Families Hampshire North Magazine Jan/ Feb 2017.

ISSUE 18 | January/February 2017

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Childcare and early years How to beat the January blues The guide to little bilingual brains

THE ESSENTIAL LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS ANDOVER, BASINGSTOKE, HOOK, FLEET, ALTON, BORDON & SURROUNDING AREAS

January/ February 2017

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HELPING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FIND THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD Call 01256 460830 l legal@phillips-law.co.uk

www.phillips-law.co.uk

Town Gate, 38 London Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 7NY

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this Christmas!

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HAMPSHIRE

An independent day school for boys and girls aged 3 - 7 and girls aged 3 - 16

Open Mornings

Saturday 4th March 2017 10am-1pm Saturday 7th October 2017 10am-1pm

Open Evening

Thursday 11th May 2017 6-8pm

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Small class sizes Inspiring teachers First rate facilities Outstanding results

st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk

01252 850121

HIGHEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL RATING

“Excellent” 2

ISI INSPECTION OCT 2015

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Hampshire North www.familiesonline.co.uk Tel: 07789 882 467 Editor Rebecca Carr editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk Advertising Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk Online Manager Sharon Armstrong sharon@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk Editorial and Design Rebecca Carr design@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk Next issue March/ April 2017 Booking deadline 3 February 2017

Families Hampshire North is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Hampshire North is fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. © All content copyright Families Hampshire North 2017.

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Local news

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How to beat the January blues

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Finding the right early years setting

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Preparing for pre school

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The little guide to bilingual brains

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Local nursery & childcare providers

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How to make maths fun for kids

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Your local tutors guide

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Family law and divorce

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What’s on in January and February

Would you like to receive copies of Families Hampshire North Magazine? Call us on 07789 882467

We are recruiting for an Online Area Manager In July 2016, we launched our fantastic new website this summer and we now have a vacancy for an online area manager to look after our North East Hampshire website and social media pages.

As an Area Manager you will enjoy a fun and flexible role, which fits around you and your family life, whilst affording you a great challenge – and the opportunity to make money!

The role is suitable for someone looking to gain experience in working with social media and marketing. You should be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about what’s on locally for families, interested in working flexibly from home at times that suit you, be online savvy and a regular user of Facebook and Twitter, be able to write great articles that capture the imagination of local families and have good networking and communication skills, and confidence when speaking to customers or the public.

Full training is provided and you will have access and become part of a network of 198 other Families Online area managers.

To register your interest, please email sharon@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk January/ February 2017

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Families News

News

& views

Artspiration opens its Art School in Fleet Have you made a Will?

Families spending time over Christmas is especially magical for children. Some of us will spend time with elderly parents or other relatives, where it may become apparent that they have grown more vulnerable over the past year.

Perform Classes for the new term Drama, Dance and Singing for 4-7 year olds. From January, Perform children will be heading into the Fairytale Forest for an amazing adventure. We’ve taken much-loved classic fairytales and mixed them up with the latest funky moves and grooves, and there’ll be some extraordinary characters to meet.

The children will hang out with the Funky Fairy, sleep under the incredible Dream Tree and sing the Rapunzel Rap - It’s going to be fairytale-tastic.

Our 7-12s will be joining heroic Robin Hood and his gang - The Merry Men in a feisty feud between the outlaws of Sherwood Forest Estate and the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham. With angry protests, desperation and chaos on the streets, will our hooded hero save the day and bring back power to the people? Featuring funky urban beats, an outrageously evil King John and a pumping glitterball disco finale, this modern version of Robin Hood has been specially adapted into a witty and energetic show perfect for 7–12s.

No doubt our thoughts will move on to what is a head in the New Year, which is an excellent time to review the past year and consider plans for the future.

It also provides a good opportunity to make a Will if you haven’t already done so or update and change your old Will if you feel that is necessary.

It is worth remembering that the main purpose of making a Will is to make sure your assets are distributed to the right people once you pass away.

READER All children are entitled OFFER to a no-obligation free trial session. Plus a £40 discount if signing up to a block of 10 sessions. Simply quote discount code FUNK160217 (4-7 yrs) or HOOD160217 (7-12 yrs)

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These classes will be held on Tuesdays at the Community Room,All Saints Junior School,Fleet,GU51 5AJ from 4-5pm for ages 5- 7½ yrs and 5-6:30pm for Ages 7½-12yrs.

For more information email info@ artspiration.co.uk or visit the website www.artspiration.co.uk

Fortunately the Wills and Probate Team at Phillips Solicitors are on hand to help.

We can put procedures in place to protect individuals and make it easier to deal with issues should the need arise.

To find out more contact Jane Erlam on 01256 854677 or Caroline Wallis on 01256 854637 or send them an email, jane. erlam@phillips-law.co.uk and caroline. wallis@phillips-law.co.uk.

Should you let your child use a tablet?

A newly-launched research project aims to discover the influence technology has on children’s learning, social interactions and play, from birth to 47 months - and parents are invited to join in.

Your local Perform Classes are available in Fleet, Bramley and Basingstoke.

Call 020 72559120, email enquiries@ perform.org.uk or visit www.perform. org.uk

After Berkshire and Surrey, Artspiration is now opening its branch in Fleet, Hampshire. They will be drawing inspiration from works of Artist Bridget Riley, Vincent van Gogh, Hundertwasser and Antoni Gaudi in their Spring Term. Some very exciting concepts, art materials and techniques to explore. Perfect for your young Art enthusiast!

Save the date for Wear a Hat day 2017 Pencil Friday 31 March in your diary in big, bold writing because Wear A Hat Day is back for the eighth time and it will be even hattier than ever before.

Register now. You’ll receive an exclusive pack of fundraising goodies – including leaflets, posters and balloons – in plenty of time for your Wear A Hat Day. www.wearahatday.org

Dr Elena Hoicka and PhD students from the University of Sheffield’s are looking to discover whether technology, such as tablets, is good for children’s development, bad, or a bit of both.

Parents of children with low activities levels, such as newborns, are invited to participate, as the researchers are interested in how technology impacts children right from the beginning.

It only takes around 20-30 minutes to register and complete the survey.

