Families London SW Sept 2021 print

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Your super useful local magazine!

Clubs & Classes Local Schools, School Open days Weekend activities and museums Issue 309 September 2021

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To find out more: Call (020) 8871 6666 wandsworth.gov.uk/fostering fosteringrecruitment@wandsworth.gov.uk Produced by Wandsworth Design & Print. wdp@wandsworth.gov.uk Photo © Eyecrave CS.1933 DC 2 (4.21)

Thanks to Little Giants Volleyball Club for the cover photo www.volleyballevents.org

In this issue

7

10-11

12- 34

Creating a rite of passage

Ten shops we love

Education

Story walks, School news, Open days, Meet the head

33

35-41

42-53

Talking about racial stereotypes

Early years and nursery education

Choosing an after school club

54-55

57

58-63

Starting a business and Saving tips

Books we love

What’s on

Events, museums, theatre and days out

To advertise: 020 8696 9680 | Editorial: editor@FamiliesSW.co.uk | Adverts/Artwork: adverts@FamiliesSW.co.uk Events/DiaryDates/What’sOn: whatson@FamiliesSW.co.uk | Next Issue: October 2021 | ISSN1354-9553. | All contents ©FamiliesSW 2021.

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September 2021 • Families South West 5

LITTLE GIANTS VOLLEYBALL CLUB H National women’s & men’s teams

H Junior teams U12 U14 U15 U16 U17 U18

H Recreational sessions seven days a week

H Beginners daily groups H Juniors groups for 7 to 18-year-olds H Friendly tournaments H Outdoor volleyball H Camps for kids and adults

H School Volleyball Programme

Locations: Battersea • Clapham • Crystal Palace • Brixton • Hackney www.volleyballevents.org Twitter @LittleGiantsVC Facebook: Little Giants Volleyball / Little Giants Junior Volleyball Instagram: Little Giants Volleyball Club/ Little Giants Juniors

HEALTH AND WELL BEING

Create your own rite of passage ceremony for your daughter Generally we mark births, marriages and deaths but have lost the tradition of marking one of life’s most critical transitions—that of maturing from child to adult. Every girl used to look forward to her preparation by elders, followed by a coming-of-age ceremony. This rite of passage was a way of guiding and celebrating each young person. It publicly acknowledged that the adolescent was no longer a child and supported each on her way towards adulthood.

charge of their emotional, social, and physical well-being. They learn about puberty, transition to secondary school, friendship challenges, social media influences and a whole range of personal skills that sustain them. Each girl is encouraged to be herself, to dress and speak and behave true to however she is that day.

W

Join your local group

ithout it, young people self-initiate.

The media tells them how a man or woman should be and our youngsters create their own ways of proving their adulthood through feats, dares, and adventures. They try to appear like adults in what they do and how they look: using clothes, make-up, drink, cigarettes, cars and sex.

We grown-ups can take back the role of initiating our children into adulthood. The children welcome it, we are fulfilled by it, and a transition that has become defined by its difficulty can become a joyous one.

Local positive wellbeing group for pre-teen girls Rites for Girls is an organisation that offers mentoring for girls throughout their adolescence. It was founded by director Kim McCabe, author of ‘From Daughter to WomanParenting Girls Safely Through Their Teens.’

Kim created Girls Journeying Together groups, as a response to her decades of counselling distressed teenagers and guiding young adults and parents. She said: “After thirty years of working with young people, I have found a way to give girls the robust support they need to see them through their teens. At Rites For Girls, we want to make growing up for girls an easier, safer, and better supported journey.”

Girls in years 6 & 7 are supported by joining a Girls Journeying Together group. Fun monthly meetings empower them to be confident and strong. They form lasting friendships and help each other safely into their teens. Small groups are guided by a mentor to take

Groups in South London are led by Nicki Brown. Nicki is a qualified Rites For Girls facilitator and works in an outstanding primary school, supporting children’s social and emotional well-being. She said: “After lockdown, this work is needed more than ever to support girls prepare for their teens. It should be a time of fun, excitement, and exploration and that’s what I offer to all girls who join the group. I am delighted to offer this experience in my local community. Girls make great friendships, like no others through this shared journey.”

This is what the girls say: “It’s brilliant, we talk about things, really talk, so you realise that others feel the same way.”

“It got me thinking about who I want to be — what I want to do with my life.”

“I was nervous about growing up but now I’m not.”

“You can ask anything.”

New groups will be starting in September 2021 and March 2022 Free taster sessions for girls and their mothers to come along and find out more.

The first of these is on Saturday 25th September at 10.30am and 2.30pm.

To book a place for a free taster or make further enquiries contact Nicki Brown nicki@ritesforgirls.co.uk visit www.ritesforgirls.com

Rites for Girls has been established for 10 years and is endorsed by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, qualified facilitators adhere to their code of practice.

There are groups in 37 locations in the UK and abroad.

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September 2021 • Families South West 7

Friday Five Do you Follow Families SW on Instagram?

Our team of ‘Roving mums’ are hard at work testing and reviewing the latest exhibitions, local events and fun things to do on our behalf. Don’t miss their reviews and learn their tips on our Insta page!

Don’t miss our popular Friday Five!

Every Friday Melissa shares five brilliant ideas to do over the weekend.

The best local ice creams

Baby food delivered

The latest childfriendly exhibitions

Mummy bloggers we love

Local festivals

Easy cycling trip with little ones

Easy craft ideas

All about bugs and butterflies

Farm trips

Parenting podcasts we love

* Plus competitions and give aways!

Follow us on @Familiesswlon

EDUCATION: SPECIAL NEEDS

ADHD – what parents need to know

By Ellie Malt Being stuck inside during this winter’s lockdown, along with the lack of sport, hit children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) particularly hard and made their symptoms worse. Homeschool also created a unique opportunity for parents to observe their child’s learning behaviour. For some parents, it was the first time they really considered that their active and high-spirited child might actually have ADHD. Consequently, there has been a huge increase in the number of parents referring their children for an ADHD assessment.

Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician, Doctor Zoritch, who specialises in ADHD says: ‘it became obvious to parents what the concentration di iculties were, how restless their children were and how di icult it was for them to focus on the work.’ In particular, the number of girls being diagnosed is catching up with boys, as teachers and parents become more aware of how girls tend to mask their hyperactive symptoms and exhibit more anxiety and emotional problems instead.

A study* carried out in China during the pandemic found that children with ADHD who spent lots of time on digital devices su ered from more severe negative emotions than other children who spent an equal amount of time on devices, but had no ADHD. It concluded that ’supervision of digital media usage, especially video game and social media, along with increased physical exercise, is essential to the management of core symptoms and associated problems encountered with ADHD.’ ADHD is the most common childhood condition in the UK after asthma and, as awareness of the symptoms increases and the stigma decreases, it’s likely the numbers will continue to rise. As Doctor Zoritch says: ‘in every classroom there will be a couple of

children with ADHD.’ What is ADHD? Brain imaging and clinical research show that ADHD is not a behaviour disorder, mental illness or learning disability. It’s an impairment of the development of the brain’s self-management system and it impacts eleven percent of children. Children with ADHD have trouble learning to control impulses, focusing and organising.

There are two types. The best known is where the child is primarily physically hyperactive and impulsive. The lesser known (and often overlooked) is the primarily inattentive type, where the child may seem dreamy and distracted by their thoughts. These children struggle with concentration and organising their belongings. Sometimes these two types overlap and a child may have symptoms of both.

Ellie Malt is a writer and mum of two daughters living in Surrey. *Shuai, L., He, S., Zheng, H. et al. Influences of digital media use on children and adolescents with ADHD during COVID-19 pandemic. Global Health 17, 48 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00699-z

ADHD behaviours

What should I do?

Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive type Fidgets with or taps hands or feet or squirms in seat; Often leaves seat when remaining seated is expected; Runs about/climbs in situations where it is inappropriate; Often unable to play quietly; Is often ‘on the go,’ acting as if ‘driven by a motor;’ Often talks excessively or blurts out an answer before a question has been completed; Often has di iculty waiting his or her turn; Often interrupts or intrudes on others.

If you think your child has ADHD, contact your GP for a referral to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service). Educate yourself about ADHD and prepare a list of concerns prior to your appointment. Use the resources below to find out more. Having a child with ADHD will demand above average specialist parenting skills and many of these organisations will provide you with invaluable training and support.

Primarily Inattentive type Often fails to pay close attention to detail; Di iculty sustaining attention in tasks; Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly; Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork; Often has di iculty organising sequential tasks; Di iculty keeping materials and belongings in order; Poor understanding of time; Often loses things; Reduced skills in taking turns and sharing; Exaggerated emotions.

ADHD Foundation aims to create better understanding and management of ADHD. www.facebook.com/ adhdfoundation

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ADHD Wise UK o ers coaching and screening to families and schools. www.adhdwise.co.uk

Additude Magazine is a US based, online publication that also hosts webinars. www.additudemag.com ADDISS (The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service) provides support and resources to parents and professionals, including local groups for parents and training in the Magic 123 course recommended for parents. www.addiss.co.uk September 2021 • Families South West 9

10

CHILDREN’S SHOPS WE LOVE

By Melissa Reynolds

If anyone knows what babies, toddlers and children need and want, it’s Families. We want to make sure you know where to go when your little ones are in need of clothes, books, toys and much more. Please kindly always mention us when visiting.

1. QT Toys 90 Northcote Rd, London SW11 6QN www.qttoyslondon.com Full of everything from arts and crafts, Lego, puzzles, dress up gear, wooden toys, party supplies and more, QT Toys is a great Northcote Road stop for your little one or gifts for others.

What makes them great: "QT Toys is a family run toy shop and has had the pleasure of serving the community since 1983! Often described as an Aladdin's cave or a treasure trove of a shop, you'll often come back again and find something you never saw the first time! The shop is now managed by me, the owner's son, I grew up with the shop and am also the father of two young girls and uncle to three boys, so have a keen eye for what is in demand but also curate what comes into the shop, ensuring that there is a somewhat traditional and educational value to the items you will find in QT Toys."

Joseph, QT Toys.

2. Wear my baby 58 Upper Tooting Rd, Tooting Bec, London SW17 7PB, www.wearmybaby.co.uk As much as we love to cuddle our little ones, there are times when we simply need our hands for other things.

Wear my Baby has everything you need to go about your day with baby. From newborn to twins to toddlers, they have a wrap or carrier to suit. Consultations provided.

What makes them great: “Learning how to carry your baby safely and comfortably is just as important as which

carrier you buy. That’s why Wear My Baby doesn’t just sell slings: we also provide expert advice to families through workshops and one on one consultation. You can even try before you buy with our sling hire service. " Hannah Wallace, Wear my Baby.

3. Round Table Books 97 Granville Arcase, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8PS www.roundtablebooks.co.uk Round Table Books emerged as a pop-up shop and remained due to customer demand. The store promotes books of diversity, whether it is race, ethnicity, sexuality or other. They stock books suitable for children aged seven and up.

What makes them great: Round Table is founded and run by an amazing group with a wide variety of experience between them in publishing and diversity in books. A great stop for anyone looking for work published by underrepresented voices.

4. JoJo Maman Bébé Locations throughout the UK www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk No matter what baby or toddler items you need, Jojo Maman Bébé probably has it. From newborn essentials to toys, clothes, books, and from holiday specialties and car and travel gear—everything you need is right there.

What makes them great: “Our stores are designed to be a parent and child-friendly space where you can come

to breastfeed, change nappies, refill your water bottle, or simply have a chat. In an era dominated by online sales, it may seem surprising that we invest so much in our physical stores. But we understand that when you become pregnant, you are entering a whole new stage of life and have so much to learn—so getting advice from people who are well trained in this field really helps. We also love to take part in local charity initiatives when possible.”

Georgia Gates, JoJo Maman Bébé.

10 Families South West • September 2021

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5. Smiggle Putney Exchange, King’s Road, Selfridges and many other locations www.smiggle.co.uk Find all of your school needs at Smiggle! From backpacks to water bottles, notebooks, scented markers, keychains, pencils, and so much more, your little one will be stylish in the drop off line and the classroom.

What makes them great: “I love Smiggle as a one-stop gift shop for birthdays. I always seem to find something cute or practical there. The stationary selection is amazing!”

Nicolette, local mum.

6. Baby Cot Shop 408 King's Rd, London SW10 0LJ www.thebabycotshop.com The Baby Cot Shop has everything you need to create a beautiful place for your little ones to play and sleep.

From cots to beds and furniture and décor for older children, their rooms never looked so good.

What makes them great: "The Baby Cot Shop supplies beautifully crafted bespoke furniture to help parents like

you create a uniquely enchanting and cosy space for their little darling to sleep and play. Each product is made to the highest safety standards by seasoned artisans using select, eco-friendly materials to ensure that your little one experiences the very best of the best.

The Baby Cot Shop also supplies outstanding children’s furniture and décor for bigger kids and their Interior Design Service is also available to help turn your dreams into a reality!"

Natasha Rowe, The Baby Cot Shop.

7. Pollyanna 811 Fulham Road, Fulham, SW6 5HG www.pollyannaonline.co.uk Pollyanna makes it easy for your little ones to put their best foot forward at school and at play. From baby to adult, everyone’s feet are covered. Stop into the shop for personal assistance or order online.

What makes them great: Pollyanna makes finding children’s shoes simple and enjoyable. They know the needs of some schools and what will be accepted there as well as stocking a wide variety of brands for weekend and play.

8. Quinn Harper hair salon 331 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5ES www.quinnharper.co.uk From baby’s first cut to graduation photos, Quinn Harper can take care of any hair need. There are iPad’s full of cartoons, lollies, stickers, fruit and a bright and colourful fish tank to take their minds off their hair cut.

What makes them great: A little one’s first hair cut can be a difficult and upsetting time.

Quinn Harper makes

your child feel as welcome and relaxed as can be, as well as putting mum at ease too.

9. Amaia Kids 14 Cale Street, London, SW3 3QU www.amaiakids.co.uk Designed in London and made in Spain, Amaia has been producing quality children’s wear since 2004. They cover baby, girls, boys and even do mum and daughter looks. For special occasions you can find bespoke looks to suit your needs.

What makes them great: Amaia is all about sustainability in their fine fashions. They ensure best practices are followed and their carbon footprint remains low. They promote low stock with no waste and upcycling where possible.

10. Alma Deli 11 Eccleston Street, London, SW1W 9LX www.almadeli.com Sometimes it is great to surround yourself with other parents who on are this child-rearing trip with you. Alma Deli is “a space for balance, consciousness and well-being”, where you can choose from a range of well-being activities for children like yoga, meditation, painting, cooking, music and much more. Alma is primarily about food, with great plant-based, organic, seasonal, and locally sourced meals.

What makes them great: We love their play sessions, including messy play sessions, free plays, Montessori Play.

The Saturday pass offers a 120-minute session of Creative Flow, with lunch break. Creative Flow sessions help children follow their rhythm through play and engaged senses.

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September 2021 • Families South West 11

Wandsworth Story Walks A brand new interactive adventure for children between the ages of 5-11.

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andsworth based charity Learn to Love to Read, have launched fantastic story trails, with chapters of a story situated on a poster trail around the town for the children to find.

These stories have been specially written for Learn to Love to Read by a local author and their Story Spinner, Julie S Sharp. There are 3 stories (all separate trails) each beginning at a local library: The Panama Frog at Putney Library, The Ninth Ninja at Southfields Library and The Wandle Worm at Wandsworth Town Library. It is a great day out for children, and an easy way for parents to support their child's reading during the holidays and beyond.

The chapters of the story can be accessed by scanning a QR code on a smartphone, which then will bring up a Youtube video of a chapter, read aloud. There is also a flyer that can be collected from the library with activities and questions for the children to complete as they embark upon the trail to promote discussion and comprehension.

More information can be found on the flyer, by scanning the posters, or on their website: https://www.learn2love2read.org.uk/pages/162 -wandsworth-story-walks

Learn to Love to Read was set up to provide children in local schools around Wandsworth volunteer led reading sessions, particularly aimed towards children who may be falling behind at school, such as for those where English may not be their first language and thus are unable to practice at home like many of their peers.

Register for 2022 entry - closing date 5th November 2021

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September 2021 • Families South West 13

Join us for either our open evening or open mornings and hear our Principal’s talk, see the school and ask any questions:

Open Evening: 6th October 4.30pm - 7.30pm.

Open Mornings: 8th, 11th and 13th October 9am - 10.30am.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE 16 Families South West • September 2021

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EDUCATION

Dealing with back to school anxiety

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble A new school year can be an exciting time for children; equally, it can prompt feelings of anxiety. For most children, these worries are transient and fade quickly. For some, the anxiety may linger well into the school year, particularly during the current pandemic. So how can we support our children with this?

Most anxieties are rooted in fear of the unknown. A new school year brings change: classroom, teacher, routines, social and academic pressures and expectations. For those entering new phases, change can include new schools, new travel routes and new friends.

Establishing good practice and routines in advance of the new academic year will address some common worries, preventing them from becoming deep-rooted. Make preparations well in advance, make them feel exciting and involve your child. Discuss the school day and let them ask questions. Remind them of the great things about school and reassure them that they are not alone.

For children whose worries persist, this simple five step programme can help manage anxieties.

Take care of the basics. Ensure a good sleep routine, healthy snacks and regular exercise.

Provide empathy. Find uninterrupted opportunities to listen to your child’s worries, expectations and fears. Car journeys, bath time and walks are all ideal times to talk. Listen actively, withholding judgement and advice and validate their feelings.

Problem solve. Discuss coping strategies, ideally led by your child. Showing confidence in their own problem solving abilities will nurture greater resilience.

Highlight the positives. Encourage your child to recognise fun elements and not fixate only on the negatives. Use questions like: ‘What was your favourite thing for lunch?’ ‘Did you ask any interesting questions?’ and ‘What was the funniest thing that happened today?’

Be mindful of your own emotions and reactions. Recognise that they can create learnt behaviour. By staying calm and seeming positive, the message to our children is that they don’t need to worry.

The golden ticket is communication. Making sure your child is comfortable and confident talking to you and knows that you are ready to listen, will help prevent anxiety spiralling out of control.

If you feel that ‘back to school’ anxiety may be something more concerning, then speak to your child’s teacher for advice and support.

Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of EmParenting (www. emparenting.co.uk), which works with schools and parents to strengthen children’s core qualities of emotional intelligence, kindness and compassion and o ers insights, skills and tools to nurture their development and wellbeing.

Mastering ‘Active Listening’

Anxiety and when to seek help

Do we really hear what our children say? ‘Active Listening’ is the single most important skill you can have in your parenting ‘toolkit’ - letting your child know that you are ‘with them,’ aware of what they are saying, accepting of their perspective and appreciative of their situation.

Some degree of anxiety is normal and helps children deal with new or unfamiliar situations, forming an essential part of their emotional development. For some children, however, anxiety can a ect their everyday behaviour and thoughts, interfering with their school, home and social life. So how do we, as parents, know when professional help is needed?

According to NHS UK, concerning signs to look out for can include:

To practise Active Listening: Give your full attention without interrupting; Ask appropriate questions to make certain you are clear about what is being said; Reflect or repeat back to show your understanding; Keep comfortable eye contact; Listen without judgement, being mindful of your facial expressions; Avoid o ering opinions and solutions; Listen with empathy, showing you truly hear and understand.

Open and honest communication can help your children become resilient, responsible and caring people.

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Di iculty concentrating; Interrupted sleep and bad dreams; Constant worrying and negative thoughts; Constant complaining of stomach aches or general malaise; Quickly becoming angry and irritable; Crying often for no apparent reason.

Whist strategies such as mindfulness, calming apps and breathing techniques are useful, do seek professional support if these don’t appear to help. Your GP and/or school SENCO should be able to direct you.

September 2021 • Families South West 17

. . . e t a Upd

School Open Days An independent education The Independent Schools Association reported a significant 30% increase in the number of UK parents looking into private school places after pupils in state schools fell behind during lockdown; and fears of continuing disruption to state education for the next academic year.

Open Day events are varied across the education sector, ranging from appointment-booked only, to online tours, as schools make the safest decisions for their pupils, staff and visitors.

Check the school websites for admissions criteria, scholarships and bursaries, and the latest information for visitors: Please check direct with the schools concerned in case things have changed. Please mention Families SW.

SW1 St Barnabas Primary and Nursery.

B&G. To arrange a visit to the school and a meeting with the Head of School call 020 7186 0152 office@stbarnabasprimary.org.uk www.stbarnabasprimary.org.uk Knightsbridge School, 4-16y, B&G. Watch the virtual tour on the website. www.knightsbridgeschool.com 020 7590 9000.

SW3 Cameron Vale, 2-11yrs, B&G. To arrange a tour please contact admissions@cameronvaleschool.com

Hampshire School, 3-13y, B&G. Open 16/9 9.15-10.30 020 7352 7077. Book on www.thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, 3-11y, B&G. Open 7/10 2-3pm and 3/11 6-7pm. 020 7589 2438 www.stjosephs.rbkc.sch.uk

Future Academies PIMLICO ACADEMY 21/9 & 22/9 8.40 am and 23/9 5pm. Sixth Form 14/10 4.30 pm. Book your visit at www.pimlico.futureacademies.org TRINITY ACADEMY 5/10 & 6/10 8.40 am and 7/10 5pm Sixth Form 11/11 5pm. Book your visit at www.trinityacademylondon.org

Eaton House Schools, B&G. 313yrs. Book a visit on www.eatonhouseschools.com or contact Head of Admissions on 0203 917 5050.

St Matthew’s Primary and Nursery, B&G. Arrange a visit on office@stmwschool.org.uk or 020 7504 0500 www.stmwschool.org.uk

Harris Academy Clapham, 11-18y.

B&G. Open evening 6/10 4.30-7.30 and open morning 8/10, 11/10 and 13/10 9am-10.30 020 8253 7777 www.harrisclapham.org.uk

SW4

SW2 Lambeth Nursery School’s Federation, 2-4y, B&G. Free nursery places available. See websites for information and to apply: Effra, SW2 www.effra.lambeth.sch.uk Holmewood, SW2 www.holmewoodnurseryschool.org.uk

Maytree, SW4 www.maytreenursery.lambeth.sch.uk Triangle, SW4 www.trianglenursery.org Ethelred, SE11 www.ethelrednursery.org.uk

SW6 Parsons Green Prep, 4-11y, B&G. Open day 25/9 9.30am. Book on 020 7610 8085

Fulham School, 4-18yrs, B&G. Open day 9/10 9-4pm. Individual visits also welcomed during termtime. Contact the admissions team for more information admissions@fulham.school or book your place via fulham.school

SW7 Lycée Francais, 3-18y, B&G French, Bilingual & British curricula. www.lyceefrancais.org.uk Prince’s Gardens Prep, 3-11y, B&G. Tours or virtual visits by appointment 020 7591 4620 www.princesgardensprep.co.uk St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary, 3-11y, B&G. join a tour with the Head evey Wednesday during term time. Confirm attendance by calling 020 7385 8165 www.stthomasrc.lbhf.sch.uk

SW10 Redcliffe Gardens School, 2.511yrs, B&G. Personal tours and a meeting with the Head can be booked via www.redcliffeschool.com

SW11

Sinclair House, 2-11y, B&G.1:1 personal tours of the school.

Book on 020 7736 9182 www.sinclairhouseschool.com

18 Families South West • September 2021

The White House School, 6m-11y B&G. To visit email Office@whitehouseschool.com www.whitehouseschool.com

SW15 The Alton School, B&G. See https://www.altonschool.org.uk to see a virtual school tour.

Ibstock Place, 4-18, B&G. Virtual tour on website. 020 8876 9991 www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk Granard Primary, 3-11y, B&G. See the virtual tour here: https://bit.ly/GranardPrimaryTour 020 8788 3606 www.granardprimary.co.uk Sacred Heart Roehampton, Recep-11y, B&G. To book a visit, send an email to the Admissions Manager dharding@sacredheartroe.wandsworth.sch.uk 020 8876 7074 www.sacredheartroe.wandsworth.sch.uk St. Joseph's Catholic Primary, 311yrs, B&G. School Visits: 1:1 tours by appointment www.stjosephs.wandsworth.sch.uk admin@stjosephs.wandsworth.sch.uk

020 8874 1888.

Dolphin School, 4-11y, B&G. 1:1 tours by appointment with the admissions registrar. admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk 020 7924 3472 x2 www.dolphinschool.org.uk Shaftesbury Park, Nur-11y, B&G. French bilingual & Enterprise.

Contact the school. 020 7228 3652 www.shaftesburypark.wandsworth.sch.uk

admissions@parsonsgreenprep.co.uk www.parsonsgreenprep.co.uk

L’Ecole des Petits, 3-6y, B&G Bilingual French nursery. Virtual tours on website. 020 7371 8350 www.lecoledespetits.co.uk

• Broomwood Hall Lower, 4-8y, B&G. • Broomwood Hall Upper, 8-13y, G. • Northcote Lodge, 8-13y, B • Northwood Senior, 11-16y, B&G.

SW17 Burntwood Academy, 11-18y, G. Year 7 open events: 22/9 6pm and 5/10 8.45am. 020 8946 6201 www.burntwoodschool.com Finton House School, 4-11yrs, B&G. Open morning 25 September.

To visit book via website www.fintonhouse.org.uk

SW12 Northwood Schools, 4-16y, B&G. All sites open day 8/10. Pre-prep and prep schools, 9am-12pm; Northwood Senior 9.30-12.30.

020 8682 8830 Bookings via website www.northwoodschools.com

SW18 Wandsworth Prep, B&G Open morning 21/9 & 18/11. Contact the school to find out more. office@ wandsworthprep.com 020 8870 4133 www.wandsworthprep.com

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SW18 continued The Roche School, 2-11y, B&G. Open morning 25/9 9.30-12, 15/10.

020 8877 0823 www.therocheschool.com

SW19 Hall Wimbledon, 4-18Y, B&G. Open day 23/9 5.30-7pm; 9/10 9-11.30am.

Book your place on website.

020 8394 6144 www.hsw.co.uk The Study Wimbledon, 4-11y G. Open morning 2/10. Visits booked via 020 8947 6969 www.thestudyprep.co.uk Our Lady Queen of Heaven, 5-11y, B&G. See the virtual tour on website. 020 8788 7420 www.ourladyqueenofheaven.wand sworth.sch.uk

SW20 The Rowans School, 3-7yrs, B&G. To book a tour contact the Registrar: registrar@rowans.org.uk 020 8946 8220 www.rowans.org.uk

SE26 Sydenham High School, 4-18y, G. Book online: 020 8557 7004 www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

SURREY KT6 Shrewsbury House, 7-13y, B. Open morning 25/9. Book online.

020 8399 3066 www.shrewsburyhouse.net

CR2 Whitgift, 10-18 B. Open morning 18/9. Booking required.

020 8633 9935 www.whitgift.co.uk

CR9 Trinity, 10-16y B; 16-18y B&G 020 8656 9541 open day 2/10. Register to join. www.trinity-school.org

ASCOT Heathfield School, day, weekly and boarding, G, 11-18yrs. Open morning 16/10 9.45-12.

To book email admissions@heathfieldschool.net www.heathfieldschool.net

SE21 Dulwich College Junior. Open events for years 3, 4 and 5 (ages 79yrs) entry. Please visit the Admissions section of the website to book a place. www.dulwich.org.uk/admissions or call the Junior school 020 8299 8432.

Dulwich Prep, 3-13yrs, B. Open morning 25/9 9-1pm. Due to the popularity of the event, no more than 2 tickets per family. To book a tour please visit their Eventbrite page (link on website) www.dulwichpreplondon.org or email admissions@dulwichpreplondon.org Registration for entry to 2022 closes on Friday 5th November.

SE22 James Allen’s Girls, 4-18y, G. Open mornings 2/10. Plus open event webinar 9/9, 21/9, 5/10 & 13/10 5-6pm. 020 8693 1181 Booking required via www.jags.org.uk

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BATH King Edward’s School, B&G, 318yrs. Senior, Junior and Pre-prep open morning 2/10, sixth form open evening 1/10. Register at kesbath.com or call 01225 820 399.

