Families Oxfordshire March - April 2012

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FR Issue 48 • March - April 2012 • www.familiesox.co.uk

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news & views Ofsted consultation on regulation of early years and childcare

Following the recent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage, Ofsted is consulting on proposed changes to the way it registers and inspects childcare providers. The changes will coincide with the revised Early Years Foundation Stage, which the government intends to publish in September.

Ofsted is encouraging all those with an interest in early years, including those who use the services, to respond to the consultation before Friday 6 April.

More information can be found on the Ofsted website. www.ofsted.gov.uk

In this issue: News & views

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Childcare

6-7

Parenting

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School Matters

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Spring Activities

10-11

Books

12

Baby

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Work

14

Mother’s Day Olympics

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What’s on

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ONSchool – A Specialist Innovation School WIN

Editor: Felice Vermeulen Contact: editor@familiesox.co.uk Next issue May / June 2012: Birthday Parties, Maternity & Babies Copy deadline 13 April 2012 To advertise in Families Oxfordshire: Call 01235 206657 or email editor@familiesoxfordshire.co.uk Circulation: We distribute free copies in hundreds of schools and nurseries throughout Oxfordshire. If your school, nursery or parent group would like copies of Families Oxfrdshire let us know and we’ll sort things out.

Families Readers’ Panel We contact members of the Panel from time to time to ask their opinion and/or recommendations on a range of subjects from parenting to products and services. The information is used anonymously in this magazine only. In return, members are entered into a draw for a book token from Mostly Books in Abingdon.

To join email: editor@familiesox.co.uk

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Free schools are all ability, state funded schools set up in response to parental demand. A group of parents and teachers in Oxford are currently looking for support to open a new secondary school located in the south of Oxford. Oxford New School, ONSchool would open doors to boys and girls in September 2013, offering a 21st Century education built around children and the community for academic, physical and emotional success. If you’d like to find out more, contact Eylan Ezekiel, Lead Proposer @ON_School.

07709337000 www.onschool.org.uk

Join Phoenix and start earning Are you looking for a new challenge, an extended social life or just to make a little extra money? Spring is the perfect time to join Phoenix Trading and start selling a fabulous range of UK manufactured greetings cards and gift wrap. Whether you have a couple of free hours a week, would like to build a full time business or something in between, this is all possible.

The excellent quality and price of the products ensure repeat business and with no targets or minimum orders you are free to set your own challenges.

Full start up training and ongoing support is provided and your business kit will include brochures, samples, a comprehensive business manual, admin materials and a free website. If you would like to see a free, no obligation, information pack you can contact Tess Brooker or join online for only £30! the 2012 Phoenix Trading brochure is available now with beautiful cards and gifts suitable for both Mother’s Day and Easter and the March supplement has also just been released. tess.phoenix@brookerfamily.net http://tinyurl.com/6p5dqb6

MARCH / APRIL 2012

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FAMILIES MARCH / APRIL 2012

A Cracking Easter Egg Hunt!

Free community learning event

Kidmore End Pre-School’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza is scheduled for Saturday 24 March at the New Kidmore End Cricket Pavilion from 2-4pm.

The day will be full of egg’cellent fun including a walk through the woods to collect eggs, art and craft plus many more activities.

Gemma Malaperiman, chairwoman of the pre-school, comments: “The Easter Egg hunt is always popular as it’s such a great family day out. It’s also an important fundraiser for our small pre-school. With events like these, we can buy additional equipment such as gardening tools so the children can grow their own vegetables.

It’s these additional resources plus the creativity and care of the staff that secure the pre-school’s outstanding status.”

Suzi Primrose, fundraising officer, says: “Our Easter Egg Hunt is a fantastic family event that the children look forward to. It’s a wonderful community event that provides us with funds that are vital to our small preschool. This year we’re hoping to have a few surprises that will really appeal to the children. “Tickets cost £3. Call Suzi Primrose on 07769 746814.

Short-term home help While many mums would love to have a nanny, housekeeper, cook and personal assistant, the reality is that most people cannot afford such luxuries. However, there is a solution for those seeking short-term household help. Kez Luckett, owner of Mummy’s Maid says the household help she offers is not so much a luxury but a godsend for many people.

“We send out a fully vetted individual to a client’s home to take care of the cleaning, laundry, general household chores and to run errands. We also offer a child care service. An increasingly popular

option is a package for new mums, which allows them to spend time with their baby, without the worry of household chores.”

Due to the success of the business, Kez is looking to expand the Mummy’s Maid business to the Oxfordshire area. She says: “We would like to hear from capable individuals who have experience of running their own home, have childcare experience or qualifications and have a real desire to help others. In return we offer flexible working that can fit around children, retirement, or another job.

More information is available from www.mummysmaid.co.uk.

You can also send your cv or profile to info@mummysmaid.co.uk

Explore Learning is a network of learning centres providing maths and English tuition to children aged 5-14, designed to improve knowledge, confidence and enjoyment of learning. Explore Learning helps children make fantastic academic progress, whilst the vibrant atmosphere keeps them engaged and focused, making learning fun.

On Thursday 12 April there will be a range of free workshops for children in the local community who are not yet members of the centre. These workshops are a great opportunity to visit the Explore Learning centre, enjoy some interactive workshops and meet new friends. Sessions are: Charlie and Lola at 11am -12pm, ages 5 -7; Dr Who at 12:30pm - 1:30pm, ages 8-11 or Fantastic Mr Fox at 2pm to 3pm, ages 7-11.

Spaces are limited, so it’s best to call and make a reservation.

01865 595 509 www.explorelearning.co.uk

Fun Day & Chocolate Tea Party You may remember Jane Braddy, who wrote a moving story in Families Oxfordshire about the short life and unexpected death of her baby daughter Emma Kate in 2007. Emma would have been 5 years old in May this year. The family want to mark the date with a Fun Day & Chocolate Tea Party in her memory and to raise money for the people who tried to save her.

The event will be held in Stanford in the Vale Village Hall on Saturday 19 May from 12noon – 4pm. Proceeds to Great Ormond St Hospital Cardiac Critical Care and The Sick Children’s Trust, with 10% each to support Stanford School and Pre-school. http://funday.braddy.net

COMPETITION WINNERS Are we nearly there Yet Mrs Helen Sharman, Thame Louise Carson, Wallingford Helen Walters, Witney

Pegasus Baby Boogie Rachel Matthews, Wantage

CONGRATULATIONS! MARCH / APRIL 2012

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news & views SHREK WINNERS The Halliwell family from Gloucestershire were the winners of the Families Shrek Musical competition. They enjoyed a fairy tale weekend in London worth over £1,000. A delighted Liz Halliwell wrote to say “… thank you to Families magazine for our fabulous prize! We've just had the most amazing weekend in London. Shrek was absolutely brilliant, Poppy and Tom were thrilled with their Shrek ears and thank you for the rest of the goody bag. We had a lovely meal at the Rainforest Cafe surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle. We felt so lucky to be able to stay in the hotel, and then to have the London passes was great. I feel so overwhelmed at how much we've packed into one weekend, we've come home exhausted but really happy! So thank you very, very much. ”

Arboretum Explorers’ Backpacks From April, you can borrow one of the family-friendly backpacks at the Harcourt Arboretum near Nuneham Courtenay, and a world of exploration and investigation will open up to you. Use the activities inside to help focus your walk around the 130 acre site. This year they have two brand new backpacks: “Looking” and “Measuring”.

They are packed full of ideas to help you get the most from your visit to the Arboretum and are available on a first-come first-served basis. Free with entry to the Arboretum. 01865 343501 www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk

Wear A Hat for Brain Tumour Research - 30 March ‘Wear a Hat Day’ is an annual awareness day which encourages people to make donations by wearing a hat to school or in the office.

This year Brain Tumour Research is also encouraging students and workers nationwide to challenge their ‘head’ to wear a hat for the day.

Sue Farrington-Smith, Director of Brain Tumour Research, comments: “Brain Tumour Research receives less than 1% of national cancer research spending in the UK yet the deadly disease kills more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer. ‘Wear a Hat Day’ is a fun way of increasing awareness and getting people raising money for an often overlooked form of cancer”.

Brain Tumour Research has recruited the help of Kate Langrish-Smith, crowned ‘Young Hat Maker of the Year 2010’, to develop the official range of campaign hats. Instructions to make your own bespoke hat will be

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European Education A new publication “Schools for the Future of Europe” exploring the emergence and application of European education has been launched at a recent seminar in Oxford.

The book reviews what Churchill called “Europeanism” for schools, together with all the various initiatives that have been set up to counteract monolingual restrictions. This is a topic of particular importance in the UK, given that language education continues to fail. Edited by two Trustees of the English Trust for European Education, Lynn Erler and John Sayer, both Research Fellows at the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education, the book provides a starting point for discussion not just on this issue but on the future of education.

According to Baroness Quin, former Minister

Schools face no-notice Ofsted inspections

By Joanna Parry From Autumn 2012 schools will face inspections without being given notice, Ofsted chief announces. Sir Michael Wilshaw, HM chief inspector, said the move was a "logical" progression, adding that it was vital the public had confidence in inspections and that inspectors must see schools “as they really are in the corridors, classrooms and staffroom”. Interviewed by the Press Association, Sir Michael said the introduction of new guidelines offered a "good opportunity" to cut the notice period given to all schools, not just those causing concern.

