PTWL Spring17_Opt

WHAT’S ON GUIDE FOR FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS 

www.primarytimes.net 

West London 

Meet The Easter Cuties 

oddsfarm.co.uk 

PARENTING • EDUCATION • DAYS OUT • NEWS & REVIEWS 

Issue 105 

20 March - 

14 May 20171 

Primary Times, West London • Spring 2017

113819 - UX Half Term Easter Primary Times Ad_273x184 v1 SW.indd 1 09/03/2017 14:25

Spring 2017 : Contents 

Dear reader... 

Welcome to our Spring issue – full of fantastic 

ideas for things to do with your children. 

The weather is warming up nicely and the 

Easter holiday is just around the corner. 

To help you plan for the holiday we have 

put together some ideas on family days 

out this Spring, along with our Roundabout listings, 

where you are sure to find something to please everyone. We have 

an update on Performing Arts in West London and an interesting 

article on Growing Up Digital by Anne Longfield OBE, the Children’s 

Commissioner for England. 

Regular features include our Focus on Education – from extra 

tuition to thinking about your child’s next school – and our Family 

Theatre Guide which lists lots of fantastic productions across the 

region that are perfect for primary aged children. The English 

National Ballet School are putting on a “My First Ballet” production of 

Cinderella – a lovely way to introduce your children to this beautiful 

form of theatre and we have a competition to win tickets on page 23. 

Don’t forget to visit intu Uxbridge on 7th April to meet Chase & 

Marshall, meet the Easter cuties at Odds Farm, enter our competition 

for a chance to win a place at a Barracudas day camp this summer 

and check out our website for more things to do over the coming 

weeks – www.primarytimes.net/west_london 

Have an Egg-citing time! 

Marion, Jackie, Marie, Julie & Carol 

News & Views 

Roundabout 

Family days out this Spring! 

Performing Arts 

Focus on Education 

Book Reviews 

Growing Up Digital 

Theatre 

Loopy Library & Competitions 

4 

6 

9 

12 

14 

18 

19 

20 

23 

Let’s Play Together! 

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. 

Full Time Bilingual 

English-Arabic Pre-School 

Based on the principles of immersion 

Holland Park Pre-Prep 

School, Kensington, will launch 

September 2017 – September 2018 

Please contact us to express interest: 

020 7993 9010 

info@arabicclub.co.uk 

www.hpps.co.uk 

www.arabicclub.co.uk 

www.primarytimes.net/west_london 

Primary Times, West London • Spring 2017 

3

News & Views 

For the dance teachers you need... 

when you need them. 

Dance Teachers Supply Agency have fully qualified dance teachers 

with CRB/DBS clearance available to take classes during the day 

in nursery, primary and secondary schools throughout London. 

Prices start from 

£40 per hour. 

For more 

information and 

details of the 

types of classes 

on offer, visit 

www.dtsa.co.uk 

A LIVE SHOPPING EVENT BY 

Book now for Oliver Twist at Regents Park 

Open Air Theatre: Mon 17 July - Sat 5 August 

Let students experience thrilling outdoor theatre this summer with 

our £12.00 Education Rate* for Oliver Twist created for everyone aged 

six and over. Introducing the original story of Victorian London’s most 

famous child to younger audiences, it will have them on the edge of 

their seats and wanting more! Daytime performances, Monday-Friday at 

1.30pm, excluding Thursdays. 

*Education Rate available Monday-Friday excluding Thursdays; teacher 

goes free with every ten tickets booked. No booking or transaction 

fee. Minimum of 6 students required to receive the education rate. 

Check www.openairtheatre.com/education for full performance schedule. 

MORE THAN 30 INDEPENDENT 

CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUES UNDER ONE ROOF 

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY 

SAT 6 MAY 2—7.30PM 

SUN 7 MAY 10AM—6PM 

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Join Babyccino Kids at their 5th annual ShopUp on 6th & 7th May at 

Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch for the best in children’s shopping. 

This two day pop-up shopping market includes enchanting shopping 

collections for babies and children from the most unique independent 

boutiques in the world. With hands-on activities for the kids and food 

trucks right outside, it’s a great day out for the entire family! 

FREE entry; Saturday (2-7.30pm) and Sunday (10am- 6pm), 6 & & 

May at Old Truman Brewery, 15 Hanbury Street, East London, E1 6QR, 

www.theshopup.com 

4 


www.primarytimes.net/west_london

LDO Celebrates ‘Iconic London’ 

IMAX Theatre at the 

Science Museum 

This Easter holiday, journey to the 

International Space Station, dive down 

to the ocean floor or discover the 

latest humanoid robots at the Science 

Museum’s IMAX Theatre. With a screen 

the height of four double decker buses, 

get ready to watch a 3D film like you’ve 

never seen before. 

To check out film timings and book 

your tickets visit www.sciencemuseum. 

org.uk/imax, or buy your tickets at any 

ticket desk in the Museum. 

London Designer Outlet (LDO) in Wembley 

Park, the Capital’s only fashion and lifestyle 

outlet centre, is celebrating the richness 

and quirkiness of London in its FREE ‘Iconic 

London’ event this Easter. From ‘Her Royal 

Majesty’ and Beefeaters, to designer buses and 

karaoke in a black cab! LDO’s ‘Iconic London’ 

is live and completely FREE and runs 14-17 

April, 12noon-4pm daily. 

• Her Majesty the ‘other’ Queen and The 

Royal Beefeaters will be gracing LDO with 

their presence– catch them on camera and 

share with #HelloHRH for the chance to win a 

fantastic £100 LDO shopping voucher! 

• An exhibition of miniature buses will feature, 

celebrating the ‘Year of the Bus’ by creative 

legends including designer Orla 

Kiely and artist Anna Benson. 

• Enjoy our ‘Black Cab Karaoke 

Photobooth’, where you can belt 

out your favourite songs and 

capture the fun with its built-in 

photo booth. 

• There is also a quintessentially 

British brass band & fabulous 

face-painters 

During your visit there’s plenty of 

time to pick up some bargains 

with year-round savings at LDO 

of up to 70% off RRP. Choose from famous 

brands including Jack Wills, M&S, Kurt Geiger, 

Ernest Jones, Nike, The Fragrance Shop, Body 

Shop and Guess. 

London is also famous for its bars and 

restaurants and the 20 on offer at LDO are 

no exception. There’s something for every 

taste including family favourites Pizza Express, 

Prezzo, Handmade Burger Co and Zizzi. LDO 

also offers a FREE covered children’s playpark, 

and a nine-screen Cineworld where you can 

catch the latest movies – rounding off a great 

day out. 

Keep an eye out for more information on 

the LDO website which showcases upcoming 

events: www.londondesigneroutlet.com 

BRASS BANDS AND BIG BRANDS? 

HELLO LDO. 

Join us this Easter Weekend as we celebrate all things London, with brass 

bands, a visit from Her Majesty the ‘other’ Queen and The Royal Beefeaters, 

Black Cab Karaoke and much more! All on top of our usual outlet savings of 

up to 70% off RRP at stores like Nike, Hamleys, Kurt Geiger and Superdry. 

Wembley Park 

Wembley Stadium 

LondonDesignerOutlet.com 

To advertise in Primary Times call 01491 411848 


5

Roundabout 

Your family diary of what’s on and when 

Showing now at the Science Museum 

book your tickets at www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/imax 

ONGOING 

Ongoing 

Science Museum, SW7 

IMAX Theatre 

See stunning science films at the 

massive IMAX Theatre. Current films 

include Under the Sea 3D (U), Robots 

3D Film (U), A Beautiful Planet 3D (U) 

and more. Full details available online. 

Charges apply, booking recommended. 

www.sciencemuseum.com/imax 

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 Fri 31 March 

Natural History Museum, SW7 

Sensational Butterflies 

Walk among hundreds of ethically 

sourced live butterflies and moths. 

Follow the trail through a tropical 

habitat, discover butterfly facts and use 

a magnifier to admire these beautiful 

creatures. All ages. Charges apply, 

booking recommended. www.nhm.ac.uk 

From Sat 22 April 

(Weekends only) 

WWT London Wetland 

Centre, SW13 

Weekend Family Activities 

Enjoy a pond dipping session to see 

what mini-beasts are about and creative 

with nature crafts. All ages. Drop-in: 

9.30am-4.30pm. Entrance charges 

apply. www.wwt.org.uk 

For Easter themed 

crafts, egg hunts and 

more, look out for 

the Easter eggs! 

MARCH - DAILY DIARY 

Sat 25 March 

British Library, NW1 

Play on Words 

Be inspired by words in the Treasures 

Gallery, manifestos, magazines and 

poems. Then print, collage and make 

writing that can be carried, worn or 

even performed. Ages 5-11. 90-minute 

sessions at 10.30am & 1pm. Free but 

limited places. www.bl.uk 

Institut Français, SW7 

Meet the Author: Dominique Joly 

Meet Dominique, author of over 100 

books, who will share writing secrets 

and give tips on how to become a word 

expert. Led in French. For children only. 

2.30pm-4pm. Charges apply, booking 

essential. www.institut-francais.org.uk 

Kensington Palace, W8 

Fabulous fabrics 

Take inspiration from the beautiful 

fashions and fabrics of dresses in the 

collection and make your own fabulous 

creation out of fabric. Ages 7-11. 

