Primary Times Leicestershire & Rutland issue 96 Easter 2017

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EASTER TREATS & SPRING IDEAS • NEWS & REVIEWS • EDUCATION • PRIZES 

www.primarytimes.net/leicestershire 

Issue 96 

Easter 

27 March - 14 May 2017

2 27 March - 14 May 2017 

For thousands more ideas visit www.primarytimes.net

Dear Readers, 

Spring is such a wonderful season – a time of new 

beginnings. As the Easter school holidays get nearer you 

might be wondering how you can fill the holiday weeks with 

your children. 

Primary Times is delighted to help with that problem! Our 

regular diary guide is brimming with fantastic activities 

and “eggs-tra” special events to keep your children happy 

– and many are either free or of little cost. Theatre offers 

child friendly theatre productions and a great excuse for 

the children to get dressed up in their favourite character 

costume! 

We have some great prizes to be won, so start sending in 

your entries now for your chance to win. 

Have an egg-citing time and we’ll see you again before 

May half term. 

Kim and the Primary Times Team 

NEWSAROUND LEICESTERSHIRE 

& RUTLAND 

FAMILY EVENTS DIARY STARTS 

Easter Treats & Spring Ideas 

for the family 

MAKING & BAKING AT EASTER 

SPRING GARDENING FOR KIDS 

4 

6 

8 

11 

16 

PRIMARY TIMES LEICESTERSHIRE 

PO Box 39047, London E4 8YZ 

Tel: 020 8529 7982 

Email: office@primary-times.com 

Website: www.primarytimes.net 

Like us... 

Follow us... 

Publishing Editor: Kim Hardy 

Advertising Sales: Sarah Bates 

Production: Nathan Pretlove 

nathan@winterhilldesign.co.uk 

Listings Editor: Jan Holden 

PR & eMedia Manager: 

Holly Louise Breach 

Primary Times is independently published and distributed free to Primary Schools in the county of 

Leicestershire. Its aims are to inform families about forthcoming events, courses and attractions, 

and to give teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity to participate in the magazine by 

adding to its contents or entering competitions. 

It is NOT our intention to publish any racist, sexist or politically based material whatsoever. We 

also undertake not to carry any advertising which we would consider to be offensive to young 

families or harmful to the best interests of young children. Primary Times would like to thank all the 

schools in Leicestershire for their assistance in distributing the magazine and for their contributions 

to its contents. 

Primary Times is currently publishing 2.2 million copies per issue under franchise licences 

throughout Britain & Ireland. 

DISCLAIMER: All reasonable efforts have been taken to give accurate information and any 

facts given are true to the best of our knowledge. However, you should rely wholly on your own 

enquiries and take advice where appropriate. Information is correct at time of going to press. 

Distribution of 51,000 copies each term is independently verified. 

BOOK REVIEWS 

EDUCATION 

COMPETITIONS 

FILM REVIEW 

THEATRE 

18 

19 

21 

22 

22 

ACT, SING & DANCE 

Come and join us for our Summer Show 

‘Matilda’ if you would like a part. 

Also Summer School 14 - 18 August. 

Find out more and start 

your child’s journey today 

stagecoach.co.uk/leicester 

0116 2321444 

leicester@stagecoach.co.uk 

Creative Courage For Life ® 

TM 

Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. 

Stagecoach is a registered trademark of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Ltd. 

For thousands more ideas visit www.primarytimes.net 

27 March - 14 May 2017 3

News Around 

Leicestershire & Rutland 

Be Dog Smart 

Be Dog Smart is Dogs Trust’s 

successful campaign helping 

families understand more about 

how to behave around dogs in 

order to keep themselves safe. 

Our resources contain lots of 

helpful tips and advice for parents to teach their children how to be 

safe around dogs whether at home or out and about. 

Dogs Trust are also offering FREE dog safety workshops for parents 

and children to ensure we can all live together safely and happily. 

If you would like to arrange a ‘Be Dog Smart’ workshop or for more 

information please visit www.bedogsmart.org.uk 

Introducing Zigzag Photography 

We’re excited to welcome you to our crazy, creative ideas that 

we know you’ll love as much as we do. 

All families are welcome, including cats, dogs and even lizards! 

No cake smash is too messy! No hobby too extraordinary! 

You’re in safe hands at ZigZag, we listen to our clients and do our 

very best to cater for any particular needs. We love to hear your 

ideas and reflect them in your images. 

See our calendar listing for a FREE kids themed mini photo shoot 

on our open day on Wednesday 19th April. 

For information visit: www.zigzagphotography.co.uk/ziglets 

Stomping to success: Leicester independent 

footwear retailer scoops national accolade 

A Leicestershire independent 

footwear store has stomped to 

success at a National Footwear 

Industry Awards, scooping the 

National Shop Front Of The Year 

2017 award. 

The nationally acclaimed awards, 

held at the National Motorcycle 

Museum this week, considered 

Stomp Footwear of Narborough, which is run by three working mums 

- Debbie Evans, Lucy Boyle and Rebecca Simpson - to be top of the 

class thanks to their eye-catching and innovative window displays, 

designed especially to engage with local school-children. 

Launched in October 2013, when their children came of school age, the three 

friends spotted a gap in the market for design-led, fitted childrens’ shoes 

and now stock ranges from the likes of Camper, Birkenstock, Dr Martens, 

Toms and LelliKelly, attracting repeat custom from across the county. 

www.stompfootwear.com 

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Exciting New FootGolf Comes To Leicester 

FootGolf, which combines football and golf, is now being played at 

Humberstone Heights golf course in Leicester. 

