Families West London issue 82 October 2012

ISSUE 82: October 2012 www.familieswest.co.uk

FREE

Cover picture: © Duane Barrett - In The Frame Studios. www.intheframestudios.co.uk

Special Feature: Schools and Education

Families West • PO Box 32231 • London W5 1JR • Tel: 020 8930 4707 • Fax: 0208 930 7704 • E-mail: familieswest@yahoo.co.uk

2

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

October 2012

News & Views

Cover picture: © Duane Barrett - In The Frame Studios. www.intheframestudios.co.uk

This month our issue is all about education and the schools educating children living in West London. It’s the single most discussed topic amongst parents. Children living here are really lucky to have a plethora of really excellent schools to choose from. Sometimes it feels like we have no choice at all and it’s the schools that do all the choosing but the vast majority of children do end up at a school that is just right for them.

Making a decision is the hardest thing; once your child starts, you realise that most schools are full of hard working teachers who really want your child to succeed. And if you work with it, and do your bit to support your child’s learning, that can only lead to good things.

Let us help you on that road to success by giving you some information. Grab a cuppa and start reading.

Contents News & Views 3 Education: School and friendships 4 Literacy skills 5 Education News 6-7 Choosing an Independent School 8 October School Open Days 12-13 Supporting your left handed child 14 What's On in West London 15-21 Hallowe'en 22 Classifieds 23

www.FamiliesWest.co.uk Families West is designed by Natalie Schmidt of www.matobodesign.com and printed by Ridgeway Press, 12 Campbell Court, Bramley, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5EG. Tel 01252 885837. Copyright Families West Magazine 2012. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s risk and while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families West is part of the Families 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 every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Like us on Facebook Families West Magazine Follow us on Twitter @FamiliesWest October 2012

Have you ever wanted to come to the opera or ballet with your family but decided against it because of the price of tickets, or because you’re not so sure it’s something that your children would enjoy? If you would like your family to experience ballet in one of the most prestigious and beautiful theatres in the world and don’t want to break the bank, why not register for the Swan Lake Welcome Performance for Families on the 6th October 2012 at 12pm, a wonderful opportunity for people who have never been to The Royal Opera House before.

Thanks to philanthropic support from Gregory and Regina Annenberg Weingarten through the Annenberg Foundation, the Royal Opera House is able to offer families heavily subsidised tickets for a Royal Opera or Royal Ballet performance on the main stage, a morning of free, fun activities for all ages and a reduced-price menu in the restaurant.

Seat prices range from £5 to £20.

Royal Opera House 2008 © Dee Conway

The Royal Opera House – a special treat for first-time families

Find out more on www.roh.org.uk/learning/families/welcome-performances

The Special Yoga Centre The Special Yoga Centre, based in Kensal Rise has been the hub for yoga therapy for children with an emphasis on children with special needs for over 7 years. This unique centre provides a number of invaluable yoga programmes for babies, children, teenagers and adults with a range of special needs including cerebral palsy, ADHD, autism, downs syndrome and learning difficulties. The centre also offers training programmes to yoga teachers, parents and carers with over 100 yoga therapists qualifying to teach children each year the centre now teaches yoga to special schools in and around London. The main philosophy of The Special Yoga Centre is that no child is ever turned away regardless of their family financial status and therefore the majority of lessons and one to one therapies are offered on a donation basis. With the support of Honorary Patrons Samantha Cameron and Trudie Styler and the parents and carers who use the centre, The Special Yoga Centre is looking to expand its services to reach more children, who would benefit from their services, across the UK. The benefits of yoga is well known and research has showed that yoga therapy for children with special needs improves children’s concentration, motor skills and communication skills. www.specialyoga.org.uk

Tailored tutoring service in your own home If your child needs a little more support at school, Fleet Tutors provides a tailored tutoring service in your own home that can help learners of all abilities, backgrounds and ages realise their potential through the support of the high quality one-to-one tuition and is ideal for special needs and gifted tuition, peripatetic tutors, revision courses, homework and revision clubs. Fleet Tutors is also recommended by 'The Good Schools Guide' and national press as well as parents, schools and local authorities throughout the UK. Recent survey results show that over 80 percent of children exceeded their predicted scores by one or more grades.

Find out more by calling them on 0845 644 5452 www.fleet-tutors.co.uk Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

3

Education

School and friendships

So term one of the new school year is half way through. Hopefully your child will have settled into their new class – they will have re-connected with old friends, be getting used to harder work and will be starting to understand their teachers teaching style. New terms can always be so exciting but also quite scary too.Your child may have the opportunity to make new friends and if they do you should encourage them to do so. It is always nice for the new child to have someone to talk to and feel like they are fitting into.

Is your child the kind of person who would welcome a new child into the classroom? Do they find making friends easily? Do they find it easy going up to someone they don’t know and talking to them? If not, why not teach them ways how to open up a conversation and have a practise together. Get them to ask you simple questions like, ‘Where do you live?’ or ‘Do you have any brothers or sisters?’

There are lots of questions children can ask and if they ask them with a ‘Why? What? How? Where? or When?.’ They will get a detailed answer back to their question rather than a yes or no answer.

Asking questions is a great way to get to know other people. I also think compliments can open a conversation.

For example your child could say to their peer how much they liked their shoes or their school bag.

And what about keeping friends. Your child may have not seen their friends all summer and so will have had to re-connect with them once again. Have they found this difficult? Some children find it hard to keep friendships going.

If your child is having difficulties maintaining friendships you could check out that they are doing the right things.

Have a chat with them to establish if they think they are being friendly, do they ask friends questions about the things that are important to them, do they think they help others if they need help, are they dependable and reliable and do they talk kindly about their friends to other friends? To keep friendships alive children need to put the effort in and need to treat their friends with respect. That may mean inviting them to do something outside of school or compromising on activities that they do within the school day i.e. playground games.

Your child may be shy which can make it harder for them to make friends but it is still very important that they are able to

build and maintain positive peer relationships in school. Having a shy child should not mean loneliness and it should not be a barrier to making friends. What it does mean is that they will need a helping hand from you. You can help them interact with small groups of children or just one at a time. Ask your child to invite some classmates to your house after school or at the weekend so they can get to know them better without being overpowered by stronger personalities or introduce them to hobbies outside of school where they can make friends with children who enjoy the same activities.

Any child will often find it easier to talk to someone when they are doing the same thing. Another idea to help your shy child is to suggest to their teacher that they work in a team rather than working alone. If they are in a team they have to talk to others – to share ideas.

Friendships are not easy and our children will listen to their friends – often more than us – and will be influenced by their tastes and the possessions they have.

As they get older they will want to do the same things as their friends, act the same way and even speak like them because they want to fit in and feel like they belong to a peer group. However, your child may not want to be doing what their friends are. If they don’t, you may need to help them resist the peer pressure.

If your child wants to start saying no more often or think more for themselves without peer influence you can help them by talking about your family values. By talking and reinforcing your family values your child will re-learn the behaviours and attitudes that are acceptable in your family and realise that not all families have the same values hence why some of their friends are doing things that they aren’t!

You can also share your thoughts and feelings on what is going on inside and outside of the house. For example, what do they think about smoking or stealing?

They will hopefully value your thoughts on subjects like these and take on board what is important to you.

Give them an open door policy whereby they can come to you with peer pressure problems so you can discuss them together and get them about what they can do. If they find it hard to come up with solutions then help them along a bit.

Use probing questions, ‘What do you want to happen?’ ‘Why?’ ‘When?’ ‘How?’ This will hopefully bring up some good answers.

If we recognise what our child’s friendship issues are then we can help them. Talking and discussion with your child one on one are the best way whenever and however your child wants to talk. That may be in the car, making dinner or at bedtime.

Keep talking!

Naomi Richards, The Kids Coach, is a life coach for children and provides coaching for them on any behavioural and emotional issue that they have. She works face to face with children and runs workshops. Naomi is part of the 3 Counties Radio parenting and families show and writes for parenting, teenage and women’s magazines.

Her first book, ‘The Parents Toolkit’ was published by Vermilion Feb 2012. In ‘The Parent’s Toolkit’ Naomi shares the key life tools she uses and teaches so that parents can help their child successfully navigate childhood problems and grow up into happy, confident and resilient young adults. The book can be bought from Amazon or through her website www.thekidscoach.org.uk

NEED EXTRA INCOME?

TEAM LEADERS NEEDED £500–£2000+ per month, work from home.

Part time or full time with flexible hours.

Full backup support and training.

33 years of success and growth.

Are you what we’re looking for?

Call Alison or Ian

01923 232242

4

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

October 2012

Helping your children with literacy skills Learning to read and write are two of the most important skills that children learn in their first year at school. This learning doesn’t have to stay at school, however, as there are plenty of ways that parents can support their children at home and still have fun with them.

Children are now taught to read and write how using the synthetic phonics method, in which words are broken down into the sounds that make them. For example, if you say the word ‘cat’ by the letter names it becomes ‘see-ay-tee’, but if you break it down into the letter sounds then you can blend them together to make the word ‘cat’. Letter sounds can be represented by just one letter, or by a digraph (two letters together). This is because there are 42-44 letter sounds in English, and only 26 letters. This isn’t as strange as it seems as we all learn patterns when we read, regardless of our methods; we all know the sounds that ‘ee’ or ‘sh’ make, for example.

There are many ways for parents to help at home, and there are plenty of hints and tips freely available online for parents who are worried that they are going to say the letter sounds wrong, or who aren’t sure if they’re doing it right (does the letter ‘c’ make a hard ‘kuh’ sound, or a soft ‘see’ sound? Am I saying ‘ai’ right?). The internet has become an invaluable resource for parents, enabling them to view guides and listen to audio clips for teaching with phonics.

When your children first start school, one of the first things they will be taught for both reading and writing is the first group of letter sounds. These letter sounds are carefully chosen to allow them to immediately begin to read simple words, building their confidence and given them an instant reward for their work. Helping your child to learn their letter sounds is one of the simplest and most important ways that you can help to support their learning at home without missing out on family time and play time.

To help you out, here are a few suggestions of some fun activities: Read with your child every day Just because your child is learning to read doesn’t mean that you should stop reading to them. Not only will this help your child to recognize letters and sounds, it also gets them engaged in reading and gives them a reason to want to learn to read. It will also help to increase their vocabulary and help them to understand the meaning of more words, aiding their reading comprehension. Bedtime stories are a fantastic time to help your child to learn as well as engaging in some quality bonding, especially when you share your favourite childhood stories with them.

