Families Oxfordshire Christmas issue

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Issue 98 November/December 2020 familiesonline.co.uk

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Contents & Competitions

Dear Reader,

I love autumn! Crackling fires, family walks in the woods and the cosy glow of candlelight as the nights draw in and the days get shorter - just a few things that lockdown doesn’t change for any of us. However, as we start to think about Christmas shopping, Christmas dinner, school nativities, pantomimes and that very important visit to Father Christmas, we all have to do things a little differently this year. We have done our very best to find as many of these traditional events locally for everyone and included lots of articles to help with home schooling and mental health should your school be temporarily closed or you have to isolate at home.

So whatever your family traditions, this issue will save some precious time providing you with dates, times and locations of online or socially distanced local pantomimes, where to find Santa and y for an easy ‘Do not pra e strength Christmas lights. Hopefully we will inspire r th life, pray fo ’ you with a few gift ideas too. difficult one a re u to end Actor Have a wonderful Bruce Lee, Christmas time.

Wise words

@familiesCambMag

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DON’T MISS A COPY! Receive Families Oxfordshire by post for just £9.30 for 6 issues (1 year) or £18 for 12 issues (2 years). Call or email editor@familiesOxfordshire.co.uk for a subscription form.

Don’t forget to send your letter to Santa via Royal Mail by Friday 11th December to make sure Santa has time to write back to you.

Envelopes must have either a first or second class stamp and be addressed to Santa/ Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. The letter must include your full name and address.

More info at www.royalmail.com/christmas/letters-to-santa

Race from the North Pole Anywhere and everywhere!

21st November – 19th December

familiesonline.co.uk

What's in this issue?

4. News & Views 6. New family homes in Oxford 7. Baby News 8. What’s on this Christmas 9. Where to find Santa 10. Home Education Protect your child from Cyber Bullying 11. Oxford Light Festival 12. Interview with the Head 13. Importance of Drama 14. How Many toys does a child need?

15. Christmas Gift Guide EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336, editor@familiesCambridgeshire.co.uk ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk SOCIAL MEDIA: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk SALES: Jean Stevens, jean@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk DESIGN: Caroline Thompson-Heap, info@cheekymonkeydesigns.net 22,000 copies of Families Oxfordshire available through schools, nurseries, hospitals, clubs and classes, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let us know.

Families Oxfordshire is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Oxfordshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Oxfordshire. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Oxfordshire its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

Sign up to this great virtual Helen & Douglas House Christmas event, Race from the North Pole and raise money to help local terminally ill children. They need your help getting Santa from the North Pole to Helen & Douglas House in time for Christmas. All you need to do is walk, cycle, scoot, hop, or skip 4, 20, 40, or 100 miles.

ENTRY IS FREE. racefromnorthpole.helenanddouglas.org.uk

Families Oxfordshire 3

News & Views

National Trust to stay open for local access to parks, gardens, countryside and other outdoor sites during lockdown in England Following the Government’s announcement of a four-week lockdown in England, the National Trust has said that it intends to keep its gardens, parks and countryside sites open but it must close houses, shops and holiday accommodation in England from Thursday 5 November.

The Trust’s coast and countryside sites and carparks will remain open. It also intends to keep its gardens and parklands open with pre-booking to encourage local people to enjoy open space while adhering to the Government’s guidance and maintaining social distancing.

The charity’s Director General Hilary McGrady said: “We follow Government advice and guidance at all times, in each of the nations we serve.

“We know how important access to green space, nature and fresh air are to people, and we’ll do everything we can to provide them during the next phase. Our priorities will remain the safety and well-being of visitors, staff and volunteers.”

The Trust said, where possible, visitors would still be able to get take away food and drink and that outdoor play areas would remain open in line with Government guidance. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

New Lego Braille Bricks Launched

PERFORM returns with Covid Safe Confidence Building Fun

Families talks to Perform’s Principal, Lucy Quick.

We’ve always put children at the heart of everything we do and we're thrilled to be back in real life with classes filled with laughter, fun and confidence-boosting activities.

We’ve put enormous effort into adapting our class content to ensure that we follow the latest government health guidelines whilst making sure the children can still sing, dance, act and have the best fun of the week.

To help children get back to enjoying the things they love most, our autumn term is packed with games and activities which build confidence, boost concentration, develop communication and help coordination. We have left no stone unturned when it comes to health and safety but the children will be having so much fun that they will barely notice a difference. Whilst there won't be handholding games this term, there will be lots of eye contact, funky moves, fantastic diction and learning about how to be a great friend.

Perform runs drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s as well as Perform At Home, our popular online classes. Book a FREE no-obligation class by visiting www.perform.org.uk/try 4 Families Oxfordshire

Lego is launching a new version of its plastic bricks featuring braille.

The new bricks are the same shape as the regular ones, but the studs on top have been rearranged. The bricks are moulded so that the studs on top reflect individual letters and numbers in the braille alphabet while remaining fully compatible with the Lego system.

The bricks also feature a printed version of the symbol or letter.

Lego has stated that it wants to encourage blind and visually impaired children to explore new ways of learning to read and write.

With these Braille Bricks, the LEGO Foundation has created a totally new and engaging way for children with vision impairment to learn to read and write,” says David Clarke, Director of Services at the Royal National Institute of Blind People. More info:www.legofoundation.com

Childcare Costs Rise

Britain’s parents are paying 5% more for childcare for the undertwos than they were one year ago, according to a survey of childcare costs by the charity, Coram Family and Childcare.

Parents have been hit by childcare costs rising well ahead of inflation, and are paying an average of £131.61 per week, or over £6,800 per year, for a part-time nursery place.

The survey also reveals that childcare prices and availability vary significantly across the country. Not unexpectedly, the most expensive regions in the UK are London and the South East, where the cost of a part-time nursery place for a child under two is £165.47 and £144.90 per week respectively, compared to the least expensive regions which are £116.25 in the West Midlands and £113.76 in Yorkshire and Humberside.

