FREE! Thames Valley East March/April 2016 - Issue 83

RECRUITING NOW Successful ‘business mum’ is seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside & without compromising family commitments or current career. If you have a supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or self-employed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle, please call Diana Page 01235 533362 07747 086518

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BIGGEST Display in the Thames Valley (just 5 mins from M4 J7) Abbey Rose Nursery, Nashdom Lane, Burnham SL1 8NJ UnderUnder 5s5s SpecialSpecial GreatGreat CompetitionsCompetitions

...endless ideas for families of young children. Packed with interesting features and fun things to do with the family in Maidenhead - Windsor - Marlow - Ascot - Slough - Egham

in this Spring has finally sprung, which means we’ve got some great ideas for fun days out during the Easter holidays on pages 18-19. Plus some fab competitions on page 26, including issue winning tickets to the Jungle Book at the Theatre Royal in Windsor. Are you stuck for 3 News & Information Mother’s Day ideas? Then turn to page 15 for some inspiration. And if you are looking at 6 Clubs & Classes News EDUCATION childcare options we have a great Under-5s special from pages 10-14 7 Education News too. Whatever you do, have fun with the whole family and don’t eat 8 How to boost your child's too much chocolate! We’ll back in May with our Summer Camps and literacy and numeracy Activities special. 9 Sats Survival Guide UNDER-5'S SPECIAL 10 What's new in childcare 12 Choosing the right nursery 14 Spotlight on nurseries 15 Mothering Sunday 16 Paris en Famille 18 Spring Days Out 20 Easter Camps & Activities 22 What’s On 26 COMPETITIONS - Win a Gazillion Bubbles Tornado Bubble Blower - Win a monthly delivery of flowers through your letterbox - Win a LEGO ® juniors prize bundle - Win tickets to see Jungle Book at the Theatre Royal Windsor 27 Do we need lessons in parenting? 28 Easter Crafts Happy Birthday Ma’am 29 How to cope with separation er Majesty The Queen will be 90 three weeks later - the Queen's 90th anxiety on April 21 and while the whole Birthday Celebration runs from May 12 to 30 Mums Who Mean Business Hnation will be celebrating, her 15. It’s a 90-minute long extravaganza with 31 Classifieds home town of Windsor will be raising the 900 horses and more than 1,500 riders roof (respectfully). and performers. Tickets have already sold www .FamiliesTVEast.co.uk The monarch will be at Windsor Castle out and a ballot for 5,000 free tickets to T: 01628 627586 when her birthday comes around, and watch the show on giant screens next to F: 08717 146 305 (calls cost 10p/min) E: [email protected] Buckingham Palace is expected to Windsor Castle is open until March 14. editor: Claire Winter announce public engagements in the For more 90th Birthday events, See circulation: 19,5 00 Windsor area on or very close to the day hmq90.co.uk for information. . next issue: May/June 2016 - itself, possibly a royal walkabout. due out: May 1, featuring: Holiday Activities and Camps A more official celebration takes place Government to introduce parenting classes R David Cameron has announced that the Government are pledging an extra £70 million to tackle family issues, including offering families copy/advertising deadline: April 1 vouchers for parenting classes. His aim is to Cover Image: bigstock.com make it normal for parents to seek help raising their children and says that parenting classes should be accessible to all families, not just those at greatest risk. He said: “We’ve got to start talking about parenting and taking action to get it right.” Do you agree? Turn to page 27 twitter.com/familiestve • facebook.com/FamiliesTVE to read our columnist Natalie’s Trice’s opinion.

Ascot: 01344 206466 Bracknell: 01342 833380 Bracknell Warfield: 0800 915 0199 Henley, High Wycombe & Marlow: 01494 533 203 Enrolling Now! Maidenhead: 0118 9712870 Call your local school Windsor: 0845 293 7207 for details Holiday workshops booking now!

Age 4-18 Fun, confidence-building, educational QUALITY TRAINING classes in acting, singing and dance. www.stagecoach.co.uk ESTABLISHED 1988 600 SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 3 Get your hat on! Windsor or Marlow could News & Info Don’t forget to don your feature on its own Monopoly silliest headgear for this Board year’s ‘Wear a Hat Day’ A new competition has been launched by on March 24. Monopoly for two of our well-loved towns This great to feature in a Home Counties version of event is to the game. raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Winning Moves UK has announced a Research. Brain tumours kill more children and contest to find the most ‘beautiful’ location adults under the age of 40 than any other in the Home Counties. Six locations have been shortlisted to appear on a new edition cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on of Monopoly. cancer research is allocated to this devastating The six locations in the running are: disease. Windsor, Marlow, Cranbrook, Guildford, By taking part in the ‘Wear a Hat Day’ you Epping Forest and St Albans. The winning can make a difference and help raise funds for a town will then feature with all new property network of seven research centres that are locations in the game, which is due to hit the looking into brain tumour research. shops this October. To find out more go to wearahatday.org To vote email Search for #hattastic on facebook and twitter. [email protected] or write to Home Counties Monopoly, Winning Moves UK, 7 Praed Street, London W2 1NP. Boditrax coming to Bisham Polls close at midnight on March 18. Bisham Abbey National Sport Centre welcome a new elite piece of equipment which will benefit all members. Boditrax is a body composition measuring device which gives the user 14 different body statistics in just 20 seconds! It helps measure your BMI, calculates your ideal weight and creates fitness goals which be tracked and reviewed online. All Bisham members will have access for a trial period to this equipment which is Keep skating alive for local used at numerous NHS institutions, private special needs skaters medical centres and Premier League Slough Borough Council's decision to close football clubs to help manage weight loss Slough Ice Arena for nine months and not and increase energy and fitness levels. provide temporary facilities puts the future of • We will teach your child to swim • Pre-school children will participate in Forest School activities To find out more about Boditrax and several skating clubs in jeopardy. It includes the • We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum memberships at Bisham visit 120-strong SPICE group, which provides skating • We are competitively priced and accept all childcare vouchers activities for children and young adults with • We have free on-site parking bishamabbeynsc.co.uk. • We offer a free family complimentary health club membership for all special needs. full-time children In 2015 SPICE was awarded Club of Year by the Sports and Recreational Alliance and was Nuffield Health Day Nursery - Stoke Poges runner-up in the Daily Mirror Pride of Sport Wexham Street, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, SL3 6NB awards. Tel: 01753 663996 Slough's four synchro teams, the Slough Jets Email: [email protected] hockey team and numerous junior and adult hockey teams face an uncertain future. Staff will R lose their jobs and coaches will disperse to other rinks making it unlikely for clubs to Advertise for as little as simply pick up where they left off. Meanwhile, £60 plus VAT. local teenagers who utilise the Friday 'club night' will have nowhere to 'hang out'. Call: 01628 627586 Please sign the petition to build a temporary rink: www.change.org/p/fiona-mactaggart-mp- keep-skating-alive-in-slough

We are a super-friendly Ofsted registered day nursery providing high quality childcare for babies from three-months-old to children up to the age of five set within the bright, modern surroundings of Windsor Leisure Centre. Open for 51 weeks a year! To find out more about our excellent new childcare facility and meet our team: Call: 01753 855543 • Email: [email protected] Visit: www.theriversidedaynursery.co.uk

4 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Have you considered fostering? Fostering is a way of providing care in a News & Info family for children who cannot live within their own family; this may be for a very short period of time or it could be a long- H(OMAWIDELNAHENADD/M ATRULOTWO anRd S term arrangement. WINDSOR/SLOUGH areas) In Slough, they are looking for carers for Expanding local agency children aged 0-18 from a range of ethnic (established in 1998 and owned by highly experienced teachers) backgrounds and are particularly looking offers individual tuition in twenty subjects for carers who may be able to look after including: school age children, teenagers, sibling all primary; Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, French, Geography, History, Latin, Networking group celebrates groups and children with special needs. Maths and Physics. Further tutors welcome If you have a spare room, please call the second anniversary Tel. (01628) 477164 Family Placement Team, they’d love to hear www.howlandtutors.co.uk Maidenhead Business Girls founder Amanda from you. Please call 01753 875133. email: Ayres is gearing up celebrate the all female [email protected] networking group’s second birthday alongside International Women’s Day, with a special event fosterforslough www.scstrust.co.uk. this March at the Golden Ball in Maidenhead. The day will have two special guest speakers and the opportunity to network informally. The group for local business women has gone from strength to strength and now has over 1500 members in the facebook group with a growing paid membership. The group started with a facebook group and now has a membership scheme, which includes monthly meetups and a programme of useful workshops for new and more established businesses, including: ‘Learn how to start a blog’, ‘Mailchimp email marketing’ and ‘Social media’. To find out more to go to Save clothes from the landfill by thebusinessgirlsnetwork.com or email donating them to charity [email protected]. You can From a Mother to Another, the initiative from also join the facebook group JoJo Maman Bébé, is collecting unwanted facebook.com/groups/MaidenheadBusinessGirls/ children’s clothes in their shops. The aim: to reduce the shocking levels of clothing waste The slide of your life that end up in a landfill whilst helping those in Wednesday 16th March 2016 Coral Reef Waterworld has pulled the plug need in the UK with distribution via food banks, on swimming and sliding fun but don’t worry, plus helping thousands of Syrian refugees living it’s all for good reason. in Lebanon. The water park in Bracknell is now 26-years- JoJo will be collecting good quality outgrown old and is looking its age. It shut on January or unwanted baby and children’s clothes in, 24 so contractors could start work on a sizes 0-6 years, at their 72 stores across the UK £11.5m facelift and upgrade. and Ireland, the nearest local The refurbished facility will have five stores are Windsor and state-of-the-art flumes for thrillseekers to Marlow. Customers are enjoy and at least one ride will be accessible requested to make up for disabled people. The designers hope to complete outfits to give cut queues and make the flumes see-through something to add to the fun. worthwhile this The cafe, changing rooms and sauna/ spa mother’s day. area will also be upgraded and an outdoor For information on seating area will be added. how to donate, please visit Coral Reef is scheduled to reopen in January 2017. jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 5 Clubs & Classes News New theatre school in Burnham Mellor Performing Arts School is based in Burnham and was officially opened by its patron actor Will Mellor in January this year. It is founded and run by his wife Michelle an ex-performer. The school offers fun classes for all ages from tots through to adults. Amongst the many classes on offer are Baby ballet, Cheerleading and Musical theatre. There really is something for everyone. During the classes children will gain new skills, build confidence and make new friends. Check the website www.mpaschool.co.uk to find your class today!

New class from the creator of Showstopper Parties Mairi Cowieson has launched Showstopper Babies - Musical Theatre music and sensory classes for Babies from birth to walking in Maidenhead. She was inspired to create the classes after the birth of her son, “I've created these classes over the last year with my own baby boy. It's been a wonderful experience, which I now want to share with everyone else.” Mairi still works in theatre and has directed and performed in West End shows too. She has created these unique classes, which have a blend of popular musical theatre and show tunes using the sights and sounds of the theatre world and songs created especially for Showstopper Babies with lots of sensory props. Classes are held on Mondays at St Peter's church in Maidenhead at 1pm and 2pm. £6 drop in, £5 when signing up. Booking is recommended. Contact Mairi on 07885 150034 or visit www.showstopperuk.com for more information.

Go Mad for singing and dancing MAD Academy offers a mixture of high energy music and movement classes, combined with carefully structured learning for babies and toddlers. Rosie runs her classes in Wraysbury, Staines and Stanwell. New classes are launching in Langley and Iver very soon for babies and toddlers on weekdays and weekends! To receive special offers ‘like’ her facebook page ‘MAD Academy Staines’. Contact [email protected] for a free trial. Kate has been running classes in the Windsor, Ascot and Sunningdale area for over 5 years! She will be launching a new class at Doodles Den in Windsor Library from February half term. To book a trial please contact Kate on [email protected]. Emma runs her upbeat and funky sessions in the mornings at Twyford Scout HQ on Wednesday, Boyne Hill Cricket Club in Maidenhead on Thursday and Charvil Village Hall on Friday. For a free trial, please contact Emma on [email protected] or call on 07935 248749.

