East Sussex Primary Times September 2021

What’s On Where

FOR FAMILIES OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

East Sussex

Flying high at Paradox Place!

CHOOSING YOUR NEW SCHOOL • DAYS OUT • COMPETITIONS

SEPTEMBER 2021 1 SEPT - 10 OCT 2021 ISSUE 136

Family Theatre

Family Theatre

6 Oct

There’s No Business like Show Business

(Also 13, 20 & 27 Oct) Go along for a celebration of all things theatrical every Wednesday.

Enjoy a tour of musical genres through the years, with comedy, exciting dance routines and much, much, more.

14 Oct

The best shows around...

Congress Eastbourne Box Office: 01323 412 000 13-17 Oct

Bedknobs and Broomsticks: The Musical

Enter a world of magic and fantasy as Disney’s classic movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks makes its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical.

Ropetackle Shoreham-by-Sea

Box Office: 01273 464 440 24 Sep

My First Cinema: The Gruffalo’s Child (U)

A little Gruffalo ignores her father’s warnings and tiptoes out into the snow in search of the Big Bad Mouse. A simple, warming and enjoyable tale by Julia Donaldson.

Royal Hippodrome Eastbourne Box Office: 01323 802 020 1 Oct

Superstars of Wrestling

2 hours of live, all-action family entertainment with wrestlers from all over the world taking on the very best of Great Britain.

If you want to boo the bad guy and cheer on your favourite, then this really is the event for you.

Icons – Celebrating the Legendary Divas!

Performing the hits of legends such as Cher, Aretha, Whitney, Dusty, Tina and so many more.

With incredible costumes, stunning vocals and slick choreography, it’s the night out you’ve been waiting for!

22 Oct

Richard Jones Escape Tour Winner of Britain’s Got Talent, on his extended tour of Escape, Richard endeavours to break the boundaries of the mind with his ‘magic with meaning’, debuting a twist on his new awe-inspiring magic.

24 Oct

Pop Divas Live!

Get ready for the best songs from all your favourite female

Enjoy the show!

And don’t forget to say you saw it in

Primary Times!

stars in one fabulous funpacked show. The perfect pop experience for the little divas in your life!

Theatre Royal Brighton

Box Office: 08448 717 650 20-25 Sep

Hairspray The Musical

This fun-filled, feel good show is bursting with show-stopping numbers, dazzling costumes and dizzying dance-routines that you can’t help but shimmy to! Hairspray is the hilarious, joyous and uplifting musical that everyone needs right now!

White Rock Hastings Box Office: 01424 462 288 19 Sep

King of Pop

Don’t miss this outstanding production featuring hits such as Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean, Black or White, Man In The Mirror and the ‘Jackson Five’ classics, in a show suitable for the whole family

Story Seekers The Unicorn Theatre and the National Theatre are launching Story Seekers, a new creative literacy project for primary schools across the UK. Pupils aged 8-11 are invited to join in a nationwide mission to find, tell and share exciting stories from across the globe.

Pupils will be led through the quest as they undertake the Story Seekers’ Training Programme guided by filmed theatre performances. There will also be workshops and performances by leading professional storytellers.

The mission will end with pupils creating their own filmed storytelling performances to share with their school community, other participating schools across the UK and beyond. Through the challenge, children will explore the rich oral storytelling tradition from the UK and around the world.

Available free to UK state schools, this project is designed to take place over six weeks and sit alongside the school curriculum. Continuing professional development (CPD) sessions and curriculumlinked resources developed in partnership with the Centre

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1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) are provided to support teachers to lead the project.

To sign up your school to take part, visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ storyseekers Story Seekers will be offered on a termly basis. Applications to take part during the autumn term are open until 17 September.

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Dear Readers I’m writing this letter in the middle of the school summer holiday and can’t believe that we’re about to start a new school year. I hope you all had a good summer and are refreshed and ready to start the new term.

Primary Times in East Sussex 7 Southbrook Mews London SE12 8LG Tel: 01273 916210 Email: office@primarytimes.biz Website: www.primarytimes.co.uk Twitter: @PT_Sussex Instagram: @primarytimesse Publishing Editor: Peter Watson Sales: Catherine Dillon, My Yen Doyle, Ty Smith & Andrew Langridge Listings: Claire Wood, Hayley Hughes Production: Alison Watson Office Manager: Chris Blower Administrator: Claire Wood Social Media: Rachel Benson Primary Times is independently published and distributed free in infant and primary schools throughout Sussex. Its aims are to inform families and children of current educational issues, forthcoming events, courses and attractions and to give teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity to participate in the magazine by adding to its contents or joining in the competitions which we run. It is NOT our intention to publish any racist, sexist or politically based material whatsoever. We also undertake not to carry any advertising which we would consider to be offensive to young families or harmful to the best interests of young children. The opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements within this publication are not necessarily those held by the editor or publisher.

While we take great care with the compilation of information within this magazine, neither the editor nor publisher will accept any liability for the accuracy of the editorial or advertising contained within the publication.

We welcome listings being sent to us for inclusion in our What’s On section. Free listings are dependent on available space and we cannot guarantee to print all the listings we are sent. Please send them to listings@primarytimes.biz. Primary Times would like to thank all the schools in Sussex for their assistance in distributing the magazine and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the advertisers who have supported this publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when and where you can.

No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part or in whole, without the express written permission of the Publishing Editor. Primary Times is currently publishing over 2.5 million copies per issue under franchise licences throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.. Primary Times East Sussex is operated under franchise licence.

For all our new readers in Reception who haven’t seen us before, we are the FREE What’s On, Where to Go, Things to Do magazine that comes home in the Book Bag two weeks before any school holiday plus a Back to School issue in September. We are full of ideas on how to spend the school break. Lots of the events are free to attend so do read through our listings pages and mark what you fancy doing. Whilst we’re still in a period of uncertainty do make sure that you confirm that the details in our listings are correct. We plan our listings a long time in advance and with so much change at the moment it is worth checking. We also list local theatre, educational news, competitions, puzzle pages and lots more that’s relevant to families of primary aged children.

If you do use anything you found in the magazine please do let our advertisers know. Tell them you read about them in Primary Times!

Contents

inside this issue....

Local News...............................4 What’s On.................................6 Choosing your New School...... 7 Open Day Directory.....................16 Katie Clown’s Page of Fun ........ 18 Competitions........................... 19 Meet Author Emma Carroll...... 21 All Your Own Work..................23

Our listings pages are free, space permitting, so if your school has a fund raising event or you know of something relevant for us to list then please let us know. Please send them to us early - we go to press about 3 weeks before the magazine is published. Please send your listings to listings@primarytimes.biz Our next edition will appear in schools the week beginning Monday 11 October, just in time for the October Half Term.

Peter and the Primary Times team

The BrickWorks!

Adventure 22 - 31 October Interactive workshops, trade stands & building challenges Featuring 15 amazing BRICKLIVE Outer Space models, including a 310 cm high Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket made with 68,583 bricks!

Free entry to BRICKLIVE with All Day Rover and Family tickets for the steam railway Book Now!

www.bluebell-railway.com

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1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

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Local News 4

Going Back to School

By Wendy Robinson, Service Head at Childline School is a huge part of children’s lives so it’s really important they’re happy there and feel comfortable – for their well-being and to maximise their potential.

Children have had a lot to get to grips with over the last 18 months. Covid; virtual lessons; isolation; the list seems endless.

It’s only natural if they feel a little apprehensive about going back to school. It’s common to worry about what the new school year will bring, bullying, or keeping up with homework and exam stress, for example.

If you think something is bothering them but they’re struggling to talk about it, there are some signs you can look out for: • becoming withdrawn or depressed; • missing school or making excuses so they don’t have to go in; • changes in their eating habits.

If you’re concerned about your child, talk about it – keep calm and listen carefully. If you’re not sure how to start the conversation you can find tips on the NSPCC website, www.nspcc.org.uk.

Talk to your child about how they’re feeling and what they want to happen next. Speak to the school and your child’s teachers. This will help build a greater support network for them. Make sure they know who to ask for help.

Help your child take time out – if they’re being bullied it may make them feel low so try and find ways to build their confidence but don’t leave them to cope alone. Talk to the school about how this situation is being addressed.

If they’re worried about the next day, help them to prepare for it. Remind them to take things step by step and that you’re there for them at the end of the day, whether it’s a good day or a bad day.

If they’re struggling to make friends, help them find children they have something in common with by joining a club for example. If they’re a bit shy, explore the Childline website together where you can find advice on how to start conversations. The number of friends they have isn’t important. What matters is having friends they’re close to and who are supportive.

If they’ve fallen out with friends, it’s likely they will soon make up again. Let them know they can talk to you about what’s happened without fear of being judged. If their friend has upset them, encourage them to be assertive and talk to them about how they feel.

