Families Warwickshire Issue 28 Mar-Apr 2016

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March/April 2016 Issue 28

Take me home!

warwickshire

速

Clubs & Classes Education Easter Holidays and more!

The really useful magazine for parents www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Issue 28 | March/April 2016 | Families Warwickshire

60 years supporting parents

In this issue

2 Snippets 4 Clubs & Classes 6 Education

8

The UK’s largest parenting charity, the NCT, is celebrating a huge achievement this year.

Having supported parents for the last 60 years, they are preparing to celebrate their diamond jubilee. The Warwickshire Central branch of the NCT will be holding an event to mark this special occasion and to celebrate all the work that has been done to benefit local families. In Leamington and Warwick, the NCT provides antenatal classes to around 500 couples every year as well as postnatal, baby massage and baby first-aid courses.

Three days a week free breastfeeding support is available from trained breastfeeding counsellors and regular groups meet for netball, weekly walks and bumps and babies groups.

To celebrate these achievements, the NCT will be holding a 3 course dinner and formal ball at the Hilton in Warwick on the evening of 14 May. As with all things NCT, this event is open to all but a particular invitation goes out to anyone who has been involved with

q Travel w Easter Holiday Clubs r Easter t What’s On

Call: Claire Jones on 01926 335004 E: editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Pennington Dental in Kenilworth understands the importance of introducing regular trips to the dentist at an early age and regularly holds ‘Kids Days’ to encourage children (and their parents!) to feel relaxed about attending for their check-ups. The hugely successful Kids Days are held on a Saturday about 6 times a year and are free to attend. Children can enjoy face painting, balloons, goodie bags and lots of fun. The next Kids Day is on Saturday 25 March.

Text ‘NHSDENTIST’ followed by your email address to 60777* to register

Pennington Dental Kenilworth 37 High Street Kenilworth Warwickshire CV8 1LY

*One standard network rate text applies

The Kenilworth practice has also launched a Kids Club, run by Pennington Bear himself, to encourage good brushing and a positive attitude to dental health care for the children when they get home and until their next check-up.

For further information or to register your interest in future Kids Day events, please call Pennington Dental on 01926 863236 or email kenilworth@penningtondental.co.uk. www.penningtondental.co.uk

Cover by Linda Scannell www.lindascannell.com Design by Caroline Smith www.carolinesmithdesign.co.uk

All content © 2016 Families Warwickshire Families Warwickshire is a bi-monthly magazine for parents, covering Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick Districts with 21,500 copies. Towns covered include Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa Dedicated Kids Days at and Kenilworth, plus Studley, Alcester, Bidford, Henley-in-Arden, Pennington Dental Wellesbourne, Welford-on-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour, Southam and www.facebook.com/penningtondental @penningtondntl lots of the smaller villages in between.

Make their trip to the dentist memorable for

26th March 2016 18th June 2016 20th August 2016 15th October 2016 17th December 2016

Next issue: May/June 2016 Deadline: Friday 8 April Families Warwickshire is part of Families Magazines Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Warwickshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Nails s Mocktail

Hair Catwalk show

Future dates

all the right reasons!

Dedicated Kids Days painting and balloons alongside a Advertise with us and reach 40,000+ localFace general check-up, and every child who at Dental shows us their smile gets a Pennington free goodie bag! parents and carers from just £30 a month!

On selected Saturdays throughout the year.

2

For details on local NCT activities, please visit www.nct.org.uk/branches/warwickshirecentral or call 01926 354081.

It’s all smiles in Kenilworth!

w

Contact details

the NCT, or anyone who has previously attended one of the courses. Tickets are available from http://tinyurl.com/ hlx3lk3 and all money raised at this event will go directly to the local branch so they can continue to support parents in our local area. If you no longer live in the area, the Warwick Hilton is giving a discount on rooms. Please get in touch with any questions at ball.nctwarks@gmail.com. If you have been involved with the NCT in the last 60 years but can’t make the ball, they would still love to hear from you and share your story on the night. Please contact coordinator. warwickshire-central@nct.org.uk.

To make an appointment; SATURDAY

25 MARCH 01926 Face 863236 painting and balloons alongside a kenilworth@penningtondental.co.uk general check-up, and every child who shows www.penningtondental.co.uk Now accepting new NHS patients! us their smile gets a free goodie bag!

Party packages at

Going to the dentist can be fun!

To make an appointment

01926 863236 kenilworth@penningtondental.co.uk 37 High Street, Kenilworth www.penningtondental.co.uk

Now accepting new NHS patients!

7 Augusta Place, Leamington Spa CV32 5EL

01926 257280 marion@raspberryhair.co.uk

www.raspberryhair.co.uk

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004

LEt's Animate Stop-motion Animation Workshops & Birthday Parties

www.letsanimate.co.uk hello@letsanimate.co.uk

0797 3354567

letsanimateuk

letsanimate

BUSINESS MUM RECRUITING!

Register now for wear a hat day Wear A Hat Day is a fun-filled, annual brain tumour awareness event helping support research. The organiser, Brain Tumour Research, is asking families, children and schools across the UK to put Thursday 24 March in their diaries and don a hat to support the cause. Involving families and school children in the campaign is poignant, given that brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. Children have lost parents, family members and teachers, and in many classrooms there remains a tragic reminder of a child whose life has been lost or damaged by this cruel cancer. Schools, nurseries, organisations and individuals can all register by visiting: www.braintumourresearch.org/ wearahatday

Develop part or full time income. Flexible hours.

T: Nicola on 07774 135058

Top to toe at Raspberry!

Raspberry Kids and Teens Hair Salon in Leamington Spa offers professional styling from baby’s first haircut to the latest on trend teen hair styles. The salon is a fun and welcoming place with cars for little ones to sit in, DVDs, sensory lights and Xbox consoles for older children.

The children’s hair stylists have been trained by salon manager Marion Burns, UK Children’s Hair Expert, in her specific techniques in cutting, distraction and language which she has developed over many years working in the children’s hair industry, making the

experience a stress free time for all involved.

Techniques used are particularly successful when dealing with children who are on the autism spectrum or have Asperger syndrome. Marion and her team do all they can to accommodate every individual child’s challenges and make it as stress free and uncomplicated as can be for both the child and carer/parent.

As well as haircuts, Raspberry also do parties and offer 3 different packages to suit your child. Hair curled, straightened or put up with jewels, mini makeovers, nails painted and catwalk shows are all part of the fun! www.raspberryhair.co.uk

Fixed fees available

DIVORCE IS NEVER

EASY

Field House

day nursery & pre-school

But we try to make it easier.

We are passionate about providing the very highest standards of client service and never lose sight of the fact that although practical issues need to be resolved, feelings and emotions are just as important.

Free Funding Places Available Book now for Easter Term!

57 Fishponds Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1EY T: (01926) 857 280 | W: www.tommieschildcare.co.uk

We can help with a wide variety of family law problems.

Please contact Carline for free initial advice 01926 491181 carlineg@moore-tibbits.co.uk

Moore & Tibbits Solicitors

a member of

• • • •

Newly refurbished ‘Good’ Ofsted Heuristic play & education Free induction sessions

@familieswarks

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Home-from-home environments Extra curricular dance & sport sessions

familieswarwickshire

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

www.qualitysolicitors.com/moore-tibbits 34 High Street, Warwick CV34 4BE Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No.563197

3

Clubs & Classes

Want the best for your child through music?

