Families SE May 2013 issue 149

FR

MAY 2013 ISSUE NO. 149

EE

ESTABLISHED 1996

®

familiesse.co.uk

south east london

Children’s Parties - and the chance to WIN a party

The SATS Survival Guide What’s On - days out for the whole family

Free Drama Class Watch your child’s self-esteem soar with Perform’s unique drama, dance and singing classes.

Our weekly workshops will do wonders for their social, linguistic and physical development as well as being the best fun they’ll have all week.

Classes for 4 –12 year o ld perform.org s .uk

Book now fo r our magical

Aladdin

five day sum mer

perform.org.uk

0845 400 1277

holiday cour ses!

OPEN DAY

Let the battle for Leeds Castle commence

May Bank Holiday Monday 6th May 2013 11am to 2pm COME ALONG AND HAVE SOME FUN PLAYING TENNIS, SQUASH, RACKETBALL AND CROQUET.

s All ages and playing standards welcome s Equipment provided s Coaches and members on hand to give advice s 20% discount on membership if you join on the day s Two free tennis lessons for all children and adults s Enter our Free prize draw to win annual membership * Prize draw rules available at www.sltcc.co.uk

For more information about our Open Day visit:

Medieval Jousting | 28 May – 2 June Thrilling daily displays of fearless stunts by brave knights on galloping horses, competing for the Leeds Castle Championship.

Pay once and visit all year round.

SYDENHAM TENNIS CLUB | LAWRIE PARK ROAD | SE26 6ET

leeds-castle.com

School’s out!

Half term break 28 – 31 May 11:00am – 4:00pm

Money Talks Well known historical figures who feature on the Bank’s notes will ‘come alive’ to talk about their life and times. Charles Darwin will be in the Museum on Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 May; Boulton and Watt on Wednesday 29 and Friday 31 May. There will be special presentations on banknotes in the Museum cinema at 12:15pm and 1:00pm. Test your knowledge of banknotes with our quiz and enter a prize draw.

Admission free 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends and public holidays. Entrance in Bartholomew Lane, London EC2R 8AH. Tel: 020 7601 5545 www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

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“For my birthday....” our daughter has ideas already, and hers isn’t until September - talk about forward planning - mine’s coming up first in June (hint hint). She has a point though - the best entertainers are booked months in advance. We’ve tracked down southeast London’s favourites for our party feature this month.

Meanwhile, at last it’s spring. After a mean, hard winter, we can gather up whoopfuls of our children plus friends and go and play in the park. Now, where did we put the picnic rug at the end of last summer?

Robina Cowan, editor

IN THIS ISSUE 3-4 Local News and Views Award-winning local businesses, summer workshops and a child behaviour study

5 Book Review Page Justine Crow’s spring books guide

6-7 Education News Stress-busting the SATS tests

8-10 The Party Starts Here...

Children's celebrations, a whole bunch of local entertainers, and WIN a party

11 Ask An Expert The process of resolving financial and property issues during a divorce

12-17 What’s On Days out with the family and diary dates for grown ups

LocalNews email your news to editor@familiesse.co.uk

ildren h C r o f s ie it iv Act Award-winning preschool activities The nominees for the prestigious ‘What’s On 4 2013’ Junior Awards have just been announced - who’s your favourite?

Diddi Dance is a nominee in the Best National Pre-School Activity category AND Anne-Marie Martin is also a nominee in the Most Outstanding Activity Leader for under 5s (South), which means they have received at least four nominations and will now go through to the national voting stage.

Another local activity group - Boppin’ Bunnies, is nominated in the Best Local Activities for Under 5s.

The awards programme celebrates the best activities, classes, volunteers and venues throughout the UK, as nominated and voted for by parents and parents-to-be. Now in its 7th year, the awards are bigger than ever, covering 20 different categories ranging from Best Pre/Post Natal Activity to Best After School Club. A record 6,400 nominations have been received 40% more than in 2012 and so this nomination is a great achievement.

Parents can vote for their favourite class until 28 May, online at whatson4littleones.co.uk, and the winners will be announced on 30 June.

Everyone who votes or nominates will be in with a chance to win two VIP tickets to the awards ceremony, meet the finalists, sponsors and VIP guests.

• Meanwhile, Tumbletots were crowned Best Children’s Activity Provider in Tommy’s Baby Friendly Awards at the end of March. To find a local class, call Julia on 020 8464 4433 or read more at www.tumbletots.com/dulwich.

SLDS dance show

18 What’s New Bright new bulbs, healthy family meals, new safety products and Foster Care Fortnight

19 The Back Page Moved to page 19, but still a useful source of local business contacts to make your life easier

Front cover: Girls wear Princess Tutus by Lily & Lime, £42.50, 0844 800 8867, www.lilyandlime.co.uk

Next Issue out 7 June, copy deadline 20 May Families South East - 020 8699 7240 www.familiesse.co.uk editor@familiesse.co.uk © Families South East. We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. Families South East is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE

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Over a hundred 5-18 year-olds from South London Dance Studios will take to the stage for a three-night, full scale dance show from 30 May. Act I is a new 50 minute ballet, created from scratch and based on a modern children’s story with a specially created score by SLDS’s composer Debbi Parks, along with a wonderful array of costumes, props and set.

Act II brings together the studio’s tap, modern, contemporary, national, street, jazz and musical theatre dances, promising something to suit everyone’s tastes and showcase the range of talent.

Tickets are available from 5 May. For bookings or information about enrolling your child with South London Dance Studios, call 020 7978 8624 or go to southlondondancestudios.co.uk.

Aladdin in southeast London Perform’s summer workshops in July and August will bring Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie to life through five days of original music, inspirational dance and quick witted improvisation, with a mini performance on the final day. Designed especially for 4-8 year-olds, the Summer Experience workshops will be held in Blackheath, Dulwich and Beckenham. For bookings, call 0845 400 1277. For details, see perform.org.uk.

EARLY BIRD OFFER: Save 10% when you book your child’s place before the end of May, plus there’s a further 25% reduction for siblings.

Perry Pirate is coming...

Theatrebugs are also planning their summer holiday workshop for children.

Based on The First Ever Whale Story, there will be five fun-filled days of acting, singing, dancing, dressing up and arts and crafts. On day five it’s showtime for family and friends! The workshop will run in East Dulwich, Herne Hill, Blackheath, Lee, Greenwich, Clapham, West Wickham and Bickley.

For more details and early bookings, see page 4, call 0800 975 5290 or email enquiries@theatrebugs.co.uk.

may 2013 - families south east

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wn Ups o r G r o f s w e N Helping ‘difficult’ children Behaviour problems in childhood are the most reliable predictor of adult mental health problems and the most common reason for parents contacting child/ adolescent health services. The nature and severity of behaviour problems can differ greatly from child to child, ranging from mild tantrums to severe aggression, however all can place a considerable strain on parents and their relationship with their child. For some, these behaviours may only be present at home, whereas for other children, misbehaviour and aggression may occur at school and with peers. All children are different, and as such, the most effective way to address misbehaviour and aggression is also likely to differ from family to family. For example, some children may become very upset when disciplined, whereas other children seem like they couldn’t care less and may lack empathy or remorse.

A team based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London are funded by Guys’ and St Thomas’ Charity to evaluate a programme aimed at supporting parents in managing their child’s difficult behaviours and improving the way parents and children relate to one another. This programme has previously produced good results in Australia, and the team are aiming to modify the treatment slightly so that it is ‘personalised’ to accommodate the needs of different children and families.

The TLC team are currently recruiting parents of children aged 3-8 years who show oppositional or defiant behaviour to participate in the programme and its evaluation. Parents will attend eight weekly treatment sessions where they work one-on-one with a specialist clinician to learn and ‘fine-tune’ strategies aimed at encouraging child compliance, decreasing aggression and misbehaviour, and improving the parent-child relationship.

Treatment is free for eligible families and no medication is involved. Parents and children will participate in assessments before and after treatment so that the programme can be evaluated and this knowledge used to benefit other families. All assessment and treatment sessions will take place at the Denmark Hill campus of King’s College London. For more information on this research, please email tlc@kcl.ac.uk.

Fresh food from the farm FarmDrop is a new type of online shop that allows shoppers to buy food direct from producers via a community buying group; promising food that’s as fresh as it gets, straight from the field to you. Here’s how it works: 1. Find your local drop - there’s already one at The Dye House, 33 Nutbrook Street, Peckham SE15 2. Shop from locally selected farms and producers 3. Collect your shop from your local drop 4. Be happy your community has well-priced, local food.

The organisers are seeking new people to set up pop-up food shops and will help them get started, find producers and customers. Farmers, foragers, brewers - all producers of good food are also welcome. Find out more at farmdrop.co.uk.

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families south east - may 2013

Gently Elephant is Best

Read all about it Dulwich Books has been voted London’s best independent bookshop for the second year in a row.

The book trade, made up of publishers, booksellers and wholesalers, review hundreds of bookshops throughout Great Britain and Ireland, choosing the best from six regions and Dulwich Books was voted the best in London.

The shop is now on the shortlist for the overall winner which is decided on 13 May. It’s difficult to turn the pages of a good read with fingers crossed, but that’s what the owners are doing!

Southeast London is a great place to find independent booksellers - here’s where to find them: • Beckenham Bookshop, 42 High Street, Beckenham BR3, 020 8650 9744, bookshopbeckenham.co.uk • Bookseller Crow, 50 Westow Street, Crystal Palace SE19, 020 8771 8831, booksellercrow.co.uk • Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road, West Dulwich SE19, 020 8670 1920, dulwichbooks.co.uk • Kirkdale Bookshop, 272 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26, 020 8778 4701, kirkdalebookshop.com • Review, 131 Bellenden Road, Peckham SE15, 020 7639 7400, reviewbookshop.co.uk • Rye Books, 45 Upland Road, East Dulwich SE22 9EF, 020 3591 1850, ryebooks.co.uk • Tales on Moon Lane, 25 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill SE24, 020 7274 5759, talesonmoonlane.co.uk • Village Books, 1d Calton Avenue, Dulwich Village SE21, 020 8693 2808.

Gently Elephant is celebrating after winning ‘Best New Business’ in the Lewisham Business Awards. Co-owner Helen Sheward (shown here receiving her award from Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock), said: “We’re really proud of the awards we have won in our first year. Our shop has been a brilliant and badly needed addition to Brockley’s high street and is pivotal in its regeneration.

“We passionately believe not only in the children’s products we sell and the service we offer but also in the regeneration of our local high streets and keeping spending local. We are now drawing in customers from much further afield.” Find out why at 169 Brockley Road SE4 2RS, 020 8692 2881.

Tennis club open day Sydenham Tennis Club is throwing open its doors from 11am-2pm on 6 May to invite newcomers to try out tennis, squash, racketball and croquet, with coaches available to give tips and advice.

Visiting adults and 4-16 year-old children will qualify for two free tennis lessons as well as a 20% discount on membership if you join on the day.

Plus there’s a chance to win a free annual membership in a prize draw.

The club also offers ‘Improve and Play’ drop-in session for adults every Thursday evening from 7-9pm, which consists of an hour with a coach and an hour’s social play, suitable for improvers. £7 for members and £11 for non-members.

The club is on Lawrie Park Road SE26 6ET, sltcc.co.uk, 020 8778 4217.

familiesse.co.uk

The Bookseller Crow

is a fantastic, volume stuffed shop run by some of the most knowledgeable bookworms in the business.

Call in for the feel of a real bookshop, or if you’re too busy, pick up the phone or point your mouse at their website for a fast mailorder service. Justine Crow recommends this month’s best titles.

So my sister did it, she left London. Despite ten years hitched to a postcode where her kids sucked in the most poisonous air in town, her departure was reluctant. Swapping fumes for the bone fide fresh stuff that blows right off the sea and perilous pavements cluttered with doggy dollops and takeaway detritus for lanes, ditches and the odd slow-down-frogs-crossing sign, it’s hard to imagine being gutted about leaving the pound emporiums and Bojo behind. So I bought them a bird feeding station as a housewarming present to put in their newly acquired expanse of garden among the lovely fields and given my sister’s glumness at the prospect of a quieter life, but kindly resisted the urge to inform her that birdwatching passes for entertainment in the countryside.

