Families North Yorkshire Sept/Oct 23 - Print

Welcome

So the new school year rolls around again and your child is heading off to school with bright and shiny new uniform and gear and hopefully a big smile; leaving you with perhaps just a little time on your hands to delve into our great Education feature and explore how to support your child’s learning this year. Whatever stage your child is at you’ll find something of interest, including tips for Parent’s Evening and how to understand learning styles.

And it won’t be long before your child starts to get excited about half term, check out our popular What’s On guide to plan your days out this autumn time, so many great adventures to be had right on our North Yorkshire doorstep..

Look out for our fabulous True’s Mushroom House Playset giveaway. Apply inside and you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

In this issue

Who are Pocklington School?

Pocklington School offers a unique blend of tradition and innovation to create a supportive, inclusive, and academic environment for ages 2-18.

The school’s ethos is centred on values and virtues that promote social responsibility, self-awareness, and the ability to shape one’s future. Right through from Prep School, where the Curiosity Project curriculum enables children to expand their critical thinking skills through structured and creative enquiry, to the Sixth Form where independent thought is prized, our pupils are encouraged to be resilient, resourceful learners. With an impressive range of co-curricular activities, state-of-the-art facilities, and a five-day academic week, pupils are encouraged to explore their interests and develop a depth of character that prepares them for life’s challenges.

Pocklington’s flexible boarding provision creates a home away from home for students, while an individual approach to learning allows pupils to progress at their own pace and exceed expectations. With an emphasis on new technology and the best educational tools, the school prepares students for university study and/or workplace success. At Pocklington School, students leave with a deep sense of community, pride and values that guide them to shape a bright future.

Find out more at www.pocklingtonschool.com

Welcome to Ashville College

Ashville College is a leading co-educational Independent day and Boarding School for pupils aged 2-18, that occupies over 60 pristine acres in Harrogate.

Whilst steeped in tradition, with buildings dating back to 1860, the campus boasts modern facilities for all pupils that include a £2m auditorium that seats up to 600 people; a £3.8m sports centre that is home to a 30-metre swimming pool, gym and fitness studios; and a recently renovated dining hall that rivals any eating experience.

Ashville prides itself on nurturing all children to afford them the best possible start in life. Parents are safe in the knowledge that Ashville provides an environment where wellbeing matters, pupils thrive in a culture of high expectations, and depart ‘future ready’ for life beyond school. Last year, for most (52%), that meant acceptance to a Russell Group University.

Visit us at our next Open Morning on Saturday 30 September.

Harrogate’s Brackenfield School Excels in Recent ISI Inspection

A well-regarded Preparatory School in Harrogate is celebrating its recent inspection outcomes with a double ‘excellent’ rating from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

Brackenfield School, which is situated on Duchy Road, is renowned for its ability to inspire its pupils in all areas of school life. The report highlights the school’s excellent academic and non-academic achievements, along with the pupils’ personal development.

Brackenfield prepares pupils for a range of educational paths in Harrogate. The school earned praise from ISI inspectors because “Pupils of all abilities make excellent progress. They achieve at levels in advance of expectations for their ages and abilities, as reflected in their success in gaining places at selective senior schools.”

Additionally, the school’s efforts have led to recognition as a prominent small independent school in the country, featuring in the shortlist for the Independent School of the Year Awards 2023.

An education tailored to young inquisitive minds!

Young minds are naturally inquisitive, and at The Mount Junior School they very much encourage this! Exceptional teachers develop this curiosity into a deep love of learning. By making lessons what they should be – fun.

“Our bespoke curriculum encourages children to be confident in their own ideas, make decisions, use their imagination, solve problems and take risks,” explains Rachel Capper Head of The Mount Junior School.

“The Creative Curriculum is all about exploring, discovering and creating with your mind! It encourages children to develop emotionally and socially, giving them opportunities to express themselves and learn to explore the world around them.

Our activities are planned in response to observing each child’s needs. By drawing on their natural curiosity and basing our activities on their enthusiasms we inspire excitement for learning.”

Find out more about The Mount’s Explore, Discover, Create Curriculum at their Open Day on Saturday 7 October.

A new home for Razzamataz York!

After 12 years at York High School, Razzamataz York are relocating to York College/University.

This is an exciting move for Hollie and the team as this new venue offers them so much more than they have previously had with its immaculate building, light, airy and very modern. There is a large free car park, a huge customerfriendly entrance with vending machines for refreshments, and ample seating areas for parents dropping off and picking up.

Instilling a Love of Literacy from the Roots of Chapter House

“It’s important to instil a love of literacy from an early age as literacy skills span far and wide”, says Karen Kilkenny, Head of Chapter House School and Queen’s Kindergarten at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate.

