PT BBC B2S web links

Primary Times Birmingham
3 October
Nature Tots at Brandon Marsh -
Storytime in the Woods
Brandon Marsh SSSI Nature Reserve and
Visitor Centre CV3 3GW
www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
10.30am-12noon and 1.30-3pm. Nature
Tots aims to encourage an early interest in
wildlife. Activities outdoors in the natural
surroundings of the reserve at Brandon
Marsh. These sessions start with fifteen
minutes of fun free play and everyone
is here we head outside to get stuck in
with some wonderful activities based on
that weeks theme, before returning to the
centre to make an amazing craft you can
take home. T: 02476 302912.
Candlelit Tours of the Back to Backs
Birmingham Back to Backs B5 4TE
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
6-8.45pm. Enjoy a tour of the Back to Backs
in the atmospheric glow of Candlelight.
Booking essential. Children welcome but
must have their own ticket. T: 03442491895.
4 October
Nature Tots at Parkridge - Storytime in
the Woods
The Parkridge Centre, Solihull, B91 3HG
www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
10.30am-12noon and 1.30-3pm. Nature
Tots aims to encourage an early interest
in wildlife. Activities outdoors, in the
natural surroundings of the reserve at The
Parkridge Centre. The session starts with
fifteen minutes of free play, when everyone
is here, then head outside to get stuck in
with some wonderful activities based on
that weeks theme, before returning to the
centre to make an amazing craft to take
home. T: 0121 704 0768.
5 October
Tunnel Teds
Dudley Canal and Limestone Mines
DY1 4SB.
www.discover.dudley.gov.uk
11am-3pm. An event specially aimed at the
under 7’s, although everyone welcome.
Tunnel Teds has absolutely loads on offer
during the day, including: Get hands-on with
bear themed and seasonal craft activities.
Special 20 minute under-7’s boat trips at
designated times during the day. Go on
a bear hunt around the site to find clues
and earn a reward plus much more. Ticket
prices: Just £7.25 per child – two adults are
free with each paying child on the boat trip.
T: 0121 557 6265.
Guided Pond Dipping Sessions
Sandwell Valley B43 5AG
www.rspb.org.uk
11am-1pm. Come and join in with a guided
Pond Dipping session. Expert volunteers
will be on hand to help you discover the
pond minibeasts, how to idientify them and
the best way to use our equipment.
T: 0121 357 7395.
6 October
Apple Day
Blakesley Hall B25 8RN
www.birminghammusuems.org.uk
11am-4pm. Blakesley Hall’s annual
celebration of the apple with garden trails
about the Blakesley Apple Trees. Find out
about the history of the apple, how it was
used in Tudor times and take part in the
Apple Trail. Taste freshly squeezed apple
juice from the Blakesley orchard. Apple
themed cake and drinks for sale in the
lovely tearoom. Free event but chargeable
activites T: 0121 348 8120.
Apple Day
Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve CV3 3GW
www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
10am-2.30pm. Celebrate the wonders of
this fruit and taste some freshly pressed
apple juice. Prepare, mill and press apples.
Explore the tastes of different varieties of
apple and the juice made from them . Play
apple games like ‘make the longest peel’
and ‘guess the weight’. T: 024 7630 2912.
7 October
Wildlife Watch After School Club -
Pizza Making
Brandon Marsh SSSI Nature Reserve and
Visitor Centre CV3 3GW
www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
3.45-5pm. Running monthly on Mondays. The
sessions are aimed at children aged 4 years
and up, but younger siblings are welcome,
adults must accompany their children unless
they are 8 years and over. Please be aware
activities occur in all weathers, so please
dress appropriately. T: 02476 302912.
8 October
Wild Home School - Brilliant Birds
Brandon Marsh SSSI Nature Reserve and
Visitor Centre CV3 3GW
www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
2-3pm. Wild Home School sessions, happen
every second Tuesday of the month. With
each session varying between a mix of
curriculum focused activities, bushcraft
and nature based activities. Each session
you’ll be heading outside to learn about
something new, with every month having a
different theme, aimed at home schooled
children working at a KS2 level (around 8
years and up). T: 024 76 302 912.
10 October
Candlelit Tours of the Back to Backs
Birmingham Back to Backs B5 4TE
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
6-8.45pm. Enjoy a tour of the Back to Backs
in the atmospheric glow of Candlelight.
Booking essential. Children welcome but
must have their own ticket.
T: 03442491895.
Choosing a secondary school:
more questions to ask!
Primary Times is committed to helping you make the best choice of secondary school for your child
Secondary education is almost always very I’d also be asking about where students
different in approach to primary education go on to after Year 11 (if the school has no
and choosing a secondary school for your sixth form). Talking to sixth form colleges
child is a really tough and high-pressured about how well prepared the students who
decision. Exam results are important but you come from secondary schools are, is an
need to know whether the school you are important consideration.
thinking about is a school you believe that Finally, the school where your child has been
your child can thrive in.
educated for the past seven years will know
To a great extent the questions parents your child and will know the local secondary
need to ask prospective secondary schools schools. Ask the school head which secondary
are about how well the school will meet school your child would be best attending and
the needs of your child. So, if your child has why. It will give you another perspective as to
specific needs, even if it is about making how well your child might settle and learn.
and keeping friends, then ask the secondary Making decisions about your child’s future
school what pastoral support is in place to secondary school, based on the narrow
help develop and encourage friendships. measures from Ofsted and DfE is only part of
Great secondary schools often have a head the picture. It’s worth doing the legwork as
of year who follows the year group as they described above as this is the school that will
move through school. In our case, we know support your child over the next 5 years and
that we can email the head of year and he onto GCSEs.
will follow up any concerns as the school By Andy Mellor: a national leader of education
and Head Teacher of St Nicholas C of E
wants the children to be happy and settled
which will help them to achieve their best. Primary, Blackpool.
Diary dates
You must apply for a secondary
school place by 31 October
1st March 2020 is National Offer
Day. Parents can log onto their local
authority’s website to see their offer,
after which letters will be posted out
You must apply for a place at a
school, even if it’s linked to your
child’s current primary school
12
BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/birmingham