F R E E 速 www.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk
Cambridgeshire Issue 6 September/October 2010
! Education Special! ! Clubs and Classes ! Win - half term club at Mike's Tennis Academy ! 20% off voucher at Polarn O. Pyret
The Useful magazine for families with children from birth to teenage
Editor’s Welcome ! Welcome to the sixth issue of Families Cambridgeshire - the really useful magazine for parents and children! I don’t know about you but the summer holidays just flew by for us - I can’t believe they’re back at school.........maybe your child is starting school for the first time or moving to a new school.Whatever your situation, this issue of Families Cambridgeshire is packed with information on Education, along with issues on homework and information on Clubs and Classes. We all know how important it is for children to stay healthy and fit, so we have a great competition to win a course at Mike’s Tennis Academy and some great tips on having healthy lunch boxes. As always, I do hope you enjoy this issue of Families and feel free to contact me with any news or events that you would like to see featured in future issues. Best wishes
Sara In this issue
02 Welcome and News 04 Back to School Feature 05 Is Your Child Future Smart? 06 Calm Confident Kids 07 Child Maintenance Options
08 Clubs and Classes 10 The Homework Debate 12 News 14 Education 15 Out and About
Circulation 12,000 copies of Families Cambridgeshire available through schools, nurseries, libraries, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let me know. Contact Sara Carr, editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk tel: 01223 319437 mobile: 07748 183700
Design: Louis T Koehorst tel: 01223 576688 ted@happyted.co.uk
Why you should register on Families Cambridgeshire. Families Magazine now has a fantastic new website to accompany your favourite mag, packed with ideas on everything from childcare and nurseries to clubs and classes, from children’s parties and holidays to saving the planet and going green. And now if you register to the website you can enjoy a whole lot more. As busy mums (or dads) we don’t have time to surf around searching for information, but as a registered user on our site you’ll enjoy an automatic listing of contacts in your area, relating specifically to the article you’re reading. For example if you read an article on dance classes, a list of local classes will appear at the bottom of that article, like by magic! The results of any searches you make will be tailored to where you live – no more getting excited about party entertainers before realising they live miles away! Finally, there are regular competitions with fab prizes on offer, forums where you can sell and buy your unwanted baby goods and you’ll also receive our email newsletter. Busy parents don’t have time to waste, so www.familiesonline.co.uk has done the work for you. What more can you ask? Register to our site today – it’s easy, it is free and takes seconds. www.familiesonline.co.uk
Support for dads
Cover photograph courtesy of Tesco www.tesco.com
Print: Bishops Printers Limited, Portsmouth tel: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops.co.uk.
News - September/October 2010
Families Cambridgeshire is part of the Families Group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take every care preparing for the magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequences.
“It’s been a life changing experience,” says Wayne Rooney on becoming a dad, a sentiment felt by most new, and very proud dads. But after the initial excitement of finding out their partner is pregnant, many dads feel they don’t receive as much help and support as mums-to-be, and when the baby arrives and the lack of sleep and new responsibilities sets in, they often feel unprepared and left behind. To help make life easier for dads, the NCT is launching a Dad’s view Becoming a parent new set of Dad’s view Early days with resources including your baby online booklets and a DVD to help them adjust to their role and handle the major changes that fatherhood throws up. “NCT recognises men have different needs to women when it comes to being a parent,” says Belinda Phipps, NCT Chief Executive. “All too often the focus is on the mother but dads need help too.” Free online booklets have been written by dads for dads and cover topics such as understanding the different stages of pregnancy, changing lifestyles and relationships and juggling life as a parent. So if you’re a dad and would like to find out more or to join NCT’s online support group go to www.nct.org.uk/dads. The ‘Daddy Cool’ DVD at £4.99 can be ordered from the NCT shop by calling 0845 8100100 or www.nctshop.co.uk.
Purple Fitness tel: 07545 284 928 www.purplefitness.co.uk ® Mention when calling to receive a free taster Boot Camp! ®
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By Joanna Parry and Sara Carr Survival of the fittest
With summer only just behind us and the children back at school, the last thing many of us are thinking about is how to fill half-term. But if your child loves the outdoors, here’s an idea: The Bushcraft Company offer Bushcraft Survival and Wilderness Cookery courses for schools across the UK but they also offer camps for children aged 7-15 at a number of different locations. Would your child love their 3-day Autumn Harvest Camp, a wilderness cookery course where they are taught how to collect, trap, prepare and cook foods that can be found in the wild, before turning them into crumbles, soup and stews? Or, for the over 13s, how about an Advanced Bushcraft Course for those with a keen interest in outdoor survival? Ray Mears, eat your heart out! Phone 01608 811 380 or email info@thebushcraftcompany.com for more information. www.thebushcraftcompany.com
Calling all bookworms
This year, the theme for Children’s Book Week is ‘books around the world’. From 4-10 October, Children’s Book Week 2010 will hold thousands of events across the country, celebrating inspiring books for children of primary school age. Bookshops and supermarkets across the country will host author and illustrator talks as well as book swaps, (insert here any local events??) For free downloads of all of the Children’s Book Week pack contents and to find out more go to the Booktrust
Summer time and the tagging is easy
With September here Mums all over the UK are breathing a sigh of relief as they say goodbye to hours of sewing and ironing on children’s name tags. The Attach-A-Tag is the new way to label clothes – by using the innovative applicator parents can name tag clothes, bags, even shoes in seconds. Just push, twist and it’s done! All name tags are laser etched with your child’s name, ensuring they are easy to read, secure and won’t fade in the wash. Attach-A-Tag is available from www.attachatag.co.uk and costs £20 for the applicator and 30 personalised tags.
Be safe, go nut free
If you have a child with a nut allergy you’ll know how frustrating it can be trying to find a nut free cake. But search no more! A new company www.justlovefoodcompany.com has been set up by food manufacturer Mike Woods, whose own children have severe nut allergies, and they have just launched their nut free birthday cakes, now available in Sainsbury’s. They guarantee that their products are 100% nut free and their range is expanding every day. Find out more at www.justlovefoodcompany.com.
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Safety standards toughened
Christmas might be a way off, but as we approach early Christmas toy sales it is good to know that two new standards introduced by ISO (the International Organisation for Standardization) aim to reduce the risk of a child being injured by unsafe equipment or dangerous substances. Millions of toys have been recalled around the world because of hazardous levels of lead or cadmium, choking hazards, dangerous magnets and other safety concerns, but now ISO 8124, the cornerstone of the global toy safety network, is determined to ensure the safety of children and minimize potential toy hazards. Find out more at www.iso.org.
Official Opening of Reach Lode Bridge
Sunday 12 September 2010 from 1pm Reach Lode, Nr Reach, Cambridgeshire The National Trust are organising a giant community picnic and BBQ to mark the official opening of the Reach Lode Bridge and Burwell Fen cycleway on Sunday 12 September. The bridge across the historic Reach Lode waterway forms part of the Lodes Way, a new 14 km cross country walking and cycling route being developed by the National Trust to enhance public access through the Cambridgeshire Fens. The Lodes Way runs from Bottisham cross country to Wicken and will form part of National Cycleway 11. The Lodes Way is being developed as part of the National Trust’s Wicken Fen Vision, a 100 year plan to create a 53 sq km landscape scale nature reserve and green lung for Cambridgeshire and the East of England between Wicken Fen and the outskirts of Cambridge. The route is being developed in partnership with sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, via its Connect2 £50 Million Big Lottery Funded walking and cycling project to transform access for local communities across the UK. Walks and cycle rides are being organised from local villages bordering the Wicken Fen Vision area and the Trust’s Wicken Fen Nature Reserve and Anglesey Abbey to meet at the bridge at 1pm. The opening ceremony will be performed by representatives from local communities playing a giant game of Connect4, after which there will be a mass community picnic and BBQ and an afternoon of celebrations including story telling, guided walks and the opportunity to try stand-up paddle boarding.
