Family Matters October 2018 Mid Somerset edition

MID SOMERSET EDITION

ISSUE 60 • October 2018

CARNIVAL TIME!

FORMERLY

HALLOWEEN RECIPES

www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

YOUR SCHOOL NEWS

WELCOME Well done everyone, your first term of this new school year is almost over, you’ve made it! We hope it’s been an enjoyable one, especially for those of you who were attending new schools for the first time.

Hopefully our Year 6 readers will have found a secondary school to attend this time next year (eeek!), if you’ve not made a choice yet, don’t leave it too late, make sure to check the deadline for your local authority and let them know well ahead of time.

The autumn season is always an exciting one, it is almost time for Carnival, Panto and of course, Christmas! In this issue we have some themed recipes to get you in the spirit, information on where you can catch your local carnivals, how to keep your family safe during Bon Fire Night and loads more!

Don’t forget, we love to hear from you, share your news with us by email: news@ignyte-uk.co.uk and be sure to let us know all about your latest achievements!

Submit your photos to our website and you could appear on our WOW pages!

p5 Staying safe during autumn festivities

p12 Helping your child deal with anxiety

p10 losing your cool

p16 what's on this autumn

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.

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 3

Days out this autumn in South Somerset

  

Tree climbing at Montacute House

Half-term at Barrington Court

22 & 23 Oct, 10am - 3.45pm Experience Montacute from a bird'seye view. An unforgettable experience for anyone over the age of six to enjoy. £20 for an hour climbing. Booking essential.

29 Oct - 4 Nov Celebrate all things apple on our apple days which are followed by a spooky week during autumn half-term with lots of activities lined up for you to enjoy.

See websites for details: nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court

Normal admission applies unless otherwise stated.

Photos © National Trust Images/John Millar & William Shaw The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846

Staying safe during autumn

festivities

Autumn is a time of great fun as we all get ready for the winter and the Christmas holidays, between Halloween, Bon Fire Night and Carnival season, there are plenty of events to get involved in, but as important as it is to have fun, it is also important to stay safe.

Trick or treating is a Halloween tradition and while most parents will go with their children, as they get older, they may want to go off with their friends instead. If that’s the case, here are some rules to make sure they all have a great time without getting into any trouble.

Know where you are going Firstly, be sure to plan your route, trick or treating can take you to unfamiliar parts of town, make sure you know where you’re going and stay in well lit areas.

Walking together and making sure everyone crosses roads with care will also keep you out of danger.

Remember that not everyone likes taking part in Halloween, so make sure only to visit well lit houses that have decorations outside.

Wear something bright As it gets dark early at this time of year, incorporating something reflective to your costume will keep you visible as you're crossing roads. Be sure to keep a torch with you too for lighting your way.

Avoid masks

It isn’t just Halloween that comes with potential dangers, so does Bon Fire Night. If you choose to have a celebration at home rather than going to an organised display, there are a couple of things you can do to make sure everyone has fun without any accidents.

They might be fun, but they can make it hard to see and hard to breathe, also if you wander off, people won’t necessarily recognise you, try using face paints instead!

Always buy fireworks that are made to British standards.

Check your goodies

Always keep a bucket of water at hand and wear protective gloves and if you can, something to shield your eyes.

Finally, when you get home, check your treats. Throw away anything which isn’t in its original wrapper or looks like it’s been opened.

When buying fireworks, make sure that they are suitable for the size of your garden.

Store them safely and when it comes to lighting them, do it at arm's length with a taper and stand well back.

Make sure you have the right supports and launchers for the type of fireworks you have.

Always wear gloves when handling sparklers and stick them straight in cold water when they have burned out.

Remember, children under five should never be given sparklers and those over five should be supervised at all times.

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 5

SS upcoming seasonal events DON’T MI at the Hawk Conservancy Trust E DETAILS VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MOR

friday wednesday 24 6and 26 October til 8pm

tick ets

Prepare yourself and your little ones for a wickedly spook-tacular family evening this Halloween.

Includes spooky crafts, flying display and refreshments PRICES FROM

£10.99

at Feathers Restaurant for breakfast on 23 and 24 December, and tea on 23 December*

Each ch ild will rece ive an earl y Christm as present

Bring the little ones along for a bite to eat, see Father Christmas in his grotto and meet an owl. *check website for dates and times

Each Christmas event ticket comes with a half-price entrance voucher valid until Thursday 4 April 2019* * TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY – PLEASE SEE WEBSITE

We are located just off the A303 near Andover, Hampshire

01264 773 850 www.hawkconservancy.org @HawkConservancy

Calling all Fossil Detectives!

HCT_OwlOWeen_Xmas_2018_ad_78x115_AW.indd 1

CHARITY NO: 1092349

2018-08-10 10:35 AM

Explore our Jurassic world and come face to face with the Sea Dragons of Street at this pop-up fossil exhibition.

Bring the past to life with our shadow puppet theatre, craft sessions, fossil detective trail and meet Doreen the modern Sea Dragon.

