Families Surrey West March April 2022 Print

Page 1

What’s on Easter activities, holiday camps, days out, and more Children’s party ideas

0844 3350450

Issue 89 March/April 2022

familiesonline.co.uk


ENROLLING NOW ASK ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK TRIAL

Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds CAMBERLEY & YATELEY 0208 979 5276 stagecoach.co.uk/camberley FARNHAM 01252 216277 stagecoach.co.uk/farnham FRIMLEY 01483 676131 stagecoach.co.uk/frimley GODALMING 01252 403504 stagecoach.co.uk/godalming GUILDFORD NORTH 01483 789430 stagecoach.co.uk/guildfordnorth LIPHOOK 01425 470934 stagecoach.co.uk/liphook

Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.

D I R E C T O RY P r e -S c h o o l s

Childcare

C hild ren's Classes

C hild ren's Classes

Prices per issue Child’s Play

Rose Event Nannies

Fun well-being classes in Camberley for ages 2+, helping them to become calm, confident and more resilient.

A unique mix of drama games, dance and singing to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination.

Bespoke mobile creches and excellent childcare at weddings and events.

Pre-School

Portsmouth Rd, Guildford

Budget bouncers Free childcare places to serious show www.childsplaypreschool.co.uk stoppers

£20www.roseeventnannies.co.uk (40mm wide x 20mm)

Stunning bouncy castles for all occasions

C hild ren's Classes

www.BestBounce.co.uk Pa r ties

Baby, Toddler & Child Baby, Toddler &Child Child Baby,Swimming Toddler &

£20 (40mm wide x 20mm) Stunning bouncy castles for all occasions

www.BestBounce.co.uk

Mind blowing kid’s science parties!

www.pitchpals.co.uk

Weekly classes for 2-5s Holiday Camps £30 (40mm Schools wide&xNurseries 30mm) ! W Parties NE

Stunning bouncy castles Ballet, Tap, www.genielab.co.uk Modern Jazz for all occasions Pre-school to Advanced Level www.BestBounce.co.uk Jane Lubach

We offer Ballet, Tap, and Modern Jazz from Pre-school to Advanced

To find out more call

Po t t e r y Pa i n t i n g

07711 378536

RedShoesSchoolofDance.co.uk

07795 295728

Stunning bouncy castles Hand and footprints on ceramics Paint-your-own pottery boxes for all occasions Pottery painting parties BOOK A 2 WEEK TASTER TODAY!

www.relaxwithfaye.com

Call Jane on 07711 378536

Ideal for Red Shoes School of Dance offers girls and agedx4-16 all 40Ballet, (40mm wide 40mm) Tap boys and Modern Jazzoffrom abilities. Guildford & Woking. Pre-school to Advanced www.multisports.co.uk Call Jane on 07711 378536 Red Shoes School of Dance offers

Swimming Swimming Now swimming in Bagshot, Nowswimming swimming in Now in Bagshot, Bagshot, Addlestone, Ottershaw, Addlestone, Ottershaw, Lightwater, Ascot, EastAddlestone, Horsley, Ascot, East Horsley,

Ottershaw, East Horsley, Send, Woking Send, Woking

Send, Woking, Ascot,

Tel:020 0208688 8688 6488 Tel: 6488 Tel: 020 8688 6488 www.aquatots.com www.aquatots.com www.aquatots.com

Fully qualified professionally trained teaching staff. 1 In the heart of Guildford. www.guildfordtheatreschool.co.uk

Farnham, Guildford, Woking Godalming & Haslemere

Quote SW310322 by 31 March 2022 for a £40 discount

perform.org.uk/try

Little Bears Music Interactive live music classes Hands on music making classes for children aged 3 months – 4 years on music making classes for children for kidsHands age aged 3 months – 4 years 0-4Classes in Woking include singing, playing instruments, puppets and stories Classes include singing, playing instruments, and Guildford. puppets and stories Led byaatrial: Music Therapist with over 15 To book years experience working with young children Led by a Music Therapist with over 15 www.littlebearsmusic.com years experience working with young children Classes start Weds 9th Jan 2019 th Jan Classes start Weds 2019Hall 9:40am: 2.5-4yrs Jacobs9Well Village 10.30am: 18mths-2.5yrs Guildford, GU4 7PD 2.5-4yrs Jacobs Well Village Hall 11.20: 9:40am: 3-18mths 10.30am: 18mths-2.5yrs Guildford, GU4 7PD 11.20: 3-18mths

Unlock your child’s potential with our expertly led singing, dancing and acting classes for 4-18 year olds. Book your free trial now:

 07764 752675 www.stagecoach.co.uk Book your free trial now:

2 discovery for Under 4s Moosical Classes in South West Surrey www.mollymoocow.com

 lbmusic@gmx.co.uk  07764 752675  lbmusic@gmx.co.uk

Advertise here from just £20 - call Sarah on 01737 558898


NEWS & VIEWS In this issue 3

News & views

4

Clubs & classes news

5

Involving children in saving power

6

The importance of play in the Early years

8

Children’s parties

12

How important is spelling?

13

Independent School open days

15

Days out

18

What’s on diary

22

Easter holiday camps

23

Easter holiday drama, computer & art workshops and children’s theatre

Reader offers: Save £40 with Perform (page 3), Save 20% on Fully Charged Live tickets (page 3) Save 10% with Camp Beaumont holiday camps (page 22)

Next issue: May/June 2022

An Electrifying Family Day Out It’s never too early to learn about clean energy and electric vehicles, which is why kids under 15 go FREE at Fully Charged Live 2022 April 29 - May 01. The show is packed full of fun Save things for the whole family to see and do. 20% As well as offering thousands of electric car test drives each day, you can also try out electric bikes, scooters, motorbikes and skateboards. Visit the new Home Energy Advice Centre to find out from the experts how to make your home greener, and explore their inspirational Future of Flight zone to see what’s possible. Their two live theatres will deliver over 50 electrifying sessions hosted by Robert Llewellyn (Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge) and the Fully Charged presenters, while their kids zone, interactive attractions and live music stage provide entertainment for the whole family all day.

Do you want to advertise your classes, event, holiday camp or company to our readers? Contact Sarah today - prices start from just £20.

Book your tickets now: www.fullycharged.live - use code FAMILIES to save 20%!

Tel: 01737 558898 Follow us on social Email: editor@familiessurreywest.co.uk

New law to protect breastfeeding mothers

Contact Sarah:

Taking photos of breastfeeding mothers in public without their consent is to be made a crime in England and Wales. Campaigners have welcomed the law-changing decision. Julia Cooper from Manchester began the campaign to make taking pictures of breastfeeding mothers illegal after her own experience in a local park last April. ‘I sat down to breastfeed my daughter and I noticed a man on another bench staring at us,’ she said, ‘he got out his digital camera, attached a zoom lens, and started photographing us. I just felt that was so wrong that we had been violated in this way and there was nothing the police could do to help,’ she added. ‘This change in the law will provide the reassurance that mothers can breastfeed in public without strangers freely photographing and filming as they wish.’

Free dramatherapy for teens Guildford Shakespeare Company (GSC) are accepting submissions and referrals for their free dramatherapy sessions for teenagers with mental health difficulties and their parents. Now in its fourth year, With My Eyes is a unique course of free dramatherapy workshops for young people aged 12-18, which also involves parents taking part alongside their children. The course will begin in April and run for 12 weeks. Any families with children that have a history of mental health or social difficulties will be considered. Families can be referred from professional mental health workers including CAMHS, School Inclusion Officers, or local organisations and charities or families can also self-refer. For more information please see bit.ly/withmyeyes FSW Magazine Ltd is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Surrey West are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of FSW Magazine Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but FSW Magazine Ltd, our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

Families Surrey West 3


Clubs & Classes News Pitch Pals launches in Godalming, Milford and Witley Pitch Pals is so much more than just another football coaching provider. They are on a mission to harness the power of football and physical activity to develop, encourage and inspire children of all ages and abilities. Offering a full range of programmes including Early Years sessions, School and Nursery Clubs, through to Holiday Camps and Events/Parties, there is something for everyone!

90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of five At Little Speaking Tree, they know how important it is to help your pre-schoolers develop their ‘key pillars of communication’ during this time - Active Listening, Speaking, Concentration, Reasoning and Understanding. Little Speaking Tree offer classes that lead the way in supporting your child on this crucial communication journey. They are delighted to be able to bring these successful London classes to Farnham this year.

Founder Paul Wicks is thrilled to be launching Pitch Pals. Paul comments ‘As a dad of three little ones myself, and having spent the past 13 years working in adult education, I cannot wait to start working with all the children in our local communities. This is far more than just simply football coaching; this is a chance to have a real impact and set our children up for a lifetime of physical activity and sport’.

Through their friendly, colourful, fun-filled sessions they demonstrate activities that can be easily replicated at home to extend existing vocabulary, strengthen facial muscles for clear speech and promote ‘active listening’ to the spoken word. These classes also vastly improve self-confidence in children and their ability to clearly speak out in a group. Classes are run by Tamsin, a Primary School teacher with over 20 years experience.

Check out their full range of programmes, venues and dates at www.pitchpals.co.uk

These new classes are held in Wrecclesham Village Hall every Monday from 9.30-10.15am for Acorns (age 1.5-2.5 years) and 10.30-11.15am for Saplings (2.5-3.5 years). Visit www.littlespeakingtree.co.uk/FarnhamBookMyTrial to book a trial and find out more about what they offer.

Perform classes will build your child’s confidence - Families readers save £40 Perform puts children’s social development at the heart of their weekly sessions for 4-7s and 7-12s. Using performing arts-based games and inspiring activities, their classes are designed to boost confidence, build concentration, develop communication skills and hone coordination – and are brimming with fun and laughter too. Run by professionally trained actors, dancers and singers, classes are kept small to ensure individual attention, with regular progress reports provided. Fantastic termly resources – such as free apps, music downloads and dance videos - support each theme, meaning the fun continues at home. But don’t just take Perform’s word for it, see what parents say by visiting www.perform.org.uk

Save £40

The beaming smile you see when Annabelle finishes a class is so wonderful to see. She has grown in confidence and thoroughly enjoys it. – Katie Pashley Children can join at any point during the term and will still take part in the end of term performance. Classes are for all abilities; children just need to arrive ready to have the best fun of the week! Book a no-obligation FREE trial class to get started at perform.org.uk/try. Families readers receive a £40 discount when booking before 31st March, just quote SW310322.

