Families Chiltern - May/June 2023

Editor: Chrissie Wilson. Call: 01296 586586. Email: editor@familieschiltern.com

Next issue: July/August - Summer Holidays Special. Booking and copy deadline: 1 June.

Congratulations to our competition winner: Issue 119, Jan/Feb 23- The Lost Bear and the Lost Whale books: Louise Bassett from Amersham.

Editor’s Letter

Hello,

We’re celebrating 20-years of publishing!

121 issues published over two decades, thousands of pages written for your enjoyment, three editors, countless chocolate oranges and press deadlines that creep up when we least expect them that manage to fit in amongst the joy and mayhem of family life.

We are proud to be print and to have supported local companies for over 20 years! I have loved every moment of being involved in this magazine since my youngest son was a baby, (incredibly he’s just turned 9.)

We are a family-run, local publication and there are many people that help us to publish the magazine each issue. Thank you to our dedicated readers, talented writers, expert contributors and loyal advertisers!

To the incredible school and nursery staff who kindly distribute the magazine and educate our children, we can’t thank you enough!

A huge thank you to Katie Taylor from Chalfont St Peter, our brilliant feature writer and social media extraordinaire, (who I have worked alongside for over 7 years) and our lovely ad manager, Claire from Beaconsfield. I’m very grateful for the excellent work you both put into every issue.

Welcome to our newest recruits, Junior Reporters Andrea, Lily and Minnie as well as Claire for reviewing local places for us. Your enthusiasm, passion and writing talent is inspiring. Finally, a big shout out and thank you to my family for supporting me every step of the way!

There are some great giveaways to celebrate this milestone and our What’s On guide has all you need to plan for spring and half term.

Enjoy,

Government to expand free childcare

Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world and the government has been under pressure to provide more help for parents. The rising cost of childcare has been widely seen as a deterrent for some parents to go back to work or work full time.

The average annual cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under age 2 in Great Britain is now £14,836, according to a report by the charity Coram (coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk). There has also been a drop in the availability of childcare in England, with some centres having to close. The report says, only half of local areas have enough available spaces for children under 2, whilst only two thirds have enough space for children ages 3 and 4. There are significant differences in the cost and availability of childcare depending on where you live across England.

The government recently announced that free childcare for working parents in England will be expanded to cover all children under five by September 2025, as part of a wider program to get people back in work. The new help for parents will be introduced in stages.

Eligible working parents of two-year-olds will get 15 hours of free childcare per week from April 2024. Children between nine months and two years old will get 15 hours of free childcare from September 2024 All eligible under-5s will get 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025. More info: < bit.ly/GovChildcare

Calling all cycling enthusists!

Ride Chartridge is a fantastic cycling event that takes place on a picturesque route through the Chiltern Hills raising money for Chartridge Combined School. It will be held in association with British Cycling on Sunday 14th May 2023. The event caters to all levels of riders, from experienced cyclists looking for a challenging 100km or 50km ride, to families looking for a fun and leisurely 16km cycle.

It offers a unique opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside of the Chiltern Hills while also getting some exercise and enjoying the company of other riders. Afterwards riders and families can enjoy a fun family day at Chartridge School.

Head to their website, ridechartridge.com for more details and to sign up.

National Children’s Gardening Week

This summer, why not get involved in National Children’s Gardening week?

It will be held during the warm half term week, from 27th May to 4th June, so children can plant all their favourite plants with less fear of weather damage or the need for complicated protective growing.

As well as simply good outdoor fun, gardening has been shown to have many benefits to health and wellbeing including being more physically active and feeling happier and more connected with the natural world. There are many ways to get involved with National Children’s Gardening Week - from DIY activities at home, to attending an event at local garden centres. More info online: childrensgardeningweek. co.uk

Join in Walk to School Week

A generation ago, seventy percent of us walked to school, now it’s less than half.

Walk to School Week was started to encourage more kids to get out of the car and walk to school. Walk to School Week is held from 15th to 19th May and is organised by the UK charity Living Streets to celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits of walking.

Families will be encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to see the big differences that can come from small steps - from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.

Free interactive wall charts and stickers are available to download. Schools can also obtain classroom packs to help teach children about the benefits of being active, with daily reward stickers and special rewards for those who travelled actively every day.

< livingstreets.org. uk/walk-to-school

Equal access to sport at school for girls and boys

Girls will be granted equal access to all school sports as part of a package of measures unveiled by the government following a campaign by the Lionesses after their historic Euro 2022 win. Schools will be told they must deliver a minimum of two hours of PE each week and that girls and boys should be able to play the same sports in lessons and extra-curricular clubs, where wanted. The government said the measures would be backed by over £600 million in funding over the next two academic years, specifically designed to help improve the quality of PE and sports in primary schools.

Leah Williamson, the England captain, greeted the announcement by saying: “This is the legacy that we want to live much longer than us as a team.” < bit.ly/UKGovSchoolSports

Coding club host free STEM event for girl guides

Aston Clinton girl guides visited Code Ninjas® Aylesbury to participate in a special STEM and coding event on 21st March. The session aimed to boost the children’s confidence and equip them with future career-enhancing skills including coding, maths, logic, critical thinking and problem-solving. Alongside the guides in attendance was Mayor of Aylesbury, Cllr Tim Dixon who said: “I was amazed at how well the children focused on the activities. Digital skills are vital for the future and Code Ninjas is leading the way in encouraging young people to gain knowledge and understanding of coding that will stand them in good stead for their futures.” They also have a centre in High Wycombe and offer a free coding session. To book, call 01494 623125 or visit: < codeninjas.co.uk

2003-2023

Celebrating 20 years of supporting local!

milestones and

time, Henry Allen, who created childcare for the children in Amersham which allowed mothers to work in the local manufacturing plants.

Party animals celebrate 30 years

Odds Farm Park will be getting the party started this May half term as it celebrates its 30th birthday. Louise Winslow, assistant general manager said: “This year is enormously special for everyone at Odds Farm Park as we celebrate 30 years since Steve and Jackie Vinden first opened the farm. They’re still very hands-on and visitors will often see them around the farm. Since we opened, we have become one of the country’s leading rare breed farms with an incredible track record in working for the survival of the UK’s rare breeds of farm animals and equines. We now have over 16 rare breeds on site that are classed as ‘priority’ or ‘at risk’ including three Middle White pigs, ten Bagot goats and an Exmoor Pony.”

“We can’t wait to get the party started in half term. We have a jam-packed programme of party fun for our guests including silly shows, games, arts and crafts and special party celebrations to mark our milestone 30th birthday.” More at: oddsfarm.co.uk

Thomley – leading the way in

disability support

Thomley is a local charity that was created over 22 years ago by parents of children with autism and complex needs, many of whom felt excluded from mainstream leisure facilities. The charity has witnessed many changes over the past two decades, with visitor numbers growing to over 35,000 last year.

They create activities to support people with disabilities or impairments of all ages and actively welcome nondisabled visitors to take part in the same programme of activities as their disabled peers. They offer birthday parties; social, cooking and youth clubs; reduced noise fireworks and Accessival, an access friendly festival held in July.

‘Open for All Days’ invite the community to play alongside disabled visitors. This helps to support new friendships and increases understanding of disabilities in our community. To find an upcoming event, see their website (thomley.org.uk) or our What’s On guide from page 28.

Co-headteachers, Mrs Macdonald and Mrs Manning have worked there for a combined total of sixteen years and are proud to lead a school that is full of happy and resourceful children. The school have recently been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for the second time in a row. More info at: henryallen. bucks.sch.uk

Thank you to our lovely school and nursery distributors. If you have news or events, please email us: editor@familieschiltern.com

Henry Allen Nursery School is marking its 80th anniversary having been opened at the height of WW2 to help with the wartime effort. It was named after the president of Save the Children at that

anniversary this year

Founded in 1933, the school has grown from strength to strength. It opened on its current site – known then as Bois Farm – with just five pupils, which is the origin of the five-pointed star on the school logo. The site itself was built in the 17th century and its timbered barns still remain in use today around the ‘Quad’ area at the school.

Today, The Beacon is a leading Prep school in the UK with 519 boys aged 3-13 years. As a large independent school, it still maintains an impressively

The Beacon is thrilled to be celebrating its 90-year

YEARS We have loved working with our community and supporting schools, nurseries and small businesses over the past two decades. Here, we celebrate exciting

news from local businesses, charities, schools and nurseries.

inclusive, family feel to it, with a focus on pastoral care. Listen to their latest podcast for insight into life at the school in the late 40s to early 60s, Beaconverse episode 13 – available on spotify and google. Open Morning: Friday 12 May. To attend, register on The Beacon website.

