Primary Times Oxfordshire May 16

what’s on where
Holidays – learning and laughing
With the long Summer holidays ahead of us, all busy parents face
the dilemma of keeping little ones occupied and if we are lucky,
learning as well. Stagecoach’s Oxfordshire centres have the answer!
There are many activity based
child care options, but one which
they are bound to enjoy – and
learn too – is from staging a
performance. Stagecoach runs
holiday programmes throughout
Oxfordshire for a variety of age
groups, from beginners classes;
age 4+ to advanced courses for
seasoned older teens. All are staged under the watchful eye of the
local principal and some even have a professional theatre stage.
These popular courses are a must
for busy mums and will be the
talking point of the holidays. Call
your local Stagecoach now as
places are limited!
www.stagecoach.co.uk
Summer Holiday Shows
Oxford 01869 278600 Senior/
Advanced: Legally Blonde, Junior:
Esmerelda and the Cowardly Dragon
Abingdon 01865 390970 Senior: Flashdance, Junior: Annie Kids
Henley, High Wycombe & Marlow 01494 533203 Advanced:
Razzle, Dazzle, Broadway, Senior: Make a Musical in a Week, Beauty
and the Beast, Junior: Jungle Jive
Thame 01865 763767 Senior: Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr, Junior:
Pirates Versus Mermaids
Banbury 01908 969467 Fame Jr
Photos: Monty Smith
Step lays foundations for future learning
Some of you may remember sitting in a classroom and as the teacher
talked found yourself losing concentration. You scanned the room only
to see your classmates seemingly engrossed in the lesson. Panic set in.
You tried to re-engage with what was being said just as an instruction
was given. You whispered to your friend, “What do I need to do?” and
promptly got told off.
This experience is indicative of someone with processing and working
memory issues. Over time, this can become isolating and stressful, not
to mention affect academic results, confidence and self-esteem. It can
also lead to behavioural problems.
This is where STEP comes in. STEP aims to help children who are
struggling to concentrate or can’t stop fidgeting, to unlock their
academic potential through personalised physical exercises that focus
on balance, eye tracking and coordination. Delivered in an integrated
way, the exercises are designed to enhance the performance of the
cerebellum, the area of the brain responsible for automating tasks, thus
laying the foundation for future learning.
STEP is passionate about helping children who are underachieving and
is actively engaged in discussions with the education sectors in the UK
and US about the role STEP could play in supporting these individuals.
Additionally, STEP has just concluded a 12 month UK Pilot Study to
empirically evidence the impacts it can have. These results can be
found on www.steptoday.com
Woodland Adventure
An expedition for 5-8 year olds. Use your
detective skills to discover our secret destination
where we will explore, build and play. 10am-
12pm. Suggested donation £4 per child. T: 01865
407792 www.earthtrust.org.uk Earth Trust,
OX14 4QZ
Wildlife Wednesday
Explore the reserve, learn about local wildlife
and have lots of outdoor fun. 2-4pm. Suggested
donation £2 per child. T: 01865 407792 www.
earthtrust.org.uk Earth Trust, OX14 3NG
Bath Bombs Away!
Make something amazing for your bath! 2-4pm
Drop-in for ages 5-10 years. Up to 4 kids free
with paying adult. T: 01993 810211
www.sofo.org.uk Soldiers of Oxfordshire
Museum, OX20 1SN
1 – 2 June
Meet the Pharaoh
Discover the story of Pharaoh Taharqa and his
life in Ancient Egypt, and make a pop-up shrine
and statue. 1-4pm. T: 01865 278000
www.ashmolean.org The Ashmolean, OX1 2PH
2 June
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish
Find out what you need to be an evil scientist,
what to do if you pet gets zombiefied and how
Mo and her brother once brought back their
goldfish from the brink of death. Sessions at
11.30am, 1 & 3pm. Suitable for ages 4+. Cost £3
per person. T: 01494 892192
www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl
Museum, HP16 0AL
Up, Up and Away!
Find out more about the Oxford pastry chef and
inventor who was the first Englishman to fly
a Hot Air Balloon. See a relic from the Balloon
Mania of the Georgian period in the collection
and gave a go at crafting your very own balloon.
Free drop in 10.30am-3.30pm. T: 01865 252334
www.oxford.gov.uk Museum of Oxford,
OX1 1BX
Explorer Backpacks
Borrow a backpack full of activities and become
a family of museum explorers. 2-4pm. T: 01865
270927 www.prm.ox.ac.uk Pitt Rivers
Museum, OX1 3PP
Amazing Art
Come and be inspired by the ‘British Life’
exhibition and make a very special ‘art in a box’.
Suitable for ages 4+. 2-4pm. Cost £3 per child. T:
01295 753752
www.banburymuseum.org Banbury
Museum, OX16 2PQ
Picture Perfect
Look at paintings in the museum collection
then make your own art work to take home.
Cost £2 per person. 2-4pm. T: 01993 811456
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk The Oxfordshire
MuseumOX20 1SN
Clowning Workshop
Join award-winning physical comedian
Richard Jones of Electric Cabaret, on an
adventure into playfulness. Blending
them together in a fun workshop, you will
explore silent clowning, comic characters
and a little bit of mime. The workshop
culminates in an onstage ‘sharing’ of the
skills learned. Sessions at 10am-12.30pm
for ages 5-7 years; session at 1.30-4pm for
ages 8-12 years. T: 01608 642350
www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk The
Theatre Chipping Norton OX7 5NL
2 – 3 June
Ahoy There!
Discover early voyages of exploration
with maps, globes, and hands-on navigational
instruments. Suitable for
ages 7+. 1-4pm. T: 01865 277280
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Museum of the
History of Science, OX1 3AZ
3 June
Proghopping Pencil
Boxes
Listen to tales from Miss Honey’s Classroom,
and then decorate a classy wooden pencil
box to be the envy of your school mates.
Sessions at 11am, 12, 1, 2 & 4pm. Suitable
for ages 6+. Cost £3 per person. T: 01494
892192 www.roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl
Museum, HP16 0AL
Family Day: Half Term
For children with a disability, their family
and friends. 10am-3.30pm. Booking essential.
T: 01844 338380
www.thomley.org.uk Thomley,
HP18 9JZ
All Over the World
Kids Club day-camp with games, crafts
and technical challenges with an international
flavour. 10am–4pm. Suitable for children aged
6-9 years. Booking essential. T: 01993 810211
www.sofo.org.uk Soldiers of Oxfordshire
Museum, OX20 1SN
4 June
Parrot Magnets
Listen to storytelling from Matilda, in which
Matilda tricks her parents by pretending a
parrot up the chimney is making the voice
of a robber! Then create your own colourful
parroty pet to stick on your fridge. Sessions at
12.15, 1.15, 2.15 & 3.15pm. Suitable for ages 6+.
Cost £2 per person. T: 01494 892192 www.
roalddahl.com The Roald Dahl Museum,
HP16 0AL
Community Day: Half Term Fun
For all children with or without a disability.
10am-3.30pm. Booking essential. T: 01844
338380 www.thomley.org.uk Thomley,
HP18 9JZ
Wild Fair
Celebrate Oxford’s biodiversity with crafts,
conservationists and family friendly talks.
In partnership with BBOWT and Festival of
Nature. 10am-4pm. T: 01865 272950
www.oum.ox.ac.uk Museum of Natural
History, OX1 3PW
The Princess and The Frog
Activities
Activity session before the performance
on stage. Sessions at 1 & 3pm. Cost £4 per
child. T: 01295 279002
www.themillartscentre.co.uk
The Mill Arts Centre, OX16 5QE
Fun in the Park
Family fun day followed by the evening concert
event, Music in the Park. From 11am. www.
abingdon.gov.uk Abbey Meadows, OX14 3JE
4 – 5 June
Celebrate 60 years of the
National Trust
Find your hair rollers; get practicing the jive
and re-live the 1950s as Claydon celebrates.
Join in celebrations with a live band and family
games on the terrace. 11am-4pm. Free with
16
Primary Times MAY HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire