Primary Times Leicestershire May edition

52,000 COPIES FOR FAMILIES 

OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN 

www.primarytimes.co.uk 

Leicestershire 

& Rutland 

21 MAY - 15 JUNE 

See inside for more details. 

DAYS OUT • EDUCATION • COMPETITIONS • FAMILY FUN 

MAY 2019 

13 MAY - 30 JUNE

ATTRACTION 

ONE RUTLAND’S NUMBER 

TRIPADVISOR 2018 

WINNER 2017 & 

OPEN FROM 

25 TH MAY 2019 

TAKE ON THE 

AQUA PARK CHALLENGE 

TOTALLY WIPE OUT! 

aquaparkrutland.co.uk 

FROM 

£20 

PER PERSON 

WETSUIT HIRE 

INCLUDED 

ONLINE BOOKING ESSENTIAL 

Aqua Park Rutland, Bull Brig Lane, Whitwell, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8BL

Contents 

4 News 

6 WOW: Family events 

12 Mindfulness 

16 What is Anxiety? 

20 Box Office 

22 Competitions 

Dear Readers, 

Welcome to our May half-term issue! We seem to be getting 

the first hints of summer now with the weather getting warmer 

and the days getting longer, and I’m sure we’re all getting 

excited with the long summer break finally on the horizon! 

In this issue we are delighted to bring you loads of events and 

activities for your little ones, many of which are free or low 

cost. We’ve also got some brilliant shows listed on our 

Box Office page for your budding theatre goers, including 

Shrek The Musical. 

May half-term can be a tricky school holiday for working 

parents saving their leave for the long summer break, so we’ve 

got a huge range of activities listed to keep your children busy 

and active. We’ve got everything from Aqua Park Rutland to 

The National Space Centre! 

We hope you enjoy this issue, and make some lovely family 

memories over the coming weeks. 

With very best wishes, 

The Primary Times Team 

MAY 2019 

Sales: Helen Pattinson: 

helen.pattinson@ 

primarytimes.co.uk 

Tel: 01491 411848 

Production: Kathy Wright 

kathy.wright@ 

primarytimes.co.uk 

Design: Owen Mooney 

WELCOME 

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

Rutland. It aims to inform families and children about current educational issues, forthcoming events, courses, attractions 

and to 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 based 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 young children. Primary Times would like to thank all the schools in Birmingham & Black Country for 

their assistance in distributing the magazine and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the 

advertisers who have supported this 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 over 2 million copies per issue 

under franchise licences throughout Britain. 

Primary Times in Leicestershire & Rutland is 

published by: Schools Publishing Limited 

Unit 1A, Thamesview Industrial Estate, 

Newtown Road, Henley on Thames 

RG9 1HG Telephone: 01491 411848 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/leicestershire 

The UK’s biggest free ‘what’s on’ 

magazine for parents! Primary 

Times in Leicestershire and Rutland 

distributes 56,000 copies seven 

times a year, and is part of a 

national network distributing more 

than 2.7 million copies in 

59 regions across the UK 

and Ireland 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire | May 2019 3

NEWS 

Primary Times Leicestershire & Rutland 

leicestershire & rutland 

NEWS 

Do 

you have news to celebrate? We’d love to hear! 

Email helen.pattinson@primarytimes.co.uk 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/leicestershire 

Guide Dogs UK 

Guide Dogs UK rely on the brilliant 

volunteers who give their time 

to help this charity in so many 

ways. There are many great 

volunteering opportunities to get 

involved in, even an hour makes 

a big difference. The volunteers 

can transform the lives of people 

living with sight loss, whether it is 

raising the puppies, sighted guiding, 

collecting funds or cheering on the 

event participants. There really is 

something for everyone! Without 

the volunteers, the charity could 

not continue its life changing work. 

Could you help? Visit 

www.guidedogs.org.uk 

to find out more. 

University Leicester Fun Day 

Prescribe your family a good dose of 

fun at Leicester’s Festival of Health 

Come along to Leicester’s Festival of 

Health at the University of Leicester 

on Saturday 6 July for a fun-packed 

day where the whole family can learn 

about health and wellbeing. 

The event, which runs from 11am until 

3pm in the University’s Events Square 

is being organised by the University 

in partnership with local NHS Trusts 

and Leicester City Council. As well as 

bouncy castles, face painting, Zumba, 

Bollywood Dance, live music, a climbing 

wall and a teddy bear’s hospital, 

children will be able to take part in a 

whole range of hands-on activities, 

including a treasure hunt, to help 

them find out more about all aspects 

of their physical and mental health. 

Public health nursing (health visiting 

and school nursing) teams will be on 

hand to talk to parents and carers 

about preparing little ones for starting 

school and to provide advice about all 

sorts of topics from healthy eating and 

staying active to supporting children 

to develop emotional resilience and 

cope with anxiety. There will also be 

a range of information stands about 

local health services for all ages. 

Plenty of refreshments will be available, 

but feel free to bring your own 

picnic. Parking for cars and bikes is 

free, as is entry to the festival. www. 

le.ac.uk/healthy-living 

#WalkTo 

SchoolWeek 

Living Streets have created the 

greatest national Walk to School 

celebration where pupils and 

grown-ups around the 

UK unite for one week of 

walking to school. 

Each year they develop a new 

five-day walking challenge aimed 

at primary schools - the perfect 

activity to take part in during 

Walk to School Week. 

This year, to celebrate their 90th 

anniversary, the challenge will 

get to the heart of walking and 

how it can benefit the whole 

community as well as improve 

individual wellbeing. 

Join in on 20th 

to 24th May 2019 

www.livingstreets.org.uk 

Leicester Festival of Health 

Saturday 6 July 11am – 3pm 

University of Leicester, Events Square, University Rd 

Healthy Minds, Healthy Lifestyle 

Fun and learning for all the family 

Raising funds for local NHS charities 

Supported by Leicester City Council 

FREE 

PARKING 

FOR CARS 

& BIKES! 

Register to confirm your free place at le.ac.uk/healthy-living 

U. matter 

a Health Matters initiative by 

University Hospitals of Leicester 

NHS Trust 

Leicestershire Partnership 

NHS Trust 

2019028 UoL Festival of Health Primary Times ad_AW.indd 1 29/04/2019 10:30 

4 May 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire


Children’s 

Art Week 

The Annual Celebration of Children’s 

Creativity is Back: Find An Event Near 

You! Children’s Art Week (Sat 8th– 

Sunday 16thJune 2019) is back for 

2019. Get creative at one of hundreds 

of arty events being held in venues 

around the UK. Venues will be hosting 

interactive workshops for children 

of all ages to encourage everyone 

to #GetKidsCreating Children’s Art 

Week ambassador and BBC Bake Off 

2013 winner and artist, Francis Quinn, 

explained why she wants children 

and families across the UK to get 

involved: “Being creative can take 

many forms and for me it’s baking and 

designing with both ingredients and 

ideas. I hope children everywhere get 

involved in Children’s Art Week, by 

going to an event, or getting creative 

in anyway at home.” Many events are 

free whilst some may have a small 

charge to cover the cost of materials. 

Visit www.childrensartweek.org.uk 

to find events near you. 

Music in 

the Park 

Bring your own picnic and enjoy 

a wonderful evening listening 

to two fantastic bands, the 

high-energy ‘Ska-aManga’ 

band and the award-winning 

‘Kibworth Brass Band’. The 

evening finishes with a fabulous 

fireworks display in front of 

Wistow Hall. All ages welcome. 

The concert is raising money 

for “LOROS” (hospice) and the 

charity “Raising Health”, and 

organised by the Wigston 

Rotary Club, compere for the 

evening is Martin Ballard.Rain 

or shine the show goes on, but 

if the weather is really bad and 

windy, check the website on the 

day for updates. 

Gates Open 5.30pm, Concert 

Starts 7.30pm, Fireworks 

Display 10.00pm 

Visit www.wistow.com or call 

0116 231 8431 

Get your teeth 

into National 

Smile Month! 

This year’s National Smile Month 

starts on 13 May, and our public 

health (school) nurses are inviting 

you as parents and carers to make 

a pledge that will encourage kids to 

develop good dental health habits. 

For example, you could pledge to: 

• Take your child to see the dentist 

every six months– NHS dental care 

for children is free, and you can 

find an NHS dentist at www.nhs.uk/ 

dentists 

• Remind your child to brush 

their teeth before bedtime and 

in the morning with fluoride 

toothpaste – the free Brush DJ app 

(downloadable from www.brushdj. 

com) has a great two minute timer 

• Replace your child’s toothbrush 

every couple of months – worn 

brushes won’t clean effectively 

NEWS 

•Lift your child’s top lip regularly 

to check for early signs of decay – 

look out for chalky white lines along 

the gum, followed by brown spots 

that don’t rub off 

Learning through 

Landscapes 

The UK’s leading outdoor learning 

and play charity is hosting a free 

wildlife conference on the 13th June 

at Leicester City Hall. 

The conference will include keynote 

talks from a variety of industry experts, 

including Dr Steve Head, Ecologist 

and Chairman of the UK Gardening 

and Wildlife Forum, Susie Smith, 

Development Manager at Learning 

through Landscapes and Sarah Brady, 

Education Manager at BirdLife Malta. 

Learning through Landscapes (LtL) 

was founded in 1990 and helps 

children to connect with nature, 

become more active, learn outdoors 

and have fun. Its transformation of 

school grounds and teacher training, 

alongside an unrivalled knowledge 

and expertise gained through practical 

action and research, has led to its 

reputation as the UK’s leading outdoor 

learning and play charity. 

www.ltl.org.uk to book 

email enquiries@ltl.org.uk 

National Deaf Children’s Society 

Andy Yorke plans to complete 

not one, not two but three 

epic runs for the National Deaf 

Children’s Society this year. Andy 

kicked off his year of fundraising 

when he completed the Rutland 

Half Marathon in April, starting 

and finishing in Barnsdale and 

circumnavigating Rutland Water, 

achieving a creditable time of 2 

hours 1 minute. Andy, 47, works 

at a corporate travel company 

as a section manager. He lives in 

Sileby with his wife Sarah. They 

have two grown up children, 

Tom, 19, and Olivia, 18. Andy’s 

next challenge will be the iconic 

Great North Run in September 

and his marathon year will finish 

with the Leicester Half Marathon 

in October. 

Andy said: “I decided to support 

the National Deaf Children’s 

Society when I looked into the 

work you do as a charity and 

realised how good a cause it is. 

So when looking at doing the half 

marathons it made sense to try 

and raise some money. “I've been 

running now for about a year and 

the Leicester run last year was 

my first half marathon ever. Now 

I have the bug for it I'm doing 

three this year - and then who 

knows what next year will bring!” 

John Larkin, who supports fundraisers 

like Andy at the National 

Deaf Children’s Society, said: 

“We can’t thank Andy enough 

for his exertions on our behalf. 

Deaf children across the UK are 

growing up with the support they 

need because of the fundraising 

that people like Andy have done 

for us.” 

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andy-yorke 

For more information, please 

visit www.ndcs.org.uk 

• Keep sugary foods and drinks 

to mealtimes, and ensure your 

children stick to water (not 

flavoured) or plain milk in between 

Download a pledge card at www. 

healthforkids.co.uk/leicestershire/ 

get-your-teeth-into-nationalsmile-month 

- you could stick it up 

somewhere the whole family can 

see it. And why not get your kids to 

play the fun toothbrushing game, 

‘Shine Time – Stop that Sugar’? 

Can they beat the clock and 

keep teeth healthy? 

Visit www.healthforkids.co.uk 



WHAT’S ON WHERE 

WOW! 

