families suffolk march - april 2016 issue 28

www.familiessuffolk.co.uk 01473 788546/FamiliesSuffolk@familiessuffolkFIND OUT MORE www.familiessuffolk.co.uk /FamiliesSuffolk @familiessuffolk

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SUFFOLK

The local magazine containing useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds

ISSUE 28 March / April 2016

Suffolk Baby & Toddler ShowTop tips for fundraising at your school

Spring Family Fun

ISSUE 28 March / April 2016

Welcome

Next issue: May / June 2016

circulatioN: 17,000 copies of Families Suffolk are available through nurseries, schools,

libraries, selected retail outlets and various other distribution points throughout Suffolk. If

you would like copies for your organisation please

ContACt US.

editorial coNteNt: [email protected] 07951 946736

sales aNd marketiNg: [email protected] 01473 788546

eveNts aNd Whats oN: [email protected]

DESIgN & EDITINg: Designed In house supported by Squircle Creative: 07765 241749

[email protected]

cover image: Supplied by English Heritage, Framlingham Castle

Families Suffolk is part of the Families Group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take every care preparing the magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any correspondences.

Printed in the uk by the Magazine Printing Company using only paper from FSC /

PEFC suppliers www.agprint.co.uk

March - April 20162

Welcome

Contents3 local News4 our community5 Family Finance6 Public health7 Family Food 8 - 11 suffolk Baby & toddler show 12 - 13 creative learning

14 reading Feature15 school Feature16 Family health17 Family Fun18 Parents Place19 competition & review20 Pigs gone Wild 22 - 23 Whats on

Welcome to the first spring edition of the yeari personally love this time of year, and not just because the days are getting much longer, and the sun seems to be making more of a welcome appearance. its the fantastic new life that is in abundance everywhere you look. it therefore seems very appropriate that ipswich will be hosting the second suffolk Baby & toddler show this march. this event is a real showcase of everything our county has to offer new and expectant parents, as well as plenty of advice and information for those more experienced mums and dads looking for a day out. We have included a fantastic guide to this years show on pages 8 11,

also in this issue, we are pleased to be working in association with the New Wolsey theatre again, and on pages 12 - 13 you will find their creative learning guide, providing information about the series of workshops, projects and touring productions they provide for local schools.

With the change in season, we can also start to plan a few more days out with the family, and we are spoilt for choice this easter with activities and events happening in suffolk. as always keep an eye on our website for updates on events in your area: www.familiessuffolk.co.ukWe have also included a few ideas for you on p22 to start getting some dates in the diary. the easter Quest at Framlingham castle sounds great, and we would also like to thank the english heritage for our cover image.

With Best Wishes

Stacey Phillips

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ENGlish hEriTaGE, BraNd & dEsiGN TEaM, ThE ENGiNE hOUsE, FirEFlY avENUE, swiNdON sN2 2Eh TElEPhONE 01793 414451

EasTEr advENTUrE QUEsT

its time to get clue-cracking and seek out your chocolate reward.

Fri 25 Mon 28 March 11am 4pm

3www.familiessuffolk.co.uk 01473 788546/FamiliesSuffolk@familiessuffolk

Record Smashed for Midnight Walk Early Bird Sign Up

local NeWsSponsored by

Sponsored by Kidzone Crech

Jump Streets marathon commitment to EACH

charlotte lewis, a member of staff at Jump street, colchesters popular trampoline park, has secured a coveted spot at this years london marathon in april, raising money for east anglian childrens hospice (each). charlotte is pictured above with the new each Fundraising manager for essex, sinead Formby.

charlotte has not run a marathon before but was inspired to take part following the companys visit to the each treehouse hospice in ipswich last year. she commented: its a big challenge - a whole marathon is a daunting prospect. im so proud to be running for each. i want to raise as much as possible to help them support those families that are being pushed to their limits.she added: my training is going well and im managing to incorporate the trampolines into my training programme too which is amazing as it really saves my knees.

tony hudson, gm at Jump street, said: charlotte is completely dedicated to her training and were extremely keen to support her. Watching her making use of the trampolines in the park for such a significant sporting event is fantastic. it adds a whole new dimension to the way Jump street can be used for fitness training.

How you can support Charlotte People can help charlotte to fundraise for each via her Just giving page www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Lewis-Jumpstreet/

the Big Pedal, is back for another year. the competition is the uks largest inter-school cycling and scooting competition. last year children, parents and teachers who took part in the Big Pedal travelled over 3 million miles on their bikes and scooters, equivalent to 15 trips to the moon.

to help even more children take part in 2016 this year a whole host of tips have been created by Felix hilton, the charitys expert on cycling with younger people. the pointers have been created to help parents and teachers to plan their journeys to school on bikes and scooters during the Big Pedal and beyond.

Top tips to get your child walking or cycling to school: Plan your route together in advance, finding quieter roads and cycle paths wherever possible; Practice the journey at the weekend when the roads are likely to be quieter; make sure your childs bike fits and that all your bikes are roadworthy; if youre on the road with children, take up a position behind them as youre likely to be more visible to anyone approaching. if there are two adults in your group, its a good idea to have one at the back and one in front of the children; look into local cycle training schemes, it can be a great way to help children develop skills and increase their confidence on the roads.

to find out more about how schools can take part in the Big Pedal visit: www.sustrans.org.uk/bigpedal.

The 2016 Big PedalMon 18th - Fri 29th April

an outstanding 1,442 men and women have already signed up for st elizabeth hospices midnight Walk, following their early bird success.

the midnight Walk, which will take place on saturday 7 may, is celebrating its 10th birthday and

organisers are hoping this will be the biggest and best event yet. People can choose to walk a five or ten mile route, and can take part on their own or in groups. anybody aged ten upwards can be a star and join in the spectacular neon-themed edition of midnight Walk which starts and finishes at ipswich town Football club. to sign up and join the party, visit: www.midnightwalkipswich.co.uk

March - April 20164

our commuNity

Jump street, colchesters popular trampoline park, has ended the trial period of its special needs sessions and has made them a regular feature every Wednesday 2-3pm and 4-5pm outside of school holidays.

Jump street hosted a month of trial sessions for people with special needs and disabilities in January to gauge whether there was sufficient demand for this type of session to become a regular feature and it was a huge success. the sessions were well attended by adults and children.

