FamiliesWarwickshireJanFeb2020

Warwickshire

IN THIS ISSUE WIN ... a VIP Party at Jump In, Tickets to Warwick Arts Centre, Stratford Butterfly Farm, British Motor Museum and the Model Railway Exhibition

Issue 51 January/February 2020 familieswarwickshiremag

@familieswarks

familiesonline.co.uk

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Issue 51 | January/February 2020 | Families Warwickshire

In This Issue 3 New & Views 6 Education 10 Clubs & Classes 13 Competitions 14 Theatre &

What's On

Contact details Claire Jones on 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk Cover by Liittle Beanies Photography www.littlebeanies.co.uk

Next issue: March/April 2020 Booking deadline: Fri 7 February

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WIN a VIP Party for 10 at Jump in Trampoline Park, Warwick Families Warwickshire has teamed up with Jump in Trampoline Arena in Warwick to offer one lucky reader a VIP party for up to 10 children worth £210. The award-winning party options include Crazy Glow Party and the country’s first 360-degree Interactive Dome Party. Both come complete with:

All content ©2020 Families Warwickshire Families Warwickshire is a bi-monthly magazine for parents, covering Stratfordon-Avon and Warwick Districts with around 21,000 copies. Towns covered include Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth, plus Studley, Alcester, Bidford, Henley-in-Arden, Wellesbourne, Welford-on-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour, Southam and lots of the smaller villages in between.

Families Warwickshire is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Warwickshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Warwickshire. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Warwickshire; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

Advertise with us and reach 40,000+ local parents and carers

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Check in and safety briefing Jump In socks for all guests One hour to enjoy all the Jump In facilities Dedicated party host Water whilst jumping Pizza (choice of pepperoni or Margherita) or hot dogs Plates, cups, plasticware and napkins

WIN!

Optional extras can be purchased: party bags, ice cream, popcorn, sweet pots and sweatbands.

Further details on the party packages at: www.gojumpin.com/ activities/birthday-parties?location=warwick Competition terms and conditions: Valid for any Birthday Party package (up to a maximum of 10 people) booked by 31 March 2020. Full Jump In T&Cs can be found at www.gojumpin.com/ pages/terms-and-conditions TO WIN, email your name, phone number and address to editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk and write ‘Jump’ in the subject.

DEADLINE: FRIDAY 31 JANUARY

2 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

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Mon 17th - Fri 21st February Open from 8am-6pm

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The Elderflower Fields magic grows!

Elderflower Fields is all about families trying new things and after eight years of fantastic feedback the So Sussex team are excited to take on the challenge of a second wild family adventure.

Elderflower Fields Midlands is taking place 29-31 May at the stunning rural location of Stanford Hall, Leicestershire just across the border from Warwickshire.

So Sussex are working with local activity providers, performers, nature experts and food vendors to build a rich programme of sports, arts and environmental content for children that Elderflower has become so well known for. A weekend of discovery, activity and family adventure.

Elderflower Fields is now recognised as one of the leading family festivals in the UK so expect plenty of outdoor activities from kayaking to tree climbing plus workshops in arts, sport, music and more. A weekend packed full of new experiences for all the family.

DISCOVER A WILD WEEKEND OF ADVENTURE AND INSPIRATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. PACKED FULL OF FUN ACTIVITIES, ECLECTIC MUSIC AND GREAT LOCAL FOOD & DRINK, ALL SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE. "THE IDEAL FIRST FESTIVAL FOR FAMILIES, ELDERFLOWER FIELDS IS HIP,INTIMATE & INDEPENDENT " - THE GUARDIAN

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For more info visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 01926 298 178

Wolf Run for Children Children and teenagers can get a taste of the action and enjoy wild running and obstacles at Wolf Run Junior. Open to 7 to 17 year olds and taking place on Sunday 7 June at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, the junior course is 3km long and can be completed once or twice. The Summer Wolf Run for adults takes place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June so sign up today and enjoy a fun and active weekend with family and friends in the great outdoors! www.thewolfrun.com

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Photo: Manuel Harlan

Your Top 8 Eco-Resolutions for 2020

By Claire Winter Resolutions are on everyone’s mind at this time of year. Whether you love or loathe them, there’s no avoiding the fact that they can be a great way to kickstart the New Year.

2019 was a turbulent year which saw a significant rise in eco-activism. Greta Thunberg has inspired school strikes and protests around the world. Concentrating on consuming less and being more environmentally aware has never felt more urgent.

So why not make sure your list of resolutions is focused on sustainability for this year?

Take a No-Waste Pack

Encourage the whole family to be prepared and to take a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, and canvas bag with them when they go out. Cutting down on disposable coffee cups, plastic water bottles and bags will dramatically reduce the amount you add to landfill each week.

Skip Meat One Day a Week

Research shows the drastic effects of raising cattle and other livestock on the environment. Raising meat consumes both water and land. Why not start dropping meat from your family’s diet one day each week? Start with a meat-free Monday and remember every meatless meal you consume helps the environment.

Avoid Plastic

Plastic is terrible for our environment as it needs a huge amount of petroleum to produce it. It also never breaks down and adds to the water problem the world is currently facing. Set a goal to avoid plastic as much as possible. Buy your food in glass jars and investigate local shops that offer refill services for your shopping basics - check out www.zerostore.co.uk and www.thefarmstratford.com. You can also try to buy from companies that use environmentally-friendly packaging. Ask for change, call out shops and restaurants that use too much plastic on social media by tagging Greenpeace and use the hashtag #pointlessplastic.

Install Rain Barrels

Rain barrels, or water butts, are an easy way to save water. Head to a local home improvement store or surf online stores for a rain diverter. Install to gather the rainwater from your gutter system. You can use this water during the summer for your lawns, gardens or animals; it will also help reduce your water bill.

Start a Compost Bin

Composting is a great way to reduce the amount you throw away. Composters work better in the sun as they yield the best results at high temperatures. Ensure that the compost receives heat and water and make sure to rotate the contents in the compost bin occasionally. You can fill your compost bin with lawn clippings, brown paper bags, and organic food scraps. This will help you to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil that you can use in your garden.

Avoid Wet Wipes

Wipes that are flushed away are responsible for clogging up our sewers. Even if you don’t flush them, they are another singular-use disposable that is filling up our landfills every day. If you use them to take makeup off, could you make reusable wipes from soft cotton squares that you simply wash and reuse?

Avoid Fast Fashion

Fast fashion is killing the planet. The resources needed to produce and dispose of all the clothing produced globally earns the fashion industry the title of the world’s number one pollutant. Start thinking about what you purchase. Can you buy second hand clothes or reduce the amount you are buying? Think about investing in a smaller capsule wardrobe, which contains interchangeable pieces instead of buying throwaway high fashion clothes.

