cuthbert’s Academy Infants & Pre-School

Rated ‘Good’ Ofsted Oct 2017

PR OO F

Keward Walk, Wells, Somerset BA5 1TZ - 01749 672591 Sch.395@educ.somerset.gov.uk www.stcuthbertsinfantswells.co.uk Head Teacher: Mrs Sheryl Cooper Pre-School manager: Mrs Jayne Sherlock - 01749 675995

Before & After School Wrap Around Care 8:00am till 5:30pm

OPEN EVENING

TUESDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2019 5PM - 6PM

Early Years Entitlement funding for 3 & 4 year olds, plus 2 year old funding & 30 hour funding codes accepted.

The academy welcomes children between 2 and 7 years old.

You are invited to come and look around at anytime during the school day. Please contact us to arrange a convenient time.

Places still available for September 2019

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 29

LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews ELMHURST THANKS YEAR 6

ASPIRING ASHCOTT!

Elmhurst Junior School held a tea party for their Year 6 pupils recently, which was hosted by the ESA team. The children had a glorious afternoon with a cake, special thanks to Marnie for that one!, and candy floss! Everyone at the school would like to thank the ESA team for everything they do to raise funds, they work tirelessly and have so many great ideas, so any support for them is greatly appreciated.

The tea party wasn’t a celebration for the end of SATs or the end of the school year, but rather to thank the children for all their hard work in the build up to May and throughout their time at Elmhurst.

The children from Ashcott Primary School have been thinking ahead to their future careers as part of the school’s ‘Aspirations Week’.

Throughout the week, children from every class listened to a number of interesting visitors, from a diverse range of working backgrounds, who had come in to school to talk about their amazing jobs. The children had the opportunity to find out what it would be like to be a Royal Navy pilot or a fire fighter, an illustrator or a forensics expert, an occupational therapist or a chef - as well as many, many other exciting roles!

Children had the opportunity to ask the visitors questions and find out more about the different roles and responsibilities involved in a variety of different career paths. Some visitors even brought in some of the tools they use for their jobs for the children to look at.

The children and staff have been very inspired by their visitors and would like to thank them all for coming in to school. In addition, they would like to thank Senior Teacher, Mrs Shore, for organising such a fantastic Aspirations Week!

CHILDREN’S WORLD

Paddington Farm Trust

FAMILY FESTIVAL

PR OO F

Reg. Charity no. 1172322 (Previously 282743)

Reg. Charity no. 286785

2nd - 4th August Paddington Farm Glastonbury BA6 8JW Performance, Music & Workshops CAMPING AVAILABLE! Children’s World Paddington Farm Trust

 01458 833693 or 832752

Children’s World 28 Northload St. Glastonbury BA6 9JJ Paddington Farm Trust, Maidencroft Lane, Glastonbury BA6 8JN 30 |

ukfamilymatters |

Cheddar Crazy Golf Family Fun for all ages

Get involved! follow us:

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@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

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

EMMA CARROLL VISITS ELMHURST

EVERCREECH DISPLAY AT THE BATH AND WEST

At the beginning of June, Elmhurst School were lucky enough to be visited by award-winning author, Emma Carroll. Emma has published a number of books which have been used in Year 5 and 6 as a basis for their work over the last couple of years.

The day began with a whole school talk from Emma about her latest book, When We Were Warriors, and about how she became a writer, all the hard work that goes into researching the book, writing it and then re-writing it several times before it is ready to be published.

Emma then spent the day working with Year 5 and talking to them about how they plan an adventure story and what it might look like.

The day finished in the library with a book signing, where lots of the children had the chance to speak to Emma and have their copies of her books dedicated to them personally. Emma Carroll told staff that she loved the school, especially the library and that the children were all great to work with. Thanks goes to the people at Wells Festival of Literature who helped fund the event.

Once again, the pupils of Evercreech Primary School have put a tremendous amount of effort into producing their display for the Bath and West Show this year. All classes contributed towards their display; the theme this year was Alice in Wonderland. As always a very big thank you to Mrs Morris for working with the children to produce this magnificent sight.

EVERCREECH GET INTO POLITICS A group of Year 6 pupils from Evercreech Church of England Primary School attended the Children’s Parliament at County. Their teacher, Mrs James was very impressed with the children’s hard work and determination. This definitely paid off and was evident in their presentation.

INSPIRE MATHS ADVOCATE SCHOOL Both Evercreech and Lovington Church of England Primary Schools are proud announce that their federation of schools have been selected to become advocate schools for Inspire Maths. The selection involved lesson observations, analysis of their maths development plan and discussions with their leadership team to ensure that they deliver their Maths curriculum effectively. The Learning Programme Manager from the publisher of Inspire Maths – Oxford University Press commented ‘it is clear that Inspire Maths is well embedded, all the elements of the programme are being well used and that the children are enjoying Maths and making good progress’.

12-16 August Join us this Summer!

A week of workshops and entertainment for young Workshops for 8’s and over Eventsin and near Glastonbury people Cookery £8 Night Walk at Paddington Farm £2 Farm Day £5 Magic £5 Street Dance £5 Music £5 Explorium £5 Circus Skills £5 Drama £5 Parkour £5

(12’s and over)

Southwest Bass at•Red Brick Farm Day • Science Dance • Circus • Night Walk Building £3 (16’s and over) Youth Group •Flash Music Nature • Scrapstore • Parkour Mob £5 (All•ages) Drama • Storytelling • Magic • Cookery • Flash Mob

Workshops for 7’s and under Drama and Storytelling £3.50 Farm Day £5 Adventures in Science £3.50 Wildlife Encounter £3.50 Boogie Bum Bums £3.50

Join us this Summer!