To sign up or read more, go to https://babylovesscience.com www.familiesonline.co.uk

How to beat the January blues Once the excitement of Christmas is over and gone, it can often feel like a real struggle for the whole family to keep things fresh and lively at the beginning of a new year. However, there are so many opportunities for you to do things together as a family - both indoors and out - that you’ll soon banish the January blues!

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind…

A family read-in

When it’s blowing a gale outside, there’s no better way to spend an afternoon than snuggled up with a good book. For younger children you can encourage them to act out the story and show off your full range of funny faces and voices.

For older children, take the opportunity to discuss what they’re reading in some depth - talk about plot and characters and why they enjoy a particular type of book. Who knows, you may even inspire them to try writing their own story!

Family Bake-Off

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

Get creative in the garden

Outdoor crafts are a wonderful way to liven up the garden for pennies, using materials you can find outdoors or simply lying around the house. It’s amazing how ice, berries and watercolours or food colourings can transform tap water into beautiful ice baubles to decorate the garden when set in interesting moulds.

Or spread peanut butter all over the outside of an empty toilet roll holder or that piece of over crunchy toast, then roll in birdseed to create an instant feeder that the kids can hang near the kitchen or living room window. Add a bird book and they can pass a few hours identifying and logging the birds that come to visit.

Fun in the snow

Of course, snow in January isn’t guaranteed, but if it does snow you have the ideal excuse to wrap up warm and organise snowman building contests and a monster snowball fight. Kids of all ages love playing in the snow, but have you ever played tug of war? Or tried snowball dodgeball? Once that snowman is built, try frisbeeing a hat onto his head or play a game of pin the nose on the snowman using a carrot. And everyone can join in a simple game of tag, made a little more interesting if you’re only allowed to use the footprints of the other players!

Create rock pets

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

For more ideas on keeping the kids active visit: www.familieson line.co.uk/ activities

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

Look to the heavens

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

Have a tech-free day

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

Revive the art of den building

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

Find a talking stick

Another interesting find on your walk might be a stick that transforms, with the January/ February 2017

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Finding the right early years environment for your child

Parents seeking education for their young children will quickly learn about the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the UK national curriculum framework for children from birth to 5 years. Introduced in 2008 to recognise the vital importance of this developmental stage, the programme provides a research-based framework to guide early childhood professionals in the provision of consistent and high quality environments for all children in pre-school settings. It is required in all UK pre-schools and registered early years’ providers, such as playgroups and childminders.

EYFS is built around knowledge and the best way in which children grow and learn.

The framework has at its heart the notion that the most effective learning takes place when children are involved in authentic play and meaningful activities through which they can make sense of the world around them by engaging, talking, thinking and interacting with other children and adults. It acknowledges and values the individuality of each child, while recognising that children need to feel safe, secure and happy in order to make friends, learn and understand the world around them.

In practical terms, this means that children will learn through play and active explorations in indoor and outdoor settings. In being encouraged to follow their interests and allowing them to be free to build on their natural curiosity, children will feel happy, safe and secure at school and have ‘ownership’ of their classroom.

Working individually and with others, they will develop the capacity to work in a team, as well as creative and critical thinking skills. In contrast to traditional teacher-directed activities, children will be consulted about what they are doing and interested in; this guides adults in planning activities and themes which are motivating for the students. With self-initiated play, students develop independence, curiosity, resilience and the ability to think and reflect on what they are doing.

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Sarah Partridge is an Early Childhood teacher and the Early Childhood Leader for Learning at the International School of London (ISL) Surrey, based in Woking. ISL Surrey is an IB World school offering French or Spanish for beginners from age 3, plus mother tongue learning integrated into the International Primary Curriculum.

But what about literacy and numeracy?

Parents may be asking questions such as: “When will my child start reading?” or making observations such as “But she can already count to 100!” All parents are concerned that their children will enjoy school, but they also want them to make good progress in their learning.

The flexibility of the EYFS framework allows for all children to have their unique needs supported and to be challenged appropriately. The framework is structured to allow them to move through different stages at their own rate.

How should parents go about finding an early childhood provider for their children?

All EYFS settings – nursery, childminder, playgroup, pre-school or early childhood schools – are inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) or by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) which is also monitored by OFSTED according to the guidelines set out by the EYFS. The most current reports for each setting can be found at reports.ofsted.gov. uk. Bear in mind, however, that an OFSTED report is a ‘snapshot’ and cannot give a full picture of an EYFS setting. Parents should visit the provider to see it in operation.

When doing so, the following are some useful questions to ask yourself in assessing whether this is the right environment for your child: • • • •

How do the adults engage with the children?

How do the adults follow and build on the children’s interests?

Are the children active and engaged or rigidly controlled and directed?

Is there a range of varied and stimulating resources indoors and outdoors readily accessible to the

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children?

Does it feel like a safe and secure environment?

How does the school communicate and create links with parents?

What should parents look for?

A nurturing early years’ environment will have a good ratio of adults to children.

The classroom itself should have different interest areas with a wide variety of activities for exploration and an outdoors play area which is accessible. They should allow the children time to explore, knowing when to intervene, and when to provide support for developing the child’s ideas while not becoming too didactic.

Families for whom English is not the first language will also need additional settlingin support around language issues and this should be apparent. Whilst young children pick up languages quickly, research shows that the best way to provide a positive environment for learning a new language is to ensure that the child’s mother tongue has a strong foundation strong foundation of the mother tongue. A school that values and supports multilingualism will provide an environment that provides a strong base for learning languages.

There are many factors to consider in finding the right setting for your child and at times the decision making process may seem overwhelming. Given this, possibly the most important piece of advice to bear in mind is: if in doubt, ask. You can never have too much information and, moreover, a friendly, informative and enthusiastic answer from an Early Years practitioner will tell you a lot about the people working in that setting and bodes well for any future partnership with them.

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Preparing for pre-school

By Linda Stone Pre-school, whether at a nursery or within a daycare setting, offers kids experiences they may not get at home. It teaches them how to get along with others and prepares them for starting school. Importantly, preschool teaches kids to take turns, follow directions, tidy up, stand in line, sit in a circle, raise their hands, and use words to express themselves.

If they master these social skills early, they will be well-prepared for Reception.

Here are some tips to help you prepare your child for pre-school.

