FREEtake me home! IN THIS ISSUE Education Focus Feature: The Early Years Winter Party Ideas Whats On at your local library - 2018 Calendar Unlock with our expertly led singing, your child’s dancing and acting classes potential for 4 -18 year olds. CHEAM & EPSOM WORCESTER PARK 01372 730363 020 8773 4242 COULSDON & SUTTON CATERHAM 01372 740284 0345 078 0805 CROYDON SHIRLEY 0845 265 7083 020 8949 1116 Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Creative Courage For Life Issuefamiliesonline.co.uk 78 January/February 2018 familiesonline.co.ukFamilies London Surrey Borders Banstead, Ewell, Claygate and Esher E: [email protected] T: 01932 223309 Dorking, Fetcham, Walton on the Hill, Ashtead and South Epsom E: [email protected] T: 020 8432 0811 AGES 4-14 MORE THAN JUST Voted no.1 MATHS AND ENGLISH Find out how we can help your child PRIVATE TUITION CENTRE PROGRESS in the UK Independently proven results. Since 2001 over 200,000 children have excelled academically, reached their potential and achieved the best possible results with Explore Learning. BE EXAM READY With a huge range of courses and programmes mapped to the school curriculum, Is your child preparing to sit the 11 our centres are an environment where children of all abilities thrive. Of course we Plus, a local entrance exam, the believe that maths and English are extremely important, but in addition to that SATs or an end of term test? we are truly passionate about inspiring a generation of ‘fearless learners’; children who can excel in the classroom, be confident in exams and are ready to tackle anything their future may hold. CONFIDENCE Confidence is the first step on a AL For more information visit FREE TRI child’s journey to success. SESSION! explorelearning.co.uk or call 033 0124 3802 Your nearest centres are in Addiscombe, Epsom, Merton, North Cheam, A FEARLESS FUTURE Purley and Wallington. Supporting children to succeed in school and beyond. EducationInvestor Awards 2016 Maths Problem English Reading Spelling Comprehension solving 2 Families London Surrey Borders familiesonline.co.uk London Surrey Borders Tel: 01923 239 664 Editor Tamar Pearson [email protected] Editor’s welcome Design Rebecca Carr In this issue... Printer Print Mates This is a wish for me to you, that 2018 will give you and your families all the 21,000 copies printed happiness and contentment your hearts 4 Jan/Feb news 42,000 readers per issue can hold. 5 Education news & School open days Next issue March/April 2018 Remember to be peaceful and gentle 7 Early years childcare with each other. To look past the bad Booking deadline 9 February 2018 and only focus on the good. To tackle 9 Nursery directory tasks with love in your hearts, and to Families London Surrey Borders is part of Families Print be grateful for every moment you have 10 Nursery news board Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the together. group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham 11 Winter party directory House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families London Surrey Borders May 2018 fill your homes and hearts are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or with happiness, love, kindness and 12 What’s on photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families London Surrey Borders. Every care respect. is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families 15 2018 Library calendar London Surrey Borders; our distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the Tamar accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. xx AS SEEN ON MAKE YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT MORE FUN! DISCOVER RUGBYTOTS Our dynamic weekly play sessions enable boys and girls aged 2–7 to develop their social and physical skills in a fun, positive environment. For more details, just call or email: 0345 313 3242 [email protected] rugbytots.co.uk The world’s favourite rugby play programme The MultiSports Group Change your game MultiSports AmershamSutton&Chorleywood & Cheam Weekend sports for boys and girls aged 4 - 16 of all abilities Tel: 084401293 3 377405150450 www.multisports.co.uk ENROLLINGENROLLING NOW NOW FOR FOR OUR OURAUTUMN SUMMER TERM WORKSHOP WORKSHOP IN JULY AND AUTUMN TERM IN SEPTEMBER Extensive variety of sports – Professional coaches – Ofsted registered - Childcare vouchers familiesonline.co.uk Families London Surrey Borders 3 Spin a Tale during National Jan/Feb News Storytelling Week The first week of February marks National Storytelling Week, a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations retelling events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows. Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs to be a good Mums Want More Flexible speaker and listener first. But above all, storytelling is fun. Working Opportunities Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary. According to a survey by Workingmums. co.uk, almost three quarters of working National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, mums identify flexible work as being hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes. crucial to getting more women into senior roles. The Society for Storytelling has lots of information as “the home of UK oral storytelling” and offers free packs for schools to download. Visit www.sfs.org.uk to find a local event or The survey shows that mums feel flexible to look through its extensive archive. working is vital for them to manage work and family life and that 60% of those who work flexibly would like even more Petite Ecole de Reigate flexibility. receives its second Quality So what can individuals do to help Framework Award persuade their employers to agree to them working flexibly? Here are some tips: Petite Ecole de Reigate is proud to • Think through what the job requires ‘Bee Boppers’, an original, new obtain its second Quality Framework and whether the tasks you have to Award by the National Resource perform can be done at a different music and storytelling group for Center for Supplementary School location ie from home, or at times (NRCSE). It was lovely to be outside of the standard working day. children and parents, starting presented with this richly deserved Take account of any additional costs January in Sutton award at the end of term Christmas or challenges this might involve and show by Pascale Vassie, the head of discuss them honestly. Created and run by two professional NRCSE. Congratulations to all the • Give examples of the ways in which songwriters and Early Years teachers, wonderful teachers and pupils. “Great your work can be successfully carried ‘Bee Boppers’ sessions aim to improve to see how confident the children have out under any new working pattern confidence, co-ordination, memory and become”, said Pascale you are proposing, and show that it language skills. Each class is tailored will not harm the business. Point out towards the Early Years curriculum thus Petite Ecole de Reigate offers French any business advantages. providing your child with a pre-school boost. classes to beginners and French • Research some case studies, ideally Speakers from 3 to 14 years old. in your sector that shows how the Featuring catchy, unique songs, live work pattern you are suggesting can accompaniment, magical stories and exciting visit www.petite-ecole-reigate.co.uk be mutually beneficial to you and props, your little ‘Bee Boppers’ will be for more details. your employer. buzzing with inspiration once they enter this • If managers are dubious, suggest a world of music, story and fun. trial period. 55x70_alison.qxp_Layout 9 25/08/2016 10:52 Pa • Have a compromise solution as a The 40 minute classes run on Fridays back-up. between 11:40-12:20 at Trinity Church, Sutton, SM1 1DZ and are for accompanied For more information and flexible work children from walking age up to 5 years. opportunities, visit www.workingmums. co.uk First session is frre. Limited spaces! Book now. Email Helen: beeboppersmusic@gmail. com. www.beeboppersmusic.co.uk Birthday For classes of pure MADness, Parties join MAD Academy Too! Babies from 3 months action songs and sensory stimulation Walkers to 2 years music, movement and motor development 2 to 4 years dance, musicality and beat competency Classes in Croydon & surrounding areas Call Alison on 020 8407 1726 or email: [email protected] madacademy.com Music And Dance and a whole lot of fun! 4 Families London Surrey Borders familiesonline.co.uk Preparing Your Child for The 11+, SATS or GCSE’s Learn to Leading mock test provider, MockTestMasters, has opened a new dance, act & sing tuition centre ‘’Exam Pass Masters” in Wallington, offering expert tuition to help your child better prepare for the 11+ , SATS and GCSE exams. 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