News from Tring Park School

Tring Park School is the UK’s leading performing arts and academic school, based in Hertfordshire. A recent poll from Tring Park School discovered that 86 per cent of parents believe their child is happier since studying the performing arts, with a further 83 per cent admitting they now appear more confident, with performing arts study offering the perfect place for like-minded young people to come together and thrive. Successful alumni includes Hollywood actresses Lily James and Daisy Ridley,

Singer Ella Henderson and Hamilton and Frozen the Musical star Joe GriffithsBrown. The school aims to provide a unique education to talented pupils from all backgrounds and extends its specialist facilities and teaching experience to children and young adults across the wider community. To find out more, visit: tringpark.com

Westbrook Hay is celebrating its 60th anniversary at its current location this year and is reflecting on how it has grown over the years. The school was founded in 1892 with just two boys in Rye Court but soon outgrew its home by 1913 and moved to Gadebridge House. In 1963, during the coldest winter of the century, the school moved to its current location. From a boarding school of 68 boys, Westbrook Hay is now a thriving co-educational day school of 380 pupils.

A few birthday messages from some of our supporters ...

“Congratulations Families Chiltern on 20 years of successful service by providing a brilliant, and very useful magazine to our community. It has been a pleasure for MultiSports Amersham to work with you for the last two decades and we are grateful for all your hard work growing the magazine which has helped us to be able to reach hundreds and hundreds of children and welcome them to our school, whether it be for term time classes or summer holiday workshops.”

‘Congratulations to Families Chiltern on their 20th anniversary!

We know what an achievement that is as we have also passed that auspicious milestone. Both of us continue to provide a much-needed service to families in the Chilterns area despite the challenges that face all small businesses. We at Stepping Stones Nursery in Amersham are grateful to the hundreds of parents that have placed their trust in us over the years to care for and educate their children. We are holding an Open Day on May 20th from 9.30 to 11.30am and will be taking registrations for September onwards.

“Trapdoor Performing Arts wish our friends at Families Chiltern a very happy 20th Birthday!

We are 18 years old ourselves this year and have very much enjoyed working alongside our colleagues at Families for the last 16 years. Your admirable magazine has helped us to welcome and encourage many children over the years to “tread the boards,” igniting their imagination and developing their communication skills in a safe, creative environment. Time flies and indeed, our very first students (2006) have already left their university or drama school and are now well on the way to carving out their own careers in industries of their choice where the skills they built at Trapdoor were the building blocks of the confident young people they became. Where have the years gone?”

“Reflecting back over the years, your magazine has evolved into a knowledge-bound, go-to resource for local parents seeking advice, education and activities for their children to help them evolve and flourish in an ever-changing world. It has been a great honour to be part of your publication and we wish you abounding success in your future years!”

Celebrate with us and WIN great prizes!

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN

1. Five Golden Tickets to the Roald Dahl Museum

Win one of 5 Golden Tickets to the Roald Dahl Museum! Enjoy three hands-on galleries where you can make a movie, measure yourself against Roald Dahl characters and peek into Roald Dahl’s Writing Hut. Visit the indoor Wondrous Wood and spot the 17 Quentin Blake illustrations in the courtyard. You can also pick up a free trail to help you explore and enjoy drop-in crafts in George’s Crafty Kitchen. On selected weekend dates you can take part in free storytelling too. Visit roalddahlmuseum.org for more information. The prize tickets are valid for a family of 5 to visit the Museum on a weekend day.

2. Family Pass to Odds Farm Park

Odds Farm Park has teamed up with Families Chiltern to offer one lucky reader a family day pass, (2 adults and 2 children, worth over £75) to visit the children’s activity farm.

Odds Farm Park, near Beaconsfield, will be getting the party started this May half term as it celebrates its 30th birthday. As well as the rare breeds on display for visitors to meet, a huge programme of activities is planned to celebrate all things ‘farm’ for the half term holiday. Visitors will be able to see sheep shearing demonstrations and have the opportunity for hands-on kid goat bottle feeding. Families can also enjoy acres of outdoor adventure play, tractor and trailer rides, H2Odds water play, Marmalade’s Mini Rover rides and giant Indoor Playbarn. More at: oddsfarm.co.uk

3. Code Ninjas® Summer Camp Days

Transform your child’s love for tech into an exciting learning adventure. Guided by a team of Code Senseis, Code Ninjas Camps empower kids to gain valuable tech skills and make new friends. It’s an unforgettably fun learning experience.

The prize is for one place on a one-day or two-day Code Ninjas® Camp running in Summer 2023 at either Aylesbury or High Wycombe locations. Suitable for Ages 5 to 14.

4. Chiltern Gift Set

We adore these gorgeous mugs from Chiltern Gifts! They make the perfect gift to showcase the beauty and landscapes of the Chilterns. We have a set of four mugs (as pictured) to give away to one lucky reader, valued at £65.

5. When the Kite Builds

We have a copy of the new hard-cover book ‘When the Kite Builds: Why and how we restored red kites across Britain’ signed by the author, Mike Pienkowski. Read more about why the Red Kites are the biggest species success in UK conservation history on the following page.

National Children’s Activities

Week - 15th to 21st May 2023

6. Trapdoor’s Gift – Ignite your child’s imagination! Enter to win one whole term of Saturday drama or musical theatre classes (Autumn 2023) for one child aged 3-16. No experience in either discipline necessary. Classes are age appropriate – Teenies, Infants, Juniors and Teens. Please visit: trapdoordrama.com for the full timetable and further information.

7. WIN Six weeks of Free Karate Classes

Enter to win six weeks of free classes at Tiska Karate for your child! Classes are held in: Amersham, Beaconsfield, Berkhamsted or Chalfont St Peter. More at: tiskakarate.co.uk

To Enter:

To be in with a chance of winning one of these amazing prizes, simply tell us the numbers of the competitions that you’d like to enter, your town and answer to the following question:

How many years has Families Chiltern magazine been published?

A) 10 years

B) 20 years

C) 5 years.

Please email your answer and contact details to: competitions@familieschiltern.co.uk

The closing date for all entries is 1st June 2023. For our competition terms and conditions, see: < bit.ly/20YRWIN

WHAT ARE WE MADE OF?

The Baird sisters founded Abbot's Hill School in 1912, to provide a place for girls to thrive Three sisters of character who passionately believed in girls and all that they could achieve Their Scottish roots were embedded into the foundations of the school They were made of independence, confidence, and passion For over 100 years, Abbot's Hill has given girls the space to challenge the status quo, to change the world around them and to do so with humility and kindness

Abbot's Hill community is connected by the virtues that continue to define us No cohort and no pupil is the same They make their own memories, craft their own experiences and build a legacy for which they will be remembered Now it is time for you to write your story at Abbot's Hill

what are you made of?

Red Kitesthe biggest species success in UK conservation history

Red Kites are iconic birds that dominate our skies and are a much-loved part of the Chiltern’s landscape and identity. Did you know that they were once an endangered species and a huge effort was undertaken to prevent their extinction? Here is a fascinating insight into their history, including how the reintroduction of red kites is the biggest species success in UK conservation history.

A new book has been published to coincide with UN World Wildlife Day. It describes the story of the successful reintroduction of red kites to the UK in 1990 and details how the Chilterns was selected as the initial location for the establishment of young chicks brought in from Sweden and Spain. The book ‘When the Kite Builds: Why and how we restored red kites across Britain’ was written by Dr Mike Pienkowski, the Chairman of the Red Kite Project Team from the 1980s to 1995.

In the Middle Ages, Red Kites were a common sight across the British countryside and cities, where people valued them for keeping the streets clear of carrion (dead animals). The birds were frequently mentioned in Shakespeare’s works. But later changes in attitude led to their extermination in most of the

UK, until they were reduced to a tiny population in Wales. By the 1980s, they were one of only three globally vulnerable bird species occurring in Britain.

Following the success of their reintroduction, red kites are now one of the iconic sights of the Chilterns and many other parts of Britain and Ireland, valued as part of the landscape. British kites now form 10% of the world population of the species.

