Families Manchester Issue 71 Sept-Oct 18

Manchester

In this issue: Independent or State education?

Help your child cope with stress Talking about the loss of a loved one

Issue 71 Sep/Oct 2018

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News Tough Woofer: fun for you & your dogs

Save the date! Sunday 30 September is the first doggy event ever organised by East Cheshire Hospice (ECH)! Tough Woofer is a fun 5K obstacle course at Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield, for you to enjoy with your four legged friends, including up to 15 different obstacles including water, mud and climbing challenges.

Enter as a human (min age 8) and dog (min 1 year) team for

£35 or on your own (£25) if you don’t have a dog but would like to participate with family or friends.

Your entry pack will contain a T shirt and bandana and you’ll receive a medal when you finish.

As your entrance fee only covers the cost of the event, you are asked to try to raise at least £30 of sponsorship. Every penny goes directly towards providing Hospice care.

On the day there will be a range of different stalls selling dog treats, accessories etc, a mini agility course, a doggy shower and pampering area to treat the dogs who have finished the course plus plenty of food and drink for everyone.

It promises to be a fantastic day out for the whole family! www.eastcheshirehospice.org. uk/toughwoofer

Only half of pre-school children being read to daily

The number of toddlers being read to daily has dropped by 20% since 2013, according to recent research.

The annual Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer survey from Nielsen Book Research found that while 69% of pre-school children were read to daily in 2013, that figure had now dropped to just 51%.

Next issue: November/December 2018 Circulation: 30,000 copies of Families Manchester are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Greater Manchester. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

Editors: Jayne Keep & Caryl Hall Contact details: Families Manchester, 3 Hall Hill, Bollington SK10 5ED Tel: 01625 801 801 www.familiesonline.co.uk Editorial: editor@familiesmanchester.co.uk 2 Families Manchester

The study found parents complained of obstacles preventing them from reading to their children. Nearly a fifth said it was hard to find the energy at the end of the day, whilst 16% said their child would rather do other things.

One in five parents don’t feel comfortable in bookshops, and nearly half are overwhelmed by the choice of children’s books.

The publisher Egmont, which co-funded the research, said the decline correlated with an increase of almost a fifth in the proportion of toddlers watching online video content daily, and warned that the “steep decline” in reading to young children “signalled a significant threat to child development, with potential long-term social impact.”

More info at www.egmont.co.uk Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiesmanchester.co.uk Events, diary dates, what’s on: events@familiesmanchester.co.uk Cover Photography: Bridgewater School www.bridgewater-school.co.uk Design: WITH Creative, Congleton. www.withcreative.co.uk Print: Warwick Printers, Caswell Road Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 1QD Tel: 01926 883355 www.warwickprinting.co.uk

Get Trucking this September

Truckfest – Europe’s Premier trucking event – returns to Cheshire Showground on 15 & 16 September.

A great day out for all the family – including hundreds of trucks on display from giant American rigs and jaw dropping customised trucks to emergency service vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Non-stop action in the main arena will keep the masses entertained with high

octane car crushing action courtesy of Swamp Thing 4 x 4 and air defying FMX stunt bike displays from James Dylan’s Stunt Show.

Meet children’s TV characters as well as Ice Road Trucker , Todd Dewey and burn off some energy on the inflatables, exhilarating fun fair rides, mini monster trucks and much more. Tickets from www.truckfest.co.uk

Two thirds of children not safe in cars

Parents are being advised to check their children’s car seats after a new study found that two in three children aren’t safe while travelling.

The What Car? study, created in conjunction with specialist organisation Child Seat Safety found that 59% of children are sitting in car seats that have been incorrectly fitted or are inappropriate for them.

The survey on 3,000 seats, with and without children in them, held at random seat-checking events throughout the UK, revealed that 36% were incorrectly fitted in the

car, while 33% of those that had children in them weren’t suitable.

Many of the mistakes were said to be “simple and easy to avoid,” and included tightening seat belts, incorrect head restraints or harnesses being in the wrong position.

In the UK, children are legally required to remain in a car seat until they are either 12 years old or at least 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.

More info at www.gov.uk/ child-car-seats-the-rules

Families Manchester is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Manchester are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Manchester

Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Manchester, its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. @FamiliesMancMag www.facebook.com/FamiliesManchester

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Clubs & classes News Is your child sport ready?

Ages 6 to 9 As children get older, their vision, attention span and transitional skills, such as throwing a ball for distance, improve. They’re also

better able to follow directions.

Consider organised activities such as running, football, gymnastics, swimming, tennis and martial arts.

Ages 10 to 12 By this age, children have mature vision and the ability to understand and recall sports strategies. Children of this age are typically ready to take on complex skill sports, such as football, basketball, hockey and volleyball.

As well as considering whether a sport is age-appropriate for your child, take into account how much they will enjoy the activity based on their maturity and abilities. Your child may show a natural preference for one activity over another, which shouldn’t be ignored.

Remember children change as they grow and it’s normal for them to show a keen interest in one activity one year, only to switch to another by the next.

Here are my top tips: • Talk to your children, explain how many activities you think there is time for and find out what they are interested in pursuing.

• Let them choose at least one class, activity or club themselves.

• Help them choose activities that reflect who they are and what they want to learn and don’t impose your own preferences.

• If you have a reluctant child, explain that it’s important and fun to try new things, but don’t insist.

• Remember that moving from one activity to another is normal amongst children.

• Always consider the benefits of an activity. For instance, there’s great value in discipline-based activities that create a quality product over a period of time and teach value skills such as leadership and team work e.g. putting on a play.

• Don’t assume that high cost equals high quality.

• Ensure staff members are professionals with relevant

By Raymond Vestibule

Physical activity is good for children of all ages and participation in organised sports may be an enjoyable way for children to be physically active. However, sporting activities must be developmentally appropriate for your child. Enrolling your child in a sport or activity beyond their developmental ability can lead to frustration and early dropout.

Top tips for choosing classes, activities & clubs

By Elisabeth Dolton

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the range and volume of activities, classes and clubs available for your child to join?

Aside from the important issue of LOGISTICS, i.e. how are these activities going to fit into your schedule, how do you go about deciding what to choose?

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Ages 2 to 5 Toddlers and pre-schoolers may be beginning to get the hang of many basic movements but are too young for most organised sports. So, at this age don’t stress too much if your little one isn’t enrolled in a dozen different activities. According to the Mayo Clinic, toddlers who participate in organised sports typically don’t gain any long-term advantage in terms of future sports performance.

At this age, unstructured free play is usually best. Try running, tumbling, throwing, catching and swimming.

Keep monitoring their level of interest and stay involved with their progress.

Be positive and encouraging by emphasising effort and enjoyment over winning and never try to persuade your child to continue with a sport they clearly don’t enjoy, whatever age they are.

For more information visit www.mayoclinic.org/healthylifestyle and www.nhs.uk/ change4life

skills and experience.

• Consider the mix of activities.

The benefits of exercise are huge, so try to include a sport.

• If you are stuck between two similar activities, consider the usefulness, e.g. drumming lessons might be cool, but the guitar might have wider applicability.

Good luck!

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Clubs & classes ABRSM Guitar exams: choosing the music Are your children taking ABRSM exams? Have you ever wondered who decides which pieces appear in the syllabus?