Make things As with any method of learning, repetition, reinforcement and practice are key to synthetic phonics, and crafts can be a great way to help your child whilst still having fun. You can make them out of card or paper, paint them, make letter shaped biscuits and decorate and then eat them, build them out of lego – any activity which you know appeals to your child can be adapted to support what they’re learning at school. Just make sure you repeat the sound as they make the letter, or digraph: “Shall we make some ‘c’ cookies?”, “That’s a lovely flower you’ve painted, what else begins with ‘f ’?”. This helps with both letter recognition for reading and letter formation for writing.

I-Spy A classic game which can be played anywhere, and best of all, doesn’t involve any tidying up! Instead of using the letter names, ask them to identify objects based on their letter sounds: “I Spy with my little eye, something beginning with ‘ssss’.” Or “I Spy with my little eye, something beginning with ‘mmmmm’.” This game is brilliant for helping children to hear the letter sounds within words, which is a vital skill.

Sound out words and ask questions It’s such a simple thing, and again very easy to do wherever you are, but it is an activity which helps children to hear the sounds that make words and to get to grips with blending sounds together and breaking words into the sounds in order to write them.

For example, instead of asking if they’ve seen the dog, try asking if they have seen the ‘d-o-g’, or do they know what letters make up ‘mum’ and ‘dad’. This is another activity which is very universal because it can be adapted to your child’s interests, making things fun and engaging for them.

One of the most important things to remember, is to keep things fun. As important as it is to encourage children to work hard and to learn, the last thing you want to do is discourage them or cause them to dislike learning to read. These are just a few activities that you can do, and never be afraid to invent your own. You know what will interest your child, and it can be a great way of sharing the games that you enjoyed playing with your parents. Soon your child will not only be learning, but you will also be able to create games and memories with them that will last.

Bilingual education since 1996

For more information on supporting your child as they learn to read and write, or to download free resources, visit www.jollylearning.co.uk

The Kensington Gardens Nursery School Bilingual Nursery School French/English • • • •

Group of International nursery schools W2 SW7 SW1

Lancaster Gate • Bayswater • Notting Hill Gate Queen’s Gate Knightsbridge

All schools have native language teachers, excellent facilities and lovely outside playground/garden

The Spanish Nursery School Bilingual Nursery School Spanish/English • • • •

For a brochure please call Marie-Laurence Edmonstone 020 7259 21 51 marie-laurence@edmonstone.com

October 2012

For children from 1 to 5 years old Morning and afternoon sessions Full time sessions Summer school in July and August

For children from 1 to 5 years old Morning and afternoon sessions Full time sessions Summer school in July and August

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

5

Education

Clifton Lodge £1/4m investment at Clifton Lodge School, Ealing Clifton Lodge Preparatory School is benefiting from a £1/4m investment to expand and upgrade its provision of Early Years learning thanks to funding from the largest group of independent schools in the country, Cognita Schools, headed by leading educationalist, Sir Chris Woodhead.

The investment comes in response to rising demand from local parents for high quality, academic-focused Early Years education.

The development work will see extensive modernisation of the existing facilities enabling pupils at the school to continue to receive their education in a state-of-the art environment that stimulates learning. Clifton Lodge will be able to accept an additional 14 pupils to its Early Years intake from September 2013.

Speaking of the investment David Baldwin, Headmaster said: “We are thrilled with the level of investment from Cognita as it allows us to significantly improve the facilities on offer and enhance our capacity to deliver the highest quality Early Years education.”

Clifton Lodge is a co-educational preparatory school for children aged from 3 to 13 years. A member of the Cognita Group of schools since 2008, the school prides itself on its small, friendly, inclusive atmosphere that ensures that pupils develop into confident, independent, well-mannered individuals who reach their full potential. www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk

Orley Farm School is a small co-educational school for boys and girls aged four to thirteen. Their main intake is at 4+ with a smaller intake at 11+. Founded in 1850 and set in thirty six acres of playing fields and woodland nestling on the southern slopes of Harrow on the Hill, they are very fortunate to be settled on such an impressive site, and one which provides their children with all the facilities of a traditional rural prep school. Orley Farm offers a broad and balanced curriculum in which success in all aspects of the school’s life is encouraged and celebrated. Orley Farm School is a busy and happy place and the children are involved a rich mix of activities throughout their time there.

Their pupils have so far this year achieved an impressive thirty four scholarships awarded by their chosen senior schools, including schools such as Harrow, Merchant Taylors’, North London Collegiate, Haberdashers’ Aske’ (both girls and boys) St. Paul’s Girls’ and Westminster. See the school at the Open Morning on 6 Oct or come along on Wednesday morning by booking an appointment. Contact Mrs Julie Jago on 0208 869 7634 or email registrar@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk

St Benedict's School

St Benedict’s Students celebrate excellent AL Results

Upper Sixth students at St Benedict’s School, Ealing achieved some excellent A Level results this year.

Twenty-four students achieved three grade As or better and the percentage of the top A* grades, at 12%, was the highest in the School’s history.

Including the Extended Performance Qualification (EPQ) results, the combined A*/A figure of 43% matches the best the School has ever achieved.

Anthony Rayner was top performer with four A*s and one grade A, closely followed by Chiara Tolentino with three A*s and two As. Head Girl Rhianna Ilube (one A* and two As) and Head Boy Matthew Roberts (one A* and three As) set an excellent example.

Leo Hadcock (three A*s), Chris Dean (two A*s and two As), Christina Haddad and Singh Parikshat (one A* and three As) were also in the top tier.

Headmaster Chris Cleugh said, “Our talented students have produced excellent results at the top end but we are equally pleased with those for whom two Bs and a C represents a huge achievement. St Benedict’s is committed to supporting all students to achieve their full potential and we have a superb independently assessed value-added record at A Level.” www.stbenedicts.org.uk

6

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

October 2012

extracurricular activities including opportunities to travel. Some recent School trips have included a hike on Gibraltar, an expedition to Borneo and skiing trips both to North America and European resorts. Trips in 2012 so far include an expedition to Morocco, a geography fieldtrip to Iceland and skiing in Italy. Other planned trips this year are to Le Touquet and Bilbao.

St. Augustine’s Priory believes that field trips, visits to theatres, art galleries, museums, activity centres and concerts enhance study courses. Many girls take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme travelling as far afield as China, Nepal and a husky sledding expedition to Norway.

Other activities planned at St. Augustine’s Priory for the Michaelmas term 2012 include a trip to the Globe Theatre, a drama festival and a safer driving course for Sixth Form Girls.

There are numerous after school and lunchtime clubs. These range from music to drama and include all types of sport. Public speaking is a real strength of the School and the girls compete successfully at local, national and international competitions.

A full list of all the extracurricular clubs and activities available can be seen on www.saintaugustinespriory.org.uk

Success at Heathfield School for Girls Pupils’ learning and achievement, curriculum offered and pastoral care were rated as ‘excellent’ throughout the school, the highest ISI rating. At both A level and GCSE level their results surpass the national averages, but also the average results of independent schools.

At A Level, 69% of their grades were A*-B and 100% Heathfield of girls achieved A*-D. At GCSE, their A*-A grades at 63% is well above the national and average independent school statistics.

They offer a broad, modern curriculum including triple Science, Mandarin, French, Spanish and Latin leading to IGCSE, GCSE and A Level. Spanish and swimming are taught from Nursery and they offer an extensive extra-curricular programme.

“You are welcome to visit the school at our Open Days in October or you may prefer to book an individual tour on another day. Visiting Heathfield is always the best way to see this busy and thriving school in action”, says Mrs Anne Stevens, Headmistress. The school is served by their own daily coaches, local transport routes H12, 398, 282, and the Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines. www.heathfield.gdst.net

Education

St Augustine’s Priory School in Ealing offers a range of

Avenue House School have been awarded 3rd prize in the School’s Category for their Eco Garden Widening horizons by Ealing in Bloom. The Eco Garden is a whole school Avenue House Long term goals are green project and every child in the school from Nursery important for pupils in to Year 6 is directly involved with some aspect of it. The new pond their early teens. The most was finished at the end of last term and has attracted a huge range motivated and ambitious of wildlife already. The school is already a silver award holder for its students have a sense of involvement with the international Eco-Schools programme. purpose and pro-actively Representatives from all year groups sit on the school’s Eco Council develop the skills they need Thames Christian College and decide which environmental themes they want to address and to succeed. how they will do it. Pupils from Avenue House School attended an Pupils at Thames Christian College are shown that applying for top awards ceremony at Ealing Town Hall on Thursday 13 September school and university places is achievable and worthwhile. Last where they were congratulated and presented with a certificate by term some of their pupils visited St John’s College, Cambridge, to Ealing in Bloom chairman, Nigel Sumner. www.avenuehouse.org meet the Admissions Tutor and undergraduates to learn about university life. Their GCSE Art pupils were taken on a tour of Central Saint Martins and the Year 10 girls experienced a taster day at Croydon High School Sixth Form.

In order to develop pupils’ leadership qualities they have introduced a leadership programme with three levels of award – bronze, silver and gold. Their Year 11s are also participating in a leadership seminar for business leaders the school is hosting for an international training organisation.

“These experiences inspire our pupils and empower them to achieve their aspirations long after their schooling is finished.” www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk

October 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

7

Heathfield School for Girls © Montserrat Rubio

Education

Choosing an Independent School Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important early decisions you will have to make.

Here are a few things to think about and consider when you are having a look around.

■ Do you want a school that goes all the way through to GCSEs and A-Levels/International Baccalaureate, or would you like your child to go to a prep school that doesn’t have a senior school? If it does have a senior school, what percentage of children stay on? If the school finishes at Year 6 or Year 8 then find out which schools the children go on to.

■ What are the class sizes? Are children streamed and at what age, and in what subjects? At the top end of the school are they taught by subject specialists?

■ Look at the facilities, but remember that the teachers are the most important part of a school so make sure you see lessons in progress and ask about staff turnover – some movement is healthy, bringing fresh ideas: too much indicates dissatisfaction and can be disrupting.

■ Where is the school located – remember to do the journey in the morning rush hour to see how long it takes when considering a school a bit further from home.

■ What extra curricular activities are offered and when – are they at lunchtime or after school?

■ Does the school offer any bursaries or scholarships?

■ If you are a working parent ask about wrap around care and how flexible this is. Can you book into after school care the week or day before? Do they run a holiday camp in the school holidays and what hours does it run?

■ Look at the pupils in the final year or two, as these are the product of the school. If you are shown round by a pupil, ask them lots of questions as you will often get an honest answer – such as “what one thing could the school improve?”

8

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

■ Find out what the communication is like with parents; it’s important you know who to talk to if you have a problem or concern. Who is responsible for pastoral care?

■ How do they treat/identify special needs children on both ends of the spectrum? Enquire about the extra help available for children who are above or below average in a particular subject.

■ Has the ‘Jamie Oliver effect’ reached the lunch menu? Look for a sample if you can, and ask the current pupils what they think of the school food.

■ Does the school have an active PTA, and what sort of social activities does it organise?

■ Listen to the Head’s address if there is one and talk to him or her too. A good school will have an inspiring, enthusiastic and committed headteacher, supported by a loyal and united management team – and it will show.

■ Don’t be shy of asking lots of questions and trust your instincts as you know your child better than anyone else; and make notes as you go along.

■ This is not always possible in the hugely popular West London schools but if you can, try and visit the school on a normal day as well as an open day, especially if the open day is on a Saturday and the children aren’t in class.

■ Start a school file to gather documents so that you can compare information from different schools.

■ Book your place on the Open Days today! Read our handy guide in this feature and get on the phone.

October 2012

Education

October 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

9

Education

10

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

October 2012

Education

Notting Hill & Ealing High School GDST Junior School for Girls Aged 4-11 26 St. Stephen’s Road, London W13 8HH Developing confident learners in an environment in which girls’ strengths flourish

Open Days Autumn 2012 Thursday 4 October at 9.00am Wednesday 10 October at 10.15am Friday 9 November at 1.15pm Wednesday 14 November at 9.00am To reserve your place at an Open Day, for further information on occasional vacancies in other year groups or to request a prospectus contact the Admissions Secretary

Tel: 020 8991 2165 Email: enquiries@nhehs.gdst.net www.nhehs.gdst.net October 2012

Registered Charity No. 306983

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

11

Education

SCHOOL OPEN DAYS Name

Age

Dates

Contact Details

Portland Place School 56-58 Portland Place, W1B 1NJ

9-18

Tours: 9 and 16 Oct, 20 and 27 Nov. 9.15-11am.

Open evening: 1 Oct, 5-6.30pm.

Open morning: 10 Nov 10am-12 noon

020 7307 8700 E: admin@portland-place.co.uk www.portland-place.co.uk

Southbank International School (Westminster Campus) 63-65 Portland Place, W1B 1QR

11-18

12 Nov By appointment

020 7243 3803 E: admissions@southbank.org www.southbank.org

1-7

By appointment

020 7262 1190 E: admissions@ravenstoneschools.com www.ravenstoneschools.com

Connaught House School 47 Connaught Square, London, W2 2HL.

4-8B 4-11G

By appointment

020 7262 8830 E: office@connaughthouseschool.co.uk www.connaughthouseschool.co.uk

Pembridge Hall 18 Pembridge Square, W2 4EH

4-11G

By appointment

020 7229 0121 E: contact@pembridgehall.co.uk www.pembridgehall.co.uk

Barbara Speake Stage School East Acton Lane, W3 7EG

3.5-16

By appointment

020 8743 1306 E: speakekids3@aol.com www.barbaraspeake.com

International School of London 139 Gunnersbury Avenue, W3 8LG

3-18

By appointment

020 8992 5823 www.islondon.com

Arts Educational Schools London Cone Ripman House, 14 Bath Road, W4 1LY

11-18

16 Oct 5-8pm for Year 7-11 entry. 15 Oct 6-8.30pm for Sixth Form entry. No need to book

020 8987 6666 E: pupils@artsed.co.uk www.artsed.co.uk

Orchard House School 16 Newton Grove, W4 1LB

3-11

6 Oct 9.45am-12noon

020 8742 8544 E: info@orchardhs.org.uk www.orchardhs.org.uk

Heathfield House School Turnham Green Church Hall, Heathfield Gardens, W4 4JU

4-11

By appointment

0208 994 3385 www.heathfieldhouse.co.uk

4-7B 4-11G

By appointment

020 8994 1804 E: info@cbppschool.co.uk www.cbppschool.co.uk

The Falcons Pre-Prep School for Boys 2 Burnaby Gardens, Chiswick, W4 3DT

3-7B

By appointment

020 8747 8393 E: admin@falconschool.com www.falconschool.com

Aston House Nursery and Prep School 1 Aston Road, Ealing, W5 2RL

2.5-7

13 Oct 10am-12.30p.m.

020 8566 7300 E: ahj.admin@happychild.co.uk www.happychild.co.uk

Aston House Senior School 10 Montpelier Road, W5 2QP

7-11

13 Oct 10am-12.30pm

020 8997 3209 E:ahs.admin@happychild.co.uk

Clifton Lodge School 8 Mattock Lane, Ealing, W5 5BG

3-13

13 Oct 10am-12noon

020 8579 3662 E: admissions@cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk

Durston House 12 Castlebar Road, Ealing, W5 2DR

4-13B

16 Oct 10.15am-12.30pm

020 8991 6532 E: info@durstonhouse.org www.durstonhouse.org

St Benedict’s School Junior School and Nursery 5 Montpelier Avenue, Ealing, London W5 2XP Senior School and Sixth Form 54 Eaton Rise, Ealing, W5 2ES

3-18

Open Mornings: Nursery: 4 Oct Junior School: 9 and 17 Oct, 15 Nov Senior School: 5 and 15 Oct, 21 Nov Senior School Open Evening: 18 Oct (all years) Advance booking only

Junior & Nursery 020 8862 2054 Senior 020 8862 2254 E: enquiries@stbenedicts.org.uk www.stbenedicts.org.uk

Ravenstone Pre-Preparatory School The Long Garden, Albion Street, London, W2 2AX

Chiswick and Bedford Park Preparatory School Priory House, Priory Avenue, W4 1TX

St Augustine’s Priory Hillcrest Rd, W5 2JL

3-18G

9 Oct 10.15-11.45am, 21 Nov 1.30-2.45pm Nursery tours run on Thursday mornings by appointment.

020 8997 2022 E: registrar@staugustinespriory.org.uk www.staugustinespriory.org.uk

The Falcon School for Girls 15 Gunnersbury Avenue, London, W5 3XD

3-11G

By appointment

020 8992 5189 E: admin@falconsgirls.co.uk www.falconschool.com

Bute House Preparatory School Luxemburg Gardens, Hammersmith, W6 7EA

4-11G

By invitation after registration

020 7603 7381 www.butehouse.co.uk

Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, W6 0SL

4-11

By appointment

020 8846 9153 E: secretary@rpps.co.uk www.rpps.co.uk

Latymer Prep School 36 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, W6 9TA

7-11

Open days throughout the Autumn term.

Telephone for an appointment

0845 638 5700 E: registrar@latymerprep.org www.latymerprep.org/open-mornings

Latymer Upper School King Street, Hammersmith, W6 9LR

11-18

10 Nov 11+ entrance only. (children in Year 6) Tickets required – contact the Admissions Office.

0845 638 5721 E: registrar@latymer-upper.org.uk www.latymer-upper.org

St Paul’s Girls School Brook Green, W6 7BS

11-18G

11+ entry 3 Oct 5pm, 5 Nov 5pm.

020 7605 4882 www.spgs.org

Godolphin and Latymer School Iffley Road, W6 0PG

11-18G

11 Oct 4.45-7pm No need to book

020 8741 1936 E: registrar@godolphinandlatymer.com www.godolphinandlatymer.com

Hawkesdown House 27 Edge St, W8 7PN

3-8B

By appointment

020 7727 9090 www.hawkesdown.co.uk

Thomas’s Kensington (Lower School-age 3-7) 39-41 Victoria Rd, W8 5RJ (Prep School-age 7-11) 17-19 Cottesmore Gardens, W8 5PR

3-11

By appointment

020 7361 6500 (Preparatory School) 020 7937 0583 (Lower School) E: kensington@thomas-s.co.uk www.thomas-s.co.uk

6 mths 14 yrs

By appointment

020 8962 0345 www.lws.org.uk

The Lloyd Williamson School 12 Telford Road, W10 5SH

12

Bassett House School 60 Bassett Road, W10 6JP

3-11

13 Oct 10am-12.30pm. Book in advance

020 8969 0313 www.bassetths.org.uk

Notting Hill Preparatory School 95 Lancaster Road, W11 1QQ

4-13

By appointment

020 7221 0727 E: admin@nottinghillprep.com www.nottinghillprep.com

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

October 2012

OCTOBER 2012

Education

PULL-OUT SECTION Name

Age

Dates

Contact Details

Southbank International School (Kensington Campus) 36-38 Kensington Park Road, W11 3BU

3-11

12 Oct By appointment

020 7243 3803 E: admissions@southbank.org www.southbank.org

4-8B 4-11G

By appointment

020 7603 9103 E: office@norlandplace.com www.norlandplace.com

3-11

By appointment

020 8998 9981 www.avenuehouse.org

(Junior) Parents Only 4 Oct 9am, 10 Oct 10.15am, 9 Nov 1.15pm, 14 Nov 9am (Senior) Parents Only 9 Oct 10.45am, 7 Nov 10.45am Senior School Open Evening, Parents and girls welcome – no need to book 17 Oct 4.30pm

Booking essential.

Admissions (Mrs Barwell) 020 8991 2165 E: enquiries@nhehs.gdst.net www.nhehs.gdst.net

Norland Place School 162-166 Holland Park Avenue. W11 4UH Avenue House School 70 The Avenue, Ealing, W13 8LS Notting Hill and Ealing High School (GDST) (Junior) 26 St Stephens Rd, W13 8HH (Senior) 2 Cleveland Rd, W13 8AX

4-18G Entry at 4+, 7+, 11+ and 16+

St James Junior School Earsby Sreet, W14 8SH

4-11B 4-10G

13 Oct 10am-12 noon.

020 7348 1793 E: admissions@stjamesjuniors.org www.stjamesjuniors.co.uk

St James Senior Girl’s School Earsby Street, W14 8SH

10-18G

Open Morning: 6 Oct 9.30-12.15pm.

Open Evening: 10 Oct 4.30-7.00pm, School in Action: 8 Nov 9-10.45am.

