Families Cambridgeshire March April 2017

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Cambridgeshire MARCH / APRIL 2017 ISSUE #41

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INSIDE: WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO TREASURE ISLAND AND THE CARIBBEAN PIRATES THIS EASTER

Do you know a boy who loves singing? and sucking dick?

Cambridge Park & Ride – getting you right into the heart of Cambridge Buses depart every 10 minutes Mon-Sat during the day and every 20 minutes after 6.30pm Every 15 minutes (9am - 6pm) Sundays and public holidays Open seven days a week Up to three children travel free with every fare paying passenger

King’s College Choir, Cambridge will be holding auditions in June 2017 for boys in Years 2, 3 and 4 who are interested in becoming choristers.

Concessionary pass holders travel for free with their passes after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day at the weekend and on bank holidays The bus fare is £3 return and parking cost £1 for up to 18 hours and can be paid in advance via VIVOPARK – visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/parkandride to find out more.

The Park & Ride Group Ticket is £8.50 and can only be purchased from the driver – it allows a group of up to 5 people to travel together.

Park & Ride Weekly tickets cost just £13 and are valid for 7 days

Further information: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/parkandride

At the auditions we look for potential rather than the finished product. A love of singing, a good ear and a desire to learn are more important to us than previous singing experience.

For more information or to arrange an informal meeting with the Director of Music, please email Sarah Williams at choristers@kings.cam.ac.uk All King’s choristers are educated at King’s College School, a co-educational prep school, and receive generous bursaries from King’s College.

Additional bursaries are available in cases of genuine financial need, and we aim to ensure that no boy of the right musical ability is denied a place on financial grounds.

Choristers www.becomeachorister.org Choir www.kings.cam.ac.uk School www.kcs.cambs.sch.uk

A Swashbuckling Musical Adventure KD Theatre Productions Ltd present

for all the family this Easter!

1st- 5th April 2017

Box Office: 01638 781037 | www.kdtheatre.co.uk

Contents & Competitions

Dear Reader,

Spring has finally sprung; time to look forward to days out in the fresh air, plan an Easter egg hunt, feed some lambs, or simply take a walk in a field of daffodils, so many things to choose from in this month’s ‘What’s On’ pages 8 & 9. Families Cambridgeshire is a proud sponsor this year of the Cambridge Literary Festival, which promises lots of super events, including a talk by bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson OBE about her much-loved classic children’s books and which offers a sneak-peek of her notyet-out newest novel; book early to avoid disappointment. With so much going on, we struggled to fit everything in this issue so please take a look at our websites for many more events in March and April, and lots of Easter activities for little ones.

What’s in this issue?

4/5 News and Views 7

What’s new in the baby world plus tried and tested products by our very own mums.

Quote of the day ‘Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase’ by Martin Luther King Jr. issues (2 years). Call or email editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk for a subscription form.

WIN!

a family ticket to Treasure Island and the Caribbean pirates at the Maltings in Ely.

Sail with The Maltings this Easter, from 1 - 5 April, for a swashbuckling adventure on board the Jolly Rodger! After last year’s successful ‘The Wizard of Oz’, KD Theatre Productions return with another family spectacular ‘TREASURE ISLAND AND THE CARIBBEAN PIRATES’. Join Jim Hawkins on his quest to find the buried treasure and rescue the Island Princess from the terrible Black Beard & the Caribbean Pirates. Featuring a professional cast, live band, popular songs, lots of comedy and spectacular effects, this is a must see for all the family! www.kdtheatre.co.uk Box office on 01638 781037.

This fun-filled family production is brought to you by KD Theatre Productions who are renowned for their successful professional Pantomime. To enter visit www.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

Families Cambridgeshire is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Temple House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Cambridgeshire are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.’

8/9 What’s On this Spring 17,000 copies of Families Cambridgeshire available through schools, nurseries, hospitals, clubs and classes, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let us know.

DON’T MISS A COPY! Receive Families Cambridgeshire by post for just £9.30 for 6 issues (1 year) or £18 for 12

B aby News

Great days out and events to keep you and your family occupied this spring

11 S ponsored education feature by St Faiths The importance of learning a second language – Simon Farewell Head of Modern and Classical Languages at St. Faith’s tells us why.

13 N ewmarket Races Family Days Great days out at the races for the whole family.

15 C ambridge Literary Festival We take a closer look at what’s happening at this year’s Cambridge Literary Festival – from Harry Potter to Star Wars.

EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336 editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk DESIGN: Kevin Pickett kevinpickettdesign@gmail.com PUBLISHING ASSISTANT: Becky Lawrence admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk LISTINGS EDITOR: Hayley Bryant assistant@familiescambridrideshire.co.uk

the sugar artist SUGARCRAFT AND SUGAR MODELLING COURSES Come along and learn how to make beautiful sugar flowers and sugar modelling in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Courses and classes available for adults and children.