The ABRSM Learning & Qualifications team is dedicated to creating syllabuses packed with wonderful music to learn and play. They review the syllabuses on an ongoing basis, asking for feedback and looking at what’s worked well before, while keeping abreast of developments in music education. A panel of expert consultants also helps them with this vital work.

Repertoire from their new Guitar syllabus includes new arrangements and specially commissioned pieces, as well as duets at Grades 1 to 5, classical favourites and pieces by some of the most famous composers for the instrument. A selection of these pieces features in their new books of Guitar Exam Pieces at Grades 1 to 5 for the first time – offering convenience

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and great value for money.

Supporting students from the very beginning is very important to ABRSM too.

That’s why they’ve updated the Guitar Prep Test and are publishing Guitar Star – a fun book of inspiring repertoire to help students develop their skills as they work towards Grade 1 level.

Whatever the level, ABRSM offers a broad range of music for teachers and candidates to choose from. It’s all about providing pieces to motivate, encourage and inspire.

Find out more about ABRSM Guitar exams at abrsm.org/ guitar.

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Clubs & classes Don’t just stand out – be outstanding!

Gemma Johnson is the new Principal of The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Oldham & Rochdale. Gemma has always been passionate about the benefits of drama.

“Drama is an important life skill – it helps to build confidence, self-esteem and communication skills. At Helen O’Grady, we work to develop the whole child through a unique and engaging curriculum.” Gemma has been a parent of The Academy for several years and is delighted to now be working as The Principal.

“Our son developed such confidence after joining Helen O’Grady – I feel it is important that as many children as possible get to experience the benefits of Drama.”

If you want to provide your child with a great start in life, whilst having a lot of fun, call Gemma on 07864 367 783 to arrange a free trial lesson.

Directory Alphatots ABCs have never been such fun!

Join the giggles at our phonics and pre-phonics sessions for 1-4 year olds. Creative games, engaging songs, instruments, puppets, sensory experiences, and crafts, with a new theme each week! Develops phonological awareness, fine motor skills, and letter sounds recognition. Locations across South Manchester. www.alphatots.co.uk

Little Monkeys Club Increase your child’s confidence, co-ordination and fitness through a fun variety of climbing equipment, soft play, shapes, music and movement (including badge scheme) for children walking to 5 years. Tuesday mornings at Brabyns Recreation Centre, Marple Bridge. Call Karen 07986 182884 or visit www.littlemonkeysclub.co.uk.

Advertise in Families Manchester Call Jayne on: 01625 801801 or email advertising@ familiesmanchester.co.uk

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Turn your child into a pocket Rokit!

Fun Fun Fun! That’s what one of the younger members of our team had when they attended a Rokit performing arts session.

Taking part in the Freshman class (age 4–6) it was fun from the start with games followed by poetry, singing, dancing and drama. Learning choreography and the words to a current pop song, all the children were encouraged to get involved by an enthusiastic and supportive teacher, who gave direction and coaching without the children even realising they were being taught. The session ended with a drama game involving the children pretending to be

everything from a washing machine to a Kangaroo!

Next door we took a sneak peak at the Sophomore class (age 7-16). Here the children were learning stage combat as well as improvisation skills, being given two minutes to come up with their own toothpaste commercial. We were really impressed by how they performed with real confidence and creativity. The drama session ended with practice sessions for the LAMDA exams which Sophomore students are able to take in the Spring term should they wish.

Following the drama session Sophomores then took part in a performance session where they were enjoying singing and dancing to a piece they had recently learnt.

In both classes the children learn not only key performance skills but also respect, listening skills and how to work as part of a team. If your child would like to learn how to perform in a fun, creative and supporting environment then classes are available in Hale, Knutsford, Wilmslow and Macclesfield. For full details see the website www.rokitperformingarts.co.uk.

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Clubs & classes Education

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Education Making the best of Open Days year 5 (when your child is nine or ten). You can then revisit the schools you are most interested in with your child the following year.

Independent schools often hold Open Days throughout the Autumn and Spring terms. They can have waiting lists for Reception-age children or require children to take a school-specific 7+ or 11+ exam to gain a place, so you need find out the criteria for entry to the school and visit well in advance.

This autumn, state and independent schools will be opening their doors to prospective pupils and their parents to give them a flavour of life at their school. Claire Winter has the lowdown on how to get the best out of these Open Days and tours.

What is an Open Day? School open days help you decide what school you want your child to go to. During an open day, prospective parents are shown around the school, often on a school day, to give them a flavour of the working life of the school and the school environment. You will be able to see the children in lessons and talk to the teachers and pupils.

Sometimes pupils are given the task of showing parents around the school. This is a great opportunity to ask them how they enjoy being

at the school. How settled, relaxed and confident these children are can give you an idea of how happy the children are there. Usually, the head teacher or a senior member of staff also gives a talk which includes a general overview of the school and its values and ethos. This is often followed by a presentation by the head of admissions or the relevant head of the section of the school (for example, head of reception, or sixth form).

When are they held?

State schools generally hold Open Days in September and October aimed at children and families looking for a school place for the following year. It’s a good idea to start looking a year in advance. So, if your child is starting school, start looking at schools when they are three. If you are looking for secondary school places, start looking in

How are Open Days organised?

Schools organise Open Evenings as well as days to allow working parents to visit the school too.

Some schools (mainly independent) hold Open Days on a Saturday.

All schools put a lot of care and organisation into the events and they all want to show their school in the best light. However, there may be a lot of people attending so do be sure to turn up on time and follow the school’s directions during the event.

Tips for visiting an Open Day • Take your child with you. There’s no point in falling in love with a school only to find your child doesn’t want to go there.

• What is your general feeling about the school? Your gut reaction is very important. Do the pupils look happy and engaged?

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make sure you ask the pupils what they think of the school.

• Don’t make decisions on individual teachers. They often move on and large departments have a variety of teachers that will rotate every year to teach your child a particular subject.

• If your child has a particular interest in a subject, make sure you visit the department and look at the kind of work they will be doing.

• What extra-curricular activities do they have? Are there clubs that will engage your child and allow them to pursue a broad range of interests?

While exam results aren’t everything, every parent wants their child to do well. Academic performance is a top priority for many families. It’s a good idea to see how the school is performing compared to other local schools, using exam league tables and Ofsted reports.

If, after all your initial visits, you are still undecided, go back and visit the schools on your shortlist again during a normal working day.

Finally, in making your decision, don’t be afraid to trust your instincts; you know your child and you are best placed to ascertain what is right for them.

If your child is older, do take account of their preferences too and include them in the decision-making process. The best decision will undoubtedly be the one you all agree on.

Bridgewater School – a school for families

Located in Worsley, Bridgewater School is an independent co-educational school for children aged between 3 and 18 years.

Their educational provision is inclusive, challenging, academically

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stimulating and pastorally supportive. Their holistic approach to education encompasses an extensive range of opportunities in academic work and in extra-curricular experiences beyond the classroom. The school ethos aims to produce individuals who are well-rounded and able to meet the challenges of life in the 21st century and personal development is greatly enhanced by the challenge of a wide-ranging extra-curricular programme across all sections of the school.