Sixth Form: 3 Oct 5.30-8pm

020 7348 1748 E: admissions@sjsg.org.uk www.stjamesgirls.co.uk

4-7

By appointment

020 7371 9911 E: admin@fulhamprep.co.uk www.fulhamprep.co.uk

Eaton Square School 79 Eccleston Square, SW1V 1PP

2.5-13

By appointment

020 7931 9469 E: admissions@eatonsquareschool.com www.eatonsquareschool.com

Westminster Under School Adrian House, 27 Vincent Square, Westminster SW1P 2NN

7-13B

6 Oct for 7+/8+ entry By appointment

020 7821 5788 www.westminsterunder.org.uk

Fulham Prep School 200 Greyhound Road, London W14 9SD

Westminster School Little Dean's Yard, Westminster SW1P 3PF Fulham Pre Prep School 47A Fulham High Street, SW6 3JJ

13-18B By appointment Girls in Sixth Form

020 7963 1003 www.westminister.org.uk

4-7

By appointment

020 7371 9911 E: admin@fulhamprep.co.uk www.fulhamprep.co.uk

Ravenstone Preparatory School and Nursery 24 Elvaston Place, SW7 5NL

2.9 -11

By appointment

020 7225 3131 E: registrar@ravenstoneschools.com www.ravenstoneschools.com

Thames Christian College Wye St, SW11 2HB

11-16

6 Oct 10am-1pm 11 Oct 11am-1pm.

020 7228 3933 E: info@thameschristiancollege.org.uk www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk

The Harrodian School Lonsdale Rd, Barnes, SW13 9QN

4-18

11+ Open morning: 11 Oct, 8 Nov Advance booking essential

020 8762 6321 E: admissions@harrodian.com www.harrodian.com

Ibstock Place School Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY

3-18

Prep School: 14 Nov 9.30am Senior School: By appointment 6th form 11 Oct 5.45pm

020 8876 9991 E: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk

Various dates for open afternoons – phone to book

020 8979 5526 E: admissions@hamptonschool.org.uk www.hamptonschool.org.uk

6 Oct 10am-12pm or Wednesday morning by appointment

020 8869 7634 E: registrar@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk www.orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk

Hampton School Hanworth Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 3HD Orley Farm School South Hill Avenue, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex HA1 3NU

11-18B

4-13

Harrow School 5 High Street, Harrow on the Hill Middlesex HA1 3HP

13-18B

6 Oct, 3 Nov

020 8872 8007 E: admissions@harrowschool.org.uk www.harrowschool.org.uk

Quainton Hall School Hindes Road, Harrow, HA1 1RX

2.5-13B 2.5-11G

By appointment

020 8427 1304 E: admin@quaintonhall.org.uk www.quaintonhall.org.uk

The John Lyon School Middle Rd, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex HA2 0HN

11-18B

By appointment

020 8872 8443 www.johnlyon.org

Heathfield School for Girls Beaulieu Drive, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 1NB

3-18G

Open Day: 6 Oct 10am-12.30pm.

Open Evening: 16 Oct 6.30-8pm.

School at Work Mornings: 8 and 23 Nov 10.30am-12noon. Pre-booking not required.

020 8868 2346 E: admissions@hea.gdst.net www.heathfield.gdst.net

Northwood College GSA Independent Day School GSA IPS Maxwell Rd, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2YE

3-18G

17 Oct 6pm for Sixth Form. Book ahead

01923 825446 E: admissions@northwoodcollege.co.uk www.northwoodcollege.co.uk

Merchant Taylors School Sandy Lodge, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2HT

11-18B

Tours by appointment

01923 845514 E: admissions@mtsn.org.uk www.mtsn.org.uk

ACS Hillingdon International School Hillingdon Court, Vine Lane, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UB10 0BE

4-18

By appointment

01895 259771 E: hillingdonadmissions@acs-schools.com www.acs-schools.com/acs-hillingdon

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Butterfly Lane, Elstree, Herts WD6 3AF

5-18B

6 Oct 1-4pm (Main School and Prep School) 13 Oct Prep School by appointment only.

020 8266 1700 E: office@habsboys.org.uk www.habsboys.org.uk

Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls Aldenham Road, Elstree, Herts WD6 3BT

4-18G

Junior School: 6 Oct 10am-12.30pm Senior School: 4 Oct 6-8pm, 6 Oct 2-5pm 6th form - 2 Oct 2.30-4.30pm by appointment

020 8266 2302 (Junior School and Sixth form entry) 020 8266 2338 (age 11+) E: admissions@habsgirls.org.uk www.habsgirls.org.uk

Eton College Windsor, Berkshire SL4 6DW

13-18B

By appointment

01753 671000

October 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

13

Education

SUPPORTING YOUR LEFT HANDED CHILD 1 in 10 children are left handed, but many fail to get the support they need in the early years of their education. Experts say teachers aren’t given the proper training and schools don’t have the right resources. Sarah Butters is mum to a left handed daughter. She takes a look at some of the most common problems faced by left handers and some tips for helping them out.

MESSY HANDWRITING If you have a child who is left handed, chances are they haven’t been taught to write. Most are simply allowed to use their left hand. As the right handed parent of a left handed child I admit to having that same attitude. I now know that I was completely wrong.

Left handers push the pen across the page, whereas their right handed friends will pull.

This can lead to smudging and untidy work which in turn leads to anxiety on the part of the child. At an early stage a left handed child should be encouraged to master the correct handwriting position and paper placement to avoid problems as the writing assignments increase.

The paper should be rotated to 45 degrees with the hand and wrist below the writing.

Any pen needs to be held in a strong 3 point grip. In Early Years this can be supported with a triangular bodied pencil or a moulded grip around a regular pencil.

If your child can get into good habits from the start of their school life, they will avoid problems when they graduate to a fountain pen and longer writing assignments.

HOOK GRIP Some left handers use a hooked grip to avoid the problem of smudging, and angle the pen in the same way a right hander would. This causes more problems than it solves. The hook grip becomes more uncomfortable the more you write. It leads to an overtight grip and aching hands which in turn lead to messy handwriting. The wrist should always be below the writing line. If your child is developing a hook grip, consider introducing a sloped surface to resolve the problem.

ELBOW COLLISION At some point your child will have to share a desk and if they’re left handed this can be a problem. “I always end up banging elbows” explains my 9 year old daughter. “That makes my writing messy.”

You child should always be placed at the left hand side of a shared desk or next to another left hander. This gives them plenty of space to get their paper positioned correctly and avoid knocking elbows with a right handed neighbour.

14

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

WHITE BOARDS

THE ‘RIGHT’ EQUIPMENT

They’re a teacher’s best friend but a left handers worst nightmare. White boards and chalk boards are a great learning tool in the modern classroom – pupils can get rid of mistakes easily without using endless pieces of paper. However, if you’re left handed you can end up erasing as you write. Good grip and placement of the board gives left handers half a chance.

However if your child isn’t completing white board work quickly or neatly enough, it may not be their fault.

Many left handed children learn the basics with the wrong equipment. Give a left handed child some right handed scissors and they'll find the blade is upside down and so they can't see the line they are cutting. It means the child has less control and think of themselves as messy. This can be a real problem in the Early Years. Check your school has left handed scissors to offer your child. Ambidextrous scissors don't exist – trust me!

MIRROR WRITING I remember being hugely concerned when I discovered that my daughter had completed a Reception assignment using mirror writing. She had begun her words on the right hand side of the page and written from right to left. It’s common in left handed children and when you think about it, it makes sense. If they are sat next to a right hander, they are simply mirroring their work. Encourage them to start on the left hand side of the page by placing a coloured star in the margin as a reminder.

COMPUTERS Most ICT rooms are set up with the computer mice on the right hand side of the keyboard. This gives left handed children an automatic disadvantage because they either need to move the mouse or attempt or use their right hand. Don’t presume the teacher knows your child is left handed. Be sure to let all the staff involved with your child know they’re a left hander and will need a different workstation set up.

As they progress to writing, shiny barreled pens are to be avoided. Make sure whatever pen you choose has a good grip so it's easy to hold even when hands get hot and tired.

Pencil grips, left handed fountain pens and Yoropen ballpoints make life a lot easier.

LACK OF UNDERSTANDING As a right hander, I never appreciated the challenges faced by my daughter. Until she mastered left handed writing, she was labeled untidy in her written work and lost enthusiasm for putting pen to paper. It wasn’t until I began researching this piece that I realise how much of her attitude is linked to the hand she writes with. The bad news is she’s had a more challenging time than her right handed pals. The good news is she’s in good company. Barack Obama, Leonardo Da Vinci and Bill Gates are all lefties. Now that’s not a bad club to be in!

USEFUL RESOURCES www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk www.lefthandedchildren.org

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Keith Milsom campaigns for better support of left handed children in our schools and offers some advice about what to expect from your child’s school.

“Despite decades of campaigning and a string of promises from government ministers and teacher training authorities, there is still virtually no guidance provided to teachers on helping left-handed children and no process for identifiying left-handers in schools.

Make sure you talk to your child's teacher to make sure they know that he/she is left-handed and may need assistance and advice. Ask your child’s teacher to talk YOU through the support they’re going to give it so you can be sure they really understand. If you’re concerned, refer them to the teacher guidance sheets available from www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk. The school should have lefthanded scissors available and pens that will help left-handers write in the correct style.

If children are left to their own devices it is very unlikely they will find writing and cutting out easy.

Apart from the practical difficulties this can mean they are working more slowly than the rest of the class and lose some of confidence – especially if the teacher tells them off for "not doing it right".

Lefthanders can end up underperforming at school and having difficulty with written exams as a result of a lack of informed guidance at an early stage. It’s important parents keep the pressure on schools to support their left handed children.”

October 2012

What's On DIARY DATES/EVENTS CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK AT CHISWICK LIBRARY 2 Oct SPECIAL STORYTIMES. Celebrate Children’s Book Week with a special storytime at our libraries. Come dressed up as your favourite character and bring along your favourite book to share. 11am. Free. Suitable for under 5’s.

30 Oct PORTRAIT PAINTING Calling all budding artists! Create a portrait of yourself, or a friend or family member, to mark the national ‘Big Draw’ month of October, the world’s biggest celebration of drawing. Booking essential. 11am-12noon. For ages 5+. Cost 50p LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM DEPOT FAMILY OPEN WEEKEND 2 Museum Way, 118 – 120 Gunnersbury Lane, Acton, W3 9BQ. 6/7 Oct With a special focus on families, the FAMILY OPEN WEEKEND will host activities for young children to take part in, including story-telling from the popular children’s book series, Toby the Taxi. Children can enjoy taxi themed makeand-take arts and craft workshops, and the opportunity to ride on the Depot’s miniature railway. While at the Depot families will have the opportunity to learn about travel safety on buses and trains with the Museum’s simulator. 11-5pm. Tickets £10 adults, £8 senior citizens, £6.50 concessions. Accompanied children under 16 free. Tickets valid for both days. 020 7565 7298 www.ltmuseum.co.uk NCT CHISWICK NEARLY NEW SALE Chiswick town hall and Christ Church Turnham Green. 6 Oct Items for sale: nearly new baby and toddler wear, sleep sacks, baby carriers, toys, nursery essentials and large items such as buggies, moses baskets, cots, etc. £2 entry fee (in aid of NCT Charity). Goody bags for all attendees and balloons for every child. E: chiswicknns@yahoo.co.uk

PROFESSOR QUANTUM’S MAGNIFICENT TIME TOUR Meet at the bus stop, 6 Northumberland Avenue WC2N 5BY 0844 318 7655 timetour.co.uk 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 Oct. Combining theatre and technical trickery with an insightful look at London's rich past, aboard the Professor's 'Incredible Time Bus'. All ages, 2.45pm, £22 DUSTY DOES HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS DISCO The Drayton Court Function Room, 2 The Avenue, Ealing, W13 8PH 21 Oct 3- 5pm at. Join Dusty with your little devils for a spooky afternoon of Live DJ, Lights, bubbles, competitions and dance tuition from the Disco Dollies. Good facilities for little ones inc. buggy park, baby change, microwave, bar/restaurant and a large pub garden with play area. www.dustydoesdisco.co.uk THE NETHERLANDS NATIONAL CIRCUS 25 Oct-4 Nov In the luxury theatre Big Top at Ealing Common. 2 shows every day. £12-24 for adults and £10-18 for children. Box office phone 0844 4155 228. Early bookers discount available on www.netherlandscircus.eu AMANDA’S ACTION CLUB/KENSINGTON MUMS HALLOWEEN FAMILY EXTRAVAGANZA 4 Nov at the Chelsea Theatre, 7 World’s End Place, London SW10 0DR, 11am-1pm. A fun-filled, dance spook-tacular at the Chelsea Theatre (just off the King’s Road). Music, unique props and lots of high-energy interaction for little ones and top dance moves for the older ones under our dance experts’ careful supervision. Nails and make-up pampering for mums and face painter for everyone! Refreshments by Fait Maison. Tickets £10 e: info@amandasactionclub.co.uk INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SHOW 10-11 Nov 2012 140 Schools represented and talks on choosing the right path in private education.

Call 020 3638 0462 www.schoolsshow.com

56th BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 10 – 21 Oct A twelve day celebration of cinema featuring 225 fiction and documentary features. The festival showcases films for all ages in it’s family section, including Ernest and Celestine, Frankenweenie and Wolf Children. Various venues across London – Ticket available online: www.bfi.org.uk/lff 020 7928 3232 MINI MAESTRO FAMILY CONCERT St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square WC2N 4JH 020 7766 1100 smitf.org 13 Oct. BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH SYMPHONY – Bringing the classics alive with stories and movement. 4+yrs

October 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

15

What's On BARBICAN CENTRE Silk Street EC2Y 8DS 0845 120 7550 barbican.org.uk To Jan 2013 EVERYTHING WAS MOVING: PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE 60S AND 70S – Surveying photography from across the globe.

4 Oct - 28 Feb 2013. RAIN ROOM – An astonishing new installation giving visitors the chance to experience what it’s like to control the rain.

Have a look at our website www.familiesonline.co.uk/ Locations/London-West for more ideas of things to do Out and About in West London

BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO Battersea Park, Chelsea Bridge Gate SW11 4NJ 020 7924 5826 batterseaparkzoo.co.uk 27 – 31 Oct. HALLOWEEN FUN – Follow the Pumpkin Trail and use the clues to find out which animals have put out pumpkins. Plus Halloween Fun Day on 31 October: Spooky Story Time at 12pm and 2pm, Make a Trick or Treat Bag at 11am and 2pm, Spooky Face Painting at 11am and 2pm.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HOUSE 36 Craven Street WC2N 5NG 020 7839 2006 benjaminfranklinhouse.org 30 Oct. 18th CENTURY TOY WORKSHOP – Discover how Georgian children entertained themselves and make 18th-century toys such as whirligigs and button pulls. 5-11yrs, 11am and 2pm, £5

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS 020 7349 6453 chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 30 Oct – 1 Nov. HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES – Workshops including Animal Olympians, Art of the Garden and A Passion for Plants. Times and dates vary

Cooking Parties!

CUTTY SARK

• Fun, cooking parties

Greenwich SE10 9NF 020 8312 6608 rmg.co.uk/cuttysark

• For boys and girls aged 5-16 years • Cooking classes

Give your child the best party ever! whisking, baking, giggling, rolling, making, laughing, turning, licking, joking

A great way to learn while having fun!

Call for details:

0208 876 9912 email: info@cookiecrumbles.co.uk www.cookiecrumbles.co.uk

6-7 Oct. FAMILY FUN: THE BIG DRAW – Drawing workshops, and meet the famous Captain.

7 Oct. AHOY CAPTAIN! – Meet Cutty Sark's longest serving master, Captain Woodget.

Are you ship-shape enough to join his crew?

11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm 28 Oct. WITCHES AND WARLOCKS – Discover the story of Nannie, Cutty Sark's very own witch, take part in the Wicked Witches and Warlocks dance, sing-a-long to Witches' songs, hear spooky tales and more. 11am-5pm 30 Oct. SHANTY SHAKERS AND SONG BOOKS – Make a musical instrument to shake along with a sea ditty or create your own shanty songbook. 11am-1pm, 2-4pm 29 and 31 Oct. SPOOKY SHADOWS – Create your own shadow puppet inspired by the poem that gave Cutty Sark her name. 11am-1pm, 2-4pm

HAMPTON COURT PALACE Hampton Court, East Molesey. Surrey, KT8 9AU 0870 758 8080 hrp.org.uk 6-7 Oct. LIVE TUDOR COOKERY – King Henry VIII’s famous Tudor kitchens are now home to food archaeologists, bringing the kitchens to life experimenting with traditional recipes fit for a king!

From 27 Oct. HENRY’S CROWN – A magnificent re-creation of Henry VIII’s imperial crown.

HMS BELFAST The Queen’s Walk SE1 2JH 020 7940 6300 iwm.org.uk 27 Oct – 4 Nov. WHAT LIES BENEATH – A fun archaeological drawing event examining what can be found on the Thames below the hull of HMSB. 11am–4pm, all ages 16

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

© HMS Belfast

DAYS OUT

GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE – A chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like.

INTERACTIVE OPERATIONS ROOM – Imagine what it would have been like to control HMS Belfast from the Operations room, the nerve centre and brain of the entire ship.

KENSINGTON PALACE Kensington Gardens W6 4PX 0844 482 7777 hrp.org.uk/kensingtonpalace 27 Oct. THE BIG DRAW – Draw inspiration from the wonderful ceilings, paintings and patterns 27 Oct – 4 Nov. FAMILY ACTIVITIES – Storytelling and crafts.

To 4 Nov. JUBILEE: A VIEW FROM THE CROWD – This new exhibition celebrates Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897, from the point of view of those who celebrated it, from duchesses to newspaper sellers.

LONDON EYE Minster Court SE1 7JB 0870 990 8881 londoneye.com 27 Oct– 4 Nov. WITCH ACADEMY – A magical school of mysticism and sorcery – find the missing witches to graduate The Witch Academy.

With spooky storytelling, spells and activities.

LONDON ZOO Outer Circle, Regent’s Park NW1 4RY 020 7722 3333 zsi.org To 2 Nov. JUNIOR KEEPER FOR A DAY On selected weekdays during school holidays, this gives kids the chance to experience working life at the zoo. 11-15yrs, £170

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT TOURS Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, St Margaret Street, Westminster SW1A 0844 847 2498 parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-andtours/summeropening To 6 Oct. Take in some of the most important areas of the Palace and find out what Parliament does and how it came to be what it is today. £6/£10/£15

OSTERLEY PARK Jersey Rd, Isleworth, Middx 020 8232 5050 nationaltrust.info Gardens open every day from 8am-6pm, house and café open Weds-Suns 12.30-4.30pm.

Spectacular mansion and a lovely place for a family walk followed by a piece of cake and a cup of tea.

14 Oct TREE TALES Join Osterley Park’s Warden on a ramble through the magnificent 18th century parkland, and find out more about some of the splendid trees that live here, including some rare and veteran species. 2-3.30pm, booking essential. £5 adults, £2.50 for children.

October 2012

Greenwich SE10 9NF 020 8858 4422, rmg.co.uk To Feb 2013. ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2012 EXHIBITION – See the spectacular winning images - from distant galaxies to our very own Milky Way, the entries reflect our enduring fascination with the night sky.

SNAKES AND LADDERS SYON PARK Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 8JF 020 8847 0946 snakes-and-ladders.co.uk 7 Oct. GRANDPARENTS COME FREE! – One free adult entry with every paying child.

SYON HOUSE AND GARDENS London Road, Middlesex TW8 8JG 020 8758 1888 syonpark.co.uk 14 Oct. AUTUMN TREE WALK – Join the Head Gardener for a walk around the gardens in all their autumn glory. 11am and 2pm 25 and 26 Oct. IS SYON HOUSE HAUNTED? – Join a ghostly tour, hear terrible tales of horrible history and decide for yourself!

TOWER OF LONDON Tower Hill EC3 0844 482 7799 hrp.org.uk 5 Oct. THE GREAT LONDON DRAWING LOCK-IN! – Find yourself locked in the Tower in this after-hours drawing event!

6.30-9pm, £25 20-28 Oct. HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES: – BEAT THE BLOCK – THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR – with unpopular ministers and religious crise, King Charles I is in peril from his enemies in Parliament. TRAYNED BANDES – see how the

October 2012

soldiers garrisoned the Tower and prepared to give battle to the King and his Cavaliers.

KING EDWARD’S LIVING HISTORY – What was it like to be a child in the middle ages?

GREAT WAR SOCIETY – 1914 and the Tower is the recruiting ground for the British Army.

To 31 Dec. ROYAL BEASTS – For 600 years, wild and exotic beasts were held captive in the Tower. Discover why they were imprisoned and experience how they would have lived at the Royal Menagerie.

WWT WETLANDS CENTRE Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT 020 8409 4400 wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london 1, 8, 15 and 22 Oct. POND DIPPING – Hunt for the many different kinds of insects and other small animals that live in fresh waters.

21 Oct. INTRODUCTION TO BIRDWATCHING – Identify different birds and understand more about them, 9.30am–11am, £20.

27 Oct. AUTUMN PLANT WALK – Get a close look at the botanical side of London Wetland Centre. 2.30pm 27-28 Oct. RAINFOREST ROADSHOW – Meet an array of Amazon animals including snakes, giant millipedes and whip spiders.

