Issue 78 - March/April 2017
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Oxfordshire's leading distribution magazine and online resource for families with 0-12's. www.familiesonline.co.uk Oxfordshire Magazine
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Visit Oxford High Junior School Junior School Open Morning Monday 27 March 9.15am - 11.00am www.ohsvisit.org.uk or call Admissions on 01865 318500 For girls aged 4 to 18 years 2 March/ April 2017
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Oxfordshire
In this issue...
www.familiesonline.co.uk Tel: 01993 815 966 Editor Ema Murphy editor@familiesoxfordshire.co.uk
4
What's New
6
Parenting, mother and baby
Design Rebecca Carr Printer Warners
8
Easter - Egg hunts and crafts
9
Top tips for potty training
40,000 readers per issue
10 Spring news and holiday camps 11
Holiday and travelling with children
Next issue May/ June 2017
12 Health feature (Nits) and latest recipe
Booking deadline 3 April 2017
13 Oxford Children's Hospital 10th Anniversary feature
Cover image: Istockphoto
14 What's on in March & April
Disclaimer: Families Oxfordshire Magazine is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families ÂŽ is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Temple House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Oxfordshire Magazine are fully protected by copyright and non 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
Holiday courses for children aged 7–13 who love to sing. A unique opportunity to learn about and perform a range of classical music with a dedicated team of choral professionals.
EASTER 2017
10th & 11th April Worcester College, Oxford
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Call 030 3003 4006 to book your free trial. explorelearning.co.uk
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www.oxbridgesingingschool.co.uk Oxfordshire Magazine 3
What's New? Dragons Grill Pupils’ Ideas at Unicorn School Unicorn School pupils braved a Den of Dragons recently, as they presented their amazing inventions to a panel of “investors”.
Throw on your apron and make your bake matter Red Nose Day is on Friday 24th March 2017. HomeSense has partnered with renowned fashion and portrait photographer Rankin to create exclusive aprons for Red Nose Day 2017. The apron features a selection of unique, quirky and quintessentially British animal portraits including Rankin’s own dog. This years’ campaign is being fronted by the Hairy Bikers, Si King and Dave Myers. The bikers will be supported by a whole host of celebrities including Nadine Coyle, Pearl Lowe, Nadiya Hussain and Jodie Kidd. The adult apron, priced at £12.99, will be available to buy in HomeSense and TK Max with £5 from every adult apron sale going to Comic Relief.
No money, no time, no patience - but nine in ten British families are happy A portrait of British family life in 2017 reveals parents are under constant pressure as they juggle finances, kids and responsibilities, according to a new report. But despite the burden of family life, more than nine in ten parents (91%) are happy with life. The report, which polled 2,000 families, shows that, on average, families have two children, a pet dog, an income of £29,688 a year, live in a three-bed house and drive a Ford Focus. However, the insight also shows parents work an average of 30 hours a week and invest as much time doing household chores as spending time together (18 hours). The survey also reveals that women are far more likely to manage the household finances than men and also do an average of seven hours more housework per week!
4 March/ April 2017
The “Dragon’s Den” style challenge was inspired by Beech Class’ current Literacy topic, the novel “Holes” by Louis Sachar. The novel’s hero Stanley Yelnat is the son of an inventor. Our pupils were inspired to invent and present their own ideas in a task designed to develop their imagination, use of persuasive language, and articulation skills. Head Teacher Mr Day and his panel of Dragons were so impressed by the pupil’s innovative ideas and their professional PowerPoint presentations. Congratulations pupils, you are the entrepreneurs of the future!
Exciting news from Cogges Cogges has had a terrific start to the new year! They’ll be launching an ambitious and exciting £1.95m project exploring 1,000 years of Cogges’ history and interpreting the site’s many stories for visitors and educational groups. To support us in this exciting venture, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has provisionally agreed to grant Cogges Heritage Trust just over £1m. It’s a reflection of the importance and popularity of Cogges in the local community, the heritage value of the site and the confidence the HLF has in the Trust’s long-term financial sustainability.
Easter singing course in Oxford 10th and 11th April Local children in can take advantage of The Oxford and Cambridge Singing School’s opportunity to sing some wonderful English anthems by Elgar, SS Wesley and Attwood, in the beautiful surroundings of WORCESTER COLLEGE, OXFORD.
Farmoor Sixth former takes science club initiative A student from Abingdon School, is encouraging youngsters to explore science by running an after school club at St Edmund’s Primary School in Abingdon. Carl Olavesen, who is 17 said, “Science is a fun activity that everyone can do, it doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s great to take a look at everyday things from a scientific perspective. The children really enjoy the practical activities". Fay O'Brien, who is the Science Leader at St Edmund's welcomed the opportunity to run the Science Club, she said, “Carl has made a positive impact on science at the school.”
This course is for children aged 7-13 who love to sing. Established to give children the opportunity to sing great classical music with world class coaches in a relaxed and fun environment and to develop their confidence and ability in singing and performing. The Oxford & Cambridge Singing School offers regular courses during the holidays in Oxford, Cambridge and London. For more information, or to book, please go to www.oxbridgesingingschool.co.uk or call Samantha Wickham on 07867 778326.
www.familiesonline.co.uk
11+ and entrance exams at Explore Learning
Growth mindset nurtured at OHJS Recent media coverage revealing that six-year olds believe academic brilliance is a male trait and girls attribute their academic success to hard work, not innate ability, is concerning. Thoughtful intervention at an early age may ensure that gender stereotyping does not influence future performance and career choices. Many parents view singlesex education as a sensible route for the teenage years, avoiding inevitable distractions of the opposite sex but it can be equally valuable in the formative years. At OHJS, we nurture a growth mindset enabling girls to recognise that they can achieve amazing things and there are no predetermined routes simply because they happen to be a girl. They head to Senior School with a passion for learning all subjects, including stereotypical masculine ones - Mathematics and Physics for example. In an all-girls setting, the association of ‘boys’ with 'brilliance' is simply much less likely to happen. Kate Gater, Head of Oxford High Junior School
Is your child in or approaching Year 5? Do they have the ambition of going to grammar or independent school? If so, we could be the best possible support for them in the build up to their exam. With 15 years of experience, we’ve developed a unique programme for 11+ and entrance exam tuition, enabling us to tailor our support to the specific exams of local schools. We welcome all children on board without a pre-test; we simply want them to feel inspired to learn more through this challenging and rewarding course! Our members regularly attend two types of session: one group session designed to support their exam technique, speed, accuracy, and exciting, new skills such as non-verbal and verbal reasoning; and another individualised session, mapped to their ability, to help strengthen the core foundations of maths and English. All of this takes place with the support of our expert tutors in centres that are bursting with positive energy so that each child feels confident and excited for their next step. Spaces for the course get snapped up rather quickly so for more information about our 11+ and entrance exam courses, and to book a free trial for your child at one of our centres, head to our website: www.explorelearning.co.uk/11-plusexams.
