Issuu

SouthWest January/February 2016

Nursery Special Feature Why every mum should dance! Fresh New Year New You ideas for 2016

What you need to know when choosing a nursery or playgroup

Diary dates and events suitable for children ®

ANNIVERSARY YEARS

Are we over-testing our children? FARMERS’ MARKETS Helping children cope in difficult times School Open Days

Really useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds in SW London Find us online: FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk

Dreaming of relocating your family to Surrey?

Property Potential is a family-focused, professional home search company. We are your eyes and ears on the ground saving you wasted journeys to view unsuitable houses. Our excellent contacts mean we are first to hear about the very best properties before they hit the open market. Call Maranda (07776 779993) or Jen (07776 779998) to see how we can help you.

hello@propertypotentialsurrey.co.uk www.propertypotentialsurrey.co.uk

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Jan/Feb 2016

Contents Families® SW London | January-February 2016 | Issue 253

We wish all our readers a

peaceful

FEATURES

New Year

06-07 New Year New You Fresh ideas for 2016 09-14 Education •School news •Open days •Are we over-testing our children? See pages 27-41 for our Nursery Special Feature

IN EVERY ISSUE

22-23 Dance yourself happy Why dancing is good for us 24

Travel Should you go on holiday with another family?

Health and well-being How art therapy can help children cope

04-05 Local news 08

Families ‘Top 5’ this month

18-19 Club & Classes news 42-46 What’s On •Diary dates & events •Theatre •Museums and galleries •Days out 47

Classified

ADVERTISE IN OUR NEXT ISSUE: Contact us on 020 8696 9680

Jan/Feb 2016

27-41 Nursery Feature •Nursery news •What you need to know when choosing a nursery or playgroup •The power of play •To ipad or not to ipad? Find us on Facebook & Twitter FamiliesSW

Please tell

Local News

advertisers you saw them

in Families

Picture credit to Bourton Meadow School

It makes a HUGE difference Thank you

Register now for wear a hat day Wear A Hat Day is a fun-filled, annual brain tumour awareness event helping support research. The organiser, Brain Tumour Research, is asking families and children and schools across the UK to put 27 March 2015 in their diaries and don a hat to support the cause. Involving families and school children in the campaign is poignant, given that brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. Children have lost parents, family members and teachers, and in many classrooms there remains a tragic reminder of a child whose life has been lost or damaged by this cruel cancer. Schools, nurseries, organisations and individuals can all register by visiting : braintumourresearch.org/wearahatday Note: Just to be safe it is always best to avoid prolonged proximity of any wifi enabled devices next to your child; this includes your wifi router. A simple basic precaution consists of turning it off at night. Ed.

Publishers James and Pascale Gravell celebrated 25 amazing years with advertisers and the team–journalists, designer, sales support, marketing, distributing team, etc, at Eddie Catz’s premises in Putney. A great evening looking back over our 25 years in business and looking forward to a further 25! Families is going from strength to strength. Watch out for an amazing new website with state of the art search facilities, WhatsOn apps and more.

Boosting sports in Battersea Plans for a new 3G all-weather pitch in Falcon Park are afoot, as part of an initiative to boost sports for young people in Battersea. The £1.3m pitch will hopefully gain approval this winter, and would replace four existing grass pitches which are regularly unplayable in the winter months. Replacing them with an all weather playing surface means young footballers and other sports clubs could use them for around 80 hours a week – a huge increase on what is currently possible. Although the new pitch would most often be used for local boys and girls’ football clubs, there may also be scope for cricket too. Fingers crossed for the local clubs!

Big Garden Birdwatch Last year over half a million people took part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, spotting more than 8.5 million birds across the UK, and the organisers are hoping this year's watch will be a record-breaking event. This year's survey takes part on 30 and 31 January. To take part, simply spend one hour counting the birds in your garden or local park, and record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time. The morning is the best time to look, when the birds are out and about feeding after a cold winter night. To sign up for a free Big Garden Birdwatch 2016 pack, go to : rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Jan/Feb 2016

Local News Cinema for less

Get sporty in H&F

Take a look at BFI Southbank’s new £3 ticket offer in their new 25 & Under scheme. With savings on tickets to events and Q&As as well as the cinema, you can save over £8 on regular priced tickets. Not bad at all! The scheme follows on from a successful trial at this year's BFI London Film Festival, where last minute £5 tickets were offered to young people. So whether it's the latest critical hit, a must-see indie flick or a Q&A with talent such as recent guests John Waters or Judi Dench, the BFI Southbank has an event to suit every taste. It’s a must for everyone from budding filmmakers to young film fans, cinephiles and students. : bfi.org.uk/southbank

Hammersmith and Fulham council has announced new plans for sports facilities in Hammersmith Park. A previous scheme was for all-weather sport facilities, a bar and car park, however residents raised concerns about the scale of the scheme and the loss of potential community use. The new scheme is not only less intrusive and more beneficial but the plans involve much wider availability to local schools and residents, earlier closing times and the facility remaining under the ownership of the council. It includes a 10pitch centre, club house, a new café and a large number of cycle racks. Keep your eyes peeled – it should be open later in the spring.

Cleaner, greener and cheaper This month Co-wheels Car Club, a social enterprise and the UK’s largest independent operator of its kind, lands in Wandsworth. With 10 low emission pay-as-you-go cars available for residents, the Car Club is also a community interest company, with all of their profits ploughed back into expanding and improving the service, and keeping rates as low as possible for members. With their cars polluting 40% less than the average public-owned car, this car club’s mission is to help get cars off the road by encouraging car sharing, to improve the environment and congestion in city centres. A great idea, we’re sure you will agree! There are more bays planned for later in 2016, and now new members can join for free with no annual membership fees. To claim your code go to co-wheels.org.uk/wandsworth

A taste of democracy for Merton Children in Merton got a feeler for democracy in Local Democracy Week, when the Civic Centre opened its doors to the borough’s primary school children. With lots of activities plus a tour of the building, children took a look at the Council Chamber where all the major decisions are made, and visited the Mayor’s Parlour where the Mayor spoke to them about his ceremonial duties. MP Siobhain McDonagh also took schools from her constituency on a tour of the Houses of Parliament. What an opportunity! Local Democracy Week aims to encourage democratic participation and inspire young people to get involved in local politics. ‘Our young people are the future of this borough and Local Democracy Week is a great way to spark their interest in local decision making,’ said Merton’s cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Maxi Martin. Find out more at : congress-eldw.eu

Recycle your cards to plant new trees The UK’s largest woodland conservation charity is calling on the public to recycle their cards this Christmas to help plant thousands of trees across the UK. For every 1,000 cards dropped in to M&S stores for recycling throughout January, a new tree will be planted in the UK. The Woodland Trust and M&S have set an ambitious target to collect and recycle six million Christmas cards and therefore plant 6,000 trees. The Woodland Trust has been planting trees and standing up for woodland for 40 years. Today, the charity owns more than 1,000 woods which are open year round for the public to enjoy free of charge. : woodlandtrust.org.uk

DID YOU KNOW?

BUY THIS

Simple wireless precautions for pregnant women More than one hundred medical doctors, scientists and public health experts from around the world have signed a Joint Statement advising pregnant women to take simple precautions to protect themselves and their babies from wireless radiation. The Statement is part of a national right-to-know campaign called the Babysafe Project created by two non-profit organizations to inform pregnant women about the issue.

Organic hemp for kids Brand new hemp and organic clothing range for children, Poco Rosso is not only good for the planet – it’s long lasting and fun, and comes at supermarket prices! Mum of two Emma is passionate about her natural and chemical free range, so no nasties next to your child’s skin. Mix and match the collection of essentials with an array of funky colours, for ages 3-8. Check out her ethical fashion at : bohohemp.com

: babysafeproject.org/the-joint-statement

Jan/Feb 2016

New Year New You Fresh ideas for 2016 Health and Wellness event 16th January 2016

Tired of trying all the latest diets?

Need health and fitness advice? Don’t know where to turn to or who to speak to? The purpose of the Health and Wellness event in Streatham is to help individuals make their New Year’s resolutions a reality. It will bring together a selection of health and wellness specialists who can help make that happen.

Rita Arora Pharmacist and Nutritionist BSc Hons mBANT tells Families:

There will be a variety of therapists in attendance, including a hypnotherapist, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, a beauty therapist, a healer and more. There will be fitness specialists present, including a holistic personal trainer, a dance teacher and a yoga instructor. A money-saving expert will be there to help with financial wellbeing. Attendees will benefit from face to face consultations, rather than simply enquiring by phone or looking up services online. They will also benefit from live demonstrations, special offers and discounts on a range of services. They really are looking to kick-start 2016 in a positive way and can’t wait to help others do the same! Families will definitely visit!

“For anyone looking to truly make sustainable changes in not only their weight management, but also looking for abundant energy, Nutripharm is the programme for them. The results speak for themselves and you only have to do a web search on metabolic balance® to see not only the celebrities, but normal people talking about the changes they've experienced that go beyond weight management.”

So why does it work? “Metabolic Balance® basically resets your hormone levels, in particular insulin. Insulin is the hormone that stops us accessing our fat stores, so when we eat the wrong foods, levels increase and we struggle to lose weight. By eating the right foods, at the right times we keep insulin low, we help create another hormone called glucagon which allows the liver to burn fat for energy. This resets our metabolism, and when that balances we start to feel and see the benefits.”

Marvel Coaching At Dunraven Secondary School, 94-98 Leigham Court Road, SW16 2QB. 10am-4pm. Free event. For information email Kelly@marvelcoaching.com or call ( 07716 802738

Mention this article when you call or email to receive 20% off the normal price of the programme. : nutripharm.co.uk ( 07738 275546

Try a virtual complementary health clinic? The Health Circle is a group of highly experienced complementary health practitioners working in south west London. They are currently working in Clapham, Balham, Tooting, Battersea, Earlsfield, Putney, Wandsworth and Streatham as well as Fulham, Chelsea and Noting Hill Gate. They run their health practices and classes as individual practitioners and come together to offer a cohesive and comprehensive service. They offer a wide range of services including Acupuncture, Hypnotherapy, Medical Herbalism, Nutrition, Pilates, Personal Fitness, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Massage. They have all worked here in south London for many years so you know you can rely on their expertise.

How can The Health Circle help me? The New Year is a fantastic time to ‘start anew’ as there’s a natural momentum and focus. It is a great time to really look at your underlying health and wellbeing - the aches and pains that won’t go away, the constant exhaustion, the colds and coughs that pass around the family, that bloated feeling you’ve been meaning to do something about. Meet the Health Circle at the Streatham Wellness Event 2016 on 16th January, meet the practitioners, New Year discounts. : thehealthcircle.co.uk ( 07951 155869 info@thehealthcircle.co.uk

The Junior Lawyers’ Club Not just for aspiring lawyers!

Workshops for 8-11 year olds

Learn the skills of a Lawyer through role-play and drama

Debate - Advocacy - Drama Raising confidence, mental agility and self esteem through fun activities Venues in Kensington and Wimbledon

www.juniorlawyersclub.co.uk info@juniorlawyersclub.co.uk 6

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Jan/Feb 2016

New Year New You Fresh start for your home Bored of cold, white, soulless interiors? We’ve come across a stunning interior design company offering cutting edge design and even modern frescoes for your home. Gambedotti Design is an Italian design company which started in the 90s, from developing properties in stunning locations to finishing the interiors to specific high end designs. These restoration commissions required detailed knowledge of old techniques and new technologies that would allow them to replicate some classic designs. Slowly they put together an expert team of fine art craftsmen who were able to marry the old with the new and create some very special designs. They quickly realised that some of these old techniques were time-consuming and very expensive, so they set about finding ways to create better designs using technology and modern techniques which enabled them to work more effectively without compromising the final result. From this were born modern frescoes where they use new technology and cutting edge design to create classical and modern images for the home or business. “Alberto and his team at Gambedotti Design listened to our ideas and in a very short time grasped our vision. Their professionalism, organisational abilities, practical suggestions and eye for detail, left us in little doubt that we were dealing with a company that knew their onions. Well Done” Haidee Colley-Banks, Balham SW12 The results are truly stunning and unique. See : gambedottidesign.com to see their work. Contact in the UK is Chester Harriott ( 0786 3305 409. Commission a genuine fresco for your house

Making ‘the move’ Returning to town after staying with family and friends in the country over the Christmas period leaves many of us driving back up the motorway with happy memories fresh in our minds of the wonderful fresh air, long country walks and congenial Christmas tipple at the village pub as we plough through the inevitable traffic back to city life. So what holds you back from making the move?

1. Will my children get a school place? We all want our children to have the best education they can. There are many excellent, small village schools that provide them with a wonderful introduction to school life plus you get to meet other parents and instantly become part of the local community.

Marvel Coaching

2. What about the commute? Our top tip to make the logistics of the daily commute more bearable is, when house hunting, to pinpoint where the smaller stations are that are dotted around the commuter hotspot stations. Not only will your drive to the station be shorter, parking will be cheaper, if not free.

3. I’ll be isolated There is life after London! The main commuter areas, in particular, are packed with families just like you who have made the move from London, and everybody’s keen to make new friends. Jen Butcher & Maranda Jones run Property Potential Surrey, : propertypotentialsurrey.co.uk hello@propertypotentialsurrey.co.uk Jan/Feb 2016

Fed up repeating the same resolutions year after year due to lack of success? Determined to make those plans a reality this time around? Need help staying on track? Contact Marvel Coaching today and we can help you move forward. 07716 802738 Kelly@marvelcoaching.com

Families ‘Top 5’ this month Here are our Top 5 family activities to fill those long winter days in January and February. Cracking Codes

HMS Belfast The Queen's Walk SE1 2JH : iwm.org.uk/visits/hmsbelfast 9-10 January Intercept messages, map hazards on a sea chart and make up your own secret code in these truly immersive family workshops. Learn about the skills intelligence officers had to have as well as some of the dangers that surrounded HMS Belfast at sea. And after that, explore the historic warship to discover what life was like on board for the crew at war and at sea from WW2 to 1963. It’s a great family day out – we love it! 11am-12.30pm and 24pm. Free with admission fee. Plus, don’t miss Darning and Yarning during half term, 13-21 February, and learn about the Royal Navy and life onboard as you take part in a cross stitch activity. £15-£25, under 16s £15, family tickets £70

Half Term Activities at the Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN : museumoflondon.org.uk 13-21 February Choose from We Could Be Heroes, My Family’s Museum Adventure, The Everyday Heroes of Postman’s Park, Hero Boogie and much, much more in this monumental range of activities at the wonderful Museum of London. The museum goes from strength to strength with their range of workshops, art drop-in sessions and dress-ups throughout February and beyond – it is one of my family’s favourites and well worth a look. Age ranges vary, most activities are free.

4 Half Term Madness at Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8PX : southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson 10-21 February Check out the Southbank this half term for a fun-packed week of talks, shows, workshops, activities, storytelling sessions and more. Start with The Minpins, Roald Dahl’s epic story presented with music by Sibelius, and end with a Q&A session with Judith Kerr of The Tiger Who Came To Tea fame, talking about her new book Cleghorn Seal. There is something for everyone this half term!

Family Workshop at the Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ : foundlingmuseum.org.uk 16 January Treasure Boxes Led by artist Isobel Manning, explore the tokens left by mothers when their babies were admitted to the Foundling Hospital. Create your own special token to share with a loved one, and make a keepsake treasure box in which to hide it. This is a gem of a workshop, and your little ones will love it. 11am-4pm. Why not return to the museum on 27 February for a family workshop: Peter Pan Shadow Puppet Theatre? Make your own puppet theatre to take home and explore Peter Pan’s theatrical beginnings, while helping Peter and the Lost Boys find their shadows. 10.30am, 1 and 2.30pm.

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

5 Family weekend activities at The London Wetlands Centre Queen Elizabeth, Barnes SW13 9WT : wwt.org.uk Every Saturday and Sunday to 7 February Join in and get creative with a huge range of nature activities and crafts for families. Spot the first signs of spring and see which birds have returned from their winter ‘holiday’ in warmer climates, plus enjoy a pond dipping session to see what mini-beasts are about. If you can tear your little ones away from this, visit the Discovery Centre or the adventure playground with its zip wires and climbing wall, get soaking wet in the water games or check out Pond Zone, their new high-tech version of a village pond. It’s a fantastic day out for the kids. 9am-4pm, admission fees apply.

Jan/Feb 2016

Ofsted Registered

We accept Childcare Vouchers

Jan/Feb 2016

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Parsons Green Prep School www.parsonsgreenprep.co.uk

School Open Days Hill House School SW1 4-13 Co-Ed Tours every weekday morning in term time, 8.30am booking required ( 7584 1331 : hillhouseschool.co.uk St Matthew’s CE Primary School SW1 4-11 Co-Ed Tours Monday mornings 10am, call to book ( 7504 0500 : stmwschool.org.uk Streatham & Clapham Prep School SW2 3-11 Girls Nursery and Prep School 1/3 9am-10.45am ( 8677 8400 : schs.gdst.net Gems Hampshire School 3-13 Co-Ed Personalised tours on request ( 7352 7077 : ths.westminster.sch.uk

SW3

Parkgate House School 2.5-11 Co-Ed 27/2 9am-12pm ( 7350 2452 : parkgate-school.co.uk

SW4

Fulham Prep School SW6 4-13 Co-Ed Pre-Prep 15/3 9.30-11am, call to book a time slot 7371 9911, Prep School tours by appointment only ( 7386 2444 : fulhamprep.co.uk Parsons Green Prep SW6 4-11 Co-Ed Midweek tours throughout January and February, Thursdays 9am ( 7371 9009 : parsonsgreenprep.co.uk The Moat School 11-16 Co-Ed 6/1 and 7/1 9am-11am and 2-4pm ( 7610 9018 : moatschool.org.uk

SW6

Falkner House 4-11 Girls Open days by appointment ( 7373 4501 : falknerhouse.co.uk

SW7

Call to book your place now

Ravenstone Prep School 4-11 Co-Ed Pre-prep 9/3 Prep 10/3 9-10.30am booking required ( 7225 3131 : ravenstoneschools.com

SW7

Ibstock Place School 3-18 Co-Ed Pre-Prep and Prep 3/2 9.30am booking required ( 8876 9991 / 8392 5803 : ibstockplaceschool.co.uk

SW15

St. Nicholas Preparatory School 2-10 Co-Ed 20/1 9.30am ( 7225 1277 : stnicholasprep.co.uk

SW7

Streatham & Clapham High School 11-18 Girls Senior School 11/3 9.15am-11am ( 8677 8400 : schs.gdst.net

SW16

Redcliffe School SW10 3-11 Girls 3-8 Boys Tours Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time 9.30am booking required ( 7352 9247 : redcliffeschool.com

Franciscan Primary School 4-11 Co-Ed 13/1 9.15am and 10.45am ( 8672 3048 : franciscan.ismyschool.net/franciscan/home

SW17

Dolphin School SW11 4-11 Co-Ed Open Mornings most Thursdays 9.1510.30am by appointment ( 7924 3472 : dolphinschool.org.uk

The Roche School 2.5-11 Co-Ed 27/1 and 11/3 9.30-11am ( 8877 0823 : therocheschool.co.uk

SW18

St Anne’s C.E. Primary School 4-11 Co-Ed 7/1 booking required ( 8874 1863 : st-annes.wandsworth.sch.uk

SW18

The Dominie 6-11 Co-Ed Tours by appointment ( 7720 8783 : thedominie.co.uk

SW11

Shaftesbury Park Primary School Co-ed Nursery 12/1 9.30-11am ( 7228 3652

SW11

Broomwood Hall Lower School SW12 4-8 Co-Ed 2/3 9-10.30am : broomwood.co.uk London Steiner School SW12 3-14 Co-Ed 20/1 and 2/3 call ( 8772 3504 to book : waldorflondon.co.uk White House Prep School 4-11 Co-Ed Tours Tuesday mornings at 9.15am ( 8674 9514 book in advance : whitehouseschool.com

SW12

St Michael’s C.E. Primary School SW18 4-11 Co-Ed 11/1 booking required ( 8874 7786 : stmichaels.wandsworth.sch.uk The Study Prep School SW19 4-11 Girls 27/2, plus tours on Tuesday mornings by appointment ( 8947 6969 : thestudyprep.co.uk Wimbledon Common Prep SW19 4-7 Boys 20/1 booking required ( 8946 1001 : wimbledoncommonprep.co.uk Sydenham High School 4-18 Girls High School 10/3 Pre-Prep and Prep 16/3 9.30-11am ( 8557 7000 : sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

SE26

“Specialists in helping students achieve excellence in education” “Leading provider of home and online private tuition”

www.teleiostutors.com info@teleiostutors.com +44 (0) 20 8022 2995 10

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Jan/Feb 2016

Education Schools News

A 125 year old history!

Hornsby House Alex and Harry

New Academy for Fulham

Nine year olds take over!

Low tech for a bright future

This January Langford Primary School in SW6, a local primary serving the community for 125 years, will become an Academy. With a new dynamic Senior Leadership Team the school has an inspiring new vision with a new curriculum, and has installed exceptionally high expectations for the future, ensuring that behaviour is excellent. The school also offers a free full time nursery, so it is worth a look! Why not come and see Langford first hand on any Wednesday morning this term? Call to book your place now. Langford Primary School, Gilstead Road, Fulham SW6 2LG ( 7736 4045 :

Two Year 5 pupils took over as science teachers at Hornsby House School, giving a science lesson on the Big Bang to their classmates. Alex and Harry gave the rest of their class a lesson on the theory of the origin of the universe - both boys have a passion for science and impressive subject knowledge for their age, and chose the Big Bang as it was a topic they were fascinated about and was related to the space theme they were already working on. Miss Blunt, Head of Science, said, ‘Alex and Harry have a special interest in Science and loved sharing their knowledge of the Big Bang with their friends. I was delighted with how they responded to this challenge and the commitment they showed. It was a very impressive achievement for two nine-year-olds.’ Hornsby House, is a coeducational day school for 4-11 year olds, Hornsby House School, Hearnville Road SW12 8RS, ( 8673 7573 : hornsbyhouse.org.uk

Did you know Waldorf education generally discourages pupils' use of electronic media such as television and computers? Use of these is understood to conflict with young children's developmental needs, media users tend to be physically inactive, and these media may hamper rather than exercise the imagination. The stated purpose of this approach is to awaken the "physical, behavioural, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual" aspects of each individual, fostering creative as well as analytic thinking. A 2005 review found that Waldorf schools successfully develop "creative, social and other capabilities important in the holistic growth of the person." The classroom is intended to resemble a home, and generally teachers attempt to include as many simple and natural materials as possible. The tools employed in a lesson plan's general activities are also usually sourced from simple, natural materials that are easily enhanced by a child's imagination. 9 Weir Rd, London SW12 0LT ( 8772 3504 : waldorflondon.co.uk

Children Learning to Succeed

Maths, English, 11+ Preparation Vicky Barnett BA, MSc, PGCE 020 8876 2553 www.firstclasslearning.co.uk

Jan/Feb 2016

APOLOGIES In our October issue we made an error in connection with JAGS. JAGS is indeed James Allen's Girls’ School. Mrs Sally-Anne Huang was appointed as the new Head of JAGS 4-18 from September 2015. The Headteacher of JAPS, James Allen’s Preparatory School, is Miss Finola Stack. For admission enquiries call ( 8693 1181 or see : jags.org.uk

Education Are we over-testing our children? By Carey Ann Dodah

The UK’s education system has traditionally been far less test-centric than its counterparts in countries such as the USA, where last year saw children actively boycotting and protesting against the test-culture. In the USA, children are tested annually and these tests dictate whether they progress into the next year or are held back. Children feel a lot of pressure to do well. Parents want them to do well, but feel simultaneously concerned and disappointed at the way in which creative and life-skills can be side lined in their children’s academic lives. In the UK, the move towards the new curriculum and introduction of new assessments such as the the Baseline Assessment tests, Phonics Screening check, and KS2 SATS including the new SPAG test, are disturbing many parents, who are concerned that too much emphasis is being placed on teaching children to pass tests.

So what exactly are these tests? The Baseline Test 1:1 formal test that will take place within a few weeks of a child starting school. It focusses on a child’s literacy and numeracy to generate a ‘baseline’ against which to measure progress to Key Stage One and Two.

The baseline test has received a lot of criticism. However, if delivered in the right way, a child will not be aware of being assessed and the results will provide valuable data that teachers can use to track a child’s progress. Looking at the rate of progress each child is making is really positive, as every child is different and learns at a different pace. The test will enable teachers to be recognised for the difference they are making to each individual pupil, rather than getting a whole cohort to one level.

The Phonics Screening Check

Tuesday Tutors • We coach children for state and independent school and entry tests: VR, NVR, English, Maths and interview preparation. • We are also happy to offer Maths and English support for children in school, and Home Education. • NEW- a dedicated Maths tutor up to A Level available for home-visits in central London Tuesday Tutors has placed many children in top state and private schools. It is advisable to contact us early, as high demand may mean that your child will be placed on our waiting list.

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Taken by pupils in Year 1, this test is designed to confirm whether pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify pupils who need extra help to improve their decoding skills. The check consists of 20 real words and 20 pseudo-words that a pupil reads aloud to the teacher. Pupils must also take the check in Year 2 if they didn’t meet the required standard in Year 1 or haven’t taken it before.

KS2 SATS National Curriculum tests which are taken by pupils at age 11 at the end of Key Stage 2. Tests include:

The SPAG Test An English grammar, punctuation and spelling test which assesses a child’s English skills in four key areas: spelling, punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary. English Reading Test based on reading comprehension of three texts, with a total of 35 to 40 questions of increasing

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

difficulty. Three Written Maths Tests and a Mental Maths Test The new KS2 SATS will initially see pupils and schools judged on test results, as there is no historical data to evaluate progress for each individual pupil. So the tests will be tough and those sitting them in May 2016 are going to be challenged with material that would previously have been expected of children a year or two older. With this amount of extra material to learn it’s natural that schools will feel the need to tailor their focus to the test. The new curriculum sets out to provide a creative, collaborative experience for children in both maths and English but the KS2 SATS tests focus on the mechanics of maths and English and don’t include any creative problem solving activities in maths or any opportunities for children to demonstrate their skills in creative writing. The danger here is that the narrowness of the tests could flow into a narrow focus of learning during lessons. Despite the increase in testing children in the UK, I remain positive that a test-culture like that of the USA will be avoided. It’s vital that the UK education system maintains a balance between creating a love of learning in children and nurturing their creative talents and passions, whilst simultaneously teaching them in a way that enables them to pass tests. The majority of teachers feel similarly and we need to trust in the intention they have to preserve this balance for our children.

Carey Ann Dodah is the Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning, with centres in Brixton, East Sheen, Fulham, Wandsworth and Wimbledon.

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Jan/Feb 2016

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Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

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Jan/Feb 2016

We specialise in:

• Adult and Baby lessons • Toddler lessons • Learn To Swim classes • Pre-Club Squad Training for Children • Adult Beginners and Intermediate Training

Cindy’s Swim School is focused on delivering a variety of personalised lessons to local families. We have a passion for swimming instruction and practice within a structured and safe environment. Our swimmers learn the joys of swimming and stroke technique with programmes incorporating games and exercise to improve each swimmer’s confidence in the water.

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Quote 'SWF-1' to get 1 lesson free when booking into the January 2016 Spring term Adult&Baby swimming course. For new customers only.

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Jan/Feb 2016

07902 782675

Clubs and classes news Made for Stage drama school Made For Stage workshops are designed to inject a sense of confidence, raise self esteem, install morality, and develop communication skills through the art of performance. They have developed a series of performing arts workshops that explore children’s creativity whilst stimulating strong communication skills, improved concentration and great physical fitness. If you’re a parent who likes to see results while your children thoroughly enjoy themselves, Made for Stage is the place for you! Prepare to be amazed beyond all expectations. Classes take place on Thursdays from 5pm-6pm for children aged 5-14 @ The Lost Theatre, SW8 2JU : MadeForStage.co.uk Info@madeforstage.co.uk ( 07886 644887

Develop your child’s imagination through dance This New Year, take a look at the Kensington Ballet School for your little twinkle toes. The school caters to children aged 18 months to 9 years in a fun but structured environment, with parents encouraged to participate in the toddler classes. Plus, there is a strong emphasis on theatrical performance, with exercises and storytelling helping to stimulate imagination and develop rhythm. Or why not book your next children’s birthday party with KBS and let them take your little ones on a magical journey of music and movement, with party games, drama and more. Classes take place across SW London, find out more at : kensingtonballet.com or call ( 07957 650042.

Sew Pretty Sew Pretty is a small, very friendly and independently owned workshop set in a relaxed garden studio in Wimbledon, South West London ran by Katya. She began stitching dresses for her dolls using her mum’s sewing machine when she was just eight years old. Her passion has continued over the years and after graduating as Fashion Designer she set up her own label called ‘Crazy Cow’. Now a mother of two, she has decided to share her passion and inspire others, both young and old, to get creative. For little ones, Katya runs craft birthday parties, an after-school sewing club and her everpopular sewing camps during half terms and summer holidays. Meanwhile, for mums, Katya puts on short workshops, sewing classes and courses. She can also organise sessions for hen parties, girls’ get-togethers and corporate craft events Email me@sewpretty.me.uk or check out : sewpretty.me.uk for a comprehensive list of classes, dates and availability, and to book online.

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Free trial and free first lesson Local favourite Funky Monkey Keyboard classes launch a new look this month, and are celebrating by offering a free trial and free first lesson throughout the month of January. These classes keep going from strength to strength, with their group based electronic keyboard lessons a perfect introduction for 411 year olds. Plus, their term classes and holiday courses are inventive, creative, educational and present music making in such a way that children just keep wanting to come back for more! Classes take place across South and South West London, visit : funkymonkey.info for more details, email Ali at mail@funkymonkey.info or call ( 0800 107 7949.

Jan/Feb 2016

Clubs and classes news Congratulations to Funky Moves

Free Upbeat trial Don’t miss the free trial day this January at Upbeat Music. Sign up now for a free workshop on 9 January at Thomas's Academy, New King’s Road, Parsons Green SW6. Ages 4-7 takes place at 10-11.30am, with ages 8-15 at 11.30am-1.15pm. Get set for some singing, dancing, guitars, drums, performance, song writing, sound production and much more! Call ( 07816 901396 or go to : upbeatmusiccourses.co.uk

Families best-loved and funkiest street dance company, Funky Moves have won a national award for Best School Age Dance Class in the UK. While celebrating their 10th year of providing cool and current dance activities for kids of all ages in SW London, this accolade really is the cherry on the cake. ‘It feels so wonderful to be noticed for our original dance service,’ said Creative Director, Holly Easterbrook. ‘We have always prided ourselves on moving with the current trends, and this has led us to many new and exciting ventures over the years, including Holiday Courses, Big Screen Boogie, Festival Of Funk and Star Wars Parties. Plus there has always been the constant and unfading popularity and passion for our funky street dance classes.’ Visit them at : funkymovesdance.com or call ( 07810 431101 and see how you could join one of the UK’s best dance classes.

Fun French lessons

Little Voices are winners! Little Voices drama classes are thrilled to announce that they have won a national award for Best School Aged Music Activity, through Kallikids. A true testament to their fabulous tutors and pupils, the award is well deserved by these much-loved classes that nuture talent at the same time as building confidence. Based in Putney, Fulham, Richmond and Wandsworth, Little Voices also run wonderful holiday camps – they had a great experience with a Frozen/Tangled mash up this winter! ( 07823 384992, : littlevoices.org.uk

Les Petits Choux has been running afterschool French classes for beginners and bilingual children in Southfields since September 2014. Last term they added a preschool class for ages 3-5years on Friday afternoons at 4pm and a drop-in French playgroup for mums and little ones on Mondays at 9.30am. All classes are held at St Michael’s church. The children have fun learning French through songs, stories, puppets and activities. info@lespetitschoux.org.uk ( 07980 266817 : espetitschoux.org.uk

Calling all Prima Donnas Have you come across G64 at Putney Arts Theatre yet? If you think you have a budding Judi Dench or Meryl Streep on your hands, take a look at this resident theatre group for young people which aims to develop creativity and confidence in a safe and fun environment, whilst giving children exciting theatrical experiences, great memories and an abundance of confidence and skills to take out into the world! With shows as diverse as Macbeth and Pride and Prejudice, plus holiday and half term projects for ages 4 upwards, this is a drama group not to be missed. Find out more at www.g64.org.uk, : putneyartstheatre.org.uk

Jan/Feb 2016

French is a winner Expansion for Allsorts The popular drama classes from Allsorts are expanding this term, with classes at More House School, 22 – 24 Pont Street SW1 on Fridays 4–5pm for ages 4-6, and 5–7pm for ages 7–11 and 11–14. Plus, now they are offering Saturday classes at Notting Hill Prep School, Lancaster Road W11 at 10–11am for ages 4–6, and 11am–1pm for ages 7–11. To book a free trial this January call ( 8969 3249 or visit : allsortsdrama.com

Et Patati Patata Club, famous for their Saturday French school, has been shortlisted for a Brilliant Business Award Hammersmith and Fulham. Even more reason for your children to learn French with these winning language classes, setting your little ones on the fast track to becoming bilingual. Plus, try out their holiday day camps, with French classes, workshops, French dancing and cooking for ages 3-10. Bravo les enfants! St Andrew’s church, Fulham SW6, ( 07966 893674, : etpatatipatata.com

Nurturing and developing young people's potential through dance, drama and singing. For 4-18 year olds, after school, at weekends and holiday workshops.

Stagecoach Schools enrolling now Battersea Fulham Merton Park & Tooting Putney Wimbledon www.stagecoach.co.uk

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020 8946 0845 202 020 8942 0845 265 020 8946

2986 5727 3502 7050 3400

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Jan/Feb 2016

Le petit conservatoire Mes ateliers artistiques tout en français! For kids aged 3 to 10! A bientôt

www.lepetitconservatoire.co.uk

SONG ACADEMY W, SW, C The leading Singing & Songwriting club for 8-16 year olds Hammersmith, Chelsea, Fulham, Notting Hill & Chiswick

Plus holiday workshops, birthday parties & Young Songwriter competition.

Perfect outlet for creative & musical kids, and we develop vital skills for achieving at school & beyond. Contact@songacademy.co.uk 07710 023743

www.songacademy.co.uk

Jan/Feb 2016

Dance yourself happy Why dancing is good for us! Need an instant boost? Dance is like laughter, you cannot not feel better after you’ve danced. Dance can lift you emotionally and spiritually as much as physically. You can dance your way through disappointment or dark thoughts. Dance can help take you through a process of healing. Dance can make you happy. Everyone can dance and there is a dance for everyone. Don’t worry if you have two left feet and the ungainliness of a wildebeest. The point is to have FUN!

Dance as if no-one is watching In the end, however, dancing does not have to be about fake tan and sparkly make-up. It doesn’t even have to be something you do in a class or have any talent at. So kick off your shoes, put the music on and dance at home. First thing in the morning is great, before your shower: put the music on and have 5 liberating minutes of having fun! Sing and shout, get set for your day, banish grey moods and depressive thoughts. Get the children involved, dance around your bowl of cereal, dance while preparing tea in your kitchen or have a dance session to reduce TV time.

Isn’t it utterly sad that we don’t dance any more? Do you wish you knew a place where you could turn up and dance? If you love music and dancing, then try Dance Yourself Fit. It’s a really fun evening, and without even realising you are doing a workout too! “I soon found myself lost in the music, giggling my way through the class. I really enjoyed Ann's clear instructions, and her guidance through my body from head to toe using all my muscles groups.” “Felt like a night out but was still home by 8.30, feeling toned and high with endorphins.” Ann Goodsell runs classes at the Exhibit in Balham 7.15-8.15pm : danceyourselffit.co.uk

Dance for the fun of it

Dance yourself happy

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Parents have been commenting for years how they wish they had something like Funky Moves when they were young, well they are now being offered the next best thing: a chance to Get Fit With Funky Moves in their own weekly Adult Street Dance Class … but this time, no kids are allowed! Unlike other dance studios in London, there is no pressure to nail the routine first time. It is about having fun with friends and growing in confidence, stamina and technique each week, whilst learning super cool routines to current chart hits. Their teachers are all amazing dancers who are still working in the industry, sparkly, fun, talented and lovely. Use it as a great way to shed a few extra Christmas calories or a chance to have a giggle with friends and let your weekly frustrations out. You’re bound to come out with a huge grin on your face! All ages and abilities thoroughly welcome. Tuesday Mornings 9.30am-10.30am. Dance Studio, Tooting Bec Athletics Track. £8 drop in or £80 for 12 week booking. Contact holly@funkymovesdance.com today to reserve your place. : funkymovesdance.com/adults

Jan/Feb 2016

Dance yourself happy Going all Strictly

Dance to feel better

But for those inconsolable with the end of the recent Strictly Come Dancing series, the only choice is ballroom and there are classes across Southwest London. Try Ceroc, a modern jive fusion of salsa, ballroom, hiphop, tango and jive : ceroclondon.com in Putney, Balham, Kensington, Victoria or go for the more traditional forms of ballroom. You can, for example, find these at the Dance Lab in Putney : thedancelabputney.com They teach from absolute beginners with social evenings too.

5Rhythms full moon dance for women is a free style, dynamic practice to both workout and meditate in the same breath. Dance can help us bring greater peace to ourselves and therefore our environment. We love the session in St Peters Church, near Vauxhall, which is women only. The five rhythms are flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness. They come together to create the Wave, a movement meditation practice. Rather than having steps to follow, each rhythm is a different energy field in which you find your own expression and choreography, thereby stretching your imagination as well as your body. Practicing them helps us become attuned to the underlying patterns in our everyday existence. In lay term it basically means you just do what you feel in the moment and that is just perfect. 310 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall SE11 5HY : bodysong.co.uk : fullmoondance.co.uk

True Strictly addicts can head to Karen Hardy Studios in Fulham’s Imperial Wharf. Book a complimentary 25-minute private lesson with a dance professional and you may ultimately find yourself having the complete Strictly experience including professional partner and all the trappings at a live Karen Hardy Showcase. They teach the Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive, Argentine Tango and Salsa – phew! : karenhardystudios.com

Other classes you could investigate: The Bedford Pub in Balham runs a good number of classes: from Beginners Lindy hop class (Swing, Jitterbug, Jive), jazz, Salsa, Argentine tango, and social dancing. Absolute beginners welcome. What about Belly dance? : fleurestelle.com based in South Kensington is London’s largest belly dance school. Build your self-esteem, increase your fitness levels and explore your feminine side. Zumba classes are widely available, try your local church hall or leisure centre. And yes, Pole dancing is an option too! Try : spunpoledance.co.uk in Brixton. As well as improving coordination, posture, building flexibility and muscle tone, pole dancing can be an amazing confidence builder and tool to help gain and develop a positive body image. From incredibly simple yet graceful dance routines and movements to complex moves requiring strength, stamina and confidence.

Jan/Feb 2016

Travel Should you share a holiday with another family? By Sally J Hall

It seems like a great idea when you and a friend are daydreaming about your next holiday and it turns out you both want to hire a cottage in Cornwall. If you want to go away with both your families and share the costs of the holiday, read our tips to make this a holiday to remember – not a nightmare.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing… How well do you know the other family? Are there areas of their life you find difficult to cope with? If you’re a neat freak and they are the kind to ignore mould on the milk bottle – or the other way around – you’re probably not going to get along with each others’ standards of housekeeping. Do you know what their politics are? Very importantly do your children get along?

You can’t go wrong with choosing a property in Urbino, Italy for your summer holiday. Gambedotti.com offer a great choice of superb properties in the lovely countryside. Check out their wellness weekends, they sound amazing!

All good friends

A room of one’s own

Your partners also need to get on and you need to be friends as a foursome. The grownups need to be united if there are disputes between the children. Spend a day together in the run-up to the holiday and have the children on a sleep-over to iron out problems before you go.

Make sure there’s room for you all to have some personal space. Even the best of friends can end up getting on each others’ nerves at times. Letting the kids sleep in the same room may backfire too, as they will be so excited that they may not get to sleep before the small hours.

So while there may be some things to consider before you embark on a holiday with friends, there are many advantages. You can afford somewhere much nicer than you might otherwise have done, you can share chores and babysitting and you can forge lifelong friendships between both the adults and the children. With a little forethought, this will truly be a holiday to remember!

Set the rules Make some ground rules before you go. Set a budget and decide how you are going to share the price of the house and shopping once you are away. It’s best to share everything equally (easy if your families are the same size, otherwise work it out proportionately). Talk this all through before you go, as the last thing you want is an argument at the supemarket check-out!

Doing the housework The chores will also have to be shared equally, so that nobody has to do all the cooking or all the washing up. Take it in turns and eat out a couple of times so that you all get a break.

Us-time As there are other grown-ups with you, this would be an ideal opportunity to have some time alone with your partner. Take it in turns to look after all the children, so that each couple has some personal space.

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Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps… or both? Francesca, Paul and their three children live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people. Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski and summer holidays for either families, couples or mixed groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and outstanding facilities, with unrivalled in-house childcare facilities. For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home. www.chillypowder.com

Jan/Feb 2016

Health and well-being

How art therapy can help children

Is your child suffering from anxiety, bereavement, a family breakdown or has difficulties at school? Art therapy may be able to help. Art-making and artistic self-expression can help children reduce stress, increase their self-esteem and manage their behaviour. This will also give them a much better chance in life if their issues get sorted early.

We asked Anna Storch HCPC, BAAT, to explain: what is involved

Q: What issues can Art Therapy help with? Art therapy can help with many different emotional and behavioural difficulties. One of the most common problems I help with is children struggling with divorce. Anger, sadness or even guilt are all common responses, and this can present in different ways from pushing boundaries to temper tantrums. Children can sometimes feel unable to talk to their parents, while parents can feel at a loss with how to reach out whilst maintaining boundaries around behaviour.

Q: What does Art Therapy involve? In my sessions I encourage the child to engage with the art materials on offer, as a way to explore their experiences. I often see children who’ve been bottling up their feelings, and being able to talk about it is a huge relief. Sessions are usually led by the child. They might start drawing a picture of something that upset them. I’ll encourage them to open up more; we might re-enact the scenario and try different outcomes. Children sometimes write letters to give to their parents if they feel comfortable.

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Q: What change do you see in the children you work with? It’s wonderful to see the children I work with become empowered and better at dealing with their emotions. I try to offer them tools to deal with challenges instead of acting out. I want the clients I work with to rediscover how to be happy as a family.

Children’s Therapies is an independent child therapy practice based in Wandsworth. It is a multidisciplinary, holistic practice. Their services include speech and language therapy, child psychology, occupational therapy, family support, yoga therapy, relax Kids classes as well as training for parents and schools. ( 8673 7930 : childrenstherapies.co.uk

Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature What you need to know when choosing a nursery or playgroup Many mums return to work after their maternity leave finishes and choose to leave their baby in a nursery. Even if you are a stay-athome mum or dad, it’s likely that when your child is between the ages of two and three years old you will want her to start at a playgroup or nursery school – for both her benefit and yours. But how do you choose the right nursery for your baby? You can get a list of local nurseries and playgroups from your local council, from your health visitor, local library, GP surgery or search familiessouthwest.co.uk Speak with other mums about the nursery or playgroup you are most interested in, and go along and spend a morning at each group, together with your child. Gut instinct can be invaluable in these situations.

10 things to consider when choosing a nursery: 1. Are you and your child made to feel welcome and introduced to the nursery staff, helpers and perhaps to other children? Are you allowed to stay and watch at a time to suit you – not them? 2. Check out the space itself. The room may be a bleak church hall but have the staff made it look lively and interesting? 3. Does the nursery seem too crowded? Numbers are controlled by local authority regulations, and insurance policies, but some playgroups squeeze in extra children. 4. Is there somewhere for outdoors play on fine days? Are there books in a quiet corner where children can go and sit? Is there an interactive area, such as a nature table? 5. Check out the toys, equipment and art materials on offer. Are the same toys put out in the same area every day? (this is why it’s a good idea to visit more than once on random, different days) 6. Are there varied activities on offer (painting, sandpits, water play areas, Wendy house, play dough, building bricks, puzzles, a dressing up box). Are these accessible all the time? 7. Do the children look excited and interested in the toys available? 8. Does the climbing equipment look well-maintained and is there a soft landing area? 9. What about the staff? Are they listening and talking to the children? Are they calmly in control? Do they seem to be caring with the children? Do they notice aggressive or painfully shy children and get them to join in constructively? Do they spend more time chatting with each other than with the children? 10.Talk to the staff to find out their views on discipline, dealing with anxious children and free and structured play to see if their ideas are the same as yours.

Jan/Feb 2016

Beau Peeps' Boutique Nursery

The ideal atmosphere at a nursery group should be busy and buzzing, but never out of control. Noisy children racing around or charging up and down on bikes and cars shows a clear lack of organisation. Another point to consider is whether boys and girls at the nursery are treated equally. Do boys get encouraged to do quiet, creative activities or do they run about in gangs and spend a lot of time on sit-on cars and toys? Are girls encouraged to do physical play and large toy activities? Do boys and girls play together? Both boys and girls need physical, energetic play, construction play and quiet creative periods with adult attention. Try to visit a group while a singing or story time session is going on. Singing sessions should always be varied and fun with lots of action rhymes and percussion and have all the children enthusiastically joining in. Story time should also be something the children particularly enjoy. The story teller should be able to hold the children’s attention. Story time should not be used as an opportunity for helpers to take the children to the toilet or tidy up. If you like a particular nursery or playgroup, but feel they fall down in one or two areas, then speak with the supervisor. They may welcome your suggestions and be able to make changes to suit you and your child. If they don’t, then move on and find one that’s more in line with your requirements.

Emma’s Diary is the UK’s most trusted and influential pregnancy and baby channel. Working in partnership with The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) for more than 23 years, they provide parents-to-be and new parents with the very best medical and practical information. : emmasdiary.co.uk

Nursery Special Feature The power of play By Sue Morro, Manager Soho Family Centre Nursery and Maryanne McGregor, Deputy Manager at Townmead Community Nursery (Fulham), LEYF.

“For babies and young children, play is at the very heart of how they learn and develop. From practicing new sounds, to developing gross motor skills, play is fundamental in developing the basic skills that will support children’s literacy, numeracy and understanding of the world later on. At the London Early Years Foundation, all 36 of our London nurseries have a child-centred approach that puts play at the heart of children’s learning.

Some of the key benefits of play: Creativity and problem solving Giving children the freedom to play means giving them the freedom to make their own choices, allowing for imagination, exploration, discovery and expression. It is a natural way for them to piece together the world around them and in doing so they will develop their creative thinking and problem solving abilities.

Social interaction Playing with other children as well as adults helps children to develop an understanding both of themselves and others. Learning and practicing things like taking turns, sharing and considering the feelings of others as they play supports emotional development and social skills. It also helps to prepare them to deal with compromise, conflict and working with others as adults.

Physical development When children play they are continuously practicing and developing their gross and fine motor skills, helping to build the physical skills they’ll need for life. In addition to this, play is the perfect practice in integrating these large and fine muscle movements, which will later help with writing and also language.

Language and communication Watching and listening to those around them is key to children’s language development. Play involving storytelling, role play and describing (e.g. different textures) are the perfect platforms to teach and encourage language, with children eager to copy what they are seeing and hearing. At LEYF nurseries, we have created our own unique research-based curriculum that supports children’s natural curiosity and confidence, so they leave nursery with a life-long enthusiasm for learning. The proven success of play has helped to influence many areas of our approach, including: • Our clean, uncluttered and natural environments, using the nursery space both indoors and out to create exciting opportunities for play. • Embracing the role that our practitioners play in building loving relationships between staff, children and parents. Children need to feel valued, safe and loved. Being comfortable in their surroundings is key to encouraging them to play and express themselves. • Our home learning programme provides parents with ideas and resources to play with their children at home, extending and enriching their nursery experience. • We have a multigenerational approach allowing the children to experience the community first hand and connecting all our nurseries with their local community. These real-life experiences go alongside the children’s play to help them in understanding the world around them.

Nurseries in Balham, Brixton, Earls’ Court, Fulham, Stockwell, Westminster and beyond : leyf.org.uk

To iPad or not to iPad We’ve all been there, you’re in a restaurant with friends, trying to catch up about life, what’s going on at work, at home, with the children, and one of the little ones starts playing up. Or you’re on a flight and the person behind you is fed up because your children will not be quiet and sit still. So you instinctively reach into your bag and out comes the iPad/iPhone, and suddenly, you have peace and quiet again and a chance for grown up time or a chance to relax. Putting the ipad on airplane mode and sticking to the recommended 20 minutes at a time should be enough and there are some brilliant apps today for all age groups that can help and support their early learning education. This means that instead of just watching something, they are actively engaged and learning through play with games involving maths, phonics or tracing, rather than just digesting a TV programme or film. At SMART Preschools we support our curriculum with scheduled and monitored IT sessions, where the children learn with an iPad, as this is the nature of today’s world.

Smart Preschool’s top five apps support learning:

Keeping them engaged and learning We still don’t know all the effects of these fast paced images and time spent exposed to WIFI enabled gadgets on the developing brains of our young children and perhaps we should proceed with caution as to how much time they get in front of the screens, until we know more.

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Reading: Read with Biff, Chip & Kipper Speech and language: Splingo Phonics, writing numbers/letters, fine motor skills: Hairy Letters, Dexteria Maths: Shapes, Monkey Math School 48 Leopold Rd, London SW19 7JD ( 8240 1472 : smartpreschool.co.uk

Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature Creating future leaders Think ‘creativity’ and one could be easily fooled into believing that digging out the paint pots and getting crafty with glue is just for fun, it’s far from it—it’s a serious business, especially for preschoolers. At Beau Peep’s boutique nursery in Fulham, creativity is at its core. From the design and fitout of this new space—with its inviting, colourful illustrations in the window, interactive magnetic walls and even an indoor tree house made from a real tree—to the warm and open-minded staff, every effort has been made to create a safe and stimulating environment where children can develop a sense of curiosity and allow their imaginations to run free. Nursery Manager, Siobhan McGovern, feels passionately about the lifelong benefits creative education can offer and believes it to be fundamental to children’s development. So much so that Pearson, the world’s leading education and awarding body, chose to focus on Beau Peep’s as a prime example of where a creative environment is key to the day-to-day learning.

Creativity supports language and literacy development, it promotes physical development (both gross and fine motor skills) and cognitive skills such as mathematics and divergent thinking - the key to problem solving.

Don’t rush over and help Siobhan tells us “when a child can’t figure something out, as an adult our initial instinct is to rush over and help, but when they are left a moment longer (under our watchful eye of course), they often make a decision and solve the problem themselves, using that creative part of their brain – honing skills they will need to draw upon time and time again as they face the challenges life throws at them.” There are many ways in which nursery school can help facilitate this creative learning. At Beau Peep’s children are introduced to new materials, words, stories, inspiring displays, movement, music, cookery and more, giving them the opportunity for sensory development, exploration and discovery. Children are actively encouraged to use the well-stocked, open art area when and how they like. The library corner provides inspiration for children to explore their own ideas, while toys

Jan/Feb 2016

and dressing-up outfits are key to role play so children can create a world of their own, where anything is possible. Siobhan summarises: “When people hear the word ‘creativity’, they think of artistic pursuits. When I hear it, I think of the future architect - a child who meticulously built a small city from Lego - or the future engineer, who saw something was broken and fixed it. I think of future scientists, doctors, teachers and leaders, I think of a world of possibilities that will open up to them - and it all starts here, at nursery.” Beau Peep’s was also recently selected as one of a handful of UK businesses helping job-seekers gain insight into career options, including a traineeship in Health and Social Care. 679A Fulham Road, London, SW6 5PZ, ( 3609 5222 : beaupeeps.co.uk

Nursery Special Feature Local nursery news and information First nursery in London to receive food award

Baby Room nursery and nanny agency Alison started the first Baby Room nursery on Webbs Road in 2005 when she returned to work in the London Insurance market and could not find appropriate care for her daughter - at that time there were no day care nurseries between the Commons! Ten years later there are four successful Baby Room nurseries on Webbs Rd, Lavender Hill, in Clapham Old Town and Balham, in addition to the new nanny agency on Northcote Road and many 100's of local children have used their service and very happily gone on to attend local schools.

Streatham nursery Cavendish Lodge has won the Award for Excellence from the Children’s Food Trust – the very first nursery in London to receive this award. This rubber-stamps the fact that the food the nursery serves, the ingredients they use and the activities they organise around food, growing and nutrition are all top quality. Cavendish Lodge, which already has Ofsted Outstanding status, loves food and eating, and firmly believes that it is really important - just like a car engine, our bodies need good fuel if they are to work properly. Now, the good news is that they have had their commitment to healthy food officially recognised. Rob Rees MBE, professional chef and Chair of the Children’s Food Trust, said: “When parents are choosing a nursery, they always want to know what the food’s like and that the kids will be getting great food and be encouraged to eat well. This award is a clear sign that children are getting a healthy start. Congratulations to the whole team, we’re delighted to welcome you as the first nursery award winner in London.” 52 Lewin Road, Streatham Common SW16 6JT, ( 8835 8500 : cavendishlodgenursery.co.uk : childrensfoodtrust.org.uk

( 7627 2106 : babyroom.co.uk

Little Starlings into fifth year Lisa Sammut tells us: “It's always so captivating to watch our toddlers arrive as shy, curious individuals and then leave us as happy, contended, carefree children ready to embark on the next chapter of their education. We strive to create a nurturing, cosy and safe environment for little ones who are often being left without parents for the first time.” If you think your little one would enjoy a fun filled morning doing arts, crafts, singing and story time then Little Starlings could be just what you are looking for. St James’ Centre Ouseley Road SW12 8EW ( 07803 324 821 : little-starlings.co.uk Little Starlings

345 is proud to be entering its 32nd year as an independent nursery school where 'children become independent, inquisitive and motivated in a rich and vibrant environment' (Ofsted). An exceptionally warm welcome and a very large outdoor space awaits every child. We also have Music, Sport and Spanish plus Playball, Relax Kids and Ballet in afternoon clubs. Please do visit us to capture some of the children's excitement in learning. Contact: Annabel Dixon 345nurseryschoolwandsworth@gmail.com www.345 nurseryschool.co.uk 020 8870 8441 Fitzhugh Grove, Trinity Road, London SW18 3NH

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature Childcare solutions for busy parents The Playroom in Wandsworth is a multi service Childcare Provider. They offer a Preschool, a drop in crèche, a breakfast and after school club, birthday parties plus a holiday club; it is open from 7.30 - 19.30pm, 7 days a week! Preschoolers can join The Playroom from the age of 2 to 5 years, parents can choose short and long sessions. For parents that have varied working hours, they offer a crèche service for children of all ages. They take last minute bookings so don't worry if you have a sudden childcare emergency or the nanny has called in sick. Most parents struggle to find a solution for their children before and after school (or nursery) the Playroom is here to help. They offer a full wrap around service and their doors open at 7.30am which suits city commuters and school teachers. They’ll give your children a healthy and nutritious breakfast and be safely escorted to school.

Sinclair House

Developing science curiosity Sinclair House Parents’ Association recently raised funds to invest in science-based Early Years resources for the Nursery garden. New outdoor materials include a “Mini-Beast Mansion” and an “Insect Conservation Study Centre,” which provide interactive habitats for insects and pollinators. These help develop pupils’ scientific curiosity about the natural world around them, facilitate experience-based insight into ecological patterns, and encourage childrens’ understanding of cycles of growth and change in their surrounding environment.

It can be really difficult to find a childcare solution for after school which is term time only. The Playroom offers an after school service for £15 a session and it includes a drink, snack, light dinner and dessert. They collect your child from school and they come back to The Playroom to have fun with games, arts and crafts and more. Although the session finishes at 6pm, they are open until 7.30pm and you can extend the session anytime you need to. If you need extra cover during the holidays the Playroom offers a holiday club for children of all ages. Now that is super useful for busy parents! 317 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield SW18 4DX ( 3560 7186 : theplay-room.co.uk

Lower Nursery: 196 Munster Road, London SW6 6AU Upper Nursery: 159 Munster Road, London SW6 6DA ( 7736 9365 : sinclairhouseschool.co.uk

Free nursery places Have you applied for a nursery place in a school? The deadline is 12 February this year and in advance Wandsworth Council has produced a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a nursery place for your child. Choosing Nursery Education in Wandsworth includes details of where you can find free nursery places, tips on how to recognise good quality nursery provision and a guide to how to apply. All children are entitled to a free, good quality part-time nursery place from the September, January or April following their third birthday, plus two-year-olds may also be eligible for up to 15 hours of free early education for 38 weeks of the year. For more information call ( 8871 7899 or email fis@wandsworth.gov.uk : wandsworth.gov.uk/fis/ : wandsworth2yearold.org.uk If you live in a different borough do check as deadlines may vary.

The Playroom

Est 1976 Ofsted registered and MEAB Accredited An independent nursery school for children 2 to 5 years

• EYFS and Montessori Method of teaching • MEAB inspected and accredited Montessori nurseries (the only ones in SW12) • Ballet, Football, French and Music classes • Morning, afternoon and full day sessions (term time only) • Summer Clubs Nightingale 1 Montessori: St Luke's Church Hall, 194 Ramsden Rd, SW12 8RQ Nightingale 2 Montessori: St Stephen's Church Hall, 35 Weir Rd, SW12 0NU Contact: info@nightingalemontessori.co.uk Nightingale 1 Montessori 07958 567210 Nightingale 2 Montessori 07930 401769 www.nightingalemontessori.co.uk Register early to avoid disappointment.

Jan/Feb 2016

The White House Norwood Grove, Copgate Path Off Gibson Hill SW16 3EX

Norwood Grove Pre-School Dedicated friendly staff required Preferably NVQ Level II or III To work in a lovely Grade II listed building and beautiful surroundings Please contact Joan for further information 020 8670 8567 norwoodgrovepreschool@gmail.com

Nursery Special Feature From music class to nursery Last year saw the opening of a brand new pre-school in Clapham South called the Fruity Tree Nursery, which alongside an EYFS curriculum, specialises in Early Years Music education. Its founder is John Cronin, who many will know from his Fruity Tunes music sessions in Battersea. It’s been a long journey for John who began Fruity Tunes 10 years ago near Battersea Park, when he was a stay at home Dad for his baby daughter. “It was quite difficult giving up work, as I’m a very active person, but I used the time as an opportunity to start a small business, which dovetailed in with my daughter’s routine and my passion for music” said John. Since then, Fruity Tunes has expanded with sessions all over Wandsworth, and provides music education for many nurseries and schools in the area. John has also turned his hand to choir directorship, winning several awards with the Sacred Heart primary school choir.

When the opportunity arose for the nursery, John felt it was a perfect progression for his current music activities. “Starting the nursery seems the natural way to carry on the music education that starts in Fruity Tunes. We already do a weekly music curriculum in many local nurseries but at the Fruity Tree we can do these activities daily, meaning progression is quick! We want children to learn music so it become as innate as their literacy and numeracy. There are many cross curricular benefits to our music, with motor skills, leadership and confidence all being developed” Fruity after school care service launched Moving forward, there is another project about to start in the New Year, as the Fruity team is starting an after school care service at Sacred Heart Primary School called Fruity Club, it sounds like another big challenge. How does John feel about this? “It’s all very exciting and very busy, but 10 years on, I still realise that parenthood is where this all began, so as always, I am very thankful for my lovely daughter Leah” The Fruity Tree Nursery is open from 8:45am-12pm, during term time.

For more information log onto : fruitytree.co.uk or email nichola@fruitytree.co.uk

News from The Park Gardens

Learning about sustainable living

Many Wandsworth parents have heard about the Ofsted Outstanding rated nursery The Park Gardens, located alongside leafy King George’s Park. But do you know that this well-established nursery has recently been fully refurbished and is now offering full daycare as well as morning and afternoon daycare sessions for 2-5 year olds? The Park Gardens and its sister nursery The Gardens in nearby Southfields (also rated Outstanding by Ofsted) are owned by Sarah Bokaie. Come and visit the ‘new’ Park Gardens for yourself

This year at Nightingale 2 Montessori Nursery they have been learning about sustainable living and the food cycle. The children have been growing vegetables, fruit and herbs, using them for snacks and in cooking activities and composting the leftovers. The children have also shown lots of enthusiasm in repurposing, reusing and up-cycling materials. The children have enjoyed the many plays and shows held at the nursery and adventure-driven drama classes by Theatrebugs have been introduced.

( 8875 1277: gardenschildcare.co.uk

35 Weir Road, SW12 0NU ( 07930 4017 69 : nightingalemontessori.co.uk

Outdoor fun and adventure!

NEW Playtime nursery in Wandsworth

One sunny morning the young scientists from Noah’s Ark Nursery School, donned warm coats and set off to discover the world that is known as Nightingale Square. Like young Sherlock Holmes, armed with magnifying glasses, they overturned leaves and spied under stick piles to discover the plethora of insects that have made this their home. Faces lit up and earnest discussions took place as they looked at Noah’s Ark their discoveries. With bags full of leaves, sticks and conkers they returned to the nursery chattering excitedly about their morning of adventure. Noah’s Ark Nursery School looks forward to meeting any potential scientists at one of their Tuesday Open Mornings, when they can discover their fantastic outside area.

Choosing the right childcare is important. That's why Playtime make sure that their nursery is run to the highest standards. The Nursery will be run by a team of highly qualified practitioners, who have a wealth of experience in all aspects of childcare. They will make sure that your child is happy, secure, safe and well cared for. The nursery will be fully equipped to offer a stimulating, warm and comfortable environment that allows your child to develop a positive image of themselves and of others. The children will have the opportunity to learn and develop within an environment that encourages children to explore in open planned rooms and have access to great learning tools. This will inspire and enable them to implement their ideas, encouraging curiosity and risk taking. The nursery has a beautiful and welcoming environment. “We firmly believe that active learning, critical thinking and creative play is essential to a child's development. Each area of play will consist of a rich text environment with resources that allow children to make decisions.” French and Spanish, mini yoga and cookery are also offered. There is a large vegetable garden where the children grow an array of herbs, vegetables and flowers according to the season. The children will socialise in their fun dining area, smell the wonderful aromas from their chef's cooking and watch him prepare and cook food. The nursery is proud to source fresh fruit, vegetables and meat from local suppliers.

48 Endlesham Road, Balham SW12 8JL ( 7924 3472 ext 2 : noahsarknurseryschools.org.uk

Please call to arrange a visit ( 01932 246747 : playtimenurseries.com

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature Families SW London Nursery Feature 2016 Your local nurseries and childcare venues

Open hours: 8am to 6.30pm

For more information please visit www.babyroom.co.uk

“

Energetic outside play area and additional activities

SouthWest

Visit our online What's On calendar It's packed with events, things to do, museums, galleries and shows for the whole family

Flexible - extra days and day swaps

We have such a happy, kind, thoughtful little girl and have you all to thank for this

“

Battersea (Webbs Road) Battersea (Lavender Hill) Clapham (Old Town) Balham (Balham High Road)

Ages 3 months to 5 years Opening times 8 am to 6 pm (Mon to Fri) Excellent facilities * newly renovated premises * stimulating, caring and homely environment * qualified and experienced staff * outside garden * Good OFSTED report * French * Music & movement * Early years foundation stage curriculum * baby unit * close to public transport * Sensory room 58 Blairderry Road, Streatham Hill, London SW2 4SB Tel: 020 8674 4844 Fax: 020 8671 0062 enquiries@oaktreedaynursery.com www.oaktreedaynursery.com

Children’s nurseries from birth to five If you want to visit any of our popular day nurseries please contact us on 020 7627 2106 or email info@babyroom.co.uk

Please call the number below to book an appointment to view the nursery

Browse ALL th e family events, shows and places to go…

www.familiessouthwest.co.uk

THE STUDIO DAY NURSERY 93 Moore Park Road, Fulham, London SW6 Tel: 020 7736 9256 Est. 1987 Head: Miss J.M.R. Williams, NNEB, RSH (Norlander). Opening hours: 8.00 to 19.00 Sessions: 8.00-13.00 and 13.00-19.00 (18.30 Fri) Weeks open a year: 51, excl. Bank Holidays. Ages: Two to 5 years Max no. of pupils: 50 Av. class size: 8. Pupil/teacher ratio: 6:1 Curriculum: Montessori, Special Needs. Activities: Numbers, writing, reading, cooking, project work, art, drama, natural studies. Facilities: Glass-roofed “messy play” area, art room, own kitchen. Sports: Games during park visits. How & age to register: Phone or write for enrolment form, any age. Fees: Mornings or afternoons; Special weekly terms. Meals extra. Contact to arrange a visit: Jenny Williams—020 7736 9256. Because of the emphasis on learning and school work within a happy and caring atmosphere, most of our children find no difficulty passing into the primary school of their choice. JULY 2000 OFSTED advised: “Taken overall, the quality and standard of the educational provision are acceptable in promoting the Desirable Outcomes for children’s learning.” Primarily a Montessori nursery, school work is fun too: every session, groups of 10 to 12 go to the work room in the Red room for 45 minutes with two teachers to follow a concentrated programme they much enjoy.

Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature

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Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature

Dawmouse Montessori Nursery School â€œTo assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will able him to develop freelyâ€? Maria Montessori

Celebrating 20 years of excellence in Montessori teaching Come and visit one of our two Dawmouse Montessori Nursery Schools in Fulham and discover why we have enjoyed such a long period of success teaching children from 2yrs to 5yrs in their early years education. To learn more about us just visit our new web site at www.dawmouse.co.uk or email miss.emma@dawmouse.com

www.dawmouse.co.uk Passionate about teaching and learning

Tel: 020 83989294

Nursery Special Feature

We are pleased to introduce the Mother and Toddler Group and welcome Mums, Dads, Grandparents and Nannies to join us on a Thursday afternoon from 2.30 - 4.00 pm term time at St. Luke's Church Hall, SW3. ion Each sess with a concludes d rhyme singing an session ed by accompani om Margo fr Blueberry Playsongs.

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

A relaxed and friendly environment where children are free to explore and investigate their surroundings, develop social skills in play, and a curiosity for learning. Please pop along for a trial session

020 7352 8784 lucy@ringrosechelsea.co.uk

www.ringrosechelsea.co.uk

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Jan/Feb 2016

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Nursery Special Feature

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

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Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

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Jan/Feb 2016

Nursery Special Feature

THE PARK GARDENS DAY CARE AND NURSERY (adjacent to King Georges Park, London SW18 4DN)

Following our recent total refurbishment we are offering full and part time day care in our well-established nursery which is rated outstanding by Ofsted. We offer a cheerful environment with a variety of activities for the children to have fun, make friends and enjoy learning through play. Breakfast club, Lunch club, After school and holiday clubs are all available and Sports, Music, Ballet, Cooking and Tennis are included in our weekly programme. The nursery grant is available to 3 and 4 year olds.

For more information please look at our website www.gardenschildcare.co.uk or email joh@gardenschildcare.co.uk or alternatively call Johanna Wilson on 020 8875 1277

Jan/Feb 2016

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What’s on We took every care in preparing these entries but sometimes events are cancelled or times changed. Please double check event with the organiser to avoid disappointment.

DIARY DATES See more events in our online

What’s On calendar Catch-a-balls

of Tintin and his creator. FREE 9 January Free Drop In Family Workshop: Data Vis' for Kids Take a data detox this January with Adam and Tobias of Graphic Digital Agency. Wise up to what we bring to the world both on and off screen in an afternoon of delightfully data themed activity, 12-3pm, ages 6-12 FREE

London Model Engineering Exhibition

Wimbledon, Esher, Richmond, Kew ( 8398 3034 : Catch-a-balls.co.uk 9.30-10am Club BOING (18 months to 2 1/2 year olds) 10.05-10.50 Club BOUNCE (2 1/2 years to 3 1/2 year olds) The first session is free.

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way N22 7AY : londonmodelengineering.co.uk 15-18 January One of the leading model shows in the UK, attracting over 14,000 visitors annually. A great day out for all the family. 10am-5pm, from £3

NCT Kensington And Chelsea Meet Up

Southbank Winter Festival

Gambado Chelsea, 7 Townmead Road SW6 2PY : nct.org.uk/branches/ kensington-chelsea Every Wednesday in January and February A great opportunity to meet other mums with babies under 1. 9.30-11am, £1, show your NCT card to get in.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX : southbankcentre.co.uk To 17 January Winter at Southbank Centre with NatWest returns, transforming the south bank into a seasonal wonderland. Browse festive markets stuffed with delicious treats and unusual gifts. Enjoy live music or see a performance, plus free activities and themed weekends. FREE

Geffrye Museum 136 Kingsland Road, Hoxton E2 8EA : geffrye-museum.org.uk 16-19 February Four Centuries in one week: February half-term holiday activities. Explore homes from a different century every day from the Tudors and Stuarts, Georgians, Victorians and finally the 20th century. Make candlesticks from clay, crafty clocks and much more, 10.30am12.30pm and 2-4pm, free

Somerset House WC2R 1LA : somersethouse.org.uk/skate To 10 January Skate at Somerset House is the ultimate festive destination. For young children taking their first steps on the ice there’s the Polar Cub Club, designed exclusively for under-8s. From £7.50 To 31 January Tintin: Hergé’s Masterpiece A family-friendly free exhibition drawing on the archives of the Hergé Museum in Brussels, this new exhibition invites you into the wonderfully eccentric world

Parent & Baby Coach 07825 914096 : theparentandbabycoach.com Locations across SW London 19th Jan, 10am Baby sleep and routine workshop 25th Jan, 7.30pm Toddler sleep training workshop (for infants age 12-36 months) 28th Jan, 10am Baby weaning workshop 1st Feb,10am Baby Massage workshop 9th Feb, Potty Training workshop 17th Feb, 10am Baby play and development workshop

Fulham Palace SW6 6EA January and February The Palace Explorers For children aged 2-4, £3 per child, which includes a drink and healthy snack. Booking essential, 10.30-11.30am 31 January Museum Drop-in During this Stone Age themed family drop-in, try on period costume, handle artefacts and learn about the

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Leicester Square Theatre 6 Leicester Place WC2H 7BX ( 7734 2222 : leicestersquaretheatre.com If you haven’t yet discovered this little known gem in the heart of the West End, it’s time to take a look. Leicester Square Theatre is a magnificently restored space bang in the centre of Theatreland, with two exceptional theatres running a family-friendly programme of comedy, dance, music and drama. Choose from shows including wonderful adaptations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler tales – Stick Man bursts into town this January, and recently we were treated to a fabulous romping version of Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales. And don’t miss new versions of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood this January and Rainbow Magic Live – Saving Fairyland, arriving in March.

! LOVES

West End Magic brings Children's Magic Workshops to the Leicester Square Theatre on dates throughout the spring, teaching children aged 7-13 the basics of magic by a top Magic Circle London magician, so you can wow your friends and family. history of Fulham Palace. 2pm3.30pm, free, no booking necessary. FREE 2 and 23 February Palace Stories Hear the Palace’s history brought to life in these tales of the characters who lived here, and stories inspired by their beautiful surroundings. 2pm2.30pm, free, no booking necessary. FREE 4 February National Storytelling Week: Palace Stories with Olivia Armstrong. To celebrate National Storytelling Week join storyteller Olivia Armstrong for an exciting afternoon full of traditional folktales, legends and myths. 24pm, £2 per child, no booking necessary. 8 February Discovering historic replica costume at Fulham Palace. Learn about their fascinating costume collection with Esther Dean, a distinguished costume designer. Attendees will also have the opportunity to examine the costumes closely and dress up. 2pm FREE 26 February Opera at the Palace A group of exceptional young singers arrive from the National Opera Studio to the intimate setting of

the Tudor Great Hall. 7.30pm

Warner Bros Studio Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire WD25 7LR : wbstudiotour.co.uk To 31 January Hogwarts in the Snow Discover how special effects experts make snow that never melts, how set dressers transform locations for Christmas scenes, and how flames are created without fire, its most magical makeover yet.

Mum2Mum Market Nearly New Sale Ricards Lodge High School, Lake Road, Wimbledon SW19 7HB : mum2mummarket.co.uk 6 February Buy or sell quality baby and kids goods at this pop-up indoor market. 43 stalls under one roof with thousands of kids bargains at a fraction of the high street price. Admission £2, kids free, 2-4pm

Cirque Beserk! Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street WC2A 2HT : peacocktheatre.com / : cirquebeserk.co.uk 8-24 February

Jan/Feb 2016

What’s on

Imagine Children’s Festival Southbank Centre SE1 : southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine 10-21 February A packed programme of events spanning theatre, dance, music and installations alongside readings and workshops with some of the UK’s top children’s authors. Over half of the Imagine festival programme is free and there is a huge range of activities for children of all ages and their families.

Do-re-mi Babies Concerts Barnes, Chelsea, Fulham, Wandsworth : doremibabies.co.uk Dates throughout January and February Inspirational and fun classical concerts. With different musicians, instruments and programmes there is plenty to inspire your little ones. Babies and toddlers are welcome to crawl, dance, sing, cry, nappy change and more, so you can relax and enjoy some wonderful music. £10 per adult, children free, tickets online or on the door. Dates vary depending on venue.

DRAMA See more events in our online

What’s On calendar The Barbican Theatre Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS : barbican.org.uk 9 January to 6 February

Jan/Feb 2016

London International Mime Festival 2015 29 days of epic physical and visual theatre, films, workshops and discussions—18 productions from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and the UK. 27-28 February Boy Blue Entertainment. A Night with Boy Blue One of the UK’s most sought-after hiphop dance companies presents an energy-fuelled showcase of astonishing moves and urban music.

Broadway Theatre Catford Broadway SE6 4RU : broadwaytheatre.ticketsolve. com/shows 27 January–21 February Macbeth One of his darkest and most powerful tragedies, Shakespeare dramatises the psychological and political impact of when evil is chosen to satisfy the ambition for power. Wednesdays – Sundays.

The Cambridge Theatre Seven Dials, 32-34 Earlham Street WC2H 9HU : uk.matildathemusical.com January and February Matilda The Musical Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, Matilda revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dares to change her destiny.

The Chelsea Theatre 7 World's End Place, Kings Road SW10 0DR : chelseatheatre.org.uk 24 January The Town & The Country Mouse Join two friends as they embark on an amazing journey and discover that sometimes new can be exciting and different can be good, but the most important thing is friendship. Ages 3–8, 11am and 2pm, £9

Ali Baba pantomime St Mary Magdalene Hall, Trinity Road, near Wandsworth Common 07535 925 268 : magplayers.org.uk for tickets 4th – 7th February Can Ali Baba, a poor peasant, save the day? Will he save the beautiful Salima? Can he defeat Al Sadan and the hundred thieves? There is only one way to find out – join The Magdalene Players 100th show, Ali Baba and the hundred thieves! £10

Chickenshed Theatre Chase Side, Southgate N14 4PE : chickenshed.org.uk To 9 January The Twelve Days of Christmas This year's magical and thrilling festive adventure. Brilliantly reinventing the traditional and wellloved song, The Twelve Days of Christmas is a rollicking Christmas adventure with lots of laughs along the way. Age 5+, £11-£20

Colour House Theatre Watermill Way SW19 2RD : colourhousetheatre.co.uk Every Saturday and Sunday to 24 January Aladdin Poor Aladdin is tricked by his evil uncle to enter a dangerous cave and look for a magic lamp. Soon he is trapped inside. £12/£10 Every Saturday in January and February Little Folk with Albo Popular Wimbledon folksinger and guitarist Al Clogston performs a series of Saturday morning concerts for kids. Folk songs, American camp songs, traditional children’s songs, sing-alongs and original songs, 10.30am, £5 Every Saturday and Sunday in February Hansel and Gretel. Hansel and Gretel are lost in the forest with

no hope of finding their way back home. When they find a house made of sweets they think their luck has changed, but things take a turn for the worst when they discover the house belongs to an evil witch…2pm and 4pm, £12/£10

Duke of York’s Theatre St Martin's Lane WC2N 4BG : atgtickets.com To 17 January Peppa Pig’s Surprise It’s a lovely day and Peppa is playing outside with her friends. Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig have got a surprise for her and her younger brother George but no matter how hard they try, they cannot guess what it is. Age 3+, : peppapiglive.com To 20 February Goodnight Mister Tom The Olivier award-winning Chichester Festival Theatre production of this much-loved children's book returns to the West End. From £15

The Little Angel Theatre 14 Dagmar Passage, Cross Street N1 2DN : littleangeltheatre.com To 31 January The Giraffe and The Pelly and Me Adapted from the acclaimed book by Roald Dahl, this is the

Cont p.44

Showcasing the finest in traditional circus thrills and skills, Zippos CIRQUE BERSERK! brings this treasured form of live entertainment bang up-to-date in a jaw dropping West End Spectacular. A show great for kids and even better for adults! From £15, over 5s only

from p 43

What’s on story about a young boy who befriends a Giraffe, a Pelican and a Monkey. Join them on their unexpected adventures when they create the Ladderless Window Cleaning Company. Age 4-11, £12/£14

The London Coliseum St. Martin's Lane, Charing Cross, WC2N 4ES : eno.org To 10 January The Nutcracker On a sparkling Christmas Eve in a frost-dusted Edwardian London, Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll discover a magical world, where she battles with the Mouse King and meets a handsome stranger. From £14

Lyric Hammersmith Lyric Square, Kings Street W6 0QL : lyric.co.uk 16-20 February Sorcerer's Apprentice Magic comes to life this February half term with the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Created by the acclaimed company behind Dotty the Dragon and My Pet Monster and Me. 11am & 1pm, £8

New Wimbledon Theatre The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1QG : atgtickets.com/venues/newwimbledon-theatre 14-15 January Swan Lake From the impressive splendour of the Palace ballroom to the moonlit lake where swans glide in perfect formation, this compelling tale of tragic romance has it all. 7.30pm, from £21.40 16 January The Snow Maiden Protected from the outside world by Father Frost, the exquisite Snow Maiden plays innocently amongst the

dancing snowflakes in the enchanted Land of Frost. 2.30pm and 7.30pm, from £21.40 20-31 January Shrek the Musical Based on the award-winning DreamWorks animation film, Shrek the Musical is this year’s must-see show for all the family. From £15 15 February Sing-a-long-a Frozen 2016 Calling all Annas and Elsas! 3.30pm, from £15.90 15 February Sing-a-long-a Grease Calling all Sandys and Danny's! 7.30pm, from £15.90

The Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7ES : nimaxtheatres.com/lyrictheatre To 10 January The Tiger Who Came to Tea Hold on to your biscuit tin, The Tiger Who Came to Tea is roaring back into the West End for a smashing Christmas season. Join Sophie and the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show packed with oodles of magic, singa-long songs and clumsy chaos.

The Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB : polkatheatre.com To 7 February Beauty & The Beast Follow Belle’s courageous journey to the Beast’s mysterious castle where she must overcome her fears and discover the true meaning of beauty. The enchanting children’s classic comes to life in an exhilarating show brimming with adventure, music, magic and mystery. Age 6-12, from £11.50 From 8 January The Paper Dolls When a little girl makes a string of paper dolls, she takes them by the hand on a

fantastical adventure. Whirling through their home and garden they fly through the air, dodging the clutches of a toy dinosaur, a snapping oven-glove crocodile and a very real pair of scissors. Ages 3-6, from £9 12-21 January Not Now, Bernard It sometimes feels as though everyone’s just too busy to listen to little Bernard, but when he finds a big purple monster in the garden things rapidly go from bad to worse. Ages 3-8, from £10 2-6 March Dogs Don't Do Ballet Join Ballet Black for a magical performance based on the bestselling book by Anna Kemp, full of fun, magic and one very special dog. From £10

this man sings about everything children are really interested in! Professional singer and songwriter Nick Cope writes, records and performs music for children and has established a strong following of little and not-so-little people all over the world. 11am and 2pm, £7.75

The Old Vic Theatre The Cut, Waterloo SE1 8NB : oldvictheatre.com To 16 January Dr Seuss's The Lorax Inspired by Dr. Seuss's classic tale, The Lorax tells of a moustachioed and cantankerous critter on a mission to protect the earth from the greedy, tree-chopping, Thneedknitting businessman known only as The Once-ler. From £12, with 50% off some tickets for ages 14 and under.

The Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore SW7 2AP : royalalberthall.com 16 January–6 March Amaluna Cirque du Soleil returns to the Hall with one of its newest touring shows. Amaluna has never before been seen in the UK and will mark Cirque du Soleil’s 20th year at the worldfamous venue. 17 February Nick Cope's Family Songbook Monkeys, bears, socks and mud,

See the orchids adorning the remarkable architecture of Kew's steamy glasshouse

Sadler's Wells Rosebery Avenue EC1R : sadlerswells.com To 24 January Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty — New Adventures Its run at Sadler’s Wells sold out before its first performance and it returns this year by popular demand. £32-£65

Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8PX : southbankcentre.co.uk/ whatson 10-12 February

Send your events details to Whatson@familiessouthwest.co.uk

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

Jan/Feb 2016

What’s on

St James Theatre 12 Palace Street SW1E 5JA : stjamestheatre.co.uk To 17 January Around The World in 80 Days Join Fogg and his loyal valet Passepartout as they voyage from the misty alleys of Victorian London to the exotic subcontinent and the wild west in a race against the clock. 2.30pm, 7.30pm, from £15

Jan/Feb 2016

FARMERS’ MARKETS Make the most of your local Farmer’s markets. Support small local producers who come to you, offering great quality produce you can trust, no pesticides!

Venn Street Market Venn Street, Venn Street, Clapham Common SW4 0AT ( 7622 8259 : vennstreetmarket.co.uk Runs every Saturday, 11am-4pm, selling high quality local produce, flowers, hot food and crafts.

Parsons Green Farmers’ Market

Dulwich Picture Gallery Works of M. C. Esher

The Thomas’ Academy, New King's Road SW6 4LY : lfm.org.uk/markets/parsons-green Runs every Sunday, 10am-2pm. Lots of top-notch farmers and artisan producers including rare-breed poultry farmer James Evans of Pastures Farm, local piemaker James (Little Jack Horners) and Eden Farm with excellent organic vegetables from their Lincolnshire farm.

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

Shaftesbury Park Farmers’ Market See more events in our online

Shaftesbury Park Primary School, Ashbury Road, Battersea SW11 5UW ( 7228 3652 : shaftesburypark.wands worth.sch.uk Runs every Saturday, 10am-2pm, selling the freshest and tastiest food in the area with a wide variety of different meats and cheeses, not to mention seasonal fruit and vegetables which have been allowed to ripen fully in the field before being brought directly to the market.

What’s On calendar

Dulwich Picture Gallery Gallery Road SE21 7AD : dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk To 17 January The Amazing World of M. C. Escher The first major UK show of work by the iconic graphic artist will highlight Escher’s (1898 - 1972) supreme skill as a master draughtsman presenting images which made him one of the most popular artists of the 20th century. 10am-5pm, £14 adults, children free

West Hill Farmers’ Market West Hill Primary School, Merton Road SW18 5ST : facebook.com/westhillfarmers market Every Sunday, 10am-2pm. One of the best places in Wandsworth to find veg, fruit, meats, breads and cakes and many more surprises! A huge selection of seasonal produce from strawberries to free range poultry, eggs, dairy produce, freshly picked veg and salads, free range and organic meat, fresh juice, plants, herbs and fresh bread. Loads of space for children to play.

Putney Pier Market

Firepower Royal Artillery Museum Royal Arsenal, Woolwich SE18 6ST : firepower.org.uk Throughout January and February

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Shh... Bang! A delicate dancetheatre performance for children and their adults, playfully exploring sound and silence. 11am and 2pm, £12/£6 15 February The Minpins Roald Dahl's epic story is presented with music by Sibelius. A small boy comes to the defence of a race of tiny forest people. Flying on the back of a magic swan, he defeats a fire-breathing monster who is terrorising them. 12pm, £10/£5 13 February Judith Kerr Written and illustrated to Judith’s exquisite standards, it is set to delight readers young and old. Judith Kerr joins Ian Craig in conversation, followed by a Q&A. £10/£5 18-21 February The Secret Life of Suitcases Larry works in an office and he likes it very much. He likes sorting and tidying and generally putting things in order. Everything in its place, a place for everything. 11am and 2pm, £12/£6 20 February Funharmonics: Join the BFG and his sidekick Sophie as they concoct a marvellous plan to stop the giants from galloping all over the world to gobble up humans as they sleep. 10am2pm, £10 adults, £5 children

Putney Pier, Embankment, Putney SW15 ( 8871 8200 : facebook.com/artonputney embankment First Sunday of the month, 11am-5pm, with plenty of food stalls plus fresh fruit and veg, but with an emphasis on art and crafts.

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What’s on Their own Words A new exhibition about the Great War bringing to life artillerymen of different nations, through extracts from their diaries, letters home and photographs.

Foundling Museum 40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ : foundlingmuseum.org.uk 7 February Foundling Sunday Join the Foundling Museum for a screening of four short animations as part of this special Foundling Sunday. Talk 2pm, concert 3pm, free with Museum Admission.

Natural History Museum

Science Museum

Cromwell Road SW7 5BD : nhm.ac.uk Throughout January and February Wildlife Photographer of the Year Visit the Natural History Museum's world-renowned annual exhibition to see the best wildlife photographs on the planet. From £6.75 29 January Lates Visit the Museum after hours and experience a unique Friday night out in London. 6-10pm, FREE

Exhibition Road, South Kensington SW7 2DD : sciencemuseum.com From 10 February Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Genius Predominantly recognised as one of history’s greatest painters, Leonardo da Vinci was also a uniquely gifted scientist and engineer. The Mechanics of Genius brings the intricate mechanical concepts of this restless and curious mind to life in a major interactive exhibition. £10, concessions available

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES London Transport Museum Covent Garden Piazza WC2E 7BB : ltmuseum.co.uk 13-21 February The Mysterious Midnight Bus Inspired by the history of the night bus which is explored in the exhibition Night Shift – London After Dark, little ones can fashion a mosaic in creative workshops and hear a story about a magical bus in storytime sessions. Free with admission.

Natural History Museum Cromwell Road SW7 5BD : nhm.ac.uk 21 January - 15 May Otherworlds: Visions of our Solar System Travel to the remote edges of our Solar System in this spectacular new photographic exhibition created by artist Michael Benson. Using raw data provided by NASA and ESA missions, the 73 composite images on display demonstrate an important chapter in the history

of photography and bring art and science together to create a glimpse of worlds currently beyond our reach. From £5.40

Et Patati Patata ( 07966 893674 caroline@etpatatipatata.com : etpatatipatata.com Learn French without leaving London with a French immersion programme based on a wide range of fun and creative activities in French blended with outdoor sport activities. 4-10 years old. Fulham. 9am-3pm Monday to Friday. 100% French Fun!

Youngstars activity camps ( 07920 426 499 campbookings@youngstars.co.uk Camps in Clapham, Wimbledon, Parsons Green and NEW Putney 15-19th February Multi sports and activities, games, sports, Arts & Crafts and more for 3-7yrs.

A MUST SEE!

RHS Garden Wisley Woking GU23 6QB Beat the queues and pre-book at : rhs.org.uk/wisleybutterflies Sat 13 – Sun 21 February Discover the secrets of the butterfly and other insects. Fascinating. Free family activities every day.

Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill SW11 5TN : bac.org.uk 18-20 February At The End of Everything Else When her best friend goes missing, Icka puts her inventive mind to the test and sets off to save him. For children aged 6+, 11am and 2pm, from £9

Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH : bankofengland.co.uk/museum 15-19 February The Battle for Toad Hall Mr Toad and his friends Ratty, Mole and Badger, crept slowly through the secret tunnel into Toad Hall, ready to commence battle and claim back Toad’s home from those pesky weasels… But will they be triumphant? A costumed storyteller will bring to life the classic stories from ‘The Wind in the Willows’ in these interactive and fun sessions. 10am-4pm FREE

Wandsworth Common : artimatelondon@gmail.com 16-19 February Active Art Make amazing 3d

Familiessouthwest.co.uk Tel: 020 8696 9680

66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3 4HS : chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 30 January–7 February Snowdrop Days 2016 The Garden’s annual Snowdrop Days return with stunning new displays highlighting the snowdrops intricate beauty. These stars of winter will be unveiled in an innovative take on the traditional Snowdrop Theatre, presenting snowdrops as you’ve never seen them before. With a programme of walks, talks and workshops. 10am-4pm, from £6.95

The secret lives of insects

The Nature Study Centre

The Chelsea Physic Garden

Papier Mache and cardboard sculptures to create crazy engineered structures and amazing characters, monsters and animals. Ages 4-12, 9.30am3.30pm, book on 07775 781332

The Importance of Being Earnest Southside Players, Chestnut Grove Academy Theatre, Hearnville Road SW12 8RR : southsideplayers.org.uk 17-20 February Pure verbal opera in this witty farce about two dashing menabout-town. From £7.50

Go Ape Battersea Park : goape.co.uk 0845 519 8739 Book early for your half term session! Take your children across the tree tops of Battersea Park, across high ropes, swings and 3 different zip wires. Three levels of difficulties: we are proud to say Families staff managed the Extreme course—legs shaking and hearts beating fast! Tree top junior is open to any child over 1metre high. From £18.

10% per person with this code: FAMBAT.

Jan/Feb 2016

Classified PARTIES

Face Painting & Balloon Modelling

Ly d i e

Contact Susie 07814 925462 www.magicaldesigns.co.uk

C h i l d r e n’ s Pa r t i e s

TUITION South West London

Junior Chess Club Experienced tutors. Weekly Chess Club, Holiday clubs and private tuition. 07718 883285

0207 622 2540

The Unique Birthday Experience The theatre of Peter Pan, Superheroes, Fairies,Arabian Nights and more... In your home! Unforgettable Bilingual English/French www.lydieparties.com

Silly Millie the Clown

info@swchess.co.uk www.swchess.co.uk

Parties for 3-9 year olds Funny Magic Show, Puppet’s, Party Games, Silly Songs and Balloon Animals Call 020 7823 8329 - 07939 239397 www.sillymillietheclown.co.uk

VACANCY Earn Extra Money? Capital Focus Groups are looking for people to take part in Market Research and give their opinion on a variety of subjects. If you would like to earn extra cash please call Liz on 07761 128059 or e-mail e.dahlgren@btinternet.com

CHILDCARE

MUSIC

HEALTH

PIANO TUITION

Friendly, experienced and qualified teacher of children 6+ and adults. Home visits possible.

Mark Lester MA, CT ABRSM

020 8870 7830 www.marklester.biz

PUBLIC SPEAKING Individual Tuition Creative Writing Speech & Drama

Jon Bailie Holistic Life Coach 07932 667336 jon@lifecoachclapham.co.uk lifecoachclapham.co.uk

Clare Price. LGSM, ALAM clareprice@tiscali.co.uk (020) 7735 3156

Violin and Piano Tuition Passionate about teaching. Experienced. Conservatory diploma. SW15 based. Home visits possible. 0208 785 6494 /07956 307624 Rustemvinni@mail.ru

SERVICES PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE & QUOTE John:- James & Lamont

020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

FamiliesSouthWest.co.uk Tel: Editorial: News: Adverts/artwork: Events, diary dates, what’s on info:

020 8696 9680 editor@familiessouthwest.co.uk news@familiessouthwest.co.uk adverts@familiessouthwest.co.uk

Next issue: Deadline:

March 2016 Early February 2016

whatson@familiessouthwest.co.uk

ISSN 1354-9553

Jan/Feb 2016

• 'Families SW' London, established in 1990, is part of Families Magazines Ltd, a

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Piano Lessons

Experienced piano teacher based in Streatham Hill, SW2 07795 625 564 info@tommyharrington.co.uk tommyharrington.co.uk

franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks, SL8 5TD. The contents of 'Families SW' are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. There are nearly 40 UK local editions with a print run of more than 700,000 copies in all, in which you can advertise too. Printed by Ridgeway Press Ltd, Pewsey, Wiltshire. Designed by Shirley Trimmer We take every care preparing this magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence. Paper used to print Families is from fully-managed sustainable sources — meaning trees which are felled are continuously replaced. Inks are soya-based, which can be re-cycled.