WARNER BROS STUDIO TOUR Warner Bros Studio, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Watford, Herts WD25 7LS 08450 840 900 wbstudiotour.co.uk To 6 March 2013. THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER Walk through sets including the Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, Gryffindor common room and Hagrid's hut. £28/£21

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES and EXHIBITIONS BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM Threadneedle Street EC2R 8AH 020 7601 5545 bankofengland.co.uk/museum 29 Oct – 2 Nov. THE BIG DRAW – DESIGN A PRIZE-WINNING BANKNOTE. Special lunch-time presentations on banknotes, 12.15pm & 1pm.

To 10 Nov. TITANIC DOCUMENTS – See these claims for the replace-ment of Bank of England notes from the relatives of victims of the disaster.

To 10 Nov. GOLD AND THE BANK OF ENGLAND – An exhibition examining the part that gold has played during the Bank's long history.

What's On

ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH

BRITISH MUSEUM Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG 020 7323 8299 britishmuseum.org To 25 Nov. SHAKESPEARE STAGING THE WORLD – Discover the world of William Shakespeare and the emerging role of London as a global city through objects and performance. £12/£14, under 16s free.

FOUNDLING MUSEUM 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ 020 7841 3600 foundlingmuseum.org.uk 27-28 Oct. CLOCK WATCHING WEEKEND – To mark the end of British Summer Time, the Foundling is celebrating all things horological.

Make your own eighteenth-century clocks and watch Martin Scorsese’s film Hugo. 3-12yrs.

To 24 Nov. DICKENS AND THE FOUNDLING – Exploring the relationship between Charles Dickens and the Foundling Hospital.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

17

What's On HORNIMAN MUSEUM

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

NATIONAL GALLERY

100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ 020 8699 1872 horniman.ac.uk

Lambeth Road SE1 6HZ 020 7416 5320/5321 iwm.org.uk

Trafalgar Square WC2N 5DN 020 7747 2894/2885 nationalgallery.org.uk

27 Oct – 4 Nov. A POPPY FIELD – Grow your own poppy from paper and wire and plant it in the Poppy Field. 11am-5pm To 1 Jan 2013. A FAMILY IN WARTIME – Experience life on the Home Front through the eyes of one London family.

6 and 7 Oct. DRAWING ATTENTION: THE BIG DRAW – Drop-in drawing and ten minute talks. Help create a collaborative art installation.

BSL interpreted. 11am-3pm, all ages.

27 Oct. READING AND BOOK SIGNING. Children’s author and illustrator James Mayhew will be unveiling the next title of the Katie series.

11.30am and 3.30pm.

28, 29 and 30 Oct. GO DRAW GLOW – Transform your drawings of favourite paintings into performances of glowing light. For ages 5-11.

29 Oct. Talk and Play – Explore Rubens’ painting Het Steen: talk, play, sing and create.

11.30am-1pm. For ages 2-5.

30 Oct. DRAWING STORIES – Tell a story through art-making and play. 11.30am-12.30pm.

For ages 2-5.

MAGIC CARPET STORYTELLING - Sundays 10.30 and 11.30am for under 5’s.

14 Oct – MUSICAL MAGIC CARPETS. FAMILY SUNDAYS ART WORKSHOPS AND DRAWING SESSIONS at 11am and 2pm every Sunday.

29 Oct – 2 Nov. HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES – Craft activities, discovery sessions and Halloween Poetry Party.

HUNTERIAN MUSEUM Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields WC2A 3PE 020 7869 6560 rcseng.ac.uk/museums

MUSEUM OF LONDON

30 Oct – 1 Nov. LONG IN THE TOOTH: OBJECT HANDLING WORKSHOPS – Get up close and personal with skulls and teeth from the odontological collection. 6+yrs, 11am and 2pm

London Wall EC2Y 5HN 020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk 7 Oct. CHARACTERS FROM HISTORY – MEET MARY PRINCE – Mary Prince's fight for freedom brought her to London where her story was used to help end slavery in the 1800s.

5+yrs, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm 14 and 28 Oct. MUSEUM EXPLORED – Join one of the Museum's Hosts and explore the galleries through fun activities. 11.30-1.30pm, 2-4pm, 5+yrs 21 Oct. PUNCH AND JUDY – Join in with this popular Victorian entertainment. 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 5+yrs 27 Oct - 4 Nov. HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES – Including Spooky Stories, Written By: Me and Meet Sir Isaac Newton.

MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS West India Quay E14 4AL 020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands 20 Oct. LONDON FOREVER – Celebrate London as a centre of global trade, industry, the arts and sport. Draw, stick and add things to the animated film. 5+yrs.

27 Oct - 4 Nov. HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES – Including The Ghost Chicken of Pond Square, The Flying Machine and Transforming Objects.

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HT 020 7730 0717 nam.ac.uk

Gym

29 Oct - 2 Nov. HALF-TERM EVENT – Find out more about the two World Wars - touch artefacts, try on uniforms and meet historical characters.

10.30am-5.30pm. To March 2013. WAR HORSE: FACT AND FICTION – Exploring the history Twisters Ealing behind the War Horse St. John’s Church, novel with interactive Mattock Lane, Ealing London W13 9LA displays, costumes and props from the Twisters Acton & Chiswick Spielberg film.

Acton Baptist Church,

ce n a D and We welcome children of all abilities

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY St Martin’s Place WC2H 0HE 020 7306 0055 npg.org.uk 6 Oct. WALK THE LINE – Explore movement and line drawing. All ages 20 and 28 Oct. STORYTELLING FOR FAMILIES – Followed by a fun art activity. 10.30am.

20 Oct – 4 Nov. HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES – Storytelling and art workshops. 3+yrs.

SCIENCE MUSEUM Exhibition Road SW7 2DD 0870 870 4868 sciencemuseum.org.uk 17-30 Oct. SCIENCE SHOWS – Propel the family on an exploratory adventure into the wonderful world of science with Science Show Live. 7-11yrs, £12/£9.50, 11am and 1.30pm

SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3BP 020 7440 4263 soaneeducation.org.uk 31 Oct and 1 Nov. HALF-TERM WORKSHOPS – Develop a skill or explore Soane's treasures with specialist guidance. Dates/times vary, 7+yrs, whole day workshops 10.30am-3pm - £20, half days 10.30am-12.30pm or 2-4pm - £12

Church Road, Acton, London W3 8PP

From Toddlers to Teenagers: agers rs s: Photography by melaniemoss.com

Gymnastics, Ballet, Dance Drama, rama Street Jazz/Tap and Boys Street Dance.

For Adults: Stretch Workout and Body Blitz.

TWISTERS classes are stimulating and fun..

We are well known for our patience p and understanding. g

For more information call: Hermione on 0208 933 9997 or Louise on 0208 840 4452 Email: twisters@btinternet.com

www.twisters.org.uk w 18

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

October 2012

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

Cromwell Road SW7 5BD 020 7942 5000 nhm.ac.uk

Cambridge Heath Road E2 9PA 020 8983 5200 museumofchildhood.org.uk

Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN 020 7563 9500 wallacecollection.org

To 31 Oct. WILDLIFE GARDEN – With woodlands, a meadow and pond, this garden is a haven for thousands of British plants and animals.

13 Oct. THE BIG DRAW: SIZING UP – Help create a large-scale drawing of Robbie the Robot as part of The Big Draw. 11am-4pm

19 Oct – 3 March. ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR – Images uniquely combining the work of young photographers and gifted amateurs with leading lights of the profession from around the globe.

20 and 21 Oct. POP-UP CIRCUS – Enjoy gravity defying aerial dance, jugglers, music and a magical performance piece. 12-4pm

6 Oct. SOUNDSCAPES AND LANDSCAPES – Collect ingredients and mix them to create your own work of musical art. 10.30am, 6+yrs, £12 7 Oct. THE LITTLE DRAW – Free art workshop, 1.30-4.30pm, all ages 20 Oct. THE BIG DRAW: READY, STEADY, DRAW! – Free art workshop, 12-4pm, all ages 30 Oct. KING DAVID’S SHIELD – Design and make your own shield. 10.30am-3pm, 7+yrs, £11 31 Oct. ANIMAL MASK MAGIC – Transform yourself into your favourite animal this Halloween. 10.30am and 2pm, 5+yrs, free.

6, 20 & 27 Oct. CUTTING EDGE WORKSHOP FOR FAMILIES Investigate teeth and diet using animal skulls. 10.45, 11.45am and 12.45pm.

13 & 31 Oct. ANIMAL VISION FOR FAMILIES – A show featuring live animals reveals a world only visible to certain reptiles and invertebrates.

10.30, 11.30am & 1.30pm.

27 Oct-2 Nov THE CAMPSITE – Vintage camper vans, caravans and tents will appear in the grounds of the Natural History Museum for an exciting week of free theatre, film and visual art activities for all the family. 11am-4pm.

28 Oct WOLF TALES (Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs) – A storytelling puppet show looking at the amazing insights into the natural world. 12 noon & 1.30pm.

30 Oct SIR HANS SLOANE – Find out about the man who amassed one of the greatest private collections of plants, animals, antiquities, coins and curios in history. 11.30am & 2pm.

30 and 31 Oct AN OTTER'S TALE – a family puppet show. 11am, 12, 1.30 & 2pm.

31 Oct – MEET THIS GALLERY CHARACTER. 11.30am & 2pm.

TATE BRITAIN Millbank SW1P 4RG 020 7887 8888 tate.org.uk/britain 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 Oct. LIMINAL – Engage with sculpture through touch, interaction and collaboration. All ages.

TATE MODERN Bankside SE1 9TG 020 7887 8888 tate.org.uk To 14 Oct. EDVARD MUNCH: THE MODERN EYE – Exhibition examining the artist’s work from the 20th century.

UNDER 5s ZONE – A new play space for under 5s.

29 Oct – 2 Nov. RETRO KIDS – Journey back in time to the 1950s with a week of storytelling and arts and crafts. All ages.

13 Oct to 14 April 2013. MODERN BRITISH CHILDHOOD – A new exhibition at the Museum exploring how childhood has transformed in Britain during the period between the London Olympic Games of 1948 and 2012.

To 28 Oct. MASCOTS OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES – A display showcasing over 50 mascots from the last 44 years of summer and winter Olympic Games.

VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM Cromwell Road SW7 2RL 020 7942 2000 vam.ac.uk 20 Oct – 4 Nov. HALF-TERM PROGRAMME: MINI MOVIES – 27 and 28 Oct, a drama workshop exploring ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’.

Under 5s.

MOVIE MAGIC – 27 Oct - 4 Nov, screenings of classic children’s films, 2pm.

MAKE IT: COSTUME DESIGN – 29 Oct - 2 Nov, design a sci-fi film costume.

10.30am -12.30pm, 2-4pm, £5, 5-12 yrs.

MAKE IT: FILM MAKE-UP – 20 Oct, try different stage make-up techniques and create characters. 2-4pm, £7.50, 10-12yrs.

THE IMAGINATION STATION – 27 Oct - 4 Nov, design a character for the Hollywood screen, 10.30am -5pm, free.

20 Oct – 27 Jan 2013. HOLLYWOOD COSTUME – The most iconic costumes over a century of film-making.

What's On

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Kids birthday parties at Ealing Tennis club Our kids parties are of the highest quality and will have every child fully entertained.

Please call Antonella on 07783991157

Say that you saw it mentioned in Families West Magazine

There are lots more things to do in the 'What's On' section of our website.

Go to www.familieswest.co.uk

Ealing and Uxbridge 0203 092 1313 or gware@littlekickers.co.uk Chiswick and Hammersmith 07792503571 or bbrownlie@littlekickers.co.uk www.littlekickers.co.uk

Where learning’s a ball October 2012

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

19

What's On Theatre THEATRES IN WEST LONDON BARBICAN HALL Barbican Centre, Silk Street London EC2Y 8DS 020 7638 8891 www.barbican.org.uk GARRICK THEATRE (Charing Cross Road WC2H 0HH 0844 482 9673 nimaxtheatres.com LONDON PALLADIUM Argyll Street W1F 7TF 0844 412 4655 seetickets.com LYRIC HAMMERSMITH Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0OL. 020 8741 6850 www.lyric.co.uk NATIONAL THEATRE South Bank SE1 9PX 020 7452 3000 www.nationaltheatre.org.uk PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Little Venice, Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF 020 7249 6876 www.puppetbarge.com RICHMOND THEATRE The Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1QJ 0844 871 7651 www.ambassadortickets.com/richmond ROYAL ALBERT HALL Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore SW7 2AP 020 7589 8212 royalalberthall.com SOHO THEATRE 21 Dean Street W1D 3NE 020 7478 0100 sohotheatre.com SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8PX 020 7960 4200 / 0844 847 9944 www.southbankcentre.co.uk ST JAMES THEATRE 12 Palace Street SW1E 5JA 0844 264 2140 stjamestheatre.co.uk UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street London SE1 2HZ 020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME To 27 Oct An adaptation of the touching and bleakly humorous novel by Mark Haddon. 13yrs+ NATIONAL THEATRE DR KORCZAK’S EXAMPLE To 13 Nov Set in the final days of an orphanage in the Jewish ghetto of Warsaw where food is scarce, tempers rise and everyone wants to survive. 11-13yrs.

UNICORN THEATRE A WINTER’S TALE To 16 Nov A group of actors are performing The Winter’s Tale at the Unicorn. But it’s not going well. This hilarious new play turns The Winter’s Tale on its head. 7-10yrs.

UNICORN THEATRE

PLAY TIME! 20 Oct Fun, free family arts, crafts and storytelling. 4+yrs, 10.30am-12pm.

RICHMOND THEATRE THERE’S A MONSTER IN MY PIANO 20 Oct What do you do when you hear a strange noise inside your piano? Call the Piano Doctor of course! 11am and 1pm, 4-7yrs.

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH DISNEY FANTASIA – LIVE IN CONCERT 21 Oct Excerpts of Walt Disney's 'Fantasia' and Disney's 'Fantasia 2000' screened with accompaniment by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

ROYAL ALBERT HALL DRIVING MISS DAISY 23-27 Oct The award-winning production direct from the West End - sparklingly funny and irresistibly heart-warming.

RICHMOND THEATRE SCROOGE THE MUSICAL

I, MALVOLIO 3 Oct – 11 Nov. Twelfth Night re-examined in a brilliant one-man show. 13+yrs UNICORN THEATRE

HANDA’S SURPRISE

24 Oct – 5 Jan 2013. Bill Kenwright's family musical based on Dicken’s A Christmas Carol returns to the West End. LONDON PALLADIUM

CIRCLE OF TALES 13 Oct A tale from long ago, told with wood and wire puppets and music from traditional African instruments. 11am and 1pm, 4–7yrs.

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH

POTATO NEEDS A BATH 27 Oct -2 Nov This light-hearted and visual show tells the tale of Potato on his birthday. 2-5 yrs, 11am and 2pm.

SOUTHBANK CENTRE THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND CAPTAIN GRIMEY

COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS 13 Oct Comedy for children, parents and anybody who likes humour without the rude words.

SOHO THEATRE UNICORN MIX UP 19 Oct Not quite an open-mic night, part play, part gig – come and see the best of London’s young artists on stage. 13-21yrs, 6.30pm, UNICORN THEATRE 20

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

CABBAGE HEART

27-28 Oct When Jelly wanders into a secret, overgrown garden she finds something that changes her life forever. 27 Oct 11am and 1.30pm, 28 Oct 2pm and 2.30pm, 5-10yrs. LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THE MYSTERIOUS VANISHMENT OF POBBY AND DINGAN 30 Oct – 3 Nov. Where do you start looking for something you can’t even see? One boy’s mission to save his family unites an outback mining community. 9+yrs UNICORN THEATRE RUMPELSTILTSKIN 30 Oct-3 Nov Magic and mayhem are in the air as this classic fairy tale is brought to life with puppetry, live music and plenty of mischief.

11am and 1pm, 3-7yrs.

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH

LITTLE SUNSHINE, LITTLE RAINFALL 6 Oct Traditional Japanese songs, dance and origami in this delightful tale. 11am and 1pm, 3-7yrs.

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH

9-11 Oct A blend of physical performance, puppetry and song.

2-5 yrs UNICORN THEATRE

HORRIBLE HISTORIES – BARMY BRITAIN 27 Oct-6 Jan An entertaining adaptation of Terry Deary's children's books. 6+yrs.

GARRICK THEATRE

DADDY LONG LEGS 31 Oct - 8 Dec. Set in the early 1900s, Daddy Long Legs is the vivid account of a young orphan as she blossoms into a beautiful and vivacious woman.

ST JAMES THEATRE WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE/ HIGGLETY PIGGLETY POP! 3 Nov. A double bill of Oliver Knussen’s widely-acclaimed fantasy operas based on the beloved eponymous children’s books by Maurice Sendak, and with libretti by the author, this major new production is presented as a multimedia staged concert, directed

by Netia Jones who animates Sendak’s original images and integrates live and filmed moving images into the opera performance.

2pm and 7pm. BARBICAN HALL

27 Oct – 4 Nov A double bill with songs. 3-8 yrs, 3pm.

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE October 2012

What's On

Half Term Camps and Workshops

THE LITTLE MUSIC FACTORY in Notting Hill offers fun and interactive classes for pre-schoolers of all ages run by actress and teacher Cate Debenham-Taylor. She creates a familiar framework and then introduces different songs and activities each week to keep it fresh and exciting, using unusual and beautiful instruments from around the world for the children to experiment with, plus plenty of familiar ones too. The mixed age group gives the little ones the opportunity to learn from the older ones, but it also encourages the grown ups to join in too! She uses a parachute and bubbles for extra fun.

Classes take place above a lovely café – Charlie’s on Portobello Road, and parents and carers often get together after the class for a coffee.

Further information contact Cate on 07887 608299 or email cdebenhamtaylor@yahoo.co.uk PERFORM DRAMA WORKSHOP 29-31 Oct. This half term workshop’s theme is "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST." With unique games, specially written music, energetic dance and colourful improvisation, Perform’s team of enthusiastic and experienced actors, musicians and dancers will help bring this classic tale to life.

Venue: St Peter's Hall, 59A Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 3DB, 2.30-4.30pm each day. 0845 400 4000 www.perform.org.uk

FIT FOR SPORT 29 Oct-2 Nov ACTIVITY CAMPS for ages 3-12.

0845 456 3233 www.fitforsport.co.uk Venues: Chiswick - Belmont Primary School, W4 5UL Ealing - Brentham Club, 38a Meadvale Road, Ealing, London, W5 1NP and Trailfinders Sports Club, Castle Bar, Vallis Way, Ealing, London, W13 0DD Kensington - Kensington Leisure Centre, Walmer Road, London, W11 4PQ KITE STUDIOS ART WORKSHOPS 29 Oct-2 Nov PRINTMAKING, COLLAGE AND PAINTING for ages 5-15. www.kitestudios.org

FIMO CLAY ART WORKSHOPS 22 and 31 Oct. CLAY WORKSHOPS for ages 6+ 020 8992 3767 www.funwithfimoclay.co.uk

W4ARTCLUB 29 Oct-2 Nov. The workshops are on the theme of HALLOWEEN HORRORS and there will be various sessions for children from as young as 16 months to 11 years in Chiswick W4 4ED. Full details on www.w4artclub.com/ holiday.art.october.half.term.htm

PITSHANGER MANOR 1 Nov HOUSE OF CARDS 10am-12pm / Ages 5-7. 2-4pm / Ages 7-11.

Inspired by the Eames ‘House of Cards’ work with our artist to create your own cards to take home and help make a great big ‘House of Cards’ sculpture in the Gallery 2 Nov. IN THE SHADOW OF MISTER SOANE 10am – 12pm / Ages 5-7. 2-4pm / Ages 7-11.

Join artist Laura X Carle and get spooked by shadowy characters in that big old house, Pitzhanger Manor!

27 Oct BIG DRAW 2012 In celebration of this year’s ‘Big Draw’ bring your drawings to life with the artists from the ‘Sense of Soane’ exhibition.

The whole family can use new techniques to help make one giant floating city in Sir John Soane’s historic Eating Room and make something to take home and keep Venue: PM Gallery & House, Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, London W5 5EQ 020 8567 1227

GRANT MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY EVENTS 29 Oct-3 Nov 1pm – 5pm TOOTH AND CLAW: KILLER CARNIVORES FOR HALF TERM From coyotes to cobras and leopards to leopard sharks, investigate the amazing ways that meateaters find, catch and eat their prey. Come to the Grant Museum and discover wicked webs, super stings and fabulous fangs with our amazing skins, skulls and skeletons. Drop in anytime.

Free event Venue: Rockefeller Building, University College London, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE 020 3108 2052 E: zoology.museum@ucl.ac.uk

THE LITTLE FOXES CLUB OCTOBER HALF TERM CAMP 2012 Fun packed days of matches and tournaments with medals and trophies to be won at the end of each week.

Dates: (Week one) 22-26 Oct (Week two) 29 Oct - 2 Nov Age: 18 months to 12 years Sports: Football/Tennis/Rugby Venue: Kensington, Battersea, Brook Green, Chiswick, Fulham. Price: From £7.00 per hour E: info@thelittlefoxesclub.com 020 7376 0006

CORNER 9 ARTS PROJECT 29 Oct-2 Nov. 10.00 - 12.00pm. For children age 5+. FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF FAMOUS ARTISTS... Explore famous artists through painting, drawing, sculpture and print making.

Cost: £2 per session Venue: 9 Dalgarno Gardens, London W10 Booking essential e-mail info@corner9.com or Siglinde on 07763 472516. Funded by NHMC.

Say that you saw it listed in Families West Magazine

NEW: Make your listing ‘stand out from the crowd’ with an enhanced listing – approx 100 words boxed or colour-backed, plus a graphic in our feature. For more information, please email adverts@familieswest.co.uk or phone 020 8930 4707

October 2012

PAINT POTS MONTESSORI SCHOOLS is proud to announce the launch of Paint Pots House Creative Classes in Notting Hill. Having been established in Chelsea since 1988 we will be opening our new creative classes from September 2012 at St Mary of the Angels, Moorhouse Road, London W2 5DJ. This will be led by Georgina Hood, Shefali Patel and Michael Patterson.

Unique baby classes, art and crafts, cooking and Music from 6 months to 3 years.

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

21

Hallowe’en Tips for happy trick or treating

Many parents don’t like the idea of children wandering the streets trick or treating but don’t want to be party poopers either. The solution is to hold your own traditional Halloween party – or head out to some of the very many organised Halloween activities which you can all enjoy.

A home-based party can be fun and inexpensive. Decorate the house with spiders, skeletons, ghouls and broomsticks – hand drawn if you’re artistic or cheap plastic tat if you’re not. No-one will notice quality in the dark.

Flimsy fake cobwebs will add to the ghoulish atmosphere (though I must admit I found a disconcerting number of real ones when I embarked on this exercise one year).

Games

Even in this high-tech age, the old-fashioned Halloween games still have great appeal to children. Try Swing Apple where you hang an apple on a door lintel and children try to bite the apple without touching it. And have a go at Bob Apple where children try to retrieve a bobbing apple from a large tub of water without using their hands.

For a Halloween style lucky dip game, fill a large cauldron-style tub with slimy, coloured goo (blood red Gelli baff); wrap a variety of ghoulish gifts in clingwrap (eg – fake eyeballs and false teeth) and dare the children to dip their hands in the witch’s brew to see what she is using in her spells!

Then blindfold your guests and invite them one by one to enter the Witch’s lair and challenge them to identify by touch and smell the ingredients she has laid out for her next spell. You can use herbs like mint; lemon rind; sugar, breadcrumbs, grass, or coffee beans. Children love the challenge of guessing the ingredients and you can give a prize to the person identifying the most.

You can also try a variation of the party favourite – pin the tail on the donkey – but make it pin the tail on the witch’s cat.

If you’ve had enough of witches and wizards, have a go at the Make a Mummy game. For this you will need one toilet roll per person.

Split your party guests into teams and allocate one person on each team to be the Mummy. The teams have to race against the clock to cover their Mummy from head to toe in loo roll and the team with the most convincing Mummy wins the game. This is sooo much fun as everyone gets into a muddle wrapping the rolls and the kids love it.

Music

Make a CD of songs that will work for Halloween – Thriller, Monster Mash, Ghost-busters, Bat out of Hell.

Play it in the background, have a disco or play Halloweenthemed musical statues.

With a little bit of creativity you can put on a Food Hogwartian-style feast of healthy novelty foods. Try traditional toffee apples and nuts (unless any of your guests have a nut allergy); make Wizard’s blood cocktails from cranberry and pomegranate juice with blackcurrant squash and sparkling water; make monster eyes by cutting boiled eggs in half, adding a raisin for the pupil and using red food colouring for the veins; or try witches fingers made of chicken or fish goujons with an almond flake for the finger nail. Make bat-shaped biscuits, Halloween cupcakes iced with cobwebs, or marshmallow ghosts and ghouls.

For more ideas try www.bbc.co.uk/food/occasions/halloween or www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/halloween.

Pinatas are great fun for little witches and wizards who can bash the piñatas with broomsticks. It makes for a sweet ending to the party when guests can fill their own party bags with goodies from the piñata.

een Hallow s piñata 22

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

ents v E n we’e BRICK OR TREAT AT

By Becky Fairclough

Hallo

PHOBOPHOBIA 17 October - 1 November LONDON BRIDGE EXPERIENCE and THE LONDON TOMBS, 2-4 Tooley Street, London Bridge SE1 2SY, 020 7403 6333, www.thelondonbridgeexperience.com Have you ever wondered where Halloween came from? Learn the history behind the London's haunting past with a family-friendly show at the London Bridge Experience. If you are feeling brave, test your courage by descending into the gothic tunnels under the bridge in the screamie, award-winning London Tombs; and if not, try a guardian angel tour to make sure you finish the tour in one piece! There will also be pumpkin carving and face painting for all the family.

Open 10am-5pm weekdays, to 6pm weekends. Tickets from £17 on the door; reductions for advance bookings.

HALLOWEEN HOCUS POCUS 26 October - 4 November CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey KT9 2NE, 0871 663 4477, www.chessington.com Wicked witches, goblins and vampires come to life while brave adventurers ride spooky rollercoasters into the dark night. There’s 3D fun in Hocus Focus Hall, plus a zoo and sea life centre to explore. Book online for best price tickets.

IS SYON HOUSE HAUNTED? 25 and 26 October SYON HOUSE AND GARDENS, London Road, Middlesex TW8 8JG, 020 8758 1888, www.syonpark.co.uk Join a ghostly tour, hear terrible tales of horrible history and decide for yourself!

THE WITCH ACADEMY 27 October - 4 November EDF Energy LONDON EYE, Southbank SE1, 0871 781 3000, www.londoneye.com Children are invited to take part in a spooky interactive storytelling experience on board the London Eye. An evil professor has hidden the Head Witch of the Order in one of the famous landmarks that can be seen from the London Eye. Use chanting spells and other activities to free her! Ages 4-9, child tickets £15, adults £25.50, discounts for online bookings.

SOMERSET HOUSE SPOOKS 27 October SOMERSET HOUSE, Strand WC2, 020 7845 4600, www.somersethouse.org.uk

LEGOLAND 13 October - November LEGOLAND WINDSOR, Winkfield Road, Windsor SL4 4AY, 0871 2222 001, www.legoland.co.uk Legoland will be filled with frightful fun, spooky decorations and lots of Lego pumpkins, witches, ghosts, plus a spooktacular firework display on selected nights. There are over 55 family friendly rides and attractions to enjoy, from the Dragon rollercoaster to the Pirates of Skeleton Bay stunt show. Tickets from £26.50 children, £33.30 adults.

HALLOWEEN AT THE ZOO 27-31 October BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO, Battersea Park, Chelsea Bridge Gate SW11 4NJ, 020 7924 5826, www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk Follow the Pumpkin Trail and use the clues to find out which animals have put out pumpkins. The Halloween Fun Day on 31 October will have Spooky Story Time at 12pm and 2pm, Make a Trick or Treat Bag at 11am and 2pm, Spooky Face Painting at 11am and 2pm.

HAUNTED SHARK REEF 29 October - 4 November SEA LIFE LONDON AQUARIUM, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7PB, 0871 663 1678, www.sealife.co.uk/london Visit the Haunted Shark Reef where the Fish Witch lives; come face to fin with over 15 amazing sharks and meet Shaky the Shark.

Find out about the most fearsome fish in the ocean, while exploring a whole aquarium full of fun from sharks and rays to rare turtles and crocodiles, and the Penguin Ice Adventure featuring a family of Gentoo Penguins. Behind the Scenes Tours are also available. Open 10am-7pm daily, admission from £12.96 children, £17.82 adults, family tickets available.

DUSTY DOES HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS DISCO 21 October 3- 5pm at THE DRAYTON COURT FUNCTION ROOM, 2 The Avenue, Ealing, W13 8PH. www.dustydoesdisco.co.uk Join Dusty with your little devils for a spooky afternoon of Live DJ, Lights, bubbles, competitions and dance tuition from the Disco Dollies. Good facilities for little ones inc. buggy park, baby change, microwave, bar/restaurant and a large pub garden with play area.

AMANDA’S ACTION CLUB/ KENSINGTON MUMS HALLOWEEN FAMILY EXTRAVAGANZA 4 November

With scissors ready and gloopy glue on standby, get ready to cut and paste with Yasmeen Ismail. Make the scariest masks; wands, wizard hats, or whatever else you can at the CHELSEA THEATRE, conjure up! Witches, werewolves and zombies 7 World’s End Place, London SW10 0DR are welcome too. 2-4pm free family event.

2-5pm. A fun-filled, dance spook-tacular at the Chelsea Theatre (just off the King’s SPOOKY STORIES Road). Music, unique props and lots of high31 October energy interaction for little ones and top MUSEUM OF LONDON, dance moves for the older ones under our London Wall EC2Y 5HN, 020 7001 9844, dance experts’ careful supervision. www.museumoflondon.org.uk Nails and make-up pampering for mums and Spooky storytelliing sessions for young face painter for everyone! Refreshments by children. 10.30am, 11.30am and 2pm starts, Fait Maison. Tickets £10 e: info@amandasactionclub.co.uk free.

October 2012

Classifieds Music Tuition

Tuition

HOME GUITAR LESSONS

Experienced musician gives tuitions on either acoustic or electric guitar, beginners to intermediate.

All ages welcome.

Contact Marco on 0751/3942104

Parties

Please remember to tell advertisers that you saw their advert in FamiliesWest Blueberry Playsongs Parties!

Wonderful musical parties for 1-6 year olds.

Contact us on

020 8677 6871

Don’t miss out on your copy of Families West!

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! For ÂŁ20.00 we will send the next 10 issues straight to your door. Please complete the form below and return it to us with your cheque made payable to: Families West.

SUBSCRIPTION Name ................................................................................................................................

Address............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................

Postcode .........................................................................................................................

Email address ...............................................................................................................

WEST (LONDON) To advertise in future issues of Families West.

Please email adverts@familieswest.co.uk or phone 020 8930 4707

October 2012

Phone ................................................................................................................................

Please send your cheque and completed coupon to: Families West Subscriptions, P.O. Box 32231, London, W5 1JR

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

23

24

Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

October 2012