TermTimes 157

Welcome Back!

Welcome to the May half term issue of Term Times. This issue is really the “get out with the family” issue with both Leicester and Fantasy Island explored and a preview of the Festival of Sport at Holkham.

Closer to home the Peterborough Celebrates Festival is a free family weekend event at Ferry Meadows with a mix of music, culture, arts, and everything great about the city.

If you want to get fitter as a family or a group of friends, plus raise some funds for a good cause, then turn to page 10 to find out more about entering the Anna’s Hope 5K Fun Run.

As always, we have a great mix of competitions including two recreation vouchers at Rutland Water and a chance to win a book ahead of Father’s Day. Lastly, don’t miss the chance to win a fantastic end of summer term party for all your classmates at Big Sky – what a great prize!

Wishing you a great half term.

In this issue

Competition Entry Amanda

Mentioning the competition you're entering, send your name, age, address, phone number and school name to TermTimes, 70 Rutland Road, Stamford, Lincs PE9 1UW or via email to steven@termtimes.ltd.uk

Alternatively, competitions will be posted on our website at www.termtimes.ltd.uk

Please ask your parents’ permission before entering via the internet. All winners will be picked at random and Term Times' decision is final.

Publisher: Steven Beacham

Editor: Amanda Stacey

T: 01780 757731

E: steven@termtimes.ltd.uk

70 Rutland Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1UW

www.termtimes.ltd.uk

Term Times/Term Times Ltd are independently published and are trading styles of 12th Man Services and Solutions Ltd. Distributed free throughout primary schools in your area. Its aims are to inform families and children of current education issues, forthcoming events, places to visit, attractions etc. Every care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press. However, please check opening times/entry fees etc., before setting out on a journey. We also aim to give teachers, parents and children, the opportunity to participate in the content of Term Times. Term Times does not intend to publish any racist, sexist or political matters, nor carry out editorial or advertising that may be considered to be offensive to families. Opinions expressed by contributors/advertisers are not necessarily those of Term Times or the schools that distribute it. The publishers cannot be held responsible for any erroneous or misleading claims or comments made by any contributor/ advertiser. Competition winners will have their details shared with the competition supplier for purposes of fulfilling delivery/provision of the prize. Details of the winners will sometimes be published in a subsequent issue and by entering the competition you grant Term Times permission to publish these. Our thanks go to the schools for their assistance in distributing the magazine, and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank the advertisers who have supported this publication and made it possible. Please support them where you can.

Rumble Live now at Rutland Water

There is even more family fun at Rutland Water as gaming attraction Rumble Live has now opened its second site in the area.

The award-winning live action gaming arena which offers outdoor laser tag with state of the art equipment in beautiful woodlands, has long proved a popular day out at Grafham Water. Now you can also enjoy the fun overlooking the reservoir in Rutland just a few minutes’ walk from Sykes Lane Car Park.

The family-run attraction first opened in July 2019 at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire and has since won multiple awards including the recent Laser Tag Experience of the Year 2022/23 award (Prestige Award) and Best Adrenaline Activity in Cambridgeshire (Eastlife 2022). The original site has seen several upgrades since opening and all the gaming technology available at Grafham Water is also now included at the new Rutland site.

Rumble Rutland is open every weekend (10am-5pm) until November with additional sessions added during school holidays, bank holidays and busy periods to meet demand. It currently has one arena, with a second one opening later this year.

When booking use the unique 10% discount code TERMTIMES10simply enter this code when checking out online. The discount is only valid for online bookings and expires at the end of August 2023.

For information visit the website, 01480 592 135 or ask@rumblelive.co.uk

To book visit: www.rumblelive.co.uk/plan-your-visit/book-now/

New Attractions at Peterborough Celebrates Festival

Motionhouse dance-circus group, Autin Dance Theatre and an interactive singalong cinema experience will wow audiences as the festival enters its second year.

The idea behind the Peterborough Celebrates Festival is to bring the community together to showcase and celebrate everything that’s great about the city and they’ll be doing just that over three days at Ferry Meadows on 19, 20 and 21 May.

One of the highlights this year will be Motionhouse, the acclaimed dance-circus group, performing their hit outdoor production of ‘Wild’ four times throughout the weekend on a purpose built stage on Coney Meadow. Watch them move through a ‘forest’ of scaffold poles with acrobatic choreography in this stunning show.