The staff work harmoniously

across the full age range, supporting your child in their first steps into their outstanding Early Years’ section and throughout their learning journey up to university entrance after their studies in the 6th Form. The school community provides recognition of the individual needs of each child and student whilst still ensuring that the collective needs of teams, choirs, productions and all the other facets of a vibrant school community are also well promoted.

Pupils at Bridgewater celebrate and take pride in

personal, individual and group achievement. They are a reflective school striving for continuous improvement in and out of the classroom and in the facilities that are on offer. Pupils are encouraged to be equally reflective, mutually respective, considerate, thoughtful and ambitious. The highest academic standards are expected and so the school provides a stimulating learning experience for all children and students.

For more details contact 0161 794 1463 or visit www.bridgewater-school.co.uk

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Education Top quality tuition in South Manchester

Chorlton Tuition Centre has been successfully offering Maths and English tuition to children in South Manchester since 2005. With over 175 students aged 5 – 16 attending each week, it’s the area’s most popular Tuition Centre.

Director Graeme Clarke and his Maths and English Tutors are fully qualified and highly experienced teachers, members of the General Teaching Council and DBS checked.

They help students (from year one to GCSE level) primarily in the areas of Reading, Writing, Spelling, Comprehension, English and Maths – from Year 1 to GCSE

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level. They also assist with exam preparation for selective school entrance exams, SAT’s and 11+ exams.

Lessons are 80 minutes long and students usually attend for one lesson a week. With a variety of times available to suit you, the majority are held after school or at the weekend. Young children’s lessons are broken up into 20 minute activities, designed to keep them keen and interested.

To arrange an initial, no-obligation educational assessment, please call Graeme on 0161 860 6888 or 07588 560278. www.chorltontuitioncentre.co.uk

Record-breaking A*s for Withington!

Withington Girls’ School, consistently the top performing school in public exams in the North of England, is celebrating a set of exceptional A-Level results, recording an all-time high of 41% of grades passed at A* and 14 Oxbridge places offered (18% of the cohort).

Headmistress Mrs Sarah Haslam said: “Withington students never cease to astonish me. They participate in a breadth of activities – the performing and creative arts, sport and outdoor adventure, debating, fundraising, voluntary work and local community involvement – and do so with great enjoyment and success. Yet the girls also embrace our ethos as a school where learning is its own reward, and willingly and enthusiastically give their full commitment to their studies, supported by a superb team of staff.”

With around 130 girls in the Junior School and 550 in the Senior School, Withington is large enough to offer a wide range of subject choices and activities. But at the same time,

it is small enough that every girl can be individually known and supported by a strong pastoral team.

Pupils are academically able girls drawn from all backgrounds, cultures, faiths and traditions; bursaries are available (according to need) from Year 5 upwards.

Sixth Form Open Evening Tues 16 Oct: 6 – 8pm A detailed information evening about subject options and life in the Withington Sixth Form.

Open Days Thurs 8 Nov: 4.30 – 6.30pm.

Sat 10 Nov: 10am – 12 noon Prospective Junior, Senior and Sixth Form pupils and parents are warmly invited to have a look around the School. A Withington pupil will give you a tour of the School and be able to answer most questions. Teaching staff will also be on hand for a chat.

Tours can be also arranged throughout the year via Ms Jane Ellis, Admissions Officer.

0161 249 3371 / www.wgs.org

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Education

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Education Why Explore? pride in her work, whilst learning and gaining confidence. She’s learnt how to prioritise her work and completing it within the required timescales.

Explore Learning provides maths and English tuition to children aged four to 14, with 139 centres across the country. Families caught up with the mum of Explore Learning member Emily.

How long have you been going to Explore?

Emily joined over 3 years ago.

Why did you decide to join Explore?

To help raise Emily’s low self-esteem and to provide her with confidence in her learning and within herself.

How has Explore helped/what impact has Explore had?

They have provided Emily with the tools to enable her to take

Who would you recommend Explore to?

We would recommend Explore to any parent/guardian or child of any school age and of any ability.

What advice would you give to other parents thinking about bringing their children to Explore?

Attend a ‘free’ trial session with your child at a convenient centre.

Can you tell me what you think makes Explore Learning a unique tutoring service?

They have knowledgeable members of staff/tutors who really do care about the children and their on-going learning.

Explore offers great ‘staff to children’ ratios, which enables each child to be able to ask for help where necessary.

Does practice really make perfect?

As children develop and improve their cognitive abilities, they are expected to become less reliant on supervised learning and develop self-learning skills.

Although there are some self-learning tools taught within education-psychology textbooks, educators are not always given the evidence to show which of these tools work most effectively.

A 2013 comprehensive review of 10 learning techniques that students could implement on their own was conducted by a group of educational and neuroscience psychologists. The outcome of

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this review was that ‘Practice Testing’ was the most effective learning technique.

The traditional method of teaching, whereby students are given a technique to be mastered followed by the testing of their understanding of that technique, is the most effective way for children to be educated in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. Teaching children these skills early on, and helping them understand that regular practice will enable them to remember information when it comes to sitting an exam, will encourage those students who are motivated to improve their overall scores.

Testing does improve learning and practice does make perfect.

AE Publications has a range of over 85 books to meet the needs of parents, tutors, children and changing exam board requirements. You can find full details at www.aepublications.co.uk

How do Explore tutors support Emily in their sessions?

The tutors make her feel welcome and are supportive, friendly, approachable and encouraging. Both good work and difficulties that she has overcome are praised.

What does Emily enjoy about her sessions at Explore Learning?

Emily has seen for herself the progress she has made at school, which can be attributed to the excellent learning at Explore. This has helped to boost her self-confidence and makes her eager to continue with her sessions.

How has Explore worked with you as a family/supported you as a family?

Explore has provided a safe learning environment. The regular parent’s meetings and reports mean we can discuss progression and we can then set new goals for Emily.

How has Explore supported what Emily is working on at school?

Since Explore, Emily’s confidence and work has improved significantly and this is clearly evident from her school reports.

Emily’s great SAT results can be attributed to Explore, as they ensured her learning was set at the correct level and in line with the National Curriculum. Explore was a great help with her transition to Senior School.

Get in touch with Explore Learning today by calling 033 0124 3802 to discuss your child’s needs and book your free trial today. Alternatively, visit explorelearning.co.uk to find your nearest centre.

More than third of parents think homework is unhelpful

According to a recent Ofsted report, more than a third of parents said homework isn’t helpful to their children in primary school. Many parents said homework was a huge cause of stress for the whole family and had a negative impact on home life.

Nearly three quarters of parents thought allowing children more time at school to plan and get ready for lessons through research was a better alternative to homework.

Parents gave some very clear messages about homework,

both negative and positive.

Those who spoke positively said that homework enables them to feel part of their child’s learning and that it helps them to support that learning with other activities, such as visits to museums and home projects.

The discipline, planning and time management skills that homework gives children were welcomed and homework was viewed as a way of promoting independent learning.

More info at www.gov.uk/ government/publications/ ofsted-parents-panel

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Education An excellent start at Forest Prep School Located in the attractive suburb of Timperley near Altrincham, and with easy access to Manchester city centre, Forest Preparatory School is a co-educational independent school for pupils from the age of 2 to 11.