Kingswood, 9m-18y (boarding from 7yr), B&G. Open events: Prep school 21/9 10-12; Sixth form 23/9 6.30-9pm; Senior school 25/9 9-12. Book your place at www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk Monkton Combe, 2-18y, B&G. Open Mornings Senior: 2/10; Prep: 9/10 www.monktoncombeschool.com

To advertise in

Call: 0208 696 9680

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September 2021 • Families South West 19

EDUCATION

20 Families South West • September 2021

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EDUCATION

Working with the Magenta Principles By Jo Fife, Headteacher, Wandsworth Prep School If we want children to achieve in our education system and in life, we need to make sure that children are engaged, curious and challenged in their learning so they take ownership of it. This is how we encourage lifelong learning. It’s a grand aim but how do teachers actually do this?

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ike all learners, teachers need professional development and inspiration to tackle their lessons in different ways. At Wandsworth Prep, we have been studying the impact of Mike Hughes’ ‘Magenta Principles’ on pupil learning.

As teachers, we need to trial teaching approaches by testing them out on each other.

Successful and productive INSET days do exactly that. Through experimenting with the snowball technique to learn about the principles, we could see for ourselves that every member of the learning group (pupils) became teachers and the course leader (the teacher) became the facilitator.

Learning should be both exciting and engaging What is most noticeable about using ‘Magenta Principles’ is that the classroom is full of engaged speakers and listeners. Using these principles, the children are active learners and teachers, whilst ‘the teacher’, as facilitator, has time to reinforce and challenge concepts through higher order questioning giving our pupils a voice.

What’s so special about the Magenta Principles?

They are different methods for organising, assembling and sorting information that requires children to verbalise their rationale behind their choices.

• For example, the reduce principle may ask who the most important character is within a story, or the most significant colour in a painting, or the most important decision Churchill made to win the war? The ‘Reduce’ principle encourages children to make a judgement and answer the question ‘why’, seamlessly opening up the classroom into lively debate.

techniques such as ‘snowballing’ where each pupil becomes an expert and disseminates this information within small groups.

• The Change principle may ask children to convert text into a diagram, music into a painting, a poem into a line graph, a narrative into a 3D storyboard: all of this will deepen pupils’ understanding. Assemble involves constructing meaning: pupils assemble their understanding of a concept through

As a parent, I’m sure that like you, I want to see children leaving our schools as articulate speakers, analytical thinkers and critical listeners. It is our job as teachers to make that happen. www.wandsworthprep.com

Northwood Schools: academically ambitious, pastorally kind By Martina Mazzon of Northwood Schools The Northwood Schools group offers parents both flexibility and certainty. The four schools in the group—Broomwood Hall Lower School (co-ed 4-8), Broomwood Hall Upper School (girls 8-13), Northcote Lodge (boys 8-13) and Northwood Senior (co-ed 11-16) balance academic ambition and rigour with pastoral care and kindness.

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ost children join Broomwood Hall Lower School at 4, progressing automatically on to one of the other schools in the group or leaving for a wide range of day or boarding schools at 11 or 13.

From September 2020, the addition of Northwood Senior (co-ed 11-16) gives parents another option: a smaller and local coeducational secondary school.

Children only achieve their full potential if they are happy and confident. Broomwood Hall Lower School offers outstanding pastoral support with a Matron, school counsellor and a strong learning support department for help when needed.

Broomwood Hall Lower school is a nonselective, family-oriented school offering a fully rounded, and innovative education in a traditional setting; as one parent enthused: ‘It’s simply the best start to school life!’

Our school motto, ‘To do your best, to be your best’ drives us. By making school somewhere that children love, they work harder and achieve more than they knew they were capable of. Children move on to the Prep schools as happy, confident, and capable learners, well prepared for the next exciting and demanding stage.

Confidence, Curiosity, Independence, Resilience and Communication By stimulating a child’s natural desire to learn, and supporting and stretching in equal measure, we equip children with the crucial skills they need for the future.

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We are proud of our online provision during lockdown. Pupils had daily contact with their teachers via zoom and there were plenty of fun, stimulating activities to keep up the community spirit, including a virtual ‘Race Across Europe’, where each class had to walk, cycle or scoot every day; an immersive French day; an extreme reading challenge and ‘Flippin’ It On’ for pancake day.

www.northwoodschools.com

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September 2021 • Families South West 21

Meet THE head

Sponsored feature

Ben Dunhill Redcliffe Gardens School

Ben Dunhill spent 10 years in senior schools at Blundell’s and Worth where he was a boarding housemaster. Prior to this he taught English in France.

Previous headships include Port Regis in Dorset and Abercorn School in Marylebone. He joined Redcliffe Gardens School in January 2021.

Q. What is your biggest challenge at present?

Redcliffe Gardens School is genuinely small but perfectly formed! A traditional London town house school, we are now part of the Godolphin & Latymer charitable foundation.

The process of full integration has been ongoing since September 2020 and is bringing many rewards. There are no huge changes to make, just small adjustments to bring our ambitions in line with those of Godolphin and Latymer in a continuum of education from Nursery to Year 13. Plenty to keep me busy but all very exciting stuff!

Q: How would the students describe you?

I would wish pupils to describe me as fair and creative. I desire for the school to be open to the opinions and suggestions of even the youngest pupils. I certainly want my lessons to be engaging and fun. My overriding memory of prep school is that it was always good fun and we spent a great deal of time trying to get the teachers to tell us good stories! I am often up for an appropriate ‘red herring’ as these often allow for a tertiary connection which can help pupils remember things. A very young pupil this week described me as smart looking and complimented me on my tie – well, I like to look the part at least!

22 Families South West • September 2021

Q: What inspired you to become a teacher and later, a headteacher?

Nearly 30 years ago, a friend who worked at Warburg’s with me moved to teach at Eton and he is still there today. It was this friend who persuaded me that it might be the right career path for me too. Former Marlborough College head, Jonathan Leigh, gave me my first break at Blundell’s, he had taught me as a boy at Cranleigh. I wanted to give it a go, knowing how much I had enjoyed my own schooldays, and I have never once been bored because no two days are ever the same. Having run a senior boarding house, a move into headship seemed natural. I had three small children at the time and the chance to move into the prep world excited me. I had the very great privilege of spending every day with my young children during their early schooldays and this is something I certainly cherish.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?

Some kind of performer or actor. I did quite a bit of acting at prep school, at senior school and at university. I probably use similar skills every day in the classroom! I suppose I like to engage and amuse and instruct. The day after I finished my finals I got a job in the City and I did really enjoy this in many ways but I was keen to return to France and an opportunity came up out there so I went for it.

Q: Premier League or Last Night at the Proms?

I am a huge music lover and I will be at Glyndebourne this summer but I do love watching sport. I share a season ticket at Chelsea with my son and his godfather. It means I get to enjoy half a dozen games a season. I love attending live events be they sport, music or other. I like the buzz and the sense of the unexpected.

Personal tours and a meeting with Mr Dunhill can be booked via www.redcliffeschool.com You can also find out more via their social media pages, @Redcliffeschool on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

47 Redcliffe Gardens, London SW10 9JH

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September 2021 • Families South West 23

EDUCATION

Wandsworth Council launches new partnership between state and independent schools An innovative new partnership has been developed between state and independent schools in Wandsworth so they can learn from each other and help all children thrive post-Covid.

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he Partnership will work to make resources and opportunities open to all the borough’s young people, share good practice and improve teaching and learning across both sectors. The scheme formally launched in June and has already engaged with 48 state schools and 14 independent schools in discussions and planning.

This autumn, around a thousand children will get the chance to engage with joint projects aimed at providing enriching experiences and raising aspirations through access to science, arts and sports facilities and to mentoring. The initiative will also provide professional development for teachers with a forum to share good practice and improve teaching and learning across the sectors. Future collaboration could include support with university applications, sharing playing fields and science labs and joint access to guests and motivational speakers.

Richard Byrne-Smith, headteacher of Hotham School in Putney said: “It has been a pleasure to work with our colleagues in the independent sector to explore what we can do to bring our communities closer together as this

demanding year comes to a close. As educators, we all share similar values, and it has been deeply rewarding to build these new relationships for the benefit of our young people.”

Renata Joseph, headteacher of Saint Cecilia's School, added: “We’re excited to work alongside primary, secondary and special schools, from all sectors in the local community. One of our 4 Greats is to nurture Great Partnerships, that we hope will be an opportunity for young people to learn from and with each other.” A system of cluster groups has been set up to make co-ordination easier.”

Suzie Longstaff, Headmistress at Putney High School, is the independent school lead for the

Roehampton Cluster. She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our young people in Wandsworth to work together and take increased ownership of their community role.

“The project very much reflects Putney High School’s “It Starts with Me” ethos and expands this to "It Starts with Us". We’re seeing more and more how our students are actively wanting to find ways that they can make a tangible difference and our involvement in this project provides an opportunity to do just that.”

Wandsworth Council cabinet member for education and children’s services Cllr Will Sweet said: “We have some of the best schools in London, across the state and private sectors.

This scheme will bring them closer together, allowing children in both sectors to collaborate and learn from each other.

Recycling computers and tablets with Community TechAid Community TechAid (formerly known as Lambeth TechAid) is a south London charity that since the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, has been helping to bridge the digital divide by providing technology to those without.

Community TechAid recycle donated computers, tablets and mobile phones from individuals and businesses and distribute them throughout the community. It is staffed entirely by a dedicated team of local volunteers. Over the past year, they have worked with 70 South London based organisations to enable over 500 members of the local community to get online. Some of schools and community organisations that they have supplied in the SW area include: 20 Families South West • September 2021

• Clapham Park Foodbank • Dunraven School • Glenbrook Primary School, St Julian's Primary School • High Trees Community Development Trust • Lambeth Family Action SEND • Lambeth Age UK As the need for digital devices continues to soar, whether that be for job seeking, adult education and apprenticeship opportunities or access to health and wellbeing resources, Community Techaid will continue to help bridge the digital divide in our communities, wherever it may be.

Community TechAid aims to double the number of devices delivered to new members of the community in this coming year. www.communitytechaid.org.uk

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26 Families South West • September 2021

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FREE LATE CARE UNTIL 5.30PM

LEARN • CREATE • EXPLORE WHERE WILL YOUR FUTURE TAKE YOU? Top quality boarding provision with superb pastoral care Rated ‘excellent’ in all areas of our latest Inspection Report Over 100 co-curricular activities available with a reputation for sport and links to professional clubs Inspirational music, drama and creative arts Scholarships and Bursaries available

A warm welcome awaits you at our Open Events PREP SCHOOL: Tuesday 21 September, 10.00am - 12.00pm SIXTH FORM: Thursday 23 September, 6.30pm - 9.00pm SENIOR SCHOOL: Saturday 25 September, 9.00am - 12.00pm

Book your place at www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk An Independent Co-educational Boarding & Day School for pupils aged 9 months - 18 years

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September 2021 • Families South West 27

YEAR 7 OPEN EVENTS Burntwood is a thriving Academy for Girls which has an established tradition of academic success, providing a relevant and challenging education which enables all members of our school community to reach their full potential.

'Pupils understand that leaders and staff want them to be successful. They know that high expectations are set.

Pupils respond to this challenge by achieving well in their studies'

Wednesday 22 September 6.00pm Tuesday 5 October 8.45am For more information please visit www.burntwoodschool.com ‘The best education today for the women of tomorrow’

Ofsted, March 2020

Granard Primary School “Growing together; Achieving together”

A child’s first school is an important stepping stone into education.

Granard is friendly, caring and inclusive. We nurture each child’s academic, sporting and music opportunities to enable them to succeed academically and socially. We provide a caring and nurturing environment for children from Nursery to Year 6 (age 3 — 11).

To find out about our excellent teaching, the support we offer and see our wonderful facilities, visit our virtual tour at https://bit.ly/GranardPrimaryTour For further information, please contact the school office on 0208 788 3606.

28 Families South West • September 2021

Nursery Places available: Free 30 hours where eligible Free 15 hours part-time 15 hours top-up available Breakfast and After School Care available

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Shaftesbury Park Open Mornings Choice of bilingual or enterprise class with Forest school activities promoting confidence and environmental awareness

Tours by appointment only PLEASE RING TAYLOR ON

020 7228 3652

TO SECURE YOUR PLACE Consult https://shaftesburypark.wandsworth.sch.uk for further information.

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September 2021 • Families South West 29

We are still accepting Nursery places for September 2021 A forward thinking, successful and joyful school based in Putney, where diversity is prized and everyone is valued.

We cultivate strong, open, warm and supportive relationships between children and staff where children feel confident to thrive in their learning.

School Visits: 1:1 tours by appointment www.stjosephs.wandsworth.sch.uk admin@stjosephs.wandsworth.sch.uk 0208 874 1888

30 Families South West • September 2021

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Choosing a new school for your child By Helen Shorrock, Principal, Burntwood School This can be a daunting experience, this is why I always suggest that it is important to make a careful analysis of the breadth of curriculum offer, whether the school has a good record with regard to examination success and where progression for the youngsters to Higher Education is the norm.

• A substantial 6th Form is important, as these can offer a wider range of subjects and more flexibility of subject choice for the young person. A good school will also provide a wide range of sporting and extra curricular activities as well as excellent dance, drama and music teaching.

• It is important that every child is treated as an individual and that the school works in

EDUCATION NEWS

partnership with the parents to encourage the very best from the young person.

• It is our view that girls benefit greatly from a single sex education where they are free to develop and mature without the pressures of the presence of boys. It is also the case that girls at single-sex state schools in England achieved better GCSE results than those in mixed schools.

Of course, this is not necessarily the best choice for every young women and we always recommend visiting a variety of styles of schools in order to compare and contrast and be secure that the school selected will best meet the needs of the young person. www.burntwoodschool.com

Home schooling leads to quest for new careers For most parents, home schooling was a tremendous challenge, which led to a huge sigh of relief when schools finally reopened.

Some parents, however, have been inspired by the experience and are now on a quest for a new career working in childcare or education.

