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Secret Summer Learning Activities Our best ideas to keep your child’s brain ticking over all summer long.

Make a Video Develops creativity, promotes physical activity and communication skills.

Charades Develops imagination and non-verbal communication skills.

Learn Chess Encourages critical thinking, planning ahead and reasoning.

Make a Miniature Book Encourages creativity and an interest in literature.

Bake a Cake Develops maths and coordination.

Word Games for Families Improves listening, vocabulary, memory and attention.

Make a Soap Carving Develops fine motor skills and creativity.

Game of 50 Develops addition/ subtraction, logical thinking, strategy, perseverance.

Fruit & Vegetable Guessing Game Develops memory and logical thinking.

School Work During the Holidays?

By Murray Morrison

Supporting Secret Learning

By Dr Amanda Gummer

When the whole of the summer term has felt like a halfway house between school and holidays, many families are beginning to wonder whether they should continue some element of school work through the summer break. So, what should the plan be?

READ MORE

Tips on Home Schooling from Mum of Two

By Samantha Francis Whilst we are all hoping our children will be able to go back to school full time in September, it’s possible that some home schooling may still be required. So what can you do to make this less stressful for you and your child? We’ve all mashed up veggies and hidden them in pasta sauce. Well, the same can be done with learning! Hiding learning within play is a much less stressful way of helping children to keep learning whilst they are not at school, especially for reluctant students. READ MORE

Preparing your Child to Start School

By Gabrielle Lawrence READ MORE

Starting school for the first time is exciting - despite the pandemic. Remember that children starting school for the first time will not know that school routines are different to the past! So how can you best prepare your little one to start school?

Sourcing Children’s Books over Summer Our guide to finding the right books for your child at the right price.

Book Trust Great Books Guide 100 best new books for children.

The Libby App Free ebooks and audiobooks with your library membership.

National Shelf Service Daily book recommendations from professional librarians.

Library E-Lending All libraries have e-lending services. Join remotely and enjoy.

Love Reading4Kids UK’s number 1 book recommendation site for children’s books.

BorrowBox App Borrow ebooks and audiobooks free from your library.

Hive.co.uk Free delivery. Commission paid to your local independent bookshop.

Oxfam Online Book Shop 1000s of new/pre-loved books and audiobooks available online.

World of Books UK’s largest seller of pre-loved books online.

Summer Reading Challenge 2020: Let’s Get Silly

Encouraging your Child to Read More

Over summer, there is often a dip in children’s reading levels. The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4-11 to read for pleasure and maintain their literacy levels. This year’s ‘Silly Squad’ theme places an emphasis on funny books. By Liz Walker

READ MORE

New Book Now Available Online

What ElseAm I Feeling?

Defining More Emotions

The best thing parents can do to help with their children’s education whilst they are not in school is to encourage reading. However little time is available, the most important thing is to put reading at the top of the home educating list. Here are some tips to help with reading. READ MORE

Read to succeed this summer!

Regular deliveries of books at your child’s reading level.

From the International award winning author of What am I feeling? Katie Flanagan What Else am I Feeling? is available online at Amazon.co.uk and Waterstones.com

readingchest.co.uk www.readingchest.co.uk Book Rental for Children Learning to Read Book Rental for Children Learning to Read Click Here to find out how it works

Best Printable Early Years Activity Sheets

Free printables to help your little one’s pre-school learning.

Learn About Numbers

Big Bird Number 6 Colouring

Alphablocks A to Z Colouring

Family Card Game

Counting Sheet

Paint by Numbers

Bing Big Surprise Activities

Tracing Ace Learn to Draw

Maisy Dinner Doodle Mat

What will School/Nursery be Like in September

By Beth Cadman

Return to School: How to Support your Child

While some nurseries and schools have already opened their doors post-lockdown, September is when it seems that we can expect all children to return. So what will the ‘new normal’ look like for parents and their children come the autumn? READ MORE

Labelling Solutions for Clothes, Shoes, Bags and school items

Labelling of your kids’ belongings is important, Easy2Name makes it simple. You name it and they solve your labelling problems with stick on name labels, shoe label covers and a whole range of other labelling solutions. Their labels are proven to work in the toughest situations. Order today and save 15%. Use code: FAMILY15. By Kairen Cullen

Throughout the long, strange months of lockdown parents have provided continuity and a sense of reality for their children. Soon it will be time to get them back to school and parents can help their children through this transition in numerous ways.

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Stick on Labels

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Nursery at Home

Activities for under 5s that are easy to do at home and mirror the range of play experiences offered at nursery.

Make a Mermaid Tail

Make Sparkly Playdough

Make a Magic Garden

Make Crab Handprints

Car Name Game

Make Tractor Tyre Printing Pictures

Enjoy Songs and Action Rhymes

Make an Under the Sea Water Tray

Enjoy Dressing Up Role Play

S U P E R C A L L I F A M I L I E S N G A L L

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What’s on this Summer

Our highlights of what’s on this summer. Please check with the venue for restrictions and if pre-booking is required or for cancellations.