21st CENTURY GIRLS by Sue Palmer - Orion rrp £12.99.

While her mum is doubtful about exchanging Italian delis on tap for a village shop that opens three days a week, my eight year old niece has approached the move with relish, pulling on her wellies, filling the feeder with more nuts and seeds than a Hoxton health food stall and ticking the boxes in her I Spy Wildlife book. Either naturally philosophical or deviously upbeat to keep her mum positive, she is displaying classic female adaptability is she not? And it is both charming and a relief to see her pottering among the cowslips rather than belly-tops in Primark. But Palmer’s detailed book warns us of the pitfalls of gender stereotyping, providing much advice on raising girls from birth through teenagehood, addressing issues such as sexualisation, body image and academic expectation, and I am sternly reminded that these are ghastly minefields that can’t be ignored whether she is raised in the city or skipping about in bucolic pastures.

BUMPOLOGY by Linda Geddes - Transworld rrp £14.99.

I was already to dismiss this as yet another journalist’s it’s-happening-to-me-ergo-everyone-else-mustknowwhat-I’m-feeling number - even the title was cutsey. Ahem.

Wrong. She writes for New Scientist and when she asks questions like,does alcohol really affect the foetus? it isn’t just because she needs a large Pinot Grigio. She kept her column going in the aforementioned journal while she was up the duff and addressed the stuff that concerns us all with a forensic eye. Does preg-head or ‘mumnesia’ really exist? Do men ‘feel pregnant’ too, and crucially, must Brie be a thing of the past? She makes gestation genuinely interesting.

BABY NAMES by Emily Harper - Summersdale rrp £5.99.

Instead of the standard alphabetical litany of misfortune with which to saddle your offspring, these are categorized by profession no less. Want your own miniature opera singer? Try Monserrat. How about a little dictator? Christen him Napoleon or Charlemagne or even Saladin. Madly, I find the suggestions so more-ish that I am tempted to get a cage of budgies just to use some of them up.

MOBY-DICK by Jennifer Adams, art by Alison Oliver Gibbs Smith rrp £5.99. A new addition to the jolly and macabre canon of classics for babies that includes Little Miss Bronte Jane Eyre and Little Master Stoker Dracula, here’s a category of names I’d like to see listed - Ahab, Queequeg, Daggoo, Stubb - what’s not to like? If we can skate over the whale-hunting thing, unless I’m mistaken, the original even starts with “Call me Ishmael” (and you thought I was just a shopgirl from Croydon).

THE TERRIBLE TALES OF THE TEENYTINYSAURS

by Gary Northfield - Walker rrp £8.99. If you recognise the terrific animation here that is because you are, drumroll, in the presence of a regular contributor to the genius weekly comic, the Phoenix (not to mention appearances in the lesser known Beano) With more than just a hint of his quality cartoon strip Gary’s Garden, it is an inaccurate romp through the Jurassic herbaceous borders answering some seriously scientific questions like: ‘Is it possible to fly to the moon in a bubble of snot?’ You’ll have to rip it out of the hands of your discerning comic addicts to find out.

THE SECRETS OF STONEHENGE by Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom - Frances Lincoln rrp £11.99. Artfully

making history accessible using captions and drawings (the same team did What Mr Darwin Saw) the mystery behind the giant stones is explored here with satisfying depth (wildboar tusk, anyone?) When I drove past Stonehenge by mistake and Trasha practically threw herself out of the car, the first mystery we encountered was why it was so quiet after I had argued it would be way too crowded to stop. Confronted by eerie emptiness, it was only when we began our circumvention of the stones and Trasha drifted into a pagan trance that I noticed the few tourists there (trying not to stare at us) were mainly ‘women of a certain age’ and I realised why it had been so easy - back in the modern world, everyone else was watching the FA cup final. Now there’s a free tip for you….

JACK’S AMAZING SHADOW by Tom Percival - Pavilion rrp £5.99. Shadows, one of the exquisite mysteries of childhood - up there with why it feels like the stationary carriage you are in is moving when another train passes by, who made mechanical carwashes so thrilling and what is so different about grown-ups’ noses that they go “aahhh” not, “eeeuuw” when they smell cow poo in the countryside? Meanwhile Jack’s shadow is a right monkey.

MATILDA’S CAT by Emily Gravett - Macmillan rrp £5.99.

There’s little doubt of homage to a certain wild thing in the Sendak classic in this tale of a contrary moggie averse to the norms of feline playfulness in which a previous Gravett story makes a cameo appearance. How the author manages to be quite so delightful is beyond me. The cash register likes her too.

HOW TO FIND A FRUIT BAT by Michelle Robinson & Lauren Tobia - Orchard rrp £6.99. This is a splendid picture book celebrating all things sweet and succulent. Where I grew up, the local petshop had a resident fruitbat that ate any grapes proffered upside down. Just thought I’d share that with you.

SIDNEY, STELLA & THE MOON by Emma Yarlett Templar rrp £12.99. This publisher has such a good eye for a picture book (not to be taken for granted - I have seen a lot of shamefully lazy litter published by the so-called big guns recently, unfit for small human consumption) the combined elements of epic illustration and restrained text being the key, no less evident here in their choice of this young author and her endearing protagonists in a tale about sharing. Templar mostly produce children’s books that grown-ups actually like to read - a major bonus at battle of the bedtimes. I’ll take that tenner now.

HEROIC by Phil Earle - Penguin rrp £6.99. I don’t need a bribe to recommend this massive story for older readers by a highly-acclaimed local author and local dad who for such a likeable bloke in real life, doesn’t pull his punches on the page. Two brothers, two different paths, one very engaging yet shocking novel of redemption.

THE GARDEN COOK by Fiona Inglis - Murdoch Books rrp £16.99. While my niece Sid has embraced her new rural domicile, slotting on the kids’ size garden gloves and asking all the right questions about growing things to eat, her brother Dinky Bill may take a little more persuasion. He took one look at the miniature rake and trowel set I bought for him, assumed a four year old’s hand-on-hip pose from ‘Fame’ and informed me that that type of present was simply not for him. I fear it will take more than an inspirational guide like this to convert the diminutive townie and he’s already in trouble at the little village school, which my sis says is like a posh London prep, because his hair is too long. Watching my nephew dancing in his aviator sunglasses giving out the orders like Lady Gaga crossed with Tigger, I can’t help thinking that while some might believe relocating to the country is an education for the newcomers, the truth is when the Crows move in, it’s the locals that will get the education.

The Bookseller Crow, 50 Westow St. Crystal Palace, London SE19 3AF Telephone: 020 8771 8831 email: info@booksellercrow.co.uk www.booksellercrow.co.uk familiesse.co.uk

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education news Bring your bear Paddington Bear is asking primary schools, nurseries and children’s groups across the UK to help raise funds for Action Medical Research and support vital research to help sick babies and children.

Bring your Bear events include many activities, such as reading Paddington stories, holding a teddy bears’ picnic or baking bear-shaped biscuits. Children can also take part in a drawing competition with a chance to win a visit from Paddington himself.

The event can take part on any day during May or June, with children joining in by bringing their teddy bear or favourite soft toy, along with a £2 donation.

Every school, nursery or group that registers will receive a free fundraising pack, including a poster and Paddington stickers, and access to an online toolkit full of useful materials. These include tips on linking the event to curriculums, activity sheets to download and a presentation that can be used in class or assembly. To register, go to visit action.org.uk/bringyourbear.

Educational psychologist service Currently 10% of the British population are dyslexic, but too often this is not identified at school. Many dyslexic children are very bright, but struggle to fulfil their potential in the classroom if dyslexia or other learning difficulties are not properly identified.

For many children, however, despite the best efforts of our over-burdened schools, many are unable to achieve their full potential due to a lack of resources, or more worryingly, through a lack of understanding. A growing number of parents do not trust our schools when it comes to recommending strategies to help a child progress with their education once learning difficulties are identified.

Due to growing demand from parents, Fleet Tutors, a supplementary education service provider, has now extended its range of services beyond tutoring to include independent educational psychologist assessments to identify dyslexia, dyscalculia and other learning difficulties. These assessments will help parents and pupils address their difficulties within the school environment and before the child loses confidence. Assessments are conducted by a fully qualified member of the British Psychological Society, with over twenty-five years’ experience and a comprehensive understanding of various learning difficulties. Appointments are available now at Fleet Tutor’s West London and Farnborough offices.

With thirty-five years’ experience helping students of all ages achieve their goals, Fleet Tutors operates a network of over 5000 qualified, experienced tutors across the country.

For more information, visit fleet-tutors.co.uk or call 0845 644 5452.

Testing times

The rationale behind the tests is to hold schools accountable and to drive up standards by giving parents the power to choose schools based on performance league tables. This puts pressure on schools to make sure all pupils reach, or indeed outperform, the expected Level 2 at aged seven, and Level 4 at age 11, so the school can secure a good place in the league table.

While no one would argue about the need for schools to be accountable or the need to have high expectations for all pupils, the unintended outcome is that many schools have felt under pressure to ‘teach to the test’ and are drilling pupils to do well. That pressure in turn filters down to the pupils.

Parents can do a lot to help children take tests in their stride rather than feeling under pressure: • Don’t let your child pick up on any anxieties you might have about the tests • Don’t abandon all their usual after school activities in test week • Don’t try last minute cramming or overdo the practice papers at home.

On the other hand • Do make sure they get to bed on time and are fully rested (not always easy with lighter evenings) • Send them off to school with a decent breakfast inside them • Do reassure them you will be happy as long as they try their best.

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SATS survival guide for Y6 pupils • Your child will perform better if they are relaxed, and they will only relax if you do • Secondary schools nearly always retest children in September and often again at the end of year 7, so SATS are not the be all and end all of their education • If your child copes well with SATs, they will find it easier to stay calm when the pressure ratchets up for GCSEs and A-levels.

So in the run up to SATs, what can you do?

• Remind them to read the whole question.

Many pupils get caught out by not reading a question in full. A good way of doing this is to underline the key words • Advise them to skip difficult questions and go back later if they have time. Even a confident child can get thrown if they get stuck on an unfamiliar problem.

Moving on to questions they can do will stop the panic setting in, and they won’t waste time and forfeit easy marks elsewhere • Reinforce the fact that they should show all workings out in Maths because they can pick up marks for method even if a calculation error means they get the wrong answer • When reading comprehension, remind them that 3 mark questions will mean they should give fuller answers than one mark questions. This seems obvious to an adult used to sitting exams but is not always to a child.

• Tell them if they finish before time’s up, use the extra minutes to check their work.

It gives them a chance to correct any silly mistakes and can mean additional marks.

Finally, but most importantly of all, reassure them that you don’t mind what result they get as long as they have tried.

familiesse.co.uk

Schoolwear from M&S

Love them or loathe them, SATs tests have been controversial since they were first introduced for seven year-olds in 1991. Added to GCSEs, AS and A’levels, ours are now among the most tested pupils in the world.

Heber Primary School OPEN MORNING at Heber Primary School Wednesday May 22nd 9.30 am - 11.00 am

BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 130 YEARS OF

Excellence

We are one of the most oversubscribed schools in Southwark, but we do have a few spaces in Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6).

At our last Inspection we were described as a school with a ‘successful, relentless and expert focus on improving the quality of teaching and raising pupils' levels of achievement’. We maintain this focus by tracking the progress of each and every child in the school with the aim of achieving outstanding progress for all.

Our highly experienced staff includes specialist Art and Music teachers; concerts and exhibitions are regular features of school life. To get a flavour of the school please take a look at our website.

Come and visit on the 22nd. You will be struck by the calm purposeful atmosphere and by children pleased to be in school, eager to learn and whose behaviour reflects our three key values; thoughtfulness, resilience and responsibility.