Literacy and learning is at the heart of everything we do. We bring books to life with whole school projects around a single book where children are encouraged to create their own dioramas (3D models of a scene with characters) or to dress up and act out their own versions of the story.

Successful initiatives like our reading dog, Indie, has increased the confidence of reluctant readers and provides the children with an opportunity to purely read for pleasure with no one pointing out mistakes, questioning them on the text or commenting on their expression.

Our Year 5 students are encouraged to be librarians, recommending books to their peers, creating displays in the library, and sharing books with younger pupils, to encourage a love of reading among the whole school.

Chapter House accepts students with a range of abilities, skills and interests and ensures every child has a learning pathway tailored specifically to them.

To find out more, join one of our Open Mornings on 30th September or 18th November, visit www.qe.org or email admissions@qe.org to book a private tour.

Open Day Directory

Please check with the school directly for dates and times of Open Days. Whilst care has been taken to cover a wide range of areas within the North Yorkshire county, all schools are not listed. State school primaries rarely publish their forthcoming open days/evenings, so it has not been possible to list these. Please contact state schools directly for more information.

Ashville College

September 30th

www.ashville.co.uk

Queen Ethelburga’s

September 30th & November

18th

www.qe.org

Pocklington School

October 7th

www.pocklingtonschool.com

The Mount School

October 7th

www.mountschoolyork.co.uk

Queen Mary’s School

Saturday 14th October: Senior School

Friday 10th November: Prep and Pre-Prep

The first Monday of every month during term time: Stay and Explore sessions for PreSchool Children

www.queenmarys.org

Brackenfield School

Every Day is an Open Day at Brackenfield, contact them directly to arrange a visit.

www.brackenfieldschool.co.uk

It also offers them state-of-the-art dance studios with sprung floors and mirrors. Fantastic teaching spaces with all the technology that is used for student training. Dedicated seating areas for student lunches. There’s also scope for parents to stay and wait for their children if they want to. With free WiFi you can relax and enjoy the environment.

The College also has its own in-house theatre which will allow them the chance to put on performances in-house in a theatre environment, what a fantastic opportunity!

‘We believe that your children will reap the benefits of this new venue and all it has to offer.’

For more information contact: york@razzamataz.co.uk or call 07969 859895.

How Friends of Riverside are helping local parents and the environment

At Riverside School in Tadcaster the PTA ‘Friends of Riverside’ have been working hard creating a Pre-loved uniform shop which is accessible to all parents of children who attend Riverside. The pre-loved uniform works as it creates 100% profit for the PTA as well as offering parents the option to buy school uniforms at a much cheaper price.

There is a very small team of 4 who look after the pre-loved uniform, but they couldn’t do it without the incredible support they get from parents from the school. Unwanted school uniform is donated, this then gets vigorously checked for any damage, washed and popped online ready for parents to buy. The sustainability of this is fantastic as a jumper can be bought and sold many many times. Their prices are much cheaper than those of a new jumper and with the quality of the Pre-loved uniform being so good they are finding parents are opting to use their pre-loved shop over buying new. They offer a wide range of uniform from the branded jumpers and cardigans to dresses, trousers, skirts, summer clothes and even PE kits.

Why not give this a try at your school, help your families whilst raising money for the school and helping the environment –what’s not to love about that?

Celebrating different learning styles

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble

Just as none of us look the same, everyone is born with tendencies towards certain learning styles when developing literacy, language and motor skills. Recognising your child’s learning style is important in understanding how they access their learning, particularly if they appear to be struggling in certain areas.

Visual learners rely on what they see. Encourage them to use visual aids, sit at the front of the class and write down or draw information.

Kinesthetic learners learn best through doing and moving. They benefit from using tools, acting out or role-playing new information and having freedom of movement.

Auditory learners learn best through hearing and listening. Engage in discussions about what they are learning, read stories out loud and repeat information.

Solitary learners absorb information independently of other people. Let them make notes and recite back, provide quiet learning spaces and give opportunities for sharing their learning. Verbal learners respond well to written or spoken words. Play word games, use rhymes, acronyms and mnemonics, read their writing aloud, encourage discussion and debate.

Logical learners use logic and structures in order to learn effectively. Provide problem-solving tasks, challenge them to

Watch how your child expresses themselves. Children will be more expressive through their natural learning style. Auditory learners express themselves best through words whilst visual learners are more apt to reveal their emotions through facial expressions. Kinesthetic learners use more body language and may seem unable to stop themselves fidgeting.

Consider your child’s interests. These will likely reflect their learning styles. Auditory learners usually show an interest in music and sounds. Visual learners often have interests both in reading, watching TV and looking at interesting objects. With kinesthetic learners, look for an interest in physical activities.