Buy Seasonal and Local Foods

Consider your purchasing decisions around the food you buy for the family. Make it your new year’s resolution to only buy seasonal and local foods. If you can afford it, buy organic because fewer pollutants and pesticides are used in the production of organic food. Visit your local farmer’s market to buy soap, honey, and jewellery from the stallholders. Investigate the journey each food makes and buy goods with the shortest travel time. Do you really need asparagus or green beans from another continent?

If one girl protesting outside the Swedish parliament can start a global protest movement against climate change, we can all do our bit. Small actions undertaken by large numbers of people really can make a big difference.

4 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

The Boy in The Dress The RSC’s highly anticipated musical adaptation of David Walliams’ first book - The Boy in The Dress – is the perfect antidote to combat the winter blues. A thoroughly entertaining show, packed with fun and humour, but with a tinge of sadness at times, it tells the story of Dennis, a 12-year-old boy who’s the star striker in his school’s football team. He also has a passion for female fashion and longs to wear a dress.

His dream comes true when he becomes friends with Lisa James, the coolest girl in school who his older brother John (and most of the school actually) is madly in lust with!

In a sparkly sequinned orange dress, and disguised with a wig and beret, he heads to school with Lisa James. Needless to say, it doesn’t end well!

This heart-warming tale of celebrating being different and just being accepted for who you are is enthusiastically brought to life by an utterly brilliant cast who frequently have everyone roaring with laughter. The football matches are cleverly choreographed, and the stereotypical posh schoolboys and their glamorous mummies are an absolute hoot! The unbelievably believable dog, Oddbod, is as endearing as he is funny and has everyone in stitches. The musical score, by song writing duo Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, has plenty of catchy numbers – and Dennis’ solo If I Don’t Cry makes you want to jump on stage and give him a hug!

We are very fortunate to have a worldrenowned theatre company on our doorstep.

From ingenious sets, props and costumes to exceptional casting, the Royal Shakespeare Company brings outstanding theatre to a wide audience. Their family shows never disappoint and The Boy in The Dress is no exception – in fact, it’s quite extraordinary!

The Boy in The Dress runs until 8 March. www.rsc.org.uk

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James Carter

Calling All Young Poets and Designers The Stratford Literary Festival has just launched its annual national competition for budding young poets and creatives, with the best submissions to appear in a special Festival Collection.

Anyone aged 5 to 21 years with ambitions to write a poem and have it published has until 21 February to submit a poem of no more than 600 words on any theme. Students of design are then invited to design a cover for the collection, the winner receiving £300 and their design featuring as the cover to the collection.

Poem entries will be judged in one of three age categories: 5-10 years, 11-16 years and 17-21 years and the winner from each category will receive a prize of £100, £200 and £300 respectively. The judges include the acclaimed children’s poet, James Carter, whose books include The Big Beyond and Once Upon a Star.

The collection of winners and those most highly commended will be published in the spring and available to buy both online and in Stratfordupon-Avon Waterstones.

Does your child have

Anxiety, Stress or Challenging Behaviour?

Belinda works with children and families helping them to understand emotions and resolve problems.

Helping children with their emotions

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Air Quality is Worse Indoors

Additionally, the winner in the 5-10 year age category will receive a subscription to the Week Junior. The Week Magazine is the Festival’s media partner.

The deadline for poems is Friday 21 February, and for the book cover 28 February.

Full details at www.stratlitfest.co.uk

Putting the Children First After Separation It is always difficult when separating from a partner to put the emotions and hurt to one side and be pragmatic, but when there are children involved, it is vital that that is done. Children often worry that they are somehow to blame for the split and should be shielded from the adult dispute. Older children should not be used as sounding boards or questioned about the actions of the other parent.

Arrangements for the children to maintain their relationship with both parents need to be agreed and the parents need to be the grown-ups in the situation. It is for this reason that the Courts operate a policy of non-intervention, allowing the parents to organise arrangements to fit with their situations and so that the children can cope with them.

Think about the fact that you are going to continue to be parents to your children for all their lives and the period immediately following separation is crucial to how your

01926 650149

07486 120444

long-term relationship moves on. Don’t let bitterness to your estranged partner affect the relationship with your children, whatever the provocation.

Please contact me for an appointment to discuss your individual matter at a time and location to suit you. I am a Family Legal Executive with over 25 years’ experience and advocate dealing with matters amicably, trying to keep animosity to a minimum to ensure the long-term ability to co-parent the children. Remember, you will both want to be at their graduation/ wedding etc.

Please contact Alison Rolf of Davidson Mahon Solicitors on 01926 357555 or email alison@davidsonmahon.co.uk. Fixed fee interviews are available so that you can information gather allowing you can to make informed decisions going forward.

A new report into the state of air pollution in UK households has found that our homes are experiencing dangerous levels of indoor air pollution. The report commissioned by Clean Air Day found that nearly half of UK homes have high indoor air pollution as a result of dangerous levels of formaldehyde and other pollutants. Data also shows that outdoor air pollution adds to indoor air pollution; it builds up in the home, taking longer to disperse inside than outside.

According to the British Lung Foundation, children are particularly sensitive to poor indoor air quality as their lungs are proportionally larger in relation to their body weight than adults and immature immune systems mean they are less able to fight off any problems that arise from polluted indoor air.

Sources of indoor air pollution include smoking, faulty boilers, open fires, gas cookers and heaters, as well as irritant chemicals from new furniture, air fresheners and household cleaning products.

More info at www.cleanairday.org.uk and www.blf.org.uk

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Education opportunity, we should rephrase the praise to encourage development.

Encourage your child to talk about the struggles they encountered today. Getting them to understand that it’s okay to find a task or activity tricky is central to having a growth mindset, because that’s how we learn.

We exercise our bodies but what about our brains? Encourage your children to see their brain as a muscle that needs exercising; the more they use it the stronger it becomes.

Refer to the different things they learn as light bulbs; each time they learn a new skill, they turn on a new lightbulb. Each time they practice it, the light bulb gets bigger and brighter. All of which contribute to a stronger brain.

Encouraging a Growth Mindset in your Child

By Gabrielle Nash Children are like sponges, aren’t they? They soak up every new thing, whether it’s a new word or the latest trend. But are they learning new things in the right way? You may not have given it much thought, but the way we speak to our children can have a huge impact on how they learn.

If you’re new to the phrase ‘growth mindset,’ don’t be put off. This simple concept could help both you and your child. Developed

by Carol Dweck, an American Professor of Psychology, the ‘growth mindset’ ethos has become increasingly popular in schools globally. Dweck believed that by changing their ‘mindset’ anyone (children included) could increase their abilities and improve their intelligence solely through dedication and hard work.

