Parent talk sept 2014 by Parent Talk

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Clubs & Classes Schools Events Reviews Essential reading for parents and grandparents in Somerset

September 2014 Volume 19 Issue 8

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FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY

Parent Talk September 2014

Parent talk Somerset Art Weeks Open Studios 2014

contents

Family Pages Out & About Education, Information Book Bag Education, Information Classified

p2-4 p5-7 p8 -11 p12-13 p14 -22 p23

competitions Feather Grey

p13

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01458 250461 Don’t forget to follow us on twitter

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Over 200 artists’ studios and workspaces open to visitors across the length and breadth of Somerset. Pick up your free, full colour Guide at Libraries, Tourist Information Centres and venues all around Somerset.

Join us for the Somerset Art Weeks Family Friendly Weekend on Saturday 04 & Sunday 05 October. The final weekend of Open Studios 2014 extends a special welcome to families with venues across the county offering workshops, demonstrations, have-a-go activities and special events. Bring along children, cousins and grannies - all welcome to explore! Learn

new skills in film making, spinning, felt, wire, stars and space, a farm walk and much more! Our Family Friendly Weekend also offers Big Draw activities. Send us a photograph or drawing of your family at an Art Weeks Family Friendly event for a chance to win 2 tickets kindly donated by Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm! Send your pictures to artweeks@ somersetartworks.org.uk or by post. SAW encourages schools to view Somerset Art Weeks as a fantastic resource right on the doorstep. There are many ways for schools to discover opportunities for learning outside the classroom with high quality arts activities and

opportunities for practical workshops to inspire creativity and enthusiasm. Part of the InspirED offer to

Somerset schools, download the Somerset Art Weeks Education Pack from our website.

For more information please contact SAW:

01458 253 800 info@somersetartworks.org.uk www.somersetartworks.org.uk

Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre’s Classes for Young People

and visit us at

11-12 years (Tues 6-7:30pm) and Connect for 13-15 years (Weds 6-7:30pm) are back for another term, giving young

www.parenttalk.org.uk Editor Advertising Production October deadline

20 September to 05 October

Tamsin Humphreys Juliet Young Sarah Harmer 24th September 2014

talent a chance to boost their confidence and drama skills. Go to www.tacchi-morris.com for more information.

Somerset Art Weeks 2014

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Tel: 01458 250461 email: sales@parenttalk.org.uk Disclaimer: The editorial and advertising content of this publication does not imply endorsement of them by Parent Talk. Nor can Parent Talk be held responsible for any actions or consequences arising from contact between reader and advertiser. Readers are therefore advised to check carefully, any references, professional qualifications and stated membership of professional bodies before entering into contracts or making arrangements to use a service featured herein.

Dear Readers... Welcome back and I hope you all had a wonderful Summer break. As many will be starting school, this may be the first time you receive Parent Talk. Every month, we aim to bring you ideas of places to visit with children, holiday destinations, competitions - even ways to avoid spending hours sewing on nametapes! The start of the new school year can be an anxious time for children and parents alike so we hope that at the end of the first full week, you have found your feet and are adjusting to the new timetable of early starts and grizzly children after a day at school! Time to sit back now and have ‘five minutes peace’ as Mrs Large would say! Best wishes

Tamsin Editor

Competition winners Butterfly World

Samantha Gascoigne, Wells Liam Quine, Yeovil Ruth Newport, Winscombe

Laura Nice, Surrey Lydia Graham, Nottinghamshire

Classes at Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre are back with a bang in September when you can make the most of ONE WEEK OF FREE CLASSES! With an impressive choice of activities to try, you have the chance to give something new a go, free of charge from 22nd – 26th September.

Children get the star treatment with classes to engage and inspire young minds including Mini Feet (Mon 1:15-2pm) for 18 months - 4 years. Early years specialist Hannah Lefeuvre invites parents, grandparents and carers to join in a magical journey exploring the wonder of autumn, harvest time and Christmas through storytelling and music. Fun Feet (Thurs 4-4:45pm) is an exciting movement and dance class for 4-7 year olds who love to move it and shake it! At the end of every course ‘FunFeeters’ perform a ‘sharing’ of what they have learned to friends and family. Blitz Dance Company (Weds 5-6pm) is the perfect dance class for all 8-11 year olds, improving self-confidence and exploring a range of dance styles. 1214 year olds can develop their skills in contemporary dance and choreography in Digit Dance Company (Weds 6:15-

7:15pm). A brand new musical theatre class, Taunton Musical Theatre Company

(Tues 7-8:30pm) led by David Duthie, Course Director at The SPACE, offers professional training in musical theatre including acting, vocals, and choreography, whilst working towards a piece for the Christmas Community show: Home Alone: The Musical! All the youth theatres Stamp for 8-10 years (Mon 6:15 – 7:30pm) Zoom for

For details of range of activities, please visit www.somersetartworks.org.uk/artweeks14 or see the Art Weeks Guide. To order a copy, please contact info@somersetartworks.org.uk

TRY ANY CLASS FOR FREE!

Mon 22nd - Fri 26th September

Don’t delay - places limited Classes for Young People Theatre Companies:

Stamp 8-10yrs Zoom 11-12yrs Connect 13-15yrs Taunton Musical Theatre Company 12-16yrs

Dance Companies:

Fun Feet 4-7yrs Blitz 8-11yrs Digit 12-14yrs Taunton Youth Dance Company 15-25yrs And... Mini Feet! For all the pre-school movers out there!

For more information about classes for all ages and abilities: tacchi-morris.com

FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY

4 Parent Talk September 2014

Affordable alternative to solicitors The high cost of using solicitors often adds to the severe stress of a divorce or separation. Usually, solicitors charge up to £200 or more per hour and their fees can reduce family assets at an alarming rate. In addition, the mere act of going to a solicitor, and the adversarial process then followed, draw otherwise sensible people into protracted and expensive disputes.

One problem arises because solicitors can only act for their client; the husband or wife. This means that they cannot work with both parties together in order to seek a sensible settlement. Instead, solicitors talk to “the other side’s” solicitor, immediately doubling the cost. The process usually becomes contentious as each solicitor has to “win” something in order to justify his or her fees. This process seems designed to promote ill-will between husband and wife. Whatever good qualities they saw in each other that drew them together in the first place are gradually forgotten. They are urged to emphasise the worst aspects of their once life time partner in order to improve the eventual settlement. Finally, any eventual settlement reached (usually years after they had started) is diminished hideously by legal costs. In other legal cases, there is another party to help bear the costs, in family law cases; the same family bears the costs for both sets of solicitors. Probably the most important result of the current

Budding photographers are encouraged to capture the Wonders of the South Photographic West’s woodlands Competition Children and adults are invited to take part in a photographic competition launched by Plantlife to celebrate the woodlands of the South West of England.

adversarial process that not only the financial security of children is put at risk but also their emotional security. While it may be impossible to shield children from all the effects of their parents separating, it makes it much worse if the separation becomes a legal dispute with each party seeking a victory over the other. On the other hand, while many people would prefer not to face the problems caused by using a solicitor, they find it too daunting to handle a divorce and related matters on their own. There is another way to seek legal help with divorce and related matters – Bridge Law. As a consequence of the way we operate, we can offer low rates and fixed costs. This is partly because we do not carry the high overheads of firms of solicitors and partly because the client carries out much of the work involved directly, only assisted and supported by us when necessary. The partner involved, Stephen David, is a barrister with direct Public Access Accreditation and so can accept instructions without the need of a solicitor. Stephen is regulated by the Bar Council and has full professional indemnity insurance.

Bridge Law provides an affordable alternative to high street solicitors; an alternative that provides high and personal client care with very considerable savings in legal fees. Stephen is based in Taunton and can be contacted on stephendavid@bridgelaw.co.uk or 0774 078 6232

BRIDGE LAW Legal Advisers The affordable low cost alternative to Solicitors

Providing high quality low-cost fixed-fee advice and services in legal matters, including divorce, and representation in court. Local representation in Taunton: Stephen David, Barrister. Mobile: 0774 078 6232 Email: stephendavid@bridgelaw.co.uk Bridge Law www.bridgelaylaw.co.uk 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3XX

PLOWRIGHT PLOWRIGHT ORGANIC ORGANIC

H HX X 4T4TBO HO X T EOE G B VE EG4 E GBE E V FRVFER RE

Tel: 0207 692 0893

VEGBOXES FROM YOUR VEGBOXES FROM YOUR LOCAL SOMERSET FARM LOCAL SOMERSET FARM

Vegboxes deliveredtotoyour your doorstep from as little as £8.70. Vegboxes delivered doorstep from asas little as £8.70. Vegboxes delivered yourThursday doorstep from as little Visit our farm shop, to open to Saturday from£8.70. 10am. Visit our farm shop, open Thursday to Saturday from 10am. Visit our farm shop, open Thursday to Saturday from 10am.

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Close to the Atlantic ocean, these woodlands are important plants areas - internationally recognised hotspots for wild plants - and are a botanical treasure trove and home to some of the smallest yet most important wild plants in the UK; such as lichens, mosses and ferns that play a massive role in our lives. These incredible little plants that often go unnoticed tell us how clean our air is, filter our water, help prevent flooding, provide shelter for wildlife and over the centuries have been used for medicinal purposes, to dye wool, silk and even hair! We want people to see for themselves the wonders hidden within these woodlands and capture what they see on camera. Rachel Jones, from Plantlife explains “The woodlands of the South West are close to the Atlantic Ocean which creates a unique environment, rarely found in the UK - that is often likened to a tropical rainforest. Rain soaked and humid the woodlands allow lichens, mosses and ferns to flourish

which adds to the captivating scenery. The lichens, mosses and ferns that cloak the woodlands of the Quantocks for example, fed the imagination of some of the country’s most famous romantic poets including William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. We hope people will take a closer look at these woodlands and capture what they see on camera. In doing so they will throw these tiny lower plants into the spotlight and encourage more people to come and see the wonders of these woodlands for themselves” The photography competition is part of Plantlife’s “Make the Small Things Count” project, which over the next two years, thanks to a grant of £62,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and with financial support from project partners will: • Enable thousands of people to learn more about these exquisite plants, their importance and heritage. • Offer guidance and training to those who look after the South West’s Atlantic woodlands which we have an international responsibility to conserve. • Launch a “lichen

apprenticeship scheme” to combat the chronic shortage of experts who can identify survey and monitor these species. • Offer children and families the opportunity to explore the hidden world of lichens, liverworts, ferns and mosses as part of a series of road shows. The project will focus on the outstanding landscapes of the Mendip Hills, Quantocks, Exmoor, Dartmoor and North

Devon coast, which are internationally significant for these beautiful and important plants. Entries must be emailed to mailto:wildaboutplants@ plantlife.org.uk by Friday 30th January 2015 Winners of the photography competition and their guests will be invited to a reception at Lynmouth Pavilion in April 2015 where the winning images will be shown to the public for the first time.