FREE children’s activities this Spring
Registered Charity No. 313035
Modern Art Oxford provides free, creative art activities for children and families in Oxfordshire. As a charity, the gallery is raising money to provide more activities for the community in 2017.You can make a donation to support this by visiting www.modernartoxford.org.uk/support The exhibition Lubaina Himid: Invisible Strategies is on show at Modern Art Oxford until 30 April 2017.
BE GOOD AT BEING YOURSELF
Easter Theatre Course Calling all budding young actors! Here is a lively way to keep youngsters entertained during the Easter break. Stagecoach Oxford will be hosting a holiday theatre course, with a performance of 'Little Red Hoodie' at Sandhills School from 10 - 13 April. Ideal for age 4-12, with extended hours if needed, it's an ideal way to sing, dance and act through the holidays! Call Stagecoach Oxford on 01869 278600 or visit the website at www. stagecoach.co.uk/oxford for more details.
ABINGDON 01865 390970 abingdon@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/abingdon
OXFORD - BOTLEY, HEADINGTON, KIDLINGTON, SUMMERTOWN 01869 278600 oxford@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/oxford
Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year olds, where students learn to embrace life with creativity and courage
™ ®
THAME & WATLINGTON 01865 763767 thame@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/thame FARINGDON 01367 240663 faringdon@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/faringdon
Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd.
BANBURY 0808 208 5134 banbury@stagecoach.co.uk stagecoach.co.uk/banbury
Unlock your child’s potential with Stagecoach Performing Arts
Creative Courage For Life
MODERN ART OXFORD
Oxfordshire Magazine 5
Parenting, Mother and Baby William’s ‘the’ most popular baby name By comparing the most popular names for babies born in 1911, 1939 and 2015, leading family history website Findmypast, has revealed that William has been the most continuously popular baby name for more than a hundred years. William was the only name (both male & female) to make it into lists of top ten most popular choices across all three periods of history, ranking 1st in 1911, 6th in 1939, and 8th in 2015. Whereas, girls names have proven to be more influenced by fashion, over the years. With Isla, Mia and Ava hitting the top ranks in 2015!
The importance of sleep for children As adults, we are more than aware of how important a good night's sleep is - we need it for balance, mood stability and to enhance brain function. And anyone who has children will concur that getting a full night's sleep is essential to combat temper tantrums and tiredness, which can be traumatic for toddlers. Experts from the NHS think that as much as we should prioritise healthy eating and exercise, we should also be ensuring children get around nine hours of solid slumber nightly, to improve their learning. Particularly when they are young and acquiring knowledge on everything as they begin to shape and understand the world around them, children need a requisite amount of sleep to boost retaining information and help embed knowledge from throughout the day. Ultimately, our brains need rest overnight to allow us to absorb information better, and this is even more important for young minds.
So how much sleep should they be getting? The NHS issues guidelines for optimum sleep time for different age groups have been collected by the Millpond Children's Sleep Clinic. These are: Between the ages of 4 and 16, children should be sleeping through the night for 11 hours, which gradually goes down to about 9 at 14, with 15-minute decrements over the time space.
Why is sleep so important?
‘The’ funniest sounds for babies! British parents were asked to the name the top noises that make their little ones cheerful to contribute to a song, called The Happy Song, by the C&G Baby Club. The track was designed to encourage happiness and laughter for babies aged 6 – 24 months and was played to and tested on 56 infants, monitoring their reactions to see whether it worked. Favourite sounds were boo, sneezing, kissing sounds, other babies laughing, quacks, farts and coughing! The full song can be downloaded on iTunes, was created by world-class psychologists and awardwinning musician Imogen Heap. 6 March/ April 2017
We only need to look at some of the poor decisions or small mistakes we have made ourselves when we are tired, and we can begin to understand the importance of sleep. How many times have you started something which you then struggled to finish, simply because of the impact tiredness has on judgement and motivation? When coupled with the vital rest time for busy, sponge-like brains, getting adequate sleep makes a lot of sense. Whether it's through using sleep aids or planning a meticulous routine, there are several ways to ensure your children are reaching the requisite sleep hours for their age group.
So, how can you encourage them to sleep? Essentially, fostering a good sleeping habit is much easier with young children than teenagers, who know how to fight back! Laying the right foundations when they are young, and encouraging them to see sleep as a part of healthy living should make maintaining it, even when they have discovered the joys of socialising, much more straightforward.
Routine, routine, routine Whilst they try to convince themselves and their parents otherwise, children thrive on routine, and our brains learn when to start shutting www.familiesonline.co.uk
down and getting the all-important rest they need. Trying as best you can to instil a routine of preparing for and going to bed at the same time every night will help your child, no matter what age they are.
The gender pay gap widens for women when they start a family
This includes brushing teeth and getting pyjamas on at a certain time, which starts to surreptitiously prepare the brain for sleepy time. Getting them settled into a routine means preparing the brain for its rest period.
Limit the technology
The gender pay gap has halved for women in their 20s over the past couple of decades but it widens again once they have kids, according to a new study.
For many people, the evening routine relies on technology. Be it smartphones, tablets or television, we all, including our children, use devices to unwind with at night. However, these bits of tech are actually stimuli, which make the going to bed routine harder to implement. After dinner, try enjoying some conversation or a board game to encourage them to chat about their day and also allow the brain some all-important decompression time.