Warwickshire Music offers: • Instrumental and vocal tuition by fully qualified teachers • Wide variety of after school music groups • Music theatre groups • Specialist groups including Suzuki strings and drum school • Performance opportunities throughout the year “Thank you very much for a great 7 years of music. Tours, concerts and weekly practices with various CMS groups form some of my fondest memories and were certainly a wonderful opportunity.”

Sam - member of the County Youth Orchestra and Wind Band.

T: 01926 745111 cms@warwickshire.gov.uk

www.warwickshiremusichub.org

Inspiring children through music Would you like your child to be part of an Award Winning Musical Ensemble? Give them the opportunity by enrolling them in a Warwickshire Music group, including String Orchestras, Wind and Brass Bands, Musical Theatre, Drum School and Electric Guitar Orchestras.

By joining a group, their confidence will be improved socially and musically, and through the discipline of playing in a group, they will be able to transfer the skills learnt to other educational environments.

Inspire them by taking them to one of Warwickshire Music’s concerts this March. Hundreds of Warwickshire Music pupils will be performing on Friday 11 March and Saturday 12 March at the prestigious Butterworth Hall at the University of Warwick Arts Centre.

For further information about Warwickshire Music and the concerts, go to www.warwickshiremusichub.org or call 01926 745111

What is Taekwon-Do? The Korean martial art of Taekwon-Do is a form of unarmed combat designed for self-defence that utilises scientific principles combined with natural body movements. Translated literally, ‘Tae’ stands for jumping or flying, to kick or smash with the foot. ‘Kwon’ denotes the fist - chiefly to punch or destroy with the hand or fist. ‘Do’ means an art or way of life. The ‘Do’ reflects a way of thinking, an approach to life.

Through Taekwon-Do, a sense of right and wrong and of moral justice and obligation is developed. As a martial art it assists both physical and mental development, training discipline, resolve and humility.

A local network of Taekwon-Do instructors run friendly clubs and welcome total beginners of all ages. The children’s sessions are for under 13s and are designed to make it easier for children to understand how to carry out techniques and movements. The emphasis is on safe and disciplined training, with some skills taught in the form of games and exercises designed to keep their interest.

Young children develop better coordination skills, gain confidence, strength and stamina as well as feeling a real sense of achievement as they progress through the grades.

For more information, contact your local instructor: Stratford-upon-Avon and Shipston John Archer: 07973 408865 South Leamington Gavin McAteer: 07971 002858 North Leamington Alex Wright: 07969 111338

4

Happy Birthday Dance with Dash!

2016 marks the 10th year of dance classes for Dance with Dash. In January 2006, Sarah Dash started a handful of new classes on a Saturday morning - Toddler Ballet, Pre-Primary Ballet and Pre-Primary Tap. Over the coming years, more classes were added including Modern and Jazz. Today Dance with Dash offers 18 classes a week for children from 18 months through to Adult Ballet and Tap. Sarah studied Dance at University College Chichester and graduated in 2003. Following this, she worked at a centre for people with learning difficulties leading dance and drama before returning to her family’s village in the Cotswolds where she returned to her childhood dance school, Chipping Norton School of Dance, to provide maternity cover. Alongside this, she completed her diploma in Dance Teaching with The British Ballet Organisation and led dance in a number of primary schools as well as at Gloucestershire Dance. Apart from two short breaks in 2010 and 2013 for the birth of Sarah’s sons, the school has been busy with dance performances and holiday workshops, passing dance exams with outstanding results, and completing four Children In Need Tapathons.

The Dance with Dash family, including many of those who attended that very first class at the age of 2½, enjoyed celebrating the past ten years with a big party and disco in February. Coming up is a summer show and yet another world record attempt Children In Need Tapathon and of course, a couple of exams sessions thrown in. Another busy year for Dance with Dash! Sarah hopes the next ten years will be as successful as she sees some of her very first students head off to university and the possibility of another teacher to join the Dance with Dash family. www.dancewithdash.co.uk

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004

Clubs & Classes

DANCE CLASSES H Southam Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat

H Leamington

SOUTH LEAMINGTON

NORTH LEAMINGTON

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

SHIPSTON-ON-STOUR

St. Anthony’s School CV31 1NJ

North Leamington School CV32 6RD

Stratford Leisure Centre CV37 6YY

Shipston High School CV36 4DY

MONDAY

Mondays

H Alveston

ADULT CLASSES H Shrewley TOO!

TUESDAY & THURSDAY

6-7pm Children 6-12 years 7-8pm Teens and Adults THURSDAY

Wednesdays

6pm-7pm Children 7pm-8pm Teens and Adults Contact Alex Wright: 07969 111338

Sydni Centre CV31 1PT

Sundays

6 -7pm Children 6-12 years 7-8pm Teens and Adults Contact Gavin McAteer: 07971 002858

H Barford Saturdays Call Claire on 07774 518949

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY

MONDAY

6-7pm Children 5-12 years 7pm-8.30pm Adults 13+ Contact John Archer: 07973 408865

6-7pm Juniors 7pm-8pm Adults Contact John Archer: 07973 408865

l Classes for Children & Adults l Family Discounts Available

l

Fully qualified and CRB approved instructor

claire@loveballet.co.uk www.loveballet.co.uk

Calypso Kids

French Language Tuition

Based in Shipston-on-Stour, Calypso Kids provides quality music and arts education for schools, early years settings and the local community. Music making, storytelling, dance and art & craft classes are all carefully planned and delivered to meet the needs of all children ensuring that learning is purposeful, creative and most importantly fun. Classes follow a variety of themes including minibeasts, colours, counting, weather, historical topics, and are tailor-made for the individual setting.

Calypso Kids provides all the instruments so that all the children play in every class. There are sets of each instrument for up to 30 children so there is no need to share or wait turn, just lots of time to enjoy making music together. Instruments include maracas, guiros, drums, triangles, claves, xylophones, recorders, tambourines, world percussion and many more. In addition, children use puppets, parachutes, ribbons, scarves, books and handmade musical mats unique to Calypso Kids enabling the children to respond imaginatively to music. www.calypsokids.co.uk

Private Language Tuition by experienced French native tutor Marie Delvaux Lunn.

GCSE and A-Level exam preparation 1-to-1 French tuition 1-to-1 English tuition (TEFL)

T: 07918 110656 E: mariedelvaux@hotmail.com www.lesrainetteslanguages.weebly.com

Calypso Kids Pre-school Music Classes for children aged 6 months - 4 years

Classes on Wednesday and Friday mornings at Townsend Hall, Sheep Street, Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4AE

Discounts are available for siblings.

Book a FREE Taster Class Tel: 07890 399162 www.calypsokids.co.uk

! !

Now offering Arts Awards at Stratford Artshouse

After School Drama ! Club ! for 7-11 yrs and 12-16 yrs

The Drama Club

DANCE WITH DASH

• Quality dance classes in Shipston-on-Stour • From 18 months to adults • Ballet Tap Modern and Jazz • British Ballet Organization (BBO) syllabus • Pre-School Melody Bear class

!

Fun filled, Action Packed Drama Workshops in

Stratford-upon-Avon To find out more :-

07804 848674 thedramaclub@yahoo.co.uk

www.thedramaclub.org.uk

T: 07970 742256 www.dancewithdash.co.uk

Come and have fun at our

Saturday morning tennis coaching for juniors

Spanish & French Classes in Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Coventry & surrounding areas.

Any questions?

Contact Gavin Henderson on

07787 568642

or email tennis.manager@warwickboatclub.co.uk

Music, instruments, bubbles, sensory play, dance, puppets, elements of baby massage & yoga

All ages and abilities welcome.

