Families West London March/April 22

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IN THIS ISSUE

What’s on Education Parenting

Issue 146 March/April 2022 familiesonline.co.uk

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

familiesonline.co.uk Families West London

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André Ma l ra u x

“Pupils thrive academically and

NURSERY TO YEAR 6

socially in a vibrant and purposeful learning environment.”

OFSTED

A thriving bilingual environment for your children Classes in both French & English

International & dynamic school

Large outdoor spaces & spacious classrooms

Ealing André Malraux Primary School 44 Laurie Road, London W7 1BL +44 (0)20 8578 3011 contact.malraux@lyceefrancais.org.uk

LYCÉE FRANÇAIS CHARLES DE GAULLE DE LONDRES

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www.lyceefrancais.org.uk

AM_pub_WF_02_2022.indd 2 07/02/2022 16:03 Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

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In this issue

News & Views

...endless ideas for families of young children in Chiswick • Ealing • Hammersmith • Kensington • Maida Vale Notting Hill • Uxbridge

3-4 News & information

Give the gift of confidence this New Year EDUCATION

West London At Stagecoach they teach their students so much From the Editors...

5 Open days more than how to sing, dance and act. They help FamiliesWest @FamiliesWestLondon @FamiliesWest 7 Help, didn’t get our ready them blossom intowe well-rounded individuals, choice school! With manyWith spring in the air and the Easter holidays just around the corner, we’re looking to embracefirst life and all its opportunities.

8 Parental pressure years of experience in teaching the performing forward to some quality family time and our What’s On guide on pages 11-13 has arts, they understand to getLycée the best out of some great suggestions on how to spend it. If you’re anxiously waiting to find out 9 Meet thehow head: the results of your school application, our article on page 7 looks at what to do if our young Français performers.Charles They delight dein seeing Gaulle their students have fun, make friends, learn new you don’t get your first choice. There’s also advice on talking to kids about racial discrimination on page 15 and tackling childhood fears on page 16. Plus, we chat to skills and discover talents.

EARLY hidden YEARS the head of the Lycée Français bilingual school; André They run term classes and 10 Playtime forweekly nurturing holiday workshops for 4 to 6 years and 6 to 18 Malraux Primary on page 9 and Anna talks to some of the emotional intelligence ladies from networking group Athena on pages 18-19. years in Kensington, Hammersmith, Chiswick, 11-13 WHAT’S ON Acton and Fulham and you can enrol via their website. If you have a birthday coming up they do PARENTING Wishing youparties all a fun filled Easter however you choose to great themed parties for younger children and Murder Mystery for 11+ spend it.

15 Talking to kids about racial discrimination Researchers at the Birkbeck Babylab expand studies to

16 Tackling include school childhood age children!

Anna & Rach

fearsBabylab, they don’t just study babies! Their team of friendly researchers create At the Birkbeck Next Issue: Editors: fun17 and interesting studies to learn how brains in babies, toddlers and children develop.

Top apps every parent Rachel Bailey & Anna Collins May/June 2022 needsedge technology and a variety of methods to achieve this. Their studies appeal They use cutting Tel: 01628 788058 01628 788058 to both babies childrenBUSINESS through play, games and computer animations. Lisanne and Aude, SHEand MEANS Editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk Circulation: 16,000 two of theirTwonderful PhDofstudents, are currently studying 2 - 6 year olds. www.Familiesonline.co.uk Cover image: depositphotos.com 18-19 he power cameras and Duplo toy blocks to learn networkingLisanne uses motion capture Families West London is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All Franchised magazines in the group are independently how the ability to remember instructions and create things in the owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd. Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bucks, SL8 5TD. The contents of Families West London are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or correct order to achieve aBourne goal End, develops throughout childhood.

The photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families West London. Every care is taken in the technical psychology termpreparation for this of is this action sequencing andcompany, is essential magazine but the franchise Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the of advertisers, nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. to daily life. For example, claims learning how to get dressed independently requires remembering the order of underwear before trousers and socks before shoes! Aude is also interested in action sequencing and uses a game on a Alps touchmay screen computer children build The be an obvious where destination for the skirecipesyour own meals, or join the party at ‘Au Coin du Feu’ for dinners that you usually only dream of. Family for their favourite cartoon characters.

The way the children plan, season, but how about a summer visit? Summer hesitate or change minds while playing will provide insight offerstheir enough green (the mountains) and blue (theinto friendly early evening meals for the children and a daytime crèche for little ones not quite as active as sky) to set you upand for the wholethroughout year - and plenty of how action sequences develop improve childhood. freshrecruiting air to fill your family’s They are currently children fromlungs. birth to school age to take you, with drinks in the bar for the grown ups – or in the Jacuzzi on the terrace – Paul and Francesca will part in our research in the heartpriced of Central Participants With reasonably flightsLondon. from London airportswill be make you wish that this was home! compensated for travel expenses. to Geneva then a short drive to Morzine, there is a warm waiting and Francesca Enjoy a fun day outwelcome in London and from sign Paul up today!

Summer in the Alps

Eyre at Chilly Powder. With the main chalet - Au Coin du Feu - plus two chalets next door, you can organise

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @FamiliesWest Magazine For more about ChillyFamilies PowderWest chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com and

more about summer in Morzine visit www.morzine-avoriaz.com/activites-de-plein-air-ete.html

Calling all young Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn!

We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at Birkbeck’s Babylab & ToddlerLab in central London. Our prime locations are easy to reach and we refund travel expenses. We also have online studies you can do from the comfort of home www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/online-studies

020 3926 1207 babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk

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News News&&Information Views Leading Montessori Nursery hires Herbologist Chef to encourage healthy eating habits Paint Pots Montessori is delighted to announce that it has hired Chef and Herbologist Maya Thomas to cook for and develop healthy eating habits in the 2-5 year olds at The Grove Montessori Nursery in Notting Hill. She has devised a series of 3-week seasonal rotational menus using locally sourced products, wherever possible, and introduces a few new herbs and spices each week. Maya and Paint Pots use the following techniques to encourage children to develop good eating habits: - Teachers/parents sit down, eat and talk with the children making meals an enjoyable social event; - The main part of the meal is usually served on its own on a plate whilst the vegetables, pasta, rice, sauces etc are served in bowls and are passed around so that the children can choose which of the accompaniments they would like to try; - The children are involved in the preparation of meals to give them confidence in the food and ingredients they are eating. For example the children help pick basil for orzo pasta with herb pesto and also enjoy making soda bread; - From time to time tasting sessions are held so the children can taste new foods including chickpeas which the children taste raw, help to create houmous with them and then are encouraged to taste the houmous; - If the children don’t like a food, it is introduced again a few times more in the coming weeks as some tastes take time to develop and some need tasting 9 or 10 times before the children like them; - The children are encouraged to develop a good savoury palate early on as this can help the children develop good eating habits later on in life. www.paint-pots.co.uk

Growing your house with your family Over the last two years acquiring a new house has been tough due to a shortage and increasing property prices! This can be really tricky if you have a young expanding family and have to factor in work, schools and lifestyle for everyone in your household. With the pandemic, lock downs and work from home, we have all come to know our living spaces and how they function very well. We still know of families that are accommodating one ‘work from home’ parent on the dining room table and there are no signs of them going back to the office!