See how your child solves problems. Children lean into their

Making the most of Parents’ Evening

By Justina Gapper

As the new school year gets going, many parents will be anticipating talking to their child’s teacher(s) at a Parents’ Evening. Depending on the school, these consultations will happen at least once a year, sometimes more frequently. If your child is in Reception, this may be a new experience; if you have older children, you may have been to several or even many Parents’ Evenings already.

It’s almost impossible to ask questions of teachers at school drop-offs and pick-ups, so for most parents, the booked Parents’ Evening slot is the only real opportunity for a proper chat with their child’s teaching staff. Therefore it’s really important to maximise the time available in these one-to-one consultations and make sure you get all the information you need.

What to expect

While Parents’ Evenings will vary slightly in format from school to school and year to year, at a minimum you should expect to hear how your child is performing in numeracy and literacy against the expected levels for their age group.

Much more information will be conveyed as your child gets older. Consultations may also cover your child’s behaviour, levels of effort and social and emotional development.

Be prepared

This may sound obvious but unless you want to risk discovering that all the questions you want to ask have vanished from your head, write them down in the run up to Parent’s Evening to make sure you cover them.

Let the teacher speak

If you do have specific questions, it’s best to let the teacher speak first so that they can cover everything they need. The exception is if you need clarification or your question is related to what is being discussed at that moment.

Don’t compare

Try not to focus on comparing your child’s progress with his/her peers or even siblings. The teacher will focus on how your child is achieving against expected levels for their age. It isn’t useful to ask how their performance compares to others in the class. Stay focussed on your own child.

Focus on your child’s level of effort

Don’t underestimate the importance of effort. This is as important as achievement as it reveals a lot about your child’s behaviour, character and motivation. How your child gets on with teachers and peers socially is also very important.

For a quick overview

Ask about your child’s strengths and weaknesses. This will give you a good idea of their overall performance and help you identify the areas in which you should be offering more support at home.

Deal with unexpected news productively

You may hear something about your child that you are not expecting. If this is about a negative aspect of their behaviour or performance in a specific learning area, this may be difficult both to hear and accept.

Try not to get defensive. A teacher I spoke to told me of a consultation during which a father became very accusatory and angry, insisting that the teacher’s perception was incorrect as his child ‘didn’t struggle at home.’ If you do hear something unexpected, ask how you can work with your child to better support them. Teachers may have already prepared a response to this question in advance.

Writing notes

Don’t attempt to write more than a couple of bullet points while the consultation is happening, otherwise you may miss something important that’s being said.

Justina Gapper is mother of twins, journalist and communications specialist.

Involve your child

Parents’ Evenings are about your child, of course. If they are old enough, ask them which aspects of their learning or behaviour they think their teacher might bring up. Discuss it with them, so you are better prepared for the meeting. Note any questions they’d like you to ask.

Afterwards, highlight all the positives that came up. Talk with them about their teacher’s feedback, specifically any home support you might be able to offer if there are particular areas they’re finding more challenging.

Does Ofsted reporting need to change?

By Ian Hartwright

When Berkshire head teacher Ruth Perry took her own life after her school was downgraded following an Ofsted inspection, emotive debate was fuelled on the mental health toll of inspections on school staff, with many organisations and individuals urging for fundamental changes to be introduced.

This may feel one step removed from parents and children’s schooling but one of Ofsted’s stated aims is to improve children’s education and lives by raising standards in schools. This aim inevitably becomes more difficult to achieve in instances where high-stakes Ofsted inspections drive up school workload and increase stress and ill-health among staff, in turn contributing to a growing recruitment and retention crisis.

How much importance should parents attach to inspection reports?

A University of Exeter survey recently found almost two-thirds of parents hadn’t looked at Ofsted reports when choosing a school. Parents usually prioritise factors like local reputation, distance and transport. But Ofsted inspection reports could be another useful resource if they were a more reliable measure of schools’ effectiveness.

The current Ofsted school grading system places enormous significance on one of four grades, ranging from Outstanding to Inadequate. These one word grades cannot reflect the complexities of school life. In addition, judgements can be inconsistent and fail to accurately identify the full range of strengths of a school alongside areas for improvement, balancing their relative importance. Undue weight can also

sometimes be given to individual conversations or evidence that is not representative of how a school operates.

Equally, Ofsted judgements may not properly reflect or take account of crucial factors like demographics, staffing levels and funding or the pressures placed on staff who are increasingly supporting pupils with issues in their lives following cuts to services like health and social care in many areas of the UK.

In addition, most schools do not receive additional support or resources to help them to improve on areas Ofsted claims need improvement. Frequent changes to inspection criteria and the high stakes associated with outcomes, increase workload for staff seeking to meet the latest requirements. This can detract from the priorities schools have identified to meet pupils’ immediate needs.

A root and branch review of inspection is desperately needed with systemic change beyond those changes to inspection processes and support for staff wellbeing announced in June.

Ian Hartwright is Head of Policy at the National Association of Head Teachers (www.naht.org.uk).

How can AI support dyslexia?

By Usha Patel

Recently, the parent of a dyslexic student expressed their concern to me about their son’s preference for writing essays longhand instead of using speech-to-text software. Despite being offered assistive technology, he found that writing and rewriting by hand helped organise his jumbled thoughts and process ideas effectively.

Assistive technology plays a significant role in education, supporting students in all kinds of ways. Spelling and grammar software, for example, is widely used and not just by individuals with dyslexia. It helps improve spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. These tools enhance the ideas generated by individuals and guide them to ensure accuracy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) takes assistive technology a step further. When asked a question, Natural language processing tool ChatGPT can provide multiple options and ideas, serving as a valuable starting point. However, some individuals with dyslexia, particularly those who struggle with reading, may find it challenging to sift through the responses. So, what can be done to maximise its usefulness?

Education specific AI tools

AI technology can help bring some order to students’ ideas and form them into coherent arguments. This is something that assistive technology cannot do alone. For example, if the student who prefers writing longhand had access to AI technology that could assist him both in writing up his thoughts and managing paragraphs into a logical order, it would greatly benefit him.

With repeated use, the student could acquire the necessary techniques himself and learn the organisation process independently.

Natural language processing tools like ChatGPT can suggest improvements, correct factual errors and enhance the readability of content. This can be especially valuable for dyslexic individuals who struggle with remembering and recalling details, such as in a history project where dates and facts must be accurate.

Overall, AI technology can be a powerful ally in education, assisting students with dyslexia in organising their thoughts and enhancing their overall learning experience.

On the other hand, an over-reliance on AI could inhibit a child’s ability to think creatively for themselves. Take our use of mobile phones for example. We no longer have to remember frequently dialed numbers until we lose our phones. How many numbers from your phone can you remember yourself? AI should therefore be used in moderation.

Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist at Raviv Practice London. If you are interested in learning more about what therapies and methods could be combined with AI to help a dyslexic child achieve their potential, visit www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk

The skills of a good dyslexia teacher

A good dyslexia teacher possesses several qualities that enable them to effectively support and empower students with dyslexia. Here are some of them:

Knowledge and expertise: They are knowledgeable about evidence-based interventions, instructional techniques and accommodations that can support students with dyslexia.

Patience and empathy: They demonstrate patience, understanding and empathy towards the struggles and challenges of their students.

Differentiated instruction: They employ a variety of teaching strategies to match and support their students’ diverse learning styles and strengths.

Structured and multisensory approach: They use techniques that engage multiple senses eg visual, auditory and kinesthetic, which can enhance learning and memory retention.

With these qualities, an experienced dyslexia teacher can make a significant positive impact on the academic and personal development of dyslexic students, giving them self-confidence and helping them thrive and reach their full potential.

Using AI effectively with dyslexic children

While AI can be a valuable tool, there are a few considerations to keep in mind for students with dyslexia:

Personalised learning needs: Every student with dyslexia has their own unique learning needs and preferences. While AI can offer personalised recommendations and suggestions, it may not always cater to the specific learning styles, paces or individual needs of students with dyslexia.

Lack of contextual understanding: AI systems operate through algorithms and patterns derived from vast amounts of data. While they can provide information and generate responses, they may lack contextual understanding and nuanced interpretation. Emotional and social aspects: Learning involves not only acquiring knowledge but also emotional and social engagement. Although beneficial in certain aspects, AI cannot fully replace the emotional connection and support provided by human interaction.

Students with dyslexia have unique learning needs that require a personalised approach. Combining the benefits of AI tools with human support can create a more effective and well-rounded learning experience.

A season for change

Separation is a huge transition and is one of the most stressful life events to experience. There is no doubt, it involves significant emotional upheaval and you will need to allow yourself a period of mourning and adjustment.

Autumn is the season of change and we got to thinking about how to minimise conflict and move forward in a more constructive way.

A new type of relationship

Separation can be traumatic but can also be transformative, if you navigate it in a positive way. Relationships sometimes run their course, but what if we reframe separation as an opportunity for growth and change rather than consider it a failure?

Separation will involve an evolution of a relationship but that doesn’t mean you can’t move forward together in a different way. Therapy and coaching can help with the transition of ‘uncoupling’ and finding new ways of communicating that can be healthier and less stressful for the long term.

Communication is key – but there are ways to do that with boundaries, if the emotions are too high in the immediate term.

Support

It’s useful, if not essential, to seek support – people you can lean on, be vulnerable with and a non-judgemental space for your emotions. This might be a friend or family member, or another professional such as a divorce coach who can provide a wide range of emotional, organisational, motivational and companionship assistance that many people desperately need as they work through a separation.

Learn to

Navigating the way forward

We can give you expert advice about the law, options and different processes available to separating couples if they want to avoid family court. Many of the alternatives help clients to increase confidence, reduce stress, avoid wasting time and money and help to maintain a positive parenting relationship moving forwards. Furthermore, non- court resolution processes (also known as Alternative Dispute Resolution ADR) enable you to retain a greater control of the final outcome.

With the Courts being ever busier and experiencing massive delays, the true cost of ending up in family court is not to be underestimated; not only in terms of financial cost, but the impact on the mental health and wellbeing of everyone involved (including children) and further deterioration of already strained relationships with ex- partners and the wider family.

Alternatives to litigation will undoubtedly save both time and money. ADR comes in a variety of options including Arbitration, Collaborative law, Private indications and Mediation. All of these ADR processes can involve experts and professionals from a wealth of expertise to ensure the right outcome is found for you and your family.

Separation doesn’t need to become a war.

Finances

Understanding the family finances and realistic options is important. A financial advisor or ‘neutral’ can often be invaluable when separating and they are brought in to the legal process to assist settlement discussions.

Choosing the right Legal Professional

If you would like to discuss your separation or any family law concerns, please contact one of our three expert solicitors in the family team at Hartlaw. www.hartlaw.co.uk/Meet-Our-Lawyers or call 01937 547000 to arrange a free appointment.

Family Mediation

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Girlguiding and Scouts today Building resilience, confidence and wellbeing

By Tara Pahari

Girlguiding has been a part of millions of girls’ lives for one hundred and thirteen years and counting. Set up because girls wanted an equal world with the same opportunities as boys, impressive progress has been made since it began. But things can still be tough for girls. With many facing high expectations and anxieties in every area of their lives, they can be limited by gender stereotypes and face barriers to accessing the things they need to feel happy.

In Girlguiding’s annual Girls’ Attitudes Survey, two in three girls and young women ages 11 to 21 said that being part of a youth organisation makes them feel accepted and more connected to others. Girls in Girlguiding are more confident than their peers, with nearly nine in ten saying they like being the way they are, compared with just six in ten who have never been in Girlguiding.

Youth groups such as Girlguiding and Scouts are equipping young people with transferable life skills such as leadership, money management and teamwork. A recent report from Demos has demonstrated how skills learnt from Scouting can make a significant difference to employability.

Guides today can still earn badges, in an updated programme which includes mindfulness, self-care and media criticism. Girls are also supported to develop emotionally, mentally and physically so they can make a positive contribution to their community and the wider world.

Empowering girls for more than a hundred years, Girlguiding is committed to doing the same today, with a keen focus on what drives, challenges and excites girls. Whether that’s the thrill of trying a new activity, singing around a campfire, enjoying the

buzz of earning a new badge or emailing her MP about the issues she cares about; it’s a space where she can be herself, get creative, explore and most of all, have fun.

Meanwhile, Scouting embraces an inclusive Skills for Life strategy that encompasses teamwork, leadership and resilience and this has not gone unnoticed in the world of employment. The report highlighted that over half of Scouts felt ready for the world of work compared to a third of those who did not participate in any extra-curricular activities. With many employers struggling to hire people with teamwork skills or emotional resilience, these transferable skills are currently in huge demand.

For more information about joining Girlguiding visit www.girlguiding.org.uk and Scouts www.scouts.org.uk

Benefits for future health

Research from a University of Edinburgh study shows that the benefits of Girlguiding and Scouting even continue into later life, with the all-encompassing activities they offer outperforming other after-school clubs and activities.

As a result of being supported in their personal development, adults who have been involved in Girlguiding or Scouting are more likely to have self-reported excellent health at age fifty compared to their peers, including better mental health in later life.

The research also found that those who had been in Girlguiding or Scouts had a better chance of social mobility, which can have a positive knock-on effect for better health. According to researchers, their findings suggest that going to Girlguiding and Scouts helps to develop skills such as resourcefulness and teamwork. These key characteristics help people to build resilience against everyday stresses in life.

Girlguiding’s programme provides a safe space where girls can develop their own resourcefulness and self-reliance. Add to that the wealth of healthy outdoor activities and it’s clear to see the lifelong benefits for health and wellbeing.

Friends of Girlguiding

Inspiring generations for over a century, it’s estimated that one in three women in the UK were once a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide or Ranger. Past alumni include household names such presenters Clare Balding, Davina McCall and Zoe Ball, actress Emma Thompson and paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds. To support Girlguiding and help girls laugh, learn and explore long into the future, you can now sign up as a Friend of Girlguiding (www.girlguiding.org.uk/fog). Donations help to ensure even more girls benefit from fun, friendship and adventures for many years to come. Members join a community where they can reignite fond guiding memories or even connect with the organisation for the first time.

Former Rainbow, professional footballer and Lioness Katie Zelem said:

‘I’m so proud to be a Girlguiding ambassador. Providing opportunities and the space for girls to have fun, challenge themselves, go on adventures and experience the great outdoors, is so important for the development of confidence and resilience. I want to inspire the girls of the UK to be their brilliant selves.’

What's On

September & October

Ongoing: National Railway Museum, York

Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery

Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery is an unmissable new interactive experience for families—where nothing is off limits. Play your way through 18 mind-bending challenges and fuel their curiosity with amazing live experiments. Test your engineering skills as you step into the human wind tunnel, launch a rocket, and build big—then immerse yourself in an explosive live show to reveal the science behind the fun. Ready to experience the extraordinary?

If you’re looking for places to visit and things to keep the kids entertained this autumn, then our What’s On guide is packed full of ideas for places to take the kids, whatever the weather, days out, local events and shows.

23 & 24 Sept: Harewood House DogFest

DogFest is the ultimate dog’s day out; you can try your hand (or paw) at a variety of have-a-go activities, enter the Fun Dog Show for the chance to win Best in Show or take part in the Big Dog Walk, a group dog walk around the stunning stately home and grounds at Harewood. There are also sensational dog displays, canine experts on hand with advice and training tips – who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Plus, there’s loads of stalls, festival food and drink, and more dogs than you can ever imagine!

30 Sept - 31 Oct: Spilmans Farm, Thirsk

Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Make memories in the pumpkin patch –there is fun for everyone. Can you find the location of the special photo opportunities dotted all over the farm? Check the website for available dates.

Ongoing: The Web Adventure Park

The Web Adventure Park

Looking for a full day of fun, whatever the weather, all included in one ticket? Then look for further than The Web Adventure Park! Indoor play areas, outdoor play areas, 13 fairground rides and a chance to meet the furry friends in the Animal zone!

21 Oct - 5 Nov: Whitby Abbey

Halloween Half Term

Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Whitby Abbey this half term. Follow the trail to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.

28 - 31 Oct: York Maze

Hallowtween

Calling all fearless 10-15 year olds, and adults of a more nervous disposition... Venture into a new dimension of spine tingling fun this Halloween, as you are invited to explore 4 of the farm’s most mysterious buildings, each with its own twisted history you will discover for yourself once you step inside...

28 Oct – 5 Nov: Filey Bird

Garden and Animal Park

Half Term Halloween

Have some fun at the family friendly Spooky Themed Areas and a Halloween Treasure Hunt. You even get a free bag of animal food if you’re wearing a Halloween Fancy Dress costume!

28 Oct - 5 Nov: RHS Garden Harlow

Carr, Harrogate

Half Term at Harlow Carr

The autumn colours are so inspiring, and if you are looking for something to entertain the kids, from a pumpkinthemed garden trail to workshops taking place throughout the half-term break plus some spooky scenes around the garden to discover along the way.

28 Oct - 5 Nov - North Yorkshire

Moors Railway

NYMR Light Spectacular

Marvel at our heritage carriages, decorated with thousands of lights, before departing from Pickering Station for an awe-inspiring journey alongside a DJ-Mix of music that will get you in the mood for a party the whole family will enjoy.

16 &

Filey Kite Festival

The event is expected to attract dozens of the UK’s best Kite flyers, displaying a wide variety of weird and wonderful kites over the Yorkshire coast skies. The weekends’ events will be hosted and commentated by the NKG (Northern Kite Group). There will also be children’s fairground rides and refreshments available to purchase. So grab your picnic blanket and head over to Filey Brigg Country Park for 2 days of spectacular kite displays!

21 Oct - 5 Nov: Bolton Abbey

Pumpkin Trail

Who dare enter Strid Wood through the giant spooky gates?! Navigate your way through Strid Wood following the giant pumpkins! Keep your eyes peeled for clues hidden in the mystery boxes along the way. These will help to unveil clues to solve the puzzle!

28 Oct - 5 Nov: Mother Shipton’s Cave

Halloween Creepy Carnival

Deep within the spooky forest a world of eerie enchantment awaits… Step right up and prepare to be thrilled and amazed by hauntingly captivating displays and spinetingling surprises. Explore abandoned circus tents as they whisper ghostly secrets from their forgotten past and meet a host of creepy characters who are waiting to steal the show in the festival of frights.

17 Sept: Filey Brigg Country Park

show with all its twists and turns and we have a cute little dog who has come all the way from the USA to be in the show!