Joanna Gamble: 07415 121654 Joanna@The-Sugar_Artist.co.uk www.The-Sugar-Artist.co.uk

Swedish design with comfort, style & quality

www.meandi.com M A RCH / A PR I L 2017

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Dont forget

News & views

Mothering Sunday 26th March

NSPCC appeals for more volunteers to help local children stay safe from abuse

Perform drama, dance & singing workshops

A scheme that empowers children as young as four to stay safe from abuse is looking for more volunteers.

The NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe programme has reached nearly 6,000 children in schools in the Peterborough area over the last three years.

The initiative is fully age-appropriate and sees assemblies take place with reception and year one pupils as well as more in-depth interactive talks and workshops with older students.

Primary school children are taught about different forms of child abuse such as neglect, bullying and physical and sexual abuse and encouraged to speak out about any worries they have with the help of mascot Buddy.

In some cases, the assemblies have even resulted in children reporting abuse, leading to offenders being prosecuted and convicted of their crimes.

The NSPCC’s Lisa Hynes recently visited Farcet Church of England Primary School where pupils will also take part in a sporting activity to raise money for the charity.

Lisa said: “It is vital that young people know the trusted adults they can talk to and through this programme we can help protect a

generation of children.

“Our team does a fantastic job in creating a fun atmosphere to educate young people, but in order to reach our goal of visiting every school in the Peterborough area we simply need more volunteers.”

Farcet head teacher Nathanael Robinson said: “The team gave vital advice to the children in an engaging and lively way.

“The pupils understood the key messages and can’t stop talking about Buddy. They already knew what to do in order to keep themselves safe, but they now have an even clearer understanding. They are motivated to take part in the upcoming fundraising activities.”

Volunteers will be given extensive training about the NSPCC’s work and the different forms of abuse children suffer and will be required to visit two schools a month.

Perform is a unique type of children’s drama school. Focusing on child development, Perform uses a specially formulated mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s true potential. Small class sizes ensure lots of individual attention by the experienced actor-teachers who focus on developing the 4 Cs: Confidence, Communication, Coordination and Concentration and having the best fun of the week.

The Perform curriculum uses a mix of energetic games, catchy songs and funky dances. All class materials are written by Perform with a different theme each term to keep young imaginations buzzing.

Perform offers a no-obligation, FREE trial session. To book or find your nearest venue, contact: 020 7255 9120 or visit www.perform.org.uk/try

Recommended Healthy Lunch Box Treats for Kids clear: instilling good eating habits in younger children will set them up for a lifetime of healthy food choices. For parents that means encouraging snacks that are ‘nutrient rich’ rather than ‘calorie dense’ in children of any age. Good advice we say!

Dr Sally Norton, www.vavistalife.com looks at choices for lunch box treats which represent a healthier snacking choice:

1. Nakd bars

A regular favourite with the adults, they’re equally popular with the next generation. Why not pop one in their lunchbox instead of a sugary cake for break-time?

2. Bear Nibbles Yo-Yos

Research shows how the overall energy intake of children increases, while the diet quality decreases, as they move from toddlers to teens. Specifically under scrutiny were snacking habits, which showed the greatest area of decline when it came to ‘healthy choices’. Now this may very well be that the younger children have their snacks chosen for them, whereas older kids are left to make their own (unhealthy) choices, but the advice was

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These rolls are simply dried fruit and with some vegetable content gently baked. No added sugar and one of their 7-a-day. While we still need to be careful of sugar intake, even from fruit, these fun treats are infinitely better than a packet of sweets and the collectable cards in each pack will test their brains too.

3. Nut butters

As long as your tots are not allergic, nut butters are a great savoury snack as the high protein hit will keep them full. Cashew is the sweetest, child-friendly variety we’ve tried – but

let your brood find their own favourite. Then simply try a variety of ‘vehicles’ for your butter of choice – a teaspoon of butter between two apple wedges, or spread on some oatcakes.

4. Root veg crisps

One for the weekend when you’ve got more time, and an easy one for youngsters to get involved with making, these veggie crisps are a great alternative to additive and salt-laden bagged snacks. Simply thinly slice a selection of root veg – carrots, parsnips, beetroots, sweet potatoes are all great – toss in a little olive oil (you want them just coated, not greasy!) and cook in a preheated 200°C oven for 15-25 mins until golden.

And it’s not just about health, children’s behaviour can be influenced by what they eat.

You only have to see a group of five-year-olds going ‘hyper’ after cakes, sweets and biscuits to know that sugar sets them spinning. On the other hand, children who eat fruit, veg, oily fish and wholegrain all high in nutrients and low in salt, sugar and processed foods tend to have better behaviour, less risk of obesity and other illnesses and so have a rosier future ahead.

What we feed our children can either boost or damage their health – it’s our choice.

News & views

World Book Day – 2 March 2017 Don’t Panic!

World Book Day 2017 is on Thursday 2nd March - a day to celebrate books and get children enthused about reading. Don’t panic! It’s not just about the dressing up.

