UK Forces Education Guide 4/2015

UK Forces Issue 4 2015

Education Guide

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Choosing the right school for your child is one of the biggest decisions you’ll face. At Tettenhall College, we understand that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach to education. Every child is unique and we have created a close-knit, family atmosphere where individual needs are catered for.

Based in central England, around three miles to the west of the city of Wolverhampton, the School is situated in the picturesque village of Tettenhall, just a short drive from the Shropshire and Staffordshire countryside and well-served for transport links.

With its own private woodlands, historic buildings and secret gardens, Tettenhall College offers an idyllic setting for pupils from ages 2-18 years, who learn in inspirational surroundings.

With a packed extra-curricular programme, weekend activities and trips and a caring pastoral team onsite, we provide a term-time home, not just a place to sleep.

The School is set to improve even further with major boarding and sports redevelopments taking place to enhance its offering to staff, pupils and the wider community.

Academic achievements at Tettenhall College demonstrate the success of our teaching and learning. Last year was also a record year for A Level A* performers and our overall pass rate was almost 99 per cent. Pupils went on to top universities and instituitions, including Oxford UCL and RADA. GCSE results were also excellent, with pupils achieving top grades. Eleven Year 10 pupils and one Year 9 pupil also took their Maths GCSE a year early, with all achieving top A* and A grades.

Outstanding new facilities, including enhanced sports provision and renovation of historic buildings, will enable the School to retain its unique blend of the traditional and contemporary and widen opportunities for pupils.

Detailed work is underway on new multi-use games areas to further enhance sports facilities at the School. There are also plans for a new floodlit Astroturf pitch, a new tennis and netball area, a high ropes facility and a designated mountain bike trail to complement the recently developed ‘Forest Schools’ area, loved by all pupils who enjoy exciting, outdoor activities in a safe setting.

Café culture is being embraced at the School, with a new coffee shop for parents and sixth formers set to be unveiled for the start of the Autumn term. All these exciting developments will enhance the learning and social environment of the School.

However, it’s the dedication to nurturing each child and helping them achieve their potential and develop their own talents that has helped us to become a successful school with an outstanding reputation.

Inspectors recently singled out the outstanding relationships between staff and pupils in an official report. They highlighted the excellent personal development of pupils, caring staff and successful learning.

The report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) stated: “The pupils’ excellent behaviour and the outstanding relationships they enjoy with the staff and each other are conducive to their successful learning.”

It added: “The success of the school lies in the good standard of achievement and excellent personal development of its pupils, from EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) to Year 13.”

Education for younger children was judged as outstanding, with good preparation for senior school and particular praise for EYFS. Teachers were praised for knowing pupils well and being able to respond to individual needs and pastoral care was also stated to be excellent.

This care is particularly evident when boarders, who may be leaving home for the first time, join us. Like all our pupils, Tettenhall College boarders are made welcome from the moment they arrive. Our nurturing atmosphere and our dedicated staff and friendly

pupils help new arrivals settle quickly.

The boarding houses are run by The Housemaster and Housemistress but ample opportunity is given for students to have their say on the routine and rules within the House. In order to promote leadership skills and responsibility, pupils are expected to carry out minor duties to ensure the smooth running of the boarding houses. Our boarding school accommodation is also included in the School’s redevelopment. A major facelift will incorporate 21st Century facilities and ensuite accommodation.

For everyday support, the Housemaster and Housemistress appoint a Head of House and a Prefect Team. These prefects will be responsible for liaising with the House staff regarding everyday boarding matters, act as House representatives and promote active participation in House competitions, trips and excursions.

While we are very proud of these results, we also understand the importance of extra-curricular activities and offer an innovative and varied programme, from games clubs to sports. Pupils are also top performers in English Speaking Board Exams and are encouraged to undertake voluntary work and charitable pursuits.

Music and performing arts are a further strength of Tettenhall College. We even have a Preparatory School rock band and a string quartet in senior school. Alongside performances in our very own theatre, our pupils frequently support full-scale professional productions at The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.

Our children have been praised for their excellent behaviour, good manners and confidence, a reflection of our school ethos. We help them develop the confidence and attributes to succeed in whichever path they choose to take.

James Alder is a shining example of how our pupils show skills beyond the classroom after becoming the highest possible rank for his age group in the RAF cadets and also being commended for his achievements at a prestigious city awards.

The high-flying student is now a Flight Sergeant with the cadets and was also recognised in the city when he was nominated for The Wolverhampton Young Citizen Award 2014.

Judges commended him for his outstanding work and fantastic contribution to the cadets and the wider community.

We are proud of every single pupil success and celebrate achievement in a variety of areas, helping our pupils to feel valued.

Headmaster David Williams says: “We are working extremely hard to provide the best education possible by producing well-rounded individuals who know their own minds and can flourish here and in the world beyond”

For further information or to arrange a visit please contact our Admissions Team by emailing admissions@tettcoll.co.uk or calling us on 01902 751119

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Queen Victoria School, Dunblane Wendy Bellars, Head

Admissions deadline 15th January Queen Victoria School (QVS) is a co-educational boarding school fully funded by the Ministry of Defence to provide stability and continuity of education for the children of UK Armed Forces personnel who are Scottish, or who have served in Scotland or who have been members of a Scottish regiment.

QVS is tri-Service and most of its pupils have at least one actively serving parent when they enter the school. Our main intake is into the Scottish system’s Primary 7 year; there is no exact equivalent with the English system, but the majority of our P7 intake are aged ten or eleven when they join us. That said, there is a wide age range within the year groups. Many of our pupils have come from educationally disrupted backgrounds as they have moved from school to school and education system to education system, according to their families’ postings.

possible sense and aiming to achieve success academically, in sport, music, drama and many other extra-curricular areas.

A very special and unique dimension of this school for military families is the ceremonial side, which preserves the very best of the School’s traditions.

Marching as part of the School on one of its six Parade Sundays a year, and on Grand Day – the final day of the academic year – is one of the proudest moments of a Victorian’s life (as well as that of his or her parents)! The Pipes, Drums and Dancers of QVS are internationally renowned, having played at tattoos both at home and abroad, most recently in the Basel Christmas Tattoo 2013 and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2012.

Set in 45 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside, Queen Victoria School is easily accessible by road, rail or air.

Pastoral care is given a very high priority along with careers guidance There is no substitute for visiting a and personal and social education. school, meeting its pupils and staff Queen Victoria School aims to and picking up the atmosphere. promote the welfare and happiness Our admissions deadline is the 15th of each individual child and develop January If you would like to know their self-esteem. In addition, there more before travelling to Dunblane is a very full programme of sporting, to visit us, however, and to cultural and spiritual development. request a DVD, please contact our Admissions Secretary on +44 (0) Queen Victoria School is a unique 131 310 2927. Alternatively, you boarding school which seeks to can write to: Admissions Secretary, achieve the best that is possible Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, for its pupils, priding itself on Perthshire FK15 0JY, or visit our developing them in the widest website www.qvs.org.uk

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UK Forces

Education Guide

Welcome to issue 4 - 2015 of the UK Forces Education Guide How fast did last year go?! I think when you have children, time seems to pass us by so quickly. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and enjoyed the last issue of the UK Forces Education Guide. Congratulations to the winners of the John Adam games, the variety of Pavilion Books, The Mummy & Me Cookbook and the amazing Baker Ross giveaway.

This issue includes the dos and don’ts of term time holidays, an article on Jon Platt who fought and won his case for taking his daughter out of school in Term Time. We look at how the Forces Children’s Trust has helped children who have lost parents who were serving in the forces and there’s an interesting article on technology and its effects on children. Do your children spend too much time on the computer or is their education benefiting from educational play? Hayley’s back with her food blog and this issue we have an amazing article on River Cottage. Our resident columnist Heather Branchflower spent the day on the ‘one day cookery course’ and it genuinely made me feel hungry reading it!

There are a lot of dates for the diary, Chinese New Year - February 8th, Pancake Day - February 9th, World Book Day - March 3rd, Mothers Day - March 6th and finally Easter - March 27th.

Kate, Craft Editor at Baker Ross has written about how crafting can make learning fun and also has two projects for you to join in with. Did you know Cadbury’s do Easter Egg Hunts in association with The National Trust? We have included all the venues and dates so you can get involved.

Competitions this issue include your chance to win your mum a beautiful bunch of flowers for Mothers’ Day and a spot the difference Easter competition. You’ve got to be in it to win it!

If you would like us to cover anything in particular in the next issue or fancy writing something for us to include please get in contact with me sally@forcespublishing.co.uk. The next issue will cover April, May & June.

We would need all copy in to us by the end of February.

Term Time Holidays

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Father Wins Court Fine Battle

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Forces Children’s Trust

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Technology and it’s Effects on Children

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Chinese New Year

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Neglected Cookbooks

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Pancake Day

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River Cottage READER OFFER

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World Book Day

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Reading Force

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Storybook Wings

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Mothers’ Day Colouring Page WIN

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Crafting Makes Learning Fun

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Easter Crafts with Baker Ross

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Cadbury Teams up with The National Trust to Offer Families a Cracking Easter Weekend

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Spot the Difference Easter Competition WIN

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Supporters of

Please don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

Articles and photographs reproduced by kind permission of the contributors

Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northants NN10 0RU. Tel: 01933 419994 www.forcespublishing.co.uk Editorial: Sally Haynes Design: Hayley Smith

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© No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted by the publishers or printers.

Advertisements are included in good faith.

The MOD or any Service Establishment is not responsible for the advertiser or its advertised product or service.

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Term-time Holidays

By Kate Saines

I

f there’s one thing guaranteed to get us parents in a rage, it’s holiday prices. Or, more specifically, the fact they soar to unobtainable rates the day the school holidays begin.

Take the family-friendly Hotel Flamingo in Benidorm on the Spanish Costa Blanca. In June an all-inclusive week’s (including flights) at this popular resort, complete with kids club and Lagoon pool will set you back £473 per person.

For a family of four with school-aged children that’s £1,892.

Book the same holiday, but fly out on August 6th – the heart of the school holidays – and the cost of the holiday shoots up to an eye-watering £3,416.

And if you thought you could save a bob or two by staying in the UK, think again. A trip to Center Parcs will cost a family of four £459 in June. Fast forward to August and it’s £1,049.

It’s no wonder people are willing to risk a £60 fine to save themselves hundreds, even thousands, of pounds.

The problem is – that rather small matter of the law. For it is currently illegal to take your child out of school to go on holiday during term time without permission.

It’s a rule which also applies in the armed forces, where many

families struggle to take holidays at conventional times because of clashes with deployment.

In fact, this law – which came into force in 2013 – is causing such a problem for military personnel that Liberal Democrat peer, Floella Benjamin, has voiced her concern.

Lady Benjamin is campaigning for a change of the law, and appears to be backing the armed service corner in this debate, warning that leave time for soldiers doesn’t always coincide with school holidays.

Currently, under legislation brought in to clamp down on truancy by former Education Secretary Michael Gove, parents face fines if they do not get permission to take their children out of school. They could face jail if they refuse to pay.

Lady Benjamin, however, is campaigning to change the law which makes it illegal to take children out of school at term time. And she has highlighted the case of a soldier who was fined £500 by his Local Education Authority for doing so.

It’s a tricky balancing act for us parents, though. We work hard, we deserve a break. But if we can’t afford one or we cannot book it during school holidays because one of us is on tour – then taking children out of school is surely the only option?

If it is your only option, and it’s something you are considering, we have compiled a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” to help ensure your decision is well-informed.

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The “Do’s” Do

be upfront and speak to your school’s headteacher first.

According to the Department for Education you must get permission from your headteacher if you want to take your children out of school at term time.

This can be done either by making an application to the headteacher in advance or if there are “exceptional circumstances”.

It is then up to the headteacher, if they permit the leave, to decide how much time the child can be away from school.

Do

put forward a good case to the headteacher for having the holiday. If the school holidays clash with a posting, explain this to the head and make sure they know how important family time is for children with armed forces family. Holiday, of course, is valuable time together – so explain its importance. “Exceptional circumstances” can include a family member returning from operations – so

if this is the case, ensure the head is aware.

Do

offer to support your child’s learning while on the holiday. If your child is in the early years of their education, ask for reading books and promise to continue helping them with reading and phonics each night. For older children, suggest your child keeps a diary of their holiday to maintain their writing skills and to help them learn more about the place they are visiting.

As well as reinforcing your commitment

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to your child’s education, this will also help reassure the headteacher your child will not fall behind.

Do

check the rules with your Local Education Authority (LEA). The decision over whether to fine families for “unauthorised absences” rests with headteachers in many areas. However, in others the LEA may automatically issue the fine. This fine will only usually apply if the child has been absent without authorisation for five full days – but it’s still worth checking the details before you proceed.

Do

get a list of term dates and “inset” days from your school before planning to take your holiday in term time.

Many schools plan their inset days so they happen at the beginning and end of terms. Some take them in a block over the course of a week before or after a half term, thus giving families a week during “off peak” travel time to go away.

For those of you planning a term-time holiday for financial reasons, this will give you access to cheaper prices.

Indeed, negotiating time off with the headteacher might work in your favour if you request time off after or before an inset day as you will need fewer days off.

The “Don’ts” Don’t

go ahead and take the holiday anyway if you aren’t granted permission unless you are prepared to pay the fine. At present, if your request for leave is unauthorised but you take them out of school

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regardless, you will be fined £60 per child per parent.

This will rise to £120 if you are not paid within 21 days. If this remains unpaid after 28 days, you will face court proceedings.

Don’t

worry about this particular part of the Education Act if your child is in private education. These rules only apply to state schools at the moment.

However, it might be worth being aware – if your child or children attend private schools – of the code of conduct surrounding this, or any contracts you have signed which might relate to termtime holidays.

Don’t

give up hope of having a holiday if you don’t want to take your children out of school but can’t afford peak prices. Consider last minute bookings, house swaps, or camping trips to save cash.

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Bromsgrove - Boarding Houses are Homes After over 450 years of being a successful but relatively small School, Bromsgrove has, in the last few years, become one of Britain’s largest independents with 1,600 day and boarding pupils aged 2 to 18, including over 500 boarders. That growth in pupil numbers has been wedded to a build programme of titanic scope and the passion, vision and flair that transformed the School intellectually, culturally and on the games fields is now manifested in Bromsgrove’s modern boarding facilities.

The youngest boarders at the school have a new House for 70 boys and girls aged 7-13. Creating a home away from home for very young boarders is a challenge in any school, but it is a challenge met head-on in Page House. The building and facilities speak for themselves, but it is the atmosphere and the people that really make Page stand out as a leading example of modern Prep School boarding. The boarders in Page House are cared for in a warm, supportive environment modelled as much as possible on an ordinary, if huge, family home. Visitors often comment on the atmosphere of Page House and it is difficult to define what individual factors add up to the friendly, supportive, fun, welcoming environment of which we are so proud. Gone are the days of long dormitories with rows of beds and little personal space; the boarding house of today (and tomorrow) features smaller bedrooms, suitably decorated for the age of the children living in the rooms, and enough common areas that there is always somewhere to spend time with friends or have quiet time alone.

At the other end of the age range, Sixth Form boarders at Bromsgrove have also recently moved into their new boarding house. Many schools will have faced the challenge of recreating parts of their boarding environment whilst maintaining the dignity and grandeur of the buildings that they have inherited from the past. Few however, will

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have had the opportunity to do so on the size and scale of Bromsgrove School’s redevelopment of Housman Hall, the former home of Poet A.E Housman, himself a former pupil of the School. The new and refurbished accommodation and facilities on offer at Housman Hall match the quality of the house spirit – this is a perfect environment for Sixth Formers to finish their school years and begin the next part of their journey. The sense of space and the comfortable homely surroundings coupled with the fact that this is a Sixth Form only, co-educational boarding house gives it the perfect pre-University feel. Pupils have the chance to grow in confidence, become more independent and prepare for life beyond school whilst having the guidance and support of the tutor team and Housemothers at hand at all times.

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Father Wins Court Fine Battle A businessman who took his daughter on holiday during term time has successfully overturned a court fine after arguing her ‘unauthorised absence’ did not mean she failed to attend school ‘regularly’.

Jon Platt, 44, decided he would rather fork out £1,000 in private solicitors fees than pay a £120 fine because he felt he did not breach legislation.

He took his daughter, seven, on an eight-day holiday to Disneyworld in Florida, USA, in April, for which he said she was absent from school for six days.

The breakthrough could have implications for thousands of parents who take their children out of school for family holidays during term time.

Mr Platt had no other option but to fly out on April 12 and return on April 20 with 17 members of his family because it was the only week they could all attend.

Despite his daughter having a 100 per cent attendance, his application to take her away during term time was not authorised by the school.

Mr Platt, whose family business tackles banks over unfair charges, said he understood the consequences and knew he would be prosecuted and fined an initial £60, but still took her on holiday with the rest of the family.

But when he refused to pay the fine, which doubled to £120 when he failed to pay it within a certain number of days, he was hauled into court to face the Isle of Wight Magistrates.

Some six months after the holiday, he is celebrating a victory this week after magistrates said he had no case to answer shortly before he was due to face trial.

Having refused to pay, he had to successfully argue his case against Section 444 of the Education Act, which requires parents to ensure their children attended school ‘regularly’.

He also had to argue that the law does not put restrictions on parents taking them on holidays in term time.

He said: “I refused to pay the fine and I sent emails to the council and communicated with them throughout that if they prosecuted me, I would defend myself.

“I was warned if I lost I could be liable for prosecution costs and fined up to thousands of pounds but I understood the consequences.

“I’m not a qualified lawyer but my understanding of this law is it’s very simple. My child needs to attend school regularly.

“Her attendance for the whole of the last school year was nearly 94 per cent.

I don’t know where the threshold is but quite frankly parents need to decide for themselves.

“When I made the application through the school to get her time off it was refused even though her attendance at the time was 100 per cent.

“I’ve had lots of messages from people, asking me ‘what is the loophole here?’

But there is no loophole, the law just says your children must attend regularly.”

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Mr Platt, who moved to the Isle of Wight from Northern Ireland 31 years ago, forked out £1,000 for a solicitor in privately paid legal fees to research his case on his behalf ahead of his trial this week.

attendance was not ‘regular’ enough.”

He had done two years of a three year law degree, but wanted help fighting his corner in court.

He asked for his daughter and their school to remain nameless following a divorce with their mother three years ago.

Mr Platt, of Nettlestone on the island, said: “I had to prove nothing - they just had to prove my child’s attendance was not regular. That’s all it says.

“My understanding is the law doesn’t say anything about holiday time but most parents blink at the fine and pay the expense, even though a significant proportion of them are probably people whose kids actually attend school regularly.

“If you want to fine somebody they have to have committed an offence.

“The local authority think they have an obligation to issue fines to drag parents to court. But what does the word ‘regularly’ mean?

“Some magistrates may disagree and decide 95 per cent is a regular attendance, and think my child’s

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Mr Platt took his two daughters, aged seven and ten, to Florida but was only prosecuted on his younger daughter because she is not privately educated.

He said: “I have 50/50 custody of my kids, which means I have 50 per cent of their life growing up, so I’m going to take them on spectacular holidays if I want to.

“My kids’ education is absolutely critically important to me but I’m also responsible for their welfare.

“I make no criticism of the school - it’s an outstanding school and has an outstanding headteacher but she is bound by the Department of Education.

She was just doing her job.”

A spokesman for the Isle of Wight Council said it acknowledged the court’s decision.

He said: “We can confirm that the council, as local education authority, had proceeded with legal action in this case in accordance with the appropriate legislation, Department for Education regulations and guidance.

“We acknowledge the decision of the court in this matter - and the council is currently reviewing this outcome.”

“If I think it will do them the world of good to go on holiday to Disney with the 17 people who love them the most in the world I will do that.

“If I thought my kids’ education would be affected I wouldn’t have taken them.

“I knew exactly what the consequences were when I requested the time off and the school said it would be unauthorised.

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In addition, a dream came true for many children and the trusts founder Denny Wise with a special trip to see ‘The Sound Of Music’ at the London Palladium, leading to an even more magical surprise with Noel Edmonds.

The Forces Children’s Trust was founded in 2004 by Mr. Denny Wise who, with his extensive show-business background and contacts, has spent many years giving so much time to fund-raising for so many good causes and charities, most of which have a strong Service background and include the Royal Star & Garter Homes.

The Forces Children’s Trust is a charity devoted to helping children whose father or mother has died, or has sustained life threatening injuries whilst serving as a member of the British Armed Forces. The FCT, by reason of its aims and size, has the flexibility and ability to make decisions and offer help as needed, with minimum fuss and consequent time-loss.

The scope of its ability to help both an individual and a group of children in similar circumstances is illustrated by two recent cases. The FCT provided special software for two dyslexic young boys who had sadly lost their father.

The cost was beyond the mother in her present circumstances and not available from other sources.

The immediate response by the FCT enabled the young boys to instantly improve his educational skills. In contrast, the Trust has funded educational trips, outward bound courses, holidays to Spain, trips to the House of Commons and 10 Downing

Street, Legoland, Flying Days, a day wit the Red Arrows, a trip to Lapland with Noel Edmuds, a trip to Disneylad Florida, and many other fun and educational events. The highlight of every year is when the children are taken to see a West End theatre show, this is followed by the annual Christmas Party where Santa comes along to give the children their Christmas presents.

Retiring to bed exhausted in a lovely hotel.

“That day in July was the first time I’d seen my children smile following the loss of their father .... and the opportunity to fly a plane gave them such a boost in confidence .... and most importantly showed them that its ok to laugh and smile ..... and that life does go on!”

Following the many heart-breaking stories that have emerged from the losses in Afghanistan and Iraq, Denny was concerned that the subsequent needs of the affected children, were not being fully addressed. He was particularly moved by the number of children who were left without a parent.

Discussing the situation with his contacts, he decided that a charity solely dedicated to helping the individual needs and problems of the children would help fill a niche in the charitable field of family care. The Trust recognises that each child is special and unique, and should an individual require help not provided directly by the FCT, the Trust can assist where appropriate.

Navy heroes widow Gill Molyneaux says: The Forces Children’s Trust has become an integral part of our lives - myself and our 4 children. We first came in contact with the FCT in July 2011, following the death of my husband, a serving Naval Officer. After speaking with Denny Wise (Founder)

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I felt that I had found an avenue of support for the children and indirectly myself. We were invited to attend a ‘Flying Day’ and on arrival at the event, were warmly welcomed by Denny himself and other Trust members.

It was a milestone in our new journey .... The children were with other military children who were experiencing similar feelings and emotions, through loss or critical injury of a parent serving in HM Armed Forces. The days events were organised to encourage the children to have fun, to be children ..... to lay down, if only for a little while, the terrible weight I could see my children carrying, following the tragic death of their father. The FCT works to support children, direct both children and carers to relevant avenues of advice (counselling, financial issues etc) but above all to provide fun, enjoyable activities, creating positive memories that will last through their lifetime.

That day in July was the first time I’d seen my children smile following the loss of their father .... and the opportunity to fly a plane gave them such a boost in confidence .... and most importantly showed them that its ok to laugh and smile ..... and that life does go on!

Following the ‘Flying Day’ we joined the other families to watch a London

Show and to celebrate Christmas. A difficult time, especially being our first Christmas, but again, funded by the FCT, the children were treated to Shrek the Musical, and a fabulous Christmas party.

In summer 2012 came the fantastic opportunity to travel to Florida, with 3 other FCT families, staying in a luxury villa, with passes to Disney for the two week stay, all courtesy of the FCT. It was a fantastic opportunity. Whilst out there, Denny and Andy worked tirelessly, transporting the families to the many places to visit and organising additional trips out to Kennedy Space Centre, and traditional US eateries ......

Of course having our own Denny, we HAD to visit ‘Denny’s’ for a bite to eat.

Whilst over there, with the children entertained, it provided opportunity to speak with other mums in the same situation and also to gain advice and direction from Denny ..... Sadly there is no rule book when dealing with the aftermath of death ..... and Denny has been instrumental in directing me to useful agencies to gain further help and support for my children. The FCT is all about the children ...... but for myself ..... It’s given me a lifeline ..... And as stated earlier, that lifeline is integral to our family’s well being!

FCT POEM

By Poppy Gibson

To start this off, I have to say, Our tragedies are why we’re here today.

Losing a major part of your life, A mum, a dad, a husband, a wife.

But it gets better, thanks to the FCT. Bringing support for you and me.

With the Trust we always have fun, Coming together as a unit of one.

From up and down Great Britain we travel, Meeting new people with stories to unravel.

Trips such as Legoland and PGL, With people who “know”- you don’t have to tell.

Mr Denny Wise founder of the Trust, Forgets our names but has us all sussed.

He never fails to impress us all, With everything he does big or small.

The Christmas party is especially loved, As that time of year is always tough.

There’s been laughter, there’s been tears, There’s been memories to last for years.

Every trip is a huge success.

The friendships made are what makes it best.

They give us time to talk and reflect, Which in turn helps with our upset.

Thank you Denny and all the rest, You’ve helped us all you are the best.

A new found hope we definitely gain, A new found vision to see past the pain.

SUMMER CAMP

With over 20 years’ experienc e and rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted , XUK Activity is a summer camp tha t you can trust.

XUK Activity is a residential summer camp for children aged 6-17 in England.

In the depths of the beautiful Norfolk countryside, XUK provide the best mix of challenging and exciting activities.

Expect the unexpected as every day we do something different at XUK. Outward bounds, quad biking, scuba diving, wall climbing, multi-sports, dance, drama, yoga, camp fires, air rifle shooting, fencing are just some of the activities available to you!

After an action-packed morning and afternoon, all children head to an evening activity which integrates the whole camp! From murder mysteries to casino nights – it is an atmosphere you don’t want to miss!

XUK’s staff are experienced, friendly and enthusiastic. They are experts at settling children into the XUK way of life and running high quality activities whilst ensuring your child’s safety!

Why not make unforgettable memories, new friends from all over the world and experience something new with XUK! www.xkeys.co.uk/residential-camp • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xukcamps • E-mail: enquiry@xkeys.co.uk Telephone: 020 8371 9686

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Technology and Its Effects On Children

By Kate Saines

Not long ago a video went viral which demonstrated with harrowing impact the dangers which lurk on the internet for our children.

US YouTube star, Coby Persin, was filmed carrying out a social experiment where he posed as a teenager on Facebook, befriending teenage girls, and luring them into traps, where they were greeted by their angry – and clearly stunned – parents.

But while the videos highlighted the very sinister side of social media and how easily young people can be drawn away from the safety of their homes by predators, what really packed a punch was seeing the parents’ reaction to their child’s gullibility.

The mums and dads were all in on Persin’s experiment from the beginning.

But none believed their children would fall for his bait. To see their relaxed and slightly bemused attitude transform quickly into overwhelming dismay and anger when their daughters meandered naively into potential danger was distressing. They thought they were in control. They were not.

For, in today’s world, computers play such a huge part in our children’s lives and education. Whether we like it or not, our sons and daughters are going to need computer and online skills, not only to get through their education, but to stand a chance of landing a job when they leave school.

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Indeed, many of you reading this may already have children who can create a Powerpoint presentation to display homework, create an app or even code.

It’s stuff which is as useful for their future as learning their times tables or knowing where to put an apostrophe – if not more so, some might argue.

Yet, with this knowledge, comes a certain danger. For, if our kids are smart when it comes to coding and widgets, they are also going to be streets ahead of us when it comes to the social side too.

There are many other problems that come with the internet and social media – such as cyber-bullying. And, there is also evidence to suggest that too much screen time – from both IT, video games and television – can have a dramatic and negative impact on children’s GCSE results not to mention their physical and mental health.

For This Generation Of Parents It’s All Incredibly Daunting.

Most of us are from a generation where we only watched TV for the two hours a day Andi Peters and Ed the Duck broadcast from a broom cupboard.

And our first introduction to computers was playing Starship Command on the Acorn Electron. We used dusty encyclopaedias from the school library if we needed information. And, to chat to our friends, we had to look up their number in the phone book, dial up and have a polite, yet slightly awkward, conversation with their mum first.

It All Seems Very Innocent.

So, when it comes to bringing up children in this technological age, we are the pioneers. And, although it’s scary and there is a balancing act to be played, there is also bundles of information around to guide us. Here are a few ideas to help your children benefit from technology without succumbing to the dangers.

Read Up, Follow The Guidance and Become Informed Knowledge is power, and this is almost certainly the case when it comes to keeping your children safe online. If you haven’t seen the Corby Persin videos yet, take a look. They offer a good – although blunt – starting point for you to gain an understanding.

There are also plenty of resources

available to you, which are easily accessible online. The UK Safer Internet Centre, for example, is full of tips and advice as is Childnet International.

Talk to other parents, speak to your children’s teachers. Most schools will have internet safety guidance available, will run talks and will also draw up contracts to ensure all the children are aware of how to use the internet safely.

Make sure you know what information the school is providing, and reinforce this at home.

Talk To Your Child Among the brilliant advice on the UK Safer Internet Centre is the recommendation to talk to your child about the internet.

Whether your child is left to their own devices with your tablet on a regular basis, or only has access to technology in the classroom, it’s important you know their level of understanding of and interaction with the online world.

Ask them how to stay safe online.

See how much they know about the dangers of the internet, and let the conversation flow from there.

Find things you can all do as a family online – games, homework portals, YouTube videos. Encourage them to use Skype or Facetime together when you speak to a deployed partner (if you are in communication during their posting).

The more you do together, the more you will learn and the more input you can have into their world.

There are some brilliant videos – available via the UK Safer Internet Centre – made for children to help them understand more about staying safe online. They include a very funny Horrible Histories sketch, which is worth a watch if your children are of primary school age.

Set Boundaries

Finding out what they are doing on there is essential, but – as you will be all too aware – few children are keen to offer up information when we subject them to an inquisition.

Once you are armed with as much information as you can handle, and you have discerned your child’s internet knowledge and habits you will probably have a better idea about how your child interacts with technology.

So, try a different tact – request their help. Ask them to show you how to play a game, or set up a blog. If they are old enough to be using social media, ask them for some tips on how you can set up or use your account.

You may also have come across statistics which demonstrate the harmful effects too much “screen time” can have on children. For example, a study by Cambridge University, which was published last year (2015), warned

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that too much TV could jeopardise GCSE results.

Researchers studied the activities of over 800 14-year-olds and discovered those spending an extra hour a day on screens saw a fall of two grades in their exam results.

With this in mind, you may decide you want to set boundaries.

Exactly how much time children should be spending in front of a screen is not clear, at the moment. Advice from experts varies from “no hours” to “four to five per day”. It’s quite a contrast – but means, as parents, it’s up to us what we think is healthy.

Bear in mind that current NHS guidelines state children aged from five to 18 need at least an hour of physical activity per day. Your child will also, no doubt, have homework varying from five minutes of reading per night at reception to a few hours of revision at GSCE and A-level stages.

their parents’ email to sign up to the game. Some games also allow parent to set timers, which give you control over when and how long your child plays.

Instigate parental controls on your computer, and via your web browser.

Don’t forget the parental guidance lock on your ‘On Demand’ TV services.

House Internet Rules Agree, with your child, a set of rules for using the internet at home. As well as setting time limits, and restricting usage to certain games or websites, you could use this to reinforce some of the golden rules. These include: • Don’t post personal information online eg address, phone number etc • Never give out passwords • Do not befriend people you do not already know • Ask your parents’ permission before visiting a new website, downloading or installing software or signing up to anything

• If you see something online which worries or scares you, or which you think is inappropriate turn your computer off straight away and tell your parents • Be a good ‘online citizen’, respect others and don’t’ be rude

Finally… Remember The Benefits Don’t forget, there are so many benefits of technology. There are TV programmes which are incredibly educational and which can bring topics to life for children. And the internet can be a place where children can explore and understand the world.

For more information, try these sources: http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/ http://www.childnet.com/ For games, sketches and quizzes try the BBC’s collection of resources at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/topics/staysafe

Whether you decide to allow your child an hour’s TV as a reward for doing their homework, or half an hour computer gaming per day, it’s up to you. What is important is that you make an informed decision, and that you ensure your child is aware of the boundaries, and you keep them in place.

Set Up Safety Features Wherever possible, set up parental controls and heighten privacy settings.

Social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow you to adjust your settings so only friends can see your information and posts.

If your children are playing games such as Moshi Monsters or Club Penguin, make sure you read all the parental information.

Many of these games have “chat” features which allow children to talk to other online players.

If your child is playing one of these games, read up on the safety features and privacy tools first. Different games have varying levels of safety. Club Penguin, for example, has online moderators to whom you can report any abusive or nasty language. Indeed, you can ‘block’ others, and even tighten your settings to allow chat with friends and moderators only.

In the case of most online games, children under the age of 13 will need

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Chinese New Year February 8Th The monkey ranks ninth of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Each year is related to an animal sign according to a 12-year-cycle. Years of the Monkey include 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, and 2028.

• Lucky Colors: white, blue, gold • Lucky Numbers: 4 and 9 • Lucky Flowers: chrysanthemum, crape-myrtle

The Monkey’s Personality People born in a year of the Monkey are witty, intelligent, and have a magnetic personality. Personality traits, like mischievousness, curiosity, and cleverness, make them very naughty. Monkeys are masters of practical jokes, because they like playing most of the time. Though they don’t have any bad intentions, their pranks sometimes hurt the feelings of others.

Those born in a year of the Monkey are fast learners and crafty opportunists. They have many interests and need partners who are capable of stimulating them. While some like the eccentric nature of Monkeys, some don’t trust their sly, restless, and inquisitive nature.

Although they are clever and creative, monkeys can’t always exhibit their talent properly. Monkeys like to take challenges and they prefer urban life to rural.

Good Health for “Monkeys”

accounting and banking, science, engineering, stock market trading, air traffic control, film directing, jewellery, and salesmanship.

How to Build Relationships with “Monkeys” In relationships, Monkeys are not very quick in settling down, as they tend to be promiscuous and are easily bored.

However, once Monkeys get a perfect partner, they commit to him/her in every possible way. Since Monkeys love to talk and are sociable, they can be communicated with easily.

Things That Should Be Avoided by Monkeys • Unlucky colors: red, pink • Unlucky numbers: 2 and 7 • Unlucky direction: south, southeast • Unlucky months: the 7th and 11th Chinese lunar months

Usually monkeys are very healthy creatures, partly due to their active lifestyles, and wanting to experience the flavors of life. If they do experience illness, it is usually of the nervous or circulatory system.

People born in a year of the Monkey might have to spend more time doing their daily jobs. Therefore Monkeys need to remember to take a break to save their energy during their busy schedules.

Since Monkeys usually do more outdoor activities, they should pay attention to safety while traveling or driving.

The Best Jobs or Career for Monkeys When it comes to careers, Monkeys do work very hard. They can adapt to different working environments. Good career choices for monkeys are

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For more than a century, Strathallan School has stayed true to the vision of its founders by providing a rich variety of academic, sporting and extra-curricular activities so that every pupil has the opportunity to excel.

Set in 153 acres of magnificent rural Perthshire, with excellent links to international airports in Edinburgh and Glasgow, the school enjoys a wonderful balance of campus buildings, modern residential accommodation and exceptional outdoor facilities.

It’s a beautiful location; lush, green countryside with an array of outdoor pursuits on the school’s doorstep. At the same time, fascinating cities like Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow are just a short drive away.

Top Of The Class Academically, Strathallan engages children. Our teachers are committed professionals who are experts in their fields and our achievements at A-level speak for themselves. It’s no surprise that many of our pupils move on to the best universities after their time at the school, with Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh popular destinations of choice.

In sport, the Arts and adventure pursuits, we have so much to offer - including a strong Combined Cadet Force. From enthusiastic beginners to elite performers, each individual can reach their potential.

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We take our sport seriously and offer an extensive programme. Many individual pupils and teams compete at national level.

At the same time, individuals’ development as élite athletes is supported in school with the specialist training and dietary regimes that are the cornerstone of success in modern sport.

We believe the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle extend into all areas of school life.

We have the facilities too with numerous rugby and hockey pitches, tennis courts, cricket square and practice nets and our recently completed indoor multi-sport facility. It’s a huge playground - and everyone is encouraged to use it to the full.

Music, Drama and Dance In our junior house, Riley, almost all the children have individual tuition in a musical instrument. They keep playing on through

the senior school too and our musicians perform over 60 concerts a year - including performing for the Royal Family at Crathie Kirk.

Our new dance and drama studio will be completed soon adding to the fabulous facilities we already enjoy for the Expressive Arts.

A Caring Community Most importantly, Strathallan is a close, caring community with many years of experience of working with children whose families are based both in the UK and overseas. Catering for Boarding and Day pupils aged 9 to 18, it’s a school where effort is rewarded, where pupils feel valued and happy and where they are given the time and encouragement to grow into capable, confident young men and women ready for the challenges that their lives will bring.

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A

t the moment there seems to be a big food trend sweeping the country. Unfortunately for me the trend has moved on from one of the best things in the whole entire world– salted caramel – to something that completely repulses me : clean eating. You couldn’t get two trends more unlike each other could you? I’d like to be clear that what repulses me about this trend isn’t the emphasis on eating your greens, lessening the amount of meat you eat or making sure that your sugar intake isn’t stratospheric – these things I can get on board with.

What I cannot get on board with is the superiority which ‘clean eaters’ regard themselves with, and the pretentiousness associated with it.

There’s a great example of this going round the internet which I recommend you seek out called Pete Evans ‘ My Life on a Plate’. Reading his typical daily food diary makes me want to dive headfirst into a cheeseboard. Cultured vegetables? What on earth are they?

Is someone taking carrots to the Tate Modern and then selling them off to people for whom a regular carrot just isn’t nutritious enough? Pete also lists sprouted millet, sorghum, cocoa nibs, emu meatballs, alkalised water and most mysteriously, activated almonds, as part of his daily diet. Kill me now.

Water, fruit, vegetables etc are good for you; they don’t need to be ‘alkalised’, cultured’ or ‘activated’. Life is too short to have sprouted millet for breakfast.

Eat sensibly and treat yourself once in a while, otherwise what’s the point in clean eating and living until you’re 150 if you turn up to parties but can’t eat anything because the peanuts doing the rounds haven’t been activated and are covered in that delicious but deadly salt. Stop boring everyone and live a little.

Saying all that, I can’t deny that I’ve been pulled in somewhat by the idea of clean eating. Hypocrite? Maybe.

Unable to stand by my principles?

Perhaps. Woman approaching thirty who’s not yet managed to shift the

Neglected Cookbook s Resident F

ood Blogge

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agle

Not So Clean Eating Chicken baby weight nearly a year after giving birth? Most definitely. Normally I find the idea of ‘shifting the baby weight’ morally repugnant due to the pressure put on new mums to miraculously look like Kate Middleton when they’ve just made another human being but I also know when I’m happy myself with my weight and when I’m not comfortable.

And right now I’m not comfortable, media pressure or no media pressure.

Working full time, looking after a baby, with a fiance who travels away regularly for work means the gym isn’t really an option, so focusing on what I’m eating is the way forward right now.

Diana Henry’s most recent book ‘A Bird in the Hand’ isn’t a clean eating recipe book (it’s actually filled with chicken recipes, and really droolworthy recipes at that) but the recipe

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r Hayley E

I chose would definitely win big points with the clean eating crew – Mexican chicken with pumpkin and pepita pesto. Pepita pesto, which are two words that just sound beautiful next to each other, is a pesto made with sunflower seeds instead of the usual pine nuts and replaces the basil with coriander, making it a much more viable pairing with Mexican flavours than traditional pesto would ever be.

The pesto is simple to make and just involves toasting the seeds in a dry pan, then throwing them and all the other ingredients into a mini processor and whizzing to a paste. The chicken thighs are marinated in citrus juices, spices and herbs for a few hours then baked in the oven in the same tray as the pumpkin (I couldn’t find pumpkin in the shop so substituted with butternut squash). Then once all cooked just

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Pancake Day 9th February throw on a plate, drizzle the pesto over the chicken then scatter with feta cheese, avocado and coriander. Feta is of course a Greek cheese but is very similar to a cheese that Mexicans use regularly (queso fresco) that isn’t easy to find on these shores, which I’m assuming must be the reason for its inclusion here. The chicken skin is crisp (I told you I wasn’t going ‘the full clean eating’) and zingy from the citrus juices while the squash is soft and tender. The pesto had a really unexpected taste to it which I wasn’t quite prepared for but was not unpleasant. I couldn’t tell you what it tasted like because it was over a week ago that I ate it, but even if it had been yesterday I don’t think I’d be able to describe the taste. There were so many flavours going on on my plate that the whole dish together worked really well but I couldn’t pick out any one element of the dish on its own. The dish itself seems very well balanced – I’m no nutritionist but there are two portions of vegetables, some chicken, spices, herbs, cheese and then a pesto sauce containing sunflower seeds and coriander. I think this dish encapsulates the best of both worlds when it comes to what we should be putting in our mouths – it’s full of goodness but you’ve still got a bit of cheese and some cheeky crispy chicken skin in there, and it tastes delicious. It’s full of flavour, something new to try, simple to produce at home, looks gorgeous and colourful on the plate and is a million miles away from the ‘cultured vegetable’/’activated almonds’ drivel.

I’d not come across Diana Henry before but after seeing Nigella’s glowing words on the cover and realising I always have chicken in the freezer but can never think of anything interesting to do with it, this felt like a book I needed. I’ve tried a couple of recipes from it so far and they’ve both turned out very well so I think this book could be a future favourite of mine. For delicious chicken recipes mind, not for any of that clean eating crap.

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Easy Pancakes Prep:10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Learn a skill for life with our foolproof crêpe recipe that ensures perfect results every time elaborate flip optional!

Ingredients • 100g plain flour • 2 large eggs • 300ml milk • 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil, plus a little extra for frying • lemon wedges, to serve (optional) • caster sugar, to serve (optional)

Method

1

Put the flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt into a bowl or large jug, then whisk to a smooth batter.

Set aside for 30 mins to rest if you have time, or start cooking straight away.

2

Set a medium frying pan or crêpe pan over a medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper. When hot, cook your pancakes for 1 min on each side until golden, keeping them warm in a low oven as you go.

3

Serve with lemon wedges and sugar, or your favourite filling.

Once cold, you can layer the pancakes between baking parchment, then wrap in cling film and freeze for up to 2 months.

Recipe from Good Food magazine

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FER F O L IA SPEC FF 20% O age Cott River ses* Cour

River Cottage Education is not limited to the young, nor does it have to include text books. One of our UK Forces Education Guide team members went on the ‘One Day Cookery Course’ to increase her knowledge of cookery.

“Training by doing”.

I was about to undertake the most enjoyable experience in years and soak up more hands on tips than I could ever pick up from a book…

Staying the night before at the Talbot Arms in Uplyme I asked the landlord over breakfast how long it would take to get to River Cottage. “Five minutes across the moor”. What a pea souper it was, the fog had enveloped the whole area. I turned off the main road and headed towards River Cottage. Finding

the smallest sign, I drove into the misty car park. Wearing wellies, as advised, I soon found out why. A real working farm was the setting for my day at the River Cottage Cookery School.

as he introduced himself. At River Cottage you can enjoy many courses, that specialise in all kinds of cookery, and today we were to have a taste of everything.

As a pair of headlights appeared I saw the tractor and trailer that was to be our transport to and from the farm.

There was about a dozen of us, all from different parts of the country; a really mixed bunch.We were met by Jason, the assistant front of house manager who supplied us with aprons and surprised us with homemade bread, fresh scrambled eggs with herbs and crispy farm cured bacon. Simple but amazing !

Andy explained about the various fresh ingredients we would be using, before easing us into bread making; a popular course at River Cottage.

Using local flour, we went through the milling process and I realised, that with a little effort, I could produce my own bread, full of natural goodness, at home. Having not previously given it a thought, I now fully understand that if you pay slightly more for your bread, you will gain loads more in flavour and quality. We covered the dough with cling film and left to prove until later.

Andy was our teacher for the day. He was almost bouncing with enthusiasm

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Andy explained the different cooking methods for the different cuts of meat.

He trimmed the sinews from the leg of pork, then proceeded to cut a dozen juicy steaks, which we were going to “cure” for our supper at the end of the day.

We mixed together equal parts of salt and sugar. You can use any salt and either caster sugar or soft brown sugar is recommended. In a pestle and mortar we crushed juniper berries, black pepper corns and three fresh, torn bay leaves, adding this to the salt and sugar to make a basic cure. We each chose a steak and coated it in the cure mix before placing it on to a plate and into the fridge until nearer supper time.

Onto the belly pork, one of my favourites! Andy took a piece of the belly and coated it in the cure we had just made. Bacon is made using the same mixture. You can do this easily yourself, pouring off the liquid produced by the curing daily and re coating with the cure. You can either put it in the fridge in a plastic bag or leave open to the air. As well as bacon, the biproducts include pancetta and lardons which are perfect for dicing into small chunks and browning off to enhance winter stews and casseroles.

One more thing not to waste is the pig’s trotters. Andy told us to add these to stews, soups and even curries as they give a rich, glutinous texture that you usually only find in restaurants. If you are spending time in your kitchen, pop a trotter in a big pan with celery, carrots and any other vegetables before bringing to the boil and simmering for as long as you can. Freezing good home made stock is a must.

Next was something I had always wanted to try, butchery. This was included in our day, but earlier in the week I had contemplated booking the “Pig in a Day” course.

Along came the lovely Jason with the offer of refreshments. My favourite was the elderflower juice, which was sensational! continued over page

Half a pig is on the block and Andy starts to explain the different cuts and joints of meat that you can get from a pig. He really appreciates the products he uses which, more often than not, are produced at the farm. The first thing you notice about the pig is the layer of fat under the skin; it’s pure. If you render this down, it can be used over the winter, creating wonderful, crispy roasties for Sunday lunches.

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Ooooh, time to bring on the sharp knives…I love them! How many kitchen knives do you have in the drawer that are only fit for cutting butter and boiled eggs in half? Treat yourself to a sharpening steel, they’re priceless.

You don’t have to spend a fortune and all your knives can be restored to their original glory in minutes. Andy showed us various ways of holding the steel to get the maximum effect for different edges.

Heading on for midday, we were now going to fillet a fish which we would eat for lunch. Andy demonstrated how, and it is amazing how a little knowledge goes a long way. The principal he showed us can be used for most fish.

We then selected our vegetables which were to form the rest of our lunch. Any seasonal vegetables can be used and Andy’s ingredients change over the seasons. We finely sliced savoy cabbage, pak choi, leeks and carrots into match sticks, about 5cm long, making sure not to have any thicker pieces to ensure even cooking. Next we finely chopped root ginger, garlic and fresh chilli to suit.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spied Jason. He was on his way over with a

tray of glasses that looked to contain a liquid… Bingo!

We were given a tot of Kingston Black Apple Aperitif. He explained that this is a blend of Cider Brandy and the juice of one of the finest cider apples from Somerset. It was wonderfully smooth and warming.

It is great to get the opportunity to try different tastes.

Next, taking a large piece of baking parchment, we rubbed half of it with butter and then layered the finely chopped vegetables, topped off with the fish fillets. Another knob of butter was placed on top with a good

sprinkling of sesame seeds. Andy showed us how to roll the parchment edges to make a “Cornish pasty” shape, leaving a gap at the top. We poured in a small glug of Soya Sauce to aid the steaming process and give an oriental flavour.

We then sealed the last inch of the parcel.

The oven had been heated to 240 degrees. We were now effectively being shown “fast food”. Eight minutes in the oven was all it took. As I pulled opened the top of the parcel the aroma of ginger and garlic escaped...

Amazing! It was interesting to find that there was no strong smell of fish as it was so fresh. (I have since tried this recipe at home with Mackerel, a fantastic choice of fish). Turning the oven down slightly I then put my dough in to cook.

I placed the fish and vegetables onto a warm plate and we all went to sit at the table. Our lunch, accompanied by a glass of chilled local white wine, was enjoyed whilst looking across the misty vale in which River Cottage nestled. I’d love to visit again in the summer.

After lunch we were invited to pop

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over to the River Cottage Farm kitchen where Hugh’s programmes are filmed.

The stone kitchen is small and cosy and is situated next to a dining room which can accommodate 16 – 18 people on a lunchtime or evening.

What a lovely treat for a special occasion.

My bread had cooked to perfection so I took it out of the oven, marvelled at it, then left it to cool.

We were making panna cotta for supper’s dessert. This is really easy to make but tastes like a lot of work went into it. We took gelatine leaves and placed them into a shallow bowl of cold water to soften. Into a small saucepan we poured full fat milk and cream, then added sugar. Bringing to a simmer we added grated nutmeg and a half a stick of cinnamon. After removing it from the heat, we took the sheets of gelatine and squeezed them to remove the water. They were then added to the creamy mixture and stirred until they dissolved. Once the mixture had been poured into the moulds they were placed in the fridge to set.

From the fridge, we took our pork steaks. You wouldn’t believe the amount of liquid the “cure” mixture had drawn out of the meat in the short time it had sat in the fridge. We gently washed the pork steak under the cold tap and patted it dry before setting it aside whilst we prepared our vegetables to accompany our supper.

Andy is amazing. The amount of knowledge he drip feeds you is incredible. His skill for teaching is so much fun, you don’t realise how much you have absorbed until you get home.

I would be a genius if I could learn all new skills like this. Where was he when I was at school?!

We chopped a couple of carrots and put them into a small pan with a couple of cloves of freshly chopped garlic, a pinch of cumin seeds, a pinch of fennel seeds and a little fresh chopped chilli, to taste. Just covering with water we added a knob of butter, brought to the boil then covered and left to simmer.

Romanesque is my favourite vegetable ever. It is similar in size and makeup to

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a cauliflower but the florets are green and pointed. We took a couple of the florets and cut them in half. Taking a small frying pan we poured a good glug of rapeseed oil (which is great for hot temperatures as it doesn’t burn), plus a large knob of butter. We heated the pan until the oil and butter began to foam with the heat. Putting the Romanesque flat side down we cooked it for 4 – 5 mins until it had started to caramelise. This was set aside for a couple of minutes and smelled amazing.

In another pan, oil and butter were added till foaming again and this time we sealed our pork steaks, making sure to brown all the surface of the meat. We then put the steaks in a hot oven for 10 minutes to cook. Again, the smells wafting through the kitchen at River Cottage were something else!

It was the end of my day at River Cottage. Kingston Black Cider Aperitif in my bag, wellies back on and ginger cat well stroked, Jason escorted us back to the tractor for our journey back up the rough track. I had had the most fantastic day.

Heather said, “Andy thank you for your enthusiasm and the wealth of knowledge you have passed on to me.

I now have that spark back! Will you be seeing me again…? Yes Chef!!

Jason, thank you for spoiling me. You are an absolute pleasure and the whole day just flows from one treat to another.

Supper was a few minutes away so we drained our carrots and then blitzed them with a hand blender to create a puree. The pan containing the Romanesque went back on the hob to heat again and I added some chard that I had ripped, rather than sliced, and sautéed it until the chard had wilted. Jason supplied warm plates and took another drink order - what a guy!

We took the carrot puree and spooned it onto the warm plate, placing the Romanesque and chard alongside it. The pork was placed on top and drizzled with the sweet taste of caramelised butter and meat juices.

Everybody in the kitchen marvelled at their achievements and whilst eating, we chatted about the delicious food we had prepared over the day.

We took our panna cotta out of the fridge to enjoy with some Bramley apple puree and a “Rye digestive” biscuit that Andy had prepared for us.

River Cottage - what a brilliant location for an amazing experience.

Love the tractor and I am already looking at which course to do next…!

With over 30 day courses and a Two Day and Four Day course, you can learn about bread making, fish cookery, cheese making, savoury pastry and pies,“Pig in a Day”, cakes and sweet pastry, as well as many more. Take a look at the website for more details www.rivercottage.net.

Everyone struggles to find the perfect present for loved ones. Male or female, River Cottage courses are for everyone, and you can’t beat it!”

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World Book Day is a celebration! It’s a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading.

In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.

What happens?

This is the 19th year there’s been a World Book Day, and on 3rd March 2016, children of all ages will come together to appreciate reading. Very loudly and very happily. The main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. That’s why we will be sending schools (including those nurseries and secondary schools that have specially registered to participate), packs of Book Tokens and age-ranged World Book Day Resource Packs (age-ranged into Nursery/Pre-School, Primary and Secondary) full of ideas and activities, display material and more information about how to get involved in World Book Day.

Thanks to the generosity of National Book Tokens Ltd, publishers and booksellers, millions of book vouchers are sent to children and young people (more than 14 million, in fact: that’s one for nearly every child aged under eighteen in the country).

Then…

They can take their voucher to a local bookseller and can use it to pick one of TEN (exclusive, new and completely free) books. Or, if they’d rather, they can use it to get £1 off any book or audio book costing over £2.99 at a participating bookshop or book club (terms and conditions apply).

How can you get involved?

Visit http://worldbookday.com and look out for the new downloadable resource packs coming soon and please visit their Resources section which is full of exciting and fun resources based on favourite books, brands, characters and authors.

It’s all about getting kids closer to the books and authors they already love, and letting them discover more books and authors, they’ll love every bit as much in the future.

I am a BFPO school, am I entitled to a pack free of charge??

Unless a BFPO has made an arrangement with a Book Club or supplier in advance we are not looking to send packs out separately. If they have made an arrangement with Usborne Books At Home, then this will already be covered as the main contact for UBAH has already made a substantial request for Euro book tokens for BFPO schools. If the BFPO school would like to receive a pack from us we will need to make a £6 charge, cheque payable to “Education Direct”.

Please contact the Helpline with your details: wbd@ education.co.uk

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What could be more enjoyable than sharing a book with your family?

The reading experience is usually solitary but talking about what we have read can offer a great way of boosting communication - and you can have a lot of fun doing it! This is the essence of Reading Force, the national shared reading and scrapbook family activity, exclusively for all British Forces families.

If your family is at home together or even if separated by deployments, training and postings, you can still join in with Reading Force over Skype and FaceTime. Taking part helps keep families, including grandparents, connected no matter how far away they are. It also helps children build their literacy skills and reading confidence.

The emphasis is on sharing and having fun. All Service children are offered a free Reading Force scrapbook and a book to take part. Families are then encouraged to set up an informal book group, all read the same book, talk

about it, and then pool their thoughts in the special scrapbook – anything can go into it - photographs, emails, text messages, drawings or notes.

There’s also a bi-annual scrapbook competition and everyone entering wins a certificate and book.

To request a free scrapbook and book or to find out more visit our website www.readingforce.org.uk

Best of all, Reading Force is fun and free for all Servi ce famil ies to take part.

Storybook Wings From The RAF Association - Making Storytime Extra-Special Storybook Wings from the RAF Association has been providing a vital link for the children of serving RAF personnel deployed overseas or away from home since 2008. It enables parents to record bedtime stories, along with personal messages, for their children to listen to while they are away, helping to ease the anxiety caused by separation.

The RAF Association is delighted to support more families by encouraging any parent spending time away from their child to record a story from the long list of bedtime favourites available. You don’t have to be deployed overseas. You also don’t have to be away for a long time: stories can be recorded by parents away for just a week.

Lisa Thipthorp, manager of the Storybook Wings project said: “Initially stories could only be recorded by parents who were deployed overseas for a minimum of three months.

But children who have to be away from a parent for shorter periods due to working away from home during the week suffer from separation anxiety too, and The RAF Association is keen to support the welfare needs of these families.”

The Association provides equipment to parents to record their chosen stories. Thanks to generous donations from members and the general public, the Association is also able to fund the special editing and sound mixing equipment needed by volunteer editors. Once edited, a soundtrack is added to give each story a really special feel. The completed

CD is then sent to the children in a personalised CD cover, ready for them to listen to whenever they like.

More recently, parents can now choose to receive their story digitally – this means that the stories get to the children quicker and can be downloaded and played on any mobile device.

If you would like to record a story, please contact either your Hive or Lisa via email storybookwings@rafa.org.uk to find out where your nearest recording centre is.

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March 6th ! ay D s r e h ot M on um m r ou y t e g Don’t for

Want to make this Mother’s Day special?

Here’s your chance to win your mum a beautiful bunch of flowers.

All you have to do is colour in the picture with your best colouring in and send it to us, either via email to competitions@forcespublishing.co.uk or in the post to Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northants NN10 0RU

! k c u L d o Go

Don’t forget to include your Mum’s name and address so we know where to send the flowers to and your telephone number so we can let you know you’ve won.

Closing date for the competition is: 25/02/16

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Crafting Makes Learning Fun! Creative pursuits have often been seen as activities that are undertaken during play time, but crafting can actually complement and aid children’s learning and development.

Constructing craft kits, for example, by following the instructions and assembling pieces helps with hand-eye co-ordination and fine motor skills. Recognition of colours, letters and words can be taught or reinforced using craft supplies such as letter or number stickers, or creating a rainbow from strips of paper. Projects like our Alphabet Board give you the option to create your own learning resources for your children, or encourage them to help make it with you, then explore what it is and how it works afterwards.

Indeed, visual aids are invaluable when it comes to getting children’s attention; having something physical to show them, such as a model of the solar system, for example, is more likely to generate interest and excitement in the subject; if they can get involved in the construction of the model too, all the better!

Would you like to see

your article published?

Here at Baker Ross, we believe that making learning fun is key, which is why our range includes a big selection of exclusive Themed Crafts, designed to be more educational and assist children in their understanding of different subjects and themes. Whether you’re a teacher looking to explore the wonders of the changing seasons with your class, or a parent who wants to turn their child’s fascination with dinosaurs into a lesson about how they became extinct, we have kits and supplies that will make it easier.

Expressing themselves through creativity also encourages children to use their imagination and create their own entertainment; starting a project from scratch and taking responsibility for it from start to finish gives them the confidence in their abilities to make individual choices and decisions through the process. Showing off their project to their class or family afterwards allows them to explain why they have created their project, what it means to them and gives them a sense of pride in their work.

In short, crafting and creativity offers endless potential when it comes to skill development and learning; each issue we’ll be looking at a different subject and giving ideas and tips on how to make it more creative and fun.

See you next time, Kate.

Craft Editor at Baker Ross

The UK Forces Education Guide is looking for interesting and relevant articles about the Service community…

If you have something you have written, ideally with pictures too, then please send your articles in to sally@forcespublishing.co.uk.

UK Forces

Education Guide

www.facebook.com/ theukforceseducationguide

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Alphabet Board The beauty of this project is that patches of Velcro® tape allow children to constantly attach, remove and reattach the images to the board to practise their alphabet again and again. Not only will it help them learn their letters, it can also be used as a reading and matching aid, plus it’s great fun to make too and little ones can join in with the crafting.

How To Make First, take your card and divide it into sections; we used A4 card and divided it into 12 boxes but you could use larger card to fit the entire alphabet on one sheet.

Next, add your alphabet stickers and write what each letter represents.

Now for the fun part, it’s time to make your pictures! We decided to use felt for ours to give them a great tactile effect but if younger children find it tricky to cut details from felt, just ask them to draw pictures on white card then colour them in and cut out instead.

The final stage is to cut patches of Velcro® to attach your pictures to the board. You’ll find that when you pull out the strip of tape, there are actually two strips stuck together. All you need to do is cut a section of both, and then stick one piece to the image and one piece to the board so they can be attached together.

Shopping List pe ✓ Velcro® Stick on Ta Letters ✓ Self-Adhesive Foam ✓ Felt ✓ Glue ✓ Pen

Top Tip

Use bright, co ntrasting colo urs for your letters to ensure they re ally stand out agai nst the board

Easter Chick Decoration Every Easter, Children are keen to create something special to take home to family or friends and this little chick is ideal! Rolling out the main body from air dry clay will help develop their co-ordination skills, and then they can decorate their creation with eye stickers, a foam beak and wings and feathers. Decorate the flowerpot with 3D pens for an extra striking effect!

How To Make Tear off a piece of orange clay from your SuperClay Value Pack, and begin rolling into a ball. Then tear a small piece of white air dry clay and add it to your ball. Keep rolling to ensure the colours are mixed evenly.

Your air dry egg will need to fit the top of your flower pot, so bare this is mind when choosing the quantity of clay.

Now begin rolling the main body of your Easter chick into an oval shape.

Sit your neatly rolled Easter chick on top of your chosen flower pot.

Now carefully place two eyes from your eye sticker value pack onto the head of your chick, followed by a small triangle of yellow foam for a nose.

Cut out a further two pieces of yellow foam 6cm by 4cm to create wings for your chick.

Cut three semi-circles into each wing then draw around the perimeter with an orange pen.

white, orange and yellow) and affix the pointed ends into the top of your chick, creating a head full of feathers.

Now affix your wings securely by inserting one edge of each wing into either side of your clay chick.

Allow your clay to dry for 24 hours.

Take three collage feathers (we chose

Shopping List ✓ SuperClay Value Pack ✓ Mini Porcelain Flower Pots ✓ Eye Stickers Value Pack

✓ Foam Sheet Value Pack

✓ Collage Feathers ✓ PicTixx 3D Puffy Paint Pens

Now select blue, yellow and red from your 3D PicTixx puffy paint pens and decorate the flower pot with stripes and a Happy Easter message. The pens will dry forming a fantastic puffy paint effect.

All products available from www.bakerross.co.uk

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Top Tip

To neaten the join between the chick and the pot, cr eate a thin or ange line around th e top of your flower pot using the PicTi xx pens!

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Cadbury Teams up With The National Trust to Offer Families A Cracking Easter Weekend It’s almost that time of the year again when Cadbury teams up with the National Trust to offer families the ultimate day out with their popular Easter Egg Hunts.

This year, the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt (25 – 28 March*) will be inviting families to unleash their inner explorer with adventurous quests taking place across the country.

From spring woodlands and craggy coastlines, to historic houses and enchanting castles, there are over 250 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts to choose from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, guaranteeing a fun-filled Easter for everyone.

What’s more, everyone will be rewarded with a delicious Cadbury chocolate treat at the end of each completed hunt, and every single Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt will help support special places looked after by the National Trust for future generations to explore.

To join in with the fun and find a Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt near you, visit: cadbury.co.uk/easter

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North West Fell Foot, Cumbria Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt at Fell Foot 27 March 11am - 3pm Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 015395 31273 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fell-foot

Wray Castle, Cumbria Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, 25 - 28 March, 10am - 4pm Price: £2 per hunt

South West

Dunster Castle, Somerset Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 10 April 10am - 4pm Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01643 821314 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 10am - 5pm Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 0117 9372501 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park

Kingston Lacy, Dorset Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 10 April 10am - 6pm Price: £2.50 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01202 883402 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy

Knightshayes Court, Devon Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 28 March 10am - 5pm Price: £3.50 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01884 254665 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes

Lanhydrock, Cornwall Lanhydrock Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 10 April 10am - 4pm Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 015394 33250 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wray-castle

Ennerdale, Cumbria Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 27 March 11am - 3pm Price: Free event

For more information, please call 017687 74649 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ennerdale

Dunham Massey, Cheshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 11am - 4pm Price: Free event

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01208 265950 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 0161 941 1025 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey

Stourhead, Wiltshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 11am - 4pm

Speke Hall, Liverpool Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt 27 - 28 March, 11am - 4pm

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01747 841152 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 0151 427 7231 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall

Price: £2.50 per hunt

Price: £2 per hunt

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South East Mottisfont, Hampshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 10 April 10am - 5pm Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01794 340757 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont

Midlands

Morden Hall Park, London Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 3 - 6 April 10am- 4pm

Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses, Staffordshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 11am - 3pm

Price: £4 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 020 8545 6850 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden-hall-park

Stowe, Buckinghamshire Stowe’s Sleeping Beauty Quest Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 10am - 4.30pm Price: £2.50 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, p lease call 01280 817156 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe

Chartwell, Kent Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt at Chartwell 25 March - 10 April 11am - 4pm Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01732 868381 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell

Woolbeding Parkland, West Sussex Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Nature Trail 27 March 10.30am - 3.30pm Price: £3 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01730 816638 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolbeding-gardens

East

Melford Hall, Suffolk Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 28 March, 12pm - 4.30pm Price: Free event

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01787 379228 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/melford-hall

Sutton Hoo, Suffolk Eostre - Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 10am - 5.30pm Price: £2.50 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01394 389700

Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 8 April 10.30am - 4.15pm Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01223 206000

Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01384 872553 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kinver-edge

Attingham Park, Shropshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 10am - 4pm Price: £2.50 per egg hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01743 708123 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park

Upton House and Gardens, Warwickshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 11am - 4pm Price: £2.50 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01295 670266 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/upton-house

Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 28 March 11am - 4pm Price: £3 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01909 544917 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clumber-park

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Yorkshire & North East

Wallington, Northumberland Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, 25 March - 3 April 11am - 4pm Price: £2.50 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01670 773606 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, North Yorkshire Easter Egg Hunt 25 March - 10 April 10am - 4pm

The Argory, County Armagh Easter Egg Hunt 21 March - 3 April 12pm - 5pm

Price: £2 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 01765608888 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey

Northern Ireland

Price: Free event please call 028 4375 1467 or email murlough@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/murlough

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 028 8778 4753 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/argory

Murlough National Nature Reserve, County Down Easter Egg Hunt 26 March 2pm - 3pm

Ardress House, County Armagh Easter Egg Hunt 25 - 30 March 1pm- 6pm

Springhill, County Londonderry Easter Egg Hunt 21 March - 3 April 12pm - 5pm

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 028 8778 4753 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ardress-house

(normal admission charges apply) For more information, please call 028 8674 8210 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/springhill

Price: £1 per hunt

(normal admission charges apply) Booking Essential For more information,

Price: Free event

Price: Free event

Win Easter Goodies!

Can you spot the 8 differences?

For your chance to win an array of Easter craft goodies, see if you can spot the 8 differences between these two pictures.

You can either write them down on an email or circle the differences and send them in to us.

A winner will be picked at random.

You can e-mail us at competitions@forcespublishing.co.uk or pop it in the post: Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northants NN10 0RU Closing date for the competition is 10/03/16

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