Famvoy iss62

62

jan/feb2015 issue

free

The useful magazine for families with young children in York, Harrogate, Tadcaster, Wetherby and Selby

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welcome to families Happy New Year!

Lots of people tell me they don’t really like New Year’s Eve and I always wonder why. I realise it heralds January – and it’s tricky to be positive about a month of avoiding leftovers - but I see it as a new start and a chance to look forward.

2015 will be an exciting year for our family as we have two big birthdays to celebrate and I intend to spend January planning them. In the spring I will become the mum of a teenager which does make me feel a bit old if I’m honest. But then by the time summer comes I will be. To ease the pain I intend to plan lots of different ways to celebrate both our milestones and be thankful for what we have.

No one knows what the future holds when they raise a glass on New Years’ Eve – and maybe that’s why some people would rather not celebrate. But as my dad always used to say – you may not like getting older, but it’s better than the alternative!

Editor of Families VOY

Open Doors Thursday 22nd January 2015 9.30 to 11.45am And

Early Years' Activity Morning Saturday 24th January 2015

10.00am to 12.30pm

Come and see our 'outstanding' school and Early Years Foundation Stage in action Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, Harrogate HG3 2JG. telephone: 01423 771029 email: admin@belmontgrosvenor.co.uk www.belmontgrosvenor.co.uk Follow us on

2 Families Vale of York

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news new year, new start competitions books

families magazine

Tel: 01405 860831 editor@familiesvoy.co.uk www.familiesvoy.co.uk

Circulation: 18,000 Deadline:

The deadline for the March/April 2015 edition is early Feb 2015

Designed by: MOOIdesign Tel: 01405 869045 Printed by:

moving house

p12 childcare p14 eat yourself pregnant p16 becoming a big brother or sister p18 parents’ rights p20 holidays p21 what’s on

Warners Midlands PLC www.warners.co.uk

Copyright Families in the Vale of York Jan/ Feb 2015. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owners’ own risk and, while ever y care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families in the Vale of York 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 license. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Clover House Dental Practice is pleased to announce the arrival of Fastbraces®

Treatment may be performed by General Dental Surgeons who are not specialists

CALL TODAY 01423 563344 www.cloverhouse.co.uk

152 Skipton Road, Harrogate, HG1 4LL

Families Vale of York 3

news

York pilots flexible ‘childcare hubs’ as part of national initiative

Half Term Climbing Fun

Parents in York will find it even easier to get childcare to fit their needs thanks to a new national pilot scheme to create childcare ‘hubs’.

Ten Community Childcare and Early Learning Hubs have been set up across the country by childcare charity 4Children, on behalf of the Department The team at Dragonfishers Hub for Education, four of which are in York. The Hubs consist of a variety of early years settings and schools all working together in a local area to achieve three goals – improving quality, offering blended childcare to parents and supporting the provision of new childcare places as required.

York was chosen as a site for the new Hubs because of its award-winning ‘Shared Foundation Partnership’ initiative. This partnership initiative between the council, playgroups, nurseries, childminders and schools helps develop more choices for families with children aged under five.

The hubs are looking at new ways to improve the quality of childcare locally and meet local demand and to share their learning with the rest of the city’s Shared Foundation Partnerships.. The Dragonfishers Childcare Hub in Fishergate has already expanded to meet the growing demand from local families, developing a new mezzanine play area for babies and toddlers at Funfishers Out of School Club and Playgroup.

Barbara Mands, Childcare Strategy Manager, City of York Council, said: “Shared Foundation Partnerships are well established in York and create the ideal foundation for playgroups, childminders, nurseries and schools to take part in the national pilot. It’s fantastic that the Dragonfishers Hub has responded to demand in their local area. We hope that eventually all Shared Foundation Partnerships across the city will develop in this way.”

Lesley Calvert, manager of Funfishers Out of School and Playgroup, part of the Dragonfishers Hub, said: “We wanted to expand our childcare offer to parents of babies aged nine months up to children aged 11 and our new mezzanine has given us extra space to create an area for toddlers and babies. We continuously look at how we can improve childcare for parents in our community and we do it through close partnerships with the schools, nurseries and childminders.”

This February half-term, Harrogate Climbing Centre are running a full program of kids’ clubs throughout the holiday. Each day there are Little Monkeys classes for 5 & 6 year olds and Rock Its classes for children aged 7 to 11 years. There are also daily opportunities for the whole family to go along for a private climbing session, with one-hour Taster Sessions available to book at a time to suit you.

Prices start from £8 for kids clubs and £30 for private climbing sessions. Spaces are limited and booking ahead is required.

If you can’t wait for the holidays, the kids clubs are available every weekend during term-time, and families are always welcomed for a climbing Taster Session.

For more information, or to book, check www.harrogateclimbingcentre.com or call 01423 815024

Get ready for back to school with Get the new school term off to a great start at Explore Learning.

Tailored courses are designed to support your child to become a confident and engaged learner.

Explore Learning centres provide maths, English and 11+ tuition to 5-14 year olds of all abilities. Explore fits easily around family life; the centres are open 7 days a week, with children able to attend up to twice a week on a drop-in basis.

Call our local centre or to book a free trial, visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/york

Low on Energy?

We all know what it’s like to feel physically and mentally exhausted from a busy day at work or with the kids and coping with everything can be an everyday battle.

Did you know that taking Pharmaton Vitality capsules helps reduce temporary tiredness and restore vitality when taken daily, and can be taken for a period of twelve weeks?

Pharmaton Vitality capsules are packed with vitamins, minerals and the unique Ginseng G115 that’s clinically proven to relieve fatigue and also aid mental and physical wellbeing.

Pharmaton Vitality capsules are also supported by over 30 clinical trials and studies.

Try Pharmaton Vitality Capsules, to feel the positive difference.

(Licensed medicine) For the relief of fatigue.

Always read the label

4 Families Vale of York

Outstanding’ Inspection Report for Belmont Grosvenor School Inspectors have delivered an ‘outstanding’ report on the Early Years’ Department at independent prep school Belmont Grosvenor.

A team from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) – the independent sector’s equivalent of Ofsted – spent two days at the co-educational school on the outskirts of Harrogate.

The inspectors’ report covers all aspects of the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage, from how well the provision meets the needs of the children and how it contributes to the child’s well-being, to the leadership and management of the EYFS and the overall quality and standards.

And across all inspection areas, Belmont Grosvenor School and its Magic Tree Nursery, has been rated ‘outstanding’.

The latest EYFS inspection report follows a full inspection of the prep school and its nursery two years ago when Belmont Grosvenor and its Magic Tree Nursery once again received the ISI’s ultimate accolade of ‘excellent’ and ‘outstanding’.

Magic Tree Nursery Manager and Early Year’s co-ordinator Julie Dent said she was extremely proud of her team and their dedication to the children.

‘We always aim to deliver the highest standards to ensure all our children receive the best care and education possible and we are delighted that the inspectors have once again recognised this,’ she said.

The school, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, is also recognised for providing an ‘outstanding’ programme of enrichment activities, including swimming, French, music and movement and dance which “significantly enhances the early years’ curriculum’.

Belmont Grosvenor School is holding an Open Morning on Thursday 22 January from 9.30 to 11.45am and, two days later, on Saturday 24 January, the EYFS Department is throwing open its doors for an activity morning to enable children and their parents to take a look at its ‘outstanding’ provision for themselves.

To arrange a visit, book a tour or find out more information about the school, contact the office on 01423 771029 or email admin@belmontgrosvenor.co.uk

Learn to Read in 4 Weeks for FREE* with Reading Eggs!