On Saturday 20 May children (and adults) will be enthralled by a 13-foot Sea Giant Puppet as Autin Dance Theatre bring their interactive family show ‘Out of the Deep Blue’ to the festival.

returns, bigger and better.

The rest of the event will once again showcase the city’s vibrant and diverse mix of food, drink, culture and arts. It will be packed with sports, activities, music and performance across a busy schedule guaranteed to keep the whole family occupied throughout the weekend.

There will be music from many community groups including the Bengali Sanskriti Club, the Polish Music Centre, the East Timorese Association, the Ukrainian Community and Peterborough Pride. Exciting Bradford-based drumming group Punjabi Roots are also involved across the weekend and will be leading a mass participation moment on Sunday 21 May at midday.

Local schools and groups are creating a ‘Field of Colour’ installation making flowers out of recycled plastic bottles. There is still time for everyone to get involved, and there’s also the chance to participate in the Peterborough Presents’ ‘Spread your Wings’ competition to create colourful birds of paradise to be displayed at the Festival.

The festival launches on Friday 19 May with an exciting collaborative ‘Singing Schools’ event where several schools from across Peterborough will join together in the big top to learn songs, building up to an afternoon performance for family and friends. A public launch will follow, with music and The Greatest Showman ticketed singalong interactive cinema experience in the evening – visit the website to find out more. Term Times is proud to be supporting this great family event and will be providing refreshments for the Friday activities for schools.

To find out all the information about the festival as it is announced or to offer your support and volunteer, visit www.peterboroughcelebratesfestival.co.uk

There will be some spectacular entertainment at the Peterborough Celebrates Festival in Ferry Meadows this May as the free family weekend

Where Tourism All Started

Being the birthplace of Thomas Cook, the Term Times team appropriately took a trip to Leicester on a heritage excursion to see some of the sites.

The Heritage Trail

The Heritage Trail is a free download. It depicts the stories, events and people who have shaped this city. The trail links well with informative street panels found throughout the city centre. From Roman and Medieval histories to famous families like the influential Wigston family; all are covered plus don’t miss the elegant Georgian streets and promenade. If you need to pick up some fresh produce pop by Leicester’s Market where you can tempt the tastebuds whilst also learning about Alice Hawkins, a prominent suffragette who campaigned locally.

King Richard III Visitor Centre

You don’t have to be a heritage expert to find this Centre both educational and entertaining. Explore the detective story of how the remains of King Richard III were found in a shallow grave under a city car park in 2012. The Centre has transformed a Victorian Grammar school into a family destination where the story of Richard is told through his life, family, battles and enemies. Through evocative use of film, on-screen reenactment and storyboards you are transported back in time to the end of the

Wars of the Roses. Learn about the man himself and also understand the processes employed to identify and exhume his skeleton, and explore the injuries he sustained in the final battle. Regular family activities and seasonal events are also on offer in the holidays, with a family ticket for four costing £25, allowing you to return any time for free within 12 months. www.kriii.com

The Guildhall

Part of the Leicester Museums and Galleries group this historical site dates from the late thirteenth century. Nestling in the old town where the walls of opposite buildings are within an arm’s length, the Guildhall has served many purposes over the years. From a meeting place for a historic guild to a police station, visitors can learn about life in Leicester through the ages plus some of the more interesting darker myths, stories and even smells!

Leicester Museums and Galleries

Hosting everything from Dinosaurs to Egyptian Mummies Leicester’s museums have something for everyone, this Summer. The new exhibition Play Time is on at Newarke Houses Museum running to 17 September. Play Time celebrates children’s play over

Hegarty Solicitors | Legal support for business, for you, for life.

the last 150 years. It certainly brought back memories with a variety of toys and games. The exhibition also offers several different events and sessions for children, visit leicestermuseums.org for more information.