The UK’s fastest growing sport, FootGolf is an exciting mix of football and golf. 

It’s easy to play and can be enjoyed by anyone. The aim is to get around the 

18-hole, or 9-hole, course in as few shots as possible. 

Golf professional David Butler said: “FootGolf is fun, it’s new, and it’s something 

that the whole family can do together – and already is proving a big hit with 

young people, providing an opportunity for friends to compete against each 

other, while improving their football skills.” 

No specialist equipment is required, although all players will need to wear 

trainers on the course. Call us now to book your space Tel: 0116 299 5570. 

Let Leicestershire Park & Ride Service put a spring in your step! 

Make travelling into Leicester easy and cost-effective with Leicester Park 

& Ride Service this spring. Let us take the stress out of your commute to 

work, family day out or shopping trip. 

Sit back and relax on one of our fast, frequent, reliable and free WiFi-enabled 

buses. With conveniently situated stops, you’re only a short walk away from 

the sights and sounds of the city centre. No searching for a parking space or 

rushing back to feed the parking meter - what could be simpler? 

Services operate from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, with buses running 

every 15 minutes from our three Leicester Park & Ride sites. These are 

conveniently located on main routes into Leicester at Enderby, Birstall and 

Meynell’s Gorse. Free car parking is available at each site. 

For information on routes & fares visit www.leicesterparkandride.co.uk 

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Easter at 360 play for Families 

Come and join us at 360 Play for an Easter filled with fun! We’ll be 

hosting our very own Easter Egg hunt as well as making some special 

Easter bonnets and even Easter 

biscuits in Messy Play and 

cookery time! 

360 Play is a fantastic place for 

families to enjoy a great time 

together and create some special 

family memories – especially if 

it’s a first time visit! Everything 

is designed so that adults 

can join their children in all the different activities, providing the 

ideal opportunity for them to encourage the youngsters to try new 

experiences to enhance children’s development. 

Now firmly established as the leading brand within the UK’s children’s 

entertainment centre sector, 360 Play now have 5 sites across the UK 

including Milton Keynes, Leicester, Basildon, Stevenage and most 

recently, Redditch. 

Join us for a great family day, whatever the weather. 

www.360play.co.uk 

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

The Spark Festival 2017 

The countdown to The Spark Festival has begun. From Monday 22 

to Monday 29 May The Spark promises eight days of unforgettable 

arts experiences for children aged 0-13 at venues across Leicester. 

This years festival offers something for everyone with activities to 

entertain, engage, inspire and excite. 

Watch extraordinary productions from local, national and 

international performers in venues, schools, parks, community 

centres and libraries. Take part in a host of creative workshops - 

make music or graffiti, become 

a playwright, or explore some 

curious exhibits. 

The City Play-ground is back 

with a host of FREE fun-filled 

activities over the bank holiday 

weekend. Create and explore 

at a playtime you’ll never 

forget. Get inky, get digital, get 

interactive and get involved. 

Join them on Bank Holiday 

Monday for a Musical Rumpus in Knighton Park with a FREE 

afternoon of mischief and mayhem - an interactive outdoor 

adventure with music, storytelling, dressing up and dancing. 

Call 0116 261 6893 for a brochure packed with fun, or visit 

www.sparkfestival.co.uk 



Get advice via 

text about your 

child’s health 

Ensembles | Choirs | Masterclasses 

For all your child’s music needs… 

Performance Opportunities | Singing 

Leicestershire Partnership NHS 

Trust has extended its multi-award 

winning secure text messaging service, 

ChatHealth, to parents and carers across 

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 

Instrument Hire | Bands | Tours 

You can now use the service to access 

timely and confidential advice and 

support from our health visitors and 

school nurses in relation to aspects 

of behaviour, parenting, child 

development, emotional health and 

wellbeing, or just for general queries 

about your child’s health. Advertising 

material will be appearing in your local 

area soon, if not already. 

The ChatHealth service is available 

to all parents and carers of children 

and young people aged 0-19, Monday 

– Friday, 9am – 5pm. An automated 

acknowledgement message is 

generated as soon as a text is received, 

and during service hours, all texts 

are responded to within 24 hours. 

Do you have a child who plays 

musical instrument or sings? 

Did you know the Leicester-Shire Schools 

Music Service run a variety of different 

music ensembles that your child could join? 

We have an outstanding reputation for 

providing quality aspirational and motivating 

ensembles and performance opportunities 

for students. Every group rehearses weekly, 

practising repertoire to be performed at 

the end of each term in high quality venues 

around Leicestershire. At each performance 

there is a chance for students and parents to 

see performances by other groups within the 

LS ensemble structure and also those given 

by our Hub partners including school groups. 

Our Junior Concert Band now has over 45 

members, all beginning their journey playing 

as part of an ensemble. Emilia, Year 5 says: 

“JCB (Junior Concert Band) is great because 

we get to socialise with people we wouldn’t 

normally meet. I loved playing ‘500 Miles’ and 

‘Hickory Dickory Rock’. It is really satisfying to 

nail a piece you were struggling with before”. 

How do I join? 

If you are looking for somewhere for your 

children to play or sing after school, we run 

area centres in Hinckley, Birstall, Melton and 

Wigston. These are a great way to get your 

children started in an ensemble and to meet 

other local like-minded friends. We are always 

developing new ways to engage children with 

music. 

If you are looking for something more 

aspirational, at a County level our Saturday 

morning ensembles provide an opportunity to 

play in large groups with mixed instruments. 

Places in the Junior Concert Band, Strictly 

Strings and Steel Pan Ensembles are by 

application and do not require an audition. 