More info: www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/

Letter from Santa

All children love to receive a letter addressed to them in the post, but what could be more special than a letter from Father Christmas?

Here are two ways of making this happen.

ROYAL MAIL LETTER TO SANTA For children to receive a FREE letter from Santa via the Royal Mail children must post their letter to Santa by Friday 11th December Envelopes must have either a first or second class stamp and be addressed

to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. The letter must include your child’s full name and address.

More info at www.royalmail.com/christmas/ letters-to-santa NSPCC SANTA LETTER Children can also receive a personalised reply from Santa via his elves at the NSPCC in exchange for a minimum £5 donation to the charity. The letter is ordered online and must be placed by 14th December. More info at letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk/letterfrom-santa familiesonline.co.uk

News & Views Virtual School Library Launched

National Tree Week

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season. It runs from 28 November to 6 December.

As the biggest plants on the earth, trees give us oxygen, trap dust and absorb pollutants from the air, store carbon, stabilise soil and give life to wildlife. They also provide shade from the sun and reduce noise.

The main focus of National Tree Week is planting more trees, and there’s a lot you may be able do to help at school and in your community. If you have space, why not plant a tree in your garden?

Around the country Covid-aware tree planting events may be taking place near you offering the chance to get your hands dirty and do something for your local environment.

For your local event visit: www.treecouncil.org.uk

Road Safety Week – ‘No need to speed’

UK Road Safety Week 2020 takes place between 16 and 22 November and will encourage everyone to learn that the speed of traffic matters to their safety.

Findings released by Brake, the road safety charity, show that just a quarter of people think vehicles travel at a safe speed on the street where they live.

With someone injured on a UK road every four minutes, and vehicle speed playing a part in every crash, it’s time to come together to say that there is No Need to Speed.

To participate in Road Safety Week, register for a free action pack at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk

To help children who have fallen behind with their literacy and to safeguard children’s access to books and families’ access to literacy support in the event of future local lockdowns, the National Literacy Trust has launched a Virtual School Library.

The Virtual School Library will provide all primary school children in the UK with a free ebook or audiobook, an exclusive video and engaging activities from a different beloved children’s author or illustrator every week.

Complimenting existing school libraries, the Virtual School Library will give children access to books all year round, whether they are learning at school or at home.

In addition, the National Literacy Trust has launched a website, Words for Life, to provide families with activities to support children’s literacy at home. More info:virtualschoollibrary.org.uk

Out and About at Abingdon Prep

The boys at Abingdon Prep have been out and about walking the Ridgeway, enjoying Cogges Farm and studying the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. Extra-curricular activities have been adapted so they can still enjoy sport, honing their cricket skills and then ‘Ready4Rugby’ next half term, as well as learning new routines in their dance club.

Besides learning to read, our new Reception boys have been baking blackberry and apple scones and planting pots to brighten up the garden. With over 100 extra-curricular activities to choose from, there is something to capture everyone’s imagination. Take a look at our website to book a virtual visit or to sign up for our ‘Introduction to Reception, Year 1 and Year 2’ online open event on 28 November. abingdon.org.uk/prep

Make, Create and Learn with NEW Magna-Tiles

A massive success in the US, with both parents and children, Magna-Tiles® 3D magnetic building tiles arrive in the UK this November.

A classic must-have childhood toy, Magna-Tiles are colourful, versatile, super high-quality magnetic tiles designed for cool learning activities. Engaging young minds through imaginative play, little ones can stack, build, and explore any way they want.

All Magna-Tiles shapes have a unique ability to always attract, even when tiles are flipped - it's the secret power of the click! That means anything children can dream and imagine, they can build!

Magna-Tiles Clear Colours 32 piece set: includes squares (2 large, 14 small) and triangles (8 equilateral, 4 right, 4 isosceles) £34.99 Stockist www.smyths.com

A Whispering Wood and Enchanted Library

The Story Museum in Oxford has reopened after a £6million redevelopment. Scheduled to reopen in April, the Museum took a phased approach to welcoming visitors on site, starting with the ground floor which reopened in August.

This includes Small Worlds - a gallery themed on picture books and designed especially for under 5s. Interactive structured sessions, led by the Museum’s enthusiastic Story Guides, enable family groups to remain safe in their bubbles as they tour the different play zones on offer.

The Ground floor also hosts City of Stories – a film experience that invites visitors to step aboard a fantastical story craft for a journey through Oxford’s story history from AngloSaxon times to the present day. Summer opening has also allowed the Museum to show off its spectacular courtyard, decorated with a tranquil sky mural – the perfect location for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake!

“It’s been wonderful to hear the sound of children’s voices again,” says Sophie Hiscock, Head of Communications. “We’ve been desperate to get the Museum open so that we can share the amazing transformation that’s taken place on site.”

From September the Museum is also running weekend family story walks, after school and weekend clubs. The remaining Galleries, including the Whispering Wood and the Enchanted Library, opened for October Half Term. “Our creative team has been working round the clock to make sure that our Galleries are safe for families to visit without compromising on the fun and interactivity that makes The Story Museum so distinctive,” says Sophie. “And we know that many of our visitors can’t wait for the chance to be able to step through a wardrobeinto Narnia again!”

For full details of opening times, events and ticket prices visit www.storymuseum.org.uk Booking in advance is essential.

TURN YOUR LITTLE ONE INTO A CuddleELF THIS CHRISTMAS

JINGLE

Bells

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Family loved brand Cuddledry is bringing some Christmas cheer to homes all over the UK with their brand new Limited Edition bamboo ‘CuddleELF' Toddler Towel. Made with their signature blend of pure cotton and naturally soft (and sustainable) bamboo towelling, this ethically made, long lasting gift is sure to delight the little ones in your life this festive season. £37.99 from www.cuddledry.com Families Oxfordshire 5

Advertorial

Open the door to owning your forever home

Many homeowners ready to take their second step on the property ladder now rely on financial help from family and friends to make the jump from their first home. But when help in this form isn’t available, second steppers will be relieved to know they can look for additional support elsewhere.