In 2020, looking back over more than 30 years, RSPB noted, “the Red Kite introduction project has been a fantastic example of conservation in action and is the result of really effective partnership working, which we’re proud to be part of. It’s been amazing to see a species once persecuted to near extinction in this country, brought back and welcomed by local communities, with local economies reaping the dividends of the return of this iconic species. In the 1980s, anyone wanting to see a Red Kite had to make a special pilgrimage to a handful of sites. Today it is a daily sight for millions of people. In a few short decades we have taken a species from the brink of extinction to the UK being home to almost 10% of the entire world population.”

The author, Dr Mike Pienkowski said, “I am delighted to get this book out. It is important to put such successes on record – I hope in a readable way. This is both to help others and to recognise the teamwork of a huge number of people in UK and other countries.”

Dr Elaine King, CEO of the Chilterns Conservation Board remarked: “40 years ago, red kites were never seen in the Chilterns. Today, these magnificent birds are one of the most iconic sights associated with the area, soaring high over the fields, villages and gardens, riding the thermals with that characteristic flick of their forked tails. The bird is often named and used as an emblem for local buildings and businesses and has become recognised as a valuable and much-loved part of the Chilterns landscape. Our hope is that red kites will remain appreciated and valued, living in their natural habitat in the Chilterns. We’re immensely proud that the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been part of such an incredible conservation success story.”

We have a signed copy of the new book ‘When the Kite Builds: Why and how we restored red kites across Britain’ to giveaway as part of our 20-Year Anniversary celebrations. To enter, please see page 8.

© Alan Shearman

Hello and birthday wishes from our former editor

Allison Thomas

Happy birthday to Families Chiltern – I can’t believe you are 20! I had the privilege of editing the magazine from 2004 to 2015 and, as my daughter was only just one when I started, I feel as if my own family grew up alongside the magazine. And yes, she too is 20 this year – a slightly daunting prospect that is best contemplated only with a glass of wine in my hand.

I always wanted Families Chiltern to be seen as a bit of a bible, helping you navigate the intense experience that is life with young children. I imagined it living in the bathroom – well-thumbed and convenient in a way a smart phone never can be. We had moved to the area pre-children and so had no idea what to do if it was raining, but you were still desperate to get out of the house; the best place for a country walk; where to see Santa or who to call for a stress-free child’s party.

Researching articles for the magazine meant that no two Sunday afternoons were the same as my family and I scoured the area hunting out fun things to do. It was also a wonderful way to get to know this fabulous part of the country.

I believe this ethos is still integral to the magazine and wish Chrissie and all the new team at Families Chiltern a very happy birthday!

Ju s t Fo r Fu n

Here’s a little quiz to cover events of the last twenty years. In which year did these events happen? (answers at the bottom of the page).

1. YouTube was founded.

2. The Ice Bucket Challenge was the big fundraiser of the year.

3. President Obama was sworn in as President of the United States.

4. Popular children’s film ‘Encanto’ was released.

5. Prince William and Kate Middleton got married.

6. The last ‘Big Brother’ show was aired.

7. The Summer Olympics were held in Beijing.

8. The last commercial Concorde flight took place.

© Pippa Hart

By Claire Lockie Williams

Days OutReviews

The Horse Trust

There’s something truly lovely about entering the Horse’s Trust, it’s very open and inviting with many an interested horse or pony coming up to their stable doors to greet you. Each resident has their own stable complete with information, stories and images of their lives alongside it. Some are amazinghorses that have worked diligently in various services throughout their lives. All are very moving and there are some truly heart-breaking stories, exemplifying

Little Chalfont Nature Park

A hidden gem in the heart of Little Chalfont, the Nature Park is great to spend either a

Track City

I visited Track City with a friend and her toddler, combining it with a play at the Ashley Green Park which made for a fantastic morning. It’s really impressive when you walk into the hall and see the level of detail that the track set-up boasts. There is an epic amount of tracks for the toddlers to push or set their electric trains on, chasing them around the room and exploring different twists and turns with some tracks even collapsing onto each other or merging into slides. Additionally, there are mini play areas scattered about

Aqua Vale Swimming Pool

My eldest has been desperate to have a family swim and having not been swimming together for ages, many friends recommended Aqua Vale.

the great work this place performs. We were all surprised at how emotional we felt while there. They are very beautiful animals, peaceful while keen for some attention and fussing to our delight.

There is a small, interesting museum on the Trust’s history and a tea-room with lovely scones and cakes to enjoy. Such a great place to visit, doing such rewarding work and providing a wonderful experience for all visitors.

Location: Speen, HP27 0PP.

quick hour or a full day exploring. This was a treat for both my outdoor loving boys, especially my eldest, as there were bugs galore to hunt as well as various climbing areas. There were good natured arguments over who sat on which bench and totem, with all of us guessing the animals that were etched into the wooden frames. My eldest got to grips with rope climbing and beam balancing, all the while shouting to me that he’d ‘found another (information) board’ for us to read. My youngest tried his luck climbing, but largely stuck to running in and out of the amazing wooden teepees that had been forged from branches.

with different toys held in each. The boys were particularly enthralled with one part of track which collapsed onto another track and led round a big Superwings airport.

Both toddlers were thoroughly worn out and would have played longer if they could, enthralling as the experience was for them. It was gorgeous to see how animated they were and how excited. Definitely one to repeat.

Location: Ashley Green Memorial Hall, HP7 9QB.

Juggling one swim lover and one swim hater, even with two of us, I was apprehensive to say the least. However, on entering the pool I was hit by a great warmth, both temperature wise and emotional, as delighted shrieks and laughter echoed around. We explored the play area outside first which had a variety of equipment for all ages and was a big hit with kids and adults alike!

The toddler pool was sadly out of commission, but there were several small slides perfect for toddlers to enjoy. My youngest also spotted several memory games dotted around the pool edge which had to be played. This gave my eldest and husband the chance to

Note: Entry is £8 per car or £1 per person walking in. Afternoons only. Check online for opening days, horsetrust.org.uk

It’s to my shame that I’ve lived so close to the Nature Park and not visited before because it’s well worth the trip. I will definitely be returning in summer with family and friends to enjoy a relaxing day out and, for myself, combining it with a train ride certainly gives it the full day out experience.

Location: Little Chalfont, HP7 9QB.

Note: 1-hour free car parking in Cokes Lane. 5-minute walk from Chalfont and Latimer Station. There are toilets in the car park outside the park and the library and high street are very close by. More info at: naturepark.littlechalfont.org.uk

Note: Sessions are best booked in advance to avoid disappointment, especially at busy times. Booking is via the website: trackcity.uk

explore the flumes and confidently report back the fastest and most ‘awesome’. The rapids were fab fun and the swim pool was less busy then I expected largely due to timed sessions. The water was lovely and warm, not like the toe curling cold ones I remember growing up. All in all, an experience to repeat!

Location: Aylesbury, HP20 1DU.

Note: Car park can get busy. Do NOT pay for parking if swimming, inside the centre they provide free tickets. Hairdryers are coin operated so bring change. Sessions require booking in advance through the Everyone Active App or online, everyoneactive.com

J u n i o r R e p o r t e r s

Mr Mulligans Mini Golf

By Lily 4.5

We were looking for something to do on a really, really wet day. So, my Mum and Dad said we were going for a surprise trip to a magic forest. At first, I just didn't believe them but then we got there, and it was mini golf at Mr Mulligan's in Milton Keynes. It was awesome! We visited both the Enchanted Forest and Underwater Kingdom and had so much fun.

It was quiet as we got there early. We went to the desk where we got to choose our glow in the dark golf balls. Then we grabbed our clubs. My brother

The Climb

By Minnie 4 stars

Sunday, fun-day! It turned out that a few weeks ago my friend Bea’s party was a rock-climbing session at Chilterns Lifestyle Centre. It proved to be very fun! Usually, a variety of people are climbing but it was just me and my class that time as it was a party.

Firstly, we got in the line and a man helped us put on our harnesses. Filled with eagerness and excitement we then went through the gate into the arena. There were lots of walls to climb, some traditional climbing walls with rock type foot hold and hand holds, and some very cool novelty walls: Stairway to Heaven is a series

Hobbledown Heath

By Andrea 4.5

Hi, I’m Andrea and I’m 6 years old. In half term we went to Hobbledown Heath in Hounslow. It’s a place with lots of climbing frames and lots of sand.

First we went on the inside climbing frame. That was the biggest one we’ve ever seen! It was fun because there was a spinning floor that went very fast, I nearly fell off. There were some nets that we could climb up and into a hammock. On the top floor there is a net bridge that leads to another climbing frame.

picked the Enchanted Forest round first. We headed on in and there were some cool structures like trees and giant mushrooms. Some holes were a bit tricky, but we all had fun and my Mum won! She was so happy with that.

We took a break after the first adventure golf course. We played some pool and had slushie drinks and scrumptious nachos. The rest of my family moaned at me because I wanted to eat them all. They had other games there to play but we wanted to get back to the golf.

Afterwards, we started the Underwater Kingdom course. In my opinion, this course was the best as it was more fun and had some good challenges. I also liked the fish and jellyfish decorations. It was great fun!

of poles that get increasingly higher, culminating with a jump off the top! Another good one was a wall that timed how long it took you to climb up it – it took me one minute and five seconds, but it took some of the staff about two seconds! Some of the walls were quite tricky to climb but I was reassured because all the time I was in the arena my harness was on. There was also a Leap of Faith: I didn’t do this, but it involves jumping off a (very) high platform and trying to hit a target as you fall... so fun!

Luckily you don’t have to go to the top of all the walls – if you want, you can abseil down at any time. After an amazing hour of climbing, my friends and I went up to a joyful party room with music playing merrily. Along the

They had story time under a tent and we had two slushies, one red and one blue. Next to the tent we saw some colourful birds called macaws. They were very loud! There were also other animals but we were so busy we forgot to see them! My favourite thing was the bouncy pillow and water pillow. The more people on it, the more it bounced!

My favourite outside climbing frame had sand on the floor and I could not find my brother. When I was inside my brother was outside, when my brother was inside, I was outside! In a different climbing frame there was a big tunnel slide. We could go in the sandpit and collect green gems. At the end, remember to give the

My Mum and Dad were joint first place but my little brother and I had a great time, so we didn’t mind being beaten by the grown-ups.

My Dad says it’s a bit pricey to do every weekend, but is worth it for a family treat day! I’d recommend it and would love to visit the new outside one in the holidays.

way, I noticed an exciting soft play with an exotic jungle theme for under 8s and a large café area selling a variety of food and drinks (and the one that watered my mouth the most was a popcorn machine).

I really enjoyed my visit and I’d recommend booking a slot soon (ask your parents to download the EveryoneActive app).

gems on the way out to get a sweetie! Before we went home, we went under a frame and a handle made it rain and we had to drive home wet! I didn’t want to, but I had to! I had lots of fun! I can’t wait to go back soon.

Deve Developing independent learning

By Zuzu Jordan

It’s time for celebration when our children display independence, right from when they take their first steps on their own or ride a bike without stabilisers. These are big family moments; the child delights in their achievements and parents are proud to be part of these milestone developments.

So what is independence?

Being independent means not needing support and becoming self-sufficient. A certain amount of independence comes naturally with age and experience; however, as adults there is plenty we can do to facilitate this growth along the way.

Returning to the example of babies taking their first steps, we tend to support them by holding their hand first and then a finger, before they try a few steps on their own. Clearing any potential dangerous items out of their way first, of course! We celebrate when they manage to walk alone and give them bundles of praise.

Helping your child to be independent with learning isn’t dissimilar to helping them walk unaided. We need to offer support, gently reduce that support and praise them for going it alone. This doesn’t mean stopping helping your child; instead it’s about nurturing an independent attitude and growth mindset. Our input will be age dependent and will need to be adapted accordingly.

Try some of these tips to help your child approach their learning with an independent attitude:

Establish a routine for starting homework. For example, for the first five minutes, your child works on their own or, in reverse, you work with them just for the first five minutes to get them started. Depending on the homework and age of the child, you could also consider helping out with every other question or section, then slowly building up the time between support periods.

Give them three tokens. They can use each token to ask for help. Once they have used up their tokens, they then have to continue working alone, trying to work things out.

For written assignments - put a tiny mark on the page and ask your child to write up to that target before you read through it.

Use the BBBB approach - ask your Brain, Book, Buddy before you ask the Boss (you!)

For online homework - make sure that any websites or apps are saved with your child’s passwords so they can go straight to what they need without your input.

When the homework involves questions - suggest your child start with whichever one they can tackle independently, then come back to the questions they need help with.

Encourage independent thinking so children feel comfortable expressing their own thoughts and opinions about their homework assignments. Talk with them about what they think worked well and what didn’t. Keep the dialogue about independence transparent. Maybe ask your child what they would like to be independent in and what support they will need to achieve this.

A growth mindset is probably the most important ingredient in achieving independence. A fixed mindset (eg ‘I can’t spell well’) can prevent growth while a growth mindset (‘I can’t spell well yet’) embraces the learning journey; at the same time encouraging other traits including resilience and persistence.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page: Edumateuk.

What is the CPA approach in maths?

By Jemma Z Smith

CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) is a maths teaching approach that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves using tangible objects for children to add, subtract, multiply or divide. They then progress to using pictorial representations of the objects and ultimately, abstract symbols. This way of learning is one of the foundations of Singaporean maths, now being adopted in the UK.

Concrete

The tangible, ‘handling’ stage uses physical objects to solve problems. For example:

There are four buttons in the pot. Stanley has two buttons in his hand. How many buttons are there altogether?

In this problem, the children might first count out actual buttons before moving on to non-related objects such as counters to represent the buttons. Of course, almost anything can be used to help a child master this stage from pencils to plastic pots, to counting beans and coins. You don’t need to spend money on concrete resources to support learning at home.

Pictorial

Next, learners move on to making their own representations. Returning to the example in the paragraph above, the buttons could be drawn as four circles on one part of the paper and two more on another part, representing the pot and the hand. Children can then count each small circle and get the same answer as they would have done with the buttons.

Why is CPA maths helpful for children?

Education methods have changed a lot since we were at school. For many adults today, classroom teaching involved having methods drummed into us that we didn’t necessarily understand and which were promptly forgotten. Could you explain why we ‘put a zero’ in the ones column when multiplying by a tens number? Why we ‘knock on the next number’s door and borrow a 1’ when exchanging in column subtraction? How long division really works?

Using physical ‘concrete’ counters show us the mechanics behind these methods and gives children an understanding of what maths is, rather than rote learning for an exam and forgetting the learning when moving on to the next concept. The learning will stick for longer and be more beneficial to them as they progress to the next stage of their education.

With CPA, maths is seen by teachers as a house or a pyramid. Without a strong understanding of the foundations, more complex topics such as algebra or percentages will be a struggle.

Building or drawing a model makes it easier for children to grasp more difficult concepts, particularly when working with fractions. It enables learners to see how much of a ‘whole one’ has been shaded in and visualise the problem more clearly.

Abstract This is where children use abstract symbols to solve maths problems.

Brooke has ten sweets and Millie has twelve sweets. How many sweets do they have altogether?

Children at the abstract stage would be able to solve the problem by writing it out as 10 + 12 = 22. Before moving onto this stage, children need a secure understanding of mathematical vocabulary; eg ‘altogether’, ‘add’ and ‘plus’ all mean that the numbers are increasing.

Although CPA has three distinct stages, it is always useful to revisit the previous stages to ensure that learners have a full grasp of each concept.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (educationhotel.co.uk)

What if my Year 6 child still uses props for maths?

Should you be concerned? The answer is that the use of concrete and pictorial resources is not only for very young children or children who find new concepts tricky.

While running a SATs booster class, I used the bar model, a way of visualising addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using blocks, with a group of Year 6 children. They had to work out how much of one type of liquid was used in a ratio word problem. The lightbulb moments started to happen: what a privilege to witness!

Once learners understand the mechanics of problems, they can apply their knowledge from the concrete and pictorial stages into the abstract final answer and, if they are really secure, even teach it to someone else as well, demonstrating true mastery of the concept.

So no, parents shouldn’t be concerned if their children are still using props They are using them to their advantage and building a solid base of understanding that will see them through into later years.

Mr Jake Burnett Thorpe House School

We are excited to introduce Mr Jake Burnett, the new Headmaster of Thorpe House School in Gerrards Cross.

What was it about the school that made you want to apply for the position?

There were numerous reasons. Firstly, I had heard many good things about Thorpe House both when I was a student at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe (many years ago) but also from friends and colleagues in education. It is a school that has achieved a great deal and laid down some impressive traditions during a century of existence, but equally it is a community that is not afraid to make changes when they are necessary. I had also heard that the community is very strong, and that all students are encouraged to be themselves, develop existing skills and talents and have a go at exploring new ones both inside and outside of the classroom. I look forward to getting to know every student, every member of staff, and every parent. Thorpe has some exciting plans for the future, and no doubt the next one hundred years.