The exhibition is open during half-term from Monday 29th October until Saturday 3rd November from 10am to 5pm daily.

Entrance is free, but donations towards the care and future display of the fossils would be gratefully received. Some of the pre-bookable craft sessions will have a charge applied at the time of booking.

For more details visit www.alfredgilletttrust.org or ring 01458 4440060 To find us: The Grange is located opposite the restaurant terrace of Clarks village and can be accessed from Car Park 4, the Grange. There is no access via Farm Road.

Image courtesy of Somerset Carnivals

Carnival Time!

As the nights get colder and darker, we know that it isn’t all doom and gloom because Carnival is just around the corner. In this part of the world there are plenty of carnival displays to keep you entertained featuring floats, bright lights, dancers and amazing costumes.

Carnival season runs all the way from September through October and into November, just when you need something to get your excitement up before Christmas. Whichever carnival you choose to visit, check the route, arrive in good time as roads will be closed along the route, dress warm and be prepared for big crowds. Also, make sure your pockets are full of loose change as carnival is all about charity and any small donations will be gratefully received.

2018 CARNIVAL DATES Castle Cary Carnival

13th October

7.30pm

Chard Carnival

13th October

2pm children’s 7.30pm main

Salisbury Carnival

19th October

7.30pm

Trowbridge Carnival

20th October

7.00pm

Taunton Carnival

20th October

7.00pm

Bridgwater Carnival

3rd November

7.00pm

Burnham-on-sea Carnival

5th November

7.30pm 7.15pm

Weston-super-Mare Carnival

9th November

North Petherton Carnival

10th November 7.00pm

Midsomer Norton and District Carnival

12th November 7.30pm

Shepton Mallet Carnival

14th November 7.30pm

Wells Carnival

16th November 7.00pm

Glastonbury Carnival

17th November 7.00pm

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk | 7

Bowood’s Autumn Animal Trail Bowood House & Gardens October Half Term Thursday 25th October to Monday 29th October 2018, 11am to 4pm Explore Bowood House & Gardens by following our Autumnal Animal Trail.

Normal House & Gardens admission applies

01249 812102 WWW.BOWOOD.ORG BOWOOD HOUSE & GARDENS, WILTSHIRE, SN11 0LZ HOUSEANDGARDENS@BOWOOD.ORG

7193 - Bowood House - Advertising August 2018 - HalfPg Family Matters AUG 2018 ad 157x115mm LS.indd 1

13/08/2018 16:13

Panto season is here!

For many families, the lead up to Christmas doesn’t begin until the posters advertising pantomime start appearing around town.

If you’re looking for a family friendly activity that will keep you all entertained the panto is a great option. Many parents would love to introduce their children to the theatre, but worry about them getting bored, so starting out with pantomime, where the audience is encouraged to move around and make as much noise as they like is a good starting point.

Many of the UK’s top theatres will have pantomimes starring recognisable faces, but you don’t have to splash out on a lavish performance, local amateur dramatic groups, semi professional companies and even some schools all perform pantomimes around this time of year.

Pantomimes tend to sell out quickly, so don’t delay, take a look at some of the shows in your area and book in now.

Our TOP 5 Pantos! E MISSED! O NOT T

B

5 Snow White 4 Aladdin 3 Dick Whittington 2 Puss in Boots 1 Cinderella ukfamilymatters |

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

l o o c r u o Keeping y ild... h c a g n i r u d With the rise of social media taking an active role in our lives we can often feel the need to be the most perfect families in the universe. We like to feel that our kids are the best behaved of all the kids, we like to think that we’re the best parents, we’re fair and strict when need be, but mostly, life is super easy because our kids are the best kids. In reality, we all know that this isn’t the case. Children can be difficult, being a parent can be difficult. No one has endless amounts of patience and let’s be honest, who hasn’t wanted to crawl into a ball when their children start screaming about wanting sweets while at the supermarket.

In certain situations, like your child screaming in the back of the car or niggling their brothers and sisters or refusing to do their homework, it can be impossible to keep your cool. So, here are a few tried and tested methods to help blow off steam.

n the kitche Hiding in at th g sweets s. and eatin kid nt for the were mea

Watching cats on YouTube.

Even if you don’t like cats, cat videos help everyone.

Texting your BFF Watching Tom Hardy episodes of CBeebies' Story Time. To keep them quiet.

Of course.

Washing up.

Seriously.

Give it a go.

Can you think of any more ways of keeping your cool with the kids? Send us your suggestions to news@ignyte-uk.co.uk

10 |

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

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

Win Prizes

Win 4 tickets to see Frozen in Wonkyland, Bristol Hype Agency will be running their Pop Up Cinema from Sunday 23rd to Sunday 30th December at the Passenger Shed, Temple Meads, in partnership with the Bristol Film Festival.