Book your FREE Trial Lesson mel@bilinguasing.com 33, Mill Street, Warwick, CV34 4HB

ng www.warwickboatclub.co.uk n Morni pe

is O am - 1 pm or Tenn Free Juni 28th March 10

es Saturday guidelin 11 am Age group 10 am 12 am ts 11 am rs + paren 4 - 7 yea 1 pm ts 12 am rs + paren me! yea 11 8 all welco ts you + parents sui rs t yea tha e on tim 12-16 Henders ng at any vin alo Ga me or...co or email 8642

Rugby fun for 2-7 year olds

Call Claire on

Fun non-contact rugby-based sessions for girls and boys

56 - ring 07787 To book .co.uk r) boatclub Manage (Tennis warwick anager@ To Car Park tennis.m OLAS PARK ST NICH

01926 335004

warwickshire

@familieswarks

Banbury

Road A425 WARWICK BOAT CLUB

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www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

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or email editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk to advertise in the Clubs and Classes pages in our next issue.

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07815 149877 www.bilinguasing.com

Warwick Castle

Classes in Coventry, Kenilworth & Rugby Book your FREE trial session at www.scrumkids.co.uk Facebook.com/scrumkids Twitter.com/scrumkids

5

Education

When friends fall out How to help your child cope with playground arguments.

By Liat Hughes Joshi Your child is happy at school and has made some good friends. Then the dreaded playground squabble strikes, the tears roll and you’re stuck as to ways to help. Here’s how.

Relax (a bit), it’s normal

Ask primary school teachers and they’ll doubtless tell you that children fall out (and in again) as quickly as a round of Hokey Cokey.

It’s normal and most squabbles are soon forgotten as children don’t bear grudges the way grown-ups often do. Unfortunately, this knowledge won’t console your heartbroken child much, so…

Reassure, hug and listen

Even if it’ll probably blow over, your child might well feel like their world is collapsing.

Give hugs, provide shoulders to cry on and tissues.

Help them to help themselves

Once they’re calmer, instead of providing straight solutions, encourage your child to think through what they could do to resolve this, with guidance from you behind the scenes. If there’s been a misunderstanding, how could they instigate chat to explain? If the other child is consistently mean to them, who else could they play with instead?

Resist the temptation to wade in!

Your parental instincts might urge you to tackle the little blighter concerned, or their parents, but hold back. Wait and see if everything settles by itself. Confronting the other child isn’t fair or appropriate. Plus, your son or daughter might find it embarrassing if mum or dad piles in to sort their playground problems out.

Proceed with caution with the other parents

This is a minefield; many parents will never accept their offspring has done anything wrong. The children will probably make up before the week’s out, potentially leaving an awkward feud between the parents (who you’ll have to see at the school gates for the next however many years!).

If they confront you, and the children’s argument was relatively minor, it’s sensible to suggest ‘let’s leave the children to sort it out’, or similar. If goings-on were serious, perhaps

say that you would rather the school dealt with it.

When to speak to the teacher

If the dispute involved physical violence, becomes persistent, and/or your child starts not wanting to go to school or is having trouble sleeping, then do raise it with their teacher. They can then keep a closer eye on the children, intervening if necessary. In a busy class of 30, it’s understandable that they might not be aware of every falling out.

See this as a learning experience

There might have been tears but chances are your child will have learnt more about relationships and friendships along the way.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including ‘New Old-fashioned Parenting’ and ‘How to Unplug Your Child’ (both published by Summersdale) and ‘Raising Children: The Primary Years’ (Pearson).

Award-winning tuition Maths & English ages 5 -14

New skills Confidence Enthusiasm

Free trial session - book today!

Leamington Spa 01926 422 800 www.explorelearning.co.uk 6

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004

The Ultimate Homework Guide Helping your little one with their homework needn’t be difficult if you follow these simple tips.

By Liat Hughes Joshi Like it or not, homework is a necessary part of school life. However, it does bring benefits: helping you see what your children have been doing in class, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and reinforcing learning.

So how can you make homework run as smoothly as possible and avoid it becoming a chore for the whole family?

How much is too much?

Most primary age children will get 30 to 60 minutes a week plus reading and perhaps spellings and times tables. If you think your child is being set too much homework, again, it’s definitely worth having a chat with their teacher.

Education Inspiring tuition – free trial session!

Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition for 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities. The centres are open 7 days a week, meaning Explore can fit into busy family life. As Explore members, children work with tutors who are great educational role models, enthusiastic about learning and fantastic motivators.

Each child has an individualised learning programme, and all Explore courses map to the National Curriculum. Find out how your child can benefit from Explore Learning membership today. Book your free trial at www.explorelearning.co.uk

Incorporate homework into a routine

Many children benefit from having a set homework time - they’re somewhat less likely to push back if it is just what happens at 5pm. You might both prefer homework to be completed at the earliest opportunity or it might be best to tackle it at the weekend when they’re not tired from school. Simply see what works for you both.

From Prep to Senior to Sixth Form...

Key Dates 27th February 2016 Prep School Open Morning

5th March 2016

Taster Morning for Year 7 (Sept 2017)

Help, yes, but don’t do it for them!

As a parent your key role is to ensure that your child has somewhere comfortable and reasonably quiet to do their homework and the items required, e.g. a dictionary or ruler.

You might also have to clarify what a question means or provide support if they are stuck.

But do remember it is their homework not yours!

9th May 2016 Prep School Open House

29th June 2016 Open Evening

For more information please contact the School Registrar at 01926 421368 or email registrar@kingsleyschool.co.uk www.thekingsleyschool.co.uk

@kingsley_school

Girls 3 to 18, boys 3 to 7 years old

WarwickSchool 87 by 130 At Work May 2016_Layout 1 10/02/2016 16:42 P

People tell us about the ‘invisible magic’ they feel when they come to Crackley Hall, which sets us apart from other schools. We believe this stems from our Christian ethos and strong sense of community, combined with fantastic learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

Our dedicated staff put our pupils on the road to happy and fulfilled lives by nurturing their individuality and social development and helping them become the best they can be.

Come along and see us; we hope you’ll be spellbound too!

Saturday 12 March 2016 10.30am to 12.30pm Tuesday 26 April 2016 5.00pm to 7.30pm For more information please call 01926 514444 or visit www.crackleyhall.co.uk

Junior School at Work

Thursday 5 May 2016, 1.30 ­ 3.15pm

The Princethorpe Foundation

For details and a prospectus please contact: The Admissions Registrar T: 01926 776414 E: admissions@warwickschool.org www.warwickschool.org

Education in the Catholic tradition

Boys and Girls 2 to 11

The Junior School to Princethorpe College

Registered Charity Number 1087124

@familieswarks

familieswarwickshire

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Warwick School

Independent boys’ school (7­18 years)

7

Education

How to boost your child’s literacy and numeracy

By Liat Hughes Joshi Literacy and numeracy are central to your child’s learning in primary school and will underpin many of the subjects they’ll cover during their secondary education. They are of course crucial to later life too. Whether they’re already acing their algebra or still struggling with basic sums, here are some ideas on how to give these key skills a boost.

A little extra learning at home can work wonders

In busy classrooms of 30 pupils, teachers understandably can struggle to provide one-on-one attention. By working on specific areas with your child, you can make a huge difference. Keep it sensible - even ten or fifteen minutes a day can have an impact yet still leaves hours for playing.

Find out about the methods their school uses Reading and numeracy are both typically taught quite differently to when most of us were children, so it’s certainly worth finding out how their school does things to avoid confusing your child.

Let tech teach

There are some brilliant educational apps and websites with masses of kid appeal. Try to find ones which align with the National Curriculum or at least use British English.

