News In Dorset
Support to help your child with reading
There are three skills needed for reading and if one or more of these skills are poor, reading and spelling will be challenging. Parents need to know ‘how’ to support their child so at Read Dorset you will be taught alongside the child, giving you the knowledge and skills to support your child fully. Lessons are fun and progressive so you can expect a reading gain of 2 years and a spelling gain of 6 to 9 months. Tara Dominick is an experienced teacher who won a Millennium award for her work with Dyslexia. For more information and feedback from parents who have taken the twelve week Phono-Graphix course with their child visit www.read-dorset.com or call Tara for a free assessment on 0781 101 0562.
Get active at the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre this Easter
This Easter the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre in Dorchester has a whole host of activities for children to enjoy such as: fun sessions in the pools with floats, giant inflatables, Ultimate Frisbee, Futsal, Street Soccer, trampolining, kayaking, a skate park, Aero Dance and Funk and cycling at levels1 and 2. For those looking for a bargain why not go along to the free indoor netball sessions?
If an organised activity is not to your liking you may wish to go along for a swim, play football with friends on the artificial grass pitch or pop along for a game of badminton. Contact the Leisure Centre on 01305 266772 or look up the web site for further details at www.dorsetforyou.com/thomashardyelc
Explore Learning Maths and English Tuition centres
Explore Learning is a network of learning centres that provide maths and English tuition to children aged 5-14 of all abilities. The centres are designed to improve knowledge, increase confidence and encourage enjoyment in learning.As members, children work with tutors who are great role models, enthusiastic about learning and fantastic motivators. All of the work is mapped to the National Curriculum, so whether your child needs a bit of a boost in their schoolwork, or would love an extra challenge, Explore can create a course that is perfect for them! To find your nearest centre, or to request a call back from an experienced tutor go to www.explorelearning.co.uk/free_trial
Pavilion Dance presents three great performances this spring
Pavilion Dance, in Westover Road, Bournemouth will be hosting three great performances this spring. On 31st March, the performance Beyond the Stars is about a journey in a spaceship discovering quirky planets and aliens. Beyond the Stars is an intergalactic adventure for children aged four and over. After the performance there will be free arty crafty sessions, where children can create pictures and art inspired by what they've seen and felt. On the 5th April, Commotion Dance will use movement, music and a host of imaginative and colourful props in a variety of ways to create a captivating and lively performance. The show teaches children how to play together, make friends, share and trust one another, as well as encouraging individual play. On the 19th May, Kindur -The Adventurous Life of Icelandic Sheep is a heart-warming sensory experience for children aged five and over that uses pioneering interactive sensor technology and motion capture. For more information and booking call 01202 203630 or visit www.paviliondance.org.uk
Honeybrook Farm and Country Park Easter Eggtravaganza!
Honeybrook is a wonderful destination for some Easter fun! During the whole of spring, children have the chance to be a Honeybrook farmer by helping to herd the animals or feed the baby lambs, or why not enter the Honeybrook Easter Egg Hunt or the Easter Bonnet competition? (Easter Sunday only). Or perhaps you would like to simply relax in 80 acres of picturesque Dorset countryside? Entry is £5 per car with 2 passengers and £1 for every extra passenger. For details go to www.honeybrook.org
Find a career that makes you smile every day!
If you’ve always craved a career that makes you smile every day, then working with young children might be the right step for you. Working with the under 5s is an incredibly important job, as it is proven that the experiences children have when they are born up until they start school can make a huge difference to their future achievements and wellbeing.
Getting on the first rung of the ladder in childcare can be challenging, so attending a free information session run by your local authority can really help you get started.
Sally from Blandford attended a session recently and found it really useful ‘'I knew I wanted to work with children, but I wasn't sure whether to register as a childminder working in my own home or work term-time in a pre-school”.
Sally now works in a local pre-school and has recently started a Level 3 childcare qualification, which is work based with monthly workshops. “I really love my job, the children are great fun and my qualification is helping me understand how I can support their development and learning through play’.
For more information see the advert on the outside back cover or visit www.childcarejobdorset.co.uk
Children’s Hospice Week Launch Teachers Fundraising Resource Pack
Together for Short Lives, the charity behind Children’s Hospice Week from18 to 25 May has created a special fundraising pack specifically for primary schools. The pack, which is available to download at www.childrenshospiceweek.org.uk/resources.asp encourages teachers and children to help raise vital funds for local children's hospices who help seriously ill children, not expected to reach adulthood, and their families.
Just like superheroes, children’s hospices are there for people when they need them most. Children’s Hospice Week is all about celebrating children’s hospices and asking pupils and staff to come to school on Friday 25 May dressed in superhero fancy dress or take part in superhero activities as part of Superhero Friday.