Teach your Child to Follow Directions Practice at home by giving simple instructions such as “Please help me pick up your toys and put them away.” Encourage your child to co-operate by offering an incentive, like a sticker or a visit to the playground. An incentive helps your child understand that following directions makes other fun activities possible. If he doesn’t follow your directions, calmly explain that he won’t be able to have a sticker or go to the playground.

Praise your child when he is successful.

Help your Child Master Sharing and Turn Taking From ages 3 to 5, children tend to hoard coveted toys and objects. They are not really ready to grasp the concept of sharing yet. You can help by encouraging your little one to “take turns” with toys and praising him when he shares on his own. To help him develop the empathy that true sharing requires, state what he did and how it makes others feel, such as “Thank you for sharing. It makes your sister feel good when you share the ball.” Your child should be able to “own” special or new toys though, so keep them out of sight on play dates or in his room away from siblings.

Hone your Child’s Listening Skills.

Help your preschooler hone her listening skills by asking her to wait to speak until whoever is speaking has finished. When it’s her turn to speak, thank her for being patient and a good listener. Explain that being a good listener shows respect for the speaker, whether it’s you, her sibling or her friends. If she continues to interrupt, keep reminding her that she’ll get the chance to talk. Becoming a good listener can take lots of practice!

What to look for when choosing a nursery Recent research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial to their long-term learning and development. As well as qualified Early Years teachers for pre-school children, the independent Jubilee nurseries (Jubilee Day offering full-time and Gems offering term-time) place great emphasis on the outdoors and a well-rounded learning experience encompassing a child’s physical, personal, social and emotional development.

Senior Manager for Jubilee Day Nursery Lesley Thompson says: “it’s important to get a feel for each nursery and what is important to you as parents. ‘Gut feelings’ and first impressions play a vital part in your decision. However some key points to look out for include whether staff are friendly, caring and welcoming; is the environment pleasant and does the nursery offer plenty of scope for your child’s development; most importantly – are children happy and occupied? Why not book another visit if you want to get a better feel for a setting.

“It’s also important to make sure you don’t leave it until the last minute. Popular nurseries like Jubilee book up quickly and ensuring you reserve your place well in advance is important.

“Go armed with lots of questions (the National Day Nurseries Association have sample questions for parents online). A good nursery will be pleased to answer these and give you honest answers and advice. They will have your child’s best interests at heart.”

Creating memories children will treasure for a lifetime

& Early Years at West Green

“Faith in Small Things”

Early Years 01252 843418 Grey House School 01252 842353 www.greyhouseschool.com

Caring for children from 3 months to pre-school If you would like your child to be part of the Jubilee experience, then please contact Lesley on 01189 701600 or alternatively visit our website www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk to find out more or request a prospectus.

We offer discounts for Armed Forces and NHS workers

January/ February 2017

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The little guide to little bilingual brains Infants and young children have an impressive capacity for learning languages. They are curious, very eager to communicate and their brains are designed for fast learning. Bilingual families have an interesting opportunity of making the most of these early learning capacities in teaching their children two languages from birth. There are several interesting advantages to raising bilingual children.

Bilingualism does not cause language delays. Bilingual children usually learn two languages at the same pace as monolingual children are learning one. For example, bilinguals say their first words and start combining words into sentences at the same age as monolinguals. Bilinguals may sometimes appear to know less words than monolinguals, but this is usually because their vocabulary is divided between two languages.

Learning two languages encourages children to think about languages. Young monolinguals might struggle to recognise that ‘caterpillar’ is a bigger word than ‘whale’ because they find it difficult to dissociate a word from its meaning. Bilingualism attracts children’s attention to language itself, making children more aware of the sounds, words and regularities in languages. This gives them a head start in school when learning phonics or grammar rules.

Bilingualism might make your child better at multi-tasking or listening to someone speaking in a noisy environment. When speaking one of their languages, bilinguals must inhibit the impulse to use words in their other language. To achieve this task, they activate parts of their brain involved in cognitive control. This extra practice at controlling their own thoughts may lead to a ‘bilingual advantage’ in certain cognitive tasks.

Mastering two languages will give children a better understanding of their family’s cultural background. The most unique aspects of a culture always risk getting lost in translation. For this reason, being bilingual helps children become ‘bicultural’, making them more aware of cultural differences and more likely to take part in two cultures.

Every family and every child is different. There are a million different ways of raising bilingual children and the most important is to find a way that feels right for your family. Here are a few tips that can help making these decisions for your family.

Maximise face-to-face communication. From the first days of life, babies love making eye contact and hearing their loved ones speak, vocalise and sing. Face-to-face communication is the motor of language learning and early experience is key. Making sure you talk

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Dr Evelyne Mercure

to your baby as much as possible, and you involve your child in as much conversation as possible will lead to better abilities in one, two or more languages.

Have a plan. It is important to think about what ‘bilingualism’ means for your family. Would you like your child to have a basic understanding of another language? Are you hoping for your child to be fluent in two languages? Or read and write in two different languages? Make sure you provide plenty of experience for your child to achieve each of these goals. It might be a good idea to decide on a language to be used at home. One parent may decide to use one language when addressing their child, while the other parent will use a different language. Think of the language(s) you want to use when reading to your child or singing to them. The more exposure your child will get in one language, the more fluent they are likely to become in that language.

Keep it fun. Your child’s motivation to learn each of their languages will make a huge difference to their achievement. A child may find it unpleasant if they feel constantly tested and criticised when speaking. The main focus should be on what is being said and not how it is being said.

Find role models. One way of keeping their motivation up, may be to involve people who are not fluent in your child’s dominant language. This may encourage them to use a language they are less comfortable in. It will also show them that this language is spoken by people other than mum and/or dad. Children will also learn a lot from other children, especially older ones. They will want to speak like them and adopt their accent and expressions. Cousins who are not fluent in your child’s dominant language, for instance, may become excellent role models and a very good source of motivation.

Offering a bilingual environment to your child is a richness they will benefit from all their life. They may not only learn two languages, but also a new way of thinking about cultural diversity. Do not be afraid of making the most of their incredible language learning abilities!

About the author Evelyne Mercure studied Speech & Language Pathologies, Neuroscience and Psychology. She is currently an ESRC fellow at UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, investigating the impact of language experience on infants’ brain and cognitive development. She is also the proud mum of three bilingual children.

www.familiesonline.co.uk

Early years

Local nursery and childcare providers The BCoT Nursery

Grey House School

01256 306213 www.bcotnursery.co.uk

01252 843 418 www.greyhouseschool.com

The BCoT Nursery offers outstanding care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Part of Basingstoke College, our parents include students, staff and members of our local community.

The Grey House School nursery, opened in September 2016, allows children to start their educational journey in the beautiful, rural setting of West Green in a quiet corner of North Hampshire.

They work hard to ensure that all children enjoy learning and playing so that they can achieve their full potential. They have been graded ‘Outstanding’ by OfSTED since 2012.

Both the indoor and outdoor environment allow for learning opportunities and experiences to be carefully planned, ensuring each child’s experience is appropriate to their stage of development. Exploration and discovery are at the heart of activities and a combination of child- initiated and teacher-led activities allow children to learn and build skills to become happy and confident.

Full day or morning and afternoon sessions available. Eligible for 2, 3 and 4 year Early Years Education funding. Immediate availability for 3 or 4 year olds. Two outside play areas and free settling-in sessions available.

Their highly qualified staff understand the importance of a strong partnership between home and the nursery and will do all they can to prepare your child for the next stage of their journey.

For more information or to book a tour of the nursery call 01256 306213.

St Nicholas’ School, Fleet

01252 850121 www.st-nicholas.hants.sch.uk

Jubilee Day Nursery

St Nicholas’ School in Church Crookham, Fleet is a leading independent day school, educating girls from 3-16 years and boys from 3-7 years. The school operates an extended day from 8am. – 6pm. and has a very popular dedicated Nursery with purpose built facilities. Highest rating “Excellent” ISI Inspection.

Open Events in will take place on Saturday 4 March 10am1pm, Thursday 11 May 6-8pm, and Saturday 7 October 10am-1pm or call 01252 850121 (option 2) for a personal visit.

St Neot’s Nursery at St Neot’s Preparatory School 0118 9739650 www.stneotsprep.co.uk

0118 970 1600 www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk Jubilee Day Nursery is an established independent nursery set in 53 acres of rural countryside between Reading, Basingstoke and Newbury offering exceptional childcare with a strong focus on outdoor learning and play. Open 51 weeks of the year from 7.30am to 6.00pm, Jubilee is able to offer full time and sessional care for babies and children from 3 months to 5 years.

Jubilee Gems OPEN DAY

Friday 10th March Head’s welcome at 9.30am, followed by pupil lead tours

St Neot’s is a happy, vibrant community for boys and girls situated on the border of Hampshire and Berkshire in 70 acres of beautiful grounds and woodland. Their Nursery department enjoys a specifically designed building with age appropriate facilities. Stimulating and well-resourced rooms lead to outdoor play areas, ensuring children have the opportunity to explore, learn and discover both indoors and out.

0118 983 4018 www.jubileegems.co.uk Jubilee Gems is a term-time day nursery based in Padworth located between Reading, Newbury and Basingstoke. It offers exceptional childcare with a strong focus on outdoor learning and play. Open during west Berkshire term-times from 7.30am to 6.00pm and able to offer flexible care for babies and children up to 5 years.

The BCoT Nursery – a friendly and

THE BCoT NURSERY

The Early Years Foundation Stage is enhanced by a wide variety of activities, ensuring children enjoy a breadth of experiences from Forest School to French and music, as well as developing a solid foundation in early literacy and numeracy skills. The new school sports complex, comprising sports hall, 25m indoor swimming pool, all-weather astro, hard tennis and netball courts, is used and enjoyed regularly by the nursery children for tennis, dance, PE and swimming lessons.

To find out more go to www.stneotsprep.co.uk or to arrange a visit call admissions on 0118 9739650.

Outstanding environment for your child.

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We are open Monday to Friday, 50 weeks of the year from 08:00 to 18:00

• We offer Early Years Education funding and a variety of flexible sessions •

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We have immediate availability and offer free settling in sessions We have two areas for outside play

Call us on 01256 306213 or visit www.bcotnursery.co.uk for more details

January/ February 2017

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29/11/2016 12:18

Education

How to make maths fun for kids Maths is one of the fundamental skills that all children need to acquire, and there are plenty of ways you can make maths fun through the use of games and maths activities at home.

Numeracy targets are fundamental to the National Curriculum and to primary school testing and that can seem as intimidating to you as to your child. But there are some simple strategies you can put in place that can make maths fun for your kids and reinforce how important those life skills are.

The way maths is taught in schools has changed fundamentally over the past few years so, who knows? You may end up learning something new, too.

Do your homework

Before you can support your child’s maths learning at home, you’ll need to find out about the way they learn maths at school.

Do some homework on modern maths methods like number lines and gridding, and find out whether your child’s school offers maths support classes for parents.

If not, there are some excellent resources available online like the family maths toolkit from national numeracy or the ‘Maths for Mums and Dads’ books by Mike Askew and Rob Eastaway.

Maths by stealth

There are plenty of ways you can incorporate maths into everyday life, which is an excellent way of letting children know how important numeracy skills are outside of the classroom. Next time you have a cake or a pizza, ask them to divide it into quarters or thirds or an even number of portions for the number of people eating it. Baking isn’t just a pleasurable activity to do with your kids, it’s one of the very best ways of embedding the importance of weights and measures. They’ll also need to keep an eye on the clock to know when their goodies are ready to come out of the oven. Meanwhile, every time you go to the shops, encourage them to add as they go and then make their best estimate of the final bill. From calculating the change they should receive when they buy an ice cream to keeping score in a friendly game of football, everyday maths really is everywhere!

Make tech and tables count

There are numerous maths apps available for children of all ages, from simple counting games to more advanced calculations. Doodle Maths and Mr Thorne’s Maths Universe should get even committed young mathphobes practising their numeracy on their tablets and smartphones. Percy Parker Sing Your

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Times Tables and Squeebles Times Tables are both excellent apps for embedding times tables in young brains. Why not try singing along with Percy Parker on your next long car journey? For older children facing their end of primary school tests, ensure that they know not just the multipliers but the divisors too, up to 12 x 12.