At Forest, staff provide a happy

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and stimulating environment, and encourage each child to reach their full potential in all areas of school life. In their recent ISI inspection (May 2018) the school was graded “EXCELLENT” in all areas. This is the highest grade a school can be awarded under

the ISI Inspection scheme.

Family values and discipline are important codes of practice at the school, which has an excellent reputation for preparing children for both state and independent grammar schools.

As a non-selective school, they are hugely proud of their success rates, with 83% of pupils moving onto grammar schools since 2011.

At Forest, they believe that they have found a perfect balance in pursuing academic excellence whilst at the same time maintaining strong pastoral care standards. They strongly believe that if a child is happy they will learn and if they have a sound and efficient framework

within which to work they will thrive. Every child is made to feel important and valued by all concerned and through this atmosphere of collaboration between staff, pupils and parents, success is achieved.

“We were looking for a well-balanced school where boys and girls would be encouraged to work hard and play hard. We found this at a vibrant little place called Forest.” (Parent) Interested parents are warmly invited to arrange a tour by contacting the school at www.forestschool.co.uk, calling the School Office on 0161 980 4075 or emailing office@forestschool.co.uk

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Education Independent or State Education for your child?

Olivia Malaure talks to Frances Delaney, a parent whose child has experienced both types of school.

Frances Delaney made the decision to move her daughter from a state to an independent school at the beginning of Year 6.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to choose where your child will go to school, then it might help to look at the bigger picture and leap forward twelve years.

Recent statistics show that students from state schools out-perform students from independent (private) schools at university. However, before you allocate your tuition fees to more leisurely pursuits, consider that these statistics also show that students from independent schools are more likely to gain a place at university in the first place.

Right now, the idea of your young child reaching university age may seem unimaginable, but it pays to do your research early. And, when you do, it’s hard to ignore the fiery discussion about the moral, financial and practical issues that catapult from any search engine as you try to weigh up the ‘pros and cons’ of state versus independent education.

Why did you make this change?

Firstly, I wasn’t confident that my daughter would get into our preferred, local state secondary school. I also wanted her to attend a school with an integrated sixth form, rather than have to transition to a large college later on.

Crucially though, my daughter’s teacher, who I really respected, suggested she was playing up in class and was possibly bored because in Year 5, along with a number of other children, she’d actually reached Year 6 grades.

I wanted my child to reach her full potential, but her teacher couldn’t help further as her priority had to be improving the grades of those children who were under-performing.

Was it an easy decision?

No actually, it was very difficult.

My partner was politically opposed to private education - we both went to state schools.

But we’d had the experience of our elder son completing his education at a large state college where he just didn’t “fit in.” He felt he didn’t do as well as he could have done at a smaller private school. It took

my partner a lot of convincing, but I wanted our daughter to have the best educational experience possible and my gut feeling was that she would perform better at an independent school. We were in a position where we could afford the fees and so we decided to move her.

Looking back, do you feel you made the right decision?

That’s a difficult question and I don’t have a definitive answer. She is happy and confident and doing well at school, so that is very positive. She is still in touch with her friends from state school and it seems they’re also happy and doing well too, so it’s hard to tell what would have happened had she remained in the state sector.

Has your daughter experienced more academic pressure at her new school?

Yes, and the pressure comes from both parents and the school.

But, truthfully, I’m paying to ensure that she reaches her full potential and so pressure is part of that. My daughter thrives in that type of environment, but I can see that it could be stressful for children who aren’t meeting expectations, or who excel in one particular subject area rather than being an

academic all-rounder. Having said that, I would imagine that children in good state secondary schools are also under a lot of academic pressure too.

At my daughter’s school, there is not an automatic entry into the sixth form so there is constant discussion about what she can achieve and how she will achieve it. Obviously, this isn’t the case in all independent schools.

Do you have any advice for parents who are having difficulty making a decision between a good local state school and a private school?

Look at the environment in which your child thrives and explore how they learn. Think about how they would deal with regular tests and exams. If they are at senior school level, find out what subjects are on offer in the sixth form, and if they are in line with your child’s interests. Some state schools offer a wider variety of subjects than some smaller private schools with limited more resources. The advantage of an independent primary school is that you are training your child for the private system and this training has its advantages. In my opinion the kids who are attending independent schools are not better or brighter, just more prepared.

Digital Citizenship Classes required for children The internet and social media are a permanent part of modern childhood and for most children they offer huge opportunities to learn and connect, according to the Children’s Commissioner for England.

However, children are now the internet’s biggest users and Anne Longfield believes they have inadequate skills to negotiate their lives online and are frequently giving away personal information.

Ms Longfield recommends interventions from government to make sure children are better equipped to make safe and informed choices online. She recommends that children should study “digital citizenship” to learn about their rights and

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responsibilities online and that social media companies should rewrite their terms and conditions in far simpler language.

Children already learn about using the internet and staying safe online at school, but Ms Longfield wants to make this learning part of the curriculum from age 4 with the focus on ‘digital resilience.

She has produced a ‘Digital 5 a Day’ guide which sets out ways in which families can make sure time online time is productive.

This guide can act as a base for family agreements about internet and device use during term and holiday time.

More info at www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk

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Parents’ place Foraging with kids...it’s not just about the plants!

By Adele Nozedar

You don’t have to be a foodie to have noticed that foraging has become a ‘thing’ lately. Many restaurants and gastropubs now employ their own forager, an expert who knows where all the wild goodies grow, who has a specific brief to select the best wild ingredients - leaves, blossoms, roots, shoots (and not forgetting fungi and coastal plants) to grace the plates of lucky diners.

Food like this, although wild and free, does not come cheap.

You’re paying for the expertise of the forager, his or her knowledge of the land and its edible treasures, as well as hours of attention to making sure that each tiny leaf or flower is perfect.

Believe me, I have nothing but admiration for the chefs and restaurants who employ foragers. But foraging is not new. Human beings and the plant world have had a relationship for thousands of years. Are you wearing cotton?

It’s a plant. Do you ever take

aspirin? Made from a plant. Do you like marshmallow? It was once a plant! The truth is that human beings always have been foragers and always will be.

I feel sorry for today’s children, since, like it or not, they are born into a world of screens. Children tend not to play outside in all weathers and at all hours as they used to. Kids still play together, but the nature of that play sadly errs towards the sedentary.

This is where foraging comes in. It’s an activity for all ages that by definition can only take place outside. In noticing the common wild plants which surround us in our search for those that are edible, we connect easily and effortlessly with the real world, away from the lure of screens for a few precious hours.

Over the past few years, I have taken out thousands of people on foraging expeditions but my favourite groups are ones with children. These are the walks that

teach me the most. On one such walk a boy of about 5 insisted on leading the way. I said that was fine so long as he gave us a name for every plant he wanted to point out. After meandering down a path a little way, we came to a nettle. The boy couldn’t quite remember the name but improvised beautifully, ‘Ladies and gentleman, this is a needle plant!’ he cried. And he was right; ‘nettle’ and ‘needle’ are closely related, and indeed, to ‘nettle’ also means to annoy – very appropriate!

Being able to single out an edible and tasty plant from what initially seems to be a sea of greenery is particularly empowering for kids, who love to show you their finds. Think dandelions, wild garlic, elderberries, cleavers, sorrel, hairy bittercress.