CALA, a leading provider of desirable new homes, is promoting the final few homes that are available to purchase using the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme at its Hopefield Grange development in Benson. Located on Littleworth Road, the collection of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes is perfect for families looking to enjoy a relaxed village lifestyle, whilst still having good access to local facilities, schooling and transport links.

What’s more, with changes to the Help to Buy scheme coming into effect in April next year, and the Stamp Duty Holiday set to end at the same time, there really is no better opportunity for second steppers to trade up on their existing home.

About Help to Buy

Help to Buy is a welcome support package backed by the Government, primarily aimed at first-time buyers which has helped to get more than 420,000 people on the property ladder .

For existing homeowners looking to make that second step up into a larger property, or even your forever home, Help to Buy could be the golden key to help make this dream a reality.

It is available to any homeowner looking to move, provided that the home you want to buy is newly built within England and carrying a price tag of up to £600,000 . Within this scheme, the Government lends you up to 20% of the cost of your newly built home, meaning you’ll only need a 5% cash deposit and a 75% mortgage to make up the rest. For the first five years of owning your home, no interest will be charged on the 20% loan .

In April 2020 however, the Help to Buy scheme will cease to be available for second steppers and will be limited to first-time buyers only, meaning home owners are running out of time to purchase a house on the scheme.

Family of four upsize

When Stuart and Melanie Ruffell and their children, Jayden and Lailah, were looking for a new home, they wanted a flexible space in 6 Families Oxfordshire

close proximity to good schools. Despite thinking they could only achieve a like-forlike property with their budget, Stuart and Melanie’s dream of having a bigger home became achievable after they were introduced to Help to Buy. Melanie comments: “We lived in our previous property for 10 years and despite having great memories there, the house was getting too small for our growing family. It was a three bedroom home, and the third bedroom was very compromised.

“We never thought we would be able to afford a brand new home, so we concentrated our search on the second hand market.

However, we found our budget meant we could only get a similar sized house to our existing property. As soon as my brother explained the benefits [of Help to Buy] and

The key to the next rung of the property ladder what we would be able to afford from using the scheme, it was a no brainer. The scheme has given us the opportunity to have a bigger home in a perfect location, all without stretching our budget; and with time to save up to start paying back the loan.”

Stuart and Melanie ultimately purchased a three-storey, four bedroom CALA property, confident they had found their perfect home and location.

Stala Thomson, Sales and Marketing Director for CALA Homes Chiltern, comments: “All too often we meet families that are looking to upsize to a bigger home, but are unable to gather a large cash deposit. By using the Help to Buy initiative, it makes moving up the property ladder much more achievable.

“There is a common misconception that the scheme is just for first-time buyers, but it is available to existing homeowners until April 2021 and it could help soften the financial blow of moving to a larger home – and our development at Hopefield Grange in Benson provides the perfect offering for upsizing families.”

There is a number of well-regarded schools on the doorstep of Hopefield Grange, including Benson CofE Primary School, RAF Benson Community Primary School and Wallingford Secondary School for older children.

Commuters can travel into London easily with Didcot Parkway Station offering services to London Paddington in less than 45 minutes.

Oxford city centre and Reading are also both only a 30 minute drive away.

The characterful village of Benson is wellserved for amenities, with a number of local shops on its busy High Street, just a short walk from the development. On the edge of the village along the River Thames is Benson Lock for enjoying weekend walks, as well as a boating marina and popular riverside cafe.

Priced at £599,950, only one five-bedroom Oatvale property remains at Hopefield Grange which is available to purchase using the Help To Buy scheme.

For further information on availability and other incentives such as CALA’s Armed Forces Discount and Part Exchange service, call 01491 454776 or visit www.cala.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Families Baby News

SICK – The Battle Against HG SICK is the untold story of women who experience Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe and debilitating pregnancy sickness that has affected an estimated 3 million women across the world. Depicting the struggle of tens of thousands of women who are denied treatment in the UK, SICK shows the startling reality of women having to come to terms with the fact that terminating their longed-for pregnancy is their only means of escape from their torment and 9 months of hell.

The documentary will give an insight into how these potentially lethal pregnancies cause women to suffer weight and nutritional damage, mental health breakdown, hospitalization and, tragically, force around 1000 UK abortions every year, abandoning precious hopes for future children.

“Pregnancy sickness is a spectrum with Hyperemesis Gravidarum being at the extreme end of that spectrum. Whilst 80% of pregnant women will suffer with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy at the mild – moderate end of the spectrum, Hyperemesis affects 1-2% of pregnant women.

Hyperemesis itself will differ from woman to woman despite being at the end of the pregnancy sickness spectrum, some women will have milder symptoms whilst some will be severe. Symptoms include continual vomiting throughout the day (there is no such thing as just morning sickness!), and/or extreme and crippling nausea which is unrelenting, excessive saliva which cause some women to have to continually spit, sensitivity to noise, light and smells (not just bad smells anything can trigger a woman with hyperemesis). These triggers will exacerbate her symptoms making her vomit more and feel more sick.

Whether mild or severe what is very important is that a woman contacts her Doctor or her Midwife to get help. If you are losing weight, finding it difficult to go to the toilet and crucially if you are no longer able to keep food or water down, then you must get help.

Some women do not reach out for help because they have not experienced pregnancy before and are lead to believe that this is normal, other women might think that they are not being sick enough or that because they don’t have all the symptoms they can’t ask for help.

If you cannot continue with normal life because of your symptoms it is

likely that you are suffering from something more than usual pregnancy sickness.

Your health is the most important thing when it comes to Hyperemesis and your mental health can also not be ignored. Isolation, the physical feeling of being sick and not being able to go about your life as usual can all have negative affects on your mental wellbeing.