OPEN EVENTS May 9th & September 28th 2013

YEAR 5 TASTER DAYS June 13th & June 20th 2013

Register here: www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net

4+, 7+, 11+ and 16+

Fees assistance & Scholarships available (11+ and 16+) S BH

Heber Primary School, Heber Road, London SE22 9LA 130

Telephone: 020 8693 2075

www.heberprimaryschool.com

Tel: 020 8781 7000 admissions@bro.gdst.net

An outstanding* education that goes way beyond exams *Inspection Report 2012

Open events Junior: Thurs 16 May 9.30 - 11.00am Senior: Thurs 23 May 9.30 - 11.00am Weds 26 June 6.30 - 8.30pm

020 8557 7004

www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net admissions@syd.gdst.net 19 Westwood Hill London SE26 6BL Junior School

Senior School

Sixth Form

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may 2013 - families south east

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Weekly archery sessions open to everyone from only ÂŁ10 E:youngarchers@live.co.uk T:0754 8460 956

W:www.youngarchers.co.uk

Children & Adult Tea Parties We can organise venues, invitations, food, entertainment, party bags and so much more.

Free party for six people if you can name the hotel in London famous for its Afternoon Teas.

Visit our website contact page to enter. The winner will be drawn 31st May 2013.

www.afternoonteaparties.com

!"#$$ %&'(%' ) *

YOUR CHILD deserves the best, while YOU take a rest

PARTIES TO REMEMBER Traditional fun, planned with you & your child, food & pinatas optional Age 3 to 12yrs

020 7249 3242 www.partiestoremember.co.uk

The party starts here...

By Joanna Moorhead and Robina Cowan

Birthdays are the high point of the year for most children “it’s all about ME!�; hotly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed.

For a day to remember, choose a party that’s right for your child, and plan, plan plan...

These are all very popular, tried and tested options:

The traditional party

The entertained party

What is it? A do at yours for the birthday child and friends, with traditional games like pass the parcel (always a winner), musical statues, and to quieten things down a bit; sleeping lions.

What is it? A party hosted by a children’s entertainer.

Who is it suitable for? Children of all ages who love musical games, magic shows, adventure games or dancing.

Who is it suitable for? Great for nursery and reception age children, but don’t neglect its values for older children, especially girls of eight or nine who often enjoy nothing more than inviting their friends back to their house and having a girly time (expect lots of thrilled shrieking).

The pros: Seasoned entertainers are marvels at capturing children’s enthusiasm while you admire them from a safe distance.

The cons: Not as cheap as doing it yourself, so how about offering your child a party or presents?

Plus you can save money elsewhere by providing an inexpensive tea and goody bags.

The pros: It’s cheap (or at least, it certainly can be); other parents often stay to help you out and keep you company, especially if you keep the tea coming to help everyone through.

The cons: You’ll need the stamina of a schoolteacher, and there’ll certainly be a major tidy up in the aftermath.

It can also be difficult to keep your birthday child’s siblings out of the way, which can lead to conflict.

Tips to make it work: 1. Agree ground rules with the birthday child beforehand about which rooms are in and out of bounds. Put away their favourite toys in case they get broken by an enthusiastic guest!

2. Have a timetable for what’s happening, and when 3. Think about a project with a theme, eg jewellery-making, pirate games with fancy dress 4. Give them chance to let off steam in the garden 5. For tea, spread a huge paper tablecloth on the floor and sit the children around the edges. At the end, simply fold it up with all the rubbish inside and bin (after removing the children of course).

Tips to make it work 1. Book your entertainer early - the best are snapped up quickly 2. Have a thorough pre-briefing with the entertainer so he or she knows exactly how many children they will be entertaining, their ages and specific interests, and the timetable of events 3. Ask if they will need you to provide any equipment (music machines etc) 4. Ask about any ‘extras’ included in the party package, such as invitations, prizes etc 5. Offer refreshments to your entertainer - it’s thirsty work keeping your children occupied!

bobbin bunnies

nutty’s parties

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families south east - may 2013

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parties to remember perform parties

The action party

The restaurant trip

What is it? Paintballing, go-karting, swimming, football, archery, indoor playcentre etc.

What is it? An outing for a group of friends to a birthday meal in a restaurant. Some, such as pizza restaurants, offer packages where children make their own food.

Who is it suitable for? Older children with lots of energy who enjoy racing around; and competitive friends.

The pros: Your house remains intact; the children have something to focus on, and lots of opportunities to let off steam.

The cons: It can be expensive - it’s worth sharing the cost and hosting a joint party with another child with a birthday at the same time.

Tips to make it work 1. Outdoor activities are best saved for spring and summer months when there’s less chance of the weather putting a damper on the fun 2. Take plenty of water, squash, snacks including fruit - they’ll need plenty of energy for all that running around 3. Make absolutely sure you’ve checked all restrictions, eg height restrictions, beforehand there’s nothing worse than finding out on the day that one of your guests is too small to participate 4. Make sure you get parental consent forms signed well in advance - the venue will require you to do this before they allow you in 5. Ensure the children wear any safety equipment at all times.

Who is it suitable for? Older children who enjoy the chance to meet and chat more than haring around at full pelt.

The pros: A civilised option; you can even invite other parents along, so it’s an outing for you as well. Children enjoy sense of being ‘grown up’ and going out with friends.

The cons: It works best with smaller groups so the ‘whole class party’ isn’t an option. It can be expensive.

Tips to make it work 1. Book a time when the restaurant won’t be busy with disapproving adult diners 2. A restaurant near a park, where the guests can run off a bit of energy afterwards (or work up an appetite beforehand) is a good idea 3. Sort out the cake arrangements beforehand - can you take your own? Don’t forget the candles and matches 5. Don’t limit yourself to chain restaurants your favourite eaterie may well be happy to accommodate your party, and may be more flexible than bigger establishments; and you’ll be supporting a local business.

And finally Whatever sort of party you’re having, don’t forget the party bags. They’ve become a party staple, and part of the excitement for your child can be helping to put contents together. Have a budget and stick to it - party bags can add hugely to the cost of a party - but try to limit the wasteful plastic toys that get thrown away immediately. For ideas, see familiesonline.co.uk/lowcostpartybags.

While good old-fashioned manners seem to be going, er, out of fashion, set a good example by making a note of which presents came from whom, and sending a thank-you note - preferably from your child. As my mother used to say, “well-behaved and polite children are more likely to be invited back.”

What will we discover Inside the story sock?

What do you think is hiding?

Come here and take a look...

Story Sock is an original and exciting class where stories are explored and brought to life with characters, props and activities that educate, enrich and entertain.

Dotty Socks - 2-3 years Stripy Socks - 3-4 years

Call Katy today to book your FREE introduction class in Blackheath or Greenwich We also offer children’s parties and workshops katy@storysock.co.uk | www.storysock.co.uk 07957 136270

Sara Williams Drama Parties Give your child the perfect party with Sara Williams Drama. Send them on a magical adventure that will delight, enthrall and let their imaginations run wild.

latino bambino parties

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www.sarawilliamsdrama.co.uk Tel: 07941 190977 Bespoke children’s drama parties for ages one and up

may 2013 - families south east

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The entertainers PERFORM PARTIES are high energy, fun and totally infectious. Choose from a favourite theme and watch the guests enjoy lots of lively games, songs and improvisations. There are packages to suit all age groups from 1 to 12 year-olds, and even the invitations are included. 0845 400 1277, www.perform.org.uk/parties.

CRAZY CHIMPS is a brand new indoor playhouse in Kennington. There are three party packages available for action-packed, hosted fun, including a meal, cake ceremony and add-on extras including balloons, party bags, a visit from the Crazy Chimp, snacks for the adults, and free re-entry for the birthday child. 020 3583 4040, www.crazychimps.co.uk SARA WILLIAMS DRAMA PARTIES. Give your child the perfect party with Sara Williams Drama.

Send them on a magical adventure that will delight, enthrall and let their imaginations run wild. Bespoke parties for children ages one and up. “This was the best party I have ever attended!”, Tiffany aged 7.

Contact Sara on 07941 190977 or by email at sara@sarawilliamsdrama.co.uk to book. www.sarawilliamsdrama.co.uk.

PARTIES TO REMEMBER. The real-name testimonials on Rowena’s website show more than can be written here about how the children love Parties To Remember. Rowena ensures that the birthday child feels comfortable: she meets the family and the child before every party so she is not a stranger on the big day. All of them, parent and child, can work together on how to structure the party and select prizes suitable for the party age group. This is not as simple as it may sound: that free consultation at the child’s home can take an hour. The games can be tailored to any venue: home or hired hall. 020 7249 3242, www.partiestoremember.co.uk.

DIDDI DANCE bring parties to your choice of location. Little ones enjoy an hour of great activities including dancing games, action songs, hoops, dance ribbons, bubbles, balloons, bells and lots of fun. The parties promise fun and affordable entertainment which will ensure your party is the talk of the tots. 0797 3982790, www.diddidance.com.

STORYSOCK. Are you at a loss to know how to entertain a gaggle of 2-6 year olds? Are you looking for something different that is specifically aimed at the younger audience? If so then Story Sock can provide the answer.

A Story Sock party can be tailored to any theme, and can be aimed at children as young as three.

Not only will you get the story of your choice there are also songs, games and activities until the cake arrives. Story Sock also run regular weekly classes in Blackheath and Greenwich. For a free trial session, more party information or bookings, contact Katy on 07957 136270 or email katy@storysock.co.uk.

WIN a Theatre Tots party!

To celebrate their fifth birthday, Theatre tots are offering a FREE children’s party or a whole term of sessions to one lucky Families reader.

There are five Theatre tots logos hidden around this magazine - the first reader to spot them and email which pages they are on, wins! (Hint, here's one to get you started, and the one on their advertisement on page 15 doesn’t count!)

And there’s more: the second and third correct entrants will receive 50% off any Theatre tots service, and four runners-up will win a Theatre tots song CD. What fun! When you think you know the answer, email info@theatretots.com. dancing games, colourful props and lots of fun.

The team gets the children up and moving with maracas, pom poms, ribbons, hula hoops, bubbles, scarves and more for a real FIESTA time! Suitable for ages 2-6 years. Party invitations included. 0796 1838 349, www.latinobambino.co.uk.

AFTERNOON TEA PARTY. How civilised! An Afternoon Tea Party is a real treat for children’s, sophisticated teens or adult’s celebrations. All served for you on vintage/ style crockery at a venue of your choice. The organisers offer all types of entertainment depending on the party and can organise everything from start to finish (including personalised invitations, party bags and favours) so you can sit back and relax. See www.afternoonteaparties.com, email dawn@afternoonteaparties.com or call 0776 524 1070.

THEATRE TOTS parties are an hour of imagination-based songs, stories and silliness!

The main event is one of Theatre tots’ original stories which little ones act out with a party leader.

All themes are suitable for girls and boys. The team can work in places big or small: “we just need a plug in the wall!” 0780 107 2776, www.theatretots.com.

BOPPIN BUNNIES supply interactive and unique music parties for 1-5 year-olds. They feature music, playing instruments, singing, dancing with flags, action songs, bubbles, live performances a Boppin’ Bunnies musician on their speciality instrument, promising a bespoke experience for all the family together. 07855 916 496, www.boppinbunnies.co.uk.

YOUNG ARCHERS parties include archery demonstrations and skills work for children, followed by brilliant party games including popping balloons.

The basic package can be enhanced to include food and party bags so all you have to do is show up and admire the entertainment with a difference.

A weekly club and private family sessions are also available. 0754 846 0956, www.youngarchers.co.uk.

NUTTY’S CHILDREN’S PARTIES, run by West Dulwich based actor and father, Danny Nutt, offer a variety of fun-packed, exciting and original Adventure Parties for children aged 3-9 and Drama Workshop Parties for those aged 7-11, covering all areas of London and the southeast of England.

LATINO BAMBINO parties are unique, Especially aimed at those with active imaginations high-energy, physical extravaganzas involving Latin/ and bags of physical energy, kids will be Tropical music, transported to...Pirate Dan’s Treasure Hunt, The Super Dan’s Adventure, Daniel The Space Warrior’s Mission (for Star Wars fans), The Princess’ Adventure and Wizard Dee’s Adventure (for fans of Harry Potter)...plus many more themes!