What impact will the exciting news from Thorpe for 2023 have on the school and local community?

In so many ways, Thorpe will be ‘complete’ as we will have a fully developed pathway for learning from Pre Prep to Sixth Form. What we are really looking forward to, however is creating a sixth form model that balances academic excellence with a range of dynamic and progressive ways to learn, and courses to follow alongside many tried-andtested post 16 qualifications. Whilst also developing and enhancing some of our current facilities, such as our science laboratories, we are also planning for our sixth form to be situated away from our main school site, in a venue central to Gerrards Cross. We’re very happy to develop our sense of place and identity and be very visible in doing this, knowing that our students will represent core

values of the school such as respect and care for others and our entire community – both at school or out of school. We are confident that our sixth form will become a real centre of excellence that will provide academic rigour, depth and breadth of offering and allow every student to thrive, and be ready for what is to come after graduating from Thorpe

How would your students describe you? Approachable, fair, supports the underdog (as a Stoke City fan what else?), someone who makes time for every student.

How do you think a Head can make a real difference to an individual pupil?

I think the influence of a Head can be incredibly significant for every pupil and this can come through in small acts and deeds that help each student (and the student’s family) to be known. A conversation about events at the weekend, or involvement in a school activity or a cordial greeting can mean a great deal - and this can also help a busy head to spend time outside of the ‘head’s office’. On a wider and more strategic level, a unified plan of action, led and continually refined and evaluated by a head, can have a strong impact on the direction of a school. This might be in how technology is used well, how academic progress can be strengthened, or how teachers are given opportunities for effective professional development. Likewise, sometimes it is important for the head to be the voice of the school, whether this is through assemblies or to communicate a particular message on a wider level. A combination of reactive decision-making with proactive thinking can all have positive outcomes for individuals within any school community.

How would you describe the ethos of Thorpe House School?

There is clearly something distinct about Thorpe House, from students and adults alike. This was noticeable when I first

entered the school buildings. I enjoyed seeing, hearing and being part of a school where everyone is clearly valued for who they are, where they know that they will be supported and challenged to be their very best. A ‘can do’ ethos is clearly valued by everyone across the community.

If you weren’t Head of Thorpe House School, what would you be?

This is where one of my useless skills might be useful. I am not fully sure, but I think I would have liked to have done something in the aeronautical industry. Not necessarily a pilot, but perhaps something that would allow me to delve into the cutting-edge technology.

What makes Thorpe special in your view?

The students! Of course students can only be themselves when they feel safe and valued. This runs deeply across the school community. The students are supported to do their best by the teachers, parents and staff. This sense of teamwork is, in my experience, invaluable.

What advice would you give to parents choosing a school?

Know that every school has core strengths, values and a mission to enhance the lives of every student who studies there. The key is making the fit work for each individual student. Often the first feel of the school is excellent in defining the ‘gut reaction’ so make a point of visiting and come prepared with questions about how the school is the right place for your child to thrive.

If you are thinking of a new start for your son in 2023, you are warmly invited to come and visit the school and meet Mr Burnett at their Open Morning on May 9th. Book your place at www. thorpehouse.co.uk

How handwriting affects self-esteem

By Catherine Loble and Lisa Wander

It is known that children who have good handwriting do better in school and enjoy it more. And the opposite is also true; those who struggle with handwriting are often at a disadvantage in the high-paced classroom setting.

According to the Dyspraxia Foundation, children with poor handwriting are usually aware of their difficulty and their untidy handwriting can make them feel uncomfortable and isolated. Commonly, children feel depressed and frustrated as a direct result of poor writing skills.

Handwriting activates a specific part of the brain which helps establish and build the neural patterns needed for learning and memory. Studies show that children who spend time working on handwriting produce clearer and more coherent communication, along with better thought and organisation skills.

As the majority of our examinations are still handwritten, handwriting forms an integral part of our education system. Students who are unable to write legibly and articulately find themselves at a disadvantage. Once these skills are taught, there is an enormous difference in confidence and self-esteem.

With at least ten to fifteen percent of children in the classroom suffering from poor self-confidence, teachers need watch out for early problems with their pupils’ handwriting. Simply having their writing labelled as messy or lazy by adults can contribute to a child’s low self-esteem and anxiety. This may lead children to believe that they

are unintelligent and incapable of writing correctly and discourage them, continuing the downward spiral.

Unfortunately, the problem of anxiety-related handwriting problems cannot simply be overcome by using a computer. As a child grows older, there will always be everyday circumstances in which handwriting is needed. Furthermore, handwriting helps the flow of ideas and thoughts in a way which keyboarding doesn’t, so it is fundamental that children are taught to write legibly.

Although handwriting is an integral requirement of the National Curriculum, many schools are unable to dedicate to it the time required due to the huge demand of core subjects. In addition, there are many different styles and programmes being used with too many confusing elements.

With the correct time and teaching, children can master handwriting, thereby raising their confidence and selfesteem and embedding it into adulthood.

Catherine and Lisa are co-founders of Emparenting (emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with insights, skills and tools to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

Motor skills to support handwriting

Essential for handwriting, motor development is divided into gross and fine motor skills. Gross skills involve large muscle movements such as crawling, walking, running and swimming. Fine motor skills require smaller muscles: grasping, object manipulation and drawing.

Well-developed gross and fine motor skills are essential to a child’s readiness to write. Early years activities prepare them for the dexterity and co-ordination they will need in the classroom and it’s never too soon to start the journey.

Practising gross motor skills is the first step towards twohanded tasks such as holding down paper with one hand while writing with the other. Fun activities teach small bodies! Examples include monkey bars, hopscotch, throwing and catching balls, dancing, running and swimming.

Fine motor skills are necessary for handwriting so a child can control the pencil in forming letters and use the correct pressure on the pen and the paper. This is where hand and finger activities come in. Consider: threading beads, cutting paper, construction play, baking, finger painting and playdough.

The seven stages of handwriting

Handwriting requirements are part of the statutory assessments for Writing at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2.

Young children move through a series of stages as they are learning to write. These reflect a child’s growing knowledge of the conventions of literacy, including letters, sounds and spacing of words within sentences. The seven stages are:

1. Pre-writing - gross and fine motor movements;

2. Pencil grip and posture;

3. Lower case cursive letter formation;

4. Upper case (capital) letter formation;

5. Joining letters together;

6. Refining letter positioning and spacing;

7. Fluency and speed.

It should be noted that although these are the National Curriculum requirements, very few schools include regular handwriting as part of the curriculum. Supporting your child’s handwriting at home will give their skills and confidence a big boost that they will take with them into the classroom.

Clubs, Classes & Activities

Are you looking for a new activity for your children to try? Or perhaps they have a keen interest in music, sport or performing? Whatever their hobbies, we have a great choice of local clubs and classes to suit everyone.

When you call, please don’t forget to say you saw them in Families Chiltern magazine.

Multisports

Weekend Multisports classes held at Dr Challoner’s High school.

Little Sporties: ages 4 & 5.

Primary Class: ages 6 - 11

Sports Leaders: ages 12 - 16. 18 sports a year plus weekly team building challenges. All enrolments include a two-week trial. Join today at: < multisports.co.uk

Through The Wardrobe

Fun, inclusive drama classes for ages 5-16yrs. Watch your child’s acting skills bloom and their confidence soar. Annual performances in professional theatres, top LAMDA exam results, agency representation. Classes Saturdays and Tuesdays in Chalfont St Peter.

E: info@through-the-wardrobe.com

< through-the-wardrobe.com/learn

Berkhamsted Gymnastics

Berkhamsted

Gymnastics Club have spaces available in their fun, recreational gymnastics classes throughout the week for children aged 3+ with fully qualified British Gymnastics coaches. They have a purpose built facility and are looking forward to welcoming your child.

E: membership@ berkhamstedgymnastics.co.uk

< berkhamstedgymnastics.co.uk

Tiska Karate

At TISKA Karate, children and adults alike learn the essentials of etiquette, respect, self discipline, self awareness, confidence, fitness, and self-defence.

Photograph of their youngest Black belt, 8 year old Tyler Yamamoto. Contact: office@tiska.com for further details of your 1 month free trial.