Local Perform Classes in West Surrey:

Christchurch Hall, Guildford (Ages 4-7 Sat 9.30am & 11.15am, Wed 4pm. Ages 7-12 Sat 2pm, Wed 5.05pm) Hoe Valley Community Building, Woking (Ages 4-7 Wed 4pm. Ages 7-12 Wed 5.05pm) Moorcroft Centre, Woking (Ages 4-7 Sat 9.30am & 11.15am. Ages 7-12 Sat 2pm) Haslewey Community Centre, Haslemere (Ages 4-7 Tues 4pm. Ages 7-12 Tues 5.05pm) St Peter And St Paul Church Hall, Godalming (Ages 4-7 Fri 4pm. Ages 7-12 Fri 5.05pm) Farnham Maltings (Ages 4-7 Wed 4pm. Ages 7-12 Wed 5.05pm)

4 Families Surrey West

New singing groups launch in Haslemere The Singing Collective is a warm, welcoming and supportive group where simple songs are sung with beautiful harmonies to ensure you leave feeling better than when you arrived; a group to help improve mental health and wellbeing! Go along and sing, have a cry, have a laugh, have a chat - everyone is welcome and Harriet and Alex really look forward to meeting you! Wednesdays 10am at Hammer Hall (babies and children welcome) or 7.30pm at Camelsdale Church Hall for adults only. To book please email: harrietandalex@singandsign.co.uk.

New local Stagecoach classes Stagecoach Camberley & Yateley are introducing new Friday classes at Yateley School. For ages 4-6, classes run from 4.45-6.15pm and for 6-18 year olds classes are from 5-8pm. Principal Sarah Chitty says ‘we are passionate about creating engaging performing arts to stretch young imaginations and build essential life skills including communication, coordination, confidence and creativity’ To book a two week trial visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/camberley. Also on offer from Stagecoach Frimley are the recently launched new classes at Mytchett Primary School on Saturdays from 10am-1pm for 6-18 years old and 9.30am-11am for ages 4-6. Georgia Briggs, principal of Stagecoach Frimley adds ‘our aim is to nurture and develop young potential through singing, dancing and acting classes, strengthening young imaginations and helping to develop confidence, physical awareness, communication and articulation, while being educational and fun’. For more details and to sign up for a two week trial please see www.stagecoach.co.uk/frimley Stagecoach Guildford North are launching a new further stages class for children aged 14+ at Kings College, Guildford on Saturday mornings from 10am-1pm. This class is for older students with a flair for performing who want to take their training to the next level. Students work as more of a small theatre company with regular visits and master classes from West End professionals. A two week trial is available - for details please visit www.stagecoach.co.uk/guildfordnorth Stagecoach run classes and holiday workshops throughout West Surrey and North Hampshire for 4-18 year olds. Find your local school at www.stagecoach.co.uk.

familiesonline.co.uk


Involving children in saving power

Environment

By Angela Terry

T

he climate crisis is hot news, energy prices are soaring and families are feeling the pain. With nearly a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions created by our homes, there’s no better time to instill good energy-saving habits in our children. Luckily, there are many creative ways of doing this so you don’t need to resort to nagging. Here are some suggestions:

Measure your household carbon footprint

To put energy saving into context, find a free online calculator and measure your household carbon footprint. Start a family art project, drawing a big foot and recording the date and the number of tonnes of emissions generated by your household. As you work together to reduce your footprint, you can update your achievements periodically, getting your children to draw smaller and smaller feet. Display your feet in a row along a wall to chart your progress.

Get children to write the rules

Go through each room in your house with the kids and ask them to pinpoint all the potential sources of wasted energy. Draw up a list together and agree a set of family rules that you’re all going to stick to, like switching off appliances that aren’t in use and keeping all curtains closed at night. Ownership of the rules should help motivate kids to follow them.

Rewards

To help younger children stick to your rules, try a reward chart with stickers. If they stick to them for a week, you can then give them a special eco treat, like a bee hotel for the garden or a packet of sunflower seeds to plant together. Older children and teens are more likely to be motivated by money, so agree a small weekly financial reward. Given how much energy prices are increasing, this will still save you money overall.

Appoint monitors

Allocate specific roles to each child. One could be the curtain monitor, ensuring all curtains are pulled shut at dusk, stopping extra energy seeping out of windows as the temperature drops. Likewise, another child could be the thermostat monitor and check it isn’t set above nineteen degrees Celsius. Children can also check that bedrooms and little-used rooms are not being heated unnecessarily by turning down their radiator valves. Finally, a socket monitor could make sure all appliances not in use are switched off at the wall.

Time showers

Make a game of it when it comes to cutting hot water usage by timing each other in the shower to see who can be the quickest – whilst still actually getting clean, of course!

Screen time

Screen time limits can be one of the greatest sources of tension between parents and children. Building in an energy saving component can help. Explain to your children that the carbon footprint of our gadgets, the internet and the systems supporting them is nearly four percent of global emissions - greater than those from aviation. If they stick to agreed limits, offer to reward them with an outing to the park or a hot chocolate in a cafe.

Set an example

One of the best things you can do is role model ultra-efficient energy usage. Children are like sponges and imitate those they’re closest to. Make sure you do everything you’re asking them to do, and ask them to remind you if you forget. They’ll love the sense of responsibility (and telling you what to do!).

www.nssport.co.uk enquiries@nssport.co.uk

JOIN US OVER EASTER!

CH iLd CA rE

HOLIDAY

fRo M 8aM -6p M

£3 .20

AGES 4-11 YEARS AT SYTHWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL WOKING, GU21 3AX | TEL: 07935 220924

RUNNING 4-14 APRIL 2022 www.nssport.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Insulation

Of course, you want to save energy but simultaneously make your home as insulated and cosy as possible. Encourage your children to come on a draught hunt with you, searching for any leaks around windows or doors. When you find some, enlist their help in a bit of easy DIY, sealing them with inexpensive rubber trim, available from most DIY shops. If cold air is seeping under the front door, do some ‘draught craft’ and make a snake draught excluder together. YouTube has lots of helpful tutorials. Hunting for draughts

@NextStepSport

@NextStepSport

Smarten up your energy saving

A smart meter is a great visual tool. Once you’ve had one installed, use it to show your children when you’re using the most energy and how much it’s costing. Set targets to reduce your monthly usage and bills. Explain that just by turning down your thermostat by one degree saves an average of £80 per year. The ideal temperature is nineteen degrees Celsius. Set targets and treat yourselves to a family games night or outing whenever you hit them. Angela Terry is an environmental scientist and founder of One Home (www.onehome.org.uk), the UK's first consumer climate action hub.

Want to find out more? Why not visit the new Home Energy Advice Centre at Fully Charged Live when the show returns to Farnborough on 29 April - 1 May. Find out from the experts how to make your home greener, learn about clean energy or take a test drive in an electric car. There’s also a kids zone, interactive attractions and live music stage! Book tickets at www.fullycharged.live - enter code Families for a 20% discount! Also, on 23 April it is the Cranleigh Eco Festival at the Cranleigh Arts Centre - you can buy eco-friendly artisan goods, hear talks and get information on what you can do to work towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

Families Surrey West 5


Early Years

The Importance of Play in the Early Years By Emily Jefford

From our earliest days, play is how we relate to the world, and to each other.

fundamental source of benefit. He made the distinction between play and work. Play is what children are involved in when they initiate the task, and work is what they do when they fulfil a task required by an adult.

and conversational skills such as the to and fro nature of conversation, remaining on topic, negotiating and justifying. Developing these skills through play is crucial as it is much harder to teach these skills explicitly.

When children have plenty of opportunities to learn playfully, they do what they do best: pursue their natural curiosity and build skills and aptitudes they will keep for life. Play is one of the most important ways children learn and develop. It is as much a part of healthy development as eating fruit, story time together and having a good night’s sleep. At St Catherine’s, we aim to include play as an intrinsic part of the girls’ education. The teachers incorporate and provide opportunities for play in and out of the classroom. The girls learn by doing rather than watching.

It is a skill to enter a child’s play to share the process and not dominate the play. It is knowing how and when to intervene sensitively without taking over. This may sound easy but as an adult it can be quite hard to do. Firstly, allow your child the time to think and decide what they want to play and how. Once the play has begun try to channel your inner 2 or 3-year-old and incorporate yourself into the play without being too domineering. Your role is to extend the play following their ideas but at the same time subtilty introducing new concepts and language.

So play provides an ideal opportunity to teach your child language and develop their vocabulary, concept knowledge, grammar and the sounds used in words. Play provides an environment which is rich in motivation, experience and social reward and hence stimulates the development of language.

Through play your child will explore and investigate, watch and listen, copy and repeat, create and communicate. Play can be carried out by a child alone, with another child, in a group or with an adult. Play can be loud, can be silent, can be messy, can be quiet and relaxed. Activities such as singing, climbing, jumping, running, pretending, painting, talking and listening, are laying the foundation for future learning. When children play, no matter what it looks like, they learn.

Play is one of the fundamentals of language development. Specifically, play helps with language because they watch, they listen, they explore, they imitate and it is fun. The symbolic stage of play from 12 months is particularly important as it is the stage where children begin to understand that one object can represent another, for example, a box can be a bed for a teddy. This is essentially what words are, a means to represent an object, thought, idea or action.

Friedrich Froebel, an educational theorist, had firm views on play and its place in child development, believing that it fostered enjoyment, emotional well-being and was a

Play also supports social interaction, which is another fundamental of language development. So much of communication is based on body language, posture, facial expression,

ement mov nd ddlers. c a d to an

sori - based ntes Mo asses for bab musi cl ies

Children’s play is incredible. It’s imaginative, spontaneous and exploratory. As adult play is generally more timed, rule-based and competitive, for example, sports and board games, this means it can be hard to join in with a child’s play in the same way another child would. Most important is that we step back as adults and whilst we need to create the right environment for play to happen and to join in sensitively, that we give children the time to think and decide what they want to play and how.

Emily Jefford is Deputy Head, Head of Pre-Prep, St Catherine’s Prep School. To find out more about the school visit www.stcatherines.info Open Mornings: Thursday 10th March, Friday 6th May, Friday 10th June.

molly

moocow

Sing, Dance, Play

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

01428 658858 www.mollymoocow.com info@mollymoocow.com

Classes now available in Midhurst, Liphook, Godalming and Haslemere

6 Families Surrey West

Red Shoes School of Dance

familiesonline.co.uk


NEW TO FARNHAM

Children’s classes for 1-5 yrs Little Speaking Tree classes lead the way in helping your child develop the 5 key communication pillars:

LAUNCHING IN YOUR AREA

Active Listening, Speaking, Concentration, Reasoning & Understanding Our successful London classes are now coming to Farnham We offer colourful, friendly, fun filled sessions! Our classes are proven to: Book

. .. ..