Full of educationally sound, fun and interactive activities, Reading Eggs focuses on the most fundamental skill needed in school: reading. Children from 3 to 7 years of age, or older children struggling with reading, will enjoy the huge variety of reading lessons, activities and games that make up the Reading Eggs programme. Reading Eggspress continues the reading adventure by taking children to a brand new world designed for 7–13 year olds, focusing on comprehension and grammar. Reading Eggspress provides a unique learning environment where students’ can improve their English language and comprehension skills in a way that is exciting and relevant.

These programmes provide a comprehensive range of online lessons that teach children aged 3–13 the literacy skills needed for lifetime reading success. The reason why over 90% of parents using Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress report a noticeable improvement in their child’s reading skills is because the programme makes learning fun.

Sign up for a special 4 WEEK FREE trial* and see for yourself how your child’s reading improves by using Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress.

Simply register your child at www.readingeggs.co.uk/jan15yk Registration is quick, easy and FREE!

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THE PAULINE QUIRKE ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS

IS ENROLLING NOW IN YORK AND HARROGATE! Outstanding Performing Arts tuition for 4 - 18 year olds.

Saturdays from 9.45am - 1.00pm PQA York runs at Huntington School, YO32 9WT. Your Principal is James Aconley Email james@pqacademy.com or call 07753 179070 PQA Harrogate runs at Grammar School, HG2 0DZ. Your Principal is Kellie Taylor Email kellie@pqacademy.com or call 07928 835516 www.pqacademy.com

Families Vale of York 5

news Stars twinkle on stage with Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus as told by Air Steward Narrators.

New Nativity play has world premiere ‘Angel Small’ by author and composer Karen Langtree had its first ever live performance at The Mount Junior School on Thursday 4 December.

Flutterbabies swimming classes are coming to York.

Flutterbabies are delighted to announce two new swim venues in the New Year.

“We have our unique fun classes starting at The Goosewood Holiday Park, Sutton-on-the-Forest” said Flutterbabies owner Samantha Dalton. “We begin classes on 23rd February on a Monday and Tuesday morning.”

“We will also be running classes at The Mount School, in partnership with Carol Saunders Swim School, starting Saturday 10th January.”

You can book via their website www.flutterbabies.co.uk or contact Samantha@flutterbabies.co.uk for more information.

Is it cow’s milk allergy?

Is your baby crying excessively in its first few months? Are you concerned that something might be wrong? New research shows that persistent and unexplained crying can be a sign of cow’s milk allergy, an intolerance that is notoriously difficult to diagnose.

Pupils Chloe, Eshal and Florence said they most enjoyed the dancing, and Seraphina said her favourite part was the learning and singing the play’s original songs.

A new campaign called Is it Cow’s Milk Allergy? provides expert advice to help parents spot and understand the symptoms of CMA, which occurs when the immune system identifies a protein within the cow’s milk as harmful, and triggers an allergic reaction. Cow’s milk allergy can affect up to 7.5% of children under the age of one, and is the most common type of food allergy in young infants, yet it can be very difficult to diagnose as symptoms are often mistaken for other common conditions such as colic and eczema.

Symptoms will also vary from baby to baby, and can be immediate or delayed, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms to look out for.

“It was most satisfying throughout the rehearsals to see the children going about their daily lives and singing the songs, either at work or between classes. That has brought it all to life for me,” said Karen. “There is a certain joy in seeing others find enjoyment in something you have created.”

Visit www.isitCowsMilkAllergy.co.uk for more information and to download a fact sheet, symptom diary and detailed questionnaire which you can complete and then discuss with your GP. The Allergy UK helpline is on 01322 619898.

“I’ve been working with the children, and it has been very interesting to see how they have interpreted the play,” said Karen who is Author in Residence at The Mount School. “Their enthusiasm has been bubbling from the start of rehearsals. All the way through their performance today, you could see their faces shining, from the little ones all the way up to the older girls. It just goes to show, as the theme of the story says, that it doesn’t matter how small you are, everyone is special.”

6 Families Vale of York

8 t tips for successful

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Are you planning a fresh start in 2015? Are you going to eat more healthily, exercise regularly or lose weight? Statistics vary, but most estimates put the success rate for New Year Resolutions at around 10. That’s a depressing 9 in 10 chance of failure.

So how can you make sure you’re one of the successful 10% this year?

Joanne Henson, author of ‘What’s your excuse for not getting fit?’ and ‘What’s your excuse for not eating healthily?’ has eight tips to help ensure your New Year resolutions are successful…

Set specific targets Want to lose weight? How much?

Want to get fitter? How much fitter?

In three/six/twelve months’ time, what do you want to be able to do? Write it down and give it a date by which you want to reach your target. Without a deadline you’ll drift.

Get organised

Without planning, things go awry.

For example: you want to fit in three workouts per week, but you’ve not planned when. It’s Monday and you’ve got that Monday feeling, so you say to yourself you’ll go to the gym tomorrow. But you’re meeting friends on Tuesday, which means no workout… If you’d looked ahead and diarised the workouts you’d have been sure to fit them in.

Make your plan achievable

Ask yourself is your goal actually possible, with the time and resources you are able and willing to dedicate to it?

For instance, if you’re giving yourself six weeks to lose a stone, that’s going to mean pretty strict eating. Would you rather give yourself eight weeks and allow yourself a few nights out and treats along the way?

Track your progress Think about creating a journal or spreadsheet or download an app which you can use to record progress – you may only be recording small improvements, but they’re improvements nonetheless. And when your willpower is waning, looking back at the improvements you’ve made so far will help you stay on track.

Remember that one slip up does not equal total failure Don’t let one slip up turn into the end of your plans. Don’t get so angry at yourself for one lapse that you forget to congratulate yourself on the success you’ve had up to that moment. Put that one bad day in proper perspective.

Then make the next day a good one, and you’ll be back on track.

Stay focused

Coaches often say, “Begin with the end in mind” – but what is even more important is to progress with the end in mind.

Focus on how great it’s going to feel when you reach your goal – the smaller size jeans, the increased energy, the compliments on how great you’re looking. It’s these thoughts which will keep you on track.

If you talk only about what you are giving up, you are bound to feel deprived. Replace negative statements with more positive ones – for instance instead of “I’m not drinking for the whole of January” say “I’m having a healthy January to improve my energy levels”. This shifts the focus from what you are missing to what you are looking forward to.

Change your approach!

If you make the same old resolution every year, this is particularly important. If something hasn’t worked for you before, it’s unlikely to work this time around.

Try a new approach. What can you do differently this year? Get advice if necessary, or ask successful people how they achieved their goals. For weight loss, ditch the quick fix diets and consider other ways of eating. If you want to get fit, but start off running every year and lose interest, what other forms of exercise could you do instead?

If you adopt these strategies in 2015 you’ll have a practical and realistic strategy for success. Here’s to you being in the successful 10% this year!

About Joanne Henson Joanne Henson is a health and weightloss coach, specialising in helping people with a history of failed diets and fitness regimes to change their relationship with food and exercise for good. From unhealthy beginnings she overcame her own obstacles and now motivates and inspires others to become the healthier, leaner, happier people they’ve always wanted to be.

Joanne is the author of ‘What’s Your Excuse For Not Eating Healthily?’ and ‘What’s Your Excuse For Not Getting Fit?’ Both are available on Amazon in Paperback and Kindle format. www.joannehenson.co.uk Follow Joanne on Twitter: @Joannemh and @whats_yr_excuse

Avoid negative language

Many resolutions are about giving things up, so it’s very easy to talk about them in negative terms: “I am giving up alcohol for January”. But it has a positive end – a healthier you.

