News & views

Reach Out: Anti-Bullying Week 2022

Anti-Bullying Week runs from 14th to 18th November this year, with the theme ‘Reach Out.’

The week will kick off with Odd Socks Day on Monday 14th November, during which adults and children wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

The theme of ‘Reach Out’ is about empowering children to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.

Whether it’s in school, at home, in the community or online, let’s reach out and offer support to each other. Reach out to someone you trust if you need to talk. Reach out to someone you think is being bullied. Reach out and consider a new approach.

To get involved,visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

BRING JOY TO A VULNERABLE CHILD THIS CHRISTMAS

Christmas won’t be magical for every child. It can be a difficult time of year for children in care who may be spending their first festive season away from their family; for households facing economic hardship, buying presents will once again put additional pressure on parents.

Reading brings children profound and wide-ranging benefits that can have a lifelong impact on their lives, positively affecting their health, wellbeing and academic and social development. Just one book can brighten a vulnerable child’s Christmas.

Last year sixteen thousand books were given to children in need and the BookTrust is aiming to match this figure in 2022, giving recipients access to the world of imagination, creativity and possibilities that books can provide. A £10 donation to BookTrust will help fund a surprise book gift for a vulnerable child and support BookTrust’s work during the year. Find out more and donate at www.booktrust.org.uk/xmas

Government drive to increase school attendance

The government has announced a renewed focus on maximising children’s time in the classroom, as evidence shows that students with highest attendance throughout their time in school gain the best GCSE and A level results.

Aimed at tackling the factors behind non-attendance such as bullying or mental health, a new 1-2-1 attendance mentoring scheme has been launched in Middlesborough, before expanding to other areas of the country. The pilot will provide tailored support to over 1,600 persistently and severely absent pupils over the next three years.

Schools will also have access to a powerful new attendance data visualisation tool to help to spot and respond to issues. This data is supporting the launch of the new, interactive national attendance dashboard alongside the publication of the first full fortnightly attendance data.

Get your child a letter from Santa

All children love to receive a letter addressed to them in the post. And what could be more special than a letter from Santa? Here are two ways of making this happen.

Royal Mail Letter to Santa

For children to receive a FREE letter from Santa via the Royal Mail, children must post their letter to Santa in an envelope with either a first or second class stamp and addressed to Santa/Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. The letter must include your child’s full name and address.

Check the deadline for posting the letter to Santa at www.royalmail.com/ christmas/letters-to-santa

NSPCC Santa Letter

Children can also receive a personalised reply from Santa via his elves at the NSPCC in exchange for a donation to the charity. The letter is ordered online. Check the deadline at https://letterfromsanta.nspcc.org.uk

National Tree Week 2022

National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration and will run from Saturday 26th November to Sunday 3rd December.

Across the country, people will be planting thousands of trees to mark the start of the winter tree planting season.

Trees and hedgerows are some of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against climate change. And the good news is that we can all make a difference by planting a tree. Whether you plant a tree in a pot on your doorstep, a hedge in your garden or organise a community event at a local park, every tree will help us grow a greener future together.

Around the country, volunteer Tree Wardens and other champions of local trees will be holding tree planting events throughout the winter planting season.

To find a local tree planting event www.treecouncil.org.uk

Parents cut back on pocket money

Children’s piggy banks are paying a price for the cost-of-living crisis after almost a third of parents cut back on pocket money during the last year.

The average amount that is going into the pockets of under 16s each week has dropped by 23% to £4.99 this year from £6.48 in 2021, according to research from the lender Halifax – the lowest amount since 2001.

Despite a worsening economic climate, half of British parents said they were willing to sacrifice their own spending to maintain their children’s weekly funds including reducing leisure costs such as eating out as well as ‘treats’ such as designer items.

The most popular purchases using pocket money remain gaming and sweets, according to parents’ votes. Toys follow closely, as well as clothing, then hobbies such as books. The government has published its latest statistics for Tax-Free Childcare showing that half of all open accounts are not even used.

Whilst the new HMRC figures show more families opening accounts than previously, only fifty percent of open accounts are being used which means that thousands of families and children are missing out on money earmarked for childcare support.

In addition, recent HMRC research estimates that less than half of eligible families are opening an account to claim the support.

For every £8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare online account, families automatically receive an additional £2 in government top-up - up to £500 every three months or £1,000 if their child is disabled.

To register, search Tax-Free Childcare on GOV.UK.

Safe Roads for All

The theme of this year’s Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign, is ‘Safe Roads for All.’ This year’s campaign takes place between 14th and 20th November and brings together communities and professionals to speak up for everyone’s right to make safe and healthy journeys on our roads. The 2022 campaign will raise awareness of key areas of road safety, including safe vehicles and speeds, the recent update to the Highway Code and the new hierarchy of road users, plus the importance of inclusivity to keep us all safe on the roads, no matter who we are or how we travel.

