CITY KIDS SUMMER 2021 | ISSUE 28

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR LONDON FAMILIES ®

SUMMER 2021 Nº 28

Unmissable summer events Wild Swimming in the City The Great Outdoors

W HAT’S O N E DUCATION F ASHION B OOKS A CTIVITIES

£4.99

Let’s Go Wild!

Devonshire House Pre-Prep & Prep School & The Oak Tree Nursery for Children from 2½

‘Pupils are confident, flexible and resilient’ (ISI Report)

Virtual Open Mornings: Tuesday 8th & Wednesday 30 th June 2021 at 10:00am To register for an open morning please visit our website or contact Admissions Telephone: 020 7435 1916 Email: enquiries@dhprep.co.uk Website: www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk

2 Arkwright Road, Hampstead, NW3 6AE

W E LC O M E

COVER IMAGE Nadadelazos

T

his time last year we were emerging from an experience none of us would have envisaged. Our lives had paused and most of us had been touched in some way by the stresses of the Covid-19 pandemic. But schools were back, we could see friends again, and families could be reunited. We couldn’t have predicted that we’d have another two lockdowns before summer 2021…

This summer feels markedly different, and you’ll see from our What’s On guide that there will be visits to make, things to see and do and museums to enjoy. Talking of trips, we have some top tips from Mr & Mrs Smith’s co-founder, James Lohan, on getting away.

We’ve all spent more time outside (sometimes through gritted teeth and thermals) and we’re likely to continue this good habit – check out HOME, and the things to make it fun.

Plus, Sophie Clowes shares her experiences of wild swimming, fishing minnows out of costumes, and going with the ebb and flow.

Be sure to keep an eye on www.citykidsmagazine.co.uk for more news about schools, parenting tips, food ideas and some fantastic giveaways. And by giving us a follow @citykidsmagazine on Instagram and Facebook, you’ll make the team do a happy dance!

Wishing you a wonderfully free-spirited summer.

CONTACT

38

editor@citykidsmagazine.co.uk citykidsmagazine.co.uk 07770 370 353 citykidsmagazine @citykidswest citykidsmagazine To receive our newsletters, please sign up via our website www.citykidsmagazine.co.uk Editor & Owner Victoria Evans editor@citykidsmagazine.co.uk

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CONTENTS

Advertising Sarah Dawson sarah@citykidsmagazine.co.uk Digital & Social Manager Jennelyn Estacio jenny.citykids@gmail.com Design Caroline Haye info@navalisdesign.com Contributors Beverley Turner Jo Pratt Eleonore Crompton Rose Wyatt Sophie Clowes Rebekah Hall

16

22

04

WE LOVE

08

WHAT’S ON

11

BEVERLEY TURNER

12

STYLE

16

HOME

18

WILD SWIMMING

21

PODCASTS

22

JO PRATT

27

EDUCATION

37

BOOKS

36

TRIPS: SOAK UP SUMMER

42

WHO IS..? CIARA ATTWELL

This publication may not be reproduced in whole or part by any means without prior consent of the publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the content at the time of publication, the publishers shall not be held responsible in any way for any inaccuracies or omissions. The opinions of those expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or CITY KIDS LTD. © 2021 CITY KIDS LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. T 07770 370 353

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 03

W E LOV E

we love

Dreamy Décor This hand drawn, intergalactic wallpaper is perfect for creating a bedroom which is out of this world. Available in Scandi pastel and navy. £35

lusthome.com

Take Your Marks There’s no missing out on sports day with this Sports Day Kit. The egg and spoon, relay, and everyone’s favourite, the beanbag race all inside this garden game set. £14.99

dobbies.com

Cool To Be Curious Mother and son, Danielle and Dom, have created A Curious Society. Think cool and quirky unisex tees and sweats from sustainable sources. We love.

From £16

acurioussociety.com

04 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Maybe Baby Owl and Dog Playbooks donates £1 from each Rainbow Baby book sold from their website to the NHS Charities Together. Designed for toddlers and young children, a set of semi-circular shapes are overlayed revealing different members of the family as the pages turn. £10

owlanddog.com

Wonderful Wool Lambswool is a wonder-yarn which is great for wrapping up babies. These baby blankets are super soft, temperature regulating, odour resistant and moisture wicking, amongst other fantastic qualities. £42

tartanblanketco.com

Miffy!

Quick to assemble, 100% cotton and easy to store, this one’s a winner for year-long den building and summer picnics. From £99 thegreatbritishteepeecompany.com

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 05

London’s Premier Hub for Children's Dentistry Going to the dentist can be intimidating for children so finding the right environment for your child’s early dental experience is so important.

Toothbeary is a unique, award winning London-based dental practice designed to care specifically for children aged 0-18. Children should have their first check up by the age of one.

Expert staff have created a child-friendly, playful, relaxed atmosphere incorporating the highest quality dentistry.

An integral part of Toothbeary’s philosophy is the monitoring of your child’s inhibitions, anxieties and fears. In turn, this informs behaviour management approaches and identifies the most suitable treatment methods.

Combining a professional, caring and individualised approach with state-of-the-art treatment ensures that your child‘s experience at Toothbeary is positive, confidence-building and offers the best provision for long-term oral health.

Toothbeary, 358a Richmond Road East Twickenham, TW1 2DU 02088316870 info@toothbeary.co.uk www.toothbeary.co.uk

COMPLETE SUPPORT FOR

11+ PREPARATION Complete Revision, Practice and Assessment books Practice Test Papers Quick Practice Tests Workbooks Flashcards

Order at collins.co.uk/11plus 06 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Latest BEVERLEY TURNER p.11

HOME p.16

UNISEX STYLE Zig + Star: caring for the planet and little feet zigandstar.com CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 07

W H AT ’ S O N

June from 4

6

KNIGHT SCHOOL: THE SHOW

VAN GOGH ALIVE

THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF DR DOLITTLE

Tower of London hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london

Kensington Gardens ticketmaster.co.uk

Fulham Palace fulhampalace.digitickets.co.uk

Travel back in time to cheer on valiant knights in a medieval show set in the Tower’s moat.

Runs May 29 to June 6.

Step inside a painting at this immersive multisensory Van Gogh exhibition.

Runs June 4 to Sept 26.

With a fully orchestrated score, enjoy an alfresco musical in the palace’s stunning gardens as Dr Dolittle sets off on a brand new adventure around the world.

from 7

from 18

18-20

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR

MOOMINTRAIL

THE BABY SHOW LIVE @HOME

London Zoo zsl.org

Walthamstow Wetlands thewomanwhofellinlovewithanisland.co.uk

online thebabyshow.co.uk

Mini climbers can wriggle through a toddler-friendly trail of giant fruit. Join interactive story sessions and even meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar himself at the weekends.

The Moomins are coming to Europe’s largest nature reserve in Walthamstow. The giant outdoor art trail will celebrate the life of their creator Tove Jansson.

The UK’s largest virtual parenting show features shopping, expert advice and live talks, with everything you need to prepare for a new baby all in one place.

18-20

26 & 27

from 29

ARTISAN FESTIVAL

BARNES CHILDREN’S LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2021

CANDLELIGHT SPECIAL EDITION: MAGICAL MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS

Hampton Court hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace

Barnes barneskidslitfest.org

Syon Park feverup.com

A family day out in the grand palace’s gardens with artisan food, traditional fete games, Shire horse carriage rides and vintage gramophones playing the sounds of the 1930s.

Julia Donaldson opens London’s largest children’s book festival. Expect book readings from some of your favourite authors, music, live shows and lots of family activities.

A Disney-inspired candlelight concert inside the spectacular Great Conservatory.

For ages 8+

London Zoo

© Tove Jansson

Fulham Palace

Van Gogh Alive

Tower of London

until 6

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W H AT ’ S O N

July 4

from 9

from 10

FUN DMC

PADDINGTON: THE STORY OF A BEAR

JOUSTING TOURNAMENT

Colours, Hoxton Square fundmc.co.uk

The British Library bl.uk

Daytime family block party spinning Hip-Hop, Disco and Funk anthems. You can create graffiti, try on some fancy dress, chill out or just dance the day away!

Watch out for toppling paint pots and marmalade splats as you explore Paddington Bear’s tales of muddles and mishaps. Runs July 9 to Oct 31.

Escape the city to support the brave Knights of Royal England as they battle it out at a Jousting Tournament. Runs July 10 to Aug 30.

from 12

from 15

from 15

THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA

DODGE

WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD

Theatre Royal Haymarket trh.co.uk

Somerset House somersethouse.org.uk

Palace Theatre whattheladybirdheardlive.co.uk

A musical adaptation of the classic tale of lunchtime mayhem with a mysterious tiger. The smash hit show returns to the West End for a summer sing-a-long.