6 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] P.a.r.e.n.t.s. c.a.m..p.a.Eign don suchocolationIm pNrove e11w+ Vocs a.b.u.la.r.y. .in. .a. F.l.a.sh.. admissions criteria It is widely acknowledged that parents have a The schools admission watchdog has said it will crucial part to play in helping a child develop a crack down on ‘vexatious complaints’ to faith rich vocabulary, which is critical to success in schools from secularist campaign groups. The the 11+. groups have made several objections to the Farquhar’s Vocabulary manner in which faith schools refuse students, Flash Cards has developed without fully disclosing their admissions criteria. a comprehensive Education secretary Nicky Morgan says that vocabulary-building public money is being wasted by the complaints resource with clear Inspiring tuition– free trial and that the new rules will make it “easier for child-friendly session! parents to have a say.” The Schools Adjudicator definitions, the Explore Learning centres provide maths and Elizabeth Passmore says that handling perfect tool for English tuition for 5 to 14 year olds of all complaints against school admission policies parents working with abilities. The centres are open 7 days a week, from those with “No connection in terms of their child to enrich meaning Explore can fit into busy family life. seeking a place for their child” is “not good use vocabulary and help As Explore members, children work with of an adjudicator’s time and public money.” them succeed in the tutors who are great educational role models, However, the National Secular Society has verbal reasoning enthusiastic about learning and fantastic suggested that some parents do not wish to element of the 11+. Levels 1 and 2 motivators. Each child has an individualised make a complaint personally but turn to a focus on laying down the foundations of a broad learning programme, and all Explore courses group such as theirs to help them. Their vocabulary, Opposites 1 and 2 take an intense map to the National Curriculum in England and spokesman Stephen Evans says that the new look at antonym pairs, and the fifth box the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland. rules will allow faith schools to break admission supports work on tricky Compound Words. Find out how your child can benefit from rules with impunity. Creator Mary Farquhar says: “We’ve done Explore Learning membership today. Book the hard work so you can focus on your area of your free trial at www.explorelearning.co.uk. sent resource packs expertise: your child. Don’t just “do” vocabulary and tokens, packed full once a week - repetition is the key to Get reading with World Book Day of activities, ideas and internalising new words. Stick the cards up in World Book Day is the biggest annual display material. The the kitchen; practise them on the go; challenge celebration of books and reading in the UK and first event planned is each other to sneak new words into this year takes place on Thursday 3rd March. on February 22 which conversation; even act them out! Encouraging children to explore the pleasures is a world record A great vocabulary is an asset for life, not just of books and reading, the event is marked in attempt to hold the for the 11+: it’s worth the effort.” 100 countries all over the world. This is the world’s largest Quiz! For more information, For more information visit 19th year and schools and nurseries have been see www.worldbookday.com www.vocabularyflashcards.co.uk - don’t forget to mention Families magazine

Would you like your child Dair HoFarnuhasm eRoy aSl chool to begin their life-long love of learning... An independent prep school for boys and girls aged 3 to 11 years

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01753 643964 [email protected]

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 7 Education Feature

HOW TO BOOST YOUR CHILD’S LITERACY AND NUMERACY By Liat Hughes Joshi Literacy and numeracy are central to your child’s learning in primary school and are of course crucial to later life too. Here are some ideas to give these key skills a boost.

A little extra learning at home can Let tech teach Incorporate ‘stealth learning’ into work wonders… There are some brilliant educational apps everyday activities In busy classrooms of 30 pupils, teachers and websites with masses of kid appeal. Try Sneak maths and literacy into day-to-day understandably can struggle to provide to find ones which align with the National life and you can improve skills without it one-on-one attention. By working on Curriculum or at least use British English. feeling like schoolwork. Adding up the cost specific areas with your child, you can of the shopping, dividing the restaurant bill, make a huge difference. Keep it sensible– Encourage reading playing snakes and ladders, or writing a even ten or fifteen minutes a day can have Reading opens the door to almost endless postcard to the grandparents can all help. an impact yet still leaves hours for playing. learning and enjoyment. Some children are naturally enthused by books, others need Find out about the methods their nudging to get the reading bug. At first Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting school uses encourage any reading at all – comics, journalist and the author of four books Reading and numeracy are both typically including 'New Old-fashioned Parenting' and magazines, the cereal packet – without taught quite differently to when most of us 'How to Unplug Your Child' (both published worrying much about what they are were children, so it’s certainly worth by Summersdale) and Raising Children: The reading. Home in on your child’s interests finding out how their school does things to Primary Years (Pearson). and give them books relating to these. avoid confusing your child.

8 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] and forfeit easy marks elsewhere TESTING TIMES • Reinforce the fact that they should show This summer, children in year 2 and year 6 will be the first to take the new all workings out in maths because they can SATs papers. The tests in English and maths will be based on the new national pick up marks for method, even if a calculation error means they get the curriculum, and are supposed to be more rigorous. There is also a new wrong answer marking scheme to replace the existing national curriculum levels. • In reading comprehension, remind them ear 6 children will sit tests in • Do reassure them you will be happy as that three mark questions will mean they reading, maths, spelling, punctuation long as they try their best. should give broader answers than one and grammar. The tests will be set mark questions. This seems obvious to an Y SATS survival guide for year 6 pupils externally but marked internally and the adult used to sitting exams, but it’s not •Your child will perform better if they are results will be used to measure the always to a child. relaxed, and they will only relax if you do school’s performance (Ofsted and • Tell them if they finish before time’s up, • Secondary schools nearly always retest published league tables). Your child’s results to use the extra minutes to check their children in September and often again at will be used alongside a teacher work. It gives them a chance to correct any the end of year 7, so SATS are not the be assessment to give an appraisal of their silly mistakes and can mean additional all and end all of their education progress. marks. • If your child copes well with SATs, they Here’s our SATs survival guide: will find it easier to stay calm when the Finally, but most importantly, reassure Parents can do much to alleviate the pressure ratchets up to GCSEs and A- them that you don't pressure: levels. mind what result • Don't let your child pick up on any In the run up to SATs, what can you they get as long anxieties you might have about the tests do? as they have • Don't abandon all their usual after • Remind them to read the whole tried. school activities in test week question. Many pupils get caught out by • Don't try last minute cramming or not reading a question in full. A good way overdo the practice papers at home. of doing this is to underline the key words • On the other hand: Advise them to skip difficult questions • Do make sure they get to bed on time and go back later if they have time. Even a and are fully rested (not always easy with confident child can get thrown if they get lighter evenings) stuck on an unfamiliar problem. Moving on • Send them off to school with a decent to questions they can do will stop the breakfast panic setting in, and they won't waste time

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 9 Under 5’s Special WHAT’S NEW IN

BCy MHaxiInLe HDendCersoAn RE?

There are a number of changes proposed by government which should supposedly make the cost of childcare cheaper in the near future. Here’s what you need to know about these changes and how they will work.

Free childcare for children aged 3 Which parents will be and 4 entitled to the 30 hours? As you will probably now be aware, the Unlike the current scheme, government has offered 30 hours of free under which all parents of 3 childcare a week for children aged 3 and 4 and 4 year olds are eligible for from September 2016. But is it really that 15 hours of free childcare a straightforward? week, the additional 15 hours will only be available to When does the scheme start? working parents. A In September 2016, but the scheme is not statement on the launching everywhere at this time. Instead, government website says it it will be piloted in some areas, and these will support up to 600,000 are still to be determined. There is working families, but it is currently still no indication as to when the not clear at this stage how scheme will be available nationally. many hours parents should be working to qualify as “working parents.”

10 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Under 5’s Special

Which children will be eligible? scheme will replace the current Childcare Self-employed parents will also be eligible Children aged 3 or 4 in September 2016 Vouchers system, although, parents who for support under the Tax-Free Childcare living in the pilot areas with working are currently signed up to the Childcare scheme. parents (as stated above, the definition of Vouchers scheme will be able to continue ‘working parents’ remains unclear) who using it. It appears that under the new proposals, have an annual household income of less the Tax-Free Childcare scheme will only be than £150,000. The key differences between the two available to one earner in a family where schemes are as follows: both parents are working. Families with a Nurseries have already raised concerns The current Childcare Vouchers scheme is single earner will be excluded. about their ability to offer 30 hours of a tax and National Insurance saving free, flexible, childcare. There is concern scheme, offered as a benefit from the To find out more go to within the nursery industry that the money employer of a parent, but only where the www.gov.uk/government/news/tax-free- they receive from government to run the employer chooses to offer the scheme. childcare-10-things-parents-should-know current grant scheme of 15 hours does not cover the costs they incur in providing The good news is that the new policy is these hours, meaning that an increase in expected to be open to all working Maxine Henderson is Operations free hours is simply not sustainable. The parents who meet the set criteria. Where Manager at Tinies Childcare, a leading Employment Minister, Priti Patel, has been both parents work, families can save childcare specialist which helps families, tasked with launching a policy that will around £1,800 a year under the nurseries and other childcare settings find actually work in practice – no Childcare Vouchers scheme, the right childcare professionals to suit mean feat! but will save £2,000 per their needs. For more information, visit year under the www.tinies.com . Replacement of childcare new scheme. vouchers with tax-free childcare scheme Last year, the government’s proposals for delivering Tax-Free Childcare were found to be lawful by the Supreme Court and the changes should come into force early in 2017. The Tax-Free Childcare

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 11 Under 5’s Special Cost Be realistic in how much you can pay. A perfect work-life balance doesn’t mean working more hours to CHOOSING THE RIGHT NURSERY pay for a ‘better’ nursery! Most By Hannah Hunter nurseries have funded places for 3 to 5-year-olds and some 2-year- Taking your child to nursery for the first time can be nerve wracking. It’s often olds are also eligible. Your the first time you will have left your precious offspring in someone else’s care workplace may offer for the day, so you want to feel sure that they’re getting the best care. childcare vouchers, a tax-free way to pay. You Here we look at the different types of Look at this page to find the local authority’s may also be entitled to nursery that are available, and how to family services page, with a list of local childcare childcare tax credits, to find out more go to find the right one for you. providers for the Royal Borough www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs Types of Nursery directory.rbwm.gov.uk and search via the The ‘feel’ of the place Day Nurseries – great for working parents, as childcare tab at www.bucksfamilyinfo.org for Going by gut instinct alone isn’t advisable, but if they are usually open from 8am-6pm. Buckinghamshire. We also have a great Nursery Schools – for older toddlers (usually you don’t get a good feeling, it might not be the directory of nurseries place for your child. Happy staff and children about 2 and a half and up) these nurseries offer familiestveast.co.uk/nurseries a more structured preparation for school. can make up for a lack of perfection in other Your first visit areas. Look out for children’s work on the Nursery classes in school – usually run for the Make time to look around potential nurseries, year before reception, though sometimes taking walls, and staff who actually play with the kids well before you are going to need to use them. rather than stand around chatting. younger children, they have a similar structure Read the Ofsted report ofsted.gov.uk and make to nursery schools, though often only run half- Your child’s personality a list of your priorities before you go. See if day sessions. Is your child quiet and shy, or loud and you can find out any first hand information from Montessori and Steiner nurseries – Montessori outgoing? Do they love playing outdoors, or friends (though bear in mind what’s good for (montessori.org.uk) is the original child- prefer indoor games? It seems obvious, but try centered learning, developing t he individual one family might not work for another). to match the nursery to your child’s interests. Things to consider: Your own needs! child’s independence and skills. Focu sing on creative play, Steiner schools Staff and ethos There might be a wonderful nursery half an

(steinerwaldorf.org) provide a creative See what the turnover of staff is (always a good hour drive away from you, but consider how indi c ator of h appiness) an d check their will both of your tiredness levels be after this environmentt to fost er joy in learning through play, rather than a structured curriculum. qualifications. The prese nce o f ol der staff daily journey - would you be better to find

Finding your local nursery members br ings added life experience and somewhere closer that is a good fit? Equally the most convenient, say a work-place nursery, may Some nurseries are so popular that par ents suggests that the nursery values its staff enough

w have their child’s name down practically from to pay for this. Check out the ro utin es, suc h as not be the best for your child. birth – so you need to get researching as early what food they offer and when it’s s er ved, o r Go to familiestveast.co.uk/nurseries to see our as possible. when and where the children can nap. directory of nurseries. o

W WINDSO R MONTE SSO RI SCHO OL M t Establish ed in 1980 ly Where children are motivated New S ed to learn independently open ly n ear i 5 WINDSOR MONTESSORI SCHOOL w v 201 N o Romney Lock Road, Home Park , WINDSOR SL4 6HX

Tel: 01753 868 399 or 01344 844 592

Email: [email protected] E o Website: ww w.windsormont e ssorischool .co.uk t

t w t We provide ca re and Montessori education for

infants and child ren – from 6 months to 6 years.

o We are open 50 weeks of the yea r. w You wi ll fi nd us in the stu nningly ren ovated w Montessori education Cr ow n Esta te build ing in Old Windsor for 2 – 9 y ear olds opposite the Windsor Fa rm Sho p.