A survey from Now Teach, a charity that helps experienced professionals retrain as teachers, found that 1.6 million people in the UK could now be thinking of becoming a teacher, despite not considering it before lockdown.

Confirming this trend, Now Teach experienced a seventy percent rise in applications in during lockdown in 2020.

Similarly, applications to tiney.com, a new initiative focussed on helping people set up as early years educators in their own homes, experienced an exponential rise in people who had worked in traditional white-collar jobs now wanting to work in childcare. www.tiney.com and nowteach.org.uk

Mr Sam Gosden, new Head of Dolphin School Trust

Small groups on Zoom. Qualified teacher, senior examiner, 31 years experience.

Affordable but effective.

Sam worked in the independent school sector for the past twenty years, leading music departments and being head of IT and digital strategy at leading London Prep schools. In 2018, as Deputy Head, he became a founding member of the senior leadership team of Kensington Park School, building a new independent 11-18 co-educational school in Central London. In this post he developed strategy, recruited students and nurtured robust links with local communities. He is a keen cyclist and uses this mode of transport every day to come to school. Sam is married with two children.

“We are so proud of our wonderful Year 6 children: 21 scholarships, 100 offers of places from 35 superb Senior Schools, these are excellent results for a non-selective school. We offer exemplary teaching alongside real care for the individual – we love finding “Something Brilliant” in every child – so our holistic curriculum is ideal for everyone.: 020 7924 3472 ext 2 www.dolphinschool.org.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Maths online tuition All abilities years 7 to 13.

Free no-obligation trial lesson.

Call, Text, WhatsApp 07737 853527 www.acetutors.com

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September 2021 • Families South West 31

32 Families South West • September 2021

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Talking about racial stereotypes

By Bilkis Miah

With Black Lives Matter still on everyone’s minds, many questions have come to the fore about how we can challenge racial stereotypes and help our children thrive, regardless of their race. As parents and communities become more reflective, here are some tips to help you and your little one identify and talk about race.

Check your unconscious bias with the Harvard Project Implicit Test. (Google Harvard Implicit).

How do children learn racial bias?

Children learn about racial bias from a young age, often from their surroundings and the people they come into contact with. This could be at school or in the home environment.

As early as 6 months, a baby's brain can notice race-based differences.

Between ages 2 to 4, children can begin to internalise racial bias.

By age 12, many children become set in their beliefs and embedded in their views about racial stereotypes. This is an important time to work to unpick these beliefs.

So what can I do?

Talk to your children about race and the existence of racial bias. Highlight the differences and commonalities between races, so that they understand that although skin colour may be different, we are all human.

Confront your own bias. Role model how you would like your children to treat others that may be different to them. Check your unconscious bias too—you can find out what your own biases are by doing the Harvard Project Implicit Test. (Google Harvard Implicit).

Awareness helps you recognise which biases you have, and what you can do to counteract them.

Encourage your child to challenge racial stereotypes and bias by exposing them to lots familiesonline.co.uk

of different people from different cultures from a young age. Use this as a great opportunity for them to learn about different foods, cultures and ways to do things.

Learn about how race can impact gender, class and ability too. When people suffer any form of discrimination, they often face other biases too. Learn about how these can interact with race.

Give your children access to lots of different types of role models. This can be through toys, the media and the books you read to them. The more they see differences, the more aware they will become. Feel free to use the resources for parents list at www.youbeyou.co.uk. Here you can find a list of books, films and TV shows that has been compiled by its parent community. Each challenges stereotypes or portrays great role models for you to share with your children.

Talking about Race Don’t be uncomfortable talking about race.

Talking openly about it will help your child develop the vocabulary and confidence to talk about it too.

Early years. At this age children will begin to point out differences when they see them (in the park, on walks, when shopping). If your child points out or asks about a different skin tone—answer the question with a positive response like: ‘yes, we’re different isn’t that great?’

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Primary school. At this stage, it’s really essential to start talking about race as soon as possible. Stereotypes begin to embed in children as young as 6 years old (if not sooner) and so this is the perfect opportunity to answer all the questions your child might have. Don’t shy away from the difficult questions, but if you do need more time, answer with a simple: ‘that’s a really good question, I’m going to do some research and come back to you on that’ and make sure you do follow through.

In general. If your child comments and makes assumptions about a race, use the situation to have a constructive conversation with them.

Further the discussion by asking questions like: ‘How do you feel about that?’ ‘What makes you think that?’ This opens up a healthy channel of communication.

Bilkis Miah is founder of You Be You (www.youbeyou.co.uk), an award winning non-profit organisation which works with primary schools, creating engaging KS1 lessons helping to break stereotypes by creating sets of fun, research-informed, cross-curricular lessons to year 1 classes.

Other good resource suggestions can be found at commonsense.org and there are also good resources for anyone suffering from racism at youngminds.org.uk

September 2021 • Families South West 33

COLLEGE GUARDIANS

Ever Thought of Hosting an International Student?

YOUR CHILD THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD

We are currently seeking host families to look after children attending boarding school in the UK whose parents are based overseas.

Our hosts look after the children during some half term holidays and occasional weekends. Dates of stays will depend very much on the school that the child attends.

In exchange for your hospitality you will receive a generous compensation package as well as the invaluable experience that hosting an international student can bring to you and your family.

For more informa on please contact Caroline Lloyd, Guardianship Manager

caroline@collegeguardians.co.uk • +44 (0) 1684 581600

www.collegeguardians.co.uk

The Alton School is set within gorgeous extensive grounds which overlook Richmond Park just a short walk from Roehampton Gate. We have extensive facilities that offer our children a wide array of vibrant and diverse opportunities.

We offer 30 hours free nursery provision to all 3-4 year old children.

High quality Breakfast Club on site and After School Care nearby.

The Alton is a small, friendly child-centred community school with excellent committed staff.

We have been awarded gold status by Unicef UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Programme. Ofsted graded ‘Good’.

The Alton School, Danebury Avenue, London SW15 4PD Contact: 020 8876 8482 admin@thealton.wandsworth.sch.uk www.altonschool.org.uk Twitter @TheAlton

BELONGING | BELIEVING | ACHIEVING “You are the light of the world.”

• No geographical catchment area • Breakfast Club and After School Care (until 6pm) • Specialist Music and Spanish teachers Contact us to arrange a visit to the school and a meeting with our Headteacher, Mrs Rachel Jewitt.

St Matthew’s Primary School and Nursery 18 Old Pye Street | Westminster | SW1P 2DG office@stmwschool.org.uk | 020 7504 0500 www.stmwschool.org.uk | @stmwschool

SCHOOL VISITS 1:1 tours by appointment with the Admissions Registrar

We have vacancies in the delivery team A nice little earner if you have a car, time to fill within school hours and a love of getting out and about locally Would your shop, school or nursery like to stock our popular magazines? A nice free gift for your clients!

Please email the editor to register your interest editor@familiessw.co.uk

St Barnabas' Primary School & Nursery "Serve with Hope and Encouragement to Learn and Love" • No geographical catchment area • Breakfast Club and After School Clubs (until 6pm) • Specialist Music and Latin teachers

"...a strong and caring school community where all pupils are respected equally." OFSTED Contact us to arrange a visit to the school and a meeting with our Head of School.

St Barnabas Street | SW1W 8PF | 020 7186 0152

South West

34 Families South West • September 2021

www.stbarnabasprimary.org.uk | office@stbarnabasprimary.org.uk @StBarnabasSW1 (Short walk from Victoria and Sloane Square stations)

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EARLY YEARS

Changes to the Early Years Framework (EYFS)

By Emma Lewry A new Early Years Framework has been trialled in the UK and becomes statutory in September 2021. So what does this mean for families with children attending Early Years settings and classrooms?

As an Early Years teacher and former head teacher, I don’t think anyone could argue with the aim of the changes - to raise outcomes and to enable practitioners to spend more time caring for children. From my experience working with schools trialling the changes, there are many elements which will be brilliant for children and families.

Let’s start by looking at what is staying the same: Children learn best through play – playful experiences remains at the heart of the EYFS. The curriculum is broad – the EYFS curriculum includes everything from reading and writing to understanding simple maps; from learning social skills to throwing a ball. There are new parts but children will still be supported to learn a wide range of skills and knowledge.

So what is di erent?

One of the biggest changes is the need for children to be taught new words and develop a love of reading. Teaching words has always happened but now it is being given centre stage to support children’s communication and language development.

The second biggest change, and one which families who have a child in an Early Years setting already may notice, is the recommendation to reduce recording of children’s learning.

This means carers will be able to spend more time playing and supporting the learning of children. It might mean that you see fewer pictures or less written information about your child’s learning but what is recorded and shared with you will be the really valuable parts - the new learning and the ‘wow’ moments.

The new framework includes some other new learning too, including supporting children to learn about equality, di erence and communities and to develop positive relationships and attachments which help them understand their own feelings and those of others.

Sta will need a few terms to settle into using all of the new elements but, as with all things education-related, do ask your child’s key workers, teachers and support sta if you would like to know how the new framework is being used in your setting.

Emma Lewry is a school leader, former head teacher and coowner of Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk) where parents can find support for matters relating to school and education.

Supporting your child to learn new words

Learning through play – what’s that all about?

Supporting children to develop their communication and language and to use new words at home is easy to encourage. My three top tips are:

Early Years classrooms, including in nurseries, preschool and Reception, all use play throughout the day.

It’s a wonderful way to enable children to explore the world, develop skills, problem solve and find things out for themselves. Early Years teachers are highly skilled at planning for all children to learn through play.

Share books with your child as much as you can. Sharing books is more than just reading. It means taking time to let children comment and ask questions about the book and the words. When you share books with your child, stop at new or unusual words and explain what they mean.

Use a comment Instead of asking direct questions. When talking to your child about an object or a picture in a book, rather than asking a question like: ‘What is it?’ try using a comment instead. Start with an open-ended phrase such as: ‘I wonder if...’ Children are more likely to engage in a conversation this way than give one word answers.

Have conversations with your child. Back and forth interactions (chatting) is incredibly valuable for children. Try to use new or di erent words when talking and be excited when your child learns and uses them.

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This means that when you see, for example, a tray with pom poms, bowls and tongs, you see the potential for a fun game.

Who can grab the most pom poms with the tongs? But there’s more to it. An activity like this will have been planned by teachers to help children develop their hand strength and hand eye co-ordination. Children don’t even realise they are learning.

When your child comes home telling you they have been ‘just playing’ all day long, know that there is clever teacher wisdom behind all that fun!

Top tip: if your child starts school in 2022, join the Facebook group set up by Every Day’s a School Day. Just google Facebook and ‘schoolstartershub.’

September 2021 • Families South West 35

THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

THE MONTESSORI CHILDREN

HOLIDAY AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS

We provide a delightful environment for children from 2yrs of age. Offering the full Montessori curriculum with visiting teachers for Music, Dancing, Yoga, French, Drama, Sports & Gymnastics.

Local children up to the age of 8yrs are welcome to join in with our fun and creative activity days during school breaks.

School pick-ups and homework clubs are also available during term time.

CALL US TO BOOK A VISIT TO THE NURSERY

0208 673 8037 102 Chestnut Grove Balham, London, SW12 8JJ

TEA TIME FOR TODDLERS This session takes place from 3:30pm to 4:30pm for children from approximately 2yrs of age to attend with an adult

www.themontessorischool.co.uk

36 Families South West • September 2021

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World’s biggest coffee morning returns The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s Cancer Support biggest fundraising event for people facing cancer and is dedicated to bringing people together over a cuppa to raise vital funds.

This year’s official event date is 24 September but Coffee Mornings can be held at any time. Before Covid-19, many patients told Macmillan that being diagnosed with cancer and going through treatment was the scariest thing that they could imagine. These anxieties and concerns have only increased during the pandemic, meaning that Macmillan needs support from the British public more than ever to continue to provide the crucial support needed by people living with cancer.

More info: coffee.macmillan.org.uk

A new Noah’s Ark Nursery School Dolphin School Trust are delighted to announce the opening of another Noah’s Ark Nursery School on the Dolphin School site, SW11 6QW. They offer morning and afternoon sessions for children aged 2–4yrs. They told Families: “Our staff are fun, caring and dedicated, and the children run in with big smiles on their faces and leave happily, having been involved in a variety of fun activities. As

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well as an outside playground we have a wonderful school garden for the children to enjoy planting and learn about nature. Do come and see us.” Dolphin School (Incorporating Noah’s Ark Nursery Schools) 106 Northcote Road SW11 6QW 020 7924 3472 ext 2 admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk

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Celebrate Roald Dahl Story Day Every September, the life and works of one of the best children’s authors of all time is celebrated on his birthday, 13 September.

During his lifetime, Roald Dahl wrote 20 children’s books and published 48 books altogether. He created over 500 new words and character names and his books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide.

Join fans from all over the world to celebrate favourite Roald Dahl characters, stories and moments. Get dressed up as your favourite Roald Dahl character at a Dahlicious Dress Up Day event being held at school, community groups and libraries, or host your own by downloading the Roald Dahl Story Day Party.

Visit the Roald Dahl Story Day hub for resources to decorate your home or classroom. More info: www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl-story-day

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LITTLE ANGELS NURSERY SCHOOL A Traditional Teaching Nursery - Learning through Play Ofsted rated 'Good' nursery.

Established in 2000, very homely, friendly and staff are fully qualified in Early Years. Age 3 months to 5 years with three spacious rooms to explore, learn and grow in confidence and intellect. There are two large gardens. Open all year 8am to 6pm. 15/30 hours weekly free sessions available for 2-4yrs.

Please contact our office on 020 7274 8333. info@littleangelsbrixton.co.uk www.littleangelsbrixton.co.uk 50 Gresham Road, Brixton, SW9 7NL "Overall, staff provide a stimulating learning environment where children are motivated and eager to learn" OFSTED

St Mary Magdalen Montessori St Mary’s Summerstown Montessori

SW14 : 020 8878 0756 • SW17 : 020 8947 7359

For children aged 18months — 5years Monday — Friday Mornings Afternoon Sessions available Providing Education and Care in a Warm, Welcoming Environment including Cookery, Ballet, Dance, Football and Singing as part of our curriculum.

Private fees or Free Government Funding.