Former South West Bank of England chief reveals that Britain’s biggest bank is now ‘The bank of Granny & Grandpa’ Latest research, conducted by the former South West Agent for the Bank of England, reveals that Britain’s biggest funding bank could now be “The Bank of Granny & Grandpa”, with combined assets totaling £1 trillion more than the biggest high street lender! While grandparents are now funding their grandchildren to the tune of £2.8 billion per year, paying the fees for one in four private school pupils, and delivering 35% of all childcare for families with working mums, the “Bank of Granny & Grandpa” could also overtake the “Bank of Mum & Dad” as the lender for first-time home buyers.

These are among the top-line findings of research collated by Kevin Butler, formerly South West Agent for the Bank of England, in his new role as economics adviser to Westcountry based WPA - the medical insurance specialists. At a time when most major banks have constrained their lending and are getting smaller, the “Bank of Granny & Grandpa” has been growing in assets and lending activity. As a result Granny & Grandpa have the potential to outshine any High Street bank for funding family financial needs - from school fees to mortgage deposits. According to Kevin Butler’s research for Taunton-based

WPA, the total assets of Britain’s grandparents now exceed £2,500 billion. The “Bank of Mum & Dad”, has assets totaling slightly more than the biggest mainstream bank (HSBC) at about £1,500 billion. But the “Bank of Mum & Dad” - and its ability to lend - is now being squeezed by the inflation of their living costs and the freeze on their incomes. Meanwhile, the growing threat of interest rate rises will boost mortgage costs for parents: BUT Grandparents could benefit from an interest increase for their savings. The latest “Wealth and Assets

Survey”, published by the Office of National Statistics, confirms that the total assets of “Granny & Grandpa” place them as the biggest bank in the UK, with the “Bank of Mum & Dad” relegated to second place and the High Street’s big banks getting smaller. “Since the recession and the banking crisis in 2008, many young people have come to rely on the ‘Bank of Mum & Dad’ for help - including loans to get on the housing ladder. That bank is now being squeezed, so the bigger resources of their grandparents could see a generational shift in family funding”, said Kevin Butler.

Farm walks with a carrot At Plowright Organic we have been delivering vegboxes in the local community for 15 years. We grow the vegetables ourselves at Stowey Rocks Farm, rather than buying them from a wholesaler, which means they couldn’t be fresher. There is nothing to compare with a freshly dug carrot or a freshly cut aubergine.

Unlike most vegbox schemes you can choose what you want in your box or exclude items you don’t want from one of our standard vegboxes. If you don’t need home delivery you can save money by collecting from one of a growing number

of collection points springing up over Somerset, or host a collection point yourself at home or school. Our vegboxes include a weekly newsletter, which helps you to track the changing seasons, suggests recipes and creates a sense of community. You can visit us by joining one of our farm walks or shop at our farm shop. We can also arrange special farm walks for any age group of children at your request, so why not ask your teacher to arrange a visit. These walks are great fun and very educational, children never forget collecting

pumpkins, or digging carrots. Plowright Organic vegetables are legally certified as organic and regulated by the Soil Association. We are

committed to nurturing our environment and soils using organic methods believing that healthy soils lead to healthy people. We are what we eat.

OUT & ABOUT OUT & ABOUT OUT & ABOUT

Parent Talk September 2014

A wonderful Family A simple way to lose Day out on the West weight Somerset Railway! Peppa Pig & George will be making personal appearances at intervals between 10am and 4pm, on Saturday 20th September at Minehead Railway Station.

At Weight Watchers we believe in making weight loss as effortless as possible. With new Simple Start we introduce you to the tasty, healthy and nutritious foods at the heart of our weight loss plan without the distraction of counting or portion control.

Features of the day include: ● Enjoy a 20 mile steam train ride to Minehead Station from any of our stations along the line. ● Free vintage bus ride trips round Minehead sea front from Minehead Station. ● Free Face painting. Peppa Pig merchandise is available from the Buffer Stop Shop on Platform One of Minehead Station. Colin John, our children’s entertainer will be performing, magic, puppetry and balloon modelling workshops throughout the day The turntable Café will be open serving hot and cold food, drinks and ice creams. Entry to Minehead Station is free of charge, but if you would

Once you’ve got to know these great foods we show you how to build in more eats and treats so you can keep on losing weight in the real world. Packed with motivating activity advice and inspiring support alongside delicious, healthy eating, you can follow the proven Weight Watchers plan in one of our local Somerset welcoming and lively meetings. Weight Watchers works. And it can work for you. Whether you’re a busy mum with no time to cook, a fastfood fan or simply someone in need of some friendly weightloss support and guidance, Weight Watchers is here for you. We have a flexible, nofuss food plan, all the support

like to travel by train, you will need to purchase a ticket. Book tickets online or on 01643 704996. If you are travelling with the children, why not download our Heritage Hunter App before you visit, and take part in out ‘Augmented Reality’ Heritage Hunt. At each station along the line (excluding Doniford Halt) you have 5 tasks to undertake to complete your

scrapbook. Once you achieve 100%, just screenshot your completion image and send to heritagehunter@wsrail.net for entry into our monthly and annual prize draw. Once the app is downloaded you can also buy discounted travel tickets for use on the Railway. Come and Join us for a wonderful family day to end the Summer

you need and bags of tips and tricks online, on our Apps and in our meetings which are all available to you for the first month for just £10! Every Weight Watchers Leader knows what it’s like to follow the Weight Watchers

plan and lose weight and they’re passionate about helping you do it too. After each week’s confidential weigh in they’ll support you through your success and challenges and motivate you to achieve your weight loss goals.

To find your closest meeting visit

www.weightwatcherslocal.co.uk or call 0845 677 7788

Sarah Hill, Leader,Weight Watchers (UK) Ltd, 07933 771104

Back to school with Sunproof Sunproof have a range of back–to–school products on their websites and now also at their showroom in Ilton near Ilminster.

Sunproof import Rukka rainwear from Finland. This PVC based quality range is available at www. rukkarainwear.com and also at Sunproof’s Ilton showroom outlet. Rukka rainwear is available in anoraks, dungarees, souwesters and overtrousers in sizes 1 year to adult. Sunproof offer trade prices for schools, nurseries and daycare centres who can buy direct from the importers. Sunproof offer a logo and

print service on the rainwear for schools who want to mark their rainwear clothing with a crest or print. Rukka rainwear is made in the EU and carries a 2 year guarantee. The range is soft, durable and machine washable. We also stock Rukka in adult sizes. Nokian Footwear have been making waterproof boots for Finnish winters since 1898. Sunproof are the UK importers of the range. Feel free to visit the Ilton warehouse outlet for a fitting. Nokian boots are handmade in the EU of natural rubber and are insulated to withstand temperatures of minus 30°C. Adult sizes are also available.

Back to school nametapes: Sunproof supplies a superior iron–on woven nametape that is easy to apply and permanent on all cotton rich fabrics. Iron– on nametapes will save hours of pre-term sewing in. Order online at nametape.co.uk or

visit the Ilton showroom to order. Sunproof also operate a generous fundraising facility so if your child’s school is interested in participating please contact us info@ nametape.co.uk

Sunproof Ilton Showroom: 6 Ilton Business Park, Ilton, Ilminster TA19 9DU. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Tel: 01460 258040

West Somerset Railway Saturday 20th September 2014 Peppa Pig & George will be making personal appearances at intervals between 10am and 4pm at Minehead Station of the West Somerset Railway. Travel through the Somerset Countryside to the seaside station of Minehead and see the cheeky little piggies. Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd/Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003.

Save 10% Advance Rover Train Fares: Adults £15.30, Seniors £13.85, Children £7.65, Family £43.00

www.rukkarainwear.com

Eat hundreds of delicious foods without fasting, counting or measuring – 7 days a week. It’s really that simple – that’s why we’ve called it Simple Start. Kick start your weight loss so you start seeing great results from the start. Eat from an easy-toremember list of foods that fill you up fast and keep you fuller for longer, so never go hungry. It’s unbelievably straightforward! Join our local Somerset meetings with a Monthly Pass for just £10 for your first month. Your Monthly Pass includes Meetings + Online + Mobile. Please bring a copy of this advert to your local meeting.

Under 5’s Free

Book train tickets online at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or call 01643 704996

To find your local meeting: www.weightwatcherslocal.co.uk 0845 677 7788

Parent

events

Got an event to share? Like us on /parenttalksw and tell us all about it.

. MARKETS . THEATRES . FAIRS . FETES . SHOWS . EXHIBITIONS . 2nd – 7th September: Shrek the Musical. Bristol

Hippodrome. Direct from the West End and larger than life! Based on the award-wining DreamWorks animation film, Shrek the Musical is this year’s must-see for all the family. Join our unlikely hero and his loyal steed Donkey as they embark on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona from a fire breathing, love-sick dragon. Add the diminutive Lord Farquaad, a gang of fairytale misfits, and a biscuit with attitude, and you’ve got the biggest, brightest musical comedy around! 0844 871 3012

6th September: Wellington Food Town Festival. High

Street, Wellington. 10am – 4pm. Food extravaganza showcasing food and drink producers, local retailers plus entertainment, cookery demonstrations and special events. 01823 661693 6th September: Local Craft and Produce Market. The

Meeting House, Ilminster. 9.30am-2pm. Wide range of quality food and crafts. The gallery café will be open as usual serving hot and cold drinks, cakes, scones and delicious lunches. 01460 54973

7th September: Created in Somerset – Stonemasons

Demonstration at the Bishop’s Palace, Wells. 11am -3pm. Meet members of the Wells

Cathedral Stonemasons and find out how this ancient craft is still relevant today. www. bishopspalace.org.uk 13th September: Wellington Boot Throwing Championship. Court Fields

School, Wellington. 12 noon – 5pm. A family fun day with bouncy castles, refreshments, children’s entertainer, hog roast, bbq, bar, dog show and dog demonstration, Waitrose welly decorating competition, Wellington Silver Band, followed by live music, Sports Federation mini sporting taster sessions, local stands and much more. 14th September: Medieval Falconry Day at the Bishop’s

Palace, Wells. 11am-4pm. A day of medieval living history with a difference. Marvel as the hawks, owls and falcons show off their talents in the flying displays and talk to the experts who look after these magnificent birds. www. bishopspalace.org.uk 20th September: Peppa Pig & George at Minehead

Railway Station. Peppa Pig & George will be making personal appearances at intervals between 10am and 4pm. 01643 704996

20th – 24th September: The Queen’s Knickers. the

egg, Theatre Royal Bath. Get your knickers in a twist with this classic comedy for wise young children. What would you do if you lost the Queen’s pants? Dilys, the Queen’s

maid, is the royal custodian of her Majesty’s ‘intimate apparel’, otherwise known as the Queen’s knickers. She gurards HRH’s smalls as if they were the crown jewels. She would be mortified if anyone got a glimpse of them. But one day the knickers go missing, causing a national state of emergency and a diplomatic incident of catastrophic proportions. Children’s classic told by two elastic actors. Age: 3+. 01225 823409

25th – 27th September: The Diary of Anne Frank.