Coming Soon

7 Oct: York Theatre Royal Andy and the Odd Socks

Straight off the TV and onto the stage, Andy and the Odd Socks bring their brilliant madcap mix of songs, slapstick and silliness to life with a show to entertain families of all ages.

24 Oct: Grand Opera House, York Ministry of Science LIVE - Science Saved the World

Join the presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in with a few loud bangs along the way! Expect 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, exploding oxygen and hydrogen balloons, fire tornados, hydrogen bottle rockets, ignited methane and even a self-built Hovercraft!

24 - 28 Oct - The Forum, Northallerton

The Wizard of Oz - NMTC

Northallerton Musical Theatre Company are really looking forward to going down that Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City and who knows what lies ‘Over the Rainbow?’ The Wizard of Oz is a magical show and we hope you will come along and enjoy the magic with us. We are so looking forward to staging this iconic

Out and About

26 - 29 Oct: Grand Opera House, York

PMU Presents The Worst Witch

Before Harry Potter exploded on the scene there was another seemingly ordinary child who wound up in the most extraordinary of places. A school for witches. Written by Emma Reeves this new adaptation features all of Jill Murphy’s original characters you know and love.

The Christmas Experience at Lotherton

Yorkshire’s ultimate festive day out! The Christmas Experience will be returning to Lotherton this year. Visit Santa and the elves for a magical experience in the snow filled North Pole. Pre-schoolers can visit Santa’s Cabin on weekdays.

Follow the twinkling lights and explore the festive traditions along the Woodland Walk. Discover fairies in their secret hideaway Fairy Dell, listen to them giggle and whisper as you tip-toe through. Marvel in the splendour of the Edwardian House in all its festive finery, here you can join Mrs Claus in the Hall to decorate gingerbread people and sing the odd carol. Then lastly, head to the enchanting Elf Village and make sure to stay toasty with a hot drink whilst the children decorate Christmas ceramics and make their very own reindeer feed for Christmas Eve. Weekend activities also include family magic shows in our Yuletide Yurts.

Pre-booking is essential – visit thechristmasexperience.co.uk

with Lucas, our Roving Reporter for this issue.

Lucas (11) lives in Tadcaster with his brother, Noah (12) and 2 sisters, Harper (10) & Tilly (7). This issue he is going to share his review of his day out visiting The Forbidden Corner in Middleham with his brother and grandparents.

The Forbidden Corner is in Middleham, Leyburn and is so much fun! There are lots of tunnels and chambers to explore as well as many surprises along the way, be prepared to get wet when you least expect it. While we enjoyed it a lot there might be some areas that smaller children might find a little scary, but these areas are easy enough to avoid so don’t let that put you off. My favourite part was just being able to explore all around and see where each tunnel or pathway led to, we never knew what we might find next. The Hot Dogs were pretty good too.

It is all outside so if it has been raining you might want to wear wellies. You can’t just turn up so you have to remember to book your tickets in advance to get your time slot. The Forbidden Corner isn’t really accessible for people in wheelchairs or pushchairs so if you have a very small child you would need to use a baby/child carrier.

My rating for the Forbidden corner is 9 out of 10! We really enjoyed it and I am sure you would too.

If your child would like a chance to be one of our Roving Reporters please email a review of one of their favourite places to visit in North Yorkshire along with a photo and a little about them to editor@ familiesnorthyorkshire.co.uk. We can’t guarantee that all reviews received will be used.

Don’t forget to say you saw these listings in Families North Yorkshire Magazine!

Let’s enjoy sensory play

By Katie Still

Sensory activities enrich children’s play by encouraging them to engage their senses and explore and understand the world around them, sparking their imaginations and developing curiosity. Stimulating children’s senses supports their cognitive development, language and communication skills, physical, social and emotional development.

Sensory play can be magical - there are so many reasons why I love it. We discover the wonders that life brings when listening to birds in the trees and feeling grass between our toes. It offers little ones (and their grown-ups too) the freedom to explore, get messy, go wild and have heaps of fun. Sensory play can be incredibly simple too.

Here are some suggestions:

Cork boat races

Nature confetti

Ready, set, go! Your child can make super-simple cork sailing boats, then have a boat race across the bathtub. Safety first: don’t forget adult supervision is always required when a child is playing with water.

Go and grab… corks, elastic bands, triangular pieces of paper, colouring pens, cocktail sticks, an optional straw. A bathtub or tray of water.

Line up three corks in a row. Pop an elastic band around them at each end to hold them together.

Make a paper sail and use the colouring pens to make a pattern. Push a cocktail stick carefully through the sail for a mast (adults, probably best you do this), then slowly stick it into the middle cork.