Encourage reading

Reading opens the door to almost endless learning and enjoyment. Some children are naturally enthused by books, others need nudging to get the reading bug. At first encourage any reading at all - comics, magazines, the cereal packet - without worrying much about what they are reading.

Home in on your child’s interests and give them books relating to these.

Incorporate ‘stealth learning’ into everyday activities

Sneak maths and literacy into day-to-day life and you can improve skills without it feeling like schoolwork. Adding up the cost of the shopping, dividing the restaurant bill, playing snakes and ladders, or writing a postcard to the grandparents can all help.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including ‘New Oldfashioned Parenting’ and ’How to Unplug Your Child’ (both published by Summersdale) and ‘Raising Children: The Primary Years’ (Pearson).

Independent Schools Contact Details and Open Days King Henry VIII Prep School Coventry CV3 6PT T: 024 7627 1307 E: headmaster@khps.co.uk www.khps.co.uk

Bablake Pre Prep Coventry CV1 2LH T: 024 7622 1677 E: bablakepreprep@bablakejs.co.uk

The Kingsley School Leamington Spa CV32 5RD T: 01926 421368 E: carolewatson@kingsleyschool.co.uk www.thekingsleyschool.com Sat 5 Mar: Year 7 Taster Morning (for entry in September 2017) Tues 8 Mar: Reception/Year 3 Taster Day (for entry in September 2016) Tues 15 Mar: Year 3 Scholarship (For entry in September 2016)

Bablake Junior School Coventry CV1 4AU T: 024 7627 1260 E: jhmsec@bablakejs.co.uk www.bablakejuniorschool.co.uk Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery Kenilworth CV8 2FT T: 01926 514444 E: post@crackleyhall.co.uk www.crackleyhall.co.uk Sat 12 Mar, 10.30am-12.30pm: Open Morning Tues 26 Apr, 5pm-7.30pm; Open Evening The Croft Preparatory School Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7RL T: 01789 293795 E: office@croftschool.co.uk www.croftschool.co.uk Sat 19 Mar, 10am-12noon: Early Years and Pre-Prep Open Morning Weds 27 Apr, 10am-12noon: Whole School Open Morning Henley Montessori Primary and Merrydays Montessori Nursery Henley-in-Arden B95 5JP T: 01564 792427 E: helen.everley@henleymontessori.co.uk www.henleymontessori.co.uk

8

Senior Schools

Arnold Lodge Leamington Spa CV32 5TW T: 01926 778050 E: info@arnoldlodge.com www.arnoldlodge.com

Stratford Preparatory School Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BG T: 01789 297993 E: secretary@stratfordprep.co.uk www.stratfordprep.co.uk Sat 5 Mar, 10am-12.30pm: Open Morning Warwick Preparatory School Warwick CV34 6PL T: 01926 491545 E: admissions@warwickprep.com www.warwickprep.com Thurs 5 May, 1.30pm-3.15pm: School At Work Warwick School Warwick CV34 6PP T: 01926 776400 E: enquiries@warwickschool.org www.warwickschool.org Thurs 5 May, 1.30pm-3.15pm: School At Work

Bablake Senior School Coventry CV1 4AU T: 024 7627 1200 E: info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk www.bablake.com King Henry VIII Senior School Coventry CV3 6AQ T: 024 7627 1111 E: info@khviii.net www.kinghenrys.co.uk King’s High Warwick CV34 4HJ T: 01926 494485 E: enquiries@kingshighwarwick.co.uk www.kingshighwarwick.co.uk Sat 12 Mar: Taster Morning (for entry 2017) Princethorpe College Rugby CV23 9PX T: 01926 634201 E: elainewarwick@princethorpe.co.uk www.princethorpe.co.uk Warwick School Warwick CV34 6PP T: 01926 776400 E: enquiries@warwickschool.org www.warwickschool.org

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004

Education Little Crofters Pre-school, for children aged 3+, offers a wealth of challenging and varied activities in a structured learning environment with literacy and numeracy being taught daily by qualified Early Years teachers. Pupils enjoy a delicious home-cooked, nutritionally balanced lunch where good table manners are encouraged. In addition, Little Crofters benefit from weekly music and French lessons led by specialist teachers and they have the opportunity to visit The Croft’s accredited Forest School twice a week. Positive behaviour and confidence are nurtured in all areas, enabling children to move happily and seamlessly into Reception.

Reception class sizes are small to ensure that children receive individual attention and fulfil their potential. The focus on numeracy and literacy continues and music, French and Forest School remain an integral part of the curriculum. Pupils also begin swimming lessons with a fully qualified swimming teacher in the refurbished on-site pool. Physical Education is also taught by specialist teachers who develop pupils’ core movement skills and hand-eye co-ordination.

Starting school with The Croft Starting school can be an emotional event for both children and parents: children are excited and a little apprehensive, and parents want to ensure that their children are in a secure, nurturing and stimulating environment. At The Croft, Mrs Alison Webber, Early Years Manager and her team understand the importance of getting this transition right. Experienced, qualified teachers provide a warm welcome for children whether they are joining Little Crofters Preschool, Reception or Nursery, enabling children to start their learning journey and become happy and confident pupils.

The Croft’s spacious and inspirational Nursery is available for children from the age of 2. It offers a great opportunity for early learning development and social interaction, and provides a wonderful pathway to Little Crofters Pre-school.

In July 2015, the entire Early Years department at The Croft was awarded an ‘Outstanding’ accreditation for the third consecutive Inspection. The Inspection report noted that ‘Provision for the children’s well-being is outstanding. Children are happy and confident and benefit from the highly stimulating environment and exciting activities provided.’

If you are interested in starting school with The Croft and would like to try a ‘taster day’ with Little Crofters Pre-school, or would like to book a tour of the school with the Headmaster, Mr Cook, please call the School Office on 01789 293795 to arrange an appointment. www.croftschool.co.uk

Awarded “Outstanding” ISI - 2015 An Independent Day School and Nursery for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-11

Open Mornings Early Years & Key Stage 1 Saturday 19 March, 10am - 12 noon

At Work

Whole School

Wednesday 27 April, 10am - 12 noon

Independent co-educational day school for children aged 2-11 Years

For further information, or to book a tour with the Headmaster, please call 01789 293795 or email office@croftschool.co.uk

www.croftschool.co.uk Alveston Hill, Loxley Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7RL

@familieswarks

familieswarwickshire

Thursday 5 May 2016 1.30 – 3.15pm

Come and visit us on a working school day. Meet teachers, pupils and get a feel for our wonderful environment.

Last tours 2.40pm

Warwick Preparatory School, Bridge Field, Banbury Road, Warwick CV34 6PL admissions@warwickprep.com | 01926 491545 | www.warwickprep.com

Warwick Preparatory School is part of the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation, together with King’s High School and Warwick School, providing high quality education for boys and girls aged 3-18.

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

9

Travel

It Takes Two… Families

Should you share a holiday with another family?

By Sally J Hall It seems like a great idea when you and a friend are daydreaming about your next holiday and it turns out you both want to hire a cottage in Cornwall. If you want to go away with both your families and share the costs of the holiday, read our tips to make this a holiday to remember and not a nightmare.

Are we nearly there?

Top tips on how to survive long car journeys with children

By Sally J. Hall Travelling long distances with children can be tricky. They get bored, they need entertaining, they argue and they think even a short journey is the longest ever! Here are some ways to get there without going grey in the process.

Create a magical destination

If they are getting really stir crazy, classical music can calm them.

Try Mozart clarinet and string concertos, ballet music, Radio 3 or Classic FM.