Strode Theatre, Street. Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett’s classic play is a testament to the human spirit, based on the true story of a young Jewish girl who kept a diary while hiding from the Nazis in the attic of her father’s Amsterdam office during World War II, isolated from the outside world and in constant fear of being discovered. Amateur production presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd. 01458 442846

26th – 27th September: The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean. the

egg, Theatre Royal Bath. Everything is flat, pressed, squished. A dusty, musty smell mixes with the scent of old lavender and a string lifts a flap to reveal a hidden door. Slowly, page by page,

the scrapbook becomes the window into a secret world and a curious life unfolds before us. The scrapbook is a labyrinth of memories with an abundance of places to hide. It is puzzling to everyone except its owner but the clues are in its pages…Who was Josephine Bean? Age: 7+. 01225 823409

27th September: Wellington Carnival. 7.30pm. 27th28th September: Heroes and Villains of Olde England at the Bishop’s

Palace, Wells. 11am-4pm. Join the Yarnsmith of Somerset to hear tales of days gone by; when Wells was a magical place and the springs within The Bishop’s Palace were a place of pilgrimage and wonder; where heroes like Robin Hood, King Arthur and fearless Saints inspired the town folk. www. bishopspalace.org.uk 27th – 28th September: Weston super Food Festival.

Winter Gardens and Town Square, Weston super Mare. 10am – 6pm. Fun, free and very tasty!

27th – 28th September: Art and Craft Exhibition.

Shepton Beauchamp Village Hall, 11am – 4pm. 01460 24154

30th September – 5th October: Riverdance. Bristol

Hippodrome. Live Nation is proud to present the Riverdance 20th Anniversary Tour. This 20th Anniversary

UK Tour, gives Riverdance fans old and new, the opportunity to celebrate an incredible milestone for an incredible show. Twenty years after it took its first steps, a truly phenomenal piece of theatrical entertainment is back by popular demand. 0844 871 3012 2nd October: Strictly Balti.

the egg, Theatre Royal Bath. “We thought dance class was good, we thought dance class was English. We were wrong. Now we see you are fully English, because you argue with your parents. In Bangladesh this wouldn’t happen. Well you’ve done what we never could. You’ve left Bangladesh behind”. Ballroom dancing is not the only humiliation heaped on Saikat by his ambitious parents. There’s catechism and Latin too. And no-one gets his name right, ever. Join Saikat as he dances precariously through his dual-identity childhood, torn between the familiar sights of Birmingham and the mysteries of Bangladesh. Meet werewolves in the playground, nuns in the corridors and tangerines in the dancehall…Age: 10+. 01225 823409

Until 14th September: Taunton Deane Dragon Trail.

The trail involves around 30 Dragons on view until mid September, primarily in Taunton but also Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Oake & Stoke

St Gregory. The Dragons themselves will be auctioned at the Quartz festival, Queens College, in October which will raise further funds for the Somerset Community Foundation Until 3rd January 2015: Somerset Remembers Exhibition. Museum of

Somerset, Taunton. Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm. The exhibition tells the story of how the County was affected by the events of 1914-1918 and how people have remembered the war, and those lost in it. We have focused on the wider impact of the war on the county and have looked at themes such as women and children, agriculture and local efforts to support troops. There are objects, photographs and costumes for visitors to see, as well as telegraphs, medals and weapons. The exhibition also features artwork by Somerset artist Jon England. Visitors to the exhibition can contribute to an evolving memorial in the gallery, object handling or take part in a guided tour around Taunton’s First World War related sites. Thousands of Somerset men served in the armed forces during the First World War and Over 8000 of them would never return home. This exhibition brings their stories to life and shows how Somerset was transformed by war. 01823 255088

Music coching for Manage Your Ex for a young musicians Smoother New School Year Young musicians in Somerset, are you looking for excellent musical coaching to improve your skills, knowledge and confidence?

You now have the opportunity to join ensembles, performance workshops and receive individual lessons with top quality music teachers at the Hestercombe Centre for Young Musicians every Saturday in term time. Located in the magnificent surroundings of Hestercombe Gardens just outside Taunton, HCYM classes take place on the second floor of Hestercombe House, with sweeping views across the Somerset countryside. Open to woodwind, brass, strings, as well as singing, piano, guitar and bass, each student follows an individual programme across a range of genres from classical to jazz, folk and music theatre. A broad and comprehensive curriculum allows for the development of all areas of musicianship. This includes ensemble music-making,

composition, history, theory, singing and aural perception. HCYM opened in March 2014, building on the longstanding success of the Centre for Young Musicians founded in London in 1970. As a division of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, HCYM is committed to offering excellence in achievement as well as wider opportunities. Thanks to the Sound Foundation Somerset Hub, bursaries are available to families in Somerset who satisfy strict criteria. The start date for 20142015 is Saturday 20th September 2014. Entry is possible after this date on a pro-rata basis but pupils are encouraged to join as soon as possible as places fill up quickly.

To apply, please visit www.hestercombe.com/cym Telephone for further information: 01823 410110

For any family the new school year may bring a new timetable, childcare commitments and feats of organisation; for divorced parents this often means new challenges to overcome. The trick to ensuring that everything is as smooth running as possible, says divorce coach Liz Copeland of www.thedivorcementor. com, is to manage your ex just as you would do someone at work.

“Managing your ex is a learned skill,” says Liz, “and will come with practice. Understand that you cannot treat your ex the same way as you did when you were married, and be open to finding new ways to communicate.” Here are Liz’s tips for how to go about it. Accept Responsibility

One person (often the mother) needs to take responsibility for writing down the term dates, holiday dates, business trips, school trips, clubs and extra lessons. Don’t rely on the other parent to do this. If you’re feeling annoyed at being burdened with this turn it around and look at the fact that you are in control, you

know what’s happening and when. It’s empowering. Rise Above Pettiness

Be aware that the other parent may use the children as a way of fighting back (e.g. bringing the children back too late to do homework or “accidentally” forgetting their sports kit). It’s difficult but you need to rise above that. “Men tend to respond better to logic than emotional outbursts”, said Liz, “so keep reminding them that the children are suffering and what they can be doing to avoid the situation.” Get the Finances Right

If you’re in the middle of financial negotiations, do make sure you’ve got all the school related financial costs in there – from school lunches to new clothes to fees or extra lessons. If you’re past that stage but are realising your monthly maintenance isn’t covering it, try to bring

it back to the table. These should be joint expenses.

Accept That Your Standards won’t be the Same

It’s hard but if you can relax and accept that your ex’s standards may well be different to yours and he will bring them up differently then you will have an easier time of it. Even if you feel that you

Liz works with divorcing and post divorce women, coaching them through completing a divorce to create a new life with a family structure that works for them, without feeling exhausted, depleted and defeated. Find out more at http://www.thedivorcementor.com

are the tyrant making your children do their homework night after night and they do all the fun things with their Dad, be aware that in the long run children do get to understand why you do what you do and can become grateful for it. If Things Get Out of Hand

If the children really do seem as though they are suffering then talk to their school. Whilst they are often loath to take sides or get involved, sometimes a well placed email or note from the school can help, even if it seemingly goes out to the both of you.

OUT & ABOUT OUT & ABOUT OUT & ABOUT

Parent Talk September 2014 7

Get crafting this Yeovil welcomes The Courtyard autumn garden centre, explained: “With the summer coming to an end we know many parents will be looking for indoor activities to keep their children entertained. “We have a number of simple project sheets, which are suitable for youngsters to join in with, such as decopatch. “We also have a huge range of craft books covering topics from quilting to how to make pipe cleaner dogs. We have a variety of quick sew patterns and fabrics for anyone looking to start a sewing project too. “Our expert staff are always on-hand to help and advise people whatever their crafting needs.”

Julia Langley, Craft Centre Supervisor at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre. PARENTS from Somerset looking for ideas to keep crafty youngsters occupied this autumn can get free advice from a garden centre in the county.

Staff at the Craft Centre at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton will be able to give parents tips and ideas on all things craft related.

Julia Langley, Craft Centre Supervisor at the independent, family-run

People who would like to find out more can call the Craft Centre at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre on 01823 412 381 or email crafts@monkton-elm.co.uk.

For more information about the garden centre, which is located just off the A38 at Monkton Heathfield between Bridgwater and Taunton, please call the number above, visit www.monktonelmgardencentre.co.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/Monktonelm or follow the company on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/Monktonelm.

The Hub is a Yeovil-based charity that supports people with additional support needs to access employment and to be more independent in their lives. We provide real work experiences and employment through a range of micro-enterprises and ‘live’ businesses, including the Scrapstore and The Courtyard.

The Courtyard is an exciting new venue in Yeovil, bringing together a child-friendly café with healthy meal options, a soft play area for all age groups and a timetable of workshops and classes. These include art and craft sessions, mosaic-making, Be My Bear workshops! The café space inspires children’s imagination with an array of toy-box treats plus an activity table for the older youngsters, a bookswap and reading space in the ‘snug,’ as well as a range of puzzles and games for the more enquiring minds. We offer a venue for children’s parties and can offer themed events with food included, if required. We have two large rooms available to hire for parties, meetings and workshops. If you were interested in running other sessions/ workshops then we would also love to hear from you. Activities for adults including

poetry reading, arts and crafts and a reading group are also available.

The Courtyard address is: 27 Market Street, Yeovil, Somerset. BA20 1HZ

Please contact Holly Royle, The Courtyard Manager on 01935 472407 or email us on contact@thehubyeovil.co.uk if you would like to find out more or to request an activity time-table.

We have two rooms available for hire for parties, meetings and workshops.

10% discount at The Courtyard Craft and Play Café The Courtyard is an exciting new venue in Yeovil bringing together a child-friendly café with extensive eating options for all ages, a timetable of workshops and classes such as arts and crafts, mosaic making, music sessions and games. Our play area inspires youngsters with a wide range of toy-box treats and there is an activity table for older children as well as plenty of books, puzzles and games. Many of our craft materials come from our Scrapstore, which uses recyclable business waste to offer affordable resources for a whole variety of art and craft projects. Receive a 10% We can also discount Come along and have a look! offer a venue on all food by for children’s You can find us at bringing along parties – this can 27 Market Street,Yeovil, this advert. be from room BA20 1HZ (Just round the hire only, up to corner from M&S)

fully catered and themed events.

Like us on Facebook for up to date info on all activities and events.

Please contact us on 01935 472407 or email us on contact@thehubyeovil.co.uk if you would like to find out more, or to request an activity timetable. follow us on twitter @parenttalksw visit us at www.parenttalk.org.uk

8 Parent Talk September 2014

EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION

A New Nursery Curious about the world at Sidcot If you go into the woods today, you are sure of a big surprise! In the wooded grounds of Sidcot School, the curious amongst you will find an Iron Age roundhouse. History was brought to life for pupils as they worked alongside their teachers to mix up the mud and forage for materials to build the roundhouse which is now used for shelter during Forest School.

Set in twenty acres of beautiful parkland, Chilton Cantelo School is located only minutes away from Sherborne and Yeovil. Chilton Cantelo is a day and boarding school taking in boys and girls aged 3-18 years. A small school with a big heart, Chilton Cantelo has the greatest expectations of all its pupils.

The school has a new Nursery in which children can be enrolled for either termtime or all-year with optional, flexible hours from 7:30am to 6:00pm. Early Years pupils

are taken to the parkland area for nature rambles, observing wildlife, planting and gardening and forest school projects. The school provides an Individualised Learning approach from Early Years to Sixth Form in which the teachers create tailored programmes of learning for each pupil. Appropriate targets are set after regular reviews to ensure each pupil progresses with the right amount of challenge. We hold true to our non-selective ethos and aspire to enrich and add value to each pupil’s learning

regardless of ability. As part of Cognita Group of Schools, Chilton Cantelo offers exchange opportunities with sister schools and is visited by pupils from other countries to enhance the pupils’ experience. Cognita is committed to raising standards of education in each and every school and to ensure that best practice is adopted in all aspects of school curricula, teaching and learning and school management Call 01935 850555 to attend an Open Day or to arrange a visit at any time.

Dave Sayers, whose children Verity and Imogen are pupils at Sidcot’s Junior School, led the project to build the roundhouse. He said: “It was educational and enjoyable and, wherever possible, we tried to utilise the same tools, techniques and materials that would have been available to our Iron Age ancestors.” From an early age children at Sidcot are encouraged to be curious about the world, think creatively and develop questioning minds. Pupils are encouraged to see school as a place to explore and experiment, to follow their instincts and develop their interests. As well as making use of the swimming pool, drama studio, mud pie kitchens and woodland Forest

School, there is a large focus on the environment. Dave, who also works in Sidcot school gardens, said: “pupils help to grow vegetables for the school kitchen. It is so important that children know where their food comes from and

Curious parents are invited to take a walk in the woods at the school’s open morning at 9am on Friday 26 September. get a better understanding of the environment and their impact on it.”

For more information visit www.sidcot.org.uk

Individualised Learning. Bringing out the best in your child. At Sidcot School we set out to develop students’ natural curiosity and creativity. We educate them, rather than simply train them to pass tests, so that they can go out into the world and live purposeful and adventurous lives. Satisfy your curiosity by coming to our Open Morning and find out what makes Sidcot different. Friday 26 September 9am – noon RSVP to Sidcot at www.sidcot.org.uk/contact or 01934 845236 Scholarships & flexi-boarding available.

At Chilton Cantelo School, near Sherborne and Yeovil, we believe that every child is an explorer. We help our pupils achieve their potential by giving them space to grow, creating an environment that inspires every day.

CHILTONCANTELOSCHOOL.CO.UK Telephone: 01935 850555 3-18 years Co-ed

Open Days 18,19 September New Nursery Now Open

Sidcot School is an independent day and boarding school set in glorious Somerset countryside, for boys and girls aged 3 to 18. Charity number 296491

Parent Talk September 2014 9 EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION Fingerspellathon On-going success for Hazlegrove in the Exmoor Challenge Children and young people across the country are being encouraged to sign up for the UK’s biggest Fingerspellathon this October. All youngsters can get involved through their school or groups, such as Brownies and Scouts. The challenge involves learning to fingerspell words and phrases using the British Sign Language (BSL) alphabet. Emma Watson, Community and Events Executive at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “Fingerspellathon is fun and a great activity to help children learn about deafness. Nearly 90% of deaf children in England are taught in mainstream schools, and many often miss out on everyday conversations and playground games with their hearing friends. “Parents can encourage their children’s teachers and group leaders to sign up to Fingerspellathon. The money raised will help the National Deaf Children’s Society fund events and provide vital support for deaf children and their families.” The National Deaf Children’s Society is the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and their families. Fingerspellathon launches on 1 October 2014 and runs throughout the month. Schools and groups can register now and download a resources pack which includes a range of fun activities and information to help them organise their event at www.ndcs.org.uk/fingerspell.

The benefits of Tae Kwon Do?

Every parent wants the best for their child; Evolution Martial Arts provides children with a unique way to keep fit, control weight and become healthier. It’s not only physical improvements you will see; Tae Kwon Do teaches respect, discipline and helps to instill self confidence. Your child will develop into a well rounded individual and with guidance from professional instructors they will be learning a really useful sport – to stay fit and keep safe. Also your child

will become more focused, concentrate for longer and will benefit from improved social skills. Evolution has something for everyone and with regular gradings and colour belt progression you will see your child positively improve and strive for their Black Belt. Parents can learn a lot from Martial Arts too! Relieve stress and burn calories, make friends and boost self esteem; why not join one of our classes today.

Call 07888 732312 or visit www.evoma.co.uk

Hazlegrove

Every year, Hazlegrove pupils take part in the Exmoor Challenge a gruelling 16 mile, timed trek over the moor involving navigation, collaboration and perseverance. Competition is intense but each year the school’s teams achieve significant success and 2014 was no exception with two mixed teams gaining podium places.

What is behind this ongoing success? Pupils don’t spend much time preparing or training for the event, but if you take a closer look a pattern begins to emerge, with different parts of a complex jigsaw making up the picture.

Hazlegrove is a ‘get dirty’, ‘hands on’ kind of school and Outdoor Education is part of the curriculum for 7-10 year olds. A three year programme involves camp craft skills, orienteering and kayaking; firemaking and the safe use of a knife complement time spent on the school farm where pupils grow vegetables and help to look after the school pigs. Two lots of piglets were born recently, ensuring that home-grown sausages will be on the menu in a few months’ time! The children clearly enjoy life at Hazlegrove. Headmaster, Richard Fenwick, is passionate about the school’s ethos.

“Pupils will thrive if you can create an environment where they feel loved and safe and where they are surrounded by teachers who are enthusiastic and inspiring. Striking the right balance between structure, tradition, organised activities, motivation and free play is fundamental. Pupils will love their time at school and will move on with the right mix of self-assurance, confidence and ‘can do’ mentality together with an underlying humility and respect for their fellow men – the sort of young men and women you want in your team.” It is why Hazlegrove is thriving and why their pupils enjoy rising to a challenge!

...making the most of childhood

Open Mornings 4, 7 & 11 October at 11am “If Hazlegrove is a child’s first ever experience of school life, then all we can say is ‘Lucky child’” Tatler Schools Guide 2013

• Inspiring education for boys & girls aged 21/2 to 13 • Children regularly exceed our and their own expectations • Outstanding Pre-Prep with innovative and hugely successful curriculum Hazlegrove, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JA

Visitors are assured of a warm welcome - just call 01963 442606 follow us on twitter @parenttalksw visit us at www.parenttalk.org.uk

10 Parent Talk September 2014

NURSERY DIRECTORY NURSERY

Busy year ahead Choosing the right nursery for your child at Razzamataz

Razzamataz Theatre Schools Yeovil begins another busy year with a FREE taster session for new students on Saturday 13th September.

These funkiest of stage schools offer an exciting mix of acting, singing, street dance and musical theatre to boys and girls aged 2-18. Dragon’s Den’s Duncan Bannatyne was quoted as saying: ‘The investment that’s given me most pride and satisfaction involves children’s stage schools.’ This sentiment is echoed by local Principal Claire Walford. Teenage students can now obtain their Arts Award at Razzamataz. There are regular presentations, community performances, as well as an annual school show. Razz Minis for 4-5 year olds lets your child explore the magical world of the performing arts, with an hour of singing, dancing and

drama. Razz Minis focuses on enhancing imagination, improving co-ordination and advancing communication skills. All our Razzamataz classes will give a real boost to your child’s confidence, while they improve their health and fitness and make new friends. Razzamataz Theatre Schools are the ideal place for boys and girls to learn about pop singing, street dance, musical theatre, commercial dance styles, drama and physical theatre; a chance to bring out their true potential. For more information or to book your free taster session, contact Claire on 01935 411128 or 07856 273166. Email yeovil@razzamataz. co.uk. Please note that taster sessions are subject to availability, and offered on a first come first served basis. Visit our website: www.razzamataz.co.uk

Classes and parties at Just Dance Just Dance in Wincanton is going from strength to strength. Last year, the school acquired its own studio, with kitchen and garden, enabling Just Dance to offer dance classes, parties, pre-school activities and much more!

The dance school offers classes in Ballet, Tap, Dance, Irish Dancing and combined Tap/Dance lessons for children and adults, with drama, singing and gym being added soon. Every Friday after school, there is a different activity to look forward to. For pre-schoolers, there are open soft play sessions, tap, ballet, dance and gym. Parties at the studio are an occasion to remember! We offer dance themed parties, for example, Dance Like a Popstar, Angelina Ballerina or Streetdance as well as other

With an increasing number of parents choosing to enrol their son or daughter in a nursery, it is vital to explore all the possibilities that are on offer. However, when choosing any form of childcare or educational setting for your child, it is important to appreciate that each one is different and there is no such thing as ‘one size fits all’! There are many different types of Nursery. A day nursery (as opposed to a nursery school) is usually a privately run nursery for children aged three months to five years. However, there are also local authority nurseries and community nurseries. A day nursery is run for childcare purposes, but would be expected to follow a curriculum for the 3-5 year olds. Normal hours are from 8am to 6pm all year round except for public holidays. A nursery school tends to operate during term time and only takes children from 3-5 years, but as many nursery schools now provide holiday clubs and take children younger than 3 years, the differences between these two models are becoming blurred. Some Primary Schools have their own pre-schools and these can be a good route to take if you think your child might attend that school as this can provide ease of transition with peers and familiarisation visits by the children to the school and from the school staff to the nursery. All nurseries have to follow strict ratios of staff to children, as well as guidance and teaching models laid out by the Government. However, in spite of the requirement to use same broad educational frameworks and meet the same minimum standards of care, every nursery is different,

just as every child is different. Starting the process

The best place to start is often by asking parents in the area if they can recommend any nurseries to you. You can also contact your local Family Information Service or Family Information Directory. These local resources can be very helpful for parents, ensuring that you have reliable information about childcare in your local area, someone you can speak to about your childcare needs and access to extra support if necessary. Inspection reports and nursery websites can also provide useful information. Once you have narrowed down your list, start phoning around to arrange a visit. This stage is the single most important part in making up your mind. As well as asking a long list of questions, also consider whether or not your “gut feeling” tells you it is right. It is a personal experience – when you walk into a nursery you need to feel welcomed and comfortable, and think ‘yes I would like my child to go here’. You need to be able to trust the staff with caring for your child. Visiting nurseries

During your visit make sure you are able to speak to a senior member of staff at the nursery to find out more about the nursery’s ethos and make sure this matches what you see, hear and feel on your visit. The right nursery for your child experience will complement what you, as parents, are providing for your child at home; the encouragement, the warmth, the attention to particular needs and a strong sense of nurturing. You need to establish whether the nursery environment will support your child’s learning and development. Choosing the right nursery for

your child is a very personal choice but there are some key questions: ● Do they have any spaces for the time you are looking at? ● How many children do they have now and what is the maximum they take? ● Do they provide all meals? If so what are they? Where are they cooked? And where are they eaten? ● How are children helped to settle in? ● How does communication take place between the nursery and home? ● How are parents kept up to date with children’s development (and kept actively involved)? ● How long have the staff been at the nursery? How experienced are they? ● How is the children’s safety and security managed? ● Do the older children go on any visits (e.g. to local shops, the park, etc.)? ● What outside space is there? How often can this be used? Is it covered so it can be used in bad weather? ● Are childcare vouchers accepted (if you get these from your employer)? ● Do they administer the Early Years Grant (which offers15 hours a week of free nursery provision for 3 and 4 year olds during term time)? ● What arrangements are there for naps/sleeps? ● What is the discipline policy and what would the nursery do if my child ‘misbehaved’? ● What opportunities are there for my child to visit the nursery before starting? If you have a baby, you need to specifically check the following:

Do you need to bring your own nappies and formula? ● Where do the babies sleep during the day (ideally you would like to have the cots away from ●

the playing area, but space is at a premium in nurseries so that is rare)? ● How much fresh air do the babies get during the day and how are the babies transported outside of the nursery (ask to see the prams and buggies)? ● How much time if any do the babies spend in the company of the older children (depending how you view this, it could be an advantage or a disadvantage)? These are just the main questions. When parents look around our nursery, they can have a list of 20, 30 or more – which in itself provides an important test of the patience of the team! And last but certainly not least, find out about how each nursery setting manages those difficult mornings when your child becomes upset when you drop them off, leaving you feeling even more upset as you make your way out of the building. Will you get a follow up phone call? Will you spend the rest of the morning wondering? It is vital to remember that different nurseries do different things and what works for one nursery doesn’t necessarily work in others. What matters is that the nursery is right for you and your family. Finding the right nursery can be a tense time, but when you find it, you will know and it will be the start of a very rewarding relationship for your family. Ultimately, the key to the success of this will be the staff in the setting because they will set the standards and provide the love and care your child needs and deserves during this exciting and important stage of their young life. Authors: Nickie Reed, Head of Infants and Early Years, Wellington Prep School Jane Hester, Head of Nursery, Wellington Prep School

Walk and cycle the new school run, says charity Sustrans themed parties like army, fairies or princess and pirates. Not only do we provide all the fun and games, we are able to offer all the food, birthday cake or party bags, if you would like us to and our face painters also add to the occasion. With our own premises, we can cater for a huge variety of themes with props, scenery etc.

For further details on classes and parties call 07901 553602.

Just Dance stuDio & activity centRe

Ballet, Tap, Irish Dancing, Soft Play, Parties, Tap & Dance, Saturday Dance Classes 07901 553602

www.just-dance-studio.co.uk

This September, charity Sustrans is encouraging parents to consider walking or cycling to their child’s new school, and is helping them do so safely by providing easy to follow advice on road awareness and cycle safety.

Over 600 thousand children will be starting new primary schools this September and national estimates suggest that 42% of these pupils will be driven to school, even though the average distance from home to school is just

1.8 miles. Sustrans works with over 2,500 schools across the country to help teachers encourage their pupils to walk, cycle and scoot the school run. With years of expertise Sustrans has some great advice for parents who are thinking about walking or cycling with their children for the first time to their new school. For parents whose children are stating a new school which is an easy distance to walk,

Sustrans suggests they follow these simple guidelines to improve the child’s road safety awareness: ● set an example: stop, look and listen, don’t take risks and avoid using your mobile phone when crossing the road; ● bend down to your child’s eye level to get an idea of what they can and can’t see; ● talk about the traffic you see on your way and the best places to cross, and ask questions about the speed and size of different vehicles; ● in quiet areas, gradually allow your children to practice making decisions about where and when to cross roads; ● for more information and advice about road safety, visit The Department for Transport’s Think! Education site. If the new school is easy to cycle to, Sustrans suggests that before trying the journey parents should teach their children to follow these key rules: ● signal clearly at all times;

ride in a position where you can see and be seen; ● make eye contact with other road users, especially at junctions, then you know they’ve seen you; ● don’t jump red lights or cycle on the pavement unless it’s a designated cycle path; ● when riding at night always use a working white front light and red back light, plus a red rear reflector - it’s the law! Sustrans’ Campaign for Safer Streets is calling on government to make dedicated funding available, commit to lower traffic speeds, and transform local walking and cycling routes, to give every child a safe school run. Find out more by visiting www.sustrans.org.uk/ saferstreets. ●

EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION

Millfield Pre-Prep - a happy and vibrant school where children love to learn

More Millfield Minis Clubs now available this Autumn

“The provision of children’s well-being is outstanding, and links with parents are excellent”. Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Millfield Minis Clubs are open to all boys and girls, aged 1-8, in the local area. Minis Clubs are held at Millfield Pre-Prep which is located just outside Glastonbury. The clubs are held during term time on both weekdays and weekends depending on the club you choose.

Growing from four successful clubs we are now able to offer a total of five Minis Clubs; Minis Cricket, Minis Football,

Minis Golf, Minis Swimming and Minis Tennis. All clubs are run by our friendly specialist staff to provide the perfect introduction to your child’s chosen sport in a safe and caring environment. With access to specialist facilities and equipment, our staff will ensure your child is given the opportunity to develop their cognitive, physical and social skills whilst having fun with their friends.

Parent Talk September 2014 11

At Millfield Pre-Prep we aim to inspire and engage each child to make the most of their talents and potential. Small class sizes, experienced teachers, a broad range of subjects and activities, along with inspirational indoor and

For more information on Millfield Minis Clubs visit: millfieldschool.com/millfieldminis

or call Hannah Cox on 01458 837524

outdoor spaces, enable us to achieve this. A thorough grounding in the basics of reading, writing and mathematics is combined with a dynamic topic based curriculum. Weekly lessons include French, swimming, PE, dance, music and cookery. Our on-site Forest School is a big part of our outdoor learning programme, where children have the opportunity to find out about living things and explore taking risks. The messy mud kitchen is a favourite attraction and baking rolls in the bread oven, learning to cook over an open fire, making dens and sawing wood all add to their skills and growing sense of independence. The children also take regular walks through our own fields and apple orchards, visit our ponies in the stables and grow vegetables in our ‘alittlements’. Before and after school care means we are on-hand for early drop-off and later collection and there are over 20 weekly free after school clubs on offer including tennis, football, gym, chess, trampolining and working with clay. Our expert Millfield coaches also run paid for clubs which include riding,

ballet and dance. Fees can be partly offset by Early Years funding and the Childcare Voucher scheme. The overall passion and desire to see children make the most of their potential

motivates Millfield in everything we do. Our aim is to see children find skills and interests they really love, giving them a confident platform for their whole learning experience.

To arrange a Personal Visit or book a place on our Open Morning on Saturday 4 October please contact Hannah Cox tel. 01458 837524 or email: admissions@millfieldprep.com www.millfieldschool.com/pre-prep

Open to all to join this Autumn

Millfield Minis Clubs are our sports

Millfield Minis, our fun toddler group for ages 1-2½, is now running every weekday, 10.00-11.30am

clubs for ages 1- 8. This Autumn Term we are running Minis Cricket, Minis Football, Minis Golf, Minis Swimming and Minis Tennis. All our clubs are held at Millfield Prep in Glastonbury and run by friendly and experienced staff and coaches.

For more information go to millfieldschool.com/millfieldminis or ring Hannah Cox on 01458 837524 follow us on twitter @parenttalksw visit us at www.parenttalk.org.uk

welcome to your n o i t c e s S W E N

Book Bag NEWS

bringing you world events, job tasters, boredom busters, interesting facts and everything topical...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Celebrating 50 Whipple-Scrumptious years in 2014 2014 marks a phenomenal fifty years since Roald Dahl’s best-loved tale CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY was first published. The story of Charlie Bucket, the five Golden Tickets, the devilish Oompa-Loompas and the amazing Mr Willy Wonka has become firmly embedded in our culture, having (twice) been reimagined for the cinema, as an opera and, in 2013, as a hit West End musical. Conservative estimates suggest the original book has sold over 20 million copies worldwide; it is currently available in 55 languages. In many ways, CHARLIE is the book that defines Roald Dahl’s magic for readers all over the world. It’s a story that is passed from one generation to the next, but it is also loved by adults in their own right. High profile fans range from musician Alex James – who says “I read Roald Dahl’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY about a hundred times when I was little and still go back to it.” – to culinary superstar Heston Blumenthal, who famously recreated the lickable wallpaper first glimpsed beyond the gates of Willy Wonka’s factory.

What is the magic ingredient that gives Roald Dahl’s story such enduring appeal? Is it the characters you love (like Charlie and Grandpa Joe) or the characters you love to hate, like Augustus Gloop and Veruca Salt? Perhaps it’s the characters - like Mr Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas – who you really can’t be too sure of? Could it be the vivid way Roald Dahl, himself a lifelong chocolate-lover, describes chocolate in the book (Wonka’s Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight anyone?).

the devilish Oompa-Loompas

Then there’s the iconic appeal of the five Golden Tickets – a phrase that has passed into general, global usage. Given that the book was first published in 1964, it has proved to be remarkably prescient – with its warnings concerning childhood obesity and the dangerous effects of too much TV, as well as its celebration of a strong family life above owning “stuff”. But, perhaps above all, it is an unsurpassed celebration of inventiveness – an adjective which defines not only Willy Wonka but also Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory illustrations © Quentin Blake.

For more information please visit www.roalddahl.com

Book Bag NEWS Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, which exists to make seriously ill children’s lives better, has already created a huge buzz in its plan to recruit 50 (count ‘em) Oompa-Loompas for a a fundraising skydiving event in September 2014. The charity’s Dahlicious Dress Up Day in September has become a firm fixture in the school calendar and the 2014 event on 26th September will encourage everyone to dress up as their favourite character from CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

WIN

“Wonka’s Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight!’” cried Grandpa George. ‘It’s the best of them all! You’ll just love it!” - From Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

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The brainchild of Somerset-based Kate Sharman-Courtney, Feather Grey has developed a range of stylish and eye-catching party stationery, tableware and accessories to give every child’s party its own special look. Choose from a selection of child-friendly themes that includes Fairies, Monsters, Princesses, Pirates, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and the ever-popular Dinosaurs. “It’s obviously great fun organising a party” says Sharman-Courtney, “but it can also be quite stressful – shopping here, there and everywhere for all the party bits and pieces.

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Our aim is to give busy parents one less thing to worry about by offering pretty much all they need for a successful party in one place They can visit our website with their child, have fun picking out their favourite theme and almost as quick as they can say ‘Come to my party’, it’s all sorted”.

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Parent Talk have a Personalised Keepsake print and Colouring in Gift Set to give away to one lucky winner (choose from PIRATE, MONSTER, DINOSAUR, MAD HATTER, FAIRY, PRINCESS, GIRLS PINK, CUPCAKE)

enjoy!

For your chance to win, look at the question below and email your answer (with preferred choice eg Pirate, Dinosaur, Princess), to comps@parenttalk.org.uk by the closing date of 24 September 2014.

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For more information please visit www.roalddahl.com

EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION

14 Parent Talk September 2014

St Dunstan’s School delivers again

Offering more at Sherborne Girls Have you thought about your daughter joining an independent girls’ school at the age of 11? While the starting age is traditionally 13, more and more parents are seeing the benefits of their daughters joining earlier.

Open Afternoon for entry at age 11

Sunday 28 September 2pm-4pm Boarding & day options for 11-18s with a range of scholarships Please call to register your interest on 01935 818224 or email enquiry@sherborne.com

www.sherborne.com

Our

Ella Beaumont joined Sherborne Girls in Year 7, having attended Sherborne Primary School previously. She explains, “One of the advantages of a school like Sherborne Girls is that it offers much more than lessons. The boarding environment makes it feel like we are a big family, even ‘though I am a day girl. I attend School from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and also on a Saturday morning, and I join all the girls in the junior boarding house for every meal. I usually stay on into the evening to do my homework with my friends and I like coming in on the weekend to get involved with all the different activities. I am Captain of the house swimming team and I enjoy speech and drama, cookery and textiles. It’s the best of both worlds: I spend nearly all of my time with my friends, yet

Character us differentand ISI rates usmakes ‘Excellent’

‘Outstanding’in every way

Values

make us different

Our

Read the full ISI Report at www.brutonschool.co.uk

Character

makes us different

Open Morning Saturday 4th October SUNNY HILL

•

BRUTON

•

SOMERSET

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BA10 0NT

E AdMISSIONS@BRUTONScHOOL.cO.Uk

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T 01749 814400

W BRUTONScHOOL.cO.Uk

Day and boarding school for girls aged 7-18 Day school for girls and boys aged 2-7

St Dunstan’s School GLASTONBURY

OPEN DAY Thursday 18 September 2014

Morning: 9.30am - 11.30am Evening: 6.30pm with a short presentation

Dedicated Staff . Excellent Pastoral Care . Small Class Sizes Outstanding Extra-curricular Visits and Activities

Fantastic Exam results 78% students achieving 5 A*- C GCSEs, 60% with English and Maths Wells Road | Glastonbury | BA6 9BY | 01458 832943 sch.533@educ.somerset.gov.uk www.st-dunstans-school.org.uk

Sherborne Girls’ Open Afternoon on Sunday 28 September from 2pm to 4pm. I see my parents every night. I think my two years in the junior house has definitely improved my confidence and made me happier about starting Year 9.” If you are interested in finding out more, come along to Sherborne Girls’ Open Afternoon on Sunday 28 September from 2pm to 4pm. Meet the girls and their teachers and have a look around our junior boarding house and facilities. Please email enquiry@sherborne.com to advise of your attendance or for more information please call 01935 818224.

Students at St Dunstan’s School in Glastonbury achieved yet another set of fantastic examination results this summer; even better when set against the national context of tougher marking and higher standards. 78% of students gained 5+ A*-C grades and 60% with English and Maths. A number of students gained an impressive haul of 14 A*/A grades and 65% of all students gained at least 1 top grade.

Headteacher, Kevin Griffiths, said that he was delighted with the continued success of the school and praised the governors, staff, students and parents for their hard work and support. “Despite the rapid improvement in exam results over the last 2 years the essence and ethos of the school as a small, caring

St Dunstan’s School Open Day Thursday 18 September.

school with strong student participation and leadership remains. Our success is built on the well established relationships between staff and students, strong teaching and learning and the growing aspirations of students who come to the school. Part of our success also lies in providing a well-rounded education and opportunities beyond the classroom; extra-curricular activities, trips and enrichment opportunities, leadership and coaching roles, charity events and the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. St Dunstan’s is a school where students can grow and become the person they want to be”.

For more information: 01458 832943 sch.533@educ.somerset.gov.uk www.st-dunstans-school.org.uk

Offering the best possible start

Bruton School for Girls’ next open day is held on 4 October.

The butterflies in the tummy are starting …. and that’s just the parents! Mums across the county have been queuing for school shoes and buying uniform for the milestone that is the ‘first day at big school’.

Questions such as ‘have I made the right choice?’, ‘will they be happy?’, ‘who will help them overcome their shyness?’ are bouncing through parents’ minds as they take their little ones to school for the first time. Nothing can be more heartwrenching than to think you are sending your child to a school which either doesn’t suit them or isn’t your first choice. You want them to be happy and thrive. In my time as headmistress, I’ve lost count of the number of anxious parents I’ve met who are desperate to give their child the best possible start and I feel very proud knowing that I have opened up the option of independent schooling for them. Approaching an independent school for the first time can be fairly daunting. But by the time parents have met me and seen our school in action, I’d like to think we have blown away some of the preconceived

School days are happy days at Sunny Hill Prep myths of independent prep schools and left them feeling that they can completely trust us to give their child the best possible care, excellent tuition and a wonderful opportunity. No more waiting lists, no more catchment area worries.

It’s the parent’s choice… now doesn’t that sound like a refreshing alternative? Bruton School for Girls’ next open day is held on 4 October. Nicola Botterill is Headmistress at Bruton School for Girls.

To book your place or for an informal chat about the opportunities we can offer your child, contact admissions@brutonschool.co.uk or telephone 01749 814400

Girls and boys, day and boarding, ages 3 - 18

Open Days 4th October 22nd November

s y a d r e t s a T e l b a l i a av

New facilities for Saplings The Park School, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 1DH Tel: 01935 423514 www.parkschool.com

admin@parkschool.com

16 Parent Talk September 2014

EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION

Open evenings at Outstanding results at Red Maids The Blue Red Maids’ Year 13 students have once again achieved outstanding examination results and are now preparing to move on to a range of first class higher education courses, mostly at Russell Group universities.

This summer was a busy time at The Blue School in Wells. The campus teemed with staff and contractors all striving to improve on the already excellent facilities the school provides and to prepare it for the return of our students.

Our student numbers continue to grow as word spreads about the quality of care and teaching, the lovely environment and warm and friendly staff and students that make The Blue the school it is. Of course, we wouldn’t just want you to take our word for it, which is why we offer any potential students and their families the opportunity to come and see us in action on our Open Evenings on Thursday 2nd October (for entry into Y7 in September) and Thursday 16th October (for those interested in our Sixth Form). All our departments will be represented, offering a range of fun and interactive activities all geared towards giving you a ‘taste of The Blue’. We pride ourselves on offering students not only a broad ranging academic curriculum, but also a comprehensive extracurricular programme with opportunities to enrich skills in areas such as sport,

music, drama, art and IT as well as social events, trips and opportunities for overseas travel. In addition, our pioneering School Council

welcomes involvement from all students and gives the chance to become involved in a whole range of projects within the school and beyond.

For more information, please see our website

www.theblueschoolwells.co.uk, give us a call on 01749 678799, or come along to one of our Open Evenings.

We are also happy to arrange tours of the school on an individual basis throughout the year.

At International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma 22% of subjects at higher level were awarded level 7 (the highest level possible) and 80% achieved a level 6 or 7. Five girls scored an amazing 41 points out of a possible 45. At A2 Level, 14.5% of all entries were graded A* and 28% of students gained at least one A* grade. More than half of all A2 entries – 52% - were awarded an A* or A grade and in total, 16 girls achieved three or four A* and A grades. Speaking of these results, Headmistress Isabel Tobias commented, “Our students are academically able and motivated and with the support of outstanding teachers they have achieved the best possible outcomes.” There was 100% success at A* or A in Economics, German, Latin, and Philosophy and Ethics. In Art, Business Studies, Further Maths, Music, Physical Education, Russian

The hard work was all worth it! and Spanish all students received A*, A or B grades. Across the year group 61% of students took at least one STEM subject and many took more than one. 44% of the year group took at least one modern foreign language. Mrs Tobias added, “The

girls at Red Maids’ want to pursue challenging courses which will lead them into the professions and help them make an impact in the world. For this reason we find a significant proportion pursue Veterinary Science, Medicine and STEM subjects.”

Visit us Whole School visiting events

Thursday 9 October Saturday 8 November

The Blue School warmly invites Y6 students and their parents to our

redmaids.co.uk

Open Evening on Thursday 2nd October 2014 from 6.00 to 9.00pm Headteacher’s presentations in Kennion Hall at 6.00 and 7.15pm Sample a meal with the family in Bailey Hall from 5.00pm 2 courses: £3.40 for adults, £2.80 for children office@blue.somerset.sch.uk www.theblueschoolwells.co.uk 01749 678799

Independent day school where girls shine For more information please call:

Junior School, Mrs Lynn McCabe 0117 962 9451 Senior School, Mrs Liz Bamber 0117 989 8252 Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9

@RedMaidsSchool /redmaidsschool

EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION

Parent Talk September 2014 17

King’s Hall School celebrates ‘Excellent’ Inspection report! King’s Hall School is a coeducational Prep School for children aged 2-13, set in a stunning location just outside Taunton. The School recently underwent a full inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, and they are thrilled with the results.

Pupils did exceedingly well with their behaviour and consideration for each other being described as ‘exemplary’! The pupils’ personal development was described as ‘Excellent’ whilst the strong feeling of family, a distinctive feature of King’s Hall, was also recognised: ‘Teachers know the pupils extremely well and care highly about their success and happiness...’ The academic, sporting and creative achievements of the children were also acknowledged as being of the highest calibre. Boarding at the school was also ‘Excellent’; confirmation of the wonderful experience there is to be had – and the school has recently made this option even more accessible. The school’s new weekly boarding offer, at less than £50 a week, enables even more pupils and

OPEN DAY

parents to take advantage of the ‘term-time’ home which is available. The school is

tremendously proud of the outstanding achievements of its pupils and staff.

The next whole school Open Day is on Friday 3rd October, to book a place please contact the Admissions Registrar on 01823 285921. For more information about King’s Hall School, please visit their website www.kingshalltaunton.co.uk

Bright forecast for The Park School B E PA RT O F T H E I N S P I R AT I O N

Friday 3rd October 10 am arrival

Saplings Sports Day The forecast for The Park School is looking very bright, with our ‘Saplings’ (ages 3-5) now based in a newly adapted facility. Learning is lots of fun in Saplings. Children can look forward to gardening in the new green house, small world adventures and dressing up in the role play room, being arty and crafty in the creative room, with messy play and cooking in the new kitchen. The setting has a fully enclosed garden with a purpose built play area and

covered patio for fresh air play, even on damp days.

In September children begin their learning journey through play and adventure, with new ipads, plenty of welly walks, library visits, bug hunting, pond dipping and outings. The development and relocation of Saplings gives us space to expand to a two form intake at the top of the Junior Department. This preserves our small class sizes and provides additional rooms for each year so small groups

can be run to focus extra help where there is the need - our provision to cater for Gifted and Talented and SEN in support of class teaching is better than ever. This is a very exciting time for the school and we would love to welcome you for a tour, any day, or invite your child to join us for a ‘taster day’. We accept Early Years Vouchers and offer flexible hours to suit your working arrangements. We look forward to hearing from you and showing you around our school.

Please contact us to reserve your place Little visitors are welcome to join all the fun of a Forest School session—for over 3s—starting 9.30 am

Co-educational day & boarding: ages 2 –13 telephone: 01823 285921 admissions@kingshalltaunton.co.uk www.kingshalltaunton.co.uk A Woodard School

SOMERSET COLLEGE REALISE YOUR POTENTIAL Boost your career prospects, improve your skills and return to education. DEGREES The majority of our degrees can be studied part-time, allowing you to work around any existing commitments. • Fashion Design • Health & Social Care • Computing • Media Make-up • Early Childhood Studies • Business • Graphic Design • Teaching • Engineering & Automotive Engineering • Construction

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Our range of professional courses provide the ideal platform to update your skills or change your career direction. • Accountancy (AAT Levels 2 & 3) • Law & Practice (CILEX) • Bookkeeping (SAGE Level 1) • Professional Management (ILM)

DISTANCE LEARNING All distance learning courses are FREE to those 19 years and over. • Business & IT • Team Leading • Equality & Diversity • Customer Service • Sports Coaching • Health & Social Care

To find out more and to apply 01823 366 667 / www.somerset.ac.uk

APPLY NOW!

EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION

Parent Talk September 2014 19

New Headmaster at Wellington School Wellington School will be saying a fond farewell to Headmaster Martin Reader, who will be taking up a new role at Cranleigh School and welcoming Henry Price, who will join in September from Rugby School.

Wellington School is burgeoning at the moment; most of the years are completely full for September, the Sixth Form will be the largest in the past eight years and there is a waiting list for boarding. Numbers across the senior and prep schools are over 800 and there is an immensely strong academic framework supported by superb music, sport, art and drama departments. In the Prep School, our Nursery and Reception classes are almost full for September 2014 with a waiting list for some year groups for 2015. Many of the other year groups are also close to being full, and we are setting up two new classes to ensure we keep our pupil to teacher ratios low and children’s achievement high. The new toddler group, “Little Wellies” has been a

tremendous success, with over 45 families regularly attending. The school has a real buzz about it at the moment, with a brand new curriculum about to start, and results last year which were the best in Somerset for GCSE and for A* - C in English and Maths. Henry Price commented; “As a new Headmaster, I am often asked the question, ‘Why Wellington?’ For me it was because I saw a school where academic excellence and intellectual fulfilment are cherished, but not at the expense of

sporting, cultural, social and spiritual development. It is because I felt the proud, positive and purposeful atmosphere among the pupils and staff. It is because I know that Wellington is a special place, which my family and I are looking forward to being a part of in the years ahead. I feel very fortunate to be inheriting a thriving school, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the new pupils and parents at our recent induction evening and am looking forward to doing all I can to ensure the continued success of the school in the years ahead.”

Achieve your goals, with Somerset College Are you seeking a change in career? Would you like to progress in your existing profession? Do you want to develop new skills and garner extra qualifications?

If so, Somerset College is the place for you. We offer a range of courses to help you take control of your career. These include our innovative distance-learning programmes, available in a variety of disciplines. Whether you’d like to learn about the safe handling of medicines, develop your understanding of dementia care or hone your IT skills, we have a course to suit. Even better, these programmes are completely free to anyone over the age of 19. We are also the largest provider of degrees in Somerset, offering a range of specialist fields including Art and Design, Health and Early Childhood Studies, and Computing/Computer Games Development. Whichever way you look at it, studying at Somerset College will help you take your career to the next level. And thanks to our expertise in working

Fully co-educational 3-11 Outstanding nursery provision Forest School | High academic standards Superb facilities and access to a wider curriculum Developing enquiring minds Nurturing individual characters Building skills for life A school fizzing with inspiring teachers

with adult learners, you can be assured that we’ll provide all the support you need to realise your ambitions. Leisure Courses for Adults

In addition to the professional development courses on offer, Somerset College has recently launched the latest selection of short leisure courses for

adults. Our specialist courses are delivered in first class facilities by experts, and range from DIY to Hair Styling and Motorcycle Maintenance to Pasta Masterclass. For further information and full course listings please visit www.somerset.ac.uk or call 01823 366 667.

nursery DIRECTORY NURSERY DIRECTORY NURSERY

20 Parent Talk September 2014

ALBY’S CHILDCARE,

Albermarle Centre, Albermarle Road, Taunton. Providing safe, high quality care and learning opportunities for children aged 2-4 years. Open 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday. T: 01823 448926 E: albys@albermarle-centre.co.uk BRIDGWATER COLLEGE CHILDCARE CENTRE was

rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2012, in all areas! The Centre is open to the general public and children of students, for children from four months to five years. There is also a Holiday Play Scheme for children up to eight years old. T: 01278 441270 or E: childcare@bridgwater.ac.uk. www.bridgwater.ac.uk CHERRYTREES MONTESSORI offers

an holistic approach and provides a rich and nurturing environment for young children’s learning and development. We are open on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays from 9.15am until 3pm. Contact Margaret Dobbs 01458 210436 or

email cherrytreesmont@aol.com FIRST STEPS DAY NURSERY SCHOOL (all year

from 8am-6pm). For children from 3 months to 5 years. Offering a caring, educational and safe environment for your child. All fully qualified staff. T: Elaine Garland 01749 346733 E: fsdaynursery@btconnect.com HAZLEGROVE NURSERY AND PRE-PREP, SPARKFORD Hazlegrove’s

innovative Pre-Prep curriculum is outstandingly successful, evident in the increased confidence and ability levels as children move up to the Prep School. The children benefit from experienced staff, specialist teaching and outstanding facilities including an indoor swimming pool and woods for Forest School. “Hazlegrove children are happy children” says Headmaster Richard Fenwick, “we simply want to provide the very best education we can for

the pupils in our care”.

For more information, contact Fiona O’Neill on 01963 442606 JABBERWOCKY CHILDCARE CENTRE, where children

“make excellent progress… in a calm & vibrant environment”, Ofsted 2012. We are a unique and fun, purpose built nursery in Street. We offer childcare from three months to school age, from 7.30am to 6pm, 5 days a week. Children can also take part in weekly yoga and football sessions and Forest School at the local arboretum and in our outdoor classroom. We also have a before and after school club, a holiday club for 5 – 11 year olds, and offer a walking bus to local schools.

T: 01458 446999 E: alison@jabberwockynursery.com www.jabberwockynursery.com KING’S HALL NURSERY.

King’s Hall is a wonderfully traditional yet progressive school set in the rolling Somerset countryside just outside Taunton. Although the Nursery shares the Preparatory school’s superb facilities, it is self contained and operates in a secure and peaceful environment. Log cabin classrooms, vast on-site Forest School and highly experienced, dedicated staff make King’s Hall Nursery the natural choice for children 3 to 5 years. And from January 2014 King’s Hall are offering places for 2 year olds.

T: 01823 285921 www.kingshalltaunton.co.uk LADYBIRDS PRE-SCHOOL,

Lydeard St Lawrence. We are a small, friendly, rural pre-school overlooking the Quantock hills. We welcome children aged 2½ onwards. Open term time only: Mon-Thurs 8.45am-2.45pm. Toddler group Fri 9.30-11.30am.

T: Ali on 01984 667342 LEWESTON NURSERY AND PRE-PREP, Sherborne.

Excellent facilities and extensive grounds with space for adventure, discovery and freedom. On Thursday mornings Parent and Toddler

Group. Excellent Ofsted Report. To find out more about our friendly atmosphere

T: 01963 211010 www.leweston.co.uk LITTLE BOOTS DAY NURSERY. (Ages 2-5,

8am-6pm) Come and visit us on Pottery Farm! Our idyllic setting offers fantastic opportunities for enhanced outdoor learning; we work with a maximum of 16 children a day ensuring each child gets the individual attention they need. Contact Cleo Wilson for more information.

T 07936 555 676 littlebootsdaynursery.co.uk MILLFIELD PRE-PREP SCHOOL (Ages 2 - 7), situated

in the beautiful Prep campus in Glastonbury. Our aim is to encourage a love of learning through a combination of classroom and outdoor activities, using a wide range of exciting and stimulating teaching methods. Small class sizes and excellent facilities, like our on–site Forest School and indoor swimming pool, support this. Over 20 free after school activities as well as an Early Birds and Late Club. To arrange a visit or a taster session please contact:

Hannah Cox in Admissions on 01458 837524 PERROTT HILL MONTESSORI NURSERY AND PRE-PREP. Given

‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, the Montessori Nursery is situated in the attractive, safe courtyard of the manor house. The Nursery children, aged 3-4 years, have the use of the extensive grounds and facilities of the school as well as having their own outdoor adventure play area. The staff are warm and friendly. Free after school care is available. T: 01460 72051 www.perrotthill.com MINIATURES DAY NURSERY. Open 50 weeks

per year, we provide a safe, secure and stimulating environment for children aged

To book our Nursery Directory, please call

0-5 years. Open 8am - 6pm, we provide home cooked food. Education grants accepted for 3 & 4 yr olds. Two minutes from A358. Church Rd, Ilton, Ilminster. T. Marion on 01460 554488 www.miniaturesdaynursery.co.uk NYNEHEAD UNDER 5’S PRE-SCHOOL (NR WELLINGTON). Village

location with large outdoor area. 12 months - 5 years, term time only (at present). Monday-Friday 7.30am - 6pm. T: 01823 664365/07947 663108 PILTON PRESCHOOL

Encouraging Confidence, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Compassion, Character and Sense of Community. A long established village Pre-school offering fun and inspiring play based learning & education for children aged 2-5yrs. Monday – Friday 8.45am – 4pm term time, full or half days available. Sessions include Forest School, Yoga, Music and Movement, Woodwork, Sports and much much more... Please contact us on 01749 899147 preschool@piltonvillage.co.uk www.piltonvillage.co.uk/preschool

for further info or to arrange a visit.

T: 01749 899147 www.piltonpreschool.org info@piltonpreschool.org QUEEN’S COLLEGE offers

individual learning. AN INDIVIDUAL focus on learning is keeping Queen’s College Pre-Prep and Nursery at the top of the tree. With small class sizes of 12-16 children, specialist teachers can cater for each individual child’s needs. Rated as outstanding Queen’s College nursery and reception classes are not to be missed. To visit contact

admissions@queenscollege.org.uk T: 01823 340830 SMARTEES DAY CARE NURSERY. Offering

professional, quality childcare with state of the art security system. Located just 5 minutes walking distance from Yeovil town centre, near Westlands

01458 250461

and the Police Station. Open Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm for children aged 3 months – 5 years. 2 Beer Street, Yeovil. T. 01935 411777 TAUNTON NURSERY SCHOOL, for children from

0 years. Flexible Nursery Education, 8am - 5.45pm Highly qualified teachers. Spectacular grounds and facilities used by all. Children can attend a combination of morning, afternoon and late club sessions. T: 01823 703303 www.tauntonschool.co.uk WELLINGTON PREP SCHOOL NURSERY.

Attractive, well designed buildings. Talented teachers. Cheerful children. Proud parents. All this can be yours at Wellington Prep School Nursery and Pre-Nursery. EYFS can be redeemed against our fees. We would love to have your children from 3 years upwards. Please enjoy our website www.wellington-school.org.uk

or call Maria Kerr to arrange a visit.

T: 01823 668700 LITTLE WELLIES Term

Time Toddler group. Open to all pre-school children every Thursday morning 9.15-11.15 am, Wellington Junior School Hall. £3 per child and £1 per additional child weekly charge. Contact Maria Kerr for more details – 01823 668700 office@

wellington-junior.somerset.sch.uk WEST SOMERSET

NURSERY, MINEHEAD.

The West Somerset Nursery Group, Pre school and Allsorts is a non profit charity, meeting the needs of children and families in a flexible and friendly way. Qualified staff provide high standards of education and care for children aged 3 months to 12 years, open all year round 8am-5:30pm. T: 01643 708867 WOODLANDS PRE-SCHOOL, RUISHTON,

Taunton. At Woodlands we offer a wide range of indoor & outdoor activities including a Forest School Curriculum. We accept children from 2 years old. Our purpose built setting enables and nurtures children, encouraging them to grow and experience life with confidence.

For more information T: 01823 444302

Number of two year olds eligible for free childcare to double Parents in the South West encouraged to check if their child is eligible.

Parents in the South West are being encouraged to find out if their two year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare from this September, when the number of eligible children will double. This week, around 40 per cent of 2 year olds will be entitled to 15 free hours of free early education per week – up from 20 per cent last year. Around 20,000 children in the South West will now be entitled to free childcare,

but take-up has traditionally been low. A new Government campaign is being launched in the area to encourage parents to use their free 15 hours a week. Evidence suggests that children from less advantaged backgrounds often start school 19 months behind their peers, but also reveals that good quality childcare can reduce this gap and have a significant benefit in terms of a child’s development. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “Giving a helping hand to families that need it most

will mean thousands more children get a brighter start in life. This September, we’re doubling the number of free childcare places for twoyear-olds. All parents need to do to check if they qualify is contact their local authority or children’s centre. “All the evidence shows that if you compare two five-yearolds hanging up their coats next to each other on the first day of school, the poorer child will already be behind their better off classmate before a single lesson has been taught. “Without this help, children suffer and the whole class

suffers as teachers have to focus more of their efforts on children who are frustrated and left behind through no fault of their own. I believe that every British family, whatever its structure, background and circumstances should be able to get on in life.” Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah said: “It is wholly wrong that children from lower income backgrounds can be behind their peers even before they’ve attended their first primary school lesson. We know that good quality early education can make a huge

difference in levelling the playing field and improving a child’s life chances. “This free childcare entitlement gives children in the South West crucial support that could make all the difference to how well they do at school and beyond. I encourage parents who think their toddler may be eligible from this September to check this and make sure they don’t miss out.” The extension of free childcare to two year olds

builds on the entitlement of 15 free hours a week already available to all three and four year olds. In addition, the Government meets up to 70 per cent of childcare costs for lowand middle-income families through tax credits and are also introducing tax-free childcare from autumn 2015 which will see all eligible families receive up to £1,200 towards each child’s childcare costs.

Information about whether or not your child is eligible can be found at www.gov.uk/freechildcare

EDUCATION INFORMATION EDUCATION

Parent Talk September 2014 21

Dragons’ Den school in All Hallows Preparatory Yeovil offers preschoolers School – Leading the Way a FREE taster The hugely successful part-time performing arts theatre school that famously appeared on Dragons’ Den, winning the backing of Duncan Bannatyne, is delighted to announce a FREE taster session at Razz Tots class in Yeovil, especially for children aged two to three.

It will take place on Thursday 11th or Saturday 13th September 2014. The classes are designed to improve confidence, and social and motor skills, and run in 6 week long themes. This Sept sees the Tots ‘In the Kitchen’, with singing, dancing and drama. “Razz Tots has been designed in line with the Government’s Early Years Foundation Stage framework to create an enabling environment which facilitates a secure foundation for your child’s development,” says Principal of Razzamataz Yeovil, Claire Walford. “These active classes will encourage physical development, explore imaginations and allow your little ones to become confident, capable and self-assured individuals whilst having fun!” Classes run from 9-10am on Saturdays. A week-day class is also available on Thursdays

from 1.30-2.30pm. Places in both sessions are limited so book quickly. They are available on a strictly first come first served basis. To secure your child’s place, please contact Principal Claire Walford on 01935 411128 or email yeovil@razzamataz. co.uk. Alternatively visit the website on www. razzamataz.co.uk. About Razzamataz

Razzamataz Theatre Schools offer exceptional part-time training in dance, drama and singing together with exciting opportunities to perform. Classes in the main school

are for children from age 4 to 18 and allow students to experience a range of performance styles from classic West End musical theatre to funky street dance and pop singing.

All Hallows is a school radiating warmth and vibrancy – a gem of a rural Prep school, popular with ex London parents due to its proximity to Bath, Babington House and the attractive and upcoming towns of Frome and Bruton.

At the heart of All Hallows’ success is a vision aimed at nurturing each individual and developing the ‘whole child’ through cutting edge education and rich and varied experiences. It is known nationally as one of the leading Catholic, Coeducational, Boarding and Day, fully independent Preparatory Schools taking children from 3 to 13. Rated as Outstanding by ISI in 2014, it is situated in 25 acres, surrounded by open countryside and farmland.

OUTSTANDING

CHILDREN

Open Morning October 4th

Creativity is the heartbeat of All Hallows. All Hallows was an early adopter of the IPC (International Primary Curriculum) which is taught with great success in the Junior Department. Thematic learning and innovative curriculum ideas pervade throughout the school. Music, Art and Performing Arts are a great strength of the school and a new Creative Centre is opening in September 2014 further enhancing opportunities. The Saturday Enrichment Programme encxourages children to move out of their comfort zones and try a range of experiences such

as the Exmoor Youth Challenge, Sports Leaders Awards, Music Production with professional Musicians, Digital Photography and Animation. All Hallows is non selective on entry and very proud of the resulting outcomes for children leaving at Year 8. Each year, approximately 60% of children receive awards to senior schools – Academic, Sport, Music, Drama and All Rounder Awards. All Hallows punches above its weight in terms of Sport nationally within the Independent Schools sector thanks to a large, specialist team of coaches and a wide range of opportunities.

Enquiries: jbird@allhallowsschool.co.uk www.allhallowsschool.co.uk 01749 881600

A LL H ALLOWS Preparatory School

IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE Boys and girls aged 3 -13 Day and Boarding

Local bus routes available

Scholarships available contact jbird@alhallowsschool.co.uk 01749 881609 www.allhallowsschool.co.uk

22 Parent Talk September 2014

BOOK REVIEW BOOK REVIEW BOOK REVIEW

Impressive report for Chard School With its impressive Inspection Report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate last summer, Chard School continues to celebrate with three pupils awarded places at Colyton Grammar School, one pupil awarded a music scholarship at Wells Cathedral School and a host of sporting achievements, including two pupils winning silver medals at the Independent Schools Association National Athletics finals.

The school is pleased to announce that the opening hours of the Nursery have been extended to provide childcare and education for children aged 0-5, from 7.30am-6pm, 52 weeks of the year. Chard School educates children up to 11 years old and is located in historic period buildings in Chard, South Somerset. Specialist subject teachers provide the highest standard of teaching in English, Maths, Science, French, PE, Art & Humanities. The school has excellent facilities to match, including a science lab, Astroturf, ICT suite, gym, art studio and library.

book review

Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon

Pupils at Chard School are also able to participate in many artistic endeavours. Music and drama play an important role with children performing on a regular basis to friends, family and the public. The talented music teachers give pupils the opportunity to learn a musical

instrument from the extensive list on offer. Curiosity and creativity are actively encouraged to develop a passion for learning and to enable each child to become a lifelong learner and achiever – confident, motivated, independent with high expectations of themselves.

Our Autumn Term Open Morning is on Thursday 9th October, from 10am - 12 noon. For further information, please email: office@chardschool.co.uk or call: 01460 63234 www.chardschool.co.uk

Linda Newbery Published by Doubleday A young woman in her thirties, finally begins to confront the day twenty years ago when her sister went missing. As a grown woman, she begins to ask questions, and tries to come to terms with what happened that one hot day in August. This novel, looking at diverse themes of loss and bereavement, childhood and identity, tackles a deep unsettling story with sensitivity and honesty, making this novel an intelligent, absorbing and at times deeply moving novel.

The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp

By Eva rice Published by Heron Books This quirky, detailed and charismatic book is the second novel by Eva Rice; author of The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets. Set in the 1960’s and featuring several prominent characters from her first novel, this literary equivalent of a fabulous vintage dress, plunges the reader into the decade and its times. By writing with such care and microscopic attention to detail, the delicate textures of the past are made real, sweeping us along into the world of Rock N Roll, Swinging London, Jazz cigarettes and even, a cameo from no less than Brian Jones from the Rolling Stones himself. The plot? Ah, it’s a secret. I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you now, would I?

By Sue Roe Published by Fig Tree Bohemian Paris of the early 1900’s is vividly and colourfully brought to life by this wonderful Art Historian. Focusing on Montmartre as the epicentre of the Modernist Movement in Paris; the author introduces us to the young Pablo Picasso, Modigliani and Matisse, whose early work was influenced by the verve and energy of other cross-discipline art forms happening in the area. Dance, literature, music all combined to produce a new and fresh way of thinking; full of colour, character and a eye firmly to the future. Fascinating and inspiring!

These books are available at Waterstones Bookshop in Taunton Reviewed by Corinne Marbrow

In Montmatre