Set in the wonderful and quirky land of Wonkyland, this year's screenings include such classics as Frozen Singalong edition, Home Alone, Mary Poppins, Love Actually, the Muppets' Christmas Carol and many, many more!

You can win 4 tickets with two double bean bags, popcorn and drink to a screening of Frozen Singalong edition on Thursday 27th or Saturday 29th December at 11am.

Win 4 tickets to see Cinderella at The Bristol Hippodrome Strictly sensation and comedian Brian Conley leads the cast in the Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes, Cinderella. In this family-friendly show packed with spectacular special effects and laugh-out-loud comedy, everyone’s favourite fashion guru Gok Wan will be offering helpful style tips to The Ugly Sisters and creating the most magical ball gown in panto-land for Cinderella in his role as The Fairy Gokmother.

The competition tickets will be for the showing on Thu 3rd Jan at 7.00pm

Family Ice Skating tickets for Icescapes up for grabs!

The UK’s largest covered winter ice rink returns for a second year to the iconic Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare. It will be transformed once again into a spectacular winter wonderland, where family and friends can skate, enjoy delicious food and drink, visit Santa’s Grotto and much more!

Open from 19th October 2018 to 6th January 2019; skaters can take to the ice - rain or shine - with a clear canopy above the ice, decorated with glowing festive lights. Icescape @ The Tropicana offer a range of skating sessions including Skate & Donate, Free School Sessions and new this year – Parent & Toddler sessions.

For full details visit our website www.icescape-tropicana.co.uk

Win a family ticket for Santa Southwest entry and Father Christmas Experience Whether you want to take to the ice on the indoor real ice rink or enjoy the delights on offer from the traders at the indoor Christmas Market, you are sure not to be disappointed. Keep the magic of Christmas alive by taking the children for a special visit to Santa’s Enchanted Adventure, a forty five minute grotto experience like no other where you will join Santa’s friends in the search for the ninth reindeer! Read more at www.santasouthwest.co.uk

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO SEE ALADDIN AT THE OCTAGON THEATRE Don't miss our hilarious, funpacked family pantomime, Aladdin, starring Lizzie Frances, Thom Ford and a fantastic supporting cast.

Aladdin promises to be spectacluar, top-quality entertainment with the emphasis on strong casting, high production values and a genuinely funny script. Prize is a family ticket (4 seats) for the 6.30pm performance of Aladdin on Saturday 15 December.

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: 1st December 2018

Helping you

W

hile it might seem like anxiety as a medical condition is something new, it has been around since the beginning of time and now with more and more pressure being piled onto their little shoulders, children are displaying more symptoms of general anxiety disorder.

But what is it and how can you help?

ur child deal with anxiety What is Anxiety?

What causes anxiety?

Anxiety presents itself in a number of different ways, you’ve most likely experienced the affects of anxiety when going for an interview, doing your driving test, having to speak in front of a big group… You’ll recognise the sweaty palms and your heart racing.

When someone is suffering from general anxiety disorder though, it is a lot more than just the normal amount of anxiety one can feel when doing something stressful.

Feeling anxious has an evolutionary purpose, it helps activate the fight or flight response which we needed when it was likely we’d be eaten by sabre tooth tigers, these days, it isn’t something our bodies really need to stay alive. However, people who have an over active fight or flight response perceive threats where there often aren’t any, which causes problems for them, especially when it starts to interfere with everyday life.

Anxiety can be caused by a wide variety of things. It could be a product of genetics, it could be triggered by a stressful or traumatic event. It can manifest over time from a combination of factors. Feeling anxious is normal in certain situations, younger children might feel anxious when separated from their parents, but it is important to keep an eye on these feelings and make sure they don’t start affecting their performance at school or relationships with other children. Adolescent anxiety is often triggered by academic pressures, again, make sure this doesn’t manifest itself into something more negative resulting in panic attacks and poor attendance.

What symptoms are there?

Some common symptoms of general anxiety disorder include: insomnia, heart palpitations, irritability, poor memory, chest pains, muscle tension, unexplained uneasiness, poor concentration, cold, sweaty, numb or tingling extremeties and in some cases, panic attacks, which present themselves in a variety of ways, but are terrifying to experience and can often make the feeling of anxiety worse.

Anxiety isn’t an easy condition to treat, as it is difficult for doctors to measure it, however, it can be treated and it is important to believe and support your child when you notice these symptoms.

If left to grow, anxiety can lead to poor school performance, depression, physical illness and more. So make sure to seek advice from the school and medical professionals if you think your child might be suffering from anxiety.

What about me?

Well, quite, parenting a child with anxiety is very stressful and can create a difficult home environment. Surround yourself with a strong support network and be sure to ask for help if you need it.

What can I do?