This comes after new worries that some schools were using tactics such as sending less successful teachers and unruly pupils available to download from the website alongside another downloadable PDF which will allow you to create your own hat simply out of paper.

Philip Treacy, celebrity hat designer and patron to the charity, comments: “Fashion is a feeling and a mood and

for Europe, the book is “A thorough and detailed review of European educational initiatives together with interesting insights from a variety of contributors ... with emphasis on the economic and cultural benefits - both for individuals and for countries - of learning foreign languages...”

The English Trust for European Education (ETEE) is a charitable organisation for the development of multilingual European Education in Britain. The Trust’s main objective is to support the establishment of schools in England that provide multilingual European education, as well as supporting teachers and educators keen to encourage the diffusion of multilingual education.. www.etee.org.uk home when inspectors were visiting. The "great majority of schools conduct themselves properly", Sir Michael said, but added that if there is any thought that a school is not, Ofsted must address it.

However, school leaders revealed they had "real doubts" that the move would improve inspections, raising concern that the change had been announced without consulting headteachers. Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "We welcome moves to improve the effectiveness of inspection, but I have real doubts that nonotice inspection will accomplish this. An effective inspection system is based on mutual trust and respect, not the premise that schools are trying to 'cheat' and need to be caught out.” therefore how better to express your passion and commitment to a subject such as brain tumour research than by wearing a fantastic hat?” Philip has also contributed to the campaign by providing an image of a hat that he has designed for an exclusive badge that will be available as a limited edition. www.braintumourresearch.org

MARCH / APRIL 2012

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FAMILIES MARCH / APRIL 2012

Adventures with sticks - 31 March

Photographs Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks

In their latest book, Oxfordshire-based Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield offer masses of ideas for things to make and do with a stick in the way of adventures and bushcraft, creative and imaginative play, games, woodcraft, conservation, music and more.

The authors of the well-known Going Wild series keep finding inspiration and ideas for their books by sharing combined adventures with their own families and the mutual belief in the importance of giving children and young people the freedom to enjoy outdoor adventures.

To help you create stick adventures with your children you can go along to College Lake nature reserve near Tring on Saturday 31 March, where Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield are hosting a day of wonderful things to do with sticks. So why not get out and go wild with your children this spring using The Stick Book as your guide. Make a woody crown, or a bug hotel, make up woodland games, create scary monsters and pretty fairies.

Adventures With Sticks is open from 11am to 3pm. There will be story-telling, face painting, and of course, lots of things to make with sticks going on all the time. You can drop in whenever you like.

College Lake nature reserve on Upper Icknield Way, Bulbourne is run by the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust.

Go to www.bbowt.org.uk/reserves/collegelake for more information. See also: www.goingwild.net The Stick Book, Loads of Things to Make or Do with a Stick

by Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks is published by Frances Lincoln www.franceslincoln.com

MARCH / APRIL 2012

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Childcare HOW LOVE CHANGES CHILDCARE

Photo: sdenness www.fotolia.com

Joanna Moorhead reveals the secret ingredient in childcare and explains how Ofsted has caught on to it as well.

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f 18 years of organising childcare for my children taught me anything at all, it’s this: you can pay someone to look after your kids, but you can’t pay someone to love them. What this means – or at least, what it means to me – is that when and if someone comes along who actually does love your kids, hold onto them for all you’re worth; because they are literally priceless in your family’s life.

For me, the wonderful carer who really did love my daughters was Linda, who looked after them (and sometimes me as well) for eight years. She arrived in our family’s life when my eldest child was two, and she stayed until the birth of my fourth. When she left, she said it was because she didn’t want to fall in love with another of my babies – because then it would be too hard to leave, and during the time she’d been working for us, she and her husband had moved further out of town.

Across the years I reckon I’ve paid at least 20 different carers to look after my children – and I still occasionally have to find childcare for my youngest daughter, who is nine. I’ve searched for – and found – carers for tiny babies, and for older (and not always very easy) pre-schoolers. I’ve found nurseries for some of my children, and I’ve had au pairs from time to time.

None of the carers in our family were as much a part of our team as Linda was, and none of them loved my children as much as she did (she still comes back to see them, several years on); but the more the carer

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engaged with, and enjoyed, whichever child or children she was looking after, the happier the children were. So I have no doubt at all what matters most in choosing a childcarer. Look for someone who makes your child happy, pure and simple. Look for someone your child looks forward to being with, and is happy to share his or her days with.

Often – or so it has sometimes seemed to me – parents are too ambitious in their hopes for a childcarer; and ironically, this means they end up getting a raw deal for their child. They want a carer who, as well as looking after their child, will also

under new plans, inspectors will concentrate instead, in the future, on whether children feel loved and emotionally secure manage to make the beds and iron the laundry and leave the kitchen spotless at the end of the day. And of course, if you’ve been out at work since dawn and you’ve got another tough day tomorrow, tidiness does matter – because in order to enjoy a bit of time with your child, you don’t want to have to start ploughing through the washing up. But expecting too much ‘round the edges’ from a carer means your child can miss out: because it’s that primary relationship between the nanny, or mother’s help, or childminder, that matters more than anything else.

Interestingly, Ofsted recently came to the same conclusion. In recent years, the main thrust of an Ofsted check on a nursery or childminder has been on safety issues, especially safeguarding ones. But under new plans, inspectors will concentrate instead, in the future, on whether children feel loved and emotionally secure while they’re in the nursery or childminder’s home, and will look at children’s personal development, such as how ready they are to share and to take turns, and how well they engage with the other children around them.

The plans are out for consultation until April, but they’ve already received a warm welcome – because of course they make perfect sense.

I’d also say, looking back over my many years of employing childcarers, that – strangely enough – the carers the kids would have chosen were unfailingly the ones who were most successful in our family. The litmus test of a childcarer’s abilities is, at the end of the day, whether your child would choose to be with that person (assuming you aren’t available which, of course, you’re not).

For this reason, it seems a bit odd to me that parents sometimes report feeling jealous of the feelings their child has for their childcarer. No carer is ever going to replace a parent, but surely the very best accolade for the choice you’ve made for your children is if your replacement is the next-best person in their life? Ideally, a MARCH / APRIL 2012

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And all in all, my daughters have laughed a lot, and enjoyed their time, and improved their social skills through their attachments and their relationships with the people who’ve cared for them. Like every working mother, I owe all these people who’ve backed me up through the years a huge debt of gratitude: because we all need to know our kids are safe and happy in order to do our jobs. So, follow your instincts is what I’d say: find someone your child really likes being with, and a carer who clearly enjoys being with your child. If you’re very, very lucky, you may even find someone to love him, or her; and then you’ll truly have hit the jackpot.

Childcare: your options There’s lots to think about when you’re weighing up which sort of childcare to go for. Do you want your child looked after at home, or somewhere else; with other children, or one-to-one with a carer? You’ll also need to consider what sort of care will dovetail with your working hours; plus (and all-importantly) your budget.

A nursery: usually open long hours, typically from 7am to 7pm. You need to think about how you’ll get your child to and from nursery; also, if you intend having another child soon, remember that having two children at nursery will double (or almost double, if there’s a sibling discount) the costs. Expect to pay: £30-50 a day A childminder: looks after up to six children (three of whom can be under five) in her own home. Childminders can often be flexible about working hours. Expect to pay: between £3 and £8 an hour.

Photo: www.fotolia.com

carer should resemble a much-loved family member – depending on what sort of carer they are, and what sort of age they are. So in my family, Linda was a ‘granny’ figure (although she was only ten years older than me, and a very glamorous granny when she first arrived at our door, aged just 40); we’ve had Czech and Polish au pairs, usually shared with other families, who have had a big-sisterly relationship with my daughters; and we’ve had carers in nurseries who have been like favourite aunties.

An au pair or mother’s help: au pairs or mother’s helps tend to come from other EU countries, and may or may not live in your house. They’re often not trained, but will need to have some experience of childcare; they look after your children, and may do some housework as well. Expect to pay: between £6 and £8 an hour for a live-out, less if they’re live-in and you’re providing food.

Childcare pitfalls .: Don’t be vague with your carer about what you want/need. But once you’ve spelt out what you need, be prepared to trust her to provide what your child needs when she’s in charge, within the boundaries you have set .: Don’t enter into a childcare arrangement unless you’re certain that the logistics work.

Any niggle about practicalities is likely to grow much, much bigger as time goes by .: Don’t forget to trust your instincts. Never ignore any nagging doubts about a carer’s suitability – explore the doubts instead, because you need to be completely sure that all is well when you’re not around.

A nanny: looks after your child in your own home, and may live in or live out. You can cut your costs, and give your child a playmate, if you share a nanny with another family with a similar-aged child.

Expect to pay: between £7 and £10 an hour, plus you’re responsible for your nanny’s tax and NI contributions.

MARCH / APRIL 2012

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Parenting THE CUTENESS OF TANTRUMS

By Helena Foss

Lying in bed that night, still stunned at just how hellish my afternoon had been, it dawned on me that I had been giving into everyone’s wants apart from my own – and lost my sense of self in the process. It was indeed mortifying to mentally assess just how resentful towards my family I had become; how relentless everyone’s needs felt upon me. My son had given me the gift of reflecting back just how secretly angry I was at myself, for relentlessly ignoring my own needs.

