The Family Grapevine for West Notts

Education with a Difference

webmaster — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:55:07 +0000

Education With a Difference celebrated at Dagfa

In their recent Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report, Dagfa School Nottingham was praised for having excellent pastoral care, as demonstrated by the strong relationships pupils have with staff and clear from the support the staff offer each pupil, because they know them so well.

The report recognises that the school effectively meets all its aims and sees their relationships with pupils and parents as extremely important, reinforcing the close partnership that is developed between home and school, ensuring all pupils achieve to the very best of their individual abilities.

The report goes on to say that pupils at Dagfa School, Nottingham demonstrate strong speaking and listening skills and their reading and writing develops well, especially in EYFS, where outcomes are excellent and children make rapid progress in relation to their starting points and abilities.

The quality of teaching is good and often excellent, particularly in the Junior School and EYFS, that pupils’ enthusiastic participation in both curricular and extra-curricular pursuits ensures that they develop a breadth of skills and good levels of achievement in a broad range of subjects and activities.

The school is situated in Beeston and is a non-selective co-educational school for pupils aged 3 – 16. Head, Mrs Jane Le Poidevin, was delighted with the Report as it clearly demonstrates significant progress in the 4 years, since the last inspection. Mrs Le Poidevin commented “I am thrilled that the report reflects the nature of the school so well. Not only do we develop a love of learning in all our pupils but that is dovetailed with excellent personal development and excellent pastoral care. Due to our smaller size the staff know the pupils really well and provide excellent support and guidance, as well as celebrating individual success when it comes. This report clearly demonstrates that Dagfa is a thriving independent school and it will be used to develop and further establish Dagfa as one of the leading non-selective schools in the East Midlands.”

Chair of Governors, Mrs Linda Trapnell, said “the report is a testament to the quality of education we provide at Dagfa School”.

The school has been given three action points to work on and these include developing teachers’ knowledge of specific learning conditions; monitoring the effectiveness of the new initiatives and developing the amount of dedicated outdoor space for EYFS. An action plan detailing how the school plans to address these recommendations has already been written and submitted to the Inspectorate.

As the school celebrates their success, they will have between 4 and 6 years to work on the action points before their next inspection. ISI enjoys the full support of DfE and Ofsted and rigorous regular inspection not only gives parents confidence but helps schools themselves to improve even more.

An Introduction to Boarding Schools

webmaster — Sun, 06 May 2012 07:50:50 +0000

Walk into many boarding school houses today and you should expect the unexpected.

Whereas before you may have expected to exclusively bump into the offspring of the privileged or those whose parents lived overseas now you would find many children who actually live an hour or less from their school. Families who have opted to board to guarantee a better education / life balance in line with parental career pressures.

Busy professionals are realising the benefits of their children boarding at schools which offer excellent facilities, care, education and social environments that can give them complete peace of mind. Many parents are up at dawn and back late with limited time in the week to spend with their children. Weekends become precious family time.

The increasing costs of childcare is also a factor, especially for younger pupils, as boarding can present a cheaper, more holistic alternative to after-school care.

As well as traditional full-time boarding, many schools now offer a range of boarding options to suit modern families, including Monday-Friday and flexi (once or twice a week or when required), enabling family and school life to sit harmoniously side-by-side.

The Singleton family from Derbyshire are one such family. With mum Rebecca Marketing Director for Morrisons and dad Richard Commercial Director for SGP Property and Facilities Management, both parents spend long periods away from home in the week. Accordingly sons, Sixth Former Tom, and Will, who is in Year 9, now board at Trent College in Nottingham, the school where they were previously day pupils.

Rebecca believes both boys have flourished as part of a boarding community.

She said: “When the boys suggested they wanted to board we were unsure if they would like it. On reflection it has been the best thing for them. They recognised the benefits, ranging from less travel time to and from school to more structured study time, as well as making the most of extra-curricular activities. Both boys have totally immersed themselves into the boarding community and developed their confidence and independence. They are articulate, sociable young men, who are great ambassadors for the school.”

