FREE • MID SOMERSET EDITION • ISSUE 44 • JULY/AUGUST 2016
INSIDE WIN a family camping weekend at Crealy New Puzzle pages What's on this summer and much much more
HEYMAG.CO.UK
Millfield Minis Sports Clubs Millfield Minis Sports Clubs are open to all boys and girls, aged 1-9, in the local area. The clubs are held at Millfield Prep, Glastonbury, during term time.
For September 2016 choose from:
Minis Football Thursdays, for ages 5-8 Minis Golf Tuesdays, for ages 6-9 Minis Rugby Fridays, for ages 5-8 Minis Swimming Tuesdays, for ages 1-3 Minis Tennis Saturdays, for ages 2-8 Minis Trampolining Wednesdays, for ages 2-4 With access to specialist facilities and equipment, our clubs are run by friendly, expert staff and provide the perfect introduction to your child’s chosen sport in a safe and caring environment.
Book now at millfieldschool.com/clubs
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 3
WELCOME Director Tina Veater 07834 542955 | tina@ignyte-uk.co.uk Editorial Team Tina Veater info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Advertising Team Zoe Jenkins Theresa Saadeh 01761 410141 | info@ignyte-uk.co.uk Graphic Designer Pamela Evans Published by Ignyte Media Ltd Printed by Flying Colours Ltd, Weare, Somerset Business Address: Ignyte Media Ltd, Unit G5, Second Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate, Radstock, BA3 4BH 01761 410141 info@ignyte-uk.co.uk While every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in the publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Ignyte do not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Distribution: We deliver to 7500 families through primary schools and other outlets in the Wells, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Street areas. The next edition is Back To School & is filling fast.
Whenever we write our Summer edition of HEY! Magazine we are always reminded of the forthcoming changes for our readers. These could be moving to secondary school for the year six classes, starting primary school for our nursery children or moving to a new year group with a new teacher and new challenges. All of these will spark changes and can also cause apprehension for both parents and children, it is important to keep the lines of communication open so that your children can talk to you about their thoughts and concerns. This will make the transition so much easier for all involved. The Summer holidays are now upon us and this magazine is packed full of ideas and suggestions on things to do and places to go during your summer break. Don’t miss out 7 ways to keep your children learning through play and exploration this Summer. Encouraging your children to spend as much time outside is healthy, relaxing and fun for them all. It could be enjoying a picnic, a walk in the woods or a day out at a local attraction, all of these will make them smile and keep them away from the TV and play consoles. A little bit of time will need to be taken to prepare for the new start in September. This may be buying uniforms, stationary, lunch boxes, backpacks and not forgetting school shoes. We suggest you shouldn’t leave this to the last minute but plan your trip and requirements early to ensure you are able to pick everything up in plenty of time. Take some time to enter our amazing competitions. As part of our 10th Birthday celebrations we are once again offering one lucky family the chance to win a 2 night stay at the amazing Crealy Meadows plus a 2 day pass into the adventure park, a chance not to be missed! Have a wonderful Summer break, enjoy the time with the family and the good weather.
Tina Hey Magazine
@hey_tweeter
www.heymag.co.uk
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SMILE PLEASE! S
omerset County Council supported this year’s National Smile Month (16th May to 16th June 2016) raising awareness of the value of a lovely smile and the importance of good oral health to maintain it. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, affecting more than one in our five year olds in the UK. In Somerset a quarter of five year olds and over a third of 12 year olds have dental decay. Poor oral health is almost entirely preventable. Cllr. Anna Groskop, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Somerset County Council, said: “A lovely smile will really help you all through your life, it is so important to our self-confidence and our relationships .
“Early childhood is the key time to develop lifelong good habits relating to your oral health. From brushing their first tooth to their first trip to the dentist we want all children to learn and maintain good oral health practice and have good habits and a healthy diet that will carry them through adulthood.” Top tips to improve oral health • Brush your teeth at night and at least one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste • Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks • Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend. In Somerset a new service called Somerset Smiles launched recently to improve adults and children’s oral health. The new Primary Care Dental
Service is commissioned by Somerset County Council and run by Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. It provides community based fluoride varnish applications in selected early years settings and children’s centres for three year olds, oral health care training sessions for carers, wider workforce training for professionals and the distribution of toothbrush and toothpaste packs to children aged 12 months and a reminder for parents to register their child with a dentist. Alison Bell, Consultant in Public Health at Somerset County Council, said: “Our priority is to establish good health for everyone in Somerset. Our new oral health promotion service aims to promote good oral health to the whole population, while targeting communities who need more help”
Are your children reading comfortably? 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. 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.
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HEYMAG.CO.UK | 5
AUGUST METEOR SHOWER August Annual Meteor Shower – Start Stargazing!
Y
ou have probably heard of a shooting or falling star, but have you ever seen one? If you have ever spent any amount of time looking up at the night sky, then you probably have - a flash of light streaking high above through the darkness for just a moment, disappearing just as quickly as it appeared sometimes so quick that you cannot be sure if you have really seen something or imagined it. You might think that your eyes are playing tricks on you, but shooting stars are definitely real!? Here’s another question for you, a little bit harder this time: do you know what a shooting star is? Their names are a little misleading and this causes some people to think that these fast moving trails of light really are stars that have fallen out of the sky. However, this is not true. Our Sun is a star, our closest star, and the other stars are many many miles away (it would take more than your lifetime to travel to them!) they are certainly not responsible. If you are still not sure of the answer, then you might be surprised to learn that shooting stars are just tiny bits of dust entering the Earth’s atmosphere from space. Tiny particles, like grains of sand or pebbles on a beach, like to crash into the atmosphere at amazingly fast speeds - some faster than a car travelling at his highest speed along the motorway! But don’t worry - they are not big enough to harm you! Occasionally, however, the piece of rock can be big enough so that it does not all burn up while entering the atmosphere and it will hit the ground. We call these meteorites (while they are flying through the atmosphere as shooting stars we call them meteors, and while they are in space we call them meteoroids - it is important to remember the difference!). A whopping 38,000 meteorites have been found on Earth so far, from all over the world, but most are found in the hot desert
or in freezing cold Antarctica. There are three main types of meteorites: stony, iron and stony-iron. A lot of them have been smashed off from very large chunks of rock, called asteroids, in collisions before eventually finding their way to our planet. Iron meteorites, for example, are bits of metal iron cores of large asteroids that were once hot enough to have melted, causing all of their iron to sink to the centre. Stony meteorites look most like the stones that you find on Earth and come from the outer layer of asteroids, whereas stony-iron meteorites are a mixture of the two. Sky watchers will be in for a treat this Summer, when the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak! If you've never seen a meteor before, this is the ideal opportunity. Maximum activity is expected between 11th and 13th August. Keep away from bright lights, let your eyes adapt to the darkness, and lie back and stare at the sky! Perseids are named after the constellation of Perseus, from which they seem to radiate outwards. However, they can appear anywhere in the sky. The best direction to look is wherever your sky is darkest, probably straight up. The shower is best observed from 11pm or midnight onwards, when you may see up to 100 meteors per hour! It maybe a late night for you and the kids but worth looking out for.
HOW TO WATCH A METEOR SHOWER
Watching a meteor shower can be one of the most enjoyable things about observing the night sky, waiting with tense excitement to see the next shooting star. For the best meteor viewing, it is best to find a dark corner of your garden or from wherever you are observing them. Give time for your eyes to get used to the darkness, and use a red light flashlight rather than a normal flashlight, so that you do not ruin your night vision when looking at maps of the night sky. If you do not have a red light flashlight, then you can just cellotape some red see-through paper over a normal flashlight - it works just as well! To avoid going back inside, bring a water bottle and some snacks out into the garden with you. Make sure that you wrap up warm - even in August for the Perseids, it can still get chilly late at night. Remember that a hat is essential, as your body loses much of its heat through your head. Now, you have probably found that when looking at the stars that straining your neck to look up all the time can quickly become uncomfortable. For meteor watching, a deck chair is ideal - you are angled comfortably so you do not have to strain your neck.
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SUN PROTECTION Somerset County Council is encouraging parents to be ‘sunsmart’ to protect their children from the harmful effects of the sun this summer. Exposing children to too much sun may significantly increase their risk of skin cancer later in life. Covering up, staying in the shade and using sunscreen are the best ways to protect children against the sun. More people develop skin cancer in Somerset on average compared to the rest of the country. Somerset has the 14th highest incidence of skin cancer diagnosis compared to other areas in England and on average between 2013-15 there were 37 skin cancer deaths each year. Trudi Grant, Director of Public Health said: “Being out in the sunshine is a great way for children to be active and get the Vitamin D their bodies need. But parents need to make sure they know their children’s skin, don’t let them burn and if they’re outside for a while make sure they’re in the shade, covered up or wearing sunscreen.” Councillor Anna Groskop, Cabinet Member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “Whatever your age, the best way to enjoy the sun safely and protect your skin from sunburn is to use a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen. Children and teenagers might need a reminder or a helping hand, but setting a good example yourself is a great way to help them learn and get into good habits. Six top safety tips to protect children in the sun: • Spending some time every day playing outside with faces and arms uncovered will give children the Vitamin D that they need for OPEN DAILY
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The Taunton Garrison 23-24th July family fun Fridays 10:30-3pm Every Friday family muddy mondays 11-3pm every Monday
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Bowlore medieval 27-29th Aug 10-4pm
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Come on down to the Palace this Summer Holiday for a range of fantastic family activities with a different theme each week from Castles to Medieval Selfies! Explore the gardens with our new children's trails and discover the new "Dragon's Lair" interactive learning and play area! We also have a child-friendly cafe. Children under 5 go FREE!
The Bishop's Palace, Wells BAS 2PD 01749 988111 www.bishopspalace.org.uk
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strong bones. But parents need to make sure children don’t get too much sun and avoid sunburn. • When the sun is strong encourage children to play in the shade – for example, under trees or a parasol – especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. • Keep babies under six-months-old out of direct sunlight, especially around midday. • Cover exposed parts of children’s skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days. Use a high factor sunscreen (at least SPF 15, preferably 30 or above) that is effective against UVA and UVB. Don’t forget to apply it to their shoulders, nose, ears, cheeks and the tops of their feet and reapply often throughout the day. • Cover children up in loose, baggy cotton clothes, such as an oversized t-shirt with sleeves or get them to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim that shades their face and neck. • Protect children’s eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standard and carry the “CE” mark (check the label or ask the manufacturer). • If your child is swimming, use waterproof sunscreen and always reapply after towel drying. For more advice on how to protect children in the sun, go to: www. somerset.gov.uk/skincancer Cancer Research also has lots of advice about protecting children in the sunshine, visit their website www.cancerresearchuk.org
Summer Holiday Family Fun at The Bishop’s Palace This Summer, The Bishop’s Palace is aiming to be the top destination for keeping children and families entertained throughout the school holidays! Every Friday the Palace will host Family Activity Days which are held in the Stable Yard Activity Room. These themed events are based on a different subject each week and will encourage little ones to explore the natural environment and they’ll even be able to take their craft projects home with them. The weekly themes include: Seeds & Plants, Puppets & People, Animal Life, Castles, and Medieval Selfies! Family Garden Activities will also take place on 25th July, 1st, 8th, 15th& 22nd August. Finally on 8th August the Palace will be holding a Family Fun Day when the grounds will be filled with inflatables, bouncy castles, games, dressing up, face painting and much more! The Bishop’s Table café also has a great selection of Children’s Menus at £4 if you want to stay on for lunch and make a day of it!
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SEASONAL ALLERGIES The immune systems of people who are allergic to mold spores or pollen treat these particles (called allergens) as invaders and release chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream to defend against them. It's the release of these chemicals that causes allergy symptoms. Even kids who have never had seasonal allergies in years past can develop them. Seasonal allergies can start at almost any time, though they usually develop by 10 years of age and reach their peak in the early twenties, with symptoms often disappearing later in adulthood. "Ah-choo!" t's your son's third sneezing fit of the morning, and as you hand him another tissue you wonder if these cold-like symptoms - the sneezing, congestion, and runny nose - have something to do with the recent weather change. If he gets similar symptoms at the same time every year, you're likely right: seasonal allergies are at work.
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Seasonal allergies, sometimes called "hay fever" or seasonal allergic rhinitis, are allergy symptoms that occur during certain times of the year, usually when outdoor molds release their spores, and trees, grasses, and weeds release tiny pollen particles into the air to fertilize other plants.
THE
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
If your child develops a "cold" at the same time every year, seasonal allergies might be to blame. Allergy symptoms, which usually come on suddenly and last as long as a person is exposed to a particular allergen, can include sneezing, itchy nose and/or throat, nasal congestion, clear, runny nose and coughing. These symptoms often come with itchy, watery, and/or red eyes, which is called allergic conjunctivitis. If your child has wheezing and shortness of breath in addition to these symptoms, the allergy may have progressed into asthma.
NEW - The Dragon’s Lair
LAI R
A NEW creative space for children for imaginative learning and play.
Coming end of July! The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, BA5 2PD www.bishopspalace.org.uk Tel. 01749 988 111
Construction is underway at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells to create a new creative space for imaginative learning and play for children called “The Dragon’s Lair”. The outdoor activity space will be located in the Arboretum of the Palace Gardens - already a popular area with families for its beautiful trees, picnic tables and balancing logs - and will be set apart from the more tranquil areas of the grounds. The natural play project will aim to give children intellectual access to some of the key themes of The Bishop’s Palace, including the local legend of the dragon slain by Bishop Jocelyn in the 1200’s as well as the theme of well pools and water. The installation will be targeted mainly at primary aged and pre-school aged children in order to encourage a life-long love of the Palace, heritage and culture. Children will be able to navigate their way through the grounds to the area using an illustrated story map, encouraging learning through discovery. Equipment will include a pole jungle in the shape of the dragon’s wings, climbing pods, a waterwheel with sluice gates and shoots and a central structure (The Dragon’s Lair) with boulders and tree stumps, ideal as a storytelling area for children and community events. The equipment will be built by the Green Play Project, a company that uses high quality sustainable materials and environmentally conscious building practices that sit happily within the Arboretum. The Dragon’s Lair will be open at the end of July!
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SUMMER READING CHALLENGE T
his year the Summer Reading Challenge theme is… The Big Friendly Read! Libraries all over the UK will be celebrating 100 years of the wonderful writer Roald Dahl and his gloriumptious stories. Taking part in The Big Friendly Read is simple – when your summer holidays start, you can sign up at your local library. Read any six library books (or more!) over the holidays to collect special rewards and complete the Challenge. You can use the website www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk to keep track of the books you read and write book reviews, enter competitions, chat to other readers and much much more!
helps children with their confidence levels, cope with feelings and language and learning. And what’s so great about learning through stories is that the process is done in a natural way. There’s no actual teaching involved at all, they learn from simply reading the story. Reading stories can be helpful for relaxation, before bedtime for example. They allow children to forget the stresses and strains of the day and indulge in fantasy for a while. The soothing familiarity of a much-loved story, the rhyming and repetition in a picture book, plus the sense of security that time spent reading together can foster, all help the child to relax.
WHY YOUR CHILD SHOULD JOIN IN?
BOOKS TO TRY THIS SUMMER
Stories play a vital role in the growth and development of children. The books they read and the characters they get to know can become like friends. It’s also good for children to understand that books are a useful source of information and that good reading skills are important for success in their future lives. Reading also
MILLFIELD HOLIDAY COURSES s fun! Making holiday
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INFO@MILLFIELDENTERPRISES.COM | 01458 444 320
Chosen entirely by children, these are some of the shortlisted enteries for the Children's Book Award 2016 The books are divided into 3 age ranges and all are listed below. Why not give one of these a try for the Reading Challenge
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 9
BOOKS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN This Book Just Ate My Dog
by Richard Byrne A little girl, a big dog, and a very badly-behaved book! Bella is taking her dog for a stroll across the page when something odd happens. Her dog disappears and it becomes apparent to Bella, her friend Ben, and the rescue services that peril lurks in the pages of this book. But where the police and fire brigade fail, you - the reader - can help!
Fabulous Pie
by Gareth Edwards In the story a bear calls out to the other inhabitants of the forest for help filling a pie he’s making. Mouse, otter, badger and squirrel all help bringing him their very favourite foods, but somehow Bear isn’t satisfied… Readers will quickly guess what Bear really wants for his pie! It all builds, Gruffalo-like, to a rip-roaring climax with a narrow escape for the little animals and a well-deserved comeuppance for the bear! Children will love the pictures, the bouncy rhyme, the funny story and – most of all – they’ll like being one step ahead of the characters. A tasty treat indeed!
Is There a Dog in This Book?
by Viviane Schwarz With an irresistible story that directly involves the reader, this book's clever design and bright, gestural illustrations make for a LOT of fun for cat (and dog) lovers! It is a completely interactive book brimming over with all kinds of fantastic flaps and fabulous flips that reveal lots of little surprises and jokes for children to enjoy and even for parents to share with their toddlers too!
BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS Horrid Henry's Krazy Ketchup
by Francesca Simon Children everywhere will sympathise with Henry in the title story as he tries to circumvent his parents’ healthy eating regime by swamping everything with ketchup. And they will love how he gets his own back when they introduce a substitute pure version! In other stories, how Henry and his equally horrible friend Rude Ralph outwit the mean babysitter and, how Henry avoids looking after the chicken he is so frightened of, are equally entertaining
8-13 August
From £3.50 Join us this Summer! A week of workshops, entertainment and celebration Workshops for 8’s and over for all Events children and young adults. Cookery £8 Night Walk at Paddington Farm £2 Farm Day £5 Magic £5 Street Dance £5 Music £5 Explorium £5 Circus Skills £5 Drama £5 Parkour £5
(12’s and over) Southwest Bass at Red Brick Building £3 (16’s and over)
Cookery • Farm Day • Magic • Circus Skills • Parkour Adventures Science • Story Telling Flash Mob £5in (All ages) Night Walk • Flash Mob
Join us thisFacebook Summer! Stay tuned to the website, and twitter for full details A week of workshops, 01458 833693 and booking: www.childrensworldcharity.org entertainment and celebration
Workshops for 7’s and under Drama and Storytelling £3.50 Farm Day £5 Adventures in Science £3.50 Wildlife Encounter £3.50 Boogie Bum Bums £3.50
Off The Streets
Charity no. 282743
for all children and young adults in the Glastonbury area.
My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat
by Pamela Butchart A third riotous adventure for Jodi, Maisie, Zach and all the rest in 4J including the fast-paced narrator, Izzy. This time, part of the school is suddenly put out-of-bounds. When 4J have to share a classroom with 6B, the gang discover that the reason that it is closed is …Rats! Could this have anything to do with the new head teacher who keeps his curtains closed ? As ever, the gang is quick to jump to conclusions. If the head is a vampire rat, they must do everything in their power to destroy him! The classroom goes wild in this witty no-holds-barred story.
Boy in the Tower
by Polly Ho-Yen From the seventeenth floor of the tower block where he lives with his mother, Ade watches as the buildings fall around him. The Bluchers - a strange and terrible kind of plant - are taking over the city, and everyone is being forced to evacuate, but his mother is refusing to leave her room. And so Ade watches alone as the city slowly empties, and the Bluchers creep ever closer...
Open Day! Friday 12th August 2 - 7pm Wildlife trails, games & walks of site Refreshments available – FREE admission education@carymoor.org.uk 01963 351350
@OffTheStreetsUK
For information and booking Website: www.childrensworldcharity.org Telephone: 01458 833693 Off The Streets @offthestreetsUK
www.carymoor.org.uk
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DAY TRIPPING T
aking a day trip with the kids requires some careful planning and preparation. It’s hard to hop in the car and see where you end up when you have little people asking lots of questions onboard. It can feel like mobilising an army in order to get out of the house for a day trip, but you can take the stress away by ditching strict itineraries and epic car journeys. Many families hold off until the school holidays before planning day trips, but it’s a good idea to get into the habit of going somewhere as a family once a month. Being consistent about taking family day trips will give both you and your children a healthy routine to follow. Unless you have little angels who love to sleep in the car and never bicker, try not to plan a day trip that involves a long journey in the car. The kids will be bored and you’ll be frazzled by the end of your trip by the constant “Are we there yets?” You shouldn’t need to travel far before you find something interesting to do, even if you just head out for a long walk in the woods or a park. It’s a nice idea to get a local map and plot out where you’ve been as a family and where you’d like to go. Once you’ve exhausted the day-tripping possibilities in your local area, you can increase your radius, which will gradually get you all used to travelling further afield. The worst mistake is trying to pack too many activities into what should be an easy, relaxing day. If you get used to making regular
monthly day trips, you won’t feel the need to pack all you want to do into just a few summer outings. Plan your journey before you go and find out if there are any scenic spots en-route to stop for a break or a picnic, but don’t make things hard for yourself by trying to stick to a strict itinerary. Just have the mentality of “we’ll get there when we get there”, which you’ll probably be repeating to them along the way if you’ve ventured too far from home. To make the trip as interesting as possible, do some swatting up. Knowing plenty of facts about where you’re going will help you stimulate interest in your kids during the journey - that’s if you can convince them to switch off their iPod or games console. The British weather is temperamental, as we well know, so it’s a wise move to check the forecast before heading off, even if there is wall-to-wall sunshine. Have what you need for every eventuality: raincoats, umbrellas, warm jumpers, hats and sunscreen. Before you set off, also check out your destination’s website for opening times, parking information, special events and offers. You may well get a better deal if you book online in advance. Finally, give your children disposable cameras each to encourage them to document your family day. If you make a habit of daytripping, you’ll have a whole stack of family photos to look over by the end of the year.
AS THE LONGEST HERITAGE RAILWAY IN ENGLAND WE ARE MILE FOR MILE BETTER VALUE CELEBRATING YEARS
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OF STEAMING TO THE SEASIDE
FROM BISHOPS LYDEARD TO MINEHEAD
Summer fun for all the family on the West Somerset Railway. Enjoy 20 miles of steam train travel from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. Book your tickets up to 7 days in advance to receive a 10% discount. Book online at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or telephone 01643 704996
GOODNIGHT SMARTPHONE
P
owering down before bed for a good night’s rest. Checking email or flipping through channels instead of sleeping? Playing video games or browsing social media in bed? If you want to catch some quality ZZZs, you should put down that smartphone. The National Sleep Foundation reports nearly 90 percent of adults sleep with at least one electronic device in their bedroom. However, staring at a screen after 9 p.m. can zap your body of energy, turning you into a zombie the next day. To get a good night’s rest, consider shutting off all electronics before climbing into bed.
HOW ELECTRONICS AFFECT YOUR SLEEP Your body functions on a 24-hour internal clock. This clock is influenced by your physical environment and daily schedule. Using electronic devices around bedtime can throw off your body clock and negatively affect your quality of sleep.
Light and darkness affect your body clock. Staring at the blue glow of electronic devices – computers, tablets, televisions, gaming systems and/or smartphones – before bedtime can trick your body into thinking it’s still daytime. The artificial light sends messages to the brain to wake up and activates the body. This, in turn, can reset your body clock, delaying your normal sleep cycle. Studies show that staring at bright screens within four hours of bedtime reduces melatonin, a hormone that makes you naturally tired when it’s time to sleep. This can cause difficulty when trying to fall asleep, poor quality of sleep or sleep disorders, such as insomnia. In the long run, problems sleeping at night can impact you during the day. Lack of proper sleep can lead to impaired focus at work, trouble remembering, fatigue, stress and even weight gain.
GET OFF THE GRID
It is important to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. To get a better night’s sleep, experts recommend: • Spending at least 30 minutes technology-free before you climb into bed. • Reading a book or magazine in bed instead of using an electronic device. • Making the bedroom a technology-free zone (i.e., no smartphones, tablets, laptops, TV, etc.). • Using your bed for sleep only – this habit will create a connection in your mind between your bed and sleep. • Putting caps over electrical outlets in the bedroom to discourage plugging in electronics to recharge. If your smartphone is your alarm clock, set your phone to sleep mode (do not disturb function) so all calls and texts will be silenced unless it’s an emergency. Be sure to put your phone face down on the nightstand so incoming messages don’t wake you up. Power down tonight and don’t let your technology keep you from a good night’s rest.
NIGHT TIME STIMULANTS TO AVOID
While using electronic devices is one night time distraction, here are some other common things to avoid to get a good night’s rest: • Animals Do not let your pets snuggle with you at night as they typically function on a different cycle than humans. • Alcohol While it initially makes you drowsy, alcohol leaving the bloodstream wakes the body, interrupting your sleep cycle. • Vitamins and supplements Like alcohol, taking a vitamin or supplement too close to bedtime can wake you up later – even if they knock you out initially. • Caffeine and sugar Drinking coffee, soda or other sugary beverages should be avoided within four hours of bedtime, otherwise you may be too wired to sleep.
7 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR CHILD LEARNING THIS SUMMER W
hen school breaks up for the summer, parents across the country worry about how much their children will forget over the holidays. Will all those hours helping them with math and reading dissolve with the carefree hours spent at the pool or park? Added to this concern is how much time over the summer parents will be able to commit to helping their children retain and reinforce what they learned during the previous school year.
HAVE A SCAVENGER HUNT AT THE MUSEUM
While millions of children are eager for the freedom of summer, parents are coming up with plans to keep the learning momentum going. Here are seven fun ways to keep your child engaged over the summer with enriching experiences.
DEVELOP THEIR GREEN THUMB
Gardening allows children to not only play and build something - as they might do in a sandbox - but learn about the life cycle of plants and the importance of nutrition. One way to make this more exciting is to try to grow something giant, like a huge squash or pumpkin that will provide an end goal to the entire experience.
H ES 20 IC R PR FO D
EL
The Hawk Conservancy Trust
One way to turn a visit to the museum into a fun and educational experience is to make it a scavenger hunt. If you're going to an art museum, your list can include things you might see in paintings or sculptures from a certain country. If it's a natural history museum, you can include dinosaurs and animals.
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SUMMER FUN
AT THE FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM
World-class flying demonstrations Every visitor can meet a bird of prey Keeper talks and feeding sessions Over 150 birds of prey on view 22 acres of woodland and wildflower meadow • Adventure play area • Ferret racing and tractor rides during school holidays • Feathers Restaurant & Trust shop • • • • •
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 1ST – 26TH AUGUST, SEARCH & RESCUE MAKE AND TAKE AND CAMOUFLAGE THEMED ACTIVITIES. 1.30 – 3.30PM*
Under 4s now go
FREE
*Each week will either be Search & Rescue or Camouflaged themed. Spaces are limited and on a first come first served basis. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
CONSERVATION EDUCATION RESEARCH REHABILITATION We are located just off the A303 near Andover, Hampshire
01264 773 850 www.hawkconservancy.org www.facebook/hawkconservancy @HawkConservancy
CHARITY NO: 1092349
Book online and save 20%
Visit www.fleetairarm.com or call 01935 840565
LET THEM BE YOUR TRAVEL AGENTS
Before you set off on your summer trip, get your children involved in the planning process. Let them help you search for lodgings within your budget and in the area you want to stay. Together, you can learn about nearby attractions and plan your visit accordingly. The entire process not only builds confidence, but serves as a finance, geography, history and social studies lesson all wrapped in one.
HAVE ADVENTURES IN READING
Reading is one of the most important skills to maintain and develop. Reading to your children each day establishes a positive association in their mind and makes them excited to read on their own. Be sure to stay up to date with the activities at your local library, which provides fun and sociable learning opportunities.
MAKE SOMETHING
While there are plenty of kits out there to promote STEM learning skills, you can encourage your children to use their creativity and knowledge to build projects from common household materials. Some classic examples of this would be making a raft out of empty milk cartons or plastic bottles, a homemade volcano using vinegar and baking soda or a homemade electromagnet.
BECOME A COLLECTOR
A great way for children to get hands-on knowledge of the natural world is for them to build a collection while discovering the outdoors. Rocks, plants, bugs - these are the things that excite a young mind. Search for different kinds of leaves to press at home, then work with your children to identify their types.
HEY! competitions WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM The Fleet Air Arm Museum is Europe’s largest naval aviation collection and is a day out guaranteed to thrill the entire family. Go on board the world famous Concorde, step inside a rescue helicopter and immerse yourself in the aircraft carrier experience. Further information about the museum can be found at www.fleetairarm.com
To win, answer this question: What does RNAS stand for?
WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO SEE PEPPA PIG AT BRISTOL HIPPODROME (2 ADULTS AND 2 CHILDREN)
Surprise! Peppa Pig, George and their friends are back in a brand new live stage show, Peppa Pig’s Surprise. Enjoy fun, loads of songs and of course, surprises in this charming, colourful new show. Peppa Pig’s Surprise promises to be the perfect theatre show for all pre-schoolers!
To win, answer this question: Who created Peppa Pig?
WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO WEYMOUTH SEA LIFE CENTRE WINNERS
Get up close to over 1,000 creatures including a playful otters, comical penguins, jawsome sharks and magnificent sea turtles. Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park offers a whole day of feeds, presentations and magical experiences for all the family. Continue your journey down the seafront to Jurassic Skyline for breathtaking 360 degree views of the Jurassic Coast from 174ft.
Alistair Combe, Longwell Green Frederick Thomas, Westbury Scarlett Sealey, Wells Jack Micklewright, Writhlington Evie Knatchbull, Kilmersdon
To win, answer this question: What are the names of the 3 Sea Turtles at Weymouth Sea life Centre?
HOW TO ENTER
WIN A 45 MINUTE PRIVATE HORSE RIDING LESSON OR HACK WITH RECTORY FARM STABLES Whether you are a complete beginner or a returning rider or even just a happy hacker Rectory Farm has it all to offer. This riding school has been established for over 20 years, with lots of friendly staff and qualified instructors. Riding instruction is offered in a variety of forms. From individual to group lessons using the floodlit menage to allow all year riding. Hacking to suit all abilities from quite country lanes to beautiful gallops. Rectory Farm also have facilities for riders with disabilities which make them an inclusive riding stable.
To win, answer this question: Who wrote the novel Black Beauty?
To be in with a chance of winning these fantastic prizes, simply visit www.heymag.co.uk and click on the Competitions button, complete the form and enter your answers. It couldn’t be easier! Closing date for entries: 15th August 2016
it’s our birthday!
WIN! TWO NIGHT WEEKEND STAY AT CREALY MEADOWS IN A GLAMPING TENT PLUS 2-DAY PASS TO CREALY ADVENTURE PARK Crealy Adventure Park & Resort is the South West’s number one family value day out. The multi-award winning attraction situated just minutes from Junction 30 of the M5 near Exeter, has more than 60 rides and attractions and is set in 100 acres of glorious Devon countryside. Devon’s Crealy is proud to cater for the whole family, from the smallest children to grandparents. The Park features over 75,000 square feet of undercover play and extensive outdoor rides and adventure areas to seek and explore, making it a fantastic day out, whatever the weather. This year, the Park is celebrating the first anniversary of its newest ride, The Twister. One of the biggest rollercoasters in the South West, The Twister features 310 metres of winding track, which spins and twists guests at speeds of up to 40kph. Guests will love soaring to new heights of fun on The Flying Machine, whilst intrepid explorers can get up close and meet prehistoric friends including the roaring T-Rex, mischievous Stegosaurus and clever Velociraptor at Dino Jeeps. Over 200 animals call Devon’s Crealy home and this year the park welcomed the arrival of its own Tortoise Town and Snake Pit. New for 2016, at the adjacent Crealy Meadows Caravan and Camping Park, are luxurious lodges and insulated luxury Safari Tents. Crealy Meadows have been awarded 5 stars on TripAdvisor and offers the ultimate camping and glamping experience for all the family as well as discounted entry into the Park. Crealy’s ‘7 days for the price of 1’ offers fantastic value, giving guests the opportunity to validate their ticket on their initial visit and then return to the Park for a further six days. Guests can save up to 20% when purchasing tickets in advance online. For more information visit www.crealy.co.uk/Devon.
The luxury safari glamping tents offer more comfort and luxury than you would ever expect to find under canvas. Sleeping accommodation comprises of a solid double bed in the master bedroom, bunk beds in the second bedroom and a double ‘snug sleeping den’ – which is especially fun for the little ones! These stylish and popular tents are ultraspacious and come fully fitted with everything you need for a perfect self-catering family holiday. Complete with solid wood furniture, there’s a farmhouse style kitchen diner that’s at the heart of your holiday home complete with a wood burning stove, fridge, kettle, toaster, Belfast sink and all the cutlery, crockery and utensils you’ll need. Plus each tent has 2 double sockets making it easier to charge your electronic devices.
To win this amazing prize simply visit www.heymag.co.uk and answer this question: Crealy Adventure Park & Resort has 2 bear mascots, one is Buddy but what is the name of the other? Terms and conditions: · Prize based on a family of 5 (2 adults & 3 children). · Prize excludes stays during Devon school holidays. · Weekend break is subject to availability. · Prize must be taken by 31st May 2017. · Not for resale.
PUZZLES Crossword Find the answers to the questions below and fill in the crossword.
ACROSS
DOWN
2. A spring flower 4. Not as large 6. Last season of the year 7. More than one tooth 9. King of the jungle 11. What day is the 25th Dec 12. Young goat 14. A bird builds this 15. You dry yourself with one of these 16. Capital of France
1. The 4th month of the year 3. Not many 4. Eye protection from sun 5. Consumes food 8. Beans on ? 10. Type of tree 11. Move along secretly and slowly 13. Common name for father
Wordsearch Find the 13 words listed below - they could be written forwards, downwards, back-to-front or diagonally. Good luck!
Y S E L G G O G A
T E B F L B G B E
I P K A E K D E S
D O I N W C R A B
E S T T O S N C L
T G E A T D L H E
W A V E S H E L L
I C E C R E A M F
BEACH CRAB DONKEY GOGGLES ICE CREAM KITE SAND SEA SHELL TOWEL TIDE WAVE
U LT I M AT E I N D O O R K A R T I N G A N D L A S E R - TA G E X P E R I E N C E Laser-tag for the whole family. Our dedicated arena provides the perfect setting for family laser-tag fun. You must use stealth and strategy to outwit your fellow players. It’s simple, yet intense, fun and rewarding. Amazing driving experiences with multi-tiered track. All abilities and ages. Variety of different events including ‘Arrive and Drive’ and Children’s Karting. Waiting area and a coffee lounge to relax and enjoy refreshments.
Wolvershill Road, Banwell, Weston-super-Mare
OPENING HOURS Mon - Fri 13:00 until late Saturday 10:00 until late Sunday 10:00 until late
10 mins off the M5, 5 mins from WestonSuper-Mare town centre. Ample free parking.
RECIPES With thanks to www.riverford.co.uk/recipes
Fresh herbs can transform a dish by adding depth or brightness to the flavour, as well as adding interest to the overall look.
BASIL
BEAN AND HERB PASTA SERVES 4 This is a really fresh, summery dish, with crunch from the beans and tanginess from the lemon and Parmesan. You can use any green bean (runner, French, finely sliced flat beans, double-podded broad beans, even sugar snap peas). 400g long pasta 400g green beans, prepared, blanched until just tender, then refreshed in cold water; if using sugar snaps, just throw them in raw 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped, grated or crushed zest and juice of 1 lemon, to taste 2 handfuls of mixed herbs (e.g. parsley, mint, chervil, tarragon, chives, dill), chopped 100g Parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated salt and pepper Add the pasta to a large pan of salted boiling water and cook according to the packet instructions. When you drain it, reserve a couple of ladlefuls of the cooking water. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the beans, garlic, lemon zest and juice and gently warm for 1 minute (keep an eye on the garlic so it doesn’t burn). Remove from the heat. Add the pasta to the frying pan, along with the three quarters of the fresh herbs and half the grated Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and toss gently to combine everything. Add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up. Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl and sprinkle over the remaining herbs and Parmesan to serve. Variations • Add some cooked and chopped spinach or chard leaves. • Throw in some leftover roast chicken or fried bacon lardons. • Swap the Parmesan for some crumbled blue cheese. • Instead of using beans, grate two or three large courgettes and fry them for a couple of minutes with the garlic and lemon before tossing with the pasta.
Spicy and fresh in equal measure, basil pairs beautifully with tomatoes - raw, roasted or cooked into a sauce. To avoid it going black, store it somewhere cool rather than cold and slice the leaves with a very sharp knife, or tear them with your hands.
CHERVIL
The flavour of chervil is somewhere between mild parsley and tarragon, with a note of aniseed. It pairs well with delicate flavours such as poultry, fish, eggs and summer vegetables. Use chervil as a garnish, or blitz with tarragon, chives, parsley, oil and capers to make a vibrant green sauce that is fantastic on salmon.
CHIVES
Chives have a mild oniony flavour that makes them very useful in the kitchen. Pair them with eggs, potatoes, cheese, fish or anything else that usually benefits from a dose of onion or garlic.
CORIANDER
Grassy, cooling and citrussy, coriander leaf is a match for hot and spicy food - Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Mexican. Try it, too, on tomato salads, in guacamole or with fatty meats such as lamb and pork.
DILL
Feathery dill's mild aniseed flavour is underrated in the UK. Try it in salads such as tomato, cucumber and radish, or with beetroot and feta.
MINT
Mint has a fresh, sweet flavour and cooling aftertaste. It works well with fatty foods such as lamb or spicy Middle-Eastern dishes. It is particularly good with feta, yoghurt, cucumber, melon, peas, oranges and aubergine.
PARSLEY (FLAT-LEAF OR CURLY)
Fresh, cool and green, parsley's powerful flavour is versatile, be it in flat-leaf or curly form. Stronger flavoured flat-leaf is perhaps more favoured, but unless you particularly want the flat leaves for decoration, they're pretty interchangeable in recipes. Just use a little more curly for the same flavour.
STORING HERBS
To lengthen the life of fresh herbs, remove any rubber bands or ties and swish the herbs around in a big bowl of cold water. Let them sit for a few minutes while any dirt sinks to the bottom. Lift out then spin dry in a salad spinner or by shaking in a clean tea towel. Layer the herbs in a plastic box with sheets of kitchen paper to absorb the remaining water. Finish with a final sheet of paper, then seal and store in the fridge. Many herbs will keep like this for a week or even two.
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 19
KEEP THE KIDS FIT! Play ball or tag, take a bike ride, go up and down stairs, climb trees, walk, take karate - it all counts as exercise. And there’s almost no part of you that doesn’t get better when you do it: bones, muscles, lungs, brain. You get the idea. Here’s a look at all the ways exercise helps you.
WHY EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR YOUR BODY
LUNGS AND HEART. They get stronger when you get moving. That helps you feel more energy and means you can play, walk, or jog longer without feeling tired. So how about an extra lap around the park? MUSCLES. Exercise makes them stronger and stretchier. So, become the family arm-wrestling champ. Do the limbo. Take out the bins. Master the cartwheel. BONES. You make yours stronger when you move. That’ll help with everything from how tall you stand to how powerful you are. REFLEXES AND COORDINATION. They help you catch a ball on the field or land a perfect half-twist when you’re trampoling. Remember, practice helps! STAYING HEALTHY. Exercise helps you keep your weight in check. It can mean you’re less likely to get diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and some kinds of cancer. It can even help you avoid getting a cold or the flu as often.
HOW EXERCISE CAN HELP YOUR MIND Because a good workout gets your blood flowing, more oxygen gets to your brain. And that means you can think better. Exercise may: • Keep you from zoning out in class or while doing your homework • Improve your scores on tests • Help you get better grades • Help you sleep better. When you exercise, your brain gets the message that you’re tired at night. • Teaches you to be a good team player and make new friends
HOW EXERCISE CAN PUT YOU IN A BETTER MOOD
It affects chemicals in your brain. And those can change how you feel. When you move, you can: • Get more energy so you feel good and can do things you want to do, like sports, dance, playing an instrument, or reading • Feel better when you’re stressed out • Stay calmer when you have to give a class presentation Pretty cool, huh? So why not take up a sport, or just play with your friends outside. It keeps you fit and healthy, but most of all, FUN at the same time.
BRAND NEW SOFT PLAY CENTRE IN WELLS!
Where parents can relax...
and kids can’t!
om rewells.c a u q s e h www.t 20 Priory Rd, Wells BA5 1SY
01749 677 510
play@thesquarewells.com
20 | HEYMAG.CO.UK
CHOOSING CHILDCARE Fun and inspiring village pre-school offering play-based learning & education for children aged 2-5 yrs. Eligible for Early Years Entitlement funding. Sessions include Forest School, Yoga, Sports and much more! Monday - Friday 8.45am - 4.00pm term time only T: 01749 899147 E: preschool@piltonvillage.co.uk
C
hoosing childcare can be daunting, whether it’s for your first or fourth child. There are many things you need to think about; is a childminder or nursery the best option? Will my child be happy and safe? What is the difference between a nursery and pre-school?
PR OO F
Confidence Creativity Critical thinking Compassion Character Community
The best way to find out which childcare provider would best suit you and your child is for you both to visit and ask questions. Whenever and wherever possible ask your child for their thoughts and suggestions. Children view things differently from adults and the issues we consider to be important for our children’s safety and wellbeing are often not the things most important to children. A child’s point of view may include things like Do the staff greet me personally? Can my grown-up stay until I feel happy? Are there a variety of things to play with? Can I play outside when I want to? What happens if I am thirsty or hungry? Can I bring my teddy/toy/comforter with me? What happens if I wet my pants? What happens if other children hurt or frighten me? You also need to think about paying for childcare. Most providers can take the Early Years Entitlement for 3 and 4 years olds, and those with an Ofsted grading of Good or Outstanding can accept funding for 2 year olds. You may also be able to use the Childcare Element of Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers to help towards childcare costs.
PR OO F
FREE CHILDCARE FOR 3 AND 4 YEAR OLDS
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS The Government provides a free entitlement for all three and four year old children to attend an early years provider, starting the term after the child’s 3rd birthday. This is called the Early Years Entitlement. The entitlement is designed to be flexible so you can choose where you want your child to attend and what hours they will attend (subject to availability). All providers can now offer funding for up to 15 hours early years provision each week. A small number may offer less than this if they are not able to open for a full 15 hours per week. The entitlement is for regular attendance agreed between the parent and provider.
St Cuthbert’s Pre-School Play Group is providing a home from home atmosphere for the children to grow, learn and develop in. St Cuthbert’s Pre-School is about to become an official part of St Cuthbert’s Infant school and preparations to improve facilities for all children are underway. 50 years of love and care now with an exciting and innovative future.
01749 675995
www.stcuthbertspreschool.wix.com/wells
Wells, Somerset BA5 2TJ Contact Christine 01749 677011
steppingstonesplaygroup@hotmail.co.uk
Brand New ‘MUD KITCHEN‛
Awarded Ofsted GOOD in 2016
2 year old grant accepted Term time 9am - 3pm
Parent committee supported Registered Charity No. 1022365. Playgroup Leader Christine Buckley
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 21
Your chosen provider will give you the necessary forms to claim the funding and they are responsible for sending these forms back to the Local Authority. The funding for your child’s hours is then paid directly to the provider. All children become eligible for this funding at the start of the term after their 3rd birthday. Terms are split into the traditional 3 academic periods September-December, January-March and April-August.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT IS THE EARLY YEARS ENTITLEMENT WORTH AND WHAT PERIOD DOES IT COVER? All providers can offer up to 15 hours early years provision each week for up to 38 weeks a year. If your provider is open for less than 38 weeks, the total number of weeks paid will be reduced to match the total number of weeks they are open. If your provider is open for more than 38 weeks, your provider may choose to spread the full entitlement of hours over more weeks. CAN MY CHILD ATTEND MORE THAN ONE PROVIDER? If the child attends 2 providers, the parent should declare on the form how many hours they want to claim at both providers. This will also apply for children attending one provider in one authority and a second provider in another authority. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD SWITCHES PROVIDERS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TERM? If you have not claimed the maximum entitlement, any unused hours could be claimed by your new chosen provider. Any transfer of your free entitlement already paid is at the discretion of the old provider and their local terms and conditions. Many have a notice period during which they are entitled to keep any funding they have received for a child. You should discuss this with your provider. The providers may negotiate with each other as to whether they wish to retain or transfer funding in respect of your child. However, any decision regarding transferring the funding is at the provider’s discretion HOW DO I GET FUNDING FOR MY CHILD? At the start of the term after your child’s birthday (or any time after this when you want to start claiming), ask your provider for a new starter form (EYE2 form). The form should be fully completed, signed and handed to your provider with a copy of your child’s birth certificate. This only needs to be completed once for any child attending a provider. At the start of each subsequent term (September, January and
April), you will be asked to sign a pre-populated form to confirm the number of hours your child is attending. You MUST sign each term to confirm your child’s attendance for the entitlement to be paid. WHAT HOURS CAN I USE THE ENTITLEMENT FOR? The forms submitted to us will ask you to confirm the total number of hours your child attends and the number of days they attend. There is a minimum of 2 and a half and a maximum of 10 hours which can be taken in any one day, but your provider may structure their day to designate “core” hours during which the entitlement can be taken. In order to claim the full 15 hour entitlement (where applicable), your child must attend on 2 or more days. If your child attends for more than the maximum entitlement, the provider must clarify on any bill your free entitlement and additional hours for which fees are due. FURTHER INFORMATION • Providers cannot charge you any additional fee for the funded hours, although any extras could be billed for e.g. meals, snacks. • If your child attends more than the maximum entitlement per week, your provider is entitled to charge you for the extra hours. • If the provider’s term is longer than 38 weeks, they are entitled to charge you for the extra weeks. • Your provider’s fee policy should clearly state the charge for all additional hours offered. Note - The value and payment of fees for sessions not funded by the Early Years Entitlement is a matter between the parent and provider.
WOOKEY PRIMARY SCHOOL Stunning location, connecting children with the outdoors
t 2016 from Sep e r a c d n Wraparou 6pm to group s for play From 8am b lu c f o riety A wide va ged children am) l-a o (8am to 9 b and scho lu c t s 5). breakfa s (until 4:1 including b lu c y il a ed d l club and them ide an after-schoo rov 6pm. We also p runs until h ic h w , e servic
sults OFSTED re ught the t. Excellent vated children – ta learn bes ti o way they e th , Happy, m rn a like to le to be way they ’, we like s y a D n e no set ‘Op eds – There are et your ne e m to le flexib 73650 (01749) 6 Call us on www.wookeyprimaryschool.co.uk
22 | HEYMAG.CO.UK
GET READY FOR SCHOOL W
GET THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND UNIFORM IN ORDER
It’s much less stressful to get back into school mode if we do it gradually, instead of suddenly realising “Oh no, the children go back to school this week and I cannot find their lunch-boxes and I am not sure what happened to their homework which is due to be handed in on the first day of term”. Even if you’re itching to finally get the children out of the house, a little preparation a week or two before school starts will start your family off on the right foot.
WORK ON HOMEWORK - LIKE PROJECTS FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER
hen the lazy days of summer are coming to a close, it’s time to start preparing your child for a more scholarly mindset. Here are a few tips to get them out of lazy mode and ease the transition for both of you.
START ADJUSTING THE SLEEP SCHEDULE
The most basic thing is to have your children - and yourself, if necessary - go to sleep and get up a little earlier every day. So, at least a week before summer holiday ends, start setting the alarm clocks. Begin with a wake up time that is about an hour earlier than usual.
One good thing about shopping for uniforms and school supplies, though, is you can bring your children with you and use it as a reminder that school is approaching—and maybe even get them excited about it. Who doesn’t like brand new sharpened pencils? Even picking out a new backpack (if one is needed) can be exciting.
Many schools have reading lists and book reports due on the first day of school. Working on those towards the end of summer can help them transition into school mode. While you might not necessarily want to assign “homework” during summer and kill the last few days of joy, there are plenty of fun ways to get children into a more productive learning mindset - even if they’re just fun video games.
LOOKING FOR A JOB TO FIT ROUND YOUR FAMILY?
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Don’t wait until the kids are on holiday... Do something inspiring today and sign up for an adult course.
If you are friendly, caring, have bags of common sense and your own transport then a job as a care and support worker might be just the thing for you. No experience or qualifications? No problem! We train and support you. Flexible full & p/time hours with good pay rates. Evening/ Weekend-only work also available. Candlelight provides support services to people in their own homes. Visit our website or call your nearest Candlelight branch: Glastonbury/Wells/Shepton: 01458 831201 or Frome/Trowbridge: 01225 776000
There are hundreds of courses in many different subjects starting from September 2016. Apply online today! *For eligible Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 courses only. 01278 441234 | www.bridgwater.ac.uk
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HEYMAG.CO.UK | 23
THREE YEAR PLAN FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE APPROVED P
lans to continue driving forward improvements in services for Somerset’s children and young people were approved by the County Council’s Cabinet and endorsed by partners this week. The Children and Young People’s Plan (2016-19) has been developed in partnership with the police, health, schools, early years settings, adults services who support parents and other agencies. It focuses on the continuous improvement to services for children, young people and their families in Somerset. The approval of the Plan by Cabinet Members comes after 12 months of urgent improvements to children’s services in Somerset. The ambitious nine priorities of the initial plan have now been achieved, allowing the Council and partners to look ahead at how they intend to continue making improvements. “We’ve seen the good progress that was needed over the past 12 months and this plan allows us to continue to increase the pace of improvements that we have been making to children’s services,” said Cllr Frances Nicholson, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families. “The Children and Young People’s Plan is all about helping families and communities to thrive and giving the children and young people the best possible start to life. The changes we have made in the last year have put us on the right path and now we’ll continue to work hard to ensure that what we have put in place really makes a difference.” Mike Prior, Somerset Area Superintendent, said: “We feel this is a positive move forward and we wholeheartedly support the plan. It demonstrates all of the partner’s commitment to improve outcomes for children and young people in Somerset.” Lucy Watson, Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group’s Director of Quality and Patient Safety, said: “This plan highlights
the importance of promoting good health and wellbeing for children and young people, both as individuals and as communities. “Health professionals and social workers know that the health of children and young people, particularly their family life and emotional health and wellbeing, will influence their health into adulthood. We therefore owe it to all children to make sure they get the best start in life by growing up in a loving home and caring community. “This plan will help children and young people to have a healthy start in life by promoting the benefits of eating a healthy diet, keeping active and making sure children, young people and their families can get early access to the support they need to prevent mental or physical ill health.” Seven key themes emerge from the plan, which will be the focus of improvements for the next three years: • Supporting children, families and communities to become more resilient • Promoting healthy outcomes and giving children the best start in life • Improving emotional health and wellbeing • Building skills for life • Providing help early and effectively • Achieving effective multi-agency support for more vulnerable children and young people and developing an excellent children’s social work service • Embedding a think family approach across the workforce The Department for Education (DfE) required Somerset County Council to develop the plan to highlight how the partnership of agencies working with children and young people in Somerset intend to continue and sustain improvements to children’s services. Feedback from the DfE appointed advisors to Somerset’s Improvement Programme, Essex County Council, has been positive.
Bove Moor Road, Street Ba16 0DG 01458 897007 taylors-coffee.n.ice@hotmail.co.uk taylors.of.street
Huge variety of ice cream flavours Good fresh food, sweet and savoury Milkshakes to die for A great place to bring the family Large encl�ed garden Cater for birthday parties
@IceTaylors
icetaylor
24 | HEYMAG.CO.UK
News and Reviews LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
EVENTS
DIARY DATES
YOUR SUCCESSES
WORKING DAIRY FARM VISIT On Wednesday 25th May, Conkers class, Croscombe Primary, had the chance to see a working dairy farm in action when they visited Mead Farm in Latcham, near Wedmore. This was a fantastic opportunity to see how our dairy foods are produced from the milking of the cows in the parlour to the production of butter, ice cream and cheese. The children were able to get up close to the cows and get muddy in the fields – it was a fantastic morning and they are very grateful to the Diocese for funding this event.
FEATHERED VISITORS At Evercreech Church of England Primary School the children in Holly Class had a lovely surprise when they had their second feathered visitor of the week, first of all they had a visit from a blackbird and today they have been visited by this lovely baby Robin. The children were all very excited by this, as you can see the bird was very happy to be here.
You could be reading YOUR advert.
Kayaking : Canoeing : Caving Climbing : Archery : Bushcraft
01761 410141 or email
info@ignyte-uk.co.uk
www.somersetadventures.co.uk
07981 826919
HEYMAG.CO.UK | 25
PIPPIN’S WOOD GRAND OPENING
DITCHEAT SCHOOL FETE RAISES MUCH NEEDED FUND FOR NEW SCHOOL KITCHEN
The children at Baltonsborough CE VC Primary School and Little Pips Preschool were delighted to invite family and friends to witness the Grand Opening of Pippin’s Wood. Pippin’s Wood has been a great team effort. An area originally fenced off to protect a small pond has been opened out and landscaped to compliment this wonderful natural environment. It has a campfire, bug hotel, chicken enclosure, willow dome and mud kitchen. The groundwork was all done by staff, parents, friends and children on working party weekends. A successful Big Lottery Fund grant for £ 9834 was obtained, and Pippin’s Lookout completed, a high level climbing frame which enables the children to climb into the tree canopy. Jeanes Holland Burnell donated £250 towards the work and Summerfield Homes made a very generous donation of £750 which enabled the creation of a traversing and feature wall and is similarly in keeping with the natural environment. Richard Nicol, Divisional Director at Summerfield said: “We were only too pleased to donate £750 to Baltonsborough Primary School and Little Pips Preschool to help them to complete the fantastic work on creating Pippin’s Wood for the children to enjoy. The facilities are a great asset to this wonderful village where we have recently started building 40 new homes on our Church Meadows development, which also includes provision for a new village store for the community.” The Friends of Baltonsborough School, over two years, raised funds to landscape the area and to purchase materials for the campfire and storytelling corner in Russet Glade. The children and staff would like to thank everyone for their massive support for this project. The children across the school, including Little Pips, spend as much time as possible learning in this wonderful outdoor environment. Headteacher Michelle Heap said it was a joy to see the energy created and the links made by learning outside.
Ditcheat School enjoyed a wonderful fete on Saturday 28th May with lots of exciting attractions. Some of the most popular events of the day included; a dog show, face painting, country dancing, barbecue and fun run. The parents worked so hard to create a very special day and raised lots of money. They have now raised £24,000 towards the school’s new kitchen and are heading towards their total of £30,000.
26 | HEYMAG.CO.UK
WET WEATHER CLOTHING DONATION
TIME FOR SCHOOL LITTLE MONKEY
All of the children from Holly Class at Evercreech Church of England Primary School were overjoyed at the donation that they received from Mr Brian Roper from B&J Haulage Ltd. Holly Class have put this to good use by purchasing wet weather clothing for all of the children in our reception class. The children love spending time outdoors; they will now be able to enjoy it come rain or shine. You can see by the photograph just how happy they are about it.
St Cuthbert’s Infant School have written their first book! The Reception children wrote and illustrated a new book to help children transition to school. The book entitled ‘Time for School Little Monkey’ is designed to be read at home with young children to help them overcome any worries or fears they may have about school. This is new initiative forms part of a much larger ‘school ready’ transition programme at St Cuthbert’s. The pupil’s at school experiencing their first year, painted, drew and wrote giving ideas for the final story. Little Monkey learns lots at St Cuthbert’s school, the kindness rule, the family lunchtime, the easy to use toilets and all about the toys and fun activities. Little Monkey feels very happy about going to his new school, St Cuthbert’s C of E Infant School, and ends the book smiling with sparkling eyes. For copies of the book please contact the school main reception.
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WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT Declan, aged 9 and Theo, aged 8 took part in their first Junior Tri Star 1 Triathlon at Calne Leisure Centre in April. Declan came 9th and Theo came 18th. Well done boys!
Isaac Hooper (age 6) was awarded an A Pass at his yellow belt Tae Kwon Do grading and received the grading award for best student in his club. He has now also gained his green belt too!
Paige Harding year 4 of St Pauls School Shepton Mallet took part in the cross country inter area match in Langport on the 22nd April, where Paige represented for St Pauls School and Mendip area. Paige came home with a gold medal coming 8th place overall for the mendip junior school cross country league. Well done Paige.
Austin Hebberd, aged 6 achieved "most improved player" for Midsomer Norton RFC unders 6's. Amazing Austin.
Toby Baker won players Player of the Year award from Midsomer Norton Football Club under 7's. Well Done Toby.
Blue Peter badge winners from Coxley School Ava Donoghue, Emma Ruddle, Martha Grist, Luke Ruddle, Lily Adams, Thomas Ham and George Plant. Congratulations to all of you.