Term Times Issue 134

UR ES Y O ZL TR PUZ N FU

PETERBOROUGH

See page 10

the magazine for families

Issue 134 Oct - Nov 2018

Education

Awards

LEARN FROM SAVINGS TIPS ELITE ATHLETES

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

LEARNIN G TO SWIM

The essential FREE publication for you and your children www.termtimes.ltd.uk

WIN DAYS OUT AND GREAT BOOKS

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

1

SOFT PLAY AND PARTY VENUE

FULLY REFURBISHED

LASER PARTIES BIRTHDAY PARTIES SEE FACEBOOK FOR SPECIAL EVENTS 24 Wainman Road, Orton Longueville, Peterborough PE2 7BU T: 01733 390 810 /BigSkySoftPlay www.bigsky.co.uk

50%

OFF

FIRST MONTH'S BILL! Quote TT318 Valid until 1/1/19 T&Cs apply

Looking for childcare?  Government funding for 2, 3 and 4-year olds  No appointment needed to view the nursery  Homely welcoming environment  Great outdoor area  Freshly prepared food every day  Friendly qualified staff Contact: 01733 390 969 E-mail: info@apricotnursery.co.uk 24 Wainman Road, Orton Longueville, Peterborough PE2 7BU 2

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

Welcome ‘Your screen time is over’: a frequent phrase in our home. Whether it’s a smartphone, an iPad, PlayStation or a good old-fashioned TV, parents are acutely mindful of the time technology impinges on our children’s lives. We are regularly told how technical ‘mod cons’ are damaging to our children’s wellbeing when not policed. But while the mobile phone has become a necessity for most – does it really need to be that for primary-aged children?

In this issue of Term Times, we investigate the use of phones by primary school children. Once upon a time we relied on a 9ft red box to call home when we were ready for tea; now we have to be concerned with the safety measures taken with more convenient methods of communication. While we discuss these safety measures on page 12, we are always interested to hear from parents who have tips and advice on how they manage their family’s tech time so please get in touch.

As well as technology, we’ve expert advice on teaching children to save and the essentials for choosing swimming providers. If you have been following our 2018 Education Awards you’ll be able to find out about our winners and educational heroes on page 14–15. A special thank you to all who contributed with their nominations. With our partners Hamerton Zoo Park, we faced a tricky task in choosing the winners, however I am sure you will enjoy reading about these people and the reasons why they scooped the 2018 prizes.

Enjoy our autumnal offering and we will welcome you back for turkey and tinsel on 22 November.

Amanda

PS. Don’t miss the valuable family flu immunisation advice on page 9. Part of the Season to be Jolly we don’t like!

Regulars

4 – 6 .............News 14 – 15........Term Times Education Awards winners 20 ..................Puzzles

Contact us Publisher: Steven Beacham Editor: Amanda Stacey T: 01780 757731 E: steven@termtimes.ltd.uk 70 Rutland Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1UW www.termtimes.ltd.uk

Advertise with us Term Times reaches over 52,000 children and many more parents six times a year. Through a transparent and targeted channel, your business will be seen in a title read and respected for over 20 years. For options available, please contact the team on 01780 757731 or via steven@termtimes.ltd.uk

Contents

Competitions

Competition Entry Mentioning the competition you're entering, send your name, age, address, phone number and school name to Term Times, 70 Rutland Road, Stamford, Lincs PE9 1UW or via email to steven@termtimes.ltd.uk Alternatively, competitions will be posted on our website at www.termtimes.ltd.uk Please ask your parents’ permission before entering via the internet. All winners will be picked at random and Term Times' decision is final.

8.....................Win your school an elite athlete for the day 14 ..................Opro Mouthguards up for grabs 17 ..................Win family tickets to Skylark's Week of Wickedness 24 ..................Family tickets to see Sleeping Beauty pantomime 30 ..................Two new reads to win 30 ..................Win family tickets to the National Festival of Railway Modelling

Editorial

10 ..................Learn the latest about The Children’s University 12 ..................Should primary school children use a mobile phone?

22 – 24........How to choose your swimming provider 26 ..................Strategies to teach your children to save 28 ..................Just for fun: recipes, fun facts and apps

Another great publication designed by

Dimension T: 01733 772095 www.dimension6000.com Term Times/Term Times Ltd are independently published and are trading styles of 12th Man Services and Solutions Ltd. Distributed free throughout primary schools in your area. Its aims are to inform families and children of current education issues, forthcoming events, places to visit, attractions etc. Every care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press. However, please check opening times/entry fees etc., before setting out on a journey. We also aim to give teachers, parents and children, the opportunity to participate in the content of Term Times. Term Times does not intend to publish any racist, sexist or political matters, nor carry out editorial or advertising that may be considered to be offensive to families. Opinions expressed by contributors/advertisers are not necessarily those of Term Times or the schools that distribute it. The publishers cannot be held responsible for any erroneous or misleading claims or comments made by any contributor/advertiser. Competition winners will have their details shared with the competition supplier for purposes of fulfilling delivery/provision of the prize. Details of the winners will sometimes be published in a subsequent issue and by entering the competition you grant Term Times permission to publish these. Our thanks go to the schools for their assistance in distributing the magazine, and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank the advertisers who have supported this publication and made it possible. Please support them where you can.

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

3

COMPETITION Daniel Charlie Salma NEWS WINNERS Wellbeing service launched

Calling all primary schools…

Term Times will soon be adding a free event listing. If your primary school is arranging the likes of a school fair, fundraiser or Christmas celebration please let us know and we can list them and aid your promotions.

Send us a short summary including all the dates and times. Our next issue is available 22 November and we would require all press releases by 20 October.

Please send them to steven@termtimes.ltd.uk

Nassington School raises its bar With reports of OFSTED’s increasingly rigorous reviews and new criteria, getting a ‘Good’ OFSTED rating is harder than ever to achieve so it's well worth a celebration when a school does.

Here at Term Times we like to commend such an accolade – congratulations Nassington School near Peterborough on a job well done! Their latest OFSTED report saw them elevated from 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' across all categories.

We heard from the Head, Loraine Allen: “We are very proud of our school and pleased that the report recognises the amazing children, staff, parents and community we have here. We are a small school with a family ethos but we have high expectations and achieve great results. We feel it is important to educate the whole child through the arts and sport as well as the academic subjects.”

A new club that enables schools to better aid students to improve wellbeing has been introduced with the aim of tackling the mental health crisis in schools. The programme, called Brilliant Schools, provides tools and resources to help boost the wellbeing of pupils, teachers and parents, all through a simple, not-for-profit subscription.

Spine-tingling fun at Serpentine Green Bring your little monsters to a free Trick or Treating event at Serpentine Green on Friday 26 October.

You’ll have a fa-BOO-lous time!

Pick up a Trick or Treat bag at the event stand and then follow the treasure trail around to the stores.

Expect squeals of excitement as your little horrors say the magic word to receive frightfully delicious sweets and treats.

Oh, and there will be fangtastic face painting to make your kids look even more horrible too.

It’s all free. So come along on Friday 26 October from 11am to 4pm and have a terrifyingly awesome time!

Serpentine Green offers great shopping for all. Shops include Tesco Extra, Next, H&M, Clarks, Outfit and many more. With over 2,000 free parking spaces available, your visit to Serpentine Green couldn’t be easier. www.serpentine-green.com

The mental health crisis in schools is well documented. UK teenagers rank next to bottom in international measures of wellbeing, while a recent report by the Children’s Society revealed that a shocking one in four 14-year-old girls admits to selfharming to cope with the pressures of modern life.

Brilliant Schools is a service created by two leading not-for-profit organisations, the National Learning Trust and Art of Brilliance, to address these problems. The service flips wellbeing on its head – rather than waiting for staff and pupils to break under the pressure. The service provides schools with the strategies, resources and knowledge they need to better happiness and wellbeing throughout the curriculum, and into the fabric and culture of the school.

While some schools are subscribing to the service, in others, parent groups have been raising funds to cover the costs and help make their schools a healthier, happier place. www.brilliant.school

continued on page 6>>

School based training Primary and Secondary Train to teach with The Cambridge Partnership

Developing inspirational teachers for the future

The Cambridge Partnership Teacher Training Provider 01487 833707 info@thecambridgepartnership.co.uk www.thecambridgepartnership.co.uk The Cambridge Partnership is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people

4

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

IQ PLUS

 Exam registered  Retakes organised  Exam revision

CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR

& preparation

 11plus & SATS  GCSE & A Levels

FREE

ASSESSMENT

 Key Stages 2, 3 & 4  Maths, English

& Science

Complete Online GCSE and A level courses see website for more details

01733 551111 admin@IQplus.co.uk 29 Alexandra Road, Peterborough PE1 3DE

www.IQplus.co.uk

confidence self esteem success

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

5

NEWS

>> continued from page 4

Museum of the moon Following the incredibly popular Tim Peakes’ exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral, Vivacity Peterborough will be extending the out-of-space theme by suspending an illuminated moon, by Luke Jerram, detailing NASA imagery of the lunar surface. Called Museum of the Moon, the piece will open on Friday 5 October with artistic dance and music performances.

Sheena Carman, Vivacity Arts programme manager says: “Museum of the Moon has wowed audiences all over the world with its appearance at festivals across Europe, the USA and China, and at the Commonwealth Games in Australia. We’re very excited to be bringing this to Peterborough and present it in the beautiful setting of the Cathedral. It’s going to be a magical experience for all ages.” The show will run from 5 – 14 October, as well as have special late night openings.

Fun and sparkles at Peterborough Firework Fiesta Peterborough Fireworks Fiesta, organised by the Rotary Club of Peterborough and Round Table, will be exploding into action Saturday 3 November at Peterborough Arena, East of England Showground. The spectacular event is one of the biggest in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire.

The show is designed by Titanium, the company behind national celebration fireworks such as the Commonwealth Games and New Year displays in London and Edinburgh.

Weather permitting there will be a bonfire, live music from Heart FM, a fairground and food outlets. Advance tickets (on sale in October) cost £4 for under 15s; under twos are free; and £8 per adult. Tickets increase to £5 and £10 on the door.

For full details and to book, visit: www.fireworkfiesta.com

6

To find out more visit vivacity.org/moon

Parents urged to give up competing New research has found that 92% of British parents believe children should be encouraged to develop at their own rate, with one in three calling for more common developmental milestones to be focused on tracking the development of children’s imagination and play skills.

As part of its Make Your Own Milestones campaign, LEGO DUPLO is encouraging parents to stop ‘competitive parenting’ and instead celebrate the individual development of every child. The research highlighted that 10% of parents feel like a failure if their child doesn’t reach a milestone within the expected timeframe, with 8% saying the pressure to ensure their child met ‘expected milestones’ caused them more stress than moving house.

The Other Red Book, a physical and digital tool, encourages parents to set and share personalised goals that suit their little ones, with tips and activities to aid development from birth and beyond – you can download a copy here: www.lego.com/en-gb/themes/duplo

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

‘Fang-cy pumpkin’ spooky to do this October half-term?

Attention all Halloween horrors, pumpkin scoopers and creepy crawlers, Queensgate Shopping Centre has a dastardly date for your diary. On Wednesday 31 October, shoppers’ mini monsters can enjoy eerily exciting storytelling from Pumpkin Pat and Pumpkin Pete then weave through the Pumpkin Patch and learn the bone-rattling Skeleton Shake-down dance in the shopping centre’s Central Square.

Pimp up a pumpkin with everything from glitter to stickers, paint and googly eyes, ready to take home and put on the doorstep, all completely free! Plus, mums, dads, nans and grandads, it’s your turn to learn. Get inspired by amazing pumpkin carving demonstrations, learn techniques and get ideas that will make neighbours ghastly green with envy.

Children are welcome to come along in fancy dress and if they don’t have anything the centre's retailers have some amazing costumes this year, including M&S, John Lewis and Tiger.

Visit www.queensgate-shopping.co.uk/whats-on

Kick off half-term at Nene Valley October is the month to head to Nene Valley in Peterborough as it hosts a number of child-friendly activities to occupy and enthuse over half-term.

From learning how to sail (22 and 25 October) and polishing up on your bushcraft (27 October), to guided walks with a ranger (24 October) and drop-in sessions full of wild crafts and nature trails, there’s something for all ages. Whilst there are activities for all ages, sailing is for aged seven and over; bushcraft is for those aged eight or above; and the four-mile walk around Ferry Meadows with Ranger Ian Lowe is suitable for children aged ten and over.

Visit www.neneparktrust.org.uk for details.

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

7

Recruit Mint Education Promotion

To enter, answer the following question:

If you could be an athlete what sport would you compete in and why?

Have a sporting chance!

Enter to win your year group an inspirational day of sporting activities from an elite athlete.

Recruit Mint Education is offering you and your year group the chance to spend half a day training and learning from a professional athlete. Students of all abilities will be able to enjoy the mini training circuit and vibrant team spirit that comes with it.

Sports for Schools, which works with elite athletes to deliver events in primary schools across the UK and Ireland, promises that even those children who profess not to like sport will finish the circuits with Cheshire-cat grins and rosy cheeks.

After training, you’ll be able to ask the athlete all of your burning questions during a whole

school assembly. You’ll find out how they started their sport, how they got to where they are today, who inspired them and the difficulties they had to overcome along the way. They may even demonstrate their sporting skills and showcase medals, equipment and footage of finals.

The scheme is designed to inspire children to get more active and pursue their own dreams. Sport for Schools’ athletes visit 1,300 primary schools each year giving children direct contact with extraordinary athletes from their local area.

The event is being run by Recruit Mint Education and sponsored by microbyte.

8

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

For details on how to submit your entry, turn to page 3. Entry closes 27 October.

The experience will take place Friday 16 November at 1pm.

Don’t forget your child’s free flu vaccine Flu can be a very unpleasant illness for children with potentially serious complications, including bronchitis and pneumonia. The children's flu vaccine is offered annually as a nasal spray in September/October to protect young children against flu.

Which children will receive the free flu vaccine this year?

Who will give the children’s flu vaccination?

In the autumn/winter of 2018-19, the vaccine will be available free on the NHS for eligible children, including:

 Children aged two and three years old will be given the flu vaccine by their GP surgery.

 All children aged two to nine (but not ten years or older) on 31 August 2018.

 School aged children will be given the vaccine by their school nurse or in a community health setting.

 Children aged six months – 17 years old with long-term health conditions.

 Children aged six months – two years old who are at high risk from flu will be given the vaccine at their GP surgery.  Children aged two - 17 with long term health conditions will receive the flu jab from their school nurse or GP surgery.

Stay Well Promotion

Flu vaccination is one of the most effective interventions to reduce harm from flu. Talk to your GP, practice nurse or your child's school nurse if you want more information about when and how your child will be vaccinated against flu.

5

You can find out more on flu vaccination by visiting NHS website:

www.nhs.uk/child-flu

flu:

reasons to vaccinate your child

1. Protect your child. The vaccine will help protect your child against flu and serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia

2. Protect you,your family and friends. Vaccinating your child will help protect more vulnerable family and friends he nasal spray is painless and 3. No injection needed. TThe easy to have 4. It’s better than having flu. The nasal spray helps protect against flu, has been given to millions of children worldwide and has an excellent safety record

5. Avoid costs. IIff your child gets flu, you may have to take time off work or arrange alternative childcare What should I do?

Contact your GP if your child is aged two or three years old and you haven’t heard from their GP by early November.

If your child is at primary school and is eligible, the school will send you a consent form. Please sign and return it.

If your child has a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu, they are also eligible for the flu vaccine.

For more information visit www.nhs.uk/child-flu Flu i mmunisation Helping protect everyone, every winter

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

9

How to boost your child’s in-classroom learning Find out how joining the Children’s University can enhance your child’s learning in and outside the classroom.

The Peterborough Children’s University is designed to expose children aged five to 14 years old to new activities, to develop new skills and enjoy new experiences.

Through signposting, encouraging and celebrating participation in fun, highquality learning experiences, it aims to grow inquisitive, confident, motivated and independent children and learners.

According to the recent UFA (University of the First Age) Young Researchers and Evaluators Impact Report December 2017, of those children asked, 80.95% believed that taking part in the Children’s University helped them in lessons and 72% believed that the Children’s University makes school more fun and interesting.

With the Children’s University, the school holidays and weekends give children some memorable and enjoyable experiences as well as a boost for their learning when they’re back in the classroom. This summer saw our children getting involved in new

activities and discovering new Learning Destinations. There are already more than 100 Learning Destinations in the Peterborough area and the Children’s University is a national scheme so there are plenty of exciting places to visit in other parts of the country too.

Children can join the Children’s University for as little as £6. A child is issued with a paper passport, the CU Passport To Learning, and an online E-licence. They are then signposted to the many and varied CU validated Learning Activities and experiences that are available locally and nationally.

Each hour of CU validated learning they complete brings the child closer to a Children’s University graduation certificate, which start at 30 hours and rises to 1,000 hours. The awards are then presented at a locally organised CU graduation ceremony.

The scheme is accessible through many schools and our Virtual School is available for children whose school isn’t registered with us.

Graduation June 2018 Peterborough Cathedral Be part of the adventure and look out for the Passport To Learning logo when you are out and about.

Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club Peterborough

The CU Summer Challenge – bike ride

Willen Lakes The Parks Trust Milton Keynes

If you are a school or parent who would like to be part of Peterborough Children’s University, or a venue interested in becoming a Learning Destination, contact Gill Hall, Peterborough Children’s University Manager, Gill.Hall@vivacity.org or call 01733 864 729/ 864 784. Follow Peterborough Children’s University on @PeterboroughCU Children’s University promotion

10

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

PETERBOROUGH

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

11

Do primary school children need a

mobile phone?

Kay Kelly explores the reasons why parents are giving mobile phones to under eights and ways to ensure safe usage.

Almost 20,000 British children have been given a mobile phone by the age of six and one in eight has their own handset by the age of eight, according to a survey by insurance provider Aviva. The survey also reveals more than half (56%) of parents cited safety as the main reason for giving a first phone. However, nearly a quarter (23%) said they did so because 'all of their friends' were getting them, and almost one in five (19%) ‘to keep them entertained’. But despite the pressure parents are put under to provide mobile phones earlier than ever – do children really need one?

There arguably appears to be two main reasons for giving a primary school-aged child a mobile phone: necessity and peer pressure. As far as necessity goes, is there really a need for your child to have their own phone unless they’re spending time on their own, away from you and without supervision by another adult?

The impact of peer pressure is a tougher decision. Once a few children in a class have a mobile phone, your child may feel left out if

they don't, especially if their friends use them to keep in touch and make plans. If you do decide to give your child a mobile phone, it's important to remember most allow access to the internet, enabling emailing, searching online and access to social networking sites.

MOBILE PHONE SAFETY TIPS

As well as putting parental controls on both their phone and your WiFi network to restrict the content they can view, there are several apps to help keep them safe – from trackers, which use GPS to tell you where your child is, to apps that keep a record of their text messages or tell you if they've tried to access a restricted site. Children can, however, gain access to public WiFi so it's vital to talk to your child about the safety risks involved.

Childline, the free, private and confidential service for young people under the age of 19 in the UK, recommends these mobile phone safety tips for children:

It's also essential that they are responsible enough to look after their phone and are willing to follow the rules on its use. The majority of primary schools discourage or ban pupils from bringing a mobile phone into school. Where it is allowed, most expect that mobile phones are handed over to a member of staff for safe keeping during the day.

Don't lend your phone to someone you don't know

Keep your phone with you and hidden from sight Protect your number: only give it to your people that you trust

Use a PIN code to lock your phone.

Don't be pressured to give your number out Switch your Bluetooth off

New Ark Christmas bazaar

Saturday 24 November 12pm – 3pm 2018 COURSE DATES Paediatric

8 & 9 October 12 & 13 November

Visit Father Christmas!

EFAW

8 October 12 & 19 November

FAW

19 – 21 November 23 – 25 January 2019

BOOK NOW

Defibrillator training available

T: 01733 351909 E: denise@fenlandfirstaid.co.uk

www.fenlandfirstaid.co.uk 12

Only £3.50 including gift

• Entrance by silver donation • Children’s activities • Feed the animals • Stalls & raffle • Refreshments

TO PRE-BOOK CALL 01733 340 605 Hill Close (Off Reeves Way), Peterborough PE1 5LZ E: newarkplay.office@gmail.com

www.newarkplay.co.uk/bazaar

Newark Play Association – reg. charity no. 1026751

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

13

2018

Supporting excellence and achievement in your schools ...

EducationAwards

Winners revealed

Well done Miss Banks!

We received an impressive number of nominations, making this year’s contest a tough one to judge, but it highlights the exceptional work so many individuals do in primary schools to help students succeed.

Term Times’ judging partners, Hamerton Zoo Park, spent a considerable amount of time deliberating over the entries but after receiving some compelling nominations, the eventual winners were chosen. Winners of this year’s four categories – Teacher of the Year, Teaching Assistant of the Year, PTA and Office Team of the Year – each receive a trophy and £100 in shopping vouchers. Read on to find out about the winning nominees.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR Winner: Miss Tara Banks, Park Lane Primary School in Whittlesey

OPRO Mouthguards

WIN

Term Times are excited to offer all readers the chance to win one of five OPRO Mouthguards Junior sports players will truly benefit from the 20 years’ experience and expertise behind the unique anatomical shape of OPRO’s self-fit mouthguards, five of which you have a chance to win.

OPRO’s mouthguards offer an immediate solution for those looking for the protection levels of a customfit mouthguard, with the the ease of self-fitting via the boil-and-bite method. Once moulded, they’re the ideal protection for teeth and gums from injury during any ball, stick or combat sport.

The OPRO Gold Level Junior Mouthguard sits at the summit of their

range: its smaller design is perfect for children. For those aged ten and above, OPRO’s brand new PowerFit mouthguard boasts the patented ‘Power Cage’ – providing a balanced pressure over the entire surface of the mouthguard to provide a phenomenal fit that follows the position and contours of the teeth.

It also delivers optimal impact protection, flexibility and comfort.

Extra features in all mouthguards include the presence of an odour and taste free antimicrobial additive, that has been proven to provide near complete protection (99.99%) from bacteria.

To enter and be in with a chance of winning your OPRO Mouthguard please see page 3. OPRO Mouthguards come in a range of styles which are available from www.opromouthguards.com 14

“We are truly delighted that Tara’s passion and enthusiasm for teaching has been recognised,” exclaims Mr Litten, the headteacher of Park Lane Primary School. “She is one in a million and is richly deserving of the accolade Teacher of the Year! She gives so much of herself both to the school and to the children that she teaches – this award recognises her superhuman efforts. We are all very proud of her at Park Lane.”

It isn’t just the headteacher who sings Miss Banks' praises, she received several nominations for Teacher of the Year from parents and pupils. She is described as having “a really positive attitude, being an upbeat happy teacher, whose attitude rubs off on the children…

Miss Banks is amazing.”

Another parent profusely thanks her for the work she’s done with her son: “She is an outstanding teacher who fully deserves this kind of recognition. She is kind, compassionate and enthusiastic every single day and is a wonderful role model for the next generation. The children all love her dearly and desperately want her to move up with them to year one. Miss Banks is a credit to the school and continually goes above and beyond. She has tirelessly worked to provide strong home-school relationships by organising regular activities and sessions involving parents and carers. We cannot thank her enough.”

Despite all the wonderful nominations, Miss Banks remains modest about her achievements: “It is so lovely to have been nominated for this award and I was very overwhelmed to find out that I had won! I love my job and I try my best to make every learning opportunity fun and exciting for the children.

“I have been very lucky as I have had another amazing, funny and hardworking class this year. The parents have been so supportive and together, we have celebrated their children's successes throughout the year. I believe this is so important as it results in children feeling valued and inspired to learn more.”

www.termtimes.ltd.uk www.termtimes.ltd.uk

Becky Reynolds, Donna Johnson ,Bev Speller, and Claire Worth (Headteacher)

Headteacher Mrs Tamara Allen (Left) presenting the award to Mrs Ellie Hall

PTA OF THE YEAR Winner: Fenstanton and Hilton Primary School A school’s PTA plays a pivotal role in funding school developments and curriculum-enhancing activities for students. Members of a school’s PTA are unsung heroes; volunteers who dedicate time to growing new ideas and relentless fundraising for the benefit of the school and its students – each year raising thousands of pounds. This year’s award goes to the PTA at Fenstanton and Hilton Primary School, in Fenstanton. This is awarded for their tireless effort to provide iPads in the school among other achievements over the years. “Some parents of the PTA have been members for over ten years and in that time, they have raised thousands of pounds for play equipment, books, computers and lots of fun activities for the children at school,” says one parent.

Mrs Clare Worth, Headteacher at Fenstanton and Hilton School, equally praises the dedication of the team. “We have an outstanding PTA at Fenstanton and Hilton School; this reward is truly deserved.

The team are an innovative and committed bunch who have contributed to our school in so many ways, not just the much-needed additional funding. Well done team, I am proud to have such a lovely bunch working with us.”

Mrs Lynn Clarke (Left) receiving her award from Headteacher Mrs Sally-Anne Barnard-Taylor

TEACHING ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR Winner: Mrs Ellie Hall, Holme CE Primary School near Peterborough “We are delighted that Ellie has won this award - it is so richly deserved,” says the Deputy Headteacher of Holme Primary School, Mrs Kelly Thomas. She is an integral and much-loved part of our team. Ellie is an excellent Foundation Stage Practitioner.

She works closely with the teacher, Mrs Banner, and is extremely knowledgeable about the Early Years Curriculum. She is adept at working alongside children to accelerate their learning and is fantastic at observations and ongoing assessments. Beyond the classroom, she’s a 'go-to TA' for children; she has an incredibly warm but firm approach with children and has worked alongside children and their class teachers to support their learning and behavioural programmes with excellent effect. She is also a 'go-to TA' for adults, including the Senior Leadership team as her expertise and her calm and intelligent approach are very well sought after. Ellie has an excellent relationship with parents and can always be relied upon to meet with parents to discuss a whole range of issues always conducting herself with kindness and professionalism.”

Mrs Hall received several nominations for her efforts, revealing a clear appreciation for her talents of working with children who need extra help. Among the nominations were these kind words: “She makes our son feel special and is very understanding of his needs”; “She helped my struggling daughter gain confidence in her educational abilities”; and “Mrs Hall is an amazing Teaching Assistant she is an inspiration to the school and the children she teaches and deserves this award 100%. She runs lots of groups to help children progress and uses her own money to buy little prizes, like erasers, to encourage them when they try hard.”

OFFICE TEAM OF THE YEAR Winner: Mrs Lynn Clarke, Lionel Walden School in Doddington “Mrs Clarke is the school administrator. She is a figurehead of Lionel Walden Primary School. She has spent many years at the school and because of her expertise, everything runs like clockwork. She is always there and ready to give you an answer or to solve a problem. She knows every child and parent that attends the school and is the first point of call for all.

"She is extremely efficient and always greets you with a smile. She is very reliable and is the school’s oracle. Rarely do administration staff receive the recognition they deserve but Mrs Clarke is a pillar at Lionel Walden. We can thank her for her efforts with seasonal token gifts but she deserves much higher recognition, which is why we have put her forward for the Best Office Team,” explains one parent.

ducation Awards HAMERTON ZOO PARK

Hamerton Zoo Park, in Cambridgeshire, provides a sanctuary for rare and unusual animals from around the world and gives visitors an insight into conservation. It’s a great day out for the whole family but also offers educational experiences for school groups in its Explorers Cabin. These sessions including handling of some small animals such as snakes, Giant Land Snails and Pygmy hedgehogs.

We’d like to extend our warm thanks to Hamerton Zoo Park for partnering with Term Times magazine to judge this year’s Education Awards. To learn more about Hamerton Zoo Park and how to win an annual family pass for 2019, visit: www.hamertonzoopark.com

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

15

16

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

17

AUTUMN FUN AT LOCH FYNE Children eat free during the autumn holidays*

Loch Fyne Elton The Old Dairy, Elton Hall Estate, Elton, Cambridgeshire PE8 6SH. Tel 01832 280 298 *Dates applicable are Fri 19th to Sun 28th October. Main course FREE for one child for each adult meal purchased from the Ă la carte menu.

Not valid with any other offers or set menus or for reservations after 6pm.

www.lochfyneseafoodandgrill.co.uk

18

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

Hegarty Promotion

Buy a new home in seven steps Buying a new home is arguably one of the most exciting but stressful and complex processes for families. Sarah Perkins, chartered legal executive at Hegarty Solicitors simplifies the process.

Sarah Perkins

 Get a mortgage agreement in principle You need to find out how much you can borrow and obtain an agreement in principle (AIP). You can now start to look for a property in your price range and make an offer.  Get a conveyancing quote Once your offer has been accepted, you will need to appoint a solicitor or conveyancer. Get an instant quote online using our calculator at www.hegarty.co.uk/conveyancing  Source your documents Once appointed, your conveyancer will request the following documents: title deeds, a draft contract, the property information form and fittings and contents form. Once these documents have been received, your conveyancer will raise enquiries or questions in relation to the property.  Do property searches Your conveyancer will apply for property searches, including the local authority and drainage or environmental searches if necessary. You will be given a report of the results of the searches.

 Sign the contract and agree a completion date After receiving the contract from the seller’s conveyancer, your conveyancer will discuss what has been covered in the contract with you. You will need to check and sign the contract, transfer deed, mortgage deed and the Stamp Duty Land Tax Return.

Additionally, a completion date will need to be agreed with the seller’s conveyancer.  Exchange At this stage you will be legally bound to buy the property. Your conveyancer will send your deposit and the signed contract to the seller’s solicitor and request a mortgage advance.  Completion On the completion day, your conveyancer will send the balance of the money to the seller’s conveyancer and you will legally own the property. You can now collect the keys from the estate agent or developer and move in!

Contact our conveyancing specialists: Peterborough: 01733 346 333 | Stamford: 01780 752 066 | Oakham: 01572 757 565 | E-mail: info@hegarty.co.uk | www.hegarty.co.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

19

Have fun!

Can you find all the drink related words in the word search?

Can you colour in the fast-food meal?

NS

LAST ISSUE'S SOLUTIO

10 doughnuts are all stacked up in a pile. Can you work out which one is at the bottom of the pile?

DON’T MISS THIS

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CHILD TO TRY

Martial Arts AUTUMN OFFER 4 WEEKS TRIAL

ONLY £10

FREE T-SHIRT WHEN YOU JOIN

AGES 3-16 ALL WELCOME Centres in

TRIAL PERIOD UNLIMITED CLASSES IN

Eye  Hampton  Yaxley  WHITTLESEY  Orton  Cardea  Fletton  the Deepings  STAMFORD



20

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

BOOK NOW

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

21

Which swim school suits you?

Journalist Caroline Schmidt explores the different options for swimming lessons and what you should consider when deciding the best fit for your child.

“Learning to swim is a life-saving skill, one that is best learnt young to develop confidence in the water and remove fear,” says swimming coordinator at Vivacity Swim Academy.

“The sooner children start to swim the better and easier their swimming journey will be,” agrees Sarah Thornton, swimming co-ordinator at One Leisure St Ives – two of our region’s largest providers for swimming lessons.

While there’s no disputing the benefits of learning to swim early – water safety, improving muscles, joints, lungs, co-ordination and balance – with numerous different providers to choose from, it can be difficult for parents to know where to place their trust, child and money for best results.

One Leisure, Vivacity, Billie’s Fins Swim School and Little Aqua are among the most widely known providers for primary-aged children in the area, but parents should do their research into the lessons that may best suit their child.

Most providers offer different approaches – group lessons, 2:1 and 1:1 private classes, with or without floatation aids and various reward schemes. Some offer badges, certificates and medals to mark the completion of each stage – Vivacity Swim Academy, for instance, also provide colour-coded swim caps to mark the achievement of certain skill levels.

Knowing what rewards and environments motivate your child, and how nervous they are in the water, is a good place to start. “Learning to swim should be less about strokes and distances, in the beginning, and more about building water confidence,” says Nick Parker, manager at Little Aqua Ltd. “If a child has a fear of putting their head in the water or laying on their back, this needs to be addressed before they can learn to swim properly. Many parents have too much focus on distances, when its water confidence and skill that underpins this,” he adds. If you’re less concerned about nurturing an Olympian and more about water safety, you may also want to ask providers about what they teach their swimmers – not all have a regular focus on the skills a non-swimmer needs to rescue themselves.

Is less really more?

There are two main type of lessons: group and private, with the latter often costing more. Private and semi-private lessons are particularly good for nervous swimmers or those with special needs as lessons are tailored to each child, building strong relationships and water confidence. They’re also great if you want faster progression and more focused development. However, Billie from Billie’s Fins Swim School, which like all the providers mentioned here offer very popular 1:1 and 2:1 lessons, feels that “students can get complacent

Swimming Lessons

in these lessons and that group lessons often push children to swim faster and improve their techniques through healthy competition.”

If you do go the way of group classes, is there a perfect ratio of instructors to students you should be looking for so your little one doesn’t spend their lesson learning little new? Well it’s a matter of opinion. “An instructor who teaches more than five to six students at once may not fully understand and pick up on the improvements needed for individual children, which means progress can be slower. The younger they are, the more attention they need and therefore look for classes with lower ratios,” suggests Nick from Little Aqua. ASA guidelines do stipulate that lessons can be as large as 1:12 for beginners and both One Leisure and Vivacity operate within these limits (Vivacity offer 1:8 for beginners, rising to 1:12 for stages 6-10); Billie’s Fins Swim School, however, usually operate a maximum 2:7 with at least two teachers in the pool to aid progression. Sarah insists that though group sessions can be a slower process, they’re no less effective so long as the instructor is well trained and experienced. “Group lessons are a good approach as they help children build social skills …children are able to get encouragement from their peers as well as support from teacher,” she adds. continued on page 24>>

Drama and singing lessons for your little star!

GROUP & PRIVATE LESSONS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS Aged 6+ months ADULTS’ PRIVATE LESSONS for swimmers of all abilities Based in Peterborough Max. 7 per group, Our teachers teach in the water, lower levels are taught with a helper.

07768 731 035

www.billiesfins.com grouplessons@billiesfins.com / privatelessons@billiesfins.com 22

Drama & Singing Lessons of Distinction

Let your little one shine! www.littlevoices.org.uk/peterborough www.facebook.com/Little VoicesPeterborough peterborough@littlevoices.org.uk 07801 953643

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

23

>> continued from page 22

To float or not to float?

Little Aqua operate their classes without floatation devices, teaching the skills to swim largely unaided. It’s thought that using them creates a reliance on aids so when you remove them, you’re taking away a child's confidence and students may need to re-learn certain skills. This is one reason why Billie’s Fins Swim School uses noodles and square floats as opposed to armbands, which are thought to create a false sense of security. One Leisure, on the other hand, do use armbands, tummy belts and float vests – as do Vivacity – which are then slowly worked out of the lessons as confidence grows and techniques develop. The choice is yours.

When choosing a provider, most parents go by peer recommendations and location but we highly suggest asking to observe a lesson before enrolling your child. You want to ensure that the teacher genuinely cares for children, their needs and their safety, as this is what’s going to help build the bond of trust that dissolves any fears. “Large numbers and teachers teaching from the side of the pool are not always beneficial for swimmers," advises Billie from Billie's Fins Swim School.

"Swimming lessons should be fun, full of energy and teachers should be working on swimmers’ technique rather than just getting from one end of the pool to the other. There are four swimming strokes that can all be taught in a fun way from a young age; make sure lessons are varied and efficient, too, and don't be afraid to ask for feedback!” she concludes.

Billies Fins: www.billiesfins.com Vivacity: www.vivacity.org/sport/swim-academy One Leisure: www.oneleisure.net Little Aqua: www.littleaqua.co.uk

Five tips for teaching your child to swim 1. Don’t focus too much on teaching the traditional way of swimming; build water confidence through having fun and the skills will come from there.

2. Build up a bond of trust using games and songs so children get used to being in the water and more fearful children are distracted when they go under the water and lie on their backs.

3. Use sinkers and jumping in as a way to test water confidence.

4. Teach them water safety, rather than to kick. Teach them how to roll from their front to their back and to do a star-float so they can rescue themselves if they fall in.

5. With older children, be patient. They are more aware of the water and can be fearful of going in or under the water. Show them what to do, do it together and then encourage them to try it by themselves.

Advice delivered by Nick Parker, Manager at Little Aqua Ltd.

Added benefits…

One Leisure, run by Huntingdonshire District Council, offers junior swimming lessons for aged three and above, across five Cambridgeshire locations including St Neots, St Ives and Sawtry, all of which operate Swim4Life Online. You can monitor the progress of your child online and view weekly teacher feedback; the scheme is in an effort to keep parents better informed.

One of the benefits of Swim4Life is that its students receive free public swimming sessions at One Leisure pools. Lessons start from £25 per month. Vivacity’s Swim Academy, which has four venues throughout Peterborough, also offers free swimming for all their students signed up to their direct debit scheme. Vivacity’s junior lessons start from £26 per month.

Win family tickets to see Sleeping Beauty pantomime The Princess is searching for happiness, Evil Carabosse is searching for revenge, Chester the Jester is searching for someone to laugh at his terrible jokes and Dame Nellie Night Nurse is searching for a man… in the two front rows!

WIN

Making a welcome return to the Corn Exchange are King’s Lynn’s favourite Dame, Ian Marr, this year as Dame Nellie Night Nurse and Scott Cripps as Chester the Jester. King’s Lynn-born-and-bred Victoria Bush (Waterloo Road and Bad Girls) makes her first outing as a panto baddie as Carabosse.

After scaling new heights with Jack and the Beanstalk last year, Sleeping Beauty promises to be even bigger and better! It’s sure to leave audiences spellbound as we spin the great adventure of a very lengthy snooOOOOoooze!

For your chance to win a family ticket of 4 to see this little beauty of a panto answer this question: In the animated film, what is Sleeping Beauty’s real name? Prize valid for any performance, subject to availability. Sleeping Beauty is being performed 7 – 31 December. Closing date 30 October 2018.

Ticket are available now: www.aliveleisure.co.uk 24

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

HOW TO TEACH YOUR CHILD TO SAVE The ideal time to start the journey towards wealth success is the day that you are born. Money Mum, Gill Fielding, offers her five top tips for how parents can teach their children about money.

1

‘Saving is a very fine thing.

Especially when your parents have done it for you’.

Winston Churchill

Teach a child how to make their pocket money last for the whole week and, perhaps most importantly, teach your children that some money needs to be put by for a rainy day. For instance, put half of any birthday money into a building society and the rest can be spent immediately.

2 3 4 5

Show your children that money will grow if they invest it. A simple way to do this is to get them to put some money in a pot and then after a month or so you add a little bit of money to represent interest earned so they can see for real how their money has increased.

It’s important to teach children that money is fun and encourage them to spend on whatever they want. Spending money isn’t a bad thing as long as you can afford it and we deserve the right to buy stuff and enjoy it. This helps to build their belief in that they’re worthy.

Whatever accounts or investments you make for your children, show them the paperwork and get them involved. Explain as much as you can – or as much as they can cope with understanding – and involve them in family financial decisions just as you would other family decisions like holidays.

Encourage your children to be involved in the world of money and investing. Buy them a share! Explain to a child how a share works – the ‘it’s just one brick in the wall’ analogy works well and we bought one single share for each of them when they were quite young.

They were each allowed to pick whatever company they wanted, our youngest, for instance wanted to buy a share in a chocolate business, so we bought a Cadbury share.

Edited extract from Solving the Financial Success Puzzle by Gill Fielding (SilverWood Books), £12.99 www.moneymum.com

Speech and Drama Tuition for all ages and abilities...

LAMDA exams in acting, verse and prose and Shakespeare Central Cambridge speechanddramaproject@gmail.com

Cal active ling all & boys a energetic nd gir ls!

NoN-CoNtAcT RuGbY FoR 1 1/2 - 7 Yr OlDs FuN, nOn-cOnTaCt rUgBy cLaSsEs tHaT hElP tO iMpRoVe yOuR cHiLd’s gRoSs mOtOr sKiLlS, sPoRtInG aBiLiTy aNd cOnFiDeNcE, aS wElL aS eNcOuRaGiNg tEaMwOrK aNd sHaRiNg. CoMe aLoNg aNd hAvE a tRy!

FrE BoOk oe TrIaL NlInE wWw.lIt aT: TlEsCr UmM eRs.cO

m

VeNuEs NeAr YoU! PlEaSe cHeCk wEbSiTe fOr mOrE dEtAiLs

0330 088 1172 | wWw.lItTlEsCrUmMeRs.cOm | mAiL@lItTlEsCrUmMeRs.cOm | 26

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

27

JUST FOR FUN

BANANA-RAMA

When it comes to fruits, bananas are a favourite grab’n go option and for good reason.

Packed with potassium and magnesium for healthy muscle function, bananas are high in fibre meaning they’ll keep kiddies full for longer and bursting with energy. These are just some of a banana’s benefits, so why not try one of our fun ways to add more to your family’s diet…

POP GOES THE NANA Puree bananas, blueberries and apple and a few tablespoons of water. Pour into ice-pop moulds and freeze.

BANANA CHOCO-DILLA Place sliced bananas, slivered almonds and chocolate chips in a wholewheat tortilla. Fold the tortilla over and cook in a skillet on a low heat until chocolate melts.

SIMPLE SWAP! Naturally sweet and almost fat-free, bananas are a great healthy baking secret. Swap half the oil in cake or muffin recipes with a mashed banana for extra nutrients. They’ll never know.

TOP TIP

Freeze overripe bananas to use in smoothies or to make chocolate-chip banana bread with your little chefs!

AWESOME AUTUMN CRAFT IDEAS 

BUILD A BIRD FEEDER

It could be as simple as mixing lard with seeds and hanging it from a branch or as complex as designing and building a bird house (with parental help), but either way give your children the chance to invite winter birds into their garden this season.

As well as giving them an activity and caring for nature, it’s a good way to encourage your child to find a quiet spot in nature for bird watching.



CREATE LEAF BOWLS

Find some fallen leaves and press them into air-drying clay to leave an imprint. With your help, cut around the outside of the leaf and place inside a small bowl to help mould the shapes of the clay. Once it’s dried and you remove it from the bowl, you’ll be left with a small leaf bowl of their own that they can paint and glaze for gifts.



EMBRACE AUTUMN COLOURS

Encourage them to explore the different colours that autumn offers by going on a nature trail and collecting leaves of different shades. At home try to recreate similar tones by mixing paints and blending them – they could then use the colours to build their own picture, to do leaf stamping or to create a wreath.

28

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

FAVOURITE APP

Rooster Money - FREE

It's easy to lose track of pocket money, the extra money earned from jobs and what they're spending, but Rooster Money makes it a whole lot easier. Once you set up your children's profile you can divide the money into pots to help them save towards goals, earn rewards and keep track of spending so you can help teach them the value of money.

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

29

BIG

BOOK GIVEAWAY

WIN

FIVE TO

Get back into the school spirit with a new book or two that will be sure to inject some enjoyment in to their reading.

WIN

HILDA AND THE HIDDEN PEOPLE

By Stephen Davies and illustrated by Luke Pearson RRP £9.99 Published by Flying Eye Books Perfect for ages seven to nine If you have Netflix, chances are your children are going to be glued to the new animated series of Hilda, due to launch this autumn. Hilda is an explorer, adventurer and avid sketchbook-keeper, as well as friend to almost every creature in the valley. Based on the popular graphic novels, the TV series is to be accompanied by three beautifully illustrated novels that track the animated series, episode by episode. Give your child the chance to follow along with the series or to read the book before seeing the show. The first title, Hilda and the Hidden People, was published in September with the second and third novels expected in 2019.

FIVE TO

SHINY PIPPIN AND THE MONKEY BURGLARS

By Harry Heape, illustrated by Rebecca Bagley Published by Faber & Faber RRP £6.99 Perfect for ages seven and older This warm, charming and amusing book is the second in the series about Shiny Pippin and her adventures. The book has talking animals, songs about eggs and villainous penguins and nothing too sensible to dull a child’s laughter. Written by a talented emerging author, Harry Heape, Shiny Pippin and the Monkey Burglars is the sequel to Shiny Pippin and the Broken Forest which received great reviews, so we expect little less from this one. Packed with humour, poetry and even snack advice, it’s a must-read for children and parents alike.

30

Family tickets to The National Festival of Railway Modelling

Calling all train lovers big and small!

Don’t miss the Peterborough Model Railway Show weekend of the 8-9 December 2018, a perfect day out this winter for all the family. Your children will love the variety of working layouts – huge working trainsets handcrafted by various enthusiasts – plus the many diverse types of modelling on display to admire or buy.

WIN

TO ENTER: Make your choice and flip to page 3 for how to enter the competition. Closing date 24 October.

WIN

We’ve a fantastic chance for five lucky families to win tickets to this show (two adults and three children) worth £30 (turn to page 3 for details on how to enter). Younger visitors will be entertained by the children’s layout Knowl End plus a colouring competition with prizes from Hornby for the winner of the under-nines and over-nines contest. Whilst you’re at the show, make sure you inspire your little ones with the best views of everything the show has to offer by hiring them a step stool and encouraging them to let their imaginations run wild.

Advanced day tickets for adults, purchased before 12pm on Friday 7 December are £9 (£10 on the show weekend); children from five to 16 years old cost £5, under-fives are free.

See page 3 for how to enter. Closing date 29 October.

For more information or to book visit www.model-railway-shows.co.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

31

32

www.termtimes.ltd.uk