Keep it simple. Start in your garden or local park to see what you can find. Once you start to look, it’s hard to stop.

But how to start foraging?

Kids love equipment, and whilst you don’t need much, there are a few “props” that will help. Here they are, in no particular order.

• Something in which to put your treasures - a basket, a cloth bag or even a tub will be fine. Avoid plastic since it makes plants ‘sweat.’

• Decent footwear • Wet weather protection, just in case • A magnifying glass, to look closely at your finds (it’s amazing how something as small as a daisy will look like

another world when examined closely!) I prefer a small jeweller’s loup, which costs approximately £2.

• A good foraging book (guess which one!)

Start as close to home as possible.

If you’ve a garden, great. If not, head for the nearest park or green area. Rather than searching for something specific, look around to see if there’s anything you recognise. Remember that the plants you’re looking for can be so common that you don’t even notice them.

Above all, let the kids take the lead. If they want to run around and stop foraging for a while, that’s absolutely fine and all part of the plan! You might find that little and often is the way – forage on the walk to school, maybe. Above all, this experience is meant to be something that you and your kids are going to love for the rest of your lives so introduce it at a pace that suits you all.

Top five plants you’re most likely to find all year round • Greater Plantain • Nettles • Dandelions (flowers in spring/ summer, leaves all year round) • Chickweed • Hairy bitter cress Adele Nozedar has recently published Foraging with Kids, a fun, informative and practical introduction for children and their grown ups to learn about foraging together. It is published

by Watkins Publishing on 20 September, RRP £12.99.

Why the UK needs a better perinatal support network Mental health issues around the time of birth are often little-spoken of, but recent figures from the MMHA and Royal College of Psychiatrists have revealed that 11% of women experience depressive symptoms during or shortly after birth and 5% suffer with a major depressive disorder.

For women, receiving support from the NHS is a postcode

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lottery, as 26% of trusts do not have dedicated perinatal teams, made up of psychiatrists and nurses.

Robert Rose, Partner and Head of the Clinical Negligence team at Lime Solicitors says: “Support for new mothers needs to improve and a countrywide perinatal support network could be the answer.

This would raise awareness and

also provide mothers with the crucial support they need.

If you are a new or expectant mother, it’s important to have an open channel of communication with your midwife/doctor. Discuss how you are feeling with them and raise any issues you might have. This will help secure the support you need.”

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Parents’ place Babies prefer hearing voices of other babies Recent research has revealed that babies appear to be much more interested in listening to other babies than they are listening to adults.

Researchers from McGill University and the University of Montreal conducted experiments on 5 month old babies. By using a synthesizer that simulates movements of the mouth, tongue, and vocal cords, they were able to produce vowel sounds that mimicked human voices.

The babies displayed a clear preference for the synthetic baby voices, listening to them for 40% longer, on average, than the adult voices.

“This doesn’t mean mum or dad should give up oohing and aahing in high voices“ says Linda Polka, a professor at McGill University. “Babies do respond to these kinds

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of sounds. However, infant speech captures and holds infant attention, sometimes prompting positive emotions.

This may motivate infants to be vocally active and make it easier to evaluate their own vocalisations, perhaps energising and supporting spoken language development.”

More info at www.sciencedaily.com

Families Manchester 15

Parents’ place Helping your child cope with stress

By Claire Winter

Create a healthy routine

Dr. Riccardo Di Cuffa, Director, and GP at Your Doctor (www.your-doctor.co.uk) says that having a healthy routine can help combat stress, particularly when your child is making the transition to a new school or starting the new school year. Here’s what is important: Get enough sleep Sleep improves our memory, sharpens our attention span and helps us maintain a healthy weight. Avoiding gadgets an hour before bed and doing more relaxing activities such as reading or having a bath can make all the difference to the quality of your child’s sleep.

Stress in primary school children has risen to worrying levels according to school leaders. 78% of primary school teachers in a recent survey reported a general increase in stress and anxiety among primary pupils.

According to the report by the website, Key, a national school support service, 27% of teachers surveyed attributed the increase in anxiety and stress to tests and 37% to social media. Thankfully MPs have finally acknowledged the adverse side-effects of SATs and have proposed eliminating them for seven year olds by 2023.

The government has also committed £300 million to improve young people’s mental health. Many educationalists argue that this is too little, far too late. With evidence of self-harm, eating disorders and stress being on the increase in schools, what should we as parents be doing to help our kids feel less stressed?

Get talking According to a poll run by Time to Change, 55% of families do not openly discuss mental health.

Katie Buckingham from the social enterprise, Altruist Enterprises (altruistuk.com) believes families should talk more about their problems. She believes the first step to combating this problem is to simply start a conversation.

Here are Katie’s six tips (thinkAPPLES) when you talk to your child: Approach casually: mention well-known celebs like Adele who openly discuss their issues Positivity: avoid negative language Patience: no one likes to be pressured Listen carefully: ask openended rather than leading questions Encourage your children to pursue things they love Support: seek extra help if you feel it’s needed.

Always eat breakfast Make sure your child starts the day with a nutritious and healthy meal to set them up for a full day.

This will boost their energy and can also improve memory and decrease stress levels.

Check-in with your child If your child seems stressed, for instance, if they are not sleeping well, not eating well, behaving more emotionally than usual or are less interactive or more clingy, you need to get them to talk and not bottle up their feelings and worries. Set aside a time when you and they are not too tired, like on the walk to school, or after you’ve eaten your evening meal and ask them how they are really feeling.

Exercise Getting regular exercise can reduce stress. Try to walk to walk to school with your child, visit a playground or park on the way home or get out for a walk at the weekend. Encourage your child to participate in a sporting or

physical activity which will build exercise into their schedule automatically.

Try mindfulness Starting a new school, the beginning of the new school year and general worry can make all family members feel pressured. Mindfulness and meditation can help children and parents alike. There is a growing body of evidence that mindfulness can help improve concentration and selfawareness, and help us all manage and regulate difficult emotions. You can introduce your child to mindfulness via apps on your phone, like Headspace and Buddhify.

Buddhify has released a kids’ section to their app. Rohan Gunatillake, the creator of the app, says taking just ten minutes out to practice mindfulness with your child can help. “With children experiencing more pressure and stimulus than ever before, especially in the school environment, mindfulness is a technique which can be used by families to help them navigate modern life.”

Anxiety and stress can be self-perpetuating, your child is anxious so only focusses on the things in their life that are causing them to feel stressed.

Encourage them to have a positive outlook but also allow them to voice their fears. If you help teach your child about resilience and how to cope with the tough times, as well as the good ones, you will be teaching them a great skill for life.

If you are concerned about your child, please make sure you seek help from a medical professional.

Fruit juice with breakfast places children at higher risk of obesity Children who drink fruit juice with breakfast are more likely to become overweight or obese.

A study, led by the Medical University of Vienna, revealed that children who had orange or apple juice with their breakfast were 50% more likely to be overweight, while those who

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drank water saw their obesity risk fall by 40%.

It also found that skipping breakfast is linked to weight gain as it makes children more likely to snack during the day.

The study, published at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna, questioned 652 children

aged 13 on their breakfast habits and, while most types of food had no clear relationship with weight, those who drank fruit juice more than three times a week were 50 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese.

More info at www.eco2018.easo.org/

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Parents’ place Talking to your child about the loss of a loved one

By Lianna Champ

The grief of children is as real as the grief of adults. When a grandparent or close family member dies, a child’s view of the world and their sense of security are threatened and all that is familiar changes, especially if they had a special bond with that person. For children, relationships with grandparents, aunts and uncles can be magical.

Sometimes in an attempt to protect them from the harsh reality of death, we may distort the facts to soften the truth.

This can inadvertently create a mystery around death which forces children to use their imagination to fill the gaps. By using straightforward language to explain what ‘dead’ means we are teaching children a truth – that people can die when they are old, if their bodies stop working properly or if there has been an accident.

In the case of suicide, it is alright to admit that we don’t always know why someone has died.

The way we teach our children to cope with their losses in childhood sets a

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pattern for the rest of their lives. We can teach them to embrace all life experiences and to process their emotional responses – good, bad, happy or sad – as they arise. Life is not an endless series of happy moments and it is always interspersed with traumas. By accepting and experiencing all life events as they occur our children learn to process them practically as they arise, deal with them and move forward.

Children learn their coping mechanisms from us. They may not always hear what adults are saying but they will always watch what they do. It is important that parents and carers keep their behaviour and routines as normal and familiar as possible and give children their full attention and time.

This will ensure they feel safe.

Let your children know that you are still there for them even though you may feel like folding. You are still a parent and have that responsibility.

You are also teaching them a very important emotional tool – how to grieve. Create a safe space where they can talk

about how they feel. You go first and if you cry, talk through your tears. Explain that what you feel may be different from what they feel. Each loss experience is as unique to us as our own fingerprint. Don’t offer an opinion on your child’s words but be open and accepting in your body language. Feedback words to show you understand, but don’t interrupt their flow. Don’t try and analyse their feelings and don’t compare how you are feeling.

Comparisons minimise the importance of their expressions and can affect their selfesteem and confidence and create imaginary failings where there are none.

It is vital that we are honest.

If the death is expected, children have the opportunity to express their love, say things that are important to them and share everything that needs sharing. Experiencing grief together brings us closer to our loved ones and is all part of the cycle of life.

Children have a natural curiosity and may ask lots of questions. Let them. They

will ask as much or as little as they need to know. Give them simple and factual answers – tell them the truth. Listen to their words, reassure them and be ready with a hug if they need one. Don’t try to change how they feel. Encourage them to talk through their tears – emotion is contained in words and speaking them helps to unravel their confusion. All children, no matter what age, must be allowed to talk and share unconditionally.

Programming children with incorrect information about how to deal with loss can create negative coping mechanisms. They need to learn that it is okay to talk about the person who has died even if it makes them sad. When we are happy we want to share our happiness.

It is the same when we are sad – both emotions need equal expression.

Sometimes young children don’t understand that death is permanent and creating a scrapbook can give them the opportunity to say, ‘We can’t see grandma or grandad because she/he has died, but we can look at their photographs and see them in this way.’

Memory is how we hold on to the things we love. Choosing photographs together to make a scrap book and drawing pictures can evoke lovely conversations and memories.

Choose a beautiful memory box for cherished items. Have a memory hour where your child thinks of their favourite memories of their grandparent or loved relative. Our memories are the fruits on the tree of grief.

Lianna Champ has over 40 years’ experience in bereavement and grief recovery. Her new book How to Grieve Like a Champ is available on Amazon, priced £9.99. For more info, visit www.champfunerals.com

Families Manchester 17

What’s on One Festival. Two Weekends.

5000 Free Events For the first time ever, England’s biggest festival of heritage and culture will take place across two weekends in 2018.

Heritage Open Days, 6 – 9 and 13 – 16 September is an annual celebration of England’s architecture and culture that allows visitors free access to historical landmarks that are either not usually open to the public, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Co-ordinated nationally by the National Trust with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, it brings

together thousands of organisations and properties across England.

With a theme of ‘Extraordinary Women,’ this year’s festival will offer visitors more opportunities to discover the secret history of their towns, villages and countryside. There are hundreds of activities for kids, including dressing up, woodland walks, and railway rides. Best of all, every single event is FREE! For up to date information on events taking place near you visit, www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Sat 8 Sept

Stockport Town Centre Stockport Festival BIG Day Out 10am – 4pm. A fantastic fun family BIG day out in Stockport town centre.

Meet Mr Bloom and his veggies at The Plaza, see the Frozen Show, wear your best superhero costume and join in the superhero parade.

Clifford Court, Stockport Family Fun Day Bracondale champions are costing a family friendly event with Clifford Court. The day will include bouncy castle, face painting, craft stalls, a lucky dip, cake stalls, a cafe and much more! www.stockport.gov.uk Rochdale Fire Station Fire Station Open Day The station will host activities and demonstrations, all raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity. A fantastic day out for your little Fireman Sam fans! www.manchesterfire.gov.uk

Here’s a tiny taster of what’s happening in the North West: hands-on experience for all ages!

Standing on a Scheduled Ancient Monument site, this moated building offers visitors a glimpse into the past with the kitchen, dining room, cold store room, wash house, bedroom and drawing room all dressed to represent a Victorian home.

Sat 8 Sept

Museum of Policing in Cheshire, Cheshire Constabulary, Warrington 10am – 4pm. Let the kids play at being policemen and women, with the chance to see inside police cars and vans, hear the police band drums, and dress up in capes and helmets for photographs. There’s also the mystery of the missing prisoner to solve, and an amazing collection of policing artefacts from around the world.

Hall i’ th’ Wood Museum, Bolton 12 – 4pm. Tours at 12.15pm, 1pm, 2pm and 2.45pm. Join in a tour of this beautiful building including a rare chance to view the attic space where Samuel Crompton allegedly hid the spinning mule during an outbreak of machine-breaking in the late 1700s. The tours will take place at the following times: 12.15pm, 1pm, 2pm and 2.45pm.

Sun 9 Sept

Smithills Hall, Bolton 12 – 4pm. Tours at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Stand in the same room where Bolton Protestant Preacher, George Marsh, was interrogated by the owner of the estate, Robert Barton.

Marsh was later burned at the stake because of his faith. Legend has it that as George Marsh was being led from the Hall he stamped his foot on the flagstone, leaving a mark that has remained there ever since as a declaration of his steadfast faith.

Centre Point, Bramhall Slime Fest Bramhall With bookable Slime masterclasses, a Slime shop and make-your-ownSlime station, nail art, face glitter, refreshments, a party atmosphere and tons of fun stuff concerning all things fabulous and SLIMEY! www.thehappypotter.co.uk Manchester Museum Autism Friendly Early Opening 9.15 – 10.30am / Free, drop in Activities take place before the Museum opens to the general public and there will be a quiet room available too. See objects, do activities & make creations inspired by one of the Museum’s galleries.

For ages 5-16 with a parent or carer and siblings welcome. www.manchester.ac.uk

Clayton Hall Living History Museum, Friends of Clayton Park, Manchester 11am – 4pm. With dressing-up costumes for children, the Hall is a

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Blackley Fire Station Fire Station Open Day The station will host activities and demonstrations, all raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity. A fantastic day out for your little Fireman Sam fans! www.manchesterfire.gov.uk Touchstones Rochdale Make Art! Summer Saturday Sessions 11am – 2pm / Ages 5 – 12 / Free, drop in. Join an artist-led drop-in workshop to make your own crafty creations inspired by the current Art Gallery exhibitions.