GET ON YOUR BIKE FOR CHARITY
This September thousands of people will be taking up the challenge of organising their own BIG BIKE RIDE for charity, and you could be one of them. The NSPCC is asking people to do something brilliant with their bike and raise money for their Child’s Voice Appeal. The Big Bike Ride is an opportunity for all to get out and have some fun. It’s really easy to get involved with the BIG BIKE RIDE, simply sign up for your free organisers’ pack at www.bigbikeride.co.uk, set a date and distance and get on your bike.Your BIG BIKE RIDE can be any type of challenge, from a lap of the local park to a muddy mountain bike trail.
Have you got green fingers?
This autumn the Royal Horticultural Society is launching an exciting new initiative to bring children, parents and teachers together to develop school gardens. ‘Get Your Grown-Ups Growing!’ is part of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening with primary schools across the country planning gardening events throughout October with parents, grandparents and children having fun in the garden. The campaign was set up in 2007 and since then almost three million children have benefitted from it, growing their own food, learning to care for the wider environment and leading healthier lifestyles.
“When we first got involved all we had was a patch of unused ground,” says Graham Johnson of Neasdon Primary School in Hull. “With the support and the resources provided by the RHS and the time and effort put in by parents and grandparents we’ve been able to build a greenhouse and several bat boxes. I would encourage all primary schools to get stuck in and have a go.” Register now at www.rhs.org.uk/gygg and get your school to sign up for free packs including activity ideas, seeds, posters and stickers.
Competition Winners!
The following children won the 5 Easy2Name giveaways from Families July/August issue:Simon Gretton - Dann Owen Payne Joshua Milroy Clementine Tinkler Jack Colding With many thanks to Easy2Name www.easy2name.com Tracy Brown was the lucky winner of the 6 month Gold membership to Reading Chest. Check out some top tips from Reading Chest on page 13. www.readingchest.co.uk ® ®
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Back to School # Whether your little one is starting a new school or nursery this Autumn or just returning after the long summer break, the first days back can be difficult. Starting school is a major milestone for you and your child and whilst some kids rush into their new classroom, unfazed by new faces, for others it’s stressful and scary and in the end, the tears flow. “I’m dreading Daniel starting school,” says Maria. “If it’s anything like when he started nursery he’ll be crying for weeks!” And it’s not just the kids battling mixed emotions - we can suffer parents too.We’re reluctant to accept that our little ones are going ‘out into the world’ – they still look so tiny and their new uniforms dwarf them! It can be difficult to predict how you and your child will react to the first days of school but with some preparation you can make this time enjoyable and fun.
By Joanna Parry
On the day “I’ll be worse than her,” says Stephanie of her daughter’s first day at school. “I’ll be a wreck!” There might be nerves, tears and first-day chaos but try to be confident on the day and keep these top tricks in mind: ! separation anxiety can be heart-wrenching but leave your child with a quick kiss, a big smile and reassurance that you will be back later. Don’t linger, don’t sneak out (although this seems like the easy option it can cause distress when your child realises you have gone), and even if you hear screaming, don’t come back! Remember, most children only cry for a few minutes after their parents leave
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! if your child is clingy or very upset ask staff to help. They are used to it and will help both you and your child adjust
! if you feel emotional try to hold back the tears until you leave the
classroom – I promise you, you won’t be alone! Ask the other mums to go for a coffee after drop-off – they may be feeling just like you
! at the end of the day pick your child up on time, and don’t forget to bring a snack!
! Leave the house with time to spare and arrive early. Stressing over time is definitely not helping nerves! It will also give your child more time meet friends before the day starts
The first few weeks Even if the first day goes well it can still take time to settle in, as your child slowly realises that school is a permanent feature of their lives. ! encourage small talk: talk to your child about their day, but don't be surprised if you get little back. “What did you do at school today?” often gets the reply “nothing” or “I can’t remember.” Try asking specific questions: “who did you sit next to at lunch?”, “did you use the computer at school today?”You’ll get a much more positive response
! homework adds pressure too. “I was unprepared for the amount of work my son received in his first term and was faced with cries of “why do I have to do homework?” Give your child two choices of when to do it – they’ll feel empowered and be more cooperative. Read to your child as much as you can - it builds up vocabulary, helps them perform better, it makes a good bedtime routine, it is also a very precious moment between parent and child
! stick week-planners to the fridge to keep on top of school life. Useful websites: www.talkingtots.info www.speciallittleproducts.com www.activityvillage.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/child_development/primary_starting www.ladybird.co.uk/adviceandresources/startingschool
Before school starts ! be positive – your child will know if you are dreading it! Talk to them about starting school and tell them what you remember from your school days
! make a countdown calendar and count down until the big day. My little one loved making a paper chain and tearing off one link each day
! make the school familiar by walking past, find out the names of the teachers and even pop in and look at the classroom together
! some nurseries and schools arrange a play-session in advance to meet fellow parents and children. Get those dates in your diary!
! avoid separation anxiety by encouraging your child to be independent. Help them be comfortable spending time with other people, and if you’re worried that your child might find it difficult to leave you, let staff know in advance
! et your child wear their uniform as a treat beforehand – they’ll feel very smart and grown-up!
! shop together for school supplies – a new backpack and lunchbox is exciting
! ease into a school bed-time schedule. Don’t let it be a shock when you suddenly ask them to go to bed an hour earlier!
! the night before - It sounds obvious, but you’ll avoid a chaotic first morning by packing bookbags and laying out uniforms the night before
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www.activityvillage.co.uk has printable rosettes, badges and medals that you can use as rewards, plus back to school games, activities, crafts and jigsaws
! cut down TV time. TV is stimulating, say Relax Kids, and may cause sleep problems, especially if the TV is in the child's bedroom. On the other hand exercise and playing sports are great stress-busters. Let them run off their anxiety and they’ll sleep better too!
! walk to school. It’s a great time to chat and catch up and it gives your child a chance to wake up properly, ensuring they are refreshed and ready for the day. Make sure you start this good habit on Day 1, and don’t turn back!
! set a good regular routine with healthy meals and early nights, baths and even massages before bed. A new range of products called Aromagels combine aromatherapy with reflexology to aid sleep and restlessness. For these, plus tips to aid sleep visit www.speciallittleproducts.com Relax Kids have great CDs for children to help them either simply relax, or de-stress, see their range on www.relaxkids.com
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! why all the rush? Leave half an hour early and stop to play in the park.
Make it fun: run, kick a ball, spot caterpillars, collect leaves, marvel at the changing seasons. Most children nowadays are nature deprived, incorporate nature in your routine. Most importantly, try to enjoy their first days at school and look forward to the year ahead!
Our top tips for a happy, healthy start to school: Be positive – don’t let your own anxiety show. Prepare in advance and when the big day arrives keep calm, get up early and don’t rush. Talk to your child about what to expect at school. Don’t forget it will all be over soon - once your child is settled the whole thing will seem like a breeze!
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Parent2parent ! ‘recoil in horror, puddle busting,babywipes & sausage volcano...’feauturing Team Green Age: : Holly (33) and Ross (32) Number of children: 4 for now Children's names and ages: Oddy 5, Axel - 4, Johnny - 2 and Tallulah 10 months Why you like living where you do? Great Eastern St is a really friendly street. Our neighbours are all great and Romsey is full of young families. Our house is really starting to feel too small though so we are moving to Norfolk soon but will still be visiting a lot!
Favourite shop Hawkins’ Bazaar (9 Fitzroy Street 0844 573 4528) . Only place where staff don’t recoil in horror when the children all march in! Scotsdales (Great Shelford 01223 842 777) (Wendy houses, garden gnomes, water features, parrots, fish, sweeties...)
Favourite park Coleridge Rec. Playpark works for all ages. Best paddling pool in town and great place for cherries and bear hunts. Also good spot to park kids with visiting relatives while running a few laps round park or attempting a game of tennis on free court at far end.
Favourite children’s club/class Definitely Judo club – Happidojo www.happidojo.com Thursdays at Shelford Rugby Club. Great coaching, great ethos and suitable for boys and girls. Bonus:Very buff head coach often gets his top off! Two kids have just done three days at the Sportsacademy www.tsa.co.uk and loved it.Teversham Primary School. Runs during most school holidays.
Favourite day out (and why) Anywhere providing we are all together. Kids would like to mention that the best thing on a very rainy day is to put wellies on (and not too much else as it will all get very very wet and muddy) and go puddle busting in the Mill Road Cemetery or in the little car park behind Black Cat Cafe (01223 248 792)... Se ptem be r /O ct o be r 2 0 1 0
The puddles are massive! This should be followed by a wet welly flinging competition then a bubbly bath, homemade ice-cream and a movie (while mum sorts out the massive pile of soggy clothes!Hmmm)
Favourite child friendly restaurant IKEA in Milton Keynes (0845 355 2185) - You can even look at furniture after if you like! The Tudor Rose Cafe (54 Mill Road) on Mill Rd for a full English Breakfast The Curry Queen (106 Mill Road 01223 351 027) on Mill Rd for Chicken Passanda (and they give you chocolates!-Oddy)
No parent should be without Babywipes.
Parenting pet hates School.
Most embarrassing moment One of the children managing to poo in such a way that it neatly dropped down out of one trouser leg onto the floor right in the middle of Carrefour in France. And then again right outside St Barnabas Church two days later! Quite a skill!
Best children DVD or video Oddy- Mr Bean Axel- Wizard of Oz / Jungle Book Mummy- Disney/Pixar’s ‘CARS’ Daddy- Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Most played with toys Lego. Scooters. PUKY pushbike. Large collection of carabinas and ropes. Jessie and Woody.
Biggest waste of money LG 8kg supposedly super fly direct drive washing machine. It doesn’t clean. AT ALL! Engineer said it was because I don’t use Ariel…
Most successful recipe/food Sausages and volcanos – Difficulty: 0 Time: depends on how many kids are hanging on your trousers, attempting to break into the fridge, throwing cars at each other etc... Average 10mins. Cook sausages, pull Tupperware full of frozen mash potato out of freezer, heat up then shape into mounds that look like mount Fuji, add tiny florets of broccoli or other vegetation on slopes of volcano, make hole in mound with handle of fork then fill with onion gravy until it erupts over the sides and flows down the slopes of the volcano. It’s never had ‘I don’t liiiike that !!’ yet which I assume is tantamount to success…
Would you like to be featured in the next Parent2Parent article? Each parent chosen will be sent a £20.00 gift voucher from Juliet Beauty, Adam Hair & Beauty, 37 Clarendon Street, Cambridge, CB1 1JX 01223 305 522 info@julietbeauty.co.uk. Please e-mail me at editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk if you would like to be considered. ® ®
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priority – especially when trying to juggle your own diary, your partner's and your other kids but this time out is integral to helping strengthen your child’s mental health. Relaxation is something that can be practiced together – and enjoyed as a family. Do whatever fits you and your lifestyle. It could be anything from a brisk walk outside, to watching a DVD, to baking a cake. Have regular pyjama days and turn off your phones. Just spend time together as a family. The more relaxed your household is, the more likely your children will be to approach you if they have any worries. Another great way to get your child thinking positively is to give them statements about themselves to take with them that day. This activity is called affirmations - positive phrases that are repeated to ensure that they concentrate on their attributes and not on negative aspects.. It could be as simple as suggesting that they repeat to themselves “I am unique” or offering them an activity to keep their focus throughout the day, “Today I will be… as calm as a cat”. Be creative. Offer complements.
Calm confident kids by Re l ax Ki ds
According to some recent research by the Telegraph, more than 40,000 children were expelled last year. Unbelievable! And what’s worse, they are all aged between 4 and 7! And no, they were not all from deprived backgrounds! The children were said to have been expelled for a real variety of reasons – from bullying to violence, damaging equipment to tantrums and outbursts. You may wonder, at such a young age, what have children got to be so angry about? Perhaps York University figured it out in 2009 when they discovered that young children feel pressured by exams and peer relationships. In turn, the common denominator is school – hence why it causes such problems. We can all help our kids manage their anxieties in a number of different ways. Some may wish to share their stresses through talking; some may prefer to write it down. One thing that is fair to say is that these emotions are better out than in and that we can all help our children learn to manage them productively rather than resort to the kind of behavioural problems stressed above. Why not introduce a positive diary to them so that they can learn to write down the positive things that happened that day? By choosing to keep them in a book, your child has a reference that can help remind of all the good things that have happened recently and will learn to understand that some days are better than others and that that is ok. Other activities you could try include incorporating regular chill out time into your child’s schedule. It may be difficult to understand that this is a
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A steady supply of praise will not only encourage good behaviour but will help them cope with the various challenges that life sends their way. If you have a positive, happy attitude, then your kids will develop a respectful attitude of you and other adults who behave in the same way, so keep setting a good example. You need to back up your words with your tone, facial expressions and gestures. In other words, try not to say one thing, but do another. Phrasing like "The way you.......was wonderful" and "I noticed how well you were doing with..............." are great examples. If you need to criticise because the activity displayed may be an example of bad behaviour, be constructive: explain why the behaviour was inappropriate. So many of us make the assumption that our children and other people in our lives "know" that we think they did something well. How will they know that we appreciate them if we do not tell them? A little complement can really make someone's day and outlook a more positive one and hence, strengthen their mental health, so there is no need for tantrums and mood swings. Relax Kids have a strong belief in encouraging children to recognise their individuality and embrace their strengths. They have created a range of relaxation CDs, books and DVDs to help keep kids calm and confident through chaotic times.Visit www.relaxkids.com for more information, activities and exercises to try in your home. Se pt e mbe r/ Octo be r 2 01 0
! Family The image of a break up isn’t one that tends to be front of mind as the confetti-strewn couple gaze into each others eyes with eternal longing.But breaks ups happen to the happiest-seeming couples, and the fall-out for children can be horrendous and traumatizing. Approximately 45% of marriages are doomed for divorce according to an Office of National Statistics (ONS) study, with half of those failing marriages ending before ten years have passed.
the mortgage and household insurance. Dawn added “I am very happy with our agreement, and I wouldn’t ever ask for more money. Our relationship is friendly and he often pops over to the house. That would have been unimaginable three months ago.” Joanne Richards, 39, saw an advert for CM Options on television and rang the helpline after her ex partner began intimidating her whenever she mentioned child maintenance. “He got on the net and told me what he was paying” says mother of two Joanne, from Ipswich. “The Options experts gave me a lot of help and support and I felt empowered at having got good, solid reliable information from the experts' with which to confront my ex husband. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the service to anyone who has concerns about child maintenance.
Child Maintenance Options One of the commonest causes of argument following a split is child maintenance, which is too often wrongly linked to access; it is crucial for separating parents to recognise child maintenance as a totally separate issue – children must be paid for regardless of how often and when and where they see the parent without the main day-to-day care. Attempts to negotiate child maintenance using the withholding of access as punishment for non payment should be resisted at all costs. Amicable break-ups, where couples have just grown apart and no other parties are involved, are it is believed more likely to result in maintenance being properly paid to whoever has full time care of the children.The reality however is that many break-ups are complicated, distressing, and a time when a multitude of hurtful accusations are hurled back and forth as feelings run high. Finding a way to introduce the highly-charged topic of child maintenance payments into such emotional turbulence is often too difficult. And so heads get buried in the sand, the problem gets neglected until sorting it out feels impossible. Entrenched behaviour becomes a barrier to resolution, and all the while the children are going without. A recent survey commissioned by the Child Maintenance & Enforcement Commission showed that 93% of separating parents believe that mums and dads should pay for their children after a break-up.And yet, less than 50% of children in separated families benefit from regular maintenance payments. So what can you do if you aren’t getting regular maintenance for your child? Or perhaps you are a non-resident parent wondering how much you need to pay to the parent who has full time care of your child? Maybe you want to know whether the fact that you are repaying a joint loan might ‘count’ when your maintenance is being calculated? Does the fact that you take the children on holiday have any impact? Or buying them clothes, paying for school trips? Child Maintenance Options is a free, confidential, impartial, publicly funded service offering solid, reliable information about child maintenance for separating parents who don’t know where to turn. CM Options specialists are trained to help with child maintenance enquiries and problems, and offer information on all of the different options available. There is an on-line maintenance calculator, a private arrangement form and other guides that can be downloaded from the website, and the agents have a wealth of other knowledge at their fingertips too including state benefits, debt counselling and taxation. Dawn Glover, 43, had been married for 20 years when she discovered her husband was having an affair.When they separated soon after, in August 2008, she didn’t know how to go about getting child maintenance for her two children, aged l3 and l6. She rang Child Maintenance Options and discovered that she could make a private arrangement with the childrens’ dad. Dawn, who works as a driving instructor, said “The information I was given made me feel really empowered. It was like a breath of fresh air. I am so relieved to be on speaking terms with my ex husband, as I didn’t want things to get nasty for the childrens’ sake or for them to be dragged into any arguments.” Dawn and her ex sat down and worked out an arrangement that suits them, which is that he pays the bills and has set up a standing order for Se ptem be r /O ct o be r 2 0 1 0
While Joanne was waiting for the private arrangement forms to arrive from Options, she informed her ex of her intention to approach the CSA unless he complied.This alone was enough to persuade him to enter into a private arrangement that is satisfactory to both parties. There was violence in the relationship, and Joanne needed to regain her confidence in order to feel confident enough to challenge her former partner. She said “Without Options I wouldn't have been able to do it. I feel secure in the knowledge that, should anything go wrong, I can go straight back to Options for good, sound guidance about what to do next. They gave me information on organisations in my area that help victims of domestic violence which was really helpful. There didn’t seem to be any question or issue they couldn’t deal with.” Joanne’s relationship with the ex is now on more solid ground and she describes it as 'ticking along nicely'. TEN FACTS ABOUT CHILD MAINTENANCE 1. Child maintenance is regular reliable financial or other support that helps towards your child’s everyday living costs. 2. Parents have a responsibility to provide financially for their children even if they live apart from them and the other parent. 3.You don’t have to use the Child Support Agency (CSA) – you and your ex can sort out maintenance privately between yourselves. Some parents though will have no alternative but to use the CSA where for example there have been repeated refusals to negotiate or pay maintenance. 4. A private arrangement, where appropriate, can save on solicitors’ fees and offer more flexibility than using the CSA. 5. Payments don’t have to be monetary under a private arrangement – they can be made in kind, such as paying bills or for days out or clothes. 6. To clarify and formalise their plans for child maintenance, separating couples can sign a ‘private arrangement’ form available from CM Options. Some couples even get the form witnessed by third parties, grandparents for example, to make it more formal still. The form can be downloaded from the CM Options website. 7. If you experience problems keeping a private arrangement in place, or if you want to avoid contact with your ex partner altogether, the CSA will calculate and collect child maintenance on your behalf. 8. Maintenance can be claimed for children up to 16 or 19 if they are in full time education. 9. Child maintenance payments won’t affect your child tax credits. 10. To calculate how much maintenance you should receive use the calculator on the CM Options website.
For further information: www.cmoptions.org free helpline 0800 988 0988 ® ®
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Clubs and Classes Out of School Clubs and Classes By Robina Cowan DEVELOPING INTERESTS outside the home is rich in rewards, from new social skills to those of the particular activity. If you’d like your child to join a local class but don’t know which one, let their interests guide you. There’s no point sending a painfully shy child to a drama class if they’ll be cowering in the corner when a good drum-bashing session or IT club would bring them out of themselves more effectively. If they babbled from an early age, they may find a second language comes easily; if they’re forever throwing themselves all over the sofa, consider a gym, swimming or dance class to focus their energies; if they’ve scribbled on the walls since an early age and can’t eat their fish fingers, carrots and peas until they’re carefully rearranged on the plate, consider art and craft or pottery classes, for example. We’ve been looking into the many benefits of out of school activities - and found the local classes.
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Languages
Given that babies learn their mother tongue practically before anything else apart from motor skills, it makes sense that they can be introduced to a second language before it starts rolling into the school curriculum later in life. Children who learn a foreign language at an early age do so effortlessly. At the most receptive stage of their development they are like sponges and develop a wonderful accent. They learn through verbal and physical participation and communicate without inhibition and self-consciousness. If children enjoy their early exposure to a foreign language and culture, they will absorb and retain this, ensuring not only a head start in secondary school, but building confidence in all areas of the curriculum. Language classes for children are extremely well designed - they are fun, happy and busy with plenty of activities including games, dances, songs and even cooking, to introduce the culture as much as the vocabulary. Alliance Francaise 01223 561 854 La Dante Italian Cultural Centre 01223 315 191 La Jolie Ronde 01223 210 900
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Music
A 2009 Booktrust survey found that almost two thirds of parents do not regularly sing or read nursery rhymes to their children because they did not believe they had any educational value. However,
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numerous studies have demonstrated that no matter the level of skill, music is one of the best ways to help early language development. Like speech, music has structure, rhythm and rules. It introduces new words and concepts through repetition, encourages turn-taking (just like in conversation), and helps children develop listening skills and attention spans. While some children - particularly those from musical families - can take to the violin or piano like ducks to water, it may be more rewarding to start in group singing, percussion and rhythm classes first to learn and appreciate the basics before taking on trickier instrument tuition. Even preschool music classes which include rhythmic singing and clapping songs are contributing so much more than a bit of weekly fun. Melody Movement 01480 493 579
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Sports and Exercise
In June, it was revealed that London has the dubious ‘honour’ of being the region with the highest proportion of obese children, and that Britons are among the fattest people in Europe - so much for the 2012 Olympic effect.Yet pass any school playground at breaktime and the majority of children are running around, for the sheer exhilaration of moving at speed (typically exercising their lungs too by screaming at the same time!). If your children are naturally active then they’re following their instincts, but those slumped in front of the television or computer could do with a nudge towards a regular activity they’ll come to look forward to. Different sports suit different children; lively, outgoing boys and girls relish competitive team games; tennis develops hand-eye coordination as well as stretching young limbs; swimming builds strength without overstressing joints and ligaments; martial arts teach children to ‘read’ their opponents’ intentions; while dance adds poise, grace and flexibility to everyday movement. Swimfit www.swimfit.com Kinnerz Football Coaching 01223 571 385 Mike’s Tennis Academy 05600 465 344 Bumpercise and Aquatots 01223 569 067 Cambridge Gym and Trampoline Club 01223 510 144
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Theatre and Performing Arts Drama is a wonderful extension of the ‘let’s pretend’ games young children love to play.
Classes open and extend children’s imagination through role play and characterisation. Working to a theme or play introduces literature, classic stories and make-believe worlds which come to life through speech, song and movement. Students explore empathy for their characters and classmates, and learn to work effectively in groups, growing in confidence as they learn to express themselves more fully. Before too long, students learn to make eye contact, speak clearly in front of others and stand up tall when entering a room attributes which will serve them well whatever their choice of career. All this and usually there is an end of term performance where the students have the chance to showcase their new skills in front of an appreciative audience. Stagecoach 01223 880 868 Octagon Performing Arts 01353 661 919 McKenzie School of Speech and Drama 01954 781 487
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Dance
It’s a rare child who does not enjoy dressing up games, and dance is the perfect way to move ‘in character’, whether as a graceful fairytale ballerina princess, or grooving to a funkier beat.While dancing is great fun it also helps develop coordination, fitness and a sense of rhythm, musicality and expression, promoting self-discipline and confidence. Wendy Burke School of Dance 01487 822 002 Sylvia Armit and Jo Murray School of Dance 01223 873 173 Helen O’Grady 01223 208 731 Bodyworks 01223 314 461 Maple Dance 07796 503 729 Jill Merritt School of Dance 01480 271 516 King Slocombe 01223 356 023 The Fairy School 01353 741 249
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Arts and Crafts
From the earliest age, children just love to make things. Admittedly they start by making a mess, but in time their painting, sticking, kneading and moulding start to take a pleasing, recognisable form. When clutching a big paintbrush, sticking pasta to a piece of card and squeezing play dough, children are developing motor skills which will later be fine-tuned to manage tasks such as writing and using cutlery effectively. Furthermore, the early attempts are stimulating many senses while Se pt e mbe r/ Octo be r 2 01 0
! Clubs and Classes introducing new techniques and textures. “There’s nothing like using clay to develop children’s artistic abilities,� one local potter observed: “usually they don’t get the chance to do pottery until they’re much older, but the younger ones love it just as much.� Kettles Yard 01223 748 100 Annabel Lee 01223 324 030 Cambridge Cookery School 07531 521 633
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School Support
As soon as children have a grasp of numbers and arithmetics, countless other tasks become easier. In almost every other subject and in many walks of life, arithmetics and maths are needed and a weakness in this area will hold your child back. Extra maths classes not only help improve a grasp of numbers, but help in confidence and add to children’s achievements long-term.
have a very useful skill that they will use throughout their lives. Excelr8 01954 211 888 Kip McGrath 01223 249 600/01223 304 602
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And Finally
In your enthusiasm to bring out the child prodigy in your child, don’t lose sight of the fact that they’re already worked hard at school. If you have signed up Oliie for cello lessons purely in the hope of a specialist school place, or believe that dance school will mean definite fame and fortune via Britain’s Got Talent - think again! First and foremost, find an activity your child will really enjoy. If their interest flags, or changes after giving it a good shot, don’t be afraid to look around for a new activity which might suit them better as they grow and develop.
Meanwhile, with computers now standard in schools, learning to touch-type makes work faster and more accurate. It is also better for young hands (using every finger rather than just ‘pecking’ with two index fingers) and backs (looking straight at the screen rather than bending over the keyboard). By starting young before bad habits take hold, children
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atmosphere in the class will also suit him or her. Is the teacher a person your child will relate to? Are the classes essentially fun, or does it seem that the teacher is pushing to gain the highest certificates for her pupils? Do classes lead to performances? Some children love this - others shudder at the thought of being on show. 2. Make sure the staff are qualified and have the required CRB checks and health and safety certificates. There is no harm in asking if you are unsure - they should have nothing to hide! 3. Most classes allow parents to sit in on a session or for children to attend a free trial class.Watch if the children are a) under control - not rigid but well within what you would hope a class to be; b) getting the balance of discipline and fun; c) getting constructive corrections from the teacher.
What to Look Out For Here are some more things to think about:
1. Having matched an activity to your child’s unique personality, check that the
Is there a budding Andy Murray or Dinara Safina lurking in your living room? If there is, or even if your children just want to play better tennis, then let Mike’s Tennis Academy bring out their latent talent at one of their many tennis camps.
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“Tennis is about much more than simply hitting the ball. Footwork, fitness, positioning and self analysis are all crucial in playing a good game. Above all, tennis should be fun. In our camps, we aim to teach the kids in a relaxed and friendly environment where they can really enjoy their tennis.â€? Enter our “Prize Drawâ€? to win a place on one of MTA’s week long Unique Kids Tennis camps, (worth between ÂŁ50 - ÂŁ110 depending on age group) Oct Half Term 25-29 October 2010 Groups for ages 4 – 17 yrs, all abilities. ½ day at Saffron Walden and Impington; full day option at Cambridge Medal, prizes, Academy T-shirts and loads of fun “Fun, team games, fitness drills, competitions AND tennisâ€? To enter our draw email editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk with name and contact details
Mike’s Tennis Academy at: The Leys School Sports Complex • Impington Village Sports Centre King’s School Ely • Saffron Walden County High School T: 05600 465344 or 07766 223528 www.tenniscoach.org.uk Competition closing date 30th September 2010. MTA reserves the right to cancel courses due to unforeseen circumstances; no cash exchange will be given. Children must be aged between 4 and 17 years.
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Homework Z When it comes to homework, the more they get, the more they learn, right? LYDIA WHITTLE searches for the evidence among parents, teachers, students and official statistics. In her recent article, ‘Homework? A total waste of time’, Dr Eleanor Updale regrets ever supporting her three children in their homework and berates the toll ‘homework inflation’ has taken on family life. She recalls how, for years, she, ‘nagged, shouted, bullied and bribed’ her children to complete their le or Upda n a le work. Sound familiar? Perhaps as the new E r D term starts such scenes have already played out around your kitchen table?
Felice, is one of the few mothers who felt her children were given the correct amount of work during their school days but perhaps it’s telling that her girls attended a European School not subject to UK guidelines? ‘Homework was set in manageable chunks from age 6 which helped the children to work in an organised and independent way and to feel responsible.’
It has long been recognised that playtime is beneficial for learning in a number of ways, such as information processing, perceptual skills, language learning and other aspects of brain development. So why are such activities now apparently being asked to take second place to vigorous homework assignments? ‘The boys get far too much homework with hardly any time to play’, says Sara, who tells of how when her 6 year-old sons attended a private school, they were given an hour and a half of homework a night in preparation for their 7+ exams. She continues, ‘If any of the homework wasn’t completed by the deadline, they were sent home from school!’ Surely this sort of pressure is unhealthy for such young minds, let alone for parents who have to urge and cajole their tired children to keep on working? No wonder so many parents resort to desperate measures. ‘I have seen many parents do their children’s homework’, Pascale told us, ‘I completely see why … but I never do, if children can’t do it, then they won’t do it.’ Helen feels that homework puts a lot of pressure on both her and husband Adam; ‘the homework my 5 year-old is given encroaches on our family time making it difficult to complete. In turn he has to stay up later to complete reading tasks’. Indeed, of all the parents we spoke to, few thought the amount of homework their child received was about right and in most cases it was too much. As Susan, mother of another 5 year-old, says, ‘I don’t really feel that children should be given compulsory homework until they are much older’. Indeed, it seems that if children feel they have the freedom to decide for themselves, they are more motivated. ‘My 6 year-old has homework once a week that takes no more than 10 minutes; in fact she often asks for more or makes it up herself,’ Sara told us.
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Eight year-old daughter Anna attends a private school and Mum Tessa relates how through the winter months she goes to school in the dark and comes home in the dark with homework still to complete, ‘this was really sad, I would prefer her to get no homework at all as the schooling is so intense that when she comes home it would be nice for her to get some down time.’ Shockingly, there was a prevalent feeling that the completed homework was a reflection of their parental competence and an indication of their management of family life. Annette points out that ‘children need the right environment to work in’. Similarly, Helen believes her 5 year-old son Oscar at such a young age needs support with all of his homework. But home life can be diverse and complicated, so does this prerequisite not promote inequality? Surely this could be a major disadvantage to children who, though no fault of their own, don’t have a certain set of domestic circumstances to return home to? What about children from non-English speaking families, whose parents can’t understand the homework themselves, for example? Izabella, originally from Poland says, ‘My parents initially spoke very little English, they would have been in no position to help us with reading or writing if we had been set homework’. I spoke to a head teacher whose primary school has two outstanding Ofsted reports; she explained what teachers do to ensure a level playing field. ‘In terms of creating good learning environments’, she says, ‘the school runs homework workshops throughout the school day, after school and during the evening. This gives all children an equal opportunity to complete homework tasks effectively. Also, their reading books and tasks are translated to help parents of any ethnic origin give this essential support to their children.’
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Homework Z But perhaps the focus is not about improving skills, as we so often think? Anna B and Anna A, 11 and 8 years old both dutifully answered ‘to improve’ when I asked what homework was for. They also recognise that doing homework limits their play time. Maybe the real value of homework is about preparation for the future? Sarah A says, ‘Luckily my daughters didn’t get much homework through primary school, on the other hand now my eldest is at high school and receives untold amounts of homework which she hasn’t been prepared for by her primary school.’ Pascale, who has five children, told us, ‘All our children on leaving primary school were able to get on with their own homework without me bossing them around (too much). The school has been very good to teach them good habits, it has served them very well in secondary. Homework is compulsory but it is not too hard.’ Perhaps without due preparation and a gradual build up of homework children would not succeed in the increasingly competitive international workplace? Maybe there are different levels of attainment in countries which put less emphasis on homework? What about Norway where children start school at age 6? By this stage English children, in education for 2 years already, as well as spending a day in formal education have completed up to one and a half hours of homework every night (add that up if you dare!) while their Norwegian counterparts simply played their days away.
Undoubtedly, in some cases, homework seems to reflect very positive educational standards, with China having the most amount of set homework up to the age of 11, and a major expansion in education, increasing the number of undergraduates and doctoral degrees five fold in 10 years as well as having the literacy rates of 90.8%. Great news but China’s ranking on the UN’s worldwide Human development report is currently 92. Dr Updale notes that there have been no recent studies of the benefits of current stellar levels of homework in the UK. It is unknown whether there is even a correlation between homework levels and educational achievements. Are we even clear as parents and teachers about the actual purpose of homework? Pascale believes, ‘homework should be an extension of learning not to be done so quick that it is a chore and nothing is learnt in the process.’ But do all schools adhere to that view? It would seem that teachers are sending home mixed messages and policies are changing in some schools. Sarah B was told by the school her 6 year-old daughter attends, that when she spells the exceptionally hard words she has been set for homework correctly that, ‘it is “an indication of a good memory, not high achievement.”’ Sarah says it all; ‘It makes me wonder what the heck it's all for...?’ Claire, whose daughter is 7, was delighted when the school she goes to abandoned the weekly spelling tests quoting research which shows that it doesn't really help with their literacy. Instead they look up the words they get wrong and add them to their own dictionary. ‘Getting a break from learning spellings has been liberating! … I think that homework can really kill kids’ enthusiasm about learning.’ And as Dr Updale remarks, ‘what drives those children out of the garden, away from the kitchen table and in front of the screens in the first place? What gives them the excuse to cut themselves off? It’s homework.’ It seems that as a nation we have become entirely educationreliant in means of preparing the next generation to pave a way through our perceived underachieving, ‘broken Britain’. In doing this, could it be that we forget the foundations that truly build strong, successful characters - the family. Without time spent as a family, bonding, growing and having fun, we can’t hope to achieve this. Could it be that by exposing children to extreme schooling and intense homework, we are destroying the very qualities we are trying to promote?
Human Development Index http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf
According to the UN’s most recent (2009) Human Development Index, yes. The composite statistic used to rank countries by level of ‘human development’ is produced with data on life expectancy, education and per capita GDP (as an indicator of standard of living.) Surprisingly (or by now, maybe not?) Norway is ranked the highest in the world, along with Australia and Iceland. The UK appears at no 21 (of 182). Se ptem be r /O ct o be r 2 0 1 0
See www.parentchannel.tv for tips on coping with homework stress. ® ®
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Eductational News TIPS FOR TAKING THE PAIN OUT OF MATHS HOMEWORK
Maths is the school subject that worries parents the most. Sometimes the parent is anxious about their own maths ability. Just as often, it’s discovering that the methods we learned at school look completely different from the ones being taught in primary today. Maths for Mums & Dads (Square Peg, £10.99) is packed with explanations, games and insights into how to help children with their maths. Here are some tips from the book: 1) Make maths part of your everyday interactions with your child. Ask your child to help you to work out the change at the shop, to check how many minutes until the train is due, weigh ingredients etc. Pose mathematical questions out loud to yourself (“let’s see, how much change will I need?”) and pause so that your child can ‘come to the rescue’. 2) Learn about the new methods being taught, particularly the grid method for multiplication and chunking for division. These are more connected to the methods you learned than you might think. 3) Play board games involving dice and money with your child. Car games such as pub cricket are great for maths interaction, too. 4) Learn some mathematical magic tricks (you’ll find plenty in the book). Children love magic and will happily do maths if it is part of performing the trick. 5) When helping with homework, be patient. Children rarely ‘get it’ immediately. And if things are getting fraught, take a break. Often the best way to tackle a problem is to sleep on it. 6) Don’t say “I was always hopeless at maths”. It’s usually not true, and it can make your child think maths isn’t worth the effort.
Tips for School Lunches
In search of fresh inspiration for packed lunches we asked some mums for their top tips to blow away the boring cheese sandwiches and create envious eyes at the lunch table. 1) A healthy option - Spread a tortilla with soft cheese and grated carrot or cucumber then slice. Add a frozen smoothie in a container - it keeps everything cool and it’s one of your five a day. 2) Cheesy/egg tarts - This is good for the making too - kids can join in making the pastry and do all egg and milk whisking. Find a recipe on the web or a good cookbook. 3) Another yummy wrap - Mix boiled eggs, potatoes, any veg and cheese - place in a tortilla and cut into triangles. 4) Homemade pizza - Split an English muffin and toast it, add tomato sauce, top with cheese and grill.You could add carrots or red pepper to the tomato sauce and then blitz it, so the vegetables are disguised. 5. A little extra - Try cutting cheese into different shapes with a pastry cutter, draw a smiley face on a banana and for birthdays or grumpy days try a chocolate spread wrap – yummy!
Compiled by Joanna Parry
Get Fit With Swimfit!
British Gas Swimfit is suitable for all ages and abilities - whether you're looking to keep healthy, shape and tone up, improve your fitness or hone your competitive edge. The website, www.swimfit.com, has been around for a while but this initiative brings the "swim gym" idea right to the poolside with information displays, and cards with suggested programmes to lead you through a progressive fitness plan that you can dip in and out of. They range from simple advice on strengthening exercises, to tips on making your time in the pool more interesting - through to stroke improvement tips. The Swimfit website has been popular with athletes and novice swimmers alike. The addition of poolside information is useful for beginners and people thinking of getting back into the pool. The sessions have also been successful for people who can’t run or have joint or heart problem, or recovering from injury or illness as it’s a gentle, no impact form of exercise. There will also be regular weekly sessions so you needn’t feel intimidated by fellow swimmers blasting you out of the water as they speed down the centre of the lane. The programmes are designed to help keep you motivated, structure your time in the pool, set goals and rewards as you work towards targets you set for yourself. It brings the opportunity to join the swimming community, and swim with confidence.
Review of Beauty and the Beast
Milton Country Park, 27th July 2010 by Cordelia Carr aged 6 “I was very excited when Mummy told me that I would be going to see Beauty and the Beast at Milton Park because last time I saw it when I was little, it was dark in the theatre and I was scared. I couldn’t wait for the taxi to arrive (because Mummy had broken our car again) but I wished the sunshine would come out. Mummy let me choose our picnic and we had cheese and crackers, some fruit and chocolate. When we got to Milton Park we saw arrows showing us where the play would be and I picked some blackberries on the way. It felt like we were on an adventure. We turned a corner and I saw a stage covered with red roses. It was beautiful! We ate our picnic and then it began! It was different to the other Beauty and the Beast and not what I thought, but when they started telling the story it was very interesting and I got the giggles when they told Milky White, the cow to be the Beast and he said “MOO!” The other funny things were Cinderella’s stepmother’s voice and the bit in the carriage song when they interupted Julia and carried on singing! My favourite character was Louisa because she did the most acting and she was kind to the children when they played the fairy game, but I think Dorothy had the nicest voice. My other favourite was tick tock and I thought the mirror was very clever. I had a lovely time at Milton Park and I LOVED the play, I didn’t even mind the rain but Mummy got a wet bottom. Please may I go again.” For more information visit www.chapterhouse.org
Back to
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Se pt e mbe r/ Octo be r 2 01 0
! Family Reading Tips
by Liz Walker of Reading Chest
www.readingchest.co.uk
Some children love reading, others need encouragement and some positively dislike it – but all will learn to read in the end. The most important thing is to develop a love of reading with your child. Just keep encouraging and try to keep it enjoyable!
1. Read as often as you can with your child. Whilst children read throughout their school day (e.g. from the whiteboard, during a game, from a big shared book), there may be not bemuch individual reading that takes place. This is left more and more to parents. 2. Be positive! If your child makes mistakes when reading, don’t just say ‘that’s wrong’ – say something like ‘shall we check that together?’ Use praise whenever you can. 3. Don’t push your child up reading levels too quickly just to keep up with peers. Children will gain confidence and are more likely to enjoy reading when they don’t have to struggle on too many words. 4. Don’t force your child to read a book page by page if they don’t like it or if it is too difficult. Help them out by sharing the reading. Don’t be afraid to put a book aside completely and let them choose another. 5. Children learn to read in many different ways, such as helping with internet grocery shopping, reading menus, sorting out DVDs back into their boxes, reading and sending emails. It is not just a race to get through a basket of books at school so they can move to the next one. 6. Get into a good routine. If your child isn’t the type to pick up a book regularly because they want to – then it is important to set a routine of reading. A few minutes each day will make a huge difference. Bed time is not necessarily the best time for this as your child will be tired.
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The Lifeline can be used individually, or as a family, or even adopted by a Group or Committee in order to capture your own collective events and adventures! Save Every Step is a new webiste set up by Helen Spencer, a working mum, which was inspired by the death of her mother with the simultaneous discovery that she was pregnant with her youngest son (now 3). This discovery left Helen with a profound compulsion to ‘save’ her mother’s and her own memories for future generations, so that they might be more than just a bunch of old faded photographs.
The premise of the site is to enable the user to save the memories and stories which have shaped their lives on an interactive ‘lifeline’. The intention is to ensure that we all leave our children a real legacy. It is the events which we encounter every day, big and small, joys and tragedies, which shape our lives and personalities, and yet our children never ask, so we never tell them who we really are.
For further information visit www.SaveEveryStep.com, or contact helen.spencer@saveeverystep.com or on 07957627217. Everyone can access the site, where registration is free.
Children can create and maintain their own Lifelines too – even pets get a chance to join in!
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Education B
Education, education, education... That was another government’s mantra – Tony Blair adopted it as his slogan in 1997 – but it could as easily fit the bill for the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition. Michae
Why so? Well, according to education secretary Michael Gove, major changes are afoot...and they’re the sort of changes that many parents have campaigned for over the last few years. In an age when an increasing number of mothers and fathers have questioned all sorts of issues around their children’s schools, Gove has a new message: do it yourself.
Academies, like free schools, are outside of local authority control and are funded by private organisations, or by central government. Earlier this summer, Mr Gove said seven in ten top secondary schools had expressed an interest in getting academy status – and he hoped that the ones who did forge ahead with this would help drive academic standards higher, because it would give them more autonomy than they have at the moment.
Next, you need to gather your case – and get as many supporters as possible. You also need to put together evidence for why the school you’re planning is necessary – which may be, for example, that it’s providing a secondary school in an area that doesn’t already have one, and where a lot of children have to travel large distances to get to where they’re being educated. Or, you may want to set up a school with a particular faith bias. Alternatively, you may think that the existing schools in your area are too large, and that some children would benefit from a much smaller establishment.
Parents and teachers have worried about academies being too exclusive, and discriminating about special needs pupils; but Mr Gove has promised that academies will be governed by admissions codes which will guarantee fair access to all, and safeguard the inclusive character of comprehensive schools.
Back to school picture courtesy of Tesco
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– and he’d like to see the same thing happen here. There’s a similar scheme, too, in Sweden, which again has seen the foundation of many successful schools.
But the free schools scheme is only part of the new government’s plans for education. The other main policy concerns academies; shortly after being appointed education secretary, Mr Gove wrote to every primary, secondary and special school in England inviting them to apply for academy status.
‘Free schools’ are the government’s Big New Idea, and here’s how the idea will work. First, you need a group of parents (plus maybe teachers, and other interested parties) who feel there’s a need for a brand new school in their area.
There’s an organisation called the New Schools Network whose job is to talk through whether plans for a new school are viable – their website is packed with useful advice on how to go about gathering the momentum, the documents, the funding and the premises you need to make a school happen. Setting up a new school, as the site says, isn’t easy – but the network aims “to make it as easy as possible” and promises that it will “shortly be publishing data on sites, budgeting, and detailed guides on the process of setting up a school from start to finish”.
l Gove
By Joanna Moorhead
Despite the major cuts that lie ahead in public spending, Mr Gove has promised £50 million to cover start-up costs for free schools. And he’s also given his word that the current planning laws and building regulations, which conspire to make life difficult for parents’ groups trying to set up schools, will be reformed. The government believes that ‘free schools’ have the potential to raise achievement in areas where local authority-run schools aren’t providing a good education – and he points to the US for evidence that his scheme will work. There, he says that some of the most successful schools have been set up by groups backed by parents and teachers
In all, the reforms Mr Gove is promising have the potential to provide the biggest shakeup in state education in a century, with parents in the vanguard. Watch this space! The Department for Education website, at http://www.education.gov.uk, has lots of information about both academies and free schools. The Free Schools Network is at www.newschoolsnetwork.org
Joanna Moorhead with daughters Rosie, Catriona, Miranda and Elinor
Se pt e mbe r/ Octo be r 2 01 0
& What’s on/Events Saturday 4th September
Sunday 12th September
Plant Packets - Botanic Gardens 11.00 - 15.00
Bridge The Gap Charity Walk
Learn how to collect and store seeds and make your very own seed packets to keep them in readiness to sow for next year.£2.00 per child, regular entry fee for accompanying adults • 01223 336 265
Follow a scenic route of five miles through the beautiful grounds of ten Cambridge Colleges. Tourist Guides will tell you about the history of the colleges and you can participate in a fun route quiz. Money raised will go to Arthur Rank Hospice. Cost £15.00 for adults, free for 16’s and under. info@bridgethegapwalk.org • 01223 723 115
Family First Saturdays - Fitzwilliam Museum 14.00 - 16.00 fitzwilliam-enquiries@lists.cam.ac.uk • 01223 332 900
Wild About Bats - Wimpole Hall 19.30
Thursday 16th September
Children £2.50 Adults £5.00 Booking essential wimpolehall@nationaltrust.org • 01223 206 000
Creative Chaos - Kettle’s Yard 10.00 11.30
A Fenman’s Day - Wicken Fen Nature Reserve 10.30
Saturday 18th September
Discover what it took to live a traditional fen life with eels, punts and ague. £40.00 wickenfen@nationaltrust.org.uk • 01353 720 274
Tuesday 7th September Saturday 11th September Carrie’s War - Cambridge Arts Theatre Direct from the West End starring Brigit Forsyth and Hannah Waterman www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 01223 503 333
Wednesday 8th September - Saturday 11th September Room on the Broom - Cambridge Arts Theatre Spellbinding adventure from the creators of the Gruffalo www.cambridgeartstheatre.com • 01223 503 333
Friday 10th September - Sunday 12th September Open Cambridge 2010 A weekend of discovery for families, local residents, schools and community groups. Various venues across Cambridge. www.cam.ac.uk/opencambridge • 01223 766 766
Friday 10th September
Drop in art sessions for pre-school children mail@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk • 01223 748 100
Once Upon a Time - Fitzwilliam Museum Inspired by the exhibition Epic of the Persian Kings, this workshop with a morning session at the Museum of Classical Archaeology explores mythical heroes and legends through storytelling and artmaking at both museums. fitzwilliam-education@lists.cam.ac.uk 01223 332 904
Sunday 19th September Bug Buddies - Welney Wetland Centre 10.00 - 16.00 Help to find hundreds of creepy crawlies! Activities for all ages.www.wwt.org.uk/welney • 01353 860 711
Saturday 25th - Sunday 26th September Wimpole at War 10.30 Wimpole Hall travels back in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Many attractions including Home Guard, Land Girls and a children’s trail. wimpolehall@nationaltrust.org • 01223 206 000
Pram Push and Toddler Waddle Wicken Fen 10.30
Tuesday 28th September
Pre-school fun with painting and crafts. www.wickenfen@nationaltrust.org.uk • 01353 720 274
It’s Magic - Fitzwilliam Museum 10.00 - 11.30
Saturday 11th September
Wednesday 29th September
Open Sesame - Fitzwilliam Museum 11.00 - 13.00 ages 5-8 14.00 - 16.00 ages 8+
Kettles Yard 16.15 - 17.45
Explore shapes and spaces with the sculptures on the lawn then make your own 3D creation to take home. fitzwilliam-education@lists.cam.ac.uk • 01223 332 900
Heritage Open Day - Wimpole Hall 10.30 normal admission applies wimpolehall@nationaltrust.org • 01223 206 000
Hands on sessions for children aged 18 months to five years old fitzwilliam-education@lists.cam.uk • 01223 332 904
Weekly art class commences for children aged 8 -11. mail@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk • 01223 748 100
Thursday 30th September Saturday 2nd October The Magician's Box - ADC Theatre 19.45 daily Charles Dickens called John Joseph Mechi a magician, but who was he? £7-£10, ADC Theatre, Park Street, tel: 01223 300085
Saturday 2nd October Early Birders Welney Wetland Centre 08.00 An opportunity to gain early access to the reserve and make the most of the important wader passage. Booking essential www.wwt.org.uk/welney • 01353 860 711
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Family First Saturdays - Fitzwilliam Museum 14.00 - 16.00 fitzwilliam-enquiries@lists.cam.ac.uk • 01223 332 900
Me as a Plant - Botanic Gardens £2.00 per child, normal admission for accompanying adults education@botanic.cam.ac.uk 01223 331 875 ® ®
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& What’s on/Events Sunday 10th October Autumn Air Show Imperial War Museum Duxford www.iwm.org.uk/duxford 01223 835 000
Friday 22nd October - Sunday 31st October (excluding Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th) Halloween Tours - Scudamores Punting and a ghost walk. Seven tours each night www.scudamores.com • 01223 359 750
Saturday 23rd - Sunday 31st October
Saturday 16th October
Half Term activites at Welney Wetland Centre
Wild About Mammals - Wimpole Hall 8am
Self-led trail and activities for all ages whatever the weather. www.wwt.org.uk/welney 01353 860 711
Booking essential wimpolehall@nationaltrust.org • 01223 206 000
Tuesday 26th October - Thursday 28th October
Sunday 24th October
Creepy Crafts at Home Farm - Wimpole Hall 11.30 - 15.30
Children’s Day Welney Wetland Centre
wimpolehall@nationaltrust.org • 01223 206 000
Pumpkin carving, story telling and arts and crafts. www.wwt.org.uk/welney 01353 860 711
CL AS S IFI ED AD S Do you have unwanted items to sell? Place an advert in our classified section for as little as £30.00 to reach 25,000 readers in Cambridgeshire. Contact editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk for more information.
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