Many of us battle with a ‘fixed mindset.’

For example, the belief that if we aren’t naturally good at languages, that won’t change and therefore we shouldn’t try to learn them. But by shifting to a ‘growth mindset,’ we can actually motivate ourselves to succeed.

In the last 10 years more and more schools have embraced the theory of growth mindset into their teaching ethos, not placing so much focus on the natural gifts children have but instead focussing on the work they put in.

Integral to growth mindset is the understanding that making mistakes is okay. It’s natural to encounter challenges and make mistakes when learning so many new things.

However, failure can sometimes dent a child’s confidence. By embracing mistakes and failures, teachers can give children the reassurance that it’s okay to struggle, rather than the idea that mistakes and failings are wrong.

Growth mindset means praising a child for effort and not natural talent. Teachers can adjust how they give feedback to motivate a child to continue to work hard. If a child does an impressive painting, instead of praising the child’s natural talent, the teacher can instead praise the effort, process and commitment put into creating that painting. A child that is praised solely for their natural ability may not believe that to be attainable again, so may not try. Yet a child who gets noticed for the effort they put in will feel able to repeat that success.

Tom Dobson, an education expert at Leeds Beckett University says encouraging children to take an active role in selfassessment is key to using growth mindset in schools. “Rather than the teacher telling children what they have achieved and what they now need to achieve, what we call “assessment for learning” can promote independence in pupils as they become aware of their own next steps for progress.”

When your child is struggling with something, whether it’s a physical or mental task, try to motivate them to not give up.

The mantra “try, try and try again” really can have incredible results. Not only does this develop their growth mindset but it also builds resilience, something so vital for the grown-up world.

Don’t forget though, this isn’t just for your children. If you’re facing a challenge whether at home or work, try applying some of these principles to it. You might surprise yourself whilst setting a great example to your kids at the same time!

For more parenting tips and advice, read Gabrielle’s blog @thelondonishmum

VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS

11+ VERBAL REASONING VOCABULARY FLASH CARDS Expand your child’s antonym and synonym knowledge and achieve a higher 11+ score A comprehensive vocabulary resource with child-friendly definitions and a list of synonyms www.vocabularyflashcards.co.uk

Growth mindset can be used at home too. There’s a tendency in modern parenting towards overpraising children, to protect them and their precious self-esteem.

While it is important to be positive, the growth mindset theory suggests that instead of heaping praise at every

6 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

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180 x 130 Junior School All Round and Open Morn March 2020.qxp_Layout 1 09/12/2019 14:49 Page 1

Education

An Outstanding Education and...

So Much More Independent boys’ school (7-11 years)

Part of the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation

01926 776414 | admissions@warwickschool.org | www.warwickschool.org

WHAT INVESTMENT OPTIONS DO I HAVE FOR MY CHILDREN? You may have a cash lump sum or you may want to invest from your income. We have a range of investments that could be used to give your children a flying start in life including: JUNIOR ISA Invest up to £4,368 per child each tax year, with no UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax on any growth. At 18 the child can choose to continue with the investment or take out some or all of the money.

JUNIOR PENSION Invest up to £2,880 per child each tax year and HMRC will top this up with a further £720 to give an investment of £3,600. This is a longterm investment, designed to give children a head start. As they reach their 20’s and early 30’s, when they should be starting to think about a pension, they will already have a fund they can build on.

You’ll be able to monitor the performance of many of your NFU Mutual investments using NFU Mutual My Investments, an efficient online investment platform available through nfumutual. co.uk. When you access the online service you’ll be able to securely see the value of your investments.

Your NFU Mutual Financial Adviser can talk you through all the options and help you make the right decisions for you and your family.

Please note the value of your investments may fall and you may get back less than you invested. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change in the future.

NFU Mutual Financial Advisers advise on NFU Mutual products and selected products from specialist providers. We’ll explain the advice services and charges.

Get in touch with your Stoneleigh office on 02476 418373 or Stoneleigh@nfumutual.co.uk to make an appointment.

NFU Mutual Select Investments Limited (No. 08049488). Registered in England. Registered office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A member of the NFU Mutual group of companies.

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Education

Crescent School Plans Additional Year Four Class in Response to Demand In response to high demand for primary school places in the local area, the Crescent School on Bawnmore Road, Bilton is planning to add a second Year 4 Class for September 2020. The move echoes one made two years ago when the then Year 4 class was split into two smaller classes, a move that has proven very successful.

Comments, Headmaster, Joe Thackway, “We are seeing an enormous amount of new house building in Bilton and the surrounding area and hope that this extra provision will be well received.

Sleep Lessons for School Children School children across Britain may be offered sleep lessons to help tackle the problem of insomnia in young people. Children and young people’s sleep is being seen as an increasingly important issue. According to the British Medical Journal, there is increasing evidence emerging that lack of sleep has a major impact on children’s mental and physical health, as well as learning. A recent study by the BMJ suggests that sleep has a greater impact on an adolescent’s mental wellbeing than bullying, physical activity and screen time.

The sleep lessons are aimed at children aged 7 to 16 and are available as part of the PSHE curriculum. The lessons focus on giving children strategies for falling asleep and raising awareness of how sleep needs change in adolescence. Experts say the increase in sleep problems is down to a combination of higher obesity levels, excessive use of social media before bedtime and a mental health crisis among young people. www.pshe-association.org.uk www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk

Nursery

“The two smaller classes of up to 20 pupils each will benefit from reduced class size and tailored input from our experienced class teachers and subject specialists at a key point in their journey towards the 11+ exams and independent school entrance exams.

We have seen the educational benefits of this before and plan to replicate it in 2020.”

Prospective parents who would be interested in a Year 4 place for their child in September 2020 are urged to contact Mrs Helen Morley, the Registrar, on 01788 523851 or email admissions@ crescentschool.co.uk to register their interest.

Part of the Princethorpe Foundation, the Crescent is a coeducational independent day school for around 160 children aged 4 to 11 years. Traditionally one form entry, class sizes range from up to 20 pupils for Reception to Year 2 to up to 24 for Years 3 to 6. www.crescentschool.co.uk

See page 10 for details of Open Events at our local independent schools.

Reception

Open Morning Saturday 7 March, 9.30am – 12noon

Apply now for September 2020

To confirm your attendance: www.warwickprep.com/eventbooking admissions@warwickprep.com | 01926 491545 | @warwickprep An Independent Day School and Nursery for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-11

8 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

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Education

Crackley is wonderfully supportive and nurturing.

Our pupils really care about their learning and each other; they make excellent progress whilst having fun. Working me here is such a pleasure for me.

