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August 2020
ORACLE
WELCOME
Headteacher of Southend High School for Boys, Dr Robin Bevan has written this month’s local issues on the challenges local schools are facing, keeping their pupils and staff safe from the pandemic but still maintaining strict government guidelines. Essex Police update the public on the last year’s performance of its Town Centre Teams.
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Don’t forget, for all those keen photographers amongst you, it’s not too late to enter this year’s Oracle photographic competition, open to all ages and standards entries must be sent by 10 August, latest. Please see website for more information on how to enter this popular annual event. This month’s competition has been kindly donated by Stockvale Ltd. Win 4 x wrist bands for Adventure Island plus 4 x wristbands for Sealife Adventure. Enjoy timeout with friends/family and experience the thrilling and creative selection of rides at Adventure Island plus get up close to view the amazing sea life aquarium and the many wild animals at Sealife Adventure. To enter Oracle/Stockvale competition please go online to www.oraclepublications.co.uk and visit the competition page, giving your name and contact details, the closing date is 31 August 2020. Good luck and stay safe!
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Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher
01702 393838 Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1AN
01702 588 599
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Photo by Miriam Fleming
CONTENTS Schools - the pandemic, lockdown and reopening 9/10 Local Issues by Dr. Robin M. Bevan, Headmaster Southend High School for Boys
Town Centre Teams, a year on patrol
16/56
Community by Essex Police
Oracle photo competition 2020
24
Competition by Picture Perfect/Oracle
"Whether you think you can or think you can't you are right" - Henry Ford
30
Health & Wellbeing by Jacqui Sayer-Noble
Three bean salad with citrus dressing 40 Recipe by Judy Barden
Your beauty prep plan before you get on the plane 46 Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith
Brainbox 58 Useful Numbers 64 Advertiser Index 66
Advertorials
Thorpe Hall School
6/7
WDC Physiotherapy
23
Brewin Dolphin Crown Vocational Training High-Tech Membrane Oracle Estate Planning
34/35 43 52/53 54
All All rights rights reserved. reserved. No No part part of of Oracle Oracle Publications Publications UK UK Ltd Ltd may may be be reproduced reproduced or or used used in in any any form form or or by by any any means means either either wholly wholly or or in in part without prior permission of the publisher. Oracle Publications part without prior permission of the publisher. Oracle Publications UK UK Ltd Ltd is is editorially editorially autonomous autonomous and and the the opinions opinions expressed expressed are are not not those those of of the the publisher publisher unless unless expressly expressly stated. stated.
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August 2020
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Advertorial
Praise for School’s Lockdown Learning Thorpe Hall’s Headteacher, Andrew Hampton reflects on the challenges and successes of the school’s home-learning provision throughout the lockdown period. “It is at times of crisis that a community comes together and shows what it is made of. Going into lockdown, no one quite knew what schooling would look like. None of us had any experience of delivering online teaching for such a sustained period, and none could predict how our pupils would respond. While there has been a broad spectrum of homelearning situations and circumstances, what I can say reliably is that everyone in our school community has done their very best. The pupils kept going and going – 14 long weeks of motivating themselves and finding that extra effort to make home-learning meaningful. The teachers worked tirelessly, having to learn new techniques, be imaginative, inventive and keep the quality of their input as high as ever. Staff were grateful for feedback from parents and their many appreciative comments, recognising the hard work and determination of teachers and supporting staff to make Thorpe Hall’s home learning provision the very best it could be. Perhaps the group that has had the most challenging time has been the parents of Thorpe Hall School. In many cases, they
have had to juggle their own careers, along with understanding the curriculum being offered to their children - not to mention grappling with technology and connectivity issues. We are grateful to our parents for all they have done to support learning from home. The triumvirate of pupils, teachers and parents have overcome all the challenges successfully – very well done to all!”
Andrew Hampton BA; LTCL; MEd; NPQH; FRSA
T: 01702 582340 www.thorpehallschool.co.uk Wakering Road | Southend-on-Sea | Essex | SS1 3RD
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To all the amazing teachers in the Upper school, including the LSAs. Thank you for all the incredible hard work you have been doing over the last few months - over and above what you normally do. These have been such very challenging times. The way Thorpe Hall has managed the teaching and learning has been incredible. Parent - Upper School
I have spoken to parents and grandparents of children in both state and independent schools, locally and nationally, and without wanting to sound boastful, everyone has been impressed by the level of schooling my son is receiving during the lockdown period. Every day he is at Thorpe Hall, my admiration for the teaching and support staff grows. Parent - Upper School
Lockdown has been a huge learning curve and home schooling has certainly had its struggles. However, these struggles were supported wholeheartedly by Thorpe Hall School. The school has been phenomenal, with regular updates, assemblies and constant contact. So, we just wanted to personally thank you for everything the school and your wonderful teachers have done for us all. Parent - Lower School
August 2020
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August 2020
Schools - the pandemic, lockdown and reopening
LOCAL ISSUES
A
s Headteacher of Southend High
seamlessly from classrooms to the internet,
School for Boys, I am not alone in
with daily tasks and activities presented for
looking forward to having a full
every pupil each morning – replicating their
complement of pupils back in school, actively
lessons for that day.
learning, socialising and being socialised! Our
Since lockdown, over 250,000 separate
pupils have not only missed out on being in
assignments have been completed by our
school, they miss school itself. The community
students; and, utilising the best elements of
is a vibrant and energetic place of learning.
web-based technologies, individual feedback
Our pupils are keen to return to lessons, with
has been provided to our pupils on almost
their friends but also – and even more so –
50,000 of these submissions. Regular home
eager to return to the extraordinary array of
communication also ensured the well-being of
music, sport, drama, art, adventure ... as our
those for whom the closure period has been a
recent promotional film celebrates: the ‘sky is
genuine challenge.
the limit’ for learning at our school.
Schools in lockdown
Our teachers at Southend High School for Boys and across the country, wherever this
Lockdown brought so much of that to a
has happened, rightly deserve recognition and
standstill. On March 17th the Prime Minister
credit for sustaining education in this way.
and the Secretary of State for Education announced, in parallel, the end of normal school provision from the following Monday. Schools had three days notice, without any prior indication, as they went from full normal operation into the ‘closure’ period.
Minimising risks Now, these very same exceptional efforts must be refocused into planning for September. The intention is to resume learning across the whole curriculum with specialist teachers leading lessons in their own subjects for all
Those three days – under exceptional
pupils. It sounds like normal school, but the
pressure of circumstance – afforded us a
challenge is to manage this whilst minimising
brief window to plan for the translation of
all the possible risks to health.
our entire curriculum provision into a remote
We cannot wait until COVID-19 has subsided.
learning format. The whole timetable moved August 2020
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9
Any delay might have unwelcome and
that are empty and not in use. This is clearly
detrimental consequences: for pupils and their
an efficient use of our classroom space, but
learning, for families and their well-being, for
provides no capacity for dispersing our pupils
working parents and their businesses.
any more extensively.
Although children seem not to be especially
If we cannot achieve physical distancing we
impacted by infection, young adults do
need to limit social mixing instead. However,
propagate the virus and transmit the disease
secondary schools routinely have classes
extensively. Our staff are keen to see school
that cross over with each other in different
resume but, like any other group of adults in
combinations with ‘sets’ for Maths and
the wider community, there are some who
dedicated groups for GCSE option choices.
will be at increased risk or have legitimate
Science, Computing and Design Technology
anxieties.
require the use of specialist laboratories or
The Government guidance that applies to
workshops, so rooms must also be shared.
all schools and colleges acknowledges this
And, of course, the challenges extend beyond
challenge. There are very few requirements,
the school gates too. Full reopening needs
beyond a key instruction - ‘Schools must do
to exhibit consistency in social and physical
everything possible to minimise contacts and
distancing in school, but also on journeys and
mixing while delivering a broad and balanced
during parental collection.
curriculum’. This might be achieved in many
Schools will find a way
different ways. There has been much reporting on ‘year group bubbles’ but this is actually only a suggestion and not a requirement.
The problems are clear, the solution is in the hands of each Headteacher. Our schools will find a way to make it work: it is not so much
Schools challenges
‘Dunkirk spirit’ as deep logistics! Every school
Many of England’s historic school buildings
will be planning within the constraints of
are densely populated with narrow corridors.
pupil journeys, buildings, classrooms and
Typical school classrooms from the 1920s are
staffing. We will continue to play our part
compact. With a two-metre physical distance
in the national response to the pandemic
between all those present, such rooms can
and will support all learners to achieve their
only accommodate a maximum of 10 pupils
best. Southend High School for Boys will
and one teacher. Even a one-metre separation
be one, amongst the many
is too great to permit the whole class in for a
local schools, that will – by
lesson.
September – be mapping a
Southend High Schools for Boys is
new model of outstanding
exceptionally popular and we accommodate
provision for our pupils.
as many pupils as possible. As a result, at
Dr. Robin M. Bevan - Headteacher
any one time, across the entire site, there will never be no more than one or two rooms 10
Southend High School for Boys 01702 606200 www.shsb.org.uk
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Town Centre Teams, a year on patrol
COMMUNITY
I
n the last year our Town Centre Teams have made more than 1,000 arrests and led more than 2,000 investigations – bolstering our ability to catch criminals and keep you safe. The teams have worked hard to make your towns safer by catching drug dealers, shoplifters, those carrying weapons, as well as dealing with antisocial behaviour.
Recent success
Recent successes include the execution of a warrant at a ‘chop shop’ in which several stolen vehicles were recovered. This investigation is still ongoing and was the result of intelligence gathered by our Town Centre Team in Loughton. By working with you, our local communities, these teams have increased the information and intelligence we receive which helps us catch more criminals and prevent and detect crime.
The Basildon team
The Basildon team have solved 180 crimes in their first year including shop lifting offences, drugs-related crimes and possession of offensive weapons. Our Town Centre Teams have built close relationships with residents, businesses, community groups, councils and other organisations over the past year to get to the root of ongoing local issues and tensions. The team in Southend have seen a number of successes, including working with the local council to combat illegal shellfish harvesting. They carried out a week-long operation which 16
saw 29 pickers spoken to and the seizure of £11,000 worth of illegally harvested shellfish. The Braintree and Witham teams have been working with schools to identify those at risk and use effective partnership work to prevent antisocial behaviour among young people. This is linked to our efforts to educate and prevent young people from becoming involved in knife and violent crime under Operation Sceptre. Across the county the teams have been carrying out targeted searches in parks and other open areas which has resulted in a number of weapons being recovered and removed from our streets. Venues across Essex have worked with us to accommodate the use of knife arches to detect weapons and to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives. In another example of the Town Centre Teams’ success, Costa Coffee in Waltham Abbey were having issues with teenagers intimidating customers. Our team secured a Criminal Behaviour Order and excluded the people responsible from the area, they are also carrying out regular patrols to make sure the area remains a safe place. Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan said: “We want to thank you for welcoming our officers into your communities. They have become part of them as we all come together to fight crime and anti-social behaviour, making our town centres safer for all those who live, work or visit Essex. “By working together, we can keep the tide Continued on page 56...
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Advertorial
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Finally, for people suffering with back pain, and or Sciatica
ho else wants to know how to fix your
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enjoy a pain free Summer, so call today.
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To your great health, Wendy McCloud.
Try These Resting Positions To Ease Acute Pain Or A Flare Up - Lay on your tummy with between 1-3 pillows under your stomach. If this position gives you relief, stay here for 10 mins max! Or try laying on your back with pillows under your knees. Alternatively, lay on your back with your legs up on a chair. Again, lay here for 10 mins max!
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Southend Sunrise by Mark Stennett – 2019 landscape winner.
COMPETITION
Oracle Photo Competition 2020
I
t’s time to clean up those Kodaks and lose those lens caps because Oracle is, once again, looking for its local photographers for the 6th year running! Again, there are three categories this year, open to all ages – Local Wildlife, Local Landscape, and Local Architecture. The winner of each category get a half a day mentoring session and a free studio shoot and print for them and or family or friends, worth £175 per winner! Not only that, but the winning entries will also feature in Oracle's magazine and be put on display in Picture Perfect’s studio window on Leigh Road! You may use any camera, including smartphones, but your pictures must be high-resolution and of good enough quality to reproduce in the magazines. All entries may be used by Oracle for any other purpose and the author will be credited where practicable. To enter, please send in up to three photos (one per category) with titles and/or a brief description, along with your contact details, to our email address: info@oraclepublications.co.uk, no later than 10th August 2020. If you are under 18, please also include your age as this will be taken into account during judging.
Give it your best shot To help you take that perfect picture, Keith has a few hints and tips to help you on your way:
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• Lighting is most dramatic in the early morning and late afternoon/early evening.
• Unless it’s setting, taking a photograph directly into the sun can be dangerous for eyes and can also cause flare in the lens. Avoid this by shooting away from the sun or side-on to it.
• Wildlife often moves quickly so use the ’sport’
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
T
"Whether you think you can or think you can't you are right" - Henry Ford
he above statement is so true, just think about it? As humans we are negative by nature which makes it difficult for us to see the positives in life.
When you say "I can’t find my car keys", you can spend hours looking for them but if you say "now where can I find them?" it is more likely you will find them.
When you say something as simple as "I cannot sleep!" How many hours do you stay awake with the same old thoughts circling round again and again saying "why can’t I sleep what’s wrong with me?"
Now, I teach my client’s that they too can learn to control how to think and change a negative to a positive.
That Monday feeling
You can learn
How many people say "I don’t like Mondays"? I know I used to and a pattern emerged, so that when it came to Sunday, I would start the dread of going to work on the Monday. I loved Fridays as it was the start of the weekend and Saturdays too. It took me many years to realise that this was just a habit and if I changed my thoughts to "I am going to make Monday a good day, a day I want to go to work," I felt so much better. So instead of being a victim of my thoughts I gained the power to control how I wanted to feel instead. My grandson said to me the other day, "nanny I forgot to tell you!" I said "no darling you have remembered.” 30
So instead of thinking what you don’t want, focus on what you do want instead. You too can learn to control your thoughts. It can take a while, but when you change your way of thinking into positive thinking, this can change your whole outlook. If you would benefit with positive thinking, I can help you. Please contact Jacqui Sayer-Noble. I hold therapy sessions via Zoom, Facebook or Skype.
Jacqui Sayer-Noble JSN Therapies 07717 856999 jacqui@jsntherapies.co.uk
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Advertorial
Five tips for first-time investors
MONEY MATTERS
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August 2020
3. Set up regular investments You don’t need a large sum to start investing. Drip-feeding what you can afford each month – or gradually whittling away a lump sum - may be particularly beneficial during times of stock market turmoil and economic uncertainty. If the market falls, your money buys more shares at a cheaper price, or fewer shares
Your capital is at risk.
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Past performance is not a guide to future
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This is not intended as investment advice. No investment is suitable in all cases.
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FOOD
Three bean salad with citrus dressing
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8 radishes thickly sliced
toss it through the vegetables.
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
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3 tbsp olive oil
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Method Top and tail the runner beans and remove
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Next month: Self-Saucing Chocolate Orange Pudding
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Advertorial
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HAIR & BEAUTY
W
Your beauty prep plan before you get on the plane
hether you are fortunate enough to be jetting off to distant shores, or preparing for a staycation in a charming spot here in the UK, chances are that you’ll be wanting to enjoy as much time in the sun as possible. In either case, preparation is all. I say this, as we all know someone who is immaculately groomed all year round and whom needs little more than a ‘zizz’ of cologne before stepping onto the plane, while there are others who leave everything to the last minute and are sprinting around town, from one appointment to the next but simply run out of time and are therefore reduced to shamefacedly taking their seat with chipped nails and rather wild brows.
Pre-hols treatment
The key to looking absolutely smoking on your sun lounger is getting your pre-hols treatments in order. Mix up your waxing and spray tan sessions, you could end up with a stripy tan, and getting your roots done just before leaving home for your break, could risk all the colour fading. First, always get a wax before you spray tan - and give yourself a minimum of one day between waxing and tanning, to avoid the fake bake irritating your post-wax skin. Also, if you get a spray tan almost immediately before waxing, you risk your tan coming off with your hair. Remember, the wax will remove the top layers of skin as well as the hairs - which could leave you with some very strange tan lines. Avoid irritation and blemishes by waxing 24-hours before take-off, if possible, as this will help
to keep your skin silky smooth for the whole of your vacation, while also making sure it is cool and calm by the time you slip into your swimmies!
Getting your pedicure
If you’re going to have a pedicure, have it just before you go. All those nourishing, hydrating creams and the new polish will give you fresh feet confidence by the pool. If you have brow or lash tints, make an appointment with your salon a few days before leaving home. This will give any excess dye from your brows time to fade a little and the excess colour around your lashes to settle.
When to get your hair coloured
Of course, while there is nothing quite like causing a sensation as you step out onto the pool terrace with a just-from-the-salon hairdo, the practical reality is it’s best to give it a little time to settle. For the best results, avoid having your hair coloured immediately before you go away. Ideally, at least a week before you go is ideal. Why? Because when you dye your hair, the colour oxidises, which opens the cuticle. It then takes around two days hours for it to close and smooth down. During those 48-hours, the colour is more susceptible to colour fade and sitting in strong sunlight too soon afterwards will do the colour no favours at all. In fact, you might like to go one shade darker than usual, as greater exposure to summer sun will make your hair go lighter anyway.
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A LOCAL PLUMBER FOR LOCAL PEOPLE August 2020
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Maximise your natural light with a beautiful skylight SAVE
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Advertorial
Advertisement Feature
Do you own a conservatory not fit for purpose? There are literally many 1000’s of home owners throughout the UK who own a conservatory, it is without doubt that a high majority are totally inefficient during the summer and winter months. Is this you, do you own a conservatory that is really not fit for purpose? A high number of conservatories installed during the late 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s will have a polycarbonate roof. A roof with no insulation value and virtually zero protection from direct sunlight. This gives you a room which is far too hot during summer and has a fridge effect in winter. You also have a roof which is difficult to keep clean as well as being a haven for insects. The frustrating thing for many owners is that the conservatories are in a satisfactory condition, all double glazed with many years of life to offer. More and more home owners are opting to have a more thermally efficient roof installed. High-Tech have the perfect solution. A very popular option is to create a thermally efficient sky room by removing the existing roof. A timber frame roof will be constructed to building regulation standard. Timber joists are then reinforced to accept a glass lantern or flat roof light. Treated timber boarding and warm
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High-Tech will create a luxurious living space. There are tiled roof conversions creating a more closed in style of room with no or limited natural light. An orangery style sky room with a glass lantern or sky light will not only offer the WOW factor, it will also give all the natural light required. Bring your conservatory back to life, add value to your home and enjoy the comforts.
The Problem
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Continued from page 16...
turning and put a stop to anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and other insidious crimes which cause irreparable harm to families, friends and our communities.”
Continuing to grow
Our force has continued to grow. We saw 58 new officers passing out earlier this month, and this year we will be investing in even more officers dedicated to local policing. Twenty new Community Safety Engagement Officers (CSEOs), who will support their local policing teams alongside our Town Centre Teams are starting to move into their posts now. ACC Nolan continued: “We are increasing the numbers of new officers who will be bolstering our work to protect and serve our communities and catch the bad guys. “Our new CSEOs will be looking at solving those longer term problems which really do affect people’s quality of life, at addressing issues that are priorities for communities and telling you about what they are doing so you know more about what’s happening in your town.” Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in March, our Town Centre Teams carried out extra patrols to help protect closed businesses and since June we have worked in partnership with them and local councils as they reopen.
56
Last weekend, it became compulsory to wear face coverings in shops. Again, our Town Centre Teams have worked with local businesses to support them through this change and make shopping an enjoyable and safe experience for all.
Find us on Facebook
You can find out more about what they’re doing on Facebook – each district has its own Essex Police page. You’ll also find details of how to get in touch with them, including Coffee with Cops events and local community meetings. You can also find out more about the crime in your area and what we are doing by visiting the Your Area section of our website https://www. essex.police.uk/a/your-area Are you interested in doing a job that puts you at the heart of your community? Or do you know someone who might fit the bill? View the opportunities we have on offer at www. essex.police.uk/police-forces/essex-police/areas/ essex-police/ca/careers/
Essex Police www.essex.police.uk Oracle welcomes thoughts from all sides as balance is very important. Write your letter in the comment section located under the relevant article on our website. oraclepublications.co.uk #SaveSouthend
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August 2020
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The Peter Boat, Old Leigh - Mark Prior Photographic competition 2019 entry DISCOUNT CARPET WAREHOUSES LIMITED
It’s good to welcome our customers back again! Carpets, rolls, remnants, vinyl’s all in stock and room size remnants available.
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Emergency Electrician Established locally over 25 years Faults our speciality No Job too small Special rates for OAP’s No call out charge
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Praise for Thorpe Hall’s Lockdown Learning see pages 6&7
Award Winning Education
2019 - ISA National Award for Excellence & Innovation in Pupils’ Mental Health and Wellbeing (Whole School)
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 - A Sunday Times Top UK 100 Independent Preparatory School (Lower School)
2017 - ISA National Award for Excellence & Innovation in Early Years (Nursery & Reception)
NURSERY 2-4 | LOWER SCHOOL 4-11 | UPPER SCHOOL 11-16 68
T: 01702 582340 | www.thorpehallschool.co.uk Wakering www.oraclepublications.co.uk Road | Southend-on-Sea | Essex | SS1 3RD
August 2020