Although you should maintain the same expectations for your child as you did before you became aware of their anxiety, you should make sure you are able to adjust them to help manage their anxiety. Plan ahead to help minimise their exposure to stressful situations. When they are experiencing anxiety, listen and empathise with your child, it is important to validate how they are feeling and not try to belittle them, even if you don’t quite understand what is happening in their heads. You can ask for advice from your child’s school and from your GP, being transferred to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) might be an option, where your child can speak to a professional and learn behaviours to help them manage their anxiety. When waiting for an appointment or as a general rule, you can encourage them to get adequate sleep, use mindfulness techniques, exercise regularly and eat well to help them keep their anxiety under check.

Halloween recipes Spider Pizza Either use ready-made pizza bases or if you’re feeling really adventurous make your own. The easiest way is to grab a pack of mix from the super market. These can be made dairy/gluten free with a few substitutions.

You need: Pizza bases, either ready-made or a box mix Flour Passata Garlic paste Your choice of pizza toppings 1) If you’re going to make pizza bases, use the instructions on the pack of the dough or unwrap the ready made bases and put onto a floured surface.

Gluten free bases and flour are available if you need it.

2) Mix passata and garlic paste in a bowl 3) Smear a layer of the mixture over the bases 4) Use the toppings of your choice to create spiders or other creepy characters – using veg you can create spider legs or use pepporoni to create eyes.

5) Add cheese (dairy free options are available) 6) Bake in the oven for the amount of time specified on the packaging for the pizza bases.

to make with the kids

Ghostly frozen bananas It is a fact universally acknowledged that frozen bananas taste just like ice cream, especially when they also have chocolate thrown into the mix. This recipe can be made dairy/gluten free if needed.

You need: 200g white chocolate 4 ripe bananas Chocolate chips, raisins or sweets to decorate 1) Gently melt white chocolate (substitute for a dairy/gluten free version if you like) 2) Peel four ripe bananas, cut them in half and push a lolly stick in the middle of each piece 3) Using a pastry brush coat the banana in chocolate, add eyes and a mouth using chocolate chips, sweets or raisins.

4) Freeze for at least 4 hours and then enjoy!

what’s on From 13th Oct Spookley Pumpkin Festival at Farringtons Farm Visit us this autumn for pumpkin picking, tractor trailer rides and to hear the tale of Spookley the square pumpkin. www.farringtons.co.uk, Farrington Farm, Farrington Gurney 16th October - 18th November Lacock's Mythical Creature trail Join us this Autumn on a quest for Lacock's mythical creature rumoured to be lurking in the woodland grounds. You'll be tracking down clues as to what it looks like, but beware you don't cross paths.

Lacock Abbey, Lacock.

22nd & 23rd October Tree Climbing with The Great Big Tree Climbing Co. Experience Montacute House from a bird's-eye view. An unforgettable experience for anyone aged from 6 to 106!

Montacute House, Montacute.

24th & 26th October Owl-O-Ween at The Hawk Conservancy Marvel at our owls as they put on a beautiful flying display against the backdrop of our moonlit grounds. www.hawk-conservancy.org/events Hawk Conservancy Trust, Visitor Centre, Sarson Lane, Weyhill, Andover 27th October - 3rd November Spooky Shoe-perstitions at The Shoe Museum Learn about lucky shoes, Make black cat shoes, Witches storytime. Free admission. The Shoe Museum, High St, Street.

27th October - 3rd November The Great Golden Pumpkin Hunt at Hestercombe It’s your job to hunt high and low to see if you can find the pumpkin and help the Witch complete her potion. If you succeed on your mission and find the golden pumpkin, you will receive a delicious chocolate pumpkin. www.hestercombe.com 27th - 28th October Wizard Adventure Weekend Get your wands at the ready and help in the search for the missing magic as you join the Grand Old School of Wizardry! Board the steam train, meet the characters and enjoy the adventure. For children 5+. Avon Valley Railway, Bitton. www.avonvalleyrailway.org 28th October Pumpkins on the Platform Dress up and play Apple bobbing and other games with WPA Have a scary face painted and do the spooky Pumpkin trail MSN Railway Station, Silver St. 10.30 -4pm.

29th Oct Spoooky goings on at Puxton Park!

Fancy dress and Halloween disco, Creepy Critter Show, Crocodiles of the world, slithering snakes and the beautiful bugs! See more at www.puxton.co.uk/events/october-half-term Puxton Park, Cowslip Lane Hewish 29th October There's spooky fun to be had at Avebury You can follow the children's trail in the Old Farmyard to win a spooky prize. You can visit the Manor to discover how beliefs and superstitions influenced the people who once lived here. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/avebury

For further information about each event

29 October - 3 November “Sea Dragons of Street” Fossil Exhibition Come face to face with Street’s prehistoric past, when Somerset was a tropical ocean filled with sea dragons.

Alfredgilletttrust.org The Grange, Farm Road, Street.

29th October Half Term at the Palace: Make-it Monday!

Join us for our dragon-themed “Make-it Monday” family craft activity session, 10:30am-3pm. Taking place in the Undercroft of the Palace - children will have the chance to make dragon masks and tails. www.bishopspalace.org.uk 2nd November Family Activity at Glastonbury Abbey Make a bouncing spider -It is the season for spiders and creepy crawlies – make a friendly spider to play with. www.glastonburyabbey.com 2nd November Farrington Park Fireworks and Disco The area's biggest firework display! Hot food, BBQ, face painting and family disco.