Families Vale of York 7

competitions win

Table Tots NEW website launch

a Fun Popstar Recording Experience for up to 2 people worth over £200*

Established since 2011 Table Tots nearly new sales are as popular as ever. Selling clothing and equipment for babies and children up to ten as well as maternity wear, the sales are a great place to bag a bargain as well as sell on your pre-loved items

Recording 4 Fun, the Mobile Popstar Party and Singing Experience experts are giving you the chance to win a superb fun packed recording session for up to 2 people (Kids, Teens or Adults) worth over £200*.

‘We’d like to Say a Happy New Year and a big ‘Thank You’ to all our customers and local businesses for their continued support, said Andy Gill, ‘and to show our gratitude and celebrate the launch of our new website, we’re running a competition to win one of four fabulous prizes.’

The winning pair will be given the full VIP Popstar treatment. With this fab Popstar Experience prize you can sing and record 2 of your favourite songs with the help of a top record producer in your own home or venue. The experience package includes:-

competition

2 hour Singing Experience.

Backing music and Lyrics Sheets.

2 Tracks Professionally Mixed.

4 Personalised CDs. Photo shoot of your recording session.

Table Tots are giving away these prizes: 1st prize: A Stockeld Park family

ticket to February Half Term Activities

But the fun doesn’t stop there as Recording 4 Fun are also including their extra Pop Video Add-On. The winners fun singing experience will be captured and made into a unique Pop Video for them to remember forever.

10% discount for all entrants

There can only be one prize winner however all entrants to the competition will receive a special 10% discount code valid for 12 months which can be applied to any Mobile Popstar Party or Singing experience with Recording 4 Fun. Recording 4 Fun’s Mobile Popstar Parties and Singing Experience’s are an ideal way to celebrate Birthdays or any occasion. They offer their unique call out service all across Yorkshire. For more info or to book a party or purchase an experience voucher call Tel: 01405 469 453 or Mobile: 07580 662 308 www.recording4fun.co.uk

how to enter

To enter the competition just answer the following question: How many of your favourite songs will you be able to record if you win the prize?

To enter go to www.

familiesvoy.co.uk/ competitions and

fill in the form. Full terms & conditions cam be found online.

Closing date 6th February 2015.

The winner will be contacted by email. *Terms and conditions apply – see online

8 Families Vale of York

2nd & 3rd prize: A year’s

membership to Yorkshire Family events saving you £’s over the year into some of Yorkshire’s top attractions

4th Prize: A £10 selling table at a Table Tots sale of your choice*

All you need to do to enter is go to the new homepage at www.tabletots.co.uk and follow the instructions there to be in with a chance of winning.

‘2015 brings more sales,’ added Jude Gill, ‘more great new venues and a return to our established venues too.

Look out for our charity cake stall at the York sale fundraising for our chosen charity, Martin House Hospice.’

Table Tots will have their usual sales running this year (check out our ‘What’s On’ pages for details) and will also be running a big spring fair in March.

Why not like their Facebook page for fun, news, competitions and up to the minute information www.facebook.com/www.tabletots. co.uk For more information contact: Andy & Jude, Table Tots, www.tabletots.co.uk www.facebook.com/www.tabletots. co.uk 07706 22 77 42 / 07703 299 768 *except; 1st may 2015

ed’s reading room

Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my New Year book selection for you to enjoy. The books are all available online and from good bookstores. Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools.

FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS

FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS

The Eager Elephant

Terror Town

by Amelia Cobb

by Marcus Sedgwick

(Nosy Crow £4.99)

(Orion £6.99)

ED SAYS: ‘Zoe knows how lucky she is living at the Rescue Zoo where her mother works and she also has a special secret – she can understand the animals’ growls and grunts and talk back to them. There is huge excitement when Zoe’s greatuncle arrives home from Africa with a crate containing a baby elephant. Zoe enthusiastically follows Bertie’s progress but when Bertie finds himself in danger will Zoe and her animal friends be able to rescue him?

ED SAYS: ‘Elf Girl and Raven Boy, along with their friend Rat, are speeding across hills and fields on a magic flying carpet towards Terror Town. They have the Tears of the Moon but they must find the Singing Sword in order to save the world from the Goblin King.

Zombies and werewolves are roaming the streets of Terror Town but there are also other scary things – and people – to contend with while attempting to complete their mission.

‘This is a lovely story for animal-lovers with more exciting adventures in the series. It is ideal for newly-confident readers or for reading together.’

‘This is a fantastic story and a real pageturner of a book. If you enjoy it as much as I did you will want to look out for the next part of Elf Girl and Raven Boy’s travels.’

The Royal Babysitters

Mountwood School for Ghosts

by Clémentine Beauvais (Bloomsbury £5.99) ED SAYS: ‘When Holly and Anna read about an intergalactic holiday of a lifetime they absolutely have to go on, they decide they will have to get a job to pay for it. They soon talk themselves into being royal babysitters for a day but they are in for a shock when they realise there are six princes to be looked after – and an invasion to repel. Will the girls be able to survive the dangers and problems hurled at them during this crazy day of princesitting?

(Macmillan £12.99) ED SAYS: ‘Ghosts aren’t what they used to be, according to one 473 year old teacher! So she and her spectral friends set up Mountwood School for Ghosts to promote excellence in haunting. Two young humans Daniel and Charlotte meet the likeable ghost Percy and when they realise that problems in their neighbourhood (created by humans) are seemingly insuperable they enlist the help of the phantoms of Mountwood.

‘Here is a madcap adventure to delight both boys and girls. The story is complemented throughout with fantastic illustrations.’

NEW YEAR

by Toby Ibbotson

in 4 weeks for FREE with Reading Eggs The multi-award winning online reading programme for 3-13 year olds.

Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive range of online reading lessons and eBooks that teach children aged 3-13 the literacy skills needed for lifetime reading success. The reason why over 90% of parents using Reading Eggs report a noticeable improvement in their child’s reading skills is because the programme makes learning phonics and basic reading skills fun.

With hundreds of reading lessons and activities to explore, sign up for our special 4 WEEK TRIAL* and see first-hand how your child’s reading can improve in just 4 weeks!

FREE

4 WEEK TRIAL*

Hurry, offer ends 28th February 2015.

Register today at

www.readingeggs.co.uk/jan15yk *Free trial only available for new customers who sign up at the above address.

‘This is a thrilling and imaginativelywritten story that will have you on the edge of your seat. It is action-packed and full of humour.’

DRAW MPETITION

CO

Learn to Read

The multi-award winning online reading programme!

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Families Vale of York 9

Reducing the Stress of

moving

HOME John Gibson of Aventus Law has tips for Families who are looking to move home this year.

It’s well known that purchasing a home is one of life’s most stressful events.

What with mortgage applications, handling solicitors, trying to coordinate dates and packing up all of your belongings, there are so many potential problems!

At Aventus Law we try to make the process as smooth, swift and easy as possible for families and, given our experience in helping people along through this process, we often have a few tips for families that we are told often help.

Sort out your mortgage in advance Sort out your mortgage before you start looking around. There is no point setting your sights too high, only to be disappointed. Speak with a well-qualified and experienced mortgage broker about the level of mortgage that you can afford and do not necessarily aim for the limit of your potential borrowing. It is so important that you consider the financial impact of the monthly repayments on your family purse before you commit to

10 Families Vale of York

a mortgage that you must pay for many years to come.