Susan Glen-Roots – Crackley Hall Assistant Head.

A little school with big ambitions The Crescent School in Bilton, Rugby is a little school with big ambitions.

Our dedicated staff pride themselves on really knowing our pupils well and bringing out the very best in all of them.

Since joining The Princethorpe Foundation there have been some exciting developments. Come and see our improved facilities, meet our Headmaster Joe Thackway, and hear our plans for the future.

To find out what a Crackley education could do for your child come to our Open Morning on Saturday 7 March 2020 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Or join us for our Open Evening on Tuesday 12 May 2020 from 5.00pm to 7.30pm.

For information call 01926 514410 or visit crackleyhall.co.uk #crackleyandme

Crackley Hall School An independent school for 4-11 year olds

A Princethorpe Foundation School. Registered Charity Number 1087124.

To find out how a Crescent education could benefit your child, come along to our Open Morning on Saturday 21 March 2020 from 9.30am to 12.00pm. Or join us for our Open Evening on Tuesday 5 May 2020 from 5.00pm to 7.30pm.

For information call 01788 523851 or visit crescentschool.co.uk #littleschoolbigambitions

Crescent School

An independent school for 4-11 year olds

A Princethorpe Foundation School. Registered Charity Number 1087124.

Assessment Days Year 3 – Tuesday 14 January Year 5 – Wednesday 15 January To confirm your attendance: www.warwickprep.com/eventbooking admissions@warwickprep.com 01926 491545 @warwickprep An Independent Day School and Nursery for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-11

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Independent Schools – Contact Details and Open Days Arnold Lodge Leamington Spa (Ages 4-18) T: 01926 778050 E: info@arnoldlodge.com www.arnoldlodge.com Thurs 16 Jan, 10.30am-12pm: Teddy Bears’ Picnic (for 2020-2022 entrants)

Bilton Grange Rugby (Ages 4-13)

T: 01788 810217 E: admissions@biltongrange.co.uk www.biltongrange.co.uk

The Kingsley School Leamington Spa (Ages 3-18) T: 01926 421368 E: registrar@kingsleyschool.co.uk www.thekingsleyschool.co.uk

PREP AND JUNIOR SCHOOLS Bablake Pre Prep Coventry T: 024 7622 1677 E: bablakepreprep@bablakejs.co.uk Sat 25 Jan, 10am-12pm: Open Morning Bablake Junior School Coventry T: 024 7627 1260 E: jhmsec@bablakejs.co.uk www.bablakejuniorschool.co.uk Sat 25 Jan, 10am-12pm: Open Morning Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery Kenilworth T: 01926 514444 E: post@crackleyhall.co.uk www.crackleyhall.co.uk Thurs 23 Jan, 10am-3pm: Open Day Sat 7 Mar, 10.30am-12.30pm: Open Morning

Crescent School Rugby

T: 01788 521595 E: post@crescentschool.co.uk www.crescentschool.co.uk Fri 24 Jan, 10am-3pm: Open Day

The Croft Preparatory School Stratford-upon-Avon T: 01789 293795 E: office@croftschool.co.uk www.croftschool.co.uk Henley Montessori Primary and Merrydays Montessori Nursery Henley-in-Arden

T: 01564 792427 E: helen.everley@henleymontessori.co.uk www.henleymontessori.co.uk

King Henry VIII Prep School Coventry

T: 024 7627 1307 E: admissions@khps.co.uk www.khviii.co.uk Thurs 6 Feb, 9.30am-12.30pm: Open House

Stratford Preparatory School Stratford-upon-Avon T: 01789 297993 E: secretary@stratfordprep.co.uk www.stratfordprep.co.uk Warwick Preparatory School Warwick T: 01926 491545 E: admissions@warwickprep.com www.warwickprep.com Sat 7 Mar, 9.30am-12pm: Open Morning Warwick School Warwick T: 01926 776400 E: enquiries@warwickschool.org www.warwickschool.org

SENIOR SCHOOLS Bablake Senior School Coventry

T: 024 7627 1200 E: info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk www.bablake.com

King Henry VIII Senior School Coventry T: 024 7627 1111 E: admissions@khviii.net www.khviii.co.uk Thurs 6 Feb, 9.30am-12.30pm: Open House

Princethorpe College Rugby

T: 01926 634201 E: admissions@princethorpe.co.uk www.princethorpe.co.uk

Warwick School Warwick T: 01926 776400 E: enquiries@warwickschool.org www.warwickschool.org King’s High Warwick

T: 01926 494485 E: enquiries@kingshighwarwick.co.uk www.kingshighwarwick.co.uk

Activities Away From School Activities that take place completely away from the school environment don’t just keep restless children busy or entertained and help working parents manage their child’s spare time, they can also offer great developmental benefits that will help them academically, physically and socially.

New Friendships

Outside of the school environment, your child is likely to make friendships with children that don’t go to their school and get used to socialising with children of all ages outside the structure of the formal school day.

Improving Life and Social Skills

Outside school activities provide an ideal environment in which to nurture social skills and confidence. Many extracurricular activities work to teach children the value of working as a team to achieve a mutual goal - a skill that will benefit them in their future endeavours.

Boosting Academic Performance

Discovering that they have a talent can give a child a new source of confidence or a passion that translates into their engagement and behaviour at school. For example, performing in drama club can improve confidence in speaking up in class and inspire creative writing. Playing an instrument will help children understand music lessons.

Building Self-Esteem

In a busy classroom it can sometimes be hard for a child to make themselves heard. Outside of school activities will give your child the chance to build their self-esteem.

Most groups or teams are more intimate than the typical classroom environment, making them less intimidating for children. Children may also be more interested than they are in their lessons and will engage more easily with the activities involved.

Positive Role Models

Sports coaches, group leaders and other responsible adults who are sharing their skills provide role models and a valuable new take on the world for children.

Happier Children

Outside of school activities promote emotional wellbeing by allowing children to work off excess energy, relax their minds, and overcome the stress associated with school life.

Chance to Shine

Outside of school activities offer your child the chance to be themselves away from the influence of their school friends. Without being judged by their peers, your child may thrive in developing a new outlet for creative, sporting or intellectual pursuits.

practicing skills and pursuing their passions.

Explore Interests and Create Broader Perspectives

When children participate in different activities, they get the opportunity to explore a range of interests which subsequently broaden their world view.

Time Management

As children get older and move on to secondary school, being able to juggle different aspects of their lives becomes increasingly important. By attending classes, clubs or activities outside of school, your child will be taking on more responsibility for managing their schedule effectively.

Sense of Commitment

Students who participate in outside of school activities develop a sense of commitment to whatever they are involved in. This is because they have to commit to them and give them their all, and this commitment starts to extend to other areas of their lives.

