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Education News
Community Astronomy Mornings at the Royal Observatory Greenwich Every weekend the Royal Observatory Greenwich is offering fantastic ticket deals that include an early morning planetarium show presented by an astronomer, and free access to the historic old Royal Observatory. This features the Greenwich Meridian line, telescopes and the Harrison Timekeepers. Here, Observatory Explainers are available to answer visitor’s burning space questions and highlight the hidden histories at the home of time and space (11am to 2.30pm). In Family Space, visitors can prebook tickets to see a 10.10am Meet the Neighbours planetarium show, followed by time to explore the historic old Royal Observatory and a chance to take part in the free drop-in, crafty Young Astronomers Workshop (11am to 2.30pm). In Morning Stars, visitors with children who experience an Autism Spectrum Condition can avail of the same historic site and workshop access. The 10.10am planetarium show is specially designed to create a calm and comfortable environment. Also, unlike a standard planetarium show, guests are free to exit and re-enter as they need and there is low-level lighting at all times. To find out more and to book tickets, £10 for adults and £5 for children, please search for Family Space or Morning Stars at www. rmg.co.uk (For Morning Stars, carers go free).
Spring Adventures FREE Family Activities at Guildhall Art Gallery & London’s Roman Amphitheatre No need to book JUST DROP IN
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Saturday 11 April & 9 May, 11am-4pm Guildhall Yard, EC2V 5AE
cityoflondon.gov.uk/artgalleryfamilies
Monthly Special Shows at the Peter Harrison Planetarium Family Space Morning Stars Take a morning trip through the Solar System Perfect for families Explore the night sky live in this planetarium show for children with an autism spectrum condition. 5+ *Entry to the historic Royal Observatory is FREE Included with your ticket rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory
Education News
Fun Study Camp at Leaders are Readers Summer School
Over the past 10 years, the Leaders are Readers Summer Schools have become established as London and the surrounding area’s academic camp for children aged 3 to 11. Their summer school is designed to be challenging yet fun, and children develop strategies and skills in critical thinking, comprehension reading, creative writing, language and vocabulary, mathematical reasoning and verbal and non-verbal reasoning. They also prepare for 11+, 10+, 8+, 7+, 5+, 4+ and excel in these assessments.
Ninety-five percent of parents have said that their child has gained selfconfidence at the Leaders are Readers summer school and that they have learnt how to read in a short period. Their aim at the summer school is to cover a year’s essential work in 3 weeks. 90% of children who attend the Saturday and Summer schools, who sit various competitive entrance exams to independent schools, pass, with some even being awarded scholarships. The Saturday school also keeps children ahead of their peers. The experience of success during the summer school can provide a long-term boost to children’s self-esteem and confidence. Call to book a trial day and free assessment at Leaders are Readers setting at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Crayford Academy, Dartford, DA1 4RS. For more information, call 01992 651 300 or visit www. leadersarereaders.co.uk.
Colfe’s School – Caring for the Environment Colfe’s School has been educating local children in south-east London for 350 years. While proud of its history, Colfe’s is very much a school of the future and it is constantly striving to empower its pupils to look after and make a difference to their own environment. There are a number of pupil-driven ‘ecoinitiatives’ at the school. At a recent ‘Zero Waste’ sustainable pop-up stall, caterers presented examples of ways to monitor, manage and reduce food waste. The results were delicious! During the school’s ‘Protect the Planet Day’, nursery children collected litter and made a ‘Save the Planet’ poster. Junior School ‘Eco-Champs’ have been encouraging fellow pupils to make small but important changes in their daily lives. This includes recycling and reusable water bottles, discouraging the use of single-use plastic and not accepting plastic carrier bags. Single-use plastic bottles will be banned from the school
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Crayford Academy, Dartford, DA1 4RS 3rd to 21st August OPEN DAYS: 21st, 28th March, 18th, 25th April, 2nd, 9th, 16th May
Junior School Open Morning Wednesday 13 May 9am - 11am Book your place online today
from the summer term. Pupils are even wearing uniforms made from recycled plastic! The school’s ambitious plans are set to continue with a working group set up to push ahead with recycling, reducing plastic and ecofriendly planting on site. Colfe’s Junior School Open Morning is 9 - 11am on Wednesday 13 May. Book now at www.colfes.com
Walk for Wellbeing Thousands of children across the UK will celebrate the benefits of walking during Walk to School Week from 18 to 22 May. Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, as part of their National Walking Month campaign each May. Families will be encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that come from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates. This year, the charity will specifically focus on the health and wellbeing benefits that come from being active.
Walk to School Week classroom packs will have activities for pupils to complete on the way to school and in the classroom, which focus on their wellbeing, including how walking helps with their physical health as well as their mood, concentration and creativity. Walk to School Week also plays host to Happy Shoesday on Tuesday 19 May, when pupils wear the shoes that make them smile or design their own shoe capes and donate £1 to Living Streets’ road safety work. For more information on Walk to School Week and to get your classroom packs, visit www.livingstreets.org.uk/wtsw. Photo credit: Living Streets
A Tutor that Suits You Primary Times spoke to Stephanie Atkinson from Tutor Doctor. She told us, “We had a simple idea and a desire to make a difference. We wondered why parents had to adjust their family’s busy schedules and drive half way across town just to put their child in another classroom with other children… when in fact it was probably the classroom experience that their child was struggling with in the first place. “At Tutor Doctor we offer in home 1-2-1 tutoring. We create a programme that is right for your child and then match a qualified tutor who suits your child’s personality and academic needs.
We improve your
child’s confidence and organisation skills, to help them be more
effective and succeed in education.”
Go along and meet some of the guys from Tutor Doctor at Tesco’s in Elmers End Superstore, Croydon Road, Beckenham on 11 April between 9am and 5pm or call Stephanie on 020 8059 6574. Tutor Doctor is running STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Maths) workshops between 4 and 5pm at Woolwich Library on Monday 30 March and 27 April (continuing on a monthly basis). Workshops will also run at Mycenae House over the Easter holidays on Monday 6, Tuesday 14, and Friday 17 April, from 10.30am-12noon.
Easter Holiday @ Alpha Activities and Sports for children between the ages of 3-12 years old 6th April to 17th April Held at: Eltham CofE School Roper Street SE9 1TR Deansfield Primary School Dairsie Road SE9 1XP