For more information on anything in this 

article please have a look at our website or 

contact Helen.Fisher@leics.gov.uk for more 

information on any of our musical activities. 

www.leicestershiremusichub.org 

ChatHealth complements our existing 

services, so you can still contact your 

school nurse or health visitor with any 

concerns. Contact details for school 

nurses can be found on our Health for 

Kids website: 

https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/ 

parents/school-nurse-map/ 

ChatHealth has been available to 

secondary school pupils across Leicester, 

Leicestershire and Rutland since 2014, 

and a million young people nationwide 

can use it to chat confidentially with a 

school nurse. 

Please note, ChatHealth is not an 

emergency service – for urgent 

medical attention you should 

contact your GP, call 111 or 999. 

ChatHealth Leicestershire and Rutland: 

07520 615382 

ChatHealth Leicester City: 07520 615381 


Roundabout 

Family events diary 

March 

Thu 30 

Living with Autism – 

Leicestershire Conference 

The NSPCC Training Centre, 3 Gilmour 

Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester LE4 

1EZ 

For parents, professionals and 

employers supporting people with 

Autism. Topics include mental 

health issues, making ‘sense’ of 

senses in autism, adolescence & 

puberty, understanding social & 

awareness skills, adults in autism, 

advice & support. 9.30am-3.30pm. 

£15 LAS members (refunded), £30 

non-members & businesses. To 

book or for more information email 

marketing@glebehouseproject. 

org.uk or tel LAS: 0116 291 6958 

Fri 31 

Xplorer 2017 

Hollycroft Park, Hinckley LE10 0BG 

Fun orienteering challenge for 

all the family, last Friday of every 

month until November. 4pm-5pm 

(meet at Bowling Green entrance). 

£1 per person. Tel: 01455 255908 

We take great care 

to ensure information 

is correct at the time of 

press. However, we would 

advise parents to phone 

& check details prior to 

making a long trip 

...or a promise! 

April 

Sat 1 

Coalville Library Construction 

Club 

High Street, Coalville LE67 3EA 

Let your imagination run wild, 

playing with Lego and listening 

to stories for inspiration! Suitable 

for ages 6-12, under-8s to be 

accompanied throughout. Families 

welcome. 10.30am-12noon.£1 per 

child. Tel: 0116 305 3565 

Sat 1 

Model Railway Day & Craft 

Activities 

Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester LE4 

5PX 

Model Railway layouts on display 

in the marquee plus railwayinspired 

crafts for children (free 

entry, craft activities £2.50) 11am- 

4pm. Tel: 0116 299 5111 

Sat 1 

Messy Play 

Emmanuel Church Hall, Forest Road, 

Loughborough, LE11 3NW 

Fun-filled, relaxed monthly 

session for families with children 

aged 0-5 with a range of craft 

and messy activities each time. 

Previous activities have included 

baking, planting seeds, junk box 

modelling and painting. 10am- 

11.30am. £2.50 first child, £3.50 2 

or more children aged 12 months+ 

(inc refreshments). 

www.nct.org.uk/loughborough 

Sat 1 & Sun 2 

Art Awake Alice: Meet us in 

Wonderland! 

New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, 

Leicester LE1 7EA 

Fall down the rabbit hole and 

join us in the Victorian Gallery 

for another fantastic Art Awake 

workshop. Dress up in Victorian 

outfits and use your imagination 

to help bring this wonderful 19th 

children’s book to life. Drop in 

11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm. Free. Tel: 

0116 225 4900 

Sat 1 – Sun 23 

Easter Holiday Fun 

Conkers DE12 6GA 

An amazing three weeks of half 

term activities and adventure, 

included with your normal 

admission, with Easter-themed 

crafts for the whole family daily 

11am-4pm, Ranger Activity sessions 

daily at 10.30am, 12noon, 1.30pm 

& 3pm, live shows, 4D cinema, Paint 

a Pot, & Easter Egg Challenge (£1 

extra). Tel: 01283 216633 

Sat 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 

Gallery Family Workshops 

Attenborough Arts Centre, University of 

Leicester, Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA 

Explore themes, materials and 

ideas from our Night in the 

Museum exhibition with our 

friendly learning team. For all 

ages. Drop in 1pm-3pm. Free. 

Tel: 0116 252 2455 

www.attenborougharts.com 

Covering Oadby, Evington, Market Harborough, Lutterworth, 

Enderby and Loughborough 

FOR THE ULTIMATE 

BIRTHDAY PARTY! 

CONTACT US NOW! 

Age range from 

4 to 10 years old 

Held indoors or outdoors 

Totally safe and loads of fun! 

Themed birthday cake 

available - yummy! 

Party food available for all 

Let them experience their 

first chance of driving 

Bouncy castle also available 

at Parklands Leisure in Oadby 

www.karts4kids.co.uk 

07512 955 111 • info@karts4kids.co.uk 

BOOK YOUR PARTY TODAY! 

PLEASE QUOTE PRIMARY TIMES WHEN ENQUIRING 

FOLLOW US 

@Karts4Kids 



Fri 7 

Special Needs Evening 

360 Play, Meridian Leisure Park, 

Braunstone Town, Leicester 

LE19 1JZ 

This regular evening brings 

children, parents and carers 

together to compare notes, make 

new friends and have lots of fun. 

Brothers, sisters and friends 

all welcome. Full use of all the 

facilities will keep even the most 

energetic children occupied for 

the evening. 6.30pm-8.30pm. 