A Brighter Future

The skills and habits a child learns during his or her school years help to shape the kind of future they will lead as an adult. As a result, outside of school activities that promote everything from healthy-living habits, to leadership skills, good timemanagement, and better social or academic performance have plenty of advantages to offer.

Don’t Push Them

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t push children to overdo it when it comes to extra activities. It’s better for your child to choose something that they really enjoy doing and stick to it, rather than attempt numerous different activities that quickly become overwhelming, and may detract from their ability to concentrate on school work. Of course, you may also have the type of child that just wants to try everything, in which case, it may be best to let them do so and try to narrow down their commitments when you see which activities they particularly favour.

More info: www.nuffieldfoundation.org/outschool-activities-and-educationgap

Promoting Healthy Hobbies

Children with a regular activity are likely to spend less static time glued to a smartphone or screen and the interests that they develop during outside of school activities are likely to mean they spend more time

10 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

s o n g sa n dm us i c

pre-schoolers

Free

Clubs & Classes

trial!

C al lR ac h el :0 7 4 6 9 1 86 0 4 2 BilinguaSing for Newborns

Are you looking for a lovely new activity for you and your baby? BilinguaSing newborn classes may be for you! Our 'Baby Loves Spanish' classes are designed for new mums and babies from birth, and include lovely sensory activities to encourage bonding, gentle movements to ease colic and promote relaxation PLUS the benefit of early second language exposure. Baby Loves Spanish classes take place on Mondays at 2pm at Dale Street Church in Leamington Spa.

Multi-sensory music classes for babies, toddlers & pre-schoolers Call Rachel: 07469 186042 rhythmtime.net/rt228 rh y t h mt ime .ne t / R T 2 6 Dance and movement classes for little ones from 10 months old in Leamington and Warwick.

www.twirlingtoddlers.co.uk

Book a FREE trial at www.bilinguasingleam.class4kids.co.uk

Discover a Love of Music The Strings Club’s awardwinning Discovery Days are the perfect way to ignite your child’s love of music – for free! Packed full of high-quality, unmissable musical activities, your child will be inspired from the offset.

The Leamington Spa Discovery Day is taking place on Saturday 15 February from 11.30am12.30pm at Radford Semele C of E Primary School. This free event starts with a wonderfully interactive introduction to the world of string instruments by The Strings Club’s friendly and experienced team. Children will then be able to try their hands at the ukulele in the free 20 minute lesson. You’ll be amazed at what they can achieve in such a short space of time!

Places fill up very quickly so don’t miss out - book a place for you and your child today! www.thestringsclub.org/events/leamington-spa-discovery-day

Award-winning, fun-packed classes for 0-5 year olds in Leamington Spa. T: 07881 892686 www.gymboreeclasses.co.uk/warwick

Spanish & French Classes in Leamington Spa, Warwick and Coventry Music, instruments, bubbles, sensory play, dance, puppets, elements of baby massage & yoga

Book your FREE Trial Lesson mel@bilinguasing.com

07815 149877 www.bilinguasing.com

DANCE CLASSES H Southam

LoveBallet

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat

It’s been as busy as ever at LoveBallet! Last year we saw our wonderful pupils excel at their examinations in March and November. We also took 65 pupils to the Royal Albert Hall in London for a special dance performance. They performed in the Round in such an amazing iconic building - what an experience that was. We celebrated success with pupils successfully auditioning for a number of dance scholarship schemes including the Royal Ballet, Elmhurst Associates, Central Ballet, CBA at Tring and Ballet Theatre UK.

"LoveBallet is like one big happy dance family, and I love it!"

Gemma, LoveBallet pupil aged 9.

At LoveBallet, there is something for everyone, from Baby Ballet and Mini Movers from 12 months old, right up to Adult Ballet and Tap and everything in between: Musical Theatre, Cheerleading, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Acro Gym, Ballet Barre, Adult Classes, Street Dance, Boys Specific Classes, Jazz and Lyrical, Commercial and Contemporary.

Come along for a free trial and join our expanding Dance Family. www.loveballet.co.uk

familieswarwickshiremag

@familieswarks

H Leamington Fridays

H Barford Saturdays

H Cawston

ADULT CLASSES TOO!

Mondays and Fridays

H Wellesbourne Tuesdays Call Lorraine on 07921 853773 lorraine@loveballet.co.uk www.loveballet.co.uk

Promote your Clubs and Classes here and reach over 40,000 Warwickshire parents.

Call Claire on 01926 335004

11

WIN a Family Ticket to The Leamington & Warwick Model Railway Exhibition at Royal Leamington Spa College and a Hornby Junior Express Train Set Enjoy a day out with a difference. There's so much to see, including a model layout of Hogsmead-on-Sodor, a mixture of ‘Thomas’ and ‘Harry Potter’ which children can operate by themselves!

How to Beat the January Blues Once the excitement of Christmas is over and gone, it can often feel like a real struggle for the whole family to keep things fresh and lively at the beginning of a new year.

However, there are so many opportunities for you to do things together as a family - both indoors and out - that you'll soon banish the January blues!

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind…

A family read-in

When it's blowing a gale outside, there's no better way to spend an afternoon than snuggled up with a good book. For younger children you can encourage them to act out the story and show off your full range of funny faces and voices. For older children, take the opportunity to discuss what they're reading in some depth - talk about plot and characters and why they enjoy a particular type of book. Who knows, you may even inspire them to try writing their own story!

Family Bake-Off

Who doesn't love the Great British Bake Off? Those grey January days offer the perfect opportunity to get into the kitchen and bake up a storm. Let younger children indulge in some messy play with their own bowl of cake mix or a piece of pastry - don't get stressed about the mess but enjoy a real opportunity to spend some creative time together in the kitchen. For older children, encourage some healthy competition by going 'full Bake off' and seeing who can produce the best cookies or cupcakes.

Get creative in the garden

Outdoor crafts are a wonderful way to liven up the garden for pennies, using materials you can find outdoors or simply lying around the house. It's amazing how ice, berries and watercolours or food colourings can transform tap water into beautiful ice baubles to decorate the garden when set in interesting moulds. Or spread peanut butter all over the outside of an empty toilet roll holder or that piece of over crunchy toast, then roll in birdseed to create an instant feeder that the kids can hang near the kitchen or living room window. Add a bird book and they can pass a few hours identifying and logging the birds that come to visit. Just make sure they wrap up warm!

Fun in the snow

Of course, snow in January isn't guaranteed, but if it does snow you have the ideal excuse to wrap up warm and organise snowman building contests and a monster snowball fight. Kids of all ages love playing in the snow, but have you ever played tug of war?

Or tried snowball dodgeball? Once that snowman is built, try frisbeeing a hat onto

his head or play a game of pin the nose on the snowman using a carrot. And everyone can join in a simple game of tag, made a little more interesting if you're only allowed to use the footprints of the other players!

Create rock pets

The best way to blow away the cobwebs during January is to take the family for a long winter walk. It's great exercise, but it's even more fun if you make your walk an excuse to collect items for some winter crafting.

Find a talking stick

The family ticket is for 2 adults + 2 children for Saturday 7 March and the Hornby Junior Express Train Set (for ages 3-9 years), courtesy of Hornby Hobbies Ltd, will be presented at the Exhibition. Visit www.lwmrs.co.uk for more info about the exhibition.

TO WIN, email your name, phone number and address to editor@familieswarwickshire. co.uk and write ‘Trainset’ in the subject. ...................................................................................

We also have an additional 2 family tickets to visit The Leamington & Warwick Model Railway Exhibition on Sunday 8 March.

TO WIN, email your name, phone number and address to editor@familieswarwickshire. co.uk and write ‘Railway’ in the subject.

DEADLINE: SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY

Another interesting find on your walk might be a stick that transforms, with the help of some beads, feather, paint and markers, into a wish stick for younger children or a talking stick for the older members of your tribe. Talking sticks have a long history in tribal cultures as a way of allowing everyone to have their say - you can only talk when holding the stick - so, for larger families, this could be an ideal way for your children to create something that will ensure they're heard.

Look to the heavens

On a clear night, there's nothing better than wrapping up warm and heading outside to stargaze. Download an app and see how many constellations you can find and identify. Younger children will enjoy spotting stars and older ones can test their astronomical knowledge.

Have a tech-free day

Be brave and ban iPads, smartphones and games consoles for the day. Instead put out a pile of blank paper, pens and craft materials and see what your children can create. Boredom can be the best motivator for creativity.

Revive the art of den building

For younger children, provide blankets, boxes and furniture indoors while encourage older children to get outdoors and get den building in the garden or the woods. Find out who's the Bear Grylls of the family and who can create the best fantasy castle/ spaceship/dragon's belly. Den building is for everyone, so get involved!

12 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

The Big Garden Birdwatch The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from 25 to 27 January and is the largest wildlife survey in the world. The information collected helps monitor bird species in the UK, and is great fun for children.

To take part, you need to watch the birds in your garden or local park for just one hour at some point over the three days and report your results to the RSPB. You can request a FREE Big Garden Birdwatch pack from the RSPB which includes a bird identification chart and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden.

To make it fun, challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park to look for birds, or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place.

More info at www.rspb.org.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

Competitions

WIN!

COMPETITIONS (Competition Terms & Conditions will be issued on receipt of entry)

WIN a Family Day Ticket to Stratford Butterfly Farm

Win a Family Ticket to the British Motor Museum

Walk amongst some of the world’s most beautiful butterflies in a unique rainforest environment. The family ticket is for 2 adults + 2 children. The prize also includes a copy of the Children’s Activity Guide.

See the world's largest collection of historic British cars, with over 300 classic cars on display, free tours and interactive family activities. The family ticket is for 2 adults + up to 3 children.

TO WIN, email your name, phone number and address to editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk and write ‘Butterfly’ in the subject.

TO WIN, email your name, phone number and address to editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk and write ‘Car’ in the subject.

DEADLINE: SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY

DEADLINE: SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY

WIN!

WIN a Family Ticket to see ‘The Storm Whale’ at Warwick Arts Centre Benji Davies’s tender and heart-warming stories of loneliness, love and courage are brought to life in a magical piece of theatre.

The family ticket is for 2 adults + 2 children for Saturday 22 February at 11am.

TO WIN, email your name, phone number and address to editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk and write ‘Whale’ in the subject.

DEADLINE: SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY

FamilY

spring 20

Evelyn & The Yellow Birds Sat 15 Feb Age 6+

OILY CART

Gulp!

Thu 6 – Sat 8 Feb Ages 0 – 5

Sun 2 Feb Age 7+

FUEL

YORK ThEATRE ROYAL

The Storm Whale Tue 18 – Sat 22 Feb Age 4+

Warwick Arts Centre @warwickarts warwickarts

familieswarwickshiremag

The Little Prince Thu 27 – Sat 29 Feb Age 5+

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Thu 9 – Sun 12 Apr Age 3+

Box Office 024 7652 4524 / warwickartscentre.co.uk Warwick Arts Centre, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL

@familieswarks

ILLUSTRATIONS COPYRIGHT © KERR-KNEALE PRODUCTIONS LTD 1968

All Wrapped Up

ThE BOnE EnSEmBLE

Warwick Arts Centre – The region’s biggest arts and entertainment venue.

13

What's on

Theatre The Albany

The Belgrade Theatre

Little Star

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Coventry Box Office: 024 7699 8964 www.albanytheatre.co.uk Mon 27 Jan A starlit show for babies. Puppetry, music and captivating visuals to delight young audiences in an intimate, relaxed setting, making this the perfect first theatre experience. For ages 6-18 months.

Sarah and Duck

Sat 29 Feb Featuring the wonderful characters from the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies show, a fantastic blend of puppetry, storytelling and music. For all ages.

Coventry Box Office: 024 7655 3055 www.belgrade.co.uk

Days Out – places to go and things to do this January and February – including Half Term!

The MAD Museum

Stratford-upon-Avon

Housing an impressive collection of eccentric and ingenious creations.

Interact with eccentric artworks, contraptions and machines, build marble runs on the giant MAD Marbles wall. A fun place to visit for all the family. Free family activity sheets.

T: 01789 269356

Tues 28 Jan-Sat 1 Feb This magical musical stars Britain’s Got Talent 2019 finalist, Mark McMullan as Joseph and is full of unforgettable songs including Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do and many more.

www.themadmuseum.co.uk

Holes

Tues 18-Sat 22 Feb A brilliant, inventive and creative new stage show based on the multi-award-winning novel and the Hollywood blockbuster. This hit production is a thrilling and off-beat comedy adventure and is perfect for adults and children aged 8 and up.

The Slightly Annoying Elephant

Tues 25-Thurs 27 Feb This hilarious story by comedian and author David Walliams is brought to life through puppetry. After the show there will be a meet and greet with the puppets. For ages 3-8.

Hatton Adventure World British Motor Museum Gaydon

A great day out whatever the weather.

Sat 15 Feb-Sun 1 Mar

FUTURES

Fuel their imagination this half term with a range of FUTURE themed family activities. Drop into the Learning Space to design and make your car of the future using recycled materials, then light it up with LED headlights. Explore the Museum with the new family trail or join one of the daily family tours. Visit the ‘The Car. The Future. ME.’ exhibition and discover the future of transport! The ever popular Science Shows are back daily Monday 17 to Sunday 23 February exploring POWER and on Thursday 20 February, for one day only, the STEM ambassadors from MOD Kineton will be delivering ‘Rover Robots’. All activities are included in Museum admission. A family ticket is just £40 for an annual pass.

T: 01926 641188

www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk

Gulp!

Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon Box Office: 01789 403493 www.rsc.org.uk The Boy in the Dress

Sat 2 Feb A moving, magical story dripping with fun and unexpected twists and turns. A story about how to care for the world and its precious resources in an age of plastic and climate change. For ages 7+.

Evelyn & The Yellow Birds

Sat 15 Feb Travel from the Caribbean to the UK in an interactive musical adventure for the whole family. Heart-warming tale, with a live band accompaniment. For ages 6+.

Until Sun 8 Mar David Walliams’ heart-warming tale of celebrating being different and just being accepted for who you are is enthusiastically brought to the stage for the first time in a musical with all new songs from Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. A production for all the family.

Morgan & West: Unbelievable Science

Sat 8 Feb Morgan & West present captivating chemistry, phenomenal physics, and bonkers biology in this fun for all the family science extravaganza!

Wonderful Weaving

Try your hand at circle weaving, making cardboard loom coasters, woven dream catchers, and so much more! Designed for age 3+, but all welcome. Drop in. £2.50, under 2s free.

T: 024 7623 7521

www.theherbert.org

Coventry Transport Museum

Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford Butterfly Farm Stratford-upon-Avon

Come rain or shine, walk amongst some of the world’s most beautiful butterflies in a unique rainforest environment. The Minibeast Metropolis is teeming with life and home to an amazing leafcutter ant colony.

Sat 15-Sun 23 Feb

Discover where William Shakespeare was educated. Lots of fun for the family including dressing up Tudor-style, Tudor games, Medieval wall paintings and brush up your Latin with our Tudor School Master!

T: 01789 203170

www.shakespearesschoolroom.org

Children and adults can take part in our popular twice daily handling sessions and hold creatures such as a giant African millipede, African land snail and a variety of stick insects.

Fri 14 & Sat 15 Feb

Valentine’s Day

In the Discovery Zone pledge your love for the environment by making a green action promise and in return you will receive a beautiful marble heart to either keep for yourself or give to a loved one!

T: 01789 299288

Warwick Box Office: 01926 776438 www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk Sun 2 Feb A funny, magical adventure for adults and children alike about a wooden boy discovering what it takes to be a real human. Oddsocks breath fresh air into this magical tale in their own inimitable, anarchic and hilarious way.

Events and exhibitions all year round.

Runs regular art and activity sessions for pre-schoolers, as well as sensory play days with SEN sessions.

Sat 15-Sat 29 Feb (except Sun)

Meet the Mini-Beasts

Bridge House Theatre

The Adventures of Pinocchio

Herbert Art Gallery Coventry

www.transport-museum.com

All Wrapped Up

Thurs 6-Sat 8 Feb Magical characters, hilarious creatures and hidden lands are brought to life through light, shadow and music. A mischievous, wintery show for under-fives. For ages 0-5.

www.hattonworld.com/adventureworld

Housing the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles on the planet, the Museum tells the story of a city which changed the world through transport. Captivating displays, interactive galleries, and highly immersive exhibitions. Regular Mini Museum Engineers sessions for 2 to 5 year olds, Sensory Stories and Rhymes sessions, and Family Saturday sessions.

Plus workshops and activities during school holidays.

T: 024 7623 4270

Coventry Box Office: 024 7652 4524 www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Fri 14 Feb Based on Nick Sharratt’s much-loved books, follow Timothy and his telescope on three exciting adventures in a fin-tastic family musical show full of dance and music to engage all family audiences.

Fantastic day out for all the family.

Indoor and outdoor attractions and entertainment. Full programme of events plus farmyard animals, Guinea pig village, scales and tales, indoor soft play, adventure play and more.

T: 01926 843411

Coventry

Warwick Arts Centre

Shark in the Park

Nr Warwick

The Storm Whale

Tues 18-Sat 22 Feb Benji Davies’s tender and heart-warming story of loneliness, love and courage is brought to life in a magical piece of theatre. For ages 4+.

The Little Prince

Thurs 27-Sat 29 Feb A new and magical retelling of the muchloved story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the Little Prince teaches us the power of imagination, the importance of doing what we can to protect our natural world, and the true meaning of friendship. For ages 5+.

www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

Kenilworth Castle

A fantastic place to let kids run free and get plenty of fresh air. Explore the ruins and have a great day out.

Sat 15-Sun 23 Feb

Hands On With History

Discover what it was like to live, work and fight in a real-life castle. Lots of hands on fun.

T: 01926 852078

www.english-heritage.org.uk

Hill Close Gardens Warwick

A lovely place to visit. Children’s trail available. Explore the gardens and find the answers to all the questions.

T: 01926 493339

www.hillclosegardens.com

14 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

All Things Wild Honeybourne

A great day out for all the family, all year round. Lots to see and do indoors and outdoors. Wild Tots Group runs every Thursday during term time, 10.30am-11.30am.

Sat 15-Sun 23 Feb

Zoo Quest

Complete challenges.

T: 01386 833083

www.allthingswild.co.uk

Compton Verney Nr Warwick

A great day out for all the family whatever the weather. Lots of activities and special events to enjoy all year round. Woodland adventure playground, explore the galleries with an ‘art explorer’ backpack or take part in a range of craft activities during the school holidays. Tiny Tuesdays - meet other families and have fun with your little ones every Tuesday during term time, 11.30am-3pm.

T: 01926 645500

www.comptonverney.org.uk

familiesonline.co.uk

What's on Redwings Horse Sanctuary Oxhill

Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum

Open every Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon, 10am to 4pm Home to almost 90 rescued horses, ponies and donkeys. CafĂŠ and gift shop, plus the opportunity to adopt a horse. Entry and parking are free and dogs on leads are welcome.

T: 0870 040 0033

Exhibitions, events and galleries. The art gallery runs regular pre-school, after school and holiday activity sessions.

Every Weds During Term Time, 10.30am11.30am

Arty Tots

Sessions include play and simple art activities for under 5s and their carers.

Every Weds During Term Time, 4pm-5pm

www.redwings.org.uk/visiting

Shakespeare Houses In and near Stratford-upon-Avon

Museum Explorers

Have fun creating art, playing and making friends, learning about local history and discovering the secrets of our collection! For ages 5-11. ÂŁ7 per week or ÂŁ10 for 2 siblings.