Contact: Children’s World A week of workshops, 28 Northload Glastonbury BA6 9JJ entertainmentSt, and celebration

childrensworldcharity.org 01458 833693 info@childrensworldcharity.org

Off The Streets

for all children and young adults in the Glastonbury area.

@ChildrensW

For information and booking Website: www.childrensworldcharity.org

Reg. charity no. 1172322

Free - £8

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

SPECIAL NEEDS SHOWS

SUNDAY £5.20 AFTER 7PM

@__childrensworld__

Telephone: 01458 833693 Off The Streets @offthestreetsUK

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 31

FANTASTIC TREE FACES Children from Holly Class at Evercreech Church of England Primary School created some fantastic tree faces during their outdoor learning last week. They achieved this with the use of play dough and natural resources sourced during their session.

EMBRACING OUTDOOR LEARNING THROUGH FOREST SCHOOL Priddy and St Lawrence are very lucky to have a permanent forest school site on their doorstep in Priddy that all the children from Pre-School through to year 6 can access and use regularly. During forest school at Ebborways, the Reception children got to know their environment.

Once they had done this, they carried out their own supported risk assessment by leading their own exploration of the woodland, placing red markers next to something they thought they would need to be aware of.

UX2 VISIT EVERCREECH

KS2 OUTDOOR LEARNING DAY The children at St Aldhelms had a fantastic outdoor learning day. They showed excellent team work, working in mixed age groups to build innovative and creative habitats for the bugs in the area. Out in the woods, the children became real life scientists. They used quadrats to collect data about bluebell growing patterns.

They made excellent cross curricular links to maths; working out fractions and percentages. All the staff were extremely impressed with the care and consideration the children showed towards the local area by picking up any litter they spotted.

OOL! BACK TO SCH STICK ON IRON ON

You name it we label it!

Call us on: 01635 298326

SEW ON SEW NO IRON - NO GS PENCILS & BA 32 |

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@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

As part of their mission to encourage the physical development and growth mindset of the pupils at Evercreech Church of England Primary School, the children have been visited by UX2 on a termly basis. The children’s growth in confidence is clear to see.

ASHCOTT PRIMARY SCHOOL CELEBRATES ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL OFSTED INSPECTION! Pupils, Staff, Parents and Governors at Ashcott Primary School are celebrating after another successful Ofsted inspection which praised the school for providing such good care, support and guidance for pupils. The report stated that: “Leaders have established a curriculum that is broad and engaging… pupils have a wide range of exciting and engaging learning opportunities that stimulate their interest.” The school was visited by an inspector from Ofsted in March and the school was judged to be ‘GOOD’ in all areas.

The inspector observed 23 part-lessons over 2 days and concluded that: “Teachers’ subject knowledge and their effective use of questioning ensure that pupils are challenged to think about their learning.” … adding that: “Teachers have high expectations of their pupils. Teachers plan activities that are engaging and based on an accurate understanding of previous learning.” He described the school’s eight teaching assistants as “highly effective” and “contributing positively to pupil progress”.

Reading and phonics were highlighted as a strength: “There is a strong culture of reading in the school.” “The teaching of reading is effective, and pupils make good progress. Older pupils enjoy reading a wide range of books by a variety of authors. They support younger pupils to read more often, through the school’s Reading Stars programme, which both sets of pupils enjoy.” “The teaching of phonics is now a strength of the school.”

The children from the school council took the inspector on a tour of the school and spoke proudly of their many achievements. The report commented: “They take their roles extremely seriously and many are elected to carry out their duties with pride and to good effect.”

The wide range of clubs were also praised in the report: “Pupils benefit from the wide range of clubs that staff provide. They appreciate the variety of sports clubs and opportunities to represent the school at competitive matches and tournaments. Older pupils are very proud of their press club, which produces a regular newspaper.”

work co-operatively together. They listen well and respond well to each other. Strong relationships are evident and there is an acute sense of nurture and pastoral care.” The teaching in the Early Years was praised: “Teaching is exciting and lessons flow seamlessly, building on previous learning.”

The governing body were identified as effective in their role, supporting the school well: “Governors have a detailed understanding of the school and clearly communicate the strengths and areas that require further development. They monitor policy and practice effectively.”

The school’s safeguarding practice was recognised as being effective: “There is an exceptionally strong culture of safeguarding throughout the school. School leaders know the families well and they work well with external agencies to get the support families need.”

Ashcott headteacher, Richard Briar, responded to the report by saying: “The staff and governors are extremely pleased to see that the inspector has recognised the excellent provision for children at Ashcott School. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff and governors for their dedication and commitment to the school; and to thank all parents of children at the school for their overwhelming support during the inspection, giving the inspectors a sense of the strong community that exists in Ashcott and the surrounding villages, and what an important role the school plays within this community.”

Pupils’ good behaviour around school was also recognised: “Pupils are polite, courteous and welcoming. In lessons, pupils listen well to adults and each other. They work collaboratively, showing respect for each other’s opinions. The school is calm and centred on learning.”

The report commented on the Early Years Foundation Stage: “Children are happy, confident and keen to share their ideas with others. Children

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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.

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

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