£6 per child, adults free. For 

details tel: 01162 894731 or visit 


Sat 8 

Fantastic Mr Fox Family Day 

Curve, Leicester, LE1 1SB 

Have fantastic fun with Mr Fox and 

friends on our Roald Dahl-themed 

Family Day! Includes fox-themed 

dance and movement workshops, 

live music, dressing up, crafts and 

more. 11am-3pm. Free. Tel: 0116 

242 3595 

Sat 8 

Big Railway Day 

Lutterworth & District Museum, 

Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth. 

LE17 4DY 

Some 20 displays on the day 

inc new layout and display from 

Lutterworth Railway Society, Large 

Trams, B17 new build loco group, 

Swiss model railway, Gees coaches 

model display, model funfair, Great 

Central Railway WWI years plus 

Tram Society of England displays 

and talk, Keith’s models retail 

shop, book shop. 10am-4pm. £3.50 

adult, accompanied children free. 

www.lutterworthmuseum.org 

Sat 8 & Sun 30 

Family Fun Drop-in Day 

Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, 

Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Oakham 

LE15 8BT 

Bring the family to the Nature 

Reserve for ugly bug & pungent 

pond discovery sessions and some 

nature related crafts! No need to 

book, just drop in 10am-3pm. Bug 

hunting and pond dipping sessions 

10am, 11am, 12noon & 1pm. £3 

per participant. Tel: 01572 770651 

or visit www.rutlandwater.org.uk/ 

events 


Pioneering SPACE 

National Space Centre, Leicester LE4 

5NS 

This half term boldly go into space 

with our inspiring pioneers! Enjoy 

an amazing day out - take a tour 

round our hands-on exhibition, 

travel in the glass lift to the top of 

the iconic Rocket Tower, sit back 

in the UK’s largest planetarium, 

and even enjoy a bite to eat 

under real giant rockets. We have 

added lots to do on the day for 

all the family, so get here early 

and don’t miss a thing. 10am- 

5pm. Telephone: 0116 261 0261 

http://spacecentre.co.uk/event/ 

pioneering-space 


Swallowdale 

Stoneywell, Markfield LE67 9QE 

Explore the garden & woodland in a 

new family trail based on the second 

book in the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ 

series, and get closer to nature 

with a range of themed activities 

& crafts. 10am-4pm. £2 per trail 

plus normal admission. Booking 

essential, tel: 01530 248048 

Sun 9 

Family Wild Walk 



LE15 8BT 

Explore the Reserve on one of our 

wild walks, a relaxed introduction 

to some of our very special 

wildlife – suitable for the whole 

family. What wildlife we see will 

depend on the weather, but we 

can guarantee a lovely walk in 

a beautiful location. 2.30pm- 

4.30pm. £5 adult, £3 child. Booking 

essential, tel: 01572 770651 or visit 

www.rutlandwater.org.uk/events 

Sun 9 

Life after Rome 

Jewry Wall Museum, Leicester LE1 4LB 

During the fifth century our Roman 

city became a Saxon town. Friends 

of Jewry Wall Museum take a 

long hard look at the transition, 

with activities for all ages. Drop 

in 11.30am-3.30pm. Free entry 

and activities. Light refreshments 

available. Tel: 0116 225 4971. 

Mon 10 

Amazing Animals 

Brocks Hill Country Park, Washbrook 

Lane, Oadby LE2 5JJ 

What a great experience this 

is - come for a close encounter 

with a whole host of animals from 

around the world! For age 3+. 

10.10am-11am, 11.10am-12noon 

or 12.10pm-1pm. £5.25 per person. 

Tel: 0116 257 2888 

www.brocks-hill.co.uk 

Mon 10 

Comedy for Kids - “Superherotastic” 

The Guildhall, Leicester LE1 5FQ 

Join in with some fantastic 

superhero stories and then create 

and make your own superhero 

character complete with mask, 

logo and maybe even a super 

gadget or sidekick! Aimed at 

ages 4-9 but all ages welcome. 

11pm, 1pm & 3pm. £4 per child, 

accompanying adult free. Booking 

essential, tel: 0116 253 2569 

Mon 10 – Fri 21 

Easter Holiday Fun 

Calke Abbey DE73 7LE 

Join us in Squirt’s Stable and the 

Riding School every day - we’ve got 

plenty going on to keep the kids 

entertained, with lots of naturethemed 

activities to keep holiday 

boredom at bay. 11am-4pm. Free 

with normal admission. Tel: 01332 

863822 

Continued on page 14... 

Roundabout Family events diary 




EASTER TR 

& Spring 

Ashby de la Zouch Castle (Leicestershire) is getting 

ready for an Easter of fun for all the family! 

Adventurers wanted this 

Easter weekend Friday 14th 

– Monday 17th April. You’ll 

meet a character from the 

past with stories of times 

gone by – it might be a king, a 

butler, a Roman centurion or 

even a monk. This honourable 

character will be happy to 

help you on your quest as you 

explore Ashby de la Zouch 

Castle and crack the clues. Rise 

to this grand Easter challenge 

and win your chocolate reward! 

It’s time to get hands-on with 

history, test your skills, hunt for clues and see if you’ve got what it 

takes to solve the Easter Adventure Quest! 

For more information, times and prices please visit 

www.english-heritage.org.uk/Ashbydelazouch 

Why not visit Rand Farm Park this Easter? 

Situated on the A158 8 miles east of Lincoln, and open every day from 

10am, there are lots of lambs, calves (and a goat kid) to bottle feed 

daily at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. All the animals enjoy lots of 

fuss and attention and there are specific times for rabbit and guinea 

pig handling, hatchery talks and milking demonstrations to ensure a 

real hands-on visit with lots of different farm animals and pets. Skyrider, 

Family Farmyard Crazy Golf and Summertime Sledges will all be open. 

