Primary Times Oxfordshire May 16
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What’s On Where for families and schools<br />
www.primarytimes.net<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
Parenting • Education • Days Out • News & Reviews<br />
MAY HALF TERM №101<br />
<strong>16</strong> <strong>May</strong> – 3 July 20<strong>16</strong>
Dear Reader<br />
Welcome to our <strong>May</strong> Half Term issue.<br />
With the weather hotting up and <strong>May</strong> half term looming we are<br />
delighted to offer you lots of wonderful activities and events to keep<br />
your children busy over the coming weeks and during the holiday<br />
week. Many of our WOW listings are either free or very low cost.<br />
Now is a great time to start planning for the half term and long<br />
summer holidays – for working parents the summer holidays need to<br />
be meticulously planned. We offer a number of options to help with<br />
those plans in School Holiday Camps and Activities feature.<br />
We also tackle the debate concerning the current state of the health<br />
of the average UK family and introduce downloadable activities from<br />
Tesco where you and your children can have fun learning about food.<br />
Regular features in this issue also include Box Office – lots of family<br />
favourites to choose from. Competitions in this issue include a family<br />
ticket worth £600 to Vitality SportFest 20<strong>16</strong> and to family Sunday at<br />
Henley Festival – see page 21 for further details.<br />
We hope you enjoy this issue and if you have any news to celebrate,<br />
children to praise or school events to include in our Summer issue,<br />
please email marion@schoolspublishing.co.uk by 10th June.<br />
Best wishes<br />
Marion, Marie, Carol & Charlotte<br />
Contents<br />
Inside this issue...<br />
Calling all<br />
families<br />
and teachers!<br />
Remember to send in<br />
your news for our news<br />
pages – we would love<br />
to hear from you!<br />
Don’t forget<br />
to visit us<br />
online at<br />
www.primarytimes.net<br />
/oxfordshire<br />
4 News & Views<br />
6 WOW<br />
8 Schools Holiday Camps<br />
& Activities<br />
18 Bookstore<br />
20 Box Office<br />
21 Competitions<br />
contents<br />
The <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Team<br />
Editor:<br />
Marion McAdam<br />
marion@schoolspublishing.co.uk<br />
Sales:<br />
Marie McArthur<br />
ptoxon@schoolspublishing.co.uk<br />
TEL: 01491 411848<br />
Production:<br />
Carol George<br />
production@schoolspublishing.co.uk<br />
Design:<br />
Charlotte Morgan<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> in <strong>Oxfordshire</strong>,<br />
Schools Publishing Limited,<br />
St James’s House, 118 Greys Road,<br />
Henley on Thames, Oxon, RG9 1QW.<br />
TEL: 01491 411848<br />
FAX: 01491 4114<strong>16</strong><br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire<br />
...the UK’s biggest,<br />
free ‘what’s on’<br />
magazine for parents!<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> in<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong> distributes<br />
over 40,00 copies<br />
seven times a year, and is<br />
part of a national network<br />
distributing more than 2.7<br />
million copies in 61 regions<br />
across the UK and Ireland.<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> is independently published and distributed free through national primary schools in <strong>Oxfordshire</strong>. It aims<br />
to inform families and children about current educational issues, forthcoming events, courses, attractions and to give<br />
teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity to participate in the magazine by adding to its contents or by joining in<br />
the competitions. It is NOT our intention to publish any racist, sexist or politically based material whatsoever. We also<br />
undertake not to carry any advertising which we would consider to be offensive to young families or harmful to the<br />
best interests of young children. <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> would like to thank all the schools in <strong>Oxfordshire</strong> for their assistance in<br />
distributing the magazine and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the advertisers who<br />
have supported this publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when and where you<br />
can. The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains with <strong>Primary</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong> or with the relevant contributor. <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> is currently publishing over two million copies per issue under<br />
franchise licences throughout Britain.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 3
news & views<br />
News & Views<br />
Do you have news that might interest other parents or teachers? We’d love to hear about it!<br />
Email marion@schoolspublishing.co.uk<br />
Saturday 4th June 20<strong>16</strong> –<br />
Rainbow Run in Oxford<br />
Take Part in Oxford’s third Rainbow Run at<br />
Cutteslowe Park at 11am to raise money for Helen &<br />
Douglas House. This 3km fun run, where you will<br />
be showered with powder paint from head to toe<br />
and all colours of the rainbow, is suitable for all<br />
ages, individuals and families. Entry fees are £12 for<br />
children 13 and under and £17.50 for anyone aged<br />
over 14. Places are limited so sign up today by<br />
emailing www.hdh.org.uk<br />
More than 90 per cent get<br />
first choice primary school<br />
More than 91 per cent (91.51) of <strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
children due to start primary school in September<br />
have been offered a place at their first-preference<br />
school.<br />
The figure is up by 3.47 percentage points<br />
compared with 2015 and means the county<br />
council’s admissions team has once again been<br />
able to grant the wishes of the overwhelming<br />
majority of families.<br />
In total 98.05 per cent of families have been<br />
offered a place at one of their preferred schools,<br />
with just 148 out of 7,600 (1.93 per cent) offered a<br />
place at their nearest alternative school.<br />
Any family which has not received a firstpreference<br />
offer has the option to appeal, and<br />
also to remain on ‘continued interest’ lists for their<br />
preferred school, in the event that spaces become<br />
available between now and September.<br />
Youngsters feel<br />
the Samba beat<br />
SEEDS FROM SPACE!<br />
Chadlington <strong>Primary</strong> School were thrilled to take<br />
part in the RHS Rocket Science Experiment which<br />
started in mid April and is one of many innovative<br />
projects the school is involved with. Rocket seeds<br />
from RHS Wisley were launched into space last year<br />
from Kazakhstan and have spent many months on<br />
Astronaut Inspires at<br />
Abingdon School<br />
Have you ever wanted to hear first-hand what<br />
it’s like to survive a collision in space or to<br />
repair the Hubble Telescope whilst orbiting the<br />
Earth? Michael Foale, former NASA astronaut<br />
and the first UK born citizen to perform a<br />
spacewalk, answered these and other questions<br />
in conversation with Oxford University physicist<br />
Frank Close, OBE at Abingdon School. The<br />
event, which was organised by Abingdon<br />
School and ISSET, the International Space School<br />
Educational Trust, thrilled the audience of all<br />
age groups. Prior to the evening event, the<br />
Abingdon Science Partnership, which promotes<br />
science in the local community, had arranged<br />
for Michael to speak to pupils from local schools<br />
including Fitzharrys and Larkmead about his<br />
experience and to give advice about careers in<br />
space.<br />
British-American astrophysicist Michael<br />
Foale, PhD, CBE, is a veteran of six Space Shuttle<br />
missions and extended missions on both Mir<br />
The sounds of the Brazilian carnival echoed<br />
around Sibford School in <strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
recently when pupils in Years 5 & 6<br />
demonstrated their newly-found skills as<br />
Sambistas.<br />
Cyro Zuzi, of London-based Bish Bash Bosh,<br />
conducted two workshops demonstrating the<br />
art of samba reggae, a style of samba from<br />
the north-east of Brazil.<br />
The youngsters then put their new art to<br />
the test by performing a short concert.<br />
Rachel Bee, Junior School Music Teacher,<br />
said: “Not only were the workshops great<br />
fun but they were also excellent for coordination,<br />
watching and listening skills and<br />
encouraging team work … each individual<br />
instrument plays a simple rhythm but their<br />
combined sound was terrific.”<br />
board the International Space Station at zero<br />
gravity with Major Tim Peake. Once the cargo<br />
arrived back on Earth, the pupils of Chadlington<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> School were given one hundred precious<br />
seeds in two packets, one blue and one red -<br />
nobody knows which have been in space! The<br />
whole idea of the experiment is to see whether<br />
being in space at zero gravity or even the G-force<br />
from the launch and journey will affect the<br />
growth of the Rocket. The pupils of Mrs Gardner<br />
in Dragons class have already made some<br />
exciting predictions for BBC Oxford and will<br />
spend the next six weeks diligently turning the<br />
trays, watering the seedlings and taking<br />
measurements. Their findings will be put into a<br />
national database together with other schools<br />
and Tim Peake will announce which seed packet<br />
will have been to space - blue or red! The seed<br />
trays and equipment were kindly donated by<br />
Chadlington Kitchen Garden.<br />
and the International Space Station. He holds<br />
the cumulative-time-in-space record for a UK<br />
born citizen, 374 days, 11 hours, 19 minutes<br />
including four space walks totalling 22 hours<br />
and 44 minutes.<br />
9th July – Save the Date<br />
Back by popular demand, the Benson Village<br />
Summer Fayre will be held on Saturday<br />
9th July 20<strong>16</strong> from 12 – 3.00pm, on the<br />
playing fields, Oxford Road, OX10 6LX.<br />
Free entertainment, games, local crafters,<br />
inflatable obstacle course and bouncy<br />
castle, sports challenges, local butcher<br />
BBQ, licensed bar, ice cream, popcorn<br />
and the Roke and Benson Band. For more<br />
information www.bensonfayre.org.uk<br />
and finally…<br />
We received a lovely joke that was slightly<br />
too long to include in Loopy Library but<br />
thought it was so good that we wanted to<br />
share it with you anyway!<br />
KNOCK, KNOCK<br />
Who’s there?<br />
Cowsgo<br />
Cowsgo who?<br />
No they don’t, cowsgo MOO!<br />
Kindly submitted by Daisy, aged 7,<br />
from Abingdon.<br />
4<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
Love Your Clothes by Knowing<br />
Your Care Labels #InsideOut<br />
Discovering your clothes have shrunk in the wash is something we<br />
can all relate to. According to the Love Your Clothes campaign,<br />
31% of us are no longer wearing clothes from our wardrobes<br />
because we’ve washed, dried or ironed them incorrectly.<br />