Try gamification

In other words, get out some old fashioned board games. Children learn best when an activity is fun, and they’re usually unaware that they’re learning through playing games. Dominoes is an excellent game for practising basic maths concepts, as is Snakes and Ladders. They’ll be having too much fun to notice they’re adding and subtracting and recognising basic number patterns. For older children, Monopoly introduces more sophisticated numeracy skills and Scrabble is a brilliant way to practise both numeracy and literacy. Board games are also valuable for introducing related concepts like strategy, logic and reasoning skills into the mix.

Make it more formal

As your children’s maths skills progress, you can begin to make their home learning more formalised. There are any number of online maths resources available and your school may encourage at-home use of a programme like Mathletics to challenge and reinforce skills learned in the classroom. These online resources usually feature progressive levels so you can easily track your child’s progress but do check before you sign up to a paid programme that it’s compatible with the National Curriculum. Although it’s easy to assume that children will prefer working on the computer, many also enjoy ageappropriate workbooks, with stickers to

reward their progress.

Learn with and from your children

As the family maths toolkit points out, maths is not a can or cannot subject but something we can all improve, however old we are. When your children start to bring home maths homework, take the opportunity to learn about new maths concepts from them and show them real world examples of how to put those skills into practice - by checking your shopping or phone bill. Encourage them to contextualise a newly acquired skill by putting it into practice around the home, whether it’s telling you the time their favourite TV show comes on or estimating how long their bath takes to run. And always praise their effort rather than their talent, to reinforce the message that by working hard anyone can improve their maths skills.

To find out more about helping your child learn visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk/education

www.familiesonline.co.uk

A fearless start to the year with Explore Learning Why fearless you might ask? And what does this mean?

For us, a child’s educational journey goes beyond acing a quick spelling test or getting to the top of the class for a term. It is about building long-lasting confidence that takes them through their entire life, whether it is through developing a ‘have a go attitude’, or knowing it’s ok to put their hand up without fear of a ‘silly’ question being mocked, or simply feeling excited about their next step. It’s about nurturing a sense of pride, and a fearless attitude to learning, so that every child can become their version of amazing.

Our incredible tutors are there to support every step of the way.

Rather than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, they will ask: “are you sure?” or “can you convince me of your answer?”, allowing children to explore and push the boundaries of their thinking each day.

For more information and to book your free trial, visit the website explorelearning.co.uk.

Give your child’s maths a boost with Maths Club by post Hampshire based Maths teacher Caroline Cutress has invented a unique way of giving children extra support at home. With 15 years’ teaching experience she has created a correspondence course that is tailor-made to each child, bursting with puzzles and games which gradually guide the student through a National Curriculum Maths topic. There are prizes for the best work and parents only have to commit to one month at a time and parental feedback has indicated that children really enjoy the packs and can see the improvements in their school work.

Improve your child’s study skills Kumon’s maths and English study programmes work to build your child’s confidence and inspire a passion for learning.

Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment.

Basingstoke North Study Centre Reema Bhargava 01256 636233 Basingstoke South Study Centre Jo Miles 01256 533234

Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre.

For more information contact Caroline on 023 8034 1776, email: cc@boostmaths.co.uk or visit boostmaths.co.uk

Professional one to one tutoring Fleet Tutors has been matching the right tutor to the education needs of students across the UK since 1977.

Our network of tutors are subject specialists who tailor the teaching and learning experience to relieve any subject specific anxieties and help build your child’s confidence so they achieve a successful outcome.

For a helpful discussion about your requirements, speak to our knowledgeable tuition consultants today on 0333 920 2545.

Private Home Tutoring All academic subjects and key stages • 7/8/11+ • 13+/Common Entrance • GCSE/A level • University

0333 920 2458 www.fleet-tutors.co.uk

January/ February 2017

AWARD-WINNING TUITION

FOR FEARLESS LEARNERS Our maths and English tutors have one goal: to unlock a love of learning.

We’ll prepare an individualised, inspiring programme to help achieve their version of amazing.

Call our Basingstoke centre on 01256 632 459 for a free trial today.

explorelearning.co.uk /explorelearning

@exploretutors

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Family law

A ‘better way’ to Divorce Mediation and the Collaborative Family Process are ways to resolve matters surrounding a separation or divorce without resorting to Court proceedings, which can be time consuming, costly and confrontational. Ann Davies and Laura Bell at Lamb Brooks Solicitors in Basingstoke are both Resolution members. Resolution advocates a constructive and non-confrontational approach.

For many couples, particularly those with children, it can be better to avoid Court hearings and the added stress that can bring to families.

Some couples have already been living separately for some time and it may be that their circumstances are perfectly amicable therefore there is no need to add the animosity the Court room.

The Collaborative Family Process enables couples to work together with their specially trained collaborative family lawyers through a series of face-to-face meetings to reach agreement. This process recognises that every family going through a divorce has its own individual needs; therefore it is focused on finding creative routes to settlement and is an approach which allows you to have your own voice and control over the outcomes – even allowing the divorcing couple to prepare their own agenda for the meetings. This is not intended to attempt reconciliation, but to assist both parties navigate their separation.

The Collaborative Family Process is unique in that everyone, including the collaborative family lawyers, sign a binding agreement at the outset of the process confirming that they will not go to Court. The “no court” rule in the collaborative approach means that everyone is committed to resolving matters and to ensuring that this takes place in an open and transparent way.

For further information or to book an appointment with Ann or Laura, please contact Julia McGuigan on 01256 305596 or email julia. mcguigan@lambbrooks.com

Things I wish I knew when I was getting divorced •

Find a solicitor that is right for you. At Lamb Brooks we are Resolution members, which means that we promote dealing with divorce in a constructive and nonconfrontational way.

•

Be aware of divorce myths! Often people look on the internet for legal advice and fall into the trap of believing what they read online. There are lots of myths that surround divorce – for example, contrary to what is reported; especially surrounding celebrity divorces, there is no such thing as a “quickie divorce”. It is important that you receive accurate legal advice, and at Lamb Brooks we offer an initial fixed fee appointment which is a helpful starting point to know your rights and options.

•

Get the emotional support that you (and your children) need. We will be able to recommend you to local counsellors, family therapists and support groups that you may find to be a huge help when going through emotional turbulent times. Our Family Solicitors are always warm and approachable if you have any concerns.

•

Know your options. The first thing that springs to mind when thinking of divorce is often Court rooms and expensive legal bills. But there are alternatives such as Mediation and the Collaborative Family Process. Going to Court should only really be considered as the last resort, and we find that dealing with matters using these other processes is far more effective from both a cost and emotional perspective.