45-minute workshops at 11.30am, 

12.45pm & 2.30pm. Admission charges 

apply. www.hrp.org.uk 

Museum of Comedy, WC1 

Children’s Magic Workshop 

Learn tricks to wow your friends and 

family in this workshop led by a top 

Magic Circle magician, who will teach 

you simple sleight of hand and the 

basic fundamentals of magic. 

Ages 7-13. 1.30pm. Charges 

apply, booking essential. 

www.leicestersquaretheatre.com 

Sun 26 March 

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 

6 

Book now at any ticket desk 


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

Museum of Brands, 

Packaging & Advertising, W11 

Mothers’ Day 

An afternoon of talks and trails to 

celebrate Mothers’ Day. Explore the 

history of Mothers’ Day and how mums 

have been portrayed in the media, 

whether playing family games in 

Edwardian times, gathering around the 

1920s radio, or promoting everything 

from biscuits to soap. All ages. Open 

11am-5pm, with talks at 2pm & 3pm. 

Admission charges apply. 

www.museumofbrands.com 


Centre, SW13 

Mum goes free for Mother’s Day 

Spring is the ideal time to visit London 

Wetland Centre and Mums visit for free 

on Mothers’ day, when accompanied 

by a paying child or adult. Just quote 

‘Mothers’ Day’ at admissions. All ages. 

Open 9.30am-5.30pm. Entrance 

charges apply. www.wwt.org.uk 

Thu 30 March - Mon 3 April 

Richmond Old Deer Park, TW9 

The Moscow State Circus 

Presents Gostinitsa 

The Moscow State Circus presents 

its brand new show for 2017 in the 

centrally heated Big Top. All ages. 


www.moscowstatecircus.com 

APRIL - DAILY DIARY 

Sat 1 April 

British Library, NW1 

Family Day: What is in a book? 

Be inspired by the Library’s vast 

collections to illustrate your own book 

cover, create and perform with puppets 

and be transported through storytelling 

to real and imagined places. All ages. 

Drop-in: 12noon-4pm. Free. www.bl.uk 

Sat 1 - Sun 2 April 

Royal Mews, 

Buckingham Palace, SW1 

Theatre Stage Design 

Be inspired by your visit to the Royal 

Mews and create a theatre stage. 

Choose different carriages and horses 

to create your own little play. All ages. 

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

apply. www.royalcollection.org.uk 

Sat 1 - Mon 17 April 

Battersea Park 

Children’s Zoo, SW11 

Easter Activities 

A range of fun family activities 

to celebrate this special time of year, 

including Easter Egg Trail (daily), Eggstravagaza 

Days (4-6 April), Easter card 

making (11-13 April) and Easter Bunny 

Day (14 April). All ages. Admission 

and some activity charges apply. Full 

programme available online. 

www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk 

Hampton Court Palace, KT8 

Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt 

Transport the family back in time 

and join the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt 

around Hampton Court Palace and 

gardens. Pick up your trail when you 

arrive! All ages. Open 10am-6pm. 

Admission charges apply. 

www.hrp.org.uk 

Odds Farm Park, HP10 

Easter Eggstravaganza 

Follow the Trail to earn a treat, take 

part in Easter-themed crafts and enjoy 

the super-fun shows! And, with plenty 

of new babies due including adorable 

lambs and cheeky kid goats, don’t miss 

your chance to meet the Easter cuties! 

You may even be lucky enough to see 

one born! Combined with the giant 

Indoor Playbarn and acres of outdoor 

play, there’s so much to do! All ages. 

10am-5.30pm. Entrance charges apply. 

www.oddsfarm.co.uk 


Centre, SW13 

Easter GIANT duck hunt 

New life is bursting out all around 

at WWT London Wetland Centre. But 

some of the ducklings have gone 

missing... Follow the Easter GIANT duck 

trail around to discover where they 

are hiding and win a chocolate prize! 

Plus see the 14 celebrity Dusty Duck 

characters, including Steve Backshall’s 

explorer Dusty and Joanna Lumley’s 

absolutely fabulous Patsy duck! All 

ages. Open 9.30am-5.30pm. Entrance 

charges apply. www.wwt.org.uk 

ZSL London Zoo, NW1 

Dear Zoo… 

Celebrate 35 years since the publication 

of Rod Campbell’s classic children’s 

picture-book Dear Zoo. Take an 

interactive trail of the Zoo and learn 

more about the real life animals 

from the book. All ages. 10am-6pm. 

Admission charges apply. www.zsl.org 


Museum of Brands, 

Packaging & Advertising, W11 

Bunny Hop and Seek 

Take the Bunny Hop and Seek Trail. 

From the Duracell bunny to the Nesquik 

rabbit, hunt out fluffy creatures and be 

rewarded with a chocolate prize. All 

ages. Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am- 

5pm. Admission charges apply. 

www.museumofbrands.com 

Sun 2 April 

JW3, Jewish Community 

Centre, NW3 

Crafternoon: Festival of the Mind 

Enjoy making brain puzzles as part 

of JW3 Festival of the Mind. All 

ages. 2pm-5pm. Free but booking 

recommended. www.jw3.org.uk 

National Gallery, WC2 

Family walk & talk: 

Easter animals 

Take a journey through the collection 

where we will walk, talk and bring 

More Roundabout 

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7

Roundabout 

paintings alive! This month’s theme 

is Easter animals. All ages. 

12.30pm-1.30pm. Free. 

www.nationalgallery.org.uk 

Wallace Collection, W1 

The Little Draw 

Explore and discover the Wallace 

Collection through drawing, observation 

and creative experimentation with 

Little Draw artist Niamh Ahern. 

All ages. 1.30pm-4pm. Free. 

www.wallacecollection.org 

Mon 3 - Fri 7 April 

National Portrait Gallery, WC2 

Behind the Mask 

A week of activities exploring identity, 

inspired by Gillian Wearing and Claude 

Cahun and the Gallery’s Collection. 

Programme to be confirmed - please 

check the website for details. All ages. 

11am-4pm. Free. www.npg.org.uk 

Mon 3 - Thu 13 April 

St James Senior Boys’ School, 

TW15 & St Catherine’s School, TW1 

Barracudas Easter 

Activity Day Camps 

Action packed and fun holiday childcare, 

with a huge range of activities offering 

something for everyone. Ages 4 1 /2-14. 

Charges apply, booking essential. 

www.barracudas.co.uk 


(weekdays only) 

Cartoon Museum, WC1 

Easter holiday workshops 

Two weeks of themed cartooning and 

animation workshops. Sessions include 

Animal Manga, Crazy Claymation, 

Superheroes, Alice in Zombieland and 

many more. Full programme available 

online. Ages 8+. Charges apply, booking 

essential. www.cartoonmuseum.org 

intu Uxbridge, UB8 

Kids’ Club Easter fun 

Enjoy a range of activities including 

Blaze & Monster trucks crafts, Shell 

Hero’s Ninja workshop, making Paw 

Patrol masks & badges, friendship 

bracelets, free face painting and much 

more. All ages. 11am-4pm. Free. 

www.intu.co.uk/uxbridge 

Tue 4 April 

Benjamin Franklin House, WC2 

Family Day: Instrumental 

Inventions 

Franklin was a prolific inventor who 

invented the Glass Armonica. Explore 

how and create your own instrument to 

take home. Ages 5-11. 11am-12.30pm. 

Free but booking required. 

www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org 

Foundling Museum, WC1 

Play Photography 

Work with a photographer to build a 

play area out of recycled household 

We check listings 

carefully but event details 

and prices may be subject 

to change. Please check 

with the venue. 

materials and pose for a photo in your 

space. Ages 5+. 90-minute sessions 

at 10.30am, 1pm & 3pm. Free. 

www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk 

Yellow Pavilion, HA9 

Puppetry Workshop 

Learn how to wield and move with 

exciting, unique and colourful puppets. 

Part of Takeover 2017. All ages. 10am- 

12noon. Free but booking required. 

www.tricycle.co.uk 

Tue 4 - Thu 13 April 

(selected dates) 


Hatching out 

Become a botanical explorer and create 

your own mini-environments inspired 

by the natural worlds and symbols in 

paintings. All ages. 11am-1pm & 2pm- 

4pm. Free. www.nationalgallery.org.uk 

Wed 5 April 

Jewish Museum London, NW1 

Musical Theatre Workshop 

Explore Jewish musical theatre 

composers and lyricists who influenced 

Amy Winehouse. Learn a song and 

dance and perform in a relaxed show to 

family and friends. Ages 6+. 1.30pm- 

4.30pm. Charges apply, booking 

essential. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk 

National Portrait Gallery, WC2 

Transform 

Join dancers from New Adventures & 

Re:Bourne for creative dance, games 

and movement sessions exploring 

themes of gender, identity, masquerade 

and performance. All ages. Workshops 

at 11am, 1pm & 3pm (3pm with BSL 

interpreter). Free. www.npg.org.uk 

Wed 5 - Wed 12 April 


Wallace Collection, W1 

Perfect Portraits 

Explore the Collection and learn about 

portrait painting techniques, then create 

something yourself - from miniature 

portrait badges to mix-and-match body 

books. All ages. Wed 5 - Fri 7 April 

& Mon 10 - Wed 12 April. Drop-in: 

10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm. Free. 

www.wallacecollection.org 

Thu 6 April 

Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3 

The Wiggly Wild Show 

Meet animals including a pygmy 

hedgehog, giant African land snails, 

gecko, giant millipede and more! 