In fact, 39 million items of clothes have not been worn in the past<br />
year because we’ve not followed the care label.<br />
Only 9% of UK adults can identify more than half of the<br />
25 common care symbols that regularly appear on the labels<br />
in our clothes.<br />
To help people get to know their labels, Love Your Clothes has<br />
teamed up with leading fabric care brand Ariel. Test what you<br />
know by visiting www.loveyourclothes.org.uk/care-labels and<br />
taking their quick three minute challenge. You can also download<br />
a FREE arty care labels guide poster to frame and hang in your<br />
laundry room.<br />
While the symbols on care labels might look like secret coding,<br />
they’re actually the key to making our clothes last longer. Following<br />
them prevents clothes from being thrown away and potentially<br />
heading to landfill.<br />
Love Your Clothes encourages us all to change the way we buy,<br />
care for and dispose of our clothing to help reduce the impact of<br />
clothing on the environment. Visit www.loveyourclothes.org.uk<br />
for tips and advice on how to get the best out of your clothes.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 5
what’s on where<br />
9-2-3 Jobs is a boutique<br />
recruitment agency specialising<br />
in flexible work. Their<br />
candidates include mums<br />
returning to work following a<br />
career break as well as others<br />
simply seeking a better worklife<br />
balance. Founded by an<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong> mum-of-3, they’re<br />
always open to new candidates<br />
as well as businesses looking to<br />
tap into this highly skilled pool<br />
of talent! www.923jobs.com<br />
Helen@923jobs.com<br />
Tower Crafts<br />
Tower Crafts have released<br />
a new range of sun hats<br />
hand made in carefully<br />
selected fabrics. They<br />
are available with school<br />
gingham and designed to<br />
complement the school<br />
uniform with style. It’s hard<br />
not to look cute in these<br />
hats, there are more details<br />
on the facebook page:<br />
www.facebook.com/<br />
TowerCrafts.<br />
WOW!<br />
What’s on where...<br />
We check listings carefully but event<br />
details and prices may be subject to change.<br />
Please always check with the venue.<br />
21 <strong>May</strong><br />
Swishwiffling Storytelling<br />
Workshop<br />
Join us to learn terrific storytelling techniques<br />
at this dyslexia-friendly event. In groups,<br />
we’ll devise a silly story using pictures and<br />
props, and end with a performance. Booking<br />
essential. Sessions at 12 & 2pm. Suitable for<br />
ages 6+. Cost £3 per person. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
A Strings Celebration<br />
String players from schools across<br />
Northamptonshire and Stowe join in a<br />
massed celebration of string music and<br />
performance in a collaboration event<br />
between Stowe School and Northamptonshire<br />
Music and Performing Arts Trust. A celebration<br />
concert rounds off a day of fun-filled music<br />
workshops for pupils. Cost £3. T: 01280<br />
818002 www.stowehouse.org Stowe<br />
House, MK18 5EH<br />
Family Day<br />
For children with a disability, their family and<br />
friends. 10am-3.30pm. Booking essential.<br />
T: 01844 338380 www.thomley.org.uk<br />
Thomley, HP18 9JZ<br />
Science Saturday<br />
Investigate real natural history specimens<br />
with real live scientists. Suitable for ages 8+.<br />
2-4pm. T: 01865 272950<br />
www.oum.ox.ac.uk Museum of Natural<br />
History, OX1 3PW<br />
Riverside Stomp<br />
A fantastic walking challenge along the<br />
beautiful Thames Path to raise fund for Helen<br />
and Douglas House. Walkers can stomp<br />
22 miles from Wallingford or 8 miles from<br />
Abingdon, finishing in Oxford. T: 01865<br />
799150 www.hdh.org.uk Helen and Douglas<br />
House, OX4 1RW<br />
22 <strong>May</strong><br />
Wondercrump Word Hunt<br />
The Vicar of Nibbleswicke takes you on a<br />
delightful trail. Head around the galleries and<br />
have some fun with word play. 11am-5pm. Free<br />
with admission. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Steam Train Rides<br />
Ride behind a full-size steam engine.<br />
T: 01296 655720 www.bucksrailcentre.org<br />
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, HP22 4BY<br />
28 <strong>May</strong><br />
Trunchpots<br />
Listen to hilariously terrifying descriptions<br />
of Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress we<br />
love to hate. Then get your own back in this<br />
wondercrump pottery class by making your own<br />
pot in the shape of Miss Trunchbull. Booking<br />
essential. Sessions at 11.30am, 12.30, 2 & 3pm.<br />
Suitable for ages 5+. Cost £3 per person.<br />
T: 01494 892192 www.roalddahl.com The<br />
Roald Dahl Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
History and Nature Ride<br />
Discover the local history and the lineside flora<br />
and fauna in an hour-long railcar trip. Up to 2<br />
accompanied children can travel for a pound.<br />
T: 01844 353535 www.chinnorrailway.co.uk<br />
Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, OX39 4ER<br />
Quiet Day<br />
For children with a disability, their family<br />
and friends. Spaces limited to 35 so booking<br />
essential. T: 01844 338380<br />
www.thomley.org.uk Thomley, HP18 9JZ<br />
Science Saturday<br />
Investigate real natural history specimens<br />
with real live scientists. Suitable for ages 8+.<br />
2-4pm. T: 01865 272950 www.oum.ox.ac.uk<br />
Museum of Natural History, OX1 3PW<br />
Craft Activity<br />
Drop in hands-on craft activities for ages 5<br />
to 7 years. 11am-1pm. Free event, donations<br />
welcome. T: 01494 792549<br />
www.cheshammuseum.org.uk<br />
Chesham Museum, HP5 1HG<br />
28 – 29 <strong>May</strong><br />
Common People<br />
A family friendly festival organised by<br />
the makers of Bestival. From pop stars to<br />
underground legends, theatre and spoken word<br />
to our the Kids Area and some special Oxford<br />
touches. Tickets available for individual days or<br />
whole weekend. www.commonpeople.net<br />
South Park, 75 Hill Top Road, Oxford, OX4<br />
28 – 30 <strong>May</strong><br />
Food Festival<br />
This year’s enhanced festival will feature more<br />
demonstrations, more local producers and more<br />
tastings, with a fantastic range of food, drink and<br />
activities for the whole family to enjoy. There<br />
will also be children’s entertainment such as a<br />
6<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
oaming storyteller, garden games, face painting<br />
and vintage rides. 10am-5pm. T: 01993 810 518<br />
www.blenheimpalace.com Blenheim Palace,<br />
OX20 1PP<br />
Gala Days<br />
Diesel Gala and Real Ale Festival. T: 01235<br />
817200 www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk<br />
Didcot Railway Centre, OX11 7NJ<br />
28 <strong>May</strong> – 5 June<br />
Moulding Madness<br />
Kids can learn all about conservation in a<br />
new way. Help to restore Hughenden’s library<br />
ceiling by creating new plaster mouldings from<br />
plaster of paris and decorate them gothic style.<br />
10am-3pm. Cost £3 per child. Normal admission<br />
applies. T: 01494 755573<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden<br />
HP14 4LA<br />
Gnometastic<br />
Hunt the naughty gnomes around the Gardens<br />
and collect a prize when you have found them<br />
all. Cost £2 per child. T: 01844 339226<br />
www.waterperrygardens.co.uk Waterperry<br />
Gardens, Nr Wheatley, OX33 1JZ<br />
Dig for Victory Trail<br />
Explore the gardens and learn more about the<br />
dig for victory campaign. See what has been<br />
planted to keep the nation fed this year then<br />
collect your prize. Cost £2 per trail. Normal<br />
admission charges apply. T: 0844 249 1895<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Upton House and<br />
Gardens, OX15 6HT<br />
John Lawson’s Circus<br />
The circus is back in town with an entirely human<br />
cast, new acts and routines. Performances daily<br />
at 11am, 1 & 3pm. Tickets £6.99 per person.<br />
T: 01865 391311 www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
Millets Farm Centre, Kingston Road, Frilford, Nr<br />
Abingdon, OX13 5HB<br />
Make and Take<br />
A week of craft activities inspired by the<br />
collections at Stowe House. T: 01280 818002<br />
www.stowehouse.org Stowe House, MK18 5EH<br />
Family Trail<br />
Can you collect like a Stowe owner? Try this<br />
self led trail and follow the clues to discover its<br />
unique collections. T: 01280 818002<br />
www.stowehouse.org Stowe House, MK18 5EH<br />
29 <strong>May</strong><br />
Crackling Chalkboards<br />
Listen to Matilda’s revenge on Miss Trunchbull<br />
from the dramatic scene from the story. Then<br />
take yourself back to Miss Honey’s classroom<br />
and decorate your very own chalkboard.<br />
Booking essential. Sessions at 11.30am, 12.30, 2<br />
& 3pm. Suitable for ages 6+. Cost £3 per person.<br />
T: 01494 892192 www.roalddahl.com<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum, 81-83 High St, Great<br />
Missenden, Buckinghamshire HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
29 – 30 <strong>May</strong><br />
Roman Gladiators<br />
Watch provincial gladiators in action as a team<br />
of criminals, barbarians and other prisoners of<br />
war, disgraced soldiers and thrill seekers fight<br />
for the entertainment of the crowds and the<br />
Emperor. T: 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk<br />
Chiltern Open Air Museum, HP8 4AB<br />
Beattie Bash<br />
Come and see two sister locomotives running<br />
together for the first time in several years.<br />
T: 01296 655720 www.bucksrailcentre.org<br />
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, HP22 4BY<br />
29 <strong>May</strong> – 3 June<br />
Reptile Week<br />
Learn more about reptiles and insects close-up<br />
with reptile expert Safari Stu. Stu will provide<br />
an educational and fun experience in which<br />
visitors will be able to learn about, see and<br />
even hold a variety of animals, including: a<br />
chameleon, snakes, lizards, tarantulas and<br />
stick insects. All included in the admission<br />
price. 10am-5pm. T: 01525 852954<br />
www.meadopenfarm.co.uk Mead Open<br />
Farm, LU7 9JH<br />
30 <strong>May</strong><br />
Bogtrotter Money Banks<br />
Listen to storytelling from the crackling<br />
chapter in Matilda, in which Miss Trunchbull<br />
makes Bruce Bogtrotter eat an entire cake.<br />
Then decorate a yummy-looking money<br />
bank with ceramic paints, so you can save<br />
your pennies for your own enormous cake.<br />
Sessions at 11am, 12, 1, 2, 3 & 4pm. Suitable<br />
for ages 6+. Cost £3.50 per person. T: 01494<br />
892192 www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Bank Holiday Monday Open Day<br />
A Rural Life Museum with many exhibits<br />
relating to farming and country life. www.<br />
pitstonemuseum.co.uk Pitstone Green<br />
Museum, LU7 9EY<br />
Meet the Beekeepers<br />
Meet the Hughenden beekeepers and learn<br />
all about the fascinating honey giving<br />
creatures. There is also a bee themed trail<br />
for the kids to follow. 11am-4pm. Free with<br />
admission. T: 01494 755573<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden<br />
Hughenden Manor, HP14 4LA<br />
Community Day: Half Term Fun<br />
For all children with or without a disability.<br />
10am-3.30pm. Booking essential. T: 01844<br />
338380 www.thomley.org.uk Thomley,<br />
HP18 9JZ<br />
Up, Up and Away!<br />
Find out more about the Oxford pastry chef<br />
and inventor who was the first Englishman<br />
to fly a Hot Air Balloon. See a relic from the<br />
Balloon Mania of the Georgian period in the<br />
collection and gave a go at crafting your very<br />
own balloon. Free drop in 10.30am-3.30pm.<br />
T: 01865 252334 www.oxford.gov.uk<br />
Museum of Oxford, OX1 1BX<br />
Tuckers’ Feast Day with Whitney<br />
Music Festival<br />
Join this traditional Witney feast held to<br />
celebrate the master weavers of the local<br />
blanket factories. A family fun day with the<br />
Witney Music Festival, showcasing the best<br />
local talent and beyond.11am-5pm. T: 01993<br />
772602 www.cogges.org.uk Cogges Manor<br />
Farm, OX28 3LA<br />
Bank Holiday Monday<br />
Free vintage bus rides to Witney. Buses<br />
depart 11.30am then every hour until<br />
3.30pm. T: 01993 883 617<br />
www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk<br />
Oxford Bus Museum, Hanborough Railway<br />
StationOX29 8LA<br />
30 <strong>May</strong> – 5 June<br />
Half Term Activities<br />
Activities including gallery trails, word<br />
searches, drawing and colouring and hands-on<br />
instruments. 2-5pm. T: 01865 276139<br />
www.bate.ox.ac.uk The Bate Collection of<br />
Musical Instruments OX1 1DB<br />
what’s on where<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 7
school holiday<br />
camps & activities<br />
Karting thrills<br />
Specialising in unique indoor<br />
birthday parties and operating<br />
from 30 indoor venues across<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong> Go-Kart Party is<br />
completely safe for children<br />
between four and ten years of<br />
age. The track has an inflatable<br />
boundary so children are<br />
surrounded by a cushion of air.<br />
The speed of the karts is set<br />
according to the age and ability of<br />
the children, they have a remote<br />
control cut off system controlled<br />
by the operator and there are<br />
party programmes for each<br />
different age group. The party<br />
lasts between one and one and a<br />
half hours and can accommodate<br />
up to 30 children. Children’s<br />
driving skills improve over the<br />
duration of the party as they get<br />
different challenges to complete.<br />
For further information, call Julio<br />
on 07841 053154, 01865<br />
775653 or visit:<br />
www.gokart-party.co.uk<br />
Ignite Sport<br />
UK<br />
Our School Holiday Sports<br />
Courses have been running<br />
for <strong>16</strong> years! Our coaching<br />
team hold an enhanced DBS<br />
& are trained in first aid &<br />
safeguarding.<br />
Children aged 4-12 can enjoy<br />
learning new skills, making new<br />
friends, developing techniques<br />
and playing fun games and<br />
matches in a safe environment.<br />
www.ignitesportuk.com<br />
Abingdon Gym<br />
Club Fun Days<br />
Come and check us out!<br />
Abingdon Gym Club in<br />
Berinsfield hosts Fun Days 3<br />
days a week over <strong>May</strong> half term<br />
and August. The Fun Days<br />
involve games and gymnastic<br />
activities in our large facility<br />
for children aged 5 and up.<br />
Children need to bring lunch and<br />
drinks and the day runs 10am<br />
-4pm costing £27.50 with multi<br />
booking discounts. Ideal for<br />
children new to gymnastics or<br />
wanting to stay active. Half term<br />
dates are: 31st <strong>May</strong>; 1st June and<br />
2nd June. Please book through<br />
reception from 25th April for half<br />
term dates and from 27th June<br />
for August dates.<br />
01865 340992<br />
www.abingdongymclub.co.uk<br />
8<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
GO BEANIES<br />
SUMMER HOLIDAY<br />
CAMPS (BEALE<br />
PARK & HENLEY)<br />
Go Beanies is an activity day<br />
camp with something for every<br />
5-12 year old with more than 100<br />
fun-filled activities to keep your<br />
child entertained all holiday, they<br />
have designed an exciting range<br />
of activities aimed at developing<br />
your child’s confidence through<br />
the creative arts, sports & play.<br />
Visit www.gobeanies.org or call<br />
01189 84<strong>16</strong>84. Open weekdays<br />
from 25th July to 2nd September.<br />
ANDY TAYLOR<br />
GOLF<br />
Andy Taylor Golf provides a fun,<br />
safe learning environment for<br />
young people to experience and<br />
develop golf. The use of games<br />
ensures that while children put<br />
into practice technical skills,<br />
they are not weighed down with<br />
technique only. Coaching is ideal<br />
for children at various ages,<br />
players are grouped according<br />
to where they are in their own<br />
golfing and personal journey.<br />
We have a proven track record<br />
of developing young people from<br />
beginners to National squad<br />
players.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 9
school holiday<br />
camps & activities<br />
Fairplay<br />
Tennis<br />
Come And Enjoy Fun<br />
Holiday Tennis in Oxford.<br />
Ages 7-15yrs, <strong>Times</strong> 08:30/45<br />
to 1pm Monday to Friday on dates<br />
advertised. Develop stronger<br />
technique, understand and<br />
improve your tactical game, enjoy<br />
fun competitions. Win trophies,<br />
medals and prizes. Download a<br />
camp flyer to book your place<br />
now! www.fairplaytennis.com<br />
Or contact the coach Seth Dixon<br />
direct on 07793 747372 LTA<br />
(licensed). USPTA/RPT qualified.<br />
The Soldiers of<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
Museum<br />
The Soldiers of <strong>Oxfordshire</strong> –<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong>’s newest child-friendly<br />
museum – is expanding its ever<br />
popular Kids Club to include a<br />
day-camp on Friday 3rd June for<br />
boys and girls aged 6-9 years.<br />
Our Half Term theme is ‘All over<br />
the world!’ full of games, crafts<br />
and technical challenges with<br />
an international flavour. If you’ve<br />
never been to us before, this is the<br />
perfect opportunity for your child<br />
to enjoy a fun-packed, educational<br />
day in a modern museum in<br />
the beautiful surroundings of<br />
Woodstock. Six hours at our Kids<br />
Club day-camp costs only £30 per<br />
child. Places are limited, so please<br />
book ahead on 01993 810211 or<br />
email education@sofo.org.uk We<br />
look forward to seeing you soon!<br />
A wild learning<br />
experience<br />
If you’re looking for somewhere<br />
different to take the family, or<br />
perhaps you’re a teacher looking<br />
to inspire your class – look no<br />
further than Crocodiles of the<br />
World in Brize Norton. Crocodiles<br />
can teach us so much about the<br />
world; they have been around for<br />
a very long time after all! Here at<br />
the UK’s only Crocodile Zoo we’re<br />
dedicated to crocodile conservation<br />
and passionate about<br />
sharing our knowledge<br />
with you. So snap up<br />
this unique opportunity<br />
to see, touch and<br />
learn about crocodiles<br />
in a fun, safe and stimulating<br />
environment.Crocodiles of the<br />
World is open daily, 10am-5pm<br />
www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk<br />
10<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
Active<br />
Education<br />
Busy working parents can heave<br />
a sigh of relief as Ultimate Activity<br />
Camps are running their outstanding<br />
holiday activity programmes in the<br />
area for children aged 4-14 years!<br />
With over 25 years’ experience of<br />
running first-class holiday camps,<br />
Ultimate Activity Camps offer the<br />
opportunity for children to have<br />
fun, meet friends and learn new<br />
skills during the school holidays.<br />
To start your child’s holiday<br />
adventure, visit their website;<br />
www.ultimateactivity.co.uk<br />
which explains everything about<br />
their locations, dates, activities<br />
and special offers or call them on:<br />
0844 870 7077.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 11
school holiday camps & activities<br />
Healthy Family<br />
(In association with Public Health England)<br />
Dr Justin Varney,<br />
Interim Deputy<br />
Director for Health<br />
and Wellbeing<br />
(Healthy People)<br />
from Public Health<br />
England, gives us<br />
an insight into the<br />
current state of the health of<br />
the average UK family.<br />
The state of the<br />
nation’s health<br />
Obesity, poor diet and physical<br />
activity are three of the biggest<br />
problems to affect the health of<br />
families in England. They are<br />
directly responsible for many of<br />
the preventable conditions such as<br />
type two diabetes, heart disease,<br />
stroke and kidney disease that are<br />
impacting on people’s lives and<br />
causing early death.<br />
Around 40% of ill health in this<br />
country could be prevented by<br />
people leading a healthy lifestyle,<br />
including eating a balanced diet<br />
and being regularly active to<br />
improve the quality and length of<br />
our lives. We know that choices<br />
made about diet and exercise at<br />
every age can make a difference<br />
to health in both the short and<br />
long term. Fundamentally it’s<br />
never too late to make a change.<br />
Supporting individuals and<br />
families to make a healthy choice<br />
is at the heart of Public Health<br />
England’s (PHE) mission.<br />
Obesity<br />
Obesity and being overweight<br />
is a complex problem and is<br />
one of the biggest health issues<br />
facing families in England today.<br />
People rarely become overweight<br />
overnight; obesity is the result of<br />
bad choices made repeatedly over<br />
time, the extra sugar cube in the<br />
daily cup of tea, the treat cakes<br />
that become everyday habits, the<br />
sugary drink that undoes all the<br />
hard work from the swimming<br />
pool, the sofa day that becomes<br />
supper in front of the TV every<br />
night. These everyday habits can<br />
lead to piling on the pounds and<br />
it’s this gradual weight gain that<br />
makes it so hard for families and<br />
parents particularly to step in<br />
early. There is no single ‘silver<br />
bullet’ solution to tackling obesity.<br />
Today 1 in 4 people in England<br />
are obese and over a third (37%)<br />
are overweight. We know that<br />
almost one in ten 4-5 year olds<br />
are obese (9.5%) and by age<br />
10-11 this doubles to nearly one<br />
in five (19.1%). Obese children<br />
are more likely to experience<br />
bullying, low self-esteem, anxiety,<br />
depression and have a higher risk<br />
of developing type 2 diabetes and<br />
heart disease as adults.<br />
Many of us who struggle<br />
with weight issues know that<br />
getting back to a healthy weight<br />
is a journey that takes time and<br />
continued support from family and<br />
friends. Families working together<br />
to make healthier choices is a<br />
great way to help anyone deal<br />
with weight issues, whatever their<br />
age, and make it fun and part of<br />
everyday life.<br />
Simple steps to improve the<br />
family diet and get everyone more<br />