Strengthen and build concept of early language Raise self-confidence Improve family and friendship relationships Reduce tantrums Provide a head start to future learning!

now!

Visit www.littlespeakingtree.co.uk or call Tamsin on 07812246152

Weekly classes for 2-5 year-olds Holiday Camps Schools and Nurseries Events & Parties

W W W .P I T C H P A L S .C O . U K

TAKING BOOKINGS NOW ACROSS VENUES IN GODALMING, MILFORD & WITLEY

MY LITTLE UNICORN

One to one unicorn experiences Birthday parties in our magical woodland wonderland or at your own venue Home visits and themed events

We can offer that extra bit of twinkle to any occasion! Easter EGGSTRAVAGANZA Sat 9, Sun 10, Sat 16, Sun 17 April Ride a real unicorn, arts & crafts, glitter make up, Easter trail, Easter Bunny and much more! Please book online. mylittleunicorn.co.uk

Singing

Drama

Theatre Dance

Holiday Workshops Brand guidelines

September 2018 V.0

Venues in Haslemere & Godalming!

Tel: 0845 388 9789 info@surreytheatreacademy.co.uk

www. surreytheatreacademy.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Surrey West 7


Parties Active & sport parties NSSport

It’s that time of year again when you’ve got to organise your child’s birthday party. NSSport can take the stress and strain away by delivering a unique party tailored and themed to the activities and sports your child loves. Hosted by fully qualified and experienced sports coaches, who go that extra mile to ensure they have the best party experience ever! They can also help you to find a venue if needed. To find out more please visit: www.nssport.co.uk, or email enquiries@nssport.co.uk.

Pitch Pals

Get ready to experience a football party unlike any other! Fans of the beautiful game will be treated to a party that is packed full of nonstop football thrills. Let Pitch Pals take the stress off your hands, so you can sit back and relax whilst your child and their friends enjoy a fantastic party. Parties last 90-mins as standard. Contact Paul Wicks on info@pitchpals.co.uk or 07841675501 to discuss your requirements.

AirHop Guildford

Birthday Parties With a Difference. Looking to put some bounce into the next birthday? What better way to spend the day than jumping across a sea of trampolines! Take the stress out of party planning and leave the fun up to AirHop Guildford. They have various party packages to choose from be it Classic, Premium, Extreme UV or MiniHoppers. It’s safe to say that parties don’t get much bouncier than this – head to www.airhop-guildford.com for more details.

Guildford Spectrum

Guildford Spectrum offers a huge range of parties including Ice Skating for ages 6-12, Nerf parties for ages 6+, Laser tag parties for ages 6+, Leisure pools parties for all ages, Bowling parties for ages 5+, Rock Box climbing parties for ages 5+, Soft play parties in Specky’s Pirate Ship for ages 3-8, Funtime pool parties (fun and games in the teaching pool) for ages 4-8, Synergy Dance parties for ages 3+, Trampolining parties for 5 years +, Soccer parties for ages 4+ and Scalextric parties for 6+ on the giant 8-lane Scalextric type racing track. To book your party call 01483 443322 option 3.

8 Families Surrey West

Pop video parties Pop Factor Parties

Do you have a Pop Star Wannabe? A Pop Factor Party making a pop video could be perfect for their birthday celebrations. They will step under the studio lights and be a star just like their favourite pop stars. Editing using green screen technology means they could end up anywhere in the final edit! No singing or dancing experience needed - simply mime and the choreographer works to their ability. The system is fully portable. For more information please call 01276 241 960 or visit www.popfactorparty.co.uk.

Role play parties

Imagination Children’s Role Play Imagination offers a stress free exclusive hire party venue suitable for children aged 1 – 7 years. Children love exploring the exciting themed role play areas including a new Safari Room, Pirate Ship, Home Corner, Vets, Garden, Farm Shop, a road with ride on toys and a Baby Room. Party hosts are on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly, serve the party tea and most importantly clear up afterwards. 01276 423430 www.imagination-roleplay.co.uk

Themed Parties

Molly Moocow Parties

Your one stop shop for fun! These exciting themed experiences will engage and entertain. Just choose your child’s favourite and let Molly Moocow take them on a musical adventure filled with songs, activities, puppets, percussion and colourful parachutes. Everything your little one could want from a fun-packed party! www.mollymoocow.com

Synergy Dance® Parties

Hugely popular Synergy Dance® parties run throughout Surrey in leisure centres and private venues, offering a wide range of themes from Frozen, Cheerleading and Minions to Disco, Pirates & Princesses and Breakdance. Parties include a signature snow disco and are suitable for ages 3-16, boys & girls, all levels. Find out more at https://synergydance.co.uk/party-themes/. You can book a Synergy package directly at Guildford Spectrum, Ash Manor Sports Centre, Charterhouse Club and many other venues. For bespoke themed dance party packages please visit http://synergydance.co.uk/synergy-dance-parties. For queries please email: admin@synergydance.co.uk.

familiesonline.co.uk


INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING FORFOR UNDER 5s UNDER 5S

MON 23 – SAT 28 MAY MON 23 – SAT 28 MAY

Private Private Peaceful Peaceful MICHAEL MORPURGO BYBY MICHAEL MORPURGO

THU THU1212MAY MAY

WED 30 MAR WED 30 MAR

The TheGingerbread Gingerbread Man Man

BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT WINNER LANCE CORPORAL RICHARD JONES BRITAIN’S STARS IN GOT TALENT WINNER LANCE CORPORAL RICHARD JONES

FRI FRI15 15&&SAT SAT1616MAY JUL

Fun Funfor forthe thewhole whole family! family!

Gruffalo The Gruffalo

STARS IN

Marvelsof of Marvels Mystery Mystery

BASED ON ONTHE THEBOOK BOOKBYBY BASED

JULIA DONALDSON DONALDSON&& JULIA AXEL SCHEFFLER SCHEFFLER AXEL

YVONNE-ARNAUD.CO.UK | 01483 YVONNE-ARNAUD.CO.UK 01483 44 44 00 00 00 00 Millbrook, Guildford, GU1 3UX Millbrook, Guildford, GU1 3UX

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Surrey West 9


Parties Animal & farm parties Elm Nursery Farm

Elm Nursery Farm offer children’s parties seven days a week from 1st March - 31st October. They offer exclusive hire of a party area which also includes farm access for up to 30 guests (maximum 25 children). The farm also has a play area, sandpit and food to feed chickens is £1 per bag. Parties are suitable for children aged 2-5. Animals on the farm include alpacas, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, ponies, a donkey and more! Email info@elmnursery.co.uk for further info.

Merrist Wood

Merrist Wood offer unique birthday experiences at their Animal Management Centre or Farm perfect for animal lovers. Their dedicated Keepers are fully qualified and able to deliver the parties in a fun but safe environment. Two types of animal parties are available; an Animal Encounters Party which includes a 90 minute tour of the arid and tropical biomes housing a range of exotic species, or a Farm Party allowing exclusive access to the Farm and domestic pet area. https://merristwoodevents.co.uk/animal-birthday-parties/

Pottery painting parties Popolo Ceramico

Popolo Ceramico pottery painting parties are ideal for creative children aged 5+. Children just love creating their own colour combinations and chatting away while painting their pottery. Packages of £8 - £16pp are available. They come to your party to help children with painting, and return nice and shiny personalised ceramics a couple of weeks later. Pottery printing parties are available for younger children and babies. To book contact 07795 295728 or guildford@popoloceramico.co.uk.

Bouncy castles, inflatables & soft play hire Best Bounce

From budget bouncers, to serious showstoppers, stunning bouncy castles for all occasions. Party and event hire specialist Best Bounce offer an incredible range of bouncy castles for children and adults alike. Also Inflatable slides, disco domes, soft play, ball pits, garden furniture and garden games hire. Whether planning a garden party or school event, Best Bounce has a range of equipment suitable for you. All fully insured and complete with safety certificates and operating instructions as standard. Call 01483 912992 for information or visit www.BestBounce.co.uk

My Little Unicorn

Gnomes, woodland critters and fairies are all part of the magical woodland wonderland, but Unicorns are the real stars! Colourful hair and glistening horns, these friendly unicorns are what dreams are made of! Expand your children’s imaginations by bringing them along to meet these mystical creatures! Sparkles, Snowdrop and Sweetpea are just some of the Unicorns that like to have fun! From one to one experiences, birthday parties, home visits, themed events, My Little Unicorn can offer that extra bit of twinkle to any occasion!

Godstone Farm

Science parties Genie Lab Science Parties

Genie Lab science parties are a totally mesmerising experience that will astound and captivate your party guests! Their parties include jaw dropping experiments and sensational demonstrations creatively delivered within an immersive storyline. The parties are specifically created to give your children an unforgettable party and take away the hassle and stress. For more information visit www.genielab.co.uk or email booking@genielab.co.uk or call 01483 811 890.

For £21.95 per child this party option is a great way to celebrate! With entry to the farm for the whole day you can explore at your leisure, PLUS included is 2 hour hire of a private party barn with a picnic lunch box for each child. Every child gets to bring a grown up for FREE! It’s a hassle free option for busy parents and animal loving little ones.

10 Families Surrey West

familiesonline.co.uk


© National Trust 2022. Registered charity no. 205846. ©National Trust Images/James Dobson

EA STER H AL F TERM H O L ID AY C L UB M OND A Y 4 T H A P R I L - F R I D A Y 8T H APRI L FROM 8A M - 6PM Join us for an

E G G S T R AV A G AN Z A

hal f t er m!

Delicious homemade hot dinner each day Outdoor activities (Sports & team games) Themed games, puzzles and board games Cooking and dance sessions Arts and Crafts Face painting, nail art & more!