Your baby is also at risk of things like low birth weight, pre term labour and small for gestational age, but don’t be alarmed; there are many safe antiemetics and treatments like IV fluid rehydration that can help manage your symptoms and your doctor will be able to prescribe these for you.

It is very important to talk to other people who have suffered and there are numerous support groups on social media and the national Pregnancy Sickness Support Charity have a helpline number you can call as well as a peer support network.

Details of the social media support groups can be found on the Sick website www.thesickfilm.co.uk Available on Prime Video

The Nest Best Thing!

Scandinavian brand Voksi® have created a premium baby nest offering families Quality, comfort and breathability for their little ones while sleeping. The nest creates a safe, cosy, and comfortable environment for your baby to lie in. Its egg-shape simulates the feeling of being in the mother's womb and provides a sense of protection and warmth, great for newborns and when easing babies into a cot for the first time. Suitable from birth onwards, RRP £99.00

Fam i

NEW Stylish leopard print teether

This stylish leopard print teething ring which has been designed to support visual development in babies from around 5 months onwards, is also great to sooth those first teeth as they start to make an appearance.

5+ month plus, priced at £18.50 www.ettaloves.com/collections familiesonline.co.uk

li

LOV es ES

Bottle preparation in your sleep!

The time efficient Babybrezza Formula Pro Advanced is easy to use and works with virtually all brands of formula and bottles to create formula at the perfect temperature, in an instant. The must have parenting gadget also boasts a sleek design, to ensure it seamlessly fits into any family kitchen. It’s certainly no surprise that it is the number one best-selling formula prep appliance worldwide.

The unique patented mixing technology built into the Babybrezza® Formula Pro Advanced, automatically combines formula with water to prepare the perfect consistency for little one’s mealtimes. Saving parents up to 30 minutes a day, the digital controls and LCD screen keep it simple and straight forward – no complicated manual adjustments, the perfect temperature formula will be created at a click of a button.

RRP: £199 www. cheekyrascals.co.uk Families Oxfordshire 7

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – Live Online

Onto W hatd’s o, places

WHERE: Creation Theatre WHEN: 19th December – 3rd January Just like Dorothy, we might have been whisked away to a new reality we barely recognise, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be together at Christmas. Dial in to a brand new adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with all the storytelling, songs, magic and togetherness that make a Creation Christmas show a tradition worth clinging on to.

One Device | £30 www.creationtheatre.co.uk 01865 766266

Things to be had go and fun to ages in for kids of all

Oxfordshire

Christmas at Greys Court

Race from the North Pole

WHERE: Anywhere and everywhere!

WHEN: 21st November – 19th December Are you looking for something festive and fun to do this Christmas? If so then sign up to this great virtual Helen & Douglas House Christmas event, The Race from the North Pole and raise money to help local terminally ill children. They need your help getting Santa from the North Pole to Helen & Douglas House in time for Christmas. All you need to do is walk, cycle, scoot, hop, or skip 4, 20, 40, or 100 miles.

Entry is free. racefromnorthpole. helenanddouglas.org.uk

WHERE: Greys Court, Henley WHEN: December The house at Greys Court will be open and decorated for Christmas.

Greys Court has a homely, family atmosphere and feels even more cosy and welcoming at Christmastime. The estate is perfect for frosty walks followed by a pre-booked Christmas afternoon tea in the Cowshed tea room.

From £4.00 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

8 Families Oxfordshire

Christmas at Waddesdon Manor

WHEN: Specific dates until 3rd January 2021 WHERE: Christmas at Waddesdon is back with magical lights and the gardens aglow.

Join them for festive fun with their enchanting outdoor extravaganza that will brighten the end of your year.

Christmas at Waddesdon includes access to: Christmas Fair, Winter Light trail, Manor illuminations, When You Wish Upon a Star trail, Parallels immersive performance in the Coach House.

From £8.00 for children www.waddesdon.org.uk

Family Open Day

Cotswold Wildlife Park

WHERE: Burford WHEN: November & December: 10.00 – 17.00 Wonderful animals and seasonal events complemented by daily activities: penguin feeding, adventure playground, farm yard fun and single-gauge railway!

Adult £14.40; Child £9.90; Under 3s FREE www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

Oxford Christmas Market – Online!

Christmas Food and Gift Marquee

WHERE: Millets Farm Centre, Frilford WHEN: Until 24th December The Christmas elves have filled the shelves with a mouth-watering festive selection of foodie treats and gifts...The Christmas Food & Gift Marquee opens it’s doors right through to Christmas Eve! Pop along to browse a great selection of festive foodie products & great gift ideas! www.milletsfarmcentre.com

WHERE: Oxford Centre for Innovation WHEN: 5th and 12th December 10am – 12pm, 12.30pm – 2.30pm, 3pm – 5pm Get hands-on in the amazing Exploration Zone and try and beat the super-fast Scarf-shooter, have a blast on the Air Table, or tackle our Turntable challenge and keep the discs spinning. Get up-close to nature and see bugs and plants under our microscopes, then take a breath of fresh air and find out what wildlife lives in the surrounding woodland.

Suitable for age 6+ £6 per person or £20 for a family ticket (4 people, must include 1 adult) under 3s free www.scienceoxford.com/events 01865 810000

WHERE: Broad Street, Oxford WHEN: 5th – 21st December Sadly the physical Christmas Market has had to be cancelled this year but the organisers are excited to present you with a whole range of small independent businesses this festive season on their website. Browse, discover, and enjoy unique gifts directly from the makers themselves! www.oxfordchristmasmarket. co.uk Fre

e!

Artists and Makers Fair

WHERE: Thame Town Hall WHEN: 11th and 12th December See a range of work from artists and makers. Buy a present for your friends, family or yourself.

