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SWL 284 Mar April 2019.qxp_Layout 1 19/02/2019 15:20 Page 1 FREE TAKE ME HOME South West Your guide to Easter Over 150 local events Take your copy home! IN THIS ISSUE Zero waste shopping, the rise of self harming, prep schools, parties, local city farms, days out, child friendly museums, theatre, Easter activities and much more Issue 284/285 March/April 2019 familiesonline.co.uk SWL 284 Mar April 2019.qxp_Layout 1 19/02/2019 15:20 Page 2 SWL 284 Mar April 2019.qxp_Layout 1 20/02/2019 08:00 Page 3 Do something fun this Easter. Check out our Easter and What’s On listings for activities, days out, courses contents and fun things to do indoor and outdoors Photo: Go Ape March/April 2019 Issue 284/285 4-5 Local news 37 Your local Clubs & Classes news • Families London South West is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in 39 Favourite places to enjoy the Great the group are independently owned and operated 6-7 Ways to live sustainably under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Outdoors this Easter LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow 8-20 EDUCATION FEATURE Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. • What’s wrong with League tables? 41 The rise of self harming • Why choose a school in Bath • The contents of Families London South West are 42-47 EASTER HOLIDAYS fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial • Falcons School for Girls music From sport to art, days out, music, or photographic matter may be reproduced in any scholarship programme form without prior consent of Families London South drama and much more West. • News from our local Prep schools • Designed and Printed by Ridgeway Press, Wilts. • School Open days 48 EDITOR’S PICK Our editor chooses 5 things to do • Every care is taken in the preparation of this 23 Cutting the cost of childcare magazine, but Families SW, our distributors, the this spring franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle 24-29 BABY FEATURE Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims 48-54 WHAT’S ON • When should your baby start being of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or • Diary dates any consequence thereof. active? • Mother’s day treats • Very useful local baby services • Paper used to print Families is from fully-managed • Theatre sustainable sources. 29 Helping parents keep their children • Museums and galleries Tel: 020 8696 9680 through fostering Editorial: [email protected] News: [email protected] 31-33 PARTIES Adverts/Artwork: [email protected] • Top tips for a budget party Events/Diary Dates/What’s On: • Top party ideas from our local party [email protected] specialists and planners Find us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram FamiliesSWLon Next Issue: May/June 2019 ISSN 1354-9553. All contents ©Families SW 2019. Advertise in our next issue. Contact us on 020 8696 9680 familiesonline.co.uk March/April 2019 • Families South West 3 SWL 284 Mar April 2019.qxp_Layout 1 19/02/2019 15:20 Page 4 News Polka Theatre closed for renovation Further to a £1.2 million award rehearsal and development studio, from Mayor of London’s Good a creative learning studio designed Growth Fund, our beloved Polka with particular reference to theatre is closed until the summer children with sensory needs, as of 2020 to allow much needed re- well as improved access facilities. building and refurbishing–excellent Polka is one of the few theatres in news to celebrate its 40th birthday the UK dedicated exclusively to year and make ready for the next children. A further £1 million Congratulations to children from Priory CofE School in Wimbledon who 40 years. The development approx is still needed to help have been judges of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2019. Although adult includes a new Adventure Theatre complete this £7.5 million project. judges chose the shortlist, the winners will be decided by children from 12 specially designed for young https://polkatheatre.com schools around the country. The winner will be announced on Blue Peter children up to age 5, a new on 7th March on World Book Day. Like to get involved with Families magazine? Could you help us by distributing a batch of magazines in your school? Would you like to review shows and events and share your reviews? If so, why not join our team of ‘roving mums’! We want to involve you in the production of the magazine: share your passions, your favourite eateries and in exchange you will get a chance to win prizes, tickets to shows and to review products to keep. There will be a limited number of mums in the team. Email [email protected] or call 020 8696 9680. About WIFI and Smart Meters In our Jan/Feb issue we mentioned home display showing spending on a piece published in ‘The Lancet’ energy in pounds and pence, smart about the potential health risks to meters equip families with the tools humans associated with prolonged necessary to eliminate energy waste exposure to WIFI (mobile phones, at home and reduce bills. By computer routers, masts, baby reducing energy use, we can cut the monitors etc). If you haven’t read it amount of carbon we produce as a yet, do, it is very important. country and help to tackle climate One reader wanted his viewpoint change. To reassure the public that expressed about smart meters (not smart meters are safe, Public Health about the potential risks of WIFI England has conducted and use). At Families we like our published extensive peer-reviewed readers to make up their own research. This research has found minds, so please read the Lancet that while smart meters do use Enjoy British Science Week report here radio waves, they do so at a typical http://bit.ly/Lancetarticle, or find rate of a millionth of the minimum Families can enjoy a wonderful can also download a series of FREE out more about smart meters here international guidelines and time together during British activity packs at http://stopsmartmeters.org.uk/ and significantly lower than existing Science Week 2019 which will take www.britishscienceweek.org filled here’s what our reader has to say: devices such as mobile telephones place from 8 to 17 March. Science with resources and ideas to try out “New gas and electricity smart or WI-FI.” Week is a celebration of science, at home or school, without the meters are being offered to every technology, engineering and maths need for a science background or home across Great Britain at no To learn more about the benefits with fascinating, entertaining and expensive equipment. extra cost. With an end to of smart meters and protections in engaging activities for all ages To find an event close to you, visit estimated bills and a portable in- place, visit www.smartenergygb.org taking place across the UK. You www.sciencelive.net 4 Families South West • March/April 2019 familiesonline.co.uk SWL 284 Mar April 2019.qxp_Layout 1 19/02/2019 15:20 Page 5 Knightsbridge School pupils become kindness detectives In February pupils at Knightsbridge very thoughtful game of bingo. School took on the roles of Much like the much-loved game, kindness detectives to raise the children were given a sheet full awareness for Children’s Mental of things to tick off, only instead of Health Week. Each child in the a list of numbers, the page was school was given the name of filled with a variety of kind deeds. someone in their class and These included sitting with embarked on a secret mission to someone who looked lonely, do something kind for that person donating something they no longer during the course of the week. needed to charity and holding the Acts of kindness included helping door open for someone. their classmates tidy their lockers “We wanted to let them know that and carry their bags as well as sometimes it is OK not to be OK.” Powerleague introduces new flagship site at Nine Elms sharing pencils and helping each www.knightsbridgeschool.com other in class. The original provider of small-sided side of the pitch and upload goals The younger pupils in the school football in the UK, Powerleague, is to watch them back on the were also encouraged to play a proud to showcase a brand new Powerleague website or upload to club in Nine Elms, Battersea. The social media channels. new Club features five 5-a-side Powerleague Nine Elms caters for pitches, one 7-a-side pitch and all your football and league wearable tech for players which requirements, as well as corporate tracks game performance and events and children’s parties with stats. The club features exciting pitches for hire and additional digital advances including on-pitch games including Zorb Football, cameras to replay and record game Nerf Parties and more. triumphs. Hit a red button on the www.powerleague.co.uk Two books we love this month: The Montessori Toddler by Montessori teacher and parent Simone Davies (Workman, £14.99, 10 April) suggests how to bring the values of a Montessori classroom into your own home. Designed to be a practical guide on how to raise self-sufficient, curious and independent toddlers, the book also aims to help Commission a beautiful artist portrait parents become more easy going and attentive. Mary-Maye Lorriman works to customer: "Such a fun surprise create beautiful bespoke portraits. present for my husband, Mary- WHY Do I Have To Sleep? by best-selling author Signe She paints beloved family pets, Maye has captured our wonderful Rhode (Make Your Mark Global, £11.98) tells the story of a children, adults, and even deceased dog perfectly and we are both over child who doesn’t want to go to bed but slowly opens up loved ones.