The art of good taking good care of oneself, as well as our children, I have found, is being able to set ground rules as a matter of fact. ‘This is Mummy time’ has to be said in the same straightforward manner as ‘the grass is green’. It is just how it is; no need to defend it with barbed wire and machine guns. As a friend of mine likes to say, ‘once everyone in the family knows their place, even the dog and the cat, we can all relax.’

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elentless: That is the word I tend to mutter when I’m stomping around in a grumpy haze, steadying myself on walls and furniture, hand clamped onto forehead, begging the powers that be for strength as I surrender to the teethclenching exasperation that sometimes constitutes motherhood.

‘It’s just relentless.’ I hiss to myself.

‘Relentless! Why did no-one tell me just how damn hard this parenting thing was going to be?’

Actually, mothering is only really relentless when I am not quite rising to the challenges it is chucking at me. And the last few months, dear readers, I have mostly been struggling with: boundaries. Ah yes, that old brick wall that children just love kicking against, for as long as they possibly can, until their little metaphorical feet hurt too much to keep going. What is it with little ones? Why do they give us such a hard time? I mean, where is their respect?

Losing It Not long ago I found myself in that awful position of being the kind of mother I thought I would never be, losing my rag as I attempted to manage an all-guns-blazing tantrum, smack bang in the middle of town, at rush hour. Reasoning was not getting anywhere. Neither was shouting. In the end, I had to grab my boy by the scruff of the neck and yank him onto a bus, holding him at arms length to avoid his attempts to scratch me. Determinedly ignoring the bus full of tut-tutting

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commuters, I pulled him and his flailing limbs upstairs and mercifully found a place right at the back for him to howl himself into exhaustion. Not my finest hour.

I really thought I knew about boundaries.

Not only do I have a background in therapy, hey, I watched almost every episode of BBC3’s ‘The House of Tiny Tearaways’ with child psychology expert Professor Tanya Byron at the helm. The theory is great; but practically speaking, I had no idea how tough it would be to draw that all important line without resorting to threats, bribery or a big stick.

With the jigging motion of sitting on the back seat of that bus starting to calm us both down and normalise my blood pressure, I noticed that my internal dialogue was sounding horribly judgemental: ‘After all I have done for you,’ my inner embittered doormat moaned, ‘you ungrateful little...’ Cue the scratchy sound of a needle veering off an old vinyl record.

‘Noooooo!’ I yelled inwardly, sitting up with a jolt as if waking up out of a nightmare. This was not the person I ever wanted to be.

The Blame Game See, I know that blame is the easy option.

The popular American family therapist Dr Phil insists that you have to teach people how to treat you. In fact, it is your job to point out when people are taking you for granted. But this takes courage, tenacity and, importantly, respect for oneself. It means giving up the niceness and need-tobe-needed so prevalent in the female conditioning.

Cute Tantrums ‘You know, when I think back to those days of tantrums,’ a mother of several teenagers reminisced to me recently, ‘I actually think it was really cute.’

Cute?! It took me a while to get my head round that one. Children’s little brains, I have to remind myself, are not wired for considered, rational behaviour. If they want something they want it. Now. Not having it can bring on a full-blown grief reaction. As overt as they are with their sadness, they are with their happiness and love too. There is nothing quite like my son running up to fling his arms around me when I walk through the door, after nipping to the corner shop.

The other week, my son’s school nursery teacher told me she had asked the class if anyone knew what a tantrum was. My boy’s hand, apparently, shot up. ‘A tantrum,’ he said solemnly as he stood in front of the class, ‘is when you just pry and pry and pry.’ (He hasn’t got the hard ‘c’ sound nailed in that particular word just yet). The discussion opened up and, one by one, the faces of his nursery chums lit up. ‘Oh yes,’ they chimed, ‘I do that sometimes too!’ And: ‘So do I!’ A four-year-olds tantrum support group!

Awwwww. Now that really is cute.

Helena is a hypnotherapist and writer about all things holistic and spiritual. www.helenafoss.co.uk MARCH / APRIL 2012

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School matters A Record Year for Our Lady’s Abingdon OLA (Our Lady’s Abingdon) celebrated record results last year. The A Level pass rate was 100% with 87% A*-B grades, and at GCSE 51% passes at A*/A and 81% A*/B. The Principal, Mrs Lynne Renwick, said “We are thrilled by this excellent level of achievement.

The boys and girls of OLA’s first co-educational cohort have worked consistently and deserve the excellent grades achieved”. OLA pupils’ sporting success continues both in and out of school. The U13 Tennis squad represented Oxfordshire in the AEGON national schools’ competition quarter finals, coming second in the tournament, and Yr 11 student Rebecca James became South West Regional Triathlon Champion. In December, 25 pupils, parents and staff donned their Santa suits to take part in Oxford’s annual “Santas on the Run” event and raised more than £2000 for Helen & Douglas House.

OLA had already achieved “outstanding” for pastoral care and extra-curricular activities in the ISI Inspection, by catering for “the whole child” from Nursery to Sixth Form.

01235 524658 www.olab.org.uk

Cokethorpe’s Arts Academy Cokethorpe School launched their new Arts Academy last term, offering pupils the opportunity to supplement the School’s diverse Performing Arts programme with Saturday workshops in either drama or music. Thirty pupils attended the termly academy, where they honed their dramatic or musical skills and furthered their experience of the expressive arts. As well as engaging in theoretical and practical work, the sessions encompassed workshops led by musicians and actors working in the industry.

The pupils’ hard work culminated in a final spectacular showcase, and those enrolled on the drama course also took a formal and nationally respected LAMDA examination.

initiative has proven so popular that places on the academy are booked up until the end of the year.

01993 703921www.cokethorpe.org.uk

SCHOOLS’ OPEN DAYS CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL SCHOOL Tues 20 Mar 9.30 am to 12 noon 01865 242561 www.cccs.org.uk

COKETHORPE SCHOOL Open Evening: Wed 9 May 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm Junior School Assessment Day: Tues 22 May 01993 703921 www.cokethorpe.org.uk

FERNDALE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Open Morning Sat 24 Mar 09.30 am – 12 noon 01367 240618 www.ferndaleschool.co.uk

HEADINGTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL Open Afternoon Mon 10 Oct 2 pm – 3.15 pm 01865 759400 www.headington.org

D’OVERBROECKS LECKFORD PLACE Open Evening Tue 12 Jun 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm 01865 302620 www.leckfordplace.com

MAGDALEN COLLEGE SCHOOL Open Afternoon Tue 13 Mar 2 pm - 4 pm 01865 242191 www.mcsoxford.org

THE MANOR PREPARATORY SCHOOL Open Morning Thu 1 Mar 9.30 am – 11.30 am 01235 858462 www.manorprep.org

Year 10 pupil Katie Buckley commented: ‘It was a great way for pupils from different year groups at the school to work together and share their enthusiasm for the arts’. The

OUR LADY’S ABINGDON

Headington Preparatory School is buzzing with activity

Hospital where they learned CPR and how to put people into the recovery position.

Pupils at Headington Preparatory School in Oxford enjoyed an action packed week before the February half term holiday.

The wide range of activities culminated in the Festival Francais during assembly when 11 girls from years 4 and 5 collaborated to produce a French sketch, Les Infos. During this OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL piece of drama two newsreaders introduced the personalities behind the stories of the day, Open Day Junior School Thu 17 May times TBA including members of the European 01865 559888 www.oxfordhigh.gdst.net Parliament, a weather presenter and judo players. 01865 759861 RADLEY COLLEGE www.headington.org/prep 1 Nov deadline for entry, assessment day in Dec 01235 543174 www.radley.org.uk

The special week of activities had a strong musical theme. It included an African drumming workshop, a visit from the cast of the unique musical Stomp and a Mexican workshop.

Pupil Annie particularly enjoyed the Stomp workshops. She said: "Every minute there was something fun to do and see. I enjoyed playing the dustbins. I'd never done that before!"

The whole school was involved in the activities week, with pupils visiting the Pitt Rivers and Ashmolean Museums in Oxford.

Year 6 pupils went to the John Radcliffe

MARCH / APRIL 2012

Open Morning Fri 9 Mar 9.15-11.45am OLA open for Oxfordshire Artweeks in May - please ring 01235 523147 for timings Open Morning Sat 13 Oct 10 am - 1 pm 01235 524658 www.olab.org.uk

RYE ST. ANTONY Wed 19 Sep Open Day please contact Liz Cheeseman or Fern Saxton in the School Office, and Liz or Fern will put arrangements into place for you 01865 762802 www.ryestantony.co.uk

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Spring activities

CLUBS & CLASSES  CLUBS & CLASSES  Stagecoach , The King & I “A huge thumbs-up to the King’s children – all played by students of the Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools in Oxford, Bicester and Abingdon”, was the Oxford Times’ review of the young performers in King and I at the New Theatre in February. The 32 young cast members age 5 – 16 were very proud to be a part of such a pace setting cast headed by Josefina Gabrielle and Ramon Tikaram.

“Even our youngest students rose to the challenge and gave a heart-warming performance” said Stagecoach principal Maya Sprigg. “We have some great talent at Stagecoach. It’s no small thing for such young children to stand on stage delivering lines with such gusto.”