Contact Sharon on 07748 531278 or e: steppingstonesafterschoolclub@gmail.com BOOK IN Y! TODA

steppingstonesafterschoolclub.co.uk

Easter egg trails with the National Trust 2-18 April (Dates vary at each property – please check the website)

Enjoy an adventure in nature and collect your chocolate egg at the end. Visit Claremont Landscape Garden, Dapdune Wharf, the Devil’s Punch Bowl, Hatchlands Park, Morden Hall Park, Polesden Lacey, Runnymede and Winkworth Arboretum. For further details visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/surrey

Lam

bing

Eve

FLEECY FROLICS

nt

SAT 23 AND SUN 24 APRIL 12 -4 pm

10am-4pm

MERRIST WOOD COLLEGE’S ANNUAL LAMBING EVENT » Meet our lambs

» Sheep shearing

» Face painting

» Visit the farm

» Birds of prey

» Refreshments

» Woodland crafts and stalls

» Animal handling

Online ticket prices: Family (2 adults and 2 children) Adults (over 16yrs) Children (2-16yrs old) Concessions (Students and over 65s) Children under 2yrs

£32.00 £9.00 £8.00 £8.00 FREE

No dogs please except for assistance dogs

and much more... ALL tickets must be pre-booked online – there will be NO tickets available on the day

Free Parking

www.merristwoodevents.co.uk 01483 88 41 64 Merrist Wood College Holly Lane Worplesdon Guildford Surrey GU3 3PE

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Surrey West 11


Education

How important is spelling?

By Jemma Zoe Smith

A

t a time when autocorrect is everywhere and very few situations call for handwriting, the question being debated is: does spelling matter? As a dyslexic tutor, my answer does not fit squarely on one side of the fence. Spelling is a recognised core skill which helps with reading, processing and pronunciation. That said, should anyone be penalised for having important and novel ideas, simply because they struggle to write them down? In UK primary schools, children are given regular spelling tests and spelling is tested at each stage of pupils’ lives. 11+ exams, SATs, GCSEs and even some job interviews require a writing task without spellcheck. So yes, spelling must matter because it is tested at so many points in the UK (although not so much in the USA). Fail to master spelling and it is harder to make it to top universities or careers. Indeed, poor spelling skills can also impede you in love! In 2016 a survey of over five thousand people on online dating site Match.com found that over a third judged whether a potential date was suitable by their grasp of grammar. It can also impact business ratings, with a BBC article in 2011 stating that ‘a single spelling mistake can cut online sales in half.’ While spell checking tools can be used, they raise a new issue. When spell check corrects a word, it can also change the word to one different than intended, creating hundreds of ‘funniest autocorrect’ articles online but also leaving governments red faced as ‘peace’ turns to ‘peach’ in press releases.

But let’s not come down too hard on spelling lest it discourage children from writing. I have seen students go from enthusiastic to disengaged learners after seeing their work returned with red rings around the misspelled words. For many, their ideas for stories, articles and debates stay locked in their heads, never written down for fear of over-zealous correction. We might be missing out on some amazing works - after all, Jane Austen is known for spelling scissors as ‘scissars’ and sofa as ‘sopha’. And her novels are considered literary classics! So does spelling matter? Sort of. But it shouldn’t get in the way of encouraging people to write. My solution? Spend longer on proof-reading, a skill that can help beyond the classroom. And, on that note, I’m off to proof-read this article. Jemma Zoe Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk).

What about new skill sets?

Learning to proofread

Across the pond in the USA, spelling has been phased out of the school curriculum, in the same way as handwriting. Spelling errors don’t count against students on the essay portion of the SAT, according to the College Board which administers the exam. With online learning forcing many students onto laptops over the last two years, some schools in the UK are now following the USA and allowing laptops in lessons. So is spelling becoming less important?

While grammar and autocorrect tools can support writing, I believe there is a missing skill: proofreading. Something that I often work on with students is ‘hearing their inside voice’ reading their work. Being able to spot mistakes can help students to notice patterns in their own writing, identify grammar errors and lead them to understand hidden meanings in texts.

Certainly schools are no longer purely about the ‘three Rs’ of writing, reading and arithmetic (why did only one of those start with an R?). Indeed, many UK schools are now including wellbeing, computing and even BTECs in agriculture instead of GCSEs like history. So what skills are becoming more important? Coding is already a highly valued skill and is destined to become even more important in the future. Look into www.mama.codes or www.spark4kids.com. Equally, success for our children is likely to require strong critical thinking and communication skills. You can encourage this at home with www.kidcoach.app.

12 Families Surrey West

The process of proofreading encourages children to slow down and consider making changes to their work, such as upgrading a word like ‘big’ to ‘enormous,’ allowing them to explore and use more advanced vocabulary. To produce crisp, clear copy, proofreading is the final part of the writing process and is as important as creating and revising text. Proofreading is a skill that many of us will need in the world of work, when sending emails and writing presentations. For the best, proof reading can be a job in its own right. To practise proofreading, try www.twinkl.co.uk for age-banded proofreading packs and worksheets, and www.portlandproof.com for free online games.

familiesonline.co.uk


Education E N G N PE IN arch O RN th M May O 11 3th 1am M iday ay 1 – 1 Fr Frid am 9 20

RE

S

TER NOW FO

T X

GIS

R

22

, 20

23 A

ND BEYON

A leading co-educational Nursery & Preparatory School For pupils ages 3 - 11 years

D

Because your child deserves to be

nurtured A supportive community that nurtures individuality and confidence.

Please register your interest online: W: www.st-andrews.woking.sch.uk E: admin@st-andrews.woking.sch.uk T: 01483 760943

Individual Tours Available

• Inspiring Inquisitive Minds • Creating Opportunities • Nurturing Potential

INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS & BOYS AGED 3-13

TASTER MORNING FOR YEARS 1 & 2 ENTRIES IN 2022 Friday, 4th March 9 am - 2 pm Join us for a fun-filled morning at our Julia Donaldson book-themed Taster Day OPEN MORNING Saturday, 23rd April 10 am - 12 pm Please visit www.ripleycourt.co.uk to register

~ Developing potential for life ~ @StAndrewsWoking

@standrewsschoolwoking

@standrewsschoolwoking

Independent School Open Days Please contact schools to find out if you need to book School

Open Day Date

Barrow Hills School, Witley 01428 683639 Mixed 2-13 years.

Please contact the school.

Belmont School 01306 730852 Mixed 3-16 years.

Please contact the school.

Cranmore School. Boys 2-16 years and girls 2-7 years.

Fri 13 May.

Halstead Prep School. registrar@halstead-school.org.uk 01483 772682. Girls 2-11 years.

Please contact the school.

Ripley Court School 01483 225 217 Mixed 3-11 years.

Open morning Sat 23 April 10am-12pm. Taster morning for Years 1 & 2 entries in 2022 Fri 4 March 9am-2pm.

The Royal School Mixed 6 weeks-18 years.

Prep School Thurs 19 May 9.30am.

Rydes Hill Preparatory School & Nursery, Guildford 01483 544973 Girls 3-11 years, Boys 3-7 years.

Please contact the school for an individual tour.

St Andrews School, Horsell 01483 760943 Mixed 3-13 years.

Fri 11 March, Fri 13 May 9am-11am.

St Catherine’s School, Bramley 01483 899665 Girls 4-18 years.

Prep School: Thurs 10 March, Fri 6 May 9.45am. Eco Activities Afternoon Fri 18 March 1.30-3pm

St Edmund’s School, Hindhead Mixed 2-16 years.

Sat 21 May.

St Catherine’s Prep, Bramley

St Hilary’s School, Godalming 01483 416551 Mixed 2-11 years.

Fri 11 March and Fri 29 April.

GSA Day & Boarding School since 1885 | 4 - 18 years Guildford GU5 0DF | www.stcatherines.info

St Ives School, Haslemere Mixed 2-11 years.

Fri 4 March, Fri 6 May 9.30-11am

from 9.45am

Thursday 10 th March 2022 Friday 6 th May 2022

Eco Activities Afternoon

Friday 18 March 2022, 1:30-3:00pm th

familiesonline.co.uk

Families Surrey West 13


4312 HAL FAMILIES 180W x 130H.qxp_Layout 1 27/01/2022 11:07 Page 1

With curious minds and a love of learning

CONTACT US

“I was immediately attracted to Halstead as soon as I walked through the door, the girls were so bubbly, condent, bright and happy and the energy, laughter and buzz in the classroom and throughout the school was contagious.

TO ARRANGE YOUR VISIT

PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 2 – 11 YEARS

HALSTEAD-SCHOOL.ORG.UK

Whilst we are incredibly proud of our academic success, our focus remains providing a solid foundation where Halstead girls are treated as individuals and are happy, well-rounded, intellectually curious and with a genuine passion to learn.”

01483 772682 LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM WOKING STATION

Sharon Maher, Head (appointed 2020)

St Hilary’s

Preparatory School, Godalming

Boys & Girls Ages 2—11

Open Mornings on 11th March and 29th April Personal Tours by Arrangement “Happy, charming and academically successful” The Good Schools Guide

www.sthilarysschool.com • Tel: 01483 416551 • Email: registrar@sthilarysschool.com @StHilarysSchool

14 Families Surrey West

@sthilarysschool

St Hilarys School Trust

familiesonline.co.uk


Great family spring days out

Days Out

(please check details with organiser to avoid disappointment)

Alice Holt Forest

The National Trust

This Spring, join Superworm and friends on their brandnew adventure at Alice Holt Forest. Discover the small but mighty creatures in the much-loved story and learn about the everyday heroic feats of minibeasts in the forest. The new self-led trail features brightly illustrated panels and a trail pack full of fun activities, including your very own mask. Set off with Superworm and become a forest superhero! Make a day of it and try a Go Ape Treetop Adventure, enjoy a picnic, hire a BBQ or treat yourself to some tasty food from the café. Explore the new Day and Night trail where you can discover which animals are active during daylight hours, how bats avoid bumping into things in the dark, and lots more exciting facts about the forest by day and by night. For more information, visit the website, or pop into the Visitor Centre. https://www.forestryengland.uk/alice-holt-forest/

This Easter the National Trust has an Easter Adventures in Nature trail running at many of their local properties and parklands. On these family friendly trails you’ll explore the countryside ©National Trust Images/ or garden to James Dobson discover the 10 spring themed boards, taking part in fun activities along the way. Complete the trail and collect your chocolate egg at the end! £3 per trail (plus admission charge for some properties), no booking needed. The trail will be running at: Polesden Lacey (Gt, Bookham RH5 6BD) from 2-18 April 10am-4pm. The Devil’s Punch Bowl (Hindhead GU26 6AB) from 9-18 April, 10am-4pm. Hatchlands Park (East Clandon GU4 7RT) from 2-18 April, 10am-4pm. Dapdune Wharf (Guildford GU1 4RR) from 15-18 April, 11am-5pm.

