8 minute read
Clubs & classes
Regular clubs, classes and activities give your child a chance to develop new skills and make new friends, and there is lots to choose from. For more clubs and classes in your area, check out familiesonline.co.uk.
Please get in touch if you would like to be included in our directory: editor@familiestvw.co.uk.
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DEVELOPMENTAL CLASSES
Baby Sensory North Reading
Awardwinning baby development classes for babies from birth to 13 months.
Classes run during term time in Sonning Common, Henley and Tilehurst. We provide ideas for creative play, tummy time, massage, movement, and visual development. We use a combination of original and traditional rhymes to develop early speech and language skills.
Contact Helen for more information 07899 790405 northreading@babysensory.co.uk www.babysensory.com/northreading
Master Builders Club Brick Building Workshops for Children
Master Builders Club is a LEGO® & DUPLO® lovers paradise!
Our weekend and holiday workshops, after school clubs, birthday parties and nursery/primary school events are designed to provide children with an exciting and captivating experience. We provide 1000’s of LEGO® or DUPLO® bricks in a calm and supportive environment along with the imaginative stimulus to transform a room into a world of creativity.
If you are passionate about providing engaging and stimulating play opportunities that nurture your child’s mind, then Master Builders Club is for you! To book your brick building fan a place or to find out more about, contact us.
BilinguaSing
French, Spanish and Italian classes for ages 0-11. Fun sensory music classes with the added bonus of a second language!
Trial slots available, as well as sibling discounts. Classes in Wokingham, Bracknell, Thatcham, Purley, Caversham and other Berkshire locations. MondayFriday.
We also run nursery classes and primary school lunch clubs.
DANCE & DRAMA
Artemis Cheer & Dance
Artemis Cheer: Ages 4-adult, regional and national champions in 2019 and 2021! Training in Pinewood Gym and free holiday training sessions.
Artemis Street and Commercial dance: Ages 4-adult. Training in Great Hollands, Bracknell, taught by England Dance Team coach. Technique class with IDTA exams, junior and senior crews.
Artemis College: Full-time, free training. Ofsted registered - we accept childcare vouchers.
Free two-week tryout in all classes! 01344429403 Registration@artemis-studios.co.uk www.bracknellcheer.co.uk Artemis Studios & Artemis College Mini & Junior: Artemis Little Actors, ages 4-7, Artemis Junior Theatre Company, ages 7-12.
Teen: Artemis Medusa Musical Theatre Company, ages 13-23, Artemis Medusa Pro,ages 13-23. Screen acting and producing, Artemis College – full-time, free vocational training sixth form.
Holidays: Low-cost and free holiday classes for children, free three-week summer intensives with qualifications for teens. Ofsted registered, childcare vouchers accepted. Free two-week tryout in all classes! 01344429403 Registration@artemis-studios.co.uk www.artemis-studios.co.uk
Diddi Dance Reading and Wokingham
Funky pre-school dance classes around Reading & Wokingham for children aged 1.5-5.
Specialist toddler dance programme exploring 16 different dance styles. Using action songs, dancing games, fun exercises, hoops and dance ribbons to our own, unique, funky pop songs.
FREE trial available. Ask for details!
Progress Youth Theatre Workshops for ages 7-18 involving theatre games, improvisation and skills development, leading to a stage production every year. We are an Arts Award Supporter and also offer LAMDA courses. Classes held at Progress Theatre, Reading.
Book a FREE taster session.
JG Dance Classes from 2.5 to 18 years for all abilities in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Singing, Acrobatics & Drama. Twice Yearly Theatre Performances.
Saturday Theatre College (Twyford) RAD Ballet, ISTD modern & Tap LAMDA singing & Drama. Grades to Vocational Exams.
Classes on Tuesday: Woodley, Wednesday: Bourne-End, Thursday: Tilehurst & Twyford, Saturday: Sonning Common, Kidmore End & Basingstoke
FREE trial available! 01491 572000 info@jgdance.co.uk www.jgdance.co.uk
Award-winning after-school drama classes for kids who love to ACT! Burghfield, Tilehurst, Lower Earley, Mortimer and Wokingham. High-energy classes mean that students never get bored, can’t wait to get to class and develop confidence, creativity and focus. Free trial class and a Pay-as-yougo option for infants. Ages 5+.
