Recipe: Chocolate Bark - Rachel Khoo

At every session at Kip there are up to five individual students on their own computers and doing an individualised learning programme. This does not mean they are unaware of each other and how each other is progressing!

Sarah is ten and doing her best to up her written skills to increase her SATs score before going up to secondary school. James is also ten but is working hard at his Maths to improve his SATs scores. Reuben is seven and struggles with his confidence and most aspects of English and Maths. He has progressed well in his work but still has a way to go. Jude is 8 years old and has considerable problems with his reading, being able to read only eighteen out of the total of 120 Key Stage 1 high frequency words. They all come together with Jo one evening a week at the Matlock Kip.

So where does this ‘magic wand’ come from then?

It began with Izzy a year 11 student who was tasked with writing an article about Kip for her English homework. She arrived at the class to interview each of the students. Sarah was her first and she said it was like having a magic wand waved by Jo that made the lines on the computer seem clearer; they seemed to all fall into place as she worked and, even if they did not immediately fall into place, she had some strategies which she called ‘Jo’s magic wand’ to cope with them.

When Izzy asked James, he said he knew exactly what Sarah meant as his ‘magic wand’ worked on his Maths in the same way. Rueben was smiling as he said his magic wand made him feel strong inside and he knew that if he kept that feeling he could do anything he wanted to do. He said he used to feel scared all the time but now that Jo had given him his own ‘magic wand’, he was so much better.

Little Jude was noticeably quiet. He did not know how his ‘magic wand’ worked or if he had one at all, but Sarah reminded him of one evening when Jude played a reading game using the flashcards. At the end of the game, he counted those he could read. He needed lots of support and encouragement to ‘have a go’ but, week by week, the number increased, 24, 28, 33… Eventually, he had a big pile of words which he could read with confidence. As usual he started to count them aloud to Jo. 64,65,66,67,68… then an amazing thing happened,

91,92,93,94!

Sarah reminded him how all the other students had given him a big clap! He was a champion and they were proud of his hard work, determination, refusing to give up and the sheer bravery to make a change in his life. She told him, ‘That is your magic wand from Jo’.

So they all agreed that Jo did have a magic

wand and she could make it work for everyone all the time! (And Izzy got her article for homework!)

Call Jo on 01629 56611 for a FREE assessment and get your child’s own magic wand from Jo.

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The Old Picture House, 133 Dale Road, Matlock DE4 3LU

35

Years

The owner of new vintage shop “Red Brick Retro” on North End in Wirksworth says it’s a great feeling to be setting up business in the town, selling an eclectic mixture of second-hand records, CDs, books and film, along with small items of vintage and mid-century furniture, kitchenalia and other assorted decorative and quirky items. Thomas Brindle has been trading as Red Brick Retro for 5 years but the unit, part of Institute Buildings, represents the first time he’s had a first proper base and he’s eager to showcase his wares. “When I spotted this shop to rent, and then upon viewing it properly, it just felt right. Although not vast, with having two floors it actually feels really light and with great potential to create different identities in different areas of the shop. The fact that there’s loads of exposed red brickwork internally – and my trading name is Red Brick Retro – pretty much sealed the deal for me!” Prior to starting his own business Thomas worked in the charity sector as a retail manager for fifteen years but was ready to let his love of all things retro take full expression, explaining “I was fortunate that the charity I worked for was open to me running shops with an emphasis on ‘vintage’ and making attractive and eye-catching displays a real feature of the shop, but ultimately I knew I’d regret it if I never challenged myself to set up my own shop. The aim is to create something that people will be drawn to for both the mix of stock and as an inviting and enjoyable space in which to browse.” After selling in antiques centres and at fairs for three years, Thomas then pivoted to selling primarily online in 2020 when the pandemic struck, dealing mainly in rare vinyl records, but it was the need to escape for walks that drew him to the Derbyshire Dales. “Working from home through the first 18 months of Covid was ok from a business point of view but I needed to escape my flat in Nottingham to keep from going stir-crazy. I’d first visited Wirksworth in 2011 and had been really taken with the place then and now I found myself being drawn to this area again, to walk and generally appreciate the way of life.” Now Thomas is looking forward to establishing himself as part of the independent retail scene in the town. “Of course my first aim has to be to build up a customer base and get things to where they need to be financially, but beyond that I’d just like to create another little asset for this lovely town that people will be happy to recommend to their friends and to visitors. This is a part of the world that has worked its magic on me and to be recognised as part of that community would be a great feeling.” The shop will be open each week from Tuesday through to Saturday, 10.30am to 5pm, and Thomas looks forward to welcoming you. For enquiries he can be contacted on 07392 543233. www.facebook.com/redbrickretrostore

Second-hand vinyl and CDs; books and films; vintage and retro homeware Institute Buildings, North End, Wirksworth, DE4 4FG Telephone: 01629 820198 Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10.30 am to 5pm

Quirky Antiques fundraiser for BlytheHouse Hospice Care and Helen’s Trust raised £745.41p, winner was Gill Hallas from Tansley