Try to obtain a Decision in Principle (DIP) agreement from the lender to confirm precisely how much they will lend to you. You will be in a much stronger negotiating position with a “seller” once you have a DIP and you will be well-armed in then going out looking for a new home.

Make a wish list List all the necessities and luxuries that you would expect and hope for in a new home and then when you visit properties you will know precisely what you are looking for.

Establish good relations with the estate agents Estate agents act for the seller and so do ensure that the estate agents know that you are a serious buyer. Let them know your wish list and keep in regular contact with them, so that if a new home comes on the market they will think of you first.

Of course, be punctual with viewings and respectful and polite at all times.

Be sensible when making an offer Be aware that, often, estate agents will be keen to achieve the best possible deal for the seller and may over-state the level of interest in a property so as to try to encourage the best possible offer. On the other hand, it is to be suggested that should also be realistic when submitting an offer, otherwise you could come across to the estate agents as a timewaster.

Do remember that in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, even if your offer is accepted, it is legitimate for you to back out if you change your mind; your offer is not legally binding until you have exchanged contracts. Again, do think very carefully before submitting an offer though, it is most sensible and courteous not to commit to a deal unless you are absolutely sure that you can proceed.

Have a survey carried out In England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is the buyer’s responsibility to have a survey carried out and there are different types of survey that you can commission. A survey can certainly avoid a great deal of stress, and financial

expense, further down the line. As part of your mortgage agreement, you must have a valuation report, but this is not enough if you want to know about any potential problems the property has, such as subsidence or damp. A homebuyer’s report or full structural survey will give you a more detailed account. If there are any serious defects, you can walk away or negotiate a lower price with the vendor. Even though, to many families, an expensive survey could seem to be a luxury when purchasing a home; many people may thank their lucky stars that they did so, particularly if in doing so they have avoided a great deal of stress, anxiety and financial expense ultimately.

Choose a good solicitor The legal process involved in buying a house is very complex, so it’s very important to find a solicitor who is an expert in conveyancing and someone you can trust. A good solicitor will draw up and explain contracts and plans clearly, deal with the Land Registry and manage stamp duty charges. Look for a solicitor who is not overworked or inexperienced as this could mean important details are missed. Appoint one as soon as possible in the home-buying process so they will be ready to set the wheels in motion as soon as you’ve had an offer accepted.

Don’t be tempted just to go with the solicitor that the estate agents recommend. The legal work carried out by solicitors in fact often costs much less than the estate agents fees and do please be aware, if you are offered advice by an estate agent as to which solicitor to instruct, that in fact many estate agents are offered financial incentives by firms of solicitors to recommend their services to clients.

Often, a reasonable proportion of the fees charged by solicitors is paid on to estate agents as a referral fee for having directed the client to the firm, and so the recommendation by an estate agent can often be financially motivated. Do check this out with a firm of solicitors if recommended to you by an estate agent, as they are obliged to inform you if they are to pay a referral fee to the estate agent; the referral fee is often added to the cost to the client in fact.

When you have chosen your solicitors and have been given a price, please remember that there will also be other expenses involved in the purchase or sale of your home (known as disbursements) which you should ask about too.

Aventus Law Solicitors www.aventus-law.com enquiries@aventus-law.com Serving Yorkshire and the North West 0113 249 1999 0161 908 7596 0845 340 9901

About Aventus Law Aventus Law’s mission is to offer and achieve the highest standards of service and excellent client care. Head of Conveyancing, Paul Butler, has over thirty years of experience in handling the legal process involved in house purchase and sales.

For more information about Aventus Law, visit www.aventus-law.com, telephone 0113 249 1999 or email enquiries@aventus-law.com

Families Vale of York 11

childcare

by Hannah Hunter

We’ve all heard about the importance of early years education. Apparently a child who has gone to pre-school has more chance of getting better exam results and ultimately earning higher wages, according to new research undertaken by academics at the Institute of Education.

So you send your child to nursery, in the hope that it will improve their education prospects. But what are they actually going to do there all day?

They’re not going to tell you! Teenagers struggle enough to recall what’s happened a few hours before, so you can’t expect detailed information from a 3-year-old.

To give you some idea of what will happen, you can look at the legal requirements for nurseries in the UK. The Early Years Foundation Stage framework is a document that sets out the statutory welfare and developmental goals for children 5 years and under. It gives guidelines for safety and learning and development for all early years providers - all nurseries, child minders, playgroups, preschools and reception classes.

What to expect from your child’s nursery education

The EYFS explained The EYFS framework document can seem daunting, but it’s there to ensure that all children receive a suitable level of care.

It sets out the legal requirements that keep your child safe and promote their welfare. This includes: • Basic checks, such as staff security checks • Setting the number of children each member of staff can look after • Ensuring the facilities and equipment are safe and suitable • Checking the quality of the environment, e.g. recommending access to outdoor space It also covers the seven areas of learning and development. These are: • communication and language • physical development • personal, social and emotional development • literacy • mathematics • understanding the world • expressive arts and design The activities they will do at nursery, to support their learning and development will be unique to your child’s needs. They will learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. There is a requirement for ‘continuous provision’, which in layman’s terms means that there needs to be high quality resources and activities available all of the time, so your child can learn through play in lots of different ways.

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The EYFS also lays out guidelines for assessment of your child’s progress. Soon after your child turns 2, you will get a written summary of how your child is progressing in communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. Any areas where they need extra help or support will be highlighted at this stage.

The next written assessment will come when your child is 5, usually at the end of their reception year, which is the last year they are classed as being in early years education.

This will include assessment of skills such as writing their name, reading and talking about a favourite book, speaking to people your child is not so familiar with or their understanding of numbers. The school will give you a progress report including some of this information.

Your child will have a ‘key person’ at nursery, pre-school or reception class, who is responsible for putting together information on how they are developing. This person will be your main point of contact, and it’s important that you work together and communicate well. Any worries about your child should be discussed with their key worker, and they will be able to build on what your child is learning at home.

Look at the full document here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2 For a detailed parent’s guide to the EYFS go to: www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2014/08/ EYFS_Parents_Guide-amended.pdf For more general advice for parents: www.ndna.org.uk/parents

childcare QUIZ

what’s best for me?

By Joanna Moorhead

There are a whole host of factors to take into account in working out what childcare is going to be best for you and your child or children. Joanna Moorhead guides you through the questions you need to ask yourself - and offers a key to what kind of care your answers might point towards.

1. How many children do you have?

Different forms of childcare suit different sizes of family, primarily for cost reasons. For example, even though some nurseries offer reductions for a second child your bill for two children is still going to be a lot more than it will be for one, whereas with a nanny the cost is the same whether it’s one child or three, because you pay for the nanny’s time.

SCORE 1 per child; plus 1 if there’s a high chance you’ll be pregnant again in the next 18 months

2. What ages are your children?

The younger your youngest child is, the more individuallytailored care you’re likely to need.

SCORE 3 if your youngest is under a year, 2 if he/she is under two years, and 1 if he/ she is three-plus

3. Do you live in a rural or an urban area?

The more populous your area, the more childcare options there will be available, in terms of more nurseries, and a higher number of childminders. If you live somewhere really remote, hiring a nanny might be the only option.

SCORE 3 for a rural area, 2 if you live in the suburbs, 1 if you’re an urbanite

4. Are you a single parent?

If so you’re likely to have less back-up, but also a lower disposable income.

SCORE 2 if yes

5. How much disposable income do you have?

The money you spend on childcare is less about what you’ve got left over and more about investing in your career for the future. But you still need to have some spare income to pay for it.

SCORE 3 if you have what you’d consider a high disposable income; 2 if medium; and 1 if low

6. Is your work predictable?

Knowing you’re going to start and finish work at the same time each day makes nursery a much more realistic option than if you’re likely to be called in

to your workplace at the drop of a hat, or in the middle of the night, or if you might end up staying until the early hours with little or no warning.

SCORE 1 for yes, 3 for no

SCORES Up to 10: Could a

nursery be the right choice for you? Look round some of the nurseries in your area and see what your instinctive feel about them is. Nurseries provide more structured care that can suit many families, though it’s harder for them to cater for parents who work very long or unpredictable hours.

7. Do you have a long commute?

You need to add travel time to your working hours, and if you’re commuting a long distance a nursery or a childminder might be trickier.

SCORE 3 for yes

8. Do you have a spare bedroom?

A live-in nanny needs a place to sleep; though if you don’t have the space, you can still consider sharing a nanny who lives in the other family’s home.

SCORE 3 for yes

10-20: Are you

the perfect fit for a childminder? For families who like the idea of childcare in a different setting from home, with other children but with some flexibility on timings, this can be a perfect option - and childminders tend to be lower-cost than nurseries or nannies.

9. Does your child have an

allergy or health issue of any kind?

A health issue could make a nanny the best bet, because her care can be concentrated on your child and all activities/ meals/outings can be planned with your child at the centre.

SCORE 3 for yes

20-30: If you have the space and the income, hiring a nanny means you can provide care that’s tailored precisely to your child or children. Plus if your family is still expanding, a nanny can be a costsaver in the long term.

10. Are you a ‘laissez faire’ or a ‘controlling’ parent?

If you’re the kind of parent who’s going to be happy to leave your childcarer to make decisions on your behalf through the day, you’re probably going to be happier with a childminder or nursery setting than if you want to be able to lay down exactly what you want to happen while you’re at work.

SCORE 1 for laissez faire, 3 for controlling

We hope you enjoyed this quiz, it is just to make you think of your options in a different way and it may not provide the correct answer for you!

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Families Vale of York 13

eat yourself

pregnant

Forget faddy diets Nutritionist Christine Bailey explains how to boost your chances of conceiving a healthy baby by optimising your intake of essential fertility nutrients.

My research and experience as a nutritionist has shown me that nutrient dense, unprocessed food (and supplements as necessary) forms the bedrock of getting your body baby-ready and of making healthy eggs and sperm. There is now much scientific evidence to indicate that micro nutrients (vitamins and minerals) play a big role in getting pregnant – both naturally and through assisted conception – with deficiencies having significant effects on fertility for both men and women. It is for this reason I wrote my latest recipe book Eat Yourself Pregnant with fertility expert Zita West (www.christinebailey.co.uk).

Here are some of the top nutrients you and your partner need to give you the best chance of conceiving a healthy baby. ...........................................................

Folic Acid Most of us will be aware of the role of folic acid in preventing Spina Bifida in your baby, so it is essential that you get plenty both before and during pregnancy. However folic acid together with other B vitamins (especially B12 and B6) are also vital for the production of genetic materials DNA and RNA, not only of the egg but also the sperm. They are also involved in helping to lower a compound called homocysteine in our blood.

Elevated levels of homocysteine have been linked to an increase risk of miscarriage.

Top Food FOR FOLATE: leafy green vegetables, citrus, lentils, avocado, asparagus.

B6: sunflower seeds, wheat germ, banana, avocado, milk, eggs. B12: eggs, dairy products, fish, meat and poultry ...........................................................

14 Families Vale of York

Zinc Zinc has been widely studied in terms of fertility for both men and women. It is an essential component of genetic material and a zinc deficiency can lead to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. It is equally important for men: zinc is found in high concentrations in the sperm. Insufficient levels are linked to reduced sperm count.

Top Food pumpkin seeds, lean meat and poultry, shellfish particularly oysters ...........................................................

Selenium Selenium is an important antioxidant that helps to protect your body from damaging chemicals known as free radicals. It is therefore helpful for protecting the egg and also important for sperm formation. Blood selenium levels have been found to be lower in men with low sperm counts.

Top Food

seeds, pork

brazil nuts, oysters, fish, sunflower

...........................................................

Omega 3 Fatty Acids These essential fats have a profound effect on healthy hormone functioning and lowering inflammation in the body. If you have been following a low fat diet or avoid fish it is likely your diet will contain insufficient levels. It is also harder to obtain enough of the active components known as DHA and EPA if you are following a vegetarian diet since oily fish is the best source. For men essential fatty acid

supplementation is crucial because the semen is rich in prostaglandins, which are produced from these fats. Sperm quality can be improved by having an optimum levels of these fats.

Top Food oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, anchovies, kippers), flaxseed and chia seeds, walnuts, leafy green vegetables, tofu ......................................................

Vitamin E Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant and has been shown to support fertility in men and women. It may be particularly important for ovulation and healthy sperm.

Top Food

eggs, leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds, wheat germ, cold-pressed oils

Iron Women in particular can be prone to low iron and anaemia especially if they experience heavy periods. Low levels may increase the risk of miscarriage.

Top Food meat, fish, eggs, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, dried fruit ......................................................

Iodine Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones and thus important for a women’s hormonal cycle control as well as for the development of the foetus.

Top Food sea vegetables, fish and shellfish, eggs ......................................................

......................................................

Vitamin D

Vitamin C

Vitamin D is the workhorse of the immune system. It also supports healthy blood sugar balance and bone health. As the main source is sunlight the majority of people are low in this vitamin for most of the year. Low vitamin D deficiency is significant for male fertility, as it affects the motility of the sperm the sperm nucleus. It may also be associated with lower libido. As it is a fat soluble vitamin it is best to get your levels checked before supplementing. This can be done via your GP or through a home spot test kit (www.christinebailey.co.uk)

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, and studies show that vitamin C enhances sperm quality, protecting sperm and the DNA within it from damage. It may also improve motility of the sperm by preventing them from clumping together

Top Food citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, Kiwi Fruit, Red Pepper ......................................................

Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A

Top Food

oily fish, eggs, mushrooms

Epigenetics: changes that happen in your lifetime can be passed on to your child While the genetic content of your baby’s DNA is fixed at the moment of egg and sperm fusion, its development and growth depends on particular genes being activated and amplified or suppressed at key points during pregnancy. The relatively new science of epigenetics considers what the mechanism is for this control. It appears that chemical marks are laid down on the DNA that affect how cells copy themselves in turning genes on or off by allowing or preventing the gene from making proteins necessary for the process. These epigenetic marks are influenced by the environment of the developing baby and will not only have effects into its own life after birth, but can even carry forward in its genetic makeup to following generations.

So what you do and eat before and during pregnancy could have far reaching effects for your unborn family. Having the right nutrients at the right time is critical.

Further information and healthy recipes to support fertility and a healthy pregnancy can be found in Eat Yourself Pregnant

by Zita West and Christine Bailey (Nourish Books) www. christinebailey. co.uk

Beta-carotene is the vegetable precursor to Vitamin A and safe during pregnancy.

Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant, which helps to protect egg and sperm DNA from damage, which can affect the quality of both the egg, and sperm. Vitamin A is a vital nutrient for the production of healthy eggs and mucosal tissue.

High doses in supplement form are not recommended during pregnancy.

Top Food sweet potato, butternut squash, yellow fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, green leaf vegetables, fish, eggs

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Families Vale of York 15

becoming a

tips on managing this process With the exciting news that Prince George will soon become a big brother, the topic of sibling rivalry, the ideal age gap between siblings and how to prepare children for the arrival of a new baby are all hot topics.

Dr Amanda Gummer, founder of the parenting and play advice site FundamentallyChildren.com combines her theoretical knowledge with first-hand experience of having two children under the age of two and encourages parents to take a fresh look at the issue of siblings.

Preparation for the arrival of a new baby Young children live very much in the here and now. Talking to them about events that are going to happen months ahead won’t make any difference to how well they accept the baby.

Avoid asking children about their view on whether they would like a baby brother or sister. This suggests to the child that there is a choice. Young children are influencing all sorts of decisions that have been traditionally made by the adults - where to go on holiday, what to eat for dinner, even what car to buy, but if you are asking a young child to help decide whether you should have any more children then you need to have a good look at your family dynamics and put the adults back in charge of the family life.

Encourage friends with babies to come round and observe how your toddler reacts to them.

Make sure you praise kind behaviour and explain how babies need to be treated. This gives you an opportunity to identify and address any particular issues that may arise before the birth.

Try to make any changes to your child’s routine as far in advance of the baby arriving as possible so he doesn’t associate the change

16 Families Vale of York

(e.g. moving bedrooms, starting childcare) with the new baby.

As the due date gets closer and as the pregnancy bump becomes obvious, it is wise to start introducing the idea that mummy is growing another baby in her tummy. Talk to your child and explain that this is how he grew and that all babies come from their mummy’s tummies. A new baby doll for the toddler can help him/her feel more involved and grown up. It’s good to plan exciting things to do for when the baby arrives so that the arrival of your new baby is seen as a positive thing, but don’t make it all about the new baby. Make sure the toddler feels valued and you are and will continue to be as interested in him/her as before.

Bringing baby home.

It can be difficult to predict how things will be once the baby arrives and comes home but having some ideas of common situations up your sleeve can help everyone feel a bit more in control.

What’s ‘normal’ behaviour when a new baby is brought into the family?

Just like there’s no such thing as a ‘normal child’, there’s no ‘normal behaviour’. It is common for children to become more clingy to the mother, but also may reject the mother and transfer affections to another role model.

Depending on the age of the child, some may suddenly seem to grow up and enjoy being the big brother or sister. Other children may regress and want babying a bit more, especially if they think that it will get them more attention.

What is typical jealous behaviour that a toddler may exhibit?

How can I help the toddler bond with the new baby?

Taking a baby’s dummy or toys is common as is crying about things that they’d not normally have bothered about – attention seeking behaviour in general is quite common. It can get more extreme and older siblings can intentionally try to hurt the new baby. This is rare, and normally only happens with older children (children under 3 won’t have the necessary cognitive skills to deliberately hurt the baby but you should still be wary of experimental accidents) but it’s sufficiently dangerous enough that parents need to be aware of it.

What steps can I take to make the toddler still feel special once the baby is here?

Talking to the toddler and involving him/her in decisions – do you think baby would like to wear the blue or the red top today? Also make sure you keep special big girl/big boy time – often it is best to plan this for when the baby is asleep or when there is someone else looking after the baby whilst you have one-to-one time with your toddler.

It’s best to try and promote bonding as a family – the children will develop their own relationship and whilst you can tell the toddler how much the baby loves him/her and how much the baby watches him/her etc, it’s better to have family cuddles and show both children that you love them both and are able to give them both the love and attention they need. This reduces competitiveness and resentment between the children, which in turn promotes bonding. Children under the age of 2 will not have any memories of life before the new baby so resentment will not be an issue in the long term but it is good to make sure they are not getting any unintentionally negative messages about their place in the family.

Don’t force it though. One of the best things that can happen when you bring a new baby home is that your toddler isn’t overly bothered by the baby and is more interested in having fun with other family members. This gives you some time to bond with your new baby and recover from the birth without needing to worry about your older child/children. So don’t worry if your toddler isn’t particularly interested in the new baby, they will be big parts of each other’s lives for the next few decades so a slow start isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

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Families Vale of York 17

parents’ rights – By the Prolegal Employment team

The many different rights to leave for parents can be difficult to understand and won’t get any easier when Shared Parental Leave is

Maternity Leave Mums have the right to up to 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave (OML) and a further 26 weeks additional maternity leave (AML), no matter how long she has been with her employer. To qualify, mum must tell her employer the date she wants to start her leave before the end of the 15th week before she is due to give birth. The first 2 weeks after birth are compulsory maternity leave, when she is not allowed to work.

Qualifying employees are entitled to a maximum of 39 weeks statutory maternity pay (SMP).

For the first six weeks mum should be paid 90% of her salary; the remaining 33 weeks are paid at either the statutory rate of £138.18 or 90% of her average gross weekly earnings if this is lower. The statutory rate will rise in April 2015. Check your company maternity policy because some employers offer enhanced maternity pay.

introduced next year. This

Terms and conditions of employment continue during maternity leave, except in respect of pay. Mum should continue to get her non-cash contractual benefits such as medical insurance. Holidays accrue during maternity leave and can be taken before or after leave but not during.

article sets out the different

Mum has the right to return to the same job after OML. After AML, employers can offer a suitable and appropriate alternative if it is not practical for mum to return to the same job.

types of leave, who qualifies and what rights there are to pay during leave.

Paternity Leave Dads are entitled to 2 weeks Ordinary Paternity Leave (OPL) paid at £138.18, rising in April 2015. Many employers offer this at full pay. Although most men choose to take the leave as the baby is born, it can be taken at any time within 56 days of the birth. To qualify, dad must have had at least 26 weeks’ service 14 weeks before the due date.

Shared Parental Leave For babies expected after 5 April 2015, employees with 26 weeks service 14 weeks before the due date will be able to opt for flexible Shared Parental Leave, which allows you to share the 52 weeks. After the compulsory 2 weeks, Mum can return to work at any time and pass her leave to Dad. Alternatively, both can take leave at the same time, provided that it totals less than 52 weeks. You can even ask your employer for leave in non-continuous blocks, though they will have the right to refuse this.

Mum and Dad can work up to 20 Keeping in Touch days during Shared Parental Leave.

Dad will be entitled to statutory paternity pay as Mum would have been entitled to statutory

18 Families Vale of York

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maternity pay had she not returned to work. Some employers are also offering enhanced pay during Shared Parental Leave.

For babies due earlier, if dad qualifies for OPL he is also entitled to Additional Paternity Leave (APL), if he is working for the same employer as he was when he took OPL and mum goes back to work. APL cannot be taken until baby is 20 weeks old and no later than baby’s first birthday. Dad is entitled to the unexpired portion of mum’s SMP, paid at the same rate.

Parental Leave Both parents are entitled to take up to 18 weeks unpaid parental leave before their child is 5. The leave is calculated in respect of each child, so a parent of 2 children could take up to 36 weeks. Leave must be taken in blocks of a week and can be limited to 4 weeks per year. Employers can postpone the leave for up to 6 months where the business would be unduly disrupted.

To qualify for leave, employees must have been with their employer for at least a year. Leave can move between employers, so for example if you had taken 6 weeks leave and got a new job, you could take up to 12 weeks in that new job once you had been there for a year.

Dependants Leave All employees are entitled to a reasonable amount of unpaid leave to deal with dependants who are ill or injured. The leave is also available to cope with unexpected disruption of childcare or to deal with an incident at school.

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Of course a vacation is a time to laze around and do nothing; but they’re also bursting with opportunities to find out something new, and chasing those chances could give you the most fun of all.

Learning holidays Joanna Moorhead reports.

“A learning holiday?” said one of my daughters, when I suggested we could combine going on vacation with supplementing her education. “Have you gone completely bonkers?”

I hadn’t; but what I did realise, at that moment, was the folly of being upfront in my views about how holidays could be an opportunity to impart knowledge. The trick is never to mention it, and not under any circumstances to admit or volunteer that you are aiming to weave a thread of anything educational through your spring or summer break.

Where to start? Here are some ideas.

Art

But the truth is, holidays are one of the best learning opportunities a parent has - and finding out new things that complement what’s happening in school can be a whole lot of fun when it’s far from the classroom and a long way from home.

In terms of focus, there are two possibilities. Either pick up on a child’s existing passion — for art, perhaps, or for aeroplanes or fashion or whatever it is — or try to give them a new perspective on a subject they’re finding difficult to engage with. In my own experience, I’ve always taken the former (easier) route; but I do sometimes think I should do more to help my kids with the parts of the curriculum they find hardest, and holidays could be the perfect time to do that.

Children start learning about individual artists from nursery school. Pick an artist your child has talked about at school, or has seemed drawn to when you’ve looked at his/her work together. Easily-accessible artists who use a lot of bright colours are ideal - think Van Gogh, Hockney, Georgia O’Keeffe.

It’s easy to make any holiday art-orientated, since art galleries are everywhere: but if you want, you can make it about more than just museums. Try a trip to Arles in the south of France where you can see copies of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings set up on permanent easels in the exact spot where he painted them, and dine at the Starry Night Café; or have a trip to Cornwall and find the landscapes and fishing village scenes made famous by the Newlyn School. Or holiday in Pont-Aven in Brittany, once home to Paul Gaugin; or head for Italy and one of the numerous artists’ trails there such as the Piero della Francesca trail in Tuscany.

science & nature

The simplest way to introduce nature into your holiday is to go for a walk in an undeveloped area, and to explore the green space around you. Look for bugs, birds, small animals and their habitats; if you’re not very knowledgeable about these things yourself, head for a park or arboretum where there are trails and leaflets with advice on what to look out for.

Star gazing is another great way to weave science into your holiday. You can see the stars from your back garden on a clear night, but a camping holiday is often the key to the most impressive display of the constellations. Wetlands centres and natural history and science museums are more great ways to introduce the subject into your vacations in an exciting way.

literacy

Literacy isn’t just about books: taking your children to the places where the characters from, and authors of, their favourite books will show them a whole new side to reading. For younger children, theme parks such as Thomasland (www.draytonmanor.co.uk) or Peppa Pig World (www.peppapigworld), both open at February half term and then from March, bring their characters to life in a new way and will prompt even more interest in the books; older children will enjoy a trip to Haworth, home of the Brontes and their heartrending true story. Or head to the Jane Austen attractions in Hampshire, or to the Thomas Hardy museum in Dorset; or the Lake District for a taste of Wordsworth.

Hiştory

You can’t go wrong with history: in fact, it’s hard to have a holiday without it straying onto the margins even if you don’t try. Castles, National Trust houses, museums, cathedrals, palaces; the world is heaving with history, and it only takes a tiny bit of imagination to put it into action on holiday. For something different, try taking your kids along to an event at an English Heritage or National Trust property designed to bring the history to life. Or join a child-friendly guided tour of a palace or cathedral - good guides will be full of interesting stories that spark the imagination of even the child who might think history is boring in school.

And don’t forget to enjoy learning on holiday yourself!

Photos courtesy of www.english-heritage.org.uk

20 Families Vale of York

what’s on jan/feb15 We’ve ordered everything according to start date – be sure to look out for all the events which run for several weeks / weekends too. And be sure to check before you set off. These were correct as we went to print but may have changed. Check if you need to book ahead too.

More ‘Days Out’ can be found online at www.familiesvoy.co.uk . All events are now searchable by date, venue & age range making it much easier to find all our local events at the click of your mouse.

UNTIL 22 FEB

Hidden Stories

BENINGBROUGH HALL & GARDENS, 01904 472027 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ beningbrough-hall This winter discover a selection of Beningbrough’s hidden stories.

Images and sketches from the archives offer a glimpse into the lost details of the garden and hall.

Normal entry prices - no additional costs.

UNTIL 1 MARCH

Trainspotting season

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM 08448 153139 www.nrm.org.uk Explore the adventure and nostalgia associated with Trainspotting, one of the most common pastimes for boys in the 1950s and 1960s, with a variety of family-friendly events and activities.

31 JAN – 8 FEB

York Resident’s Festival

Mount Grace Priory. Open Jan & Feb at weekends 10am – 4pm

CASTLE HOWARD 01653 648333 www.castlehoward.co.uk Wrap up warm this winter

and explore Castle Howard’s monumental parkland. Discover statues, lakes, temples and fountains, the 18th century walled garden, lakeside and woodland walks and adventure playground.

Enjoy a choice of cafés and gift shops plus farm shop and garden centre. Dogs on leads are welcome and please note the house itself is closed. Open to all York Residents who have a valid YorkCard – you’ll need one card per person to gain free admission.

8 FEB

Winter Nature Walk

FOUNTAINS ABBEY 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey Watch out for the first signs of spring peeking through the winter frost on the estate. Look out for snowdrops, berries and fresh buds.

You may even catch a glimpse of winter birds.

9 FEB-8 MARCH 11AM-4PM

Snowdrop Spectacular BURTON AGNES HALL 01262 490324 www.burtonagnes.com Wander through a wonderful blanket of snowdrops in the woodland walk.

Families Vale of York 21

what’son continued 14 & 15 FEB 10AM - 4PM

Victorian Valentine Weekend BRODSWORTH HALL 01302 722598 www.english-heritage.org.uk Enjoy a stroll around the beautiful Victorian gardens and discover the romantic Victorians with some verse from poets and writers of the time.

14 – 19 FEB 10AM - 3PM

February Half Term Trail: ‘Bird Detectives’ FOUNTAINS ABBEY HG4 3DY 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey Know your goldfinches from your chaffinches?

Become a bird detective as you search for the clues in the abbey and garden to discover some of the birds that call Fountains home.

14 – 19 FEB 11AM - 3PM

February Half Term Crafts: ‘Beautiful Birds!’

FOUNTAINS ABBEY 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a colourful bird mobile! Call into Swanley Grange this half term to make a fluttery, feathery bird mobile from paper and card.

14 -18, 21, 22 FEB

East Riddlesden Hall HALF TERM OUTDOOR FUN Show off your den and mud pie making skills in the Discovery Garden, look for the Riddlesden Hob in his Hobbit House and spot birds from Project3_Layout 1 01/12/2014 Page 1 the Bird Hide. Try out family nature17:38 trails and seasonal craft activities too.

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14 – 23 FEB

Half Term Activities at Stockeld Park Stockeld Park will be opening its doors for February Half Term again this year. Amongst the fun to be had will be ice skating on real ice all week, culminating in a Disco on Ice on Friday evening. With licensed café and the promise of loud music and flashing lights it’s a great way to liven up a cold winter evening.

As well as skating you’ll be able to enjoy a stroll through the Enchanted Forest, enjoy the maze and indoor play – all guaranteed to keep the kids happy during the school break.

There’ll be skate sessions for younger children and a Friday disco running from 6-8pm complete with snow machine! A full day pass including skate hire is £12 and all activities excluding skating are £8. Young skater sessions will be £10 (one child & one adult) and will run from 9 -10 am. Opening time for older visitors will be from 10am – 6pm. Season passes are also available.

Be sure to wrap up warm!

Visit www.stockeldpark.co.uk for more information.