Come and join the fun! Full listing of available classes, prices and venues at: https://stageability.class4kids.co.uk
jackie@stageability.co.uk www.stageability.co.uk
Steppin Out Stars of Tomorrow
COVID secure, fun, energetic theatre classes for 3½ to 18yrs. Dance, drama, singing, tap, street dance, pop styles and musical theatre. Regular award-winning classes in Wokingham and Woodley, plus summer schools. Call Shelley on 07970 034 488, or email shelley@ steppinoutstars.co.uk, steppinoutstars.co.uk
Watermill Youth Theatre
The Watermill Theatre in Newbury is one of the most successful regional producing theatres in the country. Our weekly classes are designed to develop creativity, teach fundamental performance skills and enhance individuality. Classes are fully accessible to all young people, regardless of need or ability. A range of groups suitable for young people aged 4-25 years. Call Matty Green on 01635 570934 or email outreach@watermill.org.uk www.watermill.org.uk
GYMNASTICS, SPORT AND SWIMMING
Bulmershe Gymnastics Club
Based at a purpose-built gym in Woodley, run gymnastics classes for all ages including Leap Frogs for walkers to five years lead by qualified coaches. bulmershegymnastics.co.uk
GR Swimming Schools
Uniquely structured, safe, FUN, swimming lessons from 3 years old. Lessons include continual assessment and lane progression. There is a maximum of 6 children per class. We are currently looking for a private indoor, heated pool, 1 or 2 weekday mornings, for much needed community baby & toddler classes in the Newbury/Hungerford area. jo@swimlessons.co.uk swimlessons.co.uk
To advertise your club or class in our next issue e-mail Lesley editor@familiestvw.co.uk for more information
Little Muddy Boots
Little Muddy Boots is an established unique garden and nature club, which inspires outdoor play, hands on learning and time spent as a family making memories. Termly sessions are available alongside PAYG Saturday clubs and Forest School holiday sessions. Suitable for children aged 1-6 years old (siblings welcome). Little Muddy Boots is based at sites located across Berkshire.
hello@littlemuddyboots.co.uk www.littlemuddyboots.co.uk
PREGNANCY
Happy Births Hypnobirthing classes, Antenatal education, Bespoke birth preparation coaching, Birth trauma recovery therapy Preparation is key when it comes to maximising the likelihood of a positive birth experience. Marvel at your body’s amazing abilities, get informed about your options, learn skills to enable you to make the right choices for you, develop a practice of gorgeous relaxation techniques, and get your partner trained up to be the best support on the day. You deserve to feel confident and calm about this super exciting journey to meeting your baby. Contact Sarah Collison, 07740 349946 sarah.happybirths@gmail.com www.happybirths.net
NEW
After school and Saturday morning swim lessons for age 4+
Register your interest at www.sjcr.org.uk/swimschool
Enjoy a PGL family adventure holiday!
Step out of the day-to-day and into a family adventure on an all-inclusive holiday with PGL.
Let loose and get lost together on an exciting, action-packed adventure that turns the family back into a team.
Whether you’re conquering the kayaks, hanging out on the high ropes or zooming down zipwires, there are plenty of goose-pimpling adventures to dive into whilst your family enjoys a PGL holiday.
You’ll be amazed by what you can all achieve when you tackle the fun challenges on offer.
Don’t miss out on PGL’s final summer sale and the chance to give your family the break they will always remember.
What’s more, you can save up to 50% off when you book a family adventure holiday or kids adventure camp this summer!
Visit pgl.co.uk/familymag to find out more and to book.
A love of performing can develop key skills for life
Whether it be diving into their dressing up box or stepping onto the stage, performing is important to children and young people, and the benefits of this can often go unnoticed. Performing arts can teach children and young people key skills that can be used in everyday life.
Creativity Children are naturally imaginative, and pretend play and make believe comes easily to them. Imaginative play can enable a child’s social and emotional development, helping them to form new ideas and develop resourcefulness.
Problem solving The ability to solve problems creatively within the safety of a performing arts environment can be transferred to everyday life when dealing with a variety of issues. If children feel comfortable exploring and dealing with problems in a non-linear way, this makes them more confident overall.
Empathy Performance is a classic form of storytelling, not only for entertainment but for sharing tales and ideas. Performing in character can help children appreciate another person’s point of view. To accurately portray a character, we need to be able to step into their shoes, understand their situation and what has brought them to that situation. If a child understands a character in this way, they can apply this to everyday life, helping them to react to friends and adults and develop their social skills.
Listening The ability to listen is an important skill, especially when a child is in a new setting with new routines and expectations. During performing arts classes children take direction from their teachers and peers. This encourages them to be receptive to others’ ideas and work collaboratively.
Confidence Building Some children are never happier than putting on a show for their family and friends, but for some standing up in front an audience can be daunting. Performing arts are hugely beneficial to children’s confidence levels. Learning new skills, rehearsing, and performing in a safe space, with the support of expert teachers and encouragement of their peers, can prepare children to deal with situations in which they feel anxious.
At PQA, we believe that our three core modules, Musical Theatre, Comedy & Drama and Film & Television, offer our students the very best mix of both performance based and technical training as well as providing them with skills for life to help them grow into well-rounded individuals.
Find out more at www.pqacademy.com