01706 924928 / www.link4life.org

Sun 16 Sept

High Lea Park, New Mills Bubble Fest 2018 1pm – 4pM. Enormous bubbles, the biggest you’ve ever seen! Clouds of smaller bubbles. Watch the show, join in, let’s fill the park with bubbles. Also, dip into the Bubble Ma’s homemade giant bubble potion... or bring your own!

The Lowry Jay Foreman’s Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children Jay provides a devilishly cheeky hour of songs, poems and comedy for children of all ages in this family friendly show which regularly sells out its entire runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. www.thelowry.com

Tues 18 Sept – Sat 24 Nov Palace Theatre, Manchester Matilda The Musical With original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.

Winner of over 85 international awards, including 16 for Best Musical, Matilda The Musical continues to delight audiences. www.atgtickets.com

Bolton Central Library and Museum Cinema at the Crescent - Peter Rabbit 2pm / Free, no booking required. Watch this great family film in the Lecture Theatre 1 at 2pm. Light refreshments for sale. Under 12 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. www.boltonlams.org.uk

Thurs 13 Sept

Sat 8 & Sat 15 Sept

Sat 15 Sept

The Stockport Plaza Super Cinema and Variety Theatre, Stockport 10am – 4pm Wannabe actors and actresses can tread the boards at this historic venue, with a behind the scenes look at areas not normally open to the public.

Visit dressing rooms and the projection suite, and hear performances on the 1930s cinema organ!

Bramall Hall Bramall babies sensory stories 11.30am – 12.15pm / £6 per baby, max 2 free adults, booking essential DescriptioN. The session begins with a sensory story and moves onto free time to explore our Tudor-themed play stations. A fun and exciting way to develop all your baby’s senses. Suitable for babies who are not yet walking. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Fri 21 – Sun 23 Sept

intu Trafford Centre Diversity Ignite A Street Dance Circus Spectacular!

Ignite is an exciting fusion from the best of the world street dance, Diversity, and some of most incredible circus performers from around the world to create something audiences have never seen before. www.intu.co.uk/traffordcentre/ events

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What’s on

These listings are for guidance only – please check before you go To include your upcoming event in our listings, email events@familiescheshire.co.uk or upload your event listing to our website - www.familiesonline.co.uk

Sat 22 Sept

Chadderton Fire Station Fire Station Open Day The station will host activities and demonstrations, all raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity. A fantastic day out for your little Fireman Sam fans! www.manchesterfire.gov.uk

Sat 22 Sept & Sat 7 Oct

Emmanuel Community Church, Reddish Dads and Kids 10.30am – 12pm. Free drop-in event for Dads and their young kids. Toys and games for the kids, brew and a bacon butty for Dad. office@emmanuelcc.co.uk

Sun 23 Sept

Chester Racecourse Chester Comic Con With some great guests lined up you can expect even more from this year’s Comic Con, from talks and trade stands to attractions and Cosplay. www.chestercomiccon.co.uk Eccles Fire Station Fire Station Open Day The station will host activities and demonstrations, all raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity. A fantastic day out for your little Fireman Sam fans! www.manchesterfire.gov.uk

Wed 26 – Sun 30 Sept

Fri 28 Sept

Hat Works, Stockport Mad Hatters art and crafts club babies and early walkers 2 – 3pm / £5 (max 2 free adults), booking essential An action packed hour of arts and crafts with the emphasis on fun and age and ability appropriate crafts.

Dress to get messy. Crafts suitable for babies up to 2 years old.

0161 474 2399 / www.stockport. gov.uk

Fri 28- Sun 30 Sept

Event City, Manchester Baby and Toddler Show The UK’s biggest and best, featuring over 150 brands and unique products at the best prices, alongside expert advice for new parents. www.babyandtoddlershow.co.uk

Sat 29 Sept

Z-Arts, Hulme Twinkle Twinkle Ages 1-3.

There are melodies that live in all of us. No one knows that more than Marty the puppy, whose beautiful songs and play-time with his Dad are the best part of his day. But sometimes you have to learn how to find the music inside yourself. Join Marty and us for brilliant puppetry, magical interaction, and a gorgeous original score. www.z-arts.org Heywood Fire Station Fire Station Open Day The station will host activities and demonstrations, all raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity. A fantastic day out for your little Fireman Sam fans! www.manchesterfire.gov.uk

Sat 6 Oct

Z-Arts, Hulme The Big Draw The Big Draw Festival 2018 is all about letting loose, embracing being playful, discovery, and most importantly having fun creating art! Kids and big kids alike join resident visual artist Suzanne for day of playing, creating and of course drawing. www.z-arts.org

Sat 6 & Sun 7 Oct

The Lowry Singalonga – The Greatest Showman Singalonga Productions, producers of Singalonga Sound of Music and Singalonga Grease brings you their newest show, the smash hit film musical that everyone can’t stop singing - The Greatest Showman! www.thelowry.com

Wed 10 – Sun 14 Oct

East Lancs Railway Day out with Thomas Thomas really moves! The Little Blue Engine will be steaming along his own private section of track and hauling passengers at regular intervals throughout the weekend.

He sets off every 20 minutes or so, so don’t worry about missing out! www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk Event City, Manchester The Family Pet Show Are you passionate about pets and their families? With four zones for all types of pets and four areas where you can watch, learn, play and have a go- this is a date for all pet lovers! www.eventcity.co.uk

Sun 7 Oct

Tatton Park Apple Day Join in games and children’s activities and taste delicious apple varieties from Tatton’s historic orchards! Apple goods will be on sale in the shop and restaurant. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Manchester Arena Disney On Ice presents Dream Big High-flying jumps, breath-taking skating and lovable Disney friends. www.eventim.co.uk

Fri 12 Oct

Hat Works, Stockport Messy Milliners 11 – 11.45am / £4 (max 2 free adults), booking essential. An exciting and innovative messy play session with a different hatting theme each month.

Lots of sensory development for baby.

Dress for mess! Suitable for babies from birth and early walkers. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Fri 5 Oct Manchester Arena Cirque Du Soleil – Ovo A colourful carnival of crazy crickets, amazing ants and flexible fleas, OVO uncovers the natural world at our feet. Crawling with fun, OVO is a non-stop riot of energy and movement featuring many of Cirque du Soleil’s mind-blowing signature acts including a stunning 14m high flying trapeze act – the biggest of its kind! www.eventim.co.uk

Bramall Hall Dragon club 10am – 12pm / £8 (max 2 free adults), booking essential. An exciting developmental discovery session for children aged 2 to 5 with stories, play and exploration in the Hall and park. 0161 474 2399 / www.stockport.gov.uk

Fri 5 – Sun 7 Oct

Thurs 27 Sept – Mon 8 Oct

Albert Square, Manchester Manchester Food & Drink Festival A programme of events and happenings all over Manchester featuring collaborations with a huge breadth of the city’s most talented foodies. From beer brewers to ice cream makers, from chefs to gin distillers. www.foodanddrinkfestival.com

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The Lowry Guess How Much I Love You Join Little & Big Nutbrown Hare, from the bestselling ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ and ‘I Love You All Year Round’ collection, as they leap off the page and onto the stage in this magical journey through the seasons. www.thelowry.com Families Manchester 19

What’s on Sun 21 Oct

Tatton Park FungalPunk Dave’s Fungus Foray All are welcome on this fun and unique walk, where you’ll discover the mysterious fungal world. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 13 & Sun 14 Oct, Sat 20 – Mon 28 Oct

Reddish Vale Country Park Screamania A Halloween attraction featuring live actors, spooky maze, special effects, slime making, a spooky treasure hunt with a difference and children’s activities. www.screamania.com

Middleton Arena Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show for Kids (And Childish Grown-ups!). 2pm / Age 5+/ / £10 adult, £7.50 kids, Family £24. Time travelling magicians Morgan & West present a jaw dropping, heart stopping, brain busting, opinion adjusting, death defying, mind frying, spirit lifting, paradigm shifting, outlook changing, furniture rearranging magic extravaganza!

0300 303 8633 / www.link4life.org

Sun 14 Oct

Parr Fold Park, Walkdon Parade in the Park 10am / Child £7 (£5 for groups of 3 or more), Adult Free. A sponsored walk for children in aid of St Ann’s Hospice. 0161 498 3631 / www.sah.org.uk/parade

Wed 24 Oct

Heywood Civic Centre Crafty’s Halloween Spooktacular Heywood Civic Centre 2.30pm / Adults £8, Children £7.50, Family: £26. Each Halloween, Crafty the Crow invites all his friends to see the treasured Golden Pumpkin at his Halloween Spooktacular – the biggest Halloween party in town!

Come in your scariest Halloween costume and help Sally the Scarecrow solve the ghostly goings-on then play Trick Or Treat with Crafty afterwards and receive a special Halloween present!

0300 303 8633 / swww.link4life. org East Lancs Railway Children’s Craft Workshops – Paper Pop Ups Join Bury Transport Museum over the half term holiday for a drop in Craft Workshop that is ideal for keeping little minds busy while they are away from school! Entry into the museum is free. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Wed 24 & Thurs 25 Oct

Fri 26, Sat 27 & Wed 31 Oct

East Lancs Railway Children’s Creepy Craft Workshops Join Bury Transport Museum for a drop in Craft Workshop and become a mad scientist and fashion your own freaky monster face to wear on your trip on the haunted Halloween Ghost Train.

Halloween Ghost Trains Are you brave enough to board the Halloween Ghost Train? Take a ride to Rawtenstall and back alongside a host of hideous haunters and giggling ghouls. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

Sat 27 Oct

Z-Arts, Hulme Halloween Party Join us for a spooky party where we’ll be in Julia Donaldson inspired fancy dress.

Get creative with a Room on the Broom themed arts activity. Plus lots of fun and games for the whole family to enjoy. www.z-arts.org

Fri 19 & Sat 20 Oct

Z-Arts, Hulme Aladdin JR. Manchester Musical Youth ‘Apprentices’ return with the classic Disney tale Aladdin. Recently revamped for Broadway and the West End, this production tells the story of Aladdin and his three friends, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim. www.z-arts.org

Sat 20 Oct

Manchester Art Gallery Open doors 9.15am – 12.15pm, drop in A series of creative, sensory activities especially aimed at autistic children aged 5 – 16 and their carers. 0161 235 8869 / www.manchesterartgallery.org

Sat 20 – Sun 28 Oct

Gulliver’s World Monster Magic at Gulliver’s World Experience Monster Magic at Gulliver’s World! Discover lots of awesome activities and attractions to make this trail a real treat. Don’t miss out on a trip to Leonard’s Scare School or prepare for a Wicked Costume Party on park. You will also have the chance to enjoy the Swizzels Trick and Treat Trail. www.gulliversfun.co.uk

Sat 20 – Wed 31 Oct

Stockley Farm Park Spooktacular Fun on The Farm Our (not so wicked) Witch will be taking residence in her spooky house, ready to play trick or treat with those brave enough to venture in, you can carve your own pumpkins to take home (and we’ll clear up the mess!), take part in our fabulous fancy dress competitions, and enjoy a few treats (or tricks!) along the way! www.stockleyfarm.co.uk

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Sun 21 – Sun 28 Oct

Ordsall Hall, Salford Halloween Gnome Trail Spooky, scary and ghoulish gnomes have taken over Ordsall Hall. Can you find them all? Drop-in activity, no booking required. www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk

Mon 22 & Tues 23 Oct

Ordsall Hall, Salford Magic Potions and Secret Spells Come to the kitchen at Ordsall Hall and meet a magical resident. Have a go at making a ‘magic potion’ and decorating the bottle ready to do some magic at home. Drop-in activity, no booking required. www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk

Tues 23 Oct

Touchstones Rochdale Astonishing Vacuum Cleaner Adventure 1pm & 3pm, £3 booking essential “In a dark corner, there’s a machine.

It’s old and dusty, full of mysterious tubes”. We don’t know who made it. We don’t know what it’s for. It could be dangerous. But we know we need to do something. Hetty needs our help...” An interactive show to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers, creative thinkers, engineers and scientists.

You won’t be sitting in the dark watching a play: you’ll be at the centre of the action.

01706 924928 / www.link4life.org

Ordsall Hall, Salford Halloween Grotto Come and meet the resident Ordsall Hall witch in her grotto, have a go at some spells and beat her riddles - if you dare! All brave souls will receive a special Halloween gift. www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk

Thurs 25 – Sun 28 Oct

The Lowry How to Hide a Lion When a lion is chased out of town, a little girl, Iris, helps him to find somewhere to hide. Iris embarks on a mission to squash her new friend into a variety of sneaky tight spots, as the misinformed town folk try and track him down. How to Hide a Lion, comes to life with playful humour, dazzling puppets & jazz. www.thelowry.com

Fri 26 Oct

Hat Works Museum, Stockport Teddy Bears Sleepover After making a hat for your teddy bear to sleep in, you’ll leave them with us for the night and we’ll post regular updates to Facebook until bedtime. In the morning on Sat 27 Oct, you can collect them and have breakfast with them at the museum. www.stockport.gov.uk

Heaton Park Glow in the Park The ultimate nighttime neon event a 5k fun run for families & friends.

Dance, walk, jog and run on an epic voyage through our 6 glow zones.

For ages 6+. www.glowinthepark.co.uk

Sat 27 & Sun 28 Oct

Bolton Steam Museum Steam Weekend 10am – 4pm / Free (donations welcome). The largest collection of working mill steam engines in the UK – most will be running in steam this weekend. www.nmes.org Tatton Park Pick your own pumpkin You’ll choose your own pumpkin, fresh from the field. Join us for a refreshing pumpkin juice and a yummy pumpkin muffin. www.tattonpark.org.uk

Sat 27 – Wed 31 Oct

Tatton Park Haunted Halloween 11am-4pm.

Dare you enter the Old Hall at Tatton Park? Join in ghoulish Activities in the ancient grounds and hear spine tingling stories of haunted happenings. www.tattonpark.org.uk

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