For a fixed fee appointment, contact our family team today on:

T: 01256 305596 E: julia.mcguigan@lambbrooks.com W: www.lambbrooks.com Our dedicated family team offer practical solutions for: Pre Marriage Agreements Civil Partnership Agreements Cohabitation Civil Partnership Dissolution Divorce and Separation Children Matters Financial Disputes Injunctions Mediation Collaborative Family Process

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www.familiesonline.co.uk

Your essential guide to family event this January and February. We take great care in compiling our events guide, but please check with the venues before you leave home just in case times or prices have changed since we went to print. For more inspirational ideas and fun days out near you visit our website: www.familiesonline.co.uk

Throughout January Mini Jump Jump Factory

Rutherford Road, Daneshill Industrial Estate, Basingstoke, RG24 8PD 01256 327 772 Mini Jump is a trampolining session for toddlers (walking to 5 years). Young children might find trampolining a little daunting, so they’ve create a dedicated session away from all the big kids for 5s and Under to enjoy. The staff provide games, activities and extra supervision, making Mini Jump ideal for working off some of that unquenchable toddler energy. £3 per person per hour.

Every Sunday Junior Parkrun Stratton Park

Pack Lane, Basingstoke RG22 5HL www.parkrun.org.uk 9am Take part in junior parkrun. It is a 2k run for juniors only (4-14 year olds). Free event but please register. Don’t forget to bring a printed copy of your barcode.

Every Tuesday and Friday morning Free Child Health Clinic Basingstoke Discovery Centre

19/20 Westminster House, Potters Walk, RG21 7LS 9.30am to 11.30am Drop in sessions on a Tuesday and Friday morning for baby weighing, advice on feeding, sleeping and general advice for children aged 0-5 years. Call 0300 555 1387 for more details.

Every Saturday Free Let’s Go Construction Club Andover Library

Chantry Centre, Andover SP10 1LT 2-3.45pm Do you love making things using construction bricks? All budding builders are very welcome to come along and join in the fun!

Drop in session. Parent/Carers to stay in the library.

January/ February 2017

Every Friday Wave Rave Basingstoke Aquadrome

Worthing Road, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG 6-8pm Come and join the Party every Friday at Basingstoke Aquadrome with the Wave Rave. A special session ideal for those aged 8-15 years where they add some serious sounds to the Lagoon Pool and flumes. It’s a great place to be seen with your mates, make new friends or just hang out, no better way to start celebrating the end of the school week! Cost £4 per child.

5 January – 16 February Jolly Babies and Music with Mummy Viables Community Centre

Viables Craft Centre, The Harrow Way, Basingstoke, RG22 4BJ Small, friendly, structured classes with a fabulous mixture of traditional and original music, lively percussion and listening time - led by an experienced early years practitioner with a passion for music. The Jolly Babies class is 0-14mths and Music with Mummy is 1-3yrs. Class Times – 10:30am Music with Mummy 11:15am Jolly Babies. The first session on Thursday 5th Jan will be a free taster so come along and give it a try. Call Cathy Rowe 07766 931170.

Follow our stars as they adventure from a busy A&E department to the magical land of ODD. How do they get there? How do they get back? Who is the mysterious Wizard? Come and find out and join in the fun. Proceeds in aid of St Michael’s Hospice, North Hampshire Medical Fund, Mind, Dementia Care, Firemen’s Benevolent Fund. Parental guidance: the evening show may contain offensive language.

Performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets £14, 2.30pm performance £12 (includes £2 booking fee).

12 January The Jungle Book The Lights

West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH 1.30pm and 7.30pm Calling Wolf-cubs everywhere,

Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” is getting the Oddsocks treatment. Enjoy the comical adventures of Mowgli the man cub as he battles to survive and become the leader of the pack. A fantastic, empowering story for all ages that will warm your heart and lift your spirits.

Music, muppetry, laughter and excitement all mixed-up to make a memorable experience for the whole tribe. Book 01264 368 368.

18 January Family Film - The BFG The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre

Station Road, Bordon, GU35 0LR 01420 472 664 www.phoenixarts.co.uk Come and enjoy this family film classic - The BFG. An adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel starring

9 January Mini Professors (2 – 3years) Basingstoke Discover Centre 19/20 Westminster House Potters Walk, RG21 7LS 01256 478670 9.40am/ £78 These 40 minute-classes are especially tailored for young scientists aged 2-3 years old.

Experiments - Singing - Stories - Interactive - Come along and nurture a lifelong passion for science! Advance booking essential.

Winter walks at The Vyne Enjoy a self-led walk through the grounds.

While a major roof project is underway, the ground floor of the house is still open for you to explore.

7 January The Wizard that Woz The Anvil Basingstoke, RG21 7QR 01256 844244

Call 01256 883858 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne #nationaltrust

When you visit, donate, volunteer or join the National Trust, your support helps us to look after special places for ever, for everyone.

© National Trust 2016. The National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Images\Chris Lacey.

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What’s on Mark Rylance as the Big Friendly Giant. This is simply one of the best family films. The BFG tells the story of young Sophie who is taken from her orphanage by the BFG! Sophie has to help the BFG rid the world of evil giants that eat children. Cert PG. Show starts at 6.30pm. Tickets: £5.50 (concs/ members £4).

Mowgli the man cub as he battles to survive and become the leader of the pack. Based on stories from The Jungle Book with a big helping of Oddsocks humour, Mowgli’s mates, Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther and Kaa the python all help to outwit his enemies and teach him the law of the jungle. Mixing it with madcap monkeys, escaping the crazy Cobra and seeing off the terrifying tiger Shere Khan! Performance at 2.30pm. £12 (includes £2 booking fee). Suitable for ages 5+.

Room on the Broom

19 -28 January Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre

Station Road, Bordon, GU35 0LR 01420 472 664 www.phoenixarts.co.uk Fe-Fi-Fo-FUN! Enjoy this family pantomime jam packed with outlandish costumes, fabulous sets and laughter is guaranteed!

Join the Phoenix Players in this new production of Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime. Will Jack climb the beanstalk, defeat the evil giant and marry the beautiful Princess Melody? Find out if Jack wins the day and love conquers all! And remember to laugh at the Cow! 7.30pm. Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets: £9.50 (concs/ members £8.50).