Children who read for pleasure are much more likely to be successful in all areas of their education than those who don’t. World Book Day could be the inspiration that your child needs to read the one great book that leads to a lifetime of reading for pleasure.

If dressing up as a book character is a school tradition, then use the opportunity to read and talk more about books and stories with your children in the lead up to 2 March.

Discuss your favourite books and characters from your own childhood. Visit bookshops & libraries for inspiration.

Some easy costume ideas are: The Boy in the Dress -dress & football boots; Gangster Granny –grey hair, stick & swag bag; Oliver Twist - tatty clothes, cap & food bowl; Harry (and the Bucket full of Dinosaurs) –carry a bucket full of dinosaurs; Mr Happy- wear yellow and smile; Mr Greedy – wear pink and stuff a cushion in; Mr Bump – wear blue with a couple of bandages; Mr Forgetful –if you get really stuck!

So, let’s get behind World Book Day 2017 and make the most of all its events including dressing up!

Liz Walker, Founder of Reading Chest.

For reading advice and more information on books for children learning to read, visit www.readingchest.co.uk. Families readers can use the discount code FAMILIESWBD to get £5 off their first month’s membership.`

11+ and entrance exams at Explore Learning Is your child in or approaching Year 5? Do they have the ambition of going to grammar or independent school? If so, we could be the best possible support for them in the build up to their exam.

With 15 years experience, we’ve developed a unique programme for 11+ and entrance exam tuition, enabling us to tailor our support to the specific exams of local schools. We welcome all children on board without a pretest; we simply want them to feel inspired to learn more through this challenging and rewarding course!

Leading figures call for official guidance on screen time Leading figures call for official guidance on screen time.

If you’ve ever worried about the amount of time your children spend in front of smartphones, computers, consoles and TV, you’re certainly not alone. A group of 40 leading authors, educationalists and childdevelopment experts have called for official guidelines on the use of screen devices by children up to 12 to be drawn up by recognised authorities on child health and development.

In a letter to The Guardian the group, which includes author Philip Pullman, psychotherapist Susie Orbach, childcare expert Penelope Leach and the former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams,

said it also wants to see the creation of a minister for children. This cabinet-level role would have the responsibility for assessing the impact of all government policies on children’s health and wellbeing.

The letter also called for a kindergartenstyle education for 3 to 7-year olds, which would emphasise emotional and social development and encourage outdoor play.

“If children are to develop the selfregulation and emotional resilience required to thrive in modern technological culture, they need unhurried engagement with caring adults and plenty of self-directed outdoor play, especially during their early years (0–7),” the letter reads.

Our members regularly attend two types of session: one group session designed to support their exam technique, speed, accuracy as well as new skills such as nonverbal and verbal reasoning; and another individualised session, mapped to their ability, to help strengthen the core foundations of maths and English. All of this takes place with the support of our expert tutors in centres that are bursting with positive energy so that each child feels confident and excited for their next step.

Spaces for the course get snapped up rather quickly so for more information about our 11+ and entrance exam courses, and to book a free trial for your child at one of our centres, head to our website: www.explorelearning. co.uk/11-plus-exams.

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An HMC Independent Co-educational Day School for Pupils Aged 4-18

An all-round education that

inspires...

Join us for our

Year 7 Taster Day On Saturday 29 April 0930-1500

The event is designed to give children currently in Year 5 a taste of life in the Senior School in readiness for admission in September 2018 To register or for more information, please contact our Admissions Team: 01945 586 750 Admissions@WisbechGrammar.com

WisbechGrammar.com

Baby News

Listeria may be serious miscarriage threat early in pregnancy “For many years, listeria has been associated with adverse outcomes in pregnancy, but particularly at the end of pregnancy,” says Ted Golos, a UW-Madison reproductive physiologist and professor of comparative biosciences and obstetrics and gynecology. “What wasn’t known with much clarity before this study is that it appears it is a severe risk factor in early pregnancy.” Golos and his collaborators published their results in February 2017 in the journal mBio.

Listeria, a common food-borne bacterium, may pose a greater risk of miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy than previously appreciated, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine studying how pathogens affect fetal development and change the outcome of pregnancy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria makes about 1,600 Americans sick each year—a relatively small number, but a group heavy on newborn babies and older adults with undeveloped or weak immune systems.

“The problem with this organism is not a huge number of cases. It’s that when it is identified, it’s associated with severe outcomes,” says Charles Czuprynski, a UW-Madison professor of pathobiological sciences and director of the UWMadison Food Research Institute.

Pregnant women are warned to avoid many of the foods—among them unpasteurized milk and soft cheese, raw sprouts, melon and deli meats not carefully handled—that can harbour listeria, because the bacterium is known to cause miscarriage and stillbirth, and spur premature labour.

Those severe outcomes have resulted in a zero-tolerance regulatory policy for listeria in ready-to-eat foods. But when it occurs, listeria infection in pregnancy may go unnoticed. The few recognizable symptoms are nearly indistinguishable from the discomfort most newly pregnant women feel.