Dive & Drive Theatre Hever Castle, TN8 7NG 14-19 July. Pre book.

Wildwood Herne CT6 7LQ Pre-book tickets. Open daily 10am - 5pm.

Quex Adventure Golf Birchington, CT7 0BH Advance booking only. Open daily 10am-5pm.

Butterflies & Woodland Walk Hever Castle, TN8 7NG From 11 July Woodland Walk is open explore.

Afternoon Tea Hever Castle, TN8 7NG Pre-book only. 25 & 26 July and 15 & 16 August.

Jousting at Hever Hever Castle, TN8 7NG 8 & 9, 15 & 16; 22 & 23; 28–31 August.

Luna Cinema Leeds Castle, ME17 1PL 21 - 23 August The Greatest Showman, Downton Abbey & Grease.

Treasure Trail Canterbury City Centre A self-guided spy-themed walking Trail around Canterbury. Ages 6+

Dover Castle Dover, CT16 1HU Pre-book tickets. Open Daily, 10am - 5pm

Places to Go this Summer

These places are opening many outside spaces and gardens (and possibly some inside ones too). Find out what is open near you.

National Trust

English Heritage

Legoland UK

Woodland Trust

WWT Wetland Centres

Forestry England

Zoos and Wildlife Parks

National Parks UK

Go Ape Adventures

Co-educational, Day & Boarding School for 3-18 years situated in South-East England

With small class sizes and exceptional facilities, St Lawrence College is Kent's only High Performance Learning World Class School, providing outstanding opportunities for all pupils academically, in sport, and in the arts.

Find out more about life and learning at St Lawrence College - www.slcuk.com

Junior School Senior School T: 01843 572912

T: 01843 572931

@slcuckofficial

E: jsadmissions@slcuk.com

E: admissions@slcuk.com

@slcMain

ENTER HERE

T&Cs apply

Beat the crowd staycation ideas Please check the latest Government guidance before you book.

Canal Boat Holiday Explore the UK’s rivers/ canals. From £725 a week (family of 4).

Eco-Friendly Tree House Luxury woodland break in Devon. From £1,390 a week.

Retro Airstream Caravan Go retro in Suffolk. From £66 a night (min 2-nights).

Rustic Woodland Shack Get off the grid in Yorkshire. From £125 a night.

Hobbit Inspired Pod Pod living in Suffolk. From £710 a week (family of 4).

Idyllic Shepherd’s Hut Northumberland’s beaches. From £180 for 2 nights (family of 4).

Gorgeous Highland Cottage Wild Scotland! From £1,990 a week (inc daily catering).

New Forest Cottage Forest and beach. From £949 a week (July). Sleeps 4.

Stunning St Ives Hideaway Secret tunnel to beach! From £164 a night (min 3-nights).

Staycation Survival Guide

Check for the latest government travel advice. The rules are different in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, so make sure you check the details for the country you are visiting.

Consider insurance. New policies no longer cover coronavirus-caused cancellations. If you have pre-booked insurance or an annual policy, the FCO has currently advised against all non-essential travel, which invalidates your insurance. It seems likely that the FCO position will change with regard to those countries with which the UK establishes air bridges but check your insurance T&Cs before you book/travel.

Check the cancellation policy for any holiday you book. Will your deposit be refunded if another lockdown happens or if travel restrictions are not lifted?

Lower your expectations. There will be fewer places open and some form of social distancing is likely to still be in place.

Embrace nature and spending time with your family and think of all the money you are saving towards next year’s holiday!

Budget Staycation Ideas

Lodge in the grounds of the Thomas Lord Inn, Hampshire. Private facilities/meals to your room. Farmstay UK 700 farms offering camping, B&B and SC. Birdholme Glamping in Notts. Stilted safari lodges in acres of space! Forest Holidays Log cabins/ tree houses in 10 forest locations across UK. Camp Too - retro VW campers + modern motorhomes. Various UK pick-up points. Tent Share. Rent a tent so you don’t have to buy camping gear! Canopy & Stars - reconnect with nature! Glamping to shepherd huts.

Family Tour of the UK No holiday? Take your family on a virtual tour of the UK’s most famous places.

Stonehenge Interactive 360º tour + live view from inside the monument.

Roman Baths Virtual ‘walkthrough’ of Bath’s Roman baths.

Edinburgh Castle Stunning aerial view of the building and city.

Tower of London Interactive 360º tour of the building and grounds.

Giant’s Causeway 360º tour of this spectacular landmark.

Hadrian’s Wall A 360º view of the world’s largest Roman artefact.

Buckingham Palace Tour THE most famous Royal Palace.

The Shard View London from the tallest building in Europe.

Dover Castle 360º tour of the castle on top of the white cliffs.