FREE TAKE ME HOME Hereford & Worcester IN THIS ISSUE Education Open events My Child Will Not Eat Useful tips and advice What’s On Easter days out Issue 56 March/April 2019 familiesonline.co.uk News and Views Dear Reader Social Media Companies Face New Rules The government has announced its desire to make the UK the safest place in the I always think world to be online. Digital minister, Margot James says: “There is far too much that Spring is bullying, abuse, misinformation and manipulation online.” the prettiest of months The announcement comes after the tragic death of Molly Russell, 14, whose parents after the long had found she had viewed content on social media linked to depression, self-harm dull days of and suicide before taking her own life in 2017. Winter. Ms James said “The tragic death of Molly Russell is the latest consequence of a Leo Tolstoy wrote: “spring is the time social media world that behaves as if it is above the law. For too long the response of plans and projects” so to help you from many of the large platforms has fallen short.” plan the Easter break we have lots of events in the area. Plus Easter camps "We have heard calls for an internet regulator and to place a statutory duty of care and workshops to help provide safe, on platforms, and are seriously considering all options.” secure childcare and opportunites for children to learn new skills and make “Social media companies clearly need to do more to ensure they are not new friends. promoting harmful content to vulnerable people” said a Government spokesman. A white paper is forthcoming. For more information: www.saferinternet.org.uk Spring is also a time for some to start thinking about the choice of a new school. We feature some of our region’s leading independent schools. At What Age Can Children Be Home Alone? Parents often wonder when it is safe to Plus ‘picky eaters’. Mealtimes can leave a child unsupervised at home. become battlegrounds, so we have some strategies that parents can put The law does not specify an age at which in place to support their child. a child can legally be “home alone.” See page 10. However, parents commit an offence if leaving the child unsupervised at home Happy Easter. puts him or her at risk. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has Diane Clifford. Editor published a guide “Is My Child Ready to 01684 770566 Be Left Alone?” This states that: [email protected] • children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time • children under 16 shouldn’t be left BOOK TODAY alone overnight • babies, toddlers and young children Advertise with us and should never be left alone reach over 44,000 parents More info at www.nspcc.org.uk in the region. Next issue May/June Booking deadline is Local Volunteer Host Families Needed Friday 5 April EIL (Experiment in International Living) UK is a Worcestershire based charity that brings international visitors (mostly students) to the UK and places them with volunteer host Families Hereford & Worcester is part of Families Print Ltd, a families. Participants do a variety of things during their time franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are here like attend local schools, go on cultural visits around the independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta UK and volunteer for local community projects. EIL are Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents looking for new host families of all different types in of Families Hereford & Worcester are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may Worcestershire and have hosting opportunities from a be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families weekend, 1-4 weeks or even an academic year. EIL pays a Hereford & Worcester. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and contribution towards expenses. Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of Contact Mary on [email protected] or 01684-562577 for advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.. more information and see our website www.eiluk.org 2 Families Hereford & Worcester Magazine To advertise call: 01684 770566 familiesonline.co.uk News and Views EastnorCastle Summer Babies Never Catch Up @eastnorcastle eastnor_castle Discounted Summer-borns still struggle in year 3 and 6, according to new tickets research. Analysis of the test results of more than 1.5 million available online primary school pupils across England by School Dash, an education data analytics company, confirmed the disadvantage faced by summer-born children. The research found that pupils born between April and August performed on average 7.5% behind others in reception maths tests. By year 6, summer-born pupils are on averageSun 3.6%6 – behind. Mon More 7 info:May www.schooldash.com 2018 EGGsplorersEastnor The heat is on... th Treasure Hunt Now in its 8 year! Fri 19th to Mon 22nd April Sun 5th to Mon 6th May #EasteratEastnor #EastnorChilliFest eastnorcastle.com Does your daughter have the skills to enable her to have unlimited career aspirations and fulfil her dreams? In the words of Robin Robertson, “When girls go to single sex schools, they stop being the Golden Egg Trail audience and become the players”. If you would like to find out more, Dodderhill Independent Girls School invite you and your daughter to an 17 – 22 APRIL 2019 Open Morning on Saturday 2 March 2019. Girls age 9 years and over may wish to take part in a Follow the bunny trail in search trial fencing session. Please contact the school of the Golden Egg and claim office to book your place on 01905 778290. a yummy Easter reward Football Boosts Girls Confidence New research suggests that playing football can have a greater FREE trail positive impact on the self-confidence of teenage girls than other popular sports. with child’s admission The study by the University of Birmingham for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the largest of its kind and features data collected from 4128 girls and young women aged 13 and over in Denmark, England, Germany, Spain, Poland and Turkey. 80% of teenage girls surveyed said they felt more confident as a Spetchley Park Gardens, Spetchley, Worcester WR5 1RS result of being part of their football team compared to 74% who played other sports. 58% of the female footballers questioned said they had overcome a lack of self-confidence as a result of playing football, compared with 51% of girls who play other sports. Don’t miss an issue! Download the UEFA have launched the Together #WePlayStrong campaign, latest magazine and our back which aims to make football the number one participation sport catalogue at issuu for girls and women in Europe by 2022. www.issuu.com More info: www.birmingham.ac.uk/news familiesonline.co.uk To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: [email protected] 3 Education Ed’s Reading Room Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my Spring book selection for you to enjoy. Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free book review website for primary children in homes and schools. See these reviews, download the specially written reading activities for these books and buy the books online at www.EdontheWeb.com. Check out Ed’s tweets: @kidsbookreviews – and have fun reading! FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS Oscar and the Catastrophe by Alan MacDonald (Egmont £5.99) ED SAYS: ‘‘Meet Oscar the dog and his boy Sam. Sam has a secret known only to the two of them but he will let you into it. Oscar can speak! When they hear they have a new neighbour they are intrigued to know who it might be. Last Minute! Oscar is horrified that Mrs Bentley-Wallop has arrived with a large white cat. However Sam is more worried about the jewel Simple World Book thief in town. Oscar and Sam decide to become detectives but this proves more difficult than they thought. Will they be able Day Costumes to sniff out the culprit and solve the mystery?” With World Book Day on 7 March, you The Travels of Ermine: Trouble in New York by may not have the time, energy, funds or Jennifer Gray (Usborne £5.99) ED SAYS: “Ermine is so excited inclination to provide a glitzy costume to be in New York with its high-rise buildings, yellow taxis and for your child to wear to school. So Central Park Zoo. She is thrilled to be with Michael S here is Families list of book-related Megabucks’s son on his birthday, particularly to be visiting the characters that require minimal zoo. This is going to be a really exciting day! But meanwhile accessories and that might work for Ermine’s suitcase is switched and she discovers some robbers your child this year: are pursuing her. This trip is quickly turning into more of an adventure than Ermine had bargained for! And is there really a reward at the end of this amazing trip?”midnight Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff feast in time?” Kinney White shirt, black short and black FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS backpack. The Legend of Kevin by Philip Reeve & Sarah Charlie Bucket from Charlie and (Oxford £8.99) ED SAYS: “Kevin is a flying pony. One the Chocolate Factory by Roald McIntyre night in a raging storm he is blown onto the balcony of Max’s Dahl Trousers, white top and yellow jacket flat.