“It’s striking that mom doesn’t get particularly ill from listeria infection, but it has a profound impact on the fetus,” says Golos, whose work is funded by the National Institutes of Health. “That’s familiar now, because we’ve been talking about the same difference in Zika virus.”

Read more at: https://medicalxpress.com/ news/2017-02-listeria-miscarriage-threatearly-pregnancy.html#jCp

Emma’s Diary predicts the hot baby names for 2017 Pregnancy and baby support website Emma’s Diary has published a list of names it thinks will be popular for babies born this year.

According to the site, Elsa and Anna have been hugely popular girls’ names following the success of Disney’s Frozen. It’s more than three years since we were introduced to the princesses of Arendelle however and Emma’s Diary thinks a number of new releases will influence new parents in 2017.

First on the list is Belle, inspired by the live action film version of Beauty and the Beast due out in May. Moana, from last year’s Disney film of the same name, is likely to inspire a few parents herself while Dusty Rhodes is the cowgirl from Cowgirl’s Story (as well as a former WWF wrestler, funnily enough).

Martha is a character in the new Jumani adventure and with rumours circulating that Disney is planning a reboot of The Princess Diaries franchise for 2017, Mia could be a popular name for 2017.

As far as boys’ names go, a new film about Winnie The Pooh author A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin is likely to bring Christopher back into vogue.

For more information about the most popular baby names visit: www.emmasdiary.co.uk/baby-name-zone

Welcome Bouncer Bliss!

Swedish family company, BABYBJORN has launched a completely new version of a beloved classic from 1961, a new style bouncer – Bouncer Bliss.

BabyBjörn has designed the bouncer for families of today – together the team monitored major fashion trends and styles as well as noted the desires of parents. From that they came up with a new design and expression – in line with families of today.

The new Bouncer Bliss is available in a soft mesh in three fresh, modern colours: powder pink, cocoa and anthracite. The gentle rocking creates a sense of bliss and calm, not just at the beginning of a baby´s life, but later as well. BabyBjörn believe that a baby who gets a safe, comforting start to life, feels the benefits for a long time to come. Proper

Families WHAT’S NEW

support for a young child’s back, neck and head is essential and the Bouncer Bliss is for use from 0-24 months.

The soft and natural rocking, completely powered by the baby means no batteries or cords are required. This encourages babies’ aerobic motion, as he rocks in response to his own movements. Avoiding bouncers that rely on batteries will also eliminate the risk of babies developing a dependency on movement for sleep.

When the baby is playing, or resting she can watch her parents get things done, learning at the same time as she develops balance and motor skills.

BABYBJORN Bouncer Bliss, RRP: £144.99 www.babybjorn.co.uk

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Families Fun

W hat’s On places Things to do, e had… to go, fun to b

ll ages! …for kids of a

Great Fen Wildlife Watch - Marvellous Mammoths WHEN? 18 March: 10.00 – 12.00 WHERE? Ramsey Heights Countryside Centre HOW MUCH? £2.00 Make your own mini mammoth and use it to play our game, “Run, Mammoth, run!” Handle mammoth teeth and tusks, as well as beautiful Stone Age tools. For 8-12 year olds.

Booking required. 01487 710420 www.wildlifebcn.org/events

Mothering Sunday Tea WHEN? 26 March: 14.00 – 16.30

Mothers Day

WHERE? Peckover House & Garden, Wisbech HOW MUCH? Adult £14.95 Child £6.50

WHEN? 15 – 19 March

WHERE? Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

Sounds of Science WHEN? 12 March: 16.30

WHERE? Cambridge Corn Exchange HOW MUCH? Adult £22, Child £15

History, knowledge, science, technology and the arts in one

Special afternoon tea available in

Peter Pan on Ice

es FamiliS! E FAV

the Reed Barn Tea Room. Booking essential 01945 583463 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ peckover

HOW MUCH? £16.50 to £28.00

mesmerising single piece of music. 01223 357 851 www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

Mothers Day

World-renowned Russian Ice Stars

Mothering Sunday Boat Ride

bring a new adaptation of this

WHEN? 26 March: 11.30 & 14.00 WHERE? Wicken Fen, Ely

famous fantasy adventure where

Free

WHEN? 3, 5, 10 & 12 April: 10.00 – 12.00

HOW MUCH? Adult £7.25 Child

Wendy, Michael and John are

Easter Holiday Drop-in Sessions WHERE? Ely Cathedral

£4.50. An hour-long trip along

himself. Packed with all your favourite

HOW MUCH? FREE

Wicken Lode to enjoy the spring

Story-telling, brass rubbing, arts &

characters including Tiger Lilly, Mr

wildlife from a new perspective.

Smee and the vengeful Captain

Includes glass of fizz for mum

crafts, puzzles and games. 01353 660332 www.elycathedral.org/ events

visited in the nursery by Peter Pan

Hook. 01553 764864 www. kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

Float a Boat WHEN? 18 March: 10.30 & 13.30 WHERE? Ferry Meadows, Peterborough HOW MUCH? Suggested £2

or soft drink for child. Booking essential. 01353 720274 www. nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fennature-reserve

Den Building

WHEN? 26 March: 10.00 – 16.00

Plant Tie Die

HOW MUCH? £5.50

Fordham

WHERE? Cambridge Botanical

Daffodils WHERE? Chippenham Park,

donation. Use recycled materials

HOW MUCH? £5, Children FREE

to create your own floating object.

WHEN? 1 April

Free

WHEN? 3 April: 10.30 & 14.00 WHERE? Wicken Fen, Ely

Little dens for the minibeasts, big dens for you. Plus games and

Garden

challenges inspired by sticks.

This is the most amazing time of

Learn about the basics of creating

Test it out on Lynch Lake before

year when the grounds and gardens

amazing tie dye patterns and do

recovering it to take home for the

of Chippenham turn into a frothy

some dyeing using colours solely from

Booking essential. 01353 720274 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ wicken-fen-nature-reserve

bath! Suitable for ages 5yrs+. www. neneparktrust.cloudvenue.co.uk

sea of yellow daffodils. www. chippenhamparkgardens.info

plants. Drop-in, no booking required. www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

Treasure Island and the Caribbean Pirates WHEN? 1 – 5 April

WHERE? The Maltings, Ely

HOW MUCH? Tickets from £10.00 Join Jim Hawkins on his quest to find the buried treasure and rescue the Island Princess from the terrible Black Beard & the Caribbean Pirates. Relaxed showing on 4 April, for people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, learning disability or sensory and communication disorder.

01638 781037 www.kdtheatre.co.uk/whats-on

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es FamiliS! FAVE

Pond Dipping and Mini Beast Hunt WHEN? 4 & 11 April

WHERE? Wicken Fen, Ely HOW MUCH? £3.20

Discover the minibeasts that live at Wicken Fen. 30 minute pond dipping session, followed by a minibeast hunt aged. Booking essential.

01353 720274 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/wicken-fen-nature-reserve

Families Fun Traditional Mud Oven Cooking WHEN? 5 April: 10.00 – 14.30 WHERE? Wicken Fen, Ely

HOW MUCH? £50.00 per family Cook a delicious 3 course meal in a homemade mud oven with campfire chef Alan on hand. Suitable for ages 8+. Booking essential. 01353 720274 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wickenfen-nature-reserve

Wildlife Wednesday WHEN? 5 April

WHERE? Trumpington Meadows

HOW MUCH? £4 per child, £10 for a family of 4. Join the rangers for a great morning where you will learn fun woodcraft skills, and there will be wildlife games for all. Booking required. 07734 478471 www. wildlifebcn.org/events

Miracles. Ages 5+ Booking essential.

01223 332904 www.fitzmuseum.cam. ac.uk/calendar/events

Mr Bloom’s Nursery Live WHEN? 11 April: 13.30

WHERE? Kings Lynn Corn Exchange HOW MUCH? £10.50 to £14.00

Take your ‘tiddlers’ along to see Mr Bloom and the Veggies on their first ever live tour. Using song, play and

WHEN? 1 – 17 April

WHEN? 22 April: 13.00 & 15.00

HOW MUCH? £2.50 per trail

HOW MUCH? £8.00

WHERE? Wimpole Estate

WHERE? Tindalls, Ely

Can you sniff out the carrots to

Children’s art club for age 7 + held

spell the secret word? Join the

above the shop in Ely. All materials

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt. www. nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpoleestate

are supplied. Booking essential. www.tindalls.co.uk/1423-artfulsplodgers-in-ely

WHEN? 29 April: 10.30 – 16.30 WHERE? Jubilee Gardens, Ely HOW MUCH? FREE

Nature Crafts

Enjoy the Eel Parade, World Eel

WHEN? 12 April: 10.30 & 14.00

Throwing Competition, Town Criers’

WHERE? Wicken Fen, Ely

Championship and more.

HOW MUCH? £5.50

A celebration of all things slithery. www.visitely.org.uk

Wild arts and crafts inspired by nature and the season. Booking essential.

01353 720274 www.nationaltrust. org.uk/wicken-fen-nature-reserve

Justin’s Party

Lambing Season WHEN? From 18 April

WHEN? 29 April: 11.30 & 14.30

HOW MUCH? Usual admission

HOW MUCH? £18.00 to £19.50

WHERE? Wimpole Hall Farm

WHERE? Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

WHEN? 13 April: 10.30 & 13.30

Celebrate the arrival of spring by

A brand new show packed full

Peterborough

and learn about of the life of sheep.

HOW MUCH? £4.00. Take your own teddy bear and join the bear hunt. There will be a craft session, followed by storytime and then a walk around Ferry Meadows to find Barney the Bear. 3 yrs+. www. neneparktrust.cloudvenue.co.uk

watching the frolics of new born lambs

of Wimpole’s rare breed sheep. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

WHEN? 29 April: 14.00 – 16.00 Free

WHEN? 18 April: 10.30 & 13.00

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

WHERE? Houghton Mill, Huntingdon

Activities and games to celebrate A.

your drawings into coloured pattern

WHEN? 14 & 15 April

HOW MUCH? FREE

to King’s Lynn Corn Exchange

HOW MUCH? £2.50

A. Milne, based around the classic

for a fantastic all-new Easter

Ever popular Houghton Mill Easter

stories of Winnie the Pooh and friends

pantomime version of The Wizard

egg trail returns! Solve the trail

in Hundred Acre Wood.

of Oz, with an all-star cast! www. kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

and claim your chocolate bunny.

Go Wild Nature Skills

Drop-in. www.nationaltrust.org. uk/houghton-mill-and-waterclosemeadows

WHEN? 7 April: 10.30 & 14.00 WHERE? Wicken Fen, Ely

Cambridge Design your own tote bag! Transform

Peterborough

3 yrs +. www.visitely.org.uk

WHERE? Fitzwilliam Museum, HOW MUCH? £5.00

WHERE? Ferry Meadows,

Easter Hunt

EASTER

hilarious games guaranteed to make

Make! Art on your bag

wimpole-estate

Happily Ever After

of fantastic songs, dances and it THE party of the year! www. kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

You may witness the live birth of one

WHERE? Kings Lynn Corn Exchange HOW MUCH? £17.75 - £20.50

Free

Eel Day

and inspiring show. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

WHERE? Ferry Meadows,

WHEN? 6 April: 14.00 & 18.00

The Artful Splodgers: 3D Story Boxes

EASTER

interaction Mr Bloom’s Nursery is a fun

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

The Wizard of Oz

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

and design, and transfer these in paint on to your own bag with artist Hideki Arichi. 11 - 13 yrs. Booking essential. 01223 332904 www. fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/calendar/ events

es FamiliS! FAVE

HOW MUCH? £5.50

Part of ‘Go Wild!’ series of events aimed at 8+, learn basic survival

Brampton Wood Spring Guided Walk

skills such as shelter building, fire starting and much more. Booking essential. 01353 720274 www. nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fennature-reserve

Easter Egg-stravagnza WHEN? 12 April: 11.00 – 13.00

WHERE? Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge HOW MUCH? £8 per child. Join for

egg decorating with artist Lara Jones.

There will also be storytelling inspired by our special exhibition Madonnas and

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

EASTER

WHEN? 14– 17 April

WHERE? Peckover House & Garden, Wisbech HOW MUCH? £2.50

WHEN? 23 April: 10:30am - 12:45pm WHERE? Brampton Wood HOW MUCH? Donations welcome.

Annual Guided Walks to see

Children will be helping a mother

Bluebells and other spring

duck, who has strayed from the River

wildlife.07941261346 www.wildlifebcn.org/events

Nene, to find her lost eggs, which could be anywhere in the garden.

Drop-in. www.nationaltrust.org. uk/peckover

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RE AD IN GC HE ST

Sun 12 Mar | 4.30pm Corn Exchange

Sounds of Science Bringing together history, science, technology and the arts in one mesmerising piece of music.

Performed by Dame Evelyn Glennie in collaboration with world history author Christopher Lloyd.

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ticket 16s! under

Tickets: 01223 357851 or cornex.co.uk

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M A RCH / A PR I L 2017

Families Education

I Wish I Could Speak Another Language!

English is a beautiful language with a rich cultural and literary history. But, as a languages teacher, the most frequent response when I tell someone what I do is “I wish I could speak another language!”

Many people remember sitting at the back of the French classroom, wishing that they could be somewhere else, and wondering why everyone couldn’t just speak English.

Yet, many years later, these people often wish they had grasped the opportunity to learn another language.

How do we make this possible? Many people who speak multiple languages well began learning a second language very early in life. This is when the brain seems to grasp a language so quickly. The sounds, the words, even the occasional gestures all begin to find a deep root. At St. Faith’s, our pupils start learning Spanish at age 4 and the study of this language, which is also seen on noticeboards and signs all around the school, is continued throughout their time with us.

Spanish is even incorporated into some PE and Humanities lessons. ‘Hola’ is not an uncommon greeting at St. Faith’s!

Is this because we feel inadequate when we travel? Is it because we see attractive The phonetic nature of Spanish is employment opportunities that knowledge particularly beneficial for early learning of languages would open up? Or, is it and gives pupils confidence that learning because we admire those from other a language is not beyond them. In countries who speak multiple addition, Spanish is the third languages, including our most spoken language own, and work hard in the world, its use The phonetic nature of to learn and use spanning three them?

Spanish is particularly continents, and so may At St. Faith’s open many doors in beneficial for early learning we seek to open later life. and gives pupils confidence up language Having learned one that learning a language is learning and language, learning to demonstrate not beyond them. another is much easier. its relevance in the By introducing the study modern world. We want of Latin in Year 5, we start to to equip our pupils so that expand grammatical understanding of how they can enjoy the many benefits of knowing a language is constructed and introduce our languages, including the possibilities that students to the language that is a building this offers, throughout their lives, to explore block for so many others. We also begin and learn from other cultures.

to focus even more on Spanish grammar, an intellectual pleasure for some, and an important foundation for all, which, in the long term, sets the pupils free to use the language independently and with growing confidence. By Year 7, our pupils therefore have a firm grounding in the foundational aspects of language. This makes our introduction of an additional language, French, a very natural next step.

It remains true, however, that there is an inspiration to language learning that comes directly from seeing its use and relevance first hand. To provide some of this inspiration, we offer our pupils the opportunity to use their language skills outside the school environment through our annual Year 6 trip to the historic town of Salamanca in Spain. Intensive morning language classes are followed by trips to the local ‘tapas’ bars, shops and cultural sites. It is a great joy to see pupils relishing the opportunity to use Spanish in everyday contexts!

At St. Faith’s we take pride that our pupils learn languages well and can enjoy the benefits of doing so, now and in later life.

And it is my hope that in the future, many of our pupils will be able to proudly say, ‘I’m so glad I can speak another language!’

Simon Farewell

Head of Modern and Classical Languages at St. Faith’s

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Families Fun

Cambridge Literary Festival Spring 2017 18–23 April From Harry Potter to Star Wars, Jacqueline Wilson to Gemma Cairney, giants and mermaids to Maisy Mouse and Kipper, this year’s vibrant programme is bursting with events for children of all ages.

Highlights for this year’s festival include the internationally best-selling and much-loved former Children’s Laureate Jacqueline Wilson OBE, who reflects on some of her classics novels such as Tracy Beaker, Girls in Love, Clover Moon plus offers a sneak peek of her forthcoming book; BBC Radio 1 presenter, TV personality and teen ambassador Gemma Cairney gives teens the low-down on everything from mental health and sex to families and first love; Harry Potter fans can explore the magical world of Hogwarts and play some slow-motion Quidditch in the Harry Potter – Boy Wizard.

Hero event; and, in a Image ©Johnny Duddle galaxy not so far away, Star Wars enthusiasts can learn to speak Droid anddraw Wookies with Tom Huddleston and Jake as part of Egmont Publishing’s annual Star Wars Reads event.

There are plenty of events for pre-school and Primary School children, including the opportunity to meet Maisy Mouse and Kipper the dog; popular picture book illustrator Steve Antony makes an appearance with Thank you, Mr. Panda; and Roald Dahl Prize short-listed Amy Sparkes reads from Ellie’s Magic Wellies, fizzing with fun. Budding artists have the opportunity to meet award-winning illustrator of Jacqueline Wilson books Nick Sharratt, and try their hand at becoming a topillustrator with this year’s Walker Big Draw handson event, with plenty of messiness guaranteed.

Here are our top five events, for a full list of what’s on take a look at the Families Website www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/southcambridgeshire

A Busy Day for Birds!

Friday 21st April • 10-10.45am Palmerston Room • £6 • Age 2+

Flap your wings, fly up high, open your beak and sing in this fun action rhyme story about fantastical birds by multiawardwinning author Lucy Cousins.”Can you imagine ... just for one day ... you’re a busy bird? Yes, a bird!

Hooray!” A bouncy sing-a-long event to start the day with a chorus.

Jacqueline Wilson A Celebration Saturday 22nd • April 10-11am Union Chamber • £8 • Age 9+

Join former Children’s Laureate and internationally best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson OBE as she remembers her much-loved classic children’s books and offers a sneak-peek of her not-yet out newest novel. Please note there will be no book signing after this event but books bought from the bookstall will contain printed bookplates.

Kipper and Wibbly Pig 21st Birthday Celebrations Saturday 22nd April • 10-10.45am Blue Room • £6 • Age 2+

Join professional storyteller Liz Fost and have fun with everyone’s favourite dog, Kipper, and pig, Wibbly Pig. There will be exciting stories and fun games – all based on author and illustrator Mick Inkpen’s much-loved stories. Kipper himself will be making an appearance. Liz Fost has appeared in numerous television programmes including The Shiny Show, Numberjacks and Dr Who and was a regular presenter on Playdays.

Mark Lowery Attack of the Woolly Jumper Saturday 22nd • April 4-5pm Blue Room • £6 • Age 9+

Roman endures a royal visit and a school fashion show in a jumper knitted by his Grandma… which would be fine, if she hadn’t knitted him the crummiest jumper (AKA “crumper”) on earth. When the jumper causes a swan attack and a biker to swerve off the road, can Roman keep his whole life from unravelling? Join Mark Lowery for some sidesplitting fun and a great yarn.

Harry Potter – Boy. Wizard. Hero.

Sunday 23rd • April 1-2pm Union Chamber • £8 • Age 9+

Have you ever wanted to explore the magical world of Harry Potter books?

Which Professor of Hogwarts would you like to meet? Join Fleurble Laffalott (super-assistant to the Professor of Potter) for a fun and interactive hour as she introduces some of the great Professors from J.K. Rowling’s much loved books, and throws in some transfiguration, potions and even a slow-motion Quidditch match along the way!

Book at: www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk 01223 300085

cambridgeliteraryfestival.com Twitter: @camlitfest

Facebook: Cambridge Literary Festival

Please mention Families Cambridgeshire when booking.

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Families Education

How to help your child with transitions The third of a three part series of ‘How to’ articles by Parent Coach Jane Rogers and start doing another. For example:Stop watching TV and get ready for bed, stop playing and get ready to leave the house, come off a screen and start homework etc.

The five minute warning

Useful for children who are learning or have learnt to tell the time. Use a clock or set an alarm on your mobile phone.

For younger children, have a look for one of the lovely sand timers that are available these days, or just use a good old fashioned egg timer.

Many parents I work with find that having something visual can be useful to help children know when they have to transition from one activity to another. For example: ‘When the sand has all fallen to the bottom, I want you to start getting dressed.’ If you stay upbeat and make it fun, it makes it easier for your child, and you!

Use cues to signal a transition is to happen You may have noticed that children live in a different time zone to us adults, and understanding this can sometimes make your life as a parent easier when you are trying to get them to stop doing one thing

If your child makes a fuss about going to bed, it is very helpful if you have a regular bedtime routine that includes a cue that will prepare your child for this transition. Switch to a wind down activity such as looking at books together or turning screens off (including yours) at the same time every day.

Allow more time

This one may seem obvious, but can make a big difference to the quality of your day.

Don’t expect your children to accomplish transitions in the same time that an adult would, allow them the time they need.Try making a mental note every time you catch yourself ‘rushing’ your child over the next week or two, and have a think about how you can slow things down a bit.

Good luck,

Jane

Jane Rogers is a parenting expert, and founder of The Cambridge Parent Coach.

She is a qualified and highly experienced parenting course facilitator, and writes and runs workshops for parents. Her two parent workbooks: ‘How to Encourage Good Behaviour, so You Can Enjoy Your Children’ and ‘How to Use Positive Discipline, to Improve Your Child’s Behaviour,’ are available on Amazon. Follow The Cambridge Parent Coach on Facebook.

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Families Fun

Family days at Newmarket Racecourses this spring After an award winning 2016 season, celebrating the 350th year of Making History, at The Home of Horseracing returns this April with an array of family days out packed full of entertainment.

There is literally something for everyone and don’t forget children under the age of 18 come FREE to all days excluding concerts.

The QIPCO Guineas Festival Sat 6th – Sun 7th May 2017 The QIPCO Guineas Festival is a unique and historic event not to be missed! Featuring the opening two Classic races of the year, the QIPCO 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, this is one of the most important fixtures in international Flat racing.

Saturday is all about style and sophistication, exhilarating racing and awesome entertainment, which continues with the Guineas Sunday hosting another fantastic day to be shared with family and friends.

There is loads of free activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the weekend. Children under 18 are welcome FREE and they will never be bored with the selection of on course entertainment in the Grandstand and Paddock and Family Enclosures including inflatables, face painting, Rowley’s Kids Club and much more! There will also be lots of fun for the older generation and live music across the two days.

The Après Racing stage on the Hyperion Lawn will host the official Après Racing after party with amazing live music taking place half an hour after the last race on both nights.

Acts are yet to be announced but if last year’s performances by Radio 2’s Sara Cox and The Wanted’s Tom Parker are anything to go by then it’s going to be an epic party!

The Spring Meeting Thurs 18th (eve) – Sat 20th May 2017 The Spring Meeting is the final fixture on the Rowley Mile before we move over to the Adnams July Course for the summer. In anticipation of those longer, lighter evenings and milder weather you can start your weekend early and enjoy the first evening meeting of the year on Thursday.

Friday is Newmarket Business Day; the perfect opportunity to enjoy an exciting day out with colleagues, friends or family.

Saturday is ‘Newcomer Day’ at Newmarket Racecourses and we’re offering a warm welcome to everyone, especially those people who may never have been to the races before.

There’s a fantastic afternoon of racing as well as lots of attractions for all racegoers to enjoy for free. There will be family entertainment including inflatables, face painting and Rowley’s Kids Club as well as a number of activities to give first-time visitors an insight into the sport.

Don’t forg et that kid s under the age of 18 come FREE on al l three day s so it’s great value for everyone!

Coming up throughout Summer...

Summer Saturdays Family Themed Days Out Summer Saturdays are Newmarket Racecourses’ fantastic action-packed family days. Taking place on seven Saturdays and the final Friday of the summer season at the picturesque Adnams July Course. These exciting racedays are brimming with free entertainment helping families to enjoy an affordable and fun day out between June and August.

Children under the age of 18 are welcome for FREE in all enclosures so a family of two adults and any number of children could pay as little as £22 for a day in the Family Enclosure, £36 for the Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure and £54 for the Premier Enclosure. And it’s even less if you book in advance!

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