Spring Time at Godstone Farm! The Easter Holidays are bigger and better than ever down on the farm this year. Visit the farm’s mesmerising Easter Grotto where youngsters can meet the Easter Bunny in-person as well as get the chance to meet some of their newest springtime arrivals – kid goats, bunnies and chicks! Godstone Farm is home to over 500 animals ranging from donkeys, sheep, goats and pigs to meerkats, alpaca and rheas. Children can get up close to their favourite furry friends in the animal holding barn as well as watch pig races and enjoy a fun working farm experience. As its motto of “discover, explore and play” suggests, there is a wealth of activities to keep children happy all day.

Easter at Elm Nursery Visit Elm Nursery, Sutton Green this Easter holiday. From Saturday 2nd – Monday 18th April, there will be a children’s Easter hunt on the farm. Entry includes farm admission and costs £4.50 per child and £4 per adult (under 2’s free). Open 10am3.30pm daily (last admission 3pm). The Easter hunt includes a prize for completion. Animal food is £1 per bag. There are plenty of animals to see on the farm; alpacas, pigs, goats, chickens, ponies, guinea pigs, rabbits and donkey. Elm Farm Café will be open serving homemade brunches, lunches, cakes and more. The café and farm will be open all over the bank holiday! There’s also a Farm Shop selling local free range meat, fruit and vegetables, pies and luxury condiments. Follow them on Facebook for up to date information.

Imagination Children’s Role Play Based in Camberley, Imagination is an interactive role play centre for 0-7 year olds. Children can explore the different rooms and areas which include a pirate ship, home corner, vets, garden, farm shop, a road with ride on toys, a designated area for babies and a new Safari Room! The cafe serves a selection of hot and cold drinks, delicious cakes, homemade lunches including toasties, paninis and children’s picnic boxes. It is open seven days a week, online booking is recommended.

familiesonline.co.uk

Runnymede (near Old Windsor SatNav: TW20 0AE) from 15-18 April 10am-4pm (last entry 3pm).

Claremont Landscape Garden (Esher KT10 9JG) from 2-18 April 10am-4pm.

Winkworth Arboretum

2–18 April, 10am-4pm.

(Godalming GU8 4AD) from

Morden Hall Park (Morden, SM4 5JD) from 6-18 April 10am-4pm.

There are also lots of other fun events happening at the National Trust this Spring:

Box Hill (Tadworth KT20 7LB) Egg Rolling from 15-18 April, 11am & 3pm. Bring your decorated eggs for the annual egg rolling at Box Hill. Prizes awarded to best decorated eggs. Warning: some eggs may not survive the ordeal! Free - no booking required. Dapdune Wharf (Guildford GU1 4RR) On Sat 5 and Sun 6 March it is World Book Day Weekend at Dapdune Wharf. From 10.30am-4.30am enjoy a host of free activities that will be taking place in Dapdune Wharf’s tearoom to mark World Book Day’s 25th anniversary. Children can take part in book swap, enjoy storytelling and get creative with some craft activities and there will be a selection of refreshments available to buy. Children’s activities are free, charge for car park for non-members is £5 (for 4 hours) or £8 all day. No booking needed. Polesden Lacey (Gt, Bookham RH5 6BD) There are

Easter wreath making workshops for adults on Tues 5, Fri 8 and Tues 12 April. Booking essential. £40 per person. Morden Hall Park (Morden, SM4 5JD) The Sense-ational trees Family Trail runs from 1-27 March. Children will use their senses to interact with the trees in the park, through touch, sight, sound and play. £3 per trail. No booking required. On 19, 20, 25, 26 & 27 March you can create a special present to take home for Mum for Mother’s Day. Plant up your very own flower and decorate its pot for a present she’ll never forget! £5 per child. No booking required. On 2 April have fun at the Quacky Races. Hire one of the plastic ducks and race it down the river to see if yours will be the fastest in this Morden Hall Park classic. £2 per duck. No booking required.

Families Surrey West 15


Days Out

Great family spring days out (please check details with organiser to avoid disappointment)

Airhop Guildford

Easter Eggstravaganza with the Unicorns

The 2021 upgraded AirHop Guildford offers a whopping 30,000 square feet of space to hop, to party, as well as to relax and watch from the much bigger café area. Not only have they expanded the main court but it also now includes a tumble lane to practice your trampolining tricks. They have extended the obstacle course, added extreme dodgeball with Dodge Attack, a huge squishy airbag pit, slack lines to practice your balance and a WipeOut! And to top it all off there are disco lights and a top-notch sound system! Online bookings are open for general jumps (4+), MiniHoppers (for ages 6 months – 6 years) and the new After Dark sessions every Friday 6-8pm. Book your next HOP now at www.airhop-guildford.com or call the team on 0330 223 3333 for more info.

Follow the winding path, past the wishing tree down into the woodland. Keep going until you spot the friendly dragon! Get creative with arts and crafts, unicorn brushing, glitter make up and much more! Explore the play area before setting off on a ride around the magical woodland on a REAL Unicorn! Follow the Easter trail with surprises to spot and find along the way. Meet the Bouncy Easter Bunny and trade in what you’ve collected for a yummy chocolate goodie! Before you head home be sure to follow the fairy flutter footpath to spot even more Sparkly Unicorns on the way! This event is suitable for children aged 2-8 accompanied by an adult and runs on Sat 9, Sun 10, Sat 16 and Sun 17 April 10-11.30am or 12.30-2pm. My Little Unicorn are based in Ash Green, between Guildford and Farnham and also offer individual unicorn experiences and parties. Booking is essential at https://mylittleunicorn.co.uk/upcoming-events

Hever Castle

Guildford Spectrum At Guildford Spectrum there is a great choice of activities, including tenpin bowling, indoor Olympic sized ice skating rink, four pools including a leisure pool, a 25m competition pool, teaching pool and diving pool. The Leisure Pool features flumes, a tyre ride, bubble beds, sprays, and a wave machine. You can also race your friends and family down Surf, the 3 lane slide. The ice rink is open all year round, and don’t forget that for smaller skaters you can hire fun penguin or snowman skating aids to help you round the rink. Other facilities at Guildford Spectrum include a fun soft play ‘Specky’s Pirate Ship’ and The Rock Box indoor climbing centre.

Lightwater Crazy Golf

A new 18 hole crazy golf course has opened in Lightwater Country Park. Open on weekends and school/bank holidays from 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm). £4.95 pp, 3 and under free. Book at www.lightwateradventuregolf.co.uk

Easter Cruises

Easter cruises run on 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20 April at 11.30am or 12.30pm. £13 pp. Includes refreshments and free entry to the Easter Egg hunt starting and finishing from the Loxwood canal centre. Book at weyarun.org.uk/specialcruises-view

16 Families Surrey West

Make some special family memories this Spring with a fun trail and Easter egg hunt through the grounds of Hever Castle (2 – 18 April). Visitors can take part in a colourful carrot trail, looking out for the Hever Bunny along the way. Discover hidden eggs around the gardens as part of an Easter egg hunt. Write down all the answers hidden around the eggs and receive a chocolate from the information centre (dairy free alternatives available). Children can get creative with a free scratch art craft workshop. As well as the Easter activities, a visit to Hever Castle in spring offers a great chance to explore the play areas, water maze and stunning gardens. Enjoy a dazzling display of spring blooms from late daffodils to tulips. Round off the day with seasonal home cooked food and mouth-watering cakes from the restaurant or bring a picnic and enjoy stunning views of the Castle and grounds.

Merrist Wood Animal Encounters Merrist Wood offer Animal Encounter Tours of their Animal Management Centre on various weekend dates. On the 2 hour tour you will see a three banded armadillo, monitor lizard, tree frogs, tortoises, snakes, birds, meerkats and more. Dates are added to their website frequently. Meet the Meerkat Experiences can be added onto tours for an extra charge. They also offer Junior Animal Keeper Experiences for ages 6-14 years. Join the keepers for a day, working with a huge variety of animals including exotic animals, domestic pets, reptiles, farm animals and more. Please check the website for dates - there will be several during the Easter holidays. Plus they have their annual Fleecy Frolics Lambing Weekend on Sat 23 and Sun 24 April, a celebration of nature and countryside crafts, and the new Spring Brick LEGO® Event is on 2 April. To book for any of these please visit www.merristwoodevents.co.uk

The Otter Nursery Hop into The Otter Nursery and have some fun on their Eggstra Special Easter Egg Hunt. Starting on Friday 8th April until Monday 18th April (please note they are closed on Sundays including Easter Sunday 17 April). It is FREE to enter and every-bunny taking part will receive an egg-celent prize! The nursery is open Monday - Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. There is no need to book just collect a form from the nursery shop and hop to it. The Otter Nursery is located in Murray Rd, Ottershaw KT16 0HT. Please remember The Otter Nursery is a working nursery, children should wear suitable footwear and remain supervised at all times.

FREE

familiesonline.co.uk


Super worm

Trail

m Join Superwor w ne dan br on a ail at interactive tr st re Alice Holt Fo

At home activities

Superh

headquarero ters Make a superhero headquarters the creatures for in your garden

Share

your photos

#SuperwormTrail Forestry England

forestryengland.uk/ superworm

You will need: Natural items such as stones, wood, grass, leaves Coloured paper Pens/colouring pencils Scissors A stick Tape

oes!

rher

st supe

and all forepower ! mask a super your Pick it to stick

How to make

Super er burrow

1

Use your

scissors

ing

Super

pe

feet

Su

Com mo n

r strong

ly rs

the headquar

ters

sign in the next headquarters,to your inviting the creatures to come inside.

orm Superw activities Trail

m

to cut out

to

©2012 & TM

el

Supe

ad

Toad

fast

Call

Julia Donaldson/

Welcom superhe e roes!

Axel Scheffl er.

Creature fact cards

Key facts

Please ©2012

& TM

recycle Julia

Axel

er. Licensed Scheffl

by Magic

Type of creature: Amphibian. both on land They live and in water Diet: Slugs, snails, spiders, worms, ants Lifespan: Ltd 10-12 years Pictures Light Please recycle

Donaldson/

Listen out

©2012 &

TM Julia

Donaldson/

Axel Scheffl er.

Toads make a high-pitched “qwark-qwark” are particularly sound. They noisy in spring when they return to ponds to find a mate.

and.uk

forestryengl

With fun trail pack

Find out more at:

forestryengland.uk/superworm © 2012 & TM Julia Donaldson / Axel Scheffler. Licensed by Magic Light Pictures Ltd.

Easter fun at Elm Nursery

Easter hunt on the farm

from 2nd - 18th April, 2022. 10am - 3:30pm (last entry 3pm), admission applies. Elm Farm Café open. Farm shop and children's farm open every day including the bank holiday. Elm Nursery, between Woking & Guildford. GU4 7QD. www.elmnursery.co.uk

godstonefarm.co.uk

1 – 18 Apr 2022

HOP IN

TO THE

EASTER

HOLIDAYS Find the cutest baby animals on the farm this Spring. Upgrade your ticket to meet the Easter Bunny himself!

BOOK ON LIN E

familiesonline.co.uk

2607-24-Easter-Ad-87x130mm-AW.indd 1

Families Surrey West 17 08/02/2022

17:22


What’s on diary TUESDAY 1 MARCH Busy Bee Toddler Session St Hilary’s School Godalming An afternoon of play and activities for toddlers and their parents. Everyone is welcome! These free sessions take place weekly on Tuesdays during term time from 2-3pm. No booking needed.

WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH Cathedral Tots Guildford Cathedral 10am. Learn about Lent, Ash Wednesday and Pancake Day! Enjoy crafts, refreshments and fellowship. Free but booking is required via the Cathedral Box Office.

Please check event details with organiser and to see if booking is needed Country Crafts Weekend The Rural Life Centre See listing on 5 March. Nature Climate Heroes Nower Wood Education Centre Leatherhead 10am2.30pm. Discover more about nature and how you can help protect it! Inspiring activities for all the family. Book at www.surreywildlifetrust.org/ events. £30 per car. Open Sunday Mane Chance Sanctuary Start at 2pm with a tour of the site followed by tea, coffee and cakes. Meet the horses and learn about what the Sanctuary does. Adult £3, child £2, under 5s free.

Bach to Baby Concert St Andrew’s Church Farnham 4pm. Live classical music for babies, toddlers and their carers. Please book online.

Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway Frimley Lodge Park Frimley Green 11am-4pm. Miniature train rides. Tickets from the ticket office on the day. £1.50 per ride, under 3s free. Credit/debit cards only.

SATURDAY 5 MARCH

MONDAY 7 MARCH

Junior Animal Keeper Experience Merrist Wood College Worplesdon Join the Animal Keepers for a day, working with a huge variety of animals. 10am-3pm. £70. For ages 10-14. To book visit www.merristwoodevents. co.uk.

Halstead Little Chicks Halstead Prep School Woking Free stay and play event for ages 0-3 years with an adult every Monday in term time from 9.30am10.30am. Stimulating range of toys, crafts and activities and free refreshments. Please contact the Registrar on registrar@halsteadschool.org.uk or call 01483 722682 to book your place.

FRIDAY 4 MARCH

In The Shadow Of War Haslemere Educational Museum 10.30am-12noon. For ages 5-11. Make shadow puppets based on important figures in the Trojan war. Mem £5, nonmem £7. Please book online. World Book Day Weekend Dapdune Wharf Guildford 10.30am-4.30pm. Enjoy a host of free activities in Dapdune Wharf’s tearoom - see listing on page 15 for more details. ©National Trust Images John Millar

TUESDAY 8 MARCH Storytelling for Under 5s The Lightbox Woking 11-11.40am. Stories, rhymes, and creative fun. Spaces on a first-come basis from 10.30am on the day. Children must be with an adult. £3 suggested donation. Toddler Tuesday St Ives School Haslemere 9.30-10.30am for 2-4 year olds. An opportunity for parents / carers and their toddlers to enjoy the forest. The session is free, but you must reserve your place at www.stiveshaslemere.com/ news/events

FRIDAY 11 MARCH Country Crafts Weekend The Rural Life Centre Tilford Discover a variety of traditional craft skills being demonstrated.

SUNDAY 6 MARCH World Book Day Weekend Dapdune Wharf See listing on page 15.

18 Families Surrey West

Toys From The Past Haslemere Educational Museum 10.30am-11.30am. How do your toys differ from those in the past? You can find out in this session for under 5s with an adult. Adult £1, child £2, please book online.

Painting for Under 5s The Lightbox Woking 11-11.40am. £4 per child, adult free. Advance booking required.

SATURDAY 12 MARCH Activity Day, William Cobbett Infant School Farnham 10am-3pm. For children with special needs and learning disabilities. Sports, outdoor games, lego, quiet play, arts & crafts, yoga and much more. See www. parasportscoaching.com for details and booking. Big Fish, Little Fish Family Rave Farnham Maltings 2pm. For 0-8s and their adults. With a pirate theme, expect swashbuckling fancy dress, rave classics and party music alongside giant balloons and bubbles, a baby chillout and toddler play area. Adult £13, child £9, prewalkers free, book online. Forest Fun Morning St Ives School Haslemere 9.30-11am. Suitable for 2-8 year olds. Activities include making s’mores round the campfire, bug hunting, creating natural art and making bird feeders as well as lots of exploring among the trees. Reserve your place at www.stiveshaslemere. com/news/events. £3 to be paid in cash on arrival. Storytime with Groktales The Lion and The Bear Farnham 9.30-10.30am or 11am-12pm. Recommended for ages 5-8. Interactive and fun story session. Book in store or on 01252 854044. Inclusive Train Play Session 7th Woking Scout Hall Woking Park Inclusive train play session for autistic, ADHD and special needs children. 2-3.30pm. Book at www.allaboardclub.com.

SUNDAY 13 MARCH Animal Encounters Tour Merrist Wood College Worplesdon Two hour tour where you’ll learn about the different species you see. £18 pp. Meet the Meerkat Experiences are also available for ages 8+ and can be added onto an Animal Encounter Tour. Booking essential at www. merristwoodevents.co.uk.

WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH Spontaneous Storytelling with Danyah Miller Cranleigh Arts Centre Danyah creates spontaneous stories using your suggestions whilst playing a range of storytelling games. Please pre-book. 4pm.

FRIDAY 18 MARCH Eco Activities Taster Afternoon St Catherine’s Prep School Bramley 1.30-3pm. An afternoon of hands on eco activities for girls in reception to Year 4. There will also be the opportunity for parents to attend a tour of the school and hear from the headmistress. Please book online: www.stcatherines. info/admissions/openmornings/booking-form

SATURDAY 19 MARCH Junior Animal Keeper Experience Merrist Wood College Worplesdon Join the Animal Keepers for a day, working with a huge variety of animals. 10am-3pm. £70. For ages 6-9. To book visit www. merristwoodevents.co.uk. Kids’ Craft Cranleigh Arts Centre 10am for ages 3-6 and 11.15am for 7-11s. Please pre-book. £8. Tractor Rally The Rural Life Centre Tilford Tractors and agricultural vehicles will be at the museum.

SUNDAY 20 MARCH Open Afternoon Guildford Model Engineering Society Stoke Park, Guildford Miniature trains run from 2-5pm. Please check website to see if booking is needed.

MONDAY 21 MARCH Little Twigs Ripley Court School 9.30-11am. Woodland stay and play session for children aged 18 months - 3 years accompanied by an adult. The sessions usually run every third Monday of the month during the Winter Term and weekly in the Summer term, and take place in Ripley Court’s Forest School which includes a bug hotel, mud kitchen and more. Enjoy a snack and hot chocolate at the end! £8 per child, please book online.

familiesonline.co.uk


Inspiring Easter adventures your child won’t want to miss BOOK NOW

USE CODE

FAMILY

SAVE 10%

www.campbeaumont.co.uk or call 01603 851000 Families Magazine Advert (180x130mm).indd 1

familiesonline.co.uk

15/02/2022 15:41

Families Surrey West 19


What’s on diary MON 21 MARCH CONT. Easter Prints and Pottery Painting, Tongham Community Centre Popolo Ceramico will be at Tongham Toddlers from 10am-12pm. Capture hand and foot prints for Easter gifts or paint your own ceramic item. Booking is recommended, please call or text Julija on 07795295728.

TUESDAY 22 MARCH Storytelling for Under 5s The Lightbox See listing on 8 March.

FRIDAY 25 MARCH Baby Cats Spring Extravaganza St Catherine’s Prep School Bramley 9.30-10.30am. For 0-4 year olds. Creative activities for your toddler, led by specialist teachers. Free but places must be booked at www.stcatherines.info/prephome/baby-cats. Spring Celebrations Haslemere Educational Museum 1.30-2.30pm. For under 5s with an adult. Make cards for Easter. Adult £1, child £2, please book online.

SATURDAY 26 MARCH Pottery Painting Pop Up The Haslemere Youth Hub 9.30am-12.30pm. Join Happy Hands Pottery Painting in the café and choose a ceramic item to paint. No booking needed. Cinema: Jurassic Park Cranleigh Arts Centre 2pm. Please pre-book the cinema, and you can also pre-order a pizza to enjoy when the film has finished.

Please check event details with organiser and to see if booking is needed

or jewellery and then they will be turned into beautiful personalised keepsakes and gifts – perfect for Easter presents. There is also a mini shopping event with Neal’s Yard Remedies goodies and you can find out more about what Baby Steps offers and enjoy a complimentary hand massage. Booking for hand or footprints is essential, please call or text Julija on 07795 295728.

SATURDAY 2 APRIL Merrist Wood College Worplesdon, Guildford ® Spring Brick LEGO Event 10am-12pm or 1-3pm. An event featuring LEGO® bricks including: games and challenges, mosaic building, car building and racing, ® 1000’s of loose LEGO bricks to use and more. £5.50, under 4s free. Book online. Animal Encounters Tour See listing on 13 March. Books, Books, Books Haslemere Educational Museum Look at how books are made, how they have changed over the years and make our own Museum book. For ages 5-11. 10.30am-12pm. Please pre-book online. Mem £5, non-mem £7. Spring Festival Godalming Town Centre 10am-4pm. Stalls, street food and drink plus entertainment. For children there is face-painting, the Dobby Horse Carousel and free Punch & Judy Shows.

Open Sunday Mane Chance Sanctuary Please see listing on 6 March. Junior Animal Keeper Experience, Merrist Wood See listing on 19 March.

TUE 5 - THUR 14 APRIL Fabulous Fairgrounds Surrey History Centre Woking 01483 518737 Free drop-in Easter activities learn about the history of fairgrounds, look at some old photographs and try making some craft fairground rides! Children must be supervised by an adult. Available during opening hours – please check website for details.