FREE www.sallyevansevents.com

A Traditional Blenheim Christmas

WHERE: Blenheim Palace WHEN: Until 3rd January 2021 The Palace will be open for you to come and enjoy the lavish state rooms including the Cecily Brown Contemporary Art Exhibition. There will be some decorated Christmas trees throughout for a little festive feel. The halls may not be decked as much, but they will definitely have the fires lit ready to give you a warm welcome. www.blenheimpalace.com Children from £8.60

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Families What's on

W hat’s On Places to go to find Santa this Christmas in

Oxfordshire

Santa’s Grotto at Frosts Garden Centre

WHEN: 21 November – 24 December WHERE: Frilford, Nr Abingdon You will start with a visit to the North Pole, where you will meet the new Resident Norman, who is a real cuddly character!

Then it’s onto the reindeer stables where you & your family will mix up the perfect recipe needed to help keep Father Christmas reindeer’s strength up on Christmas Eve. Once finished you & your family will be led through to see the big man himself!

You will have individual family time with Father Christmas and one of his Elves will capture the perfect festive photo. There will be a special present for each child in Santa’s toy workshop and each child will receive a personalised certificate to say they have made the Nice List this year! Finally, not forgetting the adults, who will each receive a delicious treat baked specially in Mrs Christmas Kitchen.

Child (over 12 months) £14.99; Adult £4.99 www.milletsfarmcentre.com

Festive Fairytales with Father Christmas

WHEN: 2 – 24 December WHERE: Odds Farm Park Odds Farm Park has been sprinkled with even more Christmas magic, and again this festive season we will be joined by a very special guest! From £17.95 www.oddsfarm.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas Experience at Roves Farm

WHEN: 30 November – 23 December WHERE: oves Farm, Swindon Visit Santa in his grotto, receive a gift from the Elves’ Toyshop and make some reindeer food along with all their usual daily activities including access to all outdoor play areas, animal paddock, Pets’ Corner and farm walks.

Complimentary bag of animal feed.

Children’s prices start at £10.00 www.rovesfarm.co.uk

Christmas Grotto

WHEN: 4 – 24 December WHERE: Yarnton Home & Garden Escape into their beautiful winter wonderland and you’ll be greeted by some familiar characters. Then join Father Christmas in his shiny new grotto (he’s had some time on his hands this year), where you will have a chance to talk to the man himself. Return home with a special gift from all at Yarnton.

Once you have finished your magical Christmas experience, take time to enjoy their Magic Garden soft play for the remainder of the session.

Children From £11.95 Adult £1 www.yarntonhomegarden.co.uk

Santa’s Grotto

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays from 5th December, Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd December 10am-12pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm WHERE: Notcutts Nursery, Nuneham Courtenay Christmas is a special time, and although this year will be a little bit different, Notcutts are delighted to bring you the opportunity to see Santa from a short distance. Whilst no gifts will be provided, there will be an opportunity to take photographs or a selfie from a safe distance to capture those cherished Christmas moments. It’s free to see Santa with no booking or ticket required. www. notcutts.co.uk

Steam into Christmas

Christmas Fairytale 2020 WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays from 5th – 13th December and then daily from 14th – 24th December WHERE: Fairytale Farm, Southcombe At the magical ‘Christmas Fairytale’ event, you will journey from the South Pole to the North Pole and visit a Fairytale Castle along the way. You will meet some interactive dancing penguins, visit the Toymaker’s cosy log cabin and see Santa’s sleigh ready to launch into a clear night sky of twinkling stars, before walking through the Secret Forest to meet Father Christmas himself in his beautiful Grotto, which evokes an atmosphere of Christmas past. £12.99 for Child Christmas Fairytale tickets (i.e. those receiving a gift from Santa); www.fairytalefarm.co.uk

All events are subject to change and cancellation in view of any future Covid-19 legislations.

All details are correct at the point of writing this article in November.

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays from 5th – 20th, plus 22nd and 23rd December WHERE: Didcot Railway Centre Climb aboard a train of vintage carriages with a private compartment for each group and listen for the whistle and whoosh of steam as the train sets off on a journey to meet Father Christmas.

Santa will be in a special train full of presents in a wonderfully decorated Victorian station. He has a gift for every child, helpers to entertain the family and has arranged a second steam train to take visitors (and their presents) on a festive journey, ready to explore the rest of the 21-acre living museum.

Refreshments are all included in your ticket price and come in the shape of mince pies and mulled wine/non-alcoholic punch which will be served to adults, while for children there’s gingerbread and hot chocolate – with marshmallows of course! From £15.75 www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk

Santa Steam Special

WHEN: 19th – 23rd December (may also be 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th, check website for additional dates) WHERE: Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Santa’s Steam Trains will travel to the North Pole where children (and grown-ups!) will have the thrill of meeting Santa in his Grotto for a photo-opportunity and where the Great Man’s Elves will hand-out a thoughtful present to each child aged 1-15 years.

Adult £12; Child £10

Families Oxfordshire 9

Families Education

Lockdown Again?

Education Hints And Tips

Angela Fairs, Director, Full Circle Educational Consultancy

Challenging Times

In these challenging times it is difficult to know what to do as a parent to best support your children and their learning.

As the Head of a school at the time of Covid school closures, I can safely say things have never been more challenging for schools, parents and pupils! Hopefully, the simple hints and tips below, will help should a lockdown of schools happen again.

The learning space

Try and find a designated space at home for your child’s learning.

Identify a practical area in your home which your child can use purely for learning and is separate from where they eat, sleep and socialise. This doesn’t need to be a separate room, but a designated area is key. This space should have a flat, hard surface for them to work on, be as quiet as possible, have good lighting and without any obvious distractions.

Encourage your child to see the difference between a ‘chill’ space and a ‘learning’ space. For example, if your child typically does their study in the kitchen, ensure that another area is study free so they can take a break.

The tools for the job

It’s vital with any online learning, they have a laptop or tablet, and internet that is robust and healthy! Remind your child to keep it fully charged and updated. Even if they are online, having access to pens, paper and other standard school equipment is equally important for their offline study. Try and run your child’s day like a normal school day as far as possible.