17 May 

what’s on where 

Open Your Ears - Bat Walk 

Anglian Water Birdwatching 

Centre LE15 8BT 

www.lrwt.org.uk 

These amazing creatures are often misunderstood 

and overlooked so join us to 

learn the basics and head out for a guided 

bat walk on the reserve. You will learn 

how to listen to and identify the bats using 

detectors. You may also spot some other 

nocturnal wildlife – owls, foxes, badgers – 

as you stroll around the reserve after dusk. 

Booking essential. 

17 May – 19 May 

Rockingham 

International HorseTrials 

Rockingham Castle LE16 8TH 

www.rockinghamcastlehorsetrials.com 

There will be a range of delicious food and 

drink stands selling everything from soup 

and sandwiches to burgers, paella and 

Yorkshire puddings with all the trimmings! 

There is a fully licensed bar in the centre 

of the site along with coffee and tea stalls 

across the event site. There is also a have 

a go Dog Agility ring for your canine pals 

to impress! 


Achille Wood & Farm Walk 

Hill Farm LE65 1WU 

www.goleicestershire.com 

Take a leisurely stroll around the farm and 

woodland, taking in Canadian bison, red 

deer, alpacas and many more. Finish with 

a visit to Antlers and Alpaca coffee and gift 

shop for brunch or refreshments. 

Kids with Cameras 

Calke Abbey DE73 7JF 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk 

Come and join the photography team on a 

kid’s camera walk and have some fun looking 

for different views to photograph. Pick 

up some handy tips and tricks along the 

way. Don’t forget to bring your camera and 

your adult along! We recommend suitable 

footwear and clothing for the weather. 


Push the Boat Out Plus 

Rutland Watersports Oakham, LE15 8BL 

anglianwaterparks.co.uk/ 

rutland-water-park 

Try Sailing, Windsurfing, Canoeing, Kayaking, 

Stand Up Paddleboarding, Wind foiling 

and Dinghy foiling! PLUS discounts on: 

equipment hire, tuition & courses, camping, 

boat launch & storage, Rutland Belle Cruises, 

and Cycle hire. Demo Area Entry fee is 

£5 per person with no bookings necessary. 

Moira Canal Festival 

Moira Furnace DE12 6AT 

www.moiracanalfestival.com 

The Moira Canal Festival is a family event 

held every year on the restored section 

of the Ashby Canal, at the historic Moira 

Furnace Museum. Boats, Children’s Entertainment, 

Live Steam and Shreck The Boat 

Horse. It aims to raise awareness of, and 

money for, the restoration, extension and 

maintenance of the Ashby Canal. 


National Walking Festival 

various venues 

www.visitpeakdistrict.com 

Walks for all ages and abilities. Guided 

and themed walks and activities. Beautiful 

places to explore within the National Forest. 

Pick up a brochure from either Ashby or 

Swadlincote Tourist Information Centres. 


Rutland Walking & 

Cycling Festival 

various venues 

www.activerutland.org.uk 

Over 30 sessions for all ages and abilities 

to try including country walks, mountain 

bike ride, electric bike demo day and much 

more! It’s a perfect opportunity to meet 

new people with similar interests, explore 

different areas across the historic county, 

whilst witnessing the breath taking views of 

the countryside. 


Emergency Services Day 

Bradgate Park Newtown 

Linford, LE6 0HB 

www.bradgatepark.org 

FREE! A BIG family day out with a difference, 

help us celebrate, the services who 

make up the Leicestershire’s Emergency 

Services and support Bradgate Park. Lots of 

fun for all the family. Mini fire engine for the 

children to ride on. Vintage fire engines to 

look at and learn more about. Meet all the 

Emergency Services and learn more about 

the important work they do. 

Loughborough Bike & Trike Show 

Loughborough Market Place LE11 3EA 

www.facebook.com/ 

LoughboroughBikeandTrike-Show 

Loughborough Market Place will be filled 

with bikes of all types - old and new, custom 

and factory - something for everyone. 

Open Day at The Brand 

Brand Hill LE12 8SS 


Grounds Open at the Brand. Refreshments, 

children’s activities, woods, gardens, ponds, 

APOLLO 10 

ALMOST THERE 

THE DRESS REHEARSAL FOR 

THE FIRST LUNAR LANDING 

The National 

Space Centre 

Join the National Space Centre for an 

Apollo packed school holiday period, 

as we discover just how Charlie Brown 

and Snoopy nearly landed on the 

Moon. This dress rehearsal for a Moon 

landing brought the Apollo lunar module 

to 8.4 nautical miles (15.6 km) from 

the lunar surface, at the point where 

powered descent would begin on the 

actual landing. Its success enabled 

the first landing to be attempted on 

the Apollo 11 mission two months 

later. Join The National Space Centre 

to unearth the mysteries of the Moon's 

geology and its history, along with lunar-themed 

arts and crafts, the brand 

new planetarium show, and even a 

chance to explore the grotty side of 

space with the Grossology talks. 

www.spacecentre.co.uk 

Indoor Archery 

Activity Centre 

Archery Legends is an award-winning 

indoor archery activity centre. 

BAND OF BOWMEN - 10am Saturday 

and Sunday morning kids club. Ages 

7 - 1 1 years. £15 for 80 minutes. 

ARCHERY SUMMER CAMP – Starting 

on Monday 15th July, every Monday 

during the summer holidays. Ages 

9 - 15 years. 10am or 1 pm time slot to 

choose from. 80 minute session. 

Full 6-week summer archery programme: 

£75 (20% saving) Or you can 

pay as you go: £15. 

ROBIN HOOD BIRTHDAY PARTIES – 

2-hour archery & pizza package. £195 

for 10 children. 

Guardian(s) must be in attendance. 

www.archerylegends.co.uk 

Date 

25 May – 02 June 2019 

Book online 

spacecentre.co.uk 

Join us during the school holiday as we discover how 

Charlie Brown and Snoopy nearly landed on the Moon. 

6 

May 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire


guided wildlife walks, sales and more. Admission 

£5 for Adults, £2 for children. Please 

note - There are steep paths, steps, deep 

water and cliffs. 

19 May – 30 June 

Aylestone Junior Parkrun 

Aylestone Recreation Ground LE2 7ND 

www.parkrun.org.uk 

FREE! Every Sunday - 2km run. What is 

junior parkrun? It is a 2k run for juniors 

only (4-14 year olds). If you are not a junior 

please try one of our weekly Saturday 

parkrun events instead. The aim is to have 

fun. Please come along and join in whatever 

your pace! 

Market Harborough Junior Parkrun 

Welland Park LE16 9DR 








your pace! 

Melton Mowbray Junior Parkrun 

Melton Country Park LE13 1HX 


FREE! Every Sunday - 2km run. What 

is junior parkrun? It is a 2k run for juniors 





your pace! 

Rutland Water Junior Parkrun 

Rutland Water LE15 8HD 








your pace! 


Achille Wood & Farm 

Night Walk with BBQ 

Hill Farm LE65 1WU 


Take a leisurely stroll around the farm and 

woodland, taking in Canadian bison, red 

deer, alpacas and more. Spot owls and 

other night creatures then visit the Antlers 

and Alpaca coffee and gift shop for a BBQ 

with Bison or Venison burgers. 

Woodland Sensory Walk 

Oakthorpe Colliery Picnic Site DE12 7QG 


A guided walk on firm all-ability paths 

around the lake for people with physical 

and sensory disabilities. Experience the 

sights, sounds, smells and textures of the 

summer. 


Cider & Sausage Festival 

Grainstore Brewery LE15 6RA 

www.grainstorebrewery.com 

Features forty to fifty ciders, along with a 

great selection of sausages from Grasmere 

Farm. Entry is always free, and the festival 

features live music every evening. On Saturday 

and Sunday chill out with some more 

relaxed live music early afternoon as well. 


Family Workshop 

The Gateway LE1 9BH 

thegallery.dmu.ac.uk 

FREE! The sessions of hands-on creative 

activity, inspired by the current exhibitions, 

are aimed at ages 5-10 years but younger 

siblings and participants are more than 

welcome! Our family activities are designed 

to inspire imaginations, engage, challenge 

and spend some creative time making and 

exploring contemporary art as a family. 


Medieval Medicine 

King Richard III Visitor Centre LE1 5DB 

kriii.com 

Meet our battlefield medic and hear his 

tales of battlefield surgery - if you dare....! 

Apollo 10 – Almost There 

National Space Centre LE4 5NS 


Join us for our Apollo packed school holiday 

period as we discover just how Charlie Brown 

and Snoopy nearly landed on the Moon! This 

dress rehearsal for a Moon landing brought 

the Apollo lunar module to 8.4 nautical miles 

(15.6 km) from the lunar surface, at the point 

where powered descent would begin on 

the actual landing. Its success enabled the 

first landing to be attempted on the Apollo 11 

mission two months later. 

Nature with Wings Crafts 

Sudbury Hall & the National Trust Museum of 

Childhood DE6 5HT 


Create some wild art and tick off another 

of your 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾. 

We’ll be using natural things like leaves 

to create dragonfly and damselfly crafts. 

You might even spot the real thing down 

by the lake! 


Moths & Butterflies Family Trail 

Canons Ashby NN11 3SD 


Flitter and flutter across the parkland 

looking for our British butterflies and moths. 

See how many you can find, discover more 

about these beautiful winged creatures 

and pick up your sticker from the Coach 

House shop. 


Great British Dog Walk 

Belvoir Castle NG32 1PE 

www.belvoircastle.com 

Bring your pups along to walk through the 

historic gardens of Belvoir Castle to raise 

money for the Hearing Dogs more info: 

www.hearingdogs.org.uk/greatbritishdogwalk 

Railways, Canals & The National Forest 

Saltersford Valley Picnic Area DE12 7RF 


Explore the lines of the old railways and canals 

that pass through the National Forest. 

Discover the rich, industrial heritage of the 

area and enjoy the trees and wildlife. 

Baby Disco: Space 

Attenborough Arts Centre Leicester, LE1 7HA 

www2.le.ac.uk/hosted/attenborougharts 

Bring your families along for a dancing 

experience in our outer space and underwater 

worlds. We’ll be making some shapes 

through the multi-sensory creations, with 

disco lighting and thematic projections. 

Perfect for children aged 6 and under, we’ll 

be showing off our fancy dress to get the 

most out of our adventure! 


We’re commited to offering a great fitting service, only fully trained staff 

will measure and fit shoes at Stomp. 

Station Rd, Narborough, Leicester, LE19 2HR T:0116 319 0606 

From 1st walkers upto a adult size 8 facebook.com/stomp 


PRIMARY TIMES EXCLUSIVE 

Inspire them to read and write with... 

Cressida 

Cowell 

Cressida Cowell is one of the 

UK’s most beloved children’s 

authors. She has brought us 

the fantastic novel series How to Train 

Your Dragon, which has subsequently 

become an award-winning 

DreamWorks film franchise, and now 

joins Primary Times to discuss her 

latest magical series The Wizards 

of Once, her literary inspirations 

growing up and her Free-Writing 

Fridays Campaign. 

After the success of How to Train Your 

Dragon, Cressida Cowell launched 

her newest book series Wizards of 

Once in 2017, with its sequel ‘Twice 

Magic’ arriving in paperback June ’19. 

Cressida explains that the books are 

set at the end of the Bronze Ages, and 

at the beginning of a new age. “It’s 

a world in which magic really exists. 

There are two tribes and they are 

fighting each other. The two children, 

the girl hero and the boy hero, have 

been brought up to hate each other, 

and it’s about what happens when 

these children meet.” 

Growing up, Cressida was inspired 

particularly by the book The Ogre 

Downstairs, by Diana Wynne Jones. 