Gates open 6pm.

Buy tickets at the bar or from www.farringtonpark.co.uk 3rd November Norton Radstock Round Table Fireworks Midsomer Norton Cricket Ground, 7pm.

9th - 11th November The Christmas Artisan Markets You can find the inspiration to delight your friends and family with perfectly chosen and unique Christmas gifts this year.

10am - 4pm. Bishop's Palace, Wells.

16th & 17th November Christmas Market at Hestercombe Come and explore our annual Christmas market featuring over 60 festive stalls bursting with beautiful gifts, delicious treats and unusual hand-crafted items. www.hestercombe.com

From 24th November Santa Specials at Avon Valley Railway Join the Avon Valley Railway this festive season for a ride on one of our steam-hauled trains and enjoy a special visit from Father Christmas! Avon Valley Railway, Bitton. www.avonvalleyrailway.org

1st December Lacock's Christmas List Family Trail Father Christmas has lost his list and needs your help matching the presents to who they belong to in the woodland grounds.

Lacock Abbey, Lacock.

1st December Santa Express with West Somerset Railway Have a magical experience full of festive cheer, by seeing Santa on the Santa Express. Have a magical experience full of festive cheer, by travelling on one of our Santa Expresses. This service leaves Bishops Lydeard on various dates throughout December. www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk 2nd December Travelling Light Theatre Presents: Three Kings Three Kings fuses storytelling, song and dance and puppetry in a sparkling show about finding out where you belong, overcoming your differences and listening to the secret stargazer in each of us. A wonderful Christmas treat for local families.

Victoria Hall, Radstock. victoriahallradstock.co.uk 2nd, 9th & 16th December Meet Santa on the train at Midsomer Norton Station Adult ticket £6 includes mince pie and Christmas punch Child's ticket £9, age 1-16 includes meeting Santa, gift and Christmas snack.

Children under 1 FREE (including gift).

Please book on line at www.sdjr.co.uk

please visit www.familymatters-uk.co.uk

HELP!

Settling into a new school routine is always tricky and getting used to a new classroom, teacher and curriculum is always a challenge, but what do you do when your child is consistently returning home upset because they dislike their classroom teacher?

The most important thing you can do is listen to their concerns.

Personality conflicts happen regardless of your age and as you know, not everyone clicks with all the people they interact with on a daily basis. The lesson though is to be aware of those feelings without letting it disrupt your day. Talk about why your child has such a reaction to their teacher, ask them open ended questions about their school day and find out whether the teacher is strict and whether it is the whole class or just your child. It can take a while for all of us to get used to each other’s quirks and it might be that your child is unsure of their new teacher’s personality and their way of doing things.

"Most important thing is listening to their concerns."

When talking about it though, don’t brush it off, take their concerns seriously, but do so in a controlled and measured way, don’t get angry or defensive straight away. If there is a serious bullying problem, attacking the teacher might make things worse in the classroom, there are several sides to a story, so remain calm and keep an open mind until you’ve had a chance to meet the teacher yourself.

My c h i l d h ate s t h e i r te a c h e r !

If you feel the situation with your child hasn’t improved, make an appointment to speak to the teacher. Sometimes children need help negotiating a relationship with their teacher, particularly if they have additional needs which aren’t being met for whatever reason. Many teachers will appreciate the feedback and will be interested in how your child feels and how they can make their classroom experience better.

By validating your child’s thoughts you’ll already have halved the problem as they will feel valued and supported and will give them the courage to address any other problems they may have while at school.

"In very rare cases you might come across a difficult teacher."

In very rare cases you might come across a difficult teacher, but your children take their social cues from you, so you will need to be calm and confident about how you handle the situation.

Your behaviour will show your child that they have the power to confront things they don’t like, but that they must do it in a diplomatic way and will set them up for similar experiences as they get older.

If you are faced with a situation where for whatever reason your child and their teacher just do not work well together, you are within your right to help your child have a successful experience while at school. Speak to the school’s pastoral care, if they have it, and arrange a meeting with the head to discuss your options.

Christmas at the Palace 8th – 22nd December 2018 10am – 4pm Following the success of last year’s inaugural Christmas event at The Bishop’s Palace, this December, the Palace will once again be celebrating the joy and magic of the season with a wonderful fortnight of festivities!

will be Christmas carols in the Chapel from a range of different local musicians, costumed storytelling by the fire, Mulled wine, mince pies and children’s drinks will be on sale and there will be special Family Christmas Craft sessions at intervals throughout the weekends, including the chance to make some beautiful Christmas decorations.

The historic rooms of the Palace buildings will again be decorated; each Please visit the website for further details about timings. of them with a different theme, based of diverse aspects of Christmas.