To sign up to Road Safety Week, register at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk

FREE Taster sessions with Pauline Quirk Academy in Bicester

Pauline Quirk Bicester is a weekend performing arts school at Whitelands Academy, with classes for kids and young adults in Comedy & Drama, Musical Theatre (singing & dancing) and Film & Television. The Bicester Academy operates from Whitelands Academy, Hexham Road, Bicester from 9.45-13.00 and the team are always working on exciting projects which feature students performing in a variety of different roles, in musicals, plays, and films.

They are passionate about every student’s personal journey, and the whole team works hard to ensure every single student is given the opportunity to become the best performer they can be and reach their potential creatively.

To book a free taster session please email chanel.smith@ pqacademy.com or call 07444 573 460

FREE OPEN DAY PQA BICESTER PM Spaces available for 6-18 year olds Classes in: Musical Theatre 21st JAN 2023 1.45pm - 5.00pm Comedy & Drama Film & TV

For more info CALL / TEXT 07444 573 460 or email chanel.smith@pqacademy.com or visit www.pqacademy.com

Hair loss is an extremely complex issue that affects most men and women at some point in their lifetime. Dermoi’s Chief Scientific Officer, Even Casha, MSc in Pharmaceutical Formulation breakdowns hair loss & why supplements have become a popular and effective solution.

All hair grows from a mini organ present in the skin of the scalp called the hair follicle. Within the hair follicle, hair growth follows a regular cycle.

The growth phase (anagen) occurs when new hair is created from the follicle (lasts 2-6 years), this is followed by a transitional phase (catagen) that lasts 1-2 weeks, and the resting phase (telogen) where the hair is lost (3-4 months).

Different hair follicles tend not to cycle together to ensure an even population of hair on the scalp.

Hair loss is a very complex issue that is influenced by many factors. Factors such as genetics, hormones, nutrition and stress, have direct links with the hair follicle and hair loss. More recent studies suggest that COVID might also be causing hair loss.

Hair supplements often contain key nutrients and compounds called adaptogens. These compounds lower cortisol levels and help reduce stress on the body. They also contain compounds such as vitex angus-cactus or reishi mushroom, as they can balance androgen levels and improve hair loss. Hairology by Vida Glow is an example of a multi-tasking supplement

for hair loss.

Festive science-themed fun this winter

Visit the Science Oxford Centre for festive science-themed fun this winter! You can enjoy a unique family experience with indoor and outdoor activities for curious minds. Family Days, run every Saturday, are super-popular with children and grown-ups alike, with hands-on activity stations in the Exploration Zone and woodland trails to explore. Meet experts and try real experiments at the pop up Live Labs, which could be anything from snail racing to extracting DNA to skulls! Create your own adventure with Explorer Backpacks and uncover nature’s secrets with a magnifying glass, compass and bug pot – follow the trails and see what wildlife you can spot. We’ve got extra holiday opening days on 28th and 29th December – why don’t you come and work off those festive treats?!

Check out the seasonal Saturday Science Clubs for ages 5-9. Your (Oxford) ticket includes access to the woodland all day. Take a giant bubble challenge in ‘Bubble-mania’ (26th Nov, Science Oxford Centre & 3rd Dec, Abingdon) or discover the secrets of crystals and make an icecool snowflake decoration at ‘Sparkling Science’ (17th Dec, Science Oxford Centre). For older kids who love coding and creating, programme on-screen Fireworks in November, or design a snowman and bring Frosty to life at December’s Creative Computing Club – take home and enjoy for a magical Christmas! Whilst Santa has been busy browsing around Waterperry Gardens’ Christmas and Garden Shops, Gallery and Gift Barn looking for lovely gifts for Mrs Claus, his reindeer seem to have escaped into the ornamental gardens! Help find Santa’s reindeer from 19th November through to 23rd December and win a festive prize! (£2.50 per child, all children must be accompanied by an adult for whom the garden entrance fee applies). Why not tie it in with visiting the fabulous Christmas Craft & Food Fairs too - November 19th & 20th and December 3rd & 4th. Not forgetting the spectacular British-grown Christmas trees which will be on sale from the beginning of December, along with their fantastic handfinished wreaths!

www.waterperrygardens.co.uk

NEW DOUBLE HEIGHT LIBRARY AT ABINGDON PREP

It has been an exciting start to the new academic year at Abingdon Prep. September saw the official opening of its state-of-the-art music school, dedicated DT workshop, second science lab and new classrooms.

The construction of this exciting new building has also enabled rooms within the existing school to be repurposed and renovated - including the creation of a new, double height library situated in the very heart of the school and a bespoke Pre-Prep hub.

Adding to Abingdon Prep’s already enviable provision (the school has 30 acres of sports grounds, play areas and woodland, not to mention access to the amenities of its senior school), the new amenities have both significantly enhanced its offering and will further improve the school experience for its pupils. Abingdon Preparatory School

01865 391570