It is no surprise that extensions and renovations have been on the increase then, as families work to add to their floor space and reconfigure their existing houses instead. Here are a few things to think about if you are wondering if this is your next step: Age of children? - do they need extra space for desks in their bedrooms? Do they need a football pitch as a garden? Does open plan living really suit? - to keep an eye on the 3 year old maybe yes, but what if you have a tween or early teen? Do you need more rooms or flexibility? Do you need a snug/games room for older kids?

Who works from home? - you may have two parents who need work space? Where do they go? Do you need an office, flexible space or an out house? It’s so important to keep work and living separate, especially as we all recover from the pandemic.

How will you get through the building works? - you may need to think about school holidays here! If you are due to pull an inner wall down, consider the start of the summer holidays, so you can escape to relatives or go on holiday and not worry about school commitments.

I f you want to see if extending will work for you, why not have an initial chat with an architect. House of Design Architects are based in West London. Contact them on 020 79370 007 or info@hodarchitects.co.uk

OPEN MORNING Friday 20th May 2022, 9.30–11.00am

Register online at: orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk

Email: registrar@orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk Tel: 020 8869 7600 South Hill Avenue, Harrow, HA1 3NU @orleyfarm

4

A design led architecture practice with a background in sensitive and high quality residential refurbishment, extension and new build. If you are looking to develop your home, please get in touch as we would be delighted to discuss your project!

Projects of all sizes undertaken.

info@hodarchitects.co.uk

020 79370 007

Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

News Education & Views

Schools’ Open Days Spring Term 2022 Please ring the school to check the Open Day or Evening is still going ahead.

André Malraux (Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle de Londres) 44 Laurie Road, Ealing W7 1BL For a private tour please contact: 020 8578 3011 contact.malrauw@lyceefrancais.org.uk www.lyceefrancias.org.uk Clifton Lodge School 8 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BG Saturday 7 May 10am to 12 noon 020 8579 3662 admissions@cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk Durston House 12-14 Castlebar Road, Ealing W5 2DR Saturday 21 May 0208 991 6530 info@durstonhouse.org www.durstonhouse.org Hawkesdown House School 27 Edge Street, Kensington W8 7PN For a personal tour visit the website 0207 727 9090 admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk

Heathfield School London Road, Ascot, Berks SL5 8BQ Saturday 7 May 9.45am to 12 noon 01344 898342 admissions@heathfieldschool.net www.heathfieldschool.net

Call to book your place now!

Orley Farm School South Hill Avenue, Harrow on the Hill HA1 3NU Friday 20 May 9.30am to 11am register online at www.orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk 020 8869 7600 www.orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk Upton House School Windsor 115 St Leonard’s Road, Windsor Berkshire SL4 3DF For a private tour please contact: registrar@uptonhouse.org.uk 01753 862610 www.uptonhouse.org.uk

Perform classes will build your child’s confidence Perform puts children’s social development at the heart of their weekly sessions for 4-7s and 7-12s. Using performing arts-based games and inspiring activities, their classes are designed to boost confidence, build concentration, develop communication skills and hone coordination – and are brimming with fun and laughter too.

Run by professionally trained actors, dancers and singers, classes are kept small to ensure individual attention, with regular progress reports provided. Fantastic termly resources – such as free apps, music downloads and dance videos - support each theme, meaning the fun continues at home. Don’t just take Perform’s word for it, see what parents say by visiting www.perform.org.uk

Book a no-obligation FREE trial class to get started at perform.org.uk/try Families readers receive a £40 discount when booking before 31st March, just quote

‘The beaming smile you see when Annabelle finishes a class is so wonderful to see.

She has grown in confidence and thoroughly enjoys it’. – Katie Pashley Children can join at any point during the term and will still take part in the end of term performance. Classes are for all abilities; children just need to arrive ready to have the best fun of the week

Local Perform Classes: St. Peter’s Hall,

59a Portobello Rd, Notting Hill W11 3DB 4-7s Wednesdays at 4pm; Fridays at 4pm 7-12s Wednesdays at 5.05pm; Fridays at 5.05pm

St. Paul’s Church Hall,

Ridley Ave, Ealing W13 9XW 4-7s Tuesdays at 4pm; Fridays at 3.45pm 7-12s Tuedays at 5.05pm; Fridays at 4.45pm

St. Barnabas Millenium Hall,

Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QG 4-7s Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 4pm; Saturdays at 9.30am 7-12s Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5.05pm; Saturdays at 11.15am

Masbro Children’s Centre,

87 Masbro Rd, Brook Green W14 0LR 4-7s Saturdays at 9.30am; 7-12s Saturdays at 11.15am familiesonline.co.uk

The Advent Centre,

37 Brendan St, Marylebone W1H 5JE 4-7s Mondays at 4pm; 7-12s Mondays at 5.05pm

Kensington United Reformed Church,

LW310322

St. Michael’s Hall,

Allen St W8 6BL 4-7s Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4.15pm; 7-12s Wednesdays at 5.15pm

Christ Church W4 Mission Hall,

1 Chippenham Mews, Maida Vale W9 2AN 4-7s Tuesdays at 4pm; 7-12s Tuesdays at 5.05pm

Elmwood Road, Chiswick W4 3DY 4-7s Sundays at 9.30am; 7-12s Sundays at 11.15am Cunnington St, Chiswick Park W4 5ER 4-7s Tuesdays at 4pm; 7-12s Tuesdays at 5.05pm

Holy Innocents Church,

Paddenswick Rd, Hammersmith W6 0UB 4-7s Thursdays at 4pm; 7-12s Thursdays at 5.05pm

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

The YAA Centre,

St. Dunstan’s Church Hall,

Friar’s Place Lane, East Acton W3 7AW 4-7s Saturdays at 2pm

T: 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk/try Families West London

5

Based in the heart of Windsor, Upton House is a thriving Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School for boys and girls aged 2-11 years.

Self-esteem and happiness, we believe, are paramount to each child’s success and we pride ourselves on developing confident and happy children with a love of learning.

Call 01753 862610 or email registrar@uptonhouse.org.uk

6

Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

Education

Help, we didn’t get our first choice school!