Good OFSTED with excellent love and care.

38 Families South West • September 2021

www.sparkiesnurseryschool.com Email: grace@sparkiesnurseryschool.com or call 07939~268~861 to arrange a visit 194 Ramsden Road | Balham | SW12 8RQ

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Is a vegan diet ‘safe’ for children?

By Louise Palmer-Masterton The journey to taking a child on a plant-based route should start with you.

Educate yourself, and if you don’t already love to cook, start taking an interest.

As with any healthy eating plan (vegan or not), you need to pay attention to balanced protein, healthy fats, vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, zinc and iron.

I

f that sounds a bit too boffin-like, don’t worry.

Just chunk it down. Let’s take a look at protein and B12—both often quoted as being difficult to source for plant-based diets.

There is a common idea that vegans lack protein, which has its roots in animal-based proteins containing all nine essential amino acids, making them complete protein. A lot of talk about getting the full spectrum of these amino acids is generally misunderstood, because it is not actually necessary to eat one food that contains everything. You can combine foods to provide a complete protein.

And the chances are that you have experienced one of these magical combinations already: beans on toast.

There are a few plant-based foods that contain the full spectrum of amino acids as well.

These ‘complete’ proteins include tofu, tempeh, edamame beans, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and chia seeds. Some of these can be an acquired taste for children, especially infants, but you can get around this with a little artfulness: hide the likes of quinoa in a tasty sauce, or create treats such as fresh fruit chia pudding.

B12 is very important, and you may already have a fantastic source on your shelf. Marmite (yeast extract is also good) contains plenty of B12. If your child takes to it on toast, brilliant, but if not, stealth it into them via savoury dishes such as soup, stew and the best vegan gravy ever. You can also use Engevita flakes (supercharged with B12) as a cheese substitute, sprinkled on pasta and in many sauces.

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You may have read about concerns of deficiency in a vegan diet, but there is no link between veganism and malnutrition amongst children of any age, as long as attention is paid to balanced nutrition. The world is full of healthy vegan children.

Complete protein combinations Sticking to plant-based complete protein sources can limit your kid-friendly repertoire.

Focus on combining the many foods that, alone, are not a complete protein but become just that when teamed up with an appropriate food friend.

Have your children fall in love with hummus, as young as possible. Hummus is a supernutritious super-available superfood, and when served with pitta and carrot and/or cucumber sticks it is a winner with most children.

If you need to provide a quick tummy filler, a peanut butter sandwich is OK for most people.

Easy to make and include in a picnic (but remember not to send your child to a nut-free zone with them), and a very high complete protein. By the way, 100g of wholemeal bread contains 13g of protein, which is more than in 100g of egg.

What about main meals? Both brown and white rice when combined with beans or lentils give a complete protein. And there are literally millions of recipes containing beans or lentils, rice (or other grains) and vegetables. Just about every continent on the planet has its own version.

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Louise Palmer-Masterton is founder of multiple award-winning restaurants Stem & Glory; trendy but accessible plant-based restaurants, serving delicious gourmet vegan food from locally sourced ingredients, 100% made on site. Further information at www.stemandglory.uk

September 2021 • Families South West 39

By Gabrielle Nash

An A-Z of Early Years Activities The minutes and hours can pass slowly when you are entertaining a child under 5. So here is a theme for every day of the alphabet to help you out when you need new activity ideas!

ANIMAL HUNT

DEN BUILDING

Go searching for the tiny creepy crawly kind, the chirpy in the tree tops kind and the more exciting kind found in zoos and farms!

Build one indoors with chairs and sheets or head to a local wood or park and gather large pieces of wood. It doesn’t have to be a work of art to spark the imagination. Is it just a den, or is it cave for monsters?

BAKING Save those overripe bananas and bake some muffins. Or let little hands enjoy rolling out some biscuit dough. Anything with different textures will entice help introduce your little one to unfamiliar foods.

CARDBOARD BOX CREATION Save the next one you get. What can it be? A pirate ship, a car, or a doll’s bed? Colour it in or cut it up – it doesn’t matter!

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ENVELOPE ENDEAVOURS Pop in photos, stickers, a letter or card and send to a friend or family member. Kids always love sticking the stamps and visiting the post box.

FILM FUN Enjoy a film at home and make a game of it!

Make popcorn, print off “cinema tickets” (maybe

even “charge” entrance!) and settle down with a family favourite. Perfect for a rainy day!

GARDEN GROWING It does not have to be big! You can create a garden suitable for kids very simply; a patch of soil for digging or planting some flowers or veg, a few old bowls and spoons for mud pies and access to a bucket of water!

HIKING Okay, maybe not up Ben Nevis, but get your kids excited about a little “hike.” Pack a small bag, grab a snack, fill a water bottle. Staying active with your kids is key to healthy living.

IMAGINARY PLAY It is so easy, with few props needed and little ones LOVE it when you make up a game. Get them to be a patient at the doctors, the receptionist at the dentist or taking their dog to the vet. familiesonline.co.uk

MUD MESS! And lots of it. Yes, it is messy, but it’s amazing fun for little ones. Get them making mud pies in the garden or doing some mud mark making on a wet walk.

NOISE Bang old pans with infants, pick out a tune or rhythm with bells or drums with older ones.

Sing songs loudly; clap hands softly.

OUTDOOR PAINTING Collect leaves or stones and paint them! Add some food colouring to bubbles and “paint” windows – it will wash off!

PUZZLES Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination, as well as a quiet way of sharing a special few minutes together.

QUIET It’s essential for everyone’s peace of mind! Try encouraging your little one to find fun in quieter things, whether it’s small world toys, looking at books, colouring, or painting.

READING When you settle down with a story at the end of the day, make it special. Try different voices to captivate your child’s imagination. Develop that love of books as early as possible.

SAFARI SPECIAL Place some toy animals (or pictures of animals) in unusual places around your home and/garden. Then take a piece of paper and pen and go on safari with your little ones, writing down the animals you see. Try out your best David Attenborough impersonation. They will not get it, but it will make you giggle.

TREASURE TIME JUMBLE SALE JOLLIES Get your little one involved with going though old things that need passing on to charity or selling at a jumble sale. Help them understand we need to pass things on to other people who need and want them to make way for new clothes and toys.

Make a map and hide some “treasure.” Throw together some pirate accessories or costumes (make a paper hat, or grab a toy sword) and navigate through your home/garden/park to

find the treasure. Don’t forget to battle those pirates along the way!

UNDER THE STARS As the nights evenings draw in, there’s a great opportunity to get a wow moment from a toddler by looking outside and showing them all the twinkling lights from galaxies far, far away.

VIRTUAL FUN There are going to be times when being at home is the only option. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Go online and try: a virtual roller coaster ride, a journey through the Amazon or even a rocket launch! (Visit our lockdown issues at https://bit.ly/FamiliesSWLondonCollection for some great virtual fun.)

WATER WISE Whether it is the warm bubbly kind in the evening bath or the cold splashy kind from a sprinkler, a wise person once said: when a child is grumpy “just add water.”

X-RAY Take a roll of paper and draw round your child.

Stick it on the floor and, as you draw in some bones, talk to them about bones in their body and what they help you do.

YOGA They are never too young to learn how to pause and breathe. There are some great options on Youtube with fun kid friendly themes.

ZZZZ….

For many children, it’s hard to unwind at bedtime. So why not try to make it into more of a game, albeit a relaxing one. “Where has the toothbrush gone? It’s tucked up in bed with your pyjamas, let us get them on now.” Or: “What are your toys doing? They’re all sitting down to listen to this bedtime story.”

For more from Gaby, follow her on Instagram @thelondonishmum

KICKABOUT Never underestimate the benefits of getting out to your local park for a kickabout with a ball – plus some running, jumping, sliding and shouting!

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY … is the best way! Playing i-spy on a country walk helps to identify letters and sounds.

Spotting different coloured cars, teaches younger ones their colours!

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September 2021 • Families South West 41

NETSTARS NETBALL = outstanding netball training with big smiles and heaps of fun!

We have action-packed classes and holiday camps for kids aged 5-15 and exciting sessions for the grown-ups too.

“FAMILIES” 15% DISCOUNT (CODE PHM841)

FREE TRIAL!

www.netstarsnetball.com

Join our story and become the best you can be!

07967 169498

Venues in Battersea, Barnes, Esher, Fulham, Richmond, Putney and Twickenham.

info@netstarsnetball.com

Helping children believe they can do anything Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds

BATTERSEA 07956 288928 battersea@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/battersea

NEW MALDEN 0208 540 7791 newmalden@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/newmalden

FULHAM 07498 213142 fulham@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/fulham

PUTNEY 020 8099 9861 putney@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/putney WIMBLEDON 020 8946 3400 wimbledon@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/wimbledon

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.

42 Families South West • September 2021

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44 Families South West • September 2021

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News and information from your local Clubs & Classes

CLUBS AND CLASSES

Flip Out Wandsworth

Just book to save your space. 10-11am (4-7yrs) Parsons Green. It’s time to ROCK! www.upbeatmusiccourses.co.uk

Flip Out includes an epic ball pit slide, an inflatable air-bag drop, a dedicated under 5s area, a Flip & kart for 7-14yrs, an inflatable assault course, trampolines, a large foam pit and a cafe. The 45,000 sq ft has plenty of room to park up your buggy, ready for your morning Toddler sessions and early years afternoons during the week—it is a great place to meet other carers and parents.

Promotions and courses to look out for: • Morning weekdays: Toddler Time (term time £15 for a adult + child) • Flip Fit Tuesdays (term time) £7pp for 45mins – perfect for parents looking jump back into fitness.

• Green Wednesday (term time) 50% off all standard tickets!

• Thursday: 3hr Super Session pass great to do as an afterschool activity – includes Crazy karting and a Slice of Pizza.

GetSetGo!

West Wimbledon School of Dance

GetSetGo! Putney are-launching their clubs and classes after an incredibly busy summer.

Their ballet academy is run by teachers professionally trained by the Royal Academy of Dance, while their new martial arts academy is ready to kick into action. They also have a wide variety of baby and toddler classes, as well as a full programme of fitness classes for adults including postnatal classes – and that's not to mention their amazing pool for swimming lessons and fitness classes!

Find out more at get-set-go.com/club-putney

The children have loved returning to live lessons in the studios where they have been undertaking a full range of dance activities.

Safety will continue to be their priority.

Upbeat Music

FREE musical date for your diaries!

Saturday 18th September don’t miss POPKIDS FUN AND FREE MORNING with UPBEAT music classes: Sing and dance, Drum sessions, Electric guitar demos and LOADS of games!

• Flip n Twist: free running sessions: Junior and adult sessions (term time and holiday programs) • Party Packages • Early Bird mornings: Saturdays + Sundays Standard ticket prices term time: £12.50 pp + £2.50 Flip Out Socks www.flipout.co.uk/wandsworth Follow them on Instagram or Facebook to find all the latest promotions.

Come along and enjoy the fun!

Contact Caroline@wwdance.co.uk www.wwdance.co.uk

Is your child feeling unfit or anxious?

Has your child missed out on activities and making new friends during lockdowns?

Acacia School of Dance has additional Ballet, Tap and Modern classes on Saturdays for older beginners.

They won't need to catch up by dancing with little ones, while still preparing for the ISTD exam classes and other activities and performances. “We'd love to improve your wellbeing by teaching you the expressive language of dance.“ Book your free trial 07900 153731 www.danceacacia.com

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September 2021 • Families South West 45

Would you like to earn extra money?

Capital Focus Groups are looking for people who enjoy giving their opinions and are willing to share their views on the products and services they use for many of the country’s largest companies and well-known products.

It’s free, it’s fun and you will be financially rewarded as a thank you for taking part!

Register now to earn extra money, by calling Liz on 07761 128059 or e.dahlgren@btinternet.com

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CLUBS AND CLASSES

Computer coding courses for children Today, computational thinking and coding—breaking down a complex problem, understanding it and coming up with possible solutions using computers—is as important as numeracy and literacy.

Spark4Kids introduces computer coding to children using games design in a fun, supportive environment. Could learning to code with Spark4Kids be the ultimate out-of-school activity for your child?

Join Perform for confidence building fun Perform weekly classes are packed with drama, dance and singing but have a special focus on developing confidence, communication, coordination and concentration.

“We don’t worry about whether children get their lines or moves right, instead, we use a mix of drama games and fun activities which boost self-esteem and allow every child to shine. Our magical end of term shows for friends and family are a wonderful celebration of everything the children have achieved.”

Class material is specially designed

by Perform, with apps, downloads and videos for the children to enjoy at home. For ages 4-7 and 7-12 with a new creative theme each.

No obligation FREE trial class Battersea, Balham, Barnes, Chelsea, Clapham, Earlsfield, Fulham NEW !!, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Putney, Southfields, Streatham NEW !!, Tooting, Wimbledon.

Tutor-led online and in-person sessions for absolute beginners and experienced coders.

Contact Spark4Kids for more information. www.spark4kids.com

Active Classes at Gymfinity Kids Leap into the new school year with Gymfinity Kids. An activity-based club for children from pre-school age to 16years. We know how important movement is, at Gymfinity Kids they encourage children to be physically active, as well as having a focus on personal development to encourage confidence and resilience and nourishment to inspire healthy habits.

New programme to help choose an instrument Prelude is an exciting programme designed for students aged 5+ who have not yet chosen an instrument. Over the course of one year, students will discover the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, drums, piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello and double bass. They will have the opportunity to play all these

instruments in group lessons, and explore basic technique while learning about their history and use in different types of music.

Weekly movement classes include gymnastics, ninja and preschool, in a state-of-the-art 11,000 sq. ft facility with traditional equipment such as beams, bars and vault as well as air track, sprung floor and obstacle course.

movement programs follow a unique awards scheme. Parents are updated on their child’s development every quarter during club week, as children progress through the levels earning certificates and medals.

Led by expert coaches who deliver active classes every day, all

info@gymfinitykids.com 01908 015370 www.gymfinitykids.com

Students will gain a head-start on their instruments which they will choose at the end of the year, ready to start in one-to-one lessons the following year. londonyouthconservatoire.org.uk

020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk/try

Grab your special £40 introductory discount on bookings made by 15th October.