Find out how they are suited to their 

environments. All ages. 90-minute 

shows at 10.30am & 1pm. Charges 

apply, booking recommended. 

www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 

Thu 6 - Fri 7 April 

Royal Mews, 


Animating the Royal Mews 

Create an animated film inspired by 

the history of the Royal Mews. All ages. 

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

apply. www.royalcollection.org.uk 

Roundabout continues on p11 

8 



Fun family 

days out 

this spring! 

Family fun at the London 

Museum of Water & Steam 

Join us at the London Museum of 

Water & Steam as we celebrate Easter! 

Throughout the holidays kids can have 

fun in the Splash Zone, see live chicks 

hatching, enjoy family Easter craft and 

head off to follow an Eggcellent family 

trail around our historical site. Families 

can also have fun exploring the handson 

Waterworks Gallery featuring four 

wonderful model houses, crawl-through 

tunnels and walk-through sewers. Splash the Museum cat can 

also be found all around the Museum hiding fun facts for little 

visitors. On Easter weekend Thomas Wicksteed will be in steam 

giving rides on our railway while our unique collection of Cornish 

and rotative water pumping engines operate for the enjoyment of 

all. We will also be demonstrating the Steam Fire Engine as well 

as the world’s largest working Beam Engine, so head down to the 

Museum this Easter for a truly fascinating family experience! 

Put a spring in your step 

at Oxygen Freejumping! 

Oxygen Freejumping, London’s favourite trampoline park, will 

truly put a spring in your family’s step this Easter! Oxygen is 

the place where you can jump, flip, leap, play and soar to your 

heart’s content, so whether you’re a superstar flipper or bouncing 

beginner you’ll be in for a treat! There’ll be Easter egg hunts, 

colouring-in competitions, 

bunny races and much 

more! Plus, exclusively for 

Primary Times readers, 

save 10% when you use 

promo code EASTER10 

when booking. Located 

in West Acton. To book 

your session, visit www. 

oxygenfreejumping.co.uk 

Dance, Magic and Theatre at Watermans 

We couldn’t be happier that 

spring is in the air, and with 

our lovely riverside terrace 

and charming theatre, we’re a 

great place to come and relax 

and give your children some 

creative inspiration! 

A highlight of the season 

is new dance show from 

Second Hand Dance – Getting 

Dressed – which premiered 

at Sadlers Wells in February 

and comes to Watermans for 

the May Bank Holiday. It’s a 

brilliant introduction to dance, 

that will also entertain adults, 

all about the joys and pains 

of dressing yourself. Stay 

and play afterwards: climb 

mountains of clothes, plunge 

into piles of pants or swing 

in swathes of skirts. Getting 

dressed will never be the 

same again! 

For the rest of the season, 

April sees two shows for 

adventurous children: go 

on A Real Alien Adventure 

with ever-popular Amelia 

Buttersnap or take a trip 

with Oliver in the Overworld 

a madcap musical adventure 

about a little deaf boy who 

journeys to the overworld. 

The show features fully 

integrated sign language so 

it’s a wonderfully accessible 

piece for all children. 

At the end of April we have 

Morgan & West’s Magic Show 

for Kids and Childish Grownups. 

Hang on to your seats! 

Watermans is easy to get 

to from all over West London. 

Children’s theatre takes place 

on Sundays, half terms and 

holidays. Shows range from 

being for babies right up to 

tweens, so do check out our 

website and join our mailing 

list if you’d like to know more. 

The season ends in May so 

book now – we look forward 

to seeing you! 



9

My First Ballet: Cinderella at Peacock Theatre 

Enjoy everyone’s favourite rags-to-riches story, in a beautifully adapted ballet version 

for children aged three upwards. Cinderella is tormented by her stepsisters and she 

can only dream of attending the Prince’s glamourous ball. Abandoned to an evening 

of drudgery, she is visited by her Fairy Godmother who transforms her into a glittering 

Princess who shall go to the ball. With a narrator to help the young audience follow 

the story, and a shortened version of Prokofiev’s ravishing score, this is the perfect 

introduction to the magic of ballet, and a fantastic family day out. 

This unique collaboration between English National Ballet and English National 

Ballet School is choreographed by George Williamson and performed by second year 

students of English National Ballet School. 

My First Ballet: Cinderella is at the Peacock Theatre from Thursday 11 to Saturday 

22 April 2017. Book your tickets now at peacocktheatre.com or call 020 7863 8000. 

10 

Kids’ Club at intu Uxbridge 

It’s playtime this Easter at intu Uxbridge! Join in the free Kids’ 

Club fun throughout the school holidays to keep your little ones 

entertained. There’s a very special visit from two playful pups... 

Paw Patrol’s Chase and Marshall! They’ll be visiting on Friday 7th 

April to meet young fans here in Uxbridge. Make sure you 

pre-book your tickets to meet the duo at www.intu.co.uk/ 

Uxbridge. Throughout the holidays, there are free activities 

every weekday from 11am-4pm on the lower mall by Next, 

from Monday 3rd April to Friday 14th April. The 

fun includes a variety of workshops to join in 

with, including getting creative with Blaze & 

Monster trucks crafts, Shell Hero’s Ninja 

workshop, making Paw Patrol masks & badges, 

friendship bracelets and message in a bottle, 

free face painting and much more. Visit 

www.intu.co.uk/Uxbridge for the full schedule 

of activities and to find out more. See you there! 

Family Open Event at Datchet Water 

Sailing Club – 20th and 21st May 

Datchet Water Sailing Club will be hosting an event to get people out 

on the water on the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Push the Boat 

Out weekend. Complete beginners from aged 8-80 are invited along 

for advice and instruction or simply to have a go for the first time on 

the Queen Mother Reservoir. You can try dinghies and catamarans, 

take part in taster sailing sessions or try Stand Up Paddle boarding. 

The club, based at the Queen Mother Reservoir in Horton Road, 

Datchet is one of the many clubs around the country taking part in 

the RYA Push the Boat Out 

weekend. The event will take 

place over the weekend from 

10am-4pm each day. For more 

information on the club, go to 

www.dwsc.co.uk, call 01753 

683872 or email manager@ 

dwsc.co.uk 

• Fun week of activities 

on the water 

• Monday – Friday 

9.30 till 4.30 

for dates & online booking go to 

www.dwsc.co.uk 

01753 683872 


Fantastic Holiday 

Sailing Camps for 

children ages 8 to 16 

Join in a Giant Easter Duck Hunt 

Some ducklings have gone missing. Can you help find them? 

From Saturday 1 to Monday 17 April follow an Easter Giant Duck 

Hunt around WWT London Wetland Centre’s beautiful nature 

reserve to discover where the eight ducklings are hiding. If you 

discover them all, you’ll win a chocolate prize. 

You can also see the 14 celebrity Dusty Duck characters, 

made with the help of Aardman studios. Spot Steve Backshall’s 

Explorer Dusty and Joanna Lumley’s Absolutely Fabulous Patsy 

duck together with many more. Dusty was exclusively designed 

by the world-famous Aardman studios to help celebrate WWT’s 

70th anniversary by getting children closer to nature. 

So put a spring in your step and go along to London Wetland 

Centre for an Easter adventure. You can borrow a net to try your 

hand at pond dipping. Who knows what mini-beasts you’ll find 

coming to life after their long winter sleep. Spring is a wonderful 

time to visit WWT London Wetland Centre as new life is bursting 

out all around with babies, bugs and buds in abundance. With 

a fun range of Easter egg-tivities, birds singing and springtime 

flowers, you can’t beat London Wetland Centre as the best place 

to be during the Easter holidays. 

Normal admission 

charges apply. Duck 

hunt trails are £1 each, 

including prize. Dusty 

Duck trails are £1 each 

with a chance to enter a 

prize draw. Find out more 

about WWT London 

Wetland Centre at 

www.wwt.org.uk/london 

Easter Eggstravaganza At Odds Farm Park 

Bigger and better than ever 

before, don’t miss the Easter 

Eggstravaganza at “Farm 

Attraction of the Year” Odds 

Farm Park! Daily from 1st 

to 17th April, follow the trail 

to earn a treat, take part in 

Easter-themed crafts and 

enjoy the super-fun shows! 

And, with plenty of new babies 

due including adorable lambs 

and cheeky kid goats, don’t 

miss your chance to meet the 

Easter cuties! You may even 

be lucky enough to see one 

born! Elsewhere, you can find 

plenty more furry friends in 

the Undercover Animal Barns 

and take part in the Daily 

Animal Activities Programme 

– including bottle feeding kid 

Photo by S Morris 

goats!. Plus, jump on board the 

daily Tractor & Trailer Rides* 

for a fun tour of the farm! 

Combined with the Giant Indoor 

Play Barn and acres more 

adventure outside including the 

Log Play Areas, Go-Karts, Sand 

& Water Play and Crazy Golf, 

there’s so much to do! 

Award winning Odds Farm 

Park is located just minutes 

from Junction 2 of the M40, 

near Beaconsfield. For full 

details call 01628 520188 or 

visit www.oddsfarm.co.uk 

*(April-October, Weather Permitting). 


Roundabout continued from p8 

Thu 6 - Mon 17 April 

Shepherds Bush Green, W12 

The Moscow State Circus 

Presents Gostinitsa 

The Moscow State Circus presents 

its brand new show for 2017 in the 

centrally heated Big Top. All ages. 


www.moscowstatecircus.com 

Fri 7 April 

Foundling Museum, WC1 

Knots and Ropes 

Learn how to tie a variety of knots and 

make ropes out of different materials, 

then adapt them into a skipping rope. 

Ages 5+. 90-minute sessions at 

10.30am, 1pm & 3pm. Free. 

www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk 

intu Uxbridge, UB8 

Meet Chase & Marshall! 

A chance to meet Paw Patrol’s Chase 

and Marshall! Book a slot to meet the 

duo at www.intu.co.uk/uxbridge 

Sat 8 April 

Fulham Palace, SW6 

Little Green Fingers 

Gardening Session 

Sow seeds and explore how vegetables 

and flowers grow in this gardening 

workshop. Ages 3+. 10.30am-12noon. 


www.fulhampalace.org 

Grant Museum of Zoology, WC1 

Creature Creations 

Create art inspired by the weird and 

wonderful animals that call the Grant 

Museum home or invent a brand new 

animal, give it a name and add it to the 

Museum collection. All ages. Drop-in: 

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

Sat 8 - Mon 17 April 

V&A Museum, SW7 

Easter Holiday activities 

Enjoy a range of activities including 

paper art, green screen photography 

and pop-up performances. All ages. 

10.30am-5pm. Full programme 

available online. Free. www.vam.ac.uk 

Sun 9 April 

British Museum, WC1 

Animate Celtic craft 

Animate Celtic patterns on shields, 

www.childrenschocolateparties.co.uk 

swords and pots, using craft materials 

and stop-motion software. Ages 7+. 

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

www.britishmuseum.org 

Jewish Museum London, NW1 

A Taste of Passover Family Day 

Learn about Passover by exploring 

the symbolism of the Seder plate and 

tasting the items of food associated 

with the festival, plus craft workshops 

and sensory activities. All ages. 10am- 

2pm. Admission charges apply. Full 

programme available online. 

www.jewishmuseum.org.uk 


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. 

www.nationalgallery.org.uk 

Royal Academy of Arts, W1 

Marvellous marble-mess 

Capture luminous swirls of colour using 

special inks and build striking sculptures 

inspired by the bold colours and shapes 

in the exhibition Revolution: Russian Art 

1917–1932. All ages. 11am-3pm. Free. 

www.royalacademy.org.uk 

Mon 10 April 

Stonebridge Hub, NW10 

Make & Do Workshop 

Get messy and imaginative with this 

exciting workshop led by Abundance 

Arts. Part of Takeover 2017. Ages 6-11. 

10am-1pm. Free but booking required. 

www.tricycle.co.uk 



RAF Museum, NW9 

Eagles at Easter 

Enjoy birds of prey displays to celebrate 

the connection between the RAF and 

these magnificent predators. Full details 

to be confirmed - please visit the 

website. www.rafmuseum.org.uk 

Tue 11 April 

Benjamin Franklin House, WC2 

Family Day: Georgian 

Easter Celebration 

Take part in traditional Georgian 

Easter celebrations, with an egg 

hunt. Ages 5-11. 11am-12.30pm. 

Free but booking recommended. 

www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org 

Wed 12 April 

Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3 

Art of the Garden 

Take a tour of the Garden and try out 

different techniques to create works 

of art, including collage, sketching, 

rubbings and printing. Ages 4+. 

90-minute sessions at 10.30am & 1pm. 


www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 

Fri 14 - Mon 17 April 

London Designer Outlet, HA9 

LDO Celebrates ‘Iconic London’ 

Celebrate the richness and quirkiness 

of London at London Designer 

Outlet. From ‘Her Royal Majesty’ and 

Beefeaters, to designer buses and 

karaoke in a black cab! See feature on 

p5 for more information. 10am-4pm. 

Free. www.londondesigneroutlet.com 

London Museum of 

Water and Steam, TW8 

Grand Easter Steam Up 

See live chicks hatching and make 

an Easter mask before heading off to 

hunt for eggs in the Great Easter Egg 

Hunt around the museum. Plus Thomas 

Wicksteed will be back in steam along 

with the unique collection of Cornish 

and rotative water pumping engines. All 

ages. 11am-4pm. Admission charges 

apply. www.waterandsteam.org.uk 

Sun 16 April 


Springtime at the Palace 

Celebrate spring with storytelling, 

an Easter trail, chocolate making 

workshops and crafts! All ages. 11am- 

3pm. Most activities free, charge and 

booking required for chocolate making 

workshops. www.fulhampalace.org 

Royal Mews, 


Easter egg hunt 

Make an Easter basket and then 

follow a trail around the Royal Mews to 

find the eggs! All ages. Drop-in: 11am- 

3pm. Admission charges apply. 

www.royalcollection.org.uk 

Meet The 

Easter Cuties 

From adorable Lambs 

to Themed-Crafts and 

daily Shows, join in with 

stacks of Easter Fun!* 

*See website for dates. 

More Roundabout 

We are mobile and come to the venue 

of your choice. No mess - Guaranteed! 

Call 0207 859 4576 

T 01628 520 188 

Open daily 10am – 5.30pm 

Nr Beaconsfield HP10 0LX 

(M40, J2) 

oddsfarm.co.uk 



11

Roundabout 

Mon 17 April 


Easter Trail 

Follow the Easter trail around 

the Palace Museum and Garden for 

a chance to win a chocolate prize. All 

ages. Drop-in: 12noon-3pm. £3 per 

child. www.fulhampalace.org 


Little Red Hen & Chicken Licken 

Enjoy the popular stories of the Little 

Red Hen and Chicken Licken, brought 

to life in this interactive puppet show. 

All ages. 30-minute shows at 12noon 

& 1.30pm. Free. www.nhm.ac.uk 

Sat 22 April 

British Museum, WC1 

Shoe Star 

Design a moccasin inspired by the 

Museum’s shoe collection. Use design 

software on tablets, then print it onto 

fabric so you can wear it over your 

own shoes. Ages 7+. Drop-in: 11am- 

4pm. Free. www.britishmuseum.org 

Grant Museum of Zoology, WC1 

Explore Zoology 

Ever wondered how heavy an elephant 

tusk is, how sharp a shark’s tooth is 

or how many scales a pangolin has? 

Take part in hands-on activities to find 

out. All ages. Drop-in: 1pm-4pm. 

Free. www.ucl.ac.uk 

Sun 23 April 

JW3, Jewish Community 

Centre, NW3 

Crafternoon: Colours of Israel 

Make a collage of your favourite Israeli 

place, person or food. All ages. 2pm- 

5pm. Free but booking recommended. 

www.jw3.org.uk 

Sat 29 April 

Kensington Palace, W8 

Make Georgian hot chocolate 

Mix hot chocolate and add sugar 

and spices. Ages 7-11. 45-minute 

workshops at 11.30am, 12.45pm & 

2.30pm. Admission charges apply. 

www.hrp.org.uk 

Museum of Comedy, WC1 

Children’s Magic Workshop 

Learn tricks to wow your friends in 

this workshop led by a Magic Circle 

magician. Ages 7-13. 1.30pm. 


www.leicestersquaretheatre.com 

Sat 29 April - Mon 1 May 

Little Venice, W9 

IWA Canalway Cavalcade 

A waterway boat gathering. Highlights 

include a pageant of boats, stalls, live 

music, kids’ activities, competitions, 

Morris Dancers, a real ale bar and a 

wide variety of snacks and food. All 

ages. Free entry. Times vary - please 

visit www.waterways.org.uk 

Mon 1 May 

Royal Albert Hall, SW7 

FUN DMC 

Dance to child-friendly hip hop, funk, 

disco and block party anthems, plus 

enjoy b-boy dance lessons and special 

surprises! All ages. 10am-12.30pm. 


www.royalalberthall.com 

Sat 6 - Sun 7 May 

Serpentine Gallery, W2 

Spring Family Weekend 

Work with artists to construct a 

temporary studio, which will change 

and grow over the weekend. All ages. 

Drop-in: 10am-1pm. Free. 

www.serpentinegalleries.org 

ZSL London Zoo, NW1 

Special Children’s Day 2017 

A unique event welcoming children 

with special needs. With increased 

specialist facilities and number of staff, 

as well as special interactive events 

and discounted entry. 10am-6pm. 

Admission charges apply. Full details 

of highlights and facilities available 

online. www.zsl.org 

Sat 6 May 


Dawnosaurs 

A chance for autistic children to enjoy 

the Museum, free from the hustle 

and bustle of the general public. 

With a wide ranging programme of 

activities supported by experienced 

facilitators and a calming Sensory 

Room available. Best for ages 5-15. 

8am-10am. Free but booking required. 

www.nhm.ac.uk 

Sun 7 May 

Royal Academy of Arts, W1 

Once upon a piece of paper 

Create picture pyramids. Cut and 

contort from maps, atlases and 

artworks to create an intricate folded 

journey; your own paper artwork. Join 

in a giant collaborative installation or 

make your own takeaway tower of 

triangular tales. All ages. 11am-3pm. 

Free. www.royalacademy.org.uk 

Sat 13 May 

Royal Institution, W1 

Family Fun Day: 

The Chemistry of Life 

Discover the exciting world of 

Biochemistry at this family fun day, 

with talks, hands-on demos and 

experiments. Ages 7+. 11am-4pm. 


www.rigb.org 

Sat 20 - Sun 21 May 

Datchet Water Sailing Club, SL3 

Push the Boat Out weekend 

A chance to try dinghies and catamarans, 

take part in taster sailing 

sessions or try Stand Up Paddle 

boarding. All ages, 8+. Charges apply. 

10am-4pm. www.dwsc.co.uk 

Don’t forget to say 

you saw it in Primary Times! 

Our next issue is available 

from Mon 15 May. 

Performing Arts 

in West London 

Feed their imagination and 

watch their confidence grow 

Children across West London have just completed another funfilled 

11 weeks of drama, singing and dance. Some dazzling endof-term 

shows and mesmerising presentations made for some very 

happy performing arts tutors. 

With one term ending and a new term just around the corner, 

thoughts now turn towards a theatre trip. This April, Jigsaw 

students and their families are jumping aboard a magic carpet ride 

and are off to see Disney’s Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre 

in London’s West End. Meanwhile, a brand-new Jigsaw school is 

opening in Bushey and children from Jigsaw’s agency, Jigsaw Arts 

Management, are continuing to appear on both stage and screen. 

All in all, it’s been an incredibly 

exciting spring term for Jigsaw, 

and staff and students alike can’t 

wait for the next term to get 

underway. 

For more information or to 

book a two week trial, visit www. 

jigsaw-arts.co.uk or alternatively 

you can call 020 8447 4530 and 

a member of the team will be 

more than happy to help. 

Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools 

SCHOOLS IN: 

Ealing 

Harrow 

✴ ✴ ✴ 

3–18 years 

TWO WEEK TRIAL AVAILABLE. 

BOOK NOW! 

020 8447 4530 

www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk 

12 



New opportunities 

at your local 

Stagecoach School 

Keep them fit, channel their energy, 

improve their skills and above all 

boost their confidence with high 

quality teaching in the performing 

arts from Stagecoach! Celebrating 

nearly 30 years of Excellence! If 

you are looking for an activity for 

your little ones which will build 

confidence and develop skills in a 

safe and supportive environment, 

why not give Stagecoach a try with 

a two week trial. From those who 

need coaxing out of their shell, 

to those who want professional 

direction, Stagecoach offers a 

platform for every child to shine. 

With independently inspected 

schools, written feedback, small 

teaching groups and classes 

taught by industry professionals, 

there is no better introduction 

for children and young 

people to the Performing 

Arts. All our schools offer 

added value: through 

performance opportunities, 

the Stagecoach Agency 

represents students 

for professional work, 

theatre trips, LAMDA and 

Performance exams, industry 

workshops and even 

students performing in the 

West End! Visit your local 

Stagecoach to meet the 

Principal and see for yourself! 

Fully qualified dance 

teachers available 

for schools 

It was when we had 4 ballet schools 

in London and enquiries kept 

coming through for ballet teachers 

to take classes in nursery, primary 

and secondary schools that Dance 

Teachers 

Supply Agency 

was started 

up. For more 

information on 

what we offer 

refer to www. 

dtsa.co.uk 

FOR THE 

DANCE 

TEACHERS 

YOU NEED... 

...WHEN YOU NEED THEM 

FULLY QUALIFIED DANCE 

TEACHERS WITH CRB/DBS 

CLEARANCE AVAILABLE TO 

TAKE CLASSES DURING THE 

DAY IN NURSERY, PRIMARY 

& SECONDARY SCHOOLS 

THROUGHOUT LONDON. 

Visit www.dtsa.co.uk for details 

of the types of classes on offer 

Prices start from £40 per hour. 

020 8992 6891 | 07771 905226 

info@dtsa.com 

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. 



13

St Benedict’S School Ealing 

a m i n i m i s i n c i p e 

Outstanding Catholic Independent school for boys & girls aged 3 - 18 

New 

Nursery 

& Pre-Prep 

building 

opening 

September 

2017 

Additional 

Year 6 

class now 

available 

View our website for details of our Open Events or arrange a 

personal visit with our Registrar, Louise Pepper, on 020 8862 2254 

www.stbenedicts.org.uk 

IS YOUR SCHOOL PREPARED FOR THE DIGITAL FUTURE? 

Our children are growing up in an increasingly digital world; with technology 

shaping the way we live our lives. With the world changing as quickly as it is, 

measures must be taken now to ensure the next generation is prepared to 

become creators of tech, not just passive users. Teachers play a crucial role in 

ensuring pupils have the confidence and understanding to create technology, 

with basic tech literacy from a primary-age being fundamental to their futures. 

Teachers need support 

A study from BT and Ipsos MORI shows that 96% of primary teachers see 

tech literacy underpinning their pupils’ futures, with 78% believing it’s as 

important as reading and writing. 97% believe it’s their responsibility to prepare 

children for a digital world, but only 25% agree they’re equipped to do so. 

What is Barefoot Computing doing to help? 

The Barefoot Computing Project is designed to help primary teachers across 

the UK gain confidence in teaching computational thinking. After all, it is the 

“thinking” aspects of computing - getting to grips with concepts like logic, 

sequencing, abstraction and debugging – that underpin the digital world. 

The free workshops and resources Barefoot provide encourage teachers and 

pupils to explore the building blocks of the digital universe in a way that’s 

easy to understand. Teachers who have accessed Barefoot resources are 

more confident than their peers, with 84% understanding computational 

thinking, compared with 57% overall. 

So far, Barefoot has: 

• supported over 35,000 teachers 

• had over 100,000 resources downloaded 

• reached more than 1 Million children 

How can you get involved? 

If you’re a primary teacher, you can register for free resources and 

lesson plans, or book a free workshop for your school, by visiting 

www.barefootcas.org.uk. You can also become a Barefoot volunteer. 

Volunteers come from a range of backgrounds, but they all share a passion 

for supporting the next generation. You’ll get all the preparation you need, 

and you don’t need to be a tech expert or a teacher; just your time and 

enthusiasm will make all the difference. 

What people say about us: 

“ Projects like Barefoot are extremely important for helping to inspire not 

only the next generation of pupils, but also our teachers. Tech literacy is 

something we all need to pay close attention to and support in schools. 

By helping make computer science accessible for all, Barefoot 

is making a huge difference.” 

Siôn Humphreys - National Association of Head Teachers 

Find out more: barefootcas.org.uk 

14 



Focus on 

Education 

World Book Day poems 

at Quainton Hall School 

The pupils from Quainton Hall School 

have taken part in an internal and external 

competition to celebrate World Book Day. 

Here’s one of the winning poems, by Janisha 

Prep 6... 

Something Old, Something New 

Something old, Something new, 

Something very precious for you. 

S stands for something – old or new? 

O stands for opposite – old and new 

M stands for mouldy – something very old 

E stands for elderly – old people are 

T stands for thread-bare – carpets and 

clothes can get 

H stands for hackneyed – ‘that’s a really 

old joke!’ 

I stands for icicles – the water that makes 

them up is very old 

N stands for nasty – nastily, old 

G stands for genesis – the oldest book 

O stands for old – maybe you are 

L stands for long-standing – something that’s 

been around for ages 

D stands for dilapidated – ‘that building 

over there is!’ 

Something old, 

Something new, 

Something very precious for you. 

S stands for something – new or old? 

O stands for opposite – new and old 

M stands for modern - this poem is 

E stands for extra – a new object in my 

house 

T stands for trendy – a new fashion 

H stands for hoping – hoping for 

something new 

I stands for improved – better than the 

old one 

N stands for novice – the new trainee 

G stands for going – going somewhere new 

N stands for new – new life in this world, 

E stands for everybody – waiting for the 

clock to strike 

W stands for waiting – 

hoping time would 

hurry up 

Something old, 

Something new, 

Something very 

precious for you. 

By Janisha Prep 6 

St Benedict’s School 

St Benedict’s is London’s leading 

independent Catholic co-educational school. 

Our pupils benefit from a seamless education 

which can begin at the age of 3 and continue 

through to the Sixth Form. Academic 

standards are high; inspirational teaching, 

tutorial guidance and exceptional pastoral 

care are at the heart of the education we 

offer. At St Benedict’s there is a vital focus on 

personal development, principled leadership, 

resilience and character, through outstanding 

Sport, Music, Drama and an extensive cocurricular 

programme. A new Nursery and 

Pre-Prep Department opens in September 

2017, in addition to our new Sixth Form 

Centre and Art Department. For more 

information visit www.stbenedicts.org.uk 

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. 

www.primarytimes.net/west_london Primary Times, West London • Spring 2017 

15

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National Programme supported by Professional Educationalists and the Dyspraxia Foundation 

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First Class Learning programmes are created by a team of experienced 

specialists in Maths and English. First Class Learning is suitable for all 

ages and abilities. Whether your child lacks confidence with schoolwork 

or, on the contrary, wants to develop a talent for Maths and English, the 

First Class Learning Maths and English courses will help them to realise 

their full potential. 

First Class Learning has centres throughout the country. 

Please visit www.firstclasslearning.co.uk to find your nearest centre. 

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4 Improves confidence 

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4 Tailored to 

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The Maths Factor is way more 

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16 



Highfield Preparatory School 

Who wouldn’t want their daughter to 

skip happily into school, make really 

good friends and discover all her 

talents in a small class, where she can 

become the best she possibly can 

be? This is our aim for every girl here 

and it is what makes Highfield Prep, 

the leading independent girls’ school 

in Maidenhead, so wonderful. 

The girls are given daily opportunities 

to explore, question, try, investigate, 

discover and have fun! This all starts 

in the Nursery, which was graded 

Excellent at inspection, where the 

girls learn to develop confidence and 

independence. 

Why choose Highfield Prep? 

• New: free extended care for nursery 

children from 7.45am 

to 6.00pm (T&C’s apply) 

• Academic excellence 

• Bespoke designed spaces 

• Specialist teaching in Sport, Music, 

Drama, Technology, English, Maths 

and French 

• Highly competitive fees 

Book your appointment 

today to discover why we 

are the first choice for girls. 

Call 01628 624918 or 

visit www.highfieldprep.org 

Full-time English-Arabic 

bilingual pre-school at 

Holland Park Pre-Prep 

School, Kensington London 

It can’t be denied. Multi-lingualism is a gateway to the 

global world. Yes It creates empathies and understandings we 

need... But it does more; children who learn another language 

from a young age have higher cognitive abilities and outscore 

those without a foreign language, in subjects such as 

mathematics and science. 

Preparing to launch in September 2017-2018, the preschool 

brings a new dimension to education in London. 

Kitty Mason has run an early years facility at Holland Park 

Pre-Prep School for 26 years. Rabab Hamiduddin first started 

The Arabic Club for Kids as a weekend Arabic school in 

2007. Kitty and Rabab are working with a team of experts 

from University College London and the bilingual University 

in Aberytswyth within the standards of the EYFS and 

Montessori. This bilingual 

pre-school is available to 

all children of all faiths. It 

is not a religious school. 

Extended hours will be 

available. 

Please see the advert 

on p3. To express 

interest call 020 7993 

9010 or email info@ 

arabicclub.co.uk 

Let’s Play Together! 

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 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

● ● 

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To advertise in Primary Times call 01491 411848 Primary Times, West London • Spring 2017 

17

AWARD-WINNING 

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/ 

The League of Unexceptional Children: 

Get Smart-ish: Book 2, by Gitty Daneshvari 

Published by: Orion Children’s Books. ISBN: 1444014536 

Reviewed by Kitty, aged 10 from Berkshire: 

I would recommend this book to my friends because 

I thought it was funny and clever. I think both boys 

and girls would like it if they were aged between 8 

and 12. My sister is 8 and I think she would enjoy it. 

My favourite bit was when Jonathan tricked Darwin, 

Oli and Hattie, because you didn’t see it coming. 

I would give it 4 and a half stars. 

EducationInvestor 

Awards 2016 

Win a family trip to Disneyland and £500 

worth of books for your school with the 

National Young Writers’ Awards 

The National Young Writers’ Awards 

has returned bigger and better than 

ever before as author, TV presenter 

and adventurer, Steve Backshall, 

has been named judge for 2017. 

The competition, organised by tuition provider, 

Explore Learning, has been running for nine 

years and has inspired hundreds of thousands 

of children across the UK to put pen to paper 

and give writing a try. This year’s theme is ‘The 

Future’ where children are encouraged to write 

a 500 word story set in 3017! Whether that 

means we’re families living in space, robots ruling 

the world or new species of animal roaming the 

wild – Explore Learning want to hear from you! 

TV presenter and adventurer, Steve Backshall is 

also the author of The Falcon Chronicles, the 

best-selling adventure fiction series for children. 

He says: “I’m really excited to be the judge on this 

year’s National Young Writers’ Awards. Writing 

was my first love and I think it’s so important for 

children to let their imaginations run wild and have 

a go at entering writing competitions like this!” 

Children can enter now at 

explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters 

for a chance to win a family trip to 

Disneyland as well as £500 worth of 

books for their school and a trophy! 

Warrior Heroes: The Pharaoh’s 

Charioteer by Benjamin Hulme-Cross 

Published by: A & C Black. ISBN: 1472925890 

Reviewed by Alex, aged 8 from North Yorkshire: 

I loved this book as much as I loved the others in this 

series. Arthur and Finn are on another adventure in 

the time of the Greeks. With the Greek police on their 

tail, the boys must successfully help a soldier in the 

Greek army to escape unnoticed and get to Olympia 

(an Ancient Greek city). A book of excitement and 

adventure, this book was not put down after I picked 

it up, and I read it cover to cover in one go. 

Charlie Chick Wants to Play by Ant Parker 

Published by: Campbell Books. ISBN: 1509829008 

Reviewed by Aurora’s mum from Oxfordshire: 

Great little book with adorable illustrations. 

Aurora just loves lifting the flap at the end. 

The Painting-In Book: 30 Paint and Play 

Activities by Anna Rumsby 

Published by: Laurence King. ISBN: 1780679378 

Reviewed by Noah, aged 5 from 

North London: This book is huge! It has 

pictures on each page so it’s not a normal 

colouring book. It also teaches you how 

to mix colours. My sister also loves this 

colouring book. I only wish there were 

more pizza pages in this book. 

Mortal: Book 3 (River of Ink) by Helen Dennis 

Published by: Hodder Children’s Books. ISBN: 1444920480 

Reviewed by Ben, aged 10 from Oxfordshire: 

For me it started off slow but after a few pages it hooked 

me and I couldn’t stop reading it. This is now one of 

my favourite books. I would recommend this book to 

anyone who likes stories that move quite quickly and 

are almost a quest in them. It could be set in any time 

from 1990 to 2017. It ends on a cliff hanger and I would 

definitely read the next book in the series. Over all it is a 

stunningly good book and I would recommend it. 

18 



Growing 

up Digital 

Anne Longfield OBE is the Children’s Commissioner 

for England and recently published a Growing Up 

Digital report. Anne tells Primary Times why she 

believes the internet can be a huge force for good... 

Like many other parents, I’ve had to adapt 

quickly to the internet and the growth of social 

media. I grew up in a world where Google, 

Instagram, Facebook and Twitter weren’t part 

of everyday life - as they are today for millions 

of children. 

I believe the internet can be a huge force for 

good. The digital world gives children the kind 

of amazing opportunities I could never have 

imagined when I was a child. It offers them a 

chance to learn, to explore and to engage with 

others. My 5 year old nephew has been deftly 

handling his parents’ tablet for years – as 

everyday as any household object he has 

grown up with. But as parents we do worry. 

We often feel out of our depth or unsure about 

the impact the internet is having on our 

children’s lives, on their friendships and on their 

childhood development. While mums and dads 

must be the first line of protection against the 

potential online dangers, there is much more 

that can be done to support them. 

Earlier this year I published a report called 

“Growing Up Digital”, following a year-long 

study by a group of experts with expertise in 

areas like media law, online bullying, safety 

and children’s digital use. Our panel included 

Baroness Beeban Kidron, who set up the 

5Rights project to campaign for better digital 

rights for children, and Liam Hackett founder 

of the anti-bullying organisation Ditch The 

Label. We listened to the experiences of 

children and parents and set out a range of 

ideas about how we could give children the 

three most important skills they need to get 

the most out of the internet: resilience, 

information and power. 

I know many parents are concerned we 

aren’t giving children the skills they need to 

navigate their way through the new digital 

world. Kids are spending longer online and 

recent studies suggest almost a third of 15 

year olds have sent a naked photo of 

themselves at least once. Over a third of 12-15 

year olds have seen hateful content directed at 

a particular group of people in the last year. 

Often parents are focussed on chatroom 

safety and the fear of “strangers” and 

“grooming”, while children themselves are 

more worried about online bullying and 

inappropriate pictures of themselves appearing 

on social media. For example, it’s clear from 

‘Growing Up Digital’ that young people don’t 

feel they have control over their social media 

lives. They’re 

agreeing to social 

media terms and 

conditions despite them being so long and 

complex that they could never be expected to 

really understand them fully. It means they are 

giving up their right to privacy and even 

allowing the content they post – pictures 

usually – to be sold by the social media giants, 

if they wanted to. 

As part of our study, we asked some young 

people whether they understood the terms of 

Instagram. Many parents will know that their 

children use Instagram to share pictures, often 

of themselves. It’s used by more than half of 

12-to-15 year olds and one in four 8-to-11 

year olds who say that they have a social 

media account. 

The younger children we showed the terms 

and conditions to were unable to read more 

than half of the 17 pages of text, and none of 

them fully understood what they were 

committing themselves to when they clicked 

‘accept’. When we asked an expert in privacy 

law to simplify them so children could 

understand them, many were shocked by what 

they read. 

We also looked into children’s experiences 

of reporting problems on social media sites. 

We found that many simply have no idea how 

to report unacceptable content or behaviour 

– and even when they do, they are usually not 

happy with the action that’s taken. So we are 

calling on social media companies to rewrite 

their terms and conditions so children can 

understand them and can then make informed 

decisions about what they’re signing up to. 

I hope the Government will implement 

legislation to protect children’s privacy and 

data online. And I would also like to extend my 

powers so the Children’s Commissioner is able 

to oversee the number and the types of 

complaints that the social media companies 

are receiving from children. 

‘Growing Up Digital’ calls for a Digital 

Ombudsman, a mediator to act between 

children and the social media giants, similar to 

the role which works well in Australia. The 

Ombudsman would be an independent person 

who can help children to have content 

removed from sites if they are unhappy with a 

picture or a post that invades their privacy, is 

used without their consent or is used as part of 

online bullying. 

It’s also important to make sure that children 

are taught about their rights and responsibilities 

online from an early age. The internet is a part 

of every child’s life, so it makes sense for all 

four-to-fourteen year olds to learn how to get 

the best out of it, while also avoiding some of 

the dangers. This obligatory part of the 

curriculum would include what it means to be 

a responsible citizen online, how to protect 

their rights online, how to respect others’ rights 

online, and how to both disengage and 

engage with the online world. As younger 

children want to learn these skills but 

sometimes feel uncomfortable talking to 

teachers and parents about the internet and 

would rather talk to people their own age, 

digital citizenship should involve older children 

who younger kids are more likely to trust. 

It’s so important children are better 

educated about the internet, understand what 

they’re agreeing to when they join social media 

platforms and that their privacy is better 

protected. Nobody wants their children 

roaming around in a world for which they aren’t 

prepared. We wouldn’t let a child roam around 

the ‘offline’ world without teaching them the 

skills to do so first. So it’s time we did more to 

prepare children for a digital world that has 

limited regulation and which is controlled by a 

small number of powerful organisations. 

Technology is developing at a rapid pace. 

When it was created 25 years ago, the internet 

was designed with adults in mind - but it’s now 

up to all of us to make sure it is a better and 

safer place for children by giving them the 

information, the power and the resilience they 

need to thrive. 

For more information about the ‘Growing Up 

Digital’ report visit www.childrenscommissioner. 

gov.uk/publications/growing-digital 

For more information on the 5Rights Project: 

http://5rightsframework.com 

For more information about the anti-bullying 

charity Ditch The Label: www.ditchthelabel.org 

The Children’s Commissioner for England 

wants to hear from children about where 

they live, the important people in their lives, 

how they spend their time and what they 

would do if they were in charge of the world 

or their school. If your child would like to take 

part visit https://live.firstnews.co.uk/our-lives/ 



19

Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, Beck Theatre 

Your family theatre guide, March – May 

Barons Court Theatre 

The Curtains Up, W14 

Box office: 020 8932 4747 

www.falseimpressions.co.uk 

Sun 30 April 

THE MAGIC CAVERN 

Witness the seemingly impossible at 

London’s longest running magic show. 

Ages 8+. 2.30pm. Tickets £12/£10. 

Sun 7 May 

CAVE 13 - SUPERSTITIOUS MAGIC 

An unusual magic show themed around 

superstition. Ages 8+. 2.30pm. Tickets 

£12/£10. 

Beck Theatre, UB3 

Box office: 020 8561 8371 

www.becktheatre.org.uk 

Sun 9 April 

CIRQUE DU HILARIOUS 

Hilarious by name and hilarious by 

nature! Join award-winning duo Clive 

Webb and Danny Adams for over two 

hours of madcap humour and lunacy. 

All ages. 2.30pm. Tickets £19/£17. 


ROBIN HOOD - EASTER PANTO 

Join Robin Hood and Maid Marian in 

this swashbuckling, arrow-slinging, 

SUNDAYS, EASTER & MAY BANK HOLIDAY 

FAMILY 

THEATRE 

watermans.org.uk 

Theatre to 

excite and 

inspire the 

imaginations 

of children. 

A Real Alien Adventure 

comedy adventure! With an all-star cast, 

including Britain’s Got Talent Winner 

George Sampson as Robin Hood, Dani 

Harmer from CBBC’s Tracy Beaker and 

Strictly Come Dancing as Maid Marian 

and X-Factor Runner-Up Andy Abraham 

as the Sheriff of Nottingham. All ages. 

Times and ticket prices vary. 


BEN & HOLLY’S LITTLE KINGDOM 

Join Ben and Holly, and their friends on 

this exciting, enchanting and magical 

musical adventure packed full of games, 

songs and laughter. All age. Times and 

ticket prices vary. 

Cadogan Hall, SW1 

Box office: 020 7730 4500 

www.cadoganhall.com 

Sun 2 April 

BILLY’S BAND FAMILY CONCERT 

Roll up, roll up! Billy’s Band, led by Dan 

Newell, trumpeter with the LSO and 

author of the acclaimed Billy’s Band 

books, takes children on a musical 

adventure with pre-concert activities, 

singing, dancing and even a spot of 

conducting for anyone who wants 

to have a go! All ages. Pre-concert 

activities from 10.45am. Concert at 

11.30am. Tickets £15/£5. 

Sat 6 May 

SOUTHBANK SINFONIA FAMILY 

CONCERT - DO YOU SPEAK 

MUSIC? 

Join Southbank Sinfonia for a thrilling 

global adventure! Music is a language 

that everyone understands, but every 

country has a slightly different musical 

accent. In this Family Concert, 36 

musicians from 12 countries will guide 

the audience through a symphony 

written in Italy by a German all about 

Scotland. With big screen projections, 

lighting effects and the chance to 

meet the musicians and try out their 

instruments. Ages 5-11. 11.30am. 

Tickets £10/£6.50. 

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. 

Sat 29 April 

SUDDENLY! 

Red loves bedtime stories at Grandma’s. 

As well as reading them from a book, 

they make up their own too. But one 

evening, as they settle down with ‘Once 

upon a time...’, they are interrupted 

by their wily neighbour, Mr Wolfe, and 

a race begins to save their tree house 

from a faulty genie and a wicked 

stepmother with a magic mirror (and 

a penchant for shopping) - before 

midnight! All ages. 2pm. Tickets £7. 

Sat 20 May 

RAPUNZEL & THE TOWER 

OF DOOM 

Tangles? Split Ends? Frizzy? Flyaway? 

It’s bad enough having a bad hair day 

but pity poor Rapunzel spending her life 

in a tower with some strange woman 

using her captive’s locks as a step 

ladder! The traditional tale is retold, 

with plenty of body, volume and loads 

of highlights! All ages. 2pm. Tickets £7. 

Compass Theatre, UB10 

Box office: 01895 250615 

www.hillingdontheatres.uk 

Tue 4 - Sat 8 April 

MOTHER GOOSE AND HER GOLDEN 

EASTER EGGS 

Follow the story of Mother Goose, 

searching for beauty and wealth. Will 

the demon Squire lay his hands on 

the golden eggs? An Easter musical 

eggstravaganza from the producers of 

Compass Theatre’s pantomimes, as 

well as previous Compass Easter shows 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. All ages. 

Times and ticket prices vary. 

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. 

Harrow Arts Centre, HA5 

Box office: 020 8416 8989 

www.harrowarts.com 

Tue 4 April 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 

Follow Alice and the White Rabbit as 

they set off on a colourful, topsy-turvy 

adventure like no other and meet a 

host of outlandish characters including 

the troublesome twins, Tweedle Dum 

and Tweedle Dee, the notorious Queen 

of Hearts, the Cheshire cat and of 

course, the Mad-as a bat-Hatter! With 

the opportunity to meet the characters 

after the show. Ages 4+. 2pm. Tickets 

£11/£9. 

Wed 12 April 

CAPTAIN CALAMITY’S 

MEGA PARTY 

A crazy mix of magic and mayhem like 

no other. Expect jaw dropping science 

stunts, enormous balloons, beautiful 

bubbles and one or two custard pies… 

Ages 3+. 2pm. Tickets £9/£7. 

More Theatre 

20 



adapted by ANYA REISS 

from the novel by CHARLES DICKENS 

17 Jul - 05 Aug 

Discover the original story of Victorian 

London’s most famous child with 

Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six 

and over. It will have you on the edge of 

your seat and wanting more. 

TO BOOK £12.00 EDUCATION TICKETS 

CALL 0845 673 2151* 

(Mon-Fri 11am-5pm) 

or for more information 

openairtheatre.com/education 

*calls cost 2p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge. Information 

correct at the time of print. Minimum of 6 student tickets required. All tickets 

are subject to terms and conditions, including the Weather Policy, available at 

openairtheatre.com/terms 

“A gorgeous treat for kids and parents” 

The Daily Express (on My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty) 

peacocktheatre.com 

020 7863 8222 

To My advertise First Cinderella_135mmx184_Primary Times call Times 01491 North 411848 and West London.indd 1 

This Easter 11 – 22 Apr 2017 

ballet.org.uk/myfirstballet 

Illustration: Mark Ruffle 

Primary Times, West London • 3/3/2017 Spring 4:15:45 2017PM 

21

Theatre 

Jermyn Street Theatre, SW1 

Box office: 020 7287 2875 

www.falseimpressions.co.uk 

Sat 1 April 

SATURDAY MORNING MAGIC 

Over an hour of incredible magic, 

presented by Richard Leigh. Ages 5+. 

11.30am. Tickets £9. 

Lyric Hammersmith, W6 

Box office: 020 8741 6850 

www.lyric.co.uk 

Sat 25 March 

GOLDILOCKS 

Feisty rag doll Goldilocks enters the 

Raggedy Woods. Follow her journey to 

the three bears’ house. Expect hurdygurdy 

music, naughty goblins, helpful 

spiders, porridge and sing-a-long fun. 

Ages 3-8. 11am & 1pm. Tickets £8. 

Sat 22 April 

A STRANGE NEW SPACE 

Amira is completely obsessed with 

space and dreams of becoming an 

Astronaut. But one night, the bangs, 

whooshes and fizzes of her imagination 

explode right out of her dreams, 

becoming a deafening reality. Join 

Amira on an imagined voyage into 

space, paralleled with her real-life 

journey as a refugee across continents. 

Ages 3-11. 11am & 1pm. Tickets £8. 

Peacock Theatre, WC2 

Box office: 020 7863 8000 

www.peacocktheatre.com 

Tue 11 - Sat 22 April 

MY FIRST BALLET: CINDERELLA 

English National Ballet’s enchanting 

version of the fairytale ballet created 

especially for children aged three 

upwards. With a narrator to help the 

young audience follow the story, and 

a shortened version of Prokofiev’s 

ravishing score, My First Ballet: 

Cinderella is a unique collaboration 

between English National Ballet and 

English National Ballet School. Ages 

3-9. Times and ticket prices vary. 

Polka Theatre, SW19 

Box office: 020 8543 4888 

www.polkatheatre.com 

Until 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. 

Thu 6 April - Sun 14 May 

SARAH & DUCK’S BIG TOP 

BIRTHDAY 

The award-winning CBeebies show, 

Sarah & Duck, is brought to life on 

stage. Join Sarah & Duck and all their 

friends as they plan a birthday party for 

Scarf Lady in their garden. Ages 3-6. 

Times vary. Tickets £15/£10. 

Fri 21 - Sun 23 April 

CHICKEN LICKEN 

Three classic tales from the Ladybird 

books – Chicken Licken, The Little Red 

Hen and The Fox and the Hen are told 

with shadow and rod puppetry. Starting 

as a baking demonstration, the show 

Schools & families – Book now for Oliver Twist 

at Regents Park Open Air Theatre 

Mon 17 July - Sat 5 Aug 

OLIVER TWIST CREATED FOR EVERYONE AGED SIX AND OVER 

Adapted by ANYA REISS. From the novel by CHARLES DICKENS. 

Let students experience thrilling outdoor theatre this summer with our £12.00 

Education Rate* for Oliver Twist created for everyone aged six and over. 

Introducing the original story of Victorian London’s most famous child to 

younger audiences, it will have them on the edge of their seats and wanting 

more! Daytime performances, Monday-Friday at 1.30pm, excluding Thursdays. 

rapidly becomes the adventures of a 

growing chick and her encounters with 

a hungry fox. Ages 3-6. Times vary. 

Tickets £12.50/£9. 

Thu 4 - Sun 28 May 

UNDER THE RAINBOW 

Hear the story of one woman’s 

courageous journey. As she crosses 

land and sea, befriends a turtle and a 

bird of paradise and discovers a plentiful 

island. With evocative music, puppetry 

and a beautiful transformative set. Ages 

3-6. Times and ticket prices vary. 

Puppet Theatre Barge, W9 

Box office: 020 7249 6876 

www.puppetbarge.com 

Sat 25 March - Sun 14 May 


THE FLIGHT OF BABUSCHA 

BABOON 

Hear the story of a baboon who wants 

to fly to the moon in a hot air balloon! 

Babuscha meets an elephant whose life 

is threatened by ivory hunters. Can the 

baboon save the elephant? All ages, 3+. 

Times vary. Tickets £12/£8.50. 

Regents Park 

Open Air Theatre, NW1 

Box office: 0844 826 4242 

www.openairtheatre.com 

BOOK AHEAD FOR... 

Mon 17 July - Sat 5 Aug 

OLIVER TWIST CREATED FOR 

EVERYONE AGED SIX AND OVER 

Discover the original story of Victorian 

London’s most famous child with Oliver 

Twist created for everyone aged six and 

over. Special rates available for school 

groups - see feature box above. 

*Education Rate available 

Monday-Friday excluding 

Thursdays; teacher goes 

free with every ten tickets 

booked. No booking or 

transaction fee. Minimum 

of 6 students required to 

receive the education rate. 

Check www.openairtheatre. 

com/education for full 

performance schedule. 

Richmond Theatre, TW9 

Box office: 0844 871 7651 

www.atgtickets.com/richmond 

Fri 21 - Sun 23 April 

DINOSAUR WORLD 

Discover a pre-historic world of 

astonishing (and remarkably life-like) 

dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive 

creatures, including the Tyrannosaurus 

Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan and 

Segnosaurus. Ages 3+. Times and 


Royal Albert Hall, SW7 

Box office: 020 7589 8212 

www.royalalberthall.com 

Thu 11 - Sun 14 May 

HARRY POTTER AND THE 

PHILOSOPHER’S STONE IN 

CONCERT 

See Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s 

Stone screened in high definition and 

in full on a 40-foot screen, as John 

Williams’ immortal score is played live 

on stage by a world-class orchestra and 

chorus. All ages (rated PG). Times and 


Soho Theatre, W1 

Box office: 020 7478 0100 

www.sohotheatre.com 

Sat 15 April 

COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS 

A comedy club for anyone who enjoys 

a swear-free hour with the international 

circuit’s best stand-ups and sketch acts. 

Ages 6+. 12.30pm. Tickets £10. 

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! 

Join Mouse-ter of Ceremonies Mickey 

Mouse and be charmed by over 50 

unforgettable Disney characters as you 

sing along to over 30 favourite songs. 

All ages. Times and ticket prices vary. 

Watermans, TW8 

Box office: 020 8232 1010 

www.watermans.org.uk 

Sun 26 March 

THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES 

OF PINOCCHIO 

Crickets, cats, foxes and, of course, the 

world-famous puppet, will spring out of 

a collection of dusty, magic books while 

Patrick Lynch from CBeebies brings one 

of the best loved classic tales to life. 

Ages 5+. 3.30pm. Tickets £8/£7. 

Sun 9 - Mon 10 April 

OLIVER IN THE OVERWORLD 

A fast-moving musical adventure about 

a little deaf boy who travels to The 

Overworld, The Land of Machinery, 

seeking the parts to mend the memory 

of Oliver the Grandfather Clock. With 

puppets, song and dance and featuring 

fully integrated Sign Language, this 

show is suitable for both deaf and 

hearing audiences. Ages 3-7. Sun at 

3pm & Mon at 11am. Tickets £8/£7. 

Sun 23 April 

MORGAN AND WEST’S UTTERLY 

SPIFFING SPECTACULAR SHOW 

FOR KIDS (AND CHILDISH 

GROWN UPS!) 

Witness a mountain of mysterious 

magic, a hatful of hyper-reality and a 

truck full of tricks and tea. Mixing brain 

boggling illusion and good old fashioned 

tom-foolery, Morgan & West present 

a show where magic and silliness 

abound! Ages 5+. 3pm. Tickets £8. 

Sun 14 May 

STONES AND BONES 

Find out about archaeology and fossils, 

say hello to one of your stone-age 

ancestors, hear stories of giants and 

wizards, see a volcano erupting and 

maybe even glimpse a dinosaur or 

two... With thrills and spills galore, lots 

of laughs, plenty of puppets, songs, 

slapstick, tall tales and crazy characters. 

Ages 5+. 3pm. Tickets £8/£7. 

Wigmore Hall, W1 

Box office: 020 7935 2141 

www.wigmore-hall.org.uk 

Sat 20 May 

FAMILY CONCERT: SEARCH FOR 

THE STARLIGHT SQUID 

Dive down into the deep blue sea on an 

aquatic adventure to find the starlight 

squid! This underwater journey features 

music from works by Sibelius to sea 

shanties, and even a stormy piece 

created by the audience. Ages 5+. 

11am. Tickets £10/£8. 

Enjoy the show! 

Don’t forget to say you saw 

it in Primary Times! 

22 



Competitions! 

WIN 

TICKETS! 

My First Ballet: Cinderella 

The Peacock Theatre, 11 – 22 April 2017 

Enjoy everyone’s favourite rags-to-riches story, in a beautifully adapted 

ballet version for children aged three upwards. 

It’s the perfect Easter treat for kids and parents. 

One lucky reader will win 4 tickets to see the production*. 

To enter, simply answer this question: 

What was Cinderella transformed into by her Fairy Godmother? 

a) A green toad b) A magic beanstalk c) A glittering Princess 

Enter at www.primarytimes.net/west_london/competitions 

or via www.facebook.com/PTWestLondon 

*Prize is 4 top-price tickets for any performance from 11 – 22 April 2017, subject to 

availability. Competition closes on 03 April 2017. No cash alternative. Transport and 

accommodation costs not included. 

For tickets visit peacocktheatre.com | 020 7863 8222 



23

Improve 

your child’s 

study skills 

Kumon’s maths and English study 

programmes work to improve your 

child’s skills, develop their confidence 

and inspire a passion for learning. 

Contact your local Instructor for a free assessment. 

Bayswater 020 7603 1499 

Canons Park 020 8998 7654 

Chiswick 020 8876 9954 

Eastcote 020 8933 9187 

Edgware 020 8200 8822 

Fulham 020 7266 4401 

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 

St Margarets 020 8707 5612 

Wealdstone 020 3372 4979 

Wembley Central 020 8426 1222 

Wembley Park 020 8863 7718 

24 


Fees vary. Please refer to your local study centre. 

kumon.co.uk

PTWL Spring17_Opt

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