Monkey Music

Award-winning Music classes, 3m-5yrs. Amersham, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross & Marlow E: amersham@monkeymusic. co.uk ☎ 01494 716861

Aylesbury, Aston Clinton, Haddenham, High Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Tring, & Wendover. E: aylesbury@ monkeymusic.co.uk ☎ 01494 819138

Berkhamsted, Chesham, Hemel & Rickmansworth.

E: berkhamsted.rickmansworth@ monkeymusic.co.uk ☎ 01753 889481

< monkeymusic.co.uk

Stagecoach

Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4–18 year olds. Ask about their 2-week trial.

Classes in: Amersham: 07887 500788. Aylesbury: 01525 790795. High Wycombe, Henley & Marlow: 07539 753718.

< stagecoach.co.uk

Trapdoor Performing Arts

Acting classes with West End actors and TV professionals. Musical theatre and dance classes also on Saturdays. Act, dance and sing in separate classes for pre-school, infants, juniors and teens across all disciplines. Celebrating 100% pass rate in LAMDA and IDTA examinations year-on-year.

☎ 01494 876487

< trapdoordrama.com

Step To It Academy

A place where shy children blossom and outgoing children sparkle. They give their students the opportunity to grow and express themselves through weekly dance and drama classes, stage shows and exams.

Sign up for a free trial today and see how Step to It can benefit your child. ☎ 07743 065766 < steptoit.co.uk

Kids Swimming Lessons

Seriously FUN Swimming Schools offer children's swim classes in: Amersham Aylesbury, Gerrards Cross, Wycombe, Maidenhead and Slough. Only 6 per class, £58 per month and 50% off your initial payment with code DISCOUNT50.

Book your swim lessons online at: < seriouslyfun.net

A confident return to work

By Lucy Baker

Having time away from work and being a ‘mummy’ takes some adjustment at first; but before you know it, you’re in the thick of motherhood and busy with your baby. After a few weeks, the idea of work becomes a distant memory and parenting routines become your new norm.

Fast forward a few months (or even years) and the time comes to face going back to work. This can conjure up all sorts of different emotions, including lack of confidence and doubts about your workplace ability. Mixed feelings are completely normal and with a bit of work on your selfbelief and confidence you will be good to go when the time comes.

Here are some ways to boost your confidence ahead of your return to work:

Share your feelings. Try to avoid putting on a brave face to please people around you. If you are struggling, talk about it. You will be surprised how receptive your family and friends are when faced with the truth.

Be kind to yourself. Accepting that life has changed is a biggy. Life is definitely different now you are a parent but it doesn’t mean to say that it is either better or worse - just different. Let’s face it, you’ve had a baby so you can achieve anything!

Explore negative thought work. This involves being aware of negative thoughts and replacing them with positive selfstatements.

Support network. It’s important to have a robust support network around you before and when you return to work. While it isn’t always easy (due to lack of family nearby, expensive childcare costs), knowing there are people you can rely on if you need them will help you feel better. Asking for help is key and although it might feel hard to do, if help has been offered, do take it.

Dress the part. This doesn’t have to mean brand new clothes and shiny new handbags; there are decent bargains to be found in charity shops and no one will know! Give yourself time in the morning for skincare, make-up and groomed hair so you look and feel the part.

Read your CV and update it. Seeing the facts down on paper really does help.

Start journalling. Buy yourself a special book to record your thoughts and set aside ten minutes a day to write with no distractions. Write down exactly what is in your head. Questions can be good prompts: ‘Why am I worried about going back to work?’ ‘Do I believe in myself?’ Freely write your answers as thoughts come into your head.

At first, journalling might feel a little odd and the words you commit to paper might not make much sense; but trust the process and literally go with the flow. There are no rules. This is your private space to reveal and log the progress of your mindset.

Lucy Baker is a self-employed mother of three and founder of coaching business, She Coaches Confidence. Read more at: < shecoachesconfidence.com

Negative thought exercise

It is not uncommon for women to bombard themselves with negative thoughts every day. But there’s hope! These CAN be turned around.

As a process, actively challenging and reversing negative thoughts has been proven to increase self-belief, self-worth, self-care and confidence.

Start a habit of writing down all your negative thoughts on lined paper, missing a line between each one. For example: ‘I hate my nose,’ ‘I feel like people will laugh at me,’ ‘I am rubbish at running,’ ‘I hate my tummy,’ ‘I am not good at talking in meetings,’ ‘I hate Zoom’ etc. If you hear more negative thoughts, add them to the list.

Then reframe each negative thought. This means working down the list, changing each negative statement to a positive one. Thus ‘I feel like people will laugh at me’ becomes ‘I feel like people will laugh with me,’ and ‘I hate my tummy’ becomes ‘My tummy produced my daughter!’

You get the idea. Now tell yourself the new positive statements, out loud, on repeat: forever.

Adult Learning

Courses and workshops for you and your family

• Languages

• Creative Arts

• Health and Wellness

• Distance Learning

• Cooking and Gardening

• Help with School and Homework

• Child Behaviour and Anxiety Support

• and many more...

Enrol today: 01296 382403

adultlearningbc.ac.uk

T: 0121 752 9750

E: berryfields.nursery@childbase.com

Berryfields Day Nursery, 6 Nimrod Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 1BD

T: 01296 432004

E: willows.nursery@childbase.com

Willows Day Nursery, Mandeville Rd, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP21 8BP

Healthy after-school snack ideas

It’s a familiar scene across the country at school pick up time. Children come running out of the classroom to greet you and instead of ‘hello’, it’s: ‘can I have a snack?’. So how do we satisfy their ravenous afterschool hunger with healthy foods? Sarah Alder shares some quick and easy ideas to hand to avoid spending a fortune on packaged snacks.

Savoury Fun Bites

Fruity

To ramp up the novelty factor, you can make a simple but tasty savoury mix and keep it in an airtight container for the kids to snack on throughout the week.

There’s one at: < bit.ly/kttrailmix you can try. Or you can mix together some dried fruit and seeds if you don’t have much prep time.

Carb Filled

Celery sticks filled with peanut butter and raisins or cream cheese and tomato are really yummy and can even be presented as a stack to make a Gruffalo log pile house!

Vegetable sticks (carrot, cucumber, pepper etc) are easy to prepare and work well with houmous. Or, for something a bit different, try bread sticks with a yoghurt-based dip or guacamole.

Not always a firm favourite with kids but fruit can be offered in different ways to keep it interesting. Think fruit salad, fruit kebabs, chopped apple, banana and grapes, berries and natural yoghurt (use frozen berries to save money and offer them year round).

Fruit smoothies are really tasty and go down well with kids, whilst homemade fruit muffins don’t even feel like fruit! See: < bit.ly/ktsmoothie

Top Tip

Think of snacks as mini meals which should ideally include a small amount of foods from different food groups to ensure your kids stay fuller for longer. This will reduce the demand for more snacks!

Don’t forget healthy cereals which make a great snack especially if paired with some fruit and milk or yoghurtthink popped rice, Shreddies, Shredded Wheat or Cheerios.

And then there’s the fun favourite –popcorn! Try popping your own and experimenting with flavours (think cinnamon, smoked paprika, Marmite.)

Think oatcake with peanut butter or cheese, toasted fruit bread or even a fruity, low sugar flapjack - there’s a great recipe at: < bit.ly/ktflapjacks

You can also serve cheese with crackers or plain scones with cheese. Great for days when the kids really need to get their teeth into something.