active every day will help the<br />
whole family achieve and maintain<br />
a healthy weight.<br />
Diet<br />
Tackling our high sugar<br />
consumption is an area of<br />
particular focus for PHE. The<br />
Scientific Advisory Committee on<br />
Nutrition (SACN), an independent<br />
expert body, has looked at the<br />
link between sugar consumption<br />
and a range of health issues,<br />
and found that too much sugar<br />
is detrimental for health. It now<br />
recommends that no more than<br />
5% of our daily calories should<br />
come from sugar, down from the<br />
previous recommendation of 10%.<br />
The government has adopted<br />
this as official dietary guidance<br />
which now means adults are<br />
now consuming over double the<br />
amount of sugar, and children<br />
and teenagers almost three times<br />
as much.<br />
The latest statistics from the<br />
National Diet and Nutrition<br />
Survey (NDNS) showed that<br />
sugary drinks are the largest<br />
contributor to sugar intake in<br />
teenagers. Twenty nine percent<br />
of the sugar in teenagers’ diets<br />
comes from sugary drinks (<strong>16</strong>%<br />
for younger children 4 to 10<br />
years), one in three five-year olds<br />
have tooth decay.<br />
Parents and carers can help<br />
their children achieve and<br />
maintain a healthier weight by<br />
following a balanced diet as<br />
shown in the eat well plate,<br />
choosing ‘me sized’ meals,<br />
avoiding sugary drinks and snacks<br />
high in sugar, salt or fat. Too<br />
much fat or sugar contributes<br />
towards excess calorie intake,<br />
which overtime can lead to<br />
weight gain.<br />
12<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
Physical Activity<br />
As well as helping to maintain a<br />
healthier weight, being physically<br />
active encourages healthy<br />
development of bones and muscles,<br />
it improves concentration and<br />
learning, develops confidence<br />
and improves sleep. But most<br />
importantly it makes you feel good<br />
and is fun!<br />
In 2011, the UK Chief Medical<br />
Officers launched guidelines for<br />
physical activity, Start Active, Stay<br />
Active. These outline the quantity<br />
and types of physical activity<br />
necessary for good health at<br />
different ages.<br />
These guidelines encourage<br />
physical activity from birth,<br />
particularly through floor-based play<br />
and water-based activities in safe<br />
environments. For pre-school aged<br />
children who are capable of walking<br />
unaided, at least 180 minutes<br />
(3 hours) of physical activity is<br />
recommended spread throughout<br />
the day. Anything from running<br />
or skipping to playing with balls<br />
counts, so it is easiest to mix it up.<br />
For children and young people<br />
aged 5-18 years, at least 60<br />
minutes of at least ‘moderate’ to<br />
physical activity (i.e. makes you<br />
breathe faster and feel warmer)<br />
is recommended every day. On at<br />
least three days a week children<br />
should do activities to strengthen<br />
muscles and bone, such as<br />
climbing in the park.<br />
All children and young people<br />
should minimise the amount of<br />
time spent being ‘sedentary’<br />
(sitting or being restrained) for<br />
extended periods, except time<br />
spent sleeping.<br />
The most recent statistics show<br />
that we are far from meeting these<br />
recommendations:<br />
• At ages 2-4 years only<br />
one in ten children meet<br />
the guidelines (boys 9%,<br />
girls 10%). There is a high<br />
proportion of ‘low levels’ of<br />
activity in this age group<br />
• For 5-15 year olds only two<br />
in ten meet the guidelines<br />
(boys 21%, girls <strong>16</strong>%)<br />
• Physical activity is<br />
declining amongst<br />
children and young people;<br />
between 2008 and<br />
2012 the number of boys<br />
achieving the guidance<br />
fell from 28% to 19% and<br />
girls from 19% to <strong>16</strong>%<br />
Sedentary behaviour has been<br />
identified as an area of particular<br />
concern, with around four in<br />
ten children aged 5-15 years<br />
physically inactive (boys 39%,<br />
girls 45%). For all age groups<br />
and sexes, levels of sedentary<br />
time are higher at weekends<br />
compared to weekdays.<br />
• On weekdays, fewer than<br />
1 in 10 children under 10<br />
are sedentary for six hours<br />
or more. The proportion of<br />
children aged 13-15 years<br />
is much higher, at 1 in 4 for<br />
boys and 1 in <strong>16</strong> for girls<br />
• At weekends, there is<br />
a steady increase from<br />
the youngest age group<br />
(around 1 in 10 to the<br />
oldest (43% of boys and<br />
37% of girls)<br />
Sedentary behaviour habits<br />
appear to be formed in early<br />
childhood and develop during<br />
adolescence and into adulthood<br />
with screen time, including TV<br />
and internet viewing the biggest<br />
contributor.<br />
When we talk with families<br />
about becoming more active,<br />
it’s great to see how families<br />
really view this as fun family<br />
time. Whether it’s about walking<br />
the kids to school on the way<br />
to work, or having family time<br />
in the park at the weekend with<br />
a football, going to a local tea<br />
dance with granddad or granny,<br />
being active everyday should<br />
be fun and about spending time<br />
with family and friends.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 13
school holiday<br />
camps & activities<br />
Full Circle<br />
Sports<br />
Make friends, learn new skills and<br />
have fun! Children age 5 to 13<br />
years can participate in indoor and<br />
outdoor activities. For each activity,<br />
children are in small groups<br />
according to age and ability and<br />
led by qualified and enthusiastic<br />
coaches.<br />
Activities include: Trampolining,<br />
Climbing Wall,<br />
Martial Arts,<br />
Cycling, Zumba,<br />
Hockey, Football,<br />
Basketball, Cricket, Rounders,<br />
Tennis, Badminton, Tag Rugby,<br />
Dance Workshops, Arts & Crafts<br />
and much more!<br />
Time: 9.30 to 4.30pm (extra time<br />
of 8.30am to 5.30pm available -<br />
charges apply). Venue: Wallingford<br />
School Leisure Centre (OX10<br />
8HH). £32 per day (sibling and full<br />
week discounts available) OFSTED<br />
registered and Childcare Vouchers<br />
accepted. For more details or to<br />
reserve your places - Email:<br />
sam@fullcirclesports.co.uk or<br />
call: 07751 231 090<br />
www.fullcirclesports.co.uk<br />
14<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
Vine House Studios<br />
Birdland<br />
Make friends with penguins for<br />
Penguin Week this <strong>May</strong> Half Term<br />
at Birdland Park & Gardens, 28<br />
<strong>May</strong> – 5 June. Keepers will be<br />
putting your penguin know-how to<br />
the test with a special quiz, plus<br />
enter the competition to be in with<br />
a chance to feed the penguins.<br />
Discover the colony of King<br />
Penguins and comical Humboldts.<br />
Watch Keepers feed the two<br />
species of Penguins at Birdland<br />
their nutritious fish supper at 11am.<br />
Fairytale Farm<br />
Have a magical time at the rapidly<br />
expanding<br />
Fairytale<br />
Farm near<br />
Chipping<br />
Norton this<br />
half term,<br />
with loads<br />
of new<br />
attractions to see. New animal<br />
arrivals include baby bunnies and<br />
chickens, and a new miniature<br />
goat called Thumbelina. You can<br />
play giant skittles in the picnic<br />
area while mum and dad have a<br />
coffee, and enjoy a whole host of<br />
new interactive features around the<br />
Farm; press the buttons and find<br />
out what happens! Even our famous<br />
Mouse Town has been upgraded<br />
with new lighting and sound. And<br />
parents can take a stroll through<br />
our colourful new Enchanted Walk<br />
gardens.<br />
The Family<br />
Saver Card is<br />
here!<br />
Children eat FREE at your<br />
favourite restaurants. Children go<br />
FREE at your favourite attractions.<br />
Discounted days out and more…<br />
So get set for the school holidays<br />
and the whole year!<br />
Annual membership is £39.97.<br />
Use code PTDIS and get your<br />
card for only £29.97 saving<br />
£10.00<br />
Call free on 0800 6899174<br />
Email info@familysavercard.com<br />
Find out more on<br />
www.familysavercard.com<br />
31 <strong>May</strong><br />
Magical Moments with Korky Paul<br />
Speedy sketching and spell binding storytelling.<br />
Experience an energetic workshop, full of wit,<br />
enthusiasm and lots of audience participation.<br />
Sessions at 11am, 12, 1.30 & 2.30pm. Suitable<br />
for ages 4+. Cost £3 per person. T: 01494<br />
892192 www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Bonanza Block-printing!<br />
Create your own block-prints using a range of<br />
materials.. T: 01491 415600 www.rrm.co.uk<br />
River and Rowing Museum, RG9 1BF<br />
Family Day: Half Term<br />
For children with a disability, their family and<br />
friends. 10am-3.30pm. Booking essential.<br />
T: 01844 338380 www.thomley.org.uk<br />
Thomley, HP18 9JZ<br />
A World Of Trees<br />
Join in with some crafts inspired by the<br />
collection of trees from around the world.<br />
1-4pm. T: 01865 343501<br />
www.harcourt-arboretum.ox.ac.uk<br />
Harcourt Arboretum, OX44 9PX<br />
Super Suitcases<br />
Make a super cardboard suitcase that is just<br />
perfect for teddy’s clothes. Suitable for ages<br />
4+. 2-4pm. Cost £3 per child. T: 01295 753752<br />
www.banburymuseum.org Banbury<br />
Museum, OX<strong>16</strong> 2PQ<br />
Lend a Hand<br />
Activity inspired by Woodstock’s glove making<br />
past. Cost £2 per person. 2-4pm. T: 01993<br />
811456 www.oxfordshire.gov.uk The<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong> Museum, OX20 1SN<br />
Half Term Clay Sculpture<br />
Make a marble run that you can play with for<br />
years to come and maybe even hand on to your<br />
own children and grandchildren. Decorate your<br />
creation with colourful glazes, and it will be<br />
taken away and professionally fired for you to<br />
collect. Tickets £17.50 for 1 adult and 1 child.<br />
Booking essential. Suitable for ages 5-12 years.<br />
T: 01235 515144 www.cornerstone-arts.org<br />
Cornerstone Arts Centre, OX11 7NE<br />
Nick Cope Family Music<br />
Come along for a unique family fun<br />
entertainment music show. Sessions at 1.30 &<br />
3.30pm. Tickets £4 per person. T: 01865 391311<br />
www.milletsfarmcentre.com Millets Farm<br />
Centre, OX13 5HB<br />
Children’s Workshop: Wildlife<br />
Photograph<br />
Bring your digital camera, learn from our<br />
expert and practice your wildlife photography<br />
skills on our fun and photogenic nature reserve.<br />
Best photo of the day will win a prize. Cost<br />
£10 per child. For children aged 7+. 10am-<br />
3pm. Booking essential. T: 01235 862024<br />
www.bbowt.org.uk Sutton Courtenay<br />
Environmental Education Centre, OX14 4TE<br />
Lost and Found Treasure at Stowe<br />
Explore the treasures at Stowe House. Make<br />
your own treasure map and treasure box. Free<br />
sessions but booking essential. 11am-12.30pm.<br />
T: 01280 818002 www.stowehouse.org<br />
Stowe House, MK18 5EH<br />
Billy’s Band Family Concert<br />
Billy takes children on a musical adventure with<br />
help from four members of Billy’s Band - there’s<br />