E Well resou rc e d scho ol, o o wi t h in a n urt uring

envi r o n m ent . Windsor Montessori House of Child ren 4 Datchet Road , Old Windso r, SL42RQ

For all enquiries: Tel : 01753 830 525 or 01344 844 592 Email : menik@windso r-montessori. com Website: ww w.windsormontessorihouseofch ildren.co.uk

Pr oviding care and

Wind sor M on te sso ri educa tion w ithin a l oving nurturing House of ChE ild re n

env ironment. Providing development for life t

FAMILIES 12 Thames Valley East MARC H/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected]

Me adowbroo k Montessori School

A p ersonalised educational journey with high academic standa rds delivered through an i nnovativ e yet robust marriage of Montessori practice and the N ational Curriculum.

Offering a sea mless transition through Parent and Toddler sess ions at 15 months to fully acc redited Montessori Pre-school classes and onward to quality Primary education.

Highly qualified and experienced teachers who get to kno w your child w ell & prep are them fully for a range of seconda ry school options.

Tailor-made educati on from 2 to 11 years in an atmosphere of mutual respect with high expectations for both acad emic and personal skills.

www.mea dowbroo kmon tess ori.org Next Posive Discipli ne i n Home Workshop: Saturday 23rd April

Malt Hill Warfield RG42 6JQ Tel: 01344 8908 69

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 13 Under 5’s Special Spotlight on Nurseries Dair House School and Nursery Choosing your child’s Nursery is a big decision, but is a big Nursery always best? At Dair House School Nursery, with its big facilities but small classes, your child will 3 months - 5 years always stand out from the rest. Your child will be encouraged to explore their curiosity in a caring, compassionate environment, which balances play with education. You can enjoy your child’s learning journey via their real time app. Your family will enter the special, caring Dair House community in which you will all make life-long friends and build remarkable relationships. Please do arrange to visit their small Nursery with a big, big heart! 01753 643964; [email protected]; www.dairhouse.co.uk Expect a warm welcome at the Marist Nursery Choosing the appropriate nursery for your little one, can be both an exciting and unnerving process for parents. The Mini Marist Nursery has a family feel; especially important in transitioning your child from home to nursery. The nursery experiences less settling-in issues because of this, reducing stress for both child and parent. As an all-girls nursery, their qualified and experienced teachers can nurture specifically girls’ interests and ways of learning. The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and children learn through self-initiated play and carefully planned, adult-led activities. Due to popular demand they have introduced a second Reception Class, opening September 2016. 01344 626137; [email protected]; www.themaristschools.com Life in the Early Years at Upton House School By Mrs Sue Bish, Head of Early Years Foundation stage. At Upton we offer a stimulating and encouraging environment in which the children can develop their confidence and self-esteem. Whilst we are concerned with nurturing the children, they themselves have been enjoying a wonderful start to the New Year with explorations about growth and gardening. We had a very exciting outing to the local garden centre to choose seeds, purchase soil and observe some wonderful tropical fish. Returning to school there was much enthusiasm to make a start and soil was placed in pots and trays, marigold seeds and runner beans were planted, the potatoes were made ready for chitting and the grass seed was placed in a drainable tray in preparation for a dinosaur garden. The younger children in the Pre-Nursery have been exploring and learning about herbs and have developed an herb garden which provoked some fascinating comments and lots of close observation. We are looking forward to the spring and to seeing how all our preparations bear fruit. 01753 862610; [email protected]; www.uptonhouse.org Enjoy the outdoors at Silchester Manor Nursery At Silchester, they have an incredible outdoor space for children to learn, discover and play in. The nursery supports holistic learning and development for all the BOOK NOW children. Outdoor play is really important to the staff because it creates many for advertising in our May/June 2016 issue opportunities for the children to interact with the natural world, providing a Due out May 1 diverse learning environment. In the garden, children have space, freedom, fresh air email: [email protected] and time to learn and explore. Their outdoor area is a complete learning environment, which caters for all children’s needs including their cognitive, linguistic, emotional, social and physical development. 01628 778890; [email protected]; Car ing fo r ch ild ren aged 3 months to 5 y ear s www.silchestermanordaynursery.co.uk Explore independent play at Edith Rose Nurseries Learning Edith Rose nurseries aim to enhance children's lives working alongside parents to through p lay! provide consistent care that caters for each individual child. Staff take every child’s interests and learning needs into account and create opportunities for them to Both our Nurseries learn whilst having fun. Staff act as appropriate role models and confidants and provide a comfortable environment that is both supportive and empathetic. The were awarded an rooms are resourced to provide a good learning environment in which children can 'Outstanding' by Ofsted play both independently and alongside others. Children can explore safe in the knowledge that staff are always on hand to step in and offer support when in June 2015 required. Ascot: 01344 885800; Windsor: 01753 833766; www.edithrose.co.uk Please call and come Making a good start at the Little Graduate Montessori School and see us in action! At the Little Graduate Montessori School, in addition to providing an excellent Montessori education in a lovely rural setting, they have revised Ascot 01344 885800 their foods and drinks policy. Their menus are now based on a low fat, high fibre diet in accordance with proportions of the four food groups, as Windsor 01753 833766 set out by UK Food Standards. Their aim is to encourage all children to www.edithrose.co.uk eat a wide variety of foods and develop good dietary habits to take them to late childhood and beyond. Water and organic milk is provided throughout the day, so there is no risk of tooth decay. Health and self-care Places available, you can is a key part of Physical Development, which is one of the Early years areas of learning and development. If you would like more information, also reserve a place for your child in September now. please call 01628 828258 or visit their website www.lgmontessori.com

14 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Mothering Sunday SPOIL YOUR MUM THIS MOTHER’S DAY Families has put together some great present ideas Label with Love After attaching another sticky name tag to her to show your Mum how much you care this March 6. daughter's dance bag, Rachel, creator of Tagged With Love decided to research the availability of quality bag tags and found there was very little in natural leather. The tags and key rings, which cost between £15-£18, are beautifully crafted from 100% leather and can be personalised with three lines of hand stamped lettering, finished with a ring, leather cord or chain. Rachel developed different designs appealing to a range of users. They make the perfect gift for anyone to adorn bags or keys, and with giftwrapping Make an impression this Mother’s Day included, offer a refreshing alternative for the Even though you might not love them on your walls right now, numerous children's birthday party presents required each year! their mucky fingerprints won’t last forever. Time goes so quickly taggedwithlove.co.uk and our children aren't little for long. Why not create a lasting Send bespoke flowers memory with the Dinky Fingerprint Company, by capturing tiny Following her passion for gardening and flowers, hands, feet or fingerprints forever in silver. They can also engrave a Emma Villiers left the corporate world of special message or turn one of your child’s drawings into a range of communication and branding, to set up her own different gifts, from bracelets, necklaces and individual charms to bespoke, luxury floral design company. cufflinks, bookmarks and key rings. From her studio in Shurlock Row, Emma Call 01628 623386 or go to dinkyfingerprintjewellery.co.uk creates stunning, bespoke floral arrangements– be this miniature ‘jam jar’ arrangements or Spa Day with Lunch luxury installations, for weddings, parties and Treat your mum to a spa day this Mothering Sunday. Throughout corporate events. March, Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow is taking bookings for the ‘A With 24hrs notice Teasel & Twine will also deliver gorgeous luxury flower arrangements Day with Mum’ package for £49 per person. This includes a 25- and hand-tied bouquets locally, perfect for a minute treatment, a glass of fizz and lunch in the Agua bar & café, as mother’s day gift. well as full use of the Quad Club facilities (including pool, hot tub, Like and share Teasel&Twine Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ steam and sauna). Call 01628 496 957 to book. TeaselandTwine for a chance to win a beautiful handtied bouquet. The hotel is also offering a 3-course Mother’s Day meal in their (delivery within 15kms of studio only, closes 4th March 2016) Glaze restaurant. The lunch will be £24.95 per adult, and £14.95 for 3-12 year olds (under-threes are free). The price includes a small gift, and they’re even providing a bouncy castle for the kids, so you can have time to relax. Book in advance at cpmarlow.co.uk/whats-on Tour Windsor Great Park in style If you (or your mother) fancy yourself as a Bronte heroine, why not take a ride in an elegant horse drawn carriage around the Royal

Park? Ascot Carriages are running 30-minute carriage rides, for up to 4 people, on both days of the Mother’s Day weekend (5 and 6 March), for £45 per carriage. Your driver will provide you with • Kids Art Clubs • Pottery Painting information about the area, which includes Acer woodlands, lakes • Adult Art Classes & Workshops and gardens. • Corporate Meetings & Events For bookings email your name, address, phone number and tour • Parties duration to [email protected] or call 07811 543019. (The rides will not happen if the weather is bad, but can be rescheduled). ascotcarriages.co.uk

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 15 Paris isn’t just for romantic weekends Pawaay. It’sr eaissy to get ton an d aF graeat mill destination for families. Claire Winter took her three children to the French capital for a weekend of fun and culture. My twin girls have wanted to visit Paris since they were little, so when we got the opportunity to visit in January this year, we jumped at the chance. After an early start, we embarked on the Eurostar for our much- anticipated weekend in Paris. We were going to be staying at the Pavillon de la Reine, a small luxury family-run hotel, in Le Marais. This beautiful hotel is hidden behind a small archway at the edge of the Place des Voges, a 15th century square, famed for being the first square in Paris, it is a well known historic site and well worth a visit. On our arrival the

polite and friendly staff showed us to our suite of rooms that included a lovely double en-suite room, a huge room for the kids with their own bathroom, as well as a third interconnecting room that became our eldest’s bedroom. The whole hotel has an understated elegance and peacefulness that, after walking the busy streets of Paris, make it a truly tranquil haven. I know what you are thinking; how can you be calm when you’re travelling with three children! It is possible - the hotel offers four hours of babysitting, so you can relax in your room or visit their spa, which includes a gym and inviting jacuzzi. Or you could visit a nearby local restaurant to have a romantic meal with your other half. This time we opted to stay with the children as it was their first visit to Paris and we wanted to see as much of the city as we could. We decided to walk to Notre Dame, arriving at dusk to see the magnificent Gothic Cathedral immortalised by Victor Hugo’s novel - of course the children knew it from Disney’s version. After tucking up in our luxurious beds we woke up late to have a fantastic leisurely breakfast in the library. Served until 11, you can have a continental option or continental with a cooked breakfast. We had made reservations for a late lunch on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower – we took the Metro to the Champs-Élysées and walked along the river. It was great to see the kids’ faces when they saw this iconic monument for the first time. After a lunch with amazing views of Paris, we climbed the stairs to the second floor for a 360-degree view of the city. One benefit from visiting out of season is that queues are smaller for all the attractions

16 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Travel Review le

Maidenhead Gymna sc s Club In the late afternoon we headed back to Le Marais and the Picasso & Gymt ots Museum. The children love art and it is great to see such a large Gymnasc s ba sed phy sical educaon collection of his work under one roof. The shops in Le Marais were fantastic, from designer boutiques to for pre-school and school aged children specialist tea and chocolate shops. My eldest daughter and I resolved at our gym within the ground s of to return without the others, who are ‘allergic’ to shopping. Altwood School, Maidenhead. On Sunday night we opted for a trendy Pizza Place called Grazie, near St Paul. There was a young local crowd, a great bar with good Vi sit :- cocktails and gourmet, oven fired pizzas. The kids were impressed and MaidenheadGymna sc s.uk so were we! On our last morning, we had another sumptuous breakfast, and then spent a delightful hour or two wandering the Louvre museum, taking in the infamous Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Or Teleph one / Text 07 957 223 124 for details If you want a luxurious break for the family the Pavillon de la Reine ticks all the boxes - fantastic service, luxurious rooms and a brilliant location. My children are already asking when they can visit again!