All parties are run by experienced, professional actors and most themes can be catered for. For more info on their parties, visit www.nuttyschildrensparties.co.uk or call Danny direct on 07884-050954.

Also available is the Nutty’s Children’s Parties - Official Album theatre tots packed with nine original, catchy bedlam bunch crafty cooks

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songs from some of the most loved Nutty’s characters.

READER OFFER: You can download the album from iTunes or you can buy it on CD as part of a special offer for Families readers for just £5.99 inc. FREE P+P (normally £8.99) until 31 May 2013. Just email Danny at danny@nuttyschildrensparties.co.uk and quote ‘Families SE offer’ for orders.

AMIGO’S MAGIC brings a magical show for all ages from 3 - 99+. With over 18 years’ experience across the world (and a member of the Magic Circle), Simon encourages the children to come up and help (as it all ‘goes wrong’ for him). The more they get involved, the more things begin to happen making for a fast, exciting and interactive entertainment. At the end of a one hour show all the children receive balloon models. The two hour show includes plate spinning, interactive and non elimination games all to music with a bubble machine at the end.

Mini Disco and Karaoke are also available, while for adult parties there’s close up magic (table hopping/ mix and mingle) and a cabaret.

Amigo’s now also do fundraising shows for PTAs and charities. As it doesn’t cost anything to put one of these on you have nothing to lose and it’s a win-win situation. These shows sell out and there is little or no work from your side, as most of it is done for you. To find out more, email simonrosselli@themagiccircle.co.uk, 020 8480 8176, www.amigosmagic.co.uk.

THE WHEELIE GOOD PARTY COMPANY offers something brilliant for boys and girls. The jeep driving adventure company brings electric jeeps and an indoor track to a venue of your choice and put on a memorable party for 4-8 year-olds. 0845 045 1076, www.wheeliegoodparty.co.uk.

CRAFTY COOKS run memorable cooking parties for children aged from 3-13. Have fun cooking pizzas and cakes from scratch or choose a theme from Pirates and Princesses to Creepy Crawlies.

Your children’s entertainment and lunch in one package AND they take all the washing up home with them! Email heatherb@craftycooks.co.uk or call 0789 015 4651.

THE BEDLAM BUNCH is a group of professionally-trained theatre actors who specialise in children’s interactive party adventures. Expect lots of crazy diversions along the way towards full-scale festivity and prizes. Games, balloonmodelling, magic, races, dressing up and challenges throughout encourage lively joining in.

07846 068 583, www.thebedlambunch.co.uk.

GYMBOREE will create the special details to make your under five year-old’s party a unique, exciting experience. You can book the Herne Hill class premises with purpose-built equipment and props, or Gymboree can bring the party to you. Teacher-led excitement, imagination, music, movement and lots of bubbles give your guests an amazing experience to remember. 020 8123 8423, www.gymboree-uk.com, email hernehill@gymboree-uk.com.

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ASK THE EXPERT

Resolving divorce issues

By Mandeep Clair

“We are divorcing, but my husband refuses to discuss how to resolve financial and property issues. Can I force him to resolve them?”

Unfortunately, it is sometimes impossible to agree on the terms of the matrimonial financial settlement. The only way in which you can force the resolution of these issues is by commencing court proceedings. These comprise a number of steps which are summarised below.

Step 1 You need to make the court application by what is known as a Form A. The Court then issues the proceedings and notifies both parties of the timetable to get the case ready for the first hearing.

Upon filing Form A with the court, the court must: a. fix a First Appointment (i.e. the first hearing) not less than 12 weeks and not more than 16 weeks after the date of filing the Form A b. set out a timetable for the case up to the first appointment which provides the dates for the parties to file with the Court and to exchange with each other: • a Form E setting out full financial details of their respective circumstances; • a concise statement of the apparent issues between them; • a Chronology; • either a Questionnaire detailing further information and documents which each requires from the other or a statement that no such information or documents are required; • a notice stating whether the parties will be in a position at the First Appointment to use that hearing as a Financial Dispute

•

Resolution hearing (i.e. an FDR); a Form H setting out the legal fees incurred by each party in connection with the financial proceedings so far.

Step 2 At the First Appointment, the court decides on what the relevant issues are and gives directions in respect of anything further which needs to be done to get the case ready for a negotiations hearing (FDR). If the court is satisfied that all relevant disclosure has already been provided, the first hearing can be used as an FDR. If this cannot happen, the court is likely to set a timetable dealing with the extent to which any Questionnaires must be answered, what further documents are required, whether assets like the former matrimonial home must be formally valued, whether any other evidence such as expert evidence is needed concerning, for instance, tax or pension issues.

The court will give a reasonable period for both sides to comply with any further timetable before the next hearing.

Step 3 The next hearing is the FDR hearing (unless it has been possible to use the first hearing as this).

The purpose of this hearing is to try to achieve a full and final financial settlement by negotiation and discussion with the District Judge, and the Judge will usually give an indication of what (s)he thinks a court would order at a final hearing (i.e. if the parties are unable to agree).

If negotiations are unsuccessful, the court will

make an order setting out if anything further needs to be done by both parties to get the case ready for a final hearing.

Step 4 The next hearing is the final one which ordinarily lasts one or two days. The precise duration depends upon the complexity of the case. The court will listen to all of the relevant evidence from the parties and impose a full and final order.

It is rare for cases to reach a final hearing as most cases can be resolved by agreement before this becomes necessary.

About the author Mandeep Clair is a mediator, collaborative lawyer and experienced family solicitor at southeast London Solicitors Grant Saw. The practice offers friendly, professional family mediation and legal services including an initial consultation for legal advice of up to one hour for £100 inclusive of VAT. Should you then instruct Grant Saw to undertake further family work, this sum is deducted from subsequent fees, so effectively you receive a free initial consultation.

Please call 020 8858 6971 or email mclair@grantsaw.co.uk.

Term r e m Sum Holiday s & kshop Worw booking no

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may 2013 - families south east

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SUNDAY ART SALON

FOODIES FESTIVAL

BRIXTON WINDMILL

NORTHWOOD SCOUT GROUP JUMBLE SALE

What’sOn

18 May, NORTHWOOD SCOUT HUT, Northwood Way SE19 1ET Promising an extensive range of top quality goods available to buy at reasonable prices. 2pm start.

Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

HAVEN’T STOPPED DANCING YET

Diary Dates for Grown Ups CRAFT AND DESIGN HOLIDAY MARKET 4-6 May, GREENWICH MARKET SE10 Greenwich Market will host a special three day market, inviting visitors to see designer skills first hand and have a go themselves. Wood turners, jewellers, knitters, quilters, print makers, felters and blacksmiths will all be available to give inspirational advice and share their skills.

10.30am-6pm.

SYDENHAM GARDEN SPRING FAIR 11 May, SYDENHAM GARDEN RESOURCE CENTRE, 28a Wynell Road SE23 2LW, sydenhamgarden.org.uk Sydenham gardens, resource centre and allotment site run as a small charity offer gardening and creative opportunities that aim to improve the mental health, physical health and wellbeing of people living in Lewisham and Bromley. On 11 May the spring fair invites visitors to see the garden in late spring bloom, meet the people involved in the project, learn how to sow seeds, sample and buy plants, arts crafts and goodies and try your luck with the raffle, all to a backdrop of live music.

11am-3pm.

THE CITY GARDENER 11 May, GEFFRYE MUSEUM, Kingsland Road E2 8EA, 020 7739 9893, geffrye-museum.org.uk Learn about London’s famous gardens, herbalists and apothecaries from the 1600s and 1700s and make your own historic remedies and natural cosmetics. 6.15-8.30pm, tickets £10.

SUNDAY ART SALON 12 May and 2 June, HILLY FIELDS STUDIO, 12 Montague Avenue, Brockley SE4 1YP, www.sundayartsalon.co.uk Meet professionals and collectors, and find statement pieces to enhance your living space. Sunday Art Spot showcases contemporary art, vintage paintings, collectibles, antiques and interiors. Featured artists include Christopher Clack and Martin Grover; and Wild Brockley serve afternoon tea with homemade cakes and jams. 11am-5pm.

SPIRIT OF SUMMER FAIR 15-18 May, OLYMPIA Exhibition Centre W14 8UX, 0844 412 4623, spiritofsummerfair.co.uk Discover the best of Britain’s newest creative brands and established talent at the Spirit of Summer Fair, in association with House & Garden magazine. Experience the pure luxury of alfresco dining, gourmet picnic ideas, the latest fashion trends, accessories and children’s clothing.

Alongside exhibitors, there’ll be the chance to join interactive workshops from floral decorations to champagne tasting, and sample summer delicacies from food and wine connoisseurs. Open 10am-6pm each day, tickets free for under 12s, £8 children, £16 adults when booked in advance.

BECKENHAM AND BORDERS NCT NEARLY NEW SALE 18 May, St JOHN’S CHURCH HALL, 251 Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham BR3 3JN Pre-loved, good quality toys, equipment and clothes for babies and little ones. 10.30am-1.30pm.

18 May, St SWITHUN’S CHURCH HALL, Hither Green SE13 6QE, 0796 716 3247, haventstoppeddancingyet.co.uk Get ready to don your platforms and flares for another unashamedly retro evening of non-stop boogying. Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet! Is the sell-out 70s & 80s soul, funk and disco night for people who remember the tunes first time round and still want to party (as recently featured on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live). 7.30-11pm, £12 on the door or £10 in advance.

FOODIES FESTIVAL 7-9 June, CLAPHAM COMMON, Windmill Drive SW4 9DE, 0844 995 1111, foodiesfestival.com/ The UK’s largest celebration of food and drink offers the opportunity to feast on a vast array of culinary activities. Top chefs from the UK’s best restaurants will cook their signature dishes live and explain how amateur cooks can prepare the same dishes at home. There will also be a cake and bake theatre where visitors can bake-along with experts, a chocolate theatre, a children’s cookery theatre, BBQ arena, city beach, pop up restaurants and a producers’ market of artisan produce.

The entertainment stage features live music acts including Gloria Miller performing every day. Open 10am-8pm daily, admission free for children under 12, adults from £12.

READER OFFER: Families readers can buy ‘two for one’ tickets when booked in advance before 1 June. Quote ‘FOODIES241’ on the festival website.

LIFE COACHING GROUP Tuesdays in DULWICH VILLAGE and HERNE HILL, Fridays in WEST and EAST DULWICH, 0775 369 9232, email coaching@themindbodyandsoulcoach.co.uk Refresh and support your life, loves, work and goals in a friendly, informal coaching get-together. £8 per person.

Events and Attractions DULWICH ARTS FESTIVAL 10-19 May, VARIOUS VENUES, dulwichfestival.co.uk From tree walks to beautiful voices, from art in hidden spaces to music in unusual spaces, Dulwich Arts Festival is filled with performances, workshops and more for all ages, complete with a Festival Fair on Goose Green on 12 May. Check the festival website for the full line-up.

BRIXTON WINDMILL TOURS BRIXTON WINDMILL, West end of Blenheim Gardens, off Brixton Hill SW2 5EU, 020 7926 6056, brixtonwindmill.org Windmills were once a familiar feature of London’s landscape and the most powerful machines of the pre-industrial world. Built in 1817, Brixton Windmill is a tangible reminder to all Londoners of the close links that the capital had with agriculture and food production.

NATIONAL MILLS WEEKEND, 11+12 May. If you love mills, then this weekend is a great time to find out more. Brixton Windmill will host a range of talks and practical demonstrations, with activities for all ages including flour milling and the highlight, weather permitting, a rare chance to see the sails in motion. The event and all tours are free book first for a tour.

GUIDED TOUR, 6, 11 and 12 May, 8+9 June. Take a tour of the original wind-powered machinery and find out about how it was once used to make stoneground flour, while hearing the fascinating story of the Ashby family. Because of space restrictions, each tour is limited to three adults plus guide or two adults and two children plus guide, and needs booking first online.

KENSINGTON DOLLSHOUSE FESTIVAL 11+ 12 May, KENSINGTON TOWN HALL, Hornton Street W8 7NX, 020 7812 9802, dollshousefestival.com

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Explore tiny worlds at the UK’s largest festival of miniature designs and dolls houses. From glass vases to silver musical instruments, miniature plants and furry animals, everything you can imagine can be reproduced in 1:12 scale. The world’s finest craftsmen will be bringing their creations to admire and buy, attracting collectors and the curious alike.

Young visitors will be kept amused following a Golden Scavenger Hunt for the chance to win a prize, and join the Gingerbread craft club where they can dress a doll for a party, choosing from a huge variety of fabrics, trimmings and plenty of sparkle.

Join in the fun, organised by staff and parents of The Village Montessori.

The event will feature a special guest appearance from local folk band Apple of My Eye, a fire engine and a large bouncy castle, BBQ, face painting, table top sale and stalls offering a multitude of arts and crafts, biscuit decorating, hook a duck, a lucky dip, tombola, delicious home baked cakes and many amusing games. Proceeds will go to Lewisham Foodbank, a local charity that distributes food to families in crisis.

11am-2pm, admission free for children, £1 adults.

COVENT GARDEN MAY FAYRE AND PUPPET FESTIVAL

HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk Museum open 10.30am-5.30pm daily, general admission free, charges apply for special exhibitions and the aquarium. The museum’s music gallery and hands-on base, regular weekend and holiday drop-ins and workshops allow family visitors to explore the collection through arts and crafts, music, stories and hands-on sessions. All this within 16 acres of beautiful green space.

AMAZON ADVENTURE, until November. Experience the world’s largest and most biologically diverse river with its extraordinary animals, exotic plants and fascinating cultures, with unusual creatures including mysterious pink dolphins, piranhas and anacondas, live rays and tetra fish. Discover the environmental dangers facing the Amazon and its inhabitants such as overfishing, poaching and logging. Fittingly, the displays and audio are bilingual English/ Spanish. Admission free for accompanied under 3s, £3 children, £6 adults, £15 families.

NINOS ESPLORADORES, 31 May. A fun bilingual session for under fives and their carers, filled with stories, songs, games and simple crafts inspired by the Amazon Adventures exhibition. No Spanish speaking necessary to join in! 11am-11.45 and 12.15-1pm, £2 per child on the day.

12 May, St PAUL’S CHURCH, Bedford Street WC2, alternativearts.co.uk At 11am a Grand Procession will start in the church garden and wend its way around the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, with a superior brass band and a toast to Mr Punch. From 12.30-5.30pm there will be puppet workshops, stalls, refreshments, folk music, maypole dancing and clowns.

HITHER GREEN FESTIVAL 18-26 May, various venues in and around SE13, ourhithergreen.com Now in its fifth year Hither Green Festival returns to SE13 this May with a wide array of events. Enter the Bake Off, enjoy a food, arts and crafts fayre, squeeze inside the world’s smallest ‘Cadbury’ car, join in with the storytelling and facepainting, a drama workshop and performance for teenagers, a schools’ music concert and a Wild Food Walk - discover wild foods in Hither Green and learn how to prepare and eat them.

Check the website for the full lineup.

MONTESSORI SUMMER FAIR 25 May, VILLAGE MONTESSORI, Kingswood Halls, Kingswood Place, Blackheath SE13 5BU, 020 8318 6720, www.thevillagemontessori.com

FAMILY EVENTS AT THE HORNIMAN

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Improving Treatment for Hard-to-Manage Children

KENSINGTON TOWN HALL – DOLLS HOUSE FESTIVAL

INCREDIBLE INVERTEBRATES 28 May - 1 June, GRANT MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street WC1E 6DE, 020 3108 2052, www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/whats-on/grant_listings Creepy crawlies, bugs, pests, call them what you like but this half-term the Grant Museum will be celebrating the wonderful world of invertebrates. Come face to face with deadly scorpions, beautiful octopi and incredible sea mice. Take part in fun hands-on specimen based activities and get inventive with designing your own insect. Drop in between 1pm and 5pm, free.

LIFE AND DEATH: POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM 28 March - 29 September, BRITISH MUSEUM, Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG, 020 7323 8181, britishmuseum.org/pompeii Preserved under ash, Pompeii and Herculaneum lay buried for just over 1,600 years, their rediscovery providing an unparalleled glimpse into the daily life of the Roman Empire. From the bustling street to the intimate spaces of a Roman home, this major exhibition will take you to the heart of people’s lives in the two cities. Open 10am-7pm daily, to 8.30pm Fridays.

Admission £15 adults, prebooking recommended.

VILLAS, VINES AND VOLCANOES, half term. A week of family activities inspired by the Pompeii exhibition.

11am-5pm, free.

VIEW FROM THE SHARD THE SHARD, London Bridge SE1 9RN, 08444 997111, www.theviewfromtheshard.com/ Renzo Piano’s iconic London landmark is the highest viewing point in Western Europe and nearly twice as high as any other view in London, providing visitors with a multi-sensory experience and exhilarating views for 40 miles across London from floors 68, 69 and 72. Open from 9am to 10pm daily. Tickets from £29.95, book first.

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM, 39 Wellington Street, Covent Garden WC2E 7BB, 020 7379 6433, www.ltmuseum.co.uk Museum open 10am-6pm Mondays to Thursdays and

weekends, from 11am Fridays. Admission free for under 16s, £15 adults. Tickets are valid for 12 months’ unlimited admission.

POSTER PEOPLE, 27 May - 2 June. Cedric is on a trip around London but he can’t find any peace and quiet!

Come and meet Cedric and the poster people he encounters on his journey. Find out about the stop that was missed, an adventure on the escalator - and see if Cedric will ever find somewhere to escape from the hustle and bustle. 11am and 2pm starts, ages 3-7.

MAKE AND TAKE, 27 May - 2 June. Work with air-hardening clay to create your own tiny Poster Person and bring it to life. Make it walk, dance, clap or wave and use it to tell your own stories, before taking it home to dry off. 11.30am and 2.30pm, ages 4-12.

Does your 3-8yr old child have difficulty with: Anger, Aggression, Disobedience, Tantrums?

For more information, contact the TLC team: 02078485836 or tlc@kcl.ac.uk Limited places are available for this free, individualised programme and conditions apply.

RESC ref no.: PNM/10/11-121

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R, 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the UK’s central bank. Examine intricately-designed banknotes, feel the weight of a genuine gold bar and see the pikes and muskets that were once used to defend the Bank. Children’s activity sheets provide fun for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm Mondays to Fridays, admission free.

THE HUGEONOT LEGACY, until 10 May. The Huguenots were the French Protestant religious refugees who came to Britain during the 16th and 17th centuries. They made an immense contribution to every aspect of life in Britain, including banking. The first Governor of the Bank of England, Sir John Houblon, was the grandson of a Huguenot refugee. This exhibition celebrates the achievements of the Huguenots and their early connection with the Bank.

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT, 17 May. A rare opportunity for an evening visit to the Bank of England Museum, including special presentations on banknotes. Bank staff will also be on hand to answer questions about gold. 5.30-9pm.

MONEY TALKS, 28-31 May. Great historical figures that feature on banknotes, including Charles Darwin, Matthew Boulton and James Watt, will ‘come alive’ to talk about their life and times (Charles Darwin 28 & 30

ACTING * SINGING

*

STREET DANCE

WED 3 JULY SUN 1 SEPT

0844 412 4661

www.bearhuntlive.com

* GLEE CLUB

*

PERFORMING ARTS

BOOK A FREE TRIAL CLASS TODAY!

Week long courses jammed full of acting, song and dance!

TEL: 0208 244 4873 www.freedomacademy.co.uk info@freedomacademy.co.uk familiesse.co.uk

may 2013 - families south east

13

AMAZON ADVENTURE

HITHER GREEN FESTIVAL

POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM

Tower will host some of the displays, including sights, sounds and smells of some of the animals.

MoreWhat’sOn

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM, Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HT, 020 7881 6606, www.nam.ac.uk The history of British land forces from 1485 to the present day, with costumes, paintings, artefacts and special displays telling the stories of men and women who served in British armies across the globe.

Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free.

DRAW YOUR WEAPONS. A colourful and dynamic exhibition exploring the history of the war comic, in partnership with leading publisher DC Thomson.

Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

May, Boulton and Watt 29 & 31 May). The events will include special presentations on banknotes in the Museum cinema (cinema presentations at 12.15 & 1pm) and a banknote quiz with a prize draw.

11am-4pm.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM EVENTS GEFFRYE MUSEUM, Kingsland Road E2 8EA, 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye-museum.org.uk Special workshops and quizzes inspire creativity and provide amusement for accompanied 5-11 year-olds on the first Saturday of each month and during school holidays. Places allocated 30 minutes in advance of each workshop. Museum open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, from noon Sundays.

LOTIONS AND POTIONS, 11 May. Create pampering products using herbs, flowers and plants from the garden. 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

HIGH RISE LIVING, 28-31 May. Join in with some high-rise fun.

Create cityscapes, animal homes, dream spaces and gardens in the sky.

Suitable for ages 5-16, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

NURSERY RHYME TIME: HOMES IN THE SKY, 28-31 May. Explore flats, nests and other homes in the sky through stories, songs and craft activities. 10.30am-11.30am and 12noon-1pm.

CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS, Clive Steps, King Charles Street SW1A, www.iwm.org.uk The Churchill War Rooms were originally the Cabinet War Rooms, created in 1938 as underground storage areas for the Office of Works Building in Whitehall. They were soon converted to house the central core of government and to become a temporary military information centre serving the Prime Minister and the Chiefs of Staff of the air, naval and land forces. Visitors can hear the first-hand personal accounts of those who worked in the Cabinet War Rooms during the war. Learn what life and conditions were like underground and experiencing the authenticity and emotional resonance of walking through the corridors where Churchill made history. Open 9.30am-6pm, admission free for under 16s, £15.95 adults.

SCIENCE MUSEUM SCIENCE MUSEUM, Exhibition Road SW7 2DD, 0870 870 4868, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. Open daily 10am-6pm except 24-26 December.

LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS. The largest free interactive science gallery in the UK is packed with exhibits which allow visitors to launch a rocket, turn their head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud.

Ages 8-14, free.

WHO AM I? Find out what makes you special through interactive activities which use the latest in brain science and genetics. Free.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD, 020 7942 5000, www.nhm.ac.uk Dinosaurs, volcanoes, precious gems and creepy crawlies - discover the diversity of the natural world through the nation’s finest collection of natural history specimens. Fascinating exhibitions display up to 70 million plants, animals, fossils, rocks and minerals, with a hands-on education centre where you can meet real scientists at work. Museum open 10am-5.50pm, admission free.

EXTINCTION: NOT THE END OF THE WORLD? Until 8 September.

Go beyond dodos and dinosaurs to explore the crucial role extinction plays in the evolution of life. The exhibition combines astonishing images, real specimens and interactive installations to bring to life species that disappeared long ago. Exploring the latest scientific findings, it also looks at today’s endangered species and asks whether conservation can save them. Admission £4.50 children, £9 adults, £24 families.

SENSATIONAL BUTTERFLIES, until 15 September. From chomping caterpillars to beautiful butterflies, the Natural History Museum comes alive for summer. Dive into a tropical butterfly house to take on butterfly challenges, try out fun games and exciting activities as you discover one of the planet’s most amazing life cycles. Experience the magic of walking among hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies and come face to face with a huge variety of these incredible and beautiful creatures.

Admission £4.

TOWER OF LONDON TOWER OF LONDON, EC3N 4AB, 0844 482 7777, www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon Tower open 9am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10am Sundays and Mondays. Admission free for under 5s, children £10.45, adults £19.80; book for less online.

FIT FOR A KING. Discover 500 years of spectacular arms and armour worn by kings and royal princes in this stunning exhibition on the first floor of the White Tower. Learn about the personalities, power and physical size of our nation’s kings, from the Tudors, and the notorious Henry VIII, to today’s royal family through the historic collection.

POWER HOUSE. Discover the stories and personalities behind the major organisations of state, who took care of royal business behind the mighty Tower walls, from 1100 to the present day. The exhibition showcases the roles of the major organisations that provided the bedrock of England’s power throughout the centuries.