AN INTRODUCTION TO BOARDING EVENT

16th JUNE 9.00am – 1.00pm

Supported by the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) and UK Boarding Schools.com this national event, for families at all stages of planning their child’s education, aims to sort the boarding facts from fiction, equipping families with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about boarding education.

Despite fears the recession would cause boarding numbers to drop nationwide, the exact opposite has occurred with the Independent Schools Council’s (ISC) annual census showing that in 2010-11 there was a 1.7 percent rise in the number of boarders. Boarding numbers for seven-to 13-year-olds increased by over five percent in that period.

The event will address a variety of topics, such as what are the benefits of boarding, how to decide if boarding is right for your family and child and how to choose a boarding school. The speakers will draw on their and their children’s, experiences of boarding from around the UK boarding schools.

As well as Ben Fogle, who attended Bryanston School in Dorset, confirmed guests include Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, Brigadier J E Richardson, who will speak about his experience as part of a military family, Morrisons’ Marketing Director, Rebecca Singleton, representing busy, professional parents and First Eleven magazine editor, Annabel Heseltine, a mother of four and herself a boarder at three schools from the age of 11.

The increase in boarders has been credited to the fact that as well as traditional full-time boarding, many schools are now offering a range of boarding options, including Monday-Friday and flexi-boarding, enabling family and school life to sit comfortably side-by-side. Cost is also increasingly seen as a factor, especially for younger pupils, as part-time boarding can present a cheaper, more holistic alternative to after-school professional childcare.

Hilary Moriaty, National Director of event partners the BSA, explains: “Many of today’s boarding schools are a vibrant mix of local youngsters whose parents work unsociable hours, international students, military families and those families who simply see boarding as an extension of a child’s whole academic and personal education and development.

“A good school, that appreciates its responsibilities in fostering a caring, stable home-away-from-home environment, can help children thrive, with all the benefits of academic continuity, excellent facilities, extensive extracurricular opportunities and social advantages, that boarding brings. We hope this first Introduction to Boarding event at Trent College will open a few eyes, and put to bed a few myths, about life at Britain’s boarding schools.”

Wheee! Children’s Festival at Lakeside

webmaster — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:18:11 +0000

Wheee! is Lakeside’s International Children’s Theatre and Dance Festival. Founded in 2005, it is one of Lakeside’s most eagerly anticipated events. This year, Lakeside is ten, and our friends at Architects of Air celebrate a twentieth anniversary, and so we’re especially proud to be presenting a world premiere of a brand new Luminarium, EXXOPOLIS.

During the Wheee! festival from 2 to 10 June, the line up will include six companies including four award winners:

Spanish dance and theatre company Aracaladanza will appear at Lakeside on 2 June performing Nubes (Clouds) - a brilliantly funny and entertaining performance suitable for children aged four and above. Canadian company Bunk Puppets will perform Swamp Juice from 3 June – a mix of fiendishly clever shadow puppetry with a 3D finale, the show is suitable for age 6 and above.

Scottish theatre company Catherine Wheels will be coming to Lakeside Arts Centre on 6 June with its show White, suitable for age two to four year olds, closely followedby Crying Out Loud presents Kindur by TPO Company on 10 June – an interactive show following the Kindur (Icelandic for sheep) on their adventures using gorgeous digital imagery. The show is suitable for aged five to eight and families, these shows are perfect for a first time theatre experience.

Gobbledegook bring us Planet of the Beetlebuns, a magical interactive experience for very little ones – those aged 18 months to 4 years. This 35 minute show features a magical interactive carpet. Motion capture cameras enable images to be triggered by the children in real time – great fun!

The Incredible Book Eating Boy is based on the award-winning book of the same title by popular children’s author Oliver Jeffers. The enchanting and adorable 5 minute ( yes, 5 minute!) show is about Henry who realises that the more books he eats, the smarter he becomes! This is perhaps, the smallest and maybe the shortest theatre experience with puppetry, music and projection – with room for one adult and a small child this gorgeous experience is for those aged 4 upwards and their chosen adult!.Brought to us by Bootworks Theatre.

Shona Powell, Director at Lakeside said:

“We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming six incredible companies to Lakeside as well as our internationally touring, home-grown Architects of Air. “The shows coming to Lakeside Arts Centre are suitable for a range of ages. The performances are lively, vibrant and will amaze all from two to ninety-two. Great theatre for children is undoubtedly fabulous theatre for adults, and we’ve got a clutch of absolute gems lined up”

THE HUGE success of Wheee!, has helped to inspire the creation of Jump In – a dedicated children’s theatre and dance event for the whole of the East Midlands. All the companies appearing at Wheee! will also appear at venues across the region including Corby, Northampton, Buxton and Lincoln.

Shona Powell, co-founder of Jump In and director at Lakeside Arts Centre, said: “Since 2005, dance venue Déda in Derby, the Spark Children’s Arts Festival in Leicester and Lakeside Arts Centre in Nottingham have worked together to bring high quality international children’s theatre and dance to the region.

“But this year, for the first time, thanks to funding support from Legacy Trust UK through Igniting Ambition, and Arts Council England through Grants for the Arts, nine organisations across the East Midlands have collaborated to form Jump In, an East Midlands-wide festival for children and families which is part of the Cultural Olympiad.”

The Jump In festival has been funded by Arts Council England and Legacy Trust UK, creating a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding ideas and local talent to inspire creativity across the UK.

Tickets for Lakeside Arts Centre are available from www.lakesidearts.org.uk or call the box office on 0115 8467777.

Craft Fair Eastwood

webmaster — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:32:21 +0000

Craft Fair on Sunday 6th May

10.30am – 4.00pm

Eastwood Girls Centre, Wood Street, Eastwood

It is free entry but there’s a refreshment stall to
help raise funds for the running of the centre. There will be jams, cakes,
papercraft, woolcraft, soaps, candles, gifts, soft furnishings, books,
jewellery, brooches and much more. We are also giving kids the opportunity to
have a go at doing a craft themselves.

A Night at the Museum

webmaster — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:45:24 +0000

Mansfield Museum is always keen to try new approaches and that’s certainly what they’ll be doing with their first venture of 2012.

‘The Nightshift Tour’ will take you on an after-hours trip around galleries and store-rooms, with Education Officer Geoff Liptrot as your knowledgeable guide. Things are not quite as straightforward as they seem, however, as Geoff enlists the reluctant assistance of Rodney And Mick, two awkward gallery assistants with their own, quirky ideas of what the punters want.

Join Geoff on this comic, spoof tour as he attempts to he attempts to show you around, but be prepared for interruptions, disruptions and general tomfoolery from his two hopeless helpers.

The evening promises to be fun for the whole family, with light refreshments available and a chance for a closer look at the spring exhibition ‘Animal Attraction’.

Fun for the whole family

Light refreshments will be available

Monday 13 February 7.30pm

Tickets £6 (booking is essential)

For more information please contact Jodie Henshaw

(01623) 463088

Volunteers needed for new ChildLine Schools Service

webmaster — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:47:39 +0000

Volunteers are needed to help run a new service for primary age children in Nottingham.

The ChildLine Schools Service aims to help younger children recognise and protect
themselves from all forms of abuse, including bullying. Volunteers will be fully
trained and supported to deliver school assemblies and interactive workshops
that aim to help children to understand what abuse is, how to protect themselves
and how to seek help if they need it.

Emma Grishin, ChildLine Schools Service area coordinator for Nottingham, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to get involved with
ChildLine’s newest initiative to directly help children in primary schools across Nottingham.

We know that the majority of children who contact ChildLine for advice and support are over the
age of 11, but that the majority of children on a child protection plan are
younger than this. We want to reach out to children at an earlier age to make
sure if they need to seek help, they know where to go.”

Local Nottingham resident Myrto Stagkou, 25, has already signed up to become a ChildLine Schools Service
volunteer. Myrto, who is part way through the training, said: “The training is really great.

It is very comprehensive and you are given all the materials and information you need to be able to communicate with children in a clear,
child-friendly way. “I wanted to become a ChildLine Schools Service volunteer because I
want to help children feel confident enough to speak to an adult and to get help if they need it.

I already have experience of working with children as a schools counsellor but I wanted to do more. I would encourage anyone who has a passion
for helping children to get involved. I am really looking forward to delivering my first assembly.”

Successful applicants will undertake a series of online and face-to-face training sessions to ensure they are fully prepared, and will be
provided with all the relevant materials.

Volunteers must be 16 or over and be able to commit to ChildLine for one year. Volunteers will work in pairs and will be given regular support,
guidance and training by ChildLine to ensure they are able to deliver the assemblies and workshops effectively.

All materials will be provided.

Emma said: “There is no set ‘type’ of volunteer and no previous experience of working with children is required. We need a range of
people who are committed to helping to protect and safeguard children and who are able to go into ten schools a year to deliver the assemblies and
workshops.”

The ChildLine Schools Service was first piloted in 2010 and aims to visit every primary school in the UK at least once every two years by
2016.

To find out more about how to become a ChildLine Schools Service volunteer please
telephone Emma Grishin on 0115 9258602 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk/schoolsservice.

Midlands Women’s Aid needs your help!

webmaster — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:13:04 +0000

In May 1974 Sue, our Project Manager, watched a documentary on television called “Scream Quietly or the Neighbours Will Hear”. To say this was an eye opener for her is an understatement, she had not been aware that this abhorrent treatment of women and children existed. Her cosy life as a secretary soon changed. That same year Midlands Women’s Aid became a reality and opened its refuge in August 1976

We work with women and children who are experiencing or trying to escape domestic violence and who are dealing with its effects and consequences. We employ workers, who are all women to provide advice, support and information services for you. We also use women volunteers who give their time to help us provide our services to women and children living with and escaping domestic violence.

For more information please visit www.midlandswomensaid.org.uk

Please help us continue by supporting our Christmas Fund Raising Appeal at Tesco’s Extra at Beeston or by joining us at our Winter Fest in Stapleford. Thank you.

MIDLANDS WOMEN’S AID

Delivering services to women and children experiencing domestic abuse since 1974.

Announce the Launch of our

Christmas Fund Raising Appeal

at Tesco’s Extra, Beeston.

Buying a toy, food, toiletries?

Why not buy just one extra item to donate to women and children fleeing domestic abuse

and/or

Join us for a mince pie, refreshments, tombola and new and used bargains galore at our

Winter Fest

14^th December 2011 - 10am to 3pm

‘the bank’

112 Derby Road Stapleford,

Nottingham. NG9 7AD

Telephone 0115 9257647 for more details

Kimberley Parent & Toddler Group needs YOU!

webmaster — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:32:57 +0000

KIMBERLEY PARENT & TODDLER GROUP

For Children and their Carers from 0 – 5 years

We need new Parents/Carers to come and help keep this long running toddler group open. Whether you just want to come along every week with your children or whether you want to get more involved and join our committee of volunteers who help keep us running – WE NEED YOU!

Our Group offers a warm and friendly atmosphere. It is a great place to chat and make new friends, while your children play in a safe and fun environment.We have an enclosed area for babies and an enclosed outside play area which is opened up when the weather permits, with plenty of space for the toddlers to run around and play with the many toys we have available.

Dads, Mums, Grandparents, Childminders - Everyone welcome!

We meet every Thursday (School Term-time Only) 9.30am to 11.30am at Kimberley Parish Hall, Newdigate Street, Kimberley. A fee of £1.20 is charged for 1 adult and 1 child which includes hot drink for adults and juice and biscuit for children.

Come along make new friends no need to book.

If you require further info then please contact Laura on 07985 167088.

Open Days – The Elms & Trent College

webmaster — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:35:21 +0000

For more information visit the following websites;

www.trentcollege.net

www.elmsschool.net

Puddle Ducks comes to Mansfield!

webmaster — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:25:35 +0000

FREE taster sessions for new Puddle Ducks baby and toddler swimming classes in Mansfield at The Oasis health club!

Baby swimmers love swimming for life! Puddle Ducks was hatched in 2001 and is a fun and friendly swimming programme offering unique baby swimming and toddler swimming classes. Classes are packed full of activities to develop water confidence and swimming skills with lots of music and rhyme. Its flexible design means you can join at any age from 0-4 years!!

It has not taken long for the Puddle Ducks word to spread locally and classes are now finally being offered in Mansfield at the Oasis Health club every Monday morning and FREE taster sessions are now available .To join in the fun call Liz on 07906 191 504 or e mail nottinghamshire@puddleducks.com or visit www.puddleducks.com for more details

Beeston Musical Theatre Group

webmaster — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:02:07 +0000

Beeston Musical Theatre Group

Registered Charity No 513607

‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’

Beeston Musical Theatre Group invites you to an evening of thrills and chills this Halloween with its next series of concerts, ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’. Performances are at 7.30pm from Thursday 28^th to Saturday 30^th October inclusive, plus a matinee performance at 2pm on the Saturday, at Roundhill School, Foster Avenue, Beeston.

The concerts are themed around the darker side of musicals, and include hit numbers from favourite musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Wicked, The Witches of Eastwick and Jekyll & Hyde, to name just a few. Morven McLeod, Musical Director, commented: ‘From inspiring solos to rousing choral numbers and an

exciting dance number to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, there’s something for all the family’.

Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.bmtg.org.uk/tickets or by phoning 0115 928 0980 and are priced at just £6.00 each (£5.00 concessions).

Dig In’s Pumpkin Festival

webmaster — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:37:00 +0000

Pumpkin Festival

Games, craft activities, readings, face painting, pumpkin spa treatments, food tasting. Competitions for the biggest, heaviest, and best carved pumpkins. Largest sunflower head competition.

Saturday, 30^th October 2010

11.00am to 3.00pm

At the Dig In community allotment, Albany Allotments, Pasture Road, Stapleford. Gate behind the bus stop nearest to the Man of Iron pub. Trent Barton buses 15 and 21 stop right outside.

Individuals, families and accompanied children welcome.

Please note this is an outdoor event. The site has no toilets.

Free event

Call Kathy 883 5543 for information.

New Swimming Lessons at Meden Sports Centre

webmaster — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:36:36 +0000

Meden has more to make a splash

A host of new swimming sessions are being put on at Meden Sports Centre which it is hoped will make a real splash with local swimmers.

Mansfield District Council, which manages the centre, is working in partnership with Warsop’s Save our Swimming (SOS) group to try and encourage more use of the pool and secure its future.

Additional swimming activities now being introduced at the centre include:

New public swimming, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (12noon-12.45pm)

Family fun sessions, Wednesdays (6 to 6.45pm) and Sundays (11am-12noon)

Parent and toddler sessions, Thursdays (9.15-10am)
Club Link Sessions (for advanced swimmers), Tuesdays and Thursdays (4-5pm)
Spin & Swim, Tuesdays (spinning 9.15-9.45am, swimming 9.45-10.15am)

Additional dry side activities include Junior Gym (ages 14+) on Wednesdays (from 3.15pm).

The extra sessions have been introduced following surveys in the Warsop area, which asked local people why they weren’t using the facilities.

Full details about swimming times and other facilities at Meden are available at www.mansfield.gov.uk/msc

The future of the pool has been in doubt since March this year when the Council originally decided to close the pool as it looked for savings across all services to meet a shortfall of £1.4million in its budget.

Closing the pool at Meden would have saved the Council an estimated £70,000 per year.

However, Councillor Eddie Smith, Portfolio Holder for the Environment intervened in July by guaranteeing its future until 31 March 2011 to give the Working Group more time to develop their ideas to increase usage of the pool.

Commenting on the new additions to the swimming centre’s programme, Councillor Smith said, “I applaud the efforts of SOS and the working group in bringing forward these new ideas.

“The group has put a lot of time and effort into asking local people what would make them use the facilities at the pool. Their work has made many of those suggestions a reality – now it’s over to local people to show us they really want a swimming facility in Warsop by starting to use it.”

Hope for Hucknall!!

webmaster — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:45:10 +0000

An innovative ‘Charitique’ opened in Hucknall on 9^th July thanks to the work of former Hucknall resident Louise Ashley, with the help of Hucknall resident Carole Davenport, both members of Crossroads Church.

The ‘Hope Charitique’ is a new initiative from Louise Ashley and an exciting venture for the church. It has been developed through the dedication of Pastor Sabra Pickering and Assistant Pastor Amanda Linney, who have also introduced other innovative ideas to the church, such as the ‘Outreach Sundays’.

Louise and Carole have been collecting pre-loved and fabulous items over the last three months in the hope of finding a suitable shop and thanks to £3150 of funding from Ashfield District Council, the dream has now become a reality.

The ‘Charitique’, a cross between a charity shop and boutique, was officially opened by Ashfield District Council Chairman Councillor Parker. It sells clothing, handbags, shabby chic furniture and housewares, plus jewellery and craft items made by the Crossroads Church Art Group.

The Church’s first ‘Outreach Sunday’ in the form of a Fashion Show gave Hucknall ladies a taste of what’s to come from the Charitique.

This took place last Sunday evening at The Interchange, Hucknall entitled ‘POSH FROCKS & POETY’. Louise Ashley who is a locally known performance poet kicked off the event with a selection of girly

poetry and then church members paraded down the catwalk exhibiting a gorgeous selection of evening wear.

The event was a sell out with over 80 present and due to its success, the church intends to make this a regular twice yearly occurrence. There will also be a pre Christmas fashion show in October entitled ‘Posh Frocks and Poetry’ and a pre prom night fashion show in March entitled ‘Prom Frocks and Poetry’.

Pastor Sabra commented “The Crossroads Church is deeply committed to being a caring family where all can find friendship, encouragement and a real, vibrant relationship with Jesus. Our Hope Charitique evolved from a desire to serve and help the community. We aim to aid those in need through fresh initiatives bringing renewed hope.”

Opening times are;

Mondays 10am – 1pm

Thursdays and Fridays 10am – 4pm

Saturdays 10am – 1pm

For further information on Crossroads Church or the Hope Charitique check out the website www.crossroads-church.co.uk below or telephone 0115 9524037

NEW!! Buy Back Time

webmaster — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:56:31 +0000

For when there are not enough hours in the day…..

We are pleased to announce that Buy Back Time launched into the market place in April 2010

Who are we and what do we do?

Buy Back Time offers our clients the opportunity to gain back the valuable free time required to do the things you enjoy.

We all lead increasing busy life’s now and trying to juggle work, family commitments, household chores, errand running etc leaves little or no time to do the things in life we actually enjoy doing.

Buy Back Time is here to help make your life as stress free as possible.

Whether you require a regular cleaning service or a one off errand that needs running, arranging a plumber or shopping for yourself or elderly relatives our services can be adapted to your specific requirements.

We offer a professional, reliable service, all tailored to suit each clients individual needs.

We offer exceptional Customer Service, with the added personal touch lacking from so many businesses today. Don’t just take our word for it – this is what one of our customers had to day:

“A great idea! How brill to come back and find my oven & kitchen cupboards gleaming. A first class job! Thank you. I will recommend you to all my time poor friends”.

There are no registration or membership fees to pay with Buy Back Time and you have the peace of mind that there will be NO hard selling – just simply use us as and when it suits you, plus we have full public and employee liability insurance. We aim to make contacting Buy Back Time both pleasurable and painless.

Why not have a look at some of the services we offer – you will be surprised at the number of things we can help you with – simply visit our website

www.buybacktime.co.uk

Or call the office for a friendly, no obligation chat to see how we can help.

01623 623004 or 07702 288278

So let us help you restore your work/life balance and get your free time back to you.