R Family stays start at £840 based on two adults and two children under twelve sharing a two-night stay in a Junior Suite on a B&B basis. www.pavillon-de-la-reine.com Thames Valley East BOOK NOW for advertising in our May/June 2016 Issue - Due out MAY 1 Enjoy an Alpine Adventure Featuring Holiday Activities & Camps email: [email protected]

In Case of Emergency Identification Have you ever had that sinking feeling in a crowded public place that your child has wandered off? Panic sets in because they have no ID on them and they don’t know your Holidaying in the French Alps during the summer is probably one mobile number, especially when scared and upset?

of the best kept secrets in travel. Chilly Powder is based in If YOU OR YOUR CHILD has an Morzine on the Swiss border and has been offering activity Allergy • On any medication • Or have any medical conditions holidays since 1995. They have hotel rooms and large, self-catered They should never leave home without proper Identification! chalets set in a beautiful location. Paul and Francesca Eyre’s Orders can be placed ONLINE at www.iceid.co.uk expertise provides a wonderful Alpine experience, with crèche or email Gila on [email protected] and kids club available for parents who need a bit of time to themselves or who want to do more adventurous sport. There is something to suit all families in the beautiful Alps. To find out more go to www.chillypowder.com In Case of Emergency Identification

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 17 Other local National Trust sites that Spring Days Out have Easter hunts this holiday: Maidenhead and Cookham Commons on Friday 25 March, 11am-2pm, £3 per child. Stowe in Buckingham. Visit Friday 25 – EASTER HOLIDAY FUN Mon 29 March 10am–4.30pm, £2.50 per child (normal admission applies). Looking for something to do with the family this Easter? Hughenden in West Wycombe, Trail runs Here are some ideas for fun days out for all ages from Friday 25-Mon 28 March, 10am-3pm, £3 per trail (normal admission applies). Enjoy an Easter Over Easter weekend join the chocolate- Waddesdon Manor from Friday 25- lunch with all the filled fun with the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt. Monday 28 March 10am-4pm £3 per child, family Bunny has been spotted hopping along the plus a gardens admission on arrival. Visit the Crowne garden paths looking for the ideal place to To find a Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt near you, Plaza in Marlow on hide some of his Cadbury chocolate. Can you visit easter.cadbury.co.uk Easter Sunday for a follow his trail to find a yummy choccy at the Jump In! and get involved at Norden delicious lunch end? Drop in from 11am until 3.30pm for Farm this Easter followed by an just £3 per child plus normal admission This Easter holiday Norden Farm is packed Easter egg hunt in charges. with family friendly shows and films Plus, daily the grounds. The 3- craft and storytelling sessions. course lunch at Graze will be £21.95 for On Friday 25 March, get involved in a full adults, £14.95 for kids (free for 2 and under), day crammed with low cost Give it a Go! which will include entry into the Egg Hunt. To workshops. Try something different, from keep little ones entertained, there will also circus skills to chocolate making. All be face painting and a bouncy castle, and the workshops are £3 per person or buy a Give egg hunt can be booked separately in advance for £7.50 per child. The hunt starts at 12pm, and tickets must be booked in advance at cpmarlow.co.uk/whats-on There are also plenty of events for all the Enjoy the spring flowers and lots of family including Cliveden’s ever-popular Wild adventures at Cliveden Wednesdays which this Easter holiday include Cliveden near Maidenhead is the perfect ‘Plant it, grow it, eat it’ and ‘Colours of place to enjoy your precious family time over Cliveden’ helping you to get outdoors and up the Easter holidays. Spring through daffodils, close to nature. Each Wild Wednesday breath in the scent of thousands of hyacinths session costs £2 per child plus usual and let little ones run wild in the Storybook admission charges. Drop in from 11am until it a Go! Pass and take part in four workshops Play Den while enjoying the glorious 2.30pm.Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden to for just £10! Booking essential. surroundings of Cliveden’s gardens. see all their events, or call 01628 605 069. Box Office: 01628 788997; nordenfarm.org

18 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Easter Dragon Trail at Savill Garden Bring the whole family for a journey to the Spring Days Out Far East at The Savill Garden this Easter. Collect your adventure packs and take the Get down on the Farm! Have a day out in London Easter Dragon Trail, as you travel through There’s plenty of family fun to be had at There’s lots to do with the kids this Easter in the spectacular Savill Garden searching for Odds Farm this Easter. Bottle Feed Kid London. Why not visit the new Land of the clues amongst the amazing collections of Goats, jump on board the daily Tractor & Lions at London Zoo opening this Good exotic plants, flowers and trees from distant Trailer Rides for a fun tour of the farm Friday March 25? The huge new enclosure lands to win a delicious chocolatey prize. (weather permitting) and from 25 March covers 2,500 sqm, and is home to a pride of With delicious food and a gift collection until 12 April solve the Spring Trail to earn a Asiatic Lions. The fine wires that protect the inspired by the Far East waiting for you on yummy treat. Plus, there will be plenty of zoo’s visitors give a ‘windowless-view’ of the your return to the Savill Building you can opportunities to see the Easter Lambs; you big cat’s enclosure, and the high walkway gives visitors a great vantage point to see the really make a day of it. £2.50 per trail. may be lucky enough to watch one being lions. zsl.org/lions Admission fees apply. born. windsorgreatpark.co.uk Slide down the Take a trip to the museum enormous new slide at the There are lots of local museums with ArcelorMittal Orbit in the fabulous Easter Holiday activities for kids, Queen Elizabeth Olympic from Easter crafts to storytelling. Park. Anish Kapoor and Chiltern Open Air Museum opens its Cecil Balmond created the doors on 25 March, with a four day Easter sculptural looping event. They will be running Easter craft structure for the 2012 activities, treat making, and have created an Olympic games. Due to Easter trail around their 45-acre site. open in March, the slide, Children will learn about Easter traditions created by Belgian artist from costumed re-enactors in the Museum’s Carsten Höller, will take historic buildings. Visitors can enjoy Meet the farmers and get extra close to you down 178m, making it exploring the Museum’s unspoilt woodland the animals in the Undercover Animal Barns, the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide. For and over 30 rescued historic buildings. Full where you can stroke bunnies, hand feed more details and booking event details can be found at coam.org.uk goats and sheep and meet cheeky pigs. Kids There are different activities every day visit arcelormittalorbit.com. can burn off some energy in the Giant this Easter at the Roald Dahl Museum and To celebrate 25 years, Disney on Ice Indoor Playbarn. There’s also a special Story Centre in Great Missenden. You can presents Silver Anniversary Celebration will decorate ‘whipple-scruptious’ Eggs on Good Toddler and Under-5’s area for little ones, take audiences on a fun filled tour of Disney Friday, design your own Wonka factory, and and Marmalade’s Tea Room for the adults! favourites, at Wembley Arena. listen to stories by Roald Dahl and The outdoor play includes an Adventure For information visit disneyonice.co.uk or for storyteller in residence, Sandra Agard. Visit Maze, Go-Karts, Log Play Areas, Sand & tickets go to ssearena.co.uk/events. roalddahl.com/museum for a full list of Water Play and Crazy Golf. For full details, Go to our What’s On pages 22-25 for other activities, admission and workshop prices. call 01628 520188 or visit oddsfarm.co.uk. Easter events too.

Children's Parties at the School for West End Stars! emes include Frozen, Matilda, Annie and more!

Find us on Facebook - Redroofs Parties E: [email protected] | W: www.redroofs.co.uk/parties | T: 01628 674092 Redroofs School for the Performing Arts, 26 Bath Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4JT

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 19 Easter Camps & Activities

Keep the kids entertained this Easter holidays – they can have enriched experience. Their DBS checked staff offer a safe and happy environment for the a go at animation, gold leaf art, learn to canoe or try out children to thrive. CHILDCARE VOUCHERS some new street dance moves, plus much more. There’s ACCEPTED. RBWM Advantage Card and something to suit everyone. Don’t forget to say you saw it in other offers. They are an Arts Award Centre Families and Supporter. 07952418212, when you ring! [email protected]; Easter art classes in Slough for children www.busybuttons.org organised by ART CLASSES GROUP . There DANCE INSPIRED will be running a will be arts and crafts activities, learning drawing Street Dance Easter workshop from April 4- and painting techniques. For more information 7, for children ages 7-16 at Edmund Campion please contact Marinela 07501644537, School, Maidenhead. To book call [email protected] and visit www.art 07743551501, classesgroup.com [email protected]; ARTSPIRATION is offering 2 Holiday www.danceinspired.co.uk Workshops over the Easter break. Art Scout Holiday Art & Craft activities at HANDS- Juniors: Ages 5-12 years and Art Scout Seniors: ON-ART adventures in Old Windsor: clay Ages 10-16 years. Art Scout Juniors is a 4-day workshops; potters wheel experiences; Story workshop where children will get to work with Ceramics; Stay & Paint, DecoPatch or Foam mosaics, print making, mod roc, plaster casting, Clay offers. Free Parking! For more details go pencil shading, water colours, soft pastels, etc. to www.hands-onartadventures.co.uk or call Ofsted approved, BUSY BUTTONS The Art Scout Seniors is a special introductory Janet on 01753 206265 CREATIVE STUDIO’S Creative & Sporty course to traditional egg tempera and gold leaf LONGRIDGE ACTIVITY CENTRE is Easter Camp offers 3 - 14 year olds three work, run by our guest artist Lily Corbet who running daily activity days at Quarry Wood currently runs these courses at the Prince's whole fun weeks (29 March -15 April) of hands on creativity in 2D & 3D traditional & digital Road, Marlow during the Easter holidays. The School of Traditional Arts. For more details activity day starts at 8:45am and either please visit their website www.artspiration.co.uk arts like animation, sculpting, sewing puppets finishes at 4pm (cost £40 for 4 activities) or or contact [email protected] or call 0789 and more, run by qualified film and theatre finishes at 5.30pm (costs £50.00 for 5 616 5819. professionals at Upton House School, Windsor, AMANDA’S ART CLASSES SL4 3DF. Children contribute towards the activities). A sandwich lunch is provided. www.amandasart.co.uk, for small groups of making of the on-going educational animation Activities will be chosen on the day children aged 6–13. Amanda will be running film, 'The Wind In The Willows'. Multi-activity depending on the weather and water levels. EASTER ART WORKSHOPS in Ascot 10–12 am sports, team building and confidence boosting Call 0330 303 0101 to book. and 2-4pm; call 01344 885086 or 0796 882 challenges with professional insights into www.longridge.org.uk 4560 or email [email protected] for several topics like fitness, photography, history, Jump In! Family Arts Festival Activities every further details. nutrition, fencing and more give your child an day this Easter holiday at NORDEN FARM

Building confidence through performing arts

The largest network of part-time performing arts school in the UK. Nurturing and developing young potential through

the performing arts. HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

at Manor Green School, Maidenhead, from April 4th-8th for ages 4-16yrs. Ages 6-16; Times: 10am-4pm, Cost: £130 sibling price £65.00 Ages 4-6; Times: 9.30am – 12.30pm, Cost £75 sibling price £40.

To find out more ring 01189 712870

Also taking bookings for Summer, August

1st-5th and 15th-18th.

www.stagecoach.co.uk/maidenhead

20 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Easter Camps & Activities

CENTRE FOR THE ARTS , Maidenhead. dance including Hiphop, House, Breaking, Family friendly shows, films and daily craft Locking and Popping. Their Easter school is and storytelling sessions. Plus on Friday 25 designed to inspire students over 4 days of March get involved in a full day of low cost fun, knowledge and passionate guest Give it a Go! workshops. teachers. These include some of the current www.nordenfarm.org, Box Office: 01628 leading industry professionals. This course is 788997 ideal for ages 5-16. Beginners and PHOENIX GYMNASTICS CLUB is intermediates welcome. Sibling discounts running EASTER ENERGIZE! At Unit 1, available. Email: [email protected] or Water Oakley Farm, Windsor Road, Windsor, visit www.sandersstreet.co.uk for more Berkshire, SL4 5UJ during the Easter break. details. Gymnastic sessions for children aged 5 to 12 STAGECOACH ASCOT'S Easter Holiday years of age. Choose from 9 sessions over Workshop on Wednesday 6th & Friday 8th sports, games, and arts and crafts. No two the Easter holidays. Each session is from 1.00 April, from 10am - 4.30pm at the days are the same and the price includes all to 2.30 p.m, with fully qualified British Windlesham Theatre, Kennel Lane, activities. There is a multi-activity Easter Gymnastic coaches. Children will have the Windlesham, GU20 6AA. Suitable for ages 6- camp at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar opportunity to try Olympic gymnastic 18. Cost: £110 (Sibling discount £90). To find school, Marlow and the Royal Grammar apparatus. Price: £10 per session. Look out out more or book your place call: 01344 School, High Wycombe from March 29 to for PlayGym Plus too - an hour's free play for 206466 or email [email protected] April 8 for ages 4-14, from 9am to 5pm. They 4-9 year olds. www.phoenixgym.co.uk. STAGECOACH MAIDENHEAD is are also running a multi-activity camp from REDROOFS EASTER SCHOOL FOR running HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS at April 29 to 8 at Hurst Lodge School in Ascot, STARS . April 4th -8th from 10am - 4pm at Manor Green School, Maidenhead, from April for ages 3-14, from 9am to 5pm. All childcare Redroofs School for the Performing Arts, 4th-8th for ages 4-16yrs. Age 6-16,Times: vouchers accepted. Go to Maidenhead, age 6-8, 9-12 and 13-16years. All 10am-4pm, Cost: £130 sibling price £65.00 www.supercamps.co.uk to find out more. abilities and beginners welcome. Musical Ages 4-6; Times: 9.30am – 12.30pm, Cost £75 THE GAP CLUB LTD will be running theatre, team building and lively rehearsals in sibling price £40 To find out more ring 01189 their Easter Holiday Club's at King's Court Redroofs purpose built studios then an end 712870 ; www.stagecoach.co.uk/maidenhead First School, Old Windsor & Wraysbury of week musical theatre performance in SUPER CAMPS daily activity camps are Primary School from Tuesday 29th March – their own traditional Victorian style theatre. the perfect way to put the magic back into Friday 8th April. Opening Times: 8:00am - Wraparound care available from 9-10am and the school holidays. The programme is jam- 6:30pm, variable sessions available. They offer 4-5pm daily. £245.00. www.redroofs.co.uk packed with fun activities that will keep your sibling discounts and also accept childcare SANDERS STREET EASTER DANCE children entertained for hours, and their vouchers. For more details on their daily CAMP - 4th-7th April at Cox Green Leisure 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating gives you the activities please visit: www.thegapclub.com or Centre, Highfield Lane, Maidenhead SL6 3AX. peace of mind that your children are in the call: 07854 078728 or Sanders Street specialises in authentic street best possible care. Camps include a variety of email [email protected]

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 21 What’s On Please email listings @familiestveast .co .uk with any events .

Celebrate Mothering Sunday at the See the new 4D Lego movie when Legoland Catch a colourful fun run at Windsor Crowne Plaza on March 6 reopens on March 11 Racecourse on March 27

DYSLEXIA , Adult Dyslexia Centre, 2 Denmark Terrace, Marlow, SL7 1GJ. Treat Mum to a sumptuous 3 course Denmark Street, Maidenhead, SL6 7FN. 01628 670054, lunch in Glaze Restaurant, with a bouncy castle to keep MARCH 7.30-9.30pm. adult-dyslexia-centre.co.uk the children entertained, while Mum gets some time to Every weekend in March 2016 plus daily during the Saturday March 5 PARKRUN Black Park, Black Park relax. 3 course lunch, including a little gift for Mum. Easter Holidays CRAZY ENTERTAINERS AND Road, Wexford, Bucks, SL3 6DS. 01753 511060. 9am. Every £24.95, £14.95 per child (3-12); 0-2 year olds free ANIMAL FUN Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common, week. www.parkrun.org.uk/black-park Advanced online booking required. 1pm–3pm. HP10 0LX. 01628 520 188. Join in with the madness and Saturday March 5 CLEAN FOR THE QUEEN cpmarlow.co.uk/whats-on mayhem of Odds Farm Park’s Crazy Entertainers. With Burnham Beeches, Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common, Sunday March 6 MOTHERING SUNDAY AT several shows daily, all the extra fun is included in entry! SL2 3TE. 01753 647358. Join the Friends of Stoke CLIVEDEN , Cliveden Road, Taplow, SL6 0JA. 01628 Meet and feed the new spring lambs as well. Common in celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday by 605069. Bring your mum for a free visit and enjoy a free www.oddsfarm.co.uk giving the Common a spring clean. 10am-3.30pm. wine tasting from Chiltern Valley Winery based near Weekends and School Holidays until May 2 THE Every term-time Saturday from March 5 'BE Henley (whilst stocks last). Wine tasting will take place in SLIME SHOW The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine ARTY' CLUB Upton House School, 115 St Leonard's the Walled Garden, near the Information Centre. 10am- Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7QW. 01344 354400. Suitable Road, Windsor, SL4 3DF. 01753 862610. Join the ‘Be Arty’ 5pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden for children aged 3 years old and over who can sit down club for an art & illustration course at Busy Buttons Sunday March 6 ETON COLLEGE NATURAL for half an hour. www.bracknell- Creative Studio. Five to eight-year-olds are introduced to HISTORY MUSEUM Eton College, Slough Road, Eton, forest.gov.uk/thelookoutweekendandholidayshows numerous techniques in art, illustration and 3D work. SL4 6DW. 01753 671000. This family- friendly museum is Every Tue, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat. GRANDMA FLEW www.busybuttons.org open every Sunday from 2.30pm-5pm. Admission is free, SPITFIRES Maidenhead Heritage Centre, 18 Park St, Sunday March 6 FREE ENTRY FOR MUMS Painshill donations optional. etonnhm.com Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1SL. 01628 780555. The Story Park, Portsmouth Rd, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1JE. Sunday March 6 STORYTELLING Norden Farm, of Maidenhead and temporary exhibitions – free. Spend the day with your mother in the beautiful Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. 01628 788997. Grandma Flew Spitfires exhibition – small charge. Spitfire landscape garden. Free to mothers when accompanied by Storytelling in the magical story den, followed by a yummy Simulator £7.50 per 15 mins. Tickets valid for 12 months their children. www.painshill.co.uk Sunday lunch. Ideal for 4 to 7 years. 11am. £3 per child. with Gift Aid. www.maidenheadheritage.org.uk Sunday March 6 MOTHERING SUNDAY AT THE Lunch menu from £5. norden.farm/events Tuesday March 1 and 8 UNDERSTANDING CROWNE PLAZA MARLOW , Fieldhouse Lane, Tuesday March 8 COPPÉLIA Theatre Royal Windsor,

22 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Compiled by Siobhan Newman What’s On Event times and dates do change . Please try and check that an event is still going ahead , before you head out .

Stig of the Dump is at Norden Farm, Try pond dipping at Woolley Firs Song of the Sea is at The Firestation March 29-30 on March 31 on April 9 Thames Street, Windsor, SL4 1PS. 01753 853 888. Friday March 18 FAMILY FIRST AID COURSE , 3TE. 01753 647358. Roll up your sleeves, wear some The colourful costumes, lively characters and beautiful Marlow Methodist Church, Spittal Street, Marlow, Bucks sturdy shoes and help with maintaining the beautiful music combine to create a magical and comical classic SL7 3HJ. 9.30-12.30. To book call 0778 872 0612; Beeches. 10am – 3pm. that warms and entertains from start to finish. Coppélia is www.child-matters.co.uk Tuesday March 22 to Saturday March 26 END OF guaranteed to lift the hearts of all the family. Evening Saturday March 19 CINEMA CLUB – INSIDE THE RAINBOW Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames shows 7.30pm. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinee OUT Firestation Arts Centre, St Leonard's Road, Street, SL4 1PS. 01753 853 888. It's 1968 and Judy at 2.30pm Saturday. www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk Windsor, SL4 3BL. 01753 866865.1pm, £5 adult, £2.50 Garland, a once-glittering star, is in London to make her Friday March 11 LEGOLAND Winkfield Road, child. www.firestationartscentre.com explosive comeback. www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4AY. 0871 2222 001. The theme Saturday March 19 MEDIEVAL RUNNYMEDE Tuesday March 22 FAMILY FIRST AID COURSE St park reopens, with new attraction ‘The LEGO® Movie 4D AND MAGNA CARTA Egham Library, High Street, Peters Church Hall, Pugin Rooms, Marlow, 7-10pm. To A New Adventure’. Emmet and the gang return in an all- Egham, TW20 9EA. Learn all about the Magna Carta. 10- book call 0778 872 0612; www.child-matters.co.uk new adventure with several showings daily in the 4D 11am. For children aged 7+. Tickets £4. Book online or Wednesday 23rd March FAMILY FIRST AID cinema. Ongoing. call 01483 543599. www.surreycc.gov.uk COURSE 7-10pm, WINDSOR. Venue to be arranged. To Friday March 11 and Monday 14 NATURE TOTS Saturday March 19 STUBBINGS OPEN GARDEN , book call 0778 872 0612; www.child-matters.co.uk Woolley Firs Environmental Education Centre, Cherry Henley Road, Maidenhead, SL6 6QL. 01628 825454. Friday March 25 CADBURY EASTER EGG HUNT , Garden Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 3LJ. 01628 Also open Sunday March 20, Saturday April 30, Sunday Maidenhead and Cookham Commons, Pinkneys Green, 829574. Come along to our parent and toddler group for May 1 and Monday 2 May. Admission £3.50, children free. Pinkneys Drive, Maidenhead, SL6 6QD. 07818 427242.. bug-hunting, mud-painting and mask-making. £4 per child. Light refreshments. www.ngs.org.uk Meet the Rangers to start the hunt any time between 9.30am-11.30am Friday and 9.30am-11.30am and 1-2pm Sunday March 20 BUNNY FUN RUN Oaken Grove 11am and 2pm. £3. www.nationaltrust.org.uk Monday. www.bbowt.org.uk Park, Maidenhead, SL6 6HL. Come and join the 5km run Friday March 25 to Sunday April 10 EASTER Saturday March 12 BOURNE END COMMUNITY starting and finishing at Oaken Grove Park. Entry £16 (18 FAMILY FUN Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common AND CRAFT MARKET Bourne End Library, Wakeman and over), £11 (under 18), £6 (under 12), £40 (family of Road, Wooburn Common, HP10 0LX. 01628 520 188. Road, Bourne End, SL8 5SX. 08452303232. The market is up to 4). 9.30am. www.bunnyfunrun.co.uk Youngsters can follow the Easter Trail around the farm held on the second Saturday of every month. Sunday March 20 BURNHAM BEECHES and get a yummy treat. Plus, with plenty of cute lambs to www.stallandcraftcollective.co.uk VOLUNTEERS Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common, SL2 bottle feed and meet, the return of tractor and trailer

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 23 What’s On Please email listings @familiestveast .co .uk with any events .