Ride high-tech dodgems as the grand courtyard is turned into an open-air fairground extravaganza.

Runs July 15 to Aug 22.

Join the clever Ladybird for a farmyard party in this stage adaptation of Julia Donaldon’s bestselling book.

18

from 24

from 24

CHISWICK CHEESE MARKET

DINOSAURS ARE COMING

SPLASH

Chiswick chiswickcheesemarket.uk

Whipsnade Zoo zsl.org

London Museum of Water and Steam waterandsteam.org.uk

A haven for cheese lovers, the monthly market features 90 different cheeses and cheese-related goodies.

Life-size animatronic dinosaurs are taking over the safari park, located just outside of London. Book an overnight Snorassic Sleepover if you dare.

Cool off in the paddling pool, enjoy storytelling, crafts and bubble shows then get soaked in the museum’s splash zone.

© Robert Day

Fun DMC

The British Library

Hever Castle hevercastle.co.uk

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 09

W H AT ’ S O N

August from 7

from 13

SARAH AND DUCK’S BIG TOP BIRTHDAY

MARY POPPINS

DRAGONS AND MYTHICAL BEASTS

Blackheath Halls blackheathhalls.com

Prince Edward Theatre marypoppinsonstage.co.uk

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre openairtheatre.com

Watch Sarah and her best friend Duck come to life in a puppet stage adaptation of the hit CBeebies cartoon.

Mary Poppins is flying back to the West End Stage for a show full of song, special effects and dazzling choreography.

Enter a magical world of myths and legends and meet some magnificent beasts in this open-air theatre production. Runs August 13 to Sept 5.

15

18-29

20-22

PEPPA PIG IS COMING

ZOG

FOODIES FESTIVAL

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre bucksrailcentre.org

Cadogan Hall cadoganhall.com

Syon Park foodiesfestival.com

Meet Peppa Pig as you enjoy a day out of city. Unlimited steam train and teacup rides, miniature trains and lots of railway fun at the centre’s museum.

Watch Zog and his friends try their very best to win a golden star, as the smash hit show returns to the stage.

Cooking from Michelin star and TV chefs, music, food and fun for all the family, with a special children’s play zone and cookery theatre.

28-30

30

31

RAVER TOTS BOAT PARTY

BANK HOLIDAY FAMILY FUN DAY

PAW PATROL LIVE

River Thames ravertots.co.uk

Epsom Downs Racecourse thejockeyclub.co.uk

Wembley Arena pawpatrollive.co.uk

A one-off boat party where children and grown ups can hit the dance floor and rave together.

A family day out to the races with pony rides, running races, bouncy castles and craft sessions to keep even the youngest visitors entertained.

An action-packed musical adventure as Ryder and his team of pups come to London to save the day.

Buckinghmahire Railway Centre

6

10 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

BEVERLEY TURNER

CHANGE...

and boiling frogs

T

here is a famous scientific for a life providing piercings for the beachexperiment called “The Boiling dwellers of Goa. But for most people even Frog” which has become a small change is hard. Big changes are even metaphor for life. If a whiteharder. coated scientist places a frog in a vat of Even before the 2020-21 pandemic boiling water, the frog will leap straight out, lockdowns, we have all read, fascinated, presumably thinking, “Bejeesus, what was about families in tabloids who sell up and that?!” take their kids backpacking for a year, But if you place a frog in cool water and bemused by the logic that must require. raise the temperature slowly to boiling point, Then we turn the page concluding poor Kermit doesn’t spot what’s happening that it surely requires stupidity and dies in his very own soup. and selfishness as we exclaim, The story illustrates that “But what about their GCSEs?” slow, incremental changes through slightly jealous I’m not – which may not be in our gritted teeth… suggesting you best interests – can creep However, throughout swap the family up around us, unnoticed this last year we have and before we know it, all coped superbly with for a life providing we are floating belly-up immense change. And piercings for the in the vat of our own life. it would all have been beach-dwellers of I think many parents, for nowt if it didn’t make Goa. in particular, can relate us pause to consider what to this. Once we have little we have learnt about being people to whom we are perpetual happy and thus what changes we slaves, it is incredibly easy to lose can make. sight of ourselves: our loves, our needs and The mass exodus of house-buyers ditching any external influences which may help to London for country piles demonstrates the keep our identity and emotional wellbeing shift in priorities on a tangible level - many intact. people have asked why they still live in a The changes that come with parenthood city when they could have a small holding are not all bad - far from it - our babies teach in Dorset for the price of a two-bedroom flat us selflessness; they encourage the growth of in Chiswick. our own enquiring minds (this actually never Towels have been thrown in on jobs that stops, even when our offspring are adults weren’t worth the stress. Children’s crammed themselves) and they teach us to love with weekly schedules have been ripped up after a fierceness reserved for lionesses. Children seeing how much calmer they were without make us question ‘How can I be a better 16 different hobbies each week. Cleaners parent?’ ‘How can I be a better person?’ but have been forgone (or hired!) as the division we should, perhaps also ask, ‘What changes of labour in households became either more can I make to improve my own life?’ equitable or more troublesome.

I’m not suggesting you swap the family Some employers have (finally!) realised

that parents can work more flexibly and remain productive - a fact that working mums have been sure of for years, but whose words were ignored until a global pandemic caused the men-in-suits to see they were right. Insert eye-roll emoji.

We may have changed how we holiday this year too. No last-minute jetting off to the Med, but instead, a cottage in the Cotswolds that proves to be just as pleasant if accompanied by the luck of sun and a good supply of pink gin.

Some people have literally changed the way they look this year! Not just the hairdown-our-backs or beards, but the bodies which have grown either flabby and squidgy due to the lack of gyms and too many takeaways; or toned and fit thanks to Joe Wicks, daily walks and the absence of available restaurants.

And, as we (hopefully) come out the other side of this period of containment with all of its attendant challenges, we should give ourselves credit for the huge amount of change we have endured.

This knowledge should give us strength, as life evolves on the other side, that we can cope with more than we probably knew. We can be brave and stoic when the government literally tells you not to hug your loved ones (who would have thought that was possible 18 months ago?) and we should not be afraid to regularly take the temperature of our own lives… just to check we’re not one of those boiling frogs.

BEVERLEY TURNER shares her thoughts with Marina Fogle on the As Good As It Gets? podcast. She also runs the Happy Birth Club ante-natal classes. thehappybirthclub.co.uk CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 11

stellamccartney.com

STYLE UP SS FLAMINGO DRE o.uk i.c meri mer

SUNGLASSES £7 johnlewis.com

C

O ST UM E £4 2

FLAMINGO-A-GO-GO! Is there anything more joyful than a pink flamingo standing jauntily on one leg? We don’t think so!

Here’s our round-up of the brilliant, blush bird that has captured the mood this Summer…

FLAMINGO BAY RASH VEST £41 sunuva.com

FLAMINGO FLIP FLOPS £12.99 joules.com

FLAM E L DR FRIL k FOIL o.u INGO onsoon.c m 8 WEEKEND HOUSE KIDS MR FLAMINGO T-SHIRT £45 alexandalexa.com

boden.co.uk CROSS-BACK SWIMMING COSTUME from £15 boden.co.uk

O LAND FLAMING 64 SHORTS £ COTTON tney.com stellamccar

SS £2

FLAMINGO CANVAS TOTE £84 stellamccartney.com

ROSALEE DRESS £27.95 joules.com

CO T PR TON I ma NT H FLAM rks and OOD INGO spe IE £ nce 12 r.co m

FLAMINGO TUTU HAIRCLIPS £28 rockahulakids.com

ORGANIC COTTON PAINTY FLAMINGO T-SHIRT £49 stellamccartney.com

FLAMINGO SWIM SET £88 stellamccartney.com

FLAMINGO PONCHO from £12.80 johnlewis.com

FLAMINGO TRUNKS £43 sunuva.com PHI CLOTHING COTTON SHORT WITH FRILL £38 childrensalon.com 12 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

ELEONORE CROMPTON is a freelance journalist and co-founder of beauty reviews site @fiivebeauty

Connect with nature!

FA S H I O N

Nadadelazos leaves the city and heads to an old farmhouse in the middle of nature.

Original themes, prints and colours on sustainable, ecological and affordable textiles.

nadadelazos.com CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 13

FA S H I O N

14 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

nadadelazos.com

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 15

HOME

TP Toys Muddy Maker Wooden Kitchen £99.95 cuckooland.com

Ratatam Glitter Space Hopper £63 en.smallable.com

Plum Play Wooden Sand Pit with Canopy £134.99 scandiborn.co.uk

The Great Outdoors Take the inside out and make your outside space a haven of stylish toys and accessories, keeping little ones entertained and your garden looking chic! From window -box tending to forest rambling, we’ve rounded up our favourite outdoor buys...

Solvej Baby Toddler Swing £135

Yellow Tiger Head Deckchair £43.50 maisonsdumonde.com

by ELEONORE CROMPTON

Nature Trail Insect Viewer £4.95

Liewood Leonore Pool £34.95

Liewood Lyon Watering Can £25

rexlondon.com

scandiborn.co.uk

en.smallable.com

Striped Tent £95.50

The Cottage Garden Den Kit £45

Fermob Children’s Picnic Hut Bench £895

sorenshouse.co.uk

thedenkitco.com

dykeanddean.com

solvejswings.com

ELEONORE CROMPTON is a freelance journalist and co-founder of beauty reviews site @fiivebeauty 16 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Life WILD SWIMMING p.18

JO PRATT p.22

My challenge choices GETTING STARTED

WHAT TO AVOID

HOW TO AVOID IT

OCEAN

Fill your bin with plastics for ‘recycling’

Avoid as much plastic packaging as you can

Pre-packed fruit and veg

Choose loose products (skip the little plastic bag or put in a reusable bag)

Lightweight plastic bags

Remember your reusable shopping bags or use a cardboard box

Pre-packed meat or fish

Shop at the deli counter or butcher or fishmonger for paper wrapped cuts or BYO reusable container

Takeaway drink straws

Refuse plastic straws (or opt for a paper straw if they have them). BYO reusable straw

Takeaway coffee cups

Bring your reusable cup or sit and enjoy a real cup

Takeaway utensils and containers

Support vendors offering compostable alternatives (bamboo or card), BYO reusables or sit and enjoy ‘dine-in’

Bottled water

Fill a reusable bottle from the tap

Bottled soft drinks

Reduce the amount (helps your health), or make your own with a soda maker/ carbonator or choose glass bottles (and recycle)

Bin liners (or ‘reusing’ plastic shopping bags)

Have a sealed container for ‘wet’ scraps and compost or freeze until bin day. Line the kitchen bin with paper

Plastic food wrap for leftovers and sandwiches

Use a reusable lunch box to store food, store food in containers or use beeswax wraps

Littering: cigarette butts, balloons

Dispose of cigarette butts in the bin (they are plastic and wash into the ocean environment) Avoid releasing balloons (what goes up, must come down)

YES

YOUR IMPACT LANDFILL

GLOBAL WARMING

I’LL DO THIS

AVOID LANDFILL WASTE, REDUCE YOUR ECO-FOOTPRINT, PROTECT THE OCEAN. PLASTICFREEJULY.ORG

TAKE THE CHALLENGE Plastic Free July plasticfreejuly.org

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 17

F E AT U R E

INTO THE

WIL D I

by SOPHIE CLOWES

t is a rainy lunchtime on a school day. It is also May 2020, and the country is in tight lockdown. Our children are trying their best with school at home, as are we. We are all tired and fractious and it’s difficult to know quite how to arrange our thoughts, how to focus, how to be. So, we say to hell with it and go for a family swim in a downpour. In the Thames. We laugh and splash and shiver with unalloyed delight, retuning our senses and resetting our focus so we are ready for another afternoon of lonely grind.

A year later, no more than a week has gone by without one or more of us easing ourselves into

18 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

the swirling water of a high tide and being taken downstream by the swooshing current, braving the cold in just our swimmers. A punctuation mark in the sentence of lockdown, we’ve swum against the flow, we’ve squealed at the cold, had a quick dip, gone miles, swum at dawn and dusk and all the daylight hours between, double dipped, made friends both human and feathered, watched the seasons change and felt the water temperature dip to 2.2°C from the 20+°C of the hot summer months. We have delighted in this pulsing watery artery that helps keep the heart of our wondrous capital beating fast.

LONDON SWIM SPOTS Please respect and protect your swim environment and know that you enter at your own risk.

THE THAMES We have never swum further east than Dove Pier or further west than Strand-on-the-Green.

In normal times there are arranged swims from the Black Lion steps W6 (nowca.org).

Please be aware that there are sewage dumps in the Thames.

Information is available online and rivers users are advised to wait at least three tides for the pollution to clear.

THE SERPENTINE royalparks.org.uk

HAMPSTEAD PONDS cityoflondon.gov.uk

DOCKLANDS loveopenwater.co.uk

HILLINGDON LIDO better.org.co.uk

BROCKWELL LIDO brockwelllido.com

PARK ROAD LIDO Crouch End

of water should be shared, leaving people to draw Swimming is many things to many people but their own conclusions. more than anything else it is redemptive. There Who owns the Thames? The Crown Estate is a time and a place for every type of swim, from owns the riverbed and leases most of it to a squad session in a chlorinated indoor pool the Port of London Authority (PLA) which is to a floaty holiday dip in a warm, salty ocean. I responsible for the foreshore right up to the have tried them all, indeed searched for high-water mark. And yes, just as rowing swims wherever I have been in the boats, kayaks and SUPs can use it, world. And yet, all this time one of so can swimmers, provided you do the best pools has been right on so at your own risk, taking every my doorstep and I didn’t know I ‘It is a physical and precaution to keep safe. could go in, outside an official meditative practice Of course, swimming in the swim. with therapeutic river is dangerous but, with a Getting in the river is a simple qualities.’ bit of knowledge, many of those pleasure that is different every dangers can be mitigated. We have single time. The tide and current come up with our own set of family generously swoosh us along, faster swim rules, alongside those of the RNLI… than I could go at full-stroke crawl. It’s We always walk into the water from a set of a clearing of the mind, it’s physiological steps or slipway, and we never go in without a experimenting, it’s discovering my swimming hat on and wearing a tow float. These body can adapt to withstand an ice swim (any both have personal practical benefits but, above water below 5°C, apparently), it’s soul food, all, they show you are in the water deliberately it’s literally immersing ourselves in nature. It’s and are visible to other river users. We have family time – we usually swim breaststroke discovered that the best time to swim is either and have had wonderful chats and laughs as we side of high tide, in the direction of the tide. You float along. It’s the slow familiarity of the tide must know your exact exit point before you get times and the lunar cycle. It’s the unexpected in, plus a second one in case you miss the first and welcome increase in constant core warmth (we haven’t yet). Keep close to the bank, never out of the water. It’s the temporary stinging attempt to swim across the river and remember cold, the visceral feel of the after-drop when it it is your responsibility to ensure other river is as if icy water is slipping down your body’s users know you are there. You should also know core – a not unpleasant feeling and one that is the significance of the red and green buoys, and, as surprising as it is fascinating, in a geeky way. therefore, which side of the river boats will be Swimming in the river is also contradictory: on. Rowers go backwards and, however silly you cleansing yet dirty-ish, cold-making yet glowthink you sound shouting, “Look ahead, eight, giving, exhausting yet energising. It reflects all swimmer!”, it’s going to be less awkward than the whirling variants of life. It is joy. being hit by an oar. I do swim alone, but I always Is it allowed? Isn’t it too dangerous? Isn’t it have someone on the bank for reassurance. too dirty? I have thought long and hard about Tide times shift by about an hour each day all of this and tend to keep quiet about our and I find elemental comfort in following the swimming unless specifically asked. However, in waxing and waning of the moon and a slow this wonky year, when our health, emotions and accrual of tidal knowledge. Swimming in the finances have been buffeted like never before, I river is a choice and with it you must choose to have come to the conclusion that the wonders politely sidestep the naysayers and, in my and restorative powers of this beautiful stretch

fusion-lifestyle.com

SHEPPERTON sheppertonopenwaterswim.co.uk

HAMPTON hamptonpool.co.uk Photos: p19 HAMPSTEAD PONDS Wikimedia Commons p20 BROCKWELL LIDO

by Steve Cadman CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 19

F E AT U R E

COSTUMES You can spend anything from £20 to £220, neither guaranteeing a suit that will last more than a summer but here’s where to look…

Louise Mischa on en.smallable.com batoko.com deakinandblue.com davyj.org speedo.com supermarkets sports Direct

case, the mansplainers. For that’s another joy of river swimming – it is there for everyone and is wonderfully equalizing. Which fits very neatly with a quote I found about equality itself, most notably used by JFK, “Equality is a rising tide that lifts all boats.” Oh, how I like that.