Ready to set sail? Brilliant! Set the boats afloat in the bathtub or a tray of water and see which one crosses the finish line first. Sails need wind, don’t they? Show your child how to use a straw to blow wind into the sails. How fast can the boat go?

Let’s explore it!

Pop some toys on the boat. How many can it carry? Which toys are too heavy and sink the boat? Take the boats outside: can you sail them in a puddle?

It’s time to go exploring in the garden or park for differentcoloured leaves to make some beautiful nature confetti.

Go and grab… a collection bowl and some shape-punchers. Find a selection of leaves of different colours and shapes, avoiding prickly, stinging or dangerous plants. Slide each one into the shape-puncher and make holes all over the leaf. Fill the bowl with the little shapes, taking care to keep little fingers clear of the puncher. What will your child want to do with their nature confetti - stick it on a picture maybe, or sprinkle it on the grass?

Let’s hear it!

What sounds can your child hear outside? Leaves rustling, bees buzzing, birds singing and dogs barking…

Story stones

Katie Still (aka Instagram’s Playful Wonders) is the author of Playful Wonders, a new book jam-packed with sensory play ideas. The book is published by DK and available from www.bookshop.org

Let your child’s imagination run wild by creating some story stones to invent their own story!

Go and grab… paints and paintbrushes or colouring pens. A small bag or basket. Storybooks if you need some inspiration. Go outside and collect some stones. Can you help your child find flat-ish ones that are all different shapes and sizes? Next, ask your child what they will paint on their story stones. Maybe characters from a book or animals; or simply things that they love? If drawing is too tricky, your little one can use stickers on their stones.

Once they’ve finished, pop the stones into the bag or basket and your child is ready to play. Ask them to take out the first stone. What drawing is on it? It’s over to them to make up a story around it; they decide what happens! Then they pull out a second stone - what’s the next part of the story…?

Let’s make it!

What sounds can your child make to accompany their story: the splash of waves maybe or the hum of an insect?

Splitting the parenting workload

By Tanith Carey

The number of women in work has hit a record high at more than seventy five per cent in the UK. It’s great that we are gaining more equality in the workplace – except for one factor: women are still doing the lion’s share of the housework and organisation around kids, as well as the emotional heavy lifting.

Research from Stanford University has found that women still tend to take on a much greater proportion of childcare and household management in heterosexual relationships because they don’t feel entitled to put their own needs and time first.

The impact this overload can have is burn-out, numbness, emotional flatlining and even a dial down of their capacity to enjoy time with their kids. Women speak of feeling so overloaded that they want to quietly disappear in a puff of smoke.

One Mumsnet thread called: ‘Am I unreasonable to just pack my bags, disappear and leave everyone to it?’ crystallises the feelings of many women who feel too overwhelmed to enjoy their lives and who fantasise about being free of demands. A flurry of replies like: ‘If you let me tag along, I’ll bring cake’ and ‘I might do the same’ showed how much it touched a nerve.

With more paternity leave, dads working from home and outdated gender roles breaking down, we are moving in the right direction. But if you’re not there yet, what’s the best way to share the load more evenly?

Have a re-balancing conversation

In an amicable, constructive way, draw up a list together of everything you and your partner both do to keep your home

going. This may include micro-tasks, like being the one who always applies sunscreen to the kids, who arranges birthday parties and organises childcare.

Compare lists and consider ways to share the jobs more evenly. Point out that having to remind your partner to do tasks puts more pressure on you and that if they take responsibility for something, like the laundry, they should see it all the way through from start to finish. Remember too that partners are not mind-readers.

Your partner may not have noticed the toll that the build-up of unequal balance is taking on you. Co-parents may also lack confidence or think they won’t do some tasks as well as you. Be prepared to offer non-critical training! Remember that not all tasks need to be done exactly the same way.

Tanith Carey is the author of Feeling Blah? Why Anhedonia has left you joyless and how to recapture life’s highs (Welbeck £16.99) available from www.bookshop.org

Write a ‘no-do’ list

Your brain has finite resources. It can’t multi-task. It can only rapidly switch attention, which is exhausting. When it feels like you have too many tabs open, your cortisol level can stay permanently raised, interrupting the workings of your reward system.

We are all familiar with the concept of to-do lists. But sometimes we need to write a ‘no-do’ list to intentionally reduce our mental load and free up more time for joy. The number of chores on your list may have built up because it feels easier to do them yourself and you haven’t had the time to train the people around you to share them.

When drawing up a no-do list, write a list of the things you do each week. With each, ask yourself: Do I actually want this or is it just expected of me?

Then decide which ones you can cross off and which ones you can delegate. Before dropping tasks, check first that there won’t be any negative consequences for you or anyone around you, as a result.