The ‘Red’ team of young performers with Josefina Gabrielle (Anna) and Ramon Tikaram as the King.

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News classes for Tiny Tigers

New Nature Tots

Due to rising demand, new Tiny Tigers classes have started on a Wednesday in Abingdon and one in Marcham on a Tuesday. Owner Ben Richardson from Can Do Martial Arts says: “We really have a unique offering for children with our Tiny Tiger Karate programme that we have spent the last 12 months redeveloping.

Tiny Tiger Karate develops the student’s emotional intelligence and physical ability. We are delighted with the increased popularity of the classes in Oxfordshire and proud to be at the forefront of child development.”

07989 949226 www.candomartialarts.co.uk

Nature Tots is a new drop-in play session for toddlers and their mums, dads, or grandparents to have fun and explore the natural world. The weekly sessions are held at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre, near Didcot on Thursdays between 10am and 12 noon.

“Last week we were doing mud painting, looking for worms and playing in the sound garden,” says Chris Donaldson, Nature Tots leader. “We spend a large part of each session outside. Outdoor clothes and wellies are a must.” The centre is run by the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust and is set on an 18 hectare nature reserve. Donations of £2.50 per family requested. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

01235 862024 http://tinyurl.com/BBOWTRUST

Franz Christian Pauyon, age 7, was also asked to play the role of a young Buddha in the Siamese version of ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’.

“I had to sit very, very still. It was wonderful though and I want to be an actor when I grow up.” Said Franz.

Performance opportunities abound, with the Stagecoach holiday shows coming up during the Easter and Summer holidays.

These include ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘The Pied Piper of Hambleys’ at the Theatre at Headington in April, and the Summer youth theatre event ‘Hairspray’, with ‘Little Red Hoodie’ for the juniors. The show weeks are ideal for all young actors and a great opportunity to stage a show in a professional theatre.

Stagecoach provide theatre skills in singing, dance and drama, which promote confidence and build communication skills in a fun environment - the right mix of learning and performing.

Oxford – 01869 278600 Abingdon / Wantage – 0845 113 0320 Bicester – 07983 378 883 Banbury – 01869 249318 Thame – 0845 076 5560

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CLUBS & CLASSES  CLUBS & CLASSES

Babes in water Watching your precious newborn, probably the last thing you’re thinking is that pretty soon they’ll need to start exercising. But it’s true! The first year of a baby’s life is one of the most important in terms of their long term development. It’s a time when their brain will grow more rapidly than at any other, and every movement your baby makes helps strengthen this growth.

Swimming is one of the few things you can do from birth, and it’s also one of the healthiest activities for you too!

Babies are able to exercise every single muscle in their body – including some they would never even find on land. Saz, who runs Water Babies’ baby swimming classes across Oxfordshire, Newbury and High Wycombe area, explains: “Whilst the emphasis in our sessions is on strengthening your bond with your baby, having fun and increasing both yours and your baby’s confidence, swimming from birth is also excellent for a baby’s development. Despite looking gentle, it provides a complete physical workout, strengthening the heart, lungs and respiratory system which, in turn, aids development of the brain. What’s more, regular swimming can enhance baby’s awareness and improve eating and sleeping patterns – a definite bonus!”

01869 325499 waterbabies.co.uk

MARCH / APRIL 2012

Rhythms of Spring

Dance Away

The Oxford Rhythm Centre provides percussion workshops and drum circles using African drums such as the djembe and other percussion instruments. From March, weekly workshops for children will be held at venues in East and North Oxford.

Children will learn exciting traditional rhythms from West Africa on the djembe.

There will also be percussion activities and games on a wide variety of instruments that will develop listening and coordination skills, confidence, leadership abilities, and concentration.

Classes for ages 6+ run on Mondays from 5-6pm at Fusion Arts Centre, Princes Street, Cowley, Oxford and on Fridays there are two classes; for ages 3-5 from 4pm-4.45pm and for ages 6+ from 5pm-6pm, both at Summertown Church Hall, Portland Road, Summertown, Oxford. 07811 041308 www.rhythmcentre.co.uk

It has been a busy start to the year for Dance Connection. Classes at R&R Frontline Studios in East Oxford are now successfully up and running. New pupils are always warmly welcomed in this hive of dance activity. In February the pupils battled it out in the annual Chorographic Competition at The Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot. Dance Connection were lucky enough to have two West End performers to adjudicate. On 11 March Patron Stuart Sweeting will be back for another day of workshops. Good luck to the 100 pupils taking ISTD exams in March!

07870 501831 www.dance-connection.co.uk

Animal magic at Perform new website

Speaking about the new website, Perform Principal Lucy Quick commented: “This is an exciting and natural development of our business. After nearly 12 years of creating our own music, songs and games, we can now offer great quality costumes to help children recreate our characters at home as well as during our classes. We really value our social media followers and by getting feedback at such an early stage in the website, we can truly offer a service tailored for families by families.”

In addition to the costumes, Perform Play offers Perform’s full range of music CDs and T-shirts which can be found at 0845 4001276 www.performplay.co.uk www.perform.org

Perform Drama School has launched a new website to kit out budding young performers with colourful costumes to help fire up their imaginations. The new site is the start of a new line which will see Perform’s creative and theatrical expertise brought to life though performance props so that families can create their own plays at home.

Perform Play features a host of jungle character costumes, such as lion, wolf and crocodile, from the jungle themed Perform course. Perform will be using Facebook and Twitter to gather recommendations from parents for other items to add to Perform Play in order to create a website that offers costumes, props and products that its fan base most want.

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DANCE Books

At Mostly Books, we sometimes feel we are living in a golden age of children’s books, and this Spring is no exception. There is Apocalypse Moon the exciting finale to the Joshua Files series by Oxfordshire author MG Harris. There’s a fantastic new picture book from Leigh Hodgkinson entitled Goldilocks and the Just One Bear, a tale of what happened when Little Bear grew up and went to the big city. Lauren St John, the author of the Laura Marlin series has a new adventure story for 11+ called The One Dollar Horse. And there are new paperbacks from authors Charlie Higson, Michael Grant and Ally Carter. Here are some more books we have loved at the start of the year.

by Mark Thornton, Mostly Books Abingdon

Sword of Light Katherine Roberts ISBN:978-1848773905 King Arthur is certainly enjoying something of a revival in children’s books at the moment and one I particularly enjoyed is this story, which starts just after King Arthur is killed by his evil nephew Mordred.

Merlin goes to bring back Arthur’s only heir – a girl, Rhiannon – who was brought up in secret in enchanted Avalon.

Merlin reveals her heritage and gives her the challenge of restoring Arthur’s soul to his body.

Feisty Rhiannon immediately wants to learn to fight, become a leader and a knight to avenge her father’s death – but at the same time as she must learn to become a princess.

It makes for an actionpacked journey, enhanced by mist ponies, an enchanted harp-playing faerie and lots of quests, mystery and magic and Excalibur. A great adventure for ages 10+.

Shattered Rebecca Asher ISBN: 978-1846553974 Why are British women still primarily responsible for young children despite changed career expectations? Rebecca Asher lifts the lid on the current situation and finds that men are excluded through the Mum-focus of the health service combined with the lack of flexible working rights.

Women, steamrollered into the main caring role, become disillusioned by reality yet entrenched as gatekeepers.

International comparisons demonstrate that government policy promotes change, which Asher includes in a proposal to facilitate more equal participation in the responsibilities and pleasures of raising children. A thought provoking, perceptive and challenging read. Reviewed by Jan Deykin

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The Court Painter's Apprentice

Twelve Minutes to Midnight

Richard Knight ISBN: 978-1846471278 Rich in historical detail, this is the story of 11-year-old Johann, taken on as an apprentice and moved away from his family to study with a master, Hugo. He has to cope with the jealousy of others in the workshop and hopes his abilities will start to speak for themselves. Only things start to get mysterious as this becomes a psychological thriller.

Johann notices that his paintings have the power to change people. How he should use this power – or whether he should – is part of the intrigue of this story.

Johann grows increasingly isolated and unhappy even having this unusual power in his hands. The tension builds well and eventually he has to use all his skills to save himself.

It’s an unusual story and really brings to life the world of an artist and his apprentice.

Perfect for ages 9+

Christopher Edge ISBN: 978-0857630506 We are plunged straight into Sherlock Holmes territory with the mystery of why a new disease is spreading – a disease that forces people to write down their dreams.

Penny runs a magazine in turn of the century Britain and has penned terrifying short stories which have sent the magazine’s circulation soaring. But Penny is a thirteenyear-old girl and she hires an actor to start meeting the public’s craving to meet the author. Such is the fame of her pen name ‘Montgomery Flinch’ for his macabre stories, that when sinister happenings are troubling a doctor at the London hospital for the insane ‘Bedlam’, they call on the skills of Montgomery Flinch. The story cracks along with another youthful and female baddie, lots of spiders, lost Amazonian explorers, spider venom and a lust for riches at the heart of the story. Penny encounters other better-known literary giants (Arthur Conan Doyle, and Rudyard Kipling, H Rider Haggard, HG Wells) in the story, which has some great twists.