James Campbell's Comedy 4 Kids at Springtime Strolls, Tuesdays Hare-raising fun at Woolley Firs Norden Farm on April 1 in April at Cliveden on April 5

rides (weather permitting) and fun in the Giant Indoor you can join the Easter Egg Only with face painting and a 3pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden Playbarn. www.oddsfarm.co.uk bouncy castle. £7.50 per child (3-12). 12pm prompt. Ticket Thursday March 31 POND EXPLORERS Woolley Friday March 25 to Monday April 1 EASTER only event. www.cpmarlow.co.uk/whats-on Firs Environmental Education Centre, Cherry Garden DRAGON TRAIL , The Savill Garden, Wick Lane, Monday March 28 to Friday April 8 EASTER Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 3LJ. 01628 829574. Englefield Green, Surrey, TW20 0UU. Bring the whole HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS Norden Farm, 10.30am - 12pm. £4. Please book; www.bbowt.org.uk family for a journey to the Far East at The Savill Garden Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. 01628 788997. Thursday March 31 and Friday April 1 TREE this Easter. Collect your adventure packs and take the Hour-long craft activities to keep the little ones CLIMBING Cliveden, Cliveden Road, Taplow, SL6 0JA. Easter Dragon Trail, as you travel through entertained. The crafts vary so you can create something 01628 605069. As well as using ropes and harnesses to the spectacular Savill Garden searching for clues amongst new every day. 11am. £5. norden.farm/events/arts-and- climb up into the trees, there'll be a zip wire and rope the amazing collections of exotic plants, crafts-session swing for you to play on, all under the watchful eye of flowers and trees from distant lands to win a delicious Monday March 28 LOUIS THE BUBBLEMAN tree climbing experts. Children must be accompanied by chocolatey prize. £2.50 per trail. Admission fees apply. Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. an adult. For children aged 6+. www.windsorgreatpark.co.uk 01628 788997. Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden Friday March 25 to Monday April 1 EASTER with the art, magic, science and the fun of bubbles. TRAIL Black Park, Black Park Road, Wexham SL3 6DS. Suitable for all ages. 11.30am and 2pm. £10 (£8 under 01753 511060. Follow the self-led trail through Black Park 16s). Family and friends (4 people) £32. APRIL to see if you can help the Easter Bunny find her missing norden.farm/events/ eggs. Pick up your map at the Visitor Information Point in Tuesday March 29 BUGS & BEASTS Black Park, Friday April 1 JAMES CAMPBELL'S COMEDY 4 Black Park between 10am and 12pm to start the trail. £3 Black Park Road, Slough, SL3 6DS. 01753 511060. Book an KIDS Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. per child. www.buckscc.gov.uk/events hour-long slot and meet us at the Visitor Information 01628 788997. This is a show which might or might not Friday March 25 to Monday April 11 WOODLAND Point to start your Bugs & Beasts Hunt, 2pm to 3pm, £5 discuss lollipop ladies, quantum chromatic disruption WONDERS – EASTER PUZZLER Burnham Beeches, per family (max 2 adults + 2 children). Advance booking machines and tartan badgers. Suitable for ages 6+ years. Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common, SL2 3TE. 01753 required. www.buckscc.gov.uk/events £10 (£8 under 16s). Family & Friends (4 people) £32. 647358. Try out one of our puzzle trails: easy or fiendishly Tuesday March 29 to Saturday April 2 11.30am. norden.farm/events difficult! Aimed at children from 5 to 95. Just pick up a SHADOWLANDS Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Sunday April 3 THE PRINCE’S COUNTRYSIDE leaflet from the Information Point. Bring a pencil. Street, Windsor, SL4 1PS. 01753 853 888. A stunning FUND RACE DAY Ascot Racecourse, High Street, www.cityoflondon.gov.uk drama that poses classic questions about religion, pain and Ascot, SL5 7JX. 0844 346 3000. First race 2.15pm. Saturday March 26 and Sunday 27 EASTER EGG love. Starring Stephen Boxer, Tony Slattery and Amanda www.ascot.co.uk HUNT Runnymede National Trust, Runnymede Estate Ryan, the love story of writer C.S. Lewis and poet Joy Monday April 4 FILM WALK Black Park, Black Park Office, North Lodge, Old Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 2JL. Davidman. www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk Road, Slough, SL3 6DS. 01753 511060. Meet at the Black 01784 432891. A traditional Easter Egg Hunt across the Tuesday March 29 to Wednesday 30 STIG OF THE Park Visitor Information Point. Booking is essential. £5 DUMP Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 adult, £3 child, £4 cons, £14 family (2 adults and 2 Runnymede meadows. £3. 10.30am-4pm. children), pay & display charges apply. 2pm to 3.30pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk 4PF. 01628 788997. Suitable for ages 6+ years. 2pm and 7pm Tuesday, 11.30am and 2pm Wednesday. £10 (£8 under www.buckscc.gov.uk/events/country-park-events Sunday March 27 COLOUR VIBE FUN RUN Tuesday April 5 DEN BUILDING Black Park, as Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, SL4 5JJ. 16s). Family & Friends (4 people) £32. norden.farm/events/ Wednesday March 30 SPRING WOODLAND above. Have a go at building your own den by the 01753 498400. Welcome to the most awesome 5K Fun campfire. Meet at Black Park Visitor Information Point, Run ever! uk.thecolorvibe.com PLAY Black Park, Black Park Road, Slough, SL3 6DS. Join the Rangers for an hour of woodland fun and games in Marshmallows and hot drinks provided. Booking essential. Sunday March 27 FAMILY FUN DAY LUNCH Cost: £16 per family (max 2 adults & 2 children), £3 per AND EASTER EGG HUNT Crowne Plaza Marlow, Black Pine’s Camp. Parents must supervise. Drinks provided for all. Meet at Black Park café. £5 per child. extra family member, pay & display charges apply. 10am to Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, SL7 1GJ. 01628 496 860. An 10am and 11.30am and 2pm. Advance booking. Ideal for 4 12pm. Easter Sunday to remember, with an Easter Egg Hunt* at to 10 year olds. Call 01753 511060 or email Tuesday April 5 WHERE'S THE HARE Woolley Firs 12pm in our extensive grounds, face painting, bouncy [email protected] for details. Environmental Education Centre, Cherry Garden Lane, castle and a delicious three-course lunch in Glaze www.buckscc.gov.uk/events/ Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 3LJ. 01628 829574. Discover Restaurant. Three-course lunch £21.95, £14.95 per child Wednesday March 30 WILD WEDNESDAY – the original Easter bunny on our 'Where's the Hare' (3–12) 0–2 year olds free.*Easter Egg Hunt is PLANT IT, GROW IT, EAT IT Cliveden, Cliveden treasure trail. Please book. 10am-2pm. Activities suitable complimentary for children having the Easter Sunday Road, Taplow, SL6 0JA. 01628 605069. Find all about food, for ages 4-10 and take around 2 hours to complete. Lunch. Advanced online booking required. Alternatively from planting seeds to finding plants at Cliveden. 11am to www.bbowt.org.uk/events

24 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Compiled by Siobhan Newman What’s On Event times and dates do change . Please try and check that an event is still going ahead , before you head out .

Card Ninja at Norden Farm Jungle Book at the Theatre Royal Windsor Meet the lambs at COAM, on April 9 from April 21-23 April 23-24

Tuesday April 5 FAMILY CONCERTINI Norden Road, Slough, SL3 6DS. 01753 511060. her way in the urban jungle. With a beat-boxing bin man Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. 01628 788997. This event is not suitable for very young children due to a Baloo, graffiti artist Bagheera and a skateboarding Wolf A live music concert for children and families – 4 mile walk and is weather dependant. Bringa torch. crew, this heart-warming story will astonish and amaze. performed in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Then meet the Booking is essential. £5 per adult, £3 per child, £4 per Featuring jaw-dropping tricks from an extraordinary cast instruments at the end of the show. Suitable for ages 0 to concs, £14 per family (max 2 adults & 2 children), pay & of performers from Zoo Nation and Cirque du Soleil. 8 years. £10 (£8 under 16s) Family & Friends (4 people) display charges apply. 7pm to 9pm. www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk £32. 2pm. norden.farm/events/family-concertini www.buckscc.gov.uk/events/country-park-even Saturday April 23 BLUEBELL WALK Waltham Place, Tuesday April 5 MUSICAL BUMPS AND BABES Saturday April 9 BOURNE END COMMUNITY Church Hill, White Waltham, Berkshire, SL6 3JH. 01628 Norden Farm (As above) Possibly the first ever concert AND CRAFT MARKET Bourne End Library, Wakeman 825517. Call or email [email protected] to series for expectant mothers and babies up to a year old. Road, Bourne End, SL8 5SX. 08452303232. Free entry, on- book. Walks start at the Ormandy Centre, Church Hill, Enjoy the benefits of classical music’s positive and site refreshments. White Waltham. www.walthamplace.com soothing effects £10 (£8 under 16s) Family & Friends (4 Saturday April 9 CARD NINJA Norden Farm, Saturday April 23 DAWN CHORUS Maidenhead and people) £32. 11.30am. Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. 01628 788997. Cookham Commons, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, SL6 Tuesday April 5 to Saturday 9 SAVE THE LAST The Card Ninja possesses extraordinary skills, which are 6QD. 07818 427242. Local expert Brian Clews will guide DANCE FOR ME Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames more than just sleight of hand. Suitable for ages 10+ years. Street, Windsor, SL4 1PS. 01753 853 888. From the team you through a morning of birdsong with a stroll around £10 (£8 under 16s) Family & Friends (4 people) £32. 2pm Maidenhead Thicket. 5.30am-8am. that brought you the huge success that is Dreamboats and 7pm. norden.farm/events and Petticoats, Save the Last Dance for Me will take you www.nationaltrust.org.uk Saturday April 9 KIDS' CINEMA – SONG OF THE Saturday April 23 NATIONAL GARDENS back through the music and magic of the early 60’s, a time SEA when each passing week brought another Rock ‘n’ Roll Firestation Arts Centre, The Old Court, St SCHEME DAY Cliveden, Cliveden Road, Taplow, SL6 classic. www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk Leonard's Road, Windsor, SL4 3BL. 01753 866865. £5 0JA. 01628 605069. A day dedicated to the National Tuesdays from April 5 to 26 SPRINGTIME adult, £2.50 child. 1pm. firestationartscentre.com Gardens Scheme. Booking not needed. 10am-5pm. Free STROLL IN THE GARDENS Cliveden, Cliveden Saturday April 9 RIDE IT Windsor Racecourse, event (admission applies) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden Road, Taplow, SL6 0JA. 01628 605069. Join our gardens Maidenhead Road, Windsor, SL4 5JJ. A non-competitive Sunday April 24 ODNEY CLUB OPEN GARDEN , team on a gentle stroll to take an in-depth look at the cycle ride to suit riders of all abilities. From 8am. Fun Odney Lane, Cookham, SL6 9QH. 01628 520160. This best of the season's blooms. From daffodils and 20,000 route £7.50, short route £20, medium and long routes 120-acre site is beside the Thames with lovely riverside hyacinths to later thousands of tulips. Free, usual admission £25. Children under 16 ride for free, but must be walks. A favourite with Stanley Spencer who featured its applies. 2-4pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden accompanied by an adult. Contact 01293 574900. magnolia in his work. 2-6pm. Admission £4.50, children Wednesday April 6 WILD WEDNESDAY – www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk/whats-on free. www.ngs.org.uk COLOURS OF CLIVEDEN Cliveden, Cliveden Road, Tuesday 12th April FAMILY FIRST AID COURSE , Monday April 25 to Friday 29 TEDDY BEAR TRAIL Taplow, SL6 0JA. 01628 605069. Come on a colourful 7-10pm Braywood Memorial Hall, Fifield Road, Black Park, Black Park Road, Slough, SL3 6DS. 01753 adventure hunting for brightly coloured flowers. 11am to Maidenhead, SL62NX. To book call 0778 872 0612; 511060. Hunt for the bears and get a treat at the end! 3pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden www.child-matters.co.uk Cost: £3 per map (max 2 treats per map). No booking Wednesday April 6 to April 8 ART DAZE Norden Wednesday April 13 and Thursday 14 TODDLER required, just turn up on the day. www.buckscc.gov.uk/events Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. 01628 788997. DAYS – LITTLE LADYBIRDS The Look Out Monday April 25 to Saturday 30 TWELFTH Take inspiration from different decades to create unique Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7QW. NIGHT Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Windsor, individual and collaborative art. Fab Fashion, Medley of 01344 354400. The extra activities are on from 10am to SL4 1PS. 01753 853 888. This story of romance, satire and Music and Feast of Food art themes. £85 for 3 days (£75 4pm. £6.80 per parent and toddler, and £1.55 for each mistaken identity is crafted into one of the most exciting with Advantage Card) 10am - 4pm. norden.farm/events additional toddler (up to a maximum of 3). and accessible Shakespeare productions of recent years. Thursday April 7 and Friday 8 PLAY DOUGH www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/thelookoutactivitiesfortoddlers Experience the madness of love in this heady world, Norden Farm (As above) It’s the game show where you Saturday April 16 NEARLY NEW SALE Egham can play with 10,000 real pound coins! Join hosts Queenie where a riotous gig meets Shakespeare. Leisure Centre, Vicarage Road, Egham, TW20 8NL. 01784 www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk and TooMuch for high energy games and storytelling – and 437695. Egham Leisure Centre from 10.30 am. Entry everything they know about how money really works. Wednesday April 27 DISCOVER ASCOT costs £1.50. Early entry for NCT members with cards at RACECOURSE , High Street, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JX. Suitable for ages 7+ years. £10 (£8 under 16s) Family & 10.15am. www.nct.org.uk Friends (4 people) £32 y 11.30am and 2pm. Saturday April 16 and Sunday 17 REPTILES AT 0844 346 3000. Enjoy the first day of the Flat season at norden.farm/events/ STOKE COMMON , Hawthorn Lane, SL2 3TE. 01753 the world’s most famous racecourse for free. There is no Friday April 8 NIGHT WALK Black Park, Black Park 647358. 3-hour hunt around Stoke Common on Saturday cost for Grandstand Admission on this day and Premier to find some of the wonderful species living there. Admission is only £13 in advance. Gates open 11am. Booking required. The next day you can meet the Ranger www.ascot.co.uk/Discover-Ascot – and his reptiles! 11am – 1pm. Saturday April 30 DAWN CHORUS WALK Sunday April 17 STORYTELLING Norden Farm, Waltham Place, Church Hill, White Waltham, Berkshire, Blossom Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PF. 01628 788997. SL6 3JH. 01628 825517.. Cost: £7.50 to include breakfast. Interactive storytelling in the magical story den, followed 5.30am. Booking with [email protected] or Ballet by a yummy Sunday lunch. Age guidance 4 – 7 years. 11am. call. www.walthamplace.com £3 per child. Lunch menu from £5. norden.farm/events Sunday May 1 MORRIS DANCING DISPLAY Sunday April 17 VAISAKHI Norden Farm (as above) WITH BREAKFAST Runnymede National Trust, A celebration of the Sikh New Year and the founding of Runnymede Estate Office, North Lodge, Old Windsor, the Sikh community. £10 (£8 under 16s), family & friends Berkshire, SL4 2JL. 01784 432891.. Booking essential. £10. (4 people) £32. 7pm. 5-7am. www.nationaltrust.org.uk For a FREE taster class Monday April 18 FREE MONDAY NIGHT Sunday May 1 BLUEBELLS AND THE WONDERS or for further information RACING Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, OF THE WOODLAND GUIDED WALK Runnymede please contact Lucy: Windsor, SL4 5JJ. 01753 498400. Free tickets are only National Trust, as above. Adult £6, child £3. 11.30am-1pm. available for Grandstand admission when booked in Call 0844 2491895 or book online. 07813084283 advance online. Subject to availability. www.windsor- www.nationaltrust.org.uk [email protected] racecourse.co.uk Bank Holiday Monday May 2 PAT DOGS WALK ww w.blossomballet.com Wednesday 20th April FAMILY FIRST AID Black Park, Black Park Road, Slough, SL3 6DS. 01753 COURSE St Peters Church Hall Pugin Rooms Marlow 7- 511060. Join the sponsored 3 mile walk to raise money 10pm, To book call 0778 872 0612; for the Pets as Therapy charity. Contact 01753 531584 for Blossom Ballet www.child-matters.co.uk a walk joining pack. Advance booking required. is about having lots of fun and making new friends. Thursday April 21 to Saturday 23 JUNGLE BOOK www.buckscc.gov.uk/events/ Theatre Royal Windsor, Thames Street, Windsor, SL4 1PS. Bank Holiday Monday May 2 RACING FAMILY Classes throughout the week, including weekends, 01753 853 888. This spectacular production brings FUN DAY Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, in Windso r, Bray and Maidenhead. Kipling’s classic tale crashing into the 21st Century with Windsor, SL4 5JJ. 01753 498400. Gates open 12.15pm. breath-taking street dance and circus. Mowgli is finding www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 25 Competitions and Offers with R

WIN a Gazillion Bubbles WIN a monthly delivery of flowers Tornado Bubble Blower! through your letterbox! We have ten Gazillion Bubbles Tornados to 'Beards & Daises - The Letterbox Florist' is offering an opportunity to give away! Kids can have hours of open-ended win a six-month subscription to letterbox flowers worth £120! fun blowing up a storm To celebrate Mother’s Day and Easter the first flower Instantly create a storm of bubbles with the Gazillion box 'The Osprey’ is filled with a massive 100 fresh Bubbles Tornado! With no pump and no wait time, you'll be Narcissus - sure to put a smile on your face! creating a gazillion bubbles in a flash! This ultimate bubble Beards & Daisies makes buying fresh, locally sourced machine blows bubbles straight up in the air! Simply pour flowers easy with a choice of 6 letterbox flower bouquets. the solution into the spout, push the button, and watch in Prepared by a florist and beautifully wrapped in luxury amazement as a Tornado of bubbles blows into the sky! packaging, complete with a personalised g reeting card. Your The Gazillion Bubbles Tornado includes a 4 oz. bottle of 2 ft, ventilated flowerbox is delivered through your premium Gazillion Bubbles solution. letterbox not just to it! It’s as easy as receiving a letter and Gazillion Bubbles has been the bubble brand of choice no need for the recipient to wait at home! for many years and 2016 sees a brand new host of These 'bouquets in a box' make the perfect gift and can bubble blaster machines and more! Instantly create a be bought as either a one off flowerbox or a three-month storm of bubbles with the Gazillion Bubbles Tornado! subscription, giving you fresh flowers delivered straight to With no pump and no wait time, you’ll be creating a gazillion bubbles in a your doormat every month! flash! This Ultimate bubble machine blows bubbles straight up in the air.” For more information check out www.beardsanddaisies.co.uk/ www.argos.co.uk/beta/static/Product/partNumber/4837853.htm For your chance to win go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions For your chance to win go to www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions Closing date April 1. Closing date April 1

WIN a LEGO ® Juniors prize bundle! WIN tickets to see Jungle Book at the LEGO ® Juniors is a great entry to LEGO ® building, sparking the Theatre Royal Windsor imaginations of first time builders aged 4 to 7 years old, helping them One lucky reader will win 4 tickets to see to feel independent. We are giving away a bundle of three new this spectacular new production of Jungle LEGO ® Juniors sets to three lucky winners! Book from the award-winning Metta Theatre on 21st April, which brings Kipling’s Be part of the action with LEGO ® Juniors NINJAGO™ classic tale crashing into the 21st Century Lost Temple LEGO ® (£24.99) and help Lloyd recover the with breath taking street dance and circus. Sword of Fire by making your way through the Lost Temple. Mowgli is finding her way in the urban jungle. In the LEGO ® Juniors NINJAGO™ Snake Showdown (£12.99) Lasha the snake villain wants the golden snake With a beat-boxing bin man Baloo, graffiti artist staff, so you have to help Kai battle him! Bagheera and a skateboarding Wolf crew, this Keep watch over the city with the LEGO ® Juniors heart-warming coming of age story will astonish Police Helicopter (£8.99). Spot the thief trying to break and amaze. Choreographed by Kendra J into the ATM and then fly down and catch him in the act. Horsburgh (Into the Hoods, Sadler’s Wells and Blaze, International Tour) and featuring jaw-dropping tricks from an extraordinary cast of performers from ® To find out more about LEGO Juniors please visit: Zoo Nation and Cirque du Soleil, this is a show for everyone from 8 to 108. http://www.LEGO.com/juniors Jungle Book is on at the Theatre Royal Windsor from 21- 23 April 2016, For your chance to win go to Box Office: 01753 853888; Group bookings: 01753 848484. www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk For your chance to win go to Closing date April 1. www.familiestveast.co.uk/competitions Closing date April 1.

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-child ren one to one and two to one classes -all ages and abilities -crash courses T: 01344 885675 M: 07766 258279 E: [email protected] www.ezeeswim.co.uk

26 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Lessons in parenting? Parenting is suspected it needs to be investigated but for most people, Government instigated No thanks, David lessons is a step to far. Maybe David needs to look a little Cameron! closer to home and ensure his back By Natalie Trice benchers are behaving, before he uses money that could be put into the NHS or schools. David Cameron kicked off Instead, how about making it easier for 2016 with a pledge to make women to continue their careers rather it “normal” and “even than pricing them out of working because aspirational” for people to of childcare costs? Or more GP appointments for when babies are take parenting classes to sick, helping reduce stress as well as help them communicate, out-of-hours costs. Why not fund discipline and play with more midwives who can care for mothers after birth and ensure their children. they are ready to go home and nurse their child? Kind? Patronising? Needed? Yes, family is at the heart of society but rather than add to As a nation we are facing a multitude of the guilt we feel by giving us issues but DC wants to plough £70 million lessons we don’t need, why not offer into parenting lessons and counseling for services that will make life easier, take couples. away pressure and make everyone I can kind of see where he is coming happy? from but as one friend commented, “The problem is it won’t attract the real target audience. The people who want to do 'the Natalie Trice is an author right thing' will sign up and those who (natalietrice.co.uk), *may* benefit will not because they are when it was tough, I didn’t get dressed and journalist and blogger either not interested or because they are wished I was back in Chelsea with the girls, (justbecauseIlove.co.uk) too marginalised.” but I didn’t need lessons, I just got on with who knows a thing or She has hit the nail on the head here. it and followed my instincts. two about PR and social For most parents, we are simply doing You love your child, nurture them, find media too. Based in our best, bring our children up as we see out what they like, what stimulates them Buckinghamshire she is fit and this seems to be the nanny state and how to discipline them and I am pretty mummy to two little stepping on our toes once again. sure most of us do not need anyone to tell boys, wife to one We all know that parenting isn’t easy us how to read books and use the naughty husband and keeper of and there are times when you could step. a cat and dog, who all scream, days when you don’t get dressed With endless lists of what we can and keep her busy and on and have sick in your hair and want to cannot feed our children, how much her toes. crack open the booze at lunchtime. screen-time they can have and how breast Having my first child was a shock to the is best, the current Big Brother attitude to system. I went from working for a global parenting is almost as exhausting as the job TV company with an assistant, a driver and itself. a massive budget to living in the sticks with Yes, if a child is in danger then they need a baby who cried, A LOT. There were days to be under the care of the state. If abuse

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 27 Get Crafty Simple Easter crafts for children... Easter Egg Bunny You’ll need: 1 hard-boiled egg •Yellow and white felt • PVA glue • Felt tips pens in yellow, orange and black 3. Stick the feet on the base of the egg, making sure the egg can stand upright on them. 1. Take a freshly cooked and cooled hard-boiled 4. Stick the white ears onto the yellow and egg. when they have dried a little, stick them on to 2. Cut shapes for the bunny’s feet and hands the rear of where the face will be. out of the yellow felt; then cut larger ears 5. Finally, draw a rabbit’s face on the front of the shapes out of yellow felt and smaller ones from egg with the pens and decorate with patterns the white. as your child likes.