There’s plenty of advice on the Childline website – children can read more about how to make new friends, how to keep up with their homework and what to do if they’re being bullied.

If your child doesn’t feel they can talk to you, encourage them to call Childline on 0800 1111, or visit www.childline.org.uk for advice or to speak to a counsellor online.

Photo credit: Tom Hull 1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

The Great British Beach Clean

The Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean is a week-long citizen science event, where hundreds of beach cleans take place up and down the UK. Litter data collected drives conservation work and also feeds into the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC). This year’s Great British Beach Clean will take place between Friday 17 and Sunday 26 September.

On every clean the MCS ask people to run a litter survey recording all the items of rubbish they find in a 100m stretch. They use this data to campaign for real change.

The MCS have seen some great results. Data has been used to make a positive impact on our ocean - including the introduction of the plastic bag charge, banning microplastics in personal care products, better wet wipe labelling and supporting a tax on single-use plastic items. But there is still so much to do to stop the litter plaguing our beaches.

To get involved this year find a Beach Clean near you, or organise your own.You can email the MCS at beachwatch@mcsuk.org or give them a call on 01989 567 807. They’re available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

It’s easy to take part in this year’s Great British Beach Clean.Visit www.mcsuk.org to find out more.

Photo credit: Billy Barraclough

The Bear who Inspired Winnie the Pooh

Did you know that the stories about Winnie the Pooh were inspired by a teddy owned by Christopher Robin, son of AA Milne the author? Purchased from Harrods in London, Edward Bear was given to Christopher Robin by his mother Daphne as a first birthday present on 21 August 1921. So he was 100 years old in August.

Daphne’s husband and Christopher’s father, AA Milne, was so enamoured by the partnership he witnessed between a boy and his bear, that he began to write stories about their journey through life together - and the stories of Winnie the Pooh were born.

The UK’s oldest remaining teddy bear manufacturer, Merrythought, will celebrate the birthday with an adorable quartet of Edward bears to charm a new generation of children and adults across the world.

Hand-crafted in Shropshire, the premium teddy bear collection includes adorable Edward bears in three different sizes - 11inches, 18inches and 39inches and a cute limited edition 7in version.

Edward, Christopher Robin’s Teddy Bear’ is available to buy from www.merrythought.com, www.harrods.com and Harrods toy department (fourth floor), London.

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Local News

Kids’ Birthday Parties at Paradox Place

Paradox Place Brighton – the new House of Illusions and Wonders that everyone in Sussex is talking about - have recently launched birthday party options. For just £15 per person, you get tickets to the attraction (including two free adults), amazing quality pizzas delivered fresh from Fatto a Mano and a private room for an hour with snacks, drinks and dedicated party host to look after you.

Optional extras include professional photographer to follow the group around the attraction, magician to perform during lunch, Mario Kart on the big screen in the party room and other food choices.

Go to www.paradoxplace.co.uk to find out more.

Halloween at KiddiCity This October get prepared for a Halloween treat as KiddiCity bring you a little hocus pocus magic playtime in miniature, with an exciting line up of seasonal parties.

Mum of three, Anna Anderson brought KiddiCity to life earlier this year. A big lover of Halloween and all things spooky and fun, Anna and her team have created an amazing themed city set up especially for 0-7 year olds, their parents and carers.

KiddiCity are running mobile sessions at venues throughout East Sussex through October. Children will experience a PYO Pumpkin Patch, Trick or Treat Street, a Potions Lab and Creaky Castle play zones.You will also find spooky and cute additions to eight KiddiCity shops and themed play pods.

Fancy dress is encouraged. Tickets for these extra special events are available to buy now at www.kiddicity.co.uk.

KiddiCity welcome party and group bookings. Email hello@ kiddicity.co.uk to find out more and to book.

Over 300 Inflatables for Kids & Adults FREE Colour Brochure

BOUNCY CASTLE HIRE 01580 830102 Office (3 lines) www.1stchoiceinflatables.co.uk Follow us on Twitter - @PT_Sussex

October Halloween Events at kiddicity!

Eastbourne Polegate Hellingly & More

Book now! @ www.kiddicity.co.uk BrickWorks! at the Bluebell Railway Visit the Bluebell Railway between 22 and 31 October for a BrickWorks! adventure this October Half Term.

Take a trip through the history of space travel with amazing recreations of iconic moments from outer space.You won’t believe your eyes as you moonwalk around SteamWorks! in the locomotive shed at Sheffield Park Station and marvel at 15 amazing BRICKLIVE Outer Space models on display – some of them life size!

Hundreds of thousands of bricks have been used to create unique models – all hand built. The show features a 310cm high Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket made with 68,583 bricks!

BRICKLIVE Outer Space provides facts around real life space travel and is a great learning experience. With workshops, make and takes and a brick graffiti wall, there are plenty of hands-on activities to get involved in. Pick up free trails and information about the models on the day of your visit. Have fun and get creative with the brick graffiti wall. What will you create? Make sure you take a picture and share before someone graffities over your masterpiece!

Check out the website, www.bluebell-railway.com, for more information and how to book and keep an eye on social media as Bluebell Railway announce extra workshops and VIP access to the exhibition.

Access to the event is free with your All Day Rover or Family ticket to travel on the Bluebell Railway on the selected event dates.

1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

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What’s On

What’s On Your family diary for September and October

Due to Covid 19 restrictions please do check with the venue that the listing is up to date before planning your visit.

Ongoing Virtual Family Fun, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, BN2 9NB

Join studio artist Jenny Staff for this workshop on Instagram Live. Inspired by the Shifting Moments exhibition, Jenny will show you how to make your own camera obscura and capture the view from your window. For full details visit www. phoenixbrighton.org.

Until 11 Sep

Woods of Wonder Trail, Borde Hill Gardens, Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP

Join Warren the Flower Fairy on a magical adventure in Warren Wood and fill in the activities in the ‘Woods of Wonder’ story book and once all the chapters have been completed go back to the ‘real’ world and collect a prize. For ages 3-8 years, charges apply.Visit www.bordehill.co.uk.

Dino Detective Trail, Borde Hill Gardens, Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP

Race around the lakes in the parkland following the Dino Detective Trail, crack difficult codes, and discover fascinating dinosaur facts. For ages 9-12 years, charges apply. To book tickets, visit www.bordehill.co.uk.

Until 29 Sep

1812 Fireworks and Proms Concert, Grand Parade, Eastbourne, BN21 3AD

A truly iconic tradition every Wednesday evening, consisting of a culmination of concert music ending triumphantly with traditional proms favourites and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture accompanied by a spectacular Firework display. To book visit www.eastbournebandstand.co.uk

Until 13 Nov

Mystery Warrior, The Novium Museum, Chichester, PO19 1QH

Explore the secrets of the most elaborately equipped Iron Age Warrior grave ever found in England.

Admission free – donations welcome.

For more information visit www. thenovium.org

September Thurs 2-Sun 5 Sep

Continental Street Food Market, Queens Square, Crawley, RH10 6

1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

10am-6pm.The market will feature a range of traders of international origin with a healthy mix of food and craft options. Expect to find tasty street food options, tempting sweet treats and a range of authentic craft offerings.

Fri 3 Sep

The Northern Lights, South Downs Planetarium, Chichester, PO19 8RP

(Also Sun 5 Sep, 3 and 8 Oct) Go to the Planetarium to understand how eruptions on the Sun cause displays of the Northern Lights. Find out the best time and places to see them and when they might once again be visible from Southern England. To book tickets visit www.southdowns. org.uk.

Fri 3 –Sun 5 Sep

Astronomy Festival 2021, The Observatory Science Centre, Hailsham, BN27 1RN

Go along for a fabulous weekend of science and astronomy. With stargazing, Planetarium lectures and shows aimed at families including ‘Look Up, Live it, Love it’ with Jane Green FRAS on Sunday 11am-12 noon. To find out more and to book tickets visit www.the-observatory. org/events

Sat 4 Sep

Jumanji – The Next Level (12+), Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, Horsham, RH13 6PP

Gates open 6.30pm, Film starts 8pm.

Expect an action packed film that will have you on the edge of your seat with excitement. For more details and to book tickets visit www. leonardsleegardens.co.uk.

Wilderness Camp, Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP 9.30am-3pm. Try your hand at den building, lighting fires, cooking marshmallows on a stick and

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

“

I saw your event in Primary Times....

Please mention you saw the event listed in Primary Times

”

outdoor games. This workshop, for both parents and children, aims to provide an introduction to traditional bushcraft skills. To book, visit www. bordehill.co.uk.

Fabric Decorations Making, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, BN2 9NB

11am-1pm. Using story starters and your imagination, create flora and fauna inspired decorations from recycled fabric and add them to the willow circle. For more information about this free workshop for ages 6 + visit www.phoenixbrighton.org.