If the children know where you’re going and what they’ll find when you get there, they can be more enthusiastic about the journey.

Find out facts about your destination, make them a booklet they can fill in with things they spot and have a ‘prize’ when they get there for being good.

Know where you’re going

Pack snacks

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Children get bored if energy levels drop, so pack snacks they can nibble on along the way; rice cakes, crackers, crisps and mini sandwiches are ideal. However, let the front passenger control these so they don’t eat them all at once. Always save sweet treats until last and make sure drinks are in spill-proof cups.

Play games

Why not play the spotting game.

The children win points for every animal they notice - on pub signs, shops, etc. - and the winner gets to pick what you spot next.

If you’re feeling really generous, you could offer a small prize.

You can also have endless discussions about whether mythical creatures like dragons count or not.

Alternatively, spot coloured cars - yellow and blue are unusual enough to be worth it.

Play music or films

Whilst you might restrict the use of tablets at home, car journeys are when they are worth their weight in gold. Give each child their favourite film and of course headphones. If you only have one tablet, you can buy an inexpensive converter for two

10

sets of headphones. Then you don’t have to hear ‘Let It Go’ fifteen times.

Make sure you have directions to where you’re going or invest in a Satnav. If you don’t have one, you can use a map package on your smartphone, or alternatively get a helping hand from the AA (www.aa.com).

Other essential tips

Travel at a time when your children would usually be sleeping or napping.

l

Take plenty of loo breaks and a portable potty.

l

Take exercise breaks to allow them to let off steam. Some service stations have play rooms.

l

Take a change of clothing.

l

If your child gets car sick, encourage them to look at the horizon and pack a few plastic bags!

l

Take some colouring books and pens or pencils, sticker books and games.

l

Take pillows and blankets.

l

Keep a mini first aid kit in the car.

l

Allow more time than you need to allow for traffic jams.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

How well do you know the other family? Are there areas of their life you find difficult to cope with? If you’re a neat freak and they are the kind to ignore mould on the milk bottle - or the other way around you’re probably not going to get along with each others’ standards of housekeeping. Do you know what their politics are? And do your children get along?

All good friends

Your partners also need to get on and you need to be friends as a foursome. The grown-ups need to be united if there are disputes between the children. Spend a day together in the run-up to the holiday and have the children on a sleep-over to iron out problems before you go.

Set the rules

Make some ground rules. Set a budget and decide how you are going to share the price of the house and shopping once you are away. It’s best to share everything equally (easy if your families are the same size, otherwise work it out proportionately). Talk this all through before you go, as the last thing you want is an argument at the supermarket check-out!

Doing the housework

The chores will also have to be shared equally, so that nobody has to do all the cooking or all the washing up. Take it in turns and eat out a couple of times so that you all get a break.

Us-time

As there are other grown-ups with you, this would be an ideal opportunity to have some time alone with your partner. Take it in turns to look after all the children, so that each couple has some personal space.

A room of one’s own

Make sure there’s room for you all to have some personal space. Even the best of friends can end up getting on each others’ nerves at times.

Letting the children sleep in the same room may backfire too, as they will be so excited that they may not get to sleep before the small hours.

So while there may be some things to consider before you embark on a holiday with friends, there are many advantages. You can afford somewhere much nicer than you might otherwise have done, you can share chores and babysitting and you can forge lifelong friendships between both the adults and the children. With a little forethought, this will truly be a holiday to remember!

Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail.

She is author of ‘Eco Baby’ and contributing author to ‘Watch My Baby Grow’ (Dorling Kindersley).

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004

Easter Holiday Clubs, Camps and Workshops 2016 Let’s Animate Animation Workshops

Junior Tennis Camps

Fargo Village, Coventry CV1 5ED Mon 28 Mar, 9.30am-11.30am, 12noon-2pm, 2.30pm-4.30pm Come with all the family and create a short animated movie - think Wallace & Gromit - based around the theme of Easter.

Experience model making, set building, animating/filming, voice recording and editing. Each film maker will receive a certificate, their created models and a copy of their animated movie to share with friends and family. £8 per child. Booking is essential.

T: 07973 354567 www.letsanimate.co.uk

Warwick Boat Club, Warwick CV34 6PP Mon 21 Mar- Thurs 7 Apr, 9am to 2pm (excluding bank holidays) Learn a new sport or improve your tennis skills. Fun coaching sessions, open to members and non-members. All abilities welcome. £20 a day members £25 nonmembers.

T: 07787 568642 www.warwickboatclub.co.uk

History Detectives Agency Fun Holiday Club St John’s Museum, Warwick CV34 4NF Tues 22-Thurs 24 Mar, 9.30am-4pm Explore the collections, get crafty and play games at these special day-long workshops. £20 a day. For ages 6-12 years.

T: 01926 412132 www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ heritageboxoffice

Fit For Sports

Stratford Leisure Centre, Stratford-uponAvon CV37 6YY Tues 29 Mar-Fri 8 Apr, 9.30am-4.30pm (extended care available) Lots of sports, keep fit, dance and drama as well as arts and crafts. For 4-12 years. T: 0845 456 3233 www.fitforsport.co.uk/venues/stratfordleisure-centre

Easter

Coolsportz

Warwickshire College, Henley-in-Arden B95 6AB Mon 21-Thurs 24, Tues 29 & Weds 30 Mar Fun multi-sports activities in a safe indoor and outdoor environment. For 4-13 years.

Morning, afternoon and all day sessions.

T: 07912 664426 www.coolsportz.co.uk

THE UK’S NO.1

FROM

£30 PER DAY

Easter Action

Super Camps

The Croft Preparatory School, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7RL Tues 29 Mar-Fri 1 Apr, 9am-5pm (extended care available) Looking for something for your children to do this Easter? Super Camps daily activity camps are the perfect way to put the magic back into the school holidays. The programme is jam-packed with fun activities that will keep your children entertained for hours, and our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating gives you the peace of mind that your children are in the best possible care. Camps include a variety of sports, games, and arts and crafts.

No two days are the same and the price includes all activities.

T: 01235 467300 www.supercamps.co.uk

Warwick School, Warwick CV34 6PP Tues 22 Mar-Thurs 7 Apr (excluding bank holidays) Super Choice multi-activities for all children aged 3-12 (4-7 Apr for 6-12 years). Warwick School provides an ever expanding range of holiday activities. Open to everyone, these courses provide a fun way to experience new or favourite activities from go-karting to wall climbing.

T: 01926 735473 www.warwickschool.org/What-is-onin-2016

HOLIDAY FUN! MONDAY - FRIDAY 8AM TO 6PM

WITH ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 4 - 14

01235 467300 • WWW.SUPERCAMPS.CO.UK

Glittering Stars Film Club

Spencer Yard, Leamington Spa CV31 3SY Thurs 24 Mar, 10am-3pm Creative filmmaking fun. Learn tricks of the trade to write, film and edit a short film to take home.

T: 07792 576573 E: glittering.stars@mail.com

Activate Sport

Princethorpe College, Princethorpe CV23 9PX Weds 30 Mar-Fri 1 Apr. 9.30am-4pm Netball Fever - netball coaching course for girls aged 7-16 of all abilities. Extended day available.

T: 01785 711572 www.activatesport.co.uk

Onside Coaching

Venues in Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Southam and Coventry Mon 21 Mar-Fri 8 Apr (excluding bank holidays) Multi sports, football, dance and forest school. Extended day available.

T: 01926 496406 www.onsidecoaching.co.uk

Aspire Active Camps

North Leamington School, Leamington Spa CV32 6RD Mon 21-Thurs 24 Mar, 10am-4pm (extended care available) Multi Sports Academy offering your child a huge range of sports, physical activities and alternative activities such as dodgeball, ultimate frisbee and archery.