Egg Bunting You’ll need: Plain white paper • Poster paints • Stickers Glitter • Glue • Scraps of paper, fabric and wool • Mini pegs • String Bunny Ears You’ll need: 1. Cut out lots of Easter egg shapes from the White cardboard • Grey and pink paint paper Scissors • PVA glue • An Alice band 2. Get the kids to use paint to create patterns on the eggs; stripes and circles work well. 1. Get the kids to paint sheets of paper plain

R 3. Next, use the scraps of craft fabrics and grey or plain pink stickers to make the eggs even more 2. Help your children (using child-safe decorative. scissors) to cut out larger grey ears shapes CALL TO BOOK NOW 4. Use some glue to create lines or shapes and and smaller pink ear shapes from the painted For advertising in our scatter the glitter for the final touch. paper. May/June 2016 issue 5. When the egg shapes are dry, hang them on a 3. Be sure to leave a longer bit of paper at due out May 1. piece of string with the colourful pegs. If you the bottom of the grey shapes Featuring: Holiday Activities & Camps can’t find pegs, use coloured paper clips or 4. Stick the pink inners on the grey ears. Call: 01628 627586 simply thread the string through a hole in the 5. Next, attach the shapes to the Alice band top of each egg. with the glue and leave to dry.

For Little Kickers & Little Rugby classes in Maidenhead, Bourne End, Henley, Marlow & Stokenchurch. Call 01628 526 584 or email [email protected]. For Little Kickers classes at Ascot, Slough, Windsor and Stoke Poges call 07412 166 686 or email [email protected] Call for Birthday Party entertainment information

28 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] Bumps ‘n’ Babes How to cope with separation anxie ty

It can be very upsetting for a parent when their child screams or grouchy then her tears could get out of hand and cries as they try to leave them with someone else, • Practice leaving your child for short spells whether it is at a nursery, with a child minder or relative. This (15 minutes at a time to start with) with a distress at leaving a parent is called separation anxiety and it friend or relative • is more extreme than just being clingy. Try to leave your baby with only a small number of regular people and keep her ll babies, at some point or other in have lots on their mind to keep them surroundings as familiar as possible • their development, are likely to distracted and entertained. If you know in advance which child minder Aexperience separation anxiety in However, the anxiety sometimes returns you will be using, invite her over a couple of some form. It is very common and at around the age of two, when children times to meet your baby with you around or completely normal. It can happen in phases become more aware of their own if your baby will be going to a nursery, pay a (sometimes very short ones) and will not independence, the world around them and few short visits there with her before she last forever. their feelings. starts there • Babies have to learn the ability to trust so How to cope with separation anxiety Have a 'bye bye' routine so saying or when a parent 'disappears' if they haven’t yet A baby who has separation anxiety needs waving bye bye to you is a fun thing • learned to trust, they take it as a fearful or to be constantly and convincingly reassured Never sneak away when she is not looking • threatening situation. Child psychologists that your absence does not mean you have Always reassure her you will be returning • liken it to babies using their Stone Age gone forever. The only way to prove this is to If she is old enough to understand explain instincts. Little ones don’t instinctively know leave her and come back again. There is one you will return “after her nap” or “after her they are safe at nursery school or with school of thought that playing the age-old teatime”. Give her a time frame to Aunty Jane. To them, when mum walks out of game of peek-a-boo developed from a need recognise. BUT only if you are sure you can the door, they could be eaten by tigers! to prove to babies that mum can stick to it! • Of course we know their tears and disappear…and come back again. When you’ve said goodbye, GO. Don’t nip tantrums are misplaced, but that’s not to say One thing is for sure; parents can’t give up back or lurk around watching her unless you that it isn’t a difficult thing for a parent to their plans or skip going to work because of are absolutely certain you won’t be spotted. witness and cope with. Nobody wants to their child’s tears. Separation is something Emma’s Diary is the UK’s think that their child is panicking and upset children have to learn to cope with. It’s all most trusted and when they are being left with someone part of their emotional journey. influential pregnancy and different or somewhere new. There are some practical things you can baby channel. Working in partnership with At what age does separation anxiety do to help if your child is showing signs of The Royal College of General Practitioners affect children? separation anxiety: (RCGP) for more than 23 years, they Separation anxiety often starts at around •Your baby may be comforted by a soft toy provide parents-to-be and new parents the age of eight months and usually improves or blanket which they associate with you with the very best medical and practical around the one year mark when children are • Try to time your leaving spells when your information. Visit www.emmasdiary.co.uk starting to toddle around more actively and baby is awake and alert. If she is tired, hungry

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 29 Mums Who Mean Business

Former city trader, Sam Williams, followed her dream of Be prepared owning a sport and fitness company, by opening Rush UK for an emergency Trampoline Parks in High Wycombe. Don’t wait for one to happen

FAMILY FIRST AID COURSE DATES 2016 Marlow: 18 March, 26 April Windsor: 23 March, Maidenhead: 20 April Come & learn new skills. This short course will provide information on how to deal with:- • Coping with an emergency • Dealing with an unconscious casualty • Baby/Child/Adult Resuscitation • Choking • Head Injuries • Seizures & Febrile Convulsions • Child Related Conditions (Fever Management, Croup, Anaphylaxis, Respiratory Illness) • Bleeding • Burns And anything you wish to ask …… On completion of this course you will receive a Certificate of attendance, ‘Paediatric First Aid Made Easy’ manual and a laminated wall chart.

£35 per head with £5 discount when quoting Families Magazine

T: 07788720612 E: [email protected] • www.child-matters.co.uk What inspired you to set up the business? Rush is the culmination of a ten- Eva Winter Osteopath year ambition to start my own BSc (Hons), DPO business. I was considering how to incorporate my passions - • Providing safe and effective hands-on fitness, families and fun into my treatment for adults, children and babies business idea. Two years ago • Vitality Osteopaths, 1st Floor 36 West Street, whilst living in Paris, I stumbled Marlow, Bucks, SL7 2NB across the concept of an For more information indoor trampoline park whilst T: 01494 482028 watching American TV and M: 07776 448700 from that moment an idea was E: [email protected] born. Rush UK’s first W: evawinter.co.uk Trampoline Park has recently Registered with the General Osteopathic Council, opened in High Wycombe and British Osteopathic Association and Alumni for is going from strength to Paediatric Osteopathy strength. What did you use to do? I graduated from Oxford University and spent nine years working in the City as a derivatives trader and marketer. After my career in the city, I had a break to have my children, during which I was looking for a business idea. I had always wanted to start my own business and as a qualified personal trainer I wanted to use my interest in sport and fitness in a career that would fit around my family. What are your plans for the future? Trampolining is truly an activity that the whole family can enjoy and I want to make Rush the best experience of its kind in the UK. I plan to open further Rush Trampoline Parks in other areas within the next few years. Do you have some health and fitness tips? My best advice is to make exercise part of your daily routine and find something that you enjoy. If exercise is fun and not a chore you are more likely to do it. What's your best advice for working mums? Separate your work from your personal life so they don't overlap. It helps to try not to allow yourself to get bogged down with work and be prepared to be flexible and juggle. Most importantly, don't miss out on doing the things that are important to your children, as you'll never get that time back. RushUK.com

30 FAMILIES Thames Valley East MARCH/APRIL 2016 E-mail: [email protected] The world of parenthood can be fast paced and confusing. Birth experiences and those early days with a new baby are magical and scary at the same time and new parents can often feel isolated and unsure. As a Pregnancy and Newborn Baby Specialist, Active Birth Teacher and Holistic Therapist I can help support parents through this exciting time. What are your plans for the future? We have some really exciting growth plans this year. I will continue to focus on my Antenatal Active Birth workshops and 1:1 support. I have just launched baby weigh-in clinics every Tuesday in Doodles Den (based in Windsor Library). I am also launching a series of Her healthcare experience, along with Denham mum Sophia Douglas runs antenatal and postnatal workshops focusing on her love of babies and young children, led Little Treasures, a mobile crèche a variety of topics including weaning, slee ping Melanie Valecha to set up her current challenges plus much more. service in the Bucks, Berks and business, Big Steps Little Feet. bigstepslittlefeet.co.uk; 07841657141. London area. She uses her Who you are and where do you live? knowledge and expertise as a My name is Melanie Valecha. I am a Pregnancy childminder to provide childcare and Baby Specialist living in Old Windsor with

support during weddings, events my husband, 5 children ages 7-22 years and my and parties. 2 dogs, Nelly and Noodle! C la s sif ied s What inspired you to set up the Why you set up the business? business? As a mother of 4 children aged 7–17 years, I am www.candleby parties.co.uk It actually happened by accident! As a very aware of the busy life of parents and the Fab Candle-Making Parties for Girls! fully qualified childminder, when a friend very real pressures of being a parent. My Find out more and receive a FREE of a friend asked me to come and help career as a Pregnancy and Baby Specialist is candle-m aking kit b y visiti ng: look after some young children embedded in the fact that I love working with bit.ly/candle -making-pa rty attending her wedding, so their parents babies and young families. I have always worked Or call us on: 01628 947224 could enjoy the wedding speeches, I was within the healthcare world, but in April 2014 I decided to change career direction, to really happy to help. Afterwards I had several requests for my business card from specialise on working with new mums and

people who were going to attend other families during pregnancy and throughout a events and need a similar service - and child’s first years. Little Treasures was born! We specialise What did you use to do? in providing crèches at weddings and I have had a career in the NHS in many family events and it has been a pleasure different nursing roles over the past 20 years. I worked as a senior nurse and in Health Visiting to have been part of so many people’s in Berkshire for the last 11 years. My last post special days, especially as we are helping was working as a Family Nurse working that day to run smoothly and enabling intensively with teenage parents from early parents and hosts to relax, whilst the pregnancy through to toddlerhood – a really children are in good hands and fully special time in my career. occupied. What inspired you to set up the business? What do you enjoy about running Big Steps Little Feet has been born out of my your business? desire to work independently and share the The best part about running Little knowledge and skills I have acquired through Treasures is that I can be there for my my extensive studies and experiences as a own children. Having my own business parent. I feel strongly that parents, carers and gives me flexibility and being able to families deserve a holistic, supportive and work around the needs of my family is a nurturing service. bonus. What your best advice for working mums? I think it’s always worth keeping an eye on your work and home balance. My business certainly keeps me busy with weddings, corporate events and party bookings but I always try to make sure I enjoy every minute of my children as they grow up so quickly. What are you plans for the future? My long-term goal for Little Treasures is to expand the areas we cover and eventually franchise the business. We can also expand into different types of events, conferences and parties - any event where parents can attend with their children. www.littletreasurescreche.co.uk

Telephone: 01628 627 586 MARCH/APRIL 2016 FAMILIES Thames Valley East 31