TUESDAY 5 APRIL

Shield Designs Haslemere Educational Museum 10.30am-12noon. For 5-11s. Take inspiration from the Greek black and red pottery techniques to make miniature clay shields. Mem £5, nonmem £7. Book online. Teen Support Group Haslemere Youth Hub 7-8pm. Free, no booking needed. A meeting for Teens and Teen parents on the first Tuesday of each month during term time. Important topics are discussed such as mental health, anxiety and the pressures of being a Teen in a completely non judgemental environment.

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL

Inclusive Train Play Session, The Lightbox Woking Inclusive train play session for autistic, ADHD and special needs children. 11-12.30pm. Book at www.allaboardclub.com.

Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway Frimley Lodge Park 11am-1pm and 2-4pm. Miniature train rides. Tickets from the ticket office on the day. £1.50 pp, under 3s free. Credit/debit cards only.

Animal Encounters Tour Merrist Wood College See listing on 13 March.

MONDAY 28 MARCH Popolo Ceramico Baby Prints, Baby Steps Studio Hindhead 10am - 2pm. Capture your little one’s hand or footprints on ceramics

20 Families Surrey West

Easter Egg Statue Trail Painshill Park Cobham 10am-6pm. Included in admission, tickets must be pre-booked. Find the giant Easter eggs.

SUNDAY 3 APRIL Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway Frimley Lodge Park Frimley Green 11am-5pm. Miniature train rides. Tickets from the ticket office on the day. £1.50 pp, under 3s free. Credit/debit cards only.

THURSDAY 7 APRIL Disney Frozen 1 & 2 Workshop Guildford Spectrum Synergy dance® workshop for ages 3-8 years from 2pm3.30pm. Act, sing and dance as you explore the scenes and songs from smash hit films Frozen 1 and Frozen 2. Learn and create dances to form this fantastic magical winter wonderland! Please book at https://bit.ly/3gIT6gd Synergy Dance Frozen 1 & 2 Workshop

Sleeping Bunnies Sewing Craft, Chertsey Museum 11am or 2pm. £4. For ages 6-12. Involves sewing with a needle. Children need to be supervised. Book online.

SUNDAY 27 MARCH

SAT 2 – SUN 24 APRIL

There are more ideas for Days Out on pages 15-16

The Gruffalo Workshop Guildford Spectrum Synergy dance® workshop for ages 5+ from 2pm-5pm. Enter the exciting world of The Gruffalo with music, dance, songs and crafts. Explore the forest, with songs and characters, each with their repeated dance steps and musical style. Please book at https://bit.ly/3gIT6gd

Activity Thursday Rural Life Centre Tilford Fun activities and crafts - make and launch a rocket, attend a Victorian lesson or have a go at washing laundry the old fashioned way! Grass Heads Chertsey Museum Grow your own hair style with this spring craft. For ages 6-12. (5 year olds may attend with an adult). 11am12.30pm or 2-3.30pm. £4. Book online. Ships And Horses Haslemere Educational Museum 10.30am-1pm. A fun, creative family event where you will make models of Trojan war ships and horses. Mem £2, non-mem £4, accompanying adult £1. Please book online.

SATURDAY 9 APRIL Easter at the Museum Museum of Farnham 11am-3pm. For all ages, child £5, adults free. Enjoy a ‘woolly workshop’ with Mill Cottage Farm Experience, including the opportunity to meet and feed lambs! Craft workshops will be running on the day, and there will be an Easter egg hunt for children. Please book online. Inclusive Train Play Session 7th Woking Scout Hall See listing on 12 March.

familiesonline.co.uk


Please check event details with organiser and to see if booking is needed SUNDAY 10 APRIL

WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL

Classic & Vintage Car Show, Central Car Park Farnham 10am-4pm. See a wide range of classic and vintage vehicles plus there will be refreshments on sale. Free entry, donations are welcome. In aid of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

Halstead Toddlers Halstead Prep School See listing on 12 April

Open Afternoon Guildford Model Engineering Society See listing on 20 March.

MONDAY 11 APRIL Early Birds, Haslemere Educational Museum 9-10am. Special opening for families with children who have an Autism Spectrum Condition. Entry by donation, booking online essential.

TUESDAY 12 APRIL Easter Egg-citement Haslemere Educational Museum 10.30am-1pm. Easter themed arts and crafts plus an Easter garden trail for children who will be rewarded with a chocolate treat when they find the hidden characters. Mem £2, non-mem £4, accompanying adult £1. Please book online. Easter Wreath Making Haslemere Youth Hub 10.30-11.30am. £3 per child (age 3+). Make an Easter Wreath and decorate it with pom poms, Easter stickers and art and craft bits! Please book by emailing deeza.thehub@gmail.com Cafe is open 10am-2pm. Halstead Toddlers Halstead Prep School Woking Drop-in from 9.3011.30am for soft play, painting, stories and more! £5 per family, suitable for children aged 0-3 with an adult. Plus you can enjoy free refreshments. For further information call 01483 772682 or email registrar@ halstead-school.org.uk Easter Bloomin’ Kids Spring themed activities at the greenhouses in West Street, Farnham. To book or for more details please email bloom@farnham.gov.uk. Egg Cup & Cosies Chertsey Museum Decorate your own egg cup and craft a cosy to keep your boiled egg warm. For 6-12s (5 year olds may attend with an adult). 11am-12.30pm or 2-3.30pm. £4. Book online.

familiesonline.co.uk

Musical Theatre Workshop Guildford Spectrum Synergy dance® holiday camp for ages 5+ from 2-5pm. Half day workshop for children interested in the Performing Arts - learn how to put on a show! Children explore the wonderful world of theatre with drama games, dancing and singing activities with an industry professional. Workshop includes making theatre masks. Please book at https://bit.ly/3gIT6gd

at the grounds of St Ives school from 10am-12pm and take part in the Easter Egg hunt! For only £3 per child you will follow the trail and solve the clues to collect your chocolatey reward at the end! Snacks, cold refreshments and arts and crafts available. Please book by emailing deeza.thehub@gmail.com

Fleecy Frolics Lambing Weekend See listing on 23 April, although today’s times are 10am-4pm.

SUNDAY 17 APRIL

FRIDAY 29 APRIL – SUNDAY 1 MAY

Mizens Railway Knaphill Miniature trains will run from 2-5pm for ages 1+. Please check website to see if booking is needed.

Bracelet and Jewellery Making with Sue Griffiths Haslemere Youth Hub 12.30pm-1.30pm. No need to book, price per item. Beads galore, this activity is perfect for ages 4+. The cafe is open from 10am-2pm.

Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway See listing on 6 April.

Twit Twoo, Haslemere Educational Museum 1.30-2.30pm. Meet the owls in the collection and enjoy an owl related session with stories and activities. For under 5s with an adult. Adult £1, child £2, book online.

Decorate your own Easter Egg SunCatchers Haslemere Youth Hub 10.30-11.30am. £3 per child (age 3+). Decorate an Easter Egg SunCatcher with the easy to use glass pens. Please book by emailing deeza.thehub@gmail.com Cafe is open 10am-2pm. Disney Frozen 1 & 2 Workshop Guildford Spectrum See listing on 7 April. Pop Pom Garlands Chertsey Museum Make a pom-pom decoration. For ages 7-12. (5 and 6s may attend with an adult). 11am12.30pm or 2.3-30pm. £4. Please pre-book online. Halstead Toddlers Halstead Prep School See listing on 12 April

FRIDAY 22 APRIL

SATURDAY 23 APRIL Fleecy Frolics Lambing Weekend, Merrist Wood Worplesdon, Guildford 124pm. A celebration of nature and countryside crafts. Visit the farm, see sheep shearing demonstrations and falconry displays plus there will be woodland crafts and stalls, refreshments, picnic area and lots more! For an extra charge you can enjoy animal handling, horse drawn trailer rides and face painting. Please book tickets online. Fleecy Frolics Lambing Weekend

Activity Thursday Rural Life Centre See listing on 7 April. Nature Spirits, Haslemere Educational Museum 10.30am-12pm. Make some magical Spirit creatures using natural materials. For ages 5-11. Mem £5, nonmem £7. Please book online.

SATURDAY 16 APRIL The Hub and St Ives Easter Egg Hunt St Ives School Haslemere For all ages. Meet

Inclusive Train Play Session, The Lightbox See listing on 27 March. Mizens Railway See listing on 17 April.

Save 20% with code Families

TUESDAY 19 APRIL

Circo Rum Ba Ba Haslemere Museum 9-10am. This exuberant troupe of all women performers will be in the garden in their amazing whale performance space, complete with underwater sights and sounds. Please book online.

THURSDAY 14 APRIL

What’s on diary

SUNDAY 24 APRIL Bluebell Open Day, Nower Wood Education Centre Leatherhead Enjoy activities along the adventure trail including minibeast hunting, pond dipping, marshmallow toasting, woodland play and more. 10am-12.30pm or 1.30-4pm. £15 per car. Book at www.surreywildlifetrust. org/events

Fully Charged LIVE 2022 Fully Charged LIVE 2022 Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre The world’s no.1 clean energy and electric vehicle show is returning to Farnborough this Spring. The kids zone, interactive attractions and live music stage will provide entertainment for the whole family. Plus, kids under 15 go FREE! There will be thousands of electric car test drives on offer, as well as electric bikes, scooters, motorbikes and skateboards. Visit the Home Energy Advice Centre to find out how to make your home greener, and explore the Future of Flight zone. And don’t miss the Live Theatres, packed with electrifying content and speakers, hosted by Robert Llewellyn (Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge). Book now: www.fullycharged.live use code Families for a 20% discount on tickets.

SATURDAY 30 APRIL Farnham Annual Duck Race, Gostrey Meadow 12pm-4pm. Sponsor a duck for charity and watch it race down the river! Plus food, drink and entertainment. Pottery Painting Pop Up The Haslemere Youth Hub 9.30am-12.30pm. No booking needed. Kids’ Craft Cranleigh Arts There are Centre more ideas for 10am for ages Days Out on 3-6 and pages 15-16 11.15am for ages 7-11. Please pre-book. £8 per session.

