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Welcome
It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of another academic year! The final weeks are always filled with sports days, school performances and celebrations, so I hope you’re able to enjoy some special moments with your children before the summer holidays begin.
A special congratulations to all the children moving on to secondary school this September. It’s a big milestone, and while it can feel emotional, they are ready for the exciting journey ahead.
In this issue, you’ll find our Summer What’s On guide, to help you plan days out and advice for the whole family, including your pets staying safe this summer.
Whether you’re travelling, exploring Suffolk or enjoying time at home, I hope you have a wonderful summer
Stacey Phillips
A summer to remember
St Joseph’s College is offering an exciting series of day camps for children across the county.
Even when the final bell rings and the summer holidays are well and truly underway, St Joseph’s College is keeping their gates open with the offering of nine different summer day camp activities.
The day camps will be held across the 60-acre campus located in Ipswich and vary from guided football coaching to art workshops inspired by the natural world. And the best part is, you don’t need to be an existing student at St Joseph's College to enjoy these sessions. The independent school is welcoming children aged 8-17 years to experience an enriching summer on their campus.
As hosts of the famed National Schools Rugby Festival, which is celebrating its 40th year this October, St Joseph’s College will (of course) be offering an excellent rugby camp designed by the former Championship Director of Rugby, Rowland Winter, to enhance both confidence and performance. Attendees will focus on skill development, physical conditioning and tactical awareness whilst enjoying a mix of gameplay and athletic development.
Ipswich Town legend and St Joseph’s College Director of Football, Mr Cole Skuse, will support football enthusiasts as they refine their technical abilities through guided coaching sessions, small-sided games and stimulating challenges.
Netball players will take part in engaging training sessions that build both individual technique and team play, developed by the 3-time World Cup player and captain of Fiji, the school’s Head of Netball, Mrs Maria Lutua.
Cricketers will leave with the essential skills needed for success across batting, bowling and fielding, supported by expert coaching and practice in real-game scenarios to build their confidence for the summer season ahead.
Whilst known for their incredible sporting achievements, St Joseph’s College is no stranger to outstanding art contributions. This summer, children can take inspiration from talented and established artists, including Lily Hammond and Anita Honeyball, as they explore a wide range of creative materials and processes, such as collage, clay-building, papier-mâché lanterns and observational sketches.
The camps will be running across July and August and gives children the chance to reach their potential both on and off the pitch. And it does not matter if their new to the sport or already have a deep passion for it, all are welcome!
The Moon:
26 June – 19 September 2026
Free entry, suitable for all
Touch a real moon rock and explore Suffolk space stories at our free, family-friendly summer exhibition. Discover the science and mythology of the moon and re-live historic moments in lunar discovery and more! Journey through the stars at a pop-up planetarium. Marvel at a giant inflatable solar system and enjoy Let’s Get Crafty events with your little stars. Find out more about this touring exhibition from Bespoke Scientific at suffolkarchives.co.uk or scan the QR code below.
LET’S GET CRAFTY: SPACE
Suffolk Archives' Let's Get Crafty team will touch down at:
l Stowmarket Library (22 July)
l Bury St Edmunds Library (30 July)
l Haverhill Library (13 August)
l Lowestoft Library (18 August) for some out of this world arts and crafts fun for 4-11-year-olds.
They will also be at The Hold Ipswich on 29 July, 30 July and 13 August. There are also relaxed sessions at The Hold for children who like a quieter space on 29 July and 13 August (booking required).
Keep Kids Safe, Cool and Active: Summer Exercise and Water Safety Tips for Families
Summer is a brilliant time for families to get active together, but warmer weather brings extra challenges.
When children exercise in the heat, it is important to plan ahead so activity stays fun, healthy and safe. Try to keep energetic sessions to cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or later evening, and make sure children drink water regularly before, during and after exercise. Lightweight clothing, sun cream, hats and shaded rest breaks can all help prevent overheating. Parents and carers should also watch for signs of heat exhaustion, including dizziness, tiredness, headaches or unusually flushed skin.
Water-based activities can be a great way to stay cool, but they also require close supervision. Whether children are swimming, paddling, playing at the beach or enjoying a day by the pool, adults should stay nearby and keep constant watch. Young children should always be within arm's reach in or near water, even if they seem confident. It is also worth reminding children that inflatables can drift quickly and should never be relied on as safety equipment. Swimming remains one of the best
summer activities for children because it builds confidence, fitness and vital life skills. However, water safety rules should always come first.
Teach children to enter the water carefully, follow poolside instructions and never swim alone.
If visiting open water, check conditions carefully and choose lifeguarded areas where possible.
With a little preparation, families can enjoy an active summer while staying safe, cool and confident around water.
Swimming • Junior Gym • Soft Play • Racquet Sports
babyballet Suffolk South offers magical pre-school dance classes for little stars aged 6 months–6 years. Move, sing, and play while building confidence, coordination, and social skills in our fun, inclusive, welcoming classes.
Find out more and sign up to a local class.
Would your child know what to do in a first aid situation?
First Aid with Bertie is a brand new and exciting programme designed by experts at St John Ambulance aimed at teaching children between the ages of 5 – 11 basic first aid skills. Your child will learn what items can be found in a first aid kit, how to make an arm sling and lots more!
For a small monthly gift of £9, your child will be sent fun and engaging activity packs, colouring pages and stickers over the course of six months (some by post, other via email). All the activities are designed to be completed in the comfort of your own home and at your child’s own pace. At the end of those six months, your child will receive a cute cuddly toy of Bertie Badger along with a certificate to celebrate their achievement!
Keep your child busy and entertained this summer whilst also having them learn new and potentially vital skills!
For more information visit: www.sja.org.uk/fab
Scan the QR code to access First Aid with Bertie Registered charity no. 1077265/1
Becoming a parent is exciting, but it can also bring big changes, new challenges and plenty of uncertaintyand there’s no handbook to guide you. Many parents want information, reassurance and support, but it’s not always obvious where to find it.
That’s why Knowing Works wants to hear from you.
The Best Start Family Voice network will support local parents, carers, and guardians to share real experiences of support from pregnancy through to early childhood.
With your help and insight, Knowing Works will shape the support offered through Suffolk’s Best Start approach — a plan focused on giving every child the strongest foundations for learning and development by the age of five.
Knowing works will contact you with news about local support for parents and ways you could help shape the information and support available to parents like you. This could include taking part in surveys, meetings, focus groups or other opportunities.
Best Start Family Hubs are on the way – and you can shape the support they will offer
A key part of this work is to inform the launch of Best Start Family Hubs across Suffolk.
Building on Suffolk’s existing Family Hubs services, these Best Start Family Hubs will bring together services and activities supporting family life and child development in one welcoming place, making it easier for families to get early, joined-up support.
They will aim to offer welcoming spaces where all families feel comfortable asking for help.
Knowing Works is hosting this network on behalf of Suffolk County Council as it works with local people and partners to introduce the Best Start offer and service in Suffolk.
By sharing your experiences, you can help to ensure Best Start Family Hubs - and wider support for families - truly reflects what parents need.
Sign up to hear from the network now using the QR code. There’s no specific time commitment –you can get as involved as you like, and for as long as you like.
Keeping Your Family Safe Around Open Water
Whether it's paddling at the beach, crabbing from the shore, bodyboarding with friends or taking a refreshing dip on a hot day, Suffolk's coastline and waterways offer brilliant opportunities for family adventures.
But open water isn't the same as a swimming pool. Rivers, lakes and the sea can be unpredictable, so a few simple steps can help keep everyone safe.
Before you go
Choose family-friendly places to swim or paddle.
Lifeguarded beaches are the safest option – swim between the flags if they're in place.
Check the weather and tide times.
Avoid swimming after heavy rainfall, when water quality may be affected. Avoid swimming after heavy rainfall, when water quality may be affected.
A quick chat matters
Children copy what they see, and teenagers can sometimes take risks with friends. Remind them:
• Never jump into water without checking it's safe.
• Don't swim alone.
• It's always okay to say, "No thanks."
Cold water can be a shock
Even in summer, the sea, rivers and lakes can be surprisingly cold. Cold water can affect your breathing and make it harder to move. If you're going in:
• Enter the water slowly.
• Give your body time to adjust.
• Stay calm and focus on steady breathing.
Watch the water
Young children should always be supervised near water.
• Stay within arm's reach.
• Armbands and inflatables are toys, not lifesaving devices.
• Put phones away and avoid distractions.
If you get into trouble: Float to live
Tilt your head back. Relax. Float.
• Keep your ears under the water
• Spread your arms and legs.
• Control your breathing.
• Once calm, call for help or swim to safety.
It's a simple skill that could save your life and one that's worth practising in a supervised setting.
Cohabitation Without Marriage: What Couples Need to Know About Their Legal Rights
Family Law advice from Samantha Markham, Associate, Ellisons Family Department
Increasing numbers of couples in the UK are choosing to live together without getting married, yet many people remain unaware that living together does not give couples the same legal protections as marriage. Misunderstanding this can lead to significant financial and property disputes when relationships break down.
The Myth of “Common Law Marriage”
Many people living in long-term relationships are under the illusion that living together for a certain number of years gives them the same legal status as a married couple. This is not the case. In England and Wales, “common law marriage” is not recognised by the courts, regardless of how long you have been living with your partner or whether you have children together.
As it stands, on separation or death, cohabiting partners do not have the same automatic rights as married couples and civil partners.
What Rights Do Cohabiting Couples Have?
Perhaps the biggest distinction between marriage and cohabitation is the financial protection available after separation.
Married couples can ask the court to redistribute assets, pensions and income to achieve a fair outcome. Unmarried couples, however, usually cannot make the same financial claims against one another. Unless children are involved, claims are typically limited to property ownership disputes and the repayment of specific financial contributions.
This means one partner could leave a long-term relationship with little legal entitlement, even after years of shared living arrangements.
A key issue for unmarried couples is ownership of the family home. Where both parties are named on the title deeds, ownership is generally more straightforward. However, difficulties can arise where:
• Only one partner owns the property.
• One person contributes to the mortgage without being named on the title deeds.
Cohabitation Agreements
If you are living with your partner, a cohabitation agreement allows unmarried couples to set out their financial rights and responsibilities should they separate. The agreement can cover a range of issues, including ownership of property, how any equity would be divided, how other assets would be shared, responsibility for debts and how savings would be distributed.
If you have questions about your rights as a cohabiting couple, or if your relationship has broken down and you need advice, we are here to help with clear, empathetic and expert guidance tailored to your individual circumstances.
• One partner pays for renovations or household expenses. Although someone not named on the title deeds may still be able to establish an interest in the property through financial contributions or agreements between the parties, these disputes can become costly and complex.
Both parents have ongoing financial responsibilities for their children, regardless of marital status. The parent caring for the children may be able to apply for child maintenance and certain orders relating to housing under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
Keeping your family pets safe and happy this Summer
Summer is a wonderful time for families and pets alike.
Longer days, warmer weather and more opportunities to get outdoors mean plenty of adventures with our fourlegged friends. However, the summer months can also bring challenges, and it's important to take extra care to keep pets safe, healthy and comfortable during hot weather.
One of the biggest risks for pets in summer is overheating. Dogs, cats and smaller animals can struggle to regulate their body temperature when temperatures rise. Always ensure your pets have access to fresh, clean water and plenty of shade, whether they are in the garden or out and about. Never leave a pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise dangerously quickly, putting pets at serious risk of heatstroke.
Dog walks are best enjoyed during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening. Hot pavements can burn sensitive paws, so it's worth checking the temperature with the back of your hand before heading out. If it's too hot for you to hold comfortably, it's too hot for your dog.
Many families enjoy spending time near water during the summer. While some dogs are natural swimmers, others may not be confident in the water.
Always supervise pets around rivers, lakes and the coast, and be aware of strong currents and hidden hazards. After a swim, rinse off salt water or algae, which can cause irritation or illness if ingested.
Summer can also mean more visitors, BBQ's and outdoor gatherings. While pets often enjoy being part of the action, loud noises, unfamiliar guests and tempting food can create problems. Keep an eye on what pets can access, as foods such as onions, grapes, chocolate and cooked bones can be harmful.
Don't forget smaller pets too. Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals can be particularly vulnerable to heat. Move hutches out of direct sunlight, provide frozen water bottles wrapped in towels for cooling, and ensure good ventilation throughout the day.
With a little extra planning and care, summer can be a fantastic season for pets and their families. Whether you're exploring Suffolk's countryside, enjoying a day at the beach or simply relaxing in the garden, keeping your pet's wellbeing in mind will help ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer.
JOIN US AT OUR free
Summer Stay and Play Sessions
Tuesday 21 July
Tuesday 28 July
Tuesday 04 August Tuesday 11 August
Sign up for our summer Stay and Play sessions (ages 2 -5) where you can come and experience our Nursery. An opportunity to play together, enjoy some stories, arts and crafts and go on some outdoor adventures.
The sessions will run from 09:30 - 11:30 in our purpose-built Early Years Building at Framlingham College Prep School, IP13 7AH Free of charge | Siblings welcome
Scan the QR code to book or go to framlinghamcollege.co.uk/stayandplay
Themed Stay and Play dates also available. See website for details. PREP SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Friday 02 October 2026 10:00 - 13:00
Let’s see who you are...
To register, visit framlinghamcollege.co.uk/admissions