ROYAL BEASTS. Find out about the Tower’s imperial Royal Menagerie.

Founded during the reign of King John in the early 1200s, it became a regular feature of the Tower for over 600 years. Visitors can encounter a diverse cast of former Tower residents through arresting modern animal sculpture by artist Kendra Haste and new interactive sensory displays.

The recently restored north wall walk and the never before opened Brick

CUMING MUSEUM EVENTS CUMING MUSEUM, 151 Walworth Road SE17 1RY, 020 7525 2096, www.southwark.gov.uk/cumingmuseum FAMILY CLUB, Thursdays. Explore and play with the Cuming explorers.

10am-11.15am for under 5s and their parents or carers.

HMS BELFAST On the THAMES by Morgans Lane, Tooley Street SE1 2JH, www.iwm.org.uk Discover the exciting stories of those who served HMS Belfast; exploring the nine decks where sailors once hurried up and down its ladders, or take a look at the mess desk where her 950-strong crew ate and slept.

Open 10am-6pm, admission free for under 16s, £14.50 adults.

GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE. Immerse yourself in the new Gun Turret Experience, a chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like. Overlooking the front of the ship, or Fo’c’sle, is the forward most of HMS Belfast’s Triple Gun Turrets. Lights, audio, videos and projections will recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six men in this confined space at any one time. Entry included in general admission price.

POINTS ON A COMPASS, 11+12 May. From bananas in Borneo to a 21 gun salute in San Francisco harbour, explore the many countries and cultures that HMS Belfast encountered as she sailed 500,000 nautical miles across the globe in her 30 year career. Hear for yourself stories from across a world map and handle some of the objects that helped the ship and her sailors on their sometimes treacherous journeys.

11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

SAILOR TALES, 25-31 May. Join storytellers and hear about life on board HMS Belfast. Imagine yourself as a sailor or one of the ship’s furry stowaways and join in by telling your own seafaring story. Especially suitable for a younger audience, these drop-in storytelling sessions will encourage children to think about life on board ship, and embellish stories, just as sailors do. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

SLANG AT SEA, 22-23 June. A fun look at navy slang and the origin of popular phrases that link to life at sea and the importance of the navy in British history and culture. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm, free drop-in.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MUSEUM FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MUSEUM, 2 Lambeth Palace Road, South Bank, London SE1, 020 7620 0347, www.florence-nightingale.co.uk Uncover the lady behind the legend at the brand new Florence Nightingale Museum on London’s South Bank. The museum presents a vivid retelling of her story and how modern nursing began. The museum’s unparalleled collection features highlights such as Florence’s pet little owl Athena as well as her lamp and medicine chest from the Crimean War. Engaging interactive exhibits as well as regular contemporary art exhibitions enhance the experience, visitors even

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families south east - may 2013

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Imagination for the Everyday Early years Drama www.theatretots.com

+ Weekly classes in Lee, Blackheath and Hither Green

+ Schools, nurseries and parties too! info@theatretots.com - 07801072776 LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

use stethoscopes to hear the audio tour. Admission £4.80 child, £5.80 adults, £16 families.

WORKHOUSE - SEGREGATED LIVES. An exhibition exploring the experience of the unfortunate inmates of the workhouse in nineteenth century Britain. 10am-5pm.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM - CLOSED IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, Lambeth Road, London SE1, 020 7416 5000, www.iwm.org.uk IWM London is closed temporarily until June for a complete transformation of the museum which will allow for more significant and rich collections to improve the visitor experience. Leading up to the 100 year anniversary of the start of the First World War, the museum is creating ground-breaking new First World War galleries.

CHILDREN AT THE V&A V&A MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL, 020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk/families During any visit, families can pick up a trail from the Information Desk and explore the museum through puzzles, drawing and observation. Suitable for 7-12 year-olds. There are also hundreds of exciting hands-on exhibits containing plenty to touch and try out. Museum open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free BACK-PACKS, Saturdays. Pick up a back pack and explore the museum with fantastic jigsaws, stories, puzzles and games. 10.30am-5pm.

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www.museumofchildhood.org.uk This gem of a museum is fascinating for families with young children.

The collection includes dolls, dolls’ houses, puppets, teddy bears, games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography.

Everyday drop-in activities include storytelling, arts and crafts, and trails.

There’s dressing-up, role play and an under 3’s area, an indoor sandpit, and regular special events. If it’s sunny there’s an outdoor space to enjoy a picnic. Open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free.

SPY KIDS, 27-31 May. Unravel secret messages at the Cypher Station, make your own secret agent ID card and complete the I Spy trail for your chance to win a prize. There will also be a chance to hear Story Spinner’s thoughtful re-telling of Michael Foreman’s children’s book A Child’s Garden.

Free drop-in for all ages.

CHESS BASICS, 28 May. Chess coach Richard Weekes will lead families through the basic principles of a chess game. 10.30am + 2pm, £3.

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS, West India Quay E14, 020 7001 9844, www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. Regular programmes of weekend and holiday events and workshops help visitors find out more about London’s history, covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners’ jobs and occupations, and Roman life.

THAMES ESTUARY, 25 May - 2 June. Explore the Thames Estuary using digital images or make a magical murky collage. Find out about festivals held on a frozen river and create your own chilly design.

MUSEUM OF LONDON EVENTS MUSEUM OF LONDON, London Wall EC2Y 5HN, 020 7001 9844, www.museumoflondon.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. Regular programmes of weekend and holiday events and workshops help visitors find out more about London’s history, covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners’ jobs and occupations, and Roman life.

FROST FAIR, 27+28 May. Imagine a cold London, so cold that the Thames freezes. This happened in the past and Londoners made the most of it, using the frozen river for Frost Fairs. But what is a Frost Fair? Find out in this workshop and make a piece of art to help you remember. Ages 5+

ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10, 020 8858 4422, www.rmg.co.uk Royal Museums Greenwich holds the world’s largest maritime collection. It is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen’s House, and Cutty Sark. The Museums works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people, and is also a major centre of education and research. Open 10am-5pm daily. General admission is free; some buildings, special exhibitions and events have an admission fee.

EXPLORE SATURDAYS. Meet a character from the past and take part in an exciting performance that brings maritime history to life. Suitable for ages 6+. Noon, 1, 2 and 3pm start, free.

DISCOVER SUNDAYS. Be inspired by the museum’s galleries and take part in free design, craft, illustration and music workshops designed for families. Suitable for all ages. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-5pm, free.

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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

PLAY TUESDAYS. Young children can have fun with their families as they explore the museum through making, music, dance and drama. 10.30 and 11.30am, 1 and 2pm, suitable for under 5s; collect a ticket from the admissions desk.

THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND, until 18 August. Acclaimed British textile artist Alice Kettle has created three specially commissioned works for the Queen’s House, including a sculpture in the Tulip Stairs, a ‘flower garden’ in the building’s North West parlour, and a portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria which hangs amongst historical portraits chosen by the artist from the museum’s collection. Enter a world of touch and colour with special family events over the May school holidays. The activities tell a story of fashions and fabrics that have travelled across the sea to come to Britain, and informed the clothes that we wear today.

STITCH UP, 27-31 May. Contribute to a giant textiles installation, taking inspiration from portraits in the Queen’s House. Free morning and afternoon drop-in for all ages.

WEAVE TOGETHER, 27-31 May. Create a giant alternative tapestry full of words, colours and patterns. Free morning and afternoon drop-in for all ages.

THE SECRET LIFE OF STARS. A spectacular show, narrated by Patrick Stewart, explores the fascinating life history of the stars, from the smallest red dwarf to the largest blue giant. Using state-of-the-art digital simulation, it charts the life of a star from birth to death and beyond, and looks at what impact this has on the universe around us. Ages 5+, tickets £4.50 children, £6.50 adults, £17.50 families.

ASK THE EXPERT, 25 May - 2 June. Meet experts working on cutting edge projects in astronomy and space exploration. Find out about the scientific questions they are trying to answer and the practical problems they have to solve and ask any questions you might have about their work. Ages 7+, 1.30-4.30pm drop in, free.

SPACE SAFARI, weekends and holiday weekdays. Join teddy bear Ted for live music and rhyme as he journeys throughout the solar system looking for the Great Bear in the sky in a show designed especially for younger children and presented by a Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer.

Ages 7+, tickets £4.50 children, £6.50 adults, £17.50 families.

CUTTY SARK CUTTY SARK, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT, 020 8858 2698, www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark The world famous 19th century tea clipper offers visitors four levels to explore. Take in the views from the main deck and steer at the ship’s wheel, meet the crew who worked on board, explore the various cargoes from wool to whiskey, and see how tea was loaded on board through interactive displays, props, information boards and animations. Family friendly events run at weekends and during school holidays. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission £6.50 children, £12 adults, from £20 families. Bundled tickets are available with the other Royal Museum Greenwich attractions.

JOURNEYS ACROSS THE SEA, 27-31 May. Did you know it took Cutty Sark around eight months to sail to China and back to collect tea? Imagine being at sea for so long; what would you take with you? And how would you feel? Find out more from the ship’s longest serving captain, have a go at packing your own sea chest, and make your own colourful telescope this half term.

EXPLORE SATURDAYS. Meet a character from the past and take part in an exciting performance that brings maritime history to life. Suitable for ages 6+. Noon, 1, 2 and 3pm start, free with admission ticket.

GOLDEN HINDE Pickfords Wharf, Clink Street, SE1 9DG, 020 7403 0123, goldenhinde.com DRAKE FUN DAYS, 4, 25 + 31 May. Just who was Sir Francis Drake? Visit his replica ship and find out! 11am + 2pm, £5 children, £7 adults.

PIRATE FUN DAY, 11 May. Little pirates can join the crew, raise the anchor and fire the cannons before trying to find hidden treasure. 11am + 2pm, £5 children, £7 adults.

TUDOR FUN DAY, 18 + 27 May. Step back in time and learn the history of the House of Tudor. 11am + 2pm, £5 children, £7 adults.

YOUNG LEARN have fun!

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may 2013 - families south east

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HMS BELFAST

CANADA WATER CULTURE SPACE – EAT PEACH

ALBANY – WE NEED BEES

MoreWhat’sOn Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

Theatre, Shows and Music THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME Until 25 May, APOLLO THEATRE, 31 Shaftesbury Avenue W1 7EZ, 020 7452 3000, nationaltheatre.org.uk, curiousincidentlondon.com Christopher, fifteen years old, stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

Mark Haddon’s touching and bleakly humorous novel is portrayed in Marianne Elliot’s much-acclaimed production. Ages 13+, tickets from £12.

FAMILY SHOWS AT THE ALBANY THE ALBANY, Douglas Way, Depford SE8 4AG, 020 8692 4446, thealbany.org.uk All tickets £7 or £24 for a family unless otherwise stated.

WE NEED BEES, 12 May. Bertie Bee is at the bottom of the heap in a busy beehive, and spends his day pollinating boring old apples. But Bertie dreams of wild flowers in the countryside so one day he rebels and flies away, only to put the whole hive and his best friend in danger.

Join the adventure and find out why we need bees in this imaginative story with lovable characters and a beautiful original score. 1 and 3pm, ages 3+, tickets £6 or family ticket £22.

DISCO KIDS, 19 May. Boogie the afternoon away with Disco Kids, featuring terrific tunes from DJ Jean Genie, plus plenty of fun and surprises to keep little ones busy. Suitable for under 5s, 2-5pm, tickets £5.50 or family ticket £20. Babes in arms free.

CANADA WATER CULTURE SPACE CANADA WATER CULTURE SPACE, 21 Surrey Quays Road SE16 7AR, 020 7525 2931, canadawaterculturespace.org.uk EAT PEACH PEAR PLUM, 11 May. Each Peach Pear Plum is a game of ‘I spy’ for little ones and their families. Watch as your favourite nursery rhyme characters spring to life through songs, music and enchanting puppetry, and join them as they head to Mother Hubbard’s for some plum pie. 11am and 1pm, ages 3+. Tickets £7 or family ticket £24.