By Emma Lewry School allocation day is almost upon us. In England, secondary school places are announced on 1 March. Then, during April, those who have applied for a primary school place will find out their designated school. Thankfully, almost ninety two percent of families are given their first-choice primary school and ninety eight percent get one of their listed preferences. In secondary, ninety six percent of students get one of their listed schools. But what about those who do not get their first choice or even any preferences? How can you deal with the fallout from not getting a choice you planned for? Here are three suggestions: Give the allocated option a chance If you do not know much about the school, get nosey on their website and give them a call see if you can visit. In many cases, second or third choice allocations turn out to be brilliant and families are really pleased with the decision. Give the school a chance, it might work for you!

Manage disappointment Sometimes the biggest issue is managing the disappointment you and your child might feel. Look after yourself and take some time to be sad, angry and frustrated; these are important and valid feelings. Communicating positively with your child is important if you can, so they don’t feel nervous about their new school.

Get on the waiting lists Plenty changes between the spring and September and there is still a good chance you can get a space at your first choice school or another you feel happier about. Depending on your local authority procedures, you may automatically go on a waiting list or you may need to request this with your local authority or directly with the school.

If you are still feeling unsure about the school options, there is time to look at other schools and request a change. Both starting school and moving to secondary are big events and you need to feel as happy about them as you can. There are also options to appeal; although this can be challenging, it may be worth a shot.

Again, your local authority website should explain the appeals process.

Emma Lewry is an Early Years teacher, former Headteacher and mum to two little girls. Emma co-owns Every Day’s a School Day (www.edasd.co.uk/links) which supports families to prepare for starting school through groups, courses and a school starters planner available from Amazon.

Appealing a decision Each local authority has an appeals procedure to follow and this can be found on their website.

It will explain how to appeal and what reasons you can use for appeal. It is quite difficult to be successful with an appeal and in most cases, this only happens where children have additional needs which cannot be supported in any other setting. In a nutshell, if you appeal a decision, you are effectively asking a school which is full to remove a child from that allocation and move them to a different school. As you can imagine, that is an unlikely scenario.

OPEN MORNING

It can be worth going through the process though, as there are situations in which schools may take on more children if they are able to and by appealing, you are showing you are serious about wanting a place at that school.

Saturday 7 May Boarding and Day for Girls 11-18

heathfieldschool.net +44 (0) 1344 898343

familiesonline.co.uk

Once you appeal, the case will be heard by a panel, you may be invited to the hearing and you will be given a decision with reasons.

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

7

Education

Parental pressure

By Catherine Loble and Lisa Wander

It can sometimes be challenging for parents to walk the fine line between caring too little and caring too much about their child’s progress at school.

Whilst we all want the best for our children, our own expectations and behaviour can have a direct impact on their academic and emotional development. The weight of pressure and expectation can lead to low self-esteem and anxiety, whilst a lack of pressure and expectation can be equally counterproductive. So how do we strike a balance, ensuring that we are setting and supporting realistic goals for our children?

Research suggests a strong and positive link between high expectations and high academic achievements. But these expectations must be based on a realistic understanding of our children’s abilities. When our dreams and fantasies do not coincide with their own interests and abilities, our expectations can strike a debilitating blow to their development.

Putting children under unreasonable pressure can impact their mental and physical health as well as their relationships with both parents and peers. The constant stress to perform interferes with children’s identity formation and can cause them to feel that they can never be good enough.

On the other hand, having low or no expectations can lead to poor performance and an inability to cope with pressure of any kind. When parents are too accepting of whatever their child does, it communicates that the child doesn’t really matter. This can be equally damaging.

Key here is to maintain expectation but minimise pressure. High expectations can be motivating and encouraging, helping your child reach their potential and feel confident and secure. Think

about the process rather than the result by encouraging them to stick with their studies even when they are struggling.

Work with your child to decide on best ways to manage test situations. Experiment with different study methods together to find out what works best for them. If your child is struggling, then talk to your child’s school to see what support can be provided.

Finally, it’s crucial to remind your child of your love and support without reference to their academic performance and test outcomes.

Supporting them to learn from their mistakes motivates them to try new approaches to problem solving, achieving wisdom and good judgement along the way.

Lisa and Catherine are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with the insights, skills and tools needed to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

Why is Smaller Better?

Find out at our

Open Day Saturday 7th May 2022 10am - 12 noon

Nursery & Preparatory School for boys & girls from 3 to 11 years

8 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BG 020 8579 3662 admissions@cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk

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Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

Education

Aurélie Exbrayat André Malraux Primary Aurélie Exbrayat left Paris for London in September 2017 to head l’École Primaire André Malraux, an international French primary school set on spacious grounds in the heart of leafy Ealing. With just over 200 pupils aged 3-11, it is part of the centenary Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle de Londres, headquartered in South Kensington, which teaches 3,450 pupils aged 3 to 18 spread over 4 sites. After Year 6, their pupils are all offered a place at the Lycée’s main site. Families talks to Aurélie about bilingual education, the school ethos and the qualities of a great teacher!

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF After studying English language and literature, I became a primary school teacher, then a head teacher, both in the French state education sector in central Paris.

Passionate about art, especially photography, and always eager to discover new things, I have been enjoying every minute of my time at André Malraux. Everything is so different from my previous life as the school is a perfect multicultural combination of a French curriculum completed by the best of British education and a full immersion in local culture.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ANDRÉ MALRAUX? The setting is ideal: greenery, space, a small-scale school offering care and kind attention to pupils’ well-being, as much as delivering an excellent academic education. Pupils are engaged in and beyond the classroom, using all available spaces including outdoors, to carry out innovative projects initiated locally or at network level (AEFE, the network for French education abroad with 543 schools worldwide). The strong sense of community uniting pupils, parents and staff, and the wide range l’École Primaire André Malraux is located on Laurie Road, Ealing, W7.

School reception +44 (0)20 8578 3011

familiesonline.co.uk

of extracurricular activities underpin the school’s ethos of solidarity, selfconfidence and intellectual curiosity.

EXPLAIN TO US HOW A BILINGUAL EDUCATION WORKS Our goal is for pupils to achieve equal proficiency at oral and written expression in both languages (at the end of Year 6, our pupils reach an equivalent of 11+ level). The main teaching language is French; however, over 56% of our pupils have at least one native Englishspeaking parent. Our curriculum includes assemblies, charitable actions, corridor displays as English schools do and immersion continues fully in the playground, over lunch, as well as in extracurricular activities offered in both languages.

HOW HAS ANDRÉ MALRAUX EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS? WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS? We have launched regular projects engaging all pupils from nursery to Year 6, including ‘Silence on lit’ when everyone reads a book; or the work of art of the month thoroughly exploring a piece of art; or science projects with English and French teachers. They reflect the soul of the school. The last two years have tried and tested our adaptability and capacity for innovation resulting in an outstanding delivery of remote teaching.

School website www.lyceefrancais.org.uk/apprendre/ primaire/andre-malraux/

WHAT ARE THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK? Engaging our school in large-scale projects within the Lycée, or the network of French schools abroad. Experiencing the truly international nature of our school community and welcoming more diversity every year. Working with a team of dedicated teachers and assistants with the common goal of seeing pupils thrive.

Seeing pupils bloom and hearing the way they talk about their school. Watching them progress, whatever their starting point and profile. Witnessing their sense of initiative and of creativity nurtured by the self-confidence they have built.

WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF A GREAT TEACHER? Availability, caring, versatility, creativity and innovation are what makes a great teacher.

Feeling safe is key to trying new things and daring to make instructive mistakes.

André Malraux’s small scale and spacious setting make it a very cosy, comforting environment where each child gets the opportunity to build skills at their own pace with highly competent teachers who always listen and respond to their individual needs. Our pupils then move on to the Lycée, excel at A-Levels/Bac and continue to the best Universities worldwide.

Lycée website: www.lyceefrancais.org.uk/

School blog: https://sites.google.com/lyceefrancais. org.uk/ecoleandremalraux editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

9

Early Years

Play for nurturing emotional intelligence

By Dr Anne Lane When my daughter was in her first year at nursery her favourite game was pretending to say goodbye to me. ‘Bye Mama, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later.’ ‘Oh no! You’re not going...’ I’d say after her, ‘I don’t want you to go!’ The more I sighed ‘Don’t go,’ the more she’d giggle and run off. Thus reassured, we were ready for our day.

Little moments of play like this helped my daughter process her separation from me at nursery from a space of safety and connection.

For a child, life can be full of emotional demands; from the strains of separation from you, to new friendships, periods of uncertainty and family changes.

As a parent and psychologist, one of the most effective and fun ways I have found to help children navigate experiences and the difficult emotions that come with these is through this process of play. Simple, giggly, repetitive play helps children develop a resilience and familiarity with situations which can dispel tension and anxiety.

So how does play work?

Play is serious work for your child. The process of role-playing real scenarios allows them to reflect on their reactions and beliefs about a situation. They can steady their emotions and become more nuanced and agile in their reactions.

in the world of play, they get to switch things around and feel empowered. They can explore and try different things. The play scenario can be ridiculous, funny, amusing - tense and tight emotions soften and ease.

Against this background of safety and security, your child can become more comfortable making suggestions and changing things, allowing their understanding of situations to develop.

They’re the boss, they call the shots and decide how a situation goes. From this place of safety, they revisit difficult experiences without feeling vulnerable or uncertain.

In role playing and playing out different scenarios with them, your child comes to know you as someone who can understand and relate to their experience. They feel steady and secure.

Dr Anne Lane is a clinical psychologist and author. Her new book Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps to Help Your Child Cope with Big Emotions and Build Resilience is out now.

The most important aspect of play is that it feels safe. In the real world, things are unpredictable. People can be abrupt and cross and make your child feel vulnerable and uncertain. But

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What’s On

If you’d like your event featured please email editor@familieswest.co.uk with details.

March ONGOING UNTIL JANUARY 2023 BEATRIX POTTER EXHIBITION The Porter Gallery, V&A Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL Family friendly exhibition in collaboration with the National Trust. £14 www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/beatrix-potterdrawn-to-nature TUESDAY MARCH 1 THE CHILDCARE CHALLENGE Online event for new and expectant fathers.

Hank: Help. Advice. Nurture. Knowledge.

7.30-8.30pm www.hellohank.co.uk/online-sessions-/eventone-wcm4z-xw2jc-633br-mkb38 SATURDAY MARCH 5 MESSY Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL 3+ years. 11am and 1pm. £8 www.lyric.co.uk/shows/messy SATURDAY MARCH 5 RANGOLI WORKSHOP Green Side Foyer, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall SE1 8XX 12.30pm. 5 + years. Free www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on SATURDAY 5 AND SUNDAY MARCH 6 MAKE IT CLAY: MICROWORLDS Arts Studio, Sackler Centre, V&A Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL Clay Workshop 10.30am-4pm £10 www.vam.ac.uk/event/YpkkeAeDnG4/make-itclay-microworlds

MONDAY MARCH 7 MINI MONDAY Iver Environment Centre SL0 0EB Activity morning for ages 2-4. £6.50. Look for signs of spring and make a kite. www.iverenvironmentcentre.org MONDAY MARCH 12 PEBBLE ON THE BEACH Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL 3+ years. 11am and 1pm. £8 www.lyric.co.uk/shows/pebble-on-the-beach SUNDAY MARCH 13 THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS Beck Theatre, Grange Rd, Hayes UB3 2UE 2pm £16-18 www.becktheatre.org.uk

Clay Workshop 10.30am-4pm £10 www.vam.ac.uk/event/YpkkeAeDnG4/make-itclay-microworlds SATURDAY 19 AND SUNDAY MARCH 20 WHERE’S WALLY WEEKENDER Sign up for the National Literacy Trust’s fun run event in your local area.

5k, 10k or 1k run for under 12s. £15 per child, £20 per adult www.literacytrust.org.uk/whereswally MONDAY MARCH 21 MINI MONDAY FOR MINDERS Iver Environment Centre SL0 0EB Activity morning for ages 2-4 and networking opportunity. £6.50. www.iverenvironmentcentre.org MONDAY MARCH 21

SATURDAY MARCH 19 DAD BOD - KEEPING TRIM Ravenscourt Park W6 0UU Outdoor Fitness session.

Hank: Help. Advice. Nurture. Knowledge.

8.30-9.30am www.hellohank.co.uk/events/event-one-egrt6e5x74 SATURDAY MARCH 19 OLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL 3-7 years. 11am and 1pm. £8 www.lyric.co.uk/shows/oldilocks-and-the-3bears SATURDAY MARCH 19 MAKE IT CLAY: MICROWORLDS Arts Studio, Sackler Centre, V&A Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL

BACHELOR TO BABY MAKER

Online event for new and expectant fathers.

Hank: Help. Advice. Nurture. Knowledge.

7.30-8.30pm www.hellohank.co.uk/online-sessions-/eventone-wcm4z-xw2jc-633br-mkb38-pp7bp MONDAY MARCH 21 NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE - THE BOOK OF DUST Beck Theatre, Grange Rd, Hayes UB3 2UE 7.15pm £14.50 www.becktheatre.org.uk FRIDAY MARCH 25 AND APRIL 29 SILENT DISCO Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD www.nhm.ac.uk/events/silent-disco.html l

Aug 8 2 – l u J 2 1

KIDS GOICE* HALF PR * Mon-Thurs, excl Band AA. Subject to availability.