Friendship and Other Weapons

From Home to School with Autism

Signe Whitson ISBN:978-1849058759 From gossip to social exclusion, bullying amongst girls can be very subtle and start at a surprisingly young age. How do you help your daughter or girls in your care? This book is a very practical guide to the forms that bullying can take and how to prepare girls to recognise and resist it. Organised as a 12step programme for a group, it is also enlightening for parents: I found the ‘bully ban’ assertive statement suggestions very helpful.

Reviewed by Jan Deykin

K I Al-Ghani and Lynda Kenward ISBN: 978-1849051699 Whilst primarily a resource book for use at school, I found that this title was filled with incredibly useful information and strategies for bringing up a child with autism at home. It provides a welcome alternative to trawling through the web to find information and templates for visual timetables, Social Stories, reward charts, and many other useful examples of what can be used to make an autistic child’s day run as smoothly as possible. This is a comprehensive, constructive information-filled resource for anyone caring for an autistic child, either at school or at home.

Reviewed by Emilie Amos MARCH / APRIL 2012

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Baby

DO BABIES HAVE A “SOCIAL BRAIN”?

BABYLAB in OXFORDSHIRE

The Oxford Brookes University Babylab has been studying how children learn about the world around them since 2009. They are particularly interested in how language affects the way in which babies group objects together, and how babies understand emotions.

They are always very interested in recruiting new children for their studies. If you would like to let your child participate in the studies visit this website http://tinyurl.com/86nfao6 for more details.

Baby Astrid and her soft hat

T

he capacity to engage and communicate in a social world is one of the defining characteristics of the human species. Adults have special areas of the brain, sometimes referred to as the “social brain”, which respond when we see different human actions, such as eye, mouth and hand movements, and also interpret how sociable and communicative these movements are. One question researchers are seeking to answer is, do babies respond to such sociable dynamic movements, and do they have a similarly sophisticated brain specialised for responding to such actions? This is important because paying attention to this kind of social information is fundamental to a child’s development, enabling them to find out information about the world around them, acquire language, and fully engage in our social world. Learning more about how a typical brain develops can also help us to see when and how things may go wrong during development, giving us a better understanding of many development disorders, such as autism.

One of the greatest challenges faced by researchers when trying to answer such questions is finding ways to understand what babies are thinking, as we cannot just ask them! The Babylab at Birkbeck, University of London, uses a variety of techniques to obtain answers from babies.

One such technique, which they have developed, is known as functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy, or “fNIRS”. This measures naturally occurring brain activity by looking at changes in oxygen levels in the brain.

When areas of our brain are more active, for example because they are responding to what we are seeing or hearing, they use up more oxygen, and the colour of the

MARCH / APRIL 2012

blood in our brain changes. Babies wear a soft hat, just like the one baby Astrid is wearing in the photo. This hat contains weak near infrared lights, and wearing the hat is similar to shining a torch onto the baby’s head, except that these lights aren’t as strong as the light from a torch, or as any light occurring naturally in our environment. The near infrared lights change colour according to the colour of the blood, and this light change is then measured by sensors in the same hat, which give a map of the naturally occurring brain activity. By looking at the different oxygen levels on this map, they can determine which areas of the brain are responding to different stimuli.

In one of the studies, five-month-old babies were shown videos of actors moving their hand, eyes or mouth while wearing the fNIRS hat. Although it is too early to draw firm conclusions, preliminary results from this study suggest that babies are indeed able to detect subtle differences in the actions of the actors, showing responses in distinct areas of the brain that correspond with the socially specialised areas of the brain seen in adults. Infants do, therefore, appear to be sensitive to certain socially relevant movements from an early age, and these brain responses appear to be occurring in areas that are thought to make up the so-called “social brain” network in adults. Further research will establish whether babies are sensitive to such social cues from the moment they are born, or whether this ability gradually develops over the first few months of life.

Babylab Coffee Mornings Every last Thursday of the month (term time only) from 9:30-12:00 the Babylab host a coffee and play morning. This is held in the Oxford Brookes University Gipsy Lane Campus in the Buckley building. Everyone is welcome and you could even take a friend, relative, or your whole NCT group. There is no obligation to take part in any research by attending. It's simply a chance to socialise with other parents/carers and, if you are interested, find out about some of the exciting research on child development.

There will be plenty of toys, coffee/juice/cakes, and a relaxed atmosphere in which to feed your child and space to leave buggies. Unfortunately there is no parking on site, but there are some limited 2-hour slots in the surrounding streets.

Oxford Brookes University Babylab 01865 483676 www.brookes.ac.uk

If you would like your baby or toddler to be involved in studies such as this, contact the Babylab at Birkbeck, University of London.

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

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Work

MUMS IN BUSINESS The Bare Facts about IPL hair removal

All of us, men and women alike, want to look our best in our summer clothes, beach and sportswear, and this means maintaining smooth hair-free skin in those body areas that matter. However, this can be painful – both physically and financially.

Fi Broster asked Julie Mutton of Bare UK about IPL hair removal and its advantages over conventional treatments. Julie is a local mum of two who gave up a career in photography to set up a Intense Pulse Light (IPL) hair removal business in Oxford.

Julie, who should consider IPL?

How effective is it?

Plucking, shaving, waxing and using depilatory creams are inconvenient and unsatisfactory options for many people.

Not only can they be messy and time consuming, they can also be painful. If you are one of them, IPL (Intense Pulse Light), a form of laser treatment, could offer you an effective, virtually pain-free alternative.

It depends on your hair and skin type, and also the system used, since those available vary in both quality and effectiveness. We investigated several options before deciding to invest in leading edge hair removal technology in the form of a high-grade IPL system. This produces very effective results, dramatically reducing unwanted hair.

How does IPL work?

What about safety?

IPL lasers use a process called photothermolysis to convert light energy to heat energy that transmits along an individual hair into the follicle. Follicles have cycles of growth and resting phases.

The heat from the IPL affects those in the early growth phase, so hair cannot grow again. Repeat treatments ensure the follicles of all unwanted hairs are eventually destroyed.

Ensure that a fully qualified and certified IPL practitioner will be providing your treatment. They should offer an initial consultation and a patch test to assess and advise whether IPL is appropriate for you.

They should also fully explain what the treatment will involve and any associated risks. Check also that they are using the best quality, tried and tested equipment.

So how long is the process?

What does it cost?

Further treatments are tied in with the growth cycles of the follicles, so are generally 4-6 weeks apart. At Bare, typically only 6-12 of these is needed to ensure that most of the hair follicles in any given area are successfully targeted. This process is quicker than electrolysis.

IPL treatment requires specialist equipment and expertise, so it can be quite expensive initially. However, you’ll save time and money in the long run, since once the hair is gone, it’s gone for good - you could save a fortune on wax treatments! Our fivesession package includes a free treatment.

Julie Mutton is a fully trained practitioner of IPL. She offers a personal, discreet and caring service from her private treatment room.

07773 7648 www.bareuk.co.uk

FAMILIES READERS can claim 10% OFF ALL TREATMENTS BOOKED BY END OF APRIL 2012 just quote SS1 14

Top Tips on Flexible Working

by Mandy Garner 1. When negotiating flexible working, make sure you think practically about what works for your family. For instance, make sure your childcare plans allow enough leeway so you don't end up rushing everywhere all the time.

2. Be incredibly organised. Have a list where you write down everything you have to do. You can then feel a sense of achievement as you tick it off, even if you are adding more things to it all the time.

3. Prepare all the school, nursery, childminder stuff you need in the morning the night before, including uniforms and lunch boxes. That way you only have to get the kids up, dressed, breakfasted and out in the morning. Anything more increases the stress levels.

4. Try to plan ahead so you are not always re-arranging childcare at the last minute.

This includes inset days, holidays, Christmas plays, summer outings, etc.

5. Have a back-up. Negotiate with your partner, if you have one, or any other form of support, what you will do if there is an emergency such as school closure and try to share the burden. Or ask to work more flexibly those days, e.g. from home.

6. Multi-task. Try to save time by doing several things at once. If you are going out to drop someone off, make sure you to do all other tasks that need doing outdoors, eg posting a letter, en route. Eventually it will become a way of life.

7. Be good to your friends and family. You will need them. If a friend does you a favour, ensure you always repay it so that you can ask again in the future.

8. Simplify your life - say no to the things you don't need to do and build in some rest time into your life. Everyone needs a duvet day once in a while.

9. Ask your friends for tips on what makes their lives easier. It may be something as simple as tying your door keys round your neck to stop you from always scrabbling about for them. Learn from those who have gone before you.

10. Be your own best friend. You will spend your life doing things for other people.

Ensure that you also build some time in for yourself regularly, even if it is only to have a relaxing bath.

Mandy Garner is editor of Workingmums.co.uk a jobsite and community for working mums looking to work flexibly around their family.

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WHAT MUMS REALLY WANT FOR MOTHER’S DAY

by Gabrielle Starkey

Psst, dads... want to know what mum really wants for Mothers’ Day? Here are some ideas to show her how much you care.

Mothering Sunday was originally a day-off from Lent, when servants were allowed to travel home to see their mums, and have a slap-up dinner together. Traditional presents were flowers and cakes – and you won’t go too far wrong if you stick to tradition. What mum doesn’t love having the family all around one table, with cake and flowers thrown in? But mum’s not making the feast, or doing the washing up – oh no. Book her favourite restaurant or pub, or make the meal yourself - and make sure you wash up.