Just quote LSW151021

BOOK NOW for October half-term.

Perform are off to Superhero School for an action-packed Top Secret Missionto save the world! :4-10 yrs. 25-27 October, 10am to 3pm. 020 7255 9120 www.perform.org.uk/superheroes familiesonline.co.uk

Kids En Cuisine Cooking classes focused on healthy food with fresh vegetables, fruits, aromatic herbs and spices.

They provide aprons, chef hats, ingredients, kitchen utensils, containers, take-home bags and leave your kitchen spotless.

You can also join during the weekend at selected Planet Organic or Whole Food Market.

Also a cooking academy, birthday parties and holiday workshops. info@kidsencuisine.com www.kidsencuisine.com

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September 2021 • Families South West 47

Now booking ahead

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September 2021 • Families South West 49

0208 088 0117

Little Voices Putney: St Mary’s Church, Putney High Street, SW15 1SA Little Voices Fulham: St Etheldreda Church, Fulham Palace Road, SW6 6JF

50 Families South West • September 2021

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By Andrew Campbell Yes, we know it’s messy, involves having the right equipment to hand and requires a lot of supervision.

BUT, there’s no getting away from the fact that undertaking art and craft projects is great for children’s development.

Of course children get the chance to experience art and craft at nursery and at school where it forms part of the curriculum, but sometimes they want to work outside of the prescribed framework offered by an educational setting—this is where their creativity can truly flourish.

Art and craft activities foster a range of developmental benefits including: Creativity Creativity allows children to express their feelings and find ways of coping with them.

Author Mary Ann Kohl says: ‘In children, creativity develops from their experiences with the process, rather than concern for the finished product. Creativity is not to be confused with talent, skill, or intelligence.

Creativity is not about doing something better than others, it is about thinking, exploring, discovering and imagining.’

Fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination Art and craft projects naturally involve using the fingers and sometimes involve quite precise actions. These are fabulous for developing children’s control over these fine movements of hands and fingers, their

dexterity and their overall muscle strength.

Good hand-eye co-ordination comes with practice and helps children with many other activities, including sport.

Self-esteem Art and craft activities give kids a sense of achievement and allow them to take pride in their work. It’s also a safe way in which to learn that mistakes are okay. After all, mistakes can lead to a whole new idea or way of thinking about the project.

Talking, explaining and general literacy When kids explore art and craft, they get to talk about their work, which develops their communication skills. As a parent, remember to ask questions like: ‘Why did you choose that colour?’ or ‘Tell me about what you made.’

You are likely to get an enthusiastic response!

Ways to encourage creativity Prepare for a mess. Set up a space where your child can be free to experiment.

Throw a drop cloth or newspaper across a surface. If possible, let kids paint outside.

Avoid giving direction. Don't tell your child what to make or how. Instead of saying: ‘Paint a rainbow,’ encourage them to experiment with mixing colours and using different types of brushes and paper.

Speak specifically about their art. Instead of giving a generic compliment, try saying something specific like: ‘I like how squiggly you’ve made the person’s hair.’ Try not to speak negatively.

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Don't draw with your child. When parents draw something representational while a child is experimenting, it can frustrate them. Just be nearby, interested and supportive.

Give your little ones a cardboard box and some art supplies. Let their imaginations run wild!

Let it be. When a child finishes a piece, don’t suggest additions or changes. It's important for a child to feel that what they have created is enough - even if it's just a dot on the page.

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Try to feedback what they’ve told you and introduce some new vocabulary, like descriptive words, and encourage them to tell you about the materials, shapes and designs they have come up with.

Quality time with YOU Time spent with your child doing something arty is quiet, reflective time during which you can both really bond. You can discuss what you are making together and explore new ideas but it’s also an ideal time to chat about other thoughts and feelings too.

Essential home art supplies Poster paint. Available in bottles and is versatile, fast drying, long lasting and easy to clean; Easel. Allows a full range of movement and great for large sheets of paper; Brushes and sponges. Short, stubby brushes are easy for young children to grasp. Sponges, rollers and fancy brushes are also fun; Decorative punches and safe scissors. For when they want to make ‘something,’ rather than simply paint or draw; Coloured pencils, felt pens and Crayons.

Play Dough. Another staple and easy to make at home; Craft materials. White construction paper, tissue paper, lolly sticks, pom-poms, feathers, buttons, cotton balls, ribbons, drinking straws, paper plates.

Recyclables. Cardboard boxes, paper tubes, yoghurt containers, egg cartons.

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CLUBS AND CLASSES Little Giants Volleyball Club One of the biggest London based volleyball clubs with well-established seven-day-a-week volleyball training for kids and adults, friendly tournaments and camps for adults and juniors aged 7 to 18 yrs.

The club has juniors teams in U12, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18 categories and in the National League women’s and men’s senior teams. School Volleyball Programme provision.

Battersea, Clapham, Crystal Palace, Brixton and Hackney.

Tin Pan Annie Music Classes Award winning educational music classes for 6mths-5 year olds.

Classes are packed with songs, rhythm rhymes, percussion, dancing scarves, puppets, stories, bubbles, all accompanied by a guitar.

Designed to supercharge developmental and social skills, build confidence and inspire the musicians of the future.

Half price trial class (new customers) and flexible booking. Birthday parties and guitar lessons also available.

St Barnabas, Clapham Common SW4 9SW and St Thomas, Telford Ave, SW2 4XW. www.tinpanannie.co.uk

littlegiantsvolleyballclub@gmail.com www.volleyballevents.org

A reading club for children!

Discover Bookheroes, a reading club for 4-6 year olds with engaging stories read by other young readers. Their objective is to help young children to engage more and develop a lifelong love for reading. What can be better than a young storyteller connecting with and sparking young imaginations beyond limits?

Guaranteed engagement on fun-filled topics at no cost. Register your interest at bookheroes2021@gmail.com."

Reviewed by Noemi Garcia, one of our Roving Mums

What is Kidslingo?

A leading, multi award-winning language franchise that teaches French & Spanish, their aim is simple: to inspire young children from birth to age 11 years to love languages.

Sixes Cricket After a very difficult time under the lockdown, we needed to have a family fun day out and we couldn’t find a better place than the Sixes Cricket Club in Fulham. We played indoors Cricket using a cricket simulator for an hour and after the match and the laughing, we enjoyed the fantastic gastropub inspired classics food with some cocktails and ice creams at the familiesonline.co.uk

terrace under the bright spring sun.

As my older daughter said: The best day ever!

It is a place for everyone: Adults can drink, eat and play, watch TV matches while kids play and have fun.

18 Farm Lane, Fulham SW6 1PP and 170 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 5QB. Book via the website www.sixescricket.com

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“Our unique teaching methodology is focused on fun, play and interactivity via songs, games, actions, story-telling and let’s pretend.

During these unprecedented times, we are dedicated to continuing to offer our fun, engaging and interactive classes online via both live video and pre-recorded videos.”

IDEAL FOR: parents looking for private or group tuition, for nurseries looking for engaging language lessons and for schools looking for high quality, engaging MFL curriculum classes.

Get in touch to discuss your requirements zoeolivier@kidslingo.co.uk or 07961 107707.

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WORK

Starting a business – the practicalities made easy

By Riina Trkulja Starting your own business is incredibly exciting.

Nevertheless, many people are unclear about the legalities and structures they require. Here are the considerations.

Company structure The most common legal forms your business can take are sole trader or limited company. A company is a separate legal entity from you and liability will be limited by shares, so if someone sues you, the company will be liable and your personal assets are protected. Whereas, as a sole trader or partnership, you are personally liable, meaning if someone successfully sues you, any personal assets you own, including your house, could be used to repay business debt.

Because limited companies o er the above personal protection, they must disclose accounts and a confirmation statement annually to Companies House, where they can be accessed by anyone for free. They must also submit a corporation tax return to HMRC annually. This is not made public. Bear in mind that the deadline to file a return is 12 months after the year end but the deadline to pay is only 9 months and 1 day after the year end.

A sole trader is required only to disclose its income and profits on a Self-Assessment tax return due by 31 January annually. This information isn’t public.

In terms of tax payable, there’s little di erence between sole trader and limited company on income levels up to £50,000.

Other considerations VAT. You must register when your VAT-able turnover exceeded £85,000 over the last 12 months or if you expect your income to exceed £85,000 in the next 30 day period. Sometimes it might be useful to register earlier or speak to a specialist about one of the many VAT schemes.

Insurance. Service providers usually have Professional Indemnity insurance and Public Liability insurance is necessary if you are servicing the public in your building. Speak to an insurance broker to get specific advice for your business.

Data protection. If you collect and process people’s personal data, you will need to register with the ICO. To find out more, visit www.ico.org.uk or get specialist advice.

Becoming an employer. Even if you are a sole director of your limited company, you will have to register as an employer if you decide to pay yourself a salary. Find out more at www.gov.uk/ register-employer Riina Trkulja is founder of Accounts Assistants (www. accountsassistants.co.uk) which o ers quality book keeping, accounting and financial advice for small businesses.

How to set up a limited company

Bookkeeping – do I need an accountant?

There are tonnes of companies out there that provide the service of setting up your limited company but it is easy to do it yourself and only costs £12 if you follow the steps at www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation

Bookkeeping is simply tracking all your incoming revenue and outgoing expenditure regularly and matching them to the bank statement. You can do it using Excel (or similar) first, depending on the amount and type of transactions. Or you can select an accounting programme like Xero or cheaper alternatives. If you have a limited company, it’s best to speak to an accountant before you choose.

When you register a limited company with Companies House, you will be asked to provide an address which will be publicly available alongside your full name and month and year of birth. If you do not want your address with Companies House and you are not yet renting o ice space, you could get a virtual address for £70 upwards a year. Some virtual address companies even o er meeting rooms that can be rented which is helpful if you need to meet clients.

If you are not planning to trade straight away and may keep your company dormant for a while, you can set it up as such, as you do not have to file Corporation Tax return for a dormant company. When you do start trading, you must inform HMRC.

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Retain your receipts and invoices from suppliers and the invoices you issue to clients. It is a legal requirement to keep track of your records if you are operating a business but if you have a cloud-based drive and keep all your records digitally, then there is no requirement to keep paper records.

If you are concerned about spending valuable start-up capital on an accountant, bear in mind that having one doesn’t mean spending lots of money immediately. You can do your bookkeeping and basic admin yourself and get your accountant to manage the annual accounts and tax return, which are due nine to twelve months after the year end.

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By Clare Francis

Saving tips for families When you consider how tumultuous the past year has been, it’s no surprise many of us have come to realise the importance of having a financial safety net for our family.

What’s your goal?

If you’re wondering how you can set up your finances to support your family going forward, start by mapping out the stepping stones of your child’s life and highlighting the areas that will require the most financial investment. This could be saving up for a future hobby such as piano or gymnastics, having money set aside for private schooling or thinking several years ahead to further education costs or their first home. The earlier you start saving, the less you will feel the impact on your day-to-day budget and the more prepared you’ll feel down the line.

Opening a savings account If your goals are less than five years away, a cash savings account is probably the most appropriate home for your money. But if you are wanting to start planning for something further in the future, such as education or helping your child onto the property ladder, consider investing; stock markets tend to perform better than cash over the longer-term.

This can’t be guaranteed, of course, as stock markets fall as well as rise, so it’s worth aiming for a combination of both savings and investments.

To make the process of as easy as possible, it pays to set up a standing order with your bank so that a fixed amount is transferred straight into a savings or investment account after pay day. If you want to be extra organised, you can set up separate savings accounts for the different things you are saving for. For example, you could create one pot for your child’s extra-curricular activities and a separate one for university fees.

It can feel overwhelming at times thinking about your own future, let alone someone else’s and talking about your current financial situation with someone you trust can take a weight off your shoulders. Whether it’s with your partner, family, friends, or speaking to an impartial expert, having open conversations is the first step to gaining more control and feeling more positive about your plans.

Top tips Pass it on. Rather than buying new, is there anything of yours that you’d like to pass down to your child? As younger generations become more conscious about their carbon footprint, mindful gifts such as a hand-me-down piece of jewellery or an item from your own wardrobe may be something they really cherish. The money you’d have spent on a present can then be saved or invested for their future.

Try the £5 challenge. Set aside £5 for your savings every time you buy something that costs more than £20. It’s a great way of getting into the habit of putting a small amount away regularly.

Shop around. It’s always good to research your current utility suppliers to see if you can save £100s. There are deals galore on everything from electricity to home broadband and mobiles. Call your provider with details of an offer you like and ask them to match it – if they can’t, say you’ll leave. In many cases, the company won’t want to lose your business, and will switch you to a cheaper tariff offering better value.

Sell items you don’t need. There’s money to be made from second-hand goods, so don’t hang on to clothes, books, DVDs, and games you don’t need. Selling items to buyers directly through auction and marketplace websites and apps offers an easy way to find that extra cash to stash away into your children’s savings account.

Another great route to explore is setting up a savings account for your child and this can be done right from birth. Then, if they receive money from family or friends for Christmas or birthdays, a proportion can be transferred directly into the account. Over the years, this will become a savings pot for bigger money goals. It’s useful to also look into a Junior ISA, which can be opened with as little as £1. The returns are tax-free.

Clare Francis is Director of Savings & Investments at Barclays. For more information on Barclays Savings Goals or to talk to an expert about your financial plans, visit www.barclays.co.uk

A Junior ISA can be opened with as little as £1 and the returns are tax-free!

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September 2021 • Families South West 55

Calling all young Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s Babylab & ToddlerLab in central London.

Our prime locations are easy to reach and we refund travel expenses.

We also have online studies you can do from the comfort of home www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/online-studies

020 7631 6258 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk

To advertise Call:

0208 696 9680

A cosy space for a children’s class, a therapy room or hosting an event

This venue is absolutely superb!!! Will absolutely be returning for future parties. Top notch! Georgia N The venue was perfect for my baby shower. It’s lovely for an intimate event, good location, free parking. Suzie Smith

Perfect for baby and bridal showers and little people’s birthdays.

Intimate, secure, two levels, fully working kitchen.

www.thelivingroom.place | info@thelivingroom.place | 19 Thrale Road SW16 1NS | 020 3889 9814 56 Families South West • September 2021

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Books we love...

The Tell-Me Tree A picture and activity book for ages 4-8 by bestselling Barnes children’s author Karen Inglis. It gently invites children to share with friends, family or trusted grown-ups how they are feeling through talking, writing or drawing. Karen says: “I have been bowled over by early feedback from parents with children who struggle with their emotions—and from teachers planning who are including it in school activities. The book’s overall theme is positive as it encourages children to talk about a range of feelings in a natural.” £7.99 You can buy signed copies from The Barnes Bookshop or order from Amazon or Waterstones.

I Am Whole A delightful picture book celebrating children of mixed backgrounds and cultures. Written with love to embrace the differences that come with being multi-racial, it includes language, family and cultural traditions. This book encourages children to embrace their diversity and recognise that such differences make us whole. Suitable for ages 0 to 7. £9.99 Available on Amazon.

The basic basics kitchen hacks and hints 350+ amazing tips and techniques for seasoned chefs and aspirational homecooks. I have learnt so many little things that make such a difference, like grinding black pepper on strawberries! This is like a handbook of solutions to culinary queries.

TV-chef and food journalist Glynn Christian has been making cooks and chefs say Gosh! for over 40 years as he shared how ingredients work, demonstrated better techniques and revealed culinary secrets.

He lives in Battersea, London. £8.99 www.grubstreet.co.uk

Mirror Maze Land Jaidz Majasi is a Merton resident, mother of two and a primary school SENDCO. Her book is about a young boy, who joins a new school and has great difficulty fitting in. His parents are preoccupied with their own lives and Zed feels socially isolated from the world. She says: “When children display social communication difficulties they can often be dismissed as having poor behaviour when in fact their emotional volatility is a way of communicating that they need support. I wrote this book to speak directly to those children who feel socially isolated from their peers to provide them with hope and understanding that they are not alone and things can get better.” £6.99 https://olympiapublishers.com

Name the rabbit! ...

... and win a magic show for your school! (worth £445 +VAT) Duncan the Dragon has been Richard Pinner’s co-star in his ‘Magic & Laughter Show’ for 20 years. Together they have performed at hundreds of school shows, but now it is time for him to take things easy and retire to his cave by the sea (Duncan not Richard!). Richard has a new special guest for the show but they don’t have a name yet.

Can you help name Richard Pinner’s new co-star?

Send your name suggestion with your school name to: editor@familiessw.co.uk We will send them all to Richard to pick the best one.

A (very) young Richard Pinner and Duncan the Dragon

To say thank you for your help in naming the rabbit, Richard will come and perform at the school of one lucky winner, FOR FREE.

Closing date for entries: 30th September More on Richard Pinner’s Magic and Laughter show on MagicAndLaughter.co.uk

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FamiliesSWLon

September 2021 • Families South West 57

What’s On September 2021

Compiled by Robina Cowan

All details are as provided when going to press, however if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that plans change; and currently pre-booking is usually required. Spare yourselves tears before bedtime (or lunchtime) by double-checking before setting out.

DIARY DATES Totally Thames 2021 Various venues www.thamesfestivaltrust.org

1-30 September Celebrating the River Thames with arts events, active adventures, environmental initiatives, heritage and education programmes.

Highlights include: 11+19 September Chelsea Kayak Club: Thames Taster Sessions Have a go at exploring the Thames in a uniquely different way! Chelsea Kayak Club (CKC) is providing the opportunity to paddle in sea kayaks before joining a club.

25-26 September Hands on History: Mudlarking Exhibition A highly interactive mudlarking exhibition at the Chiswick Pier Trust in West London.

10am-5pm, tickets free.

26 September The Golden Hinde Shipyard Tour A walking tour like no other! An opportunity to explore a genuine working shipyard - for the reconstruction of Francis Drake's ship, The Golden Hinde. 2-3.30pm.

The Modern Family Show 8 Northumberland Avenue WC2N 5BY www.themodernfamilyshow.co.uk

18 September Find out about UK and international family-building options, including surrogacy and IVF/ IUI, adoption, fostering, co-parenting, fertility preservation, solo parenting and egg/ sperm donation. This boutique, one-day event is exclusively designed by and for the LGBT+ community.

London Wonderground Earls Court, Empress Place SW6 1TT www.underbelly.co.uk/festival/londonwonderground-at-earls-court Until 26 September Underbelly’s famous upside down purple cow ‘mooed’ to a new home this year, joined by a magnificent circus big top – on the former Earls Court 2 Exhibition Centre site. Shows for all the family, late night comedy, circus, a city beach and vintage rides plus live acoustic music and some of London’s finest street food and outdoor bars.

Shlomo’s beatbox adventures www.beatboxadventures.com Record-breaking beatboxer SK Shlomo is on a tour of the UK to create the next generation of superstar beatboxers. Anyone can be one of this sonic superhero’s sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises, and cool music, whether they’re aged 1 or 101!

19 September Underbelly Festival Cavendish Square W1G 0PU 26 October Royal Albert Hall SW7 2AP

Mum2mum Market Various venues across SW London www.mum2mummarket.co.uk Nearly new baby and children’s clothes, toys, books and baby

equipment. Book a stall to make space in your house – or bag a bargain.

Check the website calendar for your next local sale.

Southfields Harvest London Literature Festival Southbank SE1 www.southbankcentre.co.uk 2 September - 31 October A stunning line-up of authors, activists, poets and performers will lead conversations and readings, including a free family programme headlined by Oliver Jeffers:

Oh No! ...

You can win one of two family tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong–sorry about that!

You all know the classic whodunnit story: there has been a murder at a country manor and an inspector is set on the case to find who the culprit is.

However, when this plot is given to the accident-prone thespians The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, everything that can go wrong… does!

Now blundering through its seventh catastrophic year at London’s Duchess Theatre, near Covent Garden THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!

To win one of two family tickets email ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ to editor@familiessw.co.uk before the 30th September.

The two winners will be picked at random.

Prize is valid for four people (X2 prizes available). No cash alternative will be offered, prize valid for Tuesday to Thursday performances or Sunday matinee performances until end of November 2021.

58 Families South West • September 2021

St Barnabas Church and Halls SW18 5EP www.southfieldsharvest.org.uk 25 September A lively neighbourhood festival celebrating all things local, with something for all ages.

Enter the Southfields Bake-off, enjoy craft beer and cider, home-made honey and jam, allotment veg and Southfields sausages, hot off the BBQ. Live music, tea, cake and good

company, all in support of local charities. 12noon–3pm, admission free.

Waggy Walk Wimbledon Common SW19 www.wimbledonguild.co.uk/ waggywalk 2 October A dog walk with a difference, Waggy Walk is a fundraising event on beautiful Wimbledon Common. Choose the 4km or 7km route, both of which start and finish at the award winning, dog-friendly Hand in Hand pub on Wimbledon Common which will be supplying pre walk drinks and snacks.

Open to people with and without

dogs, all money raised from the event will help fund Wimbledon Guild’s vital work providing financial, emotional and practical support to people in Merton.

Warm & Well in Merton Information Fair Wimbledon Library, Wimbledon Hill Road SW19 7NB www.warmandwellinmerton.co.uk 13 October Pop in to find out how to stay well this winter. Pick up your free information pack and free thermometer, enjoy free refreshments and brownies, whilst hearing how local organisations can help with energy-saving advice and

tips on staying well in colder weather.

2.30-4.30pm.

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What’s On September 2021 BABY & TODDLER ACTIVITIES Baby Bear New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway SW19 1QG www.atgtickets.com/venues/newwimbledon-theatre 29 September – 2 October Baby Bear is happy in her cosy cave and doesn’t want to venture into the

SEN DAYS OUT

scary world outside. But she is too curious about the sights, sounds and smells outside to stay indoors.

Combining stunning visuals, an exploration of the senses and a mesmerising soundtrack, this is a playful, interactive puppetry adventure for babies, toddlers and their families. Ages 0-18 months.

A number of major London venues offer quieter sessions for visitors with SEN including those with an Autism Spectrum Condition, where they can enjoy everything on offer, free from the hustle and bustle of the general public.

Venues include the Natural History Museum, The Science Museum and the London Transport Museum - check our main listings for details.

MUSEUMS Fulham Palace Bishop's Avenue SW6 6EA www.fulhampalace.org Every Saturday Little Green Fingers Let the kids get down-toearth with a gardening workshop devoted to how fruit, veg and flowers grow. They’ll get a chance to sow, plant, care for and harvest in

Bring Your Own Baby Comedy Various venues including Clapham Picturehouse and New Wimbledon Theatre www.byobcomedy.com A funny, friendly afternoon of top comedy, where baby can come too and join in with the rumpus. Shows

a beautiful walled garden. 10.30am12noon and 1.30-3pm, ages 3+.

Book early, it’s popular.

Mondays and Tuesdays Palace Explorers: Mouse in the Museum Creative, hands-on sessions for 2 to 4 year-olds and their adults. Each week introduces an exciting new theme to explore.

feature a new line up of comedians each month with two acts plus a compere, lasting around 75 minutes. Buggy parking, bottle warming and baby changing available. Check the BYOB website for dates and details.

Natural History Museum

Baby and me coffee mornings The Abbey Centre, Great Smith Street SW1P 3BU www.theabbeycentre.org.uk Tuesdays Free weekly coffee mornings for parents and babies, with a different speaker each week. Speak to Maternity Champions for support and signposting, and meet other new parents in the area over free tea, coffee and healthy snacks. 10am-12noon Tuesdays, booking required; email Sharon.macdonald@theabbeycentre.or g.uk or call 07803 779 453.

Baby Loves Disco Cavendish Square W1G 0PN www.underbellyfestival.com/whatson/baby-loves-disco Until 25 September The perfect party for parents and babies, toddlers and young children to dance together. Hold tight for all manner of dance floor shenanigans, mummy and daddy

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dance-offs and a whole host of dancefloor fun and games! Ages 0-7.

Bach to Baby Various venues www.bachtobaby.com Critically-acclaimed classical concerts for baby and you. Outstanding musicians and exhilarating performances where babies can ‘join in’ with as much noise as they like!

Concerts across London; check the website calendar.

Bub Quiz Morden Baptist Church, Morden SM4 5BL bubquiz@gmail.com 28th Sept, 26th Oct.The original baby and toddler friendly pub style quiz! Test your brain and win fantastic prizes whilst meeting other local parents.

Teams or individuals welcome with children aged 0–5 yrs. 11am. Free for children, £10 per adult. Booking essential!

FamiliesSWLondon

Cromwell Road SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk Until 3 Jan 2022 Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature Discover where the real world and the Wizarding World intertwine, and how the wonders of the natural world have inspired myths, legends and magical creatures for generations.

Until April 2022 Our Broken Planet: How we got here and ways to fix it Explore the extraordinary impact humans have had on the planet through what we grow and eat, from bees threatened by the loss of wildflower meadows to birds of prey poisoned by pesticides.

NHM’s free display highlights some fantastic species and how our actions are affecting them. From a humongous 3m long black marlin skeleton to the wild and nowextinct ancestor of cows; visitors can get up close and personal to a variety of creatures from the museum’s world-leading collection.

An exploration of the power of humans and the resilience of nature, Our Broken Planet asks visitors to reflect on their personal consumption, question how our actions have led to these drastic examples – and learn what we can do to protect the natural world.

24 September Dino Snores for Kids Spend a night amongst the museum’s incredible collections, exploring its world class galleries after hours and sleeping beneath Hope, the breath-taking blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall. After setting up camp in one of the amazing galleries, there’s an evening of awesome learning activities before bedtime, and breakfast in the morning. £65, ages 7-11.

September 2021 • Families South West 59

What’s On September 2021 MUSEUMS continued

Horniman Museum London Road SE23 3PQ www.horniman.ac.uk Until 3 January 2022 Monkey Business From the tiny mouse lemur to the mighty gorilla, primates have evolved and adapted over time.

Immerse yourself in the heart of the forest to discover how primates live, move, eat, play and interact. With models, photography, film and over 60 spectacular taxidermy specimens, discover what we can do to help protect them in this captivating, family-friendly exhibition.

Exhibition Road SW7 2DD www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Wednesdays to Sundays Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery This unmissable, family-friendly interactive experience ignites curiosity, fuels imagination, and inspires visitors to see the world in new and exciting ways. Enjoy live science shows and demonstrations, meet skilled science Explainers, and discover the beauty of the science and maths that shape our everyday lives.

Wednesdays to Fridays, weekends and holidays Pattern Pod An amazing multi-sensory space where children can explore water ripples without getting their feet wet, create symmetrical images on touch screens, follow robot trails and much more. Fun, interactive exhibits encourage them to recognise and copy patterns - or create entirely new ones of their own. It’s a fun and stimulating place where children learn through play to develop their science skills. Ages under 8, book a free time slot first.

Until 2022 Our Future Planet Alongside global efforts to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are racing to develop different technologies to remove and store excess carbon dioxide - the most significant cause of climate change.

Discover the cutting-edge technology and nature-based solutions under development. These include preserving ancient woodlands, adding dust to agricultural fields, capturing carbon dioxide from the air or installing systems that prevent it leaving power stations and factories.

Selected weekend dates Early Birds Early Birds are sensory friendly events for families with children who need a quieter environment to enjoy the museum (for example, children with autism spectrum conditions or sensory processing differences). As well as exploring the galleries, you can enjoy a selection of fun workshops in a gallery space. Ages 4-15, free but book first.

V&A Museum Cromwell Road SW7 2RL www.vam.ac.uk/families Families can enjoy free activities and events at the museum every day. The ever-changing programme is designed for all ages and encourages play and

Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk Until 31 October The Secret Life of the Conservatory Enter the magical world of creatures, flora and fauna by embarking on a free family audio trail inside the Barbican Conservatory. Explore the koi carp in the fish pond, see new plants and learn about the secret creatures that hide amongst the leaves. As you walk around the space discover the stories through headphones and be transported as the plants are

60 Families South West • September 2021

learning through the diverse V&A collection and temporary exhibitions.

Until 31 December Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser Take a mind-bending journey into Wonderland, exploring its origins, adaptations and reinventions over 157 years. This immersive and theatrical show charts the evolution of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from manuscript to a global phenomenon beloved by all ages.

London Transport Museum Covent Garden Piazza WC2E 7BB www.ltmuseum.co.uk Explore the heritage of London and its transport system, and the stories of the people who have travelled and worked in the city over the last 200 years, before taking a peek into how future technologies might impact London as we know it. Family events include singing, storytelling and craft activities linked to exhibitions and collections.

Admission tickets are valid for unlimited entries all year, and accompanied children go free.

Selected dates Family SEND Explorer Event Explore the museum at a quieter time, free from the general public, and with many of the gallery sounds turned off. For families with Special Educational Needs (SEND), including Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

8.30-10am.

Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk Discover the greatest stories from the greatest city, from prehistoric to modern times. Explore Roman London, Medieval life, the Great Fire of London, the plague, Victorian life and more. There are word games to play during your visit, and free activity sheets to print off before your visit. Admission free.

Museum of London Docklands West India Quay E14 4AL www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands Once upon a time, London was the hub of the world’s largest empire, and this museum tells its tales of trade, slavery, life in Victorian times and through the wars. Mudlarks is a free interactive space where under 8s can discover, explore and play. Charge your phone before you go to make the most of the QR codes to access additional online content. Admission free. brought to life in a new way. An illustrated activity sheet provides space to draw and collect your thoughts throughout your adventure. Ages 7+.

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Photo: Max Colson

Science Museum

What’s On September 2021 MUSEUMS continued Museum of the Home Kingsland Road E2 8EA www.museumofthehome.org.uk Travel through the centuries to see how people lived from 1600 to the present day, through room displays packed with historical furnishings and fascinating stories.

Daily Rhymes Through Time A multiartwork installation for younger visitors.

Created by children’s poet Valerie Bloom MBE and illustrator-as-historian Kremena Dimigtrov, the installation combines poetry and interactive design, exploring the role of children in the home throughout history.

Royal Observatory Greenwich Blackheath Avenue SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory Selected dates The Sky Tonight Presented by a Royal Observatory Astronomer, the live show takes visitors on a tour of what can be seen in the night sky. See the stars, constellations, planets and moons, including a fly-out

ART

to the edge of the visible universe.

Ages 7+.

Selected dates Ted’s Space Adventure Explore the solar system with a bear named Ted, learning about the things we find there and how they affect us.

Ages 3-7.

Cutty Sark King William Walk SE10 9HT www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark Daily Family Trails Pick up a family trail from the front desk at Cutty Sark to discover exciting themes throughout the ship. Choose from two different trails with activities suited to any age.

Weekends and school holidays Cutty Sark Characters Cutty Sark’s incredible stories are brought to life by characters from the ship’s past. Meet Captain Woodget, the ship’s most daring master, Nannie the ship’s figurehead, James Robson, the ship’s cook, or a new dockworker character, who all have special stories to tell. Ages 3+.

Tate Modern Bankside SE1 9TG www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern Until 17 October Sophie Taeuber-Arp One of the most innovative artists and designers of the 20th-century avant-garde, Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889-1943) challenged the borders between abstract art, design and craft.

Tate Modern’s major exhibition is the first in the UK to trace Taeuber-Arp’s accomplished career as a painter, architect, teacher, writer, and designer of textiles, marionette puppets and interiors.

Somerset House

Barbican Centre

Strand WC2R 1LA www.somersethouse.org.uk Until 19 September No Comply: Skate Culture and Community During lockdown, skateboarding experienced the biggest increase in uptake since 2000.

No Comply celebrates the country’s vibrant and diverse skateboarding scene through the work of leading photographers, designers and filmmakers. Free.

Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk

7 October – 6 February 2022 Shilpa Gupta The first major London solo exhibition by Mumbai-based artist Shilpa Gupta comes to The Curve. One of South Asia’s most critically acclaimed artists working today, Gupta’s multidisciplinary practice encompasses a wide range of media and processes, from text, sculpture, video, photography, and sound which poetically explores physical and ideological boundaries and how, as individuals, we come to feel a sense of isolation or belonging. Admission free.

Photo: National Portrait Gallery

THEATRE & SHOWS

National Maritime Museum Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/nationalmaritime-museum Daily Family Trails Pick up a family trail from the Play and Explore trolley to discover exciting objects in the museum’s galleries. Choose from seven different trails across a range of galleries, with activities suited to any age.

Sundays Discover Sundays Each week a different artist takes families on a journey into the museum’s collection. Discover objects that introduce you to different people, histories and cultures. Participate in

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different creative activities inspired by these objects before heading into the galleries to see what else you discover. All ages.

Until 31 October Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits Come face-to-face with the kings, queens and their heirs who shaped British history and were so central to Greenwich. In collaboration with London’s National Portrait Gallery, this major exhibition of royal portraiture features some of the most important artists to have worked in Britain, from Sir Peter Lely and Sir Godfrey Kneller to Cecil Beaton and Annie Leibovitz.

FamiliesSWLon

Ciné Lumière

Colourhouse Theatre

Institut Français, Queensbury Place SW7 2DT www.institut-français.org.uk/cinelumiere Until 4 October Better Together The new season of CinéFamilies focuses on the beauty of acting as a group towards a better future. With a mix of English and subtitled French language films, the weekend screenings include Robin Hood, Dogtanian & the Three Muskhounds, Poly and The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily, all of which show that the key to happiness is to embrace our differences, draw strength from one another, and survive together.

Merton Abbey Mills SW19 2RD www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk 4 September - 7 November Hansel and Gretel Hansel and Gretel are lost in the forest with no hope of finding their way back home. When they explore a house made of sweets they think their luck has changed, but things take a turn for the worse when they discover the house belongs to an evil witch. Find out if the bond between a brother and sister can prevail over an evil witch in one of Colour House Theatre’s favourite musical productions. Ages 3+.

Polka Theatre The Broadway SW19 1SB www.polkatheatre.com 25 Sept - 31 Oct Red The wolves have seized power from Queen Sukotai and Alpha Wolf sits on the throne. What will happen now and where is Red? Don your wellies and journey through forests and swampland on a mission to restore peace to the land; but be careful not to disturb the sleeping wolves! Ages 6+.

Tom Brace: Embrace the Impossible!

Earls Court, Empress Place SW6 1TT www.londonwonderground.co.uk/whats-on

25 September Join Tom Brace for a hilarious afternoon of 1.21 gigawatts of magic as he showcases his unique, incredible and totally pointless abilities in a new show inspired by his childhood. Featuring Tom’s unique blend of comedy and magic, the show promises to have a little something for everybody. Ages 8+.

September 2021 • Families South West 61

What’s On September 2021 THEATRE & SHOWS continued Comedy Club 4 Kids Cavendish Square W1G 0PN www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/comedyclub-4-kids 26 September The best stand-ups, sketch acts and cabaret stars from the international circuit do their thing for an audience of children. The shows are family friendly, but without any patronising idiocy. In fact, it's just like a normal comedy club, but it's on in the day, kids are allowed in, and thus there is a higher than usual chance of the entire audience claiming to be called Bob. Ages 6+.

Globe Theatre New Globe Walk SE1 9DT www.shakespearesglobe.com Until 30 October A Midsummer Night’s Dream Four love-drunk teens, escaped from the confines of an oppressive regime, caught in a dispute of increasingly magical proportions. A posse of wannabe actors, determined to put on a play against the odds. The Fairy Queen and King at war, and one wild spirit hellbent on causing as much havoc as possible. What could possibly go wrong? Designed for families and young people, The Globe’s production is a fiesta like no other, with pinatas, streamers, glitter and a cacophony of brass.

Family Guided Tours Ideal for those with children aged 7-11 years old, Globe Theatre Guided Tours introduce younger visitors to Shakespeare’s London and to the theatrical world he created.

The Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore SW7 2AP www.royalalberthall.com 24-26 September Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix in Concert Rediscover the magic of Harry Potter soaring across the big screen in highdefinition, while a live symphony orchestra performs Nicholas Hooper’s unforgettable score. Get ready to join Dumbledore’s Army as Professor Umbridge takes over Hogwarts and Harry discovers the secret of his terrible nightmares. Ages 12+.

Prince Edward Theatre Old Compton Street W1D 4HS www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/whats-on/marypoppins Until 22 February 2022 Mary Poppins Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s multi award-winning musical is back. The iconic stage adventure is filled with music, lyric, dancing, incredible effects and of course - the world’s favourite nanny.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Cambridge Theatre

Basil Brush’s family fun show

Earlham Street WC2H 9HU www.lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/cambridge From 16 September Matilda the Musical The multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company is back!

Cavendish Square W1G 0PN www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/basilbrushs-family-fun-show 18 September Britain's most loveable fox returns to Underbelly with his amazing Family Fun Show.

Inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl and with original songs by Tim Minchin, this is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Ages 6+.

Join Basil Brush as he takes you on a journey of laughs, storytelling and song in show for all the family specially written for the live stage and packed with fun and excitement. Come join in the mayhem!

Leicester Square Theatre Leicester Place WC2H 7BX www.leicestersquaretheatre.com 16 October Sleeping Beauty Dazzling dancers, Tchaikovsky's sumptuous score and gorgeous costumes bring this glittering classical ballet to life.

A good fairy turned evil by jealousy casts a bad spell on a young princess. But an act of pure love will undo her magic, restoring her heart and bringing peace and harmony to the whole kingdom. Performed by Let’s All Dance, this shortened classic is the perfect way to introduce children to the wonder and magic of live dance.

Ages 2-14.

Art in the Park Canniziaro Park, Wimbledon SW19 4UE www.cannizaropark.com/artinthepark 19 September Mingle, chat and buy from local artists.

Also a packed programme including workshops, talks, and open-air paint-alongs for all ages.

Follow a sculpture trail through the woods or the family arts trail, join expert-led masterclasses ranging from Japanese woodblock printing to tree drawing. A full day of creativity for the whole community to enjoy.

11am–5pm.

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Parkrun Various venues including Clapham Common, Fulham Palace, Wimbledon and Tooting Common www.parkrun.org.uk Saturdays and Sundays Head to the fresh air for a sociable run, jog or walk with family and new friends.

Parkrun is a positive, welcoming

and inclusive experience - there is no time limit and no one finishes last! Saturday morning events are 5k, while on Sundays, there are 2k Junior Park Runs for children aged four to 14. Find a local event and sign up to join in; volunteers welcome too. Free.

Kensington Gardens

Children love a free runaround in the Playground, which has a huge wooden pirate ship, sensory trail and play sculptures, inspired by the adventures of fictional park hero Peter Pan.

Fish Pond Copse, Cranleigh GU6 7DW www.surreyhills.org 11 & 12 Sept The Wood Fair is full of traditional rural charm celebrating all that is ‘Good about Wood’ in the outstanding beautiful Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There will be tree climbing (ages 6+) and zip wire (ages 4-8), both these need pre-booking online.

Lots of free activities including bug hunts, knife skills, fire making, apple pressing, den building and giant board games. 10am-5pm. £7.50 if bought online in advance, under 12s are free.

Wey River Festival

well as things to eat.

Dapdune Wharf, Guildford www.nationaltrust.org.uk 18 September There'll be plenty to do, such as willow weaving, a pirate boot camp, Surrey Wood Turners and plenty of crafts and children's activities. Boat trips will be running all day and there'll be lots of foodie stalls, with local jam and honey as

The highlight of the whole day is the illuminated pageant at dusk, with boats travelling from the centre of Guildford to Dapdune Wharf, brilliantly lit up with fairy lights and serenaded by the Croydon Steel Orchestra as they arrive at Dapdune. 11am-8pm.

Entry is free.

Surrey Hills Wood Fair Kensington W2 2UH www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensi ngton-gardens Covering 265 acres, Kensington Gardens offers a mix of old and new park pastimes and green space.

Until 26 September Van Gogh Alive Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in the life and works of Vincent van Gogh at the most visited immersive, multisensory experience in the world.

Daily Diana Memorial Playground

Hever Castle & Gardens Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG www.hevercastle.co.uk Autumn Colour As the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, pink and gold and the leaves tumble from the trees, it’s the perfect time to enjoy autumn colour at Hever Castle and Gardens. There’s a beautiful lake that you can take a leisurely walk around too.

Children can enjoy the playground areas with climbing frames, swings and an aerial runway. There’s the Tudor Towers Adventure

Greenwich Park Greenwich SE10 8XG www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/greenwich-park

Overlooking the River Thames and home to some of London’s most iconic views, Greenwich Park is an amazing mix of 17th century landscape, stunning gardens and a rich history that dates back to Roman times.

25 September Family Wildlife Activities Join the Royal Park’s volunteers for naturethemed crafts and wildlife discovery in the Flower Garden. 1-4pm, free.

familiesonline.co.uk

Playground - a nine metre tall wooden play castle, bigger than a four bedroom house and complete with its own moat, drawbridge and three turrets, while younger visitors can explore a natural play area, Acorn Dell.

Daily Park Playground The high-quality playground follows a maritime theme, reflecting the nautical roots of the World Heritage Site, offering creative play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. With sand and water play, a basket swing and loose, textured materials such as logs, rope and bark, the space encourages collaborative and imaginative play through exploration and discovery.

Ages up to 12.

FamiliesSWLon

Nower Wood Open Day

Miniature train rides

Nower Wood Nr Leatherhead www.surreywildlifetrust.org 12 Sept. Explore the beautiful ancient woodland nature reserve and enjoy lots of free activities along the adventure trail. Book online. 10am-12.30pm or 1.30pm-4pm. £10 per car.

Great Cockcrow Railway, Chertsey KT16 0AD Every Sunday until 31 Oct The steam locomotives are just like the full-size versions, they need coal for a fire, water to make the steam and work in exactly the same way, only in miniature. For ages 2+. 1-4.30pm, booking office closes at 4.15pm. £5 a ride, £22 for a family. Open for Halloween!

Farnham Castle Heritage 19 Sept Open day The grounds of Farnham Castle will be open from 11am-5pm. Re-enactments of Civil War battles plus the Keep will be open. Free, no booking needed.

Please check that the event is still on before starting out

September 2021 • Families South West 63