Offers may be withdrawn at any time.

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openairtheatre.com editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

11

What’s On SATURDAY MARCH 26 THE HUG Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL 2-8 years. 11am and 1pm. £8 www.lyric.co.uk/shows/the-hug SATURDAY MARCH 26 FAMILY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: MACBETH Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New globe walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 9-12 years www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/familyworkshop-macbeth-9-12-years-2022 MONDAY MARCH 28, APRIL 4 AND 11 SONG ACADEMY SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS: GROUP SONG Online Songwriting workshops for beginners, intermediates & advanced young songwriters. £35.50. 10am-1pm 8-10 years and 11-12 years.

2-5pm 13-15 and 16-18 years. www.songacademy.co.uk/songwritingworkshops

April FRIDAY 1 TO MONDAY APRIL 18 DINO KINGDOM AT GUNNERSBURY PARK Gunnersbury Park, Popes Lane W3 8LQ www.dinokingdom.com SATURDAY APRIL 2 FAMILY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: MACBETH Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New globe walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 9-12 years www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/familyworkshop-macbeth-9-12-years-2022 SATURDAY 2 TO SUNDAY APRIL 3 FAMILY FUN WEEKEND Cutty Sark Car Park, Park Row SE10 9NG Weekend of sailor fun and history. Age 4+ Free with admission to ship. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/cutty-sark/familyfun-weekend SATURDAY 2 TO SATURDAY APRIL 9 JABALA AND THE JINN Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL 5-12 years. 11am and 1pm. £10 www.lyric.co.uk/shows/jabala-and-the-jinn SATURDAY 2 TO MONDAY APRIL 18 THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR TRAIL Victoria Gate, Kew Gardens, Richmond TW9 3AE Embark on a transformational journey to becoming a beautiful butterfly, based on Eric Carle’s much-loved book, and wind through sculptures of juicy fruits and a cosy chrysalis along the way.

Free with admission www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/the-veryhungry-caterpillar SATURDAY 2 TO TUESDAY APRIL 19 POWER UP Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington SW7 2DD Discover how video games have evolved and get hands-on with Mario Kart, Pac-Man, Guitar Hero and other arcade classics.

5+ all gamers under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

From £8 www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/ power

12

All details correct at the time of going to press. Please do remember to check online for up-to-date information and remember that in most cases you will need to book.

MONDAY APRIL 4 DINOSAUR ADVENTURE LIVE Beck Theatre, Grange Rd, Hayes UB3 2UE 2pm and 4.30pm £14.50 www.becktheatre.org.uk

FRIDAY 8 TO SUNDAY APRIL 10 ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre 10.30am. 3 + years www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

MONDAY 4 TO FRIDAY APRIL 8 ALL HANDS ON DECK: EASTER HOLIDAYS AT THE CUTTY SARK Cutty Sark Car Park, Park Row SE10 9NG Sailor holiday fun for 4+ 10-4pm Free with admission www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/cutty-sark/all-handson-deck-easter-holidays-cutty-sark

SATURDAY APRIL 9 JUBILEE JAMBOREE Windsor Castle Learning Centre, Windsor Castle SL4 1NJ Bring along a ‘Platinum Picnic’ to have within Pug Yard and enjoy some Jubilee themed crafts.

Free upon admission to the Castle SUNDAY APRIL 10 THE WIZARD OF OZ - EASTER PANTOMIME Beck Theatre, Grange Rd, Hayes UB3 2UE 1pm and 4.30pm £20.50 www.becktheatre.org.uk

TUESDAY 5 AND WEDNESDAY APRIL 6 SONG ACADEMY SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS: INDIVIDUAL SONGS Bush Studios, 151 The Arches, Shepherds Bush, London W12 7LA Songwriting workshops for beginners, intermediates & advanced young songwriters. £145 per 2 day workshop for 6 hours. 10am1pm 8-10 years and 11-12 years. 2-5pm 13-15 and 16-18 years. www.songacademy.co.uk/songwritingworkshops

MONDAY APRIL 11 FAMILY ACTIVITY DAY Iver Environment Centre SL0 0EB Come and explore the grounds as they wake up for Spring and take part in a range of activities.

Morning and afternoon sessions. £6/£8 for over 3s. www.iverenvironmentcentre.org

TUESDAY 5 AND WEDNESDAY APRIL 6 SONG ACADEMY SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS: INDIVIDUAL SONGS Online Songwriting workshops for beginners, intermediates & advanced young songwriters. £85 per 2 day workshop for 4 hours. 10am12pm 8-10 years and 11-12 years. 2-4pm 13-15 and 16-18 years. www.songacademy.co.uk/songwritingworkshops

MONDAY 11 TO FRIDAY APRIL 15 ALL HANDS ON DECK: EASTER HOLIDAYS AT THE CUTTY SARK Cutty Sark Car Park, Park Row SE10 9NG Sailor holiday fun for 4+ 10-4pm Free with admission www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/cutty-sark/all-handson-deck-easter-holidays-cutty-sark TUESDAY APRIL 12 MUSICAL STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: WHERE IS BUNNY’S BABY Music House for Children, Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd’s Bush W12 7LJ 2-6 years. 11am. £15 www.musichouseforchildren.com/whats-on

WEDNESDAY APRIL 6 POWER UP Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington SW7 2DD Adult-only Evening Sessions (18+) £14 www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/ power

TUESDAY 12 AND WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 POWER UP Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington SW7 2DD Adult-only Evening Sessions (18+) £14 www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/ power

WEDNESDAY 6 TO FRIDAY APRIL 8 FAMILY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: MACBETH Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New globe walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 9-12 years www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/familyworkshop-macbeth-9-12-years-2022 THURSDAY APRIL 7 MORGAN & WEST: UNBELIEVABLE SCIENCE The Exchange, Twickenham 75 London Road TW1 1BE 11.30am and 2.30pm www.list.co.uk/place/93175-the -exchange-twickenham FRIDAY APRIL 8 LITTLE BIRDSONG CONCERT: LIVE Music House for Children, Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd’s Bush W12 7LJ 11am. £15 www. musichouseforchildren. com/whats-on

FUN FRENCH LESSONS Est. 1993

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Featured in BBC, ITV, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and The Huffington Post

020 3969 2642

www.clubpetitpierrot.co.uk

Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

What’s On

If you’d like your event featured please email editor@familieswest.co.uk with details.

TUESDAY 12 AND WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 SONG ACADEMY SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS: INDIVIDUAL SONGS Bush Studios, 151 The Arches, Shepherds Bush, W12 7LA Songwriting workshops for beginners, intermediates & advanced young songwriters. £145 per 2 day workshop for 6 hours. 10am1pm 8-10 years and 11-12 years. 2-5pm 13-15 and 16-18 years. www.songacademy.co.uk/songwritingworkshops

5-12 years www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/ tempest-storytelling-2022

TUESDAY 12 AND WEDNESDAY APRIL 13 SONG ACADEMY SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS: INDIVIDUAL SONGS Online Songwriting workshops for beginners, intermediates & advanced young songwriters. £85 per 2 day workshop for 4 hours. 10am12pm 8-10 years and 11-12 years. 2-4pm 13-15 and 16-18 years. www.songacademy.co.uk/songwritingworkshops

THURSDAY APRIL 14 FAMILY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: HENRY V Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New globe walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 5-12 years www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/henryv-storytelling-2022

TUESDAY 12 TO THURSDAY APRIL 14 DROP OFF DAYS Iver Environment Centre SL0 0EB Crafts and games with an environmental theme for 7-11 years.

The programme is the same each day. £35 (£30 for siblings). www.iverenvironmentcentre.org WED 13, THUR 14 AND SAT APRIL 16 FAMILY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: THE TEMPEST Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New globe walk, Bankside SE1 9DT

WEDNESDAY 13 AND FRIDAY APRIL 15 FAMILY STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: ROMEO AND JULIET Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New globe walk, Bankside SE1 9DT 5-12 years www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/familyworkshop-romeo-juliet-5-8-years-2022

FRIDAY 15 TO MONDAY APRIL 18 EASTER ENTERTAINMENT AT BLENHEIM PALACE Walled Garden, Blenheim Palce, Blenheim Park, Woodstock OX20 1PP Fun trails, face-painting, circus skills, archery, mini-golf, street entertainment, balloon modelling, dressing up, a vintage fun fair and appearances from Easter Bunny Entry fee applies www.blenheimpalace.com

Bring along a ‘Platinum Picnic’ to have within Pug Yard and enjoy some Jubilee themed crafts.

Free upon admission to the Castle SATURDAY APRIL 23 SOOTY AND SWEEP Beck Theatre, Grange Rd, Hayes UB3 2UE 11am and 2.30pm £19 www.becktheatre.org.uk SATURDAY APRIL 23 THE STORY GAME Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL 6+ years. 11am and 1pm. £8 www.lyric.co.uk/shows/the-story-game

Upcoming TUESDAY JULY 12 TO SUNDAY AUGUST 28 101 DALMATIANS Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Daily including afternoon matinees on most Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Kids go half price at performances Monday – Thursday subject to availability.

Children under 4 will not be admitted to the venue. Food is served in the theatre grounds before the show, or why not bring your own picnic. www.openairtheatre.com

FRIDAY 22 TO SUNDAY APRIL 24 JUBILEE JAMBOREE Windsor Castle Learning Centre, Windsor Castle SL4 1NJ

Clubs, Classes and Activities If you are looking for a new club for your child, want to help them run off some excess energy, or find a new hobby, below are some great suggestions for you to check out! When you call please don’t forget to say you saw them in Families West London Magazine.

Hartbeeps www.hartbeeps.com

The Secret Garden: Perform’s Easter courses for 4-10s www.perform.org.uk/secretgarden

Award-winning, original, multi-sensory musical classes. Bubbles, Costumes, Massage, Sensory textures and lights, puppets and more. Classes designed for each stage of your baby’s development.

This Easter, join Perform and enter the mysterious world of Misselthwaite Manor and discover the excitement of reawakening a long-abandoned garden in their drama, dance and singing holiday courses based on The Secret Garden.

Baby bells - Newborn- Sitting Beeps - Sitting - Standing Happy house - Toddlers & Siblings

Packed with adventure, these three-day courses are designed to nurture the creativity, confidence and communication skills of 4–10 year olds, ending with a fantastic show on the last day.

Bayswater, Maida vale, Notting hill, Shepherds bush, Mayfair and Kensington loulou@hartbeeps.com Ealing, Acton, Hammersmith and Chiswick kimmy@hartbeeps.com

Age range: Dates: Venues:

4-10 years 4-6 April 10am to 3pm each day.

St Barnabas Millenium Hall, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QG Holy Innocents Church, Paddenswick Rd, Hammersmith W6 0UB Kensington URC, Allen St W8 6BL T: 020 7255 9120 / enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk/secretgarden

familiesonline.co.uk

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

13

Parenting

Talking to kids about racial discrimination

By Suzanne Brown ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.’ Martin Luther King Jr. All parents dream of a world where their children are treated fairly, free of the various discriminations which exist. But how do we achieve this?

When and how?

The ‘when’ is easy. Start early! Scientific studies show that children have formed lifelong attitudes about skin colour by the time they reach pre-school age.

The ‘how’ is trickier but there are many ways to approach this sensitive topic. Some parents may avoid talking about racial discrimination out of concern that they will say the wrong thing and make things worse. However, if these issues are never broached we risk making race a taboo subject.

Teach kindness From babyhood we can teach our children to be givers and receivers of kind words and actions. When kindness is second nature from a young age it helps avoid situations in which discrimination arises.

from us, particularly from our sub-conscious actions. Observing special occasions such as Black History Month and different cultural events and festivals is fantastic. However, children are more likely to pick up and imitate the attitude they see you display towards others on a daily basis.

Use resources There is a wealth of TV programmes, films, YouTube videos, racially diverse toys and books to help explain matters in an ageappropriate way. Visit www.bit.ly/FamiliesResources

What if you suspect racism at school?

If your child believes a racist incident occurred at school, firstly praise them for reporting it to you. Calmly gather all the facts, reassuring your child as they go along. Try not to show your own upset or anger. Work in partnership with your child’s school for Teach justice Sex Educatorthe best outcome. d an p shi ion is a Relat what they Another starting point for young childrenSasis explore Boujo kiato hops to young delivers works r whoyour you and authofor think is fair and unfair. Then, at a pace suitable child’s in London. If Discrimination is something to be tackled in small but ts en par d an , teachers your peoplediscussions level and comprehension, gradually expand to a workshop for ing ok bo meaningful daily steps. It’s our little everyday actions, as well in d are intereste get in touch! t community, incorporate an understanding of racial justice. as our skill and diplomacy in dealing with bigger issues, which school or paren convince children of our integrity.

Model good behaviour Remember, children BA areBY always watching, listening and learning !

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please For more info

contact

mail.com saskiaboujo@g ujo.com www.saskiabo actsoflife.ed Instagram: @f

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX Saskia Boujo is a Relationship and Sex Educator and author who delivers workshops to young people, teachers and parents in London.

If you are interested in booking a workshop for your school or parent community, get in touch!

For more information please contact: Email: saskiaboujo@gmail.com www.saskiaboujo.com @factsoflife.ed

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED....

Families West London magazine is looking for distributors in Chiswick, Hammersmith, Kensington, Shepherds Bush, Uxbridge & surrounding areas to start asap.

If you have a car, a few hours to spare every two months, are reliable and want to earn some extra money, contact:

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Contact advertising on 01628 788058

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15

Parenting

Tackling childhood fears

By Tanith Carey

During the pandemic, levels of anxiety among adults have risen sharply and some of this worry has been contagious for kids. So how do we help children manage their own feelings when the world feels uncertain for grown-ups too?

Firstly, remember that children take their cues from you. This means noticing when you feel overwhelmed.

Visualise a sliding scale in your mind with notches from one to ten. When the scale starts to move towards seven or eight, take deliberate steps to process your own worries, maybe talking them through with another adult, so you can stay calm and rational around your child.

You may be concerned that this is hiding your worries from your child. Don’t be. It’s putting on your own oxygen mask so you can reassure them they are safe within the world of their home. If your child seems worried by something about Covid they have heard outside the home, ask what they’ve heard.

From around age 4 or 5, young children engage in ‘magical thinking’ in which they believe they are the centre of the world.

In order to try and make sense of how the world works, they also tend to link events that aren’t linked, meaning that they often leap to the wrong conclusions. If a grandparent gets Covid, they may for example, assume it’s down to them not washing their hands when they come home from school.

Asking your children about their fears allows you to tackle their concerns directly. You can help them feel more in control by telling them they are part of a big team winning the war on the virus and helping by wearing masks and washing their hands. Explain: ‘Lots of people have caught this germ, but for most, it’s been like a really bad cold.’

Talk too about how clever scientists have come up with vaccines and millions of grown-ups, from health care staff to teachers, are still working hard to look after them. Help them get the virus in perspective too. Explain that there are good germs in our bodies as well as bad ones, how their immune system works and how to look after it.

While young children tend not to worry about death as something that happens to them, they may worry about who will look after them if you or your co-parent dies. If this is a concern that surfaces, tell your child that everyone dies eventually but

you don’t expect it to happen for a long time and by then they will be grown-up.

Facing and talking about their fears doesn’t mean they will become persistent. In fact, they are more likely to keep coming back when children feel alone with them, not heard or unable to express them.

If you do lose a loved one, give clear, open honest answers.

Avoid phrases such as ‘gone to sleep’ or ‘we’ve lost them.’

Explain simply the reason that their loved one is no longer here is that their body stopped working.

Sometimes kids can find it easier to process the death of a loved one through tangible ways of mourning. Going through family photos, making a keepsake box, releasing a balloon with the person’s name on or planting a tree can all be helpful.

Tanith Carey is author of What’s My Child Thinking: Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents with clinical child psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin, published by DK books.

Fears and anxieties are some of the one hundred scenarios faced with children aged 2 to 7 that are tackled in this book.

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Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

Parenting

Top apps every parent needs

By Ari Last It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of apps available in the App Store and give up before you’ve even started looking for something.

When it comes to parenting though, getting good apps on speed dial can really save time if you’re looking to keep the children entertained, connect with other like-minded parents, research childcare options or seek guidance on how to make family life just that little bit easier.

Here are some recommendations: Family Locator https://family-locator.com When older children or teenagers are out and about, keep track of their location with this app which keeps your family secure and connected, for extra peace of mind.

CBeebies www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies This staple app on any parent’s phone or tablet offers both educational games as well as classic cartoons for when you just need a break!

Mush www.letsmush.com The number one social app for mums to find friends who live nearby with kids the same age, arrange to meet up and get advice from parenting experts and peers.

The Wonder Weeks www.bit.ly/WonderWeeksApp A week-by-week guide to your baby’s development right through from pregnancy to after birth, showing how you can support and stimulate your little one.

Allrecipes Dinner Spinner https://dish.allrecipes.com/ mobile-apps A handy bank of recipes and cooking inspiration which keeps solving the ‘what can I make for dinner?’ question and keeps little bellies satisfied every evening.

Sound Sleeper www.soundsleeperapp.com Help your baby get off to sleep with this app’s collection of calming sounds.

Kidday www.kidday.com The easiest way to store your child’s photographs in one place, as well as share albums with friends and family.

French|English|Introduction to Mandarin

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170 Gloucester Terrace Lower ground floor

Ages 10 months - 4 years

familiesonline.co.uk

OLIO www.olioex.com Here you can give away unwanted kids’ items to those in the local area, allowing you to help out a neighbour and reduce waste. You can also use the app to look for anything you might happen to need and save some pennies.

Ari Last is a parenting guru and founder of childcare app Bubble. For more information, visit www.joinbubble.com

From the creator of BRING YOUR BABY GUIDED LONDON WALKS

020 7099 0452

Les Trois Oursons in Paddington

Bubble www.joinbubble.com The UK’s biggest ondemand childcare platform, with over 100,000 users and 5-star Trustpilot rating.

Find, book and pay local sitters or nannies who come recommended from their friends and other parents in their area.

LONDON W2 6HS

Bring Your Baby PUB QUIZ THE AWARD-WINNING LUNCHTIME PARENT SOCIAL AT BABY-FRIENDLY PUBS ACROSS LONDON & BRIGHTON Breaks to feed, change, play & chat Prizes include Prosecco, luxury chocolate & beauty boxes Pub lunch menus include vegan & GF options

Book @ BringYourBaby.org editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

17

She Means Business

The power of networking The Athena Network® is a leading referral network for women, based on support, training and collaboration.

With over 130 online groups around the UK, and a free pass for members to network widely both locally and nationally, this is a great network for women looking for business and personal growth.

Locally, Sheila Bennett leads groups catering to members in Chiswick, Ealing, Hammersmith, Acton, Shepherd’s Bush, Barnes and Sheen.

networking, & two learning sessions covering all kinds of business areas, with the ability to network across the UK.

The monthly signature meetings are held online with offline activity at the discretion of the local regional director. The online meetings include formal & informal

Athena is a superb business community for women working alone, as well as professionals looking to attract new clients. The emphasis is on building sound

One thing which makes Athena different is the continuous support of the local regional directors, such as Sheila. They organise & run the meetings & the members networking training classes.

They also support new members into the network, so they settle into the community quickly and effectively.

Lucy Cawkwell Jo Brianti

JLB Business Consulting Business purpose I give small business owners confidence that the way they run their businesses meets the requirements of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). I help them to streamline the way they work to gain efficiency and achieve compliance at the same time using appropriate tech tools.

Future plan I want all small business owners to have access to affordable data protection support, to feel confident, stress free and supported in every aspect of data protection. I want to change the fear that GDPR is a headache or an overhead to being an easy to implement integral part of their business that delivers a positive impact.

How networking helps Athena is a great place to meet likeminded professional women who share celebrations and give support on difficult days. Athena offers opportunities to build successful partnerships that grow your confidence 07713 054195 www.Jlbbusinessconsulting.co.uk admin@jlbbusinessconsulting.co.uk www.linkedin.com/in/jobrianti/ www.instagram.com/jobrianti/ 18

Osborne Cawkwell Tuition Business purpose We are a bespoke tutoring agency. I have curated a hand selected and carefully vetted group of around 150 tutors who, with the support of my specialist team, deliver the support that a child needs.

We ensure that the right tutor is matched with each child, so the child can flourish academically and emotionally.

Future plan This year we are ensuring the tutors we represent are working through CPD modules in Special Needs, Safeguarding and Mental Health. With students being so harshly affected by the past two Covidyears, it’s crucial that tutors are tuned into whatever struggles young people might be going through.

How networking helps I joined Athena initially to find more clients - however, what is now of much more value to me is the support I receive from the members. It’s inspiring hearing what other women are doing in their businesses; I always feel so uplifted after each meeting.

020 7584 5355 www.octuition.co.uk lucy@octuition.co.uk www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-cawkwell96976b45/ www.facebook.com/ osbornecawkwelltuition

& friendly business relationships, allowing ideas to thrive & opportunities to develop.

Families magazine attended one of the online meetings, and met and linked up with many inspirational women across the local area. Here some of those women tell us about their businesses, their future plans and how networking with Athena has helped them perform at their best.

Sheila Bennett

Laura Artero

Laura Artero Hypnotherapy & Mindfulness Business purpose I believe life is for living and I help people who struggle feeling ‘not good enough’.

Using hypnotherapy, mindfulness and other therapeutic tools I help them unlock the freedom to do the things they always wanted to do, but never thought they could. The goal is to feel less anxious and truly enjoy life. It might be hard to imagine, but it is really possible to be who you want to be and do what you want to do.

Future plan I want to make mindfulness accessible to those who think too much and make hypnotherapy attractive to those who have a fear of losing control. Both help to control how we speak to ourselves and stop the tendency to ‘self-hypnotise’ ourselves with the message we’re not good enough, which can lead to failure and anxiety. My aim is to teach everyone how to reverse this, because everyone deserves to truly enjoy life.

How networking helps I joined Athena to raise awareness about my business, but networking hasn’t only helped me with that, I’ve also met very talented women, experienced many of their services and felt their support. I feel part of a family now. www.lauraartero.com mail@lauraartero.com 07717 434029

Families West London 01628 788058 familiesonline.co.uk

She Means Business

Bilge Baskan Katherine Brown Ascender Creative

Business purpose We offer strategic website design for small businesses. We differ from many web agencies in that we come to design from the business management world and apply our experience of running small businesses to create websites that not only look great but strategically build your online credibility and engage with your ideal customers.

Future plan We’re launching a new ‘Website in a Week’ package tailored to solo entrepreneurs and extending other areas of support for clients to provide more focused help both before and after they launch. This includes everything from a competitive web audit to social media launch pack and ongoing customer engagement planning.

How networking helps Athena provides me with: A ready-made community of amazing women providing support and encouragement.

Collaboration opportunities - running a small business can be lonely, so I love the fact that there are so many opportunities to work with Athena members on joint projects and that by combining our skills we can offer our clients something more.

And finally connections - Athena members are always opening doors for you - and as everyone knows a solid recommendation is a powerful sales tool. www.ascendercreative.com katherine@ascendercreative.com +44 (0) 7949 112 344 www.instagram.com/ascendercreative www.twitter.com/ascenderchat www.facebook.com/ ascendercreativechat/ www.linkedin.com/in/ katherinebrownuk/

Venture X UK and Ireland Business purpose Venture X is a flexible workspace provider. From virtual offices to private offices, meeting rooms to coworking desks, we provide a range of flexible workspaces with a unique set of amenities and member privileges to support our members and the growth of their business. We’ve built spaces where better work comes naturally – with all the features and amenities our members need to thrive. From award-winning desk and chairs to high-tech video conferencing rooms, on-site gyms to podcast recording studios, we’ve thought of it all to change the way our members work.

Future plan We currently have over 50 locations and 135+ locations in development in 31 countries worldwide. As we continue to grow organically, as well as through conversions of competitor spaces, we will continue to provide professional, flexible nearby coworking spaces and event space options to more entrepreneurs, freelancers, corporations, enterprise, remote workers, and businesses worldwide. We’re proud to say Venture X has exciting plans for the future.

How networking helps We would love to connect with anyone who might be interested in finding the perfect workspace for their business, learning more about who we are and what we offer, and more importantly how we can help them. Athena Networking facilitate this by bringing together local business people, helping make new connections and building relationships. bilge@venturex.uk Mobile: +44 (0) 7545 980 902 Direct: +44 (0) 203 585 2500 www.venturex.co.uk/location-chiswickpark/ www.linkedin.com/company/65441980 www.instagram.com/venturexuk/ www.facebook.com/ venturexuki/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Sara Wilcox

Pathways Through Dementia Business purpose Pathways Through Dementia is a charity which assists people navigating the legal and financial aspects of their dementia journey. We run a helpline service and deliver talks and training on topics such as paying for care, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and relevant community care laws such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Future plan Our charity intends to improve awareness of the ‘paying for care’ rules due to an increase in calls on this topic. We will also be reaching out to businesses interested in supporting working carers with lunchtime seminars where people can learn more about dementia and planning ahead.

How networking helps If it wasn’t for the support and expertise of many women in the Athena network, I doubt that Pathways Through Dementia would still exist to support anxious families struggling to care for someone with dementia. The network has also contributed by raising much needed funding to keep us going! www.pathwaysthroughdementia.org Helpline number: 0203 540 5940 Helpline email: swilcox@ pathwaysthroughdementia.org www.twitter.com/pathwaydementia www.facebook.com/ PathwaysThroughDementia

It is clear that networking has offered these businesses considerable business support and friendship. Working alone or as part of a small business can be daunting and sometimes you just need other like-minded people to thrash an idea or problem out with!

If you would like to find out how your business might benefit, visit www.theathenanetwork.com. You are also welcome to contact sheila.bennett@theathenanetwork.com to find out more about visiting your local group. familiesonline.co.uk

editor@FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West London

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