Again, a traditional but excellent choice.

Make Jamie Oliver’s ridiculously easy American-style pancakes (1 cup each of flour and milk, plus one large egg: http://tinyurl.com/y9hl45p) with fruit and maple syrup, add flowers and a pot of tea, and Bob’s your auntie’s live-in lover. Follow up with a family walk – or take the kids off yourself to let her really enjoy that extended lie-in.

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This is one thing we mums sometimes crave more than anything, so organise her some proper “me time”. Book her a massage, a spa day or indulge her hobby (yoga/writing/crafts/cookery) with a weekend course. If she doesn’t get to see her closest friends enough, maybe you could secretly liaise with them and organise a weekend away? You’ll be rolling in Brownie points after any of these.

Chances are, since the kids came along, life’s been a little (or a lot) less romantic.

Mothers’ Day is the perfect time to put this right, with a hotel reservation slipped inside the card and the grandparents on standby for next weekend. Happy days all round.

Warning: This is a page for dads only – mums, look elsewhere (or leave the magazine conveniently open on this page where it might be found by your other half.)

Mother’s day

If home is where your woman’s heart is, then a few personal touches to beautify it won’t go far wrong. Book a portrait session for the whole family with a great local photographer (see sidebar for some examples), or find a local service that turns an existing photo into a fantastic artwork.

What woman could resist a framed print of her wedding day as a romantic gesture?

With a little planning ahead, you and the kids can present mum with a truly unique and handmade creation. Take the children’s fingerprints or hand or foot casts, and have them made into pictures, keepsakes or jewellery – there are lots of places that do this now. Alternatively, take the kids to a pottery painting shop and have a great time making a personalised plate, mug or vase that mum will treasure forever.

Whatever you decide, we hope every mum has a wonderful Mothers’ Day!

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Olympics

his summer, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be an amazing festival of sport and culture: a breathtaking event that the whole nation can get excited about. You will get to see the very best athletes in the world, the fastest runners, the highest jumpers and the strongest swimmers. Here’s how you too can get involved and be a part of the greatest sporting event in the world.

Be a Local Leader The Local Leader programme is an opportunity for people in communities across the UK to be at the heart of The London 2012 Olympic Games and celebrate them in your local area. Millions of people will be celebrating and at the heart of every celebration will be the one person who makes a difference, an organiser or someone who makes things happen. So if this sounds like you, why not become a London 2012 Local Leader and plan an activity that can include the whole family.

All you need is an idea of how you will celebrate the Games. You can create your own events or use the ideas communities across the UK suggested to celebrate The London 2012 Olympic Games.

School’s out Every week during the school holidays keep the family busy during the holidays with the toolkit that you can find on www.london2012.com/localleaders, and which is packed with ideas and learning opportunities.

Youth and Family Gold Challenge The Youth and Family Gold Challenge is the charity challenge where you take on Olympic and Paralympic Sports to raise money for charity. Everyone aged 5 and over can take part either as an individual, as part of a team, or with your family and fundraise money for one of Gold Challenge’s 125 charities.

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The Family Activity Challenge This challenge is all about doing sports together. Learn one new sport and/or try a family run, walk, cycle or swim. It’s accessible for younger children or those who want to involve elder members of the family too. The Youth and Family Gold Challenge offers three challenge options to choose from. This is your challenge and you can choose how you do it: Complete your challenge indoors or outdoors Choose new sports, or push yourself further in your favourite sport Complete it as an individual or a family

The 2012km Challenge Celebrating the Olympic year, choose your target distance at 2,012, 201.2 or 20.12km and then complete this in your preferred sports. You need to be aged seven or over to register. Cover your chosen distance via one or more of the following sports (for families or groups this is an aggregated total): Running, Walking, Cycling, Swimming, Canoeing/Kayaking, Horse-riding, Rowing, Sailing.

Olympic Sport Challenge This challenge is for those of you who want to try out new sports. Pick five Olympic or Paralympic sports to learn or improve on, then coach or take part in a competitive event to complete your challenge. You need to be aged seven or over to register.

The Family Activity Challenge This is a two part challenge, perfect for families as it's all about doing sports together, regardless of age or ability. Firstly, choose one new sport to learn then do two of the following as a family: Swim 500 metres, Run 1,500 metres Walk 5,000 metres, Cycle 10,000 metres The Family Activity Challenge can be done anywhere you choose but you must complete it together as a family.

More information is available at: www.goldchallenge.org

The flame comes to Oxfordshire

Real excitement will be generated as the Olympic Flame travels through Oxfordshire on 9 and 10 July 2012 as part of its journey around the UK. Oxford City has been confirmed to host an Evening Celebration linked to the torch relay. The torch route through the city will showcase the rich cultural and sporting heritage as well as celebrate the birthplace of the four-minute mile by Sir Roger Bannister.

The Oxfordshire 2012 Partnership was established by the County, in order to ensure that The London 2012 Olympic Games have a positive and lasting social and economic impact on Oxfordshire. Coordinated by Oxford Inspires and working with a range of partner organisations, the Partnership aims to ensure that the communities of Oxfordshire have the opportunity to take inspiration from the Games and have a chance to get involved. www.oxfordshiregameon.com The Oxfordshire Sports Partnership website provides all the information you need to get involved in sport and active recreation. You can also find and book courses online, search for local news, job vacancies, volunteer opportunities and events. www.oxfordshiresport.org Get Set! is the official education programme for schools, college and local authority education providers across the UK. The website offers a huge range of opportunities and resources targeted at 319 year olds. On it, schools can find a whole range of flexible, interactive learning resources designed to get young people thinking about the Olympic and Paralympic Values and The London 2012 Olympic Games – with games, fact sheets, films, news articles and much more. http://getset.london2012.com/en/home.

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What’s on .

CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTRE

NEW THEATRE

PEGASUS

25 Station Road Didcot OX11 7NE 01235 515144 www.cornerstone-arts.org.uk Sun 18 Mar 3pm THE SECRET GARDEN Spoilt Mary Lennox is plucked from the bright vibrancy of India and transplanted to a big old house full of secrets on the grey Yorkshire moors. As Mary battles loneliness she encounters locked doors, a curious robin, hidden keys, and strange cries ringing down the corridor… Ages 7+ Sun 1 Apr 2pm RED RIDING HOOD Little Red goes to spend the night at Grandma's house – and little brother comes too! Red keeps Grandma awake all night as the attic is far too exciting for sleeping, and there are fairy tales to act out. Music and songs in the show are written by Julian Butler (from Charlie and Lola). Ages 4+ Sun 22 Apr 11am & 2pm THE GREATEST BUBBLE SHOW ON EARTH The Amazing Bubble Man really does form bubbles beyond the imagination, bubbles that encapsulate a whole person, bubbles that rest on bald heads, bubbles with light effects in them. Children are asked on stage to interact with the bubbles. There's even some science along the way, explaining how the bubbles are made. With witty asides, non verbal slapstick and spontaneity adults will definitely enjoy this even without a chaperone! Ages 3+ Sun 29 Apr 11am & 2 pm THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE From the book by Alex Sheffler and Julia Donaldson comes this beautiful story with physical storytelling, live music and lots of laughs. A tiny snail hitches a lift on the back of a huge humpback whale, determined to see the world. Together they go on an amazing journey, experiencing sharks and penguins, icebergs and volcanoes.

George Street, OX1 2AG 0844 847 1585 www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk Tue 13 Mar– Sat 17 Mar OXFORDSHIRE GANG SHOW Join the cast from Oxfordshire’s Scouts and Guides as they take you on a theatrical extravaganza of song, dance and drama at the Gang Show 2012.

Sun 25 Mar BOB THE BUILDER: BOB’S BIG THEATRE BUILD Fixham Theatre has been closed for 6 months and Bob & Wendy have been called in to fix it up ready for the grand opening by the world famous Dickie Oliver.

There’s a deadline to meet – can we fix it? Yes we can!

Tue 3 Apr – Sat 7 Apr HORRIBLE HISTORIES OVERVIEW Historical events will come alive on stage and hover at your fingertips! See what the Terrible Tudors and the Vile Victorians were up to.

Tue 10 Apr – Sat 14 Apr MATTHEW BOURNE’S NUTCRACKER This delicious theatrical feast has familysized helpings of Matthew Bourne’s trademark wit, pathos and magical fantasy. Follow Clara’s bittersweet journey from a hilariously bleak Christmas Eve at Dr. Dross’ Orphanage, through a shimmering, ice-skating winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom.

Sat 21 Apr 3pm & 7pm SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE Explosive fun for all the family! Experience spectacular science, dangerous demonstrations and extraordinary experiments as the Science Museum takes to the stage with a fantastic live show to blow your mind and challenge your brain! Ages 7+

Magdalen Road Oxford OX4 1RE 01865 812150 www.pegasustheatre.org.uk Fri 16 Mar 7pm & Sat 17 Mar 4& 7pm NO STONE UNTURNED Children as young as 2 years old will be performing with their parents and Oxford Youth Dance Company will be guests for this event alongside older performing dancers who started their dancing with OYD. Suitable for all ages Wed 28 Mar – Sat 31 Mar THE LISTENERS + STUCK Mental health is a growing issue for young people – what it means, how it affects us and what we can do about it. These new performances by Oxford Youth Theatre Companies take different approaches to understand the subject. The Listeners is set in England in 2017. Teenager Magz is locked in a bedroom communicating through the internet and watching reality TV. Desperately lonely and in need of intimacy, orders a Listener, from a support website. Stuck is a dance performance that delves into the mental states of agoraphobia and claustrophobia. Ages 10+

KENTON THEATRE New Street Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BP 01491 575698 www.kentontheatre.co.uk Wed 04 Apr 2.30pm & 7.30pm THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Ballet Theatre UK’s glorious music and beautiful classical choreography reawaken the magic of the world’s favourite fairy tale in an enchanted world of castles and curses, forests and fairies.