HUE BOY, 18 May. Hue Boy has a problem that everyone is talking about - he doesn’t seem to be growing at all. He’s tried everything from exercise to pumpkin soup, but nothing works. Performed under a magical, giant parasol, Hue Boy is a story about learning to stand tall, no matter what your height.

11am, 1pm and 3pm, ages 3+. Tickets £7 or family ticket £24.

GREENWICH THEATRE GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill SE10 8ES, 020 8858 7755, greenwichtheatre.org.uk THE ELEPHANT BRIDESMAID, 12 May. Written especially for parents to enjoy with their children The Elephant Bridesmaid is a magical musical about weddings and wombats and the loveliest elephant the world has ever known. 2.30pm start, tickets £7.50 children, £10 adults.

SLAPDASH GALAXY, 9 June. The tale of Sam and Junior, two brothers who must flee their war torn planet and embark on an epic journey across the galaxy. Buckle in and tear open your imagination for this year’s new shadow puppet epic about two brothers who battle the bad guys and find strength in each other, at warp speed. Ages 7+, 1.30pm and 5pm, tickets £7.50 children, £12.50 adults.

SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road SE1 8PX 020 7960 4200, 0844 847 9944, southbankcentre.co.uk PETER AND THE WOLF, 11 May. Join Bird, Duck, Cat and Peter as they outwit the snarling Wolf in Prokofiev’s timeless classic, performed

by London Philharmonic Orchestra Funharmonics. 12pm, tickets £10-£18.

SPIN, 25 May. Join Apples & Snakes’ word-wizards as they cook up

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families south east - may 2013

wonderful ways to play with words. 11am, free.

HOOK, LINE AND SINGER, 25 May. Everyone can sing and Cerys Matthews wants people to stop feeling so shy about it and join in with a family sing-along. 3pm, free.

FAIRY TALE WALK FOR CHILDREN, 25 May. Rachel Rose Reid leads a magical mystery tour of Southbank Centre, allowing the audience to experience the building in a way they’ve never seen it before. 1pm, £5.

DOGS DON’T DO BALLET, 27 May. The sublime and the ridiculous combine in this story of a small dog named Biff, who thinks he is a ballerina. 11am and 2pm, tickets £4 children, £8 adults.

MY FATHER AND OTHER SUPERHEROES, 31 May. Nick Makoha’s moving and powerful one-man show about his journey from childhood to fatherhood. 6pm, £8.

SOMETHING VERY FAR AWAY – UNICORN

UNICORN THEATRE

LYRIC THEATRE LYRIC HAMMERSMITH, Lyric Square, Hammersmith, W6 0QL, 020 8741 6850 lyric.co.uk/ MISUNDERSTOOD MONSTERS, 11 May. Georgie and Squeezy are on a dangerous mission to capture monsters and overcome their fear of spiders, crocodiles and aliens. 11am + 1pm, tickets £8.

MY BROTHER THE ROBOT, 17 May. All Bobbie wants is a little brother to play with. But when Bobbie gets into danger, will her robot little brother come to her rescue? Fri 1.30pm, Sat 11am + 1pm, tickets £8.

DANCE FEVER FAMILY CONCERT 25 May, CADOGAN HALL, 5 Sloane Terrace SW1X 9DQ, 020 7730 4500, cadoganhall.co.uk With help from the kings of rhythm, Beethoven and Piazzolla, the Southbank leads a whirlwind tour of the best dance music for orchestra.

The orchestra are joined by presenter Richard Sisson and maestro Rebecca Miller in a concert that is guaranteed to be a hoot.

Saturday Spectacular concerts are the most fun way for all the family to connect with orchestral music, with the chance to get to know the young sparks who form Southbank Sinfonia. Children and adults alike are strongly encouraged to don their ballet shoes or disco flares to get into the groove. Tickets £5 children, £8.50 adults, £23 families.

POLKA THEATRE The Broadway SW19 1SB, 020 8543 4888, polkatheatre.com LULLABY, 3-25 May. Cocooned within a charming setting and layered with musical and visual surprises, this playful experience takes you on a gentle journey of discovery. Tickets from £10.

CHARLIE AND LOLA’S EXTREMELY NEW PLAY, May Saturdays.

Don’t miss everyone’s favourite brother and sister, onstage with their new show. 10.30am + 2.00pm, tickets £11 children, £16 adults.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY From 18 May, THEATRE ROYAL, Drury Lane, WC2B 5JF, 020 7850 8790 Roald Dahl’s deliciously dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka in a brand new musical directed

by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes. 2.30pm and 7.30pm, tickets from £16.50.

OLIVER! 29 May - 1 June, FAIRFIELD, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG, 020 8688 9291, fairfield.co.uk The smash-hit West End and Broadway classic scripted by Lionel Bart.

Tickets £13.50 children, £15 adults.

STOMP 1-31 May, AMBASSADORS THEATRE, WC2H 9ND, 08488 112334, theambassadorstheatre.co.uk Celebrating its 10th sensational year in London, Stomp is now fresher, faster and funnier than before. 3pm and 8pm, tickets from £26.

HANSEL AND GRETEL May weekends, COLOUR HOUSE THEATRE, Merton SW19 2RD, 020 8542 5511 colourhousetheatre.co.uk Poor Hansel and Gretel are lost in the forest, at the mercy of a hungry witch. 2pm + 4pm, tickets £8 children, £10 adults.

UNICORN THEATRE, 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ, 020 7645 0560, unicorntheatre.com MIX IT UP, 10 May. A night of performance and live music, Mix it Up is what happens when the theatre management goes home and young people take over. Enjoy the best of London’s young artists on stage, for one night only. A club night for 13-19 year-olds.

TEENAGE RIOT, 10+11 May. Eight young people shut themselves away because they feel like it. In fact, they don’t know what they want or even who they are yet. But shacked up in their self-confined space there’s enough lust, frustration and irritation for them to discover that they’ll soon have to face what they are becoming. Ages 14+.

SOMETHING VERY FAR AWAY, 21 May - 2 June. Kepler is an ordinary man who loves two things beyond all others: the cosmos and his wife Tomasina. After a sudden and tragic loss he looks to the stars for answers and journeys deep into space to keep alive the thing most precious to him. Ages 8+ BACKSTAGE TOUR, 25 May. Have you ever wondered what happens in the parts of the theatre you don’t see onstage? Join the Unicorn’s technical team on a backstage tour and find out what really goes into making a play. 12pm, £3.

YOU’RE NOT MY FRIEND ANYMORE! 28 May - 2 June. What do yo do when your friend who makes you happy also makes you sad? When your best friend wants to be with you, but you want to be with someone else? Can it ever work having TWO best friends? Join Shoofly Theatre in their quest to uncover the secrets of being a good friend. Ages 3+.

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Blomfield Road, Little Venice W9 2PF, 07836 202 745, puppetbarge.com TALES FROM AESOP, 4-6, 11, 12, 18, 19 May. Get ready for a collection of marionettes that tell a selection of tales from Aesop. 11am + 3pm, tickets £8.50 children, £10 adults.

FOWL PLAY, 25-26 May. In this farmyard adventure the arrival of a foal causes excitement among the animals. 11am + 3pm, tickets £8.50 children, £10 adults.

PRINCES AND PRINCESSES 28 May, ROYAL ALBERT HALL, Kensington Gore SW7 2AP, 0845 401 5045, royalalberthall.com A fun packed family concert performed by the Hall’s very own Albert’s Band. Children are encouraged to come in their favourite regal outfits!

Noon and 2.30pm, tickets from £3.

SPRING INTO SUMMER 29 May - 1 June, STRATFORD CIRCUS ARTS CENTRE, Theatre Square, Stratford E15 1BX, 0844 357 2625, stratford-circus.com Marigold the Fairy will tell you the story of how time was created and help prepare for a Midsummer party whilst saving the TimeKeeper from getting lost in the future forever. Help solve codes and puzzles, conduct very time-specific experiments and add your ideas to the development of a new time machine - all in the time laboratory. A very TDLP interactive and immersive event for 0-8 year-olds. Tickets from £6.

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE 6-22 June, O2 Live Quarter, Peninsula Square, Greenwich SE10 0DX, 0333 300 0023, nightgardenlive.com The world’s only live production of In The Night Garden Live is an amazing musical theatre experience for all the family. Children’s favourite CBeebies’ stars - Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and friends - are all brought beautifully to life on stage using full-size costumes, magical puppets, enchanting music and breath-taking projections. The show takes place in its own all-weather, purpose-built inflatable showdome with many family-friendly facilities. This site-specific structure is a huge hit with children and parents and its immersive theatrical experience makes audiences feel they are actually entering the magical world of the TV show In the Night Garden. Performances 10am, 12noon, 2pm and 4pm, tickets from £12.50

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LEEDS CASTLE JOUSTING

DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY

UNICORN – YOU'RE NOT MY FRIEND ANYMORE!

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE

The Great Outdoors LEEDS CASTLE LEEDS CASTLE, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL, 01622 765400, leeds-castle.co.uk Set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland, Leeds Castle houses sumptuous interiors and family treasures. Six medieval queens have lived at the castle, and it was regularly visited by Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon and King Edward VI. The castle has been used as a garrison, a prison, convalescent home, and home to the Culpeper, Fairfax and Wykeham Martin families, whose legacy can be seen in the furnished rooms.

Open daily from 10am, admission £13.50 children, £21; tickets valid for a whole year.

MEDIEVAL JOUSTING, 28 May - 2 June. Will you be cheering for the red team of Sir Jasper and Sir Stephen or the blue team of Sir Sam and Lord Ashley? Who will win the prestigious Leeds Castle Championship?

The Knights of Royal England return to Leeds Castle on horseback ready to entertain children and adults with fights and falls in an authentic jousting arena. See medieval weaponry and watch displays of spectacular action, daredevil stunts, falls, fights and galloping horses.

New for this year, an exciting ‘Hands on History’ jousting horse will provide lots of fun for children and parents with the chance to dress up as a brave Knight and be strapped into the saddle before galloping towards your opponent. Additional historical themed activities including archery and medieval crafts will be available in a marquee. A small additional charge applied for these activities.

BODIAM CASTLE BODIAM CASTLE, near Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5UA, 01580 830 196, www.national.trust.org.uk/bodiamcastle

Surrounded by charming Sussex countryside, Bodiam’s medieval ruins offer a vast history which visitors of all ages can enjoy. Among the many historical features is the original wooden portcullis, which is on display in the gatehouse, the ‘murder holes’ and the Castle’s impressive battlements, which remain virtually intact. Visitors can also climb the spiral staircases to the tops of the towers, where unrivalled views of the surrounding estate and Rother Valley await. Open 10.30am-5pm daily, admission £3.70 children, £7.40 adults, £18.50 families.

BODIAM MILITARY, 18 May. Learn about medieval armour and fighting techniques and find out if you have what it takes to be a medieval knight or soldier of fortune like the castle’s founder Sir Edward Dallingridge.

11am-4pm, normal castle admission applies.

HEVER CASTLE HEVER CASTLE AND GARDENS, Hever, near Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG, 01732 865224, hevercastle.co.uk With a double moat and drawbridge, the 13th century castle houses fascinating collections of Tudor treasures, from portraits and paintings to furniture and tapestries. Within the grounds is a recreation of a Tudor Village, a yew maze and splashing water maze; beautiful gardens, and rowing boats for hire. Gardens open 10.30am-5pm, castle opens 12noon. Admission £8.50 children, £15 adults, £38.50 families for castle and garden.

THE BIG EDWARDIAN PICNIC, 25-27 May. Enjoy the pleasures of an Edwardian country weekend when ‘Lord Astor’ and his guests take lunch on the lawn, recreating early 20th century life in the Edwardian era as seen in Downton Abbey.

‘The Big Edwardian Picnic’ promises fun for all the family, with prizes for

the best dressed Edwardian boy and girl each day. Visitors will meet the butler, the lady’s maid and cook in an interactive play outlining life below stairs when the Astor family hosted lavish house parties at Hever Castle.

Edwardian entertainment and games such as Punch and Judy and a coconut shy add to the fun.