Our experienced and accomplished team of solicitors and legal advisors can put you, your business and your family in a strong position for the future. Established in 1974, we are a local firm with offices in Peterborough, Stamford and Oakham and offer a full range of legal services for families and businesses. We are incredibly proud of the high level of service that we provide our clients. But don’t just take our word for it, our clients have rated us 5* on Trustpilot. Our lawyers are empathetic and friendly and will take the time to really listen to you and understand your needs. Whether you need help planning for the future, launching a new business, buying your next property or help with family issues, contact us today for legal support and advice you can count on. www.hegarty.co.uk | enquiries@hegarty.co.uk | 01733 346 333

Share Your Concerns

and Meet Your Neighbourhood Officers

Cambridgeshire

Constabulary

Whether it’s anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, burglary, speeding, bike theft or anything else, they want to meet local people to hear their concerns and help find solutions to any problems.

Chief Inspector Paul Rogerson, who leads on neighbourhood policing, said: ‘Neighbourhood policing is at the heart of everything we do and building trust and confidence with our communities is vital in helping us to prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.

‘We want to ensure our neighbourhood teams are accessible to, responsible for and accountable to their communities.’

In January last year (2022), the Constabulary launched a new engagement model which gives every resident in Cambridgeshire the opportunity to have their say via a quarterly survey, and meet their neighbourhood officers on a quarterly basis to discuss any concerns and help shape the policing priorities for the coming quarter.

Chief Inspector Rogerson said: ‘So far, we’ve had more than 4,700 people either attend a meeting or fill out our online survey but we’re keen to reach even more people.

‘We ask that anyone in your household fills out the survey (scan the QR code below) any time you have a concern you wish to raise. If you’ve no specific concerns in your area, we would still like to know what crime types you

South Cambs

2 May, 8 August and 7 November.

Cambridge

6 June, 5 September and 5 December.

Huntingdon

13 June, 12 September and 12 December.

East Cambs

4 July, 3 October and 9 January.

feel should be prioritised. The surveys are anonymous and reviewed regularly.

‘We would also welcome your attendance at the quarterly engagement meetings which are listed above. They take place on a Tuesday evening from 7pm and usually last about an hour.

‘The meetings give you the opportunity to meet your local neighbourhood officers virtually and hear what the teams have been working on over the past three months. The findings of the survey are also presented before we open the virtual room to residents to put any question or concern they wish forward for a response. Before we finish the meeting, we agree on priorities for the coming three months.’

Scan the QR codes to fill out the policing survey today and sign up to one of the forthcoming meetings.

are inviting parents/guardians and young people to help them shape local policing priorities.

School Pupils Asked to Run For Charity

The Anna’s Hope Fun Run at the Great Eastern Run is a great opportunity for schools and communities to come together and make a difference.

If you would like your school to get involved there are 300 free places available for children.

Local charity Anna’s Hope has been associated with the Anna’s Hope 5K Fun Run as part of the Great Eastern Run for 16 years and encourages local schools to play a big part.

Over 30 children from Castor Church of England Primary School and their families took part last year and headteacher Alice Edwards says it fosters great community spirit.

'The run encourages children to challenge themselves along with their school friends and family, have fun and make a difference. It also helps bring the school together to celebrate their achievement. Last year we were delighted to win the Anna’s Hope School's Challenge Trophy.' Aimee and Sharron have children at the school and say they enjoy it so much they take part every year.

'We have taken part in the Anna’s Hope 5K Fun Run for over 8 years and love seeing how much fun the children have running through the streets. Rain or shine, they always have big smiles on their faces as they cross the finish line and receive their medals. It’s become an annual event for our school and the wider community that people look forward to. It really does help build community spirit and gives children and families a chance to feel good and make a difference by raising money for a great charity.'

Anna’s Hope is offering up to 300 free child places in the Fun Run for children who can raise at least £30 each for the charity. In addition to the Anna’s Hope School’s Challenge Trophy, Sarah Freeman from The Little Book Snug in partnership with Usborne is offering some special prizes.

'I am excited to be involved with this event and help raise awareness and funds for Anna’s Hope and provide a top prize of Usborne books worth

To enter the Great Eastern Run visit www.greateasternrun.co.uk

£250 and three runners up prizes of books worth £50 for schools raising the most for Anna’s Hope. The Little Book Snug works with schools and nurseries locally and across the UK, organising events to promote reading for pleasure and helping to transform school libraries/ reading resources with brand new Usborne books to inspire the next generation of readers.'

The Great Eastern Run on 15 October is one of the biggest fundraising events in the region and you can choose whatever charity you like to raise money for, in both the 5K Run and the Half Marathon. If you are a teacher, mum or dad who likes running why not enter the Half Marathon which is open to anyone aged 17 and over. To help you prepare there are free training sessions available for the Half Marathon starting early July.

To find out more about the Anna’s Hope Schools Challenge and apply for free child places in the Fun Run just contact admin@annashope.co.uk

Improving Your Child’s Phonics and Reading

Our fully qualified teachers, experienced in the teaching of Phonics, embed these skills within every lesson alongside teaching other vital reading skills.

What is Phonics?

Phonics is where we teach sounds and letters of spoken English with individual letters or groups of letters. For example, the sound ‘k’ can be spelled as c, k, ck or ch. Teaching children to sound out and blend the sounds of letters together helps them to decode unfamiliar or unknown words and supports them to read independently.

Phonics Screening Test

Children across the nation who are in Year 1 will complete the Phonics Screening Check between 12–16 June 2023. The gov.uk website clearly explains "The purpose of the phonics screening check will be to confirm that all children have learned phonic decoding to an age-appropriate standard. Children who have not reached this level should receive extra support from their school to ensure they can improve their decoding skills,

and will then have the opportunity to retake the phonics screening check." Children will see a total of 40 words.

How Can Kip McGrath, Peterborough Help Your Child?

The child and their individual learning will always be the main focus and we aim to ensure their reading is progressing overall, as opposed to just learning a decoding skill. Taking a reading approach ensures that children have the skills needed to decode but also helps them to read words within sentences giving what they read some meaning, supporting comprehension and understanding too. In the centre we teach reading using overlearning and repetition, supported with reading booklets. Comprehension tasks start basic where needed and develop steadily to embed reading fluency and overall understanding. Use of phonics, word building activities and spelling activities all complement the reading booklets and progress made. Throughout sessions, these skills are brought together by the expertise of experienced teacher knowledge.

Top Tips

Decoding and blending is a taught skill, however embedding these skills comes from practice, overlearning and seeing the graphemes in familiar and unfamiliar words regularly. Here are some tips to help support you and your child:

 Read together - share books that your child can read and some trickier ones too.

 Modelling - show your child how to sound out and blend and let them copy you. You could also let them be the ‘teacher’ too!

 Practice - support your child to read real and nonsense words.

Need more help? Book a free assessment today to support your child with improving their reading at www.kipmcgrath.co.uk/peterborough-north

Here at Kip McGrath Peterborough, we like to take a holistic approach when it comes to teaching reading.

No One Gets Left on the Bench!

Norfolk is the place to be this summer for sports fans, with dozens of Olympians, Paralympians and international sporting legends converging on Holkham in August for Festival of Sport 2023.

Held over three days from 11 – 14 August, Festival of Sport is the only summer weekender in the UK dedicated to sport. It gives youngsters the chance to hone their skills in their favourite sports and try out completely new disciplines. Rugby giant and co-founder Will Greenwood says: ‘From football, netball, hockey, golf and of course rugby, to kayaking, boxing, American football, skateboarding and skipping, we’ve got something for everyone. And the chance to learn from some of the absolute greats in those sports.

‘It doesn’t matter whether you’ve played it before, or never even heard of it, we want to share the joy of sport with as many families as we can – learning something new, spending quality family time together and making new friends.’

Sports pros attending alongside Will include fellow co-founder and Tigers legend Austin Healey, cricketer Ryan Sidebottom, hockey gold medallists Helen and Kate RichardsonWalsh and Paralympic rowers Vicki and Tom Aggar.

Aimed primarily at families with children aged 5-17, each youngster takes part in 12 different sessions across the weekend, followed by evenings in front of the main stage where

live bands and open-air cinema keep the party atmosphere going into the night. There’s plenty for adults to have a go at too, from Echelon cycling classes to DanceFit, and challenges in chipping, skipping and rowing throughout the weekend – including the chance to pit yourself against sporting professionals. The Festival’s core aim is to make sport fun for everyone. As Austin Healey explains, ‘The great thing about Festival of Sport is that it’s genuinely inclusive – everyone gets to do a bit

of everything. There are no VIP areas, it's not about talent-spotting or competition, it’s purely about proper family fun, trying new things and enjoying time together outdoors.’ For the full festival vibe, there’s also a food village with a variety of street food vendors serving up an international mixture of food, a wellness area, sports massage and toddler play zone. Families staying for the full three nights can choose from a range of camping and glamping options on site, or just go for a day.

FANTASY FUN THIS SPRING

Upon entry to Fantasy Island we purchased a family set of unlimited ride wristbands. To help families there are also three height related bands – Discovery, Adventurer and Little Explorer which allow you to target rides based on height.

It was time to start the fun! Unfolding the map like Indiana Jones looking for treasure, our first quest was to head to Millennium which is one of the main rollercoasters at the park. Thrill-seeker and Dad (with tired knees) clambered into the carriage and whoosh! We were away. This ride is exciting and gives you great views over the coast, although I missed them through squinted eyes. Odyssey is the biggest ride in Fantasy Island and one that provides a big adrenaline rush… if you need it of course.

Moving inside all ages are catered for. Embarking on our next adventure, The Guardian ride

certainly provided us with an energetic fantasy story of good versus evil. It really captures the imagination and transports you to a mythical world. Then it was time to help Harrington Flint take down his enemies and complete his quest. This takes the form of a shoot ‘em up style game with great graphics. Time for a pit stop and we were truly spoilt for choice from snacks to full meals with over 40 eateries to choose from. Jamaican chicken consumed we headed to the crazy golf. Whilst this is a rite of passage at a seaside town, the 18-hole dinosaur themed course was a real highlight and great fun with holes of varying difficulty and animatronic dinosaurs throughout the course. Little explorers (and some resting parents) are well looked after with the Apple coaster, Carousel, and Sea Aquarium ride to name but

a few. This is true for the arcades that seem well organised with areas aimed at children of different ages. The Fantasy I-card comes into play here, which is a simple tap and go to play and when you’re finished scan the card to redeem and see what you’ve won.

Lastly were the water rides. Best till last?

Dragon Mountain and Wild River Rapids were great, the Log Flume ‘still a classic’ were the words spoken from the youngest. Slightly wet we decided to dry off and meander through the endless 300 market stalls. An array of gifts, presents and treats are offered by each store, it’s not to be missed.

Fantasy Island is a truly enjoyable experience with families at the heart of what they offer. So, if you want a break that appeals to all, this adventure will definitely offer something fun for the whole family.

“There’s something for everyone” is the first message that greeted us upon arrival at Ingoldmells, just north of Skegness on the bright but breezy Lincolnshire coast.

Win a session for your class at Big Sky!

Here’s a fantastic chance to win an exclusive private hire session for your class at Big Sky Soft Play and Party Centre to celebrate the end of term.

Invite your entire class, with parents, to this free 2 hour exclusive event on Friday 14 July 2023 from 5–7pm. You can even invite your Teacher and TA. Big Sky is located in Orton Longueville, Peterborough and has a huge soft play frame, laser tag arena, football pitch, go kart track, role play village and much more. The whole venue will be exclusively for your class to enjoy - what a way to celebrate a great school year!

By entering you agree that you will be available for this time if you win. Term Times will choose a winner at random and contact your school with full details. All parents are responsible for transport to and from Big Sky. Adult supervision must be provided by parents or a family member for children throughout the whole event as outlined in Big Sky's rules of play available on their website. The offer is subject to availability. Maximum number of children is 50. For the event to be exclusive a minimum of 20 children must attend otherwise the centre will be shared with other customers during the session.

To enter simply follow the instructions on page three with details of your school and class. Closing date is 31 May 2023. Good luck!

THREE BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY!

Publisher: Frances Lincoln

Children’s Books

Author: Alex Hithersay

Illustrator: Sarah Benning

RRP: £9.99

Age: 6–10yrs

With Father’s Day on the way this Term Times prize would make the perfect present. This special hardback journal is a wonderful keepsake that children can fill in and create for their dad. It features embroidered illustrations and is an activity book, journal and scrapbook all in one.

It’s full of ways for kids to express what they love most about their dad through activities like designing a ‘World’s Best Dad’ mug and listing dad’s best attributes. There are pages where photos can be added and there are fun facts about the animal kingdom’s best dads too. We have three copies to give away so enter now and don’t forget Father’s Day on Sunday 18 June.

For entry details head to page three. Closing date for entries is 27 May 2023.