A daily routine

To aid your child’s focus, try to develop a daily routine and stick to this as consistently as possible. Approach each day as you would a normal school day. Think about: setting meal times and providing healthy

choices to fuel your child for the day, allocating time for exercise or movement (as much as can in the space that you have), and sticking to usual ‘school hours’ to guide the balance between study and relaxation time. Most schools will not timetable all day in front of the computer, so try and organise some off screen time too! Help where you can to ensure that your child is involved in projects set for them and encourage them to be as engaged with the task as possible.

The social side

Being away from their friends could be challenging. It is important to make time for your child to speak with their friends, exactly as they would at school or in the evening. This could be anything from a phone call, connecting on social media or using your school’s preferred platform for instant messaging. Whilst using social media can be a distraction during school hours, it may help to provide a much-needed feeling of normality during relaxation time.

The supportive parent

Give them a little space to solve things themselves, sometimes that’s all they need • Do offer help – but don’t be overkeen!

• If they are struggling with something suggest they try something different, or suggest they take a break • Get them up and moving frequently!

• Hopefully these times will pass quickly and we will all be a little wiser and educated!

Angela Fairs is Director of Full Circle Educational Consultancy, based in Goring, and providing strategic educational consultancy to schools and families, with a particular focus on online provision. www.fullcircle-education.co.uk

Protecting your Child from Cyberbullying Lockdown and social distancing have increased our children’s dependency on the online world. It’s been reported that 82% of parents said that their children’s screen time increased during lockdown and 30% said that their children were having an extra four hours or more of non-school related screen time per day.

Given this increase in online screen time, there is no question that bullying numbers in 2020 will be higher than in previous years.

Cyberbullying was on the rise before lock down – some reports suggest that just 20% of bullying takes place at school now. But cyberbullying incidents increased by 70% between March and April this year when lockdown was at its peak. The strain placed on mental health caused by being confined to the home for weeks at a time could have made matters worse.

One of the darker sides of the pandemic is the rise of racial cyberbullying among children.

Recent research has found that because the virus originated from Wuhan, China and has been referred to as the “Chinese virus,” bullying of children of Asian descent has increased and these children are now more likely to be victims of bullying than their 10 Families Oxfordshire

classmates. Bullying has largely been done through private and text messaging in a ‘virtual’ environment.

To coincide with Anti-Bullying Awareness Week, which runs from 11 to 15 November, it’s a good time to think about how you can better protect your child from cyberbullying.

Prior to the pandemic parents were extremely concerned about their children’s screen time and have struggled to limit this.

The problem that has always faced parents is that they cannot always protect their children from cyberbullying, grooming and inappropriate messages online.

We enter an uncertain future with lockdown restrictions likely to continue in some form or another through the winter months. So it’s more important than ever for parents to find positive ways to curtail the ‘pandemic effect’ and limit online screen time to help avoid cyberbullying.

Protecting your Child

Have the ‘talk.’ Open the lines of communication between yourself and your child. Discuss what cyberbullying is and what to do when it happens.

Don’t be afraid to set guidelines and take

by Shelley Goffe-Caldeira

control of what your children see and do online.

The applications used by schools all have tools for reporting abuse. Show your kids where to find the abuse reporting tools and how to fill in the forms.

Keep any evidence of inappropriate messages and report it to a school official ie. teacher, Head Teacher or school nurse.

Use your parental controls. Androids, Apple and Windows all have built in parental controls.

These allow parents to block inappropriate content, control access to apps, and limit screen time.

The UK government has published guidelines online titled “Coronavirus (Covid-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online” which is available to view at www.gov.uk/government/publications Another great resource is the Essential Guide to Bullying by Need2Know Books. Enter N2K1 at checkout to get a 30% discount.

If you are concerned about a child’s mental welfare or notice worrying behaviour, please seek professional advice.

For more information and advice on cyberbullying visit: www.bullying.co.uk and www.childline.org.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas Lights 2020

Oxfordshire Christmas Lights 2020 After a very strange 2020 I think that all of us need to have a bit of sparkle in our lives to look forward to. With that in mind, we have pulled together some places where you can go to enjoy some fabulous Christmas lights.

WADDESDON MANOR Christmas at Waddesdon is back for 2020 with magical lights and the gardens aglow, plus a Christmas Fair to delight shoppers. Join in for festive fun in an enchanting outdoor extravaganza to brighten the end of the year.

BLENHEIM PALACE 2020 brings new surprises at Blenheim Palace from the Heart of the Stars scattering shards of light across the lawn to a scented fire garden that adorns the Water Terrace. Walk towards dynamic, colourchanging neon tunnels, lakeside reflections and onto a mesmerising place where, beneath the branches of a sprawling tree, softly glows the fairy-fire known as Will-o-the-Wisps.

SUDELEY CASTLE What better way to get into the festive spirit than to explore the beautiful new illuminated trail around Sudeley Castle’s stunning grounds. Returning for a 5th year, you can enjoy the wonderful music as you discover each new secret of this magical environment.

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FAIRYTALE FARM The park will be open all day as normal, but when daylight fades the entire Enchanted Walk will become a magical wonderland of fairy lights, which will delight children and adults. Illuminated Evenings will run on Saturdays and Sundays from 10th October to 13th Dec 2020 and then right through from 14th Dec to Christmas Eve. WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM Discover the trees of Westonbirt Arboretum in a whole new light along the Christmas Illuminated Trail this December 2020. Father Christmas will also be making an appearance.

OXFORD’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FESTIVAL 2020 20th - 22nd November Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival 2020 will be bringing activity out from the city centre into the residential areas of local Oxford communities with creativity that spills out of people’s houses.