Sarah Alder of Kitchen Titbits is a meal planning and family mealtimes mentor who works with parents to support fussy eaters. Visit her site for lots of tips and advice and to find out about her courses and workshops. < kitchentitbits.co.uk

What’s On

What’s On

May

Monday 1 May

MAY DAY MERRIMENT

Saturday 6 May

PARTY LIKE THE KING Higginson Park, Marlow. 10am-5pm, free, big screen, kids entertainment. mymarlow.co.uk

Sunday 7 May

CORONATION CELEBRATION

High Street, Chesham. Music, market stalls, fairground rides and fancy dress! 12-6pm, free. chesham.gov.uk

CORONATION BIG LUNCH Witchell Meadow, Wendover. 1-4pm music, food and drink, stalls with games and activities. See website for details: wendover-pc.gov.uk

GREAT MISSENDEN ARTISAN MARKET

High Street, Great Missenden. 10am-3pm, free. coopersmarkets.com

SPECIAL BAND CONCERT AND PARTY

Memorial Gardens, Old Amersham. 1.30-7.30pm, drop-in, free. amersham-tc.gov.uk

THE BIG CORONATION LUNCH

High Street, Princes Risborough. 12-2pm, bring a picnic & enjoy the fun. princesrisboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk

Sunday 7 and Monday 8 May

Compiled by Katie Taylor

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May

TRADITIONAL DANCE

Chiltern Open Air Museum, nr Chalfont St Giles. Watch and take part in traditional maypole dancing. Pre-book your tickets coam.org.uk

Saturday 13 May

OPEN ART EXHIBITION

Discover Bucks Museum, Aylesbury. Stunning art created by local artists in the Museum’s first Open Art Exhibition. discoverbucksmuseum.org

SPRING FAIR

Henry Allen Nursery, Amersham. Fun for all the family: games, stalls and BBQ. henryallen.bucks.sh.uk

Sunday 14 May

BUBBLE RUSH

Drifts Limits Racetrack, Hemel Hempstead. The Fun Run with a difference…Bubbles! 5km fun run aid of The Hospice of St Francis. stfrancis.org.uk

EMERGENCY SERVICES DAY

Buckinghamshire Rail Centre, Quainton. Celebrate our Emergency Services and raise awareness for local charities. Admission £7, Emergency services personnel free. bucksrailcentre.org

May

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles. Experience traditional Elizabethan May Day dancing and merriment. Watch a display of firepower, featuring the black powder weapons of the day and a fine display of swordsmanship. coam.org.uk

TEDDY BEAR DAY- KIDS TRAVEL FREE

Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. Steaming day. Bring a bear and kids travel free. Pre-book tickets & see timetable online. chinnorrailway.co.uk

Tuesday 2 May to Sunday 7 May

KING’S CORONATION WEEK

College Lake, Tring.

Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles, enjoy a selection of British-inspired sandwiches, snacks and cakes. Come dressed in your finest attire, have your picture taken and the best dressed will win a prize! 10am-3.30pm. bbowt.org.uk

Friday 5 May

KING’S CORONATION AFTERNOON TEA

Gerrards Cross Memorial Centre. Live music from Dave Dunbar and afternoon tea with glass of prosecco. 12pm-4pm, booking required, £25 per person. To book, email: office@gxca.org.uk gxca.org.uk

TOTS GO WILD

Black Park, Wexham. Forest school for 1-5yrs. Also 12, 19 & 26 May. 10am-11.30am & 1pm-2.30pm, booking required. bit.ly/Blackpark

MEDIEVAL JOUSTING

Chiltern Open Air Museum nr Chalfont St Giles. Watch Medieval jousting and visit the living history camp. Pre-book your tickets online: coam.org.uk

Monday 8 May

BERKHAMSTED CORONATION STREET PARTY

High Street, Berkhamsted. Live music, food and drink, table & kids entertainment. Tables and chairs lining the High Street, 2-6pm, free. berkhamstedtowncouncil.gov.uk

HIGH WYCOMBE CORONATION TEA PARTY

High Street, High Wycombe. Celebrate the King’s coronation with a tea party held on the High Street. 11am-6pm, free. mywycombe.

PICNIC IN THE PARK

King George V Playing Field, Amersham-on-the-Hill. Music, children’s funfair, stalls, games, food and drink plus a children’s royal themed fancy dress parade. 12.30-5.30pm, drop-in, free. amersham-tc.gov.uk

MINI MONDAYS

Iver Environment Centre. Craft activities, trails and stories. 10am-12pm, 2-5yrs, £6.50. Pre-book online: colnevalleypark.org.uk

PITSTONE WINDMILL Ivinghoe, LU7 9EH.

A rare and striking example of an early form of post mill. 10am-4pm, adults £3, child £1. nationaltrust.org.uk

RIDE CHARTRIDGE

Chartridge Combined School, nr Chesham. 100km (8am), 50km (9.30am) or 16km family ride at 10.30am. All money raised goes to Chartridge Combined School.

Pre-register for the event online by 7 May. ridechartridge.com

Tuesday 16 May and Thursday 18 May

NATURE TOTS

College Lake, nr Tring. Explore the nature reserve and enjoy wildlife activities. 10-11.30am, 18mths4yrs. Booking required online: bbowt.org.uk

Wednesday 17 May

TERRY DEARY’S TWISTED TALES

The Elgiva Theatre, Chesham. A wild whirlwind that will leave you rolling around with laughter! 7.30pm, pre-book at: elgiva.com

What’s On Things to do, places to go and fun to be had for kids of all ages in May & June

Saturday 20 May

CHILTERNS WALKING FESTIVAL

Programme includes over 60 guided countryside walks and outdoor events led by knowledgeable guides and taking in the beautiful Chilterns landscape. For more information, see their website: chilternsaonb.org/walkingfest

DJ DAN BLAZE S.E.N.D FAMILY PARTY

Norman Bragg Studio, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. 2-5pm, pre-booking required online: atgtickets.com

DUCKPOND MARKET

The Village Green, Chalfont St Giles. Artisan market, 10am-3pm, free. duckpondmarket.com

OPEN DAY AT STEPPING STONES NURSERY

Stepping Stones Nursery, Amersham. 9.30-11.30am, free. Accepting registrations from September 2023. steppingstonesamersham.co.uk

Sunday 21 May

BUTTERFLY BIMBLE WALK

Waddesdon Manor, nr Aylesbury.

Join Helen & Douglas House for a 4km memory walk around the grounds. 11am, register in advance: waddesdon.org.uk

FREEDOM IN THE FOREST

Wendover Woods.

Ecstatic Dance and Cacao Ceremony. 10.30am-1pm, booking essential, £26.71. forestryengland.uk

OLD AMERSHAM ARTISAN MARKET

Old Amersham Broadway. 10am-3pm, drop-in, free. Also on 18 June. coopersmarkets.com

VINTAGE VEHICLE RALLY

Weedon Park, Aylesbury.

Classic car show, 10am-5pm, drop-in, adults £9, under 12’s free. chilternhillsrally.co.uk

Half Term

Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May

RAILEX 2023

Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury. Model Railway Exhibition. railex.org.uk

Saturday 27 May to Sunday 4 June

BUZZWANGLING BUDGIES

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden. Head to the craft room and help to create a room full of birds. Did you know that Roald Dahl had over 100 budgies? Colour yours and add it to the tree. Drop in throughout the day. Free with admission. roalddahlmuseum.org

COLOURSCAPE

Waddesdon Manor, nr Aylesbury. A kaleidoscopic journey, illuminated by sunlight. Book online: waddesdon.org.uk

E NORM S CR OCODI LE

Saturday 27 May to Sunday 4 June (Cont’)

THE TWITS & THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE STORYTELLING

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden. Listen to the Museum’s expert storytellers throughout the day. You’ll hear all about the Enormous Crocodile and some other fantastic animals in these energetic storytelling sessions. Feel free to join in with actions and lots of noise. roalddahlmuseum.org

Saturday 27 to Monday 29 May

CREATE A CROCODILE NEST

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden. Have a go at making a giant nest out of junk. Drop in between 10am-1pm & 1.30- 3.45pm. roalddahlmuseum.org

Saturday 27 May

TACTILE EXPLORERS

Natural History Museum at Tring. Welcome blind and partially sighted children and their families. Get hands on with real museum specimens. 11-11.45am, free, booking required. nhm.ac.uk

Sunday 28 May

ALL DAY ROVER & CLASSIC CREAM TEA OR PLOUGHMANS LUNCH Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway. Kids for a quid during the school holidays. Pre-booking required, see website for more dates and timetable: chinnorrailway.co.uk

THE GREATEST MAGICIAN Elgiva Theatre, Chesham. An Evening of Wonders that is set to leave you dumbfounded and amazed. 7pm, book online: elgiva.com

FROGFEST High Street, High Wycombe. Family music festival, live music, stalls and street entertainment. 11am-9pm, drop-in, free. mywycombe.com

Medieval Jousting 7 & 8 May and Gladiator Games 28 & 29 May at Chiltern Open Air Museum

On

Daily Holiday Activities

CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM

Nr Chalfont St Giles.

Chiltern Open Air Museum tells the history of the Chilterns through historic buildings, landscapes and culture. Pre-book tickets online: coam.org.uk

DISCOVER BUCKS MUSEUM & THE ROALD DAHL CHILDREN’S GALLERY

Aylesbury.

A space to explore, learn and wonder about Bucks. Hands-on discovery and amazing science inspired by Roald Dahl’s stories. Open every Saturday and Bucks school holidays. Pre-book at: discoverbucksmuseum.org

ODDS FARM PARK

Wooburn Common, nr High Wycombe.

Celebrate 30 years of Odds Farm Park with a jam-packed programme of party fun for guests including silly shows, games, arts and crafts and special party celebrations to mark their milestone 30th birthday. Book tickets online: oddsfarm.co.uk

ROALD DAHL MUSEUM & STORY CENTRE

Great Missenden.

Come face-to-face with Fantastic Mr Fox, measure up to your Roald Dahl heroes, pull a power pose next to Matilda and discover Roald Dahl’s famous Writing Hut. Pre-book at: roalddahlmuseum.org

RUSH UK HIGH WYCOMBE

High Wycombe

Bounce off some energy at this huge trampoline park. Choose from the available jump sessions, open jump, toddler jump and play, soft play or SEN sessions.

Open seven days a week, see website for opening times. Pre-booking advised at: rushuk.com

WHIZZ KIDZ

Why not head to Whizz Kidz in Thame, a large indoor soft play and entertainment centre that has everything you could possibly want! Open seven days a week. whizz-kidzthame.co.uk

Sunday 28 and Monday 29 May

GLADIATOR GAMES

Chiltern Open Air Museum, nr Chalfont St Giles. See a captured British Chieftan take part in the Gladiator Games and fire a mighty ballista. Pre-book your tickets online at: coam.org.uk

Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June

MAY HALF TERM FAMILY CRAFT

Discover Bucks Museum, Aylesbury. Join in an exploratory week of arts and creativity, inspired by local artists from their Open Art Exhibition. discoverbucksmuseum.org

Monday 29 May and 2 June

OPEN FOR ALL

Thomley, Worminghall. Thomley welcomes children from the wider community to play on ‘Open for all’ days. Children of all abilities can play together. 10am-3.30pm. Book online: thomley.org.uk

Tuesday 30 May

DEN BUILDING & CRAFT

Colne Valley Visitor Centre. Nature themed crafts and den building. 10.30-11.30am, £7.06, pre-book online colnevalleypark.org.uk

DISABILITY FAMILY DAY

Thomley, Worminghall. A day for disabled visitors and their families to come and play, meet new people and find muchneeded support. Open from 10am to 3.30pm. thomley.org.uk

MAKE AND SHAKE CROCODILE TAIL

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden. Make your own Enormous Crocodile tail, £4 plus admission, 5+. 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm roalddahlmuseum.org

MUGGLE-WUMP WALKS

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden. Discover how the local landscape inspired the

stories. £4 plus museum entry. Also on 2 June. roalddahlmuseum.org

TERRIFIC TUESDAY

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles. Themed crafts and activities all included in the standard admission price. coam.org.uk

Wednesday 31 May

DISABILITY FOR ALL

Thomley, Worminghall.

A day for disabled visitors and their families and disability groups to come and play, meet new people and find much-needed support. Open from 10am to 3.30pm. thomley.org.uk

DISCOVER DAHL’S ARCHIVES

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden. Find out some amazing beastly secrets from the archives. £5 plus admission, 8yrs+. roalddahlmuseum.org

ENORMOUS CROCODILE EXPERIMENTS

Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden. Try out hands-on activities and experiments. £4 plus museum entry, 5+. roalddahlmuseum.org

June

Thursday 1 June

BIOBLTIZ

Natural History Museum at Tring. Pond dipping and mini beasting. 10am-3pm, free, drop-in. nhm.ac.uk

Friday 2 June

SOUTH STOKE RIVER & PICNIC WALK

A delightful family-friendly river walk and picnic, starting from South Stoke near Goring-onThames. From 11.30am, see website for details: chilternsaonb.org/walkingfest

Book a FREE summer term class with Perform

Summer term is here and there’s no better time for your child to try Perform. Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, Perform weekly classes round off the academic year with a fun and relaxed focus on developing confidence, communication, coordination and concentration. Using a mix of drama, dance and singing, these high-energy classes for all abilities are designed to allow even the most reticent children to shine.

This term, 4-7s will be setting sail on the Jammy Dodger for an adventure with the Mermaids & Pirates. Meanwhile, 7-12s will enjoy a laugh-out-loud adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in The Dream. The curriculum has an emphasis on fun with free apps and videos to watch at home.

Classes are for all abilities and every child is welcome to try a free class in Amersham, Beaconsfield, Berkhamsted, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Tring and Wendover. Just visit www. perform.org.uk/try

Perform fun continues into the summer holidays with Wizard of Oz holiday courses in Beaconsfield. perform.org. uk/wizard. Don’t miss the Perform in the Park summer festival of children’s theatre. Visit performinthepark.uk to book.

Saturday 3 June

WYCOMBE JAZZ FESTIVAL

Wycombe Arts Centre, Desborough Road.

A unique one-day festival bringing jazz to the forefront of the community. mywycombe.com

Sunday 4 June

PRACTICAL MAP READING & WALK PLANNING

Chenies.

Learn how to use a map and plan your own walks. 1pm, £5 adult, kids free. Booking required: chilternsaong.org/walkingfest

Monday 5 June and 19 June

MINI MONDAYS

Iver Environment Centre. Craft activities, trails and stories. 10am-12pm, 2-5yrs, £6.50, pre-book online. colnevalleypark.org.uk

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June

MARLOW TOWN REGATTA & FESTIVAL

Food and drink, dragon boat racing, dog show, music & entertainment. Book online: marlowtownregatta.org

Sunday 11 June

CLASSICS ON THE CRICK

Naphill Crick, HP14 4SX.

A unique one day Charity Car Show with a wide and exciting range of cars, bikes, commercials and scooters.

Profits go to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. classicsonthecrick.co.uk

Sunday 18 June

SHOWBUS

High Street, High Wycombe. The world’s biggest bus parade! Calling all bus enthusiasts for a parade of classic and modern buses from 10am. mywycombe.com

Sunday 18 June (cont) - Father’s Day

SOAPBOX DERBY

Whitehall Park, Aylesbury. Entertaining activities to enjoy. aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk

FATHER’S DAY

Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. Travel on all train services throughout the day, optional cream tea can be pre-booked. Pre-book seats online: chinnorrailway.co.uk

Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN…LIVE

Wycombe Swan Theatre, High Wycombe. See website for show times and to pre-book: wycombeswan.co.uk

OUTDOOR CINEMA

Chorleywood Common.

Showing: Encanto, Top Gun Maverick, The Jungle Book and Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical. bit.ly/FCcinema

Saturday 24 June

A SALUTE TO OUR FORCES

The Crown, Hazlemere. Live music, military vehicles and re-enactment, Cadets bushcraft, BBQ, fly-past, tombola and raffle. 11am-6pm.armedforcesday.org.uk

ARMED FORCES DAY

High Street, High Wycombe. Enjoy live music, entertainment and live demos from ‘Emergency Service’ heroes. 11am-4pm. mywycombe.com

FEAST OF ST PETER Gold Hill Common, Chalfont St Peter. Live entertainment, fun-fair, stalls and games. feastofstpeter.org

ROCK BOTTOM

Marlow Bottom Playing Fields. Live music, food and drink, kids entertainment and fairground stalls. 12-10.30pm, adult £35, child £12. Book online: marlowrockbottom.com

Sunday 25 June

DINOSAUR DAY Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, nr Quainton. 10.30am-5.30pm, adults £13.50, child £10.50. bucksrailcentre.org

Plan Ahead ...

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE PERFORM THIS SUMMER

Perform are off to see the wizard this July and August, as kids 4-10yrs sing and dance their way down the yellow brick road in their Wizard of Oz holiday courses. With colourful costumes, uplifting songs and dazzling dancing, your child will have the best fun of the summer as they bring this story to life. Five-day courses. 10am-3pm each day. St Michael’s Church Hall, Beaconsfield. T: 020 7255 9120 /enquiries@ perform.org.uk. To book: perform.org.uk/wizard

PERFORM IN THE PARK 22 July - 28 August.

A magical festival of children’s theatre in the heart of London. Four fantastic musicals for children aged 2-14 plus evening events for teens. Set in a pop-up tent in Coram’s Fields WC1N 1DN, families can also enjoy the park with wide lawns and wonderful play areas. Bring a picnic or enjoy the charming all-day café. Tickets start at £14.50. Visit performinthepark.uk for more information and to book tickets.

Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre