Primary Times West London Feb 17

What’s on guide 

62,000 copies for Parents, 

Teachers & Children 

30 Jan - 19 March 2017 

Issue 104 

in West London 

Red Nose Day is back! 

To get involved go to www.rednoseday.com 

The Best Family Guide to What’s On 

Primary Times, West London • February Half Term 2017 

1

RHS Search for Young Wildlife 

Enthusiasts to Create Scarecrows for 

RHS Hampton Court Palace Show 

Schools needed from across London and South East England 

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is searching for pre-schools and primary schools 

from the South East to take ‘a walk on the wild side’ and design wildlife themed 

scarecrows for display at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, 4-9 July. 

The shortlisted schools will be asked to build their scarecrow designs which will be 

judged by visitors at the show. To enter, pupils must be in year six or below and must be 

registered with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. 

The lucky winners will receive £200 worth of gardening vouchers, with second and third 

placed schools receiving £150 and £50 worth of gardening vouchers. The deadline for 

entries is 10 March 2017. 

The schools are challenged to use plants and recycled materials to create their ‘walk on 

the wild side’ inspired scarecrows. Children can let their imaginations run wild, taking 

inspiration from people, places and animals across the UK. The ‘wildlife’ theme will run 

across this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, raising awareness of the 

urgent need to support Britain’s declining wildlife. 

To enter and to sign up to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, schools should 

visit https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/Competitions/Hampton-Court-Scarecrows 

Registered Charity No. 211058 

If you can’t talk to each other... talk to us. 

Visit us at 70 Warren Street, London W1T 5PB or 10 New Street, London EC2M 4TP 

Discover 

how counselling 

can help 

Book an appointment now: 

020 7380 1960 tavistockrelationships.org

February Half Term 2017 : Contents 

Dear reader... 

Welcome to our February half term issue. 

We hope that you all enjoyed the festive 

break and that you have managed not to 

get the awful cold virus that seems to have 

swept across our country. Daylight hours 

are already stretching out and provide 

encouraging thoughts that outdoor play after 

school is not far away now. 

In this issue we bring you a whole host of events and activities 

that will be happening across West London during half term and 

beyond – indoor and outdoor activities that will help to keep your 

children entertained, from craft activities to steam train rides! There 

is something to suit everyone! We haven’t been able to include all 

activities in this issue so please don’t forget to check online at 

www.primarytimes.net/west_london for additional things to do. 

We have an exclusive discount from Oxygen Freejumping so do 

make sure you take advantage of this fabulous offer – see page 

5 for more details. Plus our annual party guide starts on page 13 

offering lots of inspiration and ideas to suit your budget, including the 

opportunity to win a kids crafting party with Paperchase on page 16! 

Don’t forget to send us your news – are you holding any special 

events at Easter that you would like us to include in our listings? – 

email us on ptwl@schoolspublishing.co.uk. 

Marion, Jackie, Marie, Julie & Carol 

News & Views 

Focus on Education 

Roundabout 

Let’s Party! 

Cook up a treat 

for Pancake Day! 

Theatre 

Book Reviews 

Loopy Library 

4 

6 

10 

13 

19 

20 

22 

23 

The Primary Times in West London team: 

Editor: 

Marion McAdam 

marion@schoolspublishing.co.uk 

Sub-Editor & Designer: 

Jackie Bourne 

Sales: 

Marie McArthur & Julie Daruvalla 

ptwl@schoolspublishing.co.uk 

01491 411848 

Production: 

Carol George 

production@ 

schoolspublishing.co.uk 

Primary Times in West London 

Primary Times Magazine Group 

Unit 1A, Thamesview Industrial Estate 

Newtown Road, Henley on Thames 

Oxfordshire RG9 1HG 

T: 01491 411848 | www.primarytimes.net/west_london 

Primary Times is independently published and distributed free through national primary schools 

in West London. It aims to inform families and children about current educational issues, 

forthcoming events, courses, attractions and give teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity 

to participate in the magazine by adding to its contents or by joining in the competitions. It is 

NOT our intention to publish any racist, sexist or politically biased material whatsoever. We 

also undertake not to carry any advertising which we would consider to be offensive to young 

families or harmful to the best interests of your children. Primary Times would like to thank 

all of the schools in West London for their assistance in distributing the magazine and or their 

contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the advertisers who have supported 

the publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when and 

where you can. The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced 

by our studio remains with Primary Times or with the relevant contributor. Primary Times is 

currently publishing 59 titles and over 2.7 million copies per issue under franchise licenses 

throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. All advertisements are accepted in good faith and 

on the same basis that the advertised goods and services are as stated in the advertisement. 

www.primarytimes.net/west_london 


3

News & Views West 

London 

Get involved with 

British Science 

Week: 10-19 March 

We all know how difficult it can 

be to think of innovative ways 

to educate children without 

seeing their minds wander 

and their eyes droop. So, if 

you’re looking for a touch of 

inspiration, look no further than 

British Science Week (BSW). 

BSW is a national 

celebration of science, 

technology, engineering and 

maths - featuring fascinating 

events and activities across 

the UK. It is run by the British 

Science Association (BSA) 

and will take place from 10-19 

March 2017. There will be a 

variety of events happening 

all over the country during the 

week which will be open for 

anyone to attend. 

Primary schools, children 

and families are an extremely 

important part of BSW. The 

BSA provide free activity 

packs full of inspiring ideas 

that you can do in your 

classroom or at home, with 

information about what you’ll 

need and how to extend the 

activities. The theme for this 

year is “Change”, encouraging 

young people to investigate 

the changes happening in 

the world around us and the 

changes they can make to 

have a positive impact on the 

future. 

There is a primary school 

pack which contains activities 

ranging from chemistry you 

can do in the kitchen, to 

creating a Moon diary, and 

even instructions on how to 

build your own rocket. 

Pupils can also enter the 

annual poster competition to 

be in with a chance of winning 

an array of prizes. Posters 

will be based on the theme 

of “Change” and are judged 

on how creative and wellresearched 

the ideas are, as 

well as how well the poster has 

been made or drawn. 

New for primary schools in 

2017 is Demo Day; an annual 

campaign during BSW that 

aims to inspire school teachers 

and technicians to explore new 

concepts, provoke discussions 

and generate excitement 

through running science 

demonstrations. Demo Day 

will take place on Thursday 

16 March and teachers 

who are planning to run a 

demonstration on Demo Day 

can pledge their involvement. 

The pledges will be added to 

an interactive map which will 

display all participants from 

schools across the UK. 

To find out more and 

get involved visit www. 

britishscienceweek.org 

There will also be further 

announcements over the next 

month, including exciting new 

events for 2017, so do keep 

checking back and follow the 

hashtag #BSW17 on Twitter for 

important news and updates. 

Save the date and put your thinking caps 

on – Wear A Hat Day is coming again! 

What is Wear A Hat Day? 

Wear A Hat Day is the UK’s premier 

brain tumour research fundraising 

event. Taking place on Friday 31st 

March 2017, which is the last day 

of Brain Tumour Awareness Month, 

schools and families across the 

country get involved to help raise 

funds for research into this devastating 

disease. 

Why get involved? 

Brain tumours kill more children 

and adults under the age of 40 

than any other cancer… yet just 

1% of the national spend on cancer 

research has been allocated to 

this devastating disease. No parent 

should lose a child and no child 

should lose a parent prematurely. 

Brain Tumour Research is the 

only national charity that invests in 

sustainable long-term research at 

UK Centres of Excellence. Wear 

A Hat Day is a great way to show 

support and raise money for this 

research. Children and adults take 

part in days of hat-filled fundraising 

events. School children maximise 

their fundraising by selling 

exclusive hat-shaped pin badges 

– with new designs from the charity 

created each year, they have become 

collector’s items among the 

youngsters! 

How do I get involved? 

Register now at www.wearahatday. 

org and start planning your event. 

Your fundraising pack will include 

leaflets and posters to help promote 

your event and will arrive in 

plenty of time for your Wear A Hat 

Day. The charity provides exciting 

Wear A Hat Day merchandise 

to buy and sell to help with your 

fundraising – wristbands, plush 

hats, baseball caps, car hats and 

designer brooches for parents and 

teachers joining in with little fundraisers. 

Event ideas and fundraising 

top tips can be found on the 

website. Many children make hats, 

have hat competitions, parades 

and fashion shows, and the charity 

publishes the best photos on social 

media. 

All in all it is simply too 

#HATTASTIC to miss! 

Help your child develop fine motor skills 

while having fun family bonding time! 

The DoUp4Ways cushion has been designed 

to help parents to support their children to learn 

and develop a range of skills without them even 

noticing that this is what they are doing. 

Interactive cushions is the brain child of stay 

at home Dad Alfred Munroe who is the proud 

father of 4 sons. 

To find out more go to www.doup4ways.com 

4 


www.primarytimes.net/west_london

A very special Tree of Wishes is 

planted at The John Lyon School 

To celebrate and commemorate the 140th anniversary 

of the founding of the John Lyon School, boys in Year 7 

held a very special tree planting. The 140th tree is a 

sapling with quite a heritage; it is part of Chiswick House 

& Gardens Trust’s Cedar of Lebanon Conservation project. 

The future of the famous Cedars of Lebanon at 

Chiswick House & Gardens has been secured by grafting 

five different clones and sharing these with other historic 

public gardens. 31 Cedars of Lebanon have been 

successfully grafted as part of an English Heritage Project 

and are now thriving in historic sites including Hyde Park 

Gardens Square, St James’s Square, Boston Manor, 

Walpole Park and Painshill. The John Lyon School are 

delighted to have been 

offered one of these saplings 

and for our newest pupils to 

be able to join together to 

plant the tree in our grounds. 

Year 7 boys each wrote 

their wishes for the future on 

a postcard that they planted 

around Cedar. The Year 7 

Tree of Wishes will thrive in 

the Red House Garden at 

this historic School for years 

to come. 

Jumping Fun for Everyone in Acton 

Oxygen Freejumping, London’s 

favourite trampoline park, is set 

to make your family time soar with 

a great offer on 1-hour jumping 

sessions exclusively 

for Primary Times readers! 

Oxygen Freejumping is the place 

where you can jump, flip, leap, play 

and soar to your heart’s content. 

Unlike other trampoline parks it has 

multiple different jumping zones, so 

whether you’re a superstar flipper or 

a bouncing beginner you’ll 

be in for a treat at Oxygen 

Freejumping! 

The whole family is 

welcome to have a bouncing 

time as you defy gravity on 

the mega airbags! Take on the 

Oxygen Allstars at dodgeball, 

battle your friends on the 

speed reaction walls and 

practice your super slamming 

skills on the basketball hoops. 

It’s also the home of the 

most jumping kids parties 

going, so if there’s a special 

birthday coming up be sure to put a 

trampolining date in the diary – then all 

you need to do is send the invites! 

Plus, exclusively for Primary Times 

readers, you can save 20% if you 

use code PT20 when booking! 

Get ready to make some memories 

with the whole family at Oxygen 

Freejumping. Visit oxygenfreejumping. 

co.uk to book. Located on Kendal 

Avenue, West London W3 0AF. 

Offer ends 28 February 2017. 

JUMPING FUN FOR EVERYONE! 

PRIMARY TIMES EXCLUSIVE 

20% OFF 

FREEJUMPING! 

USE CODE: PT20 

VALID UNTIL: 28.02.17 

KIDS PARTIES ALSO BOOKING NOW 

KENDAL AVENUE, LONDON, W3 0AF 

BOOK ONLINE: OXYGENFREEJUMPING.CO.UK 

BOOKING HOTLINE: 0203 846 1386 

To advertise in Primary Times call 01491 411848 


5

Give your child the best chance 

of getting into their school of 

choice with 

Focus on 

Education 

DiscoG Coding Academy 

Learn The Language That Writes The Future. 

Call Gerard on: 07767300940 

info@discogcodingacademy.com 

www.discogcodingacademy.com 

LOCATIONS 

Stanmore, Harrow, 

Edgware, Radlett, 

Northwood & Pinner 

BOOK 

your FREE 

Session 

NOW! 

• Use the Raspberry Pi, a credit card-sized computer 

• Learn the Python Programming Language 

• Use Python Turtle to draw digital art 

• Build basic electronic circuits & much more... 

YOUNG CODERS PROGRAMME 

Weekly Coding Classes for Ages 8–14 

Visit our website for information on GCSE and A-level courses. 

Coding Classes for ages 8-14 

DiscoG Coding Academy uses the Raspberry Pi – a credit card 

sized computer – to teach children and adults of all ages to code. 

Join one of our unique coding programmes to discover the Python 

Programming Language. 

The Young Coders Course, for children aged 6-8 and 9-14 is an 

ideal introduction to the world of coding. The 11+ exams are now 

over, this is the perfect time to discover a new skill that is essential 

to your child’s future. In one-to-one sessions, each student is 

encouraged to learn at their own pace, whilst students taught 

in small groups of a similar age are able to collaborate, share 

thoughts and provide support, utilising their individual strengths. 

We are living in a world dominated by technology, 

understanding hardware and software is now as important as 

reading and writing and is essential to surviving in the 21st 

Century. Get inspired and join the digital revolution today! 

For more information visit www.discogcodingacademy.com 

Give your child the best 

chance with Examberry 

Examberry are 11+ specialists and run small 

friendly classes with a maximum of 8 children 

per class only. We have centres in Ealing, 

Hounslow, Slough, Kingston, New Malden and 

Teddington. All our tutors are qualified teachers 

and we teach in a positive interactive way. At Examberry we have one 

goal – to teach, support and encourage the children to always do their 

best. I can’t put into words our delight when we see a child progress and 

achieve great things. Their joy is our joy. 

Today we have over 200 children registered with us and our published 

11+ Test Papers in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal 

Reasoning are selling in major retail shops. This year we joint with Mensa 

wrote the entrance tests for the Channel Four programme “Child Genius” 

which puts gifted children through their paces. 

I love what I do and feel a duty to give something back to society. 

We sponsor many talented and gifted children through our sponsorship 

programme and also support local schools with fundraising programmes. 

The greatest gift we can give our children is education. I am happy I 

can contribute in my small way in doing that. Nav Johal, Partner. 

EducationInvestor 

Awards 2016 

Try Kumon’s two-week Free Trial now! 

At your local Kumon Study 

Centre our aim is to develop 

students into confident, 

independent learners and to help 

them achieve their full potential. 

Kumon enables children 

to confidently take on new 

challenges and develop strong 

study skills. 

We believe this opportunity to 

grow academically and personally 

should be available to children of 

all ages and abilities. This is why, 

between 1-28 February, we are 

offering a two-week Free Trial of 

the Kumon Maths and/or English 

Programme for all new students. 

The Free Trial will allow you to 

attend a Kumon Study Centre 

for two consecutive weeks, meet 

your Instructor and their team of 

dedicated assistants, and find 

out what your child can achieve 

through the Kumon Method of 

Learning. For more information 

about the two-week Free Trial, 

please contact your local Kumon 

Study Centre or visit our website 

at kumon.co.uk/find-a-tutor/freeassessment. 

6 Primary Times, West London • February Half Term 2017 

Don’t forget to say you saw it in Primary Times!

Critical Thinking at Clifton Lodge 

At Clifton Lodge we believe 

that education is more than 

just learning the right answers. 

We want our pupils to be 

independent thinkers and have 

introduced Critical Thinking 

classes for our pupils from Year 

4 to 7 as part of their weekly 

curriculum. These classes 

include logic problems, both 

literacy and numeracy based and 

debating. The benefits of Critical 

Thinking include: 

• Children are empowered with 

the tools to think for themselves 

such as perseverance and 

looking at problems from 

different angles. 

• Improving Children’s reasoning 

skills, through class debate. 

• Teaching children to listen to 

other opinions, whether they 

agree or disagree. 

• Enhancing Pupil skills in 

expressing themselves which 

are life skills needed for senior 

school interviews, and beyond. 

• Supporting verbal and nonverbal 

curriculum lessons. 

This forms part of our overall 

plan to address more than just 

the traditional subjects covered 

in most prep and junior schools. 

We firmly believe a holistic 

education gives our pupils life 

skills as well as knowledge. 

For more information please 

contact the Headmaster, Dr 

Tony Thamia on tony.thamia@ 

cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk, visit 

www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk 

or call 020 8579 3662. 

A fearless start 

to the year with 

Explore Learning 

At Explore Learning we 

are working hard to create 

a generation of fearless 

learners! For us, a child’s 

educational journey goes 

beyond acing a quick spelling 

test or getting to the top 

of the class for a term. It is 

about building long-lasting 

confidence that takes 

them through their entire 

life. Whether it’s through 

developing a ‘have a go 

attitude’, or knowing it’s ok 

to put their hand up without 

fear, or simply feeling excited 

about their next step, we can 

help. It’s about nurturing 

a sense of pride, and a 

fearless attitude to learning 

for every child. 

Our incredible tutors have 

one goal: to unlock a love of 

learning. Whether your child 

is with us to prepare for their 

11-plus, raise attainment 

or just grow in confidence, 

we’ll prepare an inspiring 

programme to help achieve 

their version of amazing. 

Because when children 

Explore, they excel. 

To celebrate the new 

year and all of the potential it 

brings, we would like to offer 

you a little something to help 

your child along their fearless 

learner journey. From the 

16th January until the 28th 

February, you’ll save £50 

when you join any one of 

our maths and English 

tuition centres. To find out 

which one is closest to you 

and to book your free trial, 

check out our website: 

www.explorelearning.co.uk/ 

offer. 

Inspiring a love 

of learning 

“It is a very friendly school with happy, polite and confident children. The teaching 

methods are such that the children love learning and want to go to school.” (Current Parent) 

An independent preparatory 

school for boys and girls 

from Nursery to 13 years 

Open Days 

Saturday 18th March 2017 

Saturday 20th May 2017 

10.00am - 12.00 noon 

Clifton Lodge School, 

8 Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5BG 

Call now to reserve your place 

or to arrange a private tour at 

your convenience. 

Tel: 020 8579 3662 

admissions@cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk 

www.cliftonlodgeschool.co.uk 



7

Focus on 

Education 

Good habits work wonders 

Students who are falling behind are 

obvious candidates for attention. But even 

high-achieving students may not reach 

their potential if they’re not developing 

effective work habits, according to Rhian 

Prosser, of NumberWorks’nWords Ealing. 

“Most students can benefit from improved 

time management and organization skills. 

Some students may not be sufficiently 

challenged, while others may be unable to 

bridge the gap on their own.” 

Rhian has excellent news: NumberWorks 

’nWords’ Centres offer one-to-one tuition 

to all school-aged students, with unique 

programs and 

“so much fun it 

doesn’t feel like 

learning”. For a 

free assessment 

and introductory 

lesson call Rhian: 

020 8840 8404. 

DoUp4Ways: The interactive cushions that allow you to increase 

your child’s development while having fun family bonding time. 

Interactive cushions is the brain child of stay at home 

Dad Alfred Munroe who is the proud father of 4 sons. 

Thinking about what children tend to struggle with 

when getting dressed, he came up with the idea of 

incorporating laces, zips, buttons and fasteners to the 

cushion, adding to the theme of helping children and 

even adults to develop their fine motor skills. 

The DoUp4Ways cushion has been designed to help parents to support their children to 

learn and develop a range of skills without them even noticing. Visit www.doup4ways.com 

Junior Music Day: 

Friday 28 April 2017 

On Friday 28th April, The John Lyon School’s 

Music Department will open its doors to 

budding musicians for a Junior Music Day. 

The event is for pupils from local schools 

who are in Years 5-7 and are either emerging 

or established musicians or singers. The fun 

day will be packed with mass music-making, 

and children will experience performing in 

a large orchestra or choir. The day will be 

held at the well-equipped Music Department 

of The John Lyon School on Middle Road, 

Harrow, HA2 0HN, under the care and 

guidance of the Director of Music, Mr Huw 

Jones and his team of both classicallytrained 

and contemporary specialist music 

teachers. The day will culminate in a concert 

for family and friends at 3pm. Children 

must register by Friday 10th February by 

emailing wendy.constantine@johnlyon.org; 

places are limited. An application will 

be forwarded by reply. 

First Class Learning 

Are you looking for dynamic and effective tuition? 

Helping Children Succeed 

in Maths and English 

4 Courses based on National Curriculum 

4 Improves confidence & encourages 

enjoyment in learning 

4 Helps with school assessments & exams 

4 Suitable for all ages & abilities 

4 Tailored to suit individual needs 

National Programme supported by Professional 

Educationalists and the Dyspraxia Foundation 

Ealing Central 01895 673114 

Hanwell 020 8737 9820 

Harrow Kenton 07989 538313 

Harrow South 07401 20 80 40 

Harrow Town 020 8933 7019 

Hayes 08454 901 902 

Northwood 07811 194 499 

Pinner 01923 593 252 

Sudbury 01895 673114 

Uxbridge 07701 00 77 48 

For more information visit www.firstclasslearning.co.uk 



To tutor or not to tutor? 

Tutoring has long been the go-to choice of anxious parents 

trying to ensure a coveted grammar school place or for 

children who are struggling to keep up at school. 

Tuition can help children with their 

self-confidence; provide an extra 

challenge in their strongest areas; 

help prepare for exams; catch 

up after absence; help grasp key 

concepts in maths or literacy. 

Whatever the reason, tutoring 

has been shown to help improve 

school performance, confidence 

and self-esteem, as well as help 

children develop independent 

study skills and learn at their 

own pace. 

How to choose the right 

tuition for your child 

In the past, choosing a tutor 

was largely based on personal 

recommendation, but nowadays 

there are many different tutoring 

services to choose from: 

One-to-one tutoring at home 

These lessons usually take place 

in the home. One-to-one attention 

may be required if a child is really 

struggling in a subject or if they 

have a complicated learning style. 

One-to-one and small group 

tutoring at a study centre 

A tutor will be responsible for 

no more than six children at a 

time. The tutor works with each 

child on their own individualised 

learning programme and also 

encourage independent learning. 

When children study alongside 

other children in a small group, the 

pressure of one-on-one attention 

is taken away. Tutoring as part 

of a small group is more cost 

effective than individual learning. 

Online tutoring 

Online tuition uses programmes 

such as Skype or Google+. 

Private online tutors are cheaper 

as they will not be required to 

travel and may tutor more than 

one student at once. 

very quickly be able to gauge their 

level of understanding and identify 

any misconceptions and deal with 

them effectively. 

2. Engagement 

Engaging a child’s interest is 

paramount. If the student is 

interested, they understand, and 

once they understand they gain 

confidence and improve much 

more quickly. 

3. Flexibility 

Tutors should create an 

individualised learning 

programme, according to each 

specific child’s needs and learning 

style, to help them reach their 

‘eureka’ moment or see difficult 

subjects in a new light. 

4. Variety 

The more resources a tutor 

can use during the session, the 

better. Some study centres, have 

developed their own resources 

using teams of maths and English 

specialists which are designed to 

meet the outcomes of the National 

Curriculum - this makes the work 

directly relevant to pupils. 

5. Independence 

Guidance and assistance 

should be given by the tutor, 

but one of the main aims is 

to give children the ability to 

tackle and consolidate learning 

independently. Often small pieces 

of homework will be given to 

encourage this. It really makes a 

difference! 

Contributed by Becky Nicholson, 

Centre Manager, 

First Class Learning 

www.firstclasslearning.co.uk 

Fine motor skills are essential 

for performing everyday skills 

like cutting, self care tasks (e.g. 

managing clothing fastenings, 

opening lunch boxes, cleaning 

teeth) and pencil skills. 

“You can race to see who 

does everything up first. 

It can really be a lot of fun!” 

For all sales, orders and 

enquiries visit the website. 

The interactive cushions that allow you 

to increase your child’s development 

whilst having fun family bonding time. 

Special offer: 

£29.99 

£49.99 

www.doup4ways.com 

YOUR CHILDREN ARE 

AMAZING ALREADY. WE 

JUST HELP THEM PROVE IT. 

Maths & English 

FREE ASSESSMENT 

BOOK NOW! 

Ealing Ph 020 8840 8404 

numberworksnwords.com 

What to expect 

from your tutor 

Whatever learning style you 

choose, the tutor should provide: 

1. Understanding 

A tutor should be familiar with 

specific aspects of the curriculum 

your child needs to cover and will 



9

Adventure Holidays 

for 7-17 year olds 

UP TO 

40% 

of 

* 

With all activities, tuition, meals and accommodation included, and more 

choice than ever before, our holidays offer incredible value for money. 

Call free on 0800 840 3744 

or visit www.pgl.co.uk/40 

*Terms & conditions apply. 

Roundabout 

Your family diary of what’s on and when 

The Best Family 

Guide to What’s On 

Available in the 

App Store 

for iphone and Android 

ONGOING 

On now, until 26 Feb 

Chiswick House & Gardens, W4 

Magical Lantern Festival 

A spectacular fusion of art, heritage and 

culture, as beautifully sculpted lanterns 

take on various forms. This year’s theme 

is ‘Explore The Silk Road’, with lantern 

scenes highlighting the route of trade 

and culture from Europe to Ancient 

China. Plus refreshments, merchandise, 

ice-rink, virtual reality gaming, a mini 

funfair and more. All ages. 5pm- 

10.30pm. Charges apply, booking 

recommended. www.magicallantern.uk 

Ongoing now 

(Sundays only) 

Camden Arts Centre, NW3 

Studio Takeover 

Taking inspiration from Joachim 

Koester’s exhibition In the Face of 

Overwhelming Forces, families will have 

the opportunity to creatively consider 

movement, gesture and memory 

through drawing, film and mixed media. 

All ages. Drop-in: 2pm-4.30pm. Free. 

www.camdenartscentre.org 

From Wed 8 Feb 

Science Museum, SW7 

Robots 

An exhibition featuring a unique 

collection of over 100 robots, including 

15 working models. Discover how 

robots and society have been shaped 

by religious belief, the industrial 

revolution and by our dreams of the 

future. All ages. 10am-5pm. Charges 

apply, booking recommended. 

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk 

From Sat 25 Feb 

(weekends only) 

WWT London Wetland 

Centre, SW13 

Weekend Family Activities 

Spot the first signs of spring, enjoy 

pond-dipping and craft activities and 

join in with a nature walk. All ages. 

Drop-in: 9.30am-4.30pm. Entrance 

charges apply. www.wwt.org.uk 

FEBRUARY - DAILY DIARY 

Wed 1 Feb 

Northwood Library, HA6 

Origami Workshop 

Learn about and create with origami to 

celebrate Chinese New Year. All ages. 

4pm-5pm. Free. www.hillingdon.gov.uk 

Wed 1 & Sat 4 Feb 

North Kensington Library, W11 

Harry Potter Moving Portraits 

Imagine having your portrait as a 

teacher at Hogwarts School of 

Witchcraft and Wizardry? Join in and 

conjure it together! All ages. This 

workshop is in two parts and children 

should aim to attend both Wed and Sat 

sessions. Wed 3.45pm-4.30pm & Sat 

10.30am-12noon. Fancy dress is 

encouraged! www.rbkc.gov.uk 

Thu 2 Feb 

Hounslow Library, TW3 

Harry Potter Book Night 

Celebrate the wizarding world of Harry 

Potter! Take part in some magical crafts, 

quizzes, games and spells. 4.30pm- 

6pm. Ages 7+. Small charge applies, 

booking required. www.hounslow.info 

South Ruislip Library, HA4 

Harry Potter Book Night Quiz 

Get together in teams of up to four and 

test your Harry Potter knowledge with 

this fun quiz. Ages 7+. 4.30pm-6pm. 

Free. www.hillingdon.gov.uk 

Wood End Library, UB6 

Harry Potter Book Night 

Celebrate Harry Potter Book Night 

by participating in some of Hogwarts’ 

most exciting classes! All ages. 

3.45pm-4.45pm. Free but booking 

required. www.ealing.gov.uk 

I saw your event 

in Primary Times! 

Please mention us when 

attending a listed event. 

10 



Sat 4 Feb 

Harrow Libraries 

Storytelling activities 

Celebrate National Storytelling week 

with stories and crafts at your local 

library. Sessions include Princess and 

the Dragon at Gayton Library, Winter 

Tales to Warm You at Pinner Library and 

Poetry Storytelling at Roxeth Library. All 

ages. Times vary - visit the library for 

details. Free. www.harrow.gov.uk 

Hounslow Libraries 

Poetry with Joanna Harker Shaw 

Join a local poet for poetry writing, book 

cover crafts and colouring. Meet the 

Witches of Aira Falls and create witches 

and monsters to put into your own 

poetry book. Ages 6+. At Brentford 

Library 10.30am-11.30am and at 

Isleworth Library 2pm-3pm. Free but 

booking required. www.hounslow.info 

Kensington Central Library, W8 

Harry Potter Extravaganza 

Experience the sorting hat ceremony, 

earn points for your Hogwarts house 

and bask in the magic with other 

likeminded fans. All muggles, witches 

and wizards are invited! All ages. 

1pm-4pm. Free but limited spaces. 

www.rbkc.gov.uk 


Jack and the Beanstalk craft 

What’s at the top of the beanstalk? Do 

you dare to find out? Make your own 

beanstalk to celebrate National 

Storytelling Week. All ages. 2pm-3pm. 

Free. www.ealing.gov.uk 

We check listings 

carefully but event details 

and prices may be subject 

to change. Please check 

with the venue. 

Sun 5 Feb 

British Museum, WC1 

Get your tech on! 

Connect to the Museum in exciting, 

new ways using wearable technology. 

Ages 7+. Drop-in: 11am-4pm. Last 

admission to borrow a device is 3.15pm 

(A passport, national ID or driver’s 

licence is required as a deposit). 

Free. www.britishmuseum.org 

V&A Museum, SW7 

Cabinets of Curiosities for 4017 

Explore the Museum to discover curious 

treasures. What will choose to collect 

and keep in the future? Select and 

collect objects and artworks to create 

your own Cabinet of Curiosities for 

4017. All ages. Drop-in: 10.30am-5pm. 

Free. www.vam.ac.uk 

Thu 9 - Sun 19 Feb 

Southbank Centre, SE1 

Imagine Children’s Festival 

11 days of children’s theatre, literature, 

music, creative workshops and more. 

Uncover the magic of storytelling 

through pictures with Chris Riddell or 

listen to the popular rhyming stories of 

Julia Donaldson with a double-bill 

of The Gruffalo & Room on the Broom. 

Full programme available online. 

www.southbankcentre.co.uk 


Institute Français, SW7 

Book Swap 

Calling all book worms! Enjoy an 

afternoon of book swapping, fun and 

special crafty activities, including an 

origami workshop at 2.30pm. Ages 6+. 

Drop-in, from 12noon. Free. 

www.institut-francais.org.uk 

Royal Institution, W1 

Family Fun Day: Supercharged 

An action-packed day of talks, 

demonstrations and experiments that 

explore the exciting supercharged 

world of energy. All ages. 11am-4pm. 

Charges apply, booking recommended. 

www.rigb.org 

Serpentine Gallery, W2 

Winter Family Day 

Work with artists to construct a 

temporary studio that will change and 

grow over the afternoon. All ages. 

Drop-in: 1pm-5pm. Free. 

www.serpentinegalleries.org 

Sat 11 & Sun 12 Feb 

Tate Britain, SW1 

BP Family Festival: Play the 

Gallery 

Tate Britain will be transformed into 

a place of play through games, music 

and movement, with artist-led activities, 

creative workshops and more. 

All ages. Drop-in: 11am-4pm. Free. 

www.tate.org.uk 

Sat 11 - Fri 17 Feb 


Centre, SW13 

Owl Pellet Workshops 

Owls are amazing animals that swallow 

their prey whole and as not all of the 

animal can be digested; part of it is 

regurgitated in the form of a pellet. Find 

out what owls eat by identifying the 

bones within a pellet. You might even be 

able to reconstruct a skeleton found 

inside it! Ages 5+. Drop-in: 9.30am- 

4.30pm. Charges apply. 

www.wwt.org.uk 

Sat 11 - Sun 19 Feb 

Hampton Court Palace, KT8 

Palace Adventures 

Discover the stories of Hampton Court 

Palace by taking part in a fun filled, 

palace adventure. Meet characters, 

solve puzzles and create your own piece 

of the past. Ages 5-11. Drop-in: 

11am-3pm. Admission charges apply. 

www.hrp.org.uk 

London Museum of 

Water and Steam, TW8 

Spectacular Science 

Take part in special science family 

activities as well as seeing the railway in 

steam! Plus enjoy the Spectacular Mad 

More Roundabout 

BE 

GOOD 

AT 

BEING 

YOURSELF 

EALING 

01494 260249 

ealing@stagecoach.co.uk 

stagecoach.co.uk/ealing 

HARROW 

0203 5040100 

harrow@stagecoach.co.uk 

stagecoach.co.uk/harrow 

Unlock your child’s potential with 

Stagecoach Performing Arts 

Singing, dancing and acting classes 

for 4 - 18 year olds, where students 

learn to embrace life with creativity 

and courage 

 

® 

Creative Courage For Life 


STANMORE 

0203 5042154 

stanmore@stagecoach.co.uk 

stagecoach.co.uk/stanmore 

SUDBURY HILL 

WEMBLEY NORTH 

01923 248294 

sudburyhill@stagecoach.co.uk 

stagecoach.co.uk/sudburyhill 

UXBRIDGE 

0208 3570273 

uxbridge@stagecoach.co.uk 

stagecoach.co.uk/uxbridge 


Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. 

Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd. 

11

Roundabout 

Science Show (weekends only, at 2pm). 

All ages. 11am-4pm. Entrance charges 

apply. www.waterandsteam.org.uk 


The Imagination Station 

Play with space and simple materials 

on a large scale to create your own 

monumental environments using 

Raphael, room 48a for inspiration. 

All ages. Drop-in: 10.30am-5pm. 

Free. www.vam.ac.uk 


Centre, SW13 

London Puddle Jumping 

Championships 

Grab your wellies and have fun jumping 

in puddles! Use your imagination to 

create the biggest splash and throw 

some shapes in the air for extra style! 

Every contestant will receive a sticker 

to celebrate their puddle jumping skills. 

All ages. 11.30am-12.30pm & 2.30pm- 

3.30pm. Entrance charges apply. 

www.wwt.org.uk 

ZSL London Zoo, NW1 

Vets in Action 

Step into the role of a vet! Get prepped 

with gloves and a mask, and join the 

team in the specially recreated ‘surgery’ 

to help experts examine X-rays and 

carry out toy treatments. Discover how 

vets keep the Zoo’s 18,000 animals in 

tip-top condition - from microchipping 

meerkats to checking tiger teeth! All 

ages. Session times vary. Charges 

apply. www.zsl.org 

It’s back! 



Amazing Animal Mummies 

Find out about Egyptian animal 

mummies. Play digital games to 

discover why the ancient Egyptians 

mummified animals and what gods they 

represented. Ages 5+. Drop-in: 

11am-4pm. Free. 

www.britishmuseum.org 

Jewish Museum London, NW1 

Access for All Family Day 

A family ceramics day with a range of 

clay-based sensory activities and object 

handling. Enjoy stories, a family tour and 

have a go on the potter’s wheel! All 

24.03.2017 

Red Nose Day is back and we’d 

love your school to join the fun. 

Get your free primary fundraising 

pack full of ideas, learning resources, 

balloons and stickers. But be quick 

because they run out faster than 

kids at home time! 

Order your free primary fundraising 

pack at rednoseday.com/pack 

Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England and Wales); SC039730 (Scotland). Photo credit: Jack Lawson. 

ages. 10am-12noon. Charges apply, 

booking recommended. 

www.jewishmuseum.org.uk 

Sun 12 - Sat 18 Feb 

Kensington Palace, W8 

Beautiful Things 

Discover the beautiful things inside 

Kensington Palace! Dress-up in fine 

costumes, meet the court painter and 

create your own beautiful mask to wear 

around the palace. Ages 5-11. Drop-in: 

11am-3pm. Adult entrance charges 

apply, children free. www.hrp.org.uk 

Mon 13 Feb 


Family Puppet Workshop 

Work together to make puppets of 

favourite book characters to help bring 

stories to life. Explore a variety of 

techniques for making puppets to 

encourage creativity, develop skills and 

stimulate your imagination! Ages 6-8. At 

Gayton Library 11am-12.30pm, and at 

Roxeth Library 3pm-4.30pm. Free but 

booking required. www.harrow.gov.uk 

The Library at Willesden 

Green, NW10 

Urban Art! 

Discover your creative side in this street 

art and graffiti workshop. Ages 10-16. 

2.30pm-4pm. Full details to be 

confirmed - please ask at the Library. 

www.brent.gov.uk 

Mon 13 - Fri 17 Feb 

Cartoon Museum, WC1 

Half Term Workshops 

A week of themed cartooning and 

animation workshops. Sessions include 

Superheroes, Cut-Out Animation, Animal 

Manga and more. Full programme 

available online. Ages 8+. Charges 

apply, booking essential. www. 

cartoonmuseum.org 

Going away this 

Half Term? Don’t forget 

you can find events listings 

for the rest of the UK at 

www.primarytimes.net 

Harrow Arts Centre, HA5 

Puppetry workshop 

A week-long workshop exploring the 

fantastical origins of the Chinese 

Zodiac. Learn how to design and make 

your very own animal of the zodiac 

puppet and then the puppetry 

performance techniques to tell the epic 

story of the Great Race! Ages 7-11. 

1pm-4pm each day. Charges apply, 

booking essential. www.harrowarts.com 


Half Term Crafts 

Enjoy themed craft sessions at your 

local library, including Valentine’s Day 

Craft, K’Nex, Pancake Day Craft and 

more. Ages 3+. Dates, times and 

themes vary. Full programme available 

online, or visit your local library for 

details. Free but booking required. 

www.harrow.gov.uk 

JW3, Jewish Community 

Centre, NW3 

February Half Term Scheme 

Express your wild side through science, 

sound and sport! An exciting week-long 

programme with a different session 

each day, including making edible 

worms, dance workshop, experimental 

and electronic music-making and more. 

Full programme available online. Ages 

5-11. 10am-3pm, lunch included. 


www.jw3.org.uk 

National Portrait Gallery, WC2 

Life through the Lens 

Inspired by the Luc Tuymans display and 

the permanent Collections, take part in 

a range of activities exploring portraits 

of people wearing glasses. All ages. 

Drop-in: 11am-4.30pm. Free. 

www.npg.org.uk 

RAF Museum, NW9 

Airfix Make and Take 

Pick up a kit, including glue and paints 

and make your own First World War 

Albatros or Sopwith Pup, complete with 

hangar to take it home in! Ages 8+. 

Drop-in: 11am-3pm. Charges apply. 

www.rafmuseum.org.uk 

Squires Garden Centre, TW2 

Create and Grow 

Paint a terracotta owl money box to look 

after your pocket money and brighten 

your room. All ages. Drop-in: 

10am-4pm. Charges apply. 

www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk 

Welsh Harp Environmental 

Education Centre, NW2 

Half Term Fun 

Enjoy fun-filled winter environmental 

activities. Create a bird feeder and make 

yummy cake for hungry birds, search 

for woodland mini-beasts and get 

creative with clay to make a mini-beast 

sculpture. Ages 5+. 10am-2pm. Small 

donation required, booking 

recommended. www.brent.gov.uk 

Tue 14 Feb 

Battersea Park 

Children’s Zoo, SW11 

Valentine’s Day Fun at the Zoo 

Join in the heart shaped feeding time 

fun and make your own lovebird puppet. 

All ages. Drop-in puppet sessions 

Roundabout continues on p16 

12 



Let’s Party! - The Primary Times annual party guide 


Often the highlight of a child’s year, the birthday 

party will etch an enormous mark on the family 

celebratory calendar. Filled with wonderment and 

wishes, this magical moment is dreamt about long 

before it arrives – for a child that is!... 

When I was a child in the 1970s and 80s a birthday party 

consisted mainly of sandwiches and cake. If it was a posh affair there 

was also trifle. Most children these days would scorn at such lack of 

sophistication. Or would they? Funnily enough, one of the latest trends 

on the children’s party circuit is ‘Retro’, where kids get jelly with icecream, 

sandwiches, sausage rolls (or sausages on sticks) and of course 

birthday cake. Games like Pin-the-Tail on the Donkey, Pass the Parcel 

and Musical Chairs never go out of fashion and going Retro can 

keep costs down. 

Themed parties never go out of fashion whether its pirates, 

princesses or superheroes. In the past few years Frozen 

parties (after the Disney film of the same name) have become 

extremely popular. Theme parties need not cause huge expense 

as many supermarkets and discount shops have decorations 

and table accessories to suit the various favourites including 

the ever-popular Frozen. Don’t discount leaving home as an 

expensive option as many local amenities have facilities that 

are under-used and often up for rental. If you provide your own 

food and decoration that will help keep costs down, and it has 

the advantage that no priceless family heirloom or treasured 

possession is going to get smashed to pieces. 

Entertainment is always a worry for parents and while clowns 

and jugglers are still popular children these days may also find 

themselves being tutored in football skills or meeting an Elsa 

(from Frozen) lookalike. Again, on the surface these might seem 

like pricey options but shop around on the internet and there are 

bargains to be found. Activity parties are increasingly popular; 

your child can learn to make pizza in a restaurant, paint crockery 

or even go on a Bear Grylls adventure in the woods. 

As children start to reach the end of primary school they often 

become too ‘sophisticated’ for ‘children’s parties’. One option 

in this case is to have a cinema party where they all go to see a 

film. Many cinemas will organise this for you, but you can just as 

easily do it yourself. If money is an issue you can always have a 

cinema party at home, let the guests choose DVDs and make 

their own popcorn – then disappear! Pizza parties work equally 

well for both older and younger children. Pizzas are easy and 

quick to prepare but do keep an eye on local pizza chains for 

vouchers and discounts 

Many parents stress about what food to provide for their small 

guests. Some of the delicacies on offer at children’s parties 

would put pricey restaurants to shame. Don’t be tempted down 

this path, these are small children, not the Michelin committee 

(although there will always be one precocious child who would 

prefer caviar to fish fingers). The only food that should worry a 

host is one that a guest may be allergic to, or intolerant of, as 

some allergies can be very severe or even fatal. 

Anne Marie Scanlon for Primary Times 

Party Checklist 

Invites. Aim to send out invites three weeks before the party. 

Don’t forget to include how old your child will be, the full address 

of the venue (including a map if it’s tucked away), a start and finish 

time, theme and fancy dress code if relevant. You might want to 

request information regarding allergies (food and pet allergies if you 

have pets and are hosting at home). Make it easy for parents to 

RSVP by providing both a telephone number and email address if 

possible. Keep a track of who has responded because no matter 

how easy you make it for people to RSVP you will probably have to 

issue a gentle reminder to some. 

Music. Get your playlist ready and do a test run before the big 

day. If you’re hosting away from home don’t forget to take the music 

with you! You can’t play musical chairs without it! 

Food. Keep it simple - as long as there’s plenty of crisps and 

enough birthday cake for everyone. Provide plenty of water. you 

can get individual water bottles from supermarkets for little expense. 

Don’t bother with juice or fizzy drinks as there’s enough sugar in 

the food and many parents take a dim view of both. 

Birthday Cake. Home made vs shop bought. It’s up to your 

child. It’s their birthday. Your child knows whether you are a super 

British Bake Off style parent or not. 

Candles & Matches for the cake. They are often 

overlooked with all the other preparation. If you’re hosting away 

from home don’t forget a knife too! 

Entertainment. If you hire someone, be sure to call them 

a day or two before the event to confirm they are coming. 

Decorations. Balloons are non-negotiable. It’s not a party 

without balloons. 

Running Order. Before the party, consider how long games 

and activities are likely to take, to make sure you don’t run out of 

time to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. Don’t feel you have to plan every 

second though - the children will probably welcome a bit of ‘down 

time’ for messing about with balloons! 



13

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Make it a party to remember! Check out these great 

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left to do in time for your child’s party. From chocolate cake to popular 

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Bespoke and completely unique birthday 

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Children’s Chocolate Parties 

Children’s Chocolate Parties are now in their fifth year of trading and growing 

quickly. Covering all counties between Bournemouth and London, Leoni will come 

to your home or other venue you have booked and run a fantastic chocolate party 

for your children! In Bournemouth parties are in our own venue. New this year are 

Cookery parties and again, Leoni will come to you. Everything is provided (except 

tables) and all the party-goers take home what they make. With the pizza making, 

they sit and eat their creation. Parties are suitable for children aged between 

6-13yrs, with different options to suit different ages. 

www.childrenschocolateparties.co.uk 

Bish Bash Birthdays 

Bish Bash Birthdays are the UK’s premier kids party franchise. Their acclaimed 

assortment of age appropriate activities includes guessing games, ball challenges, 

disco dancing, fun races, talent show, musical games, puppet pet, magic and 

much more. Nothing lasts longer than 5-10 minutes. It’s a winning formula and 

keeps the kids fully engaged from start to finish. Bish Bash Birthdays specialise 

in themed parties and can adapt their party plans to absolutely any theme the 

birthday child would like. Bish Bash Birthdays are entertaining hundreds of happy 

kids every weekend. Visit the website to see what all the fuss is about! 

www.bishbashbirthdays.co.uk 

Inspire their creativity with a craft party 

at Paperchase, Tottenham Court Road 

Suitable for ages 4-13 our parties are perfect for kids who 

love getting stuck into arts and crafts. Take your pick from 

a range of themes including mermaids, pirates, princesses 

and superheroes or from a selection of our popular kids 

workshops including scrapbooking, jewellery making and 

dream catchers. An optional catering package is available 

from our coffee shop Tinderbox and includes sandwiches, 

cakes and milkshakes. 

For booking enquiries please email projectcraftTCR@ 

paperchase.co.uk or pop into store. Find us at 213 - 215 

Tottenham Court Road, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 7PS. 

www.paperchase.co.uk/project-craft 

For your chance to WIN a kids’ crafting party at Paperchase, 

Tottenham Court Road, see the competition on p16! 

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15 

PRIMARY TIME ADVERT kids craft 2017.indd 1 16/01/2017 16:30

Roundabout continued from p12 

between 11am-12.30pm & 1.30pm- 

3.30pm. Charges apply. 

www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk 

Ealing Libraries 

Valentine’s Day Crafts 

Make a crown of books and hearts or 

love bug bookmarks in these fun craft 

sessions. Tue 14 Feb at Ealing Road and 

Kingsbury Libraries and Wed 15 Feb at 

Harlesden and Kilburn Libraries. Ages 

5+. 2.30pm-3.30pm. Free. 

www.brent.gov.uk 

Foundling Museum, WC1 

Victorian Street Games 

Learn about the outdoor games that 

children played in the 19th century and 

make your own game to take home. 

Ages 5+. 1-hour workshops at 

10.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm. Free. 

www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk 

Stanmore Library, HA7 

Anansi the Spider 

Listen to the amusing story of Anansi 

the Spider and make your own spider to 

take home. Ages 4-8. 2.15pm-3.15pm. 

Free. www.harrow.gov.uk 

Tue 14 - Fri 17 Feb 


Half Term Crafts 

Enjoy themed craft sessions at your 

local library. Ages 5+. Dates, times and 

themes vary. Full programme available 

online. Small charge applies, booking 

required. www.hounslow.info 

Win 

a kids crafting 

party at Paperchase 

Tottenham Court Road 

Win a themed craft party for up 

to 10 children. Choose from a range 

of themes, including mermaids, 

pirates, princesses and superheroes. 

For your chance to win, simply 

answer this question: 

Which one of these is a themed 

craft party that we offer? 

a) Sailors 

b) Superheroes 

c) Skeletons 

Enter online: www.primarytimes.net/ 

west_london/competitions 

or via www.facebook.com/PTWestLondon 

Closing date: 23 February 2017 

To find out more visit 

Paperchase.co.uk/project-craft 

Watermans, TW8 

Bring a Bear to Life! 

Work with skilled puppeteers from The 

Bear to make your own bear puppet and 

learn the basics of how to give it a 

personality of its very own. Ages 4-8. 

12.15pm. Charges apply, booking 

recommended. www.watermans.org.uk 

Tue 14 - Sat 18 Feb 

Grant Museum of Zoology, WC1 

Weird and Wonderful Wildlife 

Flying lizards, giant starfish, duck-billed 

platypuses, thorny devils and spiny 

anteaters, the Grant Museum is home to 

some Weird and Wonderful Wildlife. 

Take part in hands-on activities and 

come face to face with these beasts 

and many more. All ages. Drop-in: 

1pm-4.30pm. Free. www.ucl.ac.uk 

Tue 14 - Sun 19 Feb 

Museum of Brands, 

Packaging and Advertising, W11 

Half Term Activities 

Pick up an Adventure Bag and enjoy 

design activities and trails throughout 

half term. Discover the Time Tunnel, 

café and garden. All ages. Open Tue-Sat 

10am-6pm & Sun 11am-5pm. 

Admission charges apply, under 7s free. 

www.museumofbrands.com 

Wed 15 Feb 

Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3 

The Wiggly Wild Show 

Meet a variety of animals including a 

pygmy hedgehog, giant African land 

snails, corn snake, gecko, giant 

millipede, hermit crab and more! Find 

out how these creatures are suited to 

their natural environments and hold 

them (if you like). All ages. 10.30am- 

12noon & 1pm-2.30pm. Charges apply, 

booking essential. 

www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 

Fulham Palace, SW6 

Family Activity Day: The 

Venerable Victorians 

Imagine yourself as a Victorian Lady or 

Gent, with costumes to try on and a 

whole host of Victorian themed activities 

and take-home crafts. All ages. Drop-in: 

11am-3pm. Free. 

www.fulhampalace.org 

Pitzhanger Library, W5 

Storytelling with Richard Neville 

Join popular storyteller Richard Neville 

for a fun-filled session with stories, 

musical instruments and puppets. Help 

Richard to make up new stories and 

to retell old ones. Ages 6+. 11am- 

11.45am. Free but booking required. 

www.ealing.gov.uk 

Sir John Soane’s Museum, WC2 

Regency Baking 

Take a tour of the museum, including 

the recently opened kitchens. Learn 

about cooking in the Regency period 

and have a go at making some of the 

dishes enjoyed by Sir John Soane 

and his family. Ages 6+. 11am-3pm. 

Charges apply, booking essential. 

www.soane.org 

Wallace Collection, W1 

Drop in and Draw 

Meet artist Hattie Moore to learn how to 

use drawing as a tool to learn more 

about the objects and paintings in the 

Wallace Collection. All ages. Drop-in: 

10.30am-12.30pm. 

www.wallacecollection.org 

Wed 15 & Thu 16 Feb 

Hyde Park (Education Centre), W2 

Discovery Day - Brilliant Birds 

Make a bird feeder or nest box, follow 

the Discovery Trail, take part in bird 

watching and enjoy art activities. All 

ages. Drop-in: 11am-3pm. Free, but 

charge applies for nest boxes. 

www.supporttheroyalparks.org 

Royal Mews, 

Buckingham Palace, SW1 

Touch, Feel & Make 

Explore objects from the handling 

collection, take inspiration from the 

garments on view and design a new 

coachman’s hat. All ages. Drop-in: 

11am-3pm. Admission charges apply. 

www.royalcollection.org.uk 

Thu 16 Feb 

Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3 

Silk // Unwoven Histories 

Through a mix of story-telling, self-led 

exploration and practical activities, learn 

the facts and stories surrounding silk 

production, and its global spread as a 

highly desirable fabric. Plus plant some 

mulberry seeds and create silk panels 

representing your silk discoveries. Ages 

7-16. 10.30am-3pm. Charges apply, 

booking essential. 

www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 

Battersea Park Zoo, SW11 

Hibernating Animalzzz 

Find out which animals are sleepy 

heads and who braves the cold! Enjoy 

stories and make a 3D picture of a 

hibernating bear. All ages. Drop-in craft 

sessions between 11am-12.30pm & 

1.30pm-3.30pm. Stories at 11.45am 

& 2.15pm. Entrance charges apply. 

www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk 


Angry Birds - Film and workshop 

Make an Angry Bird and then enjoy the 

film. Workshop at 10am, film at 11am. 


www.harrowarts.com 

Royal Academy of Arts, W1 

Half Term Family Workshops 

Be inspired by the exhibition Revolution: 

Russian Art from 1917-1932. Explore 

the galleries and create a collaborative 

artwork in response to what you have 

learned. Ages 5+. 10.15am-1pm. 


www.royalacademy.org.uk 

Sir John Soane’s Museum, WC2 

Make a Miniature Georgian House 

Be inspired by the exhibition of Robert 

We check listings 

carefully but event details 

and prices may be subject 

to change. Please check 

with the venue. 

16 



Adam’s designs for London houses, and 

take part in a collaborative project to 

make a miniature town house. All ages. 

Drop-in: 11am-3pm. Free. 

www.soane.org 

Fri 17 Feb 

Foundling Museum, WC1 

Musical Storytelling 

Immerse yourself in the music and 

sounds of games played by children 

on the streets of London throughout 

its history. Ages 5+. 45-minute 

workshops at 10.30am, 11.45am, 

1.30pm & 2.45pm. Free. 

www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk 


Cockpit Theatre, NW8 

Costume Jewellery 

- Crowns & Amulets 

Join in and up-cycle pieces of old 

jewellery using glue, wires and treads to 

create a personal amulet or head 

decoration. Ages 8+. 2-4pm. Charges 

apply, booking recommended. 

www.thecockpit.org.uk 


Monsters! 

Make a book monster to celebrate 

National Storytelling Week. All ages. 

2pm-3pm. Free. www.ealing.gov.uk 

More Roundabout 

Love Food? Then You’ll Love JRC! 

JRC Buffet is a restaurant like no other. You’ll find 

hundreds of delicious, freshly prepared dishes. 

Their stylish restaurants are perfect for any 

special occasion or just catching up with family 

and friends. With so much choice, parents love 

introducing new dishes to their children– even the 

fussiest eaters will find new dishes they’ll love. 

Your kids will love watching JRC’s chefs prepare 

delicious meals from fresh ingredients at the 

spectacular Live Cooking Stations which add a 

sense of occasion to any meal. 

At the Sushi Bar you’ll see chefs preparing 

authentic Japanese Sushi using recipes that 

have been handed down from generation to 

generation. It’s healthy, fresh and extremely 

delicious. Watch in awe at the Teppanyaki Bar as 

expert chefs prepare your meal with flair, creativity 

and a touch of showmanship. The chef takes 

your choice of fresh ingredients and transforms 

them on the sizzling hotplate into delicious 

creations. The Yakatori Grill is very popular in 

Japanese restaurants throughout the world. You’ll 

find food cooked in a wok at the Noodle & Wok 

Bar is as healthy as it gets, as it uses a very small 

amount of oil. The Dim Sum Bar, each dim sum 

has been handmade and filled with ingredients 

from traditional recipes. Remember you can enjoy 

as much as you like for one set price. 

Most soft and hot drinks are free of charge 

with free refills too and for the adults there are 

special menus for World Banquet and Pan Asian 

drinks for an extra cost. Don’t forget to leave 

room for one or a few of the indulgent desserts. 

A trip to JRC is great value and great fun for the 

whole family. Visit www.jrc-globalbuffet.com to 

find your local restaurant. 

Eggs-perience Easter at 

JRC Global Buffet... 

An incredible dining experience with live cooking 

stations, over 200 dishes from around the world, 

and you can enjoy as much as you like for one price! 

This is five star dining for a price you can afford! 

PLUS KIDS EAT FREE ALL YEAR ROUND * ! 

Book your table now at www.jrc-globalbuffet.com 

and check out our latest offers and events! 

JRCGlobalBuffet 

JRC_Buffet 

Review us on TripAdvisor 

*See website for T&Cs. 



17

Roundabout 


Keats House, NW3 

Family Day: Melodies are Sweet 

Lyres, lutes and nightingale song can all 

be found in Keats’s poetry. Make a 

percussion stick with beads and sticks 

and create music inspired by the words 

of Keats. All ages. Drop-in: 1pm-4pm. 

Free. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

National Gallery, WC2 

Walking on clouds 

Explore National Gallery paintings as 

inspiration. Fly high with Tiepolo 

and create your own ceiling 

masterpiece. Ages 5-11. 11am- 

12.30pm & 2pm-3.30pm. 

Free but booking required. 

www.nationalgallery.org.uk 

National Portrait Gallery, WC2 

Portraits in paint 

Be inspired by the contemporary 

collections and explore colour, shape 

and form by trying out different paints, 

from oil to acrylic. 1pm-2.30pm for 

ages 3+. 3pm-4.30pm for ages 7+. 

Free. www.npg.org.uk 

Royal Academy of Arts, W1 

Russian monster puppet ballet 

Join in and create large scale 

propaganda puppets at this Sovietinspired 

block party. Dancers will team 

up with collective U Make Me, for a riot 

of collaged colossuses, music and 

dance, inspired by the exhibition, 

Revolution: Russian Art from 1917- 

1932. All ages. 11am-3pm. Free. 

www.royalacademy.org.uk 


British Library, NW1 

Family Day: Festival of Maps 

A fun and creative day inspired by the 

exhibition, Maps and the 20th Century: 

Drawing the Line. Enjoy a full 

programme of activities, from 

storytelling and interactive trails, to 

musical performances, art workshops 

and taster sessions in British Sign 

Language. All ages. Drop-in: 12noon- 

4pm. Free. www.bl.uk 


Fun family photos 

Become a sailor on a galleon, a siren 

from the deep or a jockey on horseback. 

Use green screen technology to create a 

picture of your family interacting with 

some of the Museum’s most fascinating 

objects. Ages 5+. Drop-in: 11am-4pm. 

Free. www.britishmuseum.org 

Holland Park Ecology Centre, W8 

Build a Nest Box Day 

Help create a home for wildlife by 

building nest boxes, and learn more 

about nesting birds with the nest box 

trail. All ages. Drop-in: 12noon-4pm. 

Free. www.rbkc.gov.uk/ecology 

Kensington Palace, W8 

Make History workshops 

Be inspired by the Palace’s story, and 

make your own piece of the past by 

taking part in a range of exciting 

activities. This is a monthly event and 

the story and theme varies each month. 

Ages 5-11. 45-minute sessions at 

11.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm. 

Entrance charges apply. 

www.hrp.org.uk 

Museum of Comedy, WC1 

Children’s Magic Workshop 

An interactive workshop covering simple 

sleight of hand and the basics of magic, 

taught by a top Magic Circle London 

magician. Ages 7-13. 1.30pm. 


www.leicestersquaretheatre.com 

MARCH - DAILY DIARY 

Fri 3 - Sun 5 March 

Vineries Close, UB7 

Grow Heathrow 

A weekend of celebration with 

attractions including poetry slam, 

community stalls, workshops, games, 

live music and more. Full details to be 

confirmed. Search Grow Heathrow on 

Facebook or see www.hillingdon.gov.uk 

Sat 4 March 

Gayton Library, HA1 

Where’s Wally? 

Where’s Wally been since World Book 

Day? See if you can find him in the 

library. Ages 5-10. 11am-11.45am. 

Free. www.harrow.gov.uk 


Where’s Wally Day 

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the 

first ever Where’s Wally book! See if you 

can find Wally and take part in themed 

activities! Full details to be confirmed - 

please ask at your local library. 

www.hounslow.info 


The Man Who Chewed His 

Way Around The World 

Join award winning African Storyteller 

Usifu Jalloh in this lively performance 

and find out all about the man who just 

has to chew! All ages. 11am, 1pm & 

3pm. Location: Level 1, South Asia, 

Room 41. Free. www.vam.ac.uk 

Sun 5 March 


Family walk & talk: 

Blossoming Spring 

Journey through the collection to 

walk, talk and bring the paintings 

alive! This month’s Walk and Talk 

theme is Blossoming Spring. 

All ages. 12.30pm-1.30pm. Free. 


Wallace Collection, W1 

The Little Draw 

Meet the new Little Draw Artist, Niamv 

Ahern, who will help you explore and 

discover the Wallace Collection through 

drawing, observation and plenty of 

creative experimentation. All ages. 

Drop-in: 1.30pm-4pm. Free. 

www.wallacecollection.org 

Thu 9 - Sat 25 March 

(Selected dates) 

Ealing Libraries 

Mothers’ Day Crafts 

Make a unique gift or card for mum, to 

let her know how much you care. Ages 

5-11. Dates and times vary - please 

visit your local library for details. Free. 

www.ealing.gov.uk 

Sat 11 March 

Grant Museum of Zoology, WC1 

Creature Creations 

Create works of art inspired by some of 

the weird and wonderful animals that 

call the Grant Museum home or invent a 

new animal, give it a name and add it to 

the collection. All ages. Drop-in: 

1.30pm-4.30pm. Free. www.ucl.ac.uk 

Handel & Hendrix in London, W1 

Junior Harpsichord Competition 

Musicians aged 17 and under will 

perform their best pieces, including 1 

each by Handel himself. Drop-in to 

listen: 2pm-5pm. Entrance charges 

apply. www.handelhendrix.org 

Roxeth Library, HA2 

Characters workshop 

Expand your vocabulary and develop 

your story writing skills as you focus on 

creating great characters, in this 

workshop run by Bright Young Things. 

Ages 8+. 10am-11am. Free but 

booking required. www.harrow.gov.uk 

Sun 12 March 


Real Royal Silver 

Create your own silver on paper by 

transforming paint into shiny metal fit 

for kings and princes. Ages 5-11. 

11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm. Free but 

booking required. 


Sat 18 March 

Brent Museum, NW10 

Can you handle it? 

Get up close and personal with gems in 

your local Museum in this object 

handling session. All ages. Drop-in: 

2pm-3pm. Free. www.brent.gov.uk 

Chiswick Library, W4 

Mothering Sunday Craft 

Make something to show your mother 

how special she is! Ages 5+. 3pm-4pm. 

Small charge applies, booking required. 

www.hounslow.info 

Holland Park Ecology Centre, W8 

Seeds of Spring 

Learn more about the Edible Forst 

Teaching Garden and Wildlife Garden as 

you sow some seeds and enjoy craft 

activities. All ages. Drop-in: 12noon- 

4pm. Free. www.rbkc.gov.uk/ecology 

Institut Français, SW7 

A Little Bit of Everything 

An interactive storytelling session, in 

easy French. All ages. 11am-11.45am. 


www.institut-francais.org.uk 

Royal Mews, 

Buckingham Palace, SW1 

Family Saturday: 3D design 

Make and decorate a carriage inspired 

by the Gold State Coach. All ages. 

Drop-in: 11am-3pm. Admission charges 

apply. www.royalcollection.org.uk 

Sun 19 March 

Fulham Palace, SW6 

Hands-on Archaeology 

Get up close and personal with 

archaeological finds and learn more 

about the rich and varied history of this 

ancient site. All ages. Drop-in: 

1pm-3pm. Free. www.fulhampalace.org 

Keats House, NW3 

Family Day: ‘A Faery’s Child’ 

Do you believe in fairies, elves 

and goblins? Make the little people 

a toadstool house and hear some 

‘faery’-filled poetry. All ages. 

Drop-in: 1pm-4pm. Free. 

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

Natural History Museum, SW7 

Investigate for families 

Get a feel for how scientists work by 

having a go yourself. Explore real nature 

specimens, with science educators on 

hand to help you look closely using the 

tools provided. All ages. Drop-in: 

11am-5pm. Free. www.nhm.ac.uk 

Royal Institution, W1 

Paper folding, problem solving 

There are many interesting 

mathematical shapes that can be made 

using paper or card; do you have the 

skills to make them? Build some 

interesting and unusual shapes, and try 

your hand at some tricky puzzles too. 

Ages 7-11. 10.30am-12.30pm & 

1.30pm-3.30pm. Charges apply, 

booking recommended. www.rigb.org 

Don’t forget to say 

you saw it in Primary Times! 

Our next issue is available 

from Mon 20 March. 

18 



Cook up a treat for Pancake Day! 

Some people like to keep it simple, with just a squeeze of lemon and a 

sprinkle of sugar, whilst others prefer to indulge with lashings of toppings or a 

sophisticated savoury approach. Whatever your style - grab your trusty frying 

pan and get ready to flip homemade pancakes this coming Shrove Tuesday! 

What and when is Shrove Tuesday? 

This year, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day 

as it’s known in the UK, falls on Tuesday 28th 

February. Shrove Tuesday is the traditional 

feast day before the start of Lent on Ash 

Wednesday. Lent - the 40 days leading up to 

Easter - is marked by fasting, from both food 

and festivities, and is a season of reflection and 

preparation before the celebrations of Easter. 

Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the ritual of 

shriving. In shriving, a person confesses their 

sins and receives absolution for them. Shrove 

Tuesday is a day to clean the soul but also a 

day of celebration whilst embracing the last 

chance to feast before Lent. 

Why do we eat pancakes on 

Shrove Tuesday? 

The custom of eating pancakes on Shrove 

Tuesday comes from the tradition of using 

up rich foods, such as eggs, milk and sugar, 

on the eve of Lent. During Lent, people 

eat plainer food and refrain from food and 

treats associated with pleasure. The filling of 

pancakes can be either sweet or savoury. To 

go with the tradition of using up ingredients, 

it can be the perfect opportunity to clear out 

the baking cupboard, and stuff your pancakes 

with the contents of those half-finished packs 

of mini marshmallows, chocolate drops and 

hundreds-and-thousands to create a sweet 

extravaganza! 

What’s the origin of Pancake Races? 

Pancake races are thought to have begun in 

1444 in Olney in Buckinghamshire. The story 

goes, that a woman of Olney was so busy 

making pancakes that she completely lost 

track of the time, and on hearing the church’s 

shriving bell, went running to the church in her 

apron, still clutching her frying pan! The Olney 

pancake race is now world famous and other 

towns across the UK have followed holding 

their own pancake races. Pancake races today 

are often for charity with local businesses 

competing against one another. 

Celebrating around the world 

Around the world, Shrove Tuesday is 

celebrated in many different ways. In 

Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island off the 

coast of Canada, pancakes are made, but 

instead of edible fillings, small gifts are hidden 

inside. Children delight at discovering the 

objects, which are intended to be divinatory. 

So, for example, the child who receives a coin 

will be wealthy and a nail indicates that they 

will become or marry a carpenter. Remember 

to warn the recipient that the pancakes aren’t 

edible if you’re going to try this at home! In 

many countries Shrove Tuesday is known as 

‘Mardi Gras’, the French for ‘Fat Tuesday’, the 

last day of ‘fat eating’ before the start of fasting 

for Lent. Most of us know ‘Mardi Gras’ for its 

more popular meaning as carnival day, and 

will have seen the colourful street processions 

and flamboyant fancy dress costumes of 

the world famous Rio de Janeiro Carnival in 

Brazil. Venice also celebrates carnival in style. 

Leading up to Shrove Tuesday Venice 

bursts into life with partying, dancing 

and people dressed in elaborate 

costumes and masks attending 

the famous Venetian masquerade 

balls in the great palaces lining 

the Grand Canal in the centre of 

Venice. 

So banish those winter blues 

with the carnival spirit this 

Shrove Tuesday. Pump 

up the volume of some 

samba beats, get the 

family together and 

cook up a treat! 

Easy Pancake Recipe 

To make approximately 8 pancakes 

you will need... 

100g plain flour 

2 eggs • 300ml milk 

1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil, 

plus a little extra for frying 

Method 

Sieve the flour and a pinch of salt into 

a bowl and make a well in the centre. 

Crack the eggs into the well. 

Add 50ml milk and 1 tbsp oil. 

Whisk gradually bringing the flour into 

the eggs, milk and oil until a smooth, 

thick paste. Keep adding more milk 

and whisking until the mixture is the 

consistency of slightly thick single cream. 

Heat the pan with a little oil over a 

moderate heat. 

Ladle some batter into the pan, tilting 

the pan to move the mixture around for 

a thin and even layer. 

The pancake should turn golden 

underneath after about 30 secs and 

will be ready to turn. 

Ease a fish slice under the pancake, 

then quickly lift and flip it over. 

Fillings to try 

A quick squeeze of lemon and 

a sprinkle of sugar 

Lashings of chocolate spread, 

banana or a dollop of cream 

For a savoury pancake, a combination of 

cheese, onions, and tomatoes 

works well 

Create your own! 

Get creative and make your own dream 

pancake. Why not be brave and try 

some of your favourite foods all together 

in one tasty pancake! 

After you’ve made your very own 

original pancake make sure you give it a 

personal name and don’t forget to 

take a picture to share with us on 

facebook and twitter. 



19

Photo by Manuel Harlan 

Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox, Lyric Hammersmith 

Your family theatre guide, February – March 

The trademarks Amaluna and Cirque du Soleil are owned by Cirque du Soleil and used under license. Design : Bob King Creative Ltd. 

BACK IN LONDON 

BY POPULAR DEMAND! 

FEATURING NEW ACTS 

FROM 12 JANUARY 2017 

ROYAL ALBERT HALL 

BOOK NOW: CIRQUEDUSOLEIL.COM 

OFFICIAL PARTNER AFFILIATE PARTNER MEDIA PARTNER VENUE 

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Barons Court Theatre 

The Curtains Up, W14 

Box office: 020 8932 4747 

www.falseimpressions.co.uk 

Sun 26 Feb & Sun 5 & 12 March 

THE SUPERSTITIOUS MAGIC SHOW 

A themed magic show, covering topics 

of superstition, good and bad luck. Ages 

8+. 2.30pm. Tickets £12/£10. 

Beck Theatre, UB3 

Box office: 020 8561 8371 

www.becktheatre.org.uk 

Sun 12 February 

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW 

ABOUT DINOSAURS 

Join Ben Garrod (the TV scientist in 

Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur) 

who will tell you everything you ever 

wanted to know about dinosaurs, with 

the help of TV film footage and photos 

of his own palaeontological dinosaur 

digs. This is an interactive show where 

children will be given the chance to ask 

questions and show off their dinosaur 

knowledge to the audience. All ages. 

2.30pm. Tickets £17.50. 

Tue 14 February 

COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS 

The best comedians from the UK and 

world circuit doing what they do best… 

but without the rude bits! Ages 6+. 

2pm. Tickets £11. 

Wed 15 February 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 

Follow Alice and the White Rabbit in 

this fantastical, larger-than-life musical 

brimming with nonsensical fun and 

excitement. With a chance to meet the 

characters after the show. Fancy dress 

encouraged. All ages. 2pm. Tickets £14. 

Cockpit, NW8 

Box office: 020 7258 2925 

www.thecockpit.org.uk 

Sat 25 March 

SCIENCE BLAST: THE BIG BANG! 

The UK’s most dangerous scientist, 

Prof Kaos looks at what makes things 

go Bang and the science behind the 

explosion! Family fun with lots of mad 

stuff you really shouldn’t do at home. 

Ages 5+. 2pm. Tickets £7. 

Hackney Empire, E8 

Box office: 020 8985 2424 

www.hackneyempire.co.uk 

Wed 22 - Sat 25 March 

RUNNING WILD BY MICHAEL 

MORPURGO 

For Lilly, going to Indonesia isn’t just 

another holiday – it’s a new start, and 

the chance to ride an elephant called 

Oona. But then the tsunami hit – and 

Oona charges into the jungle, with 

Lilly desperately clinging on. Michael 

Morpurgo’s novel is brought to life with 

extraordinary heart, vibrant colour and 

exceptional creativity. Ages 6+. Times 

and ticket prices vary. 


Box office: 020 8416 8989 

www.harrowarts.com 

Wed 15 February 

A POCKETFUL OF GRIMMS 

An exciting new look at some of 

the Grimm Brothers’ favourite tales, 

including Rumpelstiltskin, the Golden 

Goose, Cat and Mouse in Partnership 

and the original version of Beauty and 

the Beast. These tales come to life in a 

high-energy mix of clowning, physical 

theatre, puppetry, music and much 

more! Ages 4+. 2pm. Tickets £9. 

Jermyn Street Theatre, SW1 

Box office: 020 7287 2875 

www.falseimpressions.co.uk 

Sat 25 February 

SATURDAY MORNING MAGIC 

An intimate hour-long magic show, 

presented by Richard Leigh. All ages. 

11.30am. Tickets £9. 

JW3, Jewish Community 

Centre, NW3 

Box office: 020 7433 8988 

www.jw3.org.uk 


THE PARTY: A CIRCUS SHOW 

A man gets ready to host his long 

anticipated birthday party, which goes 

spectacularly wrong with the arrival of 

some uninvited guests. A totally madcap 

celebration that spirals out of control 

through clowning, juggling, trick cycling 

and tumbling. Ages 4+. 4pm. 

Tickets £10. 

20 



Leicester Square 

Theatre, WC2 

Box office: 020 7734 2222 

www.leicestersquaretheatre.com 

Sat 11 & Sun 12 Feb 

JAMES CAMPBELL’S THE 

FUNNY THING ABOUT 

A stand-up show for anyone over 6, 

who likes comedy without the rude bits! 

Making fun of everything from couscous 

to penguins to Nintendo Wii, James’ 

jokes are written and performed to get 

children and parents laughing out loud. 

Ages 6+. 2pm. Tickets £11/£9. 

Sat 18 March 

WEST END MAGIC 

An exciting family friendly show offering 

the best in magic, illusion, comedy, 

juggling and variety, including the 

award-winning magic and illusions of 

Oliver Tabor. Ages 5+. 3.30pm. Tickets 

£15/£10. 

Lyric Hammersmith, W6 

Box office: 020 8741 6850 

www.lyric.co.uk 

Until Sun 19 Feb 

ROALD DAHL’S 

FANTASTIC MR FOX 

A musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 

juicy tale of greed, pride and the power 

of friendship. Can Mr Fox outsmart the 

three greedy farmers to save his family 

and his friends? Ages 5+. Times and 

ticket prices vary. 


MAVIS SPARKLE 

With a magician for a dad and a 

stargazer for a mum, there’s more to 

Mavis than meets the eye… Join her 

for magic, illusion and laughter, inspiring 

us all to reach for the stars! Ages 4-11. 

11am & 1pm. Tickets £8. 

Tue 14 - Sat 18 Feb 

LILY AND THE LITTLE SNOW BEAR 

Lily loves snow! So, she pops on 

her coat and sets off to explore. But 

when she discovers a trail of soft 

little footprints, she’s in for a very big 

surprise… A funny, heartwarming tale 

of friendship. Ages 3-11. 11am & 1pm. 

Tickets £10. 

Sat 4 March 

CHESTER TUFFNUT 

The curious creatures in Woodland 

have gone so long without excitement, 

they’ve forgotten how to have fun. 

Luckily, Chester, the adventure-loving 

tree mole, is on hand to bring happiness 

and laughter back to his new Woodland 

friends. Ages 2-5. 11am & 1pm. Tickets 

£8. 

Sat 18 March 

THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES 

OF PINOCCHIO 

Crickets, cats, foxes and, of course, the 

world-famous puppet, will spring out of 

a collection of dusty, old, magic books 

in this unique retelling of Pinocchio - 

where the story leaps off the page and 

onto the stage! Ages 5-11. 11am & 

1pm. Tickets £8. 

Peacock Theatre, WC2 

Box office: 020 7863 8222 

www.sadlerswells.com 

Tue 21 Feb - Sat 11 March 

MOTHER AFRICA: KHAYELITSHA 

- MY HOME 

Acrobats, dancers and musicians from 

seven African nations blend circus feats, 

shimmering costumes and jaw-dropping 

dance, to bring the pulse of daily life in 

Khayelitsha to the West End. Ages 7+. 

Times and ticket prices vary. 

Tue 14 - Sat 25 March 

YAMATO: CHOUSENSHA 

- THE CHALLENGERS 

A high-energy, exhilarating 

performance, in which drummers 

push their own limits in a staggering 

display of physical strength as they 

use their entire bodies to produce their 

thunderous music. Ages 7+. Times and 

ticket prices vary. 

Polka Theatre, SW19 

Box office: 020 8543 4888 

www.polkatheatre.com 

Sat 25 - Sun 26 Feb 

THE GIANT JAM SANDWICH 

What a to do! One hot summer day, 

when 4 million wasps invade the village 

of Itching Down, everything changes. 

The wasps are noisy, nasty and worst 

of all, they don’t mind who they sting! 

Luckily Bap the baker has an ingenious 

idea - to bake the biggest wasp trap 

ever! Ages 3-7. 11am & 2.30pm. 

Tickets £13.50. 

Fri 3 - Sun 5 March 

MAVIS SPARKLE 

With a feather duster in one hand and a 

few tricks up her sleeve, join Mavis on 

a journey north to see nature’s biggest 

light show. Ages 4+. Times vary. Tickets 

£12.50. 

Sat 11 March - Sun 2 April 

TO DREAM AGAIN 

A poignant story about a girl coming 

to terms with her parents’ separation. 

Acclaimed children’s writer Toby Hulse 

mixes comedy and drama, as real life 

meets the playful, magical world of A 

Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ages 7-11. 

Times vary. Tickets £13.50. 

Puppet Theatre Barge, W9 

Box office: 020 7249 6876 

www.puppetbarge.com 

Until Sun 19 March 

THE RED BALLOON 

A String Theatre production telling the 

story of a small boy’s friendship with a 

balloon, exploring the poignancy of a 

child’s imagination. All ages, 3+. Times 

and ticket prices vary. 

Questors Theatre, W5 

Box office: 020 8567 5184 

www.questors.org.uk 

Wed 1 - Sat 4 March 

EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES 

Join Emil and his gang of detectives 

in an exciting chase through 1920s 

Berlin. Emil is all alone in the big city, 

More Theatre 

‘animal 

magic rivals 

war horse’ THE GUARDIAN 

THE CHILDREN’S TOURING PARTNERSHIP PRESENTS 

BY MICHAEL MORPURGO 

AN ADAPTATION BY SAMUEL ADAMSON 

ORIGINALLY PRODUCED BY CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE 

AND REGENT’S PARK THEATRE 

WED 22 – SAT 25 MAR 

020 8985 2424 hackneyempire.co.uk 

£25 – £10 | £10 Schools Price for best available 

(BOOKING FEE £1 PER TICKET ONLINE AND £1.25 OVER THE PHONE) 

To RW_Hackney_various advertise in Primary ads.indd Times 2 call 01491 411848 

Primary Times, West London • February Half 08/12/2016 Term 201717:18 

21

Theatre 

and someone has stolen his money. 

There are no grown-ups to help, so Emil 

sets about tracking down the thief by 

himself. But he soon discovers he is not 

on his own after all. Times and ticket 

prices vary. 

Thu 9 - Sat 11 March 

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS 

Downtrodden Seymour bites off more 

than he can chew when he decides to 

nurture a strange new plant in boss 

Mr Mushnik’s flower shop. But will 

colleague and potential sweetheart 

Audrey notice him if he finally makes 

something of himself? Just one scary 

dentist stands in their way… An 

all-female cast tell an exciting new 

rendition of this classic American 

musical. 7.30pm. Tickets £15/£13. 

Richmond Theatre, TW9 

Box office: 0844 871 7651 

www.atgtickets.com/richmond 


MR BLOOM’S NURSERY LIVE! 

Mr Bloom and his Veggies are getting 

the Nursery ready for a very special 

occasion - a member of the Royal family 

is paying them visit! Can you lend a 

hand and help them get the Allotment 

ready in time? Featuring all of the much 

loved elements of the TV show. Ages 

2-7. 11am & 2pm. Tickets £17. 

Royal Albert Hall, SW7 

Box office: 020 7589 8212 

www.royalalberthall.com 

Until Sun 26 Feb 

AMALUNA 

A tale of castaway romance and the 

obstacles that true love presents, filled 

with jaw-dropping performances and 

Cirque du Soleil’s signature mindblowing 

acts. Amaluna is a tribute to 

women, with female performers making 

up the majority of the cast. All ages. 

Times and ticket prices vary. 

Mon 13 February 

INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC 

FOR KIDS 

The Blue Lions present a concert 

of Indian Classical music, including 

traditional works and very rare 

compositions, some of which are 

hundreds of years old and based upon 

traditional ragas and mantras. All ages. 

10.30am. Ticket prices vary. 

Tue 14 February 

LILY AND BEAR 

Lily likes nothing better than to imagine 

and draw the things she loves. She 

draws cats and birds, boats and 

houses… and one day she draws 

a bear who comes to life… A truly 

magical tale about the give and take of 

friendship. Ages 0-5. 11.30am & 2pm. 

Thu 16 February 

TALES FROM THE SHED 

Informal, fun and very silly show, with 

plenty of colourful puppets and live 

songs. Experience magical stories 

featuring Chickenshed’s much loved 

characters – from Can-Can the beautiful 

bird to laid back Lion Down and The 

Thing That Goes Blurgh! All ages. 11am 

& 1.15pm. Ticket prices vary. 

SSE Arena Wembley, HA9 

Box office: 0844 815 0815 

www.ssearena.co.uk 

Wed 29 March - Sun 2 April 

DISNEY ON ICE CELEBRATES 

100 YEARS OF MAGIC 

Grab your Mickey ears and get ready 

for the ultimate Disney experience! 

Be charmed by a cast of over 50 

unforgettable Disney characters and 

sing-along to over 30 favourite songs. 

Watermans, TW8 

Box office: 020 8232 1010 

www.watermans.org.uk 


BIG HOWARD’S LOL-TASTIC 

YURKFEST FOR KIDS 

Enjoy an hour of silly stand-up, 

interactive digital animation, sound 

effects, jokes and lots, and lots and 

lots of clever nonsense! Ages 5+. 3pm. 

Tickets £8. 

Tue 14 - Fri 17 Feb 

THE BEAR 

One night an enormous snowy white 

bear climbs into Tilly’s bedroom. But Tilly 

is not scared. With puppets, music and 

lots of laughs. See Roundabout listings 

for related puppet making workshop. 

Ages 3-8. Times vary. Tickets £9. 

Sun 12 March 

GOLDILOCKS! 

An original adaptation of the well-loved 

tale. Join feisty ragdoll Goldilocks as 

she enters the Raggedy Woods and 

follow her hilarious journey to the three 

bears’ house. Expect hurdy-gurdy 

music, naughty goblins, helpful spiders, 

porridge, and sing-a-long fun! Ages 4-8. 

3pm. Tickets £8/£7. 

Wigmore Hall, W1 

Box office: 020 7935 2141 

www.wigmore-hall.org.uk 

Sun 18 March 

CAVATINA FAMILY CONCERT: 

PIATTI QUARTET 

Join the award-winning Piatti Quartet, 

one of the UK’s most exciting young 

string quartets, for an interactive family 

concert which explores the wonderful 

world of chamber music, featuring 

works by some of the best-loved 

composers of all time, including Haydn, 

Ravel and Beethoven. Ages 5+. 11am. 

Tickets £10/£8. 

Winston Churchill 

Theatre, HA4 

Box office: 01895 250615 

www.hillingdontheatres.uk 


MONSTERSAURUS! 

Follow the young inventor Monty as he 

creates a world of wacky inventions and 

incredible monsters, but now he has 

made them all, what is he going to do 

with them? An energetic show full of 

thrills, spills, magic and mayhem. Ages 

3+. 1pm. Tickets £8. 

Enjoy the show! 

Don’t forget to say you saw 

it in Primary Times! 

Kids’ Book 

Reviews 

Get your nose stuck in a book... 

Our Kids Book Review Panel is a group 

of children from across the UK who have 

an avid interest in reading. They receive books 

from us on a regular basis and post their reviews online. 

To see reviews for other titles visit www.primarytimes.net/reviews/ 

J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World: Movie 

Magic Vol. One, by Jody Revenson 

Published by: Walker Books. ISBN: 1406376094 

Reviewed by Lillie, aged 9 from Devon: I really 

enjoyed the book, I learnt a lot about a film/book 

I haven’t seen yet (Fantastic Beasts and where to 

find them) and I found a lot of useful things on Harry 

Potter. It has great pictures and some characters 

I didn’t even know about. I loved the pop-up things inside, 

I found reading it lots of fun! A must for any Harry Potter Fan (like me)! 

Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid book 11) 

by Jeff Kinney Published by: Puffin. ISBN: 0141373016 

Reviewed by Alex, aged 8 from North Yorkshire: I really like the 

Wimpy Kid books because they are funny and easy to read. It is about a 

wimpy kid called Greg, who has two annoying brothers 

as well as an annoying mum! Greg is always trying to 

be more popular and normally his plans don’t go very 

well... When Greg tries to film a horror movie, everything 

seems to be against him and when a flock of wild geese 

come after his film props (gummy worms), he has to 

admit defeat. This book was great, I really enjoyed it. 

You don’t need to have read other Wimpy Kid books to 

enjoy this one! 

The Bad Guys, by Aaron Blabey 

Published by: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0545912407 

Reviewed by Eddie, aged 7 from Devon: 

The book was good to read. It was funny and they are 

good guys, not bad guys! There are lots of pictures on 

every page which makes it easy to enjoy. I can’t wait to 

read Episode 2. 

Secret Princesses: Pop Princess, by Rosie Banks 

Published by: Orchard Books. ISBN: 1408336146 

Reviewed by Gracie, aged 8 from Derbyshire: 

This book is about Mia and Charlotte, who have to get 

4 gems to get a pure gold crown and stop Princess 

Poison and Hex destroying Wishing Star Palace. I liked 

the bit where they helped Samira to not feel shy by 

granting her three wishes. The wishes were a new 

guitar, new clothes and makeup and that her family 

was at the concert with Samira. I didn’t like the bit 

where Hex broke Samira’s guitar which made her really upset. 

I enjoyed the book and I think it was one of my favourite books I’ve read. 

In at the Deep End, by Michelle Magorian 

Published by: Barrington Stoke Ltd. 

ISBN: 1781125023 

Reviewed by Ellie, aged 9 from Devon: This book 

is about a boy called Ben who has to swim 100 lengths 

for charity, he waits for his friends but they don’t turn 

up! He then has help from Betty, a ‘wrinkly’, and Ben 

learns if your friends let you down, there is still someone 

there to help and age doesn’t matter! This book is easy 

to read and teaches you to believe in yourself. 

22 



What do you get if you 

cross a parrot and a 

centipede? 

A walkie talkie! 

Kylah Redman, aged 4 

What did the 

duck say to the 

shopkeeper? 

Put it on my bill! 

Ayaan Shah 

What do you get if you 

cross a shark with a 

snowman? 

Frostbite! 

Molly, aged 11 

Why did Adele cross 

the road? 

To say hello from 

the other side! 

Rihanna Malcolm, 

aged 9 

Email your 

joke to: marion@ 

schoolspublishing 

.co.uk 


23

KUMON MATHS AND ENGLISH STUDY CENTRES 

Contact your local Kumon Maths and English Study Centre 

to book your two-week Free Trial. 

Bayswater 

020 7603 1499 

Canons Park 

020 8876 9954 

Chiswick 

020 8876 9954 

Eastcote 

020 8933 9187 

Edgware 

020 8200 8822 

Fulham 

020 7266 4401 

Greenford 

020 8795 4869 

Hounslow West 

020 8580 0069 

Northwood 

01923 820 367 

Pinner 

020 8868 7580 

Queensbury 

020 8907 3232 

Rayners Lane 

020 8429 4048 

Ruislip 

01895 602 501 

Stanmore 

020 8952 7854 

Shepherds Bush 

020 3002 0735 

St Margarets 

020 8707 5612 

Wealdstone 

020 3372 4979 

Wembley Central 

020 8426 1222 

Wembley Park 

020 8863 7718 

Terms and conditions apply. Fees vary. Participating study centres only. 

Please refer to your local study centre. Subject to availability. 


24

Primary Times West London Feb 17

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