20 January Disco Skate The Harlington

236 Fleet Road, Fleet, GU51 4BY 01256 229 816 www.theharlington.co.uk It’s time to get your skates on for some disco fun on four wheels!

Fantastic family fun to some funky disco tunes. Family disco roller skating fun at The Harlington, Fleet. Refreshments and snacks are available from the bar! All ages are invited to show off their moves! 6pm to 9pm. Entry £5 per person (including skate hire).

Purchase on the door only.

25 & 26 January Room on the Broom Princes Hall

Princes Way, Aldershot, GU11 1NX 01252 329155 www.princeshall.com Join the Witch and her cat on their mission to defeat the dragon in Tall Stories magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups. £13.50 / groups 10+ and schools £10.50.

2 February Sherfield School Production Presents - The Wizard of Oz The Haymarket

Basingstoke, RG21 7NE 01256 844244 When Dorothy wakes up in the strange and bizarre world of Oz she realises that there really is no place like home. Join her and her new friends, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Lion as she follows the Yellow Brick Road and

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strives to make her way back to Kansas. Performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets: £10; Over 65s, under 16s and f/t students £8 (includes £2 booking fee).

4 February Baby and Children’s Market Aldworth Science College

Western Way, Basingstoke RG22 6HA 07940 835 792 2pm – 3.30pm Over 40 stalls selling quality items for babies to children up until 6 years old. Things for sale include clothes, toys, maternity clothes, buggies, bikes, walkers, nursery furniture, bumbos, jumperoos, bouncers and lots more! We also have our entertainment room where we aim to make it an afternoon out for the whole family.

Face painting, balloon modelling, refreshments. £1. per adult, kids go free.

4 & 5 February FebEx Model Railway Exhibition Eggars School

London Road, Holybourne, Alton, GU34 4EQ 01489 574 182 www.altonmrg.co.uk Alton Model Railway Group hosts its annual model railway exhibition. Come along to this fabulous model railway exhibition organised by Alton Model

Railway Group. Find a wide selection of traders and plenty of demonstrations that feature all areas of model track work. Get advice on how to choose the right track, electrical connections and much more. 10.30am - 5pm on Saturday, and 10.30am - 4pm on Sunday.

11 February Andover Record and CD Fair The Lights

West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH 01264 368368 www.thelights.org.uk 10am - 4pm The ever popular Andover Record and CD Fair from USR Fairs is back at The Lights in February, and as always the Arena will be packed with cd’s, vinyl, videos and experienced and knowledgeable traders.If you are seeking out that hard to find piece of music, or just like to browse and pick up a bargain, then the Fair is the place for you. All the dealers at the fair buy records too, so if you have some records that you would like to sell, bring them along.

11 February Oddsocks Productions Presents The Jungle Book The Haymarket

Basingstoke, RG21 7NE 01256 844244 Calling Wolf-cubs everywhere!

Enjoy the comical adventures of

17 February Disco Skate The Harlington

236 Fleet Road, Fleet, GU51 4BY 01252 811 009 www.theharlington.co.uk Get your roller skates on! It’s disco time. Fantastic family fun on four wheels to some groovy disco music. Family disco roller skating fun at The Harlington, Fleet. Refreshments and snacks are available from the bar! All ages are invited to show off their moves! 6pm to 9pm. Entry £5 per person (including skate hire).

Purchase on the door only.

18 February Bugs and Minibeasts Presentation Chineham Library

Chineham District Centre, Basingstoke, RG24 8BQ 01256 465643/ 2pm Enter the world of the Minibeasts with this informal talk and craft session with Jan from the Overton Biodiversity Society. For children aged 4 years and over.

Advance Booking Essential. £2 (accompanying adults go free).

18 February Tag a Tile The Vyne

Basingstoke, RG24 9HL From 18 February, you can make your mark on The Vyne and help save this former Tudor palace.

Join us by the tea-room 11am-4pm for our Tag-a-Tile workshops. For a suggested donation of £5, you can write a message or draw a picture on a tile that will go up on our new roof.

18 and 25 February Owls By Moonlight Hawk Conservancy Trust

Sarson Lane, Andover, SP11 8DY 01264 773 850 Experience a magical evening when you can step into the magical world of owls. These evenings offer you the chance to see the owls really awake and at their best. Watch these mystical birds twist and turn through the night sky and duck as they skim silently over the top of your head. During the evening, you will also be given a guided tour of the grounds, to see some of the resident owls. These evenings are very popular. Come along

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wrapped up warm, with a torch, and step out in the dark with the owls. £33.50 Adults; Children £19.95. Call to book.

19 February Little Pickles Market Picket Twenty Community Centre

Andover, SP11 6TY 2 – 3.30pm A family market with nearly new baby/children’s items. Prams, maternity items, clothes, shoes, toys, books, highchairs and so much more. £1 entry per adult.

19 - 24 February Energy Kidz Holiday Club Andover C.E Primary School

East Street, Andover, SP10 1EP 033 357 71533 www.energy-kidz.co.uk Ofsted registered holiday clubs offer your child a fun filled, action packed school holiday with exciting games and activities, delivered in a safe and supervised environment. The clubs follow a weekly activity schedule and every week we choose a fun theme to inspire all the club sessions. Wide range of activities suitable for children aged 4-11. Children are given the opportunity to try a range of activities including arts and crafts, science workshops and action games. 8am - 6pm.

20 February The Tiger Who Came to Tea Workshop The Lights

West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH 01264 368 368 9.30am and 11am Come and have fun making your very own tiger mask with tutor Amanda and then help her to re-create the classic story with music and movement. Suitable for children aged 2-5 years, must be accompanied by an adult.

Older siblings welcome. £6 (adult included in ticket price). Call 01264 368 368 to book.

20 February Children’s Festival The West End Centre

48 Queens Rd, Aldershot GU11 3JD Lots to entertain children during half term. A great week of events from children’s shows to arts and crafts. Various times and workshops available. Please visit the website for full details.

20 - 25 February Room on the Broom Nuffield Theatre

University Road, Southampton, SO17 1TR www.nuffieldtheatre.co.uk Tall Stories magical musical stage adaptation of Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler flies into town! Adapted by award-winning Tall Stories, Room on the Broom will make

January/ February 2017

the quintessential family treat for everyone to enjoy. £12

21 February Treasure Island with CBeebies Spotbots The Harlington

236 Fleet Road, Fleet, GU51 4BY 01252 811 009 www.theharlington.co.uk Experience outstanding family fun during February half-term from CBeebies Spotbots as they feature in a production of Treasure Island. Watch one of the nations favourite novels come to life with a very child friendly twist.

This show is jam packed with family entertainment including puppets, outlandish costumes, fabulous sets and be prepared to laugh your socks off. Show starts at 2pm. Tickets: £12 / £40 Family (2 Adults / 2 Children).

21 February BFG Modelling Workshop The Lights

West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH 01264 368 368 Join tutor Amanda in this creative workshop that combines storytelling and model making to help tell the fabulous story of The BFG. In the workshop you will explore Giant Country and everyone will make their very own giant model to take home.

This workshop is going to be gloriumptious! Suitable for ages 5-10 years. 1pm

22 February Charlie’s Story-Telling Parties Overton Library

Community Centre, Winchester Street, RG25 3HA 01256 773168/ 11.15am Charlie’s Storytelling Parties Join children’s entertainer and actress Charlie Sanderson for a super 45 minutes of storytelling, singing and other surprises! For children aged 3 years and over. Advance booking essential, call 01256 773168. £3.75 (accompanying adults free).

22 February Disco Skate Half-Term Fun The Harlington

236 Fleet Road, Fleet, GU51 4BY 01252 811 009 www.theharlington.co.uk Enjoy some February half-term fun at Disco Skate! Have some fab during February half term at The Harlington, Fleet. Get your skates and enjoy some groovy disco music as you master some dance moves on four wheels!

Refreshments and snacks are available. Suitable for all ages.

2pm to 6pm. Entry £5 per person (including skate hire).

23 February Strictly Sensations The Lights

West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH 01264 368368

Winter at the Vyne Basingstoke, RG24 9HL This season, enjoy self-led winter walks in the grounds at The Vyne. On Sunday 15 January, join us in the orchard 2-3pm for our wassailing event rooted in Anglo-Saxon tradition. Kicking off from 18 February in half-term, Tag-aTile workshops will run 11am-4pm daily. For a suggested donation of £5 in aid of our roof project, you can personalise a tile with a message or drawing to go on our new roof.

Also, enjoy self-led 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ activities including geocaching, den building and pooh sticks. Normal admission applies.

If you loved the glitz and glamour and dance steps of Strictly Come Dancing, then why not join Lauren for this great workshop and learn how to salsa and jive your socks off! Suitable for ages 5-7 years. Call to book. 1pm

23 – 25 February Avenue Q – School Edition The Haymarket

Basingstoke, RG21 7NE 01256 844244 Avenue Q School Edition is a laugh-out-loud musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it’s clear that this is not your ordinary neighbourhood.

Performances at 7.30pm and 2.30pm on Saturday. Enquire with the venue for times.

23 – 26 February Gansta Granny The Anvil

Basingstoke, RG21 7QR 01256 844244 From the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories comes the world premiere of this amazing story by David Walliams, the UK’s best-selling author for children.

Tickets: £19.50; Under 16s £16.50, Family ticket available (includes £2 booking fee). Suitable for 5 years+. Performances at 2pm & 7pm, Sun 11am & 3pm.

24 February Over The Rainbow The Lights

West Street, Andover, SP10 1AH It’s Dorothy’s sleepover and she can’t get to sleep. When a storm comes she finds herself in Oz with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and all the characters from her favourite film.

Come and join her adventure in this exciting Play in a Day and perform to your family and friends on The Lights stage at the end of the day. Bring a packed lunch and wear comfortable clothes. Play in a Day is with tutor

Amanda and is suitable for ages 7-11 years. Call 01264 368 368 to book.

24 – 26 February Cinderella Pantomime Liphook Millennium Hall

2 Ontario Way, Liphook GU30 7LD 01428 723 889 Come along to the Millennium Centre in Liphook this February half-term and enjoy some family pantomime fun with a production of Cinderella brought to you

by The Mad Company. Expect fun, laughter, lots of outlandish glamour, funny sets and much more. Book tickets online. Friday at 7.30pm, Saturday at 3pm and 7.30pm and Sunday at 3pm.

Tickets £10 Adult, £6 Children.

25 February Saturday Children’s Film The Triangle

Mill Road, Liss, GU33 7DX 01730 301 000 www.liss-triangle-centre.org.uk The Triangle Community Centre is hosting an afternoon film for children and their families.

Parents are invited to come along to The Triangle Centre with the children and enjoy a coffee and cake from the cafe while the kids are entertained! Child-friendly event with sweets, popcorn, drinks and ice-cream!

2 – 5 March We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Theatre Royal Winchester

Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB 01962840440 www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk Join the intrepid adventurers on their quest to find a bear; as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud! Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty of hands-on adventure plus a few special surprises. Tickets £13 / Family of four £46

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Your Child, Their Journey, Our Focus

Saturday 13 May 2017

Enjoy a fabulous day out in the countryside as we bring a taste of Hampshire to our popular Countryside Day. • • •

A Leading Independent Prep School for Girls and Boys 3 - 13 Years

OPEN MORNINGS

Kitchen demos from the region’s leading chefs Tasty treats from local producers to sample and buy Hands-on activities, arena acts, music and crafts

Thursday 12th January - 9.15am (Reception entry 2017) Friday 27th January - 9.15am (all year groups) Saturday 11th March - 10.00am (all year groups)

Buy tickets online at sparsholt.ac.uk 01962 776441

events@sparsholt.ac.uk sparsholt.ac.uk

01252 405500 registrar@yateleymanor.com www.yateleymanor.com

Registered charity numbers 1153487 (England and Wales) SC046840 (Scotland)

Sorry, no dogs with exception of recognised assistance dogs.

#Hattastic

A World of Opportunity

OPEN MORNING

Friday 10�� March 2017 Registration at 9.30am Contact 01189 739650 to book your tour

• Independent school for boys and girls, Nursery - Year 8, Forest school • Eversley, Hook, RG27 0PN •

www.stneotsprep.co.uk

www.familiesonline.co.uk