Family Matters Spring 2023

It’s starting to feel like 2022 was a distant memory, especially now spring is on the way — so we’ve filled this issue with lots of fun things to keep you entertained over Easter, some ideas for family holidays as the weather gets better and looking forwards to Father’s Day. If you have any traditions for the upcoming holidays, make sure to share them with our readers — you can get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter, we’re @ukfamilymatters.

We don’t just love seeing the traditions that are special to your family, we also love celebrating your achievements, so don’t forget to submit your photos to our WOW pages and send over what you’ve been up to at school recently.

04 Easter traditions around the world

07 Picnic ideas for spring 12

In the meantime, have a great Easter holiday, however you celebrate and we’ll catch up with you in the summer. 26

Easterthemed recipes

Having Egg Fights

In Bulgaria, eggs aren’t hidden for Easter egg hunts, they are thrown at people instead! Whoever finishes the game with an unbroken egg is the winner and assumed to be the most successful member of the family over the next year.

Easter traditions around the world

Easter is almost here and no doubt you have your own tradition on how to spend the day. Some families will focus on the Christian activities, attending church services and taking part in activities like the Good Friday Walk of Witness. Others will exchange Easter eggs or celebrate a different holiday altogether.

Here are some of the celebrations you can find around the world.

Hanging eggs in trees

In Germany their decorated eggs are hung in trees for everyone to admire.

Breaking pots

In Corfu the tradition on Holy Saturday is to throw pots and pans out of their windows so that they smash on the street.

Massive omelettes

In Haux in France, it is an annual tradition to create an omelette in the town square. The omelette usually contains around 5000 eggs and feeds a couple of thousand people.

Beating up straw dolls

In Brazil one of the main traditions at Easter is creating small straw dolls which are said to represent Judas. The dolls are hung up and beaten, a carnival is then held on Easter Sunday to celebrate the end of Lent.

Throwing water on girls

In Hungary and Poland, the tradition is for men to sprinkle water, perfume or cologne over young women. It’s supposedly because water has a cleaning, healing and fertility-inducing effect but we suspect it is a lot of fun for young boys with nearby girls to torment.

Celebrating with the Easter Witch

In Sweden, there is an Easter Witch –children dress up in costumes and walk from home to home trading paintings and drawings in exchange for sweets.

Visiting the president

In the USA, the President hosts an Annual Easter Egg Roll on the lawn of the White House on Easter Monday. The tradition started in the 19th century and each president since then has brought their own flair to the event.

Enjoy a picnic this spring

Now the weather is getting warmer, it is the perfect time to create memories by holding a picnic! Whether you simply put down a sheet in the garden or head to the park with friends, picnics can be a budget friendly activity for school holidays, weekends, or even special occasions.

Here’s everything you need for a family picnic

Pick the right balance

Obviously, picnics are supposed to be fun so don’t go too heavy on the healthy foods but there are lots of healthy finger foods and deli items that the whole family will enjoy. Try packing easy to eat fruits like apple slices or berries to keep the sugar rush at bay and get the kids having fun with food by giving them cucumber or carrot sticks that they can dip into various condiments and hummus.

Of course, you have to have some sweet treats, like cakes and pies and having savoury snacks like scotch eggs and mini sausages are a must for every picnic.

Prepare and store everything properly

There is nothing worse than getting to your picnic and finding that your sandwiches have gone sweaty or your cream cakes have melted. Avoid upset tummies and upset in general by preparing everything properly and then storing it in suitable Tupperware or chiller bags.

Bring the essentials

When picnicking with the family you need to be prepared for every eventuality. Bring wet wipes, napkins, blankets, water proofs, cups, knives and forks. Depending on where you are having your picnic, you might need to bring things like hand sanitiser and remember to bring bags for your waste. If it’s warm and sunny, make sure everyone has sun cream, hats and enough water.

Bring games

Whether you’re out with the kids or your friends, a board or card game is a must. Depending on where you are, you could bring a football or frisbee but that isn’t always possible, so cards, board games and similar things are a good way to keep everyone entertained.

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE in spring?

It isn’t just Easter which is celebrated at this time of year

— there are several religious festivals and holidays which take place at this time of year. How many of these have you heard of? Do you mark any of these holidays?

You can let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

RAMADAN

22nd March – 21st April

The date of Ramadan changes every year as it takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar. Ramadan is an important festival for Muslims and is part of the remembrance celebrations of when the Prophet Muhammed was first given access to the Qur’an. The whole holiday is about becoming closer to God and has similarities with the Christian holiday of Lent.

While observing Ramadan, Muslims give up bad habits and focus on doing good deeds and helping people in need. They also fast which allows them to empathise with those who are less fortunate and host Iftars, where the community comes together to break their fast.

The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid ul-Fitr or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, a huge celebration where everyone dresses in their best clothes and donates to charity.

Passover

PASSOVER

5th April – 12th April

Passover or Pesach is a major Jewish holiday and usually takes place around the same time as Easter. Unlike Easter though, this holiday celebrates the liberation of the children of Israel who were led out of Egypt by Moses.

According to the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament and the Torah, the Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years. God promised that they would be freed but the Pharaoh refused leading to God sending ten plagues which only affected Egyptian families. The final plague was known as the Plague of the First Born where an angel came and killed the first-born son of Egyptian families. To keep the Israelites safe, they were given instructions so that the angel would pass over their homes.

During Passover celebrations, homes are cleaned from top to bottom and first-born males celebrate surviving the plague. This is followed by the Seder, a special ritual meal where special cutlery and plates are used and there are certain foods that must be included on the menu.

Ramadan

EASTER

7th – 10th April

Easter is the most common of the holidays celebrated in Spring in the UK. The holiday centres around Easter Sunday, known as Resurrection Sunday which is the day which Christians believe that Jesus returned to life after being crucified. Prior to Easter is Lent, a time of observance and fasting. The final week of Lent is Holy Week and churches celebrate with services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

The story of Easter is that Jesus was resurrected on the third day of his death. In the UK, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are all bank holidays.

The eggs come into it because eggs are symbolic of new life and because they were historically forbidden during Lent, being given out once Holy Week was over. They weren’t always made of chocolate though!

VESAK

5th May

Vesak, or Buddah’s birthday, is a festival hosted by Buddhists that celebrates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. It is a time for reflecting on his teachings and what it means to follow Buddhism.

Unlike some of the other religions mentioned here, Buddhism doesn’t have a single God, but does believe in the teachings of the Buddha, a prince that travelled the world as a homeless holy man.

Depending on where you are, the celebrations around Vesak will change as each culture has their own traditions. Many Buddhists will spend the day at their local temple and reflect by the light of the moon. Families decorate their homes with lanterns and wear white as part of the festivities, as well sending cards and gifts. Many people also celebrate by taking part in Bathing the Buddha, where water is poured over their heads to get rid of negative thoughts.

Wish those "Ramadancelebrating, Mubarak" or "Ramadan Kareem."

Wish those celebrating Passover well by saying "Chag Sameach" or "Chag Pesach Sameach."

Fun for all the family at The Royal Bath & West Show 2023

Imps Motorcycle Display Team, this will be motoring at a more leisurely pace!

The Royal Bath & West Show returns on 1–3 June 2023, and visitors of all ages can look forward to some exciting new attractions alongside old favourites.

Older children are bound to be thrilled by the treecutting skills of the Dorset Axemen, returning for another year; and wowed by the performances of the Main Ring attraction, the Imps Motorcycle Display Team. You won’t want to miss the enhanced Sports Village, which, with support from Bath Rugby Foundation and Shepton Mallet Football Club, is bound to bring out the competitive spirit in everyone.

Food and drink are always at the heart of the Show, and after its successful 2022 debut the Great British Kitchen returns, with another exciting line up of chefs providing free-to-attend live cooking demonstrations. The three days will be hosted by Lisa Cadd, the ‘FussFree Foodie’, who will be joined by Cocktail mixer Andy Clarke. The Royal Bath & West Show is delighted to welcome Matt Tebbutt of Saturday Kitchen Live and Food Unwrapped fame to the kitchen on 1st June, and he will be followed by This Morning’s Phil Vickery on 2nd June. On the final day of the show, The Great British Kitchen will have a Caribbean feel with Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, ‘The Black Farmer’. As if this wasn’t enough for foodies, the organisers are excited to introduce a brand-new Cheese Marquee, as well as the Regional Food & Drink Marquee.

The Main Ring will also be the place for animal-lovers, featuring daily displays from Pawsability Dog Agility and the Pony Club Games finals. The Heavy Horses will also make a welcome return, if you prefer animals with four hooves and a mane!

Senior members of the family (or car enthusiasts of any age) will love the spectacular vintage vehicle parade, another Main Ring attraction. After the thrills of the

For young visitors, Lakeside Farm and its interactive exhibits are a must, and don’t forget to visit Tractor Ted! You may also be lucky enough to see Bubble Inc or the Jelly Roll Jazz Band as you walk around, or whilst you take a ride on the ever-popular Bath & West train — the best way to see the Showground, whatever your age! The hugely popular Pilton Tent and Woodland & Countryside Arena will also be a part of your unforgettable family day out.

Jess Chiplen, Head of Shows, says: “We are delighted to be welcoming visitors back to the Royal Bath & West Show for 2023. We’ve used visitor feedback to enhance existing areas that we all know and love, as well as introducing some exciting new elements for the whole family to enjoy.”

Ticket prices have been frozen for the third Show in a row, with Advance Saver Tickets starting from £22 per adult. Each Advance Saver ticket also allows FREE admission for two children, making the Royal Bath & West Show a great value day out for all the family. Visit www.bathandwest.com/tickets to book your tickets.

STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY COTTON TAIL CUPCAKES

What fun! Bunny rabbits burrowing into your cupcakes! These cottontail bunnies are delicious whole strawberries coated in chocolate and coconut, digging down to eat the raspberry and vanilla sponge below.

YOU WILL NEED:

125g margarine or butter, softened

125g caster sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

125g self-raising flour plus 1 tbsp

75g raspberries

For the decoration: 12 strawberries, hulled

50g white chocolate, melted

50g desiccated coconut

Green fondant icing

White fondant icing

Pink fondant icing

1 To make the cakes, preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas mark 4. Line a 12-hole bun tin with cake papers.

2 You can make the cakes in a mixer or by hand. Cream together the margarine or butter with the sugar, beating until lighter in colour and fluffy in texture. Beat together the eggs and vanilla and gradually add them to the creamed mixture, beating well between additions. If the mixture looks curdled, add a spoonful of flour.

3 Once all the egg is incorporated, carefully fold in the weighed flour. Toss the raspberries in the tbsp of flour then gently fold into the cake mixture. Spoon the mix into the paper cases and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and springy when touched. Remove from the oven and leave until cool.

4 To decorate: dip the strawberries in the melted chocolate, then the coconut and put aside to set. Push the green fondant through a sieve and use it to top the cakes making it look like grass. Shape small pieces of white fondant into rounds for the tails and flatten rounds for the paws. Add 3 tiny pink rounds to each paw for the pads.

5 Place the coconut strawberry in the middle of the cake and add the tail and paws.

TIP You can colour white fondant with food colouring if you don’t want to buy different colours. The undecorated cakes keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Once the cakes are decorated, eat them the same day.

CHICK CAKE POPS

These adorable chick cake pops are perfect for Easter. Cake pops are a great way of using up any leftover cake you may have lying around.

YOU WILL NEED:

For the sponge

120g plain white flour

140g unrefined golden caster sugar

1.5 tsp baking powder

40g unsalted butter

120ml whole milk

1 large free-range egg

1 Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3 and line a muffin tin with muffin cases.

2 To make the sponge, place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter into a freestanding mixer with the paddle attachment or in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until you get a sandy consistency.

3 Whisk the milk and egg together in a jug then slowly add to the flour mixture and beat until smooth and well mixed.

4 Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the sponge bounces back when touched or

For the buttercream

125g unsalted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

300g icing sugar

2 tsp whole milk

For the decoration

100g yellow chocolate buttons

50g white sugar paste icing

Designer icing (black)

Orange food colouring

Yellow food colouring

when a skewer comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack, then leave in the fridge overnight to stale.

5 To make the buttercream, put the butter in a large bowl and cream until pale and fluffy, then add the icing sugar and mix until smooth. Add the milk and vanilla extract then whisk until light and fluffy.

6 Remove the cakes from the fridge and crumble into a large bowl until it resembles fine breadcrumbs, then mix in some of the frosting until the mixture can be formed into small balls.

7 Make balls of the mixture by rolling between your hands, then

place on a baking tray, then put in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.

8 Melt the yellow chocolate buttons then dip a lollipop stick into the chocolate and place in the cake ball. Once you have sticks in every ball, dip each one in chocolate to entirely cover the ball, then leave to set.

9 To decorate, mix some yellow food colouring with half the sugar paste icing and some orange food colouring with the other half and leave to set. Using the black icing, draw on some eyes, then glue the beak and wings onto the cake pop using water.

Win Prizes

Win tickets to The Royal Bath & West Show

Over three days of action packed events for all the family, and a haven for enthusiasts of rural life. The Show will feature a plethora of activities, demonstrations and entertainment; including interactive activities, fast pace excitement in the Main Ring and a much-enhanced food hall experience.

Prize includes an Any Day Family Ticket to The Royal Bath & West Show 2023, which takes place on 1-3 June 2023.

Family ticket = 2 x adults & up to 4 x children, aged 15 years and below. Tickets are non-refundable/cannot be exchanged.

Win a family ticket to visit Weymouth Sealife Centre

Win a Splashdown Waterpark family ticket

to Poole Dorset or Quaywest Devon

As well as being home to over 2,500 creatures, Weymoth Sealife Centre is also home to Pisces III, a famous 20ft-long 'small' submarine. It has the largest man-made rockpool in the country and Dorset's greatest adventure playground, the Caribbean Cove Galleon. Step inside for a truly magical experience for all the family.

A family ticket is for two adults and two children.

A visit to a Splashdown Waterpark is an awesome way to spend a day of fun with your family. With twisting tyre rides, slippery waterslides, and amazing flumes, you and your family will be sure to have a splashing good time!

A family ticket is for two adults and two children.

TO ENTER VISIT www.familymatters-uk.co.uk/competitions, click on the Competitions button and complete the form. It couldn’t be easier! Closing date for entries: 15th June 2023

GET READY for exam season

Yes, it is only spring but SATS and other exams will be here in no time. Of course, you should use your school holidays to relax and have fun, but you can also use some of the free time to make sure the kids are prepared, so they can relax and not worry too much when the exams roll around. Whatever their ability, these tips will help make the whole thing much smoother and less stressful.

Set aside time to study

Life can get in the way and it can be hard to find suitable times to sit down and have a conversation with your kids about revision and studying. Make sure to set some time aside and schedule in study time to help them get into a routine.

Use flash cards

There are loads of great resources to help with revision and the school will be more than happy to suggest ways to get your kids ready for tests. One tried and tested method is using flash cards – which allows you to get involved too. Ask the school for some practice papers or any other resources they might have. This will help the children focus on one subject when revising at

home, so they can become more comfortable with those subjects.

Make sure they have everything they need

Some tests will require you to use certain colour pens or other equipment like calculators, compasses, and rulers. So, make sure they are prepared and have everything they need before exam season.

Create the right environment

We can all get distracted by noise and other people so help them get ready for exams by creating an environment they can easily study in without getting distracted. If you have other children, make

sure they understand that they shouldn’t interrupt during this time and keep background noise to a minimum where possible.

Most importantly, be encouraging!

No matter how prepared they are, tests are stressful and not everyone does well in written exams. Make sure that you are positive, encouraging and calm throughout the revision and exam process and let your children know that you love them whatever their results. It’s important to be patient and understanding as stress can make children irritable and these things can also affect their confidence so give them a little leeway.

Any revision tips? Share with other parents, get in touch on Facebook and Twitter @ukfamilymatters

“They couldn’t stop talking about it for months!”

Wouldn’t you love to create a special family day out in the Bristol area for your kids that lives on in their memories long after everyone’s gone to sleep?

Well, here’s an idea, and the good news is — it requires almost zero planning (you’re welcome, parents!). AirHop Trampoline Park Bristol is one huge adrenaline rush and giggle fest for kids of all ages (starting as young as 6 months) that will stimulate their minds, activate their adrenaline, and completely and totally tucker them out.

Located just by the Mall in Cribbs Causeway, this huge 60,000 sqft. family activity centre offers a variety of fun and exciting things to do appealing to different age groups and events.

Even more attractions have been added throughout 2022 such as a reaction wall on the main court, two Aero Strike courts, a Ninja Tag Pod, Dodge Attack to the Dodgeball court, a jump tower for the AirBag, and an air-tracked multi-sports Airena for 3-by-3 football matches, target and shoot-out practice.

Out of everything, the brand new and UK’s first AirSlides are definitely the ones not to miss on a trip to AirHop!

Two of the three slides are launch slides sometimes found in water parks – where the rider first drops down a steep slide then is launched into the air, landing in a huge airbag. The third slide is a scoop slide similar to a half pipe which does just that – after launching from the slide tower you slide from one side to the other before exiting via an air-filled mat.

Back in the main court during Open Jump (ages 4+) and the ever so popular weekend After Dark, the older ones can bing and boing their way across 140 interconnected trampolines spanning the floor and walls. But they’ll have to use their time wisely, as there is just so much else to do. You can let the competitive ones race to their heart’s content at AirHop’s famous obstacle course, or they can bounce over to level up their skills on the Dodge Attack court.

MiniHoppers has been carefully designed with little ones as young as 6 months in mind and is open to children up to 6 years. These sessions have extra

toys and ride-ons, the Wipeout turns into a bouncy castle, and at the end of each session there’s a visit of a surprise guest and the ever so popular bubble time!

And honestly, this really isn’t just for kids. Parents — sometimes reluctant at first — always end up having a blast. There’s just something about that freedom of bouncing without boundaries that brings out your inner child.

Now you’re probably already thinking this might be the perfect place for your next kids’ birthday party — and you’re so right. Especially because AirHop has 100%-fun-zero-stress pre-made party packages (including their awesome Extreme UV parties that are not only super fun — but make for eye-popping birthday party photos!) that are quite affordable, starting at £16. So you can just kick back and enjoy, whether you choose to relax in the AirHop café or join in the fun. In all likelihood, you’ll do both.

Whether you go for a birthday party or just a fun family day out, it’s almost impossible not to have a blast here. Your biggest challenge will most likely be getting everyone — yourself included — off the courts when it’s time to head home.

www.airhop-bristol.com/

https://www.facebook.com/airhopbristol/

https://www.instagram.com/airhopbristol/

https://www.tiktok.com/@airhopbristol

https://www.youtube.com/airhoptrampolinepark

Kickstart your garden

Spring is a great time to start planting your pots and flower beds. Whether you have a garden or a few pots in your window sill, plants are a lovely way to spruce up your space and you can even grow your own food!

Here are a couple of plants you can include in your garden or pots that are easy to grow and look colourful and fun.

Intermediate Periwinkle

Little, white flowers with a hint of blue, good to cover awkward spots in your garden.

Tufted Pansy

They look a little like watercress but with white blossoms and are good for breaking up densely populated flowerbeds.

Grape Hyacinths

These blue flowers are pretty and easy to grow anywhere.

Ferns

Shade-loving ferns are fairly easy to look after and are a good way to break up the colours in the your flower beds.

Tulips

These bulbs will need to be planted in autumn but if you want instant flowers now, you can buy them already grown and replant them.

Clematis

These are a good climbing plant and are great for drainage for the rest of your plants.

Cyclamen

These ones don’t even need a lot of sunshine! They’re versatile and can grow in sun or shade and they self seed — so they’re a good choice for those of you who aren’t very green fingered.

Lettuce

Why not grow your own food! Lettuce is planted in early spring and only take a few weeks before they can be picked and eaten.

Herbs

Parsley is especially good for planting at this time of year and is one you can watch grow as it typically takes several months before it is ready for use. Herbs are also easily found at supermarkets and can be easily propagated.

ST GEORGE'S DAY April 23

Throughout March and April there are a host of Saints Days including St David, St Patrick and St George, who is the patron saint of England. He is celebrated annually on 23rd April, but how well do you know him?

Did you know …

St George wasn’t English?

He might be England’s patron saint, but St George is likely to have been born in what is now Turkey and is likely to have died in the Middle East. Many historians even argue about whether he ever came to Britain, but he was known because he had quite the reputation. His emblem, the red cross, was adapted by King Richard I (aka Richard the Lionheart) and that was how the English flag came to be.

Did you know …

He wasn’t a knight?

While we usually see St George dressed in armour, he wasn’t known to be a knight. Historians do say that he was a soldier, likely in the Roman army but

he certainly wasn’t a knight. It is believed that he refused to acknowledge paganism, which led to his assassination and how he became a martyr.

Did you know …

He isn’t just the Patron Saint of England?

Yep, he is also the patron of soldiers, farmers and plague suffers among other things. He is also the patron saint of the Scouts! At one time he was also known as being one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers who were known to help people in need. Other countries who have St George as their patron are Venice, Genoa, Portugal and Catalonia.

Did you know …

He didn’t slay a dragon?

Sadly, this part of the tale is based on a completely fictional story that was published in the 15th century. George dates back much further though, the first time it is believed that he was mentioned in UK history is the 10th century.

WeltonPrimary SchoolNursery

Stay active at work

If you’re an office worker, you’ll know that it can be difficult to stay healthy and active throughout the day, especially if you’re sat behind a desk for your whole shift and then spend your evenings running around after the children. Lack of activity during the day is one of the major causes of poor health, so here are a couple of ways you can move more during the working day.

If you can get out and about during your lunch break, go for a short walk.

Offer to do the tea run.

Rather than shouting across the office at your colleague, get up and walk to their desk to speak to them.

If you can, spend some time standing up at your desk rather than sitting down.

Take the stairs instead of the lift where possible.

Do some desk exercises, like leg lifts or see if you can swap your office chair for an exercise ball for core strength.

Park further away or get off the bus a stop earlier and walk the rest of the way to get your steps up.

DID YOU KNOW 20% OF THE POPULATION CAN READ FASTER AND MORE FLUENTLY USING A COLOURED OVERLAY OR TINTED LENS?

The most common symptoms coloured lenses can help with are:

• Glare from the page • Headaches when reading

• Sore eyes when reading • Movement/blurring of print

PRICES FROM JUST £35 FOR BASIC SCREENING. YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A PATIENT WITH US. ALL WELCOME.

Are your children reading comfortably? 2

The Irlen Method has helped children and adults worldwide become successful rather than continue to experience enormous difficulties.

IRLEN® syndrome can be a part of the problem for people who have Eye Problems, Dyslexia, ADD/HD, Autism, Asperger syndrome, Dyspraxia, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Migraine and Headaches.

Have a Father’sdad-tastic Day

This year Father’s Day falls on the 18th June which feels like forever away but will be here sooner than you think! Here are a couple of ideas to help inspire you and give your dad/step-dad/grandad/uncle/father figure a great day. So, whether you want to go all out and treat them or you’re celebrating on a budget, there is something for everyone here.

Breakfast in bed

One way to show your dad how much you appreciate him is by waking him up with a lovingly prepared breakfast. If you’re doing some cooking, make sure any youngsters are supervised to avoid accidents but we’re sure dad will appreciate some toast or cereal just the same!

Host a BBQ

If your dads are anything like ours, then they love BBQ-ing, so if you have access to some outdoor space, let them grill away to their heart’s content!

Go on a bike ride

Have an indoor picnic

Again, good weather in June so you could have a picnic out in nature together but if you don’t have access to outdoor space, an indoor picnic is just as fun! Rearrange some furniture, make a blanket fort, tell some stories and enjoy tasty snacks together.

Reminisce together

If you have any photo albums of times gone by, go through them with your dad and get them talking about their childhood and any fun stories they may have to share. It’s a great way to learn more about each other and to bond.

In June the weather is usually fairly warm and dry, so head outdoors and enjoy a bike ride together. This area is full of great cycle routes to explore and even if you don’t have your own bikes, there are loads of places you can hire a set of wheels for the day. There are even adapted bikes available so everyone can join in!

Family holiday destinations this spring

Spring is a great time of year for going on a trip with the whole family – the new flowers are blooming, there are baby lambs frolicking in the fields and the weather is starting to get brighter. If you’re planning a spring break, here are some of the best destinations across the UK.

Devon

With popular family resorts like Torquay, Woolacombe and Combe Martin, Devon is a great option for a family friendly holiday. You have countryside, coast and a host of fun attractions like theme parks and zoos to visit.

Yorkshire

Yes, it is a bit of a trek but as England’s largest county, you have lots of choice. You could have a city break in York or Leeds or head to the countryside and enjoy watching the baby lambs and flowers start to re-emerge.

Cornwall

Known for its beautiful beaches, Cornwall is a great choice for a beach holiday. There are also some lovely heritage attractions in the county if you wanted to keep the kids learning while you’re away.

Wales

There are beaches in the Pembrokeshire region which are lovely at any time of year, there is the vibrant city of Cardiff with its numerous attractions and National Parks like Snowden. You can also keep discovering while you’re here as there are a large number of Roman ruins and castles to be explored here.

News and Reviews

SHINE STAR, SHINE!

Children from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at Ashcott Primary School put on an enchanting performance of ‘Shine Star, Shine!’ this week. The performance was very well attended by parents and families and there were definitely plenty of ‘aah’ moments for the audience to enjoy! Thank you to all of the staff for their hard work in putting on another fantastic Christmas performance.

WELL DONE TO WESTBURY LEIGH C OF E!

A big well done to all the KS2 children who took part in the West Wilts Dance Festival 2023 at Bath Forum. They did an amazing job and were a resounding success and added their ‘kind of magic’ — thanks to Mrs Mwambela and Mr Slater. They also celebrate the Y5/6 children who

attended the weekly challenges against other local school at Matravers school, they won many of the competitions and the Inter Schools' Cup which is a huge accolade for the children and are all very proud!

ROUND UP FROM PRIDDY AND ST LAURENCES SCHOOLS

Our Year 6 Ambassadors have been working hard at Priddy to design a new school library. They have particularly enjoyed looking at furniture from the IKEA website. The children have some very creative and imaginative ideas that will be developed. Key Stage 2 Eco-warriors have been extremely busy inspecting Priddy School site and its grounds. They have been reviewing how eco-friendly the school is and have created an action plan to work on!

The children from Oak class have been learning about Chinese New Year celebrations and as it is the Year of the

THANK YOU FROM ST KEYNA

Many thanks goes to the Friends of St Keyna who have supported all the children to go to the theatre. EYFS loved their trip to see the Snow Mouse, KS1 thoroughly enjoyed Cinderella and as one Year 6 child wrote after all of KS2 went to see the Demon Dentist, 'The Demon Dentist will turn your frown upside down!'.

ECO SCHOOLS

High Littleton School were delighted to welcome back Mrs Bailey for a short ceremony where she hoisted the new Eco Schools Green Flag. This is in recognition of the huge amount of work that Mrs Bailey, the Eco Schools committee and the whole school has committed to in highlighting the need for a greener world.

Rabbit, they had a visit from Rosie's Rabbits. The children explored the various customs and traditions that happen during Chinese New Year. They created red envelopes and gave them to a friend.

Beech Class have been learning all about Evolution and the Stone Age. They have discovered how Historians have been able to understand how people used to live and how we have developed the ideas of Evolution. The children thoroughly enjoyed looking at fossil records and investigating Darwin’s finches to help them get an idea of natural selection.

RETURN OF THE MURAL MAESTRO

St Benedict's School in Glastonbury are extremely fortunate that their very own mural maestro, children’s illustrator Laura Harrison, has returned to create another magical space on the wall above the staircase to the Bee Hive. How great does this look?!

ROCK STAR ROBOT DAY

Westbury Leigh CE Primary School celebrated in style their ‘Rock Star Robot Day’ on Thursday 13 January. In Key Stage 2, children competed to be class times tables champions and to be times tables rock stars using the ‘Times Tables Rock Star’ app! Key Stage 1 children all had a great time playing the ‘Numbots’ app designed to improve knowledge of addition and subtraction. Children and staff dressed up and had fun competing against each other. Mrs Eveleigh (maths leader) explained, ‘The children worked hard before the event to learn times table facts and have ended the day inspired by maths! We are very proud of them!” The day ended with a final competition in the hall where the class champions played against each other to find the school times table champion! The champions even took on the teachers. Mrs Grimsey (headteacher) said ‘It’s a great way to inspire the children to get excited about maths and it really brightened up a quiet January day with staff and children dressed up — everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and worked hard on their maths skills!”

SPORTS ROUND UP FROM ST JOHNS, MSN

Before half term, the girl's football team competed against High Littleton in the first round of the Girl's Football Plate. After an excellent team performance and some brilliant goals, the girls

won the match 5-1 and have progressed through to the next round. Well done girls!

A group of children also took part in an inclusive gymnastics festival at Writhlington Sports Centre. The children had to complete a variety of different gymnastics stations which they all thoroughly enjoyed. They represented St John's excellently and they look forward to taking part in the next inclusive festival.

EVERCREECH C of E PRIMARY SCHOOL

Parents from Evercreech CofE Primary School were invited into school to share a book with their children. They had the opportunity to choose a book and some biscuits, they were then able to choose a space to read. The children and parents very much enjoyed this opportunity.

Pupils from Holly Class at Evercreech CofE Primary School were visited by a local international artist called David Brayne. David painted the ‘Miraculous Catch’ painting as seen in St Peter’s Church, Evercreech. He kindly gave Holly Class a lesson in how to draw fish. The children had a fantastic time creating their own artwork. As part of their theme of flight,

Mulberry Class pupils from Evercreech CofE Primary School visited the Fleet Air Arm Museum. The children were able to gain a deeper understanding of this theme and learnt how planes are built.

Holly Class pupils from Evercreech Church of England Primary School walked to the orchard to pick some apples to bake with and make juice from. The owner of the orchard, met them to tell them all about the different trees and the apples growing on them.

Willow the therapy dog has returned to Evercreech Church of England Primary School to work with the pupils. This is an experience that the children very much enjoy and look forward to. Welcome back Willow!

OFF TO PRISON!

Topaz, Amber and Ruby class from St Keyna enjoyed an interesting trip to Shepton Mallet Prison to link in with their topic; Crime and Punishment. They learnt about the history of the prison, what life was like for prisoners, how many escaped and how they did it. The children were forced to exercise in the exercise yard and saw the hard labour tasks which the prisoners were made to do. They also saw the execution building where 9 prisoners were hung before finally being locked in the cells and then having to break the code to escape! Thankfully no-one got left behind!

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS AT PALACE FIELDS

Miss Faulkes from St Cuthberts' School in Wells has been taking cross country club during lunchtime on Thursday for quite a few weeks now and the children who attend have been training hard to build up their fitness and running skills. Miss Faulkes entered the school into a cross country tournament and children from all over Somerset were there. The tournament was at Palace Fields in Wells and the children had to run up an unexpected big hill. There were some tired legs in school the following day but all of them feel very proud of what they achieved. A big thank you goes to Miss Faulkes for organising this and especially to the mums and dads who helped with the transportation to get the children there.

CARDBOARD BOX CREATIONS

TAG RUGBY EVENT

A big well done to some the Rugby Team from Evercreech Church of England Primary School who took part in a tag rugby tournament at Kings School in Bruton against 6 other local schools. They played 6 games and won 3, drew 2 and lost 1. All of the children were amazing, supporting each other and working well as a team. There were some fantastic individual tries as well as some well worked team tries with great support runs and communication.

Holly Class Pupils from Evercreech Church of England Primary School have enjoyed a wonderful handmade creation from cardboard boxes, the children have enjoyed pretending to be knights, dragons and princesses.