Wed 11 Apr 11am & 2pm THE WAY BACK HOME One day a boy finds a plane in his cupboard and decide decides to take it out for a go. He flies his plane higher and higher until he runs out of petrol and lands on the moon. He is frightened, lost and alone until a passing Martian lands there too. Will they find their Way Back Home? Ages 3+ Fri 13 Apr 7pm & Sat 14 Apr 3pm CURTAIN UP! John Skriven has a theatre to fill and an audience is the least of his problems. With the help of Charlie, George and Harriet, they manoeuvre their way around street dancers, singers, tap dancers and choirs before they can finally say ‘Curtain Up!’. By local performers ages 5 through to adult. All tickets www.youshinetheatre.co.uk

MILL ARTS CENTRE

Spiceball Park Banbury OX16 5QE 01295 252050 www.themillartscentre.co.uk Thu 5 Apr 2pm WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? Taking suggestions from their young audience, the company adapts old fairy tales and creates new ones, using puppetry, a rail full of costumes and a fun soundtrack.

Ages 5 – 12 .

Tue 10 Apr 11.30am & 2pm HULLABA LULU An eccentric couple travel their strange monochrome world in a quirky land-boat, until their lives are turned upside down by Underneath the a new arrival -- the adorable Floorboards and colourful Lulu. As she makes her presence felt in a variety of changing forms, the couple, along with the audience, explore love, play, adventure and, eventually, learn how to say goodbye. Ages 5+

MARCH / APRIL 2012

NORTH WALL ARTS CENTRE South Parade Summertown OX2 7NN 01865 319 450 www.thenorthwall.com Thu 5 Apr 12pm & 2.30pm TRAVELS WITH GRANDDAD Meet Granddad, an eccentric traveller and storyteller extraordinaire. Enter his battered Bedouin tent to hear magical tales of adventure in real and imaginary worlds. The Clock That Stopped Time, The Violin Princess and The Most Beautiful Thing in The World are brand new old-fashioned fairy tales crafted. Ages 3+ Sat 21 Apr 2pm TIM AND LIGHT Tim and Light is a beautiful new fairy tale told through playful physical theatre and intricate puppetry. Tim lives with his bossy Mum and is approaching his difficult teenage years, where everything is ‘absolutely so annoying’! Ages 5+

THE THEATRE 2 Spring Street Chipping Norton OX7 5NL 01608 642350 www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk Sat 31 Mar 11.30am & 2.30pm GOLDILOCKS Goldilocks likes to explore the world and experience new things.

What will happen when the Bears return? Ages 2+ Wed 11 Apr 11.30am ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER Elvis Schumacher has worked all his life creating the most beautiful footwear. But now he’s hit hard times…. everyone’s buying boring shoes from the evil businessman, Bunyan Sole-less. Ages 3-9 Thu 12 Apr 10.30am - 11.30am ORANGE HAT EASTER ADVENTURE Enjoy the festivities with Peggotty the Hen and her other puppet friends as they embark on an interactive performance. Ages 6 months - 5 yrs

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE 11-12 Beaumont Street Oxford OX1 2LW 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com Sat 17 Mar 11am & 2pm KID CARPET AND THE NOISY ANIMALS This new Rock and Roll musical for kids follows the adventures of the charismatic singer and his animal band (made up of a gorilla, a bear, a hedgehog and a badger) as they make friends, play games, contemplate the world and finally rock out at a grand dance contest. Ages 3 to 8 Sat 24 Mar 11am & 2pm SAM ROSE IN THE SHADOWS Ivan Rose is six years old. Shut away in his little house in the city watched by his aging tutor, he fantasizes about the outside world. His father spends most of his time away, and Ivan can only imagine he is off fighting dragons and generally being a hero! An uplifting play about what it is like to be sad and how one can learn to be happy again. Ages 6+ Sat 7 Apr 11am & 2pm MUTTNIK - THE FIRST DOG IN SPACE Muttnik is a stray. She scavenges on the streets of Moscow until one day she is captured and her life changes forever. She finds herself at the Russian Space Centre to become an astro-dog going ‘where no dog has gone before’. A stunning, refreshing slant on the story of the 1957 Sputnik 2 rocket-dog. Ages 3+ Thu 12 Apr 2pm & 4pm - Fri 13 Apr 11am & 2pm UNDERNEATH THE FLOORBOARDS Filled with original songs and beautiful movement this performance for children and families will feed the imagination, thrill the senses and transport you to a magical world. Ages 1-5 and their families. This is a Playhouse Plays Out event at Magdalen College School, Cowley Place, Oxford OX4 1DZ Sat 21 Apr 11am &2pm CIRCLES IN THE SAND Circles in the Sand is an interactive show for 1 to 3 year olds, discovering and playing in the sand.

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What’s on MARCH

15 Mar 2pm-4 pm ELEPHANT STOMP! Follow the elephant stomp around the museum and make an elephant to take home. For under 5s.

Ashmolean Museum www.ashmolean.org 01865 278000 15 Mar 5pm-6pm FREE SATS OPEN SESSION Workshop for children in Year 6. Advice on exam technique, top tips and relaxation.

Explore Learning. 01865 595509 www.explorelearning.co.uk 17 Mar 10am-4pm drop in ABOUT TIME! Discover the story of time in a day of activities, talks, and trails. Check website for details. For all the family.

Museum of the History of Science www.mhs.ox.ac.uk 01865 277280 17 Mar SCRUFFS DOG SHOW Bring your own dog and take part in a dog show with funny categories such as ‘Best Biscuit Catcher’ and ‘Waggiest Tail’. Entrance fee for Dog Show goes to Sports Relief. Normal admission price for dog owners. Dogs to be kept on a short lead.

Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk 01993 823006 18 Mar 9.30am, 10.30am & 3pm U5s: 11.30am 5+

CUSHION CONCERT-FLUTE Jacqueline du Pre Music Building www.ticketsoxford.com 01865-286660 18 Mar MOTHERING SUNDAY Free entrance for Mums into the ornamental gardens.

Waterperry Gardens www.waterperrygardens.co.uk 01844 339226 18 Mar WE LOVE MUMS MUMS get a free tea or coffee with a a facebook voucher at www.facebook.com/snakesandladdersabingdon Snakes and Ladders www.snakes-and-ladders.co.uk 01235 522 227 18 Mar MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS Free admission for mums. Tours and activities for all the family.

Oxford Castle Unlocked www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk 01865 260666 18 Mar MOTHER’S DAY Bus rides : Free admission for any mother accompanied by a paying child (of any age!).

Oxford Bus Museum www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk 01993 883617 18 Mar MOTHER'S DAY Mums come in free with a paying child. Back a winner at Roves Farm Races, with all proceeds taken during this weekend going to 'Breakthrough Breast Cancer'.

Roves Farm www.rovesfarm.co.uk 01793 763939 19 Mar - 24 Mar HENLEY YOUTH FESTIVAL MOTION themed music, singing, dance activities on the Kenton stage. Gig Night at the Youth Centre, competitions, sports and workshops.

The Kenton Theatre www.kentontheatre.co.uk 01491 575698 24 & 25 Mar 10am – 4pm LAMBING WEEKENDS Fun packed days, including of course, a visit to see the lambs! Booking not required.

Earth Trust Centre and Farm, Little Wittenham, OX14 4QZ www.earthtrust.org.uk 01865 407792 24 Mar 10am - 12noon BABY AND CHILDREN’S MARKET Wide selection of pre-loved & new stalls Faringdon Junior School, Gloucester Street. SN7 7HZ. www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk 07800 568040 25 Mar THE OX5 RUN is a five mile fun run around Blenheim Palace raising money for the Oxford Children’s Hospital. www.ox5run.co.uk 01865 743444 25 Mar from 11am

WORLD POOH STICKS CHAMPIONSHIPS Days Lock, Little Wittenham Rotary Club of Oxford Spires www.pooh-sticks.com

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MARCH 31 Mar 12noon-4 pm, drop in MAKING MICROGRAPHIA Use microscopes and lenses to observe tiny things; then make drawings and magical monoprints. Ages 7+.

Museum of the History of Science www.mhs.ox.ac.uk 01865 277280 31 Mar - 15 Apr 10am to 5.30pm

THE BIG EASTER BUNNY HUNT Waterperry Gardens www.waterperrygardens.co.uk 01844 339226 31 Mar – 15 Apr EGGSTRAORDINARY EGGVENTURE Pitt Rivers Museum www.prm.ox.ac.uk/events.html 31 Mar - 15 Apr 10am - 5pm EASTER EGG HUNT River and Rowing Museum Henley on Thames, www.rrm.co.uk 01491 415605 31 Mar 10am MEET THE ANIMALS!!