lots of singing, dancing and even a spot of<br />
conducting for anyone who wants to have a go.<br />
Free with admission. Sessions at 2 & 4pm. T:<br />
01280 818002 www.stowehouse.org Stowe<br />
House, MK18 5EH<br />
31 <strong>May</strong> – 1 June<br />
Ugly Bug Ball<br />
Will you be the weirdest and most wonderful bug<br />
of all? Get dressed up and join us for a dance.<br />
1-4pm. T: 01865 272950 www.oum.ox.ac.uk<br />
Museum of Natural History, OX1 3P<br />
Fit for a Queen<br />
Free kids craft workshop. Help us celebrate<br />
Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday this year by<br />
joining us in our workshop making tiaras, crowns<br />
and mini sceptres of your own. 10.30am-3pm.<br />
T: 01235 523703 www.abingdon.gov.uk<br />
Abingdon County Hall Museum, OX14 3HG<br />
31 <strong>May</strong> – 3 June<br />
Half Term Fun<br />
Drop in activity sessions throughout half term.<br />
10am-2pm. T: 01993 772602<br />
www.cogges.org.uk Cogges Manor Farm,<br />
OX28 3LA<br />
31 <strong>May</strong> – 1 Aug<br />
Round the World Trail<br />
Find out about trees from around the world and<br />
discover what the Arboretum is doing to protect<br />
them. T: 01865 343501<br />
www.harcourt-arboretum.ox.ac.uk<br />
Harcourt Arboretum, OX44 9PX<br />
1 June<br />
Telling Tales with Sandra Agard<br />
Enjoy some stories inspired by themes from<br />
Matilda, including tricks, magic and friendship.<br />
Sessions at 11am, 1 & 3pm. Suitable for<br />
ages 5+. Cost £3 per person. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Wild Wednesday: Kings and<br />
Queens<br />
Take a royal jaunt around the grounds and make<br />
your very own crown. Suitable for ages 4-11<br />
years. Cost £2 per child. 11am-3pm.<br />
T: 0<strong>16</strong>28 605069 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Cliveden, SL6 0JA<br />
Wild Wednesday: Bug Hunt<br />
Uncover Stowe’s hidden world of creepycrawlies.<br />
Borrow a magnifying glass to spy<br />
under logs and see what you can spot. Take<br />
home your own creepy-crawly guide and 50<br />
Things scrapbook. 10.30am-12pm. Free with<br />
admission, booing essential. T: 0844 249 1895<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Stowe Landscape<br />
Gardens, MK18 5EQ<br />
Green Your Garden<br />
Come and celebrate Oxford Festival of Nature<br />
and Low Carbon Oxford Week. Find out how<br />
“green” the Garden is, and how we encourage<br />
biodiversity. Suggested donation £1 for<br />
materials. 11am-1pm. T: 01865 286690<br />
www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk Oxford<br />
Botanic Gardens, OX1 4DU<br />
Fabulous Fossils<br />
Activities include dinosaur and prehistoric<br />
creature mask making and a ‘dig’ where you<br />
can find and keep a fossil. A chance to bring in<br />
your own fossil and mineral finds for an expert<br />
opinion, or simply come along to see and touch<br />
ancient fossils from <strong>Oxfordshire</strong>. Sessions at<br />
11am-12.30pm & 1-3pm. Cost £2.50 per child for<br />
craft activities. T: 01295 753752<br />
www.banburymuseum.org Banbury<br />
Museum, OX<strong>16</strong> 2PQ<br />
what’s on where<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 15
what’s on where<br />
Holidays – learning and laughing<br />
With the long Summer holidays ahead of us, all busy parents face<br />
the dilemma of keeping little ones occupied and if we are lucky,<br />
learning as well. Stagecoach’s <strong>Oxfordshire</strong> centres have the answer!<br />
There are many activity based<br />
child care options, but one which<br />
they are bound to enjoy – and<br />
learn too – is from staging a<br />
performance. Stagecoach runs<br />
holiday programmes throughout<br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong> for a variety of age<br />
groups, from beginners classes;<br />
age 4+ to advanced courses for<br />
seasoned older teens. All are staged under the watchful eye of the<br />
local principal and some even have a professional theatre stage.<br />
These popular courses are a must<br />
for busy mums and will be the<br />
talking point of the holidays. Call<br />
your local Stagecoach now as<br />
places are limited!<br />
www.stagecoach.co.uk<br />
Summer Holiday Shows<br />
Oxford 01869 278600 Senior/<br />
Advanced: Legally Blonde, Junior:<br />
Esmerelda and the Cowardly Dragon<br />
Abingdon 01865 390970 Senior: Flashdance, Junior: Annie Kids<br />
Henley, High Wycombe & Marlow 01494 533203 Advanced:<br />
Razzle, Dazzle, Broadway, Senior: Make a Musical in a Week, Beauty<br />
and the Beast, Junior: Jungle Jive<br />
Thame 01865 763767 Senior: Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr, Junior:<br />
Pirates Versus Mermaids<br />
Banbury 01908 969467 Fame Jr<br />
Photos: Monty Smith<br />
Step lays foundations for future learning<br />
Some of you may remember sitting in a classroom and as the teacher<br />
talked found yourself losing concentration. You scanned the room only<br />
to see your classmates seemingly engrossed in the lesson. Panic set in.<br />
You tried to re-engage with what was being said just as an instruction<br />
was given. You whispered to your friend, “What do I need to do?” and<br />
promptly got told off.<br />
This experience is indicative of someone with processing and working<br />
memory issues. Over time, this can become isolating and stressful, not<br />
to mention affect academic results, confidence and self-esteem. It can<br />
also lead to behavioural problems.<br />
This is where STEP comes in. STEP aims to help children who are<br />
struggling to concentrate or can’t stop fidgeting, to unlock their<br />
academic potential through personalised physical exercises that focus<br />
on balance, eye tracking and coordination. Delivered in an integrated<br />
way, the exercises are designed to enhance the performance of the<br />
cerebellum, the area of the brain responsible for automating tasks, thus<br />
laying the foundation for future learning.<br />
STEP is passionate about helping children who are underachieving and<br />
is actively engaged in discussions with the education sectors in the UK<br />
and US about the role STEP could play in supporting these individuals.<br />
Additionally, STEP has just concluded a 12 month UK Pilot Study to<br />
empirically evidence the impacts it can have. These results can be<br />
found on www.steptoday.com<br />
Woodland Adventure<br />
An expedition for 5-8 year olds. Use your<br />
detective skills to discover our secret destination<br />
where we will explore, build and play. 10am-<br />
12pm. Suggested donation £4 per child. T: 01865<br />
407792 www.earthtrust.org.uk Earth Trust,<br />
OX14 4QZ<br />
Wildlife Wednesday<br />
Explore the reserve, learn about local wildlife<br />
and have lots of outdoor fun. 2-4pm. Suggested<br />
donation £2 per child. T: 01865 407792 www.<br />
earthtrust.org.uk Earth Trust, OX14 3NG<br />
Bath Bombs Away!<br />
Make something amazing for your bath! 2-4pm<br />
Drop-in for ages 5-10 years. Up to 4 kids free<br />
with paying adult. T: 01993 810211<br />
www.sofo.org.uk Soldiers of <strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
Museum, OX20 1SN<br />
1 – 2 June<br />
Meet the Pharaoh<br />
Discover the story of Pharaoh Taharqa and his<br />
life in Ancient Egypt, and make a pop-up shrine<br />
and statue. 1-4pm. T: 01865 278000<br />
www.ashmolean.org The Ashmolean, OX1 2PH<br />
2 June<br />
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish<br />
Find out what you need to be an evil scientist,<br />
what to do if you pet gets zombiefied and how<br />
Mo and her brother once brought back their<br />
goldfish from the brink of death. Sessions at<br />
11.30am, 1 & 3pm. Suitable for ages 4+. Cost £3<br />
per person. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Up, Up and Away!<br />
Find out more about the Oxford pastry chef and<br />
inventor who was the first Englishman to fly<br />
a Hot Air Balloon. See a relic from the Balloon<br />
Mania of the Georgian period in the collection<br />
and gave a go at crafting your very own balloon.<br />
Free drop in 10.30am-3.30pm. T: 01865 252334<br />
www.oxford.gov.uk Museum of Oxford,<br />
OX1 1BX<br />
Explorer Backpacks<br />
Borrow a backpack full of activities and become<br />
a family of museum explorers. 2-4pm. T: 01865<br />
270927 www.prm.ox.ac.uk Pitt Rivers<br />
Museum, OX1 3PP<br />
Amazing Art<br />
Come and be inspired by the ‘British Life’<br />
exhibition and make a very special ‘art in a box’.<br />
Suitable for ages 4+. 2-4pm. Cost £3 per child. T:<br />
01295 753752<br />
www.banburymuseum.org Banbury<br />
Museum, OX<strong>16</strong> 2PQ<br />
Picture Perfect<br />
Look at paintings in the museum collection<br />
then make your own art work to take home.<br />
Cost £2 per person. 2-4pm. T: 01993 811456<br />
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk The <strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
MuseumOX20 1SN<br />
Clowning Workshop<br />
Join award-winning physical comedian<br />
Richard Jones of Electric Cabaret, on an<br />
adventure into playfulness. Blending<br />
them together in a fun workshop, you will<br />
explore silent clowning, comic characters<br />
and a little bit of mime. The workshop<br />
culminates in an onstage ‘sharing’ of the<br />
skills learned. Sessions at 10am-12.30pm<br />
for ages 5-7 years; session at 1.30-4pm for<br />
ages 8-12 years. T: 0<strong>16</strong>08 642350<br />
www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk The<br />
Theatre Chipping Norton OX7 5NL<br />
2 – 3 June<br />
Ahoy There!<br />
Discover early voyages of exploration<br />
with maps, globes, and hands-on navigational<br />
instruments. Suitable for<br />
ages 7+. 1-4pm. T: 01865 277280<br />
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Museum of the<br />
History of Science, OX1 3AZ<br />
3 June<br />
Proghopping Pencil<br />
Boxes<br />
Listen to tales from Miss Honey’s Classroom,<br />
and then decorate a classy wooden pencil<br />
box to be the envy of your school mates.<br />
Sessions at 11am, 12, 1, 2 & 4pm. Suitable<br />
for ages 6+. Cost £3 per person. T: 01494<br />
892192 www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Family Day: Half Term<br />
For children with a disability, their family<br />
and friends. 10am-3.30pm. Booking essential.<br />
T: 01844 338380<br />
www.thomley.org.uk Thomley,<br />
HP18 9JZ<br />
All Over the World<br />
Kids Club day-camp with games, crafts<br />
and technical challenges with an international<br />
flavour. 10am–4pm. Suitable for children aged<br />
6-9 years. Booking essential. T: 01993 810211<br />
www.sofo.org.uk Soldiers of <strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
Museum, OX20 1SN<br />
4 June<br />
Parrot Magnets<br />
Listen to storytelling from Matilda, in which<br />
Matilda tricks her parents by pretending a<br />
parrot up the chimney is making the voice<br />
of a robber! Then create your own colourful<br />
parroty pet to stick on your fridge. Sessions at<br />
12.15, 1.15, 2.15 & 3.15pm. Suitable for ages 6+.<br />
Cost £2 per person. T: 01494 892192 www.<br />
roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl Museum,<br />
HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Community Day: Half Term Fun<br />
For all children with or without a disability.<br />
10am-3.30pm. Booking essential. T: 01844<br />
338380 www.thomley.org.uk Thomley,<br />
HP18 9JZ<br />
Wild Fair<br />
Celebrate Oxford’s biodiversity with crafts,<br />
conservationists and family friendly talks.<br />
In partnership with BBOWT and Festival of<br />
Nature. 10am-4pm. T: 01865 272950<br />
www.oum.ox.ac.uk Museum of Natural<br />
History, OX1 3PW<br />
The Princess and The Frog<br />
Activities<br />
Activity session before the performance<br />
on stage. Sessions at 1 & 3pm. Cost £4 per<br />
child. T: 01295 279002<br />
www.themillartscentre.co.uk<br />
The Mill Arts Centre, OX<strong>16</strong> 5QE<br />
Fun in the Park<br />
Family fun day followed by the evening concert<br />
event, Music in the Park. From 11am. www.<br />
abingdon.gov.uk Abbey Meadows, OX14 3JE<br />
4 – 5 June<br />
Celebrate 60 years of the<br />
National Trust<br />
Find your hair rollers; get practicing the jive<br />
and re-live the 1950s as Claydon celebrates.<br />
Join in celebrations with a live band and family<br />
games on the terrace. 11am-4pm. Free with<br />
<strong>16</strong><br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
what’s on where<br />
Clifton Hampden & Burcot<br />
villages and school fete<br />
4 June 20<strong>16</strong> – 1pm-5pm Clifton Hampden Recreation Ground<br />
Clifton Hampden School will combine with Clifton Hampden & Burcot<br />
villages this year for a Summer Fete. In celebration of the Queen’s 90th<br />
Birthday, there will be a Vintage Britain theme with events, stalls and<br />
competitions representing the different decades of the Queen’s life.<br />
Highlights will include a fancy dress competition; tug of war; bouncy<br />
castle; face painting; retro stalls; children’s events and games and<br />
competitions for all ages. Cakes, plants and bric-a-brac will be available to<br />
purchase together with a great choice of refreshments including a vintage<br />
tea room; beer tent, BBQ, sweets and ice creams. £1 entry for adults,<br />
under <strong>16</strong>s free.<br />
Live music in the evening from Radio Days Big Band and Taylormade, plus<br />
a pig roast and beer tent. 6pm-late. Evening entry: £10 Adults, £5 children<br />
(including food). Tickets available from Clifton Hampden Post Office.<br />
Oxford & Cambridge Singing School,<br />
25-29th July, Merton College, Oxford<br />
The Oxford and Cambridge Singing School is back for another course,<br />
this time at Merton College, Oxford from 25-29th July (inclusive). The<br />
courses are designed for children aged 7-13 who want to learn about<br />
music in a fun and relaxed environment. Our Christmas course was<br />
sold out, so it’s worth booking your place early to avoid disappointment.<br />
Music repertoire changes each course, as the courses focus on a<br />
different composer or theme; this summer we will be featuring music<br />
by ‘the Father of English Music’, Henry Purcell. Children learn about<br />
classical music through whole group singing, music history, music<br />
theory (in the form of games, quizzes etc,) singing lessons in small<br />
groups and much more!<br />
For more information on our courses, or to book a space, please see<br />
www.oxbridgesingingschool.co.uk<br />
admission. T: 01296 730349<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Claydon House,<br />
MK18 2EY<br />
Ferret Madness<br />
Ferret racing, working ferret demonstration and<br />
care workshops. Free with admission. T: 01865<br />
391311 www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
Millets Farm Centre, OX13 5HB<br />
Miniature Traction Engine Rally<br />
A gathering of up to 25 Miniature Engines on<br />
show and parading round the site. There will<br />
be full size train rides as well as the Miniature<br />
Railway. T: 01296 655720<br />
www.bucksrailcentre.org Buckinghamshire<br />
Railway Centre, HP22 4BY<br />
5 June<br />
Miss Honey’s Yoga<br />
Relax your mind with this harmonising<br />
half-hour. Yoga teacher Kimberly will lead you<br />
through some peaceful poses with a Roald<br />
Dahl twist. Sessions at 10.30, 11.30am, 1, 2, 3<br />
& 4pm. Booking recommended. Cost £3 per<br />
person. Suitable for children and adults.<br />
T: 01494 892192 www.roalddahl.com The<br />
Roald Dahl Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Transport Rally<br />
Exhibits include a wide selection of buses,<br />
coaches and commercial vehicles; Miniature<br />
Railway rides and Dakota flypast. Park at<br />
the railway station where there will be free<br />
vintage bus rides to the site. T: 01235 817200<br />
www.didcotrailwaycentre.org Didcot Town<br />
Football Club, OX11 7GA<br />
Summer Birds<br />
Learn about the summer migrating birds you<br />
can see and their habitats. Cost £5 adults, £2<br />
children. Booking essential. 10am-12pm.<br />
T: 01865 407792 www.earthtrust.org.uk<br />
Earth Trust, OX14 3NG<br />
Summer Picnic<br />
Summery activities and foody fun for all the<br />
family. 11am-4pm. Cost £5 adults, £2 children.<br />
T: 01865 407792 www.earthtrust.org.uk<br />
Earth Trust, OX14 4QZ<br />
Open Day<br />
Free vintage bus rides departing at 12.15<br />
& 2.45pm. T: 01993 883 617<br />
www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk<br />
Oxford Bus Museum, OX29 8LA<br />
7 June<br />
Claydon’s Characters<br />
Join members of the Claydon team to discover<br />
more about the characters that helped to<br />
shape Claydon into the house it is today. 10-<br />
11am. Cost £4 per person. Normal admission<br />
charges apply. T: 01296 730349<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Claydon<br />
House, MK18 2EY<br />
9 – 13 June<br />
Gifford’s Circus<br />
The theme of this year’s show is The Painted<br />
Wagon; featuring the Giffords Circus gang:<br />
cowgirl Lilian Konyot, Madame Nancy Trotter-<br />
Landry, rodeo rider Dan Fortt, jugglers Bibi and<br />
Bichu, El Gifford (STILL WANTED) and funny man<br />
Tweedy the clown. A wild west extravaganza<br />
of eye-catching acrobatics and aerialists from<br />
far and distant lands, dancing horses, bounty<br />
hunting, and gold panning all to the beat of<br />
the “Dodge City” Giffords Circus saloon band.<br />
T: 0845 4597469 www.giffordscircus.com<br />
Blenheim Palace, OX20 1PP<br />
10 June<br />
Night Time Safari<br />
Discover what amazing animals come out<br />
at night at Sutton Courtenay Environmental<br />
Education Centre. Learn how to use bat<br />
detectors to hear bats hunting overhead,<br />
lamps to spot newts and frogs in the ponds,<br />
help our nature reserve team check the<br />
small mammal traps and look at moth traps<br />
to see how we monitor and survey these<br />
amazing insects. Suitable for ages 7+.<br />
7.30-10.30pm. Cost £4 donation. Booking<br />
essential. T: 01235 862024<br />
www.bbowt.org.uk Sutton Courtenay<br />
Environmental Education Centre, OX14 4TE<br />
11 June<br />
Village Visit Day<br />
Free museum entry for residents with a HP<br />
postcode. 11am-5pm. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Family Day<br />
For children with a disability, their family<br />
and friends. 10am-3.30pm. Booking<br />
essential. T: 01844 338380<br />
www.thomley.org.uk Thomley, HP18 9JZ<br />
Is There a Doctor in the<br />
House<br />
Discover the art of medicine through<br />
objects, stories and activities. Suitable for<br />
ages 9+. 2-4pm. T: 01865 277280<br />
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Museum of the History<br />
of Science, OX1 3AZ<br />
Ashventure! Ancient Rome<br />
Join the gallery adventure and explore<br />
some Roman objects. With activities,<br />
object handling, games and stories. Sessions<br />
at 2.30-3pm & 3.30-4pm. Suitable for ages<br />
4-11 years. T: 01865 278000<br />
www.ashmolean.org The Ashmolean,<br />
OX1 2PH<br />
11 – 12 June<br />
Medieval Life<br />
Discover various aspects of life in 15th<br />
century England. What did people wear,<br />
what was it like to wear a knight’s helmet,<br />
what did people eat….and are you brave<br />
enough to investigate a Medieval loo?<br />
T: 01494 871117<br />
www.coam.org.uk Chiltern Open Air<br />
Museum, HP8 4AB<br />
Millets Summer Farm Fete<br />
In addition to the arena shows, there<br />
will be tractor rides, bouncy castle,<br />
trampolines, facepainting, storytelling and<br />
a great selection of side stalls, including<br />
refreshments. 11am-4pm.T: 01865 391311<br />
www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
Millets Farm Centre, OX13 5HB<br />
12 June<br />
Sunshine Trail<br />
Come and hunt for all things yellow around<br />
the Museum, Roald Dahl’s favourite colour.<br />
11am-5pm. Free with admission. T: 01494<br />
892192 www.roalddahl.com The Roald<br />
Dahl Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Open Day<br />
A Rural Life Museum with many exhibits<br />
relating to farming and country life.<br />
www.pitstonemuseum.co.uk Pitstone<br />
Green Museum, LU7 9EY
what’s on where<br />
Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th<br />
Birthday Celebration<br />
Enjoy watching the nation’s celebrations<br />
on the big screen with a live link to the Mall<br />
in London. Experience live brass bands and<br />
cricket matches, and shake hands with Winston<br />
Churchill through the afternoon. T: 01993 810<br />
518 www.blenheimpalace.com Blenheim<br />
Palace, OX20 1PP<br />
12 June – 10 July<br />
on form <strong>16</strong><br />
The impressive biennial exhibition of<br />
sculpture in stone. This is the only exhibition<br />
of its kind in the UK, celebrating stone and<br />
all the possibilities it offers to contemporary<br />
artists and their sculptural practice. All works<br />
are for sale. T: 01993 824319<br />
www.onformsculpture.co.uk Asthall<br />
Manor, OX18 4HW<br />
14 June<br />
Claydon’s Characters<br />
Join members of the Claydon team to<br />
discover more about the characters that<br />
helped to shape Claydon into the house it is<br />
today. 10-11am. Cost £4 per person. Normal<br />
admission charges apply. T: 01296 730349<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Claydon House,<br />
MK18 2EY<br />
17 – 19 June<br />
Flower Show<br />
This wonderful three-day show celebrates<br />
the very best of gardening in the UK and is<br />
packed with inspiration and colour. 10am-<br />
5pm. www.blenheimflowershow.co.uk<br />
Blenheim Palace OX20 1PP<br />
18 June<br />
Sparkly Chocolate Decorating<br />
Join Kate, Head Chef at Café Twit, to decorate<br />
a chocolate bar to give to your Dad on Father’s<br />
Day. Sessions at 11.30am, 1, 2.30 & 3.45pm.<br />
Suitable for all ages. Cost £4 per person.<br />
T: 01494 892192 www.roalddahl.com The<br />
Roald Dahl Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Fantastic Pheasant Hunt<br />
Look for pheasants around the Museum just<br />
like Danny and his Dad. Find out lots of fun<br />
facts along the way. 11am-5pm. Free with<br />
admission. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Meet the Beekeepers<br />
Meet the Hughenden beekeepers and learn all<br />
about the fascinating honey giving creatures.<br />
There is also a bee themed trail for the kids<br />
to follow. 11am-4pm. Free with admission.<br />
T: 01494 755573 www.nationaltrust.<br />
org.uk/hughenden Hughenden Manor,<br />
HP14 4LA<br />
Buckingham Fire Service Fun<br />
Day<br />
Meet members of the Buckingham Fire<br />
Service and join them for a day of fun and<br />
games on the terrace. Take part in the house<br />
trail and see the fire engine up close. 11am-<br />
4pm. Free with admission. T: 01296 730349<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Claydon<br />
HouseMK18 2EY<br />
Family Day<br />
For children with a disability, their family and<br />
friends. 10am-3.30pm. Booking essential.<br />
T: 01844 338380 www.thomley.org.uk<br />
Thomley, HP18 9JZ<br />
Wallingford Carnival<br />
Arena events, carnival procession, live music<br />
and stalls. T: 01491 836240<br />
www.wallingfordcarnival.org.uk<br />
Wallingford, OX10<br />
18 – 19 June<br />
Vintage Transport Weekend<br />
Come along to celebrate Father’s Day weekend<br />
with a fascinating display of vintage vehicles<br />
and music on the terrace. 11am-4pm. T: 0844<br />
249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Upton House and Gardens, OX15 6HT<br />
19 June<br />
Superhero Dad<br />
Celebrate Fathers’ Day with this wondercrump<br />
hour with the creators of Superhero Dad,<br />
Timothy Knapman and Joe Berger. Booking<br />
recommended. Sessions at 1 & 3pm. Suitable<br />
for ages 5+. Cost £3 per person. T: 01494<br />
892192 www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Working Heavy Horse Show<br />
Come and see a range of traditional working<br />
heavy horses at the annual show. Watch<br />
spectacular arena events and parades and<br />
enjoy demonstrations of traditional farm work<br />
such as hay making (weather dependent),<br />
horse logging and cultivation in the Museum’s<br />
fields. T: 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk<br />
Chiltern Open Air Museum, HP8 4AB<br />
Father’s Day Den Building<br />
Kids can team up with their fathers to see who<br />
can make the best den with the ranger. All<br />
tickets £5. Booking essential. T: 01494 755573<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden<br />
Hughenden Manor, HP14 4LA<br />
Father’s Day<br />
Bring Dad along for free. With beer tasting<br />
from midday. Free event. T: 0<strong>16</strong>28 605069<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk Cliveden,<br />
Taplow, SL6 0JA<br />
Father’s Day<br />
The farmyard will be packed full of wonderful<br />
vintage and classic motorbikes, cars, working<br />
steam engines, and traditional farm machinery<br />
and tractors. From 10am-2pm the farm will<br />
also be running the popular junkyard farmyard<br />
sessions to make your own model tractors to<br />
take home. Den building and live music will<br />
also be on offer. 10am-4pm. T: 01993 772602<br />
www.cogges.org.uk Cogges Manor Farm, ,<br />
OX28 3LA<br />
Father’s Day<br />
Free entry for dads with a paying child. Visit by<br />
Morris Register, vintage cars. Free vintage bus<br />
rides departing at 12.15 & 2.45pm. T: 01993 883<br />
617 www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk Oxford<br />
Bus Museum, Hanborough Railway Station,<br />
OX29 8LA<br />
Claydon’s Characters<br />
Join members of the Claydon team to discover<br />
more about the characters that helped to shape<br />
Claydon into the house it is today. 10-11am.<br />
Cost £4 per person. Normal admission charges<br />
apply. T: 01296 730349 www.nationaltrust.<br />
org.uk Claydon House, MK18 2EY<br />
25 June<br />
Craft Activity<br />
Drop in hands-on craft activities for ages 5<br />
to 7 years. 11am-1pm. Free event, donations<br />
welcome. T: 01494 792549<br />
www.cheshammuseum.org.uk Chesham<br />
Museum, HP5 1HG<br />
18<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
Quiet Day<br />
For children with a disability, their family<br />
and friends. Spaces limited to 35 so booking<br />
essential. T: 01844 338380<br />
www.thomley.org.uk Thomley, HP18 9JZ<br />
Didcot Sewage Treatment<br />
Works Open Day<br />
See behind the scenes at Didcot Sewage<br />
Treatment Works. Find out how the vital<br />
resource of water is kept flowing and the waste<br />
water from your home is cleaned. 10am-3pm.<br />
Free event but booking is essential. Suitable for<br />
ages 7+. T: 01865 407792<br />
www.earthtrust.org.uk Didcot Sewage<br />
Treatment Works, Basil Hill Road, OX11 7H<br />
Abingdon Food & Drink Festival<br />
Over one hundred stalls offering local food<br />
and drink products, cooking demonstrations<br />
by leading chefs, freshly cooked hot food with<br />
places to relax and enjoy live folk music and a<br />
fun fair. 10am-4pm.<br />
www.abingdonfoodfestival.org.uk Rye<br />
Farm Meadow, OX14 3HY<br />
Summer Fete<br />
A fantastic family event with plenty for<br />
everyone to enjoy. Crafts, kids games, Go Karts,<br />
Tractor Rides, Hog Roast, Wellie Wagging,<br />
Silent Auction and Live Music. 11am-2pm.<br />
www.kidmoreendpreschool.co.uk<br />
Kidmore End Pre-School, RG4 9BB<br />
Children’s Carving Workshop<br />
All tools and materials provided. A wonderful<br />
chance for some hands-on experience of stone<br />
carving. Cost £15. Suitable for ages 8-12 years.<br />
Booking essential. T: 01993 824319<br />
www.onformsculpture.co.uk Asthall<br />
Manor, OX18 4HW<br />
26 June<br />
Awesome Aeroplane Trail<br />
Hunt for the aeroplanes around the Museum to<br />
find out about Roald Dahl’s flying days during<br />
the Second World War, and how his experiences<br />
inspired his writing life. 11am-5pm. Free with<br />
admission. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl<br />
Museum, HP<strong>16</strong> 0AL<br />
Vintage Vehicles Rally<br />
A meeting of old and unusual road vehicles.<br />
Extra trains will also be running on the railway.<br />
T: 01525 373888 www.buzzrail.co.uk<br />
Leighton Buzzard Railway, LU7 4TN<br />
Wallingford Festival of Cycling<br />
A whole day of cycling events both on road<br />
and off in and around Wallingford; for Elite<br />
riders and novices alike. Racing, demonstrations,<br />
mountain bike rides, sportives and town centre<br />
criterium races.<br />
www.wallingfordfestivalofcycling.co.uk<br />
Wallingford, OX10<br />
2 July<br />
Alice’s Discoveries<br />
Find out about cameras and early photography.<br />
Experiment with cyanotypes, and discover<br />
Alice’s objects in the Museum. Suitable for ages<br />
7+. 1-4pm. T: 01865 277280<br />
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Museum of the History of<br />
Science, OX1 3AZ<br />
Ashventure! Wonderland<br />
Join the Wonderland themed gallery adventure.<br />
With activities, object handling, games and<br />
stories. Sessions at 2.30-3pm & 3.30-4pm.<br />
Suitable for ages 4-11 years. T: 01865 278000<br />
www.ashmolean.org The Ashmolean, OX1 2PH<br />
Alice’s Animals<br />
Explore the museum that inspired the book<br />
with performances and activities. T: 01865<br />
272950 www.oum.ox.ac.uk Museum of<br />
Natural History, OX1 3PW<br />
Children’s Carving<br />
Workshop<br />
All tools and materials provided. A wonderful<br />
chance for some hands-on experience of<br />
stone carving. Cost £15. Suitable for ages<br />
8-12 years. Booking essential. T: 01993<br />
824319 www.onformsculpture.co.uk<br />
Asthall Manor OX18 4HW<br />
2 – 3 July<br />
Blackwell’s First Children’s<br />
Book Festival<br />
An exciting new event to the Millets<br />
calendar. Located in a marquee structure by<br />
the Farm Animals. T: 01865 391311<br />
www.milletsfarmcentre.com Millets<br />
Farm Centre, OX13 5HB<br />
40th Anniversary<br />
Celebrations<br />
Come along and celebrate 40 years since the<br />
Museum was incorporated. Dress up in 70s<br />
clothes and try out traditional 70s games.<br />
T: 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk<br />
Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park,<br />
HP8 4AB<br />
3 July<br />
Open Day<br />
Free vintage bus rides departing at 12.15 &<br />
2.45pm. T: 01993 883 617<br />
www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk Oxford<br />
Bus Museum, OX29 8LA<br />
9 July<br />
Community Day<br />
For all children with or without a disability.<br />
10am-3.30pm. Booking essential. T: 01844<br />
338380 www.thomley.org.uk Thomley,<br />
HP18 9JZ<br />
Globe Makers<br />
Explore the museum’s collection of globes and<br />
make your own pocket globe. Suitable for ages<br />
9+. 2-4pm. Cost £2 for materials. T: 01865<br />
277280 www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Museum of the<br />
History of Science, OX1 3AZ<br />
Family Fun Day<br />
A fantastic family day out in support of the<br />
Against Breast Cancer Charity. 10am-4pm.<br />
T: 01865 391311<br />
www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
Millets Farm Centre, OX13 5HB<br />
10 July<br />
Open Day<br />
A Rural Life Museum with many exhibits<br />
relating to farming and country life.<br />
www.pitstonemuseum.co.uk Pitstone<br />
Green Museum, LU7 9EY<br />
Three Spires Challenge<br />
Fun runs for children aged 4-10 years or 5k<br />
Fun Run for ages 11+. There will also be a Half<br />
Marathon Run, Half Marathon Walk and 10k<br />
Run, so there’s something for everyone. All<br />
finishers get a medal and goody bag, and any<br />
profit from the event goes to local charities and<br />
community projects. Online entry required.<br />
www.adderburyrunningclub.co.uk Lucy<br />
Plackett Playing Field Round Close Road,<br />
Adderbury, OX17 3EE<br />
what’s on where<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 19
BOX OFFICE<br />
office<br />
Your family theatre guide...<br />
Arlington Arts Centre<br />
RG14 3BQ<br />
Box Office: 0<strong>16</strong>35 244246<br />
www.arlingtonarts.co.uk<br />
1 June<br />
Letters Through Your Door<br />
A fun and exciting stage event packed full of<br />
catchy and toe tapping numbers that features<br />
original songs as well drawing on traditional<br />
children’s tunes from across the world.<br />
Cornerstone Arts<br />
Centre<br />
OX11 7NE<br />
Box Office: 01235 515144<br />
www.cornerstone-arts.org<br />
22 <strong>May</strong><br />
Curious<br />
Cake making gets messy in this perfect<br />
introduction to theatre, guaranteeing giggles<br />
galore for the very young and the curiously<br />
inquisitive.<br />
26 <strong>May</strong><br />
Old Mother Hubbard<br />
Join Old Mother Hubbard as she clatters about<br />
her kitchen hanging out the washing and<br />
making breakfast with her dancing dog Oscar<br />
at her side. Their little world of friendship and<br />
harmony is interrupted by the squeaking of a<br />
little mouse in the cupboard and the fleeting<br />
appearance of a mysterious furry paw. Both are<br />
thrilled when they get an invitation to a party<br />
but who sent it and why is it in the deep dark<br />
woods? Beautifully crafted glove puppets, folk<br />
music and enchanting storytelling combine in<br />
this interactive slapstick comedy.<br />
North Wall Arts Centre<br />
OX2 7JN<br />
Box Office: 01865 319450<br />
www.thenorthwall.com<br />
<strong>16</strong> June<br />
There’s No Way of Knowing<br />
November 12th, 1990. Roald Dahl is set to leave<br />
his home for the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford,<br />
never to return. Tired and in discomfort, he<br />
enters his writing hut for the last time. That is to<br />
retrieve the beginning of his latest story. Only to<br />
discover it’s vanished! And then there’s a knock<br />
at the door… In this tale, celebrating the 100th<br />
year of one of Britain’s most celebrated writers<br />
for children, we watch the relationship between<br />
writer and story unfold. Full of songs, humour<br />
and a magical poignancy, There’s No Way of<br />
Knowing is a play for all ages performed by the<br />
children of SS Philip and James <strong>Primary</strong> School.<br />
3.30pm & 6.30pm<br />
Oxford Playhouse<br />
OX1 2LW<br />
Box Office: 01865 305 305<br />
www.oxfordplayhouse.com<br />
30 <strong>May</strong><br />
Gruffalos, Ladybirds & Other Beasts<br />
Join Julia Donaldson for Jack and the Flumflum<br />
Tree, What the Ladybird Heard, A Squash and a<br />
Squeeze, Zog and of course, The Gruffalo. Made<br />
all the more magical by a set that transforms<br />
from library to ship, tropical island to deep dark<br />
wood<br />
3 – 4 June<br />
Jungle Book<br />
Mowgli is finding her way in the urban jungle.<br />
With a beat-boxing bin man Baloo, graffiti artist<br />
Bagheera and a skateboarding wolf crew, this<br />
heart-warming coming of age story featuring<br />
breathtaking street dance and circus will astonish<br />
and amaze.<br />
24 – 25 June<br />
The Wind in the Willows<br />
Spring is in the air and Mole, fed up with<br />
cleaning, emerges from his hole to discover the<br />
magical world of the river. Alongside his new<br />
friends Ratty, Badger and Toad, he embarks on<br />
marvellous adventures. From life on the open<br />
road to the final Great Battle of Toad Hall, this is a<br />
time that Mole will never forget.<br />
Pegasus Theatre<br />
OX4 1RE<br />
Box Office: 01865 812 150<br />
www.pegasustheatre.org.uk<br />
31 <strong>May</strong><br />
Inside Out (U)<br />
11am. The Disney/Pixar blockbuster follows<br />
young Riley who is uprooted from her home in<br />
the Midwest to a new life in San Francisco. It’s<br />
up to Emotion HQ’s Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness<br />
and Joy to help her adjust in the rollercoaster of<br />
feelings she goes through before happiness and<br />
balance are restored. Tickets £3.<br />
1 – 3 June<br />
Make a Play in Three Days - Sea<br />
Stories<br />
9.30am-3.30pm. Create your very own show<br />
with the Pegasus team of professionals, inspired<br />
by a treasure trove of stories from the sea. Share<br />
it with friends and family on Friday. For ages 8-14<br />
years living in postcodes OX1 – OX4. £60, £45<br />
concessions.<br />
4 June<br />
Bug Banquet<br />
1pm and 4pm. Join the Science Oxford LIVE team<br />
looking at the future of food: and taste test some<br />
of their favourite bug recipes, make a delicious<br />
insect snack and make a bug friendly seed bomb.<br />
£9, £6 concessions.<br />
5 June<br />
Baby Boogie<br />
Toddlers and grown up grab some space on<br />
the dance floor and let the music take you<br />
away! Try the dance workshop before the<br />
disco or take a break in the café chill-out<br />
zone with free activities. Workshops 1.30am,<br />
1.30pm; £7. Disco 11.30am, 2.30pm: £5.<br />
The Beacon<br />
OX12 9BX<br />
Box Office: 01235 763456<br />
www.beaconwantage.co.uk<br />
20 <strong>May</strong><br />
Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales<br />
Under the sea, out on the farm and into the<br />
jungle, these terrific tales are woven together<br />
with live music, puppetry and a whole host<br />
of colourful characters from Julia Donaldson<br />
and Axel Scheffler’s best-loved titles: Tiddler,<br />
Monkey Puzzle, The Smartest Giant in<br />
Town and A Squash and a Squeeze. Funky<br />
moves, toe tapping tunes and giggles are<br />
guaranteed!<br />
The Kenton Theatre<br />
RG9 2BP<br />
Box Office: 01491 575698<br />
www.kentontheatre.co.uk<br />
1 June<br />
Pesky Pirates - a Hip Hop<br />
Adventure<br />
These cheeky pirates love playing, dancing<br />
and having fun. They would love to have<br />
some fun with you too so come along and<br />
help them find their treasure! Sometimes<br />
they like to play tricks on each other and can<br />
be a little mean. Can you help them be better<br />
friends and be kind, while having fun at the<br />
same time?<br />
The Mill Arts Centre<br />
OX<strong>16</strong> 5QE<br />
Box Office: 01295 279002<br />
www.themillartscentre.co.uk<br />
28 <strong>May</strong><br />
Card Ninja<br />
Javier Jarquin, Card Ninja, possesses<br />
extraordinary skills which demonstrate more<br />
than just sleight of hand. Combining comedy<br />
and magic, these tricks reach another level,<br />
and are unlike anything you’ve seen before.<br />
4 June<br />
The Princess and The Frog<br />
Once upon a time there was a beautiful<br />
princess. She loved playing with her golden<br />
ball but one day she drops it in the pond.<br />
When a very friendly and very bouncy frog<br />
offers to retrieve it in exchange for her<br />
friendship, she is far from keen... But in<br />
the end the princess must agree to be his<br />
friend just to get her ball back. Slowly their<br />
friendship grows and the princess is<br />
rewarded in true fairy-tale style. This<br />
beautiful original ballet by Let’s All Dance<br />
combines all the ingredients to charm<br />
audiences young and old.<br />
18 June<br />
The Railway Children<br />
In this polished musical interpretation of one<br />
of the best-loved children’s books of all time,<br />
join Bobbie, Phyllis, Peter and their new friend<br />
Perks as they rebuild their lives in Yorkshire<br />
following their father’s imprisonment. Witness<br />
how the Railway takes on special significance in<br />
the children’s adventures as they discover the<br />
truth behind the family being torn apart<br />
The Old Fire Station<br />
OX1 2AQ<br />
Box Office: 01865 305305<br />
www.oldfirestation.org.uk<br />
26 <strong>May</strong><br />
Dinosaur Park<br />
Welcome to the unlikely setting of Lyme Regis<br />
Community Centre, where the Park Family<br />
embark on a journey to a misty past. When<br />
things go wrong, family feuds are faced with the<br />
rapturous roar of DIY dinosaurs.<br />
3 June<br />
The Princess and The Frog<br />
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess.<br />
She loved playing with her golden ball but<br />
one day she drops it in the pond. When a very<br />
friendly and very bouncy frog offers to retrieve<br />
it in exchange for her friendship, she is far<br />
from keen... But in the end the princess must<br />
agree to be his friend just to get her ball back.<br />
Slowly their friendship grows and the princess is<br />
rewarded in true fairy-tale style. This beautiful<br />
original ballet by Let’s All Dance combines all<br />
the ingredients to charm audiences young<br />
and old<br />
4 June<br />
Express Yourself<br />
A stunning showcase of ballet, tap, jazz,<br />
contemporary and musical theatre performed<br />
by some of the most talented upcoming stars<br />
from across <strong>Oxfordshire</strong>.<br />
The Theatre Chipping<br />
Norton<br />
OX7 5NL<br />
Box Office: 0<strong>16</strong>08 642350<br />
www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk<br />
19 <strong>May</strong><br />
The Girl Who Fell in Love with the<br />
Moon<br />
A patchwork of puppetry, poetry, movement<br />
and live music stitched together with The<br />
Human Zoo’s explosive visual imagination.<br />
5 June<br />
Ballet Central<br />
Ballet Central 20<strong>16</strong> features a sparkling<br />
programme of ballet, neoclassical,<br />
contemporary and narrative dance. The<br />
company’s young and dynamic dancers<br />
will showcase their talent with a diverse<br />
performance of newly commissioned works and<br />
celebrated revivals.<br />
20<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
COMPETITIONS<br />
WIN!<br />
WIN!<br />
a family ticket (2 adults, 3 children) worth<br />
£600 to Vitality SportFest 20<strong>16</strong>!<br />
30th and 31st July<br />
Vitality SportFest is the ultimate family sports festival of<br />
entertainment, camping, competitions and coaching from worldclass<br />
sporting legends. Taking place at the Wormsley Estate in<br />
Buckinghamshire, this is the must do festival ticket for sport-mad<br />
families this summer.<br />
The Family ticket includes a range of fun activities for the whole family<br />
see www.sport-fest.co.uk for more information or follow on facebook:<br />
SportFest or Twitter @sportfest20<strong>16</strong>:<br />
*terms and conditions on <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> website<br />
Enter online at www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire/competitions<br />
or see www.facebook.com/PTOxon<br />
Closing Date: 4 JULY 20<strong>16</strong><br />
Family<br />
Sunday<br />
Henley Festival are giving away a family<br />
ticket (up to 5 people, 1 must be under<br />
<strong>16</strong>) for their Family Sunday on Sunday<br />
10th July 20<strong>16</strong>, featuring an array<br />
of children’s entertainers, musicians,<br />
comedians, magicians and street<br />
entertainers that will make memories to last a lifetime.<br />
Highlights include the multi-award winning comedian Jay Foreman<br />
performing his charmingly sickable songs, explosive experiments from<br />
Britain’s most dangerous scientist Science Blast, as well interactive soundmixing<br />
from beatboxer Shlomo.<br />
KAPW: 2FACED DANCE will see three of planet Earth’s greatest<br />
superheroes battle head to head for the title of ‘Most Supreme Superhero…<br />
Ever’, Samuel Prior will trick audiences with his unique style of magic,<br />
Upswing will showcase their awe-inspiring circus acrobatics, and Henley’s<br />
very own lighthouse keeper will invite everyone to The Little Lighthouse,<br />
showing animated films of his adventures and entertaining families all day<br />
with anecdotes and comic stories. Also performing on Family Sunday will be<br />
outstanding all-female brass quartet Bella Trumba.<br />
From watching a mad scientist electrocute audience members and cheering<br />
on their favourite superheroes, to hearing the adventures of an old seadog,<br />
there’s plenty of fun to be had for all ages while parents can relax in the<br />
stunning festival grounds.<br />
For more information on Henley Festival 20<strong>16</strong> Family Sunday visit:<br />
http://www.henley-festival.co.uk<br />
Enter online at www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire/competitions<br />
www.facebook.com/PTOxon<br />
Closing Date: 19 JuNE 20<strong>16</strong><br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | MAY HALF TERM Issue <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> 21
22<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong> MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
Who earns a living by<br />
driving his customers<br />
away?<br />
A taxi driver!<br />
Annabel, aged 8<br />
What did the hat say<br />
to the scarf?<br />
You hang on and I’ll<br />
go ahead!<br />
Ewan, aged 8<br />
What do you call a<br />
bear with no teeth?<br />
A gummy bear!<br />
As’ad, aged 10<br />
What do you call a<br />
donkey with 3 legs?<br />
A wonkey!<br />
Helena, aged 9<br />
Send jokes to:<br />
<strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong>,<br />
Schools Publishing Limited,<br />
St James’s House, 118 Greys<br />
Road, Henley on Thames,<br />
Oxon RG9 1QW