Sat 4 – Sun 5 Sep

Historic Buildings, Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester, PO18 0EU

live music between 12noon-2pm and a barbecue. For more information, visit www.bordehill.co.uk.

Picnic in the Park Raceday, Fontwell Park, BN18 0SX

Enjoy an afternoon watching jump racing and pack a picnic to enjoy in the centre of the course too. Not only do kids go free there’ll also be some roaming children’s entertainment including a bubbleologist, face painters and jugglers. For more information visit www.fontwellpark.co.uk

Fri 10 Sep

Summertime Stars, Moon and Planets, South Downs Planetarium, Chichester, PO19 8RP

7.30pm. Go along to the Planetarium for a breathtaking tour of the night sky and to find out more about what there is to be seen on clear evenings in late spring and summer. To book tickets visit www. southdowns.org.uk.

Fri 10-Sun 12 Sep

Brighton Marathon Weekend

10.30am-6pm. Spend the weekend focussing on the buildings at the heart of the museum collection from their construction methods, building forms and conservation. To book tickets visit www.wealddown.co.uk.

The weekend kicks off at the Beach Village, located next to the Finish Line at Madeira Drive. It’s free to enter, so friends, family and the local community can all go along and enjoy the atmosphere.

For more information, visit www. brightonmarathonweekend.co.uk.

Miniature Steam Weekend, Amberley Museum, BN18 9LT

Into the Trees, Pippingford Park, Nutley, TN22 3HW

10am-4.30pm. Go along and see over 45 miniature steam engines steaming around the museum grounds with a live stream layout and model aeroplanes. For more information, visit www.amberleymuseum.co.uk.

Sat 4 Sep-Sun 3 Oct

Community Takeover Stories Exhibition, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, BN2 9NB (Wed-Sun 11am-5pm). Go and tell your stories through activities such as window drawings and creating fabric decorations for the willow enclosure. Check back for information about activities and workshops as they are announced.

For more information, visit www. phoenixbrighton.org.

A rare chance to relax and actively explore natural surroundings with your family. Go on a fascinating journey through one of the South East’s most unique landscapes. For more details and to book visit www. into-the-trees.co.uk.

Fri 10-Sun 19 Sep

Heritage Open Days, Tourist Information Centre, Eastbourne, BN21 4AQ

Discover England’s largest festival of heritage and culture. Heritage Open Days give you the opportunity to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are free to explore. For more information, visit www.visiteastbourne.com/ whats-on/heritage-open-days.

Sun 5 Sep

Harley-Davidson Bikes & Brews, Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP

Enjoy the unforgettable sights and sounds of Harley-Davidson bikes from the 1066 Chapter. Featuring

For lots more What’s On ideas see page 20...

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A Pull Out Choosing your New School and Keep with The complete Feature

guide to open days for that all important decision.

Choosing your New School

Choosing your Child’s Secondary School

Choosing a secondary school may at first appear to be a daunting and complicated decision faced by parents. However it doesn’t need to be.

It’s an important decision but, with so many schools to choose from and so many variables and specialisations, it can be a bit overwhelming.

There are ways to make the process of finding the best school for your child easier.

We have lots of ideas in this supplement as well as a table of local school websites to help you.

Slick brochures and grand claims can be misleading and it is the people within a school that will have the most important impact on your child’s future. So, look beyond the website, visit, ask questions, get a sense of the school and what it stands for. Children enjoy facilities and activities but they are shaped by people and by values.

The road ahead will have ups and downs and you will want to share them with people who believe in your child, who have high expectations for them and who genuinely care.

Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines This is a lovely book, written by South London science teacher, Alom Shaha, passing on the recycling message but also trying to inspire children and parents to be as excited as he is about making things. It’s illustrated beautifully by Emily Robertson.

In Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines, he gives you simple instructions for building toys which fly, spin, whizz, and pop. To encourage recycling and re-use, everything in the book is made from household items you’ve probably got lying around.

This book gives clear, stepby-step instructions for over 15 projects. Whether you’re a master engineer or a total beginner, it will spark inspiration for fun activities to engage young people in the marvels of machinery.

And it’s not just a book.You’ll find it includes links to download activity sheets, watch instructional videos, and join Mr Shaha’s community of wondersmiths.

At the heart of the book is the idea that we don’t have to be buying new stuff all the time, instead we can make our own stuff and learn about engineering and science at the same time. Discover the joy of making, and develop your creativity, scientific thinking, problem solving, and practical skills.

Mr Shaha’s Marvellous Machines is published by Scribble at a recommended price of £12.99 and is available from high street and online bookshops.

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1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

Children succeed when they feel like they fit, when a school considers them as a person rather than a number or statistic and when they are allowed to reach for their individual potential.

From the very first moment you set foot in the right school, you will get the feeling that they really want to get to know you and that they are just as excited about you joining their family as you are about joining them. Lots of schools will want to share their way, their philosophy, their vision, but the right ones will want to share yours.

The best education is built around the child and not the other way round.

Talking about previous Ofsted reports with a school, especially neutral or negative ones, can provide a good indicator of how the school takes on criticism, actively listens and puts plans in place to strive for better.

Think about how the size of the school will suit your child. Smaller schools may be able to provide continuous oneto-one support to a child, while bigger schools could have a better community spirit and group learning as well as more variety and options. Weigh up all the pros and cons and see what you think.

Keep track of all the key diary dates, including specific school open evenings. Going to all open evenings can really help with your application. Ask what extra-curricular activities are offered at the school. Out of school activities are a good indicator of the enjoyment and experiences available to students of the school.

Check out if the facilities are well maintained. Most classrooms will look spotless during an open evening, so look beyond the obvious teaching areas. The library, lunch hall and toilets are good indicators of how a school is maintained.

Ask your child what they think of the school. Though it may not be wise to give your child final authority of the chosen school as they may give lots of weight to where their friends are going for instance, it is still a great idea to ask for your child’s opinion and find out which school they felt the most comfortable in and why.

Finally, don’t panic! Have fun exploring the different schools and what they have to offer. There are many schools that are unique and can give your child an individual experience through their secondary school journey.

Remember that you must return your application form to your local education authority by Sunday 31 October 2021. They may not accept late applications.

Diary Dates

• You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.

• 1 March 2022 is National Offer Day. Parents can log onto their local authority’s website to see their offer, after which letters will be posted out.

• You must apply for a place at a school, even if it’s linked to your child’s current primary school.

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Tomorrow’s Women

I CAN DO ANYTHING.

OPEN FORTNIGHT MON 20 SEPT - FRI 1 OCT 2021 burgesshillgirls.com

Choosing your New School

A Top Performing Independent School for Girls

Burgess Hill Girls is a top performing independent school for girls aged 2 to 18. Because they are girls-only, 100% of the school’s facilities, curriculum and philosophy are designed to provide girls with all the skills and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential in life. This empowering community gives girls the complete freedom to be bold, to take risks, to challenge themselves, to try new experiences and to actively make and learn from their mistakes.

Burgess Hill Girls is a small enough community that each pupil is known as an individual yet large enough to provide breadth, choice, and opportunity. This powerful blend is a vital ingredient in enabling pupils to realise their potential. The relationships between staff and pupils are a mix of humour and focused teaching and learning. Staff have an infectious can-do attitude and take great pride in helping girls discover new skills and talents. Expectations are high, but so is the confidence that each girl can achieve something special. Burgess Hill Girls’ academic results are amongst the strongest in the county, but this school is about much more than academic results, from producing Glyndebourne performers to champion linguists, national athletes to outward bound adventurers and technical theatre specialists to dedicated volunteers.

If this sounds like the education you might like for your daughter do go along and see them at their Open Fortnight which runs Monday to Friday, 20 September to 1 October. Book your place at www. burgesshillgirls.com .

The Good Schools Guide described Burgess Hill Girls saying, “The school is almost non-selective and yet achieves better results than many more competitive schools. The holistic approach to education, where equal value is placed on academic achievement and soft skills, produces extremely confident young women who grow up to believe they can be whatever they want to be.”

Chailey School

Chailey School is a thriving secondary school of approximately 800 students from 11 to 16 years of age. During the last five years the student numbers have grown to be oversubscribed. Their vision is ‘everyone the best they can be’. Chailey believe in traditional values and these underpin life in the school. The key personal attributes of kindness, independence, resilience, creativity, community and participation are encouraged and promoted through the formal curriculum and extensive extra-curricular programme.

The school has high expectations of students in both their work and behaviour and all students are known as individuals. Results are how schools tend to be measured. Chailey’s record over many years for the attainment and progress of students is excellent. Regardless of their ability, students all leave Chailey having achieved the level of results which allow them to move on to a wide range of post-16 courses and apprenticeships. The standards achieved in English and Mathematics are high and form the bedrock for all other learning.