The research, from think tank the Resolution Foundation, found that women born between 1946 and 1965 faced a pay gap of 16% during their 20s. This fell to 9% for women born between 1966 and 1980 and to 5% for those born between 1981 and 2000. This suggests that more young women are finding employment in higher paying roles and industries but pay inequality hits home again when they hit their 30s.
Where possible, discourage them from having TV or gadgets in the bedroom at all, as these can be used as a distraction. In fact, making sure that the bedroom is most closely associated with sleep is a better way to negotiate this obstacle - which means keeping it tidy and clutter-free.
The importance of light Whether it's through blackout curtains or nightlights, achieving the correct balance of light in your child's room is key to ensuring consistency in their sleep pattern. Invest in some heavy duty curtains so that whether winter or summer, their room is dark, and use a little nightlight for a subtle glow that helps orientate them if they do wake up in the night.
According to the report, women born between 1981 and 2000 can expect a 9% pay gap by the time they reach 30, which is little different from the previous generation. Laura Gardiner, senior policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: “Young women today face relatively little disadvantage in terms of their pay packets compared to what their parents' and grandparents' generation faced.� "But while many millennial women haven't experienced much of a pay gap yet, most probably will once they reach their 30s, when they start having children. What's more this pay penalty is big and long-lasting, and remains for younger generations despite the progress in early careers."
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Forest School
Newly Developed
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Independent day and boarding schools for girls aged 3-18 yrs and boys aged 3-11 yrs.
Early Years Stay and Play Days 2017 Wednesday 1 March 2017 10.00 am - 12.00 pm Thursday 11 May 2017 10.00 am - 12.00 pm
Call our Registrar, Fern Williams on 01865 762802 to book your place today. enquiries@ryestantony.co.uk www.ryestantony.co.uk
Pullen’s Lane, Oxford OX3 0BY Parking for this event is by our Franklin Road entrance, Sat nav postcode OX3 7SA. Oxfordshire Magazine 7
Easter fun The Great Easter Egg Hunt Keep up this fun tradition with your children this Easter by Sally J. Hall Easter means different things to different people; for some it’s a religious celebration, for others a few days off work and the chance to meet up with friends and family for meals and outings together. But for the kids it is quite simple; it means time off school and plenty of Easter eggs! So why not organise an Easter Egg Hunt with your children and their friends? Here’s how to make this year’s Easter’s egg hunt one that will be talked about for years to come.
What is an Easter Egg Hunt? If you’ve never done this before, you – and your kids – are in for a treat. The day or evening before Easter Sunday, the grown-ups go around the house and possibly the garden too, including any safe sheds or garages, hiding Easter eggs and other treats.
In the woods. If you live near some open space, gather the kids and their parents together and delegate one or two members of the grownups to keeping them amused (perhaps with an egg themed story) until the other adults have planted the eggs and clues around. Then let the little ones loose!
Then the kids have to find them on Easter morning. For many parents, the planning and organising beforehand is almost as much fun as watching the kids chasing around trying to find where you have hidden the eggs.
Some ground rules
First, the shopping list
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So that the children all feel they have been treated fairly and for safety, have some rules.
You’ll need a few eggs per child – perhaps one large one each and then several eggs of smaller sizes and colours. Look for bumper packs that will be cheaper to buy than lots of individual eggs.
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Next, you need holders for the children to collect the eggs in. Though this could be as simple as paper bags, you could find some inexpensive baskets in a craft shop, some plastic bowls or even washed plastic flower pots.
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If you don’t want the kids to overdose on sugar, a few small gifts may be nice among all the eggs. Perhaps some small books or colouring pens. The final thing you’ll need is a list of where you have hidden all the eggs. You don’t want to find melted chocolate later on where the kids have failed to notice those eggs under a sofa cushion!
Some nice ideas to do the day before, especially if it’s raining Encourage the children to decorate the bags or bowls that they and their friends will use for collecting the eggs in. If you’re using paper bags, make potato stamps and use poster paints to stamp on bold egg or bunny shape designs, then add stickers or glitter. If you have found little wicker baskets, line them with straw or shredded paper and tie ribbons to the handles. If you’re using plastic flower pots, tie a ribbon around each and add a paper label with the child’s name on it.
Where can you do an Easter Egg hunt? At home, inside the house. This is particularly good if the weather is bad and as Easter is very early this year, it may be cold or wet. Make sure you lock or mark out-of-bounds rooms that you don’t want the children in – such as the kitchen and your own bedroom. In the garden. If it’s fine, this is ideal. Don’t put the eggs out the night before though, as animals may eat them, leave this until the morning. As an extra cute idea, why not make bunny footprints near each hidden egg? Cut the shape out of a piece of card and sprinkle flour or talcum powder through the template. 8 March/ April 2017
Don't forget Eas ter Sunday 1 6th April
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When they have collected three eggs, they must come back to ‘base’ before going off again. This gives them all a chance to find plenty of eggs. Make sure you give the kids boundaries that they must not stray outside. If they go into the garden, make sure any gates or openings to the road are guarded by an adult and unsafe sheds or outhouses are locked. If you’re in the woods or a park, place small kids with grown-ups or much older children for safety. Children could be asked to collect different colour eggs each – you can achieve this by wrapping eggs in several different colours of tissue or wrapping paper. Alternatively, you could have different colours for very small children and make them much easier to spot but have the slightly better hidden ones nearby for older kids. Get older children to pair up with younger ones to help them. Don’t allow the kids to eat the eggs as they find them – they have to bring them all back to base. Once the game is over, allow them to eat one or two and then the rest should be taken home.
Make it better If you want to increase the amount of time the hunt takes up, you could have some challenges or activities along the way. For example, when they all get to a particular place, they could sit down on a picnic blanket for an Easter themed story, or play some games like “What’s The Time, Mister Wolf?” This helps to slow down the hunt and to let off steam too.
Give us a clue If you wish, you can add an extra dimension to a hunt, especially for older children, with clues. Think about where you can hide eggs and then make up a clue about that place. For example, if you have hidden some in the washing machine (unplug for safety), you could have a clue about ‘where clothes go for a bath’ and so on. You could also make a map and have clues that they find as they follow the map around. This could be themed; they might be looking for numbered pictures of bunnies tied into the trees if you’re in the woods, they could be pirates looking for buried treasure in the garden (and could dress up too) or fairies looking for magic eggs in the house. Use your imagination! 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. www.familiesonline.co.uk
Easter crafts for the kids Make this Easter even more fun for the kids with these simple to make Easter crafts; perfect for adults and children alike!
Easter egg-bunny Use this simple step by step guide to make a super cute Easter egg bunny with your little munchkins…
What you will need: 1 hard-boiled egg Yellow and white felt PVA glue Felt tip pens
Step 1 - Begin your craft by taking a freshly cooked and cooled hard-boiled egg. Step 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. Step 3 - Stick the felt feet onto the base of the egg, making sure the egg can stand upright on them. Step 4 - Stick the white ears onto the yellow. Once they have dried a little, stick them on to the rear of where the face will be. Step 5 - Finally, draw a rabbit’s face on the front of the egg with the pens and decorate with patterns as your child likes. You could even stick a cute little bow on the top of the eggs by their ears, if you’re feeling really creative!
Easter bunny ears Make sure your kids get into the Easter spirit with this simple to make homemade bunny ears.
What you will need: White cardboard Scissors Grey and pink paint PVA glue An Alice band
Step 1 - Get the kids to paint two sheets of white cardboard grey and then another two sheets pink. Step 2 - Using child-safe scissors help them to cut out larger ear shapes from the grey cardboard and then slightly smaller ear shapes from the pink cardboard. Step 3 - Using glue stick the smaller pink shapes onto the larger grey ears. Step 4 - Finally, attach the shapes to the Alice band with the glue and leave to dry.
Tips and advice on potty training toddlers Potty training your toddler can be tricky, especially if they seem a little nonresponsive to begin with… Knowing when to start
There’s very little point in trying to potty train your child before they are physically and emotionally ready, which is usually at around two years of age – although for some children it may take longer. Look out for signs that your child is becoming aware of doing a ‘wee’ or ‘poo’. They may tell you that they are wet or dirty, or that they are wetting their nappy or is about to do so. Another sign that your child is learning control is if their nappy is still dry after they’ve worn it for a number of hours.
How to begin
Explain in simple words what you want your child to do. Tell them that it’s what you and ‘big’ children do and that they’ll be able to wear ‘big pants’ once their out of nappies. Select certain times of day to sit them on her potty. Try to choose times when your child usually wets or dirties themselves. Your child may get the hang of potty training very quickly, or they may think the whole thing is a joke, or even treat it with complete disinterest. If they refuse to sit on the potty for more than a few minutes, don’t force it. You don’t want to turn this into a battle of wills! Never show your displeasure or punish your child for not performing– this will only reduce their self-confidence and cause tension between you both. Equally, don’t overdo the praise when your little one does something in her potty.
The next steps
Try putting them in training pants rather than nappies - it will make life easier for you both. Once a certain amount of control is achieved, you can introduce the idea of wearing ordinary pants.
Staying dry at night
It’s unlikely that your toddler will become dry at night at the same time as they are dry during the day. Few children achieve this and many are well into their third year before they are completely dry during the night. If you encourage your child to use the potty before going to bed and don’t offer drinks at night or during the hour before bedtime you’ll find that eventually you’ll have a series of dry nappies during the night and your nappy days will be well and truly over! For more about potty training visit www.emmasdiary.co.uk Written by Alison Mackonochie Alison is a well-respected and highly experienced writer and editor. The author of numerous books on pregnancy and early year’s childcare, Alison has worked with Lifecycle as editor-in-chief of Emma’s Diary for more than 20 years.
More arts and craft ideas visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk Oxfordshire Magazine 9
Spring news and holiday camps The Story Museum needs your help! The museum is on a mission to gather the greatest stories of all time and the greatest ways of telling them. So, its latest campaign launched in February, Dispatched Ever After, a fantastical story craft, is on a mission to collect the 1001 greatest stories and the treasures they contain. Tales from other times and places, told in person, on paper, on screen. The Craft will involve authors, illustrators and storytellers including Katherine Rundell, Katy Ridell, and Joseph Coelho. Visitors to The Story Museum will be able to track the craft from ‘Mission Control’, a new and exciting interactive installation, where children and families can write, draw, film and record their suggestions for the stories that should become part of the museum’s collection. Progress will be shared with blogs and online updates. Assistance with this super mission is required throughout 2017.
Burn off that Easter egg energy at Rush High Wycombe Trampoline Park This multi-activity camp is perfect for children aged 5–16 years with lots of energy to burn! Running each day of the Easter holidays from 9am to 4.30pm (apart from Good Friday and Easter Monday) the camp features tumble, freestyle and trampolining coaching as well as unlimited access to courts, dodgeball, wipeout, walking sticks, challenge course, cookery and arts & crafts. If you book before 6th March, you will receive an early bird discount and it will cost £37 per day (saving £6 per day by booking early), or £159 per week (saving £40 as an early-bird), plus there is the option of early drop or late pick up for £2.50–£3.50 extra, depending on timing. There will also be a daily Easter Egg hunt during Toddler Time sessions between 10th-17th April. To book, visit www.rushuk.com or call 03454 500268.
Local PERFORM Drama, Dance & Singing Workshops Perform is a unique type of children’s drama school. Focusing on child development, Perform uses a specially formulated mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s true potential. Small class sizes ensure lots of individual attention by the experienced actor-teachers who focus on developing the 4 Cs: Confidence, Communication, Coordination and Concentration and having the best fun of the week. The summer term starts in April with two brilliant and inspiring themes: Perform 4–7 year olds will be saddling up and going on a Wild West adventure to find the Horse with the Golden Mane. Children will be rodeo-riding through a spooky ghost town, dancing to the Hip Hop Hoedown and meeting Chief Sitting Bull of the Sioux Tribe. 10 March/ April 2017
the 7–12s will be zooming off on a fun-filled outer space adventure with Robinson Crusoe. After crash-landing on Mars, our intergalactic hero has to save the Martian children from being eaten by the evil Commander Cannibal. With infectious tunes and high-energy dance, this space-age version of the castaway survival classic has been transformed into an explosive new show. Perform offers a no-obligation, FREE trial session. To find your nearest venue, call 020 7255 9120 or see www.perform.org.uk/try
Want to see a ‘BearCat?’ Visit Cotswold Wildlife Park
© Rebecca Farrow
A new species for the Park is the mysterious Binturong. From the forests of South East Asia, where it spends most of its time in the trees. Otherwise known as the “Bear-Cat”, the Binturong is a strange creature in its habits and appearance. Despite its bulk and relatively slow nature, it is surprisingly agile in the trees and uses its prehensile tail for balance as it moves around looking for its favourite fruits. Should you ever be close enough, you will detect a faint aroma of popcorn emanating from the “Bear-Cat” as he moves about his exhibit near our Reptile House, from a scent gland at the base of his tail. Satisfy your curiosity at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and have a great family day out. www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk.
Easter Holidays at Super Camps Get down to Super Camps for the best in holiday activities for children. Taking place at Radley College, Nr Abingdon, the daily and weekly activity camps allow children to get the most out of their holiday time. The programme is jam-packed with fun activities that will keep your children entertained for hours, and the 'Outstanding' Ofsted ratings give you the peace of mind that your children are in the best possible care. Early Years crews for 4 to 5 year olds ensures learning and development within a fun environment. The 6 to 9 year old crews can explore new activities and take on new challenges such as The Avengers School of Archery, Super Camps Driving School and Motor Mania. Our 10 to 12 year olds can attend together in their very own common room and spend more time tackling activities in depth. Prices start from £38 per day.
www.familiesonline.co.uk
Holidays and Travel
Tips on flying with young children Will you be travelling abroad with your young children this year? Here are a few tips for a stress-free journey... To begin with, it’s worth informing the airline when you book your flight that you have young children and take advantage of all the extra help they offer parents. HERE ARE OUR TOP TIPS: •
Check if your airport has a dedicated crèche. Some are equipped with toys, books and rest rooms.
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Ask if you can take your buggy to the flight’s gate so your little one will have somewhere familiar to nap if your flight is delayed.
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Pack plenty of wet wipes in your handbag.
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Get your children used to drinking room temperature drinks as it can be difficult to keep bottles cool or warm them up at the airport.
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Pre-book children's meals on flights. They get served first and you'll avoid the endless wait for food.
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Breastfeed your baby, or have a drink ready for an older child when the flight is taking off and landing as the sucking motion will help equalise the pressure in the ears (often an uncomfortable cause of babies crying on flights).
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Under-twos usually travel free as long as they sit on a parent’s lap for the entire flight. If your budget will stretch to it maybe pay the extra fare so you have an extra seat.
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A seat near the bulkhead (where there is a division or toilet in front) may have a bit of extra room, so your toddler could play on the floor.
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Take plenty of baby food and mini snacks with you.
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Try to time your child’s day so they will have a nap on the flight. Some airlines provide pillows and blankets.
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Dress children in layers as they can get too warm on a flight – or too cold if the air conditioning is on full blast.
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Take non-battery toys and games with you like good old fashioned colouring books.
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Let your child have their own carryon bag of small games and treats. Trunkis (the animal shaped wheelie sit-on-and-ride cases) are good fun.
As a busy local parent, Rachel Strong, of Hays Travel in Oxford, appreciates just how valuable family holidays are, yet also knows how hard it is to find a moment to organise one.
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Keep an eye on your child’s feet to make sure the seat in front doesn't get kicked.
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But most of all; try to keep calm and enjoy yourself… it is your well-earned holiday too!
As a personal travel consultant, it’s Rachel’s job to help get your trip in the diary, whatever length, destination or price range, taking care of the details, making all the difference between hard work, or fun and relaxation. With considerable first-hand experience, Rachel does all the hard work and she’ll even make suggestions for your next destination and itinerary, based on her extensive, up-to-date knowledge of holiday resorts and destinations.
Emma’s Diary is the UK’s most trusted and influential pregnancy and baby channel. Working in partnership with The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) for more than 23 years, they provide parents-to-be and new parents with the very best medical and practical information. Visit www.emmasdiary.co.uk
Help is at hand with your next holiday! With Spring firmly upon us, it’s definitely time to start thinking about your holiday if you haven’t already. With that in mind, when Families met local, personal travel consultant Rachel Strong, whose job it is to plan family holidays, we were intrigued to find out more!
Her local, personalised service, offers the security and peace of mind, of booking with the UK’s largest independent travel agency. If you’d like Rachel to help with your next holiday, just give her a call on 01865 601027 or drop her an email at rachel-strong@hays-travel.co.uk. It’s holiday time! www.haystravel.co.uk/ rachel-strong. www.facebook.com/ RachelStrongatHaysTravel Oxfordshire Magazine 11
Mummy Cooks
Hidden Veg Risotto
Siobhan Berry of Mummy Cooks shares her recipe for a delicious Hidden Veg Risottos, perfect for fussy eaters.
Headlice
An irritating problem How to cope with those nasty nits
Headlice are every parent’s nightmare. How do you cope with headlice – and can they be prevented?
What are headlice?
Headlice, also known as nits, are tiny insects that live in human hair and feed on blood. They are very small, so it’s no surprise they’re difficult to see. The discarded egg cases are white and it’s often these, the ‘nits’, that you notice first, behind the ears.
Are they obvious?
They are tiny, so difficult to spot and although most children will have itching and the feeling of movement in their hair, others may have no idea. Even if your child displays no symptoms, check regularly.
How to check
Your best friend is your nit comb. When you wash your child’s hair, apply plenty of conditioner and comb in sections, making sure you don’t miss any areas. Check the comb for small black or brown dots - these are the lice. Remove under a hot tap or into a cup of hot water. Even if you use a lotion from the pharmacist, you should still comb.
What to treat the hair with
A pharmacist can sell you a remedy; treat all family members and again after a couple of weeks to take care of eggs; lice have a 30-day life span. Some lotions are not suitable for the under-twos or for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Can I prevent them?
Whilst there is some evidence that they dislike tea tree oil and lavender, you can’t really prevent an infestation. Sorry.
5 facts about Headlice 1. They can live under water for hours 2. They are passed from head to head 3. They are not a sign of being dirty – they prefer clean hair 4. They do not only affect children, check your hair too. 5. They can’t jump 12 March/ April 2017
This is a great recipe for getting a few added veggies into the kids. The courgette really goes well with the rice and is a great way of introducing it along with the tomato. The whole family are sure to love it! 25g unsalted butter 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced 750ml of low salt vegetable stock 250g risotto rice 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 1 courgette, grated Large handful of freshly grated parmesan, plus extra to serve 1.
Heat the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, then gently sauté for about five minutes until soft.
2.
Add the rice to the pan and stir until all of the rice has been coated by the butter.
3.
Add the stock, a ladle full at a time, stirring frequently; waiting until all of the stock has been absorbed by the rice before adding another ladle full.
4.
After about 10-15 minutes, add the courgette, stir in well before continuing to add the stock.
5.
Once all of the stock has been added, stir in the chopped tomatoes.
6.
Allow the tomatoes to heat up in the mixture for a few minutes and the liquid to absorb before removing it from the heat and adding a large handful of freshly grated parmesan.
Visit www.mummycooks.co.uk for more family friendly meals and advice on how to feed your family healthy home cooked food. www.familiesonline.co.uk
Royal support as Oxford Children’s Hospital turns ten and launches new £2 million appeal Ten years ago the doors opened to a hospital that now holds a special place in the hearts of thousands of families across Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. The Oxford Children’s Hospital was built following a huge fundraising campaign and alongside excellent clinical services it includes a school as well as indoor and outdoor play areas. To mark this milestone the hospital’s charity has launching a new £2 million 10th Anniversary Appeal – to make the hospital even better for young patients and their families. A statement of support from HRH the Duchess of Cambridge praised the committed staff and encouraged people to support the new appeal. The Duchess said: ‘I would like to congratulate the Oxford Children’s Hospital on this important milestone and lend my wholehearted support to the new appeal. ‘I wish this appeal every success in raising funds so that babies, children, teenagers and their families can continue to be looked after in as comfortable and happy an environment as possible, with the very best equipment, during what can inevitably be an anxious time for all.’ Lady Baldry, Chair of the 10th Anniversary of the Oxford Children’s Hospital Appeal, added: ‘We are thrilled to receive such special words of support from the Duchess of Cambridge which will mean so much to the staff and families at the Oxford Children’s Hospital. We really hope our wonderful local community will also rally behind this important appeal. Please do consider how you, your friends, business, workplace, school or club can get involved to make it an even better place for our young patients and their families.’
The Oxford Children’s Hospital 10th Anniversary Appeal will help create more space for parents to stay close to their children when they are staying in hospital, as well as fund extra play areas and specialist medical equipment – including the very latest testing equipment for bacterial meningitis.
One Family’s Story
Eleanor Jones, Head of Fundraising at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds, said: ‘We wouldn’t have this very special hospital without the support of our local community who helped raise funds to build the Children’s Hospital - and we are calling for their support once again.
“Until a few months ago I really didn’t know much about the Oxford Children’s Hospital, but that changed incredibly quickly.
‘Ten years after the hospital opened we have more young patients than ever and there is a real need for extra accommodation for parents and carers. At the moment there simply isn’t enough space for all the parents who so desperately want to stay close to their children. So we are working with our friends at Ronald McDonald House Charity to help fund a new 62 bedroom building to keep families and their sick children close together. ‘The appeal will also create extra play areas, a new bedside monitoring system across the whole of the hospital the Horton General’s Children’s Ward and the very latest biomedical testing equipment to quickly diagnose bacterial meningitis and respiratory infections. ‘As we mark ten years of this incredible place, we ask you to join our campaign to raise £2 million for your local Children’s Hospital. ‘With your help we can make a real difference for our youngest patients and their families when they need it most’ More information and how to donate to the appeal can be found at www. ourchildrenshospital.co.uk, call 01865 743444, email charity@ouh.nhs.uk Cheques, marked Oxford Children’s Hospital should be sent to Charitable Funds, Unipart House, Garsington road, Oxford, OX4 2PG
Angela Moulder, mum of two from Banbury
Alan was nearly four when he started to become unwell in September. He was a bit lethargic, had a swollen tummy and had been having nosebleeds. We had taken him to the doctors earlier in the week but ended up in A&E when he had trouble breathing - little knowing that we wouldn’t have him back at home until close to Christmas. Our little boy, who had always been so healthy was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a rare blood cancer. It’s hard enough when adults get cancer, but when it’s your baby – well there are no words. But the amazing team at the Oxford Children’s Hospital took over, and Kamran’s Ward, where children with cancer are looked after, became our new home. I simply don’t know what we have done without the hospital. We can’t fault the care Alan has received and the wonderful attention the doctors and nurses have given him. And as we spent more time in hospital we learned how much of the very latest medical equipment and the special extras like the school and play facilities are funded through the hospital’s charity. We are trying to do our bit and raise some funds for the hospital’s appeal, and our local nursery has already raised an incredible £3700. We really hope other families, nurseries and schools across Oxfordshire will also show their support for this very special hospital that is there for us all when we really need it.’
www.ourchildrenshospital.co.uk Oxfordshire Magazine 13
What's on
Visit our web site for more what ’s on
Your guide to family events this March and April.
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e.co.uk
Fridays Baby Cafe Florence Park Childrens Centre Rhymers Lane, OX4 3JZ thebabycafe.org Baby Cafes are drop-in Centres offering information and support for pregnant and breastfeeding mums and their families and a network of breastfeeding drop-in support groups. With help and support on breastfeeding. 12.30pm 2.30pm Tuesdays until 4 April Humpty Dumpty Music Club Florence Park Community Centre Ox4 3NH naturalvoice.net Take your young children for a lively and interactive music session where together you'll enjoy traditional rhymes and chants, clapping games, lap games, actions and funny nonsense, old fashioned songs and new ditties. Babies welcome. Parking. 10.30am-11.45am / £3.50/ £1 extra child Sundays Family Friendly Sundays OUMNH Parks Road, OX1 3PW, oum.ox.ac.uk Family Friendly trails, crafts, backpacks and more, all provided by Museum volunteers. Drop in. 14:00 - 16:00. Until 9 April Spring has Sprung Trail - Family Trails The University of Oxford Harcourt Arboretum, Harcourt Arboretum, OX44 9PX botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk Take a look at the Arboretum. With trails are designed for children aged 4-11 but older and younger very welcome! Thursdays, March Little Ash Moles Ashmolean Museum Beaumont Street, OX1 2PH www.ashmolean.org Rabbit Hop! Explore, play and learn together with a new theme each month. 10.30 - 11.30. 3 Mar A Little Look at... Animals Pitt Rivers Museum OX1 3PP prm.ox.ac.uk A fun and hands-on session for walkers to 5 years. Go along and see some amazing objects and make something to take home with you. 14 March/ April 2017
4 Mar Baby Boogie Pegasus Theatre OX4 1RE pegasustheatre.org.uk One of Oxford’s favourite family event is back! Bounce onto the dance floor with the popular Baby Boogie. Toddlers and grown-ups throw some shapes and groove to the tunes from the live DJ. Try a warm-up workshop and take a break in the chill-out zone with free activities in the cafe. Under 5’s. 4 Mar Mum's the Word Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum Woodstock, OX20 1SN sofo.org.uk Saturday Kids Club Take away something extra special for Mother’s Day. Booking req’d. 1:00 - 3:30 / £7 4 Mar Musical Science Club Abingdon School OX14 1BQ scienceoxford.com Music can have a really positive impact on development: intellectual, emotional, social, language and literacy. This new family workshop taps in to the science of sound, showing children what it is and how and why instruments produce different notes. 9.45-11am, 11.3012.45pm / £8 per child + booking fee 4 Mar Crime Scene Science Oxford Centre for Innovation OX1 1BY scienceoxford.com Could this be a case for Sherlock Holmes or one of our very own super-sleuths? A terrible crime has been committed and the key clue is a mysterious white powder
found at the scene. Join forensic scientists to discover the identity of the criminal! Ages 9 -13. 1011.30am, 12.30-2pm/ £8 per child + booking. 4 Mar Pitt Stop: What do Archaeologists do? Pitt Rivers Museum OX1 3PP prm.ox.ac.uk Ever wanted to know what an archaeologist does? Go along to find out and look at the new archaeology displays. 5 Mar FUNomusica Family Concert Oxford Town Hall OX1 1BX oxfordphil.com Celebrating dance from all round the world, Alasdair Malloy and the Oxford Philharmonic spin you off your feet on a journey round the globe, discovering just how the whole world loves to dance. Leap from ballroom to barn dance, salsa to samba! 2-4pm. 5 Mar Leaping Frog Cornerstone Arts Centre OX11 7NE corenerstone-arts.org Goggles the wood frog croons her jelly tadpoles before a BOING and a DOING on the yellow pond lily catapults her from Little Pond into a much bigger one! A new puppet adventure following the travels of a jaunty wood frog who leaves her home when she leaps unsuspecting into BIG Pond! Suitable for all up to 103. 2:00pm / £8/£6 11 Mar Lord of the Dance Ashmolean Museum OX1 2PH ashmolean.org
Join in for new adventures! stories, gallery hunts, games, object handling and crafts. Ages 4+ 11 Mar Making Micrographia Museum of the History of Science OX1 3AZ mhs.ox.ac.uk Draw bugs and bacteria from images through microscopes, and make magical monoprints. Drop in. All ages. 13:00 - 16:00 11 Mar The Magic Paintbrush Oxfordshire The North Wall Arts Centre OX2 7JN thenorthwall.com Once upon a time in a grey, colourless world, someone is scribbling. Follow a brave young heroine as she leaps, splatters, swirls, boogies and paints her world into a brighter place. Exploding with energy, surprises and giggles, and set to a quirky urban soundtrack, this is The Magic Paintbrush as never before, by Springs Dance Company. For ages 3+ including adults! 11am & 2pm / £8/£6 + fee 11 Mar Musical Science Oxford Centre for Innovation OX1 1BY scienceoxford.com Music can have a really positive impact on development: intellectual, emotional, social, language and literacy. This new family workshop taps in to the science of sound, showing children what it is and how and why instruments produce different notes. 9.45-11am, 11.3012.45pm / £8 per child + booking fee. Ages 5-9
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11 Mar Super Science Saturday: The Brain OUMNH Parks Road, OX1 3PW oum.ox.ac.uk Wha’s going on inside your head? Meet top brain scientists and take part in demos and activities to find out. 12pm-4pm. Suitable for families, drop-in! 12 Mar Sir Robert Mayer’s Concert Jacqueline du Pré Music Building OX4 1DY jdp.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/events A family-friendly concert featuring members of the A440 Chamber Orchestra. Don’t forget to bring your own cushion! 2.30pm & 4pm. £5 / £16 (under 1s free). 18 Mar Jack and the Beans Talk Pegasus Theatre OX4 1RE pegasustheatre.org.uk Jack lives on a farm with his mum and very little to eat. He likes to talk to the birds, his cow and anyone who will listen. Imagine his surprise when he swaps his cow for some magic beans. A fresh and funny retelling of the traditional story, charming and inventive with lots of interaction, an enormous beanstalk, bags of gold and a smelly old giant. Ages 3+ 18 Mar Saturday Adventures - Myths and Legends Ashmolean Museum OX1 2PH ashmolean.org Join in new adventures for stories, gallery hunts, games, object handling and crafts. Ages 4+ 2-2.45pm & 3.15-4.00pm 18-19 Mar Tractor Safari Millets Farm Centre OX13 5HB milletsfarmcentre.com Take a ride around the farm on Tony, the Tractor's Trailer. Board at the Bus Stop along the walkway. 10-4pm/ £1 each. 21 Mar Curious Cubs OUMNH History OX1 3PW oum.ox.ac.uk Pick up an activity bag and explore with Pebbles, Smokey and Huxley. 10:30am - 12:30pm Under 5s, drop-in. 25-26 Mar, 1-2 Apr Lambing Weekends Earth Trust Little Wittenham, OX14 4QZ earthtrust.org.uk Go down on the farm during our annual Lambing Weekends! Meet lambs, piglets, goats and more. Craft activities and refreshments available. £7 adult, £3 child, £17 family (discount for online
bookings), FREE for Earth Trust Friends. 26 Mar Board Games and Medevial Medicine Museum of the History of Science OX1 3AZ mhs.ox.ac.uk The Museum is helping to develop new board games about medieval Islamic medicine. Help test board games and give your feedback. 2-4pm. Drop In - Ages 7+ 1 Apr Easter Eggstravaganza Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum Woodstock, OX20 1SN sofo.org.uk An afternoon of creative fun to get you in the mood for Easter! Book. 1-3:30pm / £7 2 Apr Monday's Child Cornerstone Arts Centre Didcot, OX11 7NE cornerstone-arts.org A joyous show about the bond between the young and the old. A poetic story of the unique bond between a little girl and an old woman suffering memory loss. Together, in a dream-like garden, they sing and dance and dress up as they joyously explore a treasure trove of memories. Aged 3-7, families & teachers. 2pm / £8, Conc £6, Memb £6.40 8 Apr Ancient Greece: Olympic Games Ashmolean Museum OX1 2PH ashmolean.org New regular adventures: stories, gallery hunts, games, object handling and crafts. Ages 4+. 2pm-2.45pm & 3.15pm-4:00pm 8 Apr Baking with Mrs Bun the Baker'Easter Theme' Millets Farm Centre OX13 5HB milletsfarmcentre.com Easter themed sessions, with the morning being for younger children and the afternoon session for older. Each workshop hosted by Mrs Bun. Space for 10 children (plus 1 adult each). Booking req’d. 9 Apr Morgan & West Magic Show Cornerstone Arts Centre Didcot, OX11 7NE cornerstone-arts.org Magicians, time-travellers and all-round spiffing chaps. Witness a mountain of mysterious magic, a hatful of hyper-reality, and of course a truck full of tricks and tea. Mixing brain busting illusion and good old fashioned tomfoolery, this is a show for all the family, where magic and silliness abound! Fun for all ages! 2:00pm. £10 / £9.
10-13 Apr Cre8tive KIDZ - Easter Workshop Mill Lane Community Primary School Chinnor, OX39 4RF Fun-filled days of Dancing, Singing, Arts and Crafts 9am 3pm. Ages 4+. £60 per child 11 Apr Fantastic Mr Fox 2017 The Oxford Playhouse OX1 2LW oxfordplayhouse.com Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three greedy, smelly, horrid farmers hate the cunning Mr Fox. He is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Can they outrun the diggers and outsmart the farmers, and can Rabbit shut up long enough not to give the game away? Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox is family fun at its finest and a treat for the whole family! 11-15 Apr Brilliant Baskets Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN sofo.org.uk Holiday drop in and create your own amazing Easter basket to take home with you. No need to book. 2:00 - 4:00 / £2 12-13 Apr Holiday adventures - Pure Pattern Ashmolean Museum OX1 2PH ashmolean.org Have Easter Holiday Fun and join artist Francesca Shakespeare for a special Art Week workshop and create a patterned tile inspired by Islamic ceramics. 1pm - 4pm 13 Apr Kids Club Does Easter Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN www.sofo.org.uk Try the Easter egg hunt and more! Booking req’d. 10am-12.30 / £8 13 Apr Tweedy's Lost Property Cornerstone Arts Centre OX11 7NE cornerstone-arts.org A comedy about a clown who gives in to society and gets a real job. Not knowing who he is anymore, Tweedy gets a job in a Lost Property Office to try and find himself. In this one man, family show, Tweedy illustrates an impressive repertoire of comedic talents which have made him one of the most respected and popular clowns the country currently has to offer. 11am & 2pm / £8/£6 14 Apr Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Greys Court Henley-on-Thames, RG9 4PG
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Bunny has been busy at Greys Court, leaving clues all around the estate for you to find and solve. Follow the clues to find out where Bunny has hidden your chocolate prize. Every single Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt will help support special places looked after by the National Trust for future generations to explore. 17 Apr Easter Holidays: Brain Power OUMNH OX1 3PW oum.ox.ac.uk Discover the brilliant things your brain does, from your head to your toes! 1pm - 4pm. Drop-in. 18 Apr Perfect Prints Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN sofo.org.uk Make an incredibly inky print from your own design 2:00 - 4:00 / £2 21 Apr The first Hippo on the Moon The New Theatre Oxford, OX1 2AG atgtickets.com Two big hippos. One ENORMOUS dream. Who can make it to the moon first? See a fantastical adventure featuring puppetry, music, mayhem and a giant space race to the moon! Ages 3+. 21-23 Apr Folk Weekend Oxford Corn Market Street OX1 3HA, folkweekendoxford.co.uk Various activities going on different locations around the City! Go online for folk time fun! 23 Apr Cushion Concerts Jacqueline du Pré Music Building OX4 1DY jdp.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/events Rozzy and Mr Cello introduce children and families to different instruments and how they make music, feeding curiosity and nurturing the love of music in these fun and up-close concerts. Take your cushion! 10am, 11am & 12pm. £5 / £16 (under 1s free). 30 Apr The Explorer The North Wall Arts Centre OX2 7JN thenorthwall.com After crash landing on an unusual island, the brave Explorer encounters wild beasts, rough seas and futuristic technologies. Original music, stunning visuals and a whole host of surprises, this performance will make imaginations soar. A marionette show live on stage, performed by puppeteer, Lori Hopkins 11am & 2pm. £8/£6 + fee
Oxfordshire Magazine 15
“A gorgeous treat for kids and parents” The Daily Express (on My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty)
atgtickets.com/oxford* 28 – 29 Apr 2017 0844 871 3020* Book now *Booking fee applies. Calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge. ballet.org.uk/myfirstballet Illustration: Mark Ruffle
FAMILY FUN
AT CORNERSTONE
ENJOY ROALD DAHL’S CLASSIC AT ITS MOST FANTASTIC – LIVE ON STAGE! Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 April
FANTASTIC MR FOX Adapted for the stage by Sam Holcroft
Full of songs and foxy fun – the perfect Easter treat. A WHISKER-LICKING TREAT. ★★★★ TIMES Tickets From £12 Ages 5+
16
March/ April 2017 Call 01993 815 966 to advertise with us
ALL THE PERFORMERS ARE, WELL, FANTASTIC! ★★★★ OBSERVER
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