Jump streets coaches Zoe anne cross and ria holmes, both British gymnastics and gymnastics and movement for People with disabilities (gmPd) qualified, received high praise from the attendees and their carers.

tony hudson, gm at Jump street, said: Were keen to provide the types of activities people in and around colchester want from us and were very grateful to all our customers for their support. We welcome feedback on ways we can expand and improve the activities we offer so we are a truly inclusive venue. there are plenty more ideas in the pipeline, so watch this space

Jessica leonard, leisure & Wellbeing manager for Braintree mencap, said: this is a really different experience. our group has not had this sort of opportunity before and they loved every minute, trying new things and socialising with other people with learning difficulties is a real tonic to all our clients.

the sessions are 8 per person - which includes free admittance for one carer per person. there is also a charge of 1.75 for regulation non-slip socks which can be kept and re-used. each session takes just 40 people to allow plenty of space and keep noise levels low. there is wheelchair access, disabled toilet access and the park will benefit from lower volume, calming music and sensory equipment.

to find out more visit: www.jumpstreet.co.uk.

Jump Street rolls out regular special needs sessions after successful trial


Sponsored by Ipswich Building Society Family FiNaNce

Because your matter mattersMargaryMiller Solicitors+01394 273333www.margary-miller.co.uk

for the ones you love

Dont leave atangled mess...

this applies across all savings and current accounts, regardless of whether they are with the same provider. the Personal savings allowance is completely separate to other tax allowances and all savings income received prior to 6 april 2016 will be unaffected.

WHAT ARE THE ALLOWAnCES?it depends on what type of taxpayer you are: For those with a total taxable income (including wages, profits, pensions and savings) of under 17,000 no tax will be payable on savings income For basic rate (20%) taxpayers the allowance is 1,000 For higher rate (40%) taxpayers the limit is 500 For additional rate taxpayers (45%) the Personal savings allowance does not apply

HOW WiLL THiS WORK? currently, banks and building societies take basic rate tax at source from customers savings interest. From 6 april 2016 this will no longer happen

The new Personal Savings Allowance and what it means for youBy Tracey Emsden, Savings Manager, Ipswich Building Society

From 6 April 2016 the way your savings interest is taxed is changing youll instead have a Personal Savings Allowance. This means youll be able to earn a set amount of interest on all your savings accounts without paying tax.

and interest will be paid gross (without tax taken off). savings providers will provide information to hm revenue & customs, and those with savings income below their new Personal savings allowance will have no tax to pay whereas those who exceed their allowance will, where possible, have the tax collected automatically by hmrc through a change to their tax code.

it is important to note anyone who currently completes a self-assessment tax return should continue to do so.

WHAT WiLL HAPPEn TO TAx FREE iSAS?With the changes to the Personal savings allowance a lot of people will be wondering if it is still worth holding or continuing to pay into their individual savings account (isa).

Find OUT MOREto read more about the new Personal saving allowance visit Families suffolk website: www.familiesuffolk.co.uk

6 March - April 2016

PuBlic health

in the uk, almost one in three children live with at least one parent who drinks to excess. evidence also suggests that 6% of children in the uk live with at least one parent who is a dependent drinker [1].

Alcohol use is well-established in our culture and often plays a part in social events, from parties to weddings. However, too much of it can leave you with a raging headache, a poor nights sleep and feeling a little queasy. The physical effects of too much alcohol are all too obvious; however the non-physical effects of alcohol are not so apparent.

the impact of parental alcohol misuse on children is not often spoken about, however evidence suggests that children model their behaviour on that of their parents, and that a home that is affected by alcohol-related problems is

likely to have a negative impact on a childs development. Parental alcohol misuse can also affect a childs longer term attitude towards alcohol.

as part of suffolks action to raise awareness of parental alcohol misuse, suffolk county councils public health team has produced a series of short films that highlight the negative effects caused by excessive alcohol consumption. the films call on parents to question their relationship with alcohol, and focuses on drinking in moderation as opposed to cutting out alcohol completely. the title of the film series is Dont Bring the Pub Home. the films are centred on one family a mother, a father and an infant son and they follow this family through the years until the son becomes a teenager. the films

are shown from the perspective of the son, and highlight how alcohol misuse displayed by his parents negatively affects his experiences, and ultimately his attitude towards alcohol. the dont Bring the Pub home series also highlights the parents missed opportunities in the development of their child, and how their relationship with him deteriorates after a number of alcohol-related incidents. the dont Bring the Pub home film series can be viewed at www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/healthy-children/hidden-harm.

if you are concerned with your drinking, or would like any more information on the effect of alcohol misuse on a child, please contact turning Point on 0300 123 0872 or email: [email protected].

[1]. institute of alcohol studies. Numbers of children of substance abusing parents. ias, 2009. http://www.ias.org.uk/What-we-do/Publication-archive/alcohol-alert/issue-3-2009/Numbers-of-children-of-substance-abusing-parents.aspx

dont Bring the Pub HomeEven Good Parents Make Bad decisions.

Almost 1 in 3 children in the UK live with at least one parent who drinks to excess.

7TO ORDER, VISIT THE SHOP: 101 HIGH STREET, HADLEIGH OR CALL: 01473 810119

CHILDREN'S COOKING PACKSGet your children cooking during the Easter holidays with a choice of 3 cooking packs available from the Jolly Meat Company. Our packs include everything

your child will need to cook a healthy family meal for 4 people. Choose from either:

SHEPHERD'S PIE PORK GOULASH ITALIAN MEATBALLSJUST 7.50 EACH OR BUY ALL 3 COOKING PACKS FOR JUST 20.00

Packs will be available to collect from the shop between 29th March - 8th April

Sponsored bySponsored by The Mermaid

www.familiessuffolk.co.uk 01473 788546/Familiessuffolk@familiessuffolk

Family Food

The Jolly Meat Co. launch Childrens Cooking Packs

Get the whole family cooking if you are looking for ways to keep the children entertained during the easter holidays you will love the new cooking packs available from the Jolly meat company. they include everything you will need to prepare a healthy family meal for 4 people. you can choose from the following packs - shepherds Pie, Pork goulash or italian meatballs. the packs are available for 7.50 each or you can buy all 3 for just 20.00. as well as all the ingredients, you will also receive easy to follow cooking instructions, to ensure the whole family can get involved.

Understanding where your food comes fromcharlie Phillips, manager at the Jolly meat co. comments the idea of our cooking packs is to help encourage parents to bring their children into the shop and help educate them on the provenance of their meat. National research carried our last year suggested that a fifth of school age children did not know that bacon comes from pigs! living in such a rural county we hope that suffolk children have a better understanding of where their meat comes from, but a regular trip to a high street butchers can be a valuable exercise to help the whole family appreciate where their food comes from.

We do also understand that going into a butchers shop can sometimes be quite daunting, and we want to help make it an enjoyable experience for customers of all ages. We appreciate that people dont always know the best cuts of meat or the quantities required for the meal they are preparing, and that is where we are here to help. We really enjoy talking this through with customer, and making sure we offer the best buying and cooking advice. there is also the misconception that a high street butchers can be more expensive than buying from a supermarket, but this is not the case. using a local butcher can actually be far more cost effective, as you are only buying what you actually need, reducing waste.

Order Your Cooking Pack Today the childrens cooking packs are available to pre order and will be ready to collect between 29th march 9th april. For more information you can contact the Jolly meat company on 01473 810119 or visit the shop: 101 High Street, Hadleigh.


BaBy & toddler

The Suffolk Baby & Toddler Show

What you can expect from the March 2016 Show by Family Suffolks Editor, Stacey Phillips When lisa and i first started talking to the show organiser michelle Jay in early 2015, we knew the suffolk Baby & toddler show was a great idea, and that we wanted to get involved. as we sat and watched hundreds of seasoned, new and expectant parents flow through the door of trinity Park conference centre, there was a real buzz in the air, and it was very clear that our instincts were right and we were definitely part of something that was going to be a great success. sure enough just 6 months later we are looking forward to returning to the second suffolk Baby show on sunday 20th march.

as the media partners for the show, lisa and i were there last september to represent our magazine, and what a great day it was meeting some of our lovely readers. We also enjoyed visiting many of the other 80+ stall holders that were there representing their own local businesses. there really was something for everyone, and it was very impressive to see the number of suffolk based businesses that offer a range of products and services to parents. there were also a number of workshops, taster sessions and demonstrations for visitors to enjoy throughout the day,

i now have my own personal reasons for wanting to return to

the suffolk Baby & toddler show, being pregnant with my second child, and am very excited to see so many of the fantastic exhibitors that were there in september returning again to the march show, along with a number of new local businesses and organisations. For anyone else that went along in september and now wondering if they should come back so soon, or for anyone considering visiting for the first time, we are certain the show will not disappoint. many of the visitors to the first show may have now had their babies, and will be more aware of the need for a particular service, or keen to find a new class to attend now they have got themselves into a routine. and for new visitors, the show is made up of over 90 businesses, running stalls and free activities covering every aspect of pregnancy to preschool, so there is sure to be something there to interest you.

Useful visitors guideif you need further convincing, we have spoken to just a handful of the exhibitors who will be there, and you can now read their own comments about what they will be doing and why you should pop along and see them. on page 11 you will also see a complete list of the march 2016 show exhibitors to help you start planning your day,

Also available in the Bazoongi range

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or call 01473 747792

Let your childsimagination

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Trampolines

Ipswich based company Jumpkinghave a fantastic range of high quali ty, fun,creative and engaging play tents that wil l inspire the imagination and provide your

children with hours of fun.

Get an amazing 25% Off RRP The complete range of Bazoongi

Play Tents and Trampolines(To receive this discount quote Families16 when you order.

Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer)

EXCLUSI V E READER OFFERCome and visit the Families Suffolk standWe are also really excited to be working in partnership with ipswich based trampoline specilaists Jumpking eu, and will have a range of their fantastic play tents available for visitors to buy and take home on the day, Whats even better is they have offered a fantastic 25% OFF their rrP for the show.


BaBy & toddler

Join All Fired Up at the Suffolk Food Hall every Thursday to create a unique, personalised

gift on a wide range of ceramics. Alternately book our mobile basket

to paint your ceramics at home!

CONTACT US TODAYT: 0770 604 0441

E: [email protected]

The Suffolk Baby & Toddler Show

2016 Show Sponsors

Exhibitor CommentsTHE BEAR GARdEn | WWW.THEBEARGARdEniPSWiCH.CO.UKi had great faith in the first suffolk Baby and toddler show as i felt there would be a whole range of activities, a host of information for families and a large retail offering all under one very large roof. ive had the pleasure of working with lots of wonderful local businesses in the past so it was a great opportunity to showcase what suffolk has to offer and work with these mums in business again and new businesses too. after the success of the first show i wanted to show my continued support and i decided to become a headline sponsors again (for the march show and for the september show). the event was a huge success and i look forward to returning again to a show that i believe will be even bigger and better than last years and i wish the organisers all the beat and thank them for bringing their award winning shows to our county.

this year we will be returning with our wonderful pop up bear building stand which was very popular with the children and we will be offering our heartbeat bear studio where mums-to-be can have their babys heartbeat recorded on the day and placed into a bear for a truly unique keepsake or gift for grandparents. look out for a 5 off voucher in your goodie bag! in addition we will be bringing a new range of cubbies that can be personalised with your babys name and/or date of birth. they are suitable from new born and after removing the stuffing pod are machine washable too. We can not wait!

SMALLPRinT iPSWiCH | WWW.SMALLPRinT.COMsmallprint ipswich is looking forward to exhibiting at the second suffolk Baby & toddler show, a great place for parents and parents-to-be to visit and discover the different products, services and support available to them locally. last years event was very professionally organised and enjoyed by many mums, dads and grandparents alike, together with their little ones. it is a great networking opportunity for exhibitors, consolidating all our skills and services under one roof. small businesses need an avenue to promote their products and there is no substitute for seeing the quality of the product before you buy as well as enjoying a personal service its always lovely to meet my customers face-to-face. smallprint offers hand-crafted personalised silver jewellery, finished to high standards and providing our customers with a unique keepsake. Well have on display some lovely ideas for gifts for baby showers and new parents, as well as ways to commemorate your toddlers first milestones.

BaBy & toddler

March - April 201610

www.bowsandarrowsgroup.co.uk

Call 01473 240304 E: [email protected]

Educational Setting

of the Year 2015

- Suffolks Raising the Bar Awards

SPECIALISTS IN LOCAL CHILDCARE FOR 05 YEAR OLDS 3 settings rated OUTSTANDING in all areas

To find your local class contact Jo:

t: 07944 070 362

e: [email protected]

A practical, educational and supportive journey through pregnancy, birth and baby

Pregnant? Daisy Birthing the ground breaking

Active Antenatal program

www.thedaisyfoundation.com

JO JinGLES | WWW.JOJinGLES.COM/iPSWiCH Jo Jingles is particularly looking forward to attending the suffolk Baby and toddler show in march, as the ipswich franchise is now under new ownership. With classes available in ipswich, hintlesham, kesgrave and stowupland, parents and their children can come and enjoy a 25 minute demo session to get an idea of the fun and imaginative programme that we offer. Jo Jingles aims to encourage learning and development in all areas of the early years Foundation stage through fun and structured classes. We also now provide regular sessions in two pre-schools in ipswich thanks to Pupil Premium Funding. if you manage a nursery or pre-school get in touch to see if this is something your setting could benefit from. check out our website for more details as well as class times and venues.

THE dAiSY FOUndATiOn | WWW.THEdAiSYFOUndATiOn.COM the ipswich, central and east suffolk Branch of the daisy Foundation are delighted to be sponsoring the suffolk Baby & toddler show for the sec-ond time. the show gives us a valuable opportunity to get out into the wider community and spread the word about our range of antenatal and baby and toddler classes so that parents from across the region are able to access our services and find the right unbiased education and support for their families. We will be running competitions and giving away goody bags to all those who come and visit our stand on the day!

TOddLE TALK | WWW.TOddLETALK.CO.UK.We are proud to be sponsors of this amazing event, so whether youre expecting or a new mum with a baby or toddler, come and say hello at the Baby senses and toddle talk stall, win a goody bag and see the variety of classes we can offer you across suffolk and beyond.

our friendly bump/baby and toddler classes are highly recommended and award winning because we provide support and fun with our qualified baby massage and baby signing instructors.Why not come and join the fun at our toddle talk Baby signing session on the day!

YOGA BUGS iPSWiCH & COLCHESTER | WWW.YOGABUGS.COMyogaBugs ipswich & colchester is delighted to be exhibiting at the suffolk Baby & toddler show this year. yogaBugs is the largest childrens yoga inspired activity in the uk and has recently arrived in your area. our unique, creative programmes are for children from walking age to 12 years & offer a fully inclusive & non-competitive form of physical activity!

yogaBugs classes bring stories to life through specially developed moves inspired by yoga! combining fun with exercise, children will love being taken on our adventures through taster sessions at the show. our programmes are even available in primary schools and nurseries as an excellent use of Pe and Pupil Premium funding. Would your child like to explore the jungle or fly to space with yogaBugs anything is possible!

Exhibitor Comments Continued....

ERin FREEMAn | WWW.ERinFREEMAnPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UKi am excited to be a sponsor again of the suffolk Baby and toddler show, we had such a fantastic time at the event last autumn. We were there taking pictures in the fall but this time around i look forward to getting the time to answer any questions you might have about my services. you can take advantage of a special show offer only available at the show. Plus, i will be running a competition to win a family photoshoot with me. Please come by and say hello, i would love to meet you. P.s. Follow me on instagram (@erinfreemanphotography) as i will be posting an additional show special on instagram only!

FUTURE LiFE | WWW.FUTURE-LiFE-WiLLS.CO.UKFuture life are looking forward to attending the show again this spring, as we had such a great response from the first ever show back in september. as a result of the last show we met some great new customers, who have since benefited from our professional Will Writing services and hope this time we can help even more suffolk Families. offering the security and piece of mind you need to protect your family and loved ones should the worst ever happen. We are also offering a very special offer on the day... a completely free Will Writing service will be exclusively available to anyone who comes and visits our stand.


BaBy & toddler

Exhibitors ALL FIRED UP ALPHA NURSERIES

BABY BALLET BABY SENSORY BABYPRINTS BAMBINO LINGO BAY AND BEE BOWS AND ARROWS NURSERY GROUP BRIDGETT GARRET CEREMONIES BRIGHT HORIZONS BRYNS HELPING HAND

CHICK-A-DEE

DAISY FOUNDATION DAISY SPIDER DOGS, BUMPS, BABIES & BEYOND DREAMS AND WISHES

ERIN FREEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

FABRIC MEMO BOARDS BY DAWN-LOUISE FAMILIES SUFFOLK MAGAZINE FIRST AID IPSWICH FOREVER LIVING (DONNA AMBROSE) FUNKY BEAR CHILDRENS WEAR FUTURE LIFE

I LIKE NAPPY CAKES IN STITCHES INNER CALM BIRTH IPSWICH & COLCHESTER SLING LIBRARY

JO JINGLES

KARMA BABIES KALLIKIDS

LAMB AND BEAR LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE EDDIE BABY CO

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B

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F

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K

L

d

MAYA ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY MIRROR IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY MOTHERLY LOVE

NATURE AND NURTURE NUTMEG AND DILL

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR LITTLE PEOPLE PUDDLE DUCKS

RASPBERRY RASCALS

SLEEPY NICO SMALLPRINT SPINDLES AND THREAD SUFFOLK BABY WEARING GROUP SUFFOLK CLOTH NAPPIES SUFFOLK LIBRARIES SUFFOLK TEEPEE FAIRY SUNFLOWER ARTISTRY

TEAM BODY CONSCIOUS THE BEAR GARDEN THE HARE AND BEAR THE LITTLE EMBROIDERY STUDIO TINYTALK WOODBRIDGE AND IPSWICH TODDLE TALK & BABY SENSES TODDLE TOGS TRIBAL BABIES

USBORNE (DEB CHELL)

VIP BALLOONS

YOGABUGS IPSWICH AND COLCHESTER

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BOOK YOUR SHOW TiCKETS TOdAYto find out more or book your advance tickets visit: www.yourlocalbabyshow.co.uk

J

LITTLE SEW & SEWS LITTLE SIGNERS CLUB

M


readiNg Feature

As parents we all know how important reading is to our childs development and early education.reading aloud can help to encourage a love of reading that lasts a lifetime, and helps to build our childrens confidence when starting school. But one of the most important aspects of reading aloud is the quality time you can spend with your child and the bond it creates.

can you remember how special you felt, all cuddled up with your parents before bedtime, reading aloud from your favourite book?

Just imagine if you were the star in that story. how amazing would you feel? Wouldnt you want your children to experience that same wonder?

Now its possible to give your child that amazing gift with a range of childrens books from the lemon tree Book company.

lemon tree specialise in personalised books, which means the children are

the main character in the stories and go on adventure to solve a mystery as a Private detective, or travel with a secret agent teddy bear, or even be a dinosaur!

lemon tree books are fun to read, but they also have a unique twist. your child gets to be part of making the book, using basic craft skills and a safe introduction to the internet. they take just around 10 minutes to make, perfect for keeping the attention of an early learner.

download the App..there is also an app. available on the appstore. the app. contains 8 stories, that can be personalised with different names every time you read, and there are colouring pages on the app. too. a new feature recently added is our voice recording facility. this means you can record your voice reading each page and your children can replay it whenever you are not available. great for recording granddad or grandmas voice, or dad if he has to be away for work!

to find out more visit: www.lemontreebookco.com.

Let you children be the star of their very own personalised books


school Feature

10 Top Tips For Fundraising at your school Are you planning on doing some fundraising at your school? Whether youre fundraising for much needed resources, a particular cause or charity, CLIC Sargent Fundraising Manager, Daisy Turner has shared her Top 10 favourite fundraising ideas with Families Suffolk, to help you turn the pennies into pounds and have fun while youre at it.

yogabugs.com

A Child Development ProgrammeStory adventures through yoga inspired moves!

Tel: 0845 863 0693 Email: [email protected]

FREETaster

Sessions!

40%Improvement

For ages

12

Improving physical and emotional literacy!

Social, Emotional, Physical and Behavourial Development

Walking to

1. GET CREATiVEhold an art exhibition and sale of students work. take inspiration from ipswich high school for girls who recently held an art exhibition to raise over 200.00 for their school fund and clic sargent.

2. GET MUSiCAL run a karaoke night with teachers, parents and pupils or even a battle of the bands if your school is particularly musical. ask older pupils to lead on organising the event

3. PRACTiCE, PRACTiCE, PRACTiCE encourage students to do a sponsored practice of their choice. if you choose to sign up to Practice-a-thon clic sargents music, singing and dance event your school can even choose to keep 25% of the money you raise, while 75% goes to clic sargent to help children and young people with cancer.

4. Fix UP, LOOK SHARP upcycle old clothes and showcase them in a fashion show then auction them off! this might be something your older pupils might like to run

themselves (with your guidance of course) check out clic sargents own upcycled clothing line for inspiration: www.fuls.clicsargent.org.uk

5. GET GUESSinG guess the number this could be everything from buttons in a jar to ping pong balls in a bucket charge 20p, 50p or 1 to enter depending on the prize.

6. diSnEY dAYa magical twist to your usual non-uniform day. ask pupils to pay a set donation to dress up as their favourite disney character for the day, or if youd rather, dress as a book character day.

7. TAKE A HiKE! Follow in the footsteps of the old school in henstead and have students get sponsorship for a hike in the local area the walking distance can vary depending on age group and ability. the best way to end the hike is with a celebratory picnic or BBQ.

8. ZZZZZ hold a sponsored sleepover at school. to make this event even bigger you could join up with other local schools and hold one big sleepover.

9. GET YOUR WiG On! Join the rest of the uk and don a wig on 25 may 2016 - just make a small donation in return. www.clicsargent.org.uk/content/wig-wednesday

10. KiCK! From a sponsored penalty shoot-out, to skills days or mini tournaments, anything is possible as long as it involves a football. if you sign

up to clic sargents fun football fundraiser, your school can even choose to keep 25% of the money you raise, while 75% goes to clic sargent to help children and young people with cancer.

For more information about fundraising at school, or to order a frEE fUndrAISIng pACk email [email protected] or telephone 08451 20 63 40.


Family health

With 13 years of experience, providing care and advice for adults with hearing difficulties across the country, giles runs clinics across suffolk and essex from the east of england co-ops opticians and pharmacies.

if you think a member of your family may be having difficulty with their hearing, simply visit your local east of england co-ops pharmacy or optician and a member of the team will carry out a free hearing check. Following the screening, if it would be beneficial to have a free hearing assessment you can arrange an appointment with giles.

East of England Co-op Hearing Care Service

Hearing Aid Audiologist, Giles Aldridge, from the East of England Co-op provides hearing care services for their members and customers.

FREE HEARING CHECK

Simple test, takes around 2 minutesCan identify signs of hearing lossBook your FREE full hearing assessment with our specialist Hearing Aid Audiologist

eastofengland.coop/hearing-care

Pop to co-op opticians or pharmacy

giles explained: most people decide the time is right to explore the option of wearing a hearing aid after having had hearing loss for many years.

its natural for our clarity of hearing to decline as we age, with the highest frequencies deteriorating first. this means that the quieter, softer sounds will become harder to hear first so you may not notice for some time that your ability to hear is changing.

as our hearing slowly deteriorates our brains get use to a quieter world with less clarity. this effectively becomes normal to us.

When your hearing aids are turned on for the first time following your hearing assessment, suddenly all the sounds you havent heard for years come flooding back. imagine being in a dark room and suddenly someone shines a light at you. to start with the light is very bright and unpleasant, but with time your eyes adjust. the same applies with switching on your hearing aids, only the process of adjustment takes longer.

do you need a hearing check?if you answer yes to any of these questions we recommend that you book a free hearing check: do you find people seem to mumble rather than speak clearly? do you often have to ask people to repeat what they say? is it hard for you to understand what people are saying in noisy places? do you find it hard to keep up when talking with groups of people? do people often ask you to turn the television or music down? is it difficult to hear people speaking on the telephone? do you find taking part in conversations tiring or stressful? have other people told you that you dont hear as well as you used too?

Book a Free Hearing Check For further information or to book a free hearing check call your local pharmacy or opticians.

8 cox lane, ipswich. 01473 253464

19 meredith road, ipswich. 01473 742121

145 Fircroft road, ipswich. 01473 743801

310 sheldrake drive, ipswich. 01473 683695

350 Nacton road, ipswich. 01473 728407

combs lane, stowmarket. 01449 770761

189 hamilton road, Felixstowe. 01394 282325

7 high street, saxmundham. 01728 602051

36 carr street, ipswich 01473 226009

181 hamilton road, Felixstowe 01394 277630

Find your nearest East of England Co-op Pharmacy

Find your nearest East of England Co-op Opticians

17www.familiessuffolk.co.uk 01473 788546/FamiliesSuffolk@familiessuffolk12 | MARCH / APRIL 2016

N ewmarket Racecourse is once again putting on its annual programme of action packed events for children and families and whats more the racecourse is launching an exciting new family event at the Rowley Mile Racecourse on the 13th and 14th May - Horseplay!

This fun new family race day will allow children to learn all about the magnificent horse through role play and interactive learning. There will be plenty of horseplay activities for the whole family to enjoy, plus there will be the opportunity to learn all about what it takes to become a jockey.

If you cant make the event in May, then there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy a family day at the races. Our Summer Saturdays, at the picturesque Adnams July Course, are designed especially with families in mind and are brimming with free entertainment, offering a great value day out.

Dont forget under 18s are admitted free of charge and adult tickets start from just 10pp for the family enclosure.

Keep an eye on the website for further information. www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk

l HORSEPLAY, Rowley Mile Racecourse Friday 13th & Saturday 14th May

DATES FOR THE DIARYFamily Fun Guaranteed!

Families Fun

l SUMMER SATURDAYS, Adnams July Course Saturday 18th June Saturday 25th June Saturday 16th July Saturday 23rd July Saturday 30th July Saturday 6th August Saturday 13th August

Book your tickets by visiting www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk or calling 0344 5793010

TOP TIPS FOR FAMILIES1 Which enclosure do I choose? Family Enclosure; These tickets will allow access to the family enclosure only. There are a few food outlets available, but a lot of families like to bring their own picnics. There is also a play area on the July Course. Prices from 10pp, children go FREE. Grandstand and Paddock enclosure; There are an array of bars and restaurantsto choose from and you will be able to get up close to the horses as they prepare for their big race in the parade ring. You also have access to the family enclosure with these tickets ; prices from 16, children go FREE. Premier enclosure; These are our top tiered tickets and allow access to all areas of the racecourse. Prices from 25, children go FREE.

2What do I wear? Wear something that you will feel comfortable in. Lots of people like to dress up for the races, especially for the Premier enclosure, but the Family and Grandstand & Paddock enclosures are more relaxed. There may be a short walk from the car parks, so bear this in mind when you choose your footwear.

3What do I need to bring? Remember to bring a few pounds if you fancy a bet on the horses and of course a camera to capture those winning moments! The racecourses are both accessible for prams and there are baby changing facilities available.

Family FuN

Advertorial


Spring Fashion Advice

PareNts Place

nAME, loCAtIon And nAtUrE of yOUR EMPLOyERS: i run a small business called the cooking club, which is based in east suffolk. i organise cookery workshops and parties for kids, and events for adults such as team building days and hen parties. i mainly work out of the suffolk Food hall just outside ipswich

but i also travel all over suffolk running various activities and events.

How long HAS tHE bUSInESS/CHArIty/SErvICE bEEn rUnnIng And tHE rEASon wHy yoU joInEd? the cooking club has been up and running for just over five years. i had the idea for the business bubbling away for a while, but it was only when my husband and i moved back to suffolk that i was brave enough to go for it. Before that i worked as a television producer for almost ten years on documentaries such as Who do you think you are? but knew it wasnt a career i would be able to combine with having children. ive always been passionate about food and have been cooking from a very young age. i saw what Jamie oliver achieved with his school dinners campaign and remembered feeling really inspired by his vision to teach the next generation about good food and eating well. i set up the cooking club to provide kids (and now adults too) with an opportunity to learn how to cook delicious, home-cooked meals from scratch in a relaxed and fun environment.

wHAt do yoU Enjoy AboUt yoUr rolE And workIng for tHIS bUSInESS/CHArIty/SErvICE? i love watching children enjoying a meal that theyve prepared and tasting ingredients or flavours theyve never tried before. and i get to tinker around in the kitchen coming up with new recipes, which is one of my favourite parts!

heeled shoes. denim in all sorts of permutations, washes and cuts remains very much with us. the perennial classic.

my personal favourite look of this year so far is the culotte dungaree hybrid (as pictured above). successfully combining 3 key trends, dungarees, culottes and denim - this is what i will be wearing this summer!

wHAt wAS tHE bESt pIECE of AdvICE rEgArdIng work yoU wErE EvEr gIvEn? dont undervalue your product, skills and time. you need to work out a price that is fair for both the customer and you. even now i sometimes find it very difficult to get the costings right; for me its one of the hardest parts of running your own business.

wHAt doES tHE fUtUrE Hold for yoU /tHE bUSInESS/CHArIty/SErvICE? my immediate priority is to expand further into the adult market, running lots more team building days, hen parties and other cookery events for grown ups whilst continuing to provide lots of great activities for kids. id love to franchise the business and roll it out nationwide one day. ive also started a recipe blog: www.cookitwithkids.co.uk with lots of my recipes to help parents get in the kitchen with their kids at home.

How do yoU fIt yoUr work AroUnd fAMIly lIfE? i try and have set times when i know the children are not going to be around when i work. otherwise you send yourself mad trying to make supper, answer an email, put a wash on and update your website all at the same time! i try hard not to open my laptop when the kids are around unless something is really urgent.

wHAt AdvICE woUld yoU gIvE to Any pArEntS ConSIdErIng rEtUrnIng to work And/or StArtIng Up tHEIr own bUSInESS? research, research, research! its a really good idea to start by writing a proper business plan, even if youre not applying for any funding, so you can really nail down whether theres a market for your product/service, how youre going to reach that market, what your profit margins will be and who your main competitors are.

Mum in Business interview: Jess Colmer

to find out more about the cooking club visit: www.the-cooking-club.co.uk.

so its that time of year again when we turn our attention to what we are going to be buying and wearing for the next 6 months as spring is almost upon us and its finally time to shed some layers and think about dressing for the summer months.

But what to wear? still big this year is fringing on bags, jackets and boots. culottes, jumpsuit and boilersuits are still around after being very on trend last year. the sleeveless waistcoat, both long and short but particularly with a tie waist, is very much here

to stay which is great news as it creates such an elegant silhouette and makes even the simplest top and jeans look amazing.

New (to the high street at least) this season are cropped flares. they look amazing on models but are a tricky trend for most of us to wear as they make the leg look shorter and unless teamed with the right items can look odd. Probably one trend to avoid unless tall and slender. another key look is the off the shoulder top also know as the bardot top - this is definitely a flattering trend for us all to buy into as it makes the shoulders look wider

and our hips and thighs narrower as a result. shirt dresses are also everywhere for 2016. these are a very versatile item of clothing that can be worn with bare legs and sandals or over leggings/skinnies so would highly recommend investing in one of these.

key colours this year are khaki. Particularly good for those of us with warm undertone to the skin. Pink is also everywhere and is better for those of us with a cool undertone to the skin. Flat shoes with lace ties are again very popular, as are multiple buckle shoes and metallic block

By Thomasin Newton, Fashion Consultant www.thomasinnewtonimageconsultant.com


comPetitioN & revieW

Win a nights Stay at The MermaidOur friends at The Mermaid Inn on Yarmouth Road are due to open their doors on 4th April 2016. they are offering one lucky Families suffolk family the chance to win a nights stay in one of the new family rooms plus breakfast at the mermaid the following morning. the new facilities offer 28 en-suite rooms with free wifi, tea/coffee making facilities and water in the rooms. this includes 2 accessible and 4 family rooms and 24 hour manned reception the rooms are currently priced at 70 per room including full breakfast and 20% off food during your stay when booked through www.marstonsinns.co.uk

Competition

To win a nights stay for a family of four all you have to do is answer the following question:

On which road in ipswich is The Mermaid inn situated?Please email your answer to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 22nd april. standard Families suffolk terms and conditions apply please visit www.familiessuffolk.co.uk/competitions.

Reader Review: Yoga Bugs www.YogaBugs.comyoUr nAME And poSItIon wItHIn tHE nUrSEry: abi Borrett - Pre-school leader

How dId yoU fInd oUt AboUt yogAbUgS? i was approached by the yogabugs owner, somer

wHAt MAdE yoU CHooSE to InCorporAtE yogAbUgS Into tHE nUrSEry progrAM? it offered the chance to develop skills for children, developing physical skills with the yoga as well as listening skills and working with others.

wHAt wErE yoU HopIng tHE CHIldrEn woUld gAIn froM tHE SESSIonS? to help develop childrens listening and physical skills in an interesting and fun way.

do yoU fEEl yoU HAvE ACHIEvEd tHIS? yes, the children are really benefitting from these new yoga Bug sessions

How oftEn And How long ArE tHE SESSIonS / progrAM yoU HAvE CHoSEn? the sessions are for half an hour, once a week.

wHAt dId yoU/tHE CHIldrEn Enjoy MoSt AboUt tHE SESSIonS? it is new and innovative - the children particularly enjoy acting out a story, and these classes provide a new approach to developing our physical skills

wHAt do yoU fEEl HAvE bEEn tHE bIggESt bEnEfItS for tHE CHIldrEn? their overall enjoyment, developing physical skills and exploring stories in a new and exciting way.

wHAt AdvICE woUld yoU gIvE to AnyonE ConSIdErIng InClUdIng yogAbUgS In tHEIr nUrSEry/SCHool SEttIng? great Fun a good way of offering alternative skills.

CUStoMEr tEStIMonIAl: my little boy attends yoga Bugs at his nursery (Birch Farm). he absolutely loves it and enjoys demonstrating his new found moves when he gets home particularly the tree. i think its great for his confidence and concentration and i love the fact he is doing physical activity through story telling. claire Bailey


The Pigs are coming!...

Visit pigsgonewild.co.uk to be part of it now!

More than 200 wonderful designs were submitted by artists from across the nation for the larger-than-life pig sculptures that will be coming to Ipswich and the Waterfront this summer.

The pigs, which will be stunningly decorated by artists and generously sponsored by local organisations, will be set out on a trail through the town for ten weeks from June.

In January, a panel of art experts got together to shortlist the oink-redible designs down to just 80.

There was a fantastic range of designs, from superhero pigs to Suffolk heritage and culture inspired pigs with lots of piggy

puns thrown in.

Sponsors of the pigs were invited to a special Matchmakers event in February where all the designs were finally revealed, and the sponsors were able to pick their prize pig!

The designs will be kept under wraps from the public until the trail, but if the pig sculptures unveiled so far, Tally-Ho Trotters, and Pretty Penny are anything to go by, theres a lot to get excited about.

Pictured below, project manager, Norman LLoyd with the Pigs Gone Wild mascot, Tally-Ho Trotters; and Ipswich Building Societys pig, Pretty Penny.

The exciting project that will see dozens of pig sculptures set out on a trail across Ipswich town centre and the Waterfront in summer 2016.

Local artist, and the creator of Tally-Ho Trotters, has visited patients at St Elizabeth Hospice to help them design and decorate thier junior pig sculpture.

The Pigs Gone Wild trail will feature around 40 larger-than-life pig sculptures, along with 30 junior pigs, which will be created by local schools and community groups, including one by hospice patients.

St Elizabeth Hospice is behind the Pigs Gone Wild project, working with Wild in Art to bring the sculpture trail to the town.

Staff, volunteers, patients and visitors at the local charity, based on Foxhall Road,

Ipswich, have all embraced the exciting project and the patients who attend day care at the hospice are eager to get started on their pig design.

Mr Richardson said: The great thing about this project is that everyone can be hands-on. You dont have to be an artist to take part. There is such an incredible amount of positivity around the sculptures. Its fantastic that the day care patients are able to create their own junior pig for the public to see.

Ann Colthorpe, healthcare assistant at the hospice said: Weve already got a great idea lined up for our junior pig, although I dont

want to give anything away! However the idea will allow all the patients to make their mark. Everyone will be involved with it.

The junior pigs will be displayed in litters across the town at the same time as the large sculpture trail before being returned to the schools and the hospice whilst the fully grown pigs will all be auctioned off to raise funds for St Elizabeth Hospice.

All the money raised will go towards providing vital care and support to more than 2,000 patients and their families every year living with a progressive illness such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart failure.

Oink-redible designs chosen for pigs

Local artist helps hospice patients design junior pig

Have you seen our fantastic Pigs Gone Wild branded van driving around the town? (pictured above) If you see us, give us a wave!


SPRINGSAVER

SWIM | SPORT | DANCE | CREATE | EXPLORE

A Junior iCard Spring Saver will openup a world of activity, creativity andhealthy fun!

Lots of activities at Crown Pools, thesports centres, Ipswich Museum,Christchurch Mansion, The Art Schooland parks are included (conditions apply).

See the full programme and details of theoffer online from 10 March.

www.ipswich.gov.uk/schoolholidays

GET UPGET OUTGET ACTIVE THIS EASTER

The Pigs are coming!...

Visit pigsgonewild.co.uk to be part of it now!

More than 200 wonderful designs were submitted by artists from across the nation for the larger-than-life pig sculptures that will be coming to Ipswich and the Waterfront this summer.

The pigs, which will be stunningly decorated by artists and generously sponsored by local organisations, will be set out on a trail through the town for ten weeks from June.

In January, a panel of art experts got together to shortlist the oink-redible designs down to just 80.

There was a fantastic range of designs, from superhero pigs to Suffolk heritage and culture inspired pigs with lots of piggy

puns thrown in.

Sponsors of the pigs were invited to a special Matchmakers event in February where all the designs were finally revealed, and the sponsors were able to pick their prize pig!

The designs will be kept under wraps from the public until the trail, but if the pig sculptures unveiled so far, Tally-Ho Trotters, and Pretty Penny are anything to go by, theres a lot to get excited about.

Pictured below, project manager, Norman LLoyd with the Pigs Gone Wild mascot, Tally-Ho Trotters; and Ipswich Building Societys pig, Pretty Penny.

The exciting project that will see dozens of pig sculptures set out on a trail across Ipswich town centre and the Waterfront in summer 2016.

Local artist, and the creator of Tally-Ho Trotters, has visited patients at St Elizabeth Hospice to help them design and decorate thier junior pig sculpture.

The Pigs Gone Wild trail will feature around 40 larger-than-life pig sculptures, along with 30 junior pigs, which will be created by local schools and community groups, including one by hospice patients.

St Elizabeth Hospice is behind the Pigs Gone Wild project, working with Wild in Art to bring the sculpture trail to the town.

Staff, volunteers, patients and visitors at the local charity, based on Foxhall Road,

Ipswich, have all embraced the exciting project and the patients who attend day care at the hospice are eager to get started on their pig design.

Mr Richardson said: The great thing about this project is that everyone can be hands-on. You dont have to be an artist to take part. There is such an incredible amount of positivity around the sculptures. Its fantastic that the day care patients are able to create their own junior pig for the public to see.

Ann Colthorpe, healthcare assistant at the hospice said: Weve already got a great idea lined up for our junior pig, although I dont

want to give anything away! However the idea will allow all the patients to make their mark. Everyone will be involved with it.

The junior pigs will be displayed in litters across the town at the same time as the large sculpture trail before being returned to the schools and the hospice whilst the fully grown pigs will all be auctioned off to raise funds for St Elizabeth Hospice.

All the money raised will go towards providing vital care and support to more than 2,000 patients and their families every year living with a progressive illness such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart failure.

Oink-redible designs chosen for pigs

Local artist helps hospice patients design junior pig

Have you seen our fantastic Pigs Gone Wild branded van driving around the town? (pictured above) If you see us, give us a wave!


easter Whats oN

Easter Adventure Quest at Framlingham CastleFri 25 - Mon 28 Mar 2016. 11am - 4pm

Adventurers wanted this Easter weekend! youll meet characters from the past with stories of times gone by - maybe a king, a butler, a roman centurion or even a monk. these honourable folk will be happy to help you on your quest as you explore Framlingham castle and crack the clues. rise to the challenge and win your chocolate reward. its time to get hands-on with history.www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/framlingham-castle

All Fired UpSun 6 & Sun 27 March 10:30am 3:30pm.

Join all Fired up for ceramic painting at the suffolk Food hall every thursday 10am 4pm. extra family painting days on sun 6th & sun 27th march 10:30am 3:30pm.

special easter holiday activity:open to all the family. choose from a selection of easter themed ceramics just 10 per painter. www.allfiredupceramics.co.uk

Easter Fun at Kentwell Hall, Long MelfordSat 19 March - Sun 20 March

Lambing Festivalkentwells flock of rare-breed Norfolk horn sheep begin lambing in mid-march, one of the best times to explore kentwell with spring bulbs, flowers and Welly Walks through the gardens and grounds.

head to the tudor stables to see the newborn lambs, and if you are lucky, watch a lambing! once the lambs are a few days old they will be racing around the lawns in front of the hall.

lambing continues throughout the easter holidays,

Storybook Trailthe storybook trail is a fun way for families to enjoy the gardens, and there are lots of new stories for you this year. Follow the trail and find scenes from popular stories, with an excerpt from the story itself to read together. let your imagination take you on an adventure through some of your favourite tales!www.kentwell.co.uk

Woodbridge Annual Easter Egg HuntSat 26 March 10am - 12 noon

the event will take place across the whole of elmhurst park with children following a series of clues to complete the trail. there is no charge to take part - although the eggs will be handed out on a first come first served basis. as well as the trail, there will be a face-painter and a visit from millie the tide mill mouse, the much-loved mascot from Woodbridge tide mill.www.choosewoodbridge.co.uk

Embrace Your Childs Creativity at Stagecoach Theatre ArtsParents looking for new ways to keep their children active, happy and engaged have found the solution in the form of singing, acting and

dancing classes at stagecoach theatre arts. stagecoach theatre arts in ipswich and Woodbridge are offering a free discovery session during the school summer term for youngsters aged four to 18. to find out more about the discovery session or to enrol your child on an exciting new journey, please call Principals sarah and andy on 01728 688627, or email [email protected] or [email protected].


Family MattersFeature Article: Business as usual In association with Margary + Miller

usually we include an article in Families suffolk with information to help readers across the region get a clearer understanding of how a specific legal issue might affect them and what they might do about it.

From articles about the myth of the common law spouse to an accident in the local playground; from post-christmas consumer rights to

planning contact for your children and ex-partner; communicating the law as it affects families on a day-to-day basis is important to us.

We firmly believe that the right legal advice at the right time can make all the difference to a happy family life - and your bank balance! however, this article is about news of our own, news of which many of you may already be aware.

From april 2016 gotelee solicitors, based in ipswichs elm street with further offices in hadleigh and Felixstowe, will merge with parts of margary + miller solicitors.

We thought it made sense to bring this development to the attention of readers of Families suffolk due to the close bond weve enjoyed with the magazine for a number of years.

read the full article online, including more information about the merger and some great expert advice form margary + miller solicitor rachel cronin (pictured above) following a recent case.

For more information visit: www.margary-miller.co.uk

Raising the BarNominations for the Raising the Bar Awards 2016 are now openraising the Bar is suffolks programme to improve levels of educational attainment across the county. suffolks results are improving at a faster rate than those nationally, but there is still more work to be done.

By working together with education providers, families, communities and businesses, raising the Bar will ensure that every child can achieve their full potential, build a strong reputation for suffolk education and deliver wider benefits for the county and its economy.Read more online

So much more online...If you enjoyed reading this issue you will love our website...its packed full of more useful, interesting and informative articles from some our regular magazine contributors. Including:

Visit our website today...www.familiessuffolk.co.uk

Whats oN

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families suffolk march - april 2016 issue 28

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