The school is passionate about the whole child and the progress they make in all aspects of their school life, regardless of their academic ability. Whatever a student’s talents or abilities, Chailey’s reputation as an inclusive school ensures that all needs are met – for those who are gifted and talented and for those who need additional support. The true measure of Chailey’s success is seeing a school full of happy, confident, independent young people, fully engaged in their education. For more information, please visit www.chaileyschool.org.

Do go along to Chailey’s Open Event on Thursday 30 September or the Open Mornings in the weeks commencing 4 October and 11 October. Check the website for updates on the arrangements for Open Events and to book your place at www.chaileyschool.org or call 01273 890 407.

Developing Personal Excellence at Willingdon Community School

Willingdon Community School places “Developing Personal Excellence” at the heart of everything they do. All of their students leave not only having achieved their personal best academically, but also as wellrounded members of society. They pride themselves on offering an ambitious curriculum with excellent teaching and learning which sets students up for success in the next stages of their education. The six principles of Nurture are key to the learning environment and Willingdon believe it is their duty to embed these in the school’s teaching and support practices in order to help all children make exceptional progress whilst in their care.

The enrichment programme is key to students’ experience of school. The school hosts trips to Alpendorf in Austria, Barcelona in Spain, Kraków in Poland, Morfa Bay in Wales and are currently planning trips to Nepal and New York. Learning is also delivered outside of the classroom. Staff devote a significant amount of their time to running after-school clubs, sporting fixtures, theatre trips and cultural activities.

Whatever your child’s talent and skillset, the school look forward to supporting and developing their abilities further.

There is a well-established transition process at Willingdon Community School. They work closely with local primary schools to ensure the move into secondary is seamless. They host additional transition sessions for students who may need these, as well as a summer school for all Year 6 applicants to Willingdon.

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1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

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At PACA their aim is to make good things happen. After two years of interrupted learning they’re back running at full speed. Duke of Edinburgh students were out in force in July (60 students from Year 10 and 72 from Year 9). The amazing performing arts team put on the school show during the summer holiday, drawing in nearly 80 students for the cast and behind the scenes. They even found a format to make the end of year Activities Week work, despite the difficulties of Covid.

Lessons at PACA are focused and engaging, emphasising clear routines, purposeful activity and clarity of instruction to make every moment in class have a value to your child’s learning.

If they have to go back into lockdown, they’re ready to go. They put a huge amount of work into getting the right balance for online learning and as a result over 90% of surveyed parents say they would recommend PACA to another parent (287 parents responded to the survey).

As one parent told Primary Times, “PACA had promised and followed through with amazing opportunities, always offering huge encouragement and support to achieve goals. We can’t express our gratitude for all the support pre and during Covid lockdowns given to us as a family from PACA staff. A truly wonderful school.”

Go along and see what makes PACA special.Visit the website, www.paca.uk.com, for information about open events.

Choosing your New School

Portslade Aldridge Academy (PACA)

“I think that the staff are excellent. I’m always impressed how well they know my child” (Year 10 parent) PACA: We are a vibrant and inclusive school where we put every student’s progress at the heart of all we do.

Expert staff dedicated to helping each child make outstanding progress.

A rich curriculum giving the breadth and depth to set your child up for life.

State of the art buildings and facilities.

A thriving Duke of Edinburgh programme and Explorer Society.

Our renowned art department.

A city leading enrichment programme offering choices from Soul Choir to Bouldering.

Committed and dedicated staff offering clubs, revision sessions, holiday classes and summer school ensuring everyone achieves their potential.

Well-Served by high frequency bus routes.

Superb music facilities.

Exams results going from strength to strength.

Come and see what makes PACA such a special place to learn.

Visit www.paca.uk.com for open event details.

“It’s a great school with strong leadership.

My children are happy and getting a great education.” (Year 7 parent)

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Choosing your New School

The Turing School - “Imagine Anything. Create the Impossible” At The Turing School they are passionate about ensuring that students become happy, confident and successful young people, whilst instilling in them a love of learning and a desire to succeed.

The Turing School are committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful both in education and the wider community while they are at the school, and as they make their transition into adulthood. One of the many things they pride themselves on is knowing all of the students individually, which enables staff to support and enhance their experiences both academically and in the development of their strong characters.

The school promotes a strong culture of inclusion and diversity where all members of the community can feel proud of their identity, their individual achievements are celebrated and they are able to fully participate in the life of the school.

The school community champions respect for all and challenges discrimination by providing equal opportunities for all pupils. This regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender or gender identity and socio-economic background. They are committed to offering an inclusive curriculum and bespoke pathways to ensure the most positive progress and outcomes for all pupils.

If You Go Down to the Woods Today

Did you know that even just the smell of the woodland (phytoncides) can have a positive impact on our nervous system, mood and sleep?

Experimental studies have also found that certain smells can lower blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline in adults. The smell of cedar chips, for example, decreases blood pressure within 60 seconds.

“Imagine anything. Create the Impossible.”

OPEN EVENING TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2021 Head of School’s address 6.15pm & 7.15pm OPEN DAYS Every morning at 9.15am from Monday 27 September until Friday 8 October

Larkspur Drive, Eastbourne, BN23 8EJ 01323 465700 www.tts-office@swale.at 12

1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

Forest School is such an integral part of the outdoor learning programme at Claremont, with timetabled sessions for Nursery age children all the way up to their 12 year olds. So far this year Claremont children have planted new hedgerows to attract the birds and the bees, made garlands for May Day and Morris danced their way into the summer season, used bow saws to cut rounds of hazel to make simple wooden toys, learnt some knot tying techniques to secure the sails to their homemade woodland boats, made natural cordage from brambles to weave into friendship bracelets, and dandelion honey to spread on their outdoor toasted bread.

They have even tried their hands at making their own woodland furniture.

Then there are cross-curricular activities that have seen the children estimating the age and height of trees during Maths lessons and understanding their role in offsetting carbon emissions. The teaching of life cycles during Science lessons takes on a whole new dimension in the great outdoors and when children plant seeds and harvest simple vegetables such as potatoes and radishes for the school kitchen, this connection with the soil provides further opportunities to learn about the challenges of growing food without artificial, chemical fertilisers and pesticides and opens pupils’ eyes to the fact that alternatives can and should be found.

At Claremont they never forget that Nature is often the greatest teacher. Learning in an outdoor environment provides pupils with endless opportunities to develop essential life skills and at the same time engendering a close and tangible connection with the wilderness. The new Early Years and Pre-Prep building even had its own bridge to the woods incorporated into the architectural plans!

Why not visit Claremont at their Open House Week, Monday 27 September to Saturday 2 October? You can contact them on admissions@claremontschool.co.uk or visit www.claremontschool. co.uk/events.

Believe You Can at Brighton Aldridge Academy

Their mission at BACA is to ensure students benefit from an excellent education, secure great qualifications and develop into young adults who are the first choice recruits for universities and employers.

The academy’s motto is simple - “Believe you can”. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or performing on stage, they inspire each of their students to develop the knowledge and skills they need to follow their passions into a successful future.

Through encouraging an enterprising mind set BACA enable students to thrive in today’s rapidly-changing world. They teach students to be innovative and resilient through promoting the Aldridge Attributes of teamwork, creativity, passion, problemsolving, risk-taking and determination in all aspects of academy life.

Students also benefit from a rich offer in terms of the creative arts. The BACA 100 challenge gives them a wide range of experiences that help develop resilience, confidence, and independence. BACA’s sports facilities are exceptional and partnerships, such as that with Sussex Cricket, allow students to combine high-quality training with their academic studies.

BACA has again been named amongst the Cricketer Magazine’s Top100 schools for cricket in the country in 2020, 2021 and 2022, one of only four non-selective state secondary schools to achieve this.

They visit all of their local primary schools throughout the year so the Year 6 students can get to know the Head of Year 7 and Principal. They also offer a fantastic transition programme which includes an open evening where students, parents and carers are invited to the school to meet the team. In addition to this, they have a Transition Summer School for students to familiarise themselves with the building, meet their classmates and get involved in some fun activities.

If you would like to book a tour, please contact BACA on 01273 691 191 or at office@baca-uk.co.uk.

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Believe You Can

Open Evening - Wednesday 29 September 5.00pm-8.00pm

Choosing your New School

Bullying Videos from The Diana Award

As over 10 million children head back to school in September, new research, commissioned by youth charity, The Diana Award, has asked young people and their parents about their experiences of bullying and the impact the events of the last year has had on their lives and social development.

The survey covers a broad range of topics including how many young people and parents have experienced bullying and the impact this has had on their lives and their concerns about returning to school, cultural movements and news stories in the last year, and how this might have influenced young people.

For example, the rise in conversation and news coverage around inclusivity, diversity, racism and sexism; How Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns may have impacted social development in children and young people.

A host of celebrities including children’s TV presenters, sports people, actors, models and many others have filmed videos discussing their personal experiences of being bullied at school aimed at supporting today’s pupils. All videos can be viewed at http://back2school. antibullyingpro.com.

Self Managed Learning College

Join A Journey of SelfDiscovery at Buckswood

Buckswood is an independent, inclusive, co-educational day and boarding school for 10-18 year olds, where every child is empowered not to be ‘the best’ but to be ‘their best’.

Small class sizes allow inspiring teachers to support and guide every pupil throughout their education and the various educational pathways offered GCSE, A Level, IB, and a UFC in Business Management – and are fundamental to your child’s success.

The school encourages each child to be curious, explore new hobbies and interests through an extensive and impressive co-curricular programme. This reveals strengths and builds confidence and skills which can not only be applied in and outside the classroom, but serve students well through life.

The five specialist sport academies - football, rugby, equestrian, golf and netball - attract many talented individuals from all over the world, offer professional coaching, and teach pupils to develop resilience and commitment in their endeavour to improve their performance.

Buckswood offer Sport and Academic Scholarships as well as Bursary Awards.

To learn more about this inspiring school or confirm your attendance at one of the forthcoming open events, please email future@ buckswood.co.uk or telephone 01424 813 813 (Ext 222).

What we know about children is that they are all different. They have different personalities, different interests and will pursue different careers. Knowing this, SML set up their College (for 9-16 year olds) without classrooms or imposed lessons or a standard curriculum. Each young person is treated as a unique individual and they have their own personalised learning programme.

By restricting numbers in a programme to 42 they have created a small caring learning community whereby children are supported by experienced adults as well as their peers. The community makes its own rules and arranges activities such as workshops and trips out. All these activities are optional – students at the College choose for themselves what to spend their time on.

They have two programmes in the College – a morning programme and an afternoon one. Parents and students tell them that having a part-time five days per week programme is more suitable and less stressful than a more intensive day. And they also don’t have imposed homework. Given the less pressurised community way of working, students who want to do exams such as GCSEs find that they can learn in a calm way that suits their learning styles – and get good passes that they might not have done otherwise.

Independent academic research has shown that ex students go on to satisfying careers and that by learning to self-manage they can continue their development in a fulfilling way throughout their lives. For more information, visit the website www.smlcollege.org. uk or call Carl Brady on 01273 987 629.

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1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

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Choosing your New School

Bede’s Nursery: Individual Education by the Sea

Located by the seaside in Eastbourne, at the foot of the South Downs National Park and with panoramic views of the beautiful coastline, Bede’s Nursery and Pre-Prep School is a haven of learning, creativity and opportunity. Each child is unique and staff at Bede’s work hard to ensure that every child has their individual needs met with a personalised approach to guide them to be curious, confident and inspired.

Bede’s offers education from the age of 3 months old, nurturing children in a genuinely holistic way. They are a home away from home for the children there, preparing everything on site, from their home cooked, locally grown, nutritious meals to the fantastic range of activities and learning resources.

Bede’s Nursery offers wrap-around care from 7.45am to 6pm with a breakfast and supper club, specialist tuition in subjects such as music and dance, a cookery room, free-flow classrooms, and swimming lessons in an indoor-heated pool (with specialist swimming teachers from age 3 years). Bede’s also offers an on-site Forest School and Beach School for Pre-Prep School pupils within walking distance.

Bede’s Nursery is open 51 weeks a year and offers Early Years funding from 3 years, including the extended 30-hour entitlement.

To book a personal visit or for further information, please email holywell@bedes.org or call on 01323 356 987. To register for the Bede’s Open Morning on 2 October, please visit www.bedes.org

IAPS - Boys and girls 3 months to 7 years

Nursery, Pre-School and Pre-Prep

51 weeks a year 7.45am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday Offering Universal and Extended EYEE entitlement for 3+ year olds

Open Morning Saturday 2 October 9.30am to noon To register please contact: holywell@bedes.org T 01323 356987 Bede’s Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne East Sussex BN20 7XL bedes.org

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15

Choosing your New School

East Sussex Open Day Directory 2021 East Sussex Name

Address

Tel

Website

Ark Alexandra Academy

The Ridge, St Leonards, TN37 7PS

01424 439 888

www.arkalexandra.org

Beacon Academy

North Beeches Road, Crowborough,TN6 2AS

01892 603 000

www.beacon-academy.org

Bede’s Preparatory School

Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne, BN20 7XL

01323 356 700

www.bedes.org/prep

Bede’s Senior School

Upper Dicker, Hailsham, BN27 3QH

01323 843 252

www.bedes.org

Buckswood School

Broomham Hall, Guestling, TN35 4LT

01424 813 813

www.buckswood.co.uk

Cavendish School, The

Eldon Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1UE

01323 731 340

www.cavendishschool.net

Chailey School

Mill Lane, South Chailey, BN8 4PU

01273 890 407

www.chaileyschool.org

Claremont Senior School

Bodiam, Robertsbridge TN32 5UJ

01580 830 396

www.claremontschool.co.uk

Claverham Community College

North Trade Road, Battle, TN33 0HT

01424 772 155

www.claverham.e-sussex.sch.uk

Eastbourne Academy, The

Brodrick Road, Eastbourne, BN22 9RQ

01323 514 900

theeastbourneacademy.org

Gildredge House

Compton Place Road, Eastbourne, BN20 8AB

01323 400 650

www.gildredgehouse.org.uk

Hailsham Community College

Battle Road, Hailsham, BN27 1DT

01323 841 468

www.hccat.net

Hastings Academy, The

Rye Road, Hastings, TN35 5DN

01424 711 950

thehastingsacademy.org.uk

Heathfield Community College

Cade Street, Heathfield, TN21 8RJ

01435 866 066

www.heathfieldcc.co.uk

King’s Academy Ringmer

Lewes Road, Ringmer, BN8 5RB

01273 812 220

www.kgaringmer.uk

Peacehaven Community School

Greenwich Way, Peacehaven, BN10 8RB

01273 581 100

www.phcs.org.uk

Priory School

Mountfield Road, Lewes, BN7 2XN

01273 476 231

www.priory.e-sussex.sch.uk

Ratton School

Park Avenue, Eastbourne, BN21 2XR

01323 504 011

www.ratton.co.uk

Robertsbridge Community Col

Knelle Road, Robertsbridge, TN32 5EA

01580 880 360

www.robertsbridge.org.uk

Rye College

The Grove, Rye, TN31 7NQ

01797 222 545

www.ryecollege.co.uk

Seaford Head School

Arundel Road, Seaford, BN25 4LX

01323 891 623

www.seafordhead.org

Seahaven Academy

Haven Way, Newhaven, BN9 9TD

01273 517 601

www.seahavenacademy.org.uk

St Catherine’s College

Priory Road, Eastbourne, BN23 7BL

01323 465 400

www.stcatherines.college

St Leonards Academy, The

Edinburgh Road, St Leonards, TN38 8HH

01424 448 740

thestleonardsacademy.org.uk

St Richard’s Catholic College

Ashdown Road, Bexhill, TN40 1SE

01424 731 070

www.strichardscc.com

01323 465 700

www.causewayschool.org

Turing School, The (prev Causeway Sch) Larkspur Drive, Eastbourne, BN23 8EJ Uckfield College

Downsview Crescent, Uckfield, TN22 3DJ 01825 764 844

www.uckfield.college

Uplands Community College

Lower High Street, Wadhurst, TN5 6AZ

01892 782 135

www.uplandscc.com

Willingdon Community School

Broad Road, Eastbourne, BN20 9QX

01323 485 254

www.willingdonschool.org.uk

Name

Address

Tel

Website

Blatchington Mill School

Nevill Avenue, Hove, BN3 7NB

01273 736 244

www.blatchingtonmill.org.uk

Brighton Aldridge Comm Acad

Lewes Road, BN1 9PW (SatNav BN2 4PN) 01273 691 191

www.baca-uk.org.uk

Cardinal Newman Catholic Sch

The Upper Drive, Hove, BN3 6ND

01273 558 551

www.cncs.co.uk

Dorothy Stringer School

Loder Road, Brighton, BN1 6PZ

01273 852 222

www.dorothy-stringer.co.uk

Hove Park School (Valley Campus) Hangleton Way, Hove, BN3 8AA

01273 295 002

www.hovepark.org.uk

King’s School

01273 840 004

www.kingsschoolhove.org.uk

Brighton & Hove

Hangleton Way, Hove, BN3 8BN

Longhill High School

Falmer Road, Rottingdean, BN2 7FR

01273 304 086

www.longhill.org.uk

Patcham High School

Ladies Mile Road, Patcham, BN1 8PB

01273 503 908

patchamhigh.brighton-hove.sch.uk

Portslade Aldridge Comm Acad

Chalky Road, Portslade, BN41 2WS

01273 416 300

www.paca.uk.com

Varndean School

Balfour Road, Brighton, BN1 6NP

01273 561 281

www.varndean.co.uk

Name

Address

Tel

Website

Burgess Hill Girls

Keymer Road, Burgess Hill, RH15 0EG

01444 241050

www.burgesshillgirls.com

Other

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1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

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The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) has announced the 2021 shortlist for the CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award. The shortlist announcement featured live poetry readings from leading children’s poets alongside performances by children from primary schools.

The five books on the shortlist are: Slam! You’re Gonna Wanna Hear This, chosen by Nikita Gill. Nikita Gill brings together exciting new poets, all well known to poetry audiences but many making their first appearance in print.

Bright Bursts of Colour, Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff. The poems in Matt Goodfellow’s collection range from the silly to the sensitive, and all will resonate with children aged 7 – 11.

Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann. Compelling, powerful and authentic, Mann’s verse novel speaks directly to its YA audience.

Big Green Crocodile Rhymes to Say and Play, by Jane Newberry, illustrated by Carolina Rabei. A collection of new nursery rhymes, this is a book for parents and adults to share with the very youngest to spark a lifelong love of poetry.

On the Move, by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Quentin Blake, Walker Books On the Move is both personal and universal, with messages of home, identity and family.

The winner of the 2021 CLiPPA will be revealed at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, in a Poetry Show introduced by CLiPPA judges, Zaro Weil and Allie Esiri, and featuring performances by the shortlisted poets. Schools across the UK and beyond will be able to watch the show on The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival platform and access poetry CPD sessions created by CLPE. The free Shadowing Scheme to involve schools in CLiPPA 2021 will launch alongside the announcement of the winner. For more information, visit www.clpe.org.uk/poetry/CLiPPA.

Choosing your New School

Children’s Poetry Award

Support children’s GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT

The TASTY, EASY way to get vitamins into little people Follow us on Twitter - @PT_Sussex

Helping Kids Shine

1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

17

Answers Spot the Difference In Picture B the ladybird has a dot missing. The ladybird’s wings have changed colour.The bee has an extra stripe. The ant has an extra section. The crocus is missing in the bottom left of the photo. There is an extra spider and an extra leaf. One of the white flowers has changed colour

K atie

lown’s Luscious Leaves Spot the 8 Differences

Word Search E F O G G Y D R O P

E T H Z N E D L O G

G N AM A R U N T H U J M L N F CM B B

I A V T R Q A F E X

L P E B H E P V T P

T L S R L Y B E S F

S E T I T F B I C H

U Y S S N L R N H J

Can you find all these words in the word search?

Autumn, Foggy, Harvest, Drop, Earthy, Hibernate, Maple, Ant, Golden, Leaf, Rustling, Brisk, Crisp, Stem, Vein, Twig Why did the scarecrow win a medal?

He was outstanding in his field!

A

R C P K A C G I W T

Why do birds fly south for winter?

Because it’s too far for them to walk

How does an elephant get out of a tree?

It sits on a leaf and waits for Autumn

Can you draw a picture or write a poem about anything to do with leaves, trees or the park?

Make it as bright and colourful as you can!

Send it to us to have a chance of winning a Primary Times Tee Shirt AND seeing your prize winning entry published in the next Primary Times! Categories: ages 4-7 and 8-11 Name: Age: Address:

Postcode: School:

Send your entry together with this completed form to:

Annie's Competition, Primary Times, 7 Southbrook Mews, London, SE12 8LG or scan them both and email them to:

competitions@primarytimes.biz 24 September 2021. Good Luck!

Closing date

What is a ’s scarecrow it? u r f e favourit rries Straw-be

B

What did one leaf say to another?

I’m falling for you!

How do you fix a flat pumpkin?

With a pumpkin patch!

Colouring in Corner

Win a box of books for your school

Primary Times are offering schools the chance to win a selection of great books for their library.

We have a whole box full of titles from super stories to fun educational books.

We have several boxes of books to give away and the titles in each may differ.

To enter the competition send your name, address, phone number and the name of your school using the details below.

Win Mummies Unwrapped by Tom Froese

Competitions

Competitions Mummies are everybody’s favourite museum fascination.

Mummies Unwrapped explores the ins and outs of the mummification process - from drying out a dead body and stuffing it with mud, to holding a grand funeral procession to send the mummy into the afterlife. Unwrap the mysteries of the fascinating world of ancient Egyptian mummies!

Mummies Unwrapped is the perfect gruesome guide for children aged 7 and up, with wonderfully detailed illustrations from the author Tom Froese. Young readers will delve beyond the dazzling gold cover to uncover the secrets of the embalmers, tales of the tomb robbers and even what happened when pets were mummified! Mummies Unwrapped is published by Nosy Crow at a recommend price of £11.99.

For your chance to win one of five copies of Mummies Unwrapped, tell us which ancient culture mummified their dead.

See below for details of how to enter.

Win an Amazing Gorilla Prize with Cindergorilla To celebrate the publication of Cindergorilla by well-known local author and entertainer, Gareth P. Jones, Primary Times and Farshore have a glorious gorilla competition! One lucky reader and a parent or guardian will win an exciting Cindergorilla experience day (complete with a trip to London Zoo and GoApe TreeTop Adventure). The winning reader will also receive a signed and illustrated copy of the book to celebrate publication!

Cindergorilla loves to dance. She longs to go to the Saturday Night Disco Ball, where the other gorillas strut their stuff, but her horrid aunt and cousins, Gertrude and Grace always say no. Instead Cindergorilla must stay home and do the housework! But all that changes when Cinder gets a visit from her Hairy Godmother….

Cindergorilla is the second book in Gareth’s Fairy Tales for the Fearless series, and is a fun-filled twist on the classic children’s fairy tale Cinderella. It celebrates resilience and is a fun disco-dancing adventure, combined with stunning illustrations by Loretta Schaeur.

Cindergorilla is published in paperback by Farshore on 16 September at a recommended price of £6.99.

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize, all you need to do is complete and cut out the word search. Then fill out the form with your details and send them to the address below by the closing date. Or scan a copy of your completed form and email it to the email address below.

Terms and Conditions: Fulfilment of prizes may be delayed by any future Government lockdowns but will be honoured when possible.

Find the following words • Cinder • Gorilla • Zoo • Grace • Dance • Ball • Hairy • GoApe • Gertrude • Disco

E H D I S C O X

P D S C V I X A

A A U Y K N Z L

O N L R W D O L

G C L I T E O I

G E A A B R L R

R B B H N L E O

T M P E C A R G

Name .....................................................................

Age .........................................................................

Address .................................................................. ................................................................................ ................................................................................

School.....................................................................

To enter any of the competitions send your answer along with your name, age, school, address and phone number to Primary Times, 7 Southbrook Mews, London, SE12 8LG. Don’t forget to include the name of the competition. Alternatively email your answer and details to

competitions@primarytimes.biz with the competition name as the subject by Friday 24 September 2021.

If you are entering more than one competition you can put all entries in the same envelope.

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1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

19

What’s On

More What’s On Your family diary for September and October

September Sat 11 Sep

Mini Mile Races, Brighton Marathon Weekend

Children aged 7-17 can get involved and run a 1 mile course at Preston Park. The Mini Mile Village offers big screens, great food, drink and an array of fun activities to do together before, during and after the event.

For more information, visit www. brightonmarathonweekend.co.uk.

Night to Remember Midnight Walk, Worthing Leisure Centre, BN12 4ET

Arrive at 8.30pm for a 10.30pm start. Walk for either 7, 13.1 or 20 miles and light up the night for St Barnabas House. Add a silent disco to your ticket for an additional £5 and dance while you walk Ages 10+.

For full details visit www.stbh.org.uk/ nighttoremember.

Town Show and Family Fun Day, Rosemead Park, Littlehampton, BN17 6UH

A celebration of the vibrant Littlehampton community including live performances, food court, dog show, inflatables, crafts and a horticultural show. There will also be a Community Marquee featuring local groups and organisations.

For more information, visit www. visitlittlehampton.co.uk.

Scrapbooking with Ottilie Hainsworth, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, BN2 9NB

11am-1pm. Draw, write and collage pages of a fantastical collaborative scrapbook, to be assembled and added to the Phoenix Art Space forest of books. For more information about this free workshop for ages 6 +, visit www. phoenixbrighton.org.

Sat 11 -Sun 19 Sep

High Weald Walking Festival, Various locations

Join experienced and knowledgeable guides on inspiring walks suitable for all ages and abilities.You can learn about the spectacular High Weald landscape, walk with friends or just connect with nature. For more information, visit www. highwealdwalks.org.

Sun 12 Sep

Hubble’s View of the Universe, South Downs Planetarium, Chichester, PO19 8RP 3.30pm. Find out how Hubble has peered back to the very earliest times in the history of the Universe

helping us to answer important questions about the first stars and galaxies and how the Universe has evolved over time. To book tickets visit www.southdowns.org.uk.

Wed 15 Sep

The Greatest Showman Singa-Long (PG), Tilgate Park, Crawley, RH10 5PQ

Doors open 6pm, Film starts 7.30pm.

Sing along to this musical drama that tells the story of P.T. Barnum as he creates and develops his circus in New York in the mid 1800’s. For more details and to book, visit www. thelunacinema.com.

Fri 17 Sep

King Alfred Leisure Centre Beach Clean, BN3 2WW

10am-12 noon. This beach clean is part of the ‘Great British Beach Clean’. All equipment will be provided and hand sanitiser will be available.

Bring drinks and snacks to keep hydrated and dress for the weather.

To register for the beach clean email kate.whitton@mcsuk.org.

Fri 17-Sun 26 Sep

Eastbourne Walking Festival, Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre, BN21 4QA

A ten-day festival is being held in Eastbourne to encourage people to get out and about, be active and discover the joy of walking. So get on your walking shoes and join the many walks taking place across Eastbourne and surrounding areas. www. visiteastbourne.com/walking-festival.

Sat 18 Sep

Eastbourne Sunshine Carnival, Grand Parade, Eastbourne, BN21 3AD 2pm. The Carnival will be from the Western Lawns to Princes Park on the Eastern end of the seafront.

The theme is fun and games and there will be live music and entertainment throughout the day.

For more information, visit www. visiteastbourne.com.

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

“

I saw your event in Primary Times....

Please mention you saw the event listed in Primary Times

”

Crawley Pretty Muddy Kids, Tilgate Park, RH10 5PQ

11.15am. Sign up for this brilliant muddy obstacle course just for the little ones. They can have fun with friends, crawl through the mud pit and all the while helping to raise funds for life-saving research. Children must be 1.2m tall to enter. Visit https://raceforlife. cancerresearchuk.org.

Alzheimer’s Society’s Brighton Memory Walk, Hove Lawns No.1, BN3 2WW From 10am. Join together with friends and family to help raise money and make a real difference to people affected by dementia. Sign up for free and receive a brilliant fundraising pack, with plenty of tips, useful resources and a Memory Walk t-shirt. To sign up, visit www. alzheimers.org.uk.

London to Brighton Electric Vehicle Rally

This new event is being held to demonstrate and celebrate the rapid development of electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Starting on the banks of the River Thames and finishing on Brighton Beach. For more information, or to enter visit www. londontobrightonelectricvehiclerally. com.

Bug Boxes, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, BN2 9NB

11am-1pm. Create your own mini bug from recycled materials and build a tiny home for them. Find a place to leave your bug in the willow circle. For more information about this free workshop with Jenny Staff for ages 6 +, visit www. phoenixbrighton.org.

Sat 18 Sep-Sun 17 Oct Essex Bigger Weekend, CM1 1QH

Residents from Essex, Kent and East Sussex can enter a ballot until 6 Sep to be in with a chance of securing free tickets and vouchers for popular attractions during the Essex Bigger Weekend. Attractions include Colchester Zoo, Escape Live, to open-top bus tours of Clacton.

To find out more, visit www. essexbigweekend.co.uk.

Sun 19 Sep

Toy & Rail Collectors Fair, Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park Station, TN22 3QL

Catering for everyone from avid collectors, enthusiasts, to just about anyone who is interested in collectable toys, model trains and vintage railway artefacts. There will be an extensive layout of stalls on Horsted Keynes station platforms and car park.Visit www.bluebellrailway.com for more details.

Brighton Pretty Muddy Kids, Stanmer Park, BN1 9SE

10am. Sign up for this brilliant muddy obstacle course just for the little ones. They can have fun with friends, crawl through the mud pit and all the while helping to raise funds for life-saving research. Children must be 1.2m tall to enter. Visit https://raceforlife. cancerresearchuk.org.

Summer Fiesta, Hove Park, BN3 6BG

11am-5pm. Go along to this free event put on by Bilingual Primary School for the whole community.

There will be lots of free entertainment and activities for the kids plus Zumba with Studio F, Salsa with Gabriel and Marta Scott Dance Company. To book tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Wed 22 Sep

Paint a Savannah, Born Free Foundation, Zoom Webinar

Join artist John Dyer, for a free interactive art webinar. Ask John questions about his future art expedition to Africa and find out how he approaches painting the savannah, before painting along!

Perfect for primary age children. To register go to www.bornfree.org.uk/ school-events.

Fri 24 Sep

The Greatest Showman SingA-Long (PG), Gildredge Park & Manor Gardens, BN20 8BB Bring a blanket or camping chair and sing along with The Greatest Showman on a giant outdoor cinema screen under the stars!

Picnics welcome and hot food and snacks will be available to purchase.

To book tickets visit www. visiteastbourne.com.

Shine on Harvest Moon, South Downs Planetarium, Chichester, PO19 8RP

7.30pm. Go along to the Planetarium and learn about the phases of the Moon, how it raises the ocean tides, how it regulates the Earth’s climate, and how it is slowly making our day longer. To book tickets visit www. southdowns.org.uk.

For lots more What’s On ideas see page 22...

Due to Covid 19 restrictions please do check with the venue that the listing is up to date before planning your visit.

20

1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

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Meet Emma Carroll

author of The Week at World’s End Primary Times were lucky enough to speak to Emma Carroll, once a secondary school teacher, now a multiple award-winning writer. Our interviewer, Rachel Benson, found her charismatic, energetic, and incredibly welcoming.

Her latest release, The Week at World’s End, is based in 1962. Runaway, Anna, befriends Stevie and Ray as she hides from people who are trying to poison her. As tensions rise between America and Russia, and with the threat of war, Stevie wonders if Anna has been sent with a special message just for her.

We were lucky enough to speak to Emma one Monday morning, typically, by Zoom.

A little ice breaker - you used to pick avocados do you hate them or eat them by the dozen like us?

I eat a lot of avocados, I love them! It was in Israel that I was picking them. Because it was quite hot we used to go picking them around dawn, and the chap who took us down there always carried a gun, because there were wolves, wild dogs and jackals that you could sometimes come across in the orchard. Luckily, we didn’t!

What originally inspired you to become a writer?

Well, I’ve always loved English. Even as a primary school student, English was always my favourite subject, it was the thing that made sense. Sort of in the opposite way to Maths really! But when I got to secondary school I had the most amazing English teacher, called Mrs Bailey, and she just got me. I loved her for that. She gave me that confidence. I’ve never forgotten that teacher who really made a difference to me.

With lots of creative professionals there’s that one teacher who really inspires them, isn’t there?

It’s that one person who sees in you the thing that you haven’t quite yet seen in yourself but you know it’s there somewhere. When someone else can see it too it justifies it to you.

A lot of your books are based on historical events, with The Week at World’s End set around the Cuban Missile Crisis. Why have you chosen to do that?

First of all because I really like reading books like that. The very first book I wrote, Frost Hollow Hall, isn’t based around a historical event, that’s just a Victorian ghost story. It was only when I got to write my second book, The Girl Who Walked On Air, Follow us on Twitter - @PT_Sussex

that I really began to think about historical events that might trigger the story. That’s actually quite a helpful way of writing historical fiction because you’ve got an event to hang your story on.

The Week at World’s End was inspired by my parents. They were teenagers during the Cuban Missile Crisis. When I talked to my Mum and Dad about living through this week when the world was on the brink, it sounded absolutely terrifying. That would be a really interesting thing to write about. When you look at 1962, Kennedy was President of the US, Martin Luther King was giving a lot of speeches, the space race was going on and the Beatles had their first song out. So there were so many things happening, I thought ‘let’s do it!’

What’s your favourite thing about this book?

I think the fact that they live in this little close and it really reminds me of my childhood. It’s a real book of the heart.

On your website you talk about needing lots of cups of tea when writing (which we love!) What else do you need/do when writing?

I really like this space (Emma gestures to the room she’s talking to me from). It’s only a tiny little room at the back of my house but it is my favourite place to write. It’s having the quiet space where I know that I am clicking into that creative mode.

What else? I like to have a dog in here with me. I do like that.

Emma turns her screen round to show me her view - the rolling Somerset hills out of the window and in front, a dog bed complete with resting dog.

That’s Bert. It’s normally my other dog but he got here first today.

Tea. I like nice notebooks. That’s sort of it really - tea, dogs, quiet space.

Do you have any tips for any budding writers?

The most important thing that any writer can tell you is to read. It’s where we get a lot of our ideas from.You also learn about your own tastes. It’s really important to choose a type of story to write that you yourself would want to read. Also, experiment. Don’t necessarily go down one route. Try writing poetry. I’ve heard of a lot of writers saying that a story they have written has started as a poem.

Emma Carroll’s latest release promises to be an adventurous, nostalgic and historical treat for readers of all ages. The Week at World’s End, published by Faber, is released at the beginning of September and is available from all good book shops.

1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

21

What’s On

More What’s On Your family diary for September and October

September Sat 25 Sep

The Goonies, Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, Horsham, RH13 6PP

Gates 6pm, film 7.30pm. The Goonies is an energetic, sometimes noisy mix of Spielbergian sentiment and funhouse tricks that will appeal to kids and nostalgic adults alike.

Regarded as one of the best films of the 80’s. For more details and to book tickets visit www. leonardsleegardens.co.uk.

Sat 25-Sun 26 Sep

Homes & Harmonies, Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester, PO18 0EU

10.30am-6pm. Go and listen to music played at different locations across the Museum – some traditional melodies or songs, some played on historic instruments, and others that may be a more modern continuation of a musical tradition. To book tickets visit www.wealddown.co.uk.

Sun 26 Sep

Seafront Soapbox Race, Grand Parade, BN21 3AD

2021 will see a new event take place in Eastbourne where participants are encouraged to build their own soapbox in order to race each other along the seafront. The race will take place on the seafront, Dukes Drive and finish at Helen Gardens.

For more information, go to www. visiteastbourne.com.

Worthing 3K Race for Life, Steyne Gardens, Worthing, BN11 3DW

11.30am. This is a 3K for everyone with thousands of people uniting for one purpose – to raise funds for life saving research. Charges apply, under 6’s go free. To register visit https:// raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org.

Autumn Stars Moon and Planets, South Downs Planetarium, Chichester, PO19 8RP (Also 10 Oct) As the nights grow longer, the magnificently-ringed planet Saturn moves into the sunset glow. Visit the Planetarium for a guided tour of some of the celestial wonders which are on view during the autumn months. To book tickets visit www.southdowns.org.uk.

Southern Classics Society Car Show, Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, RH16 1XP

10am-3.30pm. Go along to this charity classic vehicle event displayed upon the South Lawn with plenty

of lovely multi-marque classics to view. For further details visit www. bordehill.co.uk

October Fri 1 Oct

Our Galaxy, The Milky Way, South Downs Planetarium, Chichester, PO19 8RP

7.30pm. Go along for an exciting journey through our Galaxy to see at first hand the wonder of the new stars being born, planetary systems in the making, the growing pains of young stars and the entrails of an exploded star. To book tickets visit www.southdowns.org.uk

Sat 2 Oct

Impossible Journeys with Ottilie Hainsworth, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, BN2 9NB

11am-1pm. Make a map of a journey - real, imagined or both. Learn how to fold and prepare your paper, then draw, write and chart the story of your impossible journey. For more information about this free workshop for ages 6 +, visit www. phoenixbrighton.org.

Sat 2-Sun 3 Oct

Autumn Show and Game Fair, South of England Showground, Ardingly, RH17 6TL

9am-5pm. A perfect autumnal day out for all ages (and canine companions), plenty of ‘have a go’ countryside sports, displays and activities, and mouth-watering food and drink stalls – all designed to celebrate the joys of agriculture, countryside pursuits and 2021’s harvest.Visit www.seas.org.uk for details.

Sat 2-Sun 31 Oct

What Lurks Beneath Trail, Arundel Wetland Centre, Mill Road, BN18 9PB Are you brave enough to meet the amazing creatures lurking in the wetlands this October? Follow

Our listings are prepared a long time in advance.

To make sure you have the latest details do contact the event nearer the time to make sure they haven’t changed

“

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the brand new trail to discover ‘What Lurks Beneath’ with interactive challenges, all included in the admission price. For more information, visit www.wwt.org.uk.

Thurs 7 Oct

National Poetry Day, Nationwide

Join in the fun in this UK-wide celebration of poetry with thousands of amazing events across the UK in a variety of venues, all celebrating poetry’s power to bring people together. This year the theme is Choice. For more details and to sign up visit www.nationalpoetryday.co.uk

Fri 8-Sun 10 Oct

Giants of Steam Autumn Gala, Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park Station, TN22 3QL Thundering giants join the Bluebell Railway home fleet locos at this annual gala. Expect an intensive and varied timetable showcasing different engines of the BR Southern Region.

For more information visit www. bluebell-railway.com.

Sat 9-Sun 10 Oct

Paws in the Park, South of England Showground, Ardingly, RH17 6TL

Enjoy a pawfect day out with exciting arena displays, win super prizes in dog shows and competitions or get wet with your pet at Dash n Splash in the K9 Aquazone! For more details and to book tickets visit www. pawsinthepark.net

Sun 10 Oct

Let’s Make Some Great Art Animals, Ditchling Museum of Art+Craft, Ditchling, BN6 8SP (11am-2pm & 2-3pm) Join award winning children’s book illustrator and author Marion Deuchars for a mini masterclass. Make some great art animals – from koalas to elephants, frogs to dogs. For children aged 3-7 and one adult.

For more information, visit www. ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk.

Fri 15 Oct

Sun 24-Sat 30 Oct

BIG DRAW: Make the Change, Ditchling Museum of Art+Craft, Ditchling, BN6 8SP

11am-4pm. Join illustration students from the University of Brighton who will devise drawing activities around the environment and making a positive impact on looking after Mother Nature and our beautiful plant. For more information, visit www.ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk.

Mon 25- Fri 29 Oct

Horrible Tales of the Past!

Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester, PO18 0EU

Enjoy the great outdoors this autumn with fun family activity packs and learn about the not-so-nice-things that people (including children) had to eat, smell, experience or do as a job or household task in the past!

For more information, visit www. wealddown.co.uk.

Tue 26 Oct,

Paste Paper Book Making, Ditchling Museum of Art+Craft, Ditchling, BN6 8SP

Paste paper is a fun decorative technique that has been around since the 17th century. Emma Carlow will show you how to use your designs to make a simple concertina book.

For 7-11 year, £25 including materials.

For more information and to book visit www.ditchlingmuseumartcraft. org.uk.

November Thurs 25 Nov-Sun 2 Jan Wakehurst Glow Wild, Haywards Heath, RH17 6TN

(Selected eves) As night falls over Wakehurst, an enchanting trail filled with hand-crafted lanterns, mesmerising installations, and captivating projections winds its way through the wild woodlands and gardens. Entry slots between 4.308.10pm. Tickets on sale now, book online at www.kew.org/glowwild.

Our next copy deadline is

Just One Tree Day, Nationwide Schools throughout the UK and around the globe have already committed to this international nonuniform day that encourages children to bring in £1 to plant a tree and help reforest the planet. To sign up and for more information visit www. justonetree.life.

24 September 2021 If you have something you would like us to try and publicise (space permitting) please email it to

listings@ primarytimes.biz

Due to Covid 19 restrictions please do check with the venue that the listing is up to date before planning your visit.

22

1 Sept - 10 Oct ‘21

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All your own work!

M Mlalazi

Nathan Tutt age 10 Beare, Darius Patel competitions in our July Bumper Summer issue. Will Congratulations to the following people who won competition nture Adve of schools. The Chessington World and Asher Tomlinson won boxes of books for their going to see is o Debo Zach Out Chichester competition. was won by Emma Boyce. Zoe Lewis won the Flip ie Vaggs w-Dix Willo . s winner was Noah Whitbread the Jungle Book at Emmetts Garden. Our Mega Camp Poppy Lyus, r Arthu by won Paws in the Park tickets were won a Swingball pro wth Millbrook Garden Centre. er Summ PQA the at week u. Alexa Ling will be enjoying a Moore, Ella Sinclair, Ben Gibson and Theo Christiano at s eteer Musk Three Luke Williams won tickets for The School. Our Ropetackle winner was Yasmin Wilson. ter-Saurus Summer was Prisha Garg. M Mlalazi won Mons Pop's BOAT. Our lucky winner of a tablet with Tiny competition er was Nathan Tutt aged 10. Well done to all our our Annie's Drawing competition. Our older winn winners on this page and enjoy all the artwork!

If you would like to see your work displayed here then just send us a drawing, poem, riddles, jokes or short story and we'll do our very best to include it. Send it to: Good Work Page Primary Times 7 Southbrook Mews London SE12 8LG

Thank you to Tame Akin-Agboola, Munaver Murghal, Liyana Soobratty and Katharina Hopkins for their fun, imaginative and clever drawings and poems.

We love seeing your work so do please keep sending it to us. We're happy to receive artwork from the whole class so do feel free to send us class entries.

See Yourself at Claremont Book online!

OPEN HOUSE WEEK

Monday 27 Sept - Saturday 2 Oct Nursery & Prep School St Leonards, East Sussex TN37 7PW 01424 751555

Senior School & Sixth Form Bodiam, East Sussex TN32 5UJ 01580 830396 admissions@claremontschool.co.uk . claremontschool.co.uk/events

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