MOTOR SPORT AT THE PALACE 26+27 May, CRYSTAL PALACE PARK, Upper Norwood SE19, motorsportatthepalace.co.uk A great day out for lovers of cars and speed. Meet the racing drivers and cheer on your favourites as the classic and modern sports cars race through the narrow, twisty parkland course. The Classic Racing Motorcycle Club will bring a range of beautiful vintage bikes to admire, while young visitors can try their hand on Diggerland’s heavy duty earth-moving equipment. Opens 9am, races 1-5pm. Accompanied under 16s free, adults £10 on the door, £8 in advance.

GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 29 May, CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN, 66 Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HS, 020 7349 6453, chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk Spend a half or full day learning gardening tips and develop a passion for plants. 10.30am + 1pm, children: £6 half-day, £8 full-day. Adults: £9 half-day, £11 full-day.

5K RBC RACE FOR THE KIDS 9 June, Battersea Park SW11, www.raceforthekids.co.uk Ideal for families, the race is suitable for all ages and participants can run, walk or jog individually or in teams. Help raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Art Activities FAMILY ARTS IN DULWICH DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY, Gallery Road, Dulwich Village SE21 7AD, 020 8693 5254, www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Museum open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Fridays, from 11am weekends and bank holidays. Listed activities free for families with a gallery ticket or £3 per child.

ARTPLAY, first and last Sunday of each month. Creative drop-in workshops for adults and children, with a different activity each session.

Make anything and everything from bunting to block printing and all things in between. 2-3.45pm.

THE MAGIC MAYPOLE, 6 May. Help create a giant maypole installation in the Linbury Room. Decorate the beautiful magic maypole with poems written together in a poetry workshop based on the themes of spring, music and celebration. 11am-1pm and 2-4pm, £3 per child.

THE ANGEL FACTORY, 27 May. Visit the Pop Up Factory in the gallery grounds and become a guardian angel for the day. Create angel wings to wear and delicate angel feathers to take home. 2-4pm, £3 per child.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION THE WALLACE COLLECTION, Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500, wallacecollection.org The Wallace Collection displays wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess, in their main London townhouse. Family multi-media tours and trails bring the exhibits to life for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm daily, admission free.

THE LITTLE DRAW, 5 May. A free drop-in workshop for all ages with artist Zoe Scammell, who creates detailed drawings of the grotesque beasts and monsters of the natural world. 1.30-4.30pm.

GOOD GODS! 29 May. Go on a quest around the Museum to find out about different gods, heroes and monsters from Greek Mythology, before returning to the Education Studio to create your own puppet based on what you’ve seen. 10.30am-12.15pm and 1-3.45pm, ages 6+, free drop-in.

POP-UP FANCY FURNITURE, 31 May. Design a room filled with pop-up furniture from the Wallace Collection. Join artist Agnieszka Arabska on your journey through different styles of furniture and leave the workshop with your own 3D paper project. 10.30am-12.30pm, ages 7+, £7 per child, book first.

JEWISH MUSEUM EVENTS JEWISH MUSEUM, Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, Camden Town NW1 7NB, 020 7284 7324, www.jewishmuseum.org.uk The museum houses internationally acclaimed collections where visitors can explore Jewish culture, heritage and identity within the wider context of British history. Open 10am-5pm daily, Fridays to 2pm. Admission £3.50 children, £7.50 adults, £18 families.

ART AT SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3PB, 020 7440 4263, www.soane.org Tucked away in Lincoln’s Inn Fields at the heart of London, this magical, mysterious museum encourages young visitors to explore Soane’s treasures and develop new skills with specialist guidance. Sir John Soane (1753- 1737) was an inveterate collector, filling every nook and cranny of his beautiful home with items that fascinated him. From fossils to classical fragments from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and from contemporary paintings to architectural models, drawings and literature, he intended that after his death both his house and its extraordinary contents should be used to educate and inspire. Free drop-in activities

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run on the third Saturday of every month, with activities for all ages and families can take part together from 1.30-4.40pm.

SOMERSET HOUSE FAMILY EVENTS SOMERSET HOUSE, Strand WC2, 020 7845 4600, www.somersethouse.org.uk Free family workshops run on Saturdays from 2-3.30pm. Tickets available from 1pm from the information desk. Children aged 6-12 years must be accompanied by an adult.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY TRAFALGAR SQUARE WC2N 5DN, 020 7747 2885, www.nationalgallery.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, Fridays to 9pm, admission free.

With over 2,300 paintings in the collection, there are hundreds of reasons to visit the gallery, along with free hands-on art workshops for families at weekends and during school holidays. No need to book, but places are limited and allocated on arrival up to one hour before the start.

FAMILIES AT THE TATE TATE BRITAIN, Millbank SW1, 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk/britain Open daily 10am-5.50pm, and until 10pm the first Friday of the month.

Family trails are available daily from the Information Desks and are free for 5yrs and under. Go on a journey around Tate Britain and post your discoveries into your ‘Post it’ box as you go. When you get home, open up the box and show your friends what you found. Or you could follow the ‘Join up’ trail: play the listening game, search for shapes, patterns and talking hands, and make your own sculptures.

Every weekend the free Art Trolley encourages children to imagine and create, make colourful collages, style a wonderful sculpture or perhaps make a sketchbook and fill it with great ideas.

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What’sNew Earth Hour - a brighter future When hundreds of millions of people across the world turned off their lights for Earth Hour on 23 March, it was a huge, symbolic show of support for our amazing planet and all its resources.

To create a better future for our planet we need to move away from dirty fossil fuels and onto clean green renewable energy which works with the awesome power of nature.

As the official light bulb of Earth Hour, Groovebulb joins WWF in encouraging families to consider how we can continue to show our commitment to the planet by going ‘beyond the hour’.

Suggestions on earthhour.wwf.org.uk/ include greener travel and walking or cycling when possible, turning off electrical devices at the plug and installing energy saving LED light bulbs.

While most ‘eco’ bulbs work their way up to at best a miserable custardcoloured glow, we put Groovebulb to the test in Families’ office and are happy to report an instantly bright LED light, and they’re elegantly designed, alongside the super-efficient, green credentials.

Use Groovebulb’s website calculator to see how much you save with their bulbs, which ones you need, and order online: groovebulb.com.

Do you know a supergrandparent?

A leading family charity has launched a nationwide search to find the UK’s top grandparents.

Care for the Family, which aims to strengthen family life has established the UK’s first Super Grandparent Awards in order to highlight the important role grandparents play in family life by offering kindness, wisdom, support and unconditional love.

Founder of Care for the Family and author of The Sixty Minute Grandparent, Rob Parsons said: “We believe all grandparents are super - and we want to celebrate them. That’s why we’ve created the Super Grandparent Awards so families can tell the world just how much they love their grandparents, and why. We want to search the nation for inspirational grandparents who go above and beyond.”

Adults and children can enter the competition by sending in either a video clip or written entry stating just what makes their nominated grandparent so special and unique. The UK’s top Super Grandparent will win afternoon tea with their family, together with a family portrait taken by a professional children’s photographer. Three runners-up will each receive a luxury family hamper. Entry is open until 15 July, online at supergrandparentawards.co.uk.

Vegetarian week From 20-26 May, National Vegetarian Week is setting out to prove that going veggie is surprisingly simple. Shops, restaurants and pubs will be serving special menus, and the Vegetarian Society answers the question ‘what do veggies eat?’

Find events, information booklets and mouthwatering, fuss-free recipes at nationalvegetarianweek.org.

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Rice is nice!

When you’re back from the afternoon schoolrun with hungry children in tow, Tilda Kids could be just the job.

The new children’s range of four meals offer tasty ‘rice and veggies’ designed to appeal to young taste buds and appetites, while providing nutritious, good food. They can be eaten on their own or as an accompaniment and best still, take only 40 seconds to cook in the microwave. Choose from Cheese & Tomato, Mild & Sweet Curry, Sweet Vegetable & Wholegrain Rice, and Sunshine Vegetable Rice, rrp £1.15 for a 125g pack in the rice aisle.

There’s also a free-to-download book, Grow with Tilli & Friends, which has tasty rice dish ideas for every meal alongside activities designed to teach children about healthy eating and make meal times fun.

The website is full of expert healthy eating advice, cook-along video recipes, and everything you could want to know about Tilda’s ethical sourcing of their basmati rice. Read more and grab your e-book at tilda.com

Cord safety Almost half of parents do nothing to protect their toddlers from blind cord danger in the home, research has revealed.

Tragically, 13 UK toddlers have died in the last two years as a result of blind cord entanglement.

The new Cord Lock Away child safety wand is an easy, affordable solution, which raises the blind cord or beaded chain out of children’s reach without affecting operation of the blind.

The wand can be fitted in minutes by anyone as there’s no need to cut the cord or screw into the wall. Absolutely no DIY skills are required. Once attached, it remains in place and the upper region of the continuous cord or beaded chain is used to operate the blind in the usual way.

Cord Lock Away is designed for all blinds with continuous looped cords or chains and comes in two sizes, one for windows and the other for longer windows, patio doors and conservatories, for just £5.50 at John Lewis.

Foster Care Fortnight Foster Care Fortnight runs from 13-26 May. This year alone, at least 9,000 new foster families are sought to offer children safe and stable homes to children in care.

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding fostering, which the Fostering Network charity aims to dispel and explain during this year’s campaign. Read more at couldyoufoster.org.uk.

Easy-View With most modern cars having passenger side airbags it is not always possible to place rear facing baby seats on the front passenger seat.

The Easy-View back seat mirror rotates 360 degrees and pivots on a ball and socket to provide the perfect angle for viewing your baby in the rear of the car.

Easily fitted in seconds, the secure attachment adjusts easily allowing the mirror to be adjusted for different drivers, or for the passenger to have a view of the back seat passenger using the vanity mirror. Easy-View has a strong lightweight construction with a child safe plastic mirror; priced £12.99 from Diono, 0845 300 9071, diono.com.

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Families South East PO Box 11591 London SE26 6WB Tel: 020 8699 7240 Email: info@familiesse.co.uk Contact: Robina Cowan

CLUBS & CLASSES Crafty Cooks cookery classes Pre-school and after school clubs cooking delicious sweet and savoury recipes!

Email heatherb@craftycooks.co.uk or call 0789 015 4651

Elocution

Children & Adults Tel: 020 7884 0441

Piano and music theory lessons for kids and adults grades 1-5.

Only £20/hour. Will travel to you. Natasha Prendergast: Music student at Goldsmiths, with grades 8 piano and 6 theory. Phone: 07891024444.

fun Spanish classes with songs, stories, games and dance Mondays in Crofton Park, Saturdays in East Dulwich Call Audrey 0798 977 9578

Next issue out 7 June copy deadline 20 May

www.bilinguebabies.com

PARTIES

FAMILY & HOME SERVICES

Child, Teen and Family Therapy

Handyman

Nancy Secchi

www.shaunthehandyman.co.uk

HPC registered therapist.

Practice in South East London ndsecchi@gmail.com

Adult & Children’s Entertainer Magic, Plate Spinning Balloon Modelling Interactive Games Karaoke, Mini Disco

Tel: 020 8480 8176 www.amigosmagic.co.uk

07546 740 248

For all your household repairs and odd jobs.

I offer a professional and courteous service

020 8249 3264 or 07913 656 502

O S T E O PAT H Y The Vale Practice

PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE AND QUOTE John:- James & Lamont

020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

“local, established, trusted”

WHEELIE BIN CLEANING NO MORE SMELLY BINS Green & Pleasant Bin Cleaning Ltd

0800 612 7535

green.pleasant@yahoo.co.uk

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Experts in Pre & Post Natal treatment of both mothers and babies

MORE services:

Cranial Osteopaths with over 50 years of combined experience 64 Grove Vale, London SE22 8DT T. 020 8299 9798 E. info@thevalepractice.co.uk

www.familiese.co.uk/directory

www.thevalepractice.co.uk

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MAGAZINE DESIGN: Lancasters 020 8658 9975 www.lancasters.co.uk Printed on paper from sustainable forests. www.russellpress.com