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What’s On Where for families and schools<br />
www.primarytimes.net<br />
Oxfordshire<br />
Parenting • Education • Days Out • News & Reviews<br />
OCTOBER HALF TERM №104<br />
10 OCT - 20 NOV 2016
Dear Reader<br />
Welcome to our October issue.<br />
We are delighted to bring you this issue which is full of fun<br />
and exciting events and activities. In our WOW section we<br />
have highlighted Guy Fawkes and All Hal<strong>lo</strong>ws Eve events that<br />
are taking place across the region and have included a special<br />
Frights & Fireworks feature which we hope you will find<br />
helpful. We have even more events on our website<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire if you need more<br />
inspiration when planning activities with your children.<br />
Thank you to all the schools that took part in our lucky<br />
prize draw – we are delighted to tell you that John Hampden<br />
Primary School was the lucky recipient of the BIC Kids box<br />
of goodies.<br />
Panto season is upon us – check out our Box Office section for<br />
child friendly productions appearing in a theatre near you. It is<br />
always such a thrill to watch children as they become engrossed<br />
in the mayhem on stage! Book now to save disappointment.<br />
We have a brilliant competition for you to enter to win a<br />
family ticket to see Emily Brown & The Thing on page 20,<br />
and don’t forget to enter our Christmas Card Competition,<br />
details on page 23.<br />
As always, we <strong>lo</strong>ve to hear your news so please email<br />
marion@schoolspublishing.co.uk if you have something<br />
to celebrate.<br />
Marion, Marie, Carol & Char<strong>lo</strong>tte<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 <strong>lo</strong>ve<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 />
5 WOW<br />
10 Fireworks<br />
12 Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween<br />
16 Focus on Schools<br />
19 Box Office<br />
23 NEW – Christmas Card<br />
Competition<br />
contents<br />
The Primary Times 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 />
Char<strong>lo</strong>tte Morgan<br />
Primary Times in Oxfordshire,<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 411416<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire<br />
...the UK’s biggest,<br />
free ‘what’s on’<br />
magazine for parents!<br />
Primary Times in<br />
Oxfordshire distributes<br />
over 45,000 copies<br />
seven times a year, and is<br />
part of a national network<br />
distributing more than 2.7<br />
million copies in 59 regions<br />
across the UK and Ireland.<br />
Primary Times is independently published and distributed free through national primary schools in Oxfordshire. 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. Primary Times would like to thank all the schools in Oxfordshire 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, <strong>lo</strong>gos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains with Primary<br />
Times or with the relevant contributor. Primary Times is currently publishing over two million copies per issue under<br />
franchise licences throughout Britain.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 3
news & views<br />
News & Views<br />
Do you have news that might interest other parents or teachers? We’d <strong>lo</strong>ve to hear about it!<br />
Email marion@schoolspublishing.co.uk<br />
Pupils from<br />
Wroxton CE<br />
primary school,<br />
Oxford go<br />
Spotacular for BBC<br />
Children in Need<br />
Children from Wroxton CE Primary<br />
School, went Spotacular for BBC Children<br />
in Need.<br />
L<strong>lo</strong>yds Bank and BBC Children in Need’s<br />
exciting new schools fundraising campaign,<br />
The Big Spotacular, is encouraging children and<br />
teachers to dress up in spots, sell spotty cakes<br />
and goods, and take part in spotty themed<br />
challenges, to raise more money than ever<br />
before for children who need it most.<br />
To launch Wroxton CE Primary School’s<br />
fundraising plans, pupils turned their school<br />
spotty. The school also plans to hold further<br />
fundraising activities ahead of Appeal Night.<br />
To find out more about The Big Spotacular<br />
and request a free fundraising kit please visit:<br />
www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/schools<br />
Get Creative Family Arts Festival?<br />
The Get Creative Family Arts Festival is the first UKwide<br />
festival of art events which are designed with<br />
families in mind. The 2016 Get Creative Family Arts<br />
Festival will run from 1st - 31st October.<br />
Organisations from around the UK are putting<br />
on arts events which are suitable for families. The<br />
Family Arts Festival is part of a bigger programme,<br />
supported by the arts industry and funded by<br />
the Arts Council England, which aims to support<br />
organisations in providing high quality events for<br />
families.<br />
For more information about events taking place<br />
during October visit www.familyartsfestival.com<br />
Educators urged to register for UK Road Safety Week<br />
and Pledge to do six simple things to save lives<br />
Educators have just four months to plan and register for Road Safety Week 2016 (21-27 November),<br />
the UK’s biggest road safety event, which involves thousands of schools each year. Road safety<br />
charity Brake, which coordinates the event, is encouraging educators to go to www.roadsafetyweek.<br />
org.uk to get ideas on teaching and promoting road safety during the Week, and register for a free<br />
e-action pack.<br />
Road Safety Week has been inspiring people for 19 years and is coordinated with the support of<br />
headline sponsors Aviva and Specsavers, and the Department for Transport. It’s a great opportunity<br />
for teachers, youth workers, and early-learning educators to engage pupils of all ages in lessons and<br />
activities encouraging safe, sustainable, responsible road use throughout the community.<br />
Educators can access free electronic resources and guidance to help them get involved. Go<br />
to www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/educators for ideas and to register to get a free e-action pack<br />
(available from September). This includes down<strong>lo</strong>adable posters to display during the Week,<br />
interactive resources, advice and case studies of what other schools have done in previous years.<br />
REGISTER NOW! Register at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/educatorsto get a free<br />
online action pack. Plus, stay in touch by fol<strong>lo</strong>wing @BrakeCharity and tweet about<br />
the Week using #roadsafetyweek<br />
Roald Dahl Celebrations<br />
by Sacred Heart Head Boy<br />
& Head Girl<br />
To celebrate Roald Dahl’s 100th Birthday, Sacred<br />
Heart did <strong>lo</strong>ts of things related to Roald Dahl.<br />
Every class focused on a different book, Year<br />
6 read the BFG, Year 5 did the Witches, Year 4<br />
focused on Georges Marvel<strong>lo</strong>us Medicine, Year<br />
3 read Matilda, Year 2 did the Twits and Year 1 /<br />
Reception focused on The Enormous Crocodile.<br />
Every day the children had the opportunity to<br />
listen to a teacher read.<br />
On Tuesday 13th September (Roald Dahl’s<br />
Birthday) we could dress up as our favourite<br />
character from Roald Dahl stories. There were<br />
Marvel<strong>lo</strong>us Matilda’s, Fantastic Mr Foxes, Wicked<br />
Witches and many more. Even Mr Greig, Mr Steele<br />
and Mr Mayne dressed us a Violet Beauregarde’s.<br />
We had a fun tea party as well with Roald Dahl<br />
themed food, scrumdiddlumptious!<br />
The next day we all went to the cinema to<br />
watch the BFG. Everybody had so much fun<br />
during Roald Dahl week!<br />
By Monty French and Pati Gwiazda, Head Boy<br />
and Head Girl<br />
We <strong>lo</strong>ve the<br />
rules that<br />
Bayards<br />
Hill Primary<br />
School pupils<br />
have put<br />
together!<br />
Grant scheme launched for<br />
open-access children’s services<br />
A £1m start-up fund has been launched<br />
by Oxfordshire County Council to help<br />
community groups deve<strong>lo</strong>p and deliver<br />
open-access children’s services.<br />
Local solutions for open-access provision –<br />
such as ‘stay-and-play’ - will complement a<br />
comprehensive new service for 0-19-year-olds<br />
across Oxfordshire which ensures the most<br />
vulnerable children are protected and that<br />
families who need extra help are identified at an<br />
early stage.<br />
As part of the council’s continuing investment<br />
in early intervention, and in addition to the £1m<br />
fund, new teams of ‘<strong>lo</strong>cality workers’ will advise<br />
and support community<br />
groups delivering openaccess<br />
sessions – as<br />
well as other universal<br />
services such as schools,<br />
health and early years<br />
providers.<br />
Council-funded open<br />
access provision will continue to be offered at<br />
the new children and family centres, and other<br />
buildings as part of the new 0-19 service from<br />
next year.<br />
For more detail on the application process and<br />
funding criteria visit: http://news.oxfordshire.<br />
gov.uk/grant-scheme-launched-for-openaccess-childrens-services/<br />
4<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
WOW!<br />
What’s on where...<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 />
We hope you will find something interesting<br />
to do with your children by using our<br />
WOW section. Events have an orange title<br />
and Activities have a purple title. Please<br />
don’t forget to check with the revenue as<br />
sometimes details change. There are more<br />
ideas of things to do with your kids on<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire.<br />
1 August – 30 December<br />
Shakespeare’s World View: Stars,<br />
G<strong>lo</strong>bes and Magic<br />
Museum of the History of Science OX1 3AZ<br />
Fol<strong>lo</strong>w Shakespeare through the Museum of the<br />
History of Science to discover the impact of the<br />
natural world on his works. 12-5pm. Excludes<br />
Mondays. Suggested donation £2. T: 01865 277280<br />
www.mhs.ox.ac.uk<br />
1 – 31 October<br />
Autumn Leaves<br />
Stowe Landscape Gardens MK18 5EQ<br />
The leaves are <strong>lo</strong>oking awash with co<strong>lo</strong>ur. Pick up<br />
our autumn leaf spotter guide to spot the leaves<br />
before they fall. Can you catch any as they fall?<br />
10am-6pm. T: 0844 249 1895<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
15 October<br />
Chinnor Apple Day<br />
Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway<br />
OX39 4ER<br />
Discover the history of <strong>lo</strong>cal Apple Orchards in an<br />
hour-<strong>lo</strong>ng railcar trip. Children travel for £1.<br />
T: 01844 353535 www.chinnorrailway.co.uk<br />
15 October<br />
Portrait Detectives<br />
The Ashmolean OX1 2PH<br />
Join the gallery adventure with activities, object<br />
handling, games and stories. Suitable for ages<br />
4-11years. Sessions at 2-2.45pm & 3.15-4pm.<br />
T: 01865 278000 www.ashmolean.org<br />
Free Family Fun Day<br />
New Theatre OX1 2AG<br />
Visit the theatre between 10am and 1pm and for a<br />
host of family-friendly activities and events. There<br />
will be opportunities to meet Peppa Pig star, Mr<br />
Potato and grab a sensational spud selfie! Face<br />
painting, bal<strong>lo</strong>on modelling, demonstrations and<br />
workshops. T: 0844 871 3020<br />
www.atgtickets.com<br />
Backstage Tour<br />
New Theatre OX1 2AG<br />
Tread the boards of our prestigious stage and<br />
experience what your favourite performers from<br />
stage, screen and the music world enjoy every time<br />
they visit. Tours start at 10.30am and last around<br />
one and a half hours. Cost £8 adults, £6.50 children.<br />
Booking essential. T: 0844 871 3020<br />
www.atgtickets.com<br />
Long Wittenham Pre-School<br />
Nearly New Sale<br />
Long Wittenham Village Hall OX14 4QH<br />
Nearly new sale in aid of Long Wittenham Pre-<br />
School. C<strong>lo</strong>thing, games, toys and bake sale. 10am-<br />
12pm. www.<strong>lo</strong>ngwittenhampreschool.co.uk<br />
Birthday Event<br />
The Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN<br />
A day of music and activities to celebrate the<br />
Museum’s 50th birthday. Free event. 12-4.30pm.<br />
T: 01993 811456 www.oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
Fantastic Food<br />
The Discovery Zone OX1 1BY<br />
In this fun family workshop, children can extract DNA<br />
from a strawberry, make liquids change co<strong>lo</strong>ur and<br />
create (and eat!) their own ice-cream. Sessions at<br />
10-11.30am for ages 5-8 years; 12.30-2pm for ages<br />
7-10 years; 2.30-4pm for ages 9-12 years. Cost £8 per<br />
child, accompanying adult free. Booking essential.<br />
www.scienceoxford.com<br />
Nick Cope’s Songbook<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
Monkeys, bears, socks and mud, this man sings about<br />
everything children are really interested in! 10.30-<br />
11.30am. Tickets £5 & £3. Booking advised. T: 01865<br />
305305 www.storymuseum.org.uk<br />
15 – 16 October<br />
Harvest Festival<br />
Chiltern Open Air Museum HP8 4AB<br />
Discover the fascinating traditions of a farming<br />
history. This ever-popular annual event provides a<br />
unique opportunity to exp<strong>lo</strong>re the sights, sounds and<br />
smells of harvest past, with the Museum’s restored<br />
threshing machine working hard to process the year’s<br />
rye crop. T: 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk<br />
Pick Your Own Pumpkins<br />
Millets Farm Centre OX13 5HB<br />
Pop on your wellies, grab a wheelbarrow and<br />
happy selecting from a pumpkin patch with over<br />
10,000 pumpkins to choose from! Carving costs £3.<br />
Cash purchases only. 10.30am-4.30pm. T: 01865<br />
391311 www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
Pumpkin Carving<br />
Odds Farm Park HP10 0LX<br />
Carve a spooky pumpkin for Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween. Extra<br />
charge for cost of the pumpkin. T: 01628 520 188<br />
www.oddsfarm.co.uk<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 5
what’s on where<br />
Ignite<br />
Sport UK<br />
Our School Holiday Sports<br />
Courses have been running<br />
for 16 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, deve<strong>lo</strong>ping techniques<br />
and playing fun games and<br />
matches in a safe environment.<br />
www.ignitesportuk.com<br />
Apple Days<br />
Hughenden Manor HP14 4LA<br />
Come to Hughenden to try the delicious Apples<br />
grown on the estate. Apples and juice will be<br />
available for you to try on the day and to take home.<br />
T: 0800 0556760 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Meet the Beekeepers<br />
Hughenden Manor HP14 4LA<br />
Meet the Hughenden beekeepers and learn all about<br />
the fascinating honey giving creatures. There is also<br />
a bee themed trail for the kids to fol<strong>lo</strong>w. 11am-4pm.<br />
Free with admission. T: 01494 755573<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
15 – 31 October<br />
The Great Pumpkin Hunt<br />
Waterperry Gardens OX33 1JZ<br />
Find ten pumpkins hidden in the ornamental<br />
gardens and win a special, seasonal edible prize. Cost<br />
£2 per child. T: 01844 339226<br />
www.waterperrygardens.co.uk<br />
16 October<br />
Diesel Day<br />
Bucks Railway Centre HP22 4BY<br />
Come and see the fleet of diesels working hard at this<br />
Diesel Day - including the new addition, Cromwell,<br />
who will be offering rides. T: 01296 655720<br />
www.bucksrailcentre.org<br />
21 – 31 October<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Festival<br />
Odds Farm Park HP10 0LX<br />
Enjoy super-fun puppet shows, listen to<br />
creepy story time and get arty by making your very<br />
own spooky arts and crafts. Enter the twice-daily<br />
Fancy Dress Competitions, meet the Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween<br />
entertainers and carve a pumpkin to take home!<br />
T: 01628 520 188 www.oddsfarm.co.uk<br />
22 October<br />
Magical Marionette Mice<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum HP16 0AL<br />
Listen to how the frightsome Witches turn<br />
little kiddles into mice and dolphins and chickens!<br />
Then make your own puppet mice – or any other<br />
animal a child might be turned into! Suitable for<br />
ages 5+ years. Sessions at 11.30am, 12.30, 2 & 3pm.<br />
Cost £3 per person. Booking recommended. Normal<br />
admission charges apply. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com<br />
Half Term Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Trail<br />
Stowe Landscape Gardens MK18 5EQ<br />
The terrifying tale of Sleeping Beauty continues.<br />
Will you brave the terrors to overcome the wicked<br />
Mother-in-law to rescue Beauty and her children?<br />
A<strong>lo</strong>ng the way you’ll encounter spooky sights and<br />
sounds whilst you find the clues and claim your prize<br />
at the end of the trail. 10am-4.30pm. Cost £1.50 per<br />
trail. T: 0844 249 1895<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Family Arts Takeover<br />
Pegasus Theatre OX4 1RE<br />
With behind-the-scenes theatre tours, some very<br />
special shows and a huge range of wondrous<br />
workshops – all designed to appeal to the whole<br />
family – we guarantee there will be something fun<br />
and fascinating for everyone. 10am-8pm. Adult<br />
takeover pass £2, children £1. T: 01865 812160<br />
www.pegasustheatre.org.uk<br />
Traditional Toys Craft Workshop<br />
Abingdon County Museum OX14 3HG<br />
Look back at the homely world of traditional toys<br />
from bygone ages. Find out what your favourite toy is<br />
and learn some fun crafts at the same time. 10.30am-<br />
3pm. T: 01235 523703 www.abingdon.gov.uk<br />
Ready Steady Go!<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
Come in to our driving school. Grab your tool kit,<br />
choose your car, co<strong>lo</strong>ur, and drive! Ready Steady<br />
GO! is an immersive theatre piece for children and<br />
their families which al<strong>lo</strong>ws the audience to create,<br />
decorate and drive cardboard cars. Sessions at 11am,<br />
1 & 3pm. Tickets £8. Suitable for ages 3-9 years.<br />
T: 01865 790050 www.storymuseum.org.uk<br />
Craft Activity<br />
Chesham Museum HP5 1HG<br />
Drop in hands-on craft activities for ages 5 to 7 years.<br />
11am-1pm. Free event, donations welcome. T: 01494<br />
792549 www.cheshammuseum.org.uk<br />
22 – 23 October<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Happenings<br />
Hughenden Manor HP14 4LA<br />
Come a<strong>lo</strong>ng and carve your very own jack-olantern.<br />
Cost £3 per child. 10am-3.30pm. T: 01494<br />
755573 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
22 – 30 October<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Trail<br />
Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire<br />
RG9 6HF<br />
Fol<strong>lo</strong>w our spooky trail to find your special hal<strong>lo</strong>ween<br />
prize. www.stonor.com<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween at Blenheim Palace<br />
Blenheim Palace OX20 1PX<br />
There are plenty of spooky goings-on for all the<br />
family to enjoy at Blenheim Palace this half term<br />
holiday. www.blenheimpalace.com<br />
Wands, Wizards and Witches in<br />
the Woods<br />
Cliveden SL6 0JA<br />
Start your witch and wizard training in the<br />
woods at Cliveden. Begin by choosing a wooden<br />
wand with the power you wish to possess and learn<br />
how to cast a spell. Continue on your spellbinding<br />
journey into the woods where you must collect<br />
natural things with which to brew your potion. Make<br />
sure you’re dressed in your best witch and wizard<br />
attire. Suitable for ages 4-11 years. Cost £3 per child.<br />
All children must be accompanied. 11am-3pm.<br />
T: 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Phantom Farm<br />
Millets Farm Centre OX13 5HB<br />
Help our clueless detective find the fiend at the<br />
Phantom farm... Complete the 6 great games to solve<br />
the crime and receive your Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween treat! With<br />
eerie maize mazes, creepy woodlands, a spookyard<br />
of fun and Andy’s Reptiles...Phantasmagorical fun is<br />
around every corner so you’ll be ghoulish to miss out!<br />
10am-4.30pm. Cost £6.49 child, £4.99 adult. T: 01865<br />
391923 www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
22 – 31 October<br />
The House of Hocus Pocus<br />
Millets Farm Centre OX13 5HB<br />
Children can get ready for Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween by dunking<br />
their very own apple in yummy chocolate and<br />
covering it with a range of toppings. The children will<br />
receive a fun activity sheet and a cup of witches brew<br />
while they wait for their apple to set. All fol<strong>lo</strong>wed<br />
by a spooky story with our very own friendly witch!<br />
Sessions at 9.30, 10.30, 11.30am, 1.30, 2.30pm, 3.30<br />
& 4.30pm. Cost £5.99 for 1 adult and 1 child. T: 01865<br />
391923 www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
Freaky Funfest<br />
Mead Open Farm LU7 9JH<br />
Fun daytime family event with The Shed of<br />
Dread, the House of Hounds and the Haunted Hotel.<br />
Are you brave enough? Daily Ghost stories and<br />
spooky puppet shows. T: 01525 852954 www.<br />
meadopenfarm.co.uk<br />
22 October - 28 January<br />
Ice World<br />
Banbury Museum OX16 2PQ<br />
Wrap up nice and warm as you exp<strong>lo</strong>re our magical<br />
Ice World. What will you make? A polar bear hat, a<br />
perky penguin, a pop up ice world, cosy mittens,<br />
a super sleigh. Cost £2 per child. Sessions every<br />
Saturday and during school holidays. 10.30am-<br />
12.30pm & 2-4pm. T: 01295 753752<br />
www.banburymuseum.org<br />
6<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
23 October<br />
Chillsome Chocolate Bars<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum HP16 0AL<br />
Channel your inner Willy Wonka and decorate<br />
a new Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween chocolate bar that would impress<br />
Willy Wonka himself! Suitable for ages 4+ years.<br />
Sessions at 11.15am, 12.15, 1.45, 2.45 & 3.45pm.<br />
Cost £4 per person. Booking recommended. Normal<br />
admission charges apply. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com<br />
Apple Day and Autumn Fair<br />
Harcourt Arboretum OX44 9PX<br />
A fun day out for all the family with stalls, stories,<br />
crafts and more. Author and apple expert Dr Barrie<br />
Juniper will be bringing apples from his Wytham<br />
orchard for people to taste. 11am-4pm. T: 01865<br />
343501 www.harcourt-arboretum.ox.ac.uk<br />
24 October<br />
Swishwiffling Spells<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum HP16 0AL<br />
Listen to the frightsome recipe and spell in The<br />
Witches, then squibble your own spooky, jumbly<br />
spell on a magical scroll! Suitable for ages 6+ years.<br />
Sessions at 11am, 12, 1, 2, 3 & 4pm. Cost £3 per<br />
person. Booking recommended. Normal admission<br />
charges apply. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com<br />
Mud Pie Monday<br />
Earth Trust Centre OX14 4QZ<br />
Join us either in the Earth Trust Centre garden or the<br />
woods where youngsters will have the opportunity<br />
to get creative (and messy) in our mud kitchen. 10-<br />
11.30am. Suggested donation £4 per child. T: 01865<br />
407792 www.earthtrust.org.uk<br />
Magic, Witches and Potions<br />
Museum of Oxford OX1 1BX<br />
Find out about natural remedies and beliefs in magic<br />
and witchcraft in the time of Shakespeare. Have fun<br />
making your own fizzing potion. 10.30am-3.30pm. T:<br />
01865 252334 www.oxford.gov.uk<br />
Wolves and the Wild<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
Bestselling and award-winning children’s author<br />
Katherine Rundell and award-winning <strong>lo</strong>cal author<br />
and eco<strong>lo</strong>gist Tom Moorhouse take you into the<br />
worlds of their latest books. Suitable for ages 7+.<br />
Cost £7.50. T: 01865 790050<br />
www.storymuseum.org.uk<br />
24 – 26 October<br />
Through the Lens<br />
Museum of Natural History OX1 3PW<br />
Exp<strong>lo</strong>re the Museums through the eyes of people<br />
and animals. What will you see? Exciting activities all<br />
about vision, photography and the eyeball. 1-4pm.<br />
T: 01865 272950 www.oum.ox.ac.uk<br />
Through the Lens<br />
Pitt Rivers Museum OX1 3PP<br />
Exp<strong>lo</strong>re the Museums through the eyes of people<br />
and animals. What will you see? Exciting activities all<br />
about vision, photography and the eyeball. 1-4pm.<br />
T: 01865 270927 www.prm.ox.ac.uk<br />
24 – 30 October<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Happenings<br />
Hughenden Manor HP14 4LA<br />
Come a<strong>lo</strong>ng and carve your very own jack-olantern.<br />
Cost £3 per child. 11am-3.30pm. T: 01494<br />
755573 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Half Term Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween<br />
Bucklebury Farm Park RG7 6RR<br />
Join us for the great annual pumpkin hunt, hurry<br />
through our haunted house & get those fingers sticky<br />
with toffee apples and home made popcorn. T: 0118<br />
971 4002 www.buckleburyfarmpark.co.uk<br />
25 October<br />
Spooky Spiders<br />
River and Rowing Museum RG9 1BF<br />
Make a spooky spider on a wibbly wobbly web.<br />
Watch them shiver and quiver! 10.30am-12.30pm.<br />
Suitable for ages 4-7 years. Cost £8.50. Booking<br />
essential. Normal admission charges apply. T: 01491<br />
415600 www.rrm.co.uk<br />
Amazing Autumn<br />
Harcourt Arboretum OX44 9PX<br />
There will be crafts and activities for all the family.<br />
Enjoy the amazing Autumn co<strong>lo</strong>ur, find out how<br />
animals are preparing for winter, take a trail around<br />
the Arboretum and make something to take home.<br />
1-4pm. T: 01865 343501<br />
www.harcourt-arboretum.ox.ac.uk<br />
Where the Wind B<strong>lo</strong>ws!<br />
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN<br />
Craft activities to take you up and away……..Drop<br />
in 2-4pm. Suitable for ages 3-9 years. Cost £2 per<br />
child. T: 01993 810211 www.sofo.org.uk<br />
Dinosaur Masks<br />
Cornerstone Arts Centre OX11 7NE<br />
A versatile workshop for all ages and abilities using<br />
card, foam, feathers, sequins, glitter and/or recycled<br />
materials. Suitable for ages 4-11 years. Cost £8 per<br />
person. T: 01235 515144<br />
www.cornerstone-arts.org<br />
Holiday Fun<br />
The Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN<br />
Fun and creative activities for all ages. Cost £2 per<br />
child. 2-4pm. T: 01993 811456<br />
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
George’s Marvel<strong>lo</strong>us Medicine<br />
Workshop<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
Is there a secret to making the perfect slime? What’s<br />
so special about custard? In this fun family workshop,<br />
children can create bubbling potions, investigate a<br />
badly behaved non-Newtonian fluid and make their<br />
own super-stretchy goo to take home. Sessions at<br />
11am-12pm & 2-3pm. Suitable for ages 5-8 years.<br />
Cost £7/£5 conc. www.scienceoxford.com<br />
25 – 27 October<br />
Creatures of the Night<br />
Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education<br />
Centre OX14 4TE<br />
Find out what animals are snuffling around or<br />
swooping through the dark night sky. Join us to<br />
discover the mysterious mammals that come out<br />
at night. Booking essential. 10am-3pm Cost £4 per<br />
child. T: 01235 862024 www.bbowt.org.uk<br />
what’s on where<br />
24 – 28 October<br />
Half Term Activities<br />
The Bate Collection OX1 1DB<br />
Activities including gallery trails, word searches,<br />
drawing and co<strong>lo</strong>uring and hands-on instruments.<br />
2-5pm. T: 01865 276139 www.bate.ox.ac.uk<br />
Half Term Fun<br />
Cogges Manor Farm OX28 3LA<br />
Arts and crafts activities over the school holidays to<br />
mark the Big Draw. 10am-2pm. Free with admission.<br />
T: 01993 772602 www.cogges.org.uk<br />
25 – 30 October<br />
The Big Draw<br />
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN<br />
Celebrate the Big Draw with a drawing of your<br />
favourite object to pin on the display board. T: 01993<br />
810211 www.sofo.org.uk<br />
26 October<br />
Grand High Witch Statues<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum HP16 0AL<br />
Listen to the Grand High Witch’s plan to turn<br />
all the little kiddles in the country into mice! Then<br />
get ucky-mucky with clay to make your own witch<br />
statue. Suitable for ages 6+ years. Sessions at<br />
11am, 12, 1, 2, 3 & 4pm. Cost £3 per person. Booking<br />
recommended. Normal admission charges apply.<br />
T: 01494 892192 www.roalddahl.com<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 7
what’s on where<br />
19th & 20th December,<br />
OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE<br />
CHRISTMAS SINGING<br />
SCHOOL, WORCESTER<br />
COLLEGE, OXFORD<br />
The opportunity to sing Medieval, traditional and contemporary<br />
carols, in the beautiful surroundings of WORCESTER COLLEGE,<br />
OXFORD.<br />
This is a course for children aged 7-13 who <strong>lo</strong>ve to sing. Established<br />
to give children the opportunity to sing great classical music with<br />
world class coaches in a relaxed and fun environment and to<br />
deve<strong>lo</strong>p their confidence and ability in singing and performing.<br />
The Oxford & Cambridge Singing School offers regular<br />
courses during the holidays in Oxford, Cambridge and London.<br />
For more information, or to book, please go to<br />
www.oxbridgesingingschool.co.uk or call 07867 778326.<br />
Try Kumon’s two-week Free Trial now!<br />
At your <strong>lo</strong>cal Kumon Study Centre our aim is to deve<strong>lo</strong>p students<br />
into confident, independent learners and to help them achieve their<br />
full potential. Kumon enables children to confidently take on new<br />
challenges and deve<strong>lo</strong>p strong study skills.<br />
We believe this opportunity to grow academically and personally should<br />
be available to children of all ages and abilities. This is why, between<br />
1 October and 20 November, we are offering a two-week Free Trial of<br />
the Kumon Maths and/or English programme for all new students.<br />
The Free Trial will al<strong>lo</strong>w you to attend a Kumon Study Centre for two<br />
consecutive weeks, meet your Instructor and their team of dedicated<br />
assistants, and find out what your child can achieve through the Kumon<br />
Method of Learning.<br />
For more information about the two-week Free Trial, please<br />
contact your <strong>lo</strong>cal Kumon Study Centre or visit our website at<br />
kumon.co.uk/find-a-tutor/free-assessment.<br />
Grand High Witch Statues<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum HP16 0AL<br />
Listen to the Grand High Witch’s plan to<br />
turn all the little kiddles in the country into mice!<br />
Then get ucky-mucky with clay to make your own<br />
witch statue. Suitable for ages 6+ years. Sessions<br />
at 12, 1.30 & 3pm. Cost £3 per person. Booking<br />
recommended. Normal admission charges apply. T:<br />
01494 892192 www.roalddahl.com<br />
Marvel<strong>lo</strong>us Matisse<br />
River and Rowing Museum RG9 1BF<br />
Create a crazy collage and super screen prints,<br />
inspired by the Matisse exhibition. 10.30am-<br />
12.30pm. Suitable for ages 7-11 years. Cost £8.50.<br />
Booking essential. Normal admission charges apply.<br />
T: 01491 415600 www.rrm.co.uk<br />
Wild Wednesday - Wild Art<br />
Stowe Landscape Gardens MK18 5EQ<br />
Use nature’s palette to create your own wild art<br />
masterpieces. Forget crayons, felt-tips and co<strong>lo</strong>uring<br />
pencils. To create your own work of art all you<br />
need is the great outdoors. 10.30am-12pm. Free<br />
event, booking essential. T: 0844 249 1895 www.<br />
nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Wonderful Wildlife<br />
Oxford Botanic Gardens OX1 4DU<br />
Find out how we encourage wildlife and go on a<br />
hunt for minibeasts. Take an Autumn trail round the<br />
Garden and enjoy some art and craft activities. Talk<br />
to an expert on worms! Children free with paying<br />
family member. 11am-1pm. T: 01865 286690 www.<br />
botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk<br />
Play in a Day: Cinders<br />
Oxford Playhouse OX1 2LW<br />
Transform yourself into Cinderella, an ugly step-sister<br />
or a handsome price and decide whether you really<br />
want to go the ball! Using improvisation, musical<br />
theatre and storytelling techniques your child will<br />
create a modern take on this popular tale. Suitable<br />
for ages 8-11 years. 10am-5pm. T: 01865 305 305<br />
www.oxfordplayhouse.com<br />
Let’s Make a Dance Workshop<br />
Cornerstone Arts Centre OX11 7NE<br />
Tim Casson and friends invite members of the public,<br />
especially those interested in dance, to work with<br />
them, <strong>lo</strong>oking at their techniques of interaction and<br />
spontaneity to create and choreograph their own<br />
showpiece, which they can perform for the public.<br />
Suitable for ages 5+. Payment by donation. 1.45pm.<br />
T: 01235 515144 www.cornerstone-arts.org<br />
The Dance we Made 4: Dinosaur<br />
Edition<br />
Cornerstone Arts Centre OX11 7NE<br />
The Dance We Made 4 is an innovative performance<br />
that breaks down the usual rules of how the public<br />
engage with dance; putting them in control of<br />
the choreography, giving them a fun and unique<br />
experience that un<strong>lo</strong>cks their creative potential,<br />
providing a new insight into how dance is made and<br />
ultimately sending them away with a smile. 11.30am.<br />
Free event. T: 01235 515144 www.cornerstonearts.org<br />
Woodland Adventure<br />
Earth Trust Centre OX14 4QZ<br />
Use your detective skills to discover our secret<br />
destination where we will exp<strong>lo</strong>re, build and play.<br />
10am-12pm. Suitable for ages 5-8 years. Suggested<br />
donation £4 per child. T: 01865 407792 www.<br />
earthtrust.org.uk<br />
Wildlife Wednesday at Abbey<br />
Fishponds<br />
Abbey Fishponds OX14 3UB<br />
Come and join us in Abingdon to exp<strong>lo</strong>re the reserve,<br />
learn about <strong>lo</strong>cal wildlife and have <strong>lo</strong>ts of outdoor<br />
fun. 2-4pm. Suggested donation £2 per child. T:<br />
01865 407792 www.earthtrust.org.uk<br />
Traditional Toys Craft Workshop<br />
Abingdon County Museum OX14 3HG<br />
Look back at the homely world of traditional toys<br />
from bygone ages. Find out what your favourite toy is<br />
and learn some fun crafts at the same time. 10.30am-<br />
3pm. T: 01235 523703 www.abingdon.gov.uk<br />
Build a Bat Box<br />
Beale Park RG8 9NW<br />
Build a bat box to take home with you. Cost £5 per<br />
box. 10.30am-12.30pm. T: 0844 826 1761<br />
www.bealepark.co.uk<br />
Meet the Bugs<br />
Beale Park RG8 9NW<br />
Animal Keepers are giving visitors the chance to get<br />
up c<strong>lo</strong>se and personal with some of the residents<br />
that live in the Park’s newest area, ‘Bertie’s Bugs<br />
and Beasts’. So, if you would like to experience the<br />
amazing world of giant insects, meet a snake, stroke a<br />
Giant African Snail or get c<strong>lo</strong>se to a tarantula, then pop<br />
a<strong>lo</strong>ng to the Park. 1.30-3.30pm. Free with admission.<br />
T: 0844 826 1761 www.bealepark.co.uk<br />
Spooky Banbury<br />
Banbury Museum OX16 2PQ<br />
Dare you complete the spooky gallery trail and<br />
play the ‘Box of mystery’ game? Will you shudder<br />
listening to scary Banbury stories? Have a ghoulish<br />
time making your very own clay pumpkin pot and a<br />
jumpy spider or a lucky black cat. 11am-4.30pm. Cost<br />
£4 per child. T: 01295 753752<br />
www.banburymuseum.org<br />
Let’s Go Fly a Kite<br />
The Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN<br />
Join Science Oxford for a wind powered workshop.<br />
Suitable for ages 7-13 years. Cost £9 per person.<br />
10.30am-12pm. Booking essential.<br />
www.scienceoxford.com<br />
Wonderful Wind<br />
The Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN<br />
Join Science Oxford for a wind powered workshop.<br />
Suitable for ages 5-11 years. Cost £7 per person.<br />
Sessions at 1.30-2pm & 3-4pm. Booking essential.<br />
www.scienceoxford.com<br />
The Curious Laboratory of Song<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
Make a musical rainstorm, race time itself and coax<br />
the jolliest of boatmen back to shore in this interactive<br />
storytelling concert, with music by Schubert, Poulenc,<br />
Wolf (he doesn’t bite!) and Copeland. Free with<br />
museum entry. Ages 3+. Sessions at 11am & 2pm.<br />
T: 01865 790050 www.storymuseum.org.uk<br />
26 – 27 October<br />
Big Draw Diwali<br />
The Ashmolean OX1 2PH<br />
Create your own Rangoli patterns and make a clay<br />
Diwali lamp. Sketch in the India galleries, and listen<br />
to Diwali stories. 1-4pm. T: 01865 278000<br />
www.ashmolean.org<br />
27 October<br />
Spooky Poems with James Carter<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum HP16 0AL<br />
Join James Carter, madcap poet and wild<br />
guitarist, for an hour of creepy cats, wily wolves and<br />
many other wild things that go bump in the night.<br />
Suitable for ages 6+ years. Sessions at 1.30 & 3pm.<br />
Cost £3 per person. Booking recommended. Normal<br />
admission charges apply. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com<br />
Mr Toad’s Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Spooktacular<br />
River and Rowing Museum RG9 1BF<br />
Make your own witch or wizard’s hat, spin a<br />
spider’s web and get crafty adding to our pumpkin<br />
bunting. Enjoy spooky storytelling, and find out<br />
about Haunted Henley. Fol<strong>lo</strong>w our bat trail through<br />
the galleries and claim a tasty prize. Face painting<br />
and fancy dress competition. Free with admission.<br />
10.30am-4pm. T: 01491 415600 www.rrm.co.uk<br />
Magic, Witches and Potions<br />
Museum of Oxford OX1 1BX<br />
Find out about natural remedies and beliefs in magic<br />
and witchcraft in the time of Shakespeare. Have fun<br />
making your own fizzing potion. 2-4pm. T: 01865<br />
252334 www.oxford.gov.uk<br />
8<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
New Stagecoach Centres<br />
Open and Buzzing!<br />
Stagecoach is growing around the county, with new centres open<br />
in Botley, Kidlington and Watlington. The drama, dance and singing<br />
classes are packed with challenges and that type of vibrant fun that<br />
Stagecoach is famed for. This expands the childrens’ <strong>lo</strong>ve of theatre<br />
and performing as well as building confidence and deve<strong>lo</strong>ping life<br />
skills. Classes start from as young as four years old all the way to<br />
university level. Spaces<br />
are limited so call your<br />
<strong>lo</strong>cal principal to book<br />
a place now! There are<br />
Stagecoach centres in:<br />
Headington, Summertown,<br />
Botley, Kidlington,<br />
Abingdon, Thame, Witney,<br />
Watlington, Faringdon,<br />
High Wycombe, Henley<br />
Botley<br />
and Mar<strong>lo</strong>w.<br />
KIDLINGTON<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 9
FIREWORKS<br />
Firework<br />
Displays<br />
22 Oct<br />
Annual musical<br />
Spooktacular Fireworks<br />
Night.<br />
Sue Ryder Nettlebed Hospice RG9 5DF<br />
This year we are introducing a musical aspect<br />
to really bring the show to life! As well as a<br />
spooktacular firework display and bonfire we<br />
will have food and drink stalls, a raffle and<br />
children’s Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween fancy dress competition.<br />
Bring your little witches and war<strong>lo</strong>cks and<br />
enjoy this great family night out, while helping<br />
support the incredible care we provide here at<br />
Nettlebed Hospice. Order tickets in advance.<br />
There is limited parking at the Hospice so<br />
please arrive early to avoid disappointment.<br />
Online ticket sales does not guarentee car park<br />
space. www.sueryder.org/nbfireworks<br />
4 Nov<br />
Firework Display<br />
Loyd Recreation Park OX11 7BW<br />
Annual firework display. www.didcot.gov.uk<br />
Hanborough Musical<br />
Fireworks<br />
Hanborough Pavilion OX29 8JG<br />
Fabu<strong>lo</strong>us fireworks set to music. Fairground<br />
rides and stalls, BBQ, jacket potatoes, hot<br />
and cold drinks, mulled wine, toasted<br />
marshmal<strong>lo</strong>ws, g<strong>lo</strong>w light products. All<br />
proceeds to village charities. Gates open 7pm.<br />
Tickets £4 adults, £2 child. T: 07463 851 556<br />
www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org<br />
Firework Display<br />
22nd Oxford Sea Scouts Headquarters<br />
OX4 4BJ<br />
Annual firework display.<br />
www.jackfm.co.uk<br />
5 Nov<br />
Oxford Charity Firework<br />
Display<br />
South Park Oxford OX4<br />
Traditional spectacular fireworks display<br />
organised by Oxford Round Table. Gates<br />
open 4.30pm with fireworks display at<br />
6.45pm. www.oxfordfireworks.co.uk<br />
Firework Night<br />
Pringle Field OX26<br />
Annual firework display organised by<br />
Bicester Round Table. 7pm.<br />
www.bicester.roundtable.co.uk<br />
Thame Primary Schools<br />
Fireworks 2016<br />
Lord Williams’s Lower School,<br />
OX9 3NW<br />
Refreshments from 5:30pm, Display at<br />
6:30pm. No personal fireworks or sparklers<br />
will be permitted on the premises. Tickets<br />
in advance: Adults: £5.00, Children: £2.50<br />
(available from Thame primary schools and<br />
Thame Town Hall). Tickets on the night:<br />
Adults: £6.50, Children: £3.50 (available on<br />
the gate!) www.facebook.com/groups/<br />
thamefireworks/<br />
Firework Display<br />
Dorchester on Thames Recreation Ground<br />
OX10 7PJ<br />
Annual display with stalls, food and drinks.<br />
Gates open 5.30pm. Entry by donation. T: 01865<br />
340362 www.dorchesteronthames.co.uk<br />
Wallingford Fireworks<br />
Kinecroft OX10 0DT<br />
Annual bonfire and firework display. www.<br />
wallingford.co.uk<br />
Fireworks and Bonfire<br />
Faringdon House SN7 8AQ<br />
Gates open 6pm with the fireworks planned for<br />
7pm. The bonfire will be lit immediately after<br />
the firework display. www.faringdon.org<br />
Fireworks Fiesta<br />
Pangbourne Primary School RG8 7LB<br />
Annual fireworks fiesta with bonfire,<br />
entertainment, tombola and BBQ. Gates open<br />
5.30pm. Tickets £7.50 adults, children under 11<br />
free. Advance booking recommended.<br />
www.fopps.org.uk<br />
Fireworks Spectacular<br />
Reading Lions Club RG30 6AY<br />
Entertainment for children including a Funfair,<br />
Face Painting, Bal<strong>lo</strong>on Artist and Choir.<br />
Refreshments, ice Cream van and beer tent.<br />
Gates open 5pm with firworks starting at 7pm.<br />
Adults £6, children £4 in advance. T: 0845 8337<br />
431 www.readinglions.org.uk<br />
Wokingham Fireworks<br />
Charitable Trust Display<br />
Cantley Field RG40 5QG<br />
The celebrations will kick off at 6pm with a<br />
torchlight procession in the town centre. At the<br />
same time the funfair opens at Cantley Field. The<br />
fireworks start at 7.30pm and there will also be a<br />
big bonfire. Advance tickets £5. Tickets available in<br />
<strong>lo</strong>cal shops. www.wokingham-fireworks.co.uk<br />
Woodley and Earley Lions<br />
Fireworks Display<br />
Laurel Park RG6 3BZ<br />
Gates will open at 6pm and the programme will<br />
start at 7pm. This year’s display will be fully<br />
choreographed to popular music.<br />
www.woodleyandearleylions-public.<br />
sharepoint.com<br />
Bonfire Night<br />
The Three Horseshoes OX44 9DF<br />
Celebrate Bonfire Night with fireworks, sparklers,<br />
mulled cider and more. Dorrs open 5pm,<br />
fireworks at 7.30pm. Advance tickets £2 or £5<br />
with food. £3 on the door. T: 01865 368666<br />
www.threehorseshoes.pub<br />
6 Nov<br />
Fireworks<br />
Witney Rugby Club OX29 9U<br />
Annual community fireworks and bonfire party.<br />
Best dressed Guy competition at 6pm fol<strong>lo</strong>wed by<br />
fireworks at 7pm. www.pitchero.com/clubs/<br />
witneyrfc<br />
10 Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 11
HALLOWE’EN<br />
Frights and F<br />
Half Term<br />
Family Fun!<br />
This half term,<br />
head to Henley’s<br />
River & Rowing Museum for a week packed<br />
with family fun. Children fol<strong>lo</strong>wing the spooky<br />
gallery trail can fol<strong>lo</strong>w the clues and claim a<br />
scary prize, and Mr Toad and his friends will<br />
be hosting a Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Spooktacular fun day<br />
on Thursday 27 October. Families can get<br />
creative and make a witch or wizard’s hat,<br />
spin a spider’s web and have a frightening<br />
face paint! There are several other creative<br />
workshops to keep your little ones busy, full<br />
details at: rrm.co.uk<br />
Myths & Legends at Birdland |<br />
October<br />
Half Term<br />
Visitors will be able to let their imagination<br />
fly away with them during October Half Term<br />
Holidays, 22 – 30 October, with a special<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween themed ‘Myths & Legends’ week at<br />
Birdland Park & Gardens.<br />
Discover why owls are considered to be so<br />
wise, where the legend of the phoenix came<br />
from, and find out which bird’s call the Roman’s<br />
believed meant imminent death in a series of fun talks at the renowned Bourton-onthe-Water<br />
attraction.<br />
There will be quiz trails to fol<strong>lo</strong>w, c<strong>lo</strong>se encounter sessions and feeding displays<br />
throughout the holidays. Watch Keepers feed the King penguins and Humboldts<br />
twice daily as well as the pelicans and flamingos.<br />
Journey back even further in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Cotswolds, more<br />
than 65 million years ago and embark on a fascinating expedition discovering lifesize<br />
dinosaurs.<br />
Waterperrys Gardens<br />
As Autumn rolls around and the<br />
nights creep in there is still plenty to<br />
see and do at Waterperry Gardens.<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween sees the return of the<br />
Pumpkin Hunt in the gardens for<br />
half term. Find 10 of the decorated<br />
pumpkins hidden around the gardens<br />
and collect a treat of a prize at the<br />
end. With the Gift Barn, Gallery,<br />
Museum, Plant Centre and Teashop<br />
to visit it makes a fun afternoon out<br />
with plenty to do for the whole family.<br />
The new children’s play area in the<br />
grounds, built by Earth Wrights from<br />
Devon, has been a huge success this<br />
Summer and will no doubt be getting<br />
plenty more wear over the Autumn.<br />
For further details on events &<br />
courses see the website at<br />
www.waterperrygardens.co.uk.<br />
Museum of Oxford<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Family Fun<br />
Monday 24th (10.30am-3.30pm) and<br />
Thursday 27th (2-4pm) join in with ‘Magic,<br />
potions and witches’ to find out about Tudor<br />
natural remedies, what they believed about<br />
magic and have a go at making your own<br />
potion! Drop-in and join-in at any time.<br />
Between 10am and 12 pm on Thursday<br />
27th book your child a FREE place in our<br />
multi-sensory ‘Hubble, Bubble Toil and<br />
Trouble’ workshop, run by the curator of<br />
our new Gallery exhibition. Workshops last<br />
around 40 minutes. Places are limited and<br />
pre-booking is recommended.<br />
On Saturday 29th from 5.30pm-late,<br />
our Young Innovators are leading their own<br />
family ‘Oxcavation’ event. Help solve the<br />
identity of a mysterious skeleton unearthed<br />
beneath the city and have hands-on fun<br />
exp<strong>lo</strong>ring the Medieval past of Oxford.<br />
Fairytale Farm<br />
Fairytale Farm’s family-friendly<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween event runs right through<br />
the October half term holiday, from<br />
Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th<br />
October 2016, 10am to 5pm (two<br />
hours after dusk at weekends) with<br />
our spectacular illuminations switched<br />
on every evening as darkness falls.<br />
We have <strong>lo</strong>ts of Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween activities<br />
going on all week. Carve your own<br />
pumpkin lantern, get your face painted<br />
into a spooky Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween character,<br />
decorate a bat biscuit or a pumpkinshaped<br />
cookie and get creative in our<br />
co<strong>lo</strong>uring corner and enter the on-site<br />
competition.<br />
If you come dressed up in a Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween<br />
costume, you can win a free family<br />
annual pass in our Post-a-Scary-<br />
Selfie competition. And as a bonus,<br />
everybody who enters into the ‘spirit’<br />
of Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween by coming dressed up<br />
will get a special chocolate treat.<br />
www.fairytalefarm.co.uk<br />
12<br />
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ireworks<br />
Blenheim Palace<br />
Visit Blenheim Palace<br />
for an unforgettable<br />
family day out this<br />
Autumn & Winter.<br />
October Half Term sees<br />
<strong>lo</strong>ts of ghostly goings-on<br />
in the Palace and Pleasure<br />
Gardens. Families can lurk<br />
around the Labyrinth, take the Mini-beasts Trail or take a ride on the<br />
ghost train. There will be Spooky Tours and classic scary storytelling<br />
in the Palace and a whole host of treats in the Pleasure Gardens<br />
Deli including ice-scream and toffee apples, with pumpkin carving<br />
too!<br />
From 25th November until the 2nd January 2017 the formal<br />
gardens will be made magical with ‘Christmas at Blenheim’, a<br />
fantastically festive after-dark trail of lights. Discover a scented<br />
Fire Garden, Christmas trees that sing, a swaying lawn of fibre<br />
optic co<strong>lo</strong>ur, sparkling hedgerows, g<strong>lo</strong>wing cascades and much,<br />
much more. Finish your evening with a warming festive drink while<br />
children enjoy the vintage carousel, with late night shopping and<br />
other treats available. Visit www.blenheimpalace.com for more<br />
information and to book tickets.<br />
Science Oxford’s<br />
Saturday Science<br />
Clubs - Abingdon<br />
You may have heard of Science<br />
Oxford – we run all sorts of<br />
cool science –related activities<br />
across the county: from fun<br />
family workshops and schools<br />
outreach to theatre shows and<br />
lectures.<br />
We aim to bring you the very<br />
best in live science events and<br />
deliver inspiring science and<br />
careers activities for schools.<br />
We want to share our passion<br />
for the wonders of the universe<br />
and encourage people to engage<br />
with how scientific research and<br />
discoveries impact on us and the<br />
world around us every day. We<br />
also train, support and provide<br />
opportunities for scientists who<br />
want to share their passion for<br />
science with wider audiences.<br />
One of our most popular<br />
activities is the monthly Saturday<br />
Science Clubs that we run in<br />
Oxford and Abingdon. Science<br />
Oxford Saturday Science Clubs<br />
are for children aged 5 – 11 and<br />
exp<strong>lo</strong>re, in fun and active ways,<br />
a variety of topics with a science<br />
theme. For example, at Spy<br />
School (8th October) children<br />
learn about chemical reactions<br />
through writing secret messages<br />
that can be decoded only by<br />
using special indicators and<br />
solve maths problems through<br />
super spy puzzles and hidden<br />
codes. They also get to make<br />
and take home a marshmal<strong>lo</strong>w<br />
shooter that wouldn’t <strong>lo</strong>ok out<br />
of place on the set of Bugsy<br />
Ma<strong>lo</strong>ne.<br />
The Abingdon Science<br />
Club takes place at Abingdon<br />
School (usually on the first<br />
Saturday of the month) and is<br />
run by the school’s fantastically<br />
enthusiastic teachers. Coming<br />
up in November, they’ll be<br />
running a Spooky Science<br />
Club to celebrate Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween.<br />
Our science clubbers will be<br />
making g<strong>lo</strong>w-in-the-dark slime<br />
to take home, creating a gooey,<br />
bubbling swamp perfect for<br />
zombies and discovering how<br />
our monsters ‘grow’ to be even<br />
more terrifying. We <strong>lo</strong>ok forward<br />
to seeing you there……<br />
To book your spaces at<br />
Spooky Science, go to www.<br />
scienceoxford.com/events/<br />
spooky-science-saturdayscience-club-abingdon<br />
FRIGHT NIGHTS AT THE ZOO!<br />
Are you brave enough to visit Crocodiles<br />
of the World after dark?<br />
A spine-tingling opportunity to come face-to-face with some of<br />
the world’s most feared<br />
predators at their most<br />
active time. But be<br />
warned: they like to stalk<br />
their prey at night...<br />
Re-opening after dark<br />
for THREE nights only:<br />
7pm-9pm<br />
Saturday 29th, Sunday<br />
30th, Monday 31st<br />
No need to book in<br />
advance. Bring a torch.<br />
Usual entrance fees apply.<br />
Fancy dress optional.<br />
SNAPPY HALLOWEEN!<br />
www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk<br />
Grandma’s<br />
Pumpkin Soup<br />
Ingredients<br />
Serves – 6<br />
750g pumpkin, peeled,<br />
seeded and cubed<br />
2 carrots, coarsely chopped<br />
2 onions, cut into wedges<br />
2 ½ tbs olive oil<br />
1 large potato, sliced<br />
1 ltr water<br />
2 or 3 cubes vegetable stock,<br />
crumbled<br />
250ml double cream<br />
1 ¼ tbs ground nutmeg<br />
1 tbs ground black pepper<br />
Salt to taste<br />
Method<br />
Pre-heat oven to 220C/<br />
Gas 7.<br />
Place your pumpkin, carrots<br />
and onions in a roasting tin.<br />
Drizzle with olive oil. Bake<br />
in a pre-heated oven for<br />
40 minutes, until soft but<br />
not charred. In the meantime<br />
place the water and<br />
crumbled stock cubes into<br />
a large saucepan and using<br />
a medium heat, bring to<br />
the boil. Cook the potato in<br />
simmering water, for about<br />
20 minutes until soft. Add the<br />
potato and water mix to the<br />
roasted vegetables and blend<br />
in a food processor until<br />
smooth. Return to pan and<br />
place on a <strong>lo</strong>w heat stirring in<br />
cream, nutmeg, pepper and<br />
salt. Heat gently to serve.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 13
what’s on where<br />
22 - 30 October<br />
Make A Poppy<br />
12-3pm. Celebrating 70 years since the end of the war: create a poppy to display in the<br />
garden for Remembrance Day and make something for yourself to take home. This event<br />
is aimed at everyone, there will be easier crafts for children to try, and more challenging<br />
crafting for adults to get stuck into. £2 for craft activity to take home.<br />
3 & 4 December<br />
Victory Christmas Fayre<br />
11amd – 4pm. Join the wartime festivities with <strong>lo</strong>cal stalls offering food and drink,<br />
handmade gifts and perfect presents. See the house decorated using handmade crafts and<br />
warm up with rations served in our restaurant. Normal Admission Prices Apply. Website:<br />
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/uptonhouse<br />
Hubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble<br />
Museum of Oxford OX1 1BX<br />
Celebrate Shakespeare in a very different way.<br />
Create your own magical cauldron and exp<strong>lo</strong>re the<br />
sounds, smells and tastes of Macbeth’s three witches.<br />
Sessions last approx. 40 minutes and places are<br />
limited. Booking is essential. Sessions at 10, 11am &<br />
12pm. Free event. T: 01865 252334<br />
www.oxford.gov.uk<br />
Family Open Morning<br />
The Mill Arts Centre OX16 5QE<br />
Spend a morning with the Little Creatives team<br />
experiencing the wonderful range of children’s<br />
activities on offer at The Mill. There will be a story<br />
telling corner set up and an array of arts and crafts<br />
projects to try. Cost £5 per child, adults free. 10am-<br />
1pm. T: 01295 279002<br />
www.themillartscentre.co.uk<br />
Magical Adventure Workshop<br />
Cornerstone Arts Centre OX11 7NE<br />
Join the fun for an exciting morning or afternoon<br />
of drama role-play. Activities includes, singing and<br />
movement, themed games, interactive story-telling,<br />
props, costume and each participant will receive a<br />
unique themed certificate at the end. Suitable for<br />
ages 4-7 years. Cost £8. T: 01235 515144<br />
www.cornerstone-arts.org<br />
Create a Glass Slipper<br />
The Mill Arts Centre OX16 5QE<br />
Spend the session constructing a glitzy and sparkling<br />
glass slipper that you can enter into our glass slipper<br />
competition. Sessions at 10am-12pm & 1-3pm.<br />
T: 01295 279002 www.themillartscentre.co.uk<br />
Create a Cartoon Night<br />
Wallingford Museum OX10 0DB<br />
The children will have a chance to try their hand at<br />
creating their own cartoon characters in Wallingford<br />
Museum with help from some <strong>lo</strong>cal artists and<br />
inspiration from things they can see in the museum.<br />
Suitable for ages 7-11 years. Spaces limited to 20 so<br />
booking essential. 6.30-8.30pm. Children must be<br />
accompanied. T: 01491 651127<br />
www.wallingfordmuseum.org.uk<br />
Storytime with the Spooky<br />
Zoomers<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
Come a<strong>lo</strong>ng for a session of story time and live<br />
drawing with Ana and Thiago de Moraes, the team<br />
who created The Zoomers’ Handbook, and get the<br />
chance to create your very own spooky Zoomer<br />
creature. Cost £7/£5. Suitable for ages 3+. 2-3pm.<br />
T: 01865 790050 www.storymuseum.org.uk<br />
29 October<br />
Claydon Spooktacular Party<br />
Claydon House MK18 2EY<br />
Dress up for the occasion and enjoy the delights<br />
of Claydon after dark on this very special evening.<br />
Discover your future in the crystal ball, be amazed<br />
by magicians and dare to see what goes bump in the<br />
night in the black and white hall. Prize for the best<br />
costume. Tickets £9 including supper. 6.30-9pm.<br />
T: 01296 730349 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
Do your Thing for<br />
Children in Need<br />
Whether you’re brilliant at<br />
making cakes or just <strong>lo</strong>ve a good<br />
bake sale, do your thing and<br />
get involved with BBC Children<br />
in Need by bringing the family<br />
together and doing what you<br />
enjoy!<br />
With a full Pudsey range,<br />
including many exclusive items<br />
such as cupcake cases, cookie<br />
cutters, gifts bags and spatulas,<br />
Lakeland is here to get you and<br />
your family into the spirit and<br />
inspire you to have fun whilst<br />
raising money.<br />
Much of Lakeland’s exclusive<br />
Pudsey range has been designed<br />
and deve<strong>lo</strong>ped by the Lakeland<br />
buying team, to bring customers<br />
the perfect tools to make and bake<br />
for Children in Need. And what’s<br />
FOR THE DIARY!<br />
Shiplake College is holding their Christmas<br />
Fayre on Saturday, 12 November from<br />
10am-2pm. Sample delicious mince<br />
pies and mulled wine while you get your<br />
Christmas shopping underway. A visit from<br />
Santa is expected for our smaller guests<br />
who can busy themselves at the pottery<br />
stall while you shop.<br />
more, a percentage from the sale<br />
of every item in the Pudsey range<br />
at Lakeland will be donated to the<br />
BBC Children in Need Appeal. With<br />
donations ranging from 50p to<br />
£4.50, you will be helping to change<br />
the lives of disadvantaged children<br />
and young people throughout<br />
the UK.<br />
So, get your ingredients at the<br />
ready and get baking!<br />
Head to your nearest Lakeland<br />
store or online to Lakeland.co.uk to<br />
view the full range.<br />
Dreaming of Midsummer<br />
Workshop<br />
Kidlington Library OX5 2BP<br />
Wake up in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s<br />
Dream, meet the fairy queen and join in the story<br />
crafting, role play and story making. Suitable for ages<br />
4+. Free event.<br />
www.shakespeareoxford2016.co.uk<br />
Holiday Fun<br />
The Oxfordshire Museum OX20 1SN<br />
Fun and creative activities for all ages. Cost £2 per<br />
child. 2-4pm. T: 01993 811456<br />
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk<br />
Varjak Paw - The Kung Fu Cat<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
Join author SF Said as he introduces the world of<br />
Varjak Paw, the outlaw cat, skilled in martial arts,<br />
and with a nose for adventure and mystery. Suitable<br />
for ages 8+. Cost £7. 2-3pm. T: 01865 790050<br />
www.storymuseum.org.uk<br />
27 – 31 October<br />
John Lawson’s Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Circus<br />
Millets Farm Centre OX13 5HB<br />
Roll up, Roll up...The circus is back at Millets this<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween featuring all new acts and an all human<br />
cast. Tickets £6.99 per person. T: 01865 391923<br />
www.milletsfarmcentre.com<br />
28 October<br />
Plexicated Pop-Up Books<br />
The Roald Dahl Museum HP16 0AL<br />
Imagine, draw and write your own frightsome<br />
fairy tales inspired by The Witches. Work with artist<br />
Char<strong>lo</strong>tte Tupper to turn them into a buckswashling<br />
book which POPS OUT to make your friends jumpsy!<br />
Suitable for ages 5+ years. Sessions at 11am, 12.30<br />
& 2pm. Cost £3 per person. Booking recommended.<br />
Normal admission charges apply. T: 01494 892192<br />
www.roalddahl.com<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween Spectacular<br />
Chiltern Open Air Museum HP8 4AB<br />
An unforgettable, unmissable evening of<br />
spooky fun for all ages in the unique and atmospheric<br />
setting of the Museum’s historic buildings and<br />
woods. Tickets £10 adults, £7 children. Booking<br />
essential. T: 01494 871117 www.coam.org.uk<br />
Spooky Steps Dance Workshop<br />
The Theatre Chipping Norton OX7 5NL<br />
A spooky-themed morning of storytelling<br />
through dance and movement. Create a group dance<br />
to share with your family and friends at 12.45pm.<br />
10am-1pm. Suitable for ages 6-9 years. T: 01608<br />
642350 www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk<br />
Half Term: Quiet Day<br />
Thomley HP18 9JZ<br />
For children with a disability, their family and friends.<br />
Spaces limited to 35 so booking essential. T: 01844<br />
338380 www.thomley.org.uk<br />
Oxcavation<br />
Museum of Oxford OX1 1BX<br />
Join our archaeo<strong>lo</strong>gy team as we learn more about<br />
Oxford’s fascinating history, whilst digging up new<br />
discoveries of your own. From 5pm. Free event. T:<br />
01865 252334 www.oxford.gov.uk<br />
Spooky Science<br />
The Discovery Zone OX1 1BY<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween celebration with a spooky science<br />
twist! Create g<strong>lo</strong>wing slime to take home, make<br />
a bubbling, gooey swamp and discover how our<br />
‘monsters’ grow. Sessions at 10-11.30am for ages 5-8<br />
years; 12.30-2pm for ages 7-10 years; 2.30-4pm for<br />
ages 9-12 years. Cost £8 per child, accompanying adult<br />
free. Booking essential. www.scienceoxford.com<br />
30 October<br />
Diwali<br />
River and Rowing Museum RG9 1BF<br />
Celebrate the festival of lights and have fun making<br />
paper puppets and Rangoli designs. 11am-3pm. Free<br />
with admission. T: 01491 415600 www.rrm.co.uk<br />
Spooks and Ghouls<br />
Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway OX39 4ER<br />
Dare you ride the steam hauled Ghost train?<br />
Children in Hal<strong>lo</strong>we’en dress enjoy a mini-treat bag.<br />
T: 01844 353535 www.chinnorrailway.co.uk<br />
Pumpkin Day<br />
Cogges Manor Farm OX28 3LA<br />
Bring in your pumpkins to take part in our<br />
competition to find the heaviest home-grown<br />
pumpkin, and best carved lantern (adult and child<br />
categories). Judging will be at 4pm, and lantern walk<br />
starts at 4.30pm into the woods. 12-6pm. Free with<br />
admission. T: 01993 772602 www.cogges.org.uk<br />
David Gibb - Letters Through Your<br />
Door<br />
The Story Museum OX1 1BP<br />
A fun and exciting live music show packed full of<br />
14<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
catchy and toe tapping numbers from award winning<br />
songwriter David Gibb. Suitable for ages 3-11 years.<br />
Cost £7/£5. 11.15am-12pm. T: 01865 790050<br />
www.storymuseum.org.uk<br />
1 – 20 November<br />
Family Exp<strong>lo</strong>rers: Wold Art<br />
Stowe Landscape Gardens MK18 5EQ<br />
How many different co<strong>lo</strong>ured leaves can you find?<br />
Use nature’s own pallet for some art creations of your<br />
own! From pebble mosaics, to miniature gardens to a<br />
leaf man. Pick up a guide to help you choose natural<br />
items for your masterpiece. Free with admission.<br />
T: 0844 249 1895 www.nationaltrust.org.uk<br />
3 November<br />
Crackle! Flash! Bang!<br />
Henley Library RG9 2DH<br />
Themed story telling with objects and crafts<br />
with the River and Rowing Museum. 4-5pm. Free<br />
event, booking essential. T: 01491 575278<br />
www.rrm.co.uk<br />
5 November<br />
Light My Lamp<br />
Pitt Rivers Museum OX1 3PP<br />
Celebrate Diwali, the festival of light, with us and<br />
make a lamp to take home with you. 1-4pm. T: 01865<br />
270927 www.prm.ox.ac.uk<br />
Night Lights Event<br />
Barracks Lane Community Garden OX4 2AP<br />
A magical evening of music, stories, bonfires and<br />
fire whirling. 3.30-6pm. Suggested donation £10 per<br />
family. T: 07729 655 543<br />
www.barrackslanegarden.org<br />
Spooky Science<br />
The Yang Science Centre OX14 1BQ<br />
Hal<strong>lo</strong>ween celebration with a spooky science<br />
twist! Create g<strong>lo</strong>wing slime to take home, make<br />
a bubbling, gooey swamp and discover how our<br />
‘monsters’ grow. Sessions at 9.45-11am & 11.30am-<br />
12.45pm. Suitable for ages 5-9 years. Cost £8 per<br />
child, accompanying adult free. Booking essential.<br />
www.scienceoxford.com<br />
5 – 6 November<br />
Crazy Entertainers<br />
Odds Farm Park HP10 0LX<br />
Join in with the madness and mayhem of Odds Farm<br />
Park’s Crazy Entertainers. Free with admission.<br />
T: 01628 520 188 www.oddsfarm.co.uk<br />
9 -11 November<br />
Shakespeare Schools Festival<br />
Headington Theatre OX3 7TD<br />
Shakespeare Schools Festival is proud to present a<br />
series of unique performances by young people from<br />
all over Oxford. Please see website for performances.<br />
ww.shakespeareoxford2016.co.uk<br />
12 November<br />
Islamic Ceramics: Co<strong>lo</strong>ur and<br />
Pattern<br />
The Ashmolean OX1 2PH<br />
Join the gallery adventure with activities, object<br />
handling, games and stories. Suitable for ages<br />
4-11years. Sessions at 2-2.45pm & 3.15-4pm.<br />
T: 01865 278000 www.ashmolean.org<br />
Story Bash 2016<br />
Banbury Museum OX16 2PQ<br />
Story Bash day is the museum’s biggest event of the<br />
year. A brilliant day celebrating the wonderful stories<br />
of Banbury and bringing the museum collections to<br />
life. 10am-5pm. Free event. T: 01295 753752<br />
www.banburymuseum.org<br />
12 – 13 November<br />
Crazy Entertainers<br />
Odds Farm Park HP10 0LX<br />
Join in with the madness and mayhem of Odds Farm<br />
Park’s Crazy Entertainers. Free with admission.<br />
T: 01628 520 188 www.oddsfarm.co.uk<br />
12 – 24 November<br />
Find Santa’s Reindeer<br />
Waterperry Gardens OX33 1JZ<br />
Help Rudolph find his eight friends who are <strong>lo</strong>st in<br />
the gardens and then collect your Christmas treat.<br />
Cost £2 per child. T: 01844 339226<br />
www.waterperrygardens.co.uk<br />
19 November<br />
Rome: Emperors and Empire<br />
The Ashmolean OX1 2PH<br />
Join the gallery adventure with activities, object<br />
handling, games and stories. Suitable for ages<br />
4-11years. Sessions at 2-2.45pm & 3.15-4pm.<br />
T: 01865 278000 www.ashmolean.org<br />
Family Fun Day<br />
The Bate Collection OX1 1DB<br />
A treasure trail, live musical performances and<br />
demonstrations. Plus a chance to play some of the<br />
instruments in the handling collection. 10am-2pm.<br />
T: 01865 276139 www.bate.ox.ac.uk<br />
19 – 20 November<br />
Crazy Entertainers<br />
Odds Farm Park HP10 0LX<br />
Join in with the madness and mayhem of Odds Farm<br />
Park’s Crazy Entertainers. Free with admission.<br />
T: 01628 520 188 www.oddsfarm.co.uk<br />
20 November<br />
Stir Up Sunday<br />
Cogges Manor Farm OX28 3LA<br />
Stir-up Sunday is traditionally the day to start making<br />
your Christmas puddings, including a special wish for<br />
the year ahead. Not only will we be making Cogges<br />
puddings, but we will also be running a number of<br />
activities throughout the day to help you pick up<br />
essential skills to make a homemade Christmas, such<br />
as decorations, gifts and delicious festival treats.<br />
10am-4pm. T: 01993 772602 www.cogges.org.uk<br />
26 November<br />
Craft Activity<br />
Chesham Museum HP5 1HG<br />
Drop in hands-on craft activities for ages 5 to 7 years.<br />
11am-1pm. Free event, donations welcome. T: 01494<br />
792549 www.cheshammuseum.org.uk<br />
The Science Behind the Headlines<br />
Museum of Natural History OX1 3PW<br />
Investigate, experiment and discover more about<br />
science in the news. 12-4pm. T: 01865 272950<br />
www.oum.ox.ac.uk<br />
Winter Tales<br />
Museum of Oxford OX1 1BX<br />
Make your own glittery Christmas tree decorations<br />
and find out more about the Victorian origins of many<br />
of our Christmas traditions. You can also have your<br />
face painted with a winter stencil. 10.30am-3.30pm.<br />
Free event. T: 01865 252334 www.oxford.gov.uk<br />
Benson’s Christmas Fayre<br />
Benson Parish Hall OX10 6LZ<br />
Join in the magic and sparkle of the Benson Village<br />
Christmas Fayre for what promises to be an afternoon<br />
of Christmas cheer for all the family. You’ll find Santa<br />
and his team of elves in their magical grotto, games<br />
and activities for the young, and young at heart,<br />
as well as tea, delicious cakes and food to keep you<br />
going throughout the afternoon. 12-4pm.<br />
www.bensonfayre.org.uk<br />
Phenomenal Plants<br />
The Basement OX1 1BY<br />
Could your child be the next Steve Backshall or<br />
David Attenborough? Join us for a hands-on <strong>lo</strong>ok<br />
at fabu<strong>lo</strong>us f<strong>lo</strong>ra; we’ll dissect f<strong>lo</strong>wers, make seed<br />
bombs and grow our own plants, as well as much<br />
more! A great science club for budding botanists.<br />
Sessions at 10-11.30am for ages 5-8 years; 12.30-2pm<br />
for ages 7-10 years; 2.30-4pm for ages 9-12 years.<br />
Cost £8 per child, accompanying adult free. Booking<br />
essential. www.scienceoxford.com<br />
May the force be with you !!<br />
– at Boswells Toy Department<br />
this half-term<br />
Situated in the very heart of Oxford , Boswells<br />
Department Store boasts a whole first f<strong>lo</strong>or of<br />
exciting and magical toys for all ages. This award<br />
winning Toy Department has a real independent feel<br />
and has been serving customers from one generation after<br />
another.<br />
With over seven thousand different lines you’ll be spoilt for choice,<br />
with well known brands such as Playmobil, Hornby & Scalextric,<br />
Schleich and of course, Thomas the Tank and Sylvanian Families, to<br />
name but a few . But it’s not only toys for the little ones; great Jigsaws<br />
by Gibson and Ravensburger are in abundance situated opposite wall<br />
to wall Board Games. Boswells is a real centre for Lego too – all<br />
the new sets from Star Wars to Lego City are all arriving ready for<br />
your early Christmas shopping. Look out for the special Lego Advent<br />
Calendars, different every year, but always popular .<br />
Real Service is at the heart of the store ,and if its advice you need<br />
their staff really know just the right age appropriate gift for every<br />
occasion. So Half term is a great time to come and have a <strong>lo</strong>ok, and<br />
do some early Christmas shopping and to help you out …….<br />
Look out for the voucher<br />
on the back cover of this<br />
issue of Primary Times<br />
Boswells Department Store,<br />
1-4 Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AG<br />
www.boswells.co.uk<br />
what’s on where<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 15
FOCUS ON SCHOOLS<br />
SCHOOLS<br />
Radley College<br />
At Radley we work hard<br />
to create an environment<br />
where boys will be happy,<br />
grow in self-confidence,<br />
thrive academically, and<br />
make the most of the many<br />
opportunities we offer. We pride ourselves on the pursuit of<br />
excellence both inside the classroom and out, and on encouraging<br />
boys to deve<strong>lo</strong>p their talents and discover new interests.<br />
A Radley education is about independent thought and learning with<br />
enthusiasm. It is about cultural awareness and academic ambition.<br />
Above all, it is about the core values that will underpin success in all<br />
its forms throughout a Radleian’s life.<br />
Radley is <strong>lo</strong>cated in a stunning rural setting inspired by the nearby<br />
city – and university – of Oxford.<br />
The Unicorn School<br />
Celebrates its Silver Jubilee<br />
2016 is an exciting year for The Unicorn School as we celebrate<br />
our 25 year anniversary. We are proud to have served a quartercentury<br />
providing specialist education to pupils with Dyslexia,<br />
Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and those with Speech, Language and<br />
Communication needs.<br />
Pupils can join The Unicorn School at any age from Year 2<br />
upwards. We offer a positive, nurturing environment, helping<br />
pupils of all ages to build self-confidence, appreciate their learning<br />
difficulties and<br />
deve<strong>lo</strong>p their<br />
personal<br />
learning style.<br />
Our bespoke<br />
approach<br />
integrates all<br />
aspects of<br />
learning under<br />
one roof.<br />
Highly qualified<br />
teachers with<br />
a passion<br />
for special<br />
educational needs; small class sizes averaging 10-12 pupils per<br />
class; an adapted national curriculum made accessible to those<br />
with learning difficulties; specialist teaching techniques; one-to-one<br />
tuition for every pupil; and for those who need it, in-house Speech<br />
and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy.<br />
We warmly welcome you to visit us at The Unicorn School to<br />
discuss how we can support your child’s needs. To join us at our<br />
upcoming open mornings, or to book an individual visit please<br />
contact our Registrar on 01235 530222, or<br />
registrar@unicornoxford.co.uk.<br />
16<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
focus on schools<br />
Get Out! Get the Fire<br />
Brigade Out! Stay Out!<br />
Abingdon Prep has enjoyed a busy start to the term with among the<br />
highlights a visit from Blue Watch from Abingdon Fire Station. The<br />
boys from Reception to Year 3 <strong>lo</strong>ved being able to exp<strong>lo</strong>re the fire<br />
engine and to have a go with the hose - spraying water at a cone to<br />
chase it a<strong>lo</strong>ng the playground! www.abingdon.org.uk/prep<br />
Languages Day at Cokethorpe<br />
“Bonjour, hola, hal<strong>lo</strong>…” are just some of the ways the children at<br />
Cokethorpe Junior School greeted each other at the beginning of<br />
International Languages Day. From Reception Class to Year 6, the<br />
children celebrated and researched a diverse range of languages<br />
throughout the school day. Activities throughout the day included:<br />
creating posters, waffle eating, traditional dress up, tulip making,<br />
and a quiz. The Junior School<br />
introduces French into the<br />
curriculum in the Reception<br />
Class, however using their<br />
information passports to<br />
travel around the School the<br />
children were encouraged to<br />
exp<strong>lo</strong>re secondary languages<br />
and cultures.<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 17
FOCUS ON SCHOOLS<br />
A <strong>lo</strong>ving start to the joy of learning<br />
We are a <strong>lo</strong>ng-established Nursery School tucked away in the heart<br />
of Headington, offering a <strong>lo</strong>ving start to the joy of learning for 2<br />
½ to 5 year olds. The Hunsdon House family ethos is rooted in its<br />
history, as it started in the 1920s in a family home. To this day the<br />
nursery offers each child a nurturing haven of <strong>lo</strong>ve and guidance<br />
as they navigate the world of friendships, nature and creation. We<br />
limit our numbers each day to a maximum of about 25 children<br />
and emp<strong>lo</strong>y 6 caring, qualified and experienced staff with passion<br />
for seeing each child deve<strong>lo</strong>p their full God-given potential. We<br />
are a nursery upholding traditional Christian values, and welcome<br />
children and families of all faiths or none.<br />
Our Nursery School’s primary emphasis is to provide an exciting,<br />
happy learning environment, which encourages positive self-esteem<br />
with a focus on the deve<strong>lo</strong>pment of the whole child. We aim to help<br />
the child to build a strong character, encourage his innate ability<br />
to concentrate and give him ample opportunities for being with<br />
children from different cultures in a warm and supportive setting<br />
conducive to all learning, helping him, her to overcome any social,<br />
cultural or language barriers for building early friendships within our<br />
community.<br />
“Our aim is not merely to make the child understand, and still less<br />
to force him to memorise, but so to touch his imagination as to<br />
enthuse him to his innermost core” (Maria Montessori).<br />
18<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
office<br />
Your family theatre guide...<br />
Arlington Arts Centre<br />
RG14 3BQ Box Office: 01635 244246<br />
www.arlingtonarts.co.uk<br />
24 Oct<br />
Rapunzel & The Tower of Doom<br />
Tangles? Split Ends? Frizzy? Flyaway? It’s hard<br />
enough having a bad hair day but pity poor<br />
Rapunzel spending her life in a tower with a<br />
wicked old witch using her captive’s <strong>lo</strong>cks as a<br />
step ladder! What sort of damage is that going<br />
to do to your hair?<br />
Cornerstone Arts<br />
Centre<br />
OX11 7NE Box Office: 01235 515144<br />
www.cornerstone-arts.org<br />
23 Oct<br />
Don’t Dribble on the Dragon<br />
When brothers Jack and Tom’s friendship falls<br />
apart can a magical dragon help them put it<br />
back together again?<br />
6 Nov<br />
Your Toys<br />
Grown-ups and children alike, bring your<br />
own toy to the theatre to join in this gigantic<br />
adventure. S<strong>lo</strong>t Machine bring your real<br />
toys to life on stage using their unique style<br />
of puppetry, original live music and quirky<br />
humour. A monstrous force rules the land.<br />
Only the bravest heroes can defeat it. But the<br />
challenge is peri<strong>lo</strong>us - will everyone survive? T<br />
13 Nov<br />
Alfie White: Space Exp<strong>lo</strong>rer<br />
Alfie White is crazy about space – and his dad<br />
is training to be the first man on the moon, At<br />
least that’s what Alfie tells his schoolmates. In<br />
fact, his dad has disappeared without a trace<br />
–as if swal<strong>lo</strong>wed up by a black hole. Together<br />
with his best friend Meg, Alfie sets out on a<br />
daring mission to find his dad. But where on<br />
earth – or in space – is he?<br />
16 – 17 Nov<br />
Didcot Girls School<br />
Didcot Girls’ School & Didcot Sixth Form College<br />
dance students will be performing a variety of<br />
dance pieces at their annual Dance Showcase.<br />
The evening will consist of class work from both<br />
GCSE and A Level a<strong>lo</strong>ngside choreographed<br />
pieces performed by all the dance clubs.<br />
20 Nov<br />
Jack and the Beans Talk<br />
Jack lives on a small farm with his mum and very<br />
little to eat. He likes to talk to the birds, his cow<br />
and anyone who will listen. Imagine his surprise<br />
when he swaps his cow for some magic beans<br />
and starts to hear a whispering in the breeze<br />
and a giant rumble in the sky...<br />
New Theatre<br />
OX1 2AG Box Office: 0844 871 3020<br />
www.atgtickets.com<br />
19 – 20 Oct<br />
Peppa Pig’s Surprise<br />
It’s a <strong>lo</strong>vely day and Peppa is playing outside<br />
with her friends. Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig<br />
have got a surprise for her and George – they<br />
can’t guess what it is, can you?<br />
Oxford Playhouse<br />
OX1 2LW Box Office: 01865 305 305<br />
www.oxfordplayhouse.com<br />
14 – 19 Nov<br />
Oliver!<br />
Oliver Twist, a young orphan in Victorian<br />
England, escapes from his orphanage to a new<br />
life in the city. But falling in with pickpocket<br />
the Artful Dodger and the charismatic but<br />
manipulative Fagin offers him as much danger<br />
as it does freedom. For every new friend he<br />
meets, like the warm-hearted Nancy, there are<br />
dangerous foes.<br />
25 Nov – 8 Jan<br />
Cinderella<br />
Get set to join Cinderella on a midnight coach<br />
ride through pantoland. There’s only one<br />
problem: Cinders’ ugly sisters and wicked<br />
step-mum make her scrape and clean all day<br />
and it’s beginning to make her feel sad. She<br />
needs backup. With support from her best<br />
friend Buttons (who happens to be a mouse)<br />
and maybe a bit of help from a certain fairy<br />
godmothery-shaped someone perhaps she will<br />
get to the party.<br />
8 – 31 Dec<br />
Snowflakes<br />
Mia has come to live with her Grandma, far away<br />
from where she was born. It isn’t at all like her<br />
old life in the city, and at first she feels very<br />
different from the new children she sees. But<br />
when she watches the snow falling around her<br />
one night, Mia realises that she is just like one of<br />
the snowflakes – unique and perfect in her own<br />
way. Burton Tay<strong>lo</strong>r Studio<br />
Pegasus Theatre<br />
OX4 1RE Box Office: 01865 812160<br />
www.pegasustheatre.org.uk<br />
15 Oct<br />
The Co<strong>lo</strong>ur of Me<br />
Wriggle Dance Theatre (Grass) returns with a<br />
new dance show for young people. Can you feel<br />
the excitement of the deep blue sea, the green<br />
peacefulness of nature, or bravely go where no<br />
child has ever been… inside an orange? But<br />
do watch out for red, who is sometimes very<br />
cross… Come and experience the beautiful<br />
rainbow of emotions that lives inside each and<br />
every one of us. What co<strong>lo</strong>ur are you today?<br />
Family workshop at 2pm.<br />
BOX OFFICE<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 19
BOX OFFICE<br />
office<br />
Your family theatre guide...<br />
Tall Stories @ The Mills Arts<br />
Alfie White is crazy about space – and his dad is training to be the<br />
first man on the moon. At least that’s what Alfie tells his schoolmates.<br />
In fact, his dad has disappeared without trace – as if swal<strong>lo</strong>wed<br />
up by a black hole…<br />
Together with his best friend Meg,<br />
Alfie sets out on a daring mission<br />
to find his dad. But where on<br />
earth – or in space –<br />
is he?<br />
A cosmic tale of<br />
adventure and<br />
discovery from<br />
the creators of<br />
The Gruffa<strong>lo</strong><br />
Live.<br />
WIN!<br />
CONTINUED<br />
a Family Ticket to see<br />
Emily Brown and the Thing<br />
at Cornerstone, Didcot<br />
Tuesday 6 to Saturday 24 December<br />
© Tall Stories<br />
29 Oct<br />
Puppets Go Wild<br />
Raise your telescope and take a peek at the<br />
Golden Galleon and its motley crew the Peanut<br />
Butter Pirates. Out on the high seas they search<br />
for treasure but will they find it and get home<br />
in time for tea?<br />
4 – 5 Nov<br />
An Elephant in the Garden<br />
Lizzie tells the story but it’s Marlene, the<br />
elephant who’s the heroine. P<strong>lo</strong>dding, obdurate,<br />
opportunistic, <strong>lo</strong>ad-bearing, indestructible,<br />
cheering, Marlene embodies the stubbornness<br />
of human-will and how it will do everything<br />
to survive.<br />
13 – 24 Dec<br />
Once Upon a Snowflake<br />
Liza has gone missing, and no-one knows<br />
where she can be. One thing’s for certain: those<br />
mysterious Winter Sprites have something<br />
to do with it. Appearing every winter, these<br />
tiny elf-like creatures can be found hiding in<br />
pockets, shoes and sock drawers, watching<br />
everything and hearing everyone. But how<br />
are they connected with Liza’s disappearance?<br />
Will they help to find her? And what is inside<br />
the mysterious Winter Sprite’s strange white<br />
suitcase?<br />
The Beacon<br />
OX12 9BX Box Office: 01235 763456<br />
www.beaconwantage.co.uk<br />
16 Oct<br />
The Star Seekers<br />
Have you ever dreamt of flying to the moon?<br />
Becoming an astronaut? Join the awardwinning<br />
Wardrobe Ensemble on a journey<br />
through the stars where you take the steering<br />
wheel.<br />
23 Dec<br />
Beauty and the Beast<br />
You are invited to be our guest for this tale<br />
as old as time, packed with songs, slapstick,<br />
silliness, breathtaking special effects, audience<br />
participation and all the fairy-tale magic of<br />
traditional pantomime!<br />
21 – 26 Nov<br />
Peter Pan<br />
Will Peter Pan fight off the evil Captain Hook?<br />
Will Tinkerbell run out of Fairy dust? Fun and<br />
frolics with the talented students of StageWorks<br />
Performing Arts School.<br />
15 – 28 Dec<br />
Sleeping Beauty<br />
Join Princess Bea this December on an amazing<br />
adventure as she battles the wicked Fairy<br />
Midnight in pursuit of true <strong>lo</strong>ves kiss.<br />
The Mill Arts Centre<br />
OX16 5QE Box Office: 01295 279002<br />
www.themillartscentre.co.uk<br />
29 Oct<br />
Alfie White: Space Exp<strong>lo</strong>rer<br />
Alfie White is crazy about space – and his dad<br />
is training to be the first man on the moon, At<br />
least that’s what Alfie tells his schoolmates. In<br />
fact, his dad has disappeared without a trace –as<br />
if swal<strong>lo</strong>wed up by a black hole. Together with<br />
his best friend Meg, Alfie sets out on a daring<br />
mission to find his dad. But where on earth – or in<br />
space – is he?<br />
19 Nov<br />
Letters Through Your Door<br />
Created by 23 year old musician, songwriter and<br />
storyteller, David Gibb, this new musical show<br />
features original songs as well as traditional<br />
children’s songs from across the world. Themes<br />
range from the everyday to the surreal, but<br />
whether it’s finding a dragon in your bedroom,<br />
dreaming about swimming in the sea, or simply<br />
waiting for the postman to arrive, there’s<br />
something here for everyone.<br />
The North Wall Arts<br />
Centre<br />
OX2 7JN Box Office: 01865 319450<br />
www.thenorthwall.com<br />
22 Oct<br />
B<strong>lo</strong>wn Away<br />
Meet Penguin Blue and friends as they go on an<br />
acrobatic Antarctic adventure full of good ideas,<br />
homesickness and the perils of kites.<br />
One evening, Emily Brown and her old grey rabbit Stanley, hear a<br />
Thing crying outside their window. He just can’t get to sleep. Emily<br />
and Stanley set off on incredible adventures to find the Thing’s<br />
cuddly, bedtime milk and medicine. But nothing seems to help him<br />
settle. What’s really troubling the Thing and will anyone ever get to<br />
sleep? Based on the much-<strong>lo</strong>ved book by Cressida Cowell (How to<br />
Train your Dragon) and Neal Layton.<br />
For more information visit www.cornerstone-arts.org<br />
For your chance to win, simply answer the fol<strong>lo</strong>wing question<br />
What is the name of Emily Brown’s grey rabbit?<br />
The Kenton Theatre<br />
RG9 2BP Box Office: 01491 575698<br />
www.kentontheatre.co.uk<br />
26 Oct<br />
The Owl & The Pussycat<br />
This gorgeous new ballet takes a fresh and<br />
humorous <strong>lo</strong>ok at the famous Lear poem.<br />
Once again, Let’s All Dance combines fantastic<br />
dancing, beautiful costumes and crystal clear<br />
story telling to engage and delight young<br />
audiences.<br />
The Old Fire Station<br />
OX1 2AQ Box Office: 01865 263990<br />
www.oldfirestation.org.uk<br />
22 Oct<br />
The Owl & The Pussycat<br />
This gorgeous new ballet takes a fresh and<br />
humorous <strong>lo</strong>ok at the famous Edward Lear poem.<br />
Once again, Let’s All Dance combines fantastic<br />
dancing, beautiful costumes and crystal clear story<br />
telling to engage and delight young audiences.<br />
28 Oct<br />
The Railway Children<br />
Roberta, Peter and Phyllis live in a comfortable<br />
house in London until their father, who works<br />
for the government, is falsely accused of selling<br />
state secrets and imprisoned for five years.<br />
The children and their mother have no choice<br />
but to leave their home and move to a quiet<br />
little cottage next to a railway in Oakworth,<br />
Yorkshire.<br />
The Theatre Chipping<br />
Norton<br />
OX7 5NL Box Office: 01608 642350<br />
www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk<br />
15 Oct<br />
Beauty and the Beast<br />
When Beauty sees beneath the ugly frightening<br />
exterior of the Beast and discovers a <strong>lo</strong>yal, <strong>lo</strong>ving<br />
heart she reminds us of the true meaning of <strong>lo</strong>ve.<br />
For your chance to win, enter online at:<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire/competitions or via<br />
www.facebook.com/<strong>PTOxon</strong><br />
C<strong>lo</strong>sing Date: 31/10/16<br />
3 – 6 Nov<br />
The Wizard of Oz<br />
Like so many girls her age, little Dorothy Gale<br />
of Kansas dreams of what lies over the rainbow.<br />
One day a twister hits her farm and carries her<br />
away over the rainbow to another world. An<br />
amateur production by Act Now Entertainment.<br />
15 Nov – 8 Jan<br />
Robinson Crusoe and the Pirate<br />
Queen<br />
A tale <strong>lo</strong>ved through the ages of shipwrecks and<br />
desert islands, retold as you’ve never seen it<br />
before, with pirates, mermaids, cowboys and the<br />
fearsome Pirate Queen, Betty Babcock!<br />
20<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
The Beacon<br />
The Star Seekers<br />
Sunday 16 October 11.00am &<br />
2.00pm<br />
£8 tickets, £28 Family Ticket<br />
(Admits 4)<br />
Ages 3-8, and adults alike!<br />
Ever dreamt of flying to the moon?<br />
Join award-winning Wardrobe<br />
Ensemble on a journey through<br />
the stars where you take the<br />
steering wheel.<br />
“Clever and imaginatively told”<br />
The Stage<br />
The North Wall<br />
This half term, don’t miss the<br />
Family Arts Takeover at The<br />
North Wall in Oxford on 22nd<br />
October – a whole day of shows,<br />
workshops and activities for you<br />
and your family to enjoy together.<br />
From magic to circus skills,<br />
backstage tours to storytelling,<br />
there’s something for everyone<br />
from ages 0 to 100. There will<br />
be some very special shows with<br />
very quirky characters, including a pair of acrobatic penguins in<br />
B<strong>lo</strong>wn Away (2pm & 4pm) and time-travelling magicians, Morgan<br />
& West (7pm). Get your Takeover Pass online by visiting<br />
www.thenorthwall.com<br />
www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire | OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue Primary Times 21
Taking the<br />
Tablet<br />
Earlier this year newspapers reported<br />
the ‘drug-like’ qualities of Tablets and other<br />
electronic devices. A small study in France<br />
found that letting children aged 4-10 play on a<br />
Tablet prior to having surgery was as effective<br />
at calming them as a sedative. Meanwhile in<br />
New York, Dr Nicholas Kardaras, Executive<br />
Director of the Dunes East Hampton rehab,<br />
and author of G<strong>lo</strong>w Kids: How Screen<br />
Addiction is Hijacking Our Kids – and How to<br />
Break the Trance wrote in the New York Post<br />
newspaper that tablets and electronic devices<br />
had the same effect on children’s brains as<br />
Class A drugs and were even more addictive.<br />
As Christmas is <strong>lo</strong>oming, children are already<br />
starting to think about their ‘Christmas List’<br />
and there’s no doubt that Tablets and even<br />
smart phones will be prevalent. Techno<strong>lo</strong>gy is<br />
now a fact of life; parents don’t have to like it<br />
but we do need to accept it. An Ofcom survey<br />
in 2015 revealed that half of 3-4 year olds in<br />
Britain own a Tablet. That figure rises to 75%<br />
by age 15.<br />
There is little doubt that techno<strong>lo</strong>gy and<br />
techno<strong>lo</strong>gy usage causes friction in many<br />
homes. As parents we need to encourage our<br />
children towards healthy use of Tablets and<br />
other electronic devices. First and foremost,<br />
putting a time cap in place is essential. The<br />
American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP)<br />
recently reported that the average child in the<br />
United States spends seven hours a day in<br />
front of some sort of screen. Now, you don’t<br />
need to have a degree in medicine to know<br />
that that is simply far too much time.<br />
The AAP also advises that children spend no<br />
more than two hours on screens and that time<br />
be spent with ‘quality content.’ But what<br />
exactly is ‘quality content’?<br />
There are plenty of Apps available claiming to<br />
be educational but there is, at present, no<br />
quality control. If you are unsure what exactly<br />
an App is then ask an 8-year-old, this is how I<br />
found out. Then go on to www.internetmatters.<br />
org, a website that is specifically dedicated to<br />
keeping children safe online, and check out<br />
their ‘Parents’ Guide to Apps’.<br />
There are a few simple steps parents can take<br />
when purchasing Apps for kids. The first and<br />
easiest is to ask around. This is how I found<br />
out about Squeebles. There are various<br />
different Squeebles Apps (all available on<br />
iTunes) that cover spelling, times tables and<br />
other KS2 maths challenges. There is also the<br />
opportunity to purchase a bundle that cover all<br />
of the above. The games are interactive and<br />
fun. If your child gets spellings every week you<br />
can tai<strong>lo</strong>r-make a test on the App to cover<br />
them. In a similar vein parenting webpages are<br />
a good place to ask.<br />
Safety is also a big issue when children are<br />
al<strong>lo</strong>wed onto electronic devices as these days<br />
most of them connect to the internet.<br />
Parenting experts now advise that simply<br />
b<strong>lo</strong>cking is not enough. Pcadvisor.co.uk<br />
recently published a list of the 9 Best Kids’<br />
Tablets 2016 and made the point that the<br />
“advantage of a specially designed kids’ tablet<br />
include a ‘safe’ web browser (or no internet<br />
access) and games and pre<strong>lo</strong>aded apps<br />
appropriate for kids.” The issue is that while<br />
younger children embrace ‘kids’ Tablets’,<br />
children over 7 tend to dismiss them as<br />
‘babyish’ and want something more grown up,<br />
or certainly more grown up <strong>lo</strong>oking. The iPad is<br />
still very much coveted by children but as<br />
pcadvisor.co.uk points out they “don’t have<br />
great parental controls” and are “quite fragile.”<br />
The main problem with b<strong>lo</strong>cking is that free<br />
Wi-Fi is now the norm and while you can b<strong>lo</strong>ck<br />
certain content at home it’s not always b<strong>lo</strong>cked<br />
publicly. Therefore, the parenting gurus say,<br />
you should discuss with your child the reasons<br />
why you want to restrict their access. This isn’t<br />
an easy conversation to have but it is a vital<br />
one. The way I dealt with it was to liken the<br />
internet to a massive city (I chose New York)<br />
where there are some really amazing things to<br />
experience – the Statue of Liberty, the Empire<br />
State Building etc. but there are also places<br />
where its dangerous for adults to go. I said to<br />
my child, what sort of parent would I be if I<br />
took you to New York and then left you there,<br />
a<strong>lo</strong>ne, to try to find your way around.<br />
Anne Marie Scan<strong>lo</strong>n for Primary Times<br />
Tried and Tested Apps<br />
Recommended by Parents<br />
BBC Bitesize www.bbc.co.uk/education.<br />
This website and App offers learning<br />
resources for both primary and secondary<br />
levels, taking into account the<br />
geographical differences in the UK.<br />
Abacus for Kids App is available<br />
FREE on iTunes.<br />
Maths Rockx App is available<br />
FREE on iTunes<br />
Squeebles Apps are available to<br />
buy on iTunes.<br />
The 9 ‘Best Tablets’<br />
www.pcadvisor.co.uk lists the Nine Best<br />
Tablets for Children in the fol<strong>lo</strong>wing order.<br />
For detailed reviews visit their webpage.<br />
Amazon Fire • Amazon Fire HD6<br />
Kurio Tab 2 • Amazon Fire HD 8<br />
LeapFrog Epic • LeapFrog LeapPad<br />
Platinum • iPad Mini 2 • LeapFrog3<br />
LeapPad Ultra XDi<br />
Safe Surfing<br />
Fol<strong>lo</strong>w these simple rules to keep<br />
electronic use healthy and safe...<br />
• Talk to your child about electronic<br />
devices and the internet. Explain to<br />
them that the internet is not always a<br />
safe place.<br />
• Do not let your child down<strong>lo</strong>ad anything<br />
without checking with you first. This<br />
isn’t just about their safety but ensures<br />
you don’t end up paying a massive bill.<br />
• Check your child’s online activity.<br />
• Set time limits for screen time and stick<br />
to them.<br />
• Do not al<strong>lo</strong>w any electronic devices at<br />
the dinner table and this includes your<br />
own tablet and mobile phone!<br />
• Turn the Wi-Fi off at night.<br />
• Offset screen time by Green Time<br />
(ie. Outdoors time!)<br />
22<br />
Primary Times OCTOBER HALF TERM Issue | www.primarytimes.net/oxfordshire
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