Many of the decorations will be sourced from the Palace Gardens, using On the first weekend of the event (8th & 9th December), Christmas seasonal greenery and foliage to enhance the natural aspect of the at the Palace will be enhanced by “Deck the Halls” a Winter Flower embellishments. The stunning medieval fireplace in the Entrance Hall Festival with the NAFAS South West Area Competitions. There will be will have a roaring fire to welcome visitors and there will be a range of hands-on floristry sessions, festival floral displays and the chance to different Christmas trees to be found around the Palace. see some truly amazing arrangements in this wonderful setting.

The interior of the Palace will be illuminated, and a Family Trail will take visitors on a path through the Palace & Gardens, leading to traditional nativity scene at the end.

Each weekend, (8th & 9th, 17th & 18th, 22nd Dec) Father Christmas will take up residence in the Long Gallery, along with his wife Mother Christmas! As they were extremely popular last year, and all the slots sold out, make sure to book your tickets early (there is an additional charge to visit Father Christmas, details below). In addition, there

Join us this Christmas as we deck our halls with Christmas finery!

Twinkling trees, festive decorations, seasonal storytelling, family crafts, a trail to our nativity and of course, Father and Mother Christmas*! *Father Christmas tickets are £5 per child (including entrance) and must be accompanied by a paying Adult.

01749 988 111 www.bishopspalace.org.uk

So if you want that warm, festive feeling, just pull on your Christmas jumper and head down to the Palace this December!

Father Christmas tickets: £5 per child (includes entrance to Palace & Gardens). All children must be accompanied by a paying adult or Member. Tickets available online from 1st October.

Apart from Father Christmas, all other events during Christmas at the Palace are included in standard admission.

8TH-22ND DECEMBER 2018

reasons not to delay your Christmas shopping We know it isn't winter yet and the amount of shops stocking Christmas gifts and decorations and dusting off their Christmas top hit cds is disturbing, but getting started with your Christmas shopping early is never a bad thing, see the reasons why below...

We all know that the kids want to own the must-have toys or gadgets and these always sell out within hours, so getting your Christmas shopping started can guarantee you get the more sought after gifts well ahead of time.

Getting your goods early will give you time to check them to make sure they’re in full working order and exactly as you need it to be.

Starting early also means you can spread the cost and save money, you’ll notice that many shops will subtly raise prices as the big day gets nearer and then drop them all as it actually arrives. You can spread the cost and save money in So, while it the long run by taking might seem wrong advantage of lower prices to start getting your and postage.

Christmas shopping lists in order, actually, start early and you’ll be reaping the benefits while everyone else is stressed.

20 |

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

If you get organised quickly enough you’ll likely be able to come to an agreement with everyone on your list to set a cap on the cost and make sure you’re able to spend more time getting them something they’ll really appreciate.

It isn’t just the gifts you can get sorted early, you can use the time to get all the treats and drinks sorted for Christmas dinner too!

Besides, Christmas is supposed to be a holiday, so rather than spend it rushing around and getting everything sorted, you’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the time with your children.

WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY

s a m t s i r h C ramme prog 2018 Dunster By Candlelight Santa Specials & Expresses Irish Cream and Mince Pie Hot Chocolate and Cookie Carol Trains

Discover more and book online www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or call us on 01643 704996

Awash with Swash

Join us this December for...

Breakfast with Father Christmas EVERY WEEKEND IN DECEMBER, PLUS CHRISTMAS EVE 8am-10am, £12.95 per child Includes gift, cooked breakfast with gingerbread biscuit and 1-hr soft play.

TO BOOK OR FOR MORE DETAILS Call us on 01761 452266 (option 3) or speak to a member of staff on your next visit to the Playbarn.

www.farringtons.co.uk

Buccle!

MARTIN DODD for UK PRODUCTIONS in association with THEATRE ROYAL BATH by arrangement with GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL CHILDREN’S CHARITY and SAMUEL FRENCH LIMITED proudly presents

paul BACK! jon tim rebecca monie edwards nicholas wheatley HE’S

from CASUALTY as MRS DARLING

as CAPTAIN HOOK

as SMEE

as PETER PAN

at the abbey Come and Meet Santa In the Abbot’s Kitchen 8th and 15th December

Adapted from the book by J.M. BARRIE

13 Dec ’18 to 13 Jan ’19 01225 448844 | theatreroyal.org.uk

Theatre Sponsor

£12 per child (includes Gift from Santa and abbey admission)

Plus

Carol Singers, Reindeer Trail and Children’s Activities

Advance booking online is essential

Opening times: 11am – 2pm

Goody Bag Sponsor

* Fundraising Activity

Glastonbury Abbey, Abbey Gatehouse, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury Somerset BA6 9EL

www.glastonburyabbey.com

Registered Charity No 1129263

WELLS

CHRISTMAS MARKET DECEMBER 2018

WEDNESDAY 19TH TO SATURDAY 22ND MARKET PLACE WELLS, BA5 2RF markets@mendip.gov.uk

#wellschristmasmarket

MENDIP’S VERY OWN FATHER CHRISTMAS WELCOMES YOU! Wells City Council

LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

EVENTS

DIARY DATES

YOUR SUCCESSES

News and Reviews CROSCOMBE IN BLOOM WIN Croscombe was delighted to be present at the Wells in Bloom presentations. Their fabulous allotment has been awarded Gold again this year and been presented with the top prize of the David Nasymyth award for the second year in a row. Many thanks to Craig and Gemma, who continue to drive this project forward with such great enthusiasm and expertise. The allotment is such a valuable resource and the school is very lucky to have people who give up their time to work with the children on growing food and understanding the whole farm to fork process.

WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT ST JOHN'S INFANT SCHOOL? Despite Autumn being upon us, the children at St John's Infant School have been enjoying swimming in the school swimming pool. Thank goodness it is heated!

Owl Class at St John's Infant School have been enjoying Forest School every Friday afternoon.

BIKEABILITY AT DITCHEAT A group of five year 6 children at Ditcheat Primary School braved the wind and rain to complete their bikeability course. The course ensures that the children have the practical skills to be out on the roads today.

Hannah Mascall, teaching assistant at the school, said “It was great to see the children grow in confidence throughout the course. We are so pleased that they all passed with flying colours!�

The children have been thinking of ways to make them smile in Hedgehog and Rabbit Class. The first days at school have been very happy ones!

CROSCOMBE POETS

EVERCREECH RESIDENTIAL TRIP

Croscombe pupils spent a very enjoyable session with Pete the Poet which was filled with magic and wonder. They imagined they went on a magical carpet ride to a strange land where animals could talk and a mysterious woman gave them a golden egg. They also dressed up and played instruments to act out a story about a Magical Toyshop. It was clear through their enthusiasm and participation that they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Children from The Fosse Federation of Schools (Evercreech Church of England Primary School and Lovington Church of England Primary School) took part in a residential trip to Osmington Bay at the start of this academic year. Children from years 3, 4, 5 and 6 took part in lots of fantastic outdoor activities. They had the opportunity to work in a team and build on their own self confidence. A fantastic time was had by all that attended.

DITCHEAT CELEBRATE EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES European Day of Languages was celebrated in style at Ditcheat Primary School.

Each class adopted a country from around the world and discovered where it was in an atlas; finding the capital city, facts about the country, drawing the flag and working out the neighbouring countries. Willow class celebrated Germany by food tasting – the children tried sauerkraut, bratwurst, salami and stolen. While Holly class tried jerk sauce, pineapple, coconut milk and raw cane sugar from Jamaica. Cherry class studied the animals from Australia and Maple class found out all about Swedish folk art and created their own design for a Dala horse.

Miss Crook, a teacher at the school, said “While we teach Spanish across the whole school, it is still fantastic to see so many children trying lots of other languages and becoming inspired to visit different countries”.

Oakhill Church School

Reception Class Open Morning To book a place please call 01749 840426 or alternatively email the school office: admin@oakhill.bwmat.org

To learn more about our school, please do come and join us for an informal tour around the school with the Head Teacher Mr Morris Friday 23rd November 9:30 - 11:00am 24 |

ukfamilymatters |

Get involved! follow us: ukfamilymatters UkFamilyMatters

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

UNIFORMS FOR UNICEF Mrs Thorner continued: “Dedicating the school spaces means that we can target resources and focus on ageappropriate activities, while still having the benefits of being one school. Being federated allows us to be dynamic and flexible, and all the transitions – whether preschool to reception, or primary to secondary – are made easier, and it means can give our children the best possible preparation for secondary school and beyond.”

Children at the Federation of Priddy and St Lawrence’s are saying goodbye to their old school uniform, which is being donated to help children in the developing world. Both schools have adopted a single new uniform as children from each village are now learning together, with the primary school in Westbury-Sub-Mendip hosting preschool and key stage one, and Priddy dedicated to key stage two.

The collection has been arranged through the Clarks Shoeshare programme, which normally collects secondhand shoes in store, and which has raised over £1 million for the Unicef education fund since it was set up in 2008.

Formerly, St Lawrence’s had a green uniform and Priddy had blue – the school ran a consultation with the children last term, with the winning votes going to claret red with a tree logo.

Rosie Thorner, headteacher of the Federation of Priddy and St Lawrence’s, said: “Donating to Unicef gives the children an opportunity to learn about the world, about the very different circumstances people in other countries face. We want to widen the children’s horizons while making a positive contribution.”

Paul Wylie, local parent, said: “The kids are loving their new uniform, and everybody saved their old clothes to donate. There’s a real sense of community between the two schools, and it’s definitely brought the local villages closer. I’ve now got children at both sites; our older boys love running around in the open space up in Priddy, and here at the bottom of the hill the year twos are so proud of having the responsibility of being the ‘big kids’. There’s a lovely continuity and I think it’s going to set them up really well for the future.”

Children are now based at either Priddy or St Lawrence’s, depending on their year group, but there are still regular whole-school activities planned, with a free minibus running between the sites so parents can pick up and drop off at the school of their choice.

The school will be holding an open day on 14th November, and parents are invited to contact the school on 01749 870437 to arrange to come and take a look.

NEW UX2 PROGRAMME Children from Evercreech Church of England Primary School have started a programme with UX2.

The aim of this programme is to help the children to develop key skills and overcome challenges with self-motivation or selfconfidence. The children worked outdoors learning basic survival skills and taking part in team building exercises. Each activity was met with lots of enthusiasm.

Care to foster in Somerset?

Do you have a spare bedroom, patience, sense of humour and a real desire to help children and young people?

We offer a generous allowance, professional training and great local support.

Capstone Foster Care needs carers for children of all ages but are particularly interested in hearing from people able to look after sibling groups.

Call 01454 423 820 or visit www.capstonefostercare.co.uk ukfamilymatters |

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

WOW

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

WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Name: Chloe Wall Age:6 Achievement: Completed the Summer reading challenge

Name: Chloe Wall Age:6 Achievement: Achieved the British Gymnastics Proficiency award for level 6

26 |

Name: Maddie Age: 9 Achievement: 10 metre backstroke

Name: David Knowles Achievement: Competed in the 2018 Trampoline, Tumbling & DMT British Championships in Birmingham on 22-23 September and ranked 4th in the country.

Name: Jacob Bush Age: 7 Achievement: Completed the Summer reading challenge

Name: Sharusha R Age: 5 Achievement: Passed the 1st level ballet dance exam.

Name: Bethany Wall Age: 10 Achievement: Completed the Summer reading challenge

Name: Ella Age: 5 Achievement: Merit in Ballet Preparatory Grade

ukfamilymatters |

@UkFamilyMatters | familymatters-uk.co.uk

Millfield Minis Sports Clubs Millfield Minis Sports Clubs are open to all boys and girls, aged 1-9, in the local area. The clubs are held at Millfield Prep, Glastonbury, during term time.

This Autumn choose from:

Minis Swimming Tuesdays 9.10-9.50am, for ages 1-3 Minis Football Thursdays 4.00-5.00pm, for ages 5-8 Minis Golf Tuesdays 4.15-5.00pm, for ages 6-9 Minis Tennis Saturday mornings, for ages 2-7 Minis Trampolining Wednesdays 10.15-11.00am, for ages 2-4 With access to specialist facilities and equipment, our clubs are run by friendly, expert staff and provide the perfect introduction to your child’s chosen sport in a safe and caring environment.

Book now at millfieldschool.com/clubs

ct Produ y h p ur &M

ions in a ssociation with the McMill

an T

heat re p F a m e v i i t l re s y s e P s F e a ent l n m a t a c J o i mi m ag M e A

Friday 21 – Monday 31 December 2pm & 6.30pm (Except 24 & 25 December. Relaxed Performance 27 December, 2pm)

Tickets £16 / £13 Concessions Family Ticket Offer: £52 – two adults, two under 16s

James and Murphy Productions are once again returning to The McMillan Theatre after three very successful years of pantomime productions. This year they bring the classic rags to riches tale of ‘Dick Whittington’ to our stage. Featuring some familiar faces, happily returning for another Christmas run in beautiful Bridgwater. Supported by a very strong cast of top quality theatre professionals plus some fantastic local junior performers, this is a show you just won’t want to miss!

Sam Avery – The Learner Parent Saturday 20 October, 8pm

Stand-up comedian, viral blogger and bestselling author Sam Avery (aka the Learner Parent) started his award-winning blog when his twin boys were born. A million nappies, Peppa Pig episodes and a head-full of hair loss later, he shares all the lows, highs and hilarious in-betweens of his experiences of first-time parenthood.

Stickman

Sunday 28 October, 12.30pm & 4pm | Monday 29 October, 11am, 2pm & 4.30pm Touching, funny and utterly original, Scamp Theatre’s award-winning and delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stickman.

Comedy Live: Micky P Kerr Saturday 17 November 7.30pm

Britain’s Got Talent Finalist 2018, a comedian, musician and social commentator Micky P Kerr is a breath of fresh air on the live comedy circuit. Fusing together music, spoken word and comedy, with his tongue often planted firmly in his cheek.

Matricks: Believing the Impossible (Christmas Show) Friday 14 December, 7.30pm

Matricks’ innovative style will be transformed into a Christmas spectacular with illusions, dancers and special effects. Master illusionist Alexander will capture the imagination of the audience with his show-stopping performance. Matricks’ recent credits include working with Bradley Walsh and ITV’s Keep it in the Family. Matricks has even baffled celebrity judge Simon Cowell.

www.mcmillantheatre.com 01278 556677 The McMillan Theatre, Bath Road, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4PZ