Children aged 4 are eligible for half day Multi Sports Academy only.

Weds 30 Mar-Fri 1 Apr, 10am-4pm (extended care available) Multi Sports Academy is on offer as well as Football Academy, where your child will develop various football skills and techniques, and Gym Beatz Academy, an exciting programme for children who want to participate in gymnastics sessions regardless of skill or experience.

T: 01926 298178 www.aspire-sports.co.uk

Playbox Theatre

Warwick CV34 6XR Mon 21-Thurs 24, Weds 30 & Thurs 31 Mar Fun holiday theatre workshops at The Dream Factory.

T: 01926 419555 www.playboxtheatre.com

@familieswarks

familieswarwickshire

Easter Action 2016_Layout 1 11/02/2016 10:44 Page 1

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22 March to 1 April ­ Multi Activities 3­12 years (exc. bank holidays)

4­7 April ­ Short Courses for age 6­12 years Warwick School provides an ever expanding range of holiday activities. Open to everyone, these courses provide a fun way to experience new or favourite activities.

All enquiries to the Course Director, Eileen Braham 01926 735473 e.braham@warwickschools.co.uk

Caterpillars ✸ 3­5 Years

Including ­ Bouncy Castle, Stories and Music, Treasure Hunts, Multi Sports, Cookery, Art and Crafts and much more...

Super Choice Programme ✸ 6­12 Years

Including ­ Pottery, Cartooning, Powered Go Karts, Wall Climbing, Circus Skills, Star Wars Lego, Fun Swimming and much more...

Check our website regularly to see what is available and to make a booking

www.warwickschool.org/Easter­Action

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

11

The Children’s Garden: Loads of Things to Make & Grow

by Matthew Appleby (Frances Lincoln, £14.99) I’m looking forward to getting out in the garden with my daughters and trying out some of the ideas in this fantastic book. Through 52 exciting family projects, The Children’s Garden inspires parents and their children to play and learn in the garden, with activities including nature trails, cooking, crafting and growing plants and vegetables.

A garden can be a place for discovery, creativity and fun, and a space that encourages children to enjoy and engage with the natural world.

In this book, projects and activities are divided by the seasons so you’ll never be stuck for green-fingered inspiration again.

Ex-primary teacher Matthew Appleby is the expert voice behind the book. Appleby has two sons and has tapped into his first-hand experience of parenting and teaching to devise these seasonal projects for every week of the year. The Children’s Garden is the perfect companion for families looking to discover the magic and adventure their gardens have to offer.

Projects include: Plant and scented handbag, All-you-can-eat basket, Home-made seed bombs, Turf tattoos, Keeping chickens, Sand play and art, Snacks for super heroes, Foraging fun, In search of forest finds, Ugly veg and Craft a Dalek compost bin.

Photo credits Paul Debois.

Yoga for You and Your Child

The Step-by-Step Guide to Enjoying Yoga with Children of All Ages By Mark Singleton (Watkins, £12.99) Improve your child’s health, agility, concentration, confidence and awareness through simple and fun yoga practice. This is a comprehensive introduction to the inspirational world of yoga for children. Mark Singleton adapts more than 40 yoga positions to make them safe, effective, and fun for children. Practical and fun, the book contains everything you need to know to start practising yoga with your child. With the emphasis on safety and enjoyment, it shows how to make yoga sessions exciting, interactive, and child-friendly by playing yoga games, going on ‘yoga adventures’, and imitating animal shapes, walks, and noises. The instructions for postures and exercises are addressed to the children themselves, to make them as easy to follow as possible. As well as energetic physical poses, this book also adapts traditional yogic breathing techniques and meditations into fun exercises that calm and soothe the mind and help children sleep at night. It explores how regular yoga practice can help children learn more effectively and cope better with stress, as well as reduce symptoms of illness such as asthma and prevent posture problems in later life.

12

Simple Easter crafts for children Easter Egg Bunny You’ll need: 1 hard-boiled egg Yellow and white felt PVA glue Felt tips pens in yellow, orange and black 1. Take a freshly cooked and cooled hardboiled egg.

2. Cut shapes for the bunny’s feet and hands out of the yellow felt; then cut larger ear shapes out of yellow felt and smaller ones from the white.

3. Stick the feet on the base of the egg, making sure the egg can stand upright on them.

4. Stick the white ears onto the yellow and when they have dried a little, stick them on to the rear of where the face will be.

5. Finally, draw a rabbit’s face on the front of the egg with the pens and decorate with patterns.

Egg Bunting You’ll need: Plain white paper Poster paints Stickers Glitter Glue Scraps of paper, fabric and wool Mini pegs String 1. Cut out lots of Easter egg shapes from the paper.

2. Get the children to use paint to create patterns on the eggs; stripes and circles work well.

3. Next, use the scraps of craft fabrics and stickers to make the eggs even more decorative.

4. Use some glue to create lines or shapes and scatter the glitter for the final touch.

5. When the egg shapes are dry, hang them on a piece of string with the colourful pegs. If you can’t find pegs, use coloured paper clips or simply thread the string through a hole in the top of each egg.

Bunny Ears You’ll need: White cardboard Grey and pink paint Scissors PVA glue An Alice band 1. Get the children to paint sheets of paper plain grey or plain pink.

2. Help your children (using child-safe scissors) to cut out larger grey ear shapes and smaller pink ear shapes from the painted paper.

3. Be sure to leave a longer bit of paper at the bottom of the grey shapes.

4. Stick the pink inners on the grey ears.

5. Next, attach the shapes to the Alice band with the glue and leave to dry.

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004

Easter

EASTER

HOLIDAYS AT COVENTRY MUSEUMS

Saturday 26 March – Sunday 10 April 2016 COVENTRY TRANSPORT MUSEUM

PRIORY VISITOR CENTRE

HERBERT ART GALLERY & MUSEUM

Find out more at www.theherbert.org and www.transport-museum.com

Bagel Noughts and Hot Crosses

63669_CC_EASTER_ADVERT AW.indd 1

10/02/2016 12:07

As Easter time approaches here is a fun idea for using a seasonal bread bun! All you need is a slate tile with noughts and crosses grid chalked on it and prepare home-made (or a couple of packs each of ) bagels and hot cross buns – bagels for noughts and hot cross buns for crosses! Play using CLEAN hands and finish the game by eating the playing pieces!

Fun and Yum! Photo credit Frances Quinn

Welcome to Jungle Town!

An inspiring children’s

®

warwickshire

play experience

encouraging imagination play and development!

Call Claire on

Open All Year

01926 335004

or email editor@ familieswarwickshire.co.uk to advertise in the next issue.

@familieswarks

familieswarwickshire

The UKs Largest Tropical Butterfly Paradise!

Butterflies • Birds • Fish • Iguanas and so much more...

Please check our website for latest news and last entry times as they vary seasonally

Open at Stratford Garden Centre

Swan’s Nest Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire, CV37 7LS

Visit www.jungletown.co.uk

enquiries@butterflyfarm.co.uk

or call 01789 296637

www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Tel. 01789 299288

13

Places to go and things to do in March and April See the What’s On pages of www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk for more ideas!

Family Shows

Look out for Easter Egg Hunts!

Warwick Arts Centre Coventry CV4 7AL Sun 6 Mar An interactive musical experience for all the family. Sit back, relax and listen to the story of Cinderella performed by the University of Warwick Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra. Come in your pyjamas, bring your favourite cushion, pillow or duvet, and we’ll provide the story, the music and the magic!

Box Office: 024 7652 4524 www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Hatton Adventure World

Pyjama Concert: Cinderella

Singing Playgrounds Big Sing

Warwick Arts Centre Coventry CV4 7AL Fri 11 Mar Presented by Warwickshire Music, a vibrant partnership with Ex-Cathedra involving 11 schools across Warwickshire and over 300 ‘Song Leaders’ presenting to family and friends.

Box Office: 024 7652 4524 www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Warwickshire Music Gala Concert

Warwick Arts Centre Coventry CV4 7AL Fri 11 Mar Featuring Warwickshire Music’s award winning County Choirs, and the Coventry and Warwickshire Youth Orchestra.

Showcasing thousands of talented young people from across the county.

Box Office: 024 7652 4524 www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Warwickshire Wind Band Music Spectacular Warwick Arts Centre Coventry CV4 7AL Sat 12 Mar Warwickshire Music supports high quality music making in over 200 Warwickshire schools. This concert showcases the Music Centre and County groups available to young people in the County. Three groups at junior, intermediate and area level share the stage with the County Windband, County Jazz Orchestra and County Percussion. An evening of exhilarating entertainment.

Box Office: 024 7652 4524 www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Opus 7

Warwick Arts Centre Coventry CV4 7AL Sat 12 & Sun 13 Mar Circa Tsuica is a company of cracking musicians and daredevil acrobats who serve a cocktail of funky brass beats and aweinspiring physical feats. A vibrant spectacle.

Recommended for ages 5+.

Box Office: 024 7652 4524 www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

The Chris & Pui Show

Royal Spa Centre Leamington Spa CV32 4HN Tues 22 Mar With songs, comedy sketches, a dash of magic and heaps of joining in, this is a family show for children aged two to a hundred and two.

Box Office: 01926 334418 www.royalspacentreandtownhall.co.uk

Marvellous Imaginary Menagerie (Les Enfants Terrible) Royal Spa Centre Leamington Spa CV32 4HN Thurs 24 Mar Packed with Vaudeville, circus, puppets, dance, music and magic. Our professional charlatans will regale you with tales of wit, virtue and courage and rendered with a bizarre theatricality all of their own.

For ages 4+.

Box Office: 01926 334418 www.royalspacentreandtownhall.co.uk

14

Nr Warwick CV35 8XA Sat 19 Mar-Sun 10 Apr Easter Eggstravaganza Easter fun for the whole family, from Easter Bunny Hunts to our Easter Garden where children can search for eggs to exchange for chocolate treats. Full programme will be operating plus the usual animals and indoor and outdoor adventure play.

Outdoor Laser Combat (for the over 8’s).

T: 01926 843411 www.hattonworld.com/farmvillage

St John’s Museum

Warwick CV34 4NF Thurs 24 Mar, 11am-3pm Egg-cellent Egg Hunt Around St John’s Museum and garden.

Find out about egg identification. Create your own bouncing chick and proud peacock to take home. £2.50 per child.

Drop in.

T: 01926 412132 http://heritage.warwickshire.gov.uk

The MAD Museum

Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6PT Mechanical Easter Egg Hunt An egg hunt with a typically MAD twist.

Press buttons, turn handles and look in and around all the exhibits to find the hidden eggs.

T: 01789 269356 www.themadmuseum.co.uk

Hill Close Gardens

Warwick CV34 6HF Thurs 24 Mar, 10.30am-12noon Count Down to Easter Children’s Workshop: Easter Bonnet and Easter Basket making, and Miniature Gardens. £4 per child. Pre-booking essential.

Sat 26-Mon 28 Mar, 11am-4pm A Victorian Easter Victorian styled tea rooms and Victorian Easter displays around the gardens.

Sun 27 Mar, 11am-4pm Easter Eggstravaganza Easter egg hunt and Easter bonnet parade at 3pm.

T: 01926 493339 www.hillclosegardens.com

Foundry Woods

Leamington Spa CV31 1PH Mon 21 Mar, 10am-12noon & 1pm-3pm Children’s Willow Weaving Make anything - from star wands and fish, to birds and dragonflies! £7.50 pp. All ages.

Weds 23 & 30 Mar, 1pm-4pm Introduction to Print Making Learn mono print and relief printing with artist Laura Hood. £5 pp. Ages 8+.

Thurs 24 Mar, 10am-2pm Easter Activities Easter themed activities including Easter egg hunt (note not chocolate), egg painting and find bunny’s tail game.

Mon 28 Mar, 10am-4pm Family Woodland Adventure Day A day in the woods for all the family with activities such as campfire cooking, fire lighting, clay work, storytelling, whittling and tool use, dens and role play, nature activities and foraging for food. £35 per family. www.foundrywood.co.uk

Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BB Mon 21-Tues 29 Mar, 10.30am-4pm Free Craft Activities Family craft activities, from Yorick skulls to Bottom’s ears, we create something new each day. Drop in. Suitable for all ages.

Fri 25-Mon 28 Mar The Great Shakespeare Egg Hunt Pick up a trail leaflet and follow the clues to find special Shakespeare egg heads hidden around the Theatre. Solve the puzzle to get an Easter treat! FREE. T: 01789 403493 www.rsc.org.uk

Compton Verney

Stratford Butterfly Farm

Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7LS During the Easter Holidays there will be demonstrations in the Caterpillar Room on seed growing. Find out how our butterfly chrysalis is unpacked, redistributed to other butterfly houses and prepared for the Emerging Cage. Plus Handling Sessions with some of the amazing creatures that live in the Butterfly Farm.

T: 01789 299288 www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Oxhill CV35 0RP Sat 19 Mar-Sun 10 Apr, open every Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon, 10am to 4pm Easter at Redwings If you love donkeys, visit Redwings Horse Sanctuary’s Oxhill centre where they’ll be celebrating these long-eared lovelies!

Ever wondered why donkeys love ginger biscuits or why they need a best buddy?

Your donkey questions will be answered on Redwings’ special donkey tours and demos! You’ll also meet donkeys nose-tonose before testing your knowledge with fun activities and quiz trails!

T: 0870 040 0033 www.redwings.org.uk/visiting

CV35 9HZ Sat 19 Mar Pond dipping and bird hide launch Activities and trails. See what you can find lurking in the depths of the lake and hiding among the reeds.

Sat 19 Mar-Sun 3 Apr Shakespeare Heart Trail Sensory trail around the park based on A Midsummers Night’s Dream.

Fri 25-Mon 28 Mar, 11am-4pm English Country Garden Design your ideal garden then bring it alive by collage or by modelling it. Take your creation home or leave it in our giant patchwork garden.

Thurs 24 & 31 Mar, 11am-4pm Forest Thursdays Fun and educational activities at our dedicated forest school site. Suitable for all ages.

T: 01926 645500 www.comptonverney.org.uk

Leamington Art Gallery and Museum

Leamington Spa CV32 4AA Fri 25 & Sat 26 Mar, 11am-4pm Easter Weekend Matilda themed Easter Egg Hunt trail around the Royal Pump Rooms with chocolate prize. Face painting. Make your own bunny shopping bag to take home.

FREE drop in and join in.

Thurs 24 & 31 Mar, half-hour sessions at 11am, 2pm, 2.45pm & 3.30pm Easter Holidays Art Club Make your own Easter card. FREE Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Suitable for children up to 12 years.

T: 01926 742700 www.warwickdc.gov.uk/wdc/ royalpumprooms

Ryton Pools Country Park

Bubbenhall CV8 3BH Sat 19 Mar-Sun 10 Apr Easter Fun Trail Follow the clues around the park to crack the code and collect your prize. £2 per trail sheet.

Tues 29 Mar, 10.30am-12pm The Great Ryton Egg Hunt Collect your mystery egg sheet from the Visitor Centre and follow the trail. Claim your prize from the Easter Bunny in her den. £2.50 per child.

T: 024 7630 5592 http://countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk

The Shakespeare Houses

In and around Stratford-upon-Avon Fri 18 Mar-Tues 5 Apr Easter at Shakespeare’s Family Homes Raise your glass at the pop-up pub at Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Learn how to bake the ‘old fashioned way’ at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage plus dress up as a Victorian and discover more about the characters who once lived in this beautiful cottage.

Decorate an Easter egg like a character from Shakespeare’s plays at Mary Arden’s Farm when it reopens on 12 March. Try traditional crafts, see falconry displays, pet the animals, have a go at archery and explore the nature trails. Visit Hall’s Croft to learn about Tudor fashions and find out what your outfit said about you in Tudor times. At Harvard House design one of their favourite foods, marzipan and see the designs Tudors used to make marzipan fruits.

T: 01789 204016 www.shakespeare.org.uk

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004

What’s on?

Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth CV8 1NE Fri 25-Mon 28 Mar, 11am-5pm Easter Adventure Quest Adventurers wanted this Easter weekend!

Complete the quest and win your chocolate reward.

T: 01926 852078 www.english-heritage.org.uk/ kenilworthcastle

Coventry Transport Museum

British Motor Museum

Gaydon CV34 0BJ Sat 19 Mar-Sun 10 Apr Auto Science LIVE Crafts, interactive workshops and MAD Science shows, plus Easter trail. Explore the newly refurbished Museum and discover cars that you may never have seen before.

Mon 21 Mar & 4 Apr Museum Mondays ‘Cars of the Future’ Guided tours of our museum, focusing on the cars of yesteryear. In the afternoon, design what you think the cars of the future will look like!

Tues 22 & 29 Mar & 5 Apr Technic Tuesday A drop-in activity where children can get hands-on and design, build and test their own LEGO® Technic machines then race them along the ‘Track’.

Weds 23 & 30 Mar MAD Auto Science Show A 45 minute show full of cool interactive demonstrations and hands on activities.

Thurs 24 Mar & 7 Apr Balloon Modelling Create your own car out of a balloon.

Thurs 24-Tues 29 Mar Shaun the Sheep Activities Join Shaun and the flock this Easter for some fun and interactive activities.

Mon 28 Mar Easter Museum Monday An explosion of Easter crafts and activities.

Create your own Easter Bunny out of socks, make your own Shaun the Sheep, and paint your own Easter Eggs!

Thurs 31 Mar Time Travelling Toby and the Apollo Moon Landing Join the author of ‘Time Travelling Toby and the Apollo Moon Landing’ in this interactive family workshop.

Weds 6 Apr Build a balloon powered car How far will your LEGO® sports car travel on the ground or will it float away?

T: 01926 641188 www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk

Coventry CV1 1JD Sat 26 Mar-Mon 19 Sept, 10am-5pm Tractors – from factory to field Come and discover the world of tractors, the unsung heroes of the farm!

A fun and family friendly exhibition celebrating Coventry’s link with tractors.

This interactive exhibition is a must for enthusiasts of all ages!

Sat 26 Mar, 10am-4pm Tractor Factory Family Day Join artist Jim Morris and use recycled card and tactile materials to make a model tractor. Could you be the tractor designer of the future? Workshops are suitable for age 4+ but all are welcome. £2 per child.

Booking is not necessary.

T: 024 7623 4270 www.transport-museum.com

ADVENTURE. ANIMALS. ACTION.

SPRING SPECTACULAR

19th March - 10th April 2016

Cadbury Easter Egg Trails at The National Trust

A choc-o-bloc array of Spring Newborns NEW Miniature Donkeys - Hatton’s Newest Residents Easter Week Egg Hunts Zoobee’s Jungle Jamboree Show ALL DAY INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT Laser Combat (8yrs+) All the usual Hatton Activities

Fri 25-Mon 28 Mar Have fun on a Family Easter Trail at one of the local National Trust properties where you’re guaranteed a delicious prize! Some have craft activities and outdoor games. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/ warwickshire

Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration Parade

Stratford-upon-Avon Sat 23 Apr Commemorating 400 years since Shakespeare’s death, and celebrating his 452nd birthday, this year’s parade, starting at 10:30am, will be a spectacle like nothing we have seen before. Following the parade, there will be street theatre, workshops, music , dancing, readings and family activities. A full day out for all the family. www.shakespearescelebrations.com

St Mary’s Church

Warwick CV34 4RA Thurs 14 Apr-Thurs 30 Jun Shakespeare 400: History, Heritage & Faith This major exhibition featuring the Shakespeare First Folio (1623) (courtesy of the V&A Museum) and a first edition of the King James Bible (1611) (courtesy of Cambridge University) offer a rare opportunity to see these two iconic texts on display together. Admission £3.50 Adult/£2.50 Child/Conc. There will be a number of events for children and families throughout the three-month exhibition period.

T: 01926 403940. www.stmaryswarwick.org.uk

Herbert Art Gallery

@familieswarks

ADULT GOES FREE* with another 2 Full Paying Visitors

* when booking in advance online at hattonworld.com

Stratford Literary Festival

Sun 24 Apr-Sun 1 May There are several story time and activity sessions for pre-schoolers throughout the festival and a dedicated Children’s Day, Strat Lit Fest for Kids, on Sunday 1 May from 10am-5pm, featuring a fabulous line up of authors and illustrators, including author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Tony Ross. A fun day of events for children. www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk

familieswarwickshire

18211A 2/16

Coventry CV1 5QP Sat 26 Mar-Sun 10 Apr Easter Holidays at the Herbert Be inspired by some of the artists on display in our galleries and get experimenting with a range of art materials. Don’t miss the chance to become a fantastic Master Artist!

Tues 5 Apr Degas Day for Families Join us for a fun filled family day inspired by the exhibition of work by Edgar Degas.

As part of our Art Masters week, take part in this day of special activities including drawing to music and creating artworks with moving machines.

T: 024 7623 7521 www.theherbert.org

www.familieswarwickshire.co.uk

Terms and Conditions apply - see website for details

www.hattonworld.com 15

Redwings

Auto Science LIVE 19 March - 10 April

Horse Sanctuary

Family crafts, interactive workshops & MAD Science.

A fun, free family day out!

Dogs on leads welcome

Shaun the Sheep Easter trail

FREE ENTRY

24 - 29 March See website for full details.

Visit Redwings Oxhill Banbury Road, Warwickshire, CV35 0RP

£39 FAMIL Y TICKET

BUY 1 DAY GET 12 M ONTHS FR EE*

britishmo

tormuse

um.co.uk Gaydon . W arwickshire *see webs . CV35 0B ite for full te J rms and co nd

J12 M40 .

GET SOCIAL ...

itions.

Easter holiday family fun...

FOLLOW THE BROWN TOURIST SIGNS!

Meet rescued horses and donkeys nose-to-nose!

Visit www.redwings.org.uk or call 0870 040 0033 Families (130x87) Oxhill VC.indd 1

2/3/2016 11:53:49 AM

26 MARCH – 19 SEPTEMBER

Come and discover the world of tractors,

the unsung heroes of the farm!

Admission free

A new exhibition at

16

www.transport-museum.com Millennium Place, Hales Street, Coventry, CV1 1JD

editor@familieswarwickshire.co.uk T: 01926 335004