The pack contains posters and invitations as well as a raft of fundraising ideas such as; showing a superhero cartoon at lunchtime, holding a cake sale, decorating superhero masks, or holding special comic reading sessions to develop core ITC skills linked to the National Curriculum. For more information contact Together for Short Lives on 0117 989 7820 or visit www.childrenshospiceweek.org.uk
Pupils from Hillside First School Verwood enjoy Around the World Food Fair
Recently the children in Year 2 at Hillside First School Verwood participated in a very successful “Around the World Food Fair” celebrating the end of half a terms work. The children learned about
the importance of Fair Trade and food traditions around the world. They dressed in costumes representing different countries and invited parents and other pupils to sample a range of food, find out more about the nutrients in different foods, and how Fair Trade supports farmers and communities in other countries. The children have also been encouraged to make healthy choices about their diet with the help of Sarah Rampton from the Dorset Food and Health Trust.
Little Munchkins at the Christchurch Food Festival
Little Munchkins are proud to announce their involvement with The Christchurch Food Festival Event 2012 from Friday 11th to Sunday 20th May. They will be hosting a number of their successfully run 'Cookery Party' themed sessions for ages 3-6 years. Organised by the Christchurch Food Festival Education Trust, the sessions will be located at The Priory School, Wick Lane, Christchurch, which will run over the Saturday and Sunday, weekend of the 12-13th May, between 11.30am-1.00pm and 3.30pm-5.00pm. Sessions involve 1 ½ hours of cooking, creating and having fun, including party games, lunch/dinner and a goody bag to take home! So if your little one enjoys helping in the kitchen, contact The Christchurch Information Centre, High Street, Christchurch. Call 01202 471780 to book your tickets or go to www.christchurchfoodfest.co.uk/kidskitchen.asp
Dance lessons for youngsters aged 2-6 at Swish of the Curtain Theatre School
Due to high demand, Swish of the Curtain Theatre School is opening a number of extra classes for 2-6 year olds! Baby Ballet and Pre-Performer classes for your 2-4 year olds are the perfect introduction to the world of dance and drama. Musical Theatre Sessions as well as Ballet, Tap and Street classes for 4-6 year olds offer a great package to try acting, dancing and singing. Classes run throughout Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Ringwood. Swish is a family run business which has been professionally training children since 1991 in all aspects of the performing arts – for full details visit www.swishofthecurtain.com or call one of the friendly staff on 08443 444485.
Thousands of pounds raised for Diabetes UK
Thousands of pounds have been raised in West Dorset to help improve the care of people with diabetes. The Diabetes UK West Dorset Voluntary Group has collected £5,000!
New members are being encouraged to join the Diabetes UK West Dorset Voluntary Group, which is a thriving local organisation holding meetings every two months to provide support and education for those with diabetes.
The group is also holding two education events about diabetes. These are taking place at Weymouth College, Cygnet Room, on Thursday, March 29, between 9.30am and 1pm and Bridport Medical Centre, Tuesday, June 19, between 9.30am and 1pm. For further information contact 01823 448260 or go to www.west-dorset.diabetesukgroup.org
Join in the fun at Big Little Summer School 2012!
This summer, Big Little Theatre School welcomes children of all abilities and aspirations from age 5 up to age 18! For ages 5 – 11 the children will become ‘Showmakers’ for a week where each child is given a full character part to enable them to develop their skills in an exciting role and produce a show at the end of the week. Students work in two age groups – 5-7 years for younger children who enjoy singing, dancing and generally being creative and for older children aged 8-11 who want to experience Musical Theatre. The Junior Showmakers course is running in Ringwood on Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August and in Bournemouth from Monday 6th – Friday 10th August. For students aged 12 - 18 there is a ‘West End in a Week’ from Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August in Bournemouth exploring new styles of performance in Musical Theatre and West End repertoire. To book a place or for more information visit www.biglittle.biz or call 01202 434499 or email: info@biglittle.biz
Spring forward your child’s education!
With the clocks going forward an hour giving us longer daytime, and Easter holidays approaching, it is a good time to embrace something new and exciting.
In reality, many students will be looking ahead to tests and exams which are looming in the summer term. Is it time to give them some confidence and calm their fears? Discussing and practising problem subjects with a qualified tutor might be just the ticket! To find out more about private tuition go to www.wessexhometuition.co.uk or contact Wessex Home Tuition for an Information Pack on 01202 396488 or email info@wessexhometuition.co.uk
Camp Bestival – for big and little kids alike
The ultimate festival experience for big and little kids alike, Camp Bestival is back for its 5th year. The event that has captured the hearts and minds of families across the country, will see; Happy Mondays, Hot Chip, Chic ft Nile Rodgers, Rizzle Kicks and Rolf Harris joined by the likes of The Gruffalo, Mr Tumble, Dick And Dom, The Bopps and lots more. Alongside the outstanding line-up, expect Lulworth Castle in Dorset, to be a run with exquisite family campsites, scrumptious food, 100s of free things for kids and much much more, to make it the ultimate festi-holiday experience! To find out more or to book tickets go to www.campbestival.net or call 0844 888 4410