Families Surrey West 21


Holiday Camps

All holiday camps and workshops need to be booked in advance

EASTER HOLIDAY CAMPS & SPORTS COURSES Camp Beaumont With the Easter holidays approaching and the dilemma of childcare, Camp Beaumont is on hand to provide your child with a fun-filled adventure at over 35 locations across London and the South-East. With over 50 activities each week, not only can your child sharpen up their social skills, but they can pursue new interests, develop new talents and unleash their creative side. Activities range from Aqua Olympics to Movie Maker to Superhero Academy, and each activity programme is tailored by age group, including a nursery-style Playtime Programme for 3-4 year olds, a unique Magic Programme for 5-7 year olds, a thrilling Active Programme for 8 to 11 year olds and an exclusive club style Teens Programme for 12-16 year olds. These award-winning multi-activity camps run from 28 March-22 April. Childcare vouchers are accepted and all bookings are flexible with their COVID flexible booking promise. If there are any changes to the government guidance you can change the date hassle-free or receive a full refund. To book, visit www.campbeaumont.co.uk or call 01604 8510000. Quote Family to save 10%.

Save 10% with Camp Beaumont code Family

Pitch Pals Pitch Pals Football Camps run @ Milford School from Monday 11th April - Wednesday 13th April. All days run 9am-3.30pm (late Pitch Pals pick-up of 4pm and half-days available). Your child can expect a camp full of fun games, activities and tournaments suitable for all. Expert coaching from FA-qualified Coaches in a safe, fun and inclusive environment. Early booking is recommended to guarantee your child’s space. £35 per day, or £95 for all three days. Book at www.pitchpals.co.uk. Stepping Stones Stepping Stones are a family run after school and holiday club care provider for 4 – 11 year olds offering a fun, stimulating and safe ‘home from home’ environment for your children to thrive in. Regular after school care includes a home cooked meal every day and outdoor and indoor spaces to enjoy. During the Summer, October and Easter break, holiday club runs with a range of activities for all ages from multi-sports, arts and crafts Stepping Stones to inflatables and pamper treatments! Located at Gloucester Hall, Bagshot (YrR – Yr2) and Connaught School, Bagshot (Yr3 – Yr6) each setting offers fantastic facilities. Childcare vouchers accepted. Book by calling Sharon on 07748 531278 or visit www.steppingstonesafterschoolclub.co.uk.

22 Families Surrey West

Next Step Holiday Activities Next Step Holiday Activities is the perfect place for your children to have fun! They provide active, affordable, and exciting childcare during the holidays for primary school aged children from 4-11 years, at Sythwood Primary School, Woking, GU21 3AX. Their two programmes, NS Stars Next Step Holiday Activities and NS Strikers, will see your child enjoy their time away from school. With unique programmes on offer, they ensure that your child can maintain their development and learning through play in a safe and appropriate environment. The Holiday Activities are led by a dedicated, enthusiastic, and highly qualified team. For further information and bookings please visit www.nssport.co.uk, or email enquiries@nssport.co.uk. Little Rays Forest School Holiday Club Little Rays run their forest school holiday club during half terms and Easter and Summer holidays at a private nature reserve in Loseleys Woodland, near Godalming and Guildford. For ages 3-11, the days run from 9am-3pm. Children will enjoy den building, whittling, natural arts & crafts, woodland games and lots more. Childcare vouchers are accepted. To book contact littleraysforestschool@ outlook.com or 07827 910253. Potential Kids Camp Potential Kids are running Easter Holiday Camps in Chobham, Woking for 4-11 year olds. Potential Kids are passionate about children finding the love of sport through fun. Join their camp days for a day full of sports, arts and crafts and nature exploring. 9am-4pm. To book visit www.potentialptmultiskillscamp.com or contact 07894 050125. Challengers Challengers provides play and leisure for children aged 4-12 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), enabling them to make new friends and have fun trying exciting activities. Their Playschemes in Guildford and Farnham run on Saturdays and during half-terms, Easter and the Summer Holidays. Find out more and register to book at: disability-challengers.org

Challengers

Xtreme Activate Holiday Day Camp OFSTED registered fun-filled holiday day camp that runs at Guildford Xtreme Activate Spectrum entertaining and challenging children aged 5-8 years and 9-12 years. Xtreme Activate Holiday Day Camp runs every school holiday from 8.30am6pm. Children will take part in activities such as ice skating, bowling, swimming (everyday for children aged 9 years + and on certain days for children aged 5 - 8 years), track time (weather permitting) and arts and crafts. Bookings can be made in person at Customer Services (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-1pm) or by telephoning 01483 443322, option 3.

familiesonline.co.uk


Workshops & Theatre EASTER ART WORKSHOPS

The Art House The Art House The Art House is an Art School based in Horsell, Woking for all ages. Over the Easter Holidays they are running Little Artists (2-6 yrs) on Tues & Thurs 9.3010.30am and Wed at 2pm. Children do two activities within the hour. Young Artists (6-11 yrs) will have a choice of Art Camp which runs for 3.5 hours, or Canvas Painting classes for 1.5 hours and also Draw & Sculpt classes which run for 2 hours. Please refer to the timetable on www. thearthouse.co. Book online or email geeta@thearthouse. co Free parking is available. The art studio is situated only a short 10min walk from Woking station, or 5min walk from Horsell Village.

EASTER COMPUTER WORKSHOPS Spark4Kids Spark4Kids runs computer coding and touch-typing courses where children creatively explore coding and touch-typing, helping them naturally develop their computational skills. For kids that love computers, Spark4Kids might just be their ultimate holiday activity! From absolute beginners to experienced children, for online and in-person courses, contact Spark4Kids for more information – hello@spark4kids.com or 020 8090 1444 or visit www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids

EASTER DRAMA WORKSHOPS

Stagecoach Farnham Put on a show in 4 days! Dancing, acting, singing and musical theatre workshops at Farnham College from 11-14 April. ‘The Gruffalo’ for 4-6 year olds runs from 9am-1.30pm with the Thursday performance at 1pm and ‘The Addams Family’ for 7-18 year olds runs between 9.30am4.30pm with the Thursday performance at 5.30pm. Book at stagecoach.co.uk/farnham Stagecoach Guildford North Easter Workshop ‘Let’s Go To The Movies’ is at Kings College, Guildford from 11-14 April. 9.30am12.30pm for ages 4-6 and 9.30am-3.30pm for ages 6+. Students will sing, dance and act the week away exploring some of the best Movie Musicals and then put on a show! Childcare vouchers accepted. Book at www.stagecoach.co.uk/ guildfordnorth#workshops Stagecoach Godalming Easter workshops run at St Catherine’s School, Bramley from 11-14 April. 9.30am1pm (1.30pm on Thursday) for 3.5-6 years and 10am-4pm for ages 6-18 with a show on the Thursday at 6pm. Book online at www.stagecoach.co.uk/ godalming Stagecoach Liphook 2 days of fun to develop your performing arts skills. Using the hit film ‘Encanto’ as a stimulus for 4-6 year olds and ‘Comical Sitcoms’ as a stimulus for 7-18 years. They run from 11-12 April at Liphook Infant School. Book at www.stagecoach.co.uk/liphook Surrey Theatre Academy “High School Musical” workshop runs from 4-8 April at Godalming Borough Hall 9am-3pm for ages 6-16. “Shrek” workshop runs from 11-15 April 9am-3pm at Haslemere Hall for ages 6-18. Book at www. surreytheatreacademy.co.uk

Surrey Theatre Academy

familiesonline.co.uk

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE Guildford The Gingerbread Man Wed 30 March 11.30am & 1.30pm. Meet the curious gingerbread man who discovers he has arms and legs and a cherry nose! An energetic spin on a fairy tale that’s been told for nearly two centuries. Aimed at ages 0-5. Adult + child: £10.50, extra child or adult £7. WOLF! Fri 15 April 2pm & 4.30pm, Sat 16 April 11am & 2pm. Enjoy a magical adventure and find out what happens when Jack cries WOLF! With original music, puppetry and a tale you thought you knew… for under 5s and their grown-ups. £10. Marvels of Mystery Thurs 12 May 7.30pm. A new magic show for all the family. Private Peaceful Mon 23 - Sat 28 May. This thrilling new retelling of Michael Morpurgo’s award winning book explores the lengths a young soldier will go to, to fight for what is right. For ages 9+. In The Night Garden Live Fri 3 June 1pm & 4pm, Sat 4 June 10am, 1pm & 4pm. The Gruffalo Fri 15 July 2pm & 4.30pm, Sat 16 July 11am & 2pm.

NEW VICTORIA THEATRE Woking The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe Tues 22-Sat 26 March. Starring Samantha Womack as the White Witch. Billionaire Boy Thurs 7 – Sun 10 April. Joe Spud is twelve years old and the richest boy in the country! He has his own sports car, two crocodiles as pets and £100,000 a week pocket money! But what Joe doesn’t have is a friend. So he decides to leave his posh school and start at the local comp. But things don’t go as planned for Joe and life becomes a rollercoaster! CR ANLEIGH ARTS CENTRE Little Red Riding Hood Sat 5 March 2pm. For 3-8s. The Supersonic Science Show Wed 13 April 10.30am or 1.30pm. An hour of brilliant science experiments. £7. PRINCES HALL Aldershot Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever Sat 9–Sun 10 April. Live show packed full of songs, games and laughter. FARNHAM MALTINGS Slime Fri 22 April, 11.30am & 2.30pm. BSL integrated and all performances are relaxed. A hilarious, surreal show about a slug and a caterpillar for 2-5 year olds. CAMBERLEY THEATRE Dinosaur Adventure Live Wed 6 April 2pm & 4.30pm. Journey to a world of living, breathing, life-like Dinosaurs. The Wind in the Willows Sun 10 April 1pm. The Wizard of Oz Fri 15 April 2pm. Jokes, dazzling dance routines, glittering scenery and more. DORKING HALLS The Wizard of Oz Sat 2 April 2pm & 6pm. Exciting Science Thurs 14 April. For ages 4+.

New Victoria Theatre

Families Surrey West 23


From the West End producers of Gangsta Granny!

NEARLY NEW SALE

Baby and Children’s Market

On Saturday 12th March and Saturday 30th April from 10am-12pm at Normandy Village Hall, Glaziers Lane, Guildford, GU3 2DT. Lots of stalls bursting with top quality like new baby and children’s items from birth to 8 years. £2 entry, kids are free. Come and grab a bargain or book a stall and be a seller. Keep 100% profit on the day. For more information email ellie@babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk or visit www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk Don’t forget to sign up to our digital magazine for more interactive content! You can find our latest digital magazine at linktr.ee/FamiliesSurreyW or use this QR code - and you can sign up to receive it FREE into your inbox each issue! Plus you’ll find a listing of over 100 local Baby and Toddler groups in our digital magazine.

THU 7 - SUN 10 APR 0844 871 7615* ATGTICKETS.COM/Woking*

*Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.