‘Ugh, it’s filthy!’ This is the one element that I waver on. Only once have I got in and thought that it wasn’t as clean as it should be. In reality, the water mostly feels cold and velvety and there is very little rubbish - it is fallen leaves or fishy tickles that make me jump.

What’s the worst that has happened? Well, I got out one day and felt a wriggling in my cleavage. I pulled my cossie away from my chest and found that I had actually caught a teeny tiny fish! Did I squeal? Of course I did! Did my children exit the river faster than ever? Yup! I flipped it out and it swam away…

We try not to put our heads under but on a hot sunny day we do. At a time of fear and uncertainty the ebb and flow of the river is a comforting salve, for nature continues on her merry way, changing her clothing with the seasons and the certainty that the blossom and green shoots will come again and that the ducklings and goslings will hatch is of great comfort.

Every swim is a little adventure that is full of beauty. Some days it’s choppy and feels like a sea swim, other days it’s like glass and you swim into the reflection. Often it feels like we slough off the day’s woes and come out of the river reborn in some way. There is something spiritual about being held by the water and there is thinking time on a swim. It is a physical and meditative practice with therapeutic qualities; less so with our children, of course, with whom it is a noisier, funnier affair. No two swims are ever the same, which in times of drudgery and monotony is an opportunistic pleasure that turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. You never regret a swim, especially a lunchtime one in the pouring rain.

20 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

KIT

BOOKS & FILMS

TOW FLOAT Try a 20l one from Swim Secure, swimsecure.co.uk PHONE COVER swimsecure.co.uk SHOES For river swimming try Hot Tuna from Sports Direct SWIM HAT Get a bright-coloured silicone one. Or, for retro flower power, try Fine Saratoga on Etsy.

HAMMAM TOWEL dar-leone.com bohemiadesign.co.uk

WETSUIT For a swimming wetsuit go to a specialist shop: Try Sigma Sports in Hampton Wick or Ocean Leisure at the bottom of Northumberland Avenue.

Good brands are Zone 3, Huub or Orca.

For growing kids, ask friends for hand-me-downs. Otherwise, C-Skins is an excellent make and will keep little bodies warm and buoyant.

Leap in by Alexandra Heminsley Her description of learning to breathe correctly in the water by watching her young nephew blowing raspberries with his food is technically spot on!

I Am An Island by Tamsin Calidas This is extremely raw but beautiful writing.

My Octopus Teacher this Oscar-winning documentary touches yet again on the redemptive power of cold water. And has an underwater chase scene to rival Bond.

INSTAGRAM @theoutdoorswimmingsociety @caldamac @lewis.pugh @gillymcarthur @ellachloeswims @hemmograms @lorrainecandy @winniepoaty @vivgroskop @kate_rew

PODCASTS

Podcasts OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE.

HOW TO FAIL WITH ELIZABETH DAY

DESERT ISLAND DISCS

THE SHIFT: ON LIFE AFTER 40 WITH SAM BAKER

DUOLINGO SPANISH PODCAST

Guests talk about three of their biggest failures in life, which, ultimately, led them to success.

Day’s guest list is impeccable, and you will find many pearls of wisdom and comfort through her thoughtful and compassionate questioning. It’s funny, too.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury… You’ll discover great music both new and old and some fascinating insights into the lives of inspirational guests. Yes, it’s one of the longest-running radio shows, but the podcast feels so easy and accessible.

Sam talks to a roster of fascinating women about being middle-aged in a world that would quite like to ignore them. The resounding message seems to be that, in spite of a rocky ride, life just keeps getting better.

Each episode tells a compelling real-life story in relatively simple Spanish, interspersed with helpful fill-ins in English. The true stories run the gamut of human interest and emotion and stay with you as much as the Spanish, hopefully, will.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

MODERN LOVE

FEEL BETTER, LIVE MORE

THE WINGWOMAN

Claudia Winkleman listens in on one-time, unscripted sessions led by her friend, psychologist Professor Tanya Byron, as she identifies struggles faced by normal people, unlocking the story behind the issue to help find solutions. It’s therapy for the masses.

Originally a column in the New York Times, this is a podcast about ‘stories of love, loss and redemption’.

The essayists are regular people whose stories are read by wellknown names. Try not to walk into things as you listen and get lost in the power of human connection.

Dr Chatterjee, a GP with over 16 years’ experience, aims to simplify the overcomplicated discussion around health. He chats to experts and provides conversations that are relevant to daily living. The episode on sleep is revelatory.

Journalists and best friends Charlie Gowans-Eglinton and Frankie Graddon talk about anything and everything to do with life in your thirties. Their weekly email is always a Sunday treat.

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 21

F O O D B Y J O P R AT T

Tropical Ice Pops

C

elebrate the natural sweetness and all-round goodness of fresh fruit by blending it to a purée, adding a few extras and making your own personalised frozen ice pops. You can be super-flexible on what you choose and it’s a great way of using up fruits before they deteriorate, extending their shelf life and reducing waste. If you’re short of decent fresh fruits to use, make the most of already frozen ones or even tinned fruits in natural juice. Once you’ve blended your fruit choices, always have a taste before pouring into ice-pop moulds to check the balance of flavour, adjusting when needed. You shouldn’t require any added sweeteners, but if you do find something a little too sharp, add a little honey or agave.

22 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

TIME TAKEN 15 minutes + 4–5 hours freezing MAKES 6–8

Mango, passion and watermelon double decker 2 medium ripe mangoes, peeled, stone removed and roughly chopped 3 tbsp coconut water or fresh fruit juice pulp of 2 passion fruit 250g / 9 oz watermelon, roughly chopped and large pips removed 10-12 raspberries Blend the mango and coconut water or fruit juice until smooth.

Watermelon and kiwi 1 x 400ml /14 fl oz tin coconut milk 1 ripe banana, peeled and roughly choppedd 150ml / 5 fl oz / ⅔ cup fresh pineapple juice grated zest of 1 lime Blend the watermelon until smooth and pour into 6–8 moulds, filling about ¾ full. Freeze for around 1 hour.

Stir through passion fruit pulp and pour into 6–8 moulds, filling roughly halfway. Freeze for around 1 hour. Blend the watermelon and raspberries until smooth and strain through a sieve to remove any seeds if preferred. Pour on top of the mango passion layer and freeze for around 4 hours or until fully frozen.

Blend together the kiwi and apple or pineapple juice and pour on top of the watermelon. Return to the freezer and leave for around 4 hours or until fully frozen.

Raspberry and lychee

Coconut, lime and pineapple

400g / 14 oz tinned lychees 200g / 7 oz fresh or frozen raspberries

600g / 1 lb 5 oz watermelon, roughly chopped and large pips removed 3 ripe kiwi, peeled and chopped

Blend together the lychees with their juice, and raspberries until smooth. Strain through a sieve and pour into 6–8 moulds.

Freeze for around 4 hours or until fully frozen.

4 tbsp fresh apple or pineapple juice Blend everything together and pour into 6–8 moulds. Freeze for around 4 hours or until fully frozen.

FLEXIBLE...

Adult upgrade Why not experiment by adding a splash of your favourite tipple. Gin, vodka and rum all work very well with the tropical flavours. Do make sure you label the alcoholic ice pops in the freezer to avoid a mix-up.

The Flexible Family Cookbook by Jo Pratt, £20 Frances Lincoln Photography Malou Burger

Fruity yoghurt pops Fruit, natural, dairy or plant-based yoghurt can be mixed into blended fruits and frozen in the same way. As with the fruit ones, have a taste before freezing and adjust according to preference.

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 23

FOOD

BLANKET Water-resistant back and faux leather straps. £39 sophieallport.com

PLATES Argon Enamel White Dinner Plates. £17.99 wayfair.co.uk

RUBBISH Portable, reusable rubbish bag with roll top closure sealing contents safely. £12 jack-wolfskin.co.uk

Picnic Essentials CUPS Melamine cups £16.75 for 6 campfirecooking.co.uk

NAPKINS Pure cotton, relaxed feel, take home and use again and again. £25 for 4 thewhitecompany.com

COOL Go big or go home. £349.99 yeti.com

24 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

GAME Add some colour and competition to your picnic with this giant toppling tower. £35 whsmith.co.uk

SNACK SOS

On the Table COOKING GREEN

Guilt-free snacking is the holy grail and SOS Natural Fruit Snacks go some way to meeting this need. Each packet contains a flat fruit snack in the shape of a marine pop out puzzle, a collectable card with sea life facts, is one of your five a day and is high in Vit C and fibre. Wrapped up in Good for Planet produced packaging, and it’s a winner for us. Available in Holland & Barrett. Thumbs up from our testers too. soskidssnacks.co.za

Aimed at 7-14 year olds, Green Kids Cook

by Jenny Chandler is about teaching children to cook and eat food that’s good for them and the planet. Virtually all 60 recipes are plant-based and include exciting tastes such as Vietnamese Summer Rolls and Butternut Bean Burgers. You’ll also find sewing projects, a few foraging tips and even instructions on how to sprout your own pulses.

Published July. pavillionbooks.com

LIEWOOD OLAV SILICONE SNACK BOX £32 en.smallable.com

What’s New TOMMY K

OYOY FOLLOW THE RAINBOW PLACEMAT £11.95 scandiborn.co.uk

MOUSE SILICONE MUG £4.99

FEARNE & ROSIE JAMS

Surely nobody entertains the idea of a BBQ without tomato ketchup? Real Good Ketchup has 78% less salt than regular ketchups, uses naturally occurring sugars and is free from artificial flavours and preservatives. Also available in BPA free, 100% recyclable easy squeezy bottles. Our ketchup connoisseurs were very happy! realgoodketchup.com

We do love a jam at CKHQ and these Fearne & Rosie pots of joy have hit the mark. Strawberry Super Berry was a particular favourite and the children really couldn’t tell that these are a reduced sugar, healthier alternative. fearneandrosie.co.uk

zarahome.com

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 25

Hawkesdown House School

PRIVATE TOURS NOW AVAILABLE

A Preparatory & Nursery School for boys and girls aged 2-11, Kensington W8

Contact us to arrange a visit Please contact the School Office to arrange a private tour with the Headmistress

Register here: www.lyndhursthouse.co.uk/tour 0207 435 4936 office@lyndhursthouse.co.uk 24 Lyndhurst Gardens, Hampstead, London, NW3 5NW

Durston House

A LeADInG LonDon PreP sCHooL

CHARACTER | CURIOSITY | CAPABILITY

Durston House, in Ealing, is a leading London prep school, for boys aged 4-13 years, which has a fine record of preparing boys for future success. Founded in 1886, Durston House continues to enjoy a strong reputation for academic, sporting and cultural excellence. A boy is shaped by the development of his character, his curiosity to learn and discover more, and his expanding capability. These three concepts, Character, Curiosity and Capability are the cornerstones of his success at Durston House and his success in life.

Find out more by visiting our website, attending an Open Day or touring the school.

Call 020 8991 6530 Email info@durstonhouse.org www.durstonhouse.org 26 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

27 Edge Street, Kensington, London W8 7PN Telephone: 0207 727 9090 Email: admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk

Education TRANSITIONS p.31

BOOKS p.34

EXTRA-CURRICULAR Horse Riding at Sandroyd sandroyd.org CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 27

E D U C AT I O N

GOING CLUBBING “Little Johnny does cricket on Sundays, tennis on Mondays, tutor on Tuesdays, coding on Wednesdays, piano on Thursdays, football on Fridays and drama on Saturdays, and we’ve just heard of this amaaaaazing Mandarin club, but he really doesn’t want to drop any of his other activities”. Cue eye roll.

These days there is a club for anyone and anything. Some parents sign their children up at the mere whiff of a new offering (often covertly before anyone else can steal their place), sometimes spending hundreds of pounds a term. Meanwhile, all their children want to do when they come home from school is to watch tv or play with their friends. So, where is the happy medium and how can we find a club that is beneficial and that both parents and child agree on?

What to look for?

As a parent we are not just looking for something that is fun. Ideally, it has to provide a little extra and an educational element is a bonus. Truth is, any good extra-curricular club will be adding value and your child will be getting an education in a whole raft of life skills by engaging their brains and bodies.

Nathan Dumlao - Unsplash

NOT THAT KIND. VICTORIA EVANS DISCOVERS THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. from club leaders. The chance to fail in a supportive environment will also give a child the tools to self-correct and build resilience. Even the most confident child needs to learn how to fail. Google Dr Carol Dweck for the reasons why.

3. Organisation.

Remembering the right kit, turning up on time, practising skills are all important life lessons.

Of course, when they are little you can help, but as they get older, they can learn to do ballet in their football boots or face the music if they are late.

4. New experiences. There is quite literally a club for everyone, an opportunity to try things that are not available at school - although many schools now offer a dazzling array of cocurricular activities. It is not all about sport. While sports like gymnastics may bring added benefits which you have not considered, such as improved motor

skills and confidence, music or drama will also encourage your child to think critically and become more creative.

All of the above give your child transferable skills, creating a well-rounded individual who is more likely to have the charm, wit and confidence to do well in life. In some circumstances, the right club can enhance a child’s academic standing. Better engagement in lessons and developing skills beyond the academic will prepare them for all the ups and downs of the life they have ahead of them. But beware of overscheduling and the parenting FOMO trap. It is also good for them to be bored, so perhaps scale down on what little Johnny is up to.

Some activities to try:

BENEFITS

ROLE MODELS

THE LITTLE GYM

FIRE TECH

1. Socialising. Not previously at the top of the list but seen as increasingly important following the lack of social interaction during three lockdowns.

Whether at school or at an independent class provider, children mingle with others outside their peer group, learning how to interact and to behave with different personalities. They can be leaders, followers or in an ideal world, both!

“We focus on life skills that promote social and emotional wellbeing and dynamic thinking, helping young people to thrive in life; both at home and their future workplace. We complement traditional academic education by delivering courses for 3–15-year-olds that develop their skills in leadership, confidence, resilience, creative problem solving, collaboration and growth mindset.” rolemodels.me

“All academic skills start with the body. To write you need the strength in your core, shoulder girdle and tendons in between finger and thumb in order to hold a pencil. You develop this strength as a child by climbing, crawling, hand-standing and weight bearing. To read, your eyes need to track and cross the midline of your body; you need a strong core to sit, and good depth perception.

Gymnastics helps develop these skills.” thelittlegym.co.uk

“Fire Tech has developed a pedagogy that focuses on project based learning, problem solving and creative skills. We continue to attract tutors with hands-on knowledge of the latest technology in coding, robotics, digital media and design. The students are inspired by the collaborative and creative work environment. Parents love our small class size.” firetechcamp.com

2. Building self-esteem. Excelling away from the classroom can be a big plus for any child who finds their classmates intimidating. Most extra-curricular or after school clubs are smaller by design, with the opportunity for more attention 28 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

E D U C AT I O N

Devonshire House ROLLER SKATING CLUB

Sandroyd CYCLING CLUB

SCHOOL CLUBS

Durston House JUNGLE ART

We know that learning and having fun away from the classroom is fantastic for children. Schools are pushing the boat out these days with some truly magnificent clubs and activities on offer for their pupils.

Highfield & Brookham

Falcons School for Girls FENCING CLUB

ARCHERY CLUB

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 29

London, W4 1LY | artsed.co.uk | @ArtsEdLondon

Open Mornings From 9:45am Wednesday 23rd June 2021

(on site, geared to Reception entry 4+)

Tuesday 21st September 2021 Wednesday 13th October 2021

St Catherine’s Prep, Bramley GSA Day & Boarding School since 1885 | 4 - 18 years | Guildford GU5 0DF www.stcatherines.info | prepadmissions @ stcatherines.info

Boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 2-13 years Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SO5 5QD 01725 530 124 • admissions@sandroyd.com •www.sandroyd.com

30 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK City Kids - Summer 2021.indd 1

20/05/2021 10:35:36

E D U C AT I O N

THE EDUCATION OBSTACLE COURSE

St Benedict’s School

MELANIE SANDERSON, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE SHARES ADVICE ON MOVING THROUGH THE BRITISH EDUCATION SYSTEM.

M

ost London families hope for a place in a good local state school. At primary level in particular, your child’s friends will almost all be local. You will soon feel part of the local community. You won’t spend hours in a car trying to navigate school run traffic or have to squeeze onto a rush hour tube or bus. And of course, they are free.

At primary level you may not get the specialist teachers that many private preps employ, nor probably the level of facilities, but the quality of teaching at a good state school shouldn’t be inferior. With a good comprehensive down the road, you are home and dry.

However, state primaries don’t prepare children for 11+ entrance exams, so if you are aiming at a selective secondary school, you will probably have to rope in a tutor in year 5.

Many families have a rough idea where they want to live but want to find a school before they commit to renting or buying a house. But you won’t be offered a state school place without proof of a local address.

Normal primary school admissions are at 3+ into the nursery or 4+ into the reception class (beware: getting a nursery place doesn’t usually guarantee a reception class place; you will probably have to reapply). Some are divided into infant and junior schools, the latter starting at seven years. Most secondary schools start at 11.

