Families North London Issue 98 Sept - Oct 2012

Issue 98 Sept/Oct 2012

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North London

Competitions! Autumn outings Halloween Out and About

Free Drama Class Watch your child’s self-esteem soar with Perform’s unique drama, dance and singing classes. Our weekly workshops will do wonders for their social, linguistic and physical development as well as being the best fun they’ll have all week.

Classes for 4 –12 year o ld perform.org s .uk

Book now fo r our

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ical Beauty and th e Beast autumn halfte

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0845 400 1274

rm holiday co urses!

Covering the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Westminster

9991_ROMFORD_PRESS ADS:PRIMARY SOUTH

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Individual tutoring and assessments available 5-18yrs children, including children with special educational needs. Preparation for 11+ state selective and independent secondary school entrance examinations. Katie Krais

P.G.C.E., Cert. Spld.

Lorrae Jaderberg Cert.Ed., Cert. Spld.

Tel: 07956 111728

www.jaderbergkrais.co.uk

Contents Issue 98 | Sept/Oct 2012 | Families North London

This Issue 8

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Competitions

11 Back to school 11 Top Tips to help you decide which school to send your child to 13 How to shortlist the right school for your child 14 Making the transition to secondary school 15 Private tuition: ten most asked questions 16 Supporting your left-handed child 18 How to encourage reading 19 Give your child a head start 20 Do you want the best start for your daughter? 21 Choosing after-school activities

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22 Online stalkers and bullies 23 Mums know best 24 Yellowmellon childrenswear 25 Halloween 26 Ten fun days out 27 Autumn outings

Regular Features 4

News

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Health Pass the Torch, not the nits!

28 Ed’s Reading Room 29 Out and About

Families North London Magazine 120 Brent Street, Hendon NW4 2DT For all advertising enquiries contact Tel 020 8202 2034 editor@familiesnorth.co.uk Web manager: Listings: Design: Print: Next Issue: Focusing on:

melanie@familiesnorth.co.uk Contact Kathy Brown on listings@familiesnorth.co.uk Positive2 Bishops Printers 99 Winter wonderland

Welcome

Hello Again! Welcome to our fabulous Back to School Issue. After the fun of the Summer Holidays now the reality of school and extra curricular activities take to the fore. We have sourced some great articles to help you and your children get the most out of the coming academic year. Don’t forget to check our website www.familiesnorth.co.uk for loads of great competitions and features throughout the months. I hope you enjoy the issue. Do let me know what you think! Until next time.

Sharon Editor

Families North London Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, details are subject to change and Families North London take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any material. All rights reserved.

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news

News who why where

Got some news for us? If you are a North London based group or organisation whose services or products are for families of young children, we’d love to hear from you. Send press releases and pictures to: editor@familiesnorth.co.uk

HARINGEY FAMILIES. CELEBRATING ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR, OCT 2012

LET YOUR BABY BOOM ON A BUDGET AT NCT HARINGEY NEARLY NEW SALE Cash-strapped parents and parents-tobe in Haringey can find all the top quality baby clothes, toys and equipment they need at an upcoming NCT Nearly New Sale, and save around 70% on what they would cost brand new. NCT Haringey Branch Nearly New Sale is on Saturday 15 September at Union Church Hall, Weston Park, N8 9TA. Find out more at www.nct.org.uk/branches/ haringey Your local NCT Nearly New Sale offers an affordable alternative to trawling the high street for pricey baby products. Meanwhile, families with baby goods they no longer need can ensure they go to a good home and make some cash at the same time. Items must be in excellent condition, and sellers keep up to 70% of the proceeds while the rest is returned to fund NCT’s work.

THE SPIT SPOT APP IS HERE! We’re VERY excited to announce that the Spit Spot App is now available to download on iTunes – just visit http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ id544674033 for all the info! So what’s it all about? You know when you’ve run out of all those things you usually do with your kids or you are terrified by the prospect of a whole empty unplanned day looming ahead of you? The Spit Spot App helps you create fun time with your kids by finding great activities to do that they will love and so will you.

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Originally called Hornsey Housebound Wives Group and subsequently Haringey Mothers, the ethos of today’s Haringey Families is still similar to the original constitution which states its aim for members ‘…to enjoy cultural, social and recreational activities… and to provide playgroups for the members children’. Fifty years on, Haringey Families continues to offer its members access to a wide range of fun family events and activities like our Halloween, Easter and Christmas parties as well as our perennially popular Summer Fun Day. And, to kick start our 50th Anniversary year, we’ll be celebrating with our very first Fireworks party. Members benefit from exclusive offers and regular group events and outings. From fire station and stadium visits to discounted kids theatre tickets, there’s something for every family member. For families with younger children, we

run a weekly drop-in toddler group, parenting workshops and regular nearly new sales where you can buy some brilliant bargains and sell all those old toys that are cluttering up the house! Being a member also gains you access to our much talked about Good Tradespersons Guide, a database of recommended local tradespeople with testimonials from our members. Haringey Families is a non-profit-making organisation set up to provide activities, events and services for families who live in or around Haringey in North London. It has around 600 members, and organises around 50 events a year. Above all, it is a friendly, community focused organisation, run entirely by volunteers. Zeta MacDonald Co-Chair of Haringey Families said ‘being a member is a great way to get to know people living locally and to get more out of living in the area. We aim to provide things of interest to families of all different ages, so – whatever your family situation – you would be very welcome!’ Join the family, the annual membership fee is just £14. To join or find out more information visit www.haringeyfamilies.co.uk

GLAMOUR – THE SALON Glamour has arrived at 92a Brent Street, Hendon NW4. A fabulously decorated new salon offering everything from OPI gel manicures, shellac, St Tropez Tanning, waxing, eyelash extensions and also their unique and fabulous £5.00 budget manicure – guaranteed to brighten up the dullest of nails in any one of their 288 stunning colours! To book an appointment simply call us on 0208 203 3995. We look forward to pampering you! Quote Families North to receive your 10% discount (does not apply to the budget manicure).

You can choose activities based on how much time you’ve got, the type of activities you want, whether you are inside or outside, with boys or girls or a mix of ages. Whether you have a whole afternoon to fill or just ten minutes, whether it’s raining or sunny or you have one, two or more children with you, Spit Spot has the answers. Spit Spot comes up with a range of activities that have been road tested by real kids and real parents that come with easy to follow instructions and top tips that will engage and captivate your kids and make you a parenting hero. The activities

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include games, crafting, cooking that can be messy, thinky, silly, educational but above all engaging, fun and easy to do. Feeling adventurous? Spit spot allows you or your kids to walk on the wild side and go for the lucky dip – who knows you may find something thing that becomes the family favourite.

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news HELP YOUR CHILD GET OFF TO A FLYING START IN THE NEW TERM! With research showing that at least 2/3 of children fall behind over the summer, the beginning of a new term is an ideal time to seek extra support. Explore Learning maths and English centres are designed to improve knowledge and increase enjoyment of learning, making them the perfect way to help your child get off to a flying start. explorelearning.co.uk

CLUB PETIT PIERROT The fun French class are opening a new creative class ‘Les grandes artistes’ and a new parent and toddler group on Wednesday mornings followed by a play session for 8mths-2yrs at their St Johns Wood/ Maida Vale venue. New groups are also running at Notting Hill. For more info go to www.clubpetitpierrot.co.uk

MUM’S FASHION NIGHT OUT Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show Wednesday, 3rd October, 2012, Grosvenor House Hotel. Featuring designers from Westwood to McCartney. Visit www.breastcancercare. org.uk to book tickets.

POP UP NURSERY Newington Green N16 – 9BS That Place on the Corner and Spotted Zebra have teamed up to offer a unique new concept in childcare. Offering flexible childcare from 2-4hr sessions – it’s great for mums who need a couple of hours in the day to get to the gym or finish a work project. A full range of activities are on offer. Ages 6 months upwards. www.thatplaceonthecorner.co.uk. Tel: 0207 704 0079

PERFORM

WILLOWS FARM POTATO SHINDIG

The ever-popular drama and dance group are opening new classes this September in South End Green, Royal Free Hospital Recreation Club and East Finchley at St Mary’s Catholic Church. For more info check their website. www.perform.org.uk

Willows Farm are hosting a fabulous potato shindig every weekend in September in London Colney, Families will have the chance to get their hands dirty as they harvest their own crop of Picasso potatoes and take them home! Open 10am-5.30pm call 0870 129 9718 or www.willowsfarmvillage.com

TESCO OPTICIAN: FREE EYE TEST FOR ALL UNDER 16’S Just like adults, children need to have their eyes tested every year. Tesco opticians are offering free eye tests for all children under 16 and a FREE pair of Jungle Eyes frames when you present your NHS voucher to the optician. Contact 0845 601 3479 for more details.

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JEANS FOR GENES DAY Friday 5th October Raise money wearing your favourite jeans for the day to help change the world for children with genetic disorders. Go to www. jeansforgenesday.org for more info on this brilliant cause.

WORLD PORRIDGE DAY Mary’s Meals, 10th October Every year Mary’s Meals holds World Porridge Day where individuals and groups enjoy delicious porridge and flapjacks to raise awareness of child poverty worldwide. To find out more about this worthy cause check out www.marysmeals.org.uk/ what-you-can-do/porridgeday

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It’s one thing buying kids the latest trainers, but giving them a head start in a sport is a real investment. Obviously, we can’t promise you a future star, but we can offer them the foundation they need to lead a healthy and active life. APPROVED FOOTBALL TRAINING FOR KIDS FROM 18M TO UNDER 7YRS

North & North West London, South Herts/Middx 020 8201 1084 Southgate, New Barnet and Enfield 020 7684 7969 Islington, Hackney & North East London 020 8958 2808

N8 NW1 NW8 N16

Football training for under 5s who are nuts about football Get your midfield dynamo enjoying super-skills, fun & exercise CRB checked & FA qualified coaches Training sessions, courses & parties across London

kiddikicks.co.uk 020 7937 7965

NEW! Match Play for Under 8s www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk

Thamesbecause small schools build big futures our exceptional independent school for boys and girls

Holiday & term time swimming lessons available at the Fitness First Health Club, Avenell Road, Highbury Square OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 6th OCTOBER 10.00-1.00

We teach non-members of the health club to swim in 1:1 & 2:1 classes

For full list of open mornings, enrolment and fee details contact 020 7228 3933 Thames Christian College, Wye Street, London SW11 2HB

020 7644 2472 | aquanautsswimmingschool.com

A home away from home nursery!

Introductory Promo 25% discount for all our 1:1 holiday courses.

Keren's

Keren's Nursery Belsize Park Ofsted Outstanding

Ages 15 months - 5 years old Both English and Hebrew Spoken Freshly cooked Kosher Food

WHEN BOOKING PLEASE QUOTE ‘FAMILIES NORTH LONDON’ 0871 222 5670

To book a visit:

020 8455 9646 c o n t a c t @ k e r e n s n u r s e r y. c o m

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SNO!zone MILTON KEYNES at Xscape

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health

Health Pass the Torch … not the nits! Lousy summer: Britain’s biggest ever infestation means parents need the nitty gritty comb more than ever.

responsible for the award-winning stainless steel design. ‘Our sales figures for this June were up nearly 100 per cent over last year’s, and we had to manufacture an extra 80,000 combs to meet the demand.’ ‘We were very puzzled at first when our stockists started to tell us they were running out of Nitty Gritty Combs. But then we read this report in the London The summer sun may have finally Evening Standard (July 13 2012): arrived, but the nits have already spread Ian Burgess, director of insect research like wildfire. and development at the Medical A nit epidemic triggered by cool Entomology Centre in Cambridgeshire, damp weather in early summer has now and the UK’s leading parasitologist, said: exploded all over Britain, with head lice ‘We have had lots of damp weather being passed from one person to the next and our studies suggest this has caused just like the Olympic torch! Just because a higher level of lice than normal. The the sun is finally out, doesn’t mean that weather has also meant more children head lice haven’t already got a grip! indoors and in close contact which With head lice growing ever more has increased the speed at which the resistant to chemical pesticides, children infestation has spread. and teenagers – and their parents! – have Chances are this is also being passed been getting nits like never before. on from these children to their siblings We are hoping for lots of hugging if and even their parents, who in turn can our Olympic hopefuls win medals, but pass it on to their colleagues at work hugging someone is likely to involve head and fellow commuters. Lice have also to head contact – exactly what head lice built up some resistance to treatments need to move on to a new host. such as pesticides, so the incidence of lice There is one product on the market has risen dramatically over the past few which is guaranteed to remove an generations.’ entire head louse infestation – ‘live’ eggs The Nitty Gritty Comb is on special included – quickly, safely and easily… the offer for the summer, at only £6.70 inc. Nitty Gritty Comb. first class p&p exclusively from www. ‘Our stocks of the Nitty Gritty Comb nittygritty.co.uk – and is also available did run dangerously low in June,’ 1 03/09/2012from17:45 Boots, major supermarkets and over d_smile_matters_AW.pdf says Amanda, one of the three mums 12,000 UK family pharmacists.

We offer a calm and inviting environment to relax and reassure our patients, with both NHS and Private options. We welcome new patients and are excellent with children and nervous patients. Our team delivers general dentistry as well as clear brace orthodontics, implants, root canal treatment, removing impacted or late erupting wisdom teeth and, of course, cosmetic dentistry. Est. over 35 years.

Tel: 020 8883 1356 Email: info@smilematters.co.uk familiesnorth.co.uk

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WIN A KINDLE WITH METANIUM EVERYDAY Enter at www.familiesnorth. co.uk. Reading can be the perfect way to unwind after a busy day with your baby. Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment is giving away a Kindle which can store over 1000 of your favourite books. It’s small, light and portable so you can even slip it in your changing bag – just in case you get a quiet moment! One runner-up will win a specially designed set of baby body-suits, there’s seven in a pack – one for every day of the week. Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment has a unique double action formula to help guard against nappy rash. It helps seal in the skin’s natural moisture keeping the skin soft, smooth and supple. It’s gentle enough to use every day and at each nappy change. In a recent Metanium Everyday product test with Mumsnet most testers said they would be likely to recommend Metanium to other mums. Metanium Everyday from Boots, Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, leading pharmacies and www.boots.com www.metanium.co.uk

Win!

212 Muswell Hill Broadway London N10 3SH We are on the first floor above estate agents Kinleigh, Folkhard & Hayward, and Foxtons, overlooking the bus-stop roundabout.

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competitions

Reader Competitions

Competition! SISTEMA…THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX! Don’t look now but it’s nearly that time of year again…back to school! Uniforms and P.E kits are sorted, a new supply of crayons

and pens are at the ready and now the only practical back to school supply that the kids need is a lunch box! Well no need to panic as Sistema have the answer with their brand new range of ‘ITSY BITSY’ children’s lunch boxes! Sistema’s uniquely designed boxes from New Zealand use leading edge technology to ensure your children’s food stays fresh for longer, which is great news as we all know how important food is to keep our kids minds and bodies active! Each lunch box has a rubberised seal making sure nothing can escape! And the separate compartments in each box mean you don’t have to worry about the grapes getting squashed by the sandwiches! The unique, patented design on the TWIST

Ella’s Kitchen – Mini Munch World’s first baby vending machine for healthy snacks on the go. The world’s first vending machine for babies especially designed to dispense healthy snacks for tiny tots has been trialed at the recent Lollibop festival. The vending machine has taken specialists over four months to develop and construct with bespoke features to make it easy for toddlers to operate. Standing at only 115cm tall, it is perfectly sized for the average one year old to dispense their favourite snacks. Thought to be the world’s tiniest, the vending machine has been created by baby and toddler food experts Ella’s Kitchen following new research revealing that up to 82 per cent of British parents struggle to find healthy foods for babies and toddlers whilst on the move. The research also found that 58 per cent of parents have been forced to feed their children unhealthy foods such as sweets or crisps when they’re out of the house due to the lack of healthier options available. The mini vending machine will be filled with Ella’s Kitchen’s healthy and handy snacks to show parents that foods for kids on the go

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don’t need to be restricted to sugary or salty snacks. It will vend 12 varieties of snacks from Smoothie Fruits to Nibbly Fingers and Puffits. With over a quarter of parents feeding their children at least twice a day whilst out of home, the vending machine aims to raise awareness of the difficulties parents have in finding healthy snacks on the move. Paul Lindley, Ella’s Dad and founder of Ella’s Kitchen, comments: ‘By creating the first tiny vending machine, we hope to stimulate little ones’ senses and encourage them to enjoy eating healthy foods from a young age. Our snack products are designed to be healthy, handy and fun for both parents and their children allowing them to spend more time exploring the big outdoors without worrying about finding healthy foods.’ Ella’s Kitchen’s vision is to help babies and toddlers eat healthier food and develop healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. Set up six years ago by Ella’s Dad Paul Lindley, the company prioritises health and nutritional value, but never at the expense of taste or convenience. Ella’s Kitchen strive to be Good in every sense, offering healthy, handy and fun food that doesn’t cost the earth. Visit www.ellaskitchen.co.uk or www. facebook.com/ellaskitchen for more information. Our Friends at Ella’s Kitchen have offered to

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N SIP bottles means that your children can drink hygienically and not have the worry of spillages from pull cap bottles. The lunch boxes come in a bright fun colours aqua, pink and lime green making it more fun for the kids! They are also freezer, dishwasher and microwave safe, making them practical for parents too! All Sistema products are BPA free and made from lead free materials. Families North have three great Sistema prizes to give away. To enter go to www.familiesnorth. co.uk. Winners will be picked at random and notified by email.

Win!

Competition! five lucky readers 5 cool bags and vouchers for the new range at Ella’s Kitchen. To be in with a chance of winning one of these great prizes log on to www. familiesnorth.co.uk and answer this question:

Win!

Where was the Ella’s Kitchen vending machine trialed? Five winners will be chosen at random and notified by email.

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competitions

HOW BUSY PARENTS CAN FEED THE FAMILY WELL, SAVE MONEY & AVOID WASTE! Modern families face daily news of the decline in family meals, coupled with the rise of grocery bills and food waste. What can they do about this? Menus4Mums, the online family meal planners, have launched an ingenious Batch Cooking Plan of Autumn/Winter dinners which enables a busy parent to cook 8 delicious family

meals for the freezer in just 1.5-2 hours. All the meals are family-friendly, healthy and delicious. All the meals can be quickly finished off when required. Batch cooking means parents can make good use of multi-buys, saving money on food and fuel costs, and avoiding food waste. Best of all, they have a freezer full of family meals so no longer have to rely on takeaways or ready-meals at the end of a family trip out or a busy working day. The batch cook plan comes with easyto-follow recipe cards with no hard-to-find ingredients, together with a costed shopping list broken down into supermarket aisles. At just £8.99 for an immediate download, it could save the modern family a lot of money and time! Visit www.menus4mums.co.uk/batch-cook for more details.

A YaD Arts production in association with Tall Stories

Tickets from

£8

Our friends at menus4mums have offered two lucky readers the chance to win a fabulous Autumn/ Winter Batch Cooking Plan worth £8.99. To enter log on to www.famliliesnorth.co.uk and answer this question:

Win!

How long does it take to cook 8 delicious meals? Two lucky readers will be picked at random and the winners will be notified by email

La Libellule

Trapeze School

For children (from 2 1/2 years old) At the Primrose Hill community centre Hopkinson’s Place NW1 0797 345 1603 gmonastesse@blueyonder.co.uk

1 – 30 Dec www.roundhouse.org.uk 0844 482 8008

The Kensington Ballet School Watercolour and Drawing Classes in NW1 In an artist’s studio in Kentish Town. Children aged 8 and above. All materials provided. Children will learn to look at the objects they are studying in various ways and learn to mix their own colours. Each class lasts 3 hours. Beginners and adults most welcome. The Tutor Gabriel Sempill, a practising artist, trained at the Royal College of Art and has worked as an art teacher for years in London. Join a single class or sign up for the term. Weekly classes including half-term and holidays. Also art parties. Email: gabriel.sempill@btinternet.com

Telephone: 0207 482 4118

Baby Mandarin: Start learning Mandarin early! www.huahsiachinese.org.uk Contact us: 0208 201 0698 Featured in BBC2 documentary Meet Britain’s Chinese Tiger Mums

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Marylebone:Wednesday

18 Months - 5 Years LA Fitness, 7 Balcombe Street, NW1 6NA

07957 650042 www.kensingtonballet.com

NEED EXTRA INCOME? TEAM LEADERS NEEDED £500–£2000+ per month, work from home. Part time or full time with flexible hours. Full backup support and training. 33 years of success and growth.

Are you what we’re looking for? Call Alison or Ian 01923 232242

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back to school Established

1979

The springboard to confidence for your child Tumble Tots is Britain’s leading National Active Physical Play Programme for children from 6 months to 5 years Using specifically designed equipment your child will learn agility, balance, climbing and co-ordination skills appropriate to their age A structured programme designed to build self confidence and develop essential listening and language skills Supervised by trained staff in a fun and caring environment

For Tumble Tots classes in Muswell Hill, Finchley Central and St John’s Wood Call: 020 8381 6585 Email: fun@tumbletotsnorthlondon.co.uk www.tumbletots.com/hampstead

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w: royalfreeprivatepatients.com

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back to school

Top Tips to help you decide which school to send your child to

QUESTIONS TO ASK PUPILS AT SCHOOL VISITS

It’s back to school time... and for many the school open day circus is about to start. September and October are the busiest months for secondary school open days – for both the private and the state sectors. So what should you be looking for from a visit? How will you decide if the school is the right one for your child? Technology makes it simple and fast for you to not only identify possible schools for your children but to form strong opinions before you even set foot inside them. This is achieved by using websites wisely and gathering as much relevant information as you can. Whether it’s Ofsted reports, league tables or simply the school’s own website there is a mine of information available. However, the most effective way of deciding if the school is the right environment for your child remains visiting them. SCHOOL VISIT AND/OR OPEN DAY First impressions are very important. Just like buying a new house, you will get an immediate feel for a school. You will be make judgements about the external architecture, the behaviour of the children and the pastoral care of the staff. Take time to weigh up all the different aspects of the school before making important decisions. Try to visit during a school day to get an accurate reflection of a typical day.

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Many schools offer visits after schools or during an open day but it is not the same as a normal school day. It is easy to be impressed by excellent grounds and facilities for sports, music, drama or art, but try to stay focussed on what is important for the development of your own child’s needs. Some children thrive in a more formally structured environment while others prefer a less formal atmosphere. Some children prefer being big fish in small ponds, others prefer being small fish in big ponds. Schools have different styles and it is important to choose one where your child will feel comfortable helping to provide the appropriate motivation for successful learning. WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT SCHOOL VISITS UĂŠ ĂŠ ÂœĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠV…ˆÂ?`Ă€iÂ˜ĂŠÂˆÂ˜ĂŒiĂ€>VĂŒĂŠĂœiÂ?Â?ĂŠĂœÂˆĂŒÂ…ĂŠ their teachers? UĂŠ ĂŠ ÂœĂœĂŠ>ĂŒĂŠi>ĂƒiĂŠÂˆĂƒĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠÂ…i>`ĂŠĂœÂˆĂŒÂ…ĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠ children – do they know their names? UĂŠ Ă€iĂŠĂŒi>VÂ…iĂ€ĂƒĂŠĂƒÂ…ÂœĂ•ĂŒÂˆÂ˜}Âś UĂŠ ĂŠ Ă€iĂŠÂŤĂ•ÂŤÂˆÂ?ĂƒĂŠ}iĂŒĂŒÂˆÂ˜}ĂŠÂœÂ˜ĂŠĂŒ>ĂƒÂŽĂŠ>˜`ĂŠLĂ•ĂƒĂžĂŠ working independently? UĂŠ ĂŠ Ă€iĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠÂŤĂ€iÂ“ÂˆĂƒiĂƒĂŠĂœiÂ?Â?ʓ>ÂˆÂ˜ĂŒ>ˆ˜i`ĂŠ>˜`ĂŠ safe – is there any graffiti? UĂŠ ĂŠ i˜iĂ€>Â?ĂŠVÂ?i>˜Â?ˆ˜iĂƒĂƒĂŠÂœvĂŠvĂ•Ă€Â˜ÂˆĂŒĂ•Ă€i]ĂŠ desks, walls etc UĂŠ ĂŠ Ă€iĂŠÂŤĂ•ÂŤÂˆÂ?ĂƒĂŠLÂœÂœÂŽĂƒĂŠÂ“>ÀŽi`ĂŠĂœÂˆĂŒÂ…ĂŠ constructive comments and suggestions for improvement? UĂŠ Ă€iĂŠV…ˆÂ?`Ă€iÂ˜ĂŠ}ÂˆĂ›iÂ˜ĂŠĂŒ>Ă€}iĂŒĂƒÂś UĂŠ ĂŠ ÂœiĂƒĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠĂƒV…œœÂ?ĂŠÂœvviÀÊ>ĂŠĂœÂˆ`iĂŠĂ›>Ă€ÂˆiĂŒĂžĂŠ of extra curricular activities? UĂŠ ĂŠ ÂœĂŠVÂ?>ĂƒĂƒĂ€ÂœÂœÂ“ĂƒĂŠÂ?ÂœÂœÂŽĂŠLĂ€Âˆ}Â…ĂŒĂŠ>˜`ĂŠ cheery? Are the displays recent and are pieces of work displayed from all children, not just the most able with the neatest handwriting?

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s !RE YOU HAPPY HERE s 7HAT HAPPENS IF YOU MISBEHAVE s 7HAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST THINGS about this school? s (AVE YOU EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH bullying? s (OW DO YOU TRAVEL TO AND FROM SCHOOL

QUESTIONS TO ASK STAFF AT SCHOOL VISITS s 7 OULD YOU SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS school? s (OW DO YOU DEAL WITH BULLYING AND HAVE you ever excluded or expelled a child? s )S DISCIPLINE A PROBLEM AT THIS SCHOOL s 7HAT IS STAFF AND PUPIL TURNOVER n WHAT percentage of your staff is supply? s 3TRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF SCHOOL s 7HAT ARE THE CLASS SIZES AND HOW ARE they organised? s 7HAT IS THE CULTURAL RELIGIOUS MIX OF THE school and how is this reflected in the curriculum? s $OES THE SCHOOL HAVE ANY SPECIAL resources – for example a photography room etc. s )S THERE AN AFTER SCHOOL OR HOMEWORK club? s )S THERE AN ACTIVE PARENT TEACHER association?

If you would like more information about choosing schools in North West London and for preparing your child for the 11+ as well as academic assessments please contact Katie Krais on: Mobile: 07956111728, Email : kateek@hotmail. co.uk or see www.jaderbergkrais.co.uk and www.katiekrais.com

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Maths & English tuition Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition to children aged 5-14, designed to improve knowledge, confidence and enjoyment of learning.

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Book your free trial session today to find out how Explore Learning can help your child to gain confidence, enthusiasm and new skills.

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How to shortlist the right school for your child Technology makes it simple and fast for you to not only identify possible schools for your children but to form strong opinions about them before you even set foot inside them. This is done by surfing the net – using websites wisely and gathering as much information as you can. Here’s how to start. GOVERNMENT WEBSITE Your first website to check should be the government website www.direct.gov.uk This is the official government website for all UK citizens. LOCAL AUTHORITY WEBSITE Your LEA’s website will tell you how the schooling system works in your area. CHOICE ADVISORS Some local authorities offer parent helplines or choice advisors – it is worth giving them a call. INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS PROSPECTUS, PROFILE AND WEBSITE When you have identified a school of interest you can research them further by looking at their own website. You can

also telephone them and ask them for a school prospectus. Some schools allow you to downloaded their prospectus on line. Have a look at the schools profile. This is an annual report for parents written by schools themselves which contain information about the school. They can be read online at www. schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/. Be aware, however, that the prospectus, profile and website are all written by the school and therefore may be biased! OFSTED WEBSITE A useful source of unbiased information about a school can come from Ofsted. To access Ofsted reports from your local schools you will need to log onto the Ofsted website – www.ofsted.gov.uk.

who have had positive experiences in particular schools it will make you more likely to want to send your child there. Equally, if parents and children are constantly criticizing a school you will most likely be put off it. However, it is important to make sure that you get a subjective view about a school as well because parents views are often not reliable.

LEAGUE TABLES The debate is ongoing with many people outraged that exam results are used to measure the success of a school. League tables measure the academic results of children who sit tests – but many believe this is not necessarily measure of the performance of a school. For this you need to take into consideration a number of other factors, including ‘value added’, number of children with EAL (English as an additional language), pupil turnover, number of children with special needs. All of these factors will affect a schools results and may lead to poorer standing in the tables. ‘WORD OF MOUTH’ Personal recommendations are always useful. If you know of other children

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s )S YOUR CHILD HAPPY s $OES YOUR CHILD ENJOY LEARNING AND FEEL the homework is fair? s 7HAT ARE THE SCHOOLS STRENGTHS s 7HAT ARE THE SCHOOLS WEAKNESSES s (OW WELL DOES THE SCHOOL communicate with parents? s $OES THE SCHOOL HAVE ANY PROBLEMS with behaviour? s $ID YOUR CHILD lND IT EASY TO TRANSFER from primary school? s (OW WELL HAS YOUR CHILD INTEGRATED with others in the class or year group?

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Making the transition to secondary school

How much to help and how much to let go

The transition from Primary to Secondary School is an anxious time for parents.

During the primary school years, it is fairly easy to support your child at school. You will probably know his teacher, other members of staff and parents, as well as being familiar with school policies and routines. The thought of losing the control this familiarity offers is as daunting for parents as it is for children and you may well wonder how best to continue to support your child. You may also worry specifically about your child’s ability to cope with the new environment and crucially, whether he or she will make friends. Your anxieties may be eased by adopting strategies that help with the transition. Here are some tips and tools which should help you prepare for and manage the early months: BEFORE THE TRANSITION:

1

Shield your child from your anxiety. They can make this transition. Critically, they need to know that you believe in them and their ability to deal with difficulties and challenges.

2

Relax the organisation Towards the end of year 6, step back from the organisation of your child’s school life eg packing school bags etc. You may secretly want to savour these last few months of dependency but your child needs a taste of independence. If they are slow to take up the reins, don’t take over and don’t despair, they will get there eventually.

3

If your child will walk to school or travel independently on public transport, practice the new journey Start by travelling together but without interaction. Then move to simply following behind your child. Finally, let him do it alone and meet him there. Travel at busy times. Allow your child to make mistakes and find solutions. This equips them with the skills to handle the unexpected like bus detours and road closures.

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AFTER THE TRANSITION:

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Be There Make sure a parent or trusted carer is available before and after school -to provide food, notice if your child comes in late, listen to their successes and concerns and be aware of subtle changes in mood; someone to empathise and with whom to discuss problems. Watch and listen, help out if asked but don’t take over. Become an Enabler rather than a Fixer. 2. Support the development of friendships It is of great importance to older children that they mix socially and establish secure friendships and they need to do this whilst still young enough to turn to you for support when they make mistakes. Gradually they will learn to make informed choices about friends. It’s appropriate for this age group to have access to a basic mobile phone and computer but the dangers of social networking should be discussed and boundaries agreed upon.

5

Support organisation and routines. Create ‘To Do Lists’ or ‘Timetables’ for the fridge, agree places to keep bags, kit, and books. Label uniform and valuables. Establish routines so they can get to school punctually. Don’t expect too much too soon, many won’t crack this for years!

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Understand what homework they have and know when it has been completed and handed in. Agree a routine that will help your child to complete and hand in all homework on time, without devoting too much time to one piece and little or nothing to others. However, remember it is their homework not yours; help, encourage, motivate but accept their best.

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Schedule time to relax. Your child will be exhausted by the effort of holding it all together. Tears are likely over the most trivial things and they may regress and demand more care. Trust that they can cope and make sure there is time for sleep, friends, homework, more sleep, watching TV, playing computer games and yet more sleep! Avoid weekend breaks and reduce extra-curricular commitments to the minimum. Now is not the time for your child to begin new activities or classes. And lastly, schedule time to relax yourself! All will eventually be well.

Margaret Ansell has supported large numbers of children and parents through this transition and this is what she has learnt.

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Private tuition: 3 ten most asked questions By Nevil Chiles of K&C Tutors

With an increasing number of parents considering the possibility of using private tuition to assist with their child’s educational development it’s important that they have all the facts at their fingertips. Having been involved in the provision of private tuition for thousands of families across London and the Home Counties for a decade through K&C Tutors I’ve decided to compile a list of the ten most asked questions from parents. Here they are:

1

What subjects can you get private tuition for? You can get private tuition for literally any subject you like. Our own database of tutors grows by about 40 a month with more than 100 subjects currently covered.

2

Does it fit in with the National Curriculum? Good tutors will always tailor their lessons for each individual student. If the subject is mainstream then the tuition provided will invariably fit in with the National Curriculum as required.

Are the effects of private tuition measurable? It is difficult to define the effects of tuition but if students are getting bespoke targeted help can it be anything but beneficial? It is important that parents have a good idea in mind as to what they want private tuition to achieve for their children.

4

How long does private tuition last on average? How long is a piece of string however for exambased subjects tuition tends to run throughout the academic year until the exams are taken. For subjects that are not building towards exams – languages for example – the pattern is far less uniform.

provide an excellent service so we are continually interviewing new candidates.

8

Can we change a tutor if our son/ daughter does not like them? Tutors can be changed at any time. We want people to be delighted with the tutor we provide.

5

Is it costly and is it a price worth paying? The costs vary but in the case of K & C we currently charge £40 per hour of single tuition for levels up to A Level. Groups and higher levels of education are dealt with individually. You will of course find tuition available for more and less. Education is paramount and is surely a price worth paying to get your child on the right track in any particular subject.

9

Are there any statistics to prove that private tutored pupils perform better in exams? There are no statistics that I know of but there’s clear evidence that there has been a considerable growth in private tuition over the past decade as parents seek to give their children the best possible educational start in life.

6

Are the tutors vetted in any way? Like most private tuition providers all our tutors have recent Enhanced Disclosure, Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) background checks. We interview all our tutors in person to insure we continue to provide an excellent service through the highest calibre tutors and I’ve interviewed over 2,000 tutors personally to date.

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How long does each private tuition session last and how is the ‘average’ session structured? Most of the lessons we provide are two hours long although one hour is often more appropriate for younger students. All lessons are tailored for the individual and there’s really no such thing as an ‘average’ lessons.

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What sort of backgrounds do private tutors have? Our tutors come from a wide variety of backgrounds. They range from talented and ambitious new graduates to retired teachers and everything in between. Our ethos is to

Local venues

For more information about the benefits of private tuition please visit www.kctutors. co.uk.

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Supporting your left handed child

1 in 10 children are left handed, but many fail to get the support they need in the early years of their education. Experts say teachers aren’t given the proper training and schools don’t have the right resources. MESSY HANDWRITING If you have a child who is left handed, chances are they haven’t been taught to write. Most are simply allowed to use their left hand. As the right handed parent of a left handed child I admit to having that same attitude. I now know that I was completely wrong. Left handers push the pen across the page, whereas their right handed friends will pull. This can lead to smudging and untidy work which in turn leads to anxiety on the part of the child. At an early stage a left handed child should be encouraged to master the correct handwriting position and paper placement to avoid problems as the writing assignments increase. The paper should be rotated to 45 degrees with the hand and wrist below the writing. Any pen needs to be held in a strong 3 point grip. In Early Years this can be supported with a triangular bodied pencil or a moulded grip around a regular pencil. If your child can get into good habits from the start of their school life, they will avoid problems when they graduate to a fountain pen and longer writing assignments.

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HOOK GRIP Some left handers use a hooked grip to avoid the problem of smudging, and angle the pen in the same way a right hander would. This causes more problems than it solves. The hook grip becomes more uncomfortable the more you write. It leads to an overtight grip and aching hands which in turn lead to messy handwriting. The wrist should always be below the writing line. If your child is developing a hook grip, consider introducing a sloped surface to resolve the problem. ELBOW COLLISION At some point your child will have to share a desk and if they’re left handed this can be a problem. ‘I always end up banging elbows’ explains my 9 year old daughter. ‘That makes my writing messy.’ You child should always be placed at the left hand side of a shared desk or next to another left hander. This gives them plenty of space to get their paper positioned correctly and avoid knocking elbows with a right handed neighbour. WHITE BOARDS They’re a teacher’s best friend but a left handers worst nightmare. White boards and chalk boards are a great learning tool in the modern classroom – pupils can get rid of mistakes easily without using endless pieces of paper. However, if you’re left handed you can end up erasing as you write. Good grip and placement of the board gives left handers half a chance. However if your child isn’t completing white board work quickly or neatly enough, it may not be their fault. MIRROR WRITING I remember being hugely concerned when I discovered that my daughter had completed a Reception assignment using mirror writing. She had begun her words on the right hand side of the page and written from right to left. It’s common in left handed children and when you think about it, it makes sense. If they are sat next to a right hander, they are simply mirroring their work. Encourage them to start on the left hand side of the page by

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placing a coloured star in the margin as a reminder. COMPUTERS Most ICT rooms are set up with the computer mice on the right hand side of the keyboard. This gives left handed children an automatic disadvantage because they either need to move the mouse or attempt or use their right hand. Don’t presume the teacher knows your child is left handed. Be sure to let all the staff involved with your child know they’re a left hander and will need a different workstation set up. THE ‘RIGHT’ EQUIPMENT Many left handed children learn the basics with the wrong equipment. Give a left handed child some right handed scissors and they’ll find the blade is upside down and so they can’t see the line they are cutting. It means the child has less control and think if themselves as messy. This can be a real problem in the Early Years. Check your school has left handed scissors to offer your child. Ambidextrous scissors don’t exist – trust me! As the progress to writing, shiny barreled pens are to be avoided. Make sure whatever pen you choose has a good grip so it’s easy to hold even when hands get hot and tired. Left handed fountain pens are available from www. anythingleft-handed.co.uk. They’re worth the investment for older children as the have an angled nib. LACK OF UNDERSTANDING As a right hander, I never appreciated the challenges faced by my daughter. Until she mastered left handed writing, she was labeled untidy in her written work and lost enthusiasm for putting pen to paper. It wasn’t until I began researching this piece that I realise how much of her attitude is linked to the hand she writes with. The bad news is she’s had a more challenging time than her right handed pals. The good news is she’s in good company. Barack Obama, Leonardo Da Vinci and Bill Gates are all lefties. Now that’s not a bad club to be in!

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back to school The bad news is my daughter’s had a more challenging time than her right handed pals. The good news is she’s in good company. Barack Obama, Leonardo Da Vinci and Bill Gates are all lefties. Now that’s not a bad club to be in! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Keith Milsom campaigns for better support of left handed children in our schools and offers some advice about what to expect from your child’s school. ‘Despite decades of campaigning and a string of promises from government ministers and teacher training authorities, there is still virtually no guidance provided to teachers on helping left-handed children and no process for identifying left-handers in schools. Make sure you talk to your child’s teacher to make sure they know that he/she is left-handed and may need assistance and advice. Ask your child’s teacher to talk YOU through the support they’re going to give it so you can be sure they really understand. If you’re concerned, refer them to the teacher guidance sheets available from www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk. The school should have left-handed scissors available and pens that will help lefthanders write in the correct style. If children are left to their own devices it is very unlikely they will find writing and cutting out easy. Apart from the practical difficulties this can mean they are working more slowly than the rest of the class and lose some of confidence – especially if the teacher tells them off for ‘not doing it right’. Lefthanders can end up underperforming at school and having

difficulty with written exams as a result of a lack of informed guidance at an early stage. It’s important parents keep the pressure on schools to support their left handed children.’ Sarah Butters is mum to a left handed daughter. She takes a look at some of the most common problems faced by left handers and some tips for helping them out.

USEFUL RESOURCES www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk has some great left handed guidance sheets for parents and teachers. It’s also a super source of left handed equipment. www.lefthandedchildren.org another great website with some top tips for parents looking to support their left handed child.

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www.inkhead.co.uk | 07943 514408 Our Exam Busters course aims to cover the creative writing and use of English part of school entrance exams.We show the difference between writing to persuade, argue or advise and writing creatively. We show to plot a story and write : s te Da 24th, within a time constraint. ER OCTOB & 26th Our workshops are taught by 25th e: Tim 1pm writers who love words and are to 10 am passionate about story writing.

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How to encourage reading Many of us know the value and enjoyment of reading. Good readers become better writers, better learners and well rounded individuals. Taking an active part in helping your children become interested in reading is vital. Despite busy days, tired kids, limited time and many distractions, we outline five simple steps that can help. STEP ONE SET UP READING TIME EVERY DAY Decide when and where a reading session will take place, which fits into your household schedule, and keep it. 10 minutes is fine. Encourage your child to read aloud. They don’t have to get every word right, and praise them often. If they are discouraged by their own reading, you read aloud. The pleasure of listening to you read can restore their enthusiasm. Offer to read every other sentence, page, chapter, and have conversations and discussions about the content. Make it fun. Children love sound effects, different voices, pulling faces. STEP TWO DURING READING TIME Introduce the bookmark. Stop after a few pages and pick up where you left off at another time Provide an accessible, special place for children to keep their own books Use special incentives, e.g. an extra 5 minutes to finish a chapter, a promise to take them to see the film of the book, sticker charts and certificates Notice what attracts your children’s attention, even if it’s only pictures, and build on that interest. Gather more information on the same subject. Listen to audio books (in the car too).

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HELPING READING FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES Books and Audio Follow a book as the audio book plays. Listen to a chapter, and then read it together

These help develop visualisation, a critical pre-reading skill. Let them choose their own books. Don’t worry the books are too young or too easy, early reading success can came from several ‘non-traditional’ sources such as comics. Buy a special notebook and record all the books they have read, add their thoughts and a star rating. STEP THREE SEE THE TEACHER AND JUDGE WHERE THEY ARE Find out what reading program the school follows, get to know the levels, and aim to supplement the program at home. Prepare a timetable. Know what level your child is at and the next, with some idea of when it can be achieved. There is no race to be the first to read, it just puts things into context. STEP FOUR PLAN SPECIFIC READING LINKED ACTIVITIES Extend your child’s positive reading experiences, e.g. If they enjoyed reading about dinosaurs, visit the natural history museum. Encourage activities that require reading, e.g. read a recipe, instructions, and directions, play games that require reading, use a reference book to look up something you have seen. Visit the library and give your child their own library card. They can choose their own library book or listen in on story-time.

Turn on the TV subtitles Sub-titles on your TV or DVD help increase sight word vocabulary, whilst developing a sense of flow of written and spoken language Make your child the star of their own audio book Your child can read into a recorder, then follow the book together during playback Everyone joins in Reserve thirty minutes each evening for family reading time. Each family member reads different material and then shares information about it, or take turns reading aloud from the same book. Support their learning Help ensure your child doesn’t get behind in reading material necessary for school subjects, ask for help with obtaining textbooks on CD ROM. Together identify unfamiliar words you come across and show your child how to look up the meanings of words. Children with specific learning difficulties and dyslexia could benefit from the PQ4R strategy (http:// learningdisabilities.about.com/od/ instructionalmaterials/a/pq4rstrategy.htm)

Reading opens up new worlds to your children and gives them a chance to use their imaginations. There are many ways to encourage your child to read, and the best ways always include participation on your part.

STEP FIVE BE A ROLE MODEL Let your children see you reading for pleasure. Read aloud everyday items – menus, road signs, food labels.

Give your child a head start at school! The online reading program for children!

Give books as gifts. Leave books, magazines, and colourful catalogues around your home. Write short notes for your child to read.

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back to school

Give your child a head start at school with online teaching resources With the recent reports in the media about the level of literacy in the UK you may have been left asking questions about whether what our children are learning in school is enough. Searching for additional resources that can be used at home to support their school learning can be a daunting task as there are so many questions to cover: What teaching system should I be using? How much should I pay for resources? How long should we be spending working at home? How much support and guidance should I be giving my child? Etc. etc. One of the resources currently available in the market place is Reading Eggs from educational publisher Blake Publishing. The Reading Eggs program is all online and can be used on a computer, laptop and most tablets (with an iPad

it can be accessed through the free educational app Rover due to flash compatibility) making it instantly attractive to children. The program has been designed for 3-7 year olds but is also suitable for older children who are struggling with reading. There are currently 120 reading lessons which take children who have little or no reading experience right the way through to them reading books confidently. In addition to the reading lessons there are also a series of spelling lessons, an introduction to comprehension and grammar, a story factory where children can put together their own books, plus additional educational games and activities to keep children motivated. It uses a teaching system of phonics supporting what children are learning at school. For older children who can already read there is the next level of the program, Reading Eggspress, which has been designed for 7-13 year olds. This program focuses on comprehension and grammar, writing and reading fluency and uses a highly engaging spinning island to draw and keep attention. It

includes areas such as the Comprehension Gym where lessons are completed, the Library which holds over 1000 e-books and the Stadium where they can compete against the computer or other children to test their comprehension and grammar knowledge. Both programs support school learning and are also suitable for home educators. It is a paid for resource and offers an obligation free trial for all new registrations so you can ensure the product is suitable for you and your children before you commit to purchasing. There are 2 terms of subscriptions, 6 months at £29.95 and 12 months at £39.95 and if you have more than one child you can take advantage of the 50% family discount for any additional children. All free trials and subscriptions include access to both Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress. To trial the program for 5 weeks free simply visit www.readingeggs.co.uk, click the ‘Parents click here’ button and follow the set up instructions. Once your account has been activated and you have added a child enter code UKB24LDN.

Danny Grant Soccer School

Half term and Christmas Holiday Football Courses PLUS: Exciting football parties for 5-11’s. We are now recruiting 7-11 year olds to join our training sessions for matches with our teams in Hampstead, Finchley, Highgate, Belsize Park and Mill Hill. Call for more details!

020 8446 0891

info@dgsoccer.co.uk www.dgsoccer.co.uk

Phone. 0207 998 0521 www.intouchpilates.co.uk

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Unit 2 Bickerton House 25 Bickerton Road Dartmouth Park London N19 5JT

19

back to school At The Mount we pride ourselves on our warm, friendly approach to education, our caring, nurturing environment and real sense of community.’

Do you want the best start for your daughter? The new nursery class at The Mount School, opening September 2012, is a bright, friendly environment where your daughter will get the very best start to her education. Located within the well-established Mount School, the Nursery has a brand new spacious, purpose built, well-designed classroom with a secure outdoor play area. The Mount is a successful Independent day school for girls aged 3 to 16 situated in Mill Hill village, where girls thrive. Our small class sizes and dedicated teaching staff

help girls achieve excellent exam results with opportunities for them all to participate and enjoy a wide range of sports and creative activities. ‘The Nursery is an extremely exciting addition to our school, and indeed to the local area. At The Mount we pride ourselves on our warm, friendly approach to education, our caring, nurturing environment and real sense of community.’ Headteacher, Catherine Cozens Our new Nursery class can accommodate up to 12 children at any time. We offer five full day, morning or afternoon sessions. Our extended day provides busy parents with convenient pick up and drop off times if needed. You will also have the peace of mind knowing that your daughter will automatically transfer from nursery into our Reception class. From the age of 3 your daughter

will be stimulated and guided in her learning by our specialist, caring teachers. Modern, carefully chosen facilities provide a wide range of activities to develop every girl. Each day will include a class taken by specialist music, language, PE, dance or drama teachers. Be assured with our small class size your daughter will be given the quality time and attention she deserves. Learning will be a pleasure for her ensuring her confidence and self-esteem grow. Moving up to Reception could be daunting but if your daughter has attended our Nursery she will be perfectly prepared. Those joining us in Reception will be welcomed by staff and girls alike, who will ensure she soon feels part of our strong school community. This is the stage when your daughter’s learning becomes more structured. She will already know a great deal by now so we build on her knowledge and skills, with content to match each girl’s individual needs and development. The class activities provide a variety of ways of learning, keeping every girl interested and enthusiastic. Joining us will ensure your daughter benefits from a secure, stimulating, happy start to school life, in a successful girls school. Although we have seen a high demand for places, there are still spaces available for September with introductory discounts available until 31st August 2012. Our Registrar, Mrs. Lewis, will be delighted to answer any questions you have, provide further details and arrange a visit. Please contact her on 020 8959 3403. Alternatively you may prefer to visit us on one of our Open Days where our more senior pupils will be on hand to show you round the school they are so proud of.

ÂŽ endy, giggly world for strong bodies and clever minds. . The b

Drama Dance Singing

Half term and Christmas Holiday Courses

Bespoke Children’s Entertainment For Your Wedding or Child’s Party Yoga-inspired stories and games for your child guests 0-7 years

Star in exciting, dance shows, musicals & plays! Plus Saturday morning Street Dance, Drama and Drama Exam Classes. Specialised, fun-based, classes for ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-11 & 12-14 yrs.

Contact Dai to find our how to give your little guests, a fun, creative and totally unique experience...

020 8446 0891

info@dramarama.co.uk www.dramarama.co.uk

www.winchmorehill.tattybumpkin.com CLASSES WINCHMOREHILL TATTYBUMPKIN COM s 07789 798297

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back to school

Choosing afterschool activities

Clubs and Classes

By Elisabeth Dolton

As the new school year starts, so does the time to choose after-school activities, but take a quick look and you will find a whole range of classes available, from Scouts to Ballet, from French to Karate. How can we know which ones are the best for our child, offer value for money, and critically, which ones they will enjoy! After-school activities definitely offer value to your children. Reports indicate those who participate in after-school programs have better school attendance, higher grades and loftier aspirations. They’re less likely to get into trouble are at lower risk of obesity. It is also a great opportunity for children to develop social and leadership skills. The benefits are there, but under which classes? Talk to your child and find out how they feel about the activity, and let them choose at least one club or activity themselves. Help them choose activities that reflect who they are and what they want to learn, don’t impose your preferences. Explain that it’s

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Reports indicate those who participate in after-school programs have better school attendance, higher grades and loftier aspirations. important and fun to try new things, and remember switching activities is normal amongst children. Always check out the quality of an activity. Discipline-based activities that create a quality product over a period of time are great, e.g. putting on a play. Don’t think that high cost equal high quality, some activities are cheaper to run like football. Staff members should be professionals with skills and experience. Consider the mix of activities. The benefits of exercise are huge, so including a sport would be a good start. Extracurricular activities are ideal for children to explore and practice what it means to be a group leader, e.g. Brownies. If you are stuck between two similar activities, consider the usefulness, e.g. drum lessons might be cool, but the guitar might have wider applicability. Finally, remember logistics. The afterschool programme affects you too. Avoid signing on to too many activities that leave you scrambling from one to the next. No one will have fun doing anything if it means arriving late, leaving early, and going without dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Look hard for places you can walk to, it reduces your carbon footprint while keeping you fit for free! Finally do build in some downtime. Children need to have independent play as well as the structured activities, so ensure time is built in for dinner, watching T.V. and relaxing. Leave some activities perhaps for the summer, when different interests can be tried, without the pressure of school demands. After-school activities can provide enrichment, adventure and variety. They can enhance knowledge and build character. Spend a bit more time choosing the right activity programme for your child and you will reap the benefits.

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CONSIDERATION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN s # ONSIDER YOUR CHILD S INTERESTS RATHER than their needs. Many regular activities can use technology or planning to help their participation, e.g. drama, athletics, cooking, academic s %VALUATE YOUR CHILD S STAMINA Check they have the energy for an extracurricular activity? s 4ALK WITH THE ACTIVITY LEADERS ABOUT your child’s unique medical and communication needs. Provide them with emergency contact information. s -AKE SURE FAMILY DOWNTIME IS A REGULAR part of the schedule. Sometimes your family needs to have nothing to do — as a group. Remember the inclusion of children with special needs is beneficial to all. Special needs children achieve more, improve behaviour, and enhance motivation. Children without special needs learn from working cooperatively and grow in confidence through helping others.

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bullying

The online reality of stalkers and bullies Teens today seem to spend more time in the virtual world than in the real world. With more opportunities to connect online than ever before, teens in particular have made social networks part of their daily life. Unfortunately, the problems that plague teens in real life, like bullying, have also followed them online. What’s more, other online issues have emerged such as cyberstalking, which has become more common than traditional forms of stalking due to the nature of the internet, as many people can be targeted more easily and communication can be spread more quickly. Everyone has the opportunity to control their online presence and visibility of personal information, but not all teens have a good knowledge of how to go about it and many are unaware of how easily they can be traced or harassed on the internet. Online harassment is common among teenagers, especially girls (74%) who are more likely to engage in teasing and gossiping than boys (26%), and overall 53 percent of those who fall victim to cyberstalking are single. The number of people who use social networks that globally connect them to a network of people they do not know,

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TOP TIPS FOR TEENS AND PARENTS

is rising. But interestingly, some 41 percent of teens who have fallen victim to cyberbullying have had some form of prior relationship with their stalker. The most common way for harassment to begin is through an individual’s personal email, with Facebook and websites following closely behind. But whilst the increasing popularity of social networks and the ubiquitous nature of online communication are contributing to the rise of online harassment, offline activity through mobile phones is also playing a role. Just over 7 percent of such behaviour is started through texting, and almost a third (27%) of cyberbullying cases that are escalated are done so by phone. With teens becoming increasingly more active online and embracing new technologies and modes of communication at a quickening pace, it is essential to consider and understand the risks of online harassment. If you are a parent who suspects your teen is being cyberbullied, or if your teens confides in you, it is important to be proactive and address the issue before it escalates. Article provided by ZoneAlarm, leading provider of computer and Internet security software for home and small business computers and networks. www.zonealarm.com

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Here are some simple steps you can take towards protecting your teen from cyberstalkers and online bullies: s +EEP YOUR INFORMATION PRIVATE n .EVER share information about your child’s online activities with other parents or children, including gaming names or usernames/passwords, as they could be used against them. s $O NOT RESPOND n 4EACH YOUR CHILDREN not to respond to cyberbullying attacks. Contributing to the conversation often escalates the harassment. s +EEP A RECORD n $OWNLOAD AND SAVE all abusive messages to report to school officials and if necessary, the police. s #ONTACT YOUR PROVIDER n "Y CONTACTING your Internet service provider, you can report the code of conduct violations and seek action against the bully. s /NLINE PROTECTION n 5SE lLTERING and blocking software as a part of a comprehensive approach to online safety, but understand software programs alone will not prevent cyberbullying s ,EAD BY EXAMPLE n 4RY AND MODEL appropriate technology use to your children by avoiding harassing or joking about others whilst online, especially around your children- your kids are constantly watching and learning. s +EEP AN OPEN MIND n #ULTIVATE AND maintain an open candid line of communication with your children so that they feel comfortable and willing to tell you if they experience cyberbullying.

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readers’ tips

Mums know best Compiled by Helena Foss

At Families North we have plenty of seasoned mums (and the odd dad) who like to chat about everything from the tearyour-hair-out challenges to the exquisite, heartmelting joys of bringing up our children.

Seeing as we are all constantly making mistakes (yes, we hold our hands up!) and learning on the job, it makes sense to pool our experience. Mums know best is our new forum for sharing the tips, secret weapons and handy hints we have learned whilst toiling away at the coalface of parenting. Now, if we like to share tips (‘kids too wired to sleep? Tell them to run up and down the stairs ten times. Works for me!’ says our editor and mum of five Pascale), we thought our readers would enjoy this too. In fact, so eager are we to hear your tips that we have prizes to give away for the best contributions. That’s right mums and dads, get thinking because our readers need YOU!

k ool c a B sch to

These feet were made for walking In Sweden, children learn none of the three Rs until the age of six. Instead they are encouraged to play and are taken on nature walks every day (even in the bitter Scandinavian winter). And guess what? By the age of ten, Swedish children rank amongst the most literate in Europe (which is higher than the UK). OK, so we may not be able to change the national curriculum overnight, but we can at least make sure our children get their daily dose of nature, if only by ditching the car and scheduling walk-toschool time. Through the park or along a tree-lined street if feasibly possible, collecting leaves, blackberries (for a pie perhaps?) and conkers along the way. Set off early enough and this could create relaxed, quality time to chat with your child. A great start for both of you, don’t you think?

Most important meal of the day Television advertising can be an insidious thing. One recent advert for a chocolate hazelnut spread suggested that it constitutes a healthy breakfast due to its components of ‘hazelnuts, skimmed milk and cocoa powder.’ But do not be fooled. According to AdvanceNutrition.co.uk the top ingredient of this spread is, in fact, sugar, ranking in at a hefty 56 per cent. Next is vegetable oil. Nutritious fuel to help your child focus at school? We don’t think so. Have a child who refuse to eat breakfast? Don’t give in with sugar loaded popping rice. Tempt him to kick off the day with a smoothie: it’s easy to accept as it is a sweet drink but it’s healthy too. Choose a glass of liquid (yoghurt, juice, coconut water, rice, oat or almond milk), add some fruit fresh (or tinned) and a few green leaves or even avocado (trust us, they will never know) and add a spoon of hemp protein powder (from health food shops). Raw cocoa powder is a great addition: as long as it is raw, its health benefits are off the scale; it has extremely high levels of anti-oxidant flavanoids, Vitamin C, magnesium, iron and zinc. You can always add some date or agave syrup to sweeten if necessary—no sugar! Blend it all up. Sip slowly. Now that is what we call good nutrition.

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Busy doing nothing We 21st century mothers are very good at being ‘human doings’ rather than human beings, forever chasing the ends of our To Do lists for a spot of that elusive me-time. Well, children need downtime too, especially once the autumn term is in full swing. Remember, we work and learn best in short spurts of 45 minutes or so with breaks in between. In fact, our EI (emotional intelligence) is a higher indicator of success in life than our IQ, according to Daniel Goleman, author of the landmark book Emotional Intelligence (see: www.danielgoleman. info). Happy and relaxed children are more creative and absorb information much more easily. It is as simple as that. If your child is willing, encourage

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The page where parents share their knowledge. (Because raising the next generation is, you know, only the most important job in the world.)

her to try a children’s yoga class at Tatty Bumpkin www.winchmorehill. tattybumpkin.com. Tel: 07789 798297 Think about this: ‘The world will be saved by the Western woman.’ – The Dalai Lama Reader tip of the month: the multitasking trampoline: Who says trampolines are just for vertical bouncing up and down? Anne Sophie Hulett from Tooting (mum of 11-year-old Toscanie and nine-year-old Matisse) came up with the ingenious idea of tipping it on its side: ‘My children now use our old trampoline for tennis practice,’ she says. Bouncier and much more fun, apparently, than just hitting the ball against a wall (could it work for football too?) ‘It keeps them busy for hours, not to mention wearing them out before bed.’ Advantage, Mrs Hulett!

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HAVE A PARENTING TIP TO SHARE? The best that we receive from all our readers will be published on our website for the wisdom to be imparted to all the other parents out there! Post your inspired ideas and stories on our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ FamiliesNorthLondon And finally... Reasons why it is all worth it: We want to hear what totally rocks your world about being a parent! Come on, make us laugh, cry and above all believe!

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childrenswear

Launch of online childrenswear brand yellowmellon.com Quality Clothing, Affordable Price Tags! This June sees the launch of new childrenswear brand yellowmellon. com, an online retailer catering in affordable and fashionable clothing, accessories and toys for children aged 0-13 yrs. Yellow Mellon is a one-stop-shop for parents looking for trend-led product at fantastic price points. Along with fashionable styles the range consists of wardrobe essentials, nightwear and occasionwear; including bridesmaid dresses and pageboy suits. They also have a wide range of accessories and toys, ranging from mosses baskets and feeding bottles to learning toys and remote control cars. Yellowmellon.com creates innovative and vibrant designs that translate into ontrend collections perfect for children. Along with own brand product Yellowmellon.com host brands including Disney, Ben 10, Minx for girls, Freaky for boys, Thomas the Tank Engine, Spiderman and SpongeBob Squarepants. Every child will find something they LOVE at YellowMellon.com

Christ Church, Heriot Road, Hendon, NW4 2EG

Full, part-time and sessional day-care for children aged 2-5-years-old Places available starting September 2012 Open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm Open 48 weeks per year Fully-trained staff All welcome Please call to make an appointment to view the Nursery Telephone: 020 8202 5687

Shirt £4.49

Action songs and rhymes Music and movement Fun with percussion Musical games

Trousers £6.99

Since 1993 thousands of children across the UK have grown up with Monkey Music. Our unique teaching curriculum was written by classically trained musicians, and introduces music to very young children in a way they can easily understand and enjoy.

d no blues ! all r hythm an Hampstead & Notting Hill Muswell Hill, Crouch End & Highgate

Rock ‘n’ roll - from 3 months Heigh ho – from 12 months Jiggety jig – 2 & 3 year olds Ding dong – 3 & 4 year olds

High Barnet, Mill Hill & Whetstone Southgate, Winchmore Hill & East Barnet

It’s fun, formative and a great way of making friends!

Shorts £7.99

Clothes Labelling made easy.

Dress £7.99

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MAMA MATERNITY CARE Maternity Nurse/Doula/ Pregnancy Masseur Daily/Nightly/Weekly packages available to support family needs with breast/ bottle feeds sleep routine and general care of baby. Contact us for help and advice for your Pregnancy Birth & Postnatal Care.

0800 233 5114

www.mamamaternity.com info@mamaternity.com

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Don’t forget to say you saw the advert in Families North! familiesnorth.co.uk

Secure Comfortable Boil wash Iron proof Quick apply Small You provide name

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Order online at:

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halloween

Halloween BER OCTO

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Make Paper Shadows Make ghostly silhouettes from black paper, decorate with glitter, and hang on some thin cotton to float from doorways and the ceilings.

As we all know Halloween is perhaps one of the most controversial celebrations in our modern repetoire. Guaranteed to invoke a bevy of emotions ranging from outrage at what is effectively seen as a pagan festival of worshipping the dead to the lighter version of it being a fun day and night of playing dress up and make believe. The stuff that childhood is made of! We at Families North prefer the lighter connotations and have included our tips for an amazingly fun day with your little ghosties and goblins. No raising the dead allowed!!

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Carve a Pumpkin. Definitely one of life’s simple pleasures. Buy several pumpkins, they are really quite cheap at Sainsburys and Asda, then have fun seeing who can carve the best faces! Or, for the more adventurous, bats, witches or cats. Light inside with tea lights and decorate your porches and balconies.

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Make a jelly hand. One of my children’s favourites! Take a thin plastic glove and fill it with strawberry red jelly. Tie the end off like a balloon and put on a plate. Leave to set in the fridge overnight. In the morning slice a piece of the glove so it looks like peeling skin and wait for the squeals of delight from your little monsters.

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Have a fancy dress party The best part of the day – go to town with the fabulous outfits on offer everywhere from Asda to the local charity shops. Everyone needs to get into the spirit of things! We would like to see all your best efforts on our facebook page so get to uploading those photos!

Make toffee apples Relive your childhood with this all time favourite treat. Fabulous kits are available from Sainsburys containing everything you need for a fun toothrotting treat! Remember to brush well afterwards!!

Cat Faces Make cat faces from paper plates. Cut out eyes and a mouth, paint the plates any colour you like and decorate with whiskers, ears and glitter. See who can have the funkiest witch’s cat.

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Apple Bobbing Fill a washing-up bowl with clean water and float some apples in it and see who can get the most! No hands allowed! Tip for younger children: I always use grapes as they find the apples too hard to bite through!

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Trick Or Treat. This, I emphasise should always be done with an adult present! And in your neighbourhood. Opt for people who know you and are likely to participate, We always give sweets or cakes in sealed wrappers. Note: we have included this activity because it is traditional,but as always exercise caution and common sense with this one please!!

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Most of all HAVE FUN! It is as good an excuse as any to dress up and have a fun day.

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Spooky Disco Invite some friends round for a spooky spirit disco. Find the creepiest tunes and dance the night away.

Remember to upload all your Halloween pictures onto our facebook page! Go to: facebook.com/FamiliesNorthLondon

Enjoy-a-Ball Sports coaching for 3-9 year olds in a

fun, positive and non-competitive environment. Classes running in Finchley, Mill Hill and Hampstead Garden Suburb. Children’s parties also available! Call 08452 262694 to book a FREE trial session.

www.enjoy-a-ball.com familiesnorth.co.uk

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fun days out

Ten Fun Days Out for the October Half Term Week Before we know it half term will be upon us! Keep the little darlings happy with these amazing days out.

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Alexandra Palace Ice Rink Open all year for all the best daytime Halloween fun from Oct 26-Nov 1st Family events feature free entry for all suitably attired little monsters and mums and dads are welcome to join in the fancy dress fun as well.

Alexandra Palace Ice Rink Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY Tel: 0208 365-4386

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Ice Age Live – London A great show for all the family 1st Nov – 3rd. Be among those who will see favourites Manny, Diego, Sid, Ellie and co, brought to life on stage. A surefire hit! Wembley Arena Arena Square, Engineers Way, Wembley London HA9 0DW Tel: 0870 0600870

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Be a Junior Zoo Keeper for the Day Experience the working life of the zoo and take part in feeding and grooming the animals. Booking is essential. Ages 11-15. Cost £170.00.

London Zoo, Outer Circle, Regents Park, NW1 4RY Tel: 0207 722 3333

Museum of London 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN Tel: 0207 001 9844

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Insect Circus – Highgate 26th Oct- Sun 30th Oct 12pm and 3.30pm with a special Halloween show on 31st October. A fabulous show, full of creepy crawlies from butterflies to glow worms sure to delight young and old alike!

Jackson’s Lane 269a Archway Road, Highgate, London N6 5AA Tel: 0208 341-4421

Warner Bros Studios Aerodrome Road, Leavesden, Watford Herts WD25 –7LS Tel: 0845 840 900

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Little Angel Theatre,14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street, London N1 2DN Tel:0207 226 1787

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The Way Back Home Super production of the much-loved story by Oliver Jeffers. Oct 26th- Oct 30th. Ages 3+.

Arts Depot 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, London N12 0GA

Museum Of London Explore the Museum and get involved with art workshops, story telling sessions and more.

BFI IMAX 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, South Bank London SE1 8XR

Visit The Making of Harry Potter – Warner Brothers Studios The ultimate day out for all Potter fanatics young and old alike.

The Gingerbread Man The ever-popular story retold at the Little Angel theatre. Prepare to be enchanted. Ages 5+.

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James Bond Skyfall Screening at BFI IMAX, 26th Oct-23rd Nov. Yes Bond is Back! Grab the popcorn and the kids and go indulge for the day.

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Grand Central Railways Lastly, something a little further afield. For those of you wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of London give this a try. A great railway company connecting London to Yorkshire and the NorthEast. With loads of attractions en route. Suitable for all ages! Paddington Bear will be making a guest appearance at York’s National Railway Museum this October half-term so travel directly from London to York and enjoy a great day out! Contact www.grandcentralrail.com Children 5-15 are half fare Under 5’s go free. Don’t forget to check www. familiesnorth.co.uk for more great activities for the half-term week and let us know all about you experiences. Also check out the AA Guide for Great Days Out 2012. An invaluable guide for all parents and carers. Families North give this book 5 stars!

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autumn outings

Win tickets to the Willows Farm Village Pumpkin Festival this half-term

Families North Love!!

AUTUMN OUTINGS

Go treasure hunting Want to look for more than pretty leaves and conkers this Autumn? www.huntfun.co.uk has over 240 treasure hunts set up across the country to help you enjoy the change of season while finding nuggets of interesting information in your local area. Armed with a treasure hunt booklet that contains directions, a map and questions, treasure hunters have to seek out the answers by examining the local buildings, streets and statues that they might ordinarily walk right past. The hunts take about two hours to complete but can easily be turned into a whole day out by stopping for lunch or visiting some attractions en route. Unlike pre-arranged walking tours or events, these hunts can be done at any time making them an ideal last minute activity, suitable for all ages. ‘Given the changeable British weather, it can be difficult to plan a day out until the day itself. Our treasure hunts can be ordered in advance as a printed booklet or downloaded instantly, making it easy to make the most of a crisp Autumnal day,’

Thousands of pumpkins are growing in the Pumpkin Patch at Willows Farm Village just waiting to be picked during the October half term. Each child who visits Willows during its Pumpkin Festival (27th October – 4th November) will be able to harvest their very own free pumpkin. Visitors can take their orange bounty home or become a ‘pumpkin Picasso’ in the Willows Carving Cavern; there’s even the chance to win a daily prize for the best carved pumpkin. Little ones can also get creative in the Willows Arts & Craft Area, creating their own pumpkin masterpieces. Children can then take part in the Willows Pumpkin Olympics, including the ‘Pumpkin Obstacle Race’, ‘Roll a Pumpkin’ and ‘Pumpkin Relay’ races – with a souvenir certificate for every child taking part. Willows will also play host to a group of spine-tingling creatures – the stars of the ‘Zootacular’ animal shows. From slimy snakes to wiggling millipedes, children can learn all about their favourite creepy creatures in time for Halloween, with shows taking place daily. In addition, there will be farmyard animals, fun fair rides and a host of indoor and outdoor adventure play. One thing’s for sure – you

explains Stephen Whetstone, founder of huntfun. ‘Whether it’s a family with children looking for a way to spend time together, a couple on a romantic stroll or a group of friends wanting a bit of fun, our hunts make a great day out for everyone.’ The hunts start from just £4.99 plus postage for a black & white printed hunt, £6.99 plus postage for a colour printed hunt or can be downloaded

won’t be ‘gourd’ silly at the Willows Pumpkin Festival! To be in with a chance of winning one of two Family Day Passes (admits 4) to the Willows Pumpkin Festival, simply answer this question – Which fairytale character rode in a carriage made from a pumpkin? a. Snow White b. Cinderella c. Sleeping Beauty

Win!

To enter the competition please go to www.familiesnorth.co.uk Willows Farm Village is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. Visit www.willowsfarmvillage.com for full details or call 0870 129 9718.

from £7 depending on the number of participants. They can also be personalised to make your family day out even more special. Go to www. huntfun.co.uk for more information.

Our treasure hunts can be ordered in advance as a printed booklet or downloaded instantly.

LEARN FRENCH! . Fun and

Educational Activities

. Small classes in Hampstead and Swiss Cottage .

Fully vetted Native French Teacher

Extra curricular language learning for 5 to 11 year olds

For more information contact:

Pierre Dalle 0208 743 7468 Visit our website; www.lajolieronde.co.uk

familiesnorth.co.uk

Beginners Classes: Wednesday 16.30 Hampstead Garden Suburb Thursdays 17.30 Swiss Cottage

020-8445-2588

www.panthakarateclub.co.uk info@panthakarateclub.co.uk

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for children aged 5 to 14 years

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book corner

Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my Autumn book selection for you to enjoy. The books are all available online from Ed’s Reading Room at www.edontheweb. com.

ROOM

Reading

Ed’s Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools. Each month, recently published books are selected as Ed’s Books of the Month for Owlets (age 5-7) and Owls (over 7s). On the website, there are fun literacy activities to accompany each book, including wordsearches, quizzes, poetry and reviews, and there are new original stories in Edtime Stories. There are also lots of other fun online activities, complementary to the curriculum. Check out Ed’s Archive for Ed’s Books of the Month from previous months. FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS

5-7

Medal Mayhem by Tamsyn Murray (Simon and Schuster £4.99)

Ed Says: ‘Harriet Houdini, star of the television programme Superpets, is picked to take part in the London Animalympics. She begins training for the triple jump with the world famous athlete Calvin Cross. With such a fantastic personal trainer and with Harriet’s enthusiasm she should be well on her way to success but all does not run smoothly when the bunny-napping Maldini appears on the scene. Will Harriet be able to hop, skip and jump to the gold medal? ‘This wacky character is great

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fun. Medal Mayhem is a laugh out loud story with fantastic illustrations throughout. It will entertain children reading on their own or reading together.’

Super Soccer Boy and the Raging Robots by Judy Brown (Piccadilly Press £4.99)

Ed Says: ‘Harry and his friends are excited to be going to a tournament at Wembley with lots of top players taking part. Harry can’t believe it when his favourite player is sent off the field and later other players also start to behave in very unusual ways. Harry notices strange things happen when the owner of one of the teams, Anton Antovich, is around. Could Antovich be responsible? Harry has to use all his Super Soccer Boy powers to reveal Antovich’s plan. ‘This is a humorous and gripping story. It is very well written and brilliantly illustrated by the author. If you enjoy it as much as I did, look out for the other books in the series.’

of seeing into the future. Threptus angers the gods when he eats a honey cake that has been left as an offering to them. And he is poisoned – as well as already being nearly starved. Will he be able to survive this latest disaster? ‘This is a brilliantly written story that is action-packed and very funny – as well as being historically accurate. It is exciting and entertaining and will appeal to boys and girls alike.’

The Abduction by John Grisham (Hodder £6.99)

Ed Says: ‘Theo Boone is the son of two lawyers and at the age of 13 he has already acquired an amazing knowledge of the law. However the issue here is personal to Theo as his best friend April has disappeared from her home in the middle of the night and this time even Theo doesn’t have any answers. Will his powers of investigation be enough to discover what exactly has happened to April? ‘This adventure in the fantastic Theodore Boone series is fast-moving and full of suspense. It may well have you on the edge of your seat.’

7+

FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS

The Poisoned Honey Cake by Caroline Lawrence (Orion £4.99)

Ed Says: ‘Threptus is the apprentice of the soothsayer Floridius. He is trying to find information to help his master who fears he is losing his power

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Ed’s Reading Room is part of www.edontheweb.com, a DTI awardwinning website. It was created by Maggie Humphreys, a teacher of more than 25 years, and Les Snowdon, who together are authors of several books on fitness walking and healthy eating. You are very welcome to contact Maggie on 01753 730019 or by email at mgh@edontheweb.com about the website or about Ed on the Web Spelling Bees in schools.

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cinema • museums out & about

Out & About Your guide to North London family entertainment

Cinema

On the Sly September 29

BARBICAN CENTRE Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS ( Barbican) 0845 120 7527 barbican.org.uk/film New Framed Film Club on Saturday mornings with free activities on the last Saturday of every month. Le Petit Nicholas (PG) September 15 A hilarious tale of an eight year old boy and an unexpected new arrival. Ice Age 4 (U) September 22 Framed Film Club Extra September 29 Free activities based on set design. High Jinx and Silly Shenanigans September 29 A mixture of stories. KEW GARDENS SUMMER CINEMA Kew, Richmond, Surrey ( Kew Gardens) 020 8332 5655 kew.org

RIO CINEMA 107 Kingsland High Street, E8 6LJ (Dalston Kingsland ) 020 7241 9410 riocinema.org.uk Saturday Morning Picture Club September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Cost £3/£2. Playcentre Matinees September 4, 11, 18, 25 October 4 Tuesday afternoon matinees. Cost £3/£2.

Museums & Exhibitions BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM Bartholomew Lane, EC2R 8AH ( Bank) 020 7601 5545 bankofengland.co.uk

Dickens Workshop at the Foundling Museum.

Open House Weekend September 22 – 23 Free guided tours. Drop-in sessions.

Open-air film season. Tickets £16/£12.

The Big Draw October 29 – November 2 Design a banknote and enter a competition. Free.

The Artist (PG) September 6 Breakfast at Tiffany’s (PG) September 7

BRITISH MUSEUM Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG ( Tottenham Ct Road) 020 7323 8000 britishmuseum.org Shakespeare: Staging the World Until November 25 Maps, prints, drawings, coins and medals. Part of the World Shakespeare Festival and London 2012 Festival. Cost £14/children free.

Grease (PG) September 8

KILBURN GRANGE PARK Kilburn High Road, NW6 2BY popupscreens.co.uk Top Gun September 9 Outdoor cinema.

The Big Draw at the Museum October 20 Draw Shakespearean performances, set design and props. Free drop-in sessions.

PHOENIX CINEMA 52 High Road, N2 9PJ ( East Finchley) 020 8444 6789 phoenixcinema.co.uk Kids club 5 – 10 years with bookable activities. Cost £2. Despicable Me September 8 G-Force September 15 Tales of the Night September 22

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themselves. Booking recommended. 5 – 11 years. Cost £5.

Toy workshop at Benjamin Franklin House

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HOUSE 36 Craven Street, WC2N 5NF ( Charing Cross) 020 7839 2013 benjaminfranklinhouse.org

Little Explorers September 8, 22, October 13, 27 Activities for children aged 2 – 4 years. Free.

Toy Workshop October 30 Toy making workshop to discover how Georgian children entertained

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BRUCE CASTLE MUSEUM Lordship Lane, N17 8NU ( Seven Sisters) 020 8808 8772 haringey.gov.uk

Open House London Weekend 2012 September 22, 23 Free guided tours.

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Sunday Fun Days Family art and craft activities on Sundays and school holidays. Free.

CARTOON MUSEUM 35 Little Russell St, WC1A 2HH ( Tottenham Ct Road) 020 7580 8155 cartoonmuseum.org Animal Crackers Until October 21 Exhibition on animal inspired cartoons and characters. Entry costs £5.50/accompanied children free. The Dandy Comic From October 24 75 years of Biffs, Bangs and Banana skins! Holiday Workshops Check web for details on half term workshops. FOUNDLING MUSEUM 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ ( Russell Square) 020 7841 3600 foundlingmuseum.org.uk Dickens Workshop October 6 Create live stories and performances. Family workshop. Free for 2 adults + children.

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out and about museums • exhibitions Clock Watching Weekend October 27, 28 Mark the end of British Summer Time.

Long in the Tooth! November 1 Object handling sessions. Booking essential. 6 – 10 years.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM Kingsland Road, E2 8EA ( Old Street) 020 7739 9893 geffrye-museum.org.uk

LONDON CANAL MUSEUM 12-13 New Wharf Road, N1 9RT ( Kings Cross) 020 7713 0836 canalmuseum.org.uk

Restored Historic Almshouses September 1, 5, 9, 19, 22, Visit the 18th century almshouses. Cost £2.50/children free.

Open House September 22 Free entry and guided tours as part of the London Open House weekend.

Closing Ceremony September 8 Fun family activities with stories, workshops and games. Free.

Amazing Halloween Experience October 27, 28 Spooky boat trips.

Ceramics in the City September 21 – 23 Browse, buy and meet the potters. Weekend activities for children 3+ years. Open House September 22 Free allocated places on the day to visit the almshouses. Half-Term Activities Check website for details on special holiday activities.

GRANT MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street, WC1E 6DE ( Euston) 020 3108 2052 ucl.ac.uk/museums Weird & Wonderful Wildlife October 20, 21 Explore weird and wonderful wildlife as part of the Bloomsbury Festival. Free drop-in sessions. Tooth & Claw October 29 – November 3 Half-term activities on how meateaters find, catch and eat their prey. All ages. Free drop-in sessions.

HACKNEY MUSEUM Technology & Learning Centre, 1 Reading Lane, E8 1GQ ( Hackney Central) 020 8356 3500 hackney.gov.uk/museum Black History Month: Independent Artists October 31, November 1 Free drop-in workshops for families. Visit the exhibition celebrating 50 years of Jamaican independence. HUNTERIAN MUSEUM The Royal College of Surgeons, 35 – 43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3PE ( Holborn) 020 7869 6560 rcseng.ac.uk Long in the Tooth! October 30 Object handling sessions. Booking essential. 11+ years.

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MUSEUM OF LONDON 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN ( St Paul’s) 020 7001 9844 museumoflondon.org.uk A to Z October 27 Art workshop. 5+ years. Stories Alive October 27, November 1 Museum Explored October 28 Hands-on activities. 5+ years. Written by: Me October 29 Digital workshop. Ticketed event. 5+ years. London Reading October 29 Books on London. 5+ years. Looking between the Pages October 30 What happens to books when they get wet? 5+ years. Shaping a Poem October 30, November 1, 2 Poetry workshop. 5+ years. He Said What?! October 31, November 2 Oliver Twist. 5+ years. Spooky Stories October 31 Story telling. 1+ years. Stories Retold November 2, 3, 4 5+ years. A Book that Touches November 3, 4 5+ years.

Meet Sir Isaac Newton October 29 Optics and gravity explained. 7+ years. Explorer Storytime October 30 Puppets and music. 6 months +.

Bloomsbury Festival October 20, 21 Family art and craft activities as part of the Bloomsbury festival.

Transforming Objects October 30, November 1 Collage and computer animation. 4+ years. Paper Science October 31 Craft activities. 5+ years.

PETRIE MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGY Malet Place, UCL, WC1E 6BT ( Euston Square) 020 7679 2884 ucl.ac.uk

The Electric Mr Faraday November 2 Science and electricity. 7+ years. Fantastic Forms November 3 Fun with felt. 5+ years.

Animals in Ancient Egypt October 21 Activities and workshops as part of the Bloomsbury Festival. All ages. Free.

NATIONAL GALLERY Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN ( Charing Cross) 020 7747 2885 nationalgallery.org.uk

ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS Burlington House, W1J OBD ( Green Park) 020 7300 8000 royalacademy.org.uk

Holiday Workshops Free hands-on workshops during the school holidays. Limited places. 5 – 11 years.

Beside the Sea September 16, 11am – 1pm Experiment with watercolours and create marine landscapes. Free dropin family workshop in the Learning Studio, to support the current exhibition.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY St Martin’s Place, WC2H OHE ( Leicester Square) 020 7306 0055 npg.org.uk

ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL ( Colindale) 020 8205 2266 rafmuseum.org.uk

Family Art Workshops September 15, October 6, 20 Family workshops, storytelling, and tours on selected dates and during the school holidays. Free ticket on arrival. 5+ years.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD ( South Kensington) 020 7942 5000 nhm.ac.uk Wildlife Garden Until October 31 Learn about wildlife conservation in the inner city. Free.

We Can Fly October 29 Make and launch things that fly. 2+ years.

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Battle of Britain Weekend September 15, 16 Fun filled weekend with concerts, tours, screening of the film Battle of Britain and Spitfire flypast, subject to weather conditions. Free. Witch Weekend October 27 – 28 Interactive display and make a witch with flying broomstick and cat. Free. Big Draw October 29 – November 2 Drawing activities based on the museums aircraft collection. Materials supplied. Free.

Investigate Centre Weekend and holiday activities at the hands-on science centre.

TATE MODERN Bankside, SE1 9TG ( 020 7887 8888 tate.org.uk/modern

MUSEUM OF LONDONDOCKLANDS West India Quay, E14 4AL (DLR West India Quay) 020 7001 9844 The Ghost Chicken of Pond Square October 27 Story telling. 5+ years.

Family Arts Days September 15, October 13 Join Octoby, the gallery octopus for adventure, art and drama. No booking required, come early to secure a place.

Sound & Performance September 2 Family experimental day of sound and performance. Suitable for all ages. Free.

Family Arts Days at the October Gallery

OCTOBER GALLERY 24 Old Gloucester Street, WC1N 3AL ( Holborn) 020 7242 7367 octobergallery.co.uk

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Southwark)

Film Action October 28 Explore moving image. Family day as part of the series The Tanks: Art in Action. Free.

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museums • exhibitions • theatres • concerts out & about Pinocchio October 7 Classic story with puppets and illusion. 3+ years. Cost £7.

V&A MUSEUM Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL ( South Kensington) 020 7942 2000 vam.ac.uk

Handa’s Surprise October 14 A Kenyan adventure. 2 – 5 years. Cost £7.

Owl and the Pussy Cat September 1 Puppet shows. 3+ years. Royal Mugs to Princely Jugs September 15, 22, 29 Interactive show. 7+ years. Big Draw, Big Make September 30 Draw and make with top designers and book a place to meet CBeebies star Mister Maker. Free.

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA ( Bethnal Green) 020 8983 5200 museumofchildhood.org.uk London Design Week September 16 Design a news sheet. Booking required. All ages. The Big Draw October 13 Use crayons, pencils, pens and chalks to create a large-scale drawing of Robbie the Robot. Free drop-in. Pop-Up Circus October 20, 21 Aerial dance, jugglers and music. Free drop-in. Retro Kids October 29 – November 2 Travel back in time with trails, stories and art activities. Free drop-in.

Theatres & Concerts ARTS DEPOT Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 ( West Finchley & Woodside Park) 020 8369 5454 artsdepot.co.uk Bert’s Magical Musical Kitchen September 30 Interactive concert with magic and music. 1 – 5 years. Cost £7.

Room on the Broom October 20 A production in aid of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. 3+ years. Cost £10. Mike & Andy’s …Big Box of Bananas October 20 A production in aid of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice with CBeebies star Andy Day. 3+ years. Cost £10. Rapunzel October 21 A lonely girl in a tower. 3 – 7 years. Cost £7.

Jacksons Lane

The Big Draw October 28 Art activities and workshops. 3+ years. Some ticketed events. Cost £2.

Shed Workshops September 15 – November 3 Performance skills 5 – 12 years. Cost £6/workshop or £36/course.

Rumpelstiltskin October 28 Includes entry to Big Draw. 3 – 7 years. Cost £8.

Chickenshed’s Challenge October 7 Charity fun run. Entry cost £8/£4.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy October 29 – 31 Puppets and live performance. 4+ years. Cost £5.

BLOOMSBURY THEATRE 15 Gordon Street, WC1H OAH ( Euston) 020 7388 8822 thebloomsbury.com Horrible Histories October 2 – 13 Live on stage – The Terrible Tudors and Vile Victorians. Cost £19.50/£15.50/Family £65. CHICKENSHED THEATRE Chase Side, Southgate, N14 4PE ( Cockfosters/Oakwood) 020 8292 9222 chickenshed.org.uk Tales from the Shed September 14 – November 3 Interactive performances on Fridays

Chickenshed Theatre

and Saturdays. 0 – 7 years. Cost £5.50/free for babies under 6 months.

Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay October 10 – 27 Political comedy. 8+ years. Cost £8. Autumn Shed October 29 – November 2 Create a play. 5 – 12 years. Cost £120 for 5 days. Sibling discounts available.

DUGDALE CENTRE Thomas Hardy House, 39 London Road, Enfield EN2 6DS (Enfield Town ) 020 8807 6680 dugdalecentre.co.uk Princess Brainbox September 28, 29 Cost £5. Teddy Time Stories October 20, 21 Favourite stories – bring a teddy. 4 – 7 years. Cost £8 / £7online. Rumpelstiltskin November 2, 3 Cost £5. HACKNEY EMPIRE 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ (Hackney Central) 020 8985 2424 hackneyempire.co.uk angelinaballerinalive.com Angelina Ballerina The Mousical September 14 – 16 Live on stage, also touring nationwide. 3+ years. Cost £16.50 – £10. JACKSONS LANE 269A Archway Road, N6 5AA ( Highgate)

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020 8341 4421 jacksonslane.org.uk The Snail & The Whale September 23 3+ years. The Gingerbread Man October 7 3 – 7 years. The Three Billy Pigs October 14 3+ years. Rumpelstiltskin October 21 3+ years. The Insect Circus October 29 – November 2 Bugs, beasts and creepy crawlies! Cost £12.95/Family (4) £40.

LAUDERDALE HOUSE Highgate Hill, Waterlow Park, London N6 ( Archway) 020 8348 8716 lauderdalehouse.co.uk Tickets £4.50 on the door or book online. Mini Mozart Workshop September 15 Special musical session. 0 – 7 years. Comedy Cello September 22 Music, comedy and joining in. 3 – 8 years. Around the World in 80 Days September 29 A journey on trains, boats and an elephant! 3 – 8 years. Family Cabaret September 30 Music, songs and magic. Cost £6. Half Term Activities Programme of events during October and school holidays. LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN ( Angel or Highbury Islington) 020 7226 1787 littleangeltheatre.com

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out and about theatres • concerts Potato Needs a Bath October 27 – November 2 At Royal Festival Hall. Mischievous potato celebrates his birthday with friends, Plum, Banana and Aubergine. 2 – 5 years. Cost £12.

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET 18 Suffolk Street, SW1Y 4HT ( Piccadilly Circus) 020 7930 8800 trh.co.uk Private Peaceful September 18 – 29 Private Peaceful looks back on his life – by author Michael Morpugo. 8+ years.

The Selfish Crocodile at Millfield Arts Centre

The Tear Thief September 22 – November 4 Modern fairytale written by Poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. Special ‘relaxed’ performance on October 6, for those finding it difficult to sit quietly. 3+ years. Tickets £12/£10/£5 (Fridays 5pm). Puppet Club From September 29 Puppet making workshops and show. 5 – 11 years. Cost £85.

PEACOCK THEATRE Portugal Street, WC2 ( Holborn) 0844 412 4322 sadlerswells.com Some Like it Hip Hop September 20 – October 13 Hip hop, comedy and physical theatre. Cost £12 – £38/children half price.

Youth Theatre From September 29 Puppet making and performances. 11+ years. Cost £85. Crafty Kids From October 13 Creative fun workshops and performance. 2 – 5 years. Cost £125. Fun Day October 31 Puppet making and show. 5 – 11 years. Cost £45.

LONDON COLISEUM St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES ( Charing Cross) eno.org The Magic Flute September 13 – October 18 An introduction to opera. Price range £12 – £95.

Puppet Theatre Barge

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Blomfield Road, Little Venice, W9 2PF ( Warwick Avenue) 020 7249 6876 puppetbarge.com Bottom’s Dream Until September 30 Performances on the barge moored at Richmond, TW10 6UT. 8+ years. Cost £10/£8.50. Millfield Arts Centre

The Three Little Pigs & Captain Grimey October 27 – November 4 Double-bill with three little pigs and the dirtiest sea captain in the world. Cost £10/£8.50.

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD ( Covent Garden) 020 7304 4000 roh.org.uk Swan Lake From October 8 Royal Ballet production. SOHO THEATRE 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE ( Tottenham Court Rd) 020 7287 5060 sohotheatre.com Comedy Club 4 Kids September 15, 29, October 13 Comedy for children. 8+ years. Cost £10/Family (4) £30. Soho Literary Festival September 27 – 30 SOUTH BANK CENTRE Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. ( Waterloo) 0844 847 9910 southbankcentre.co.uk

MILLFIELD ARTS CENTRE Silver Street, Edmonton, N18 (Silver Street ) 020 8807 6680 millfieldtheatre.co.uk The Selfish Crocodile September 22 A brave mouse helps a selfish crocodile with a toothache. Cost £8/£7online. There was an old lady… September 29 Nursery rhymes with music, puppets and comedy. 4+ years. Cost £9.50.

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THE TRICYCLE 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 020 7328 1000 tricycle.co.uk Tickets £7 or £5 in advance. Not Such an Ugly Duckling September 22 2 – 7 years. Mrs Bubbles & The Teddy Bears’ Picnic September 29 3 – 6 years. Peter and the Wolf October 6 3+ years. The Lazy Daisy Show October 13 3 – 7 years. Red Riding Hood & The Magic Purse October 20 3 – 7 years. Merlin and the Frost Dragon October 27 4+ years. UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ ( London Bridge) 020 7645 0560 unicorntheatre.com The Tear Thief Book Reading September 16 Juliet Stevenson reads aloud. Cost £8. A Winter’s Tale September 19 – November 16 Playground politics with an activity day, relaxed and audio described performances on selected dates. 7 – 10 years. Cost £16/£10. The Legend of Woesterdam September 21 – 23 An outdoor experience. 8 – 12 years. Cost £16/£10. Drawabout & The Big Draw October 7 Free drop-in drawing activities and special drawing experience at £5. Handa’s Surprise October 9 – 11

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workshops • special events out & about Puppets and live music. 2 – 5 years. Cost £16/£10.

Holiday Classes October 29 – 31

The Mysterious Vanishment of Pobby & Dingan October 30 – November 3 Love and loyalty. 9+ years. Cost £16/£10.

STUDIO FILM SCHOOL Muswell Hill, N10 0845 533 3763 studiofilmschool.co.uk Term Time Classes Film projects, directing, camera and performance on Thursdays. 7+ years.

WIGMORE HALL 36 Wigmore Street, W1U 2BP ( Bond Street) 020 7935 2141 wigmore-hall.org.uk Julian Lloyd Webber November 3

Creative Wiz Kids

Interactive concert with favourite cello pieces. 5+ years. Cost £7/£5.

Workshops CAMDEN ARTS CENTRE Arkwright Road, NW3 6DG ( Finchley Road) 020 7472 5500 camdenartscentre.org Clay for Infants/Juniors October 30 – November 2 Work with clay. 5 – 7 years & 8 – 11 years. Cost £140. A Sculptural Experience for Infants/Juniors October 30 – November 2 Different sculptural processes based on the exhibitions. 5 – 7 years & 8 – 11 years. Cost £140.

CREATIVE WIZ KIDS 020 7794 6797 creativewizkids.com October Half Term Club At Hampstead Garden Suburb NW11 7AH. 3 – 9 years. Mother Toddler Groups NW11 & NW3. 1- 3 years. DANNY GRANT SOCCER SCHOOL 020 8446 0891 dgsoccer.co.uk Half Term Courses October 22 – 26 At NW11. Action packed football courses. 3 – 12 years.

DRAMARAMA STAGE SCHOOL 020 8446 0891 dramarama.co.uk Holiday Courses October 22 – 26 Dramatots, Stage One, Musical Theatre and Street Dance workshops. 3 – 11 years.

(THE) CREATION STATION 0844 854 9085 thecreationstation.co.uk nina@thecreationstation.co.uk Little Explorers From September 17 Tuesdays: Fleet Road Community Centre, Hampstead NW3 Wednesdays: St Peter-le-Poer Church Hall, Muswell Hill, N10 Thursdays: St Mary’s Hall, Finchley N3 Art & craft sessions with a magic ideas box. Explore colour, texture and shape. Overalls provided. 1 – 5 years. Cost £7.50 per session. £4 for siblings.

CREATIVE MOVEMENTS At St Marys, Primrose Hill, NW3 3DJ 020 7435 8217 creativemovements.co.uk Half Term Workshops October 22 – November 2 3 – 6 years and 4 – 8 years.

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GILL’S COOKERY WORKSHOP NW11 020 8458 2608 gillscookeryworkshop.co.uk Half Term Classes October 29 – November 2 Cost £95 for 2 days/£50 for one day. ISLINGTON TENNIS CENTRE Market Road, N7 9PL 020 7700 1370 aquaterra.org Half Term Tennis October 29 – November 2 Tennis courses. 5+ years.

KIDZ ON THE HILL Muswell Hill 07881 553480 kidzonthehill.co.uk Dinkie Ballet Drop-in on Tuesdays at St Andrew’s centre. 2+ years. PERFORM 0845 400 4000 perform.org.uk

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WIGMORE HALL 36 Wigmore Street, W1U 2BP ( Bond Street) 020 7935 2141 wigmore-hall.org.uk For Crying Out Loud! September 13 Concerts for babies under 1 year. Cost £6 per adult. Open House Day September 22 Rehearsal and workshop. Free dropin. All ages. Toddler Bop October 4 Interactive workshop. 1 – 2 years. Cost £6 per child. Chamber Tots October 17, 26 Music workshop. 2 – 5 years. Cost £6 per child. Jazz Junction October 30, 31 Young musicians workshop. 11+ years. Cost £40. And the Kitchen Sink! November 2 Family day workshop. 5+ years. Cost £12/£8.

THE BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL 2012 Bloomsbury, WC1N 1NX bloomsburyfestival.org.uk October 20, 21 Full programme includes dance, drama and workshops.

BRENT COUNCIL brent.gov.uk A Golden Summer September 9 At Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane, NW2. Free event with workshops, performances and stalls. BRENT CROSS CENTRE Hendon, NW4 3FP ( Hendon Central) 020 8202 8095 brentcross.co.uk Brent Cross Kids Club Fun activities every Saturday. 3 – 13 years. Free. BRITISH LIBRARY 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB ( Kings Cross) bl.uk The Hobbit at 75 September 21 Readings, conversations and guests. Cost £7.50. Jubilation! October 5 Celebrate 50 years of Jamaican Independence. Poetry, songs and readings. Cost £7.50.

ANGEL CANAL FESTIVAL Islington, N1 8JX ( Angel) angelcanalfestival.org September 2 Includes stalls, fun fair and story telling. Free admission.

CAMDEN COUNCIL lovecamden.org Africa Express September 8 At Granary Square, N1C 4AA. Musicians grand finale. Free and ticketed events. Swiss Cottage Festival September 16 At Swiss Cottage Community Centre, NW3 3NR. Stalls and activities. Queen’s Crescent Festival September 22 At Queens Crescent Community Centre, NW5 4QE. Live performances, parade and workshops. Apple Identification Workshops October 20 Learn to choose, pick and store apples. Adult event.

BARNET WALKS Paul Baker 020 8440 6805 barnetwalks.talktalk.net Halloween Ghost Walk October 27 – 31 Special spooky walk through High Barnet and Monken Hadley. Spookiest costume prize. Cost £7/£3.

CAPEL MANOR GARDENS Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, EN1 4RQ (M25/J25) 08456 122122 capelmanorgardens.co.uk Halloween Howler October 28 Pumpkin carving, craft activities, face painting and storytelling. Admission £5.50/£2.50/family £13.50 (2+3)/ under 5s free.

Special Events ALEXANDRA PALACE Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY ( Wood Green) 020 8365 2121 alexandrapalace.com Dolls House & Miniatures Fair October 21 Cost £6/£2.50.

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out and about special events • further afield Festival of Theatre October 20 Held at Arts Depot, N12. See Theatre listings for information.

Halloween Story Telling on the London Eye

EDF ENERGY LONDON EYE londoneye.com Halloween Storytelling Experience October 27 – November 4 Take part in spooky activities on the London Eye with priority boarding and Halloween character host. 4 – 9 years. Cost £25.50/£15. Online discounts. ENFIELD COUNCIL enfield.gov.uk/events Story Telling Festival September 8 At Enfield Town Park, EN2 6TH. Stories, stalls, food and activities. Free family event. Bandstand Marathon September 9 At Broomfield, Hillyfields and Ponders End Parks – closing event of the London 2012 Games. Rainton’s Pageant October 29 – November 2 At Forty Hall & Estate. Creative workshops and festival activities. Parade November 3 Starts at Enfield Town Market Square. FENTON HOUSE Windmill Hill, NW3 6RT 020 7435 3471 nationaltrust.org.uk Apple Weekend September 15, 16 Tastings, stalls, activities and bee keeping demonstrations. Cost £3/£1. LEE VALLEY PARK 08456 770 600 (M25) leevalleypark.org.uk Summer Wildlife Spectacular September 15 At WaterWorks Nature Reserve. Activities to celebrate Lee Valley wildlife. Free. Countryside Live September 29, 30 Wildlife and countryside activities at WaterWorks Nature Reserve. Adults £6/£4/ children free.

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(ZSL) LONDON ZOO Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY ( Regent’s Park) 020 7722 3333 zsl.org Little Creatures Festival September 1, 2 Family fun activities, special performances and gourmet food festival. Late closing. Admission with gift aid £23/£17/under 3s free. MAYOR’S THAMES FESTIVAL thamesfestival.org Festival September 8 – 9 Free festival with music, dance and activities to celebrate the end of the London 2012 Games. The National Theatre September 8 – 9 Free indoor and outdoor theatre events. NCT – HARINGEY branch@haringeynct.org Speed Bumps September 6 At the Old Dairy, 1-3 Crouch Hill, N4 4AP. For those expecting babies between October & December to meet other families. Nearly New Sale September 15 At Union Church Hall, N8 9TA. First Aid Courses October 6 At The Laundry, Crouch Hill, N19 4EL. Charges apply.

NCT – TOTTENHAM nearlynewsale@tottenhamnct.org.uk Nearly New Sale October 20, 11am At Downhills Primary School, N15 4AB. Clothes, toys and equipment, also café and baby fair. NOAH’S ARK CHILDREN’S HOSPICE noahsarkhospice.org.uk

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OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND londonopenhouse.org open-city.org.uk. Annual event to explore buildings around London not normally open to the public. King’s Cross September 22 N1C 4AA. Festival activities and tours around the area. Alexandra Palace September 22 Visit the historic BBC Television Studio, the Victorian Theatre and explore the park. Free. ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ ( Charing Cross) 020 7766 1100 smitf.org Mini Maestro Family Concert September 8, October 13 Listen, learn and join in. Tickets £8.50/£6.50. SUTTON HOUSE NATIONAL TRUST 2 & 4 Homerton High St, Hackney E9 6JQ ( Bethnal Green) 020 8986 2264 nationaltrust.org.uk Family Day September 30 Performances, planting and games.

Further Afield BABY EXPO UK The Centre:mk, Milton Keynes (M1/J14) babyexpobabyshow.co.uk Baby Show 2012 September 29, 30 Exhibitors, demo classes, book signings and general advice. Register online. CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS ( Sloane Square) 020 7352 5646 chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk Art of the Garden October 30 Art and craft activities. Booking essential. 4+ years. Creepy Crawling October 31 Hands-on activities with creepy crawlies. Booking essential. 4+ years.

LEEDS CASTLE Nr Maidstone, Kent (M20/J8) 01622 765400 leeds-castle.com

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Halloween Half Term October 27 – November 2 Mask making and spooky themed crafts. Annual entry £19.75/£12.50.

MEAD OPEN FARM Stanbridge Road, Billington, Bedfordshire LU7 9JH 01525 852954 meadopenfarm.co.uk Freaky Fortnight Halloween events including fancy dress competitions, haunted castle, creepy tots corner and pumpkin carving. Each event carries a ghoul rating! Entry charges apply. NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HT ( Sloane Square) 020 7730 0717 national-army-museum.ac.uk Book Festival September 8, 9 British Military history with authors and historians. Cost £15 one day/ £25 for 2 days. ODDS FARM PARK Wooburn Common Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 OLX (J2/M40) 01628 520188 oddsfarm.co.uk Spooky Halloween Fun October half term Magic shows, trails and pumpkin carving on selected dates. Come in fancy dress. Entry charges apply. SNAKES & LADDERS Blackburn Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 5BQ 01582 660111 snakes-and-ladders.co.uk Pirate Day September 19 Grandparents Come Free October 7 WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY Forest Road, E17 4PP (Walthamstow Central ) 020 8496 4390 wmgallery.org.uk Creative Kids September 20 Explore pattern and texture in Grayson Perry’s Walthamstow Tapestry. Booking essential. Under 5 years. Free. Open House September 23 Free tours of the newly refurbished building. Booking recommended. The Big Draw October 27 Draw patterns. Free drop-in sessions.

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15744a 07.12

Pumpkin Festival

RM VILLAGE FA

27th October - 4th November 2012

FREE pumpkin for each child admission

Pumpkin Olympics Pumpkin Animal Farm Pumpkin Hunt Match the Scarecrows Pumpkin carving competitions Zootacular Animal Show Pumpkin Hoopla

Plus all your favourite Willows farmyard fun and adventure play

Just 200 metres from Jnc. 22 M25. Willows Farm Village, Coursers Rd, London Colney, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 0PF

Open daily 10am - 5.30pm Tel: 0870 129 9718 www.willowsfarmvillage.com

Programme subject to change – we recommend wellington boots are worn for the Pumpkin Patch which can be muddy at this time of year.

Weatherproof Willows

We've loads of under cover fun!

Woolly Jumpers indoor play barn Under cover and heated Young Drivers Zone and ride on Rabbit Racers Farmyard Favourites Woolly’s Showtime Theatre Captain Chicken’s Egg Dodge Young Chicks Activity Area