The words of inspiration for this years festival are: * be the light * build back better * green recovery * new beginnings * my community * being thankful * light * For this year’s Christmas Light Festival the Oxford Playhouse has teamed up with Arts at the Old Fire Station and Tandem Arts Collective to present a mobile art installation by artist Nor. The installation will pose the question ‘What would you put in an empty parking space?’ Ideas have been submitted by members of the public and the favourite ones will be used to design the mobile installation which will then journey through the city streets.

To find out how you can get involved please visit www.oxlightfest.com for more information

BANBURY CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW 2020 The Banbury Christmas Light Show 2020 is a series of magical seasonal films that will see Christmas and New Year themed pictures beamed onto the Castle Quay façade in Cornhill to welcome Christmas and celebrate the New Year.

The Christmas themed light shows will begin on Wednesday, November 18 and will be shown daily from dusk till 10.00 pm every night until Monday, December 28. The video is described as wintery and classy and will depict Christmas with imaginative scenes and accompanying music.

A New Year display will run from December 29 until January 5 and will again be projected onto the Cornhill entrance to the Castle Quay shopping centre. Shoppers and visitors can marvel at firework-style celebrations with clips of local people, local heroes and local businesses.

The films are being specially designed to fit the ornate stonework of the Castle Quay entrance in Cornhill at the Parson’s Street end of the Market Place.

Families Oxfordshire 11

Meet the Headmaster

Meet the Headmaster Families Oxfordshire Magazine talks to the Headmaster of Abingdon Preparatory School, Mr Craig Williams.

What does being a headteacher mean to you?

It means being a role model and trying to inspire each and every one of the children to embrace opportunity, and to make the most of their talents and to follow their passions.

How do you think a headteacher can make a real difference to an individual student?

By making sure you take the time to get to know them, speaking to them on a regular basis and by helping them to have confidence in themselves.

Craig Williams joined Abingdon Preparatory School as Headmaster in September 2017. Abingdon Prep is a leading independent prep school for boys aged 4 to 13, based in Frilford just outside Abingdon. Set in 50 acres of beautiful countryside with views to the Ridgeway, fresh air and space abound with woods to explore, gardens to cultivate, adventure play areas to enjoy and an abundance of sports pitches and playgrounds. Coupled with this is their commitment to offer a stimulating and balanced curriculum to all their pupils within a nurturing and supportive environment.

How would students at Abingdon Preparatory School describe you?

What advice would you give to parents looking at private education for the first time?

I would say trust your gut instinct, if you love the ‘feel’ of a school when you walk around and speak to teachers and pupils, then it is likely to be a good fit for your child.

How affected do you feel pupils have been by the pandemic and lockdown?

Children have had a lot to deal with since the start of the pandemic, they have had to adapt to different ways of teaching and learning and have done so with great fortitude. Each of them will have had a different experience and whilst some will have thrived in a remote learning environment, others will have struggled. It is our responsibility, with the help of parents, to recognise how each individual is coping and to adapt our teaching and pastoral care accordingly while providing a reassuring and happy school environment where they can relax and learn. Children are remarkably resilient and schools are doing an excellent job in supporting their pupils and ensuring that they are getting back up to speed.

What sort of adaptations have been necessary at Abingdon Preparatory School to make staff and children safe and secure?

The health and wellbeing of our whole school community is our first priority and we have worked with staff, parents and boys to introduce a range of measures to help everyone to feel safe in school. We carried out a very comprehensive risk assessment which was shared with the school community.

Boys follow routines which enable all of them to have clean hands at all times, they maintain bubbles and social distance as much as possible. We are lucky to have a spacious school campus surrounded by countryside with plenty of fresh air. We also have a tremendous team of cleaners.

I see that you play cricket, football and golf. Who, in your opinion, do you think is the greatest team or player of all time in each of these sports?

Cricket: Donald Bradman - Test average 99.94 - incredible!

Football: Christiano Ronaldo - unbelievable goal scoring record for club and country Golf: Jack Nicklaus - 18 Majors

What is your real life superpower?

Being a Dad to my 2 year old son.

Relaxing holiday or active holiday?

Always active. Little choice with a 2 year old!

They would probably say that I am someone who loves nature, sport and being outdoors.

Oh, and who loves Geography!

What and / or who inspired you to become a teacher and later a headteacher?

My entire family are, or were, teachers so it could be said to be in the blood. I loved school as a child and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to go back into a classroom and teach subjects that I was passionate about. I felt I could really make a difference to children starting out in their school careers, hence deciding to go into prep school teaching. I have been very fortunate to work under a number of inspirational headteachers who showed me that helping children to get the most out of their early years at school can make a very real difference to their educational journey.

12 Families Oxfordshire

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Families Education

THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAMA

by Alexa Brant

When choosing an after-school club or activity in which to enrol your child, it may be worth considering drama and the performing arts if you haven’t done so before. Some children seem to be natural performers, but, if you have a shy child, then the idea of sending them to drama lessons may seem absurd. However, joining a drama class doesn’t necessarily mean your child will be pushed onto a stage and expected to sing and dance and there are some significant benefits.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

A range of research studies have found that students who participate in the Arts don’t just do better in school, they perform better in areas that contribute to success outside the classroom. Not only do children active in the Arts demonstrate higher academic performance and test results, they are also more likely to participate in community service and be elected to class office.

SELF-CONFIDENCE

Aspects of performing arts, especially improvisation, helps children to understand how to appraise situations, think outside the box and be more confident going into unfamiliar situations. Students learn to trust their ideas and abilities. Confidence gained from learning performing arts skills applies to school, career and life.

EMOTIONAL OUTLET Acting and drama games allow students to express a range of emotions and encourages them to understand and deal with similar feelings they may be experiencing. Aggression and tension can be released in a safe, controlled environment – often allowing for a period of reflection afterwards.

MEMORY

Rehearsing and performing lines and movements will improve your child’s memory. Memory requires exercise, just like a muscle!

Images copyright Perform.

