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Primary Times in South East London 7 Southbrook Mews London SE12 8LG Tel: 020 8318 0400 Email: office@primarytimes.biz Website: www.primarytimes.co.uk Twitter: @PT_LondonSandE Instagram: @primarytimesse

Publishing Editor: Peter Watson Sales: Kathy Jordan, Andrew Langridge, Catherine Dillon & Gill Pearce Listings: Catherine Draisey & Hayley Hughes Production: Alison Watson Office Manager: Chris Blower Administrators: Claire Wood & Tina Love Proof Reading: Christopher Fox Editorial Assistant: Eleanor Getting Social Media: Rachel Benson

Primary Times is independently published and distributed free in primary and junior schools throughout the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich. Its aims are to inform families and children of current educational issues, forthcoming events, courses and attractions and to give teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity to participate in the magazine by adding to its contents or joining in the competitions which we run. It is NOT our intention to publish any racist, sexist or politically based material whatsoever. We also undertake not to carry any advertising which we would consider to be offensive to young families or harmful to the best interests of young children. The opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements within this publication are not necessarily those held by the editor or publisher. While we take great care with the compilation of information within this magazine, neither the editor nor publisher will accept any liability for the accuracy of the editorial or advertising contained within the publication. We welcome listings being sent to us for inclusion in our What’s On section. Free listings are dependent on available space and we cannot guarantee to print all the listings we are sent. Please send them to listings@primarytimes.biz. Primary Times would like to thank all the schools in the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich for their assistance in distributing the magazine and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the advertisers who have supported this publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when and where you can. No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part or in whole, without the express written permission of the Publishing Editor. Primary Times is currently publishing over 2.5 million copies per issue under franchise licences throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Primary Times South East London is operated under franchise licence.

Welcome to our Spring/Easter magazine. I’m writing this letter to you in lovely sunshine, a blue sky, not too much cloud and not so cold that I have to wear a thick jumper. Long may it continue. Spring has a real positive feel to it, with flowers and tree blossom starting, warmer days breaking through and lots of fun days out to look forward to in the school holidays. Do look through all our hundreds of listings. Some of them are free to enter but all include contact details so do check the events before visiting. We prepare our listings a long time in advance and details do change. Spring is a busy time of the year. Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday is on 22 March. Easter Weekend is 10-13 April. The London Marathon is on Sunday 26 April. Brighton Fringe is from 1-31 May. Then there’s St Patrick’s Day on Tuesday 17 March and St George’s Day on Thursday 23 April. Not forgetting Save the Frogs Day on Saturday 25 April! Don’t forget that the May Day Bank Holiday has changed from Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May to celebrate the 75th VE Day anniversary. Whatever you are celebrating, enjoy the next few weeks. We always have lots of great competitions for you to enter but sometimes we can’t give the prizes out to the actual winner as they haven’t included contact details for themselves. We don’t pass contact details on to any other companies so please do remember to include them with your competition entries. Entries can be sent by post or by email. See our Competitions Page for more details. We’ll be back the week beginning Monday 11 May. Happy Easter! Peter and the Primary Times Team

This magazine is audited by BPA Worldwide 51,270 copies - Easter Edition 2019

Katie Clown..............................2

Local News............................... 4

What’s On .................................6

Family Theatre............................... 8

Out of School Activities .............. 11

Spring Adventures ................. 15

Education News .....................20

All Your Own Work! ................23

from space MESSAGES

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Aiming to Support Your Community GLL, the UK’s largest leisure charitable social enterprise, supports local community projects and talented athletes, through its two foundations – the GLL Community Foundation and GLL Sport Foundation. Under its social enterprise ethos, GLL reinvests financial surpluses from its sport, leisure and cultural facilities – operated nationwide under the Better brand – to help improve lives in the communities that it serves, including investment in communities and local people through GLL’s foundations: GLL Community Foundation (GCF) The community foundation provides grant funding and practical ‘in kind’ support with a value of up to £5,000 per individual project, to a wide range of community schemes,

including the creation and renovation of public spaces such as parks or gardens, running sports tournaments or supporting cultural or community events. Greenwich Royals Gymnastics Club raised a massive £5,500 to purchase much needed gymnastics equipment. The community foundation was able to help assist fundraising by offering event space to raise funds, engagement prizes and £1500 in cash! GLL works in partnership with crowdfunding platform Spacehive to bring community ideas to life. This innovative way of raising money allows for projects to reach a wide audience and funders. GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) The Foundation helps talented young athletes reach their sporting potential and is the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme in the UK. GSF provides athletes with financial support, physiotherapy and free gym memberships at GLL operated facilities across the country. In 2019, GSF supported over 3,000 athletes across 117 sporting disciplines, taking its total investment to £11 million in 11 years. Previously, this support has contributed to the success of athletes including Olympic and World Champion Anthony Joshua and Greenwich Olympic weightlifter Zoe Smith. For more information on GLL Community Foundation, please visit www.better.org.uk/gll-community-foundation. For GSF visit www.gllsportfoundation.org

An International Dining Experience Make the most of the long weekend and spend this Easter with the family enjoying a wonderful feast at JRC Global Buffet. If you love great food and don’t want to spend a fortune, JRC Buffet is the perfect place for an Egg-citing Easter. With hundreds of freshly prepared dishes from all over the world, you’ll find all your old favourites as well as new dishes for you to enjoy. Families love visiting JRC Buffet as there’s something for everyone – it’s also a great opportunity for parents to encourage their children to be adventurous and try new flavours. Even the fussiest eater will find new dishes they’ll love. With a wide selection of Live Cooking Stations, where expert chefs prepare dishes right in front of your eyes, it’s a dining experience like no other. If you aren’t too full from trying all the main dishes, you’ll love the wide selection of mouth-watering desserts, all beautifully presented. Visitors, young and old, love dipping marshmallows and fresh fruit into the Chocolate Fountain and Easter’s the perfect excuse to overindulge. As a special Easter treat, kids can eat for £1 at JRC all through the Easter holidays. The offer is valid from 5.30 to 8.30pm, Monday to Thursday from Monday 6 April to Thursday 16 April. Terms and conditions apply. To hear about the latest news and offers, visit www.jrc-globalbuffet.com and sign up to the newsletter.

St Michael’s Young Choir Festival Southeast London already has several well-respected choir festivals achieving high standards. Sarah Burnard, founder and co-ordinator of St Michael’s Young Choir Festival at St Michael’s Church, Blackheath Park, has decided on a new approach. Sarah told Primary Times, “Our special focus is on getting young children involved in music for the first time. All our singers are in school years 3 to 6, and we have one competition just for newly formed choirs, with others for more experienced groups. We aim to help schools who would love to bring music into their children’s lives but are prevented by lack of budget. So, unusually for a choir festival, we have no entry fee. A choir which has only been going for a few months can get free top-level professional help and advice, plus a written report on their performance. Music is one of God’s great gifts and we think that getting it into young lives is very important.” The Festival (which is British and International Federation of Festivals approved) will take place on 13 June. Entries close on 31 March. Non-competitors pay a small entry fee of £3 and under 12s go free. For more information, contact Sarah at sarah@ rosepeach.co.uk or call 020 8852 7887.