14 - 22 FEB

14 – 22 FEB

A Day Out with Paddington

Hearts and Flowers Children’s Trail

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM 08448 153139 www.nrm.org.uk Paddington Bear™ will be at the NRM for the February half term so grab your duffle coat and marmalade sandwiches and join us for lots of family fun. You’ll have the chance to meet him at various times throughout the day and dress up like the bear himself.

There’ll also be lots of other fun activities taking place including steam rides*, science shows, hands on activities* and more. Free entry but a small charge applies for some items.

14 – 22 FEB

Children’s Gruesome History Week

WHITBY ABBEY 01947 603568 www.english-heritage.org.uk Explore the gruesome side of history with hands on activities for children. Meet Thomas Turlis, the Public Hangman equipped with gallows, ropes and the other ‘tools’ of his gruesome trade. 11am - 4pm 14 – 22 FEB

Events info for here and across the UK

Half Term Fun - The Nunnington Dragon

NUNNINGTON HALL 01439 748283 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall Explore the legend of the Nunnington Dragon, search the Hall and Gardens to piece together clues of his existence.

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CASTLE HOWARD 01653 648333 www.castlehoward.co.uk Spot the hearts and flowers hidden around the grounds this half term. Children will love exploring the great outdoors in search of the giant hearts and flowers dotted throughout the grounds. Find them all and collect a treat! Wrap up warm and enjoy an afternoon of adventure; taking in the trail, playground and woodland paths.

14 – 22 FEB

Jorvik Viking Festival

Jorvik 01904 615505 jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk A week of Viking celebrations in York.

14 -22 FEB

Olaf the Viking - Victory and Defeat

CLIFFORD’S TOWER 01904 646940 www.english-heritage.org.uk Olaf the Viking tells tales of the victory in 1066 at Fulford, but also of their defeat at Stamford Bridge.

With regular short stories throughout each day, plus a chance to view the York skyline from the Tower top wall walk.

14 – 22 FEB

14 – 23 FEB

Teddy Bear Week

February Fun

THE NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY, Pickering Station 01751 472508 www.nymr.co.uk Take your bear for half term fun.

14 -22 FEB

Victorian Fairies Week

BRODSWORTH HALL 01302 722598 www.english-heritage.org.uk Have you heard fairies have been seen in the gardens at Brodsworth Hall? Go along in search of fairies around the gardens. Make a pinhole camera to help you get a better look. 10am - 4pm

Table Tots www.tabletots.co.u

STOCKELD PARK 01937 586101 stockeldpark.co.uk With ice skating sessions for young skaters, general skating and an ice disco as well as The Enchanted Forest and the Maze to be explored there is plenty to keep you busy during half term. They’re also reinstalling indoor play for the period so you can bounce and play to your heart’s content, even in wet weather.

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7TH FEB Wakefield, Kettlethorpe High School 8TH FEB 1-3PM Hull, Kingswood Aca demy 14TH FEB 2-4 PM Selby, Barlby High Sch ool

21 FEB 1-3PM York, Joseph Rowntre e School

16 FEB

Make a Bird Feeder

22ND FEB Morely, Bruntcliffe Sch ool

EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL www.nationaltrust.org.uk Try your hand at making a bird feeder to hang in your garden.

28 FEB 1 – 3PM Castleford, Lock Lane Sports Centre

16 FEB 11AM - 1PM & 2-4PM 14 – 22 FEB

Half Term Fun

RIEVAULX TERRACE & TEMPLES 01439 748283 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/rievaulx-terrace Take part in the children’s trail, tick off activities on the ‘50 things’ list, take a walk through the woodland or discover the natural play area.

theatre 10 JAN

The Wind in the Willows

JOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATRE 01904 658197 www.jrtheatre.co.uk Join Mole, Ratty, Badger and the boisterous, bumptious, loud and lovable Toad as the adventure of a lifetime unravels on the riverbank.

Watch out for the dangerous weasels, stoats and ferrets from the wild wood along the way! Live music, hilarious comedy and exciting adventure from the ever popular Oddsocks as they turn their inimitable, clever and funny hands to this classic tale of boats, cars, trains and washerwomen!

UNTIL 17 JAN

Jack & The Beanstalk

LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE 01484 430528 www.lbt-uk.org UNTIL 17 JAN

White Christmas

WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE 0113 213 7700 www.wyp.org.uk UNTIL 18 JAN

Cinderella

HARROGATE THEATRE 01423 502 116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk Cinderella is packed with everyone’s favourite pantomime characters: the dim-witted Buttons; the thigh-slapping Prince Charming; the magical Fairy Godmother and not forgetting the gruesome twosome everyone loves to hate, the Ugly Sisters.

UNTIL 24 JAN

James & the Giant Peach WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE 0113 213 7700 www.wyp.org.uk

Geocaching Taster Day

FOUNTAINS ABBEY 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey Calling all adventurers - it’s your chance to explore like never before! Learn how to use a GPS unit and travel through time on a digital treasure hunt to seek out secret stashes hidden all over the estate. They’ll provide the equipment, so all you need to take is a keen eye for spotting the clues.

17 – 19 FEB

Bird Box Making

FOUNTAINS ABBEY 01765 608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey Hammer and nails at the ready! Our feathery friends will be looking about for places to nest pretty soon, so this half term you’ll be shown how to make a home for them to put in your own garden.

26 & 27 JAN

14 FEB

Room on the Broom

Sing-a-Long-a-Frozen HARROGATE THEATRE 01423 502 116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk Disney’s Frozen gets the full Sing-a-long-a treatment! Join in the full experience with lyrics on screen and sing along with songs from the film.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE YORK 0844 871 3024 www.atgtickets.com Tall Stories’ magical musical stage adaptation of Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler flies into town direct from a smashing West End season! The witch and her cat are flying happily along on their broomstick when a stormy wind blows the witch’s hat, bow and wand away into the night. A helpful dog, bird and frog find the witch’s lost things and all hop on the broom for a ride. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK! - it snaps in two! When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up (and their grown-ups).

UNTIL 31 JAN

Old Mother Goose

19 FEB

Nicobobinus

CAST DONCASTER 01302 303 959 castindoncaster.com A cast of five actor musicians bring this epic tale to life with original songs, instrumental acrobatics, moving sets and a bucket load of Monty Python-esque wit. An adventurous family musical adaptation of Terry Jones’ much loved children’s tale about the boy ‘who could do anything’.

20 FEB

YORK THEATRE ROYAL, 01904 623568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk Good versus evil is put to the test when two fairies battle for supremacy. The bad fairy claims any human being can be corrupted; the good fairy throws down a challenge and chooses Old Mother Goose as an example of all that is good and cannot be corrupted. The bad fairy sets off to prove the good fairy wrong. So begins yet another classic panto ‘tale of the unexpected’, a tale to mystify your senses, a tale to tax anyone’s credulity, but above all a tale that will have the whole family enthralled in a world of laughter that never ceases.

Old MacDonald had a Farm

5 – 7 FEB

20 – 21 FEB

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Rapunzel

ST. GEORGE’S HALL BRADFORD www.bradford-theatres.co.uk 01274 432000

CAST DONCASTER 01302 303 959 castindoncaster.com Written especially for parents to enjoy with their children, this fun filled farmyard tale brings to life all the best loved characters from the original nursery rhyme along with a magical medley of games, giggles and sing along songs 20 FEB

The Sooty Show

ST. GEORGE’S HALL BRADFORD www.bradford-theatres.co.uk 01274 432000

LAWRENCE BATLEY THEATRE 01484 430528 www.lbt-uk.org

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