IMAGINATION

Being creative and learning to make creative choices helps students to be better at thinking of new ideas, allowing them to view the world around them in new ways. Remember Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

EMPATHY

Understanding characters, roles and the sub-text of plays and musicals allows students to relate better to different situations, backgrounds, and cultures they encounter in real life. It encourages them to show compassion and tolerance for others.

CO-OPERATION

An effective drama programme embraces both extroverted and introverted children. Combining the creative ideas and the abilities of all participants is required for the best outcomes. This requires all those taking part to engage in discussions, feedback, rehearsing, and performance.

CONCENTRATION

Playing, practicing, and performing develops the abilities and skills necessary for children to be able to focus their minds, bodies and voices.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Performing arts improves vocal projection, articulation, tone of speech and expression. Importantly, it also develops listening and observation skills. These skills will benefit a young person throughout their life.

FUN

Drama delivers elements of play, humour, and laughter to those taking part – it improves motivation and reduces stress.

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Families Oxfordshire 13

Toy Overload

How Many Toys Does a Child Need?

Toys have a way of taking over. Of course, it starts innocently enough. As a parent you love your child and you want to make them happy. But before you know it, you find yourself knee-deep in discarded Lego and naked Barbie dolls. The children are bored; the house is a mess; no one is happy!

Toys are easy to come by these days. Equally, parents who cannot spend as much time with their children as they would like may try to occupy them with new toys or assuage their guilt with gifts. We may also feel a compulsion to buy our children things to show we love them, or equally powerfully, feel a desire for our children to have more than we did.

The reality though is that most families have too many toys. And sadly, more toys actually equals less play.

by Andrew Campbell

So why is this?

Children are easily overwhelmed with choice, and a child who is unsure of what to play with often ends up playing with nothing at all.

But the problem is even more fundamental. Our obsession with flashy plastic junk has taught our children to be passive participants in play.

Instead of playing with toys, they expect to be amused by them. And they are… for about five seconds. Then it is back to the toy box.

According to a study published in the journal Infant Behaviour and Development, an environment with fewer toys is better for children.

The study observed 36 toddlers. Some were given four toys, and some sixteen. It was found that an abundance of toys actually reduced the quality of toddlers’ play. Fewer toys helped toddlers focus better and play more creatively.

And it’s not just about the quantity of toys. The quality is also factor.

Another study by the American Academy of Peadiatrics found that the best toys for constructive play are non-electronic ones: the ones that are simpler and support parents and children playing, pretending, and interacting together.

More and more families are taking a ‘minimalist’ approach to toys cutting back on the clutter and focusing on quality over quantity.

With Christmas approaching, now may be a good time to consider this approach.

In the meantime, here are some tips to help you reclaim your play room or family space.

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Tips for Toy Overload

20 toy rule: ask your child to select 20 toys to keep. Store or give away others.

Start slow: children often resist giving up toys. If the 20 toy rule doesn’t work, start with one thing first. Talk about giving/donating and generosity. Prioritise binning the plastic junk, like Happy Mealtype toys!

Start Rotating: A well-organised toy rotation reduces clutter and encourages children to play with more toys. The available toys change regularly, so there’s always something new.

Display toys: Toys that can’t be seen go unused. Instead of stuffing them into baskets and bins, organise toys into several themed areas where they are largely on display.

Request alternatives: Ask friends and family to take your child on an outing, instead of buying toys. Request that grandparents keep toys they buy at their home for when your child visits.

4 Gift Rule: Try the 4 gift rule at Christmas or birthdays. There are four categories: something they want, need, go to/experience, and read.

Instead of toys…

ONE-ON-ONE OUTINGS: your child chooses an activity to do with you like

skating, dining out or bowling.

EXPERIENCES: lots of possibilities including junior zoo experience, steam

train journey, , go-karting or a theme park.

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS: there are loads of great magazines for children

from comics to specialist magazines covering everything from football to history. They will love regularly receiving one in the post!

MEMBERSHIPS: if there's a zoo, aquarium, museum, theatre, or music venue

in your area, gift your child a membership so they can attend regularly.

Some sporting clubs have special junior membership categories.

BINOCULARS OR A TELESCOPE: throw in a guide to birds, wildlife or

astronomy.

SUBSCRIPTION BOXES: whether it’s cooking, gardening or craft, the monthly

delivery of creative goodies will keep on giving.

CLASSES: whether it’s dance, drama, art or athletics, your child can enhance

their skills doing something they love or want to learn.

A SMALL FRUIT TREE TO GROW AND NURTURE: a lovely long-term gift.

14 Families Oxfordshire

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Families Gift Guide 1.

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ALL I WANT FOR

Sustainable Christmas Gift Guide Help save the planet this year and give the gift of a sustainable toy, which is made from renewable, natural materials and involves a manufacturing process which does not pollute the environment, release carbon or greenhouse gases, and at the end of its life, is able to biodegrade, we have put together a gift guide this year so that we can all do our bit to save the planet.

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Stockists 9.

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1. Tender Leaf Toys Kids Pull Along Shopping Trolley £55.00 Amara.com 2. Muddy Madness Wooden Mud Kitchen £149.95 Cuckooland.com 3. Pull Along Wooden Snail £30.00 www.trotters.co.uk 4. Wooden Frog Balance Game £8.99 TK Maxx.co.uk 5. Wooden Toy Food Set - Natural £26.00 Amara.com 6. Tender Leaf Toys Kids Garden Wheelbarrow Set £59.00 www.mulberrybush.co.uk 7. Cottontail Cottage £115 www.mulberrybush.co.uk 8. Tender Leaf Toys Kids Weighing Scales £23.00 acornandpip.com 9. First Class Post Office £65.00 www.gltc.co.uk 10. A Job Well Done Tool Set £40.00 www.gltc.co.uk Families Oxfordshire 15

Introduction to Reception, Year 1 & Year 2

Saturday 28 November Book an online visit:

abingdon.org.uk/prep Independent education for boys aged 4-13