“It’s about children who find a magical 

chemistry set. I read it, loved it, read 

it aloud to all my little siblings and 

cousins, and then I read it aloud to 

my own children. I write my books to 

be read aloud way beyond the age. I 

always say to parents don’t just leave it 

all up to the school, read aloud to kids 

just 10 minutes per day.” 

With a passion for literature, Cressida 

Cowell is a huge advocate of children 

reading and writing for pleasure from a 

young age. “I can’t imagine life without 

books. I get all my knowledge about 

history, about human nature, about the 

world around me from literature.” 

Cressida explains that “educational 

attainment, reading for pleasure and 

economic success are all particularly 

linked. But education isn’t just about 

attainment, so the impact on their 

happiness is true as well. In difficult 

times, a book can help you through. 

I’ve had children write to me, for 

example, and say that whilst being 

bullied, ‘Hiccup was my friend’. There 

is so much that can be gained from 

loving books.” 

To help parents encourage their 

children to read at home, Cressida has 

shared some of her own top tips. “Go 

for what they’re interested in, if they 

love animals go for books on animals. 

Boys often like fact books, for example 

I put lots of made up fact pages in my 

Dragons and Wizards books.” 

“Read aloud to your kids for 10 

minutes every day. Even if you are 

doing the reading, you’re sending this 

message that books are something 

fun – and that’s so important.” 

“Try as hard as you can not to make 

learning to read a struggle. This is 

such a key thing for parents. In the 

end, I didn’t listen to my children 

reading at the end of the school day 

when they were 4 years old. They 

were exhausted, so I would try and do 

it over breakfast when they’re a 

bit perkier. Really try and stay calm 

and patient –make it joyful. It’s all 

about the joy of reading and writing, 

that’s all I’m trying to do. It’s the 

children who enjoy reading and writing 

in the end – it’s the best education.” 

Cressida’s newest innovation to inspire 

children’s imagination and creativity 

is her Free-Writing Friday campaign, 

which is 15 minutes every Friday for 

a child to have a book in which they 

can write whatever they want, and the 

teacher doesn’t mark it. “In this book 

just for 15 minutes, nothing matters 

apart from the kid having fun. They 

can write a story, they can design a 

game, and it’s about focusing on the 

joy of writing.” 

“I did that because when I was in year 

2, I had a teacher who did that for 

me. My handwriting was terrible, my 

spelling wasn’t great, and she gave 

me a book which was just about me 

enjoying it. I learnt to enjoy writing.” 

“My campaign was designed as a 

really practical way to try and help the 

kids have somewhere where they’re 

enjoying it. That’s what happened to 

me – It’s about the ideas. We need 

to get the children reading for fun. 

We need their creativity in science, 

we need their creativity in everything 

– so we’ve got to get these 

children being creative.” 

To find out more about 

Free Writing Fridays, visit 

www.freewritingfriday.com 

For your chance to win a full set of Cressida’s 

How to Train Your Dragon books, plus the first two 

Wizards of Once books, answer the following question. 

What was Cressida’s favourite book growing up? 

8 

May 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire 

To enter, and to read Cressida Cowell’s full-length 

interview, visit www.primarytimes.co.uk. 

The competition closes on 20th June 2019.



Mary Poppins Afternoon Tea 

Beaumanor Hall 

Loughborough, LE12 8TX 

www.beaumanorhall.co.uk 

Practically perfect in every way…come along 

to our Mary Poppins themed afternoon 

tea and you’re sure to have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious 

time! Meet Mary and 

Bert and enjoy an afternoon of storytelling 

and music. 

Family Fun Race Day 

Leicester Racecourse LE2 4AL 

www.leicester-racecourse.co.uk 

Join us for our Bank Holiday Family Fun Day 

this May! Under 18’s go free! Not only do we 

have a day of racing, but we also have lots 

of activities for the kids! All free of charge! 

As well as a live performance from ‘Almost 

Olly’! Pirate Ship Assault Course, Farmyard 

Playzone, Crazy Golf, Face Painters, Holey 

Moley, Giraffe Slide, Soft Play, Climbing Wall 

and Bungee Run! 

Highfield Rangers Family Funday 

Highfield Rangers LE4 7YJ 

www.pitchero.com/clubs/ 

highfieldrangers 

A range of activities for the whole family to 

enjoy, with inflatable, stalls, rides, go-karts, 

refreshments and Veterans football match 

plus much more! 


Lyveden Alive 

Lyveden PE8 5AT 


This May half-term investigate Lyveden’s 

wilder inhabitants with free trails, 

worksheets and activity sessions. There 

are plenty of opportunities to get closer to 

nature during Lyveden Alive week. Enjoy a 

different activity every day! 

Plant It, Grow It, Eat It! 



Get green fingered and plant something to 

grow and nurture at home, and earn a sticker 

for your 50 things to do. Take it home, 

watch it grow and taste it when it’s ready. 


Luminarium 

Nottingham Lakeside Arts NG7 2RD 

www.lakesidearts.org.uk 

Full of labyrinthine tunnels and cavernous 

domes of iridescent colour and light. It’s 

sensory, it’s magical and it is truly for everyone. 

It’s a very special experience! 


Railway Running Day & Childrens 

Activities 

Abbey Pumping Station 

Leicester, LE4 5PX 

www.abbeypumpingstation.org 

Half Term school break railway running day, 

come and take a ride on the Leicester’s 

only narrow gauge railway and afterwards 

enjoy a hot cuppa and a cake in the LMTA 

café, a perfect end to a perfect day. 

Badger Watch 

Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre LE15 8BT 


The Badger Watch evenings start at around 

dusk and go on for approximately 2 hours. 

Join our Trainee Reserve Officers watching 

for badgers and other nocturnal wildlife 

from our purpose built hide on the Egleton 

nature reserve. Booking essential. 

28 May – 24 September 

Classic Car Meet 

Bosworth Water Park Nuneaton, CV13 

6PD 

www.bosworthwatertrust.co.uk 

The classic car shows are back! Come and 

join us on the last Tuesday of the month 

between April and September you will find 

over 150 classic, American and custom 

vehicles. Fun for all the family. 


Robin Hood & Other 

Legends Family Fun Day 

Belgrave Hall & Gardens LE4 5PE 

www.facebook.com/leicestermuseums 

A day of fairy tale fun in the Belgrave Hall 

kingdom. Come dressed in your finest 

outfits and try your best shot in a bow and 

arrow competition. Arts and crafts, plus 

face painting, treasure trails and storytelling 

throughout the day. 

BYOB comedy 

Attenborough Arts Centre Leicester, LE1 7HA 


Our award-nominated lunchtime comedy 

club for you and your little one returns! 

Laugh your socks off at the funniest comedians, 

without needing to book a babysitter. 

With top comedy for grown-ups, and toys, 

soft flooring and more for baby – this show 

is a top night out during the day! 


Minibeast Safari 



Join us for a family friendly walk in the park 

as we search for the hidden creatures that 

live in Calke’s National Nature Reserve. 

Where do they live? How do they move? 

What do they eat? Let’s find out. 

Pikes &Pillage 

The Guildhall LE1 5FQ 

www.visitleicester.info 

Join us for our Pikes and Pillage Half Term 

Family Day and be within the very walls 

where 374 years ago to the day, Royalist 

forces attacked and looted the City in 

The Siege of Leicester! Come dressed 

up in your best armour, see examples of 

weapons used during the English Civil War, 

create puppets of Roundhead and Cavalier 

soldiers, make Royalist crowns, pendants 

and bracelets, Civil War trails too. 


Dodgeball Holiday Camp 

Cottesmore Village Hall 

www.activerutland.org.uk 

For Girls and boys aged between 6 and 

14 years. £10 per child per day. Booking 

essential. 


Bat Night 



What creatures come out after dark? Come 

along to Bat Night for a chance to see 

something special at Calke. As night falls, 

keep an eye to the skies as we look out for 

these fascinating winged creatures, and 

enjoy a delicious snack. We recommend 

wearing warm clothing, it’ll get chilly when 

night falls. 

Meet the Beasts 

New Walk Museum & Art Gallery Leicester, 

LE1 7EA 


Get up close and enjoy a hands-on experience 

with exotic reptiles and minibeasts 

guided by the expertise of Dr Stuart Wood. 

Tickets are £4 per person. Pre-booking 

is essential. Call 0116 225 4920. Please 

be aware that all children will need to be 

accompanied by a ticket holding adult. 

One4all wants YOU to design their new 

gift card for the chance to win a top prize! 

One4all, the UK's leading multi-store 

gift card, are partnering with Primary 

Times to bring you an exciting new 

competition with BIG prizes to be 

won. To say thank you to the nation’s 

teachers, One4all are launching a 

new Thank You Teacher gift card and 

your child’s drawing of their favourite 

teacher could be the featured design, 

appearing on gift cards up and down 

the country. The child who submits 

the winning design will also bag themselves 

a top gift card prize worth £400 

to spend at over 55,000 stores, as 

well as a £100 gift card for their class 

teacher. Head to www.primarytimes. 

co.uk/competitions/one4allcomp on 

Thursday 23rd May 2019 to find out 

how to enter! 



Fun events in May 

and beyond 

May half term is almost here. Keep the whole family 

entertained with these fantastic events and activities. 

Visit leicestershire.gov.uk/whats-on to find out more 

about all the great events taking place this May and beyond. 

/DoningtonleHeath 

@DoningtonLCC 

doningtonleheath.org.uk 

01455 290429 

staurant 

/bosworthbattlefield @BosworthLCC /bosworthbattlefield 

bosworthbattlefield.org.uk 

01455 290429 

War of the Roses 

Living History Weekend 

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 May, 

10am-5pm 

Meet the members of the Oxford 

and Stanley households who will be 

camping in our Ambion Arena for 

the weekend. See combat sessions, 

bill drills, armour talks and much 

more. £2 per person, under 3s free. 

Guided Walks 

May 18, 19, 25 & 26 

June 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 

29 & 30. 11.30am and 2pm 

Join our experienced guide for a 2km 

guided walk exploring the Battle of 

Bosworth, the death of King Richard 

III and the unlikely victory of Henry 

Tudor. Adult £4.50, concession £4, 

child £3, family tickets available. 

In the Footsteps of 

Richard III Walk 

Saturday 18 May, 9.30am- 

1.30pm 

Visit the sites where King Richard III 

stayed and prayed before the Battle 

of Bosworth in August 1485. 

Enjoyable 4-hour walk (approx 6km) 

with our experienced guide. No dogs 

allowed due to livestock along the 

route. Adult £9, concession £8, child 

(8-16) £6. Pre-booking essential. 

10 

Medieval Party Hunt 

Saturday 25 May 

Explore the Heritage Centre and 

Country Park to find everything you 

need to have a rocking medieval 

party. Return your completed form 

to earn your reward. £2 per child. 

Storytelling Through 

the Exhibition 

Wednesday 29 May 

11am-12noon & 2-3pm 

Come and explore our awardwinning 

exhibition through the eyes 

of a Tudor peasant who witnessed 

the Battle of Bosworth. Normal 

admission charges apply. 

Plant Hunter’s Fair 

Saturday 8 June, 10am-4pm 

Many stalls from top nurseries in 

our Ambion Arena, with something 

special for every garden. £1 per 

person, under 16s go free. Pay and 

display parking charge applies. 

Vintage & Handmade Festival 

Saturday 30 June, 10am-4pm 

Celebrating all things vintage and 

handmade. Local traders, craft, local 

produce and antiques will all be on 

offer on stalls in the Heritage Room, 

Ambion Arena and our Cabins. £2 

per person, Car parking £2.50. 

Bosworth Discovery Zone 

Come and explore our new family area, for 

children aged 0-8 years and their families. 

Join in and take part in a range of exciting 

activities to create memorable experiences. 

Please see our website events pages 

for dates and time of opening 

www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/whats-on/ 

May 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire 

Marvellous Medicine Hunt 

Saturday 25 May - Sunday 2 

June, during opening hours 

Pick up a sheet from the ticket 

office and explore the House and 

Gardens to find the wonderful 

herbs and remedies that were 

used in the 17th century. Normal 

admission charge plus £2. 

Teddy Bear’s Picnic 

Thursday 30 May, during 

opening hours 

If you go down to our house and 

gardens today, you’re sure of a big 

surprise as today’s the day the 

teddy bears have their picnic! Bring 

your own bear and join in the fun! 

Normal admission charge plus £2 

for children. 

Morris Dancing 

& Mummers Play 

Sunday 2 June, 2-4pm 

Dolphin Morris will be dancing in 

our beautiful garden as well as 

performing a short play that shows 

the trial of six Morris dancers who 

were tried and found guilty by a 

Puritan Church court of “profaning 

the Sabbath” by dancing on 

Sunday in 1618. 

Included in 

normal admission 

charge. 

Keep an eye on our website for news of all our 

exciting shows throughout the year! 

/thecenturytheatre 

@century_theatre 

centurytheatre.co.uk 

01530 278444 

Leicestershire’s Great Outdoors! 

Now that spring is here, why not get out and about 

into the great outdoors at one of our country parks? 

www.leicscountryparks.org.uk 

/leicscountryparks 

For conservation volunteering opportunities visit 

www.leicestershire.gov.uk/conservation-volunteering

@leicsmuseums 

@leicslibraries 

01509 890119 

www.beaumanor.co.uk 

History Tour 

Sunday 26 May & 2 June, 

9.30am-12.30pm 

Guided tour of the main rooms, 

cellars and attics of the Hall and 

some buildings in the grounds used 

as a vital listening post for Bletchley 

Park’s work in cracking the Enigma 

code. Refreshments provided. £8 

per person. Booking essential. 

Mary Poppins Afternoon Tea 

Monday 27 May, 2 & 4pm 

Practically perfect in every way… 

come along to our Mary Poppinsthemed 

afternoon tea and have a 

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious 

time! Meet Mary and Bert and 

enjoy an afternoon of storytelling and 

music. £21.95 adult, £17.95 child 

(under 13). 

Beaumanor 

Family 

Activity Days 

Superhero Extravaganza 

Sunday 19 May 

Join the B-Men for our Superhero 

Extravaganza. Booking essential 

through the website. £34 for a 

family, £8.50 for adults & children. 

May Half Term Holiday 

Activities Club 

Tuesday 28 - Friday 31 May 

From swinging like a monkey on 

the high ropes to learning how to 

abseil – we have some fantastic 

days planned over the half term 

for the kids! 

Tuesday 28 May - Water sports 

Wednesday 29 May - Climbing 

& Abseiling 

Thursday 30 May - High Ropes 

Course 

Friday 31 May - Bush craft / Archery 

For general enquiries please 

call us on 0116 305 3110 or 

email: holidayclub@leics.gov.uk. 

Activities cost £35 per day and we 

also accept child care vouchers. 

Beaumanor Adventure 

Academy 

There are activities for the whole 

family, some for just the children 

and some just for the adults. 

Please see www.beaumanorhall. 

co.uk/youth-groups/ for booking 

details. Events include: 

Family Robin Hood Adventure 

Saturday 25 May, 9.30am-12.30pm 

& 1.30-4.30pm. £4 per person. 

01509 233754 

charnwood.gov.uk/charnwood_museum 

/charnwoodmuseum 

Open 10am-3pm, Tuesday-Saturday 

Visit our website for our latest events 

Spring Flowers! 

Saturday 25 May - Sunday 9 

June, during opening hours 

The flowers are in bloom, find them 

all and complete the quiz FREE. 

Puppets! 

Thursday 30 May, 11am-12noon 

Create your own hand puppet, and 

have a go at putting on a show! 

Suitable for ages 3+ booking essential. 

Tiny Tuesday Special: 

Fantastic Flowers 

Tuesday 28 May, 10.30-11.30am 

Have a go at making some flowers 

in this workshop for under-fives! 

Booking essential. 

Wednesday Wotsits 

Wednesday 29 May, 10am- 

12noon 

Come and make a wotsit with us! Will 

it be a badge or a keyring? Drop-in 

activity. £1 per child/item made. 

Games Day 

Friday 31 May, 11am-4pm 

Join Friends of Charnwood Museum 

for another amazing games day. Try 

traditional games from throughout the 

ages and around the world! FREE. 

Power Reads 

Until Sunday 16 June 

Inspired by the books ‘The Moonlight 

Hare’ by Ruth Eastham and ‘Everest 

with AJ’ by Matt Dickinson, this 

exhibition celebrates the work created 

by schools across Leicestershire 

which have been involved with the 

Power Reads project run by Creative 

Learning Services. FREE. 

0116 305 3627 

harboroughmuseum.org.uk 

/harboroughmuseum 

Open 10am-6pm Tuesday-Friday 

10am-4pm Saturday. 


H is for House: Living in a 

Ladybird Home 

To Saturday 29 June 

Step back into the home of Ladybird’s 

heyday with objects from the 70s and 

80s. Look at some Ladybird classics 

and create your own illustrations. Free. 


Palitoy and the Toys That 

Shaped Our Childhoods 

To Saturday 29 June, 

10am-4.30pm 

Toys from Palitoy are still avidly 

collected by adults, who remember 

them fondly, as the ‘must have’ toys 

of their childhood. Free 

Carnival Capers 

Join in the carnival fun with crafts 

and stories for children aged 

4-12 years. £2 per child, booking 

essential. At the following libraries: 

Market Harborough Library 


Oadby Library 

Tuesday 28 May, 11am-12noon 

Broughton Astley Library 

Tuesday 28 May, 2.30-3.30pm 

Loughborough Library 


Melton Library 

Wednesday 29 May, 11am-12noon 

Lutterworth Library 

Thursday 30 May, 11am-12noon 

Wigston Library 

Thursday 30 May, 2-3pm 

Glenfield Library 

Thursday 30 May, 2.30-3.30pm 

Blaby Library 

Friday 31 May, 2.30-3.30pm 

Lion Learners 

Meet and handle some real-life 

animals! For children aged 4-11 

years old. Pre-booking essential. £3 

per child, at the following libraries: 

Hinckley Library 


Coalville Library 


Loughborough Library 

Storytime For All to Enjoy 

Thursday 16 May, 3.45-4.30pm 

Come and listen to some wonderful 

stories. Free. 

Hinckley Library 

Peter Pan 

Saturday 18 May, 11am- 

12noon 

Chorus Theatre welcome you to 

Neverland. Featuring live music, 

songs, and puppetry. Suitable for 

ages 3+. Pre-booked only. £4 per 

person. 

0116 305 3860 

leicestershire.gov.uk/meltoncarnegiemuseum 

/meltonmuseum 

Open 10am-4.30pm, Tuesday-Saturday 

Buzz & Bumble! 

Tuesday 28 May - Saturday 

1 June, 10am-4.30pm 

Get busy as a bee and make a 

bee house £2.50, plus FREE craft 

activity, colouring and trail around 

the museum. No need to book - 

just drop in and join the fun! 

leicestershire.gov.uk/libraries 

/yourlibrary 

Oadby Library 

Mindful Mummy 

Saturday 18 May, 

10.30am-12noon 

Interactive storytelling workshop for 

3-11 year olds using mindfulness 

techniques and exploring emotions. 

£5 per child, booking essential. 

Coffee & Cake 

Monday 20 May, 

11.30am-12.30pm 

Join us for a community cuppa 

and chat, find out about library 

activities and browse our local 

Oadby photos. Drop-in event, free. 

Harborough Library 

Wriggly Readers 

Thursday 16, 23, 30 May 

& 6 June, 10.30-11am 

Join us every Thursday for story 

and rhyme time for under 5s. Free. 

Earl Shilton Library 

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 

Friday 31 May, 10am-12.30pm 

Enjoy Alice in Wonderland-themed 

crafts, goodies and a treasure 

hunt with prizes. Refreshments 

available. Drop-in event, all 

welcome, £1 per child. 

Coalville Library 

Healthy Heroes! 

Saturday 8 June, 10-11.30am 

Fun activities for all the family 

includes making fruit kebabs, 

parachute games, dough disco, brain 

gym, a treasure hunt and more. 

Suitable from 2 years. Drop-in event, 

all welcome. Free. 

Ashby Library 

‘Inside Out’ Craft Event 

Tuesday 11 June, 3.30-4.30pm 

Come along for our special Empathy 

Day event with lots of activities 

themed around the hit film ‘Inside 

Out’. Drop-in event - no need to book. 

All families welcome. £1 per child. 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire | May 2019 

11


Mindfulness 

for children 

Primary Times teams up with Chivonne Preston, the CEO of Mindfulness in Schools Project 

(MiSP), to bring mindfulness to young people and those who care for them. 

Mindfulness is everywhere these 

days it seems: colouring books, 

meditation apps, quotes on mugs, 

the list goes on… But what is 

mindfulness, and how do you do it? 

Mindfulness is about being in the 

present moment: training your mind 

to notice what is happening right 

now rather than what has happened 

or might happen. We have all felt 

moments of panic or stress, worry or 

anger, or times when our thoughts 

seem to spiral out of control. 

Mindfulness trains you to notice 

your mind-states and manage 

them more skillfully. 

The benefits of mindfulness have 

been rigorously studied scientifically, 

and include improving mental health, 

well-being and concentration, 

building resilience, as well as 

strengthening self-esteem and 

confidence. But how do you learn 

mindfulness, and how do you teach 

it to children? 

Learning mindfulness is about 

training the mind: just like learning 

to play an instrument or trying to get 

physically fit, you must know what 

you are aiming to do, and then you 

must practice. 

To learn mindfulness, you need to 

learn about the science of the mind 

and how your thoughts come and go. 

Then, you can direct your attention 

more selectively and practice 

focusing your attention on one thing 

at a time. This might be your breath, 

or sensations in your body, or the 

sounds you can hear, or a piece of 

food you are eating. This can feel 

difficult, as minds like to wander! 

You then learn how to apply these 

practices at times when you most 

need them. This is best achieved on 

an instructor-led course where an 

expert can guide you. 

For children, the process of learning 

mindfulness should be just the same. 

“At MiSP we know first-hand that 

children really enjoy learning some 

of the science behind their minds, 

and they love learning to play with 

their attention and direct it more 

purposefully towards different 

things”, explains Chivonne Preston. 

“Mindfulness deals with thoughts 

and feelings which for children 

can sometimes be confusing, so 

we recommend that young people 

should be taught mindfulness by 

trained teachers within a good 

pastoral care setting.” 

At home, as parents, you could 

start with some simple mindfulness 

practices with your children just to 

see what happens when you try to 

focus your attention in one place. You 

don’t need any special equipment, 

and you can try these anywhere. 

Established in 2009, Mindfulness in 

Schools Project (MiSP) is a national, 

not-for-profit charity for young 

people and schools. Their aim is to 

improve the lives of a generation 

of children and young people 

by making a genuine, positive 

difference to their mental 

health and wellbeing. 

www.mindfulnessinschools.org 

Try this simple five minute mindfulness activity with 

your children at home: ‘WHAT CAN YOU HEAR?’ 

Find a comfortable sitting position. 

Close your eyes if you want to. 

Try focusing your attention on 

what you can hear. 

Start with what is closest to you. 

Can you hear your breathing, 

or your clothes rustling? 

Then try expanding your 

attention to include sounds 

in the room that you 

are in. What else 

can you hear? 

See if you can bring your 

attention back to the actual 

sound itself, listening to it as 

if you are hearing it for 

the first time. 

Your mind may start to wonder, 

but you can use the sounds to 

focus your attention. 

To end the practice, gently 

open your eyes, allow 

yourself to stretch and 

reengage your muscles. 

12 



1 June 

Teddy Bears Picnic Railway Day 


Leicester, LE4 5PX 


Admission to museum is free with a small 

charge for Train Ride (Unless you bring your 

teddy!) Free rides on the railway if you bring 

your teddy. Picnic tables and the museum 

lawns are available so that you can bring 

your own picnic and teddy for a great 

day out. Refreshments available from 

the LMTA café. 

Butterfly Survey! 

Hicks Lodge LE65 2UP 


Use butterfly nets and magnifiers to get up 

close with the flying insects that call Hicks 

Lodge their home! Wildlife Watch groups 

are FREE and suitable for children aged 

5 -12 years. Children aged under 8 must 

be accompanied by an adult. Please wear 

suitable clothing for being outdoors in all 

weathers. Booking essential. 

1 June – 2 June 

A Knights Quest 



Step back in time with the Belvoir Knights. 

Experience the excitement of jousting. 

Taste history with an authentic hog roast. 

Joke with jesters. Fly with falcons. It’s far 

from ordinary and an experience never to 

forget. Welcome the Knights of Nottingham 

and beautiful horses, dressed in all their 

glory! Meet and greet with Belvoir’s Birds of 

Prey, experience Belvoir in the Middle Ages 

in the years of Queen Elizabeth and King 

James who may just be at Belvoir for the 

weekend too! 

Wheee! Free Family Weekend 

Nottingham Lakeside Arts NG7 2RD 

www.lakesidearts.org.uk 

FREE! Supported by the Woodland Trust. 

Don’t miss Thrill Laboratory’s unnnervingly 

entertaining virtual reality worlds unfolding 

in front of your eyes or Motionhouse’s 

amazing dance performances. Look out for 

brilliant comedic acrobatic performances 

from Lusco e Fusco and musical comedy 

with juggling from the inimitable Chipolatas, 

and be amazed by a brand new outdoor 

piece from Joss Arnott involving a huge 

revolving drum kit. Enjoy all this, and great 

make and do arts and crafts activities with 

your family and friends. 

Leicester Riverside Festival 

Bede Park Leicester, LE2 7HN 


FREE! Fun on and off the water, with family 

activities including a fun fair, food stalls, arts 

and crafts, beer tent, acoustic music stage 

and lots of join-in activities, whilst on the 

Piazza area our large music stage will feature 

great live bands and music for all ages. 

This one of the best waterside festivals in 

the country and a fun-packed weekend not 

to be missed! 

2 June 

Wet & Wild! 

Braunstone Civic Centre LE3 2PP 


Try your hand at pond dipping and discover 

what lives below the water line! Wildlife 

Watch groups are FREE and suitable for 

children aged 5 -12 years. Children aged 

under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Please wear suitable clothing for being 

outdoors in all weathers. Booking essential. 

Rutland County Show 

Rutland Showground LE15 7TW 

www.rutlandshowground.com 

One of the oldest shows in the country and 

has a very traditional feel with livestock 

classes, equine showing, heavy horses, 

showjumping and main ring entertainment 

as well as a host of other classic show 

attractions. Fabulous local food and drink, 

great shopping and entertainment coupled 

with free entry for children and free parking 

ensures a fantastic day out. 

Band in the Garden 

University of Leicester Botanic 

Garden LE2 2LD 

www2.le.ac.uk/institution/ 

botanic-garden 

Wigston Brass Band will be playing a 

selection of music. Bring your deckchairs 

and picnics. Refreshments available in Knoll 

House. Entry free, with charity donation 

and raffle. 

3 June 

Plant Sale & Family Day 

University of Leicester 

Botanic Garden LE2 2LD 



Specialist plant sales, free activities for children, 

music, entertainments, arts and crafts 

stalls, demonstrations, gardening, ecology 

and wildlife groups. 

8 June 

Pond Dipping! 

Attenborough Arboretum LE2 3UF 


Explore life below the water in this 

ever-popular wet and wonderful activity! 

Wildlife Watch groups are FREE and suitable 

for children aged 5 -12 years. Children 

aged under 8 must be accompanied by 

an adult. Please wear suitable clothing for 

being outdoors in all weathers. Booking 

essential. 

Music in the Park 

Wistow Hall LE8 0QF 

www.wistow.com 

Bring your own picnic and enjoy a wonderful 

evening listening to two fantastic bands, 

the high-energy ‘Ska-aManga’ band and the 

award-winning ‘Kibworth Brass Band’. The 

evening finishes with a fabulous fireworks 

display in front of Wistow Hall. All ages 

welcome. 

9 June 

Open Farm Sunday 

Northfield Farm LE157QF 

northfieldfarm.com 

Free Entry - all welcome! Livestock farmers 

of rare and traditional breeds of cattle and 

sheep. Award winning Butchers on site too. 

Tours of the farm, animals to pet, machinery 

to climb over. Hot and cold food and drinks 

available. Plenty of outside toys to play with. 

Tractor Rides and possibly sheep shearing 

demonstration too! 

South Kilworth Riding Club Show 

Stanford Hall LE17 6DH 

stanfordhall.co.uk 

Family orientated show with classes for 

everyone from the complete beginner to 

the more experienced horse rider with a 

friendly, fun and supportive atmosphere. 

All classes are open to both members and 

non-members. 

Nature’s Colour Palette! 

Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre LE15 8BT 


Join us to explore colours in nature. Learn 

how different creatures see colour, and 

extract colour from plants on the reserve! 

Wildlife Watch groups are FREE and suitable 

for children aged 5 -12 years. Children aged 

under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Please wear suitable clothing for being outdoors 

in all weathers. Booking essential. 

Easter fun at Humberstone Heights 

Humberstone Heights golf complex is 

the ideal place to take your littles ones 

this half term! For £2.50 per child you 

can access either a round of footgolf 

or pitch and putt on the Academy 

course (Suitable for all ages, pre 

school upwards) 50 balls on the driving 

range and 18 holes on the putting 

green! There is a clubhouse with a 

Pro shop and a Café for refreshments 

after they have taken part in the activities! 

Come along and join the fun! 

FOR BOOKING CALL NOW 

0116 299 5570 

leicester.gov.uk/activeleicester 


www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire | June 2019 13



Inspiring 

Whole Body Health 

A recent BBC article stated “the overwhelming majority of adults in England are so unhealthy they put their lives at 

risk”. It has also been documented that children with unhealthy parents are more likely to be unhealthy themselves. 

You just need to look around and see that 

as a nation we are becoming larger, more 

sedentary, unhappier and are sleeping less. The 

NHS is spending more money on curing our 

ailments caused by our daily choices, but surely 

prevention is better than cure? 

DR ME: Diet, Resilience, Mind and Exercise, 

has been created to inspire people to make 

small changes to their lives, which will instantly 

improve whole body health. For example, if you 

exercise more, you sleep better, encouraging 

you to make healthier food choices the 

following day, directly promoting a more 

positive mind-set. 

Diet – eat the rainbow 

You are what you eat is an old cliché but one 

that is very true. I often liken the body to a car, 

if you put sub-standard fuel into a car, it won’t 

run as efficiently as when you supply it with 

premium fuel. This is true also for our bodies. If 

we feed our body a wide variety of food cooked 

from scratch (then you know what exactly is in it) 

your body and mind will work optimally. Recent 

research concerning the digestive system 

suggests the micro-biome contain millions of 

microbes (bacteria, fungi and viruses) that form 

a complex ecosystem in your gut. They are 

responsible for weight regulation, enhancing 

the immune system and hormone creation…. 

all of which are vital for a healthy life. By eating 

a variety of colourful foods you optimise the 

activity of the micro-biomes, thus improving 

your whole body health. Therefore every day 

you should aim to eat a plant-based portion that 

that is red, yellow, orange, blue/purple, green 

and white. 

Resilience – sleep to 

reset body and mind 

Mother nature designed humans to spend one 

third of our lives asleep. For adults this equates 

to 7-9 hours per night, 10-13 hours for 3-5 year 

olds, 9-11 hours for 6-13 year olds, and 8-10 

hours for 14-17 year olds. Sleep is a forgotten 

necessity…. It is responsible for so many vital 

processes (both physiological and psychosocial) 

that allow the body to function to its optimal 

capability. The benefits of a sound night-time 

routine involving calming the body and mind 

prior to getting into bed, will not only help you 

drop off to sleep but stay asleep for longer too. 

Mind – focus on the positives 

Mental health has been a taboo subject for 

many years but thankfully recent ambassadors 

are publicising it. Most people are affected 

by mental health at some stage of their lives 

as ¼ adults in the UK suffer every year, with 

numbers continually growing. It is very easy 

to be swept up with the busy rat-race that is 

modern day life, but by taking time to appreciate 

our environment gives us chance to be thankful 

and positive. Instil variety into every day; whether 

that be walking a different route to school, or 

trying a new activity helps you appreciate your 

surroundings more. There is also a need to 

recognise that life isn’t always easy, and we 

need to perfect our coping strategies in order to 

ride out negative situations. ‘A problem shared 

is a problem halved’ encourages people to talk, 

which in turn can be the start of focusing on the 

solution, not the problem. 

Exercise- Move your body 

Exercise is where my passion for health 

originated. We have been designed to move 

but unfortunately inventions in the last 150 years 

have made it easier for us to be sedentary. The 

benefits of exercise have been documented for 

years, although, what needs to be highlighted 

is that there isn’t a one size fits all strategy. 

Exercise needs to be enjoyed and needs to be 

incorporated into your daily routine, so whether 

that means dusting off the bike for the school 

run, or join thousands of people on a weekend 

Park Run, my advice is to move your body more, 

otherwise you’ll lose the capability to do so. 

By educating individuals early, we can 

encourage children to make healthy choices, 

thus having a positive effect on making their 

lives happier and healthier. 

By Claire Willsher 

www.doctor-me.co.uk 

14 

MAY 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/Leicestershire


Take advantage of 

Kumon’s two-week Free Trial 

The aim at Kumon is to help 

children of any age and any 

ability discover their full potential. 

Established for 60 years, 

the Kumon Maths and English 

Programmes enable students to 

develop the confidence and skills 

to tackle challenging work independently. 

Kumon study equips 

students with core study skills 

that help any child to achieve 

beyond expectations. Your local 

study centres are offering a twoweek 

Free Trial between 21 May 

and 15 June for all new students. 

To take part in a Free Trial, 

contact your local Instructors and 

book a consultation. Open Events 

are being held on Saturday 18th 

May at Leicester Birstall, Evington, 

Glenfield and Rushey Mead 

Study Centres and on Tuesday 

7th May at Leicester Central 

Study Centre. Go along to find 

out more about how your local 

Instructor can support you to 

develop your child’s ability. 

Please contact the relevant 

Instructor to confirm your 

attendance. 

ANY CHILD CAN ACHIEVE BEYOND EXPECTATIONS 

21 MAY - 15 JUNE 

Find out how Kumon maths and English study can help your child 

to achieve beyond expectations. Book now! 


Hinckley 

Leicester Beaumont Leys 

Leicester Belgrave 

Leicester Birstall 

Leicester Central 

Leicester Forest East 

Leicester Glenfield 

Leicester Oadby 

Leicester Rushey Mead 

Leicester Stoneygate 

Leicester Syston 

Leicester Wigston 

01455 613733 

01509 414866 

01162 667645 

01162 609745 

01162 668037 

01162 124711 

01162 762033 

01162 720371 

01162 417463 

01162 219538 

01164 422348 

01162 720371 

Developing ability for 60 years 

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

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

kumon.co.uk 

Choir in the Garden 

University of Leicester 

Botanic Garden LE2 2LD 



City of Leicester Singers will be singing a 

selection of songs. Bring your deckchairs 

and picnics. Refreshments available 

in Knoll House. Entry free, with charity 

donation and raffle. 

11 June 

Joe’s Jog 

The Rothley Centre LE7 7PR 

www.jhmt.org.uk 

Families and young children are invited 

to join a charity mile-long fun run to 

support the work of the Joe Humphries 

Memorial Trust (JHMT). The inclusive and 

family-friendly fun run gives families and 

children aged seven and over the chance 

to be part of the Rothley 10k evening. All 

funds raised from Joe’s Jog will go towards 

JHMT’s vital work to create a heart 

safe community for all. 


Outdoor Cinema 



Join Belvoir for three fantastic films 

across three summer evenings. Belvoir 

Castle is bringing Luna’s Outdoor Cinema 

back for a second year running! Enjoy a 

picnic on the Cannonade Lawn before 

the film starts. With Mamma Mia 2, Bohemian 

Rhapsody and A Star is Born. 

National Street Rod Fun Run 

Rutland Showground LE15 7TW 

www.nsra.org.uk 

Coming to Rutland for the first time with 

a fun Hot Rod weekend for the whole 

family. Expect a host of weekend activities 

with entertainment, trade stalls, live 

music and a huge show ‘n’ shine car show 

for Hot Rods, Street Rods, and Customs. 


ReVive Festival 

various venues Leicester, LE1 


Over three weekends in June (15th – 

30th), it’s time to come back to the sixties. 

Experience vintage fairs, live sixties music 

and events, vinyl records, street food, 

family fun and more scooters than the 

set of Quadrophenia. Join the in-crowd 

for a Summer of Love at REVIVE Festival, 

Leicester with the Godfathers of cool. 

15 June 

Clowning & Physical 

Theatre Workshop 

Century Theatre Coalville, LE67 3LN 

www.centurytheatre.co.uk 

Lauren Whitter is a professional clown 

and an actor. She approaches theatre by 

using her body as a way of expressing 

herself. Whether it be a slapstick comedy 

or a serious drama, physicality is key 

when performing. Brush up on your skills 

whilst having a jolly good play! The best 

thing about clowning is that it’s fun. This 

is a great opportunity to work with a 

fantastic theatre maker. 

Bubble Rush Nottingham 

Forest Recreation Ground NG7 6HB 

www.rainbows.co.uk 

The bubblicious family fun run is back! 

Join us at this year’s Rainbows Bubble 

Rush; not your average 5K fun run. At 

every kilometre point there’s a bubble 

station where one of our high-powered 

foam cannons will be blowing out 30 

cubic metres a minute of frothy colourful 

bubbles, as they create a 4ft bubble wall 

for you to run through! Entertainment 

allday for all the family. 


The FAB Worlds of Anderson 

National Space Centre LE4 5NS 


5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Anderson is GO! Responsible 

for creating some of the best loved children’s 

science fiction shows, the fantastic 

and futuristic legacy of the husband and 

wife team of Gerry And Sylvia Anderson is 

celebrated in this very special weekend. 

Wildlife Weekend 

Bradgate Park Newtown Linford, LE6 0HB 

www.bradgatepark.org 

Meet the conservationists and naturalists 

who help support and monitor our 

wildlife. Join them on the many walks, 

talks, demonstrations and tracking taking 

place over the weekend, as well as fun 

activities for all the family. 

Foxton Locks Festival 

Foxton Locks LE16 7RA 

www.foxtonlocksfestival.co.uk 

A great day for all the family set around 

the famous Foxton Locks. With crafts, 

Saxons, hands on activities, live music 

plus much, much more. There is something 

for everyone. Arena shows, arts and 

acoustic area, fun rides, exhibits, real ale 

tent, food village and over 100 craft stalls. 

Dads’ Rocket Challenge 

Woolsthorpe Manor NG33 5PD 


Get competitive with Dad (and Mum) on 

Father’s Day weekend. Launch rockets 

from Henry and see if you can top the 

leader board! 

Father’s Day Trail 



Bring your Dad and enjoy the Father’s 

Day Trail together. Explore the grounds 

and discover parts of Canons Ashby you 

might not normally notice. Also suitable 

for Grandads, Husbands, Mums, Aunties 

and anyone else who wants to have a go. 

Then, if you’re with a Dad who deserves 

it, give him a special “Great Dad” sticker 

from the Coach House shop. 

16 June 

Dad’s Day Barbecue & 

Family Nature Trail 

Barnsdale Gardens Oakham, LE15 8AH 

barnsdalegardens.co.uk 

Bring your dad for a day out at Barnsdale 

and we’ll treat him to a free home-made 

burger and a beer. We’ve even got a 

special Dad’s Snoozing Area, kitted out 

with stripy seaside deckchairs, for him 

to sleep it off while the kids explore the 

plants and wildlife in our magical midsummer 

gardens. 

Father’s Day Ploughman’s & a Pint 

Battlefield Line CV13 6NW 

www.battlefieldline.co.uk 

Food Festival 

Bosworth Water Park Nuneaton, CV13 6PD 

www.bosworthwatertrust.co.uk 

Bring the family and sample a wide range 

of mouth watering items from all around 

the world. 



WHAT IS ANXIETY 

What is 

anxiety? 

1. Why do we get anxious? 

Our bodies have a built-in survival instinct from over 50,000 

years ago, when we might have been living in the jungle. Let’s 

go back to those days. Imagine you are walking through the 

jungle and a tiger jumps out in front of you. 

Your life is in danger, so you need to run. 

Our brain focuses 

on getting away 

Our body starts 

to sweat 

Our heart beats 

faster and our 

breathing gets 

quicker 

We might get 

butterflies in our 

stomach, feel slightly 

sick or even be sick 

2. What happens when we get anxious? 

When we see something scary, we tell our brains something 

frightening is about to happen. 

Our brain then gives our body instructions so that it is 

ready to run fast. 

3. 

These changes are useful 

when you’re in danger 

These changes can save our lives when a tiger is 

chasing us in the jungle, as they help us to react quickly 

and run away. 

4. When do you feel anxious? 

You may be seeing ‘tigers’ where they do not exist. For 

example, do you get these anxious feelings at the thought of 

starting the school day, going to the playground, attending 

birthday parties or getting lost? 

When you get these feelings, you may want to try and stay 

away from the place that makes you feel like this, because 

you believe that something scary will happen. 

5. Do you feel anxious at night? 

You may get these feelings at night, and struggle with 

nightmares. 

Anxiety can leave you lying awake at night, worrying about what 

you could have done differently that day and what frightening 

things might happen the next day. You may also worry about the 

future and possible frightening things that could happen. 

6. It is important to let someone know 

If you feel anxious, it is important to talk to your parents, 

guardians or teachers. Let them know how you feel so that 

they know how they can support you. 

Don’t worry – they will be able to help so that you don’t 

have to deal with these feelings all the time. 

www.priorygroup.com 

16 


JOIN SWIMMING LESSONS 

WIN A HAVEN FAMILY BREAK * 

Plus, save up to £50 on a Haven holiday 

LET’S GET 

SWIMMING THIS YEAR! 

Find your nearest centre online or visit 

everyoneactive.com/Haven for more details. 

*UK (excluding Northern Ireland). 18+ (parent/guardian if child lessons). Automatic entry on enrolment. Closing date 30 June 2019. 1 x Haven stay worth up to £1500 and 2 x 

Haven stays worth up to £500 each to be won (covers accommodation cost only). Visit www.everyoneactive.com/Haven for further details and full terms. 

W everyoneactive.com facebook.com/everyoneactive 

@everyoneactive



Primary Times guide to… 

Gardening with children 

Start 

with Seeds 

A great way to introduce your children 

to gardening is simply by planting a 

packet of seeds on your windowsill. 

Use an eggbox as your tray and fill 

each compartment with potting mix 

and seeds of your choice. Children 

aren’t always blessed with patience, 

so produce like radishes, lettuce, 

basil and salad cress will all grow very 

quickly and begin to show results 

within just a few days. 

Create 

a Pinecone 

Bird Feeder 

Attract different bird species into your 

garden by combining mixed seeds, lard, 

cheese and raisins in a mixing bowl. Tie a 

string to a pinecone and cover it with your 

sticky mix, ensuring you fill all the holes. 

Pop in the fridge until set and hang from 

the different branches in your garden. 

Hanging some near a window can 

be a great way to get a close-up 

view of your flying friends. 

Grow a 

Hanging 

Harvest 

Not everyone has space for a full 

vegetable patch in their garden, so the 

humble hanging basket can be a great 

way to save space, but still pack in the 

produce. Encourage your children to 

get their hands messy and fill a lined 

basket with compost. Put your chosen 

plants into the compost, and ensure 

the kids check the basket every 

day and water regularly. 

Summer Holiday Brain 

Activities with Kip McGrath 

Have you ever considered how 

long it is from now to the new 

school year in September? Think 

about how much of the time this 

term is spent on trips, rehearsing 

end of term performances, projects, 

sports. Now add the weeks 

of summer holiday and the total is 

quite astounding. Childrens’ brains 

are like muscle – you know the 

old saying – “Use it or lose it”. 

Learning can be fun. During the 

long summer holiday, here at Kip 

McGrath, your child can enjoy 

improving Maths, comprehension, 

spelling and writing so that 

they get off to a flying start in 

September. 

Research has shown that children 

can lose up to three months of 

learning over the summer so why 

not give Kip McGrath a go over 

the summer holiday? 

Just a few sessions can really 

make a difference and we can 

fit around your other plans for 

holidays and activities. 

Let Kip McGrath Education Centres 

help your child this summer. 

Your local Centres are Hinkley and 

Loughborough. See advert for 

contact details. 

Kip McGrath Learning Centres – 

Where students really learn. 

(Ofsted registered Centres 

offer payment through childcare 

vouchers and you may be eligible 

for working tax credits.) 

LOUGHBOROUGH 01509 236622 

loughborough@kip-mcgrath.co.uk 

HINCKLEY 01455 700800 

hinckley@kip-mcgrath.co.uk 

18 



Uppingham Feast Day 

Market Place LE15 9QH 

www.facebook.com/UppinghamFeastDay 

This year's theme is Mexican Fiesta! Get 

the summer into full swing with the annual 

Uppingham Feast Day, it promises to be fun 

packed day for all the family to enjoy. The 

Market Square, Town Hall and High Street will 

be full of family entertainment for young and 

old alike, with many activities including Street 

Entertainers, Live Music, Hot & Cold Food, 

Craft Faye, Children’s Entertainment, and a 

Street Market – plus, much, much more. 

Father's Day Tennis Court Games 

Stoneywell LE67 9QE 


Bring Dad along to play games on the tennis 

court including quoits, boules and clock golf. 

Prizes for the champion putters - may the 

best dad win! There will be delicious cakes 

in the tearoom that every special dad should 

be treated to and there will be crafts in the 

stables so you can make something special. 

The cottage will be open for you to explore at 

your leisure. 

Kite-making Workshop 

Lyveden PE8 5AT 


Bring Dad along to make a kite this Father’s 

Day at Lyveden. After all that hard work, treat 

him to a Workers Nuncheon in the Cottage 

tea room so you’re ready to head back out 

and see how high your kite can fly! 

Jousting & Medieval Living History 

Rockingham Castle LE16 8TH 

www.rockinghamcastlehorsetrials.com 

The Knights of Nottingham and the Oxford 

Household make a heraldic return! Witness 

as the Knights’ battle for supremacy amidst 

the thunder of hooves and clashes of steel. 

