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email: membership@bulmershegymnastics.co.uk

Yucky you! Find out all about your body and the amazingly yucky things it does to protect you at the Look Out Discovery centre this Spring. The interactive Yucky You show will run from 28th March until 10th May at weekends and in Bracknell school holidays. For younger visitors, little bugs toddler days will be taking place on 14 and 23 April.

The centre also has a new exhibit, Pipes of Pan, inviting guests to try out their musical talents. This is one of over 90 hands-on science activities –you can launch a hydrogen rocket, play with boats in the indoor stream or build a house with your friends.

Check out facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery or call 01344 354400 for more details.

Book: www.bbowt.org.uk/events T: 01635 874 381 E: ndc@bbowt.org.uk The Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham RG19 3FU Easter Fun at the Nature Discovery Centre Wed 8 Apr - Crocodiles of the World Come face to face with live crocodiles and caiman. Aussie croc expert Colin, from Britain’s only crocodile zoo, will inform and inspire you. Wed 15 Apr - Fun Science at Easter Unleash your inner mad scientist and enjoy crazy egg-based fun and mad things to learn during this relaxed fun holiday event. Sessions throughout the day. £5 per person. Booking essential

Apollo Club

EASTER HOLIDAY CLUB 2020 6-9 and 14-17 April Ofsted-registered care for children age 4-12 years – arts and crafts, cooking, sports, off site trips and more £20 for a full day, or £10 for half day. Concessionary rate available and childcare vouchers accepted T: 0118 916 8416 or 0118 916 8417 E: apolloyouthclub@gmail.com Summer in the Alps The Alps may be an obvious destination for the ski season, but how about a summer visit? Summer offers enough green (the mountains) and blue (the sky) to set you up for the whole year – and plenty of fresh air to fill your families’ lungs.

With reasonably priced flights from London airports to Geneva then a short drive to Morzine, there is a warm welcome waiting from Paul and Francesca Eyre at Chilly Powder. With the main chalet – Au Coin du Feu –plus two chalets next door, you can organise your own meals, or join the party at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually only dream of. Family friendly early evening meals for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite as active as you, with drinks in the bar for the grown-ups –or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace – Paul and Francesca will make you wish that this was home!

Who pays school fees during a divorce? Many divorcing parents agree on the payment of schools fees as an integral part of their divorce financial settlement. However, sorting out who pays the fees, how much and when can take some considerable time. School is a familiar environment for both you and your children, comprising a major part of your family’s social network. You need to ensure that school remains a stable, supportive constant in all your lives. That’s why you need to deal with who pays the school fees soonest, to ensure a smooth transition between current and future arrangements.

1. Confirm who pays the school fees at present, and if you have joint liability to pay. If fees are paid from a joint account or credit card, these accounts may not exist after separation. Don’t put off taking action, as school fees arrears can quickly build up. 2. Inform your child’s school about your impending divorce. They can help your child and support them. You can also talk to the bursar about alternative payment arrangements, staggered payments and bursaries on offer. 3. Get legal advice from a family lawyer if you cannot agree between you. There are various court orders available, but be aware that a court will always prioritise housing and basic needs over private school fees. If you are concerned over school fees and divorce, the earlier you act, the better. With help from a family law firm such as LGFL, and in the right circumstances, a school fees order can ensure continuity in your family's education, social network and activities into the future.

Rita Gupta is a Director at LGFL Ltd, a boutique family law firm in Reading. Rita is offering qualifying readers a free 30-minute consultation to discuss any family law issue, including divorce and separation. https://lgfamilylawyers.co.uk/free-30-minuteconsultation/ More than 800,000 British households use solar panels to reduce both their carbon footprint and their energy bills, but the cost of installation can be off-putting. Power to the people

A community group is now offering West Berkshire residents solar panels at a reduced cost through bulk discounts and combined installation logistics. West Berkshire Climate Action Network successfully introduced its Solar Streets scheme to Newbury, Thatcham and surrounding villages last autumn. Working with its chosen renewable energy installer, IDDEA, who have completed over 800 installations since 2007, the scheme will now

be rolled out to the rest of West Berkshire this spring and summer.

Details of the scheme are presented in information evenings for homeowners – the next are in the Hungerford Hub at 7pm on Thursday 19 March and Hampstead Norreys Village Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 24 March. Steve Ardagh-Walter, Executive Member for Environment at West Berkshire Council is supportive of the scheme: “It’s fantastic to hear the positive reaction the Solar Streets scheme has had so far. I’m really pleased that it will be expanded and that more residents will have the opportunity to save money and help protect our environment.”

Join the fight against plastic

Wherever you live, you and your family can make a difference to your local environment by sparing just a few hours to take part in the Great British Spring Clean from 20 March to 13 April.

Run by charity, Keep Britain Tidy, this initiative is the country’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign and aims to get 600,000 #LitterHeroes out and about, cleaning up the environment on their doorstep.

It’s easy for families to get involved. Simply pledge to take part and either organise a litterpick in your community or join an organised event. To find out more, join a local event, register to take part and access resources including a how-to guide, visit keepbritaintidy.org/GBSpringClean

Children’s clothes and gifts that are made to last

Making holiday memories For families looking for fun educational experiences for children to take part in during half term and the school holidays, look no further than Camp Beaumont.

The UK’s most experienced day camp provider, which is now in its 40th year hosts a wealth of activities for three to 16-year-olds to enjoy such as zorbing, go-carting and arts and crafts as well as a range of sports including tennis, swimming and hockey. The camps are a great chance for kids to try something new and make new friends, while having lots of fun in the process.

Jof Gaughan, Operations Director, said: “It’s always great to see the children having such a fun time at our camps. Whether they come for a day or the whole week, it’s nice to see them making new friends and getting stuck in with exciting activities.

“Coming to camp is a great way to make the most of the holidays and ensure they are making memories to last them a lifetime.”

For more information, visit campbeaumont.co.uk

Having fewer toys may be better You’ve probably suspected it – well, it may now have been confirmed! Children who have too many toys are more easily distracted, and do not enjoy quality playtime, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Toledo in Ohio, US, recruited 36 toddlers and invited them to play in a room for half an hour, with either four toys, or sixteen toys.

They found that youngsters were far more creative when they had fewer toys to play with. They also played with each for twice as long, thinking up more uses for each toy and lengthening and expanding their games.

The authors of the study conclude that parents, schools and nurseries should pack away most of their toys and just rotate a small number regularly, to encourage children to become more creative and improve their attention spans.

More info at sciencedirect.com

The family festival that just gets better The Little Welly Henley is back, with a new location, longer course option, new obstacles and even camping! The popular family festival – which combines a muddy obstacle course for children with live entertainment –is crossing the road in 2020 to the Henley Showground to give a bigger festival field, a new course and more space for parking.

The 3km route will feature new obstacles including a slip-and-slide, big tubes and climbing rig. For the yet more energetic, there will also be a 5km or 10km family trail run. Even the under 4s haven’t been forgotten, with a large inflatable section just for them.

The festival field will be home to an exciting mix of entertainment. Alongside some of the favourites like the bungee trampolines, there will be fun and magic from Britain’s Got Talent’s Christian Lee, circus skills lessons, the ultimate land-based freefall experience and the UK’s first interactive mobile caving system.

The Little Welly Henley runs from 6-7 June. There are special offers for booking early and group savings.

OPEN MORNINGS Friday 28 Feb Friday 1 May 9am