Cogges Farm, Cogges, Witney OX28 3LA www.cogges.org.uk 01993 772602 31 Mar EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Dragons are descending on Oxford Castle. Dragon egg quest, and a series of themed arts and crafts Oxford Castle Unlocked www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk 01865 260666 31 Mar – 15 Apr EASTER BUNNY Join the Easter Bunny Hunt around the farm. Catch him if you can!

Roves Farm www.rovesfarm.co.uk 01793 763939 31 Mar & 1 Apr 10am – 4pm LAMBING WEEKENDS Fun packed days, including of course, a visit to see the lambs! Booking not required.

Earth Trust Centre and Farm, Little Wittenham, OX14 4QZ www.earthtrust.org.uk 01865 407792

APRIL 2 Apr 10am - 4pm YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS Bring an example of your writing and get help to it over the course of the day. During the session you will also learn how lighting, sound and staging can enhance your work.

Ages 11 to 13 Oxford Playhouse www.oxfordplayhouse.com 01865 305305 2 – 4 Apr 1-4pm dop-in BREATHTAKING BIRDS Celebrate our brand new bird display with a foray into the fabulous world of some fine feathered friends.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History www.oum.ox.ac.uk 01865 272 950 2 Apr DRAMA WORKSHOP: ROBIN HOOD Discover innovative and exciting ways to learn and perform, set against the stunning backdrop of Oxford Castle.

Oxford Castle Unlocked www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk 01865 260666 2 & 3 Apr EASTER CLUMPS CLUB Outdoor adventures and play for 8 - 12 year olds. Shelter building and bushcraft fun, wild art, drama and games.

Earth Trust Centre and Farm, Little Wittenham, OX14 4QZ www.earthtrust.org.uk 01865 407792 2 - 5 Apr 9am to 5pm ACTIVE SPRING KIDS CAMP Outdoor activities range from Archery/Swing building, team building/adventure games, survival skills/cooking, assault course, rope work, first aid and many more.

Ages 7 - 16.

Blenheim Palace www.blenheimpalace.com 01993 811325 3 & 4 Apr 10am to 4pm ADVENTURE STORIES Follow your imagination and spend two days exploring ideas, writing and performing the adventure of a lifetime. Led by Sam Gayton. Age 11 - 15 Oxford Playhouse www.oxfordplayhouse.com 01865 305305 3 Apr – 9 Apr 10am – 5pm EASTER AT COGGES Cogges Farm, Cogges, Witney OX28 3LA www.cogges.org.uk 01993 772602 4 Apr 11am - 12.30pm TAYLOR TUG'S EASTER HOLIDAY HAPPENING Find out about all the baby animals and birds that come to the river in Spring. Age 18 months - 5 years.

River and Rowing Museum Henley on Thames, www.rrm.co.uk 01491 415605 4 Apr & 12 Apr 11am & 2pm K’NEX CRANES Build a working crane out of K’nex.

Staff will guide you through the skills needed to construct a crane that can move and lift objects using the construction toy K’nex. Ages 7+ Science Oxford Live www.scienceoxfordlive.com 01865 728953

We have made every effort to ensure our listings are accurate and up-to-date. However, please call venues to confirm.

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What’s on

APRIL

APRIL

4 & 11 Apr 11.30 CHILDREN’S TOUR OF THE HOUSE Children and one accompanying adult, booking essential.

Waddesdon Manor: HP18 0JH www.waddesdon.org.uk 01296 653226 5 Apr 10.30am - 4pm TOADS ON THE THAMES Join Mr Toad and Froglife to learn loads about frogs and toads and discover how you can help them. Plus pond dipping sessions at 11.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm. Booking recommended.

River and Rowing Museum www.rrm.co.uk 01491 415600 5 Apr 2pm-3pm CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY WORKSHOP Free creative writing workshop for ages 7-11 at Blackbird Leys library.

Explore Learning www.explorelearning.co.uk 01865 595509 6 – 7 Apr The Three Little Pigs Easter Egg Challenge Follow the trails of clues about the classic nursery rhyme ‘Three Little Pigs’ hidden around the Pleasure Gardens.

Blenheim Palace www.blenheimpalace.com 01993 811325 6 Apr-9 Apr 11am – 4pm EASTER AT COMPTON VERNEY Take part in family craft activities. Use recycled materials to make your favourite Easter animal. Will it be a rabbit? A chick? A lamb?

Compton Verney www.comptonverney.org.uk 01926 645500 6 - 9 Apr EGGS-STRAVAGANZA & COTSWOLD FALCONRY Egg themed activities and feeds for the animals, plus birds of prey demonstrations outside the Manor House.

Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk 01993 823006 7 Apr 3pm FANTASTIC PLANET (PG) French animation takes viewers on a magical journey to the far away world of Ygam. Booking essential Modern Art Oxford www.modernartoxford.org.uk 01865 722733 8 & 9 Apr PEPPA PIG AND GEORGE WITH THE PIPLINGS Lovable characters Peppa Pig and will be coming to Blenheim Palace to meet families at the Pleasure Gardens. Interactive Yogo sessions by Piplings Yojojo and Lau Lau on Sunday and Nok Tok and De Li on Monday. Blenheim Palace www.blenheimpalace.com 01993 811325

12 Apr 10.30am-4pm IN A LAND NOT SO FAR AWAY...Theatre workshop that mixes classic tales creating funny and original stories to share.

Mill Arts Centre Banbury 01295 252050 www.themillartscentre.co.uk 12 Apr–14 Apr 1pm-4pm EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES:

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES Pitt Rivers Museum 01865 270927 www.prm.ox.ac.uk 12 Apr HEAD OVER HEELS FAMILY DAY Celebrate the hats and shoes of Oxfordshire.

Museum of Oxford www.oxford.gov.uk 01865 252761 12 Apr FREE CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS BY EXPLORE LEARNING See page 3 in this issue.

13 Apr FREE CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS Littlemore library, Explore Learning www.explorelearning.co.uk 01865 595509 15 Apr 12 noon U5s, 1.30pm ages 5-8

CUSHION CONCERT - GUITAR Conerstone Arts Centre Didcot www.cornerstone-arts.org.uk 01235 515144 17 Apr– 19 Apr ARTWEEKS CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY Find out more about how artists make their work and the types of tools they use. Drop in Modern Art Oxford www.modernartoxford.org.uk 01865 722733 21 Apr 12noon-4pm OXFORDSHIRE GOES WILD Have a wild day out at the Museum. Talk to conservation groups about their work and see live insects, birds and more! Drop in.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History www.oum.ox.ac.uk 01865 272 950 22 Apr 9:30am, 10:30am & 3pm for U5s; 11:30am 5+

CUSHION CONCERT - DRUM KIT Jacqueline du Pre Music Building www.ticketsoxford.com 01865 305305 22 Apr 10.30am ON YOUR BIKE & ON YOUR FEET Family charity bike rides and treasure hunts on foot at Sonning Common Primary School. www.onyourbikesonningcommon.co.uk 01189 724487

MAY 20 May 3pm & 5pm FAMILY PROM Mark Hooper returns for a very special musical celebration.

Jacqueline du Pre Music Building www.ticketsoxford.com 01865 305305

Win family tickets to Cotswold Wildlife Park And experience an Animal Encounter.

This is Darwin, a 25 year old Aldabra Giant Tortoise, who recently joined the three other Aldabra tortoises.

Families Oxfordshire readers now have a chance of winning family tickets for a fabulous day out at the Park, including an exclusive Animal Encounter with the tortoises. (2 adults/2 children).

You will also meet their keeper and you will even be able to help feed the animals.

All you need to do is ask your creative offspring (aged 6 or over) to draw an enormous tortoise. Then, send it to us

by Monday 16 April. All works of art will have to fit through a standard letterbox though!

Send to: CWP Drawing Competition Families Oxfordshire, P.O. Box 167 Wantage OX12 8ZJ And don’t forget to clearly mention the name and age of your child, plus your contact details.

Closing date for entries is Mon 16 Apr 12.

Animal Encounters, which must be booked in advance, last around half an hour and are suitable for both adults and children aged 6 and over. www.cotswoldwildlife.co.uk Your details will not be used for any purpose other than this competition. Winners agree to the possibility of their name being published in the May/Jun 2012 issue of Families Oxfordshire and on the Families website. No correspondence will be entered into.

Entries open to Oxfordshire residents only.

FOR SALE If you are a mum - or a dad - looking for a fun, creative and worthwhile business opportunity with hours that fit around your family then this could be just what you are looking for!

As the next owner of Families Oxfordshire you will join a friendly group of fellow owners from around the UK running your own franchise of Families Magazines.

You don’t have to be a whizz at running a business and no particular qualifications are needed. Training will be provided. It does help though if you are confident, can express yourself well, have basic computer skills, can drive and live in or near Oxfordshire.

If you would like to discuss this unique opportunity please send an email to editor@familiesox.co.uk Send your diary dates for May - June by Friday 13 April 2012 to editor@familiesox.co.uk

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Copyright Families Oxfordshire March 2012. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner's own risk and while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families Oxfordshire is part of a group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. We take care in preparing this magazine but publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

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MARCH / APRIL 2012