Visit the living history village where craftsmen 

display their skills, the jester entertains, fire 

eaters mesmerise and storytellers weave 

tales of mystery, magic and legend. 

18 June 

Rockets to the Moon 

Leicester Guildhall Leicester, LE1 5FQ 


Join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of 

the first person to land on the moon. Make 

an astronaut’s helmet and create a rocket 

to get you to the moon. ‘Moon landings’ are 

taking place throughout the day in the Mayors 

Parlour. Face painting and space themed 

trails too. 

22 June 

Urban Steam Festival 


eicester, LE4 5PX 


Why not come to our annual “Urban Steam 

Festival” and see demonstrations of rural 

crafts, steam traction engines, road rollers, 

vintage vehicles, live music, the craft tent 

and our magnificent working Gimson beam 

engines. Access to the beam engine ground 

floor is limited to a number of visitors at any 

one time. 

Music In The Park 

Coalville Park LE67 3JB 


The ever popular Music In The Park returns 

once again to Coalville Park. Bring your own 

seating, refreshments will be available to 

purchase or bring your own. 


Ashby Steam Festival 

Scamhazel Farm Boundary, DE11 7BA 

www.ashbysteam.co.uk 

This two day event is a great outing for all 

the family. Visitors can step back in time and 

see steam engines, vintage tractors, historical 

motor vehicles, stationary engines, miniature 

steam, funfair and children’s entertainment, 

trade and craft stalls, and much, much more!! 

23 June 

Picnic In The Park 

Coalville Park LE67 3JB 


Once again Coalville Park will come alive 

with colour. Family Entertainment for all ages. 

Bring your own seating and picnic or sample 

some of the wonderful food available to buy 

on site. Stalls, Music, Children’s Entertainment 

and more! 

Refugee Week 

New Walk Museum & Art 

Gallery Leicester, LE1 7EA 


Celebrate Refugee Week with free arts, 

crafts and performance from our many 

communities, new and old, local and from all 

over the world! 

29 June 

Family Workshop 

The Gateway LE1 9BH 

thegallery.dmu.ac.uk 

FREE! The sessions of hands-on creative 

activity, inspired by the current exhibitions, are 

aimed at ages 5-10 years but younger siblings 

and participants are more than welcome! 

Our family activities are designed to inspire 

imaginations, engage, challenge and spend 

some creative time making and exploring 

contemporary art as a family. 

Bosworth Festival 

Bosworth Hall LE17 6LZ 

husbandsbosworth.info 

A grand day out for all the family, with classic 

and vintage cars, VW Owners Club meet, 

fun fair, games, militaria and collectibles, 

refreshments, beer tent, children’s activities 

and fun fair, live entertainment, trade, charity 

and craft stalls. The day carries through into 

the evening when the fun moves onto the 

Hall lawn for Music in the Park until 11.00pm. 

Bring a picnic, pull up an easy chair and relax 

at the end of the day to live music. 


Steam on Rutland Water 

Rutland Water LE15 8QL 

anglianwaterparks.co.uk 

Come along and enjoy this vintage classic 

affair of large steam engines and victorian 

seaside attractions, with a variety of steam 

powered and vintage vehicles, music and 

family entertainment, small funfair and 

bouncy castle, ‘Seaside attractions’, plus lots 

of stalls and refreshments. 

30 June 

Baby Disco: Underwater 

Attenborough Arts Centre 

Leicester, LE1 7HA 


Bring your families along for a dancing 

experience in our outer space and underwater 

worlds. We’ll be making some shapes 

through the multi-sensory creations, with 

disco lighting and thematic projections. Perfect 

for children aged 6 and under, we’ll be 

showing off our fancy dress to get the most 

out of our adventure! 

Blaston Show 

Blaston Showground LE16 7UD 

www.blastonshow.co.uk 

A fabulous country day out for all the family. 

The first ever Blaston Show was held in 1957 

and has been an annual event ever since. It is 

now a fantastic family day out, with livestock 

classes, horse and pony classes, vintage cars, 

a dog show, and all sorts of entertainment 

and shopping opportunities. 

BrightLights 

Theatre 

School 

BrightLights Theatre School 

opened in 2011 and now has 

five schools in Loughborough & 

Coalville, providing top quality, 

affordable performing arts training 

for young people. The schools 

are run by Nick Sutcliffe, originally 

from Loughborough and a graduate 

of Mountview Academy of 

Theatre Arts in London. He has 20 

years experience as a professional 

actor, director and choreographer 

in the West End, regional theatres, 

TV and commercials. 

BrightLights 

Theatre School: 

AGES: 7 – 18 

Every week students are arranged 

into groups by age and take part 

in one hour each of drama, singing 

and dance lessons. They not only 

learn to act, sing and dance, but their 

self-confidence grows, they learn to 

work as a team, to use and stretch 

their imaginations, to speak with 

confidence, and so much more! 

Bright Young 

Things: 

AGES: 5 – 7 

These 90 minute sessions enable 

younger children to explore the 

exciting world of drama, singing 

and dance. 

BrighLights 

Acting: 

AGES: 8 – 18 

These 90 minute, acting only sessions 

offer an insight into the world 

of drama, incorporating script 

work, physical theatre, improvisation, 

and devising. 

BrightLights classes are led by 

working professional actors. For 

more information please call 

01509 646 647 or email office@ 

brightlightstheatreschool.com 




BOX OFFICE 

Attenborough Arts Centre 

ww2.le.ac.uk/hosted/attenborougharts 


Sourpuss 

We love this gentle and intimate show, 

with its magical puppetry, original music 

and stunning design. Sourpuss is a 

very grumpy, ginger cat. One day he 

is horrified to get shut outside, but the 

beautiful garden soon intrigues him. 

Watch Sourpuss on his journey of discovery 

and enjoy learning the secrets of 

the great outdoors. From buzzing bees 

to a chirpy robin, stinky rubbish and 

vibrant flowers, this playful adventure is 

a feast for little eyes. 

2 June 

Tidy Up 

When things start out shipshape, 

there’s only one way for them to go… 

this dancetheatre show gets all messed 

up! Inspired by children’s logic when 

creating order and patterns, we’ll be 

taken on a witty, uplifting adventure to 

find out whether chaos and order can 

ever live side-by-side. Partnership with 

GOSH Arts, children, families and the 

Psychological Services Department at 

Great Ormond Street Hospital. 

16 June 

What’s coming out of the box 

“What was it like in mummy’s tummy?” 

Join us on an immersive journey from 

conception to birth and share a very 

special experience with your little one. 

This intimate, interactive show is set in a 

campsite and inspired by life inside the 

womb, featuring multi-sensory activities, 

shadow theatre, live sound-making and 

object theatre. 

Beaumanor Hall 

www.beaumanorhall.co.uk 

16 June 

The Secret Garden 

OPEN AIR! Join young Mary Lennox on a 

journey of discovery as she is sent to her 

uncle’s house in the countryside, where 

mysteries and secrets lurk round every 

corner… As she makes new friends and 

encounters magical creatures, Mary has 

one burning question: where is the location 

of her uncle’s secret garden, and 

where has he hidden the key? Relive this 

enchanting tale of secrecy and curiosity 

in what will be one of the highlights of 

the summer. 

Curve Leicester 

www.curveonline.co.uk 

1 June 

Tom Thumb 

Performed entirely on and under a kitchen 

table this classic story is brought to 

life in a playful and fascinating show full 

of Lyngo’s magic with feathery spinning 

birds, a flying house and a portable 

forest. Come and join tiny Tom on his 

very big adventure! 

8 June 

Growl 

We all think we know the story of the Big 

Bad Wolf. How he’s mean and greedy, 

and likes blowing down the houses of 

innocent little pigs, and gobbling up 

grandmas just for the wicked fun of 

it. But that’s a fairy tale and the truth 

is a whole lot more surprising. In this 

hilarious, action-packed new family 

musical, you’ll get to meet the real Wolf: 

the guardian of a beautiful forest and all 

the creatures who live there. 


The Very Hungry 

Caterpillar Show 

The critically acclaimed production 

of The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

Show features a menagerie of 75 lovable 

puppets, faithfully adapting four of Eric 

Carle’s stories, Brown Bear, 10 Little 

Rubber Ducks, The Very Lonely Firefly 

and of course, the star of the show 

celebrating its 50th Birthday in 2019 The 

Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

29 June 

Out of the Hat 

A story about friendship and the true 

magic of nature. Full to the brim with 

lively songs by the talented Tom Gray 

of Gomez. A feast for the senses and 

a spectacular theatre experience for 

everyone! 

De Montfort Hall Leicester 

www.demontforthall.co.uk 


Wallace & Gromit’s Musical 

Marvels 

Join everyone’s favourite dynamic duo 

as Wallace prepares to perform his 

musical masterpiece My Concerto in Ee 

Lad with help from his faithful canine 

companion Gromit...what could possibly 

go wrong?! 

Derby Theatre Derby 

www.derbytheatre.co.uk 


Brainiac Live! 

Strap on your safety goggles boys and 

girls, due to popular demand Science’s 

greatest and most volatile live show 

is returning with a vengeance. More 

mischievous than ever before Brainiac 

Live! will take you on a breathless ride 

through the wild world of the weird and 

wonderful. Expect exploding dustbins, 

combusting microwaves and loads of 

live daredevil stunts! 


Horrible Histories: Dreadful Deaf 

Deafinitely not for the faint-hearted! We 

all want to meet people from history. The 

trouble is everyone is deaf! Delve into 

the dreadful, dangerous and deluded 

stories of the deaf! From groovy Greeks 

to gorgeous Georgians, ruthless Romans 

to vile Victorians, discover the extraordinary 

people and amazing stories you 

simply won’t believe! Deaf or hearing, 

this bilingual production – in spoken 

English and British Sign Language – is a 

truly frightful treat for all the family! 

Haymarket Theatre Leicester 

www.haytheatre.com 


Shrek the Musical 

Based on the story and characters from 

the Oscar ® -winning DreamWorks Animation 

film, this hilarious and spectacular 

production turns the world of fairytales 

upside down in an all-singing, all-dancing, 

must-see musical comedy. 

Kedleston Hall 


30 June 

The Secret Garden 

OPEN AIR! The Chapterhouse Theatre 

Company present an outdoor theatre 

production of The Secret Garden, in the 

garden! A favourite for adults and children, 

enjoy a summer evening theatre 

production with a picnic or drinks in the 

picturesque setting. 

Kilworth House Theatre 

North Kilworth 

www.kilworthhousetheatre.co.uk 

28 May – 7 July 

Joseph & the Amazing 

Technicolor Dreamcoat 

OPEN AIR! Full of unforgettable songs 

including ‘Those Canaan Days’, ‘Any Dream 

Will Do’ and ‘Close Every Door To Me’. A 

glorious family musical filled with non-stop 

action, a kaleidoscope of catchy songs and 

colourful dance numbers, laughter and 

fun. The sparkling musical brings to life the 

Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers 

and the coat of many colours! With its 

family-friendly story, familiar themes and 

irresistible music, this musical is one of the 

most enduring shows of all time. 

Leicester Guildhall 

www.facebook.com/leicestermuseums 

15 June 

Saturday Cinema Club 

A film club with a difference! Showing a 

mixture of films – new and classic, musicals 

and animations. Join us for the first 

Saturday Cinema Club showing Jurassic 

Park! Inspired by our Dinosaur Gallery at 

the museum! 

Loughborough Town Hall 

www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk 


Seussical the Musical 

The fantastical world of Dr. Seuss bursts 

onto the stage in this larger-than-life 

musical extravaganza brimming with fun 

and excitement for “thinkers” of all ages. 

“Oh, the things you can think”! when Dr. 

Seuss’s best-loved characters come to 

life in this unforgettable musical! 


Horrible Histories - Brand New 

Barmy Britain 

We all want to meet people from history. 

The trouble is everyone is dead! Would 

you be shaken or stirred by Richard III? 

Mount a mutiny against King Henry VIII! 

See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary 

Queen of Scots! Will Queen Elizabeth 

I endure her terrible teeth? Would you 

be hanged by King James I for being a 

witch? It’s the history of Britain with the 

nasty bits left in! 


Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom 

“Somewhere, hidden amongst the 

thorny brambles is a little kingdom 

where everyone is very very small...” 

Join Ben and Holly, and their friends on 

this exciting, enchanting and magical 

20 



BOX OFFICE 

musical adventure packed full of games, 

songs and laughter. This beautiful story 

of elves, princesses and childhood innocence 

will delight all the family! 

Melton Theatre 

Melton Mowbray 

www.meltontheatre.co.uk 


Snow White & the Huntsman 

This year’s dance FMP takes on a dance 

adaptation of Snow White and the 

Huntsman. Fly Dance share an original 

reworking of the classic story of Snow 

White combining a variety of dance 

styles in an epic narrative dance piece 

not to be missed. 


Return to the Forbidden Planet 

This year’s Final Major Performance (FMP) 

to be performed by Neon Musical Theatre 

Company is ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’. 

Join Captain Tempest and his fearless 

crew on their journey into hyperspace… 

and beyond! Bob Carlton’s smash hit West 

End musical takes the 1956 film, with plot 

taken from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. 

Rutland Water 

Edith Weston 

anglianwaterparks.co.uk 

30 June 

Alice in Wonderland 

OPEN AIR! Immersion Theatre proudly 

bring their trademark energy to their 

most spectacularly bonkers show to 

date, as children and adults alike are 

invited to join in the hilarity of seeing this 

classic story brought vividly to life before 

having the opportunity to meet the 

characters after the show...why not come 

dressed up as your favourite? A perfect 

day out for the entire family, you’d be 

mad to miss it! 

The Core at Corby 

Cube Corby 

www.thecorecorby.com 


Zog 

Much-loved Zog comes to life in this 

magical adaptation with sumptuous folk 

score featuring live musicians. Katie 

Sykes’ design lifts the book from the 

page and creates a real and fantastical 

world. From the team behind Tiddler 

And Other Terrific Tales and Tabby 

McTat, Zog promises to be roaring fun 

for all ages. 

5 June 

Northern Ballet’s Puss In Boots 

Puss in Boots is no ordinary cat. Clever 

and charming, he takes life in his stride 

and befriends everyone he meets. Join 

the adventure with a flurry of lovable 

characters, and even come face to face 

with royalty! Bringing this much-loved 

children’s story to life, Puss In Boots is 

the perfect opportunity for your little 

ones to enjoy live ballet, music and 

theatre. 

The Little Theatre 

Leicester 

www.thelittletheatre.net 


Sooty’s Magic Show 

Izzy wizzy let’s get busy! Sooty, Sweep 

and Soo and TV’s Richard Cadell will 

amaze you with impossible tricks and 

sidesplitting jokes! Be astounded at 

Sooty’s flying car, Soo’s singing unicorn 

and Sweep’s levitating sausage! A 

spectacular treat for the whole family – 

including a chance to meet Richard and 

Sooty after the show! 


The Sound of Music 

The true story of the famous singing 

Von Trapp family, from their romantic 

beginnings to their thrilling escape to 

freedom at the start of WWII. Featuring 

an unforgettable score including My 

Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry 

Mountain, Edelweiss and of course, The 

Sound of Music, this timeless musical 

is sure to enchant the young and the 

young at heart. 

The Y Theatre 

Leicester 

www.leicesterymca.co.uk/theatre 


Alice in Wonderland 

Join young Alice as she falls down a 

rabbit hole and finds herself in a world 

filled with quirk and nonsense. The 

strangest of places in which rabbits 

wear waistcoats, caterpillars give advice, 

playing cards have heads, arms and legs 

and where life is one long tea party! 


MARVELus 

With a kid-friendly one hour matinee 

and a longer evening production for the 

big kids, the world’s premier nerd-culturecomedy 

double-act, The Just Us 

League, present their smash hit show 

MARVELus: All the MARVEL Movies 

Kind Of. 

15 June 

Modifiers Unknown 

Modifiers Unknown is an RPG convention 

for all levels of experience! Alignment 

Unknown have teamed up with The Y 

Theatre to offer the public a chance to 

enjoy the Role Playing Game Dungeons 

and Dragons through both an open to 

the public session and a live show. 

22 June 

Ruby Redfort 

When the world’s greatest criminals 

target a supernatural statue, it’s up to 

Ruby – maths genius, special agent and 

13-year-old girl – to crack the case. This 

quirky, hilarious spy thriller takes us on 

an adventure full of ingenious gadgets, 

cutting-edge stunts, and death-defying 

Maths, in a race to prove that being a spy 

is actually child’s play. 


COMPETITION TIME 

Competition 

WIN! 

T 

A family ticket to Music in the Park 

At Wistow Hall on 8th June 2019 

Bring your own picnic and enjoy a wonderful evening 

listening to two fantastic bands, the high-energy ‘Ska-aManga’ 

band and the award-winning ‘Kibworth Brass Band’. The 

evening finishes with a fabulous fireworks display in front of 

Wistow Hall. All ages welcome. www.wistow.com 

For your chance to win, answer this question: 

What happens at 10pm in front of Wistow Hall? 

Closing date – 03/06/19 

Win a Family ticket to see 

Horrible Histories 

At Loughborough Town Hall on Tues 28th May! 

It’s time to prepare yourselves for Horrible Histories live 

on stage with a brand new West End show that has never 

toured before featuring all new scenes 


Which British monarch was discovered in a car park 

in the middle of Leicester city centre? 

A) RICHARD III B) HENRY VIII C) KING ARTHUR 


WIN! 

Four sets of family tickets to 

The National Festival Circus 

THE CIRCUS IS COMING TO CONKERS on 31st May 2019 

The National Festival Circus is a magical mix of laughter and 

excitement. Slapstick clowns, balancing equilibrists, fast 

tempo juggling, baffling magic, high flying diablos, mesmerising 

spinning hoops and bucketful’s of fabulous fun! 


How many Balloons is the clown holding in the picture? 

A) 2 B) 4 C) 20 


Win an Annual Pass 

with Twinlakes! 

PRIZE: 1 x Annual Pass for up to 4 people 

The winner will get three months from being chosen to activate 

the passes, then the passes will activate automatically. 


Twinlakes Family Theme Park celebrated its 15th 

anniversary last year, but which year did we open in?? 

A) 2003 B) 2010 C) 2009 ___ 


22 


ime! 

WIN! 

To enter these competitions please go to... 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/leicestershire/competitions or 

via Facebook at www.facebook.com/PrimarytimesLeicester 

WIN! 

WIN! WIN! 

A family ticket for five people 

to Archery Legends! 

Want to try archery Robin Hood style? Fancy shooting a 

moving target or becoming our legend of the range? 

Well now you can! 


Which colour is the centre 10 ring on an 

Archery Legends target? 

A) BLUE B) GOLD C) RED 

WIN! 


WIN! The ultimate family break 

Win at a ‘England’s family break Leading to Resort’, 

The The Belfry Belfry Hotel Hotel & Resort & Resort 

WIN! The This fantastic ultimate prize includes: family break 

● Two at nights ‘England’s at The Belfry Hotel Leading & Resort for 2 adults Resort’, 

and 2 children in a 

family room, including a full English breakfast at The Ryder Grill. 

The ● Full Belfry use of the swimming Hotel pool and & leisure Resort facilities 

● A family ticket to This a local fantastic attraction; Twycross prize includes: Zoo or Drayton Manor Theme 

Park or Cadbury World 

● Two nights at The Belfry Hotel & Resort for 2 adults and 2 children in a 

● 

family A family room, round including of mini-golf a full English on The Belfry’s breakfast Ryder at The Legends Ryder Grill. course 

● 

● 

Full use of Access the swimming to on-site pool family and activities leisure facilities 

● A family three-course ticket to dinner a local in attraction; Rocca’s Pizza Twycross Pasta Zoo Restaurant or Drayton the Manor first Theme evening 

Park All worth Cadbury up to £1000! World 

To ● 

For your enter A family chance this round competition, of to mini-golf win, visit answer on www.primarytimes.net/competitions 

The Belfry’s this Ryder question: Legends course 

and ● answer Access the to following on-site family question activities correctly: 

In which English country is The Belfry Hotel located? 

● A three-course In which dinner English in county Rocca’s is The Pizza Belfry Pasta Hotel Restaurant & Resort on located? the first evening 

A) WEST MIDLANDS A: West All Midlands worth B) HERTFORDSHIRE up to B: £1000! Hertfordshire ___ 

To enter this competition, Entries must visit be submitted www.primarytimes.net/competitions 

by May 31st 2019 

and answer the following question correctly: Closing date – 03/06/19 

Terms and conditions apply and can be found at www.primarytimes.net/competitions 

In which English county is The Belfry Hotel & Resort located? 

A: West Midlands B: Hertfordshire 

WIN! 

Entries must be submitted by May 31st 2019 

Terms and conditions apply and can be found at www.primarytimes.net/competitions 

Win a family photoshoot at 

Zig Zag Photography 


Which is the correct spelling? 

A) FOTOGRAPHY B) PHOTOGRAPHY C) PHOTOGRAPHEE 


If had a photo-shoot with us before, 12 months 

must have elapsed before your next photo-shoot 

Not valid with any other offer. Non-transferable. 

A family Ticket to see Shrek The 

Musical at Haymarket Theatre! 

Family ticket of 4 for 12pm performance on 23/06/2019. 

This hilarious and spectacular production turns the world of 

fairytales upside down in an all-singing, all-dancing, mustsee 

musical comedy. 


Who is Shrek’s loyal steed? 

A) DONKEY B) DRAGON C) PUSS IN BOOTS ___ 



FUN FOR ALL AGES AT PARKLANDS LEISURE CENTRE 

WHERE HAS FUN! 

B582 

Washbrook Lane 

Wigston Road 

B582 

• Spider web climber 

• Snake forest 

• Punch bags 

• Multi-lane wave slide 

• Ball pool 

• Fun brick house 

• Web crawl tunnel 

• Drop slides 

• Trampolines 

• Obstacles 

• Spiral slides 

• Bridges 

• Observatories 

B582 

Wigston Road 

at Parklands 

Leisure Centre 



Parklands Play World 0116 272 0789 

parklandsinfo@everyoneactive.com 

Opening Times 

Monday to Sunday 9:30am – 6pm 

Play areas are suitable for children up to and including 12 years. All children must be supervised by a parent or adult over 18 years. Socks must be worn at all times. 

Last admission: 45 minutes before closing. Everyone Active manages this facility in partnership with Oadby & Wigston Borough Council. 

FUN CLIMB! 

Fun, Play, Challenge 

Fun Climb is an action packed activity 

with 18 large, individually themed 

climbing challenges. Our facility 

provides healthy, challenging fun for 

everyone from beginner to expert! 

From pre-school kids to recycled teenagers, 

everyone will love the physical and mental 

challenges that Fun Climb provides. 

Suitable from four years upwards (Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult) 

Parklands Fun Climb 

For more details, call us on 0116 272 0789 

facebook.com/eaPLCentre 

@everyoneactive 

everyoneactive.com 

Everyone Active manages this facility in partnership 

with Oadby & Wigston Borough Council.

Primary Times Leicestershire May edition

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?