For a normal application, you will need to apply – with a local address - by around mid-January for primary schools and the end of October of the year before entry for secondary schools. Apply later, and you become a late applicant, probably joining the queue behind all those who applied on time. (Note: selective grammar schools set entrance tests in the autumn, often with a closing date for applications in July).

Most state schools, primary and secondary, give preference to those with an EHC plan naming the school, to ‘looked after’ children, those with specific medical or social needs, then siblings. Faith schools mostly give preference to regular churchgoers. Secular primary schools give most of their places to those who live closest (which can, in many areas, mean more-or-less spitting distance) although it’s worth checking whether the admissions authority uses the ‘as the crow flies’ method or ‘walking distance’.

Secondary schools are a mish-mash of various forms of selection, whether by ability, location, faith or all three.

Secular comprehensives give most of their places to those who live closest. Academically selective grammar schools range from those that offer places to the highest scorers in their entrance tests, regardless of where they live, to those that offer places only to local children.

Some schools award a proportion of their places by ‘aptitude’; some by church attendance; some use ‘fair banding’ to get a spread of ability. For most schools, distance is the tiebreaker. The local authority will usually tell you how far the cut-off was for the previous year.

Across in the private sector, most schools have small classes, specialist teachers and a relatively biddable intake – and the more rural often have acres of grounds.

They will also prepare your child for entrance exams to secondary schools and advise on which are likely to be most suitable. Don’t assume the teaching is superior to a state school - both sectors include those who would be better off in a different profession. But a prep school is judged at least partly by its leavers’ destinations, so it will do its best to ensure your child moves on to a decent secondary school, even if it has to dampen down your expectations.

Independent secondaries range from the ferociously selective powerhouses such as Westminster and CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 31

E D U C AT I O N

St Paul’s Girls’ to those that provide a gentle haven from hothousing or social integration - with admissions policies to match. A glance at the league tables will give a clue as to the degree of selection they operate.

Prep schools don’t usually care where you live, as long as you can pay the fees. Many London preps in particular give the illusion, at least, that if you don’t sign your child up at birth you are too late. Some selective schools do close their waiting lists early or have specific dates for registering; others operate on a first-come-first-served basis and do fill up on paper at least. But it is always worth a phone call; last-minute places come up at the most sought-after schools and many country preps welcome applicants at any stage.

The thought of putting your three or four-year-old through a selection session or two may seem round the bend. Indeed, all-through schools (those with a senior school attached) that select this young rarely guarantee that a place at four will see you through into the senior school. Even those selected at seven or eight are sometimes weeded out at 11 or 13.

However, your child may have to go through it. At three, they may be asked to draw a picture, listen to a story and answer questions, cut out a circle, do a jigsaw, build a tower, match dominoes. Many schools send them out to play together, no doubt with an eye out to see who bites whom. Selection at this age is not an exact science,

and certainly does not mean your child is doomed to failure because he didn’t get a place at three.

At seven, eight and 11, most schools set maths and English exams, perhaps combined with reasoning tests.

Many have previous papers on their websites. They will generally also interview likely candidates and ask their previous school for a report and may include some sort of group activity.

Entry at 13 gets more complicated, with schools setting pre-tests (generally maths, English and reasoning) in year 6 or 7. Those selected will usually need to confirm their places by doing well in the entrance exams (in a range of subjects) in year 8. This system is tricky to navigate if you are arriving with a child already in year 7 or 8, and you may need to track down one of the (dwindling number of) schools that don’t use the pre-test system.

Many pupils change schools in the sixth form whether from single sex to co-ed, boarding to day, state to private or vice versa. Some single sex schools admit both boys and girls into the sixth form. Both state and private schools almost always have some sort of entrance requirements at this point, generally involving GCSE grades, interviews and perhaps entrance exams.

The Good Schools Guide is the UK’s leading impartial source of education information and advice. goodschoolsguide.co.uk

London schools?

We wrote the books.

The capital’s best state and independent schools. Shop now at goodschoolsguide.co.uk 32 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

What is your dream job?

For pirouetting pilots that will take you for a spin, number crunchers that provide for the munchers and those that save pets’ lives, and then paint them,

Falcons WE ARE

AIR FALC

ONS

SCAN HERE TO REGISTER FOR A PRIVATE TOUR

Rated EXCELLENT in all areas

falconsgirls.co.uk | admissions@falconsgirls.co.uk 11 Woodborough Road, Putney, SW15 6PY

E D U C AT I O N N E W S

CITY KIDS MAGAZINE PARTNERS WITH THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE City Kids Magazine has teamed up with The Good Schools Guide. In forthcoming issues and on our website, we will be sharing knowledge, expertise and advice that the team at The Good Schools Guide has built up over 20 years in schools across the state and private sector.

The most exciting development will be a new and improved City Kids Schools Supplement, produced alongside the Autumn print issue, in association with The Good Schools Guide.

Victoria Evans, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of City Kids said: “The fact that schools included in all The Good Schools Guides are selected on merit was very important to us. We are delighted to be able to share with our thousands of readers the knowledge that The Good Schools Guide reviewers have built up over many years across state and private education.”

Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of The Good Schools Guide said: “We’re always on the look-out for new ways to get our education advice and school reviews in front of families. City Kids Magazine knows only too well that London parents are hungry for information and highly opinionated when it comes to education and rightly so. It’s an emotive subject and making well-informed choices for your children is important. Collaborating with City Kids presents an excellent opportunity for us to speak directly with the capital’s parents and we’re relishing the opportunities this new relationship will bring.”

ADDED VALUE St Benedict’s is one of only two schools in London to be named as one of Daily Telegraph’s best value private schools in UK. The annual list includes schools offering “an excellent education for a significantly lower price.”

The article states that academically, the 12 selected schools compare favourably with their more expensive counterparts while offering an impressive range of co-curricular and sporting opportunities.

The Telegraph’s article also notes that, even with lower fees, the chosen schools still offer generous bursaries and scholarships. At St Benedict’s, these include academic, music and sports scholarships, and the St Anselm Bursary Award, a means-tested bursary worth up to 100% of the fees.

The Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, said: “We are delighted that the Daily Telegraph has recognised again this year the quality and value offered by a St Benedict’s education.”

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 33

Books

BOOKS

THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE FAST APPROACHING AND AS STAYCATIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY, SO A GOOD SELECTION OF READS COULD HELP STEM THE BOREDOM THE WEEKS AHEAD.

PRE SCHOOLERS

By SHARON JONES

HOW TO MEND A FRIEND

IZZY AND FRANK

by Karl Newson, illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi (Studio Press) £6.99

by Katrina Lehman, illustrated by Sophie Beer £10.54

This touching picture book written whilst the author was undergoing chemotherapy looks at how sometimes we can all feel a little bit broken, but there are ways we can tackle sadness even when we don’t quite understand it. Featuring beautiful illustrations of a girl with her imaginary friend, it may prompt ways to support friends who maybe feeling sad, whether that’s because they’ve broken a toy or even when the last biscuit has been eaten!

LITTLE KIDS

A GIRL CALLED JOY

by Jenny Valentine, illustrated by Claire Lefevre (Simon & Schuster) £6.99 A brilliantly heart-warming tale which shines a light on Joy Applebloom. Having jetted around the world with her family she’s now back in England living with her grandad. Joy by name, joy by nature, but even her sparkle starts to fade as she struggles to adjust to a new school and new friends. It’s not until an old oak tree in the school playground is under threat that Joy’s passion for life returns, but can she save the tree before it’s too late?

BIG KIDS

WHAT’S THE T?

by Juno Dawson, illustrated by Soofiya (Wren & Rook) £8.99 Multi-award-winning author Juno Dawson has done it again with this cracking guide to what it means to be a young transgender or non-binary person. Illustrated by Soofiya, Dawson’s typical no nonsense and humorous style discusses all aspects from how to come out, identity and how to navigate this challenge space.

Gathering reflections from other influential scenesters including Jamie Windust, Kenny Ethan Jones, Travis Alabanza - definitely an informative read.

You can never have too many books about friendship and this delightful book follows pals Izzy and Frank who spend easy days playing by the sea, until all changes when Izzy leaves island life for the bright lights of the city. It all sounds exciting on paper, but the city is busy and noisy, and she misses her chum. Can she ever call the city her home and will she ever be reunited with Frank? A beautifully illustrated tale that tackles independence, adventure and companionship.

NO MAN’S LAND

by Joanna Nadin (Uclan Publishing) £7.99 This poignant story tells the tale of ten year old Alan, who with his brother Sam has been sent to a farm in Cornwall to escape the impending war in Europe. His dad tells him to be brave, but it’s not long before Alan misses him, especially when his dad doesn’t make his birthday and stops texting. Taking matters into his own hands he decides he has to find him, and embarks on a nail-biting journey with his brother, just as a war is about to break out...

THIS BOOK IS FEMINIST

by Jamia Wilson and Aurelia Durand (Frances Lincoln) £8.99 Can boys read this book? Of course they can! This book is for everyone and looks at gender stereotypes, intersectionality, microaggressions, deep-rooted biases and so much more.

Punchy, full of stats, quotes and cool illustrations, this excellent book draws from Jamia Wilson’s lived experience but also is thought-provoking and challenges and covers a wide range of topics - from health, education, money and power through to activism and innovation.

ABOUT SHARON JONES: Wearer of clashing clothes and rainbow hair, but don't let that put you off. I eat, sleep and breathe children's books.

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Explore TRIPS p.38

THE KNOWLEDGE p.40

ADVENTURE Expeditions for young guests at MarBella Elix marbella.gr CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 35

Two schools consider whether sport could be more important than academic study

Giles Entwisle, DURSTON HOUSE

Kong Jun - Unsplash

SOAK UP SUMMER Travel Advice from Mr Smith WHETHER IT’S A BEACH ABROAD OR A STAYCATION, STAYING FLEXIBLE IS THE TICKET AGAIN THIS YEAR. LONDONER AND CO-FOUNDER OF MR & MRS SMITH, JAMES LOHAN, GIVES CITY KIDS HIS TOP TRAVEL TIPS.

by REBEKAH HALL

T

hree lockdowns and a solid vaccination rate means that we can officially fly our coop, and while we can practically feel the sunscreen baking into our skin, travel still is not without slight complications. The good news is that with a little prowess, decent planning and a few key tips you’ll soon be on your way to Kokomo, drink melting in your hand.

To get started, first check the latest government advice when planning any trips abroad because we have learnt how fast things change as countries move in and out of lockdown. A number of countries have a

36 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

green stamp of approval but there are constraints for UK travellers, including some hotel quarantines upon arrival in green-list countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. A Covid PCR test 72 hours before re-entering the UK and two days after you return is required even if you are vaccinated. So, while it is unlikely that we will find ourselves racing to our border to avoid a lengthy quarantine like last year - do your homework.

The official government advice is that “people should not be travelling to amber or red countries for leisure,”

T R AV E L

and if you should, then you could face 10-day managed hotel quarantine or at-home quarantine with PCR testing.

The next announcement about additional countries opening is due in late May or early June, so watch this space.

We asked travel expert and co-founder of Mr & Mrs Smith, James Lohan, for his best travel tips to help us navigate these tricky times.

LOOK FOR FLEXIBILITY “So, there’s a number of things to think about. Don’t book anything that doesn’t have a very flexible cancellation policy, that’s the first thing,” Lohan says.

“In the old days, there was a lot of pre-paid, noncancellable hotel rates which is a thing of the past now.”

This applies to flying: it’s best to choose an airline that is good at changing flights with no added hassle or fees, so be sure to read the fine print. “I would also choose to fly into airports that have several planes per day, so ever if one gets cancelled there’s another one at a later time. If you go someplace more remote that only has one flight per day and it gets cancelled all of a sudden, then that’s a problem. So, look at destinations where there are a lot of flights going in and out from.”

Portugal - Dan Gold - Unsplash

KEEP AN EYE ON VACCINATION PROGRAMMES His next advice is how to hedge your bets on amber countries, and this is where a bit of deftness comes in.

“Look at the countries that are amber right now. Work out if that country’s vaccination programme is going well, how much farther they have to go, how many cases are there? A lot of countries are just behind the curve from us. While we can’t say officially which country will be green listed, we can predict the market,” Lohan explains.

“And if you get it wrong, then don’t worry because you’ve booked flexibly and can change it anyway.”

He says that once a country is given the green light there is a very good chance of it staying that way all summer and it’s going to get booked up pretty quickly.

“Don’t forget, it’s not just us. As soon as there’s a green, the rest of Europe is trying to book too. They can drive to these places, so it’s even easier for them to get around.”

TRAVEL SUSTAINABLY Now that we can actually hear birdsong and see firsthand the positive impact of less commuting on the environment, Lohan suggests we think about how to travel more sustainably. Instead of having four or five holidays per year, we take two or three but stay for longer to travel inside a country a bit more.

“Portugal is such a perfect example. Fly into Lisbon to experience its vibrance for a couple of days. Then drive to Comporta and have a bit of a beach holiday.

Afterward, go inland to stay in an amazing countryside farmstead,” Lohan suggests. “When you start to travel around a country, you get to experience more, eat different local foods, go to greater depths. You’re also helping several communities. It’s a much different feel from just going to someplace near the airport for two or three days and then coming back on the plane.”

Finally, Lohan wisely recommends that everyone gets planning. “February half-term next year is already getting incredibly busy. So, if ever you are good at planning, now is the time, because 2022 could be the best year in travel, ever.”

When you’re ready to come back into the country, you will need to fill in a passenger locator form and have a valid notification of negative test result 72 hours in advance, so be prepared. Again, red or amber list countries will require types of quarantines.

There is something appealing about not schlepping to the airport at o’ dark-thirty to catch a flight with the family in tow. That said, staycation planning is almost as tricky as travelling abroad because most places are already booked. It is possible to make arrangements, but it depends on you being quick and nimble. “A lot of people have banked a UK hotel with a view that they will cancel if there’s a green light someplace else,” Lohan explains. “So, when Portugal was announced, people cancelled their UK bookings and re-booked into Portugal instead.

As soon as more green corridors open, there will be movement.” So, be on the lookout once more countries open up later this summer.

A pent-up demand for travel is certain for next year, so whether you plan to go abroad or stay closer to home - get planning.

You heard it here! mrandmrssmith.com CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 37

TRIPS

FOR ALL LITTLE MONKEYS Looking for a special break nearby?

Monkey Island Estate’s new Shepherd’s Hideaway Experience could fit the bill.

This unique setting is found on a private island on the River Thames, with extensive countryside promising herb gardens, four

beehives, resident hens, a croquet lawn and a floating spa for guests to discover.

The Summer Shepherd’s Hideaway Experience can be booked as an add on to an overnight stay and is also available to book for those not staying at the hotel. monkeyislandestate.co.uk

BRING THE HOLIDAY TO YOU Designed in lockdown, Holiday in a Box creates destination-themed and activity-filled hampers for travel lovers. Expect immersive games, a digital library of virtual tours, music playlists and artisanal products. Choose from city breaks, family adventures or build your own. theholidayinabox.co

TIME FOR ADVENTURE The newly opened MarBella Elix in Parga, Greece is running two programmes for 8-11-year olds (Argonauts) and 12-15-year olds (Spartans).

Thanks to the hotel’s unique location, surrounded by hidden bays and stunning mountains, children will be able to explore and learn new skills such as orienteering, bushcraft, pottery, wood carving, combat archery and sea kayaking. The six-day programme has been designed by founder of Exploration Society, Chris Brickel, and aims not only to entertain its charges, but also to develop a sense of adventure and confidence.

marbella.gr 38 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

marbella.gr/marbella-elix

1st session free! ripplelearning.co.uk

At Ripple Learning, we believe every child deserves to find their love of learning – and the support to cultivate it.

That's why we donate 40% of profit to educational charities that support pupils from low-income backgrounds.

11+ • GCSEs • A Levels Summer catch-up • Primary Experienced, compassionate tutors & teachers Fun, holistic 1:1 tuition A bespoke learning plan to get your child off to a great start in September!

Thank you for instilling more confidence and self-belief in N and for bringing him up to the standard that he deserved to be at.

Call us now at 07723 214 148 to discuss our tuition options.

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 39

THE KNOWLEDGE

Heading to the beach or the pool doesn’t have to cost the earth.

1

SOOTH Young Living’s LavaDerm™ After-Sun Spray will suit the whole family. The vegan -friendly formula includes menthol from mint to soothe and cool the skin without alcohol, synthetic fragrances or synthetic colourants. Moisturising qualities come from aloe, lavender essential oil and helichrysum essential oil.

youngliving.com

We share our planet saving options for SPFs, swimwear and toys. (Good weather is on its way, promise!)

SEA SAFE This yummy smelling, eco-friendly air-powered spray from Alba Botanica is super easy to apply at any angle. No synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, harsh sulfates, parabens or phthalates and is ocean friendly. £12.79

biggreensmile.com

4

Calming Avoiding the burn is always the priority, but if you’ve missed any bits, this Lyonsleaf Zinc and Calendula Cream could help reduce itchiness and redness. £10.95

lyonsleaf.co.uk

5

ENTERTAINMENT

Forget about collapsing sandcastles, how about a kit that helps you make bricks for construction!

This multipurpose construction kit can also be used year round with mud, snow and kinetic sand. £32

sandpal.com

Swim Gear This unisex, moss green surf suit, made from recycled nylon, is perfect for playdates in the summer sun with a UPV rating of 50+. £28

turtledovelondon.com 40 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 29

D I R E C TO R Y

HOLIDAY CLUBS ART & DESIGN

art, fashion and music Hammersmith

BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE bfi.org.uk 8-14yrs | Workshops Southbank

FUN WITH FIMO CLAY funwithfimoclay.co.uk Acton

LONDON ACTIVITY CAMPS londonactivitycamps.co.uk 4-14yrs | Creative, adventurous and sporting activities Hammersmith

CHISWICK THEATRE ARTS chiswicktheatrearts.com 4-14yrs | Musical theatre Chiswick

PERFORM perform.org.uk 4-12yrs | Drama, dance and singing Across London

MINIVERSITY KITE STUDIOS kitestudios.org Various ages | Arts and crafts Shepherds Bush

miniversity.com 4-12yrs | Creative learning clubs Chelsea

YOUNG FILM ACADEMY

ROLE MODELS

youngfilmacademy.co.uk 8-19yrs | 1- 4 day courses in film-making Chelsea, St John’s Wood, Wimbledon

rolemodels.me 8-12yrs | Confidence, resilience, enterprise & creativity courses plus residential at Wellington College Chelsea & Notting Hill

THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS architecture.com 7-18yrs | Design workshops W1

SUPER CAMPS supercamps.co.uk 4-12yrs Ofsted Registered, Childcare Vouchers accepted Across London

MULTIACTIVITY

THE BAND PROJECT thebandproject.co.uk 4-7 & 8-16yrs | The complete band experience Camden & Chiswick

campbeaumont.co.uk 3-16yrs | Multi-activity day camp Across London

treehouselearning.co.uk 3-10yrs+ | Forest school Ham

PERFORMING ARTS

CHISWICK COURSES

ARTS ED

chiswickcourses.co.uk 5-16yrs | Film-making, fashion, street dance, cookery, Lego & entrepreneur workshop West London

artsed.co.uk 4-17yrs | Drama, musical performances, impro & imaginative play Chiswick

ET PATATI ET PATATA

POP & STAGE SCHOOL ACADEMY

etpatatipatata.com 4-18yrs Fun French holiday day camp SW6

pssa.co.uk 4-18yrs | Themed week-long camps Chiswick

EXPLORATION SOCIETY explorationsociety.co.uk Get a group of 6 friends together to take part | Shelter building, climbing, swimming, sailing, high ropes

UNICORN THEATRE unicorntheatre.com 7-16yrs I Performance-based creative workshops Southwark

SPORT CLUB DE SPORTS clubdessports.co.uk Football, netball, tennis, cricket, gymnastics, ballet, karate, boxing Acton W3 7HB

XBAND STUDIO SCHOOL OF ROCK POP AND MORE

DUKES MEADOWS

xbandstudio.com 8-18yrs Ealing

dukesmeadows.com 5yrs+ | Golf & Tennis camps Chiswick

STEM & CODING

EALING CRICKET CLUB

firetechcamp.com 9-17yrs | Creative tech camps incl coding, electronics, games, robotics Chelsea, South Kensington, Hampstead

BLUE{shift} blueshiftcoding.com 5-12yrs | Everything from Robotics and Coding to Minecraft and Python Notting Hill & Hammersmith

premiercricketcoaching.co.uk 4-15yrs | Premier Cricket Coaching Ealing

EALING RIDING SCHOOL ealingridingschool.biz 5yrs+ | Riding & stable management days Ealing

EXCEL SPORTS CAMPS

richmondgymnastics.co.uk 5-16yrs Kew

ROCKS LANE rockslane.co.uk 4-16yrs | Multi sports and football Chiswick

SKATEBOARDING CLUB mylittleboarders.co.uk 6yrs+ Westway, Westminster Academy, Royal Oak, Camden

SPORTS GENERATION sportsgeneration.co.uk Various ages | Swimming crash courses Richmond

THE LITTLE FOXES CLUB thelittlefoxesclub.com 18mths-12yrs | Football, Tennis & Rugby Across London

THE LITTLE GYM thelittlegym.co.uk/chiswick 3-12yrs | 3 hour & all day themed camps Chiswick, Hampton & Teddington, Westfield & Wandsworth and Fulham

WESTWAY SPORTS CENTRE

excelsports.org.uk 4-12yrs Chiswick

westwaysportscentre.org.uk 4-16yrs | Tennis, football and climbing Holland Park

CYPHER

FIT FOR SPORT

TEAMSPORT

cyphercoders.com 4-14yrs | Creative & Coding camps Various locations

fitforsport.co.uk 4yrs+ Across London

team-sport.co.uk 8yrs+ | Karting Acton

HARTSWOOD TENNIS CLUB

WILL TO WIN

MAD SCIENCE madscience.org.uk 4-11yrs Various locations

hartswoodtennis.co.uk 5-15yrs | Drop-in holiday camps Chiswick

HEATHROW GYMNASTICS

SONG ACADEMY songacademy.co.uk 8-12yrs | Write, produce, perform and record a song

rigb.org.uk 7yrs+ | Various science-based workshops Mayfair

upbeatmusiccourses.co.uk 4-14yrs | sing, dance, play in a band, record CDs, write songs Parsons Green

FIRE TECH

Hounslow

RICHMOND GYMNASTICS ROYAL INSTITUTION

UPBEAT MUSIC COURSES

TREEHOUSE LEARNING CAMP BEAUMONT

English and Debating South Kensington

LET ME PLAY

MUSIC HOUSE FOR CHILDREN

RICHER EDUCATION

letmeplay.co.uk 11-19yrs | Free activities incl. dance, drama, sport, cookery,

musichouseforchildren.co.uk Various ages Shepherds Bush

richereducation.co.uk 4-14yrs | Science, engineering, mechatronics, robotics, coding,

willtowin.co.uk/junior-tennis 3-16 yrs | Week long tennis, football, netball and multi-sport camps (at selected centres).

Chiswick, Lammas Park, Pitshanger Park, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park

heathrowgymnastics.org.uk 4-12yrs | All abilities CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK 41

PEOPLE

who is?

CIARA ATTWELL CREATOR OF MY FUSSY EATER, PICK PLATES AND AUTHOR OF WE’RE HUNGRY!

Three words to describe yourself.

Disorganised, messy and manic!

How did My Fussy Eater start?

It started in 2014 as a response to my daughter’s eating habits. She was a typical fussy toddler and I wasn’t a particularly confident cook, so I set about trying to improve her eating and documented it on my website and social media.

When did you get the idea for Pick Plates?

I started to realise how much better my kids ate when eating from divided or compartment plates. But most of them were quite small and designed for the baby/ toddler years. I decided to create some aimed at older children.

accustomed to it. It may take up to 20 different exposures for a child to accept and taste a new food.

Tell us one thing that people don’t know about you.

I hate tinned tuna despite using it in quite a few recipes.

How did you go about getting a book deal?

I met my literary agent at a conference a few years ago and it went from there!

How hard did you find the process of getting an autism diagnosis for your son?

We were lucky that it was spotted when he was quite young so he was diagnosed at three and a half after 12 months of assessments.

What would be your best advice if someone has a fussy eater?

First up, try to relax and not get too stressed and emotional about it. Slow introductions are important. Don’t try to completely overhaul a child’s diet in just a few days. Introduce one new food every week and give them time to come 42 CITYKIDSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Where’s your favourite date night?

It’s been a while! But you can’t beat a nice restaurant with good food and wine.

What’s your signature dish?

At the moment I’m trying to perfect chicken wings.

What would you take to a desert island?

My phone! Is that bad?!

Last book you read?

Happy Sexy Millionaire by Steven Bartlett

What’s your proudest moment?

100% my children.

What’s next for Ciara Attwell?

Focusing on Pick Plates and expanding our product range later this year.

@myfussyeater myfussyeater.com

St Benedict’S School a

m i n i m i s

i n c i p e

Outstanding Catholic Independent school for boys & girls aged 3 - 18

OPEN MORNINGS

SENIOR SCHOOL - THURSDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER NURSERY AND JUNIOR SCHOOL - TUESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER

View our website for a full list of our Open Events or arrange a personal visit with our Registrar, Louise Pepper, on 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk stbenedictsschool

stbenedicts

stbenedictsschool