Sat 25 Jan, 11am-3pm

Visit Shakespeare’s Family Homes in and around Stratford-upon-Avon. There are children’s activities to help bring their visit to life and special events throughout the year.

T: 01789 204016

Big Garden Birdwatch and Birdy Crafts

Make an apple feeder, create birdy crafts and take part in a bird spotting walk around the surrounding parks. Finishing up in the Gallery from 1pm onwards, for more birdy fun!

Sat 29 Feb, 1pm-3pm

www.shakespeare.org.uk

Royal Shakespeare Company Stratford-upon-Avon

FREE drop-in activities all year round including Dressing Up Box, Play Cart, Adventure Bags plus special events and workshops during school holidays.

T: 01789 403493

Art Cart Family Fun

Enjoy an activity from our Art Cart (which is available to use all the time). Free. Drop in.

T: 01926 74200

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/ royalpumprooms

www.rsc.org.uk/families

Swan Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon

Foundry Wood Leamington Spa

The Play’s the Thing

An urban community woodland in the heart of Leamington Spa and Warwick.

Learn about woodland habitats, wildlife conservation, traditional woodland crafts, and more. Regular Forest School sessions, storytelling, creative workshops and lots of special events.

Family-friendly exhibition for families and children aged 7+. Take a magical journey through 100 years of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon. Immersive, hands on and engaging.

www.rsc.org.uk/theplaysthething

Warwick Castle Warwick

Jaw-dropping history, magic, myth and adventure! Get lost in time in the Horrible Histories Adventure Maze. A great day out for the whole family.

T: 0871 265 2000

www.warwick-castle.com

www.foundrywood.co.uk

Don’t Miss The Leamington & Warwick Model Railway Exhibition Royal Leamington Spa College

Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve Coventry

Brandon Marsh runs regular Nature Tots sessions for pre-school children, Wildlife Watch after school clubs, plus activity sessions during school holidays, including crafts, den building and pond dipping. Learn about different animals and have lots of fun!

T: 024 7630 2912

www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Sat 7 & Sun 8 Mar Great day out for all the family. Lots to see and inspire. Model railway layouts in many scales. See Hogsmead-on-Sodor, a mixture of ‘Thomas’ and ‘Harry Potter’ which children can operate by themselves! Restaurant and refreshments. See page 12 to win a Family Ticket.

www.lwmrs.co.uk

The National Trust

Rain or shine there's always something to discover, plenty of space to run around and an outdoor adventure to be had at our local National Trust properties.

Charlecote Park Nr Warwick Charlecote's a great place to start your outdoor adventure with 50 Things To Do Before You're 11ž! Wrap up warm and be inspired by nature.

Baddesley Clinton Baddesley Clinton Try out Baddesley’s natural play trail with stepping stones, rope swings and a winding labyrinth. Follow the animal sculptures over to the woodland for an animal adventure.

Packwood House Lapworth Pull on those wellies and have an outdoor adventure. Run wild in the woodland, get stuck in and hands on with activities such as den building and tree trunk hopping.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Ryton Pools Country Park Bubbenhall

Over 100 acres to explore. The park has miles of flat, surfaced footpaths, picnic areas, lakes, two exciting adventure play areas, a visitor/education centre and a cafĂŠ. The park is dog friendly and during school holidays, there is a whole programme of events and hands on activities.

Every Wednesday, in holidays and term time, 10am-11.30am

Leamington & Warwick

Model Railway Exhibition Sat 7 - Sun 8 March 2020 Nearly New Sale

Sun 19 Jan, 2.30pm-4.30pm

Chase Meadow Community Centre Warwick Sun 2 Feb, 2pm-4pm

Kenilworth High School

Sat 29 Feb, 2.30pm-4.30pm Warwickshire College Leamington Spa Buy or sell nearly new baby and children's clothes, quality second-hand toys and baby equipment. See website for stall booking and more information.

www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

http://countryparks.warwickshire. gov.uk

Twycross Zoo Atherstone

Enjoy a family fun day out. Immerse yourself and explore the animal world any time of the year, with indoor and outdoor habitats, interactive experiences and fun, exciting encounters with over 500 animals, from 125 different species.

T: 0844 474 1777

www.twycrosszoo.org

Orienteering Events

Outdoor fun adventure navigation sport for all ages. Just like a treasure hunt, find the control points placed around the parks and woods. Suitable for beginners and experienced orienteers.

T: 01926 632189

2 +,0.3)-3(2- 3.%2*1.3 3 ,**30/2'13., +/0 #020)+-3# ,00*13 ,.3 3 /113!2/3 2/ )- $1.02,/2-03 3$1 /1. (1-0.3 3$1.03 /12. '()..)+- 3 ',*0.3 3! )*'/1-3 " 3 2()* 3

Royal Leamington Spa College

2/&)% 3 1&3$+2' 3 12()- 0+-3# 23! "3

+/13)- +/(20)+-3203&&& *&(/. %+ , !*2/1-'+-3 3#%/, .3 2-13 3 2, 13 3 120,/1'3%*, 3*2 +,03" "

Toddler Trundle

A weekly event for the tiniest of tiddlers! ÂŁ2.50 per toddler.

T: 024 7630 5592

/+(3 2(

& Nature Inspired Gift Shop

The UK’s Largest Tropical Butterfly Paradise!!

Open every Day except Christmas Day

Butterflies • Birds • Leafcutter Ants Iguanas & so much more‌.

Meet the Mini-Beast Handling Sessions throughout the school holidays Check website for events & last entry times All displays fully accessible, carers free entry

Swan’s Nest Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7LS

Tel. 01789 299288

enquiries@butterflyfarm.co.uk

www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

www.octavian-droobers.org

familieswarwickshiremag

@familieswarks

15

Buy 1 day get 12 months free*

Fuel their imagination

Wild Winter Weekends

18th/19th, 25th/26th January 1st/2nd February Complete challenges in our

ZOO QUEST

15th - 23rd February

Wild Explorers Club

*See website for details

17th - 21st February Must be pre-booked Mollie, 7.

Future Fuel Technician

All Things Wild Nature Centre, Station Road, Honeybourne.

Near Evesham, Worcestershire. Wr11 7QZ Tel: 01386 833083

britishmotormuseum.co.uk/families J12 M40, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ

BMM_Families_87x130.indd 1

28 Jan – 1 Feb

from

£15*

BOOK NOW *Ticket

18 – 22 Feb

024 7655 3055

From £15*

03/12/2019 10:20

25 – 27 Feb

Kids

from £9.50*

www.belgrade.co.uk

prices include a £1.50 booking fee. No booking fee applies if booked online.

16 Families Warwickshire 01926 335004 editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk