Christmas All Wrapped Up
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Yes, it’s ISSUE 34: November - Free!December 2016 London-Kent Borders www.familiesonline.co.uk TUE 28 FEB - SUN 5 MAR CHRISTMAS IDEAS Education Festive Shows Christmas Events Diary CHRISTMAS ALL Personalised Gifts WRAPPED UP 01786 473 508 THE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN AGED 0–TEENS www.labels4kids.com/fam EssentialFor families living in the Bromley & Bexley boroughs,Festive Dartford & the surroundingGuide areas of Kent Bluewater Santa’s grotto at M w T i n th to Padding More magic, marmalade and t amazement Book tickets today at bluewater.co.uk © P&Co. Ltd./SC 2016 FEARLESS LEARNERS START HERE At EXPLORE LEARNING, we believe every child has the potential to be amazing. That's why we offer maths and English tuition with a difference, creating confident learners who are hungry for knowledge. With over 120 award-winning centres across the UK, call us today on 01483 447414 for your FREE TRIAL SESSION. explorelearning.co.uk /explorelearning @exploretutors 2 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 www.familiesonline.co.uk Follow us on Families London–Kent Borders Magazine or Twitter @familieslkb In this issue... ISSUE 34: NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 4 News & Views 5 Education 7 Why should children learn an instrument 8 Create a Christmas party to remember 09 Edible Christmas Gifts 10 The gift of Christmas to make with your kids 11 Out & About The best of What’s On near you this Christmas including Festive season show highlights DILLON LAW LLP FAMILY LAW & EMPLOYMENT LAW Front cover: Fantastic Mr Fox at the Orchard Theatre Dorking What’s On Editor: Louise Kettlety Editor: Mima Walia 07792 006546 Design: [email protected] Kevin Smith Families London-Kent Borders Magazine is part of Families Magazines Ltd a 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 London-Kent Borders Magazine are fully protected by copyright and non of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. 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. WOULD YOU KNOW HOW SPECIALISING IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: TO HELP YOUR CHILD • Divorce and Finances FREE 30 MINUTE • Children IN AN EMERGENCY? • Child protection CONSULTATION Gain the confi dence to act quickly and • Pre-nuptial Agreements • Co-habitation disputes calmly in that emergency situation. • Co-habitation and Separation Agreements Award Winning Paediatric First Aid Classes • Domestic Violence and Injunctions for Parents, Grandparents and Carers. • Civil Partnership • Employment law issues Email emma@daisyfi rstaid.com to book a class or visit DILLON LAW LLP www.daisyfi rstaid.com Ground Floor, 51 Tweedy Road Bromley, Kent BR1 3NH or Facebook for more information. 020 8460 0174 • offi [email protected] • www.dillonlaw.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 3 News & Views Dahl in the dentist’s chair and New masterclasses to Wilde on a climbing wall – extreme reading proves a page boost 11+ success! turner at Bickley Park Leading 11+ specialists MockTestMasters. com, have launched a series of 11+ Maths and 11+ English masterclasses to boost a child’s performance, following numerous requests from parents. Masterclasses in Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning to be added at a later date. Sandra Nicol, a director of the company, says that “The masterclasses are designed to cover the key points a child must remember in each area. Our approach is to teach a specific topic and get the children Pupils at Bickley Park School in Bromley to practise, which helps tremendously in have taken reading to the extreme – knowledge retention. All manuals and swapping the library for a climbing wall, books are included in the masterclass fee.” dentist’s chair and the branches of trees to enjoy their chosen book. The challenge Our masterclasses cover must have skills has proved a hit but underneath the fun in areas such as 11+ Comprehension, 11+ is a serious lesson, as the school aims to Writing, 11+ Cloze, 11+ Algebra, and 11+ encourage boys to take up reading from a Word Problems. Many parents are unaware young age. Headteacher Patrick Wenham that techniques and strategies need to be said: “With national levels of reading for applied when answering questions in the 11+ pleasure amongst boys declining, it is exams. Pupils will be armed with valuable important to encourage young men to tips for success. Classes will be held in take an interest in books.” Bexley, Orpington, Maidstone. For more information about Bickley Park call 020 8467 2195 or email [email protected] For more details, please visit 11plusmasterclass.com WHEN YOU CAN’T TALK TO EACH OTHER, TALK TO THE EXPERTS It’s not unusual for separating couples trained professional helps you and your effective in helping parties reach an to find it difficult to talk to each other ex to work out an agreement about such agreed and mutually beneficial outcome. constructively when it comes to reaching issues. Mediation aims to move your At Dillon Law LLP they always advocate an agreement on topics such as children discussions forward, avoiding further the use of this non-confrontational method and finances. In the event it is not conflict and concluding with a legally and can refer their clients to mediators in possible to agree matters then we would effective agreement. Mediation is much the local area and central London. strongly advise attending mediation. less stressful and more cost effective www.dillonlaw.co.uk Mediation is where an independent, than court proceedings and often more 20 years bespokeof high swim quality Overlessons National Young Mathematicians Awards Returns With the Explore Learning National C H S Young Mathematicians’ Award returning D R I IS K soon, they want more children than ever to T A M U be confident and excited about maths! Here A Q S F A are a couple of top tips for inspiring maths at home: ISHES FROM Bring maths to life with fun and engaging ways to learn new skills. Baking, measuring objects and budgeting at the shops EASTER CRASH COURSE are great ways for your child to be hands on with maths. 3-7 April 8.15-10.15am Ask questions during homework time: Why? How do Book online now to avoid disappointment you know? Are you sure? The more you can challenge Swimming is an essential life skill - so make sure you get it right! your child to convince you of their reasoning, the more you will build skills such as problem solving from an early age. Visit our website: www.aquakids.co.uk Be sure to praise them for their efforts afterwards, too! Follow us on Twitter: @aquakidsuk Connect with us on Facebook: Aquakids For more advice, support, news and views on maths, take a look at Swimming Lessons that last a lifetime our blog - www.explorelearning.co.uk/blog/category/maths/ 4 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 www.familiesonline.co.uk EducationTravel CREATING OUTSTANDING SCIENTIFIC LEARNERS Harris Academy Beckenham has Harris Academy were delighted to produced another set of outstanding announce that they were awarded a student outcomes in 2015-16! Their judgement of ‘Good’ by OFSTED in headline figures include 80% of July 2013, an excellent result given students attaining A*-C in GCSE English the very challenging inspection and Maths and a Progress 8 score of framework! The team remarked 0.85. This means that on average we that ‘Achievement is improving add almost an entire grade of value for rapidly. Students make good, and each subject for each student above sometimes outstanding progress and beyond expected progress. because they are taught well…’ and that ‘students report how proud with the skills Currently in the top three non-selective they are to be at the Academy and required to be confident and eloquent schools in the Borough for student how much they enjoy taking part in writers, readers and speakers, our progress, since opening in 2011, Harris the wide range of activities that are on innovative WORD programme is Academy Beckenham has made a offer outside of lessons.’ placed at the heart of the curriculum. significant impact on the secondary school landscape in Bromley. For The ethos at Harris Academy They focus on raising aspirations at the last four consecutive years, our Beckenham aims to create every level has contributed to this progress and attainment grades outstanding scientific learners, as excellent performance, and intend in GCSE Core subjects have been they train their students in resilience, to sustain and improve these results above national averages, and our AS reflectiveness, resourcefulness further year on year. Harris Academy and A2 results improve year on year and reciprocity. These crucial skills Beckenham is an enriching, innovative also. Due to our relentless focus on underpin an enterprising attitude and swiftly improving academy, of improving standards, they are now to learning and have already had which I am very proud to be the Principal. oversubscribed, proving to be a very significant impact on the students’ popular choice in our local community. progress. In order to equip our students Rebecca Hickey, Principal MASTER YOUR WAY TO GCSE Results 11+ SELECTION 2016 11+ ENGLISH MASTERCLASSES Harris Academy Beckenham is a place where learning • 11+ Writing Masterclass • 11+ Comprehension Masterclass comes first, aspirations are high, achievement • 11+ Cloze and Grammar Masterclass • 11+ Punctuation Masterclass is celebrated and the Academy Ethos is driven • 11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass by the spirits of Science and Enterprise.