SCOOP

NEWS FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Belonging in sports

This year’s National School Sport Week aims to get more than one million children across the country taking part in school sport. Taking place from 20-26 June, the campaign takes the theme of ‘Belonging - a place in sport for every child’ and is all about getting more young people to have fun by doing sport, especially after the huge disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.

Schools, teachers, parents and organisations can all do their bit to raise awareness of the importance of school sport and play by signing up to both pledge their support for the campaign and receive free resources from its organisers the Youth Sports Trust to help spread the word. Everyone who signs up via the website will also be invited to join in five ‘one a day’ physical activity fundraising challenges taking place during the week itself.

“School sport should be an important part of every child’s education and development - every child should feel they have a place to belong,” the Youth Sports Trust says. “There is so much that all young people can gain from school sport - connecting with others, developing important life skills and improving both their physical and mental health.”

National School Sport Week

20-26 Jun W: www.youthsporttrust.org/join-us/national-schoolsport-week

Atlas Camps is 10

Atlas Camps, the Gloucestershire-based company that runs multi-activity camps for children aged 4 to 14 during the holidays, celebrates its tenth anniversary. Schoolfriends James Harber and Dan Tanner launched the company in Cheltenham at Easter 2012 with just four children. Now Atlas Camps runs 22 camps across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire and keeps more than 750 children entertained every day during the holidays. “Whilst sport-specific preferences are well catered for, there were very few childcare options that gave children a plethora of activities to choose from,” says Dan.

W: www.atlascamps.co.uk

NEWS BITES New fruit

Children from Grangefield Primary School, Cheltenham, have helped plant 20 fruit trees to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The new orchard on the Grangefield open space in Bishop’s Cleeve is part of the ‘plant a tree for the Jubilee’ Green Canopy initiative.

Safety in Mind

This year’s Child Safety Week runs from 7-16 June with the theme Safety in Mind, It aims to help parents understand risks and make simple changes, enabling them to take charge confidently, especially under pressure. Resources are available from capt.org.uk

Schools’ brass appeal

Anew music education initiative run by the Brass Foundations is bringing live music workshops to schools across Gloucestershire, offering children a chance to play a range of musical instruments. Local brass specialist Paul McLaughlin, who runs the workshops, hopes to collect more instruments from music lovers and brass bands to ensure every child gets the chance to play one. So far 15 instruments have been donated or loaned, plus those provided by Gloucestershire Music.

“I need to thank everyone who has donated instruments so far,” Paul says. “Sandhurst Silver Band generously loaned us a number from their storage. Now they have new lives at Field Court Primary School Brass Band Club in Quedgeley.”

Anyone wishing to donate or lend an instrument can find out more by visiting the Brass Foundations website or emailing Brass Bands England.

Brass Bands England

E: info@bbe.org.uk W: brassfoundations.com

It’s party time at last!

West country families including Primary Times prize winners can barely contain their excitement as Wychwood Festival returns to Cheltenham after two years of enforced closure

As the Covid 19 pandemic recedes and the lockdowns of the last two years gradually fade in our memories, Wychwood Festival is one of the first outdoor family events where Gloucestershire folk can truly let their hair down again. Held at Cheltenham Racecourse, from Fri 3 to Sun 5 Jun, it is one of the friendliest events for families with a huge programme of children’s activities including its very own kids’ literature festival.

And the musical line-up on the main stage promises to keep everyone joyful. Although the kids weren’t even born when the likes of Boney M, The Undertones or The Selecter were regularly topping the charts, they, like fellow headliners Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Deacon Blue, The Levellers and The Real Thing, have proved they can entertain no matter which generation you were born in. And what could be better than bouncing around in a field with the family to your favourite tunes?

Primary Times spoke to some of our readers who were lucky enough to win a family ticket to Wychwood in our February competition and, without exception, they were all thrilled to be getting together with family and friends at a big event for the first time.

“We’re really excited,” says Rachel Bussey of Prestbury. “We’ve always heard good things about Wychwood – my sister-in-law raves about it – and finally being able to meet friends somewhere like that without restrictions will be amazing. I’ve looked at the schedule and was blown away by how much there was for children.” For her, Cheltenham party band Thrill Collins will be a must-see.

Kelly White from Warminster says, “I’m getting away with my daughter, Thea, aged 7, for the first time. We bought another ticket for her cousins and their mum.” She says planning for the festival has brought home what they’ve missed during the pandemic. “At the time I didn’t realise how much my daughter was missing out on and now the calendar is filling up we realise what we haven’t been doing. She’s very excited about going with her cousins and loves music. I’m sure we’ll make good use of the children’s area.”

“We have always looked forward to the day when we could take our children to a festival and Covid meant that we haven’t been able to so far,” says Melissa Brench from Calne. “We look forward to letting our children participate freely in all the activities. I’m particularly looking forward to all the family events where we can have a go at trying new skills and making things in the craft tents together. Our sons Elliot and Jacob particularly like the sound of the Snot the Dragon magic show and seeing Basil Brush - who we’ve told them about from when we were kids. I also really enjoy live acts, particularly if there is a comedy element to them. There is so much on offer this festival weekend that we can’t wait to see!”

Robin and Rachel Bussey & family

Wychwood Festival competition winners

Congratulations to: Rachel Bussey of Prestbury Melissa Brench of Calne Nicole Tierney of Cheltenham Kelly White of Warminster They correctly identified that the famous DJ attending Wychwood Festival this year is c) Craig Charles. They have each won a family ticket to the festival. Wychwood Festival Fri 3-Sun 5 Jun W: wychwoodfestival.com