Between 3 and 17 April 2017, there will be extra Springtime and 

Easter Crafts between 11am and 2pm. For the Easter Weekend 14 – 

17 April, Rufus Rabbit will be arranging his very Special Golden Easter 

Egg Hunt with prizes throughout the day. 

Visit www.randfarmpark.com or tel: 01673 858904 



EATS 

Ideas 

Abbey Park Fun Fair Springs into action – 

Friday 7th April – Monday 1st May! 

With two Bank Holidays just around the corner, the Billy Bates 

& Sons team have got the perfect day out to keep everyone 

entertained this Spring! 

The beautiful Abbey Park sits in the heart of Leicester and is host to 

one of the largest and most popular Fairs in the Midlands area. With 

some brand new attractions joining the line up for 2017, this event 

promises to be “A Fair like no other” and if you haven’t been to the fair 

in a while, it is definitely worth a look. 

This event feels much more like a Theme Park than it does a fair from 

the moment you enter. The secured site has a massive temporary 

footpath that leads you in and around the fair. You can see that great 

effort has been made to create 

a more relaxed environment 

for families, with lots of picnic 

benches, toilet facilities and a 

prominent security presence. 

As far as attractions go, this year 

is a whopper! The traditional 

Carousel and Giant Ferris 

Wheel are back, along with 

family favourites such as the Dodgems, Waltzer and Twister. There’s 

also a brand new family ride making its debut. ‘The Puppy Power’ 

rollercoaster will have everyone barking for more! 

Then for the thrill seekers there’s ‘The Beast’ making its debut, plus 

Speed Buzz, Superstar, Energiser and Extreme to name just a few. 

Smaller visitors have a great selection too, with lots of toddler friendly 

rides and also rides that parents can enjoy with their children. Daily 

1pm-9pm (except 24-28 April Open 5-9pm) 

For more information www.billybates.co.uk or BBfunfair on 

social media 

This Spring, we’re 

with you every step 

With a FREE online guide from the 

Canal & River Trust, you’ve got the 

perfect excuse to get out there and enjoy 

the waterways where you are. Packed 

full of fun places to go and amazing 

things to see and do, it’s your own 

personal recipe book to help create 

unforgettable family days out. So get 

ready to discover hidden histories, 

unearth buried treasures and even pick the perfect place for 

a picnic. And because it’s online, you can take it with you too. 

Just pack your mobile or tablet and wherever you go, 

whatever you want to do, you’ll never run out of ideas to keep 

everyone entertained. So get out there and have fun on the 

rivers and canals near you. 

Go explore Foxton Locks and many more destinations this 

Spring at canalrivertrust.org.uk/regional-guides. 

Exchange this voucher for 

£1 OFF ANY RIDE 

COSTING £1.50 OR MORE 

One voucher per person, per 

ride. Not valid with any other 

offer. Non refundable. Voucher 

not accepted at food stalls or 

games. Valid until 1-5-17 





























Plenty to see and lots to do 

at West Lodge Rural Centre 

We have more lambs than ever 

this year. From now until the end 

of April we will be continuing to 

bottle feed our lambs twice a day 

in the display barn. 

Throughout the Easter school 

holidays we have lots of fun 

activities for you to enjoy. On 

Easter Friday, Saturday, Sunday 

and Monday you can take part in the Easter Quiz, follow clues around 

the farm which will lead you to the Easter Bunny in his Easter garden 

and receive an Easter egg, paint an egg, and take part in the egg and 

spoon race and egg painting competition. 

www.westlodgeruralcentre.co.uk 

• SEWING 

• CRAFTING 

• ART 

• PARTIES 

• CRAFT KITS 

• FOR ALL 

AGES 

Leicestershire Craft Centre • 10a High Street 

Market Harborough • LE16 7NJ 

Phone 01858 466692 

www.leicestershirecraftcentre.co.uk 

create@leicestershirecraftcentre.co.uk 

Two Weeks of Adventure! 

Saturday 8th to Sunday 23rd April 

Ranger activities, craft experiences 

and live shows which are all included 

within the admission price 

Over the Easter 

Holidays 

New 4D Cinema 

Opening at Easter** 

Terms and conditions: 

Please complete the above and bring this voucher with you and hand 

into the Reception Team. Valid until 30th April 2017. No photocopies are 

accepted. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers or online. 

Other terms and conditions apply. Only valid for general admission – not 

valid for outdoor pursuit activities or events or the High & Low Rope Aerial 

Adventure. We will only use your email address for marketing purposes. 

There is a separate charge to use the High & Low Rope Aerial Adventure. 

Ride on 

Conkerchoo II 

The High and Low 

Ropes Adventure* 

*There is an additional charge for 

the High and Low Ropes 

**Please see website for opening date 




Brocks Hill Country Park 

and Centre 

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council 

Washbrook Lane, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5JJ 

Tel: 0116 257 2888 

For details of events, activities & information 

please visit www.brocks-hill.co.uk or 

https://facebook.com/BrocksHillCountryPark 

Free entry and parking 

Brocks Hill 

Country Park 

“ 

We saw it in 

Primary Times 

Please mention to our 

advertisers that you saw 

their advert or listing in 

Primary Times! 

“ 




April 

Mon 10 – Fri 14 

Easter Performing Arts Week 

Leicester Vocal Tech, 32 Swan Street, 

Leicester 

A whole week of singing, dancing, 

acting & musical theatre, open 

to ages 4-16, with 5 hours per 

day of performing arts! Classes 

divided by age. Only £45 per child 

& sibling discount available. For 

further details, tel: 0116 222 1268 

or 07442 503987 or email info@ 

leicestervocaltech.co.uk 

www.leicestervocaltech.co.uk 

Tue 11 

Jewellery Making 

Leicestershire Craft Centre, High Street, 

Market Harborough LE16 7NJ 

Spend a session designing and 

making bracelets, necklaces 

and bag charms - we have huge 

quantities of beads to choose from, 

and it’s great fun! 

For age 6+. 2pm-3pm. £9. 

To book tel: 01858 466692 or visit 


Tue 11 

Medieval Eggstravaganza 


Crafts include egg painting, 

fanfare horns and lutes, or try 

some medieval tapestry; face 

painting and trails throughout the 

day. Drop in 11am-3pm. £2.50. Tel: 

0116 253 2569 

Tue 11 – Tue 18 

Easter Bunny Hunt 

Hinckley Town Centre. 

Find and fill in the Bunnies’ names 

on a form available from various 

shops. Complete the form correctly 

to receive a free Easter Egg! Plus, a 

random prize draw will take place 

for one lucky winner to receive a 

special egg! Free event for children 

and families. Tel: 01455 698494 

Tue 11, Fri 14, Mon 17, Tue 18 & 

Sat 22 

Craft Making 



Crafts available to purchase from 

Reception, to take home or make 

up at Brocks Hill. Tel: 0116 257 

2888 www.brocks-hill.co.uk 

Wed 12 

Baskets and Bonnets 

Rutland County Museum, Oakham LE15 

6HW 

Drop in for some classic Easter 

crafts. Make and decorate your 

own Easter bonnet, baskets 

and Easter cards. Suitable for 

accompanied children aged 4-10. 

Drop in 10am-12noon or 1.30pm- 

3.30pm. £2 per child. Tel: 01572 

758440 

Wed 12 

Easter Explorers 



LE15 8BT 

Book them on to Easter Explorers 

(for 5-10 year olds)! You can 

drop them off for the day on this 

beautiful nature reserve for a day 

filled with Easter related nature 

events, craft sessions and an 

Easter egg hunt. Please dress for 

outdoor activities.10am-4pm. £30 

per child, or £85 for all 4 Explorers 

events (Winter, Easter, Summer & 

Autumn). Booking essential, tel: 

01572 770651 or visit 


Wed 12, Tue 18 

Machine Sewing for Children 



More great sewing projects for 

young sewers, suitable for age 7+. 

No prior knowledge required. 2pm- 

4pm Wed 12, 10am-12noon Tue 18. 

£16 per child per session. 



Wed 12 

Chicken Surprise 



Surprises all round, as you make a 

‘find the egg’ game, and a chicken 

Easter decoration that can hide 

away an egg as a gift. For age 

4+. 10.30am-11am or 11.45am- 

12.45pm. £4 per child. Tel: 0116 

257 2888 www.brocks-hill.co.uk 

Wed 12 

Easter Animal Day 

Belgrave Hall Gardens, Leicester LE4 5PE 

Join us for our first event of the 

year! Take part in the Easter trail, 




say hello to our gorgeous animals, 

and enjoy the craft activities. 

Drop in 11am-4pm. £2.50 for craft 

activities. Tel: 0116 229 8181 

Thu 13 

Minibeast Hunt 

Oakham Castle, Market Pl, Oakham 

LE15 6DR 

Meet the smallest residents 

of the castle. Leave no stone 

unturned! Wear clothing suitable 

for rummaging outside. Fun for 

ages 3+. 2pm-3pm. £1 per person. 

Booking recommended, tel: 01572 

757578 

Mon 13 

Beginners’ Dressmaking 



A sewing session for age 10+ to 

learn to begin using dressmaking 

patterns, cut out pattern pieces 

and sew them together. 

10am-3pm. £30 per child. 



Thu 13 

Easter Mobile Decoration 



Using branches from the Country 

Park, make an Easter mobile and 

decorate it with Easter eggs and 

characters. For age 5+. 10.30am- 

11am or 11.45am-12.45pm. 

£4 per child. Tel: 0116 257 2888 


Thu 13, Tue 18 & Wed 19 

Where the River Runs 

The Brite Centre (11am Thu 13), Beaumont 

Leys Library (4pm Thu 13), Pork Pie 

Library & Community Centre (11am Tue 

18), Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre (4pm 

Tue 18), St Matthews Library (11am Wed 

19), St Barnabas Library (4pm Wed 19) 

Made with young audiences (age 

5+) in mind, this high quality dance 

performance tells the simple story 

of a stranger trying to cross a river, 

and what happens when the water 

comes to life and starts a wild and 

wonderful journey. With stunning 

movement and spectacular lifts, this 

dynamic and beautiful story, set in 

the rain forest, will have children and 

families captivated and enthralled. 

Contact venues for tickets. 

www.thesparkarts.co.uk/river 

Fri 14 – Mon 17 

Easter @ Foxton 

Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, The Boiler 

House, Foxton LE16 7RA 

Easter egg treasure trail, craft 

stalls & boats, FIPT Stall. For 

details tel: 0116 279 2657 


Author and Adventurer Steve Backshall 

named Judge of this year’s National 

Young Writers’ Awards! 

The National Young Writers’ Awards 

has returned bigger and better than 

ever before as author, TV presenter 

and adventurer, Steve Backshall has 

been named judge for 2017. The 

competition, organised by tuition 

provider, Explore Learning, has 

been running for nine years and has 

inspired hundreds of thousands of 

children across the UK to put pen to 

paper and give writing a try. 

This year’s theme is ‘The Future’ 

where children are encouraged 

to write a 500 word story set in 

3017! Whether that means we’re 

families living in space, robots 

ruling the world or new species of 

animal roaming the wild – Explore 

Learning want to hear from you! 

TV presenter and adventurer, Steve 

Backshall is also the author of 

The Falcon Chronicles, the bestselling 

adventure fiction series for 

children. 

He says: “I’m really excited to be the judge 

on this year’s National Young Writers’ 

Awards. Writing was my first love and I 

think it’s so important for children to let 

their imaginations run wild and have a go 

at entering writing competitions like this!” 

Children can enter now at explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters 

for a chance to win a family trip to Disneyland as well as 

£500 worth of books for their school and a trophy! 





April 

Fri 14 

Bunny Hunt 

Quorn Village Hall, Leicester Rd LE12 8BB 

The Easter bunny has recently 

taken up residence in Quorn and 

has been bouncing about planning 

an Easter eggstravaganza. Register 

from 10am for your free bunny ears 

(for the kids!) and clues...The hunt 

will take approx. 1hr (depending on 

how fast you hop!) and is open to 

all ages - the walking trail will take 

you to different areas of Quorn as 

you learn more about the village 

with Easter themed surprises 

along the way. Last registration 

2pm. £3.50 per child. Happy egg 

hunting! www.quorndon.com 

Fri 14 – Mon 17 

Egg Hunt 

Stoneywell, Markfield LE67 9QE 

The Bunny has hidden precious 

choccy eggs - it’s up to you and your 

family to find them by joining the 

Egg Hunt! To make sure you have 

loads of fun along the way, take a 

map and follow clues - a delicious 

treat will be waiting for you at the 

end. The cottage will be open to 

explore, with volunteers on hand 

to give an insight into family life at 

Stoneywell. 10am-4pm. £2 per child 

plus normal admission. Booking 

essential, tel: 01530 248048 

Fri 14 – Mon 17 

Easter Eggstravaganza 

West Lodge Rural Centre, Desborough 

NN14 2SH 

Throughout the Easter school 

holidays we’ll have lots of fun 

activities for you to enjoy, & over 

the Easter weekend you can take 

part in the Easter Quiz, follow 

clues around the farm which will 

lead you to the Easter Bunny in 

his Easter garden and receive an 

Easter egg, paint an egg, & take 

part in the egg and spoon race and 

egg painting competition 

Tel: 01536 760552 or visit 

www.westlodgeruralcentre.co.uk 

Fri 14 – Mon 17 

Easter Adventure Quest 

Ashby de la Zouch Castle, LE65 1BR 

Adventurers wanted this Easter 

weekend! You’ll 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 Kenwood and crack 

the clues. Rise to the challenge 

and win your chocolate reward. It’s 

time to get hands-on with history. 

11am-5pm. Normal admission 

applies. Tel: 01530 413343 

Sat 15 

Easter Craft Extravaganza 



Fun for all the family! Locally 

produced crafts for sale, plus some 

crafts for you to try out. Children’s 

crafts also available. 10.30am-3pm. 

Free entry & parking. Tel: 0116 257 

2888 www.brocks-hill.co.uk 

Sat 15 

Bunny Bonanza 

Newarke Houses Museum, Leicester 

LE2 7BY 

Come along to our fun-packed 

Easter family event with crafts, 

trail, colouring and prizes. Drop 

in 11am-3.30pm. Refreshments 

available. £2.50 for crafts, 

including Easter cards and bunny 

masks. Tel: 0116 225 4980 

Sat 15 

Easter in the Yard 

Cotesbach Educational Trust, Main 

Street, Cotesbach LE17 4HX 

Easter egg hunt in The Stable Yard 

and other crafts and activities on 

site. 10am-4pm. Free entry. Tel: 

07928 628317 

Sat 15 

Easter Eggstravaganza 

Coalville Market 

Easter activities for children aged 

5-12. 10am-12noon. Tel: 01530 

837785 

Sat 15 

Easter Egg Hunt 

Dove Cottage Hospice, Stathern, Melton 

Mowbray LE14 4EX 

Our first ever Easter egg hunt - join 

us for this exciting new event! 

Games, stalls and refreshments. 

10.30am-12.30pm. £4 child, £1 

adult. Tel: 01949 860303 

Sat 15 – Mon 17 

Get Creative: Wild Nile 



Recreate the vitality and vibrancy 

of the Ancient Egyptian River Nile. 

Get creative and make crocodiles 

and hippopotamus’ before sailing 

your own paper boat down this 

ancient river. Drop in 11am-1pm & 

2pm-4pm. Tel: 0116 225 4900 

Sun 16 

Model Trains Public Running 

Hermitage Recreation Ground, 

Hermitage Road, Whitwick LE67 5EU 

The North West Leicestershire 

Society of Model Engineers run our 

model trains and Traction Engines 

(when possible) every third Sunday 

of the month. Tel: 07922 692076 

http://nwlsme.co.uk 

Sun 16 

Easter Egg Hunt & Ride the 

Rutlander 

Rocks by Rail, Cottesmore, Oakham 

LE15 7FF 

Welcome to an outdoor adventure, 

cast in an ironstone quarry. 

Covering 19 acres of reclaimed 

quarry, railway tracks and nature 

trails, Rocks by Rail is a journey 

back in time. Tel: 07974 17106 

www.rocks-by-rail.org 

Mon 17 

Mad Hatters Tea Party 

Old Brickyard Tea Garden, Eastwell Rd, 

Scalford, Melton Mowbray LE14 4ST 

Fun filled family event, with mad 

hat competition, the sock tree, 

craft stalls, arty crafty demos & 

face painting (£2). Charity tombola 

for HOPE AGAINST CANCER http:// 

hopeagainstcancer.org.uk 10am- 

5pm. Free entry & parking. Tel: 

07803 206852 

Mon 17 

Easter Needle Felting 


LE15 6DR 

Make felt Easter egg, chick or 

bunny - all instructions given. 

Great activity for children aged 

8+ and adults, perfect for doing 

together. Drop in 10.30am-3.30pm; 

allow about 1.5 hrs to complete 

your creation. £6 per item. Booking 

recommended as it’s likely to get 

busy and there is limited space. 

Tel: 01572 757578 

Tue 18 

Wet Felting for Children - Selfie 



Learn how to wet felt - and take 

home your very own wet felted 

selfie! 2pm-3.30pm. £10. 



Tue 18 

Edible Engineering 

Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester LE4 5PX 

Fun with food: make a soup engine 

to take home, build bridges using 

spaghetti and marshmallows. 

Activities £2.50. 11am-3pm. Tel: 

0116 299 5111 

Tue 18 & Thu 20 

Anglo Sikh Wars Exhibition: Arts 

and Crafts Session 

Newarke Houses Museum, Leicester 

LE2 7BY 

Make paper 3D models of the 

Golden Temple, as well as 

participating in colouring activities 

with flags and uniforms from the 

Anglo Sikh wars. Drop in 1pm- 

3.30pm. Free. Tel: 0116 225 4980 

Sun 16 

The Bosworth Bunny! 

Bosworth Water Park, Market Bosworth 

CV13 6PD 

Join us for our annual kids’ 

Easter Egg Hunt with the famous 

Bosworth Bunny! All children 

welcome to attend. The hunt starts 

at 10.30am outside the office. Tel: 

01455 291876 Continued on page 18... 

Wed 19 

St George’s Day 

Belgrave Hall Gardens, Leicester LE4 5PE 

Join us for a day of swords, 

stories, dragons and wimples. 

Drop in 11am-4pm. £2.50 for craft 

activities. Tel: 0116 229 8181 





April 

Wed 19 

Spring Animals 

Rutland County Museum, Oakham LE15 

6HW 

Hop along and make some cute 

spring animal crafts including 

bunny and lamb decorations, 

masks, pictures and fridge 

magnets. Suitable for accompanied 

children aged 4-10. Drop in 10am- 

12noon or 1.30pm-3.30pm. £2 per 

child. Tel: 01572 758440 

Wed 19 

Stupendous Sunflowers 



It’s that time of year to plant your 

sunflower seeds and start growing 

your giant wonders. Also sunflower 

crafts to enjoy. For children of all 

ages. 10.30am-11am or 11.45am- 

12.45pm. £4 per child. 

Telephone: 0116 257 2888 


Wed 19 

Family Open Day 

ZigZag Photography, 18 Portland Road, 

Clarendon Park, Leicester LE2 3AB 

Lots of fun activities, & free 

kids themed mini photo-shoot 

& 7x5 print – don’t forget to 

dress up! 12noon-4pm. www. 

zigzagphotography.co.uk/ziglets 

Wed 19 

Wild Play - Stone Age Adventure 

Burbage Common, Hinckley LE10 3DD 

Build a natural shelter, make a 

bow and arrows, and create some 

Stone Age art. Children’s holiday 

activities suitable for 

accompanied & supervised 

children aged 5-12. 10.30am- 

12.30pm. £3.50 per child per 

session. Booking essential, tel: 

01455 255728 please mention 

Primary Times Leicestershire 

Thu 20 

Birds, Bugs and Boats 

Rutland Water Sports Centre, Whitwell 

Park LE15 8BL 

Join us at for a day of boating fun! 

We will explore the reservoir with 

the experts, discovering signs 

and observing the different birds 

and bugs that live here - see how 

they behave in their environment, 

learn to identify them and have 

fun along the way. For ages 7-14. 

10am-4pm. Booking essential, tel: 

01572 770651 

Thu 20 

Leather Stamping Workshop 


LE15 6DR 

Try your hand at decorative 

leatherwork. You can choose 

to make a key-ring or bracelet. 

Great activity for children aged 

8+ and adults. Drop in 10.30am- 

3.30pm; allow about 30 minutes 

to complete your creation. £6 per 

item. Booking recommended as 

it’s likely to get busy and there is 

limited space. Telephone: 01572 

757578 

Thu 20 

Busy Birds of Spring: Nest 

Building 



Explore the Park to discover the 

birds that live here. Learn about 

what they eat & where they nest, 

then make a nest of your own. 

For age 5+. 10.30am-11am or 

11.45am-12.45pm. £4 per child. 

Tel: 0116 257 2888 


Thu 20 

Arty Party 


Fun craft and arty day for all ages 

- come and get messy and creative 

at the Guildhall! Bring a jam jar or 

t-shirt to create your own unique 

design, have a go at weaving with 

fabrics, glitter and glass paints and 

clay; face painting and trails all 

day. Drop in 11am-3pm. £2.50. Tel: 

0116 253 2569 

Fri 21 

Little Crafters 



A crafty session especially for 

children aged 4-7 (R-Y2) - younger 

and older siblings welcome too. 

Each session has 3 or 4 different 

activities to have a go at, so come 

and sew, paint, stick and make 

some brilliant crafty things to take 

home! 1.30pm-2.30pm. £6 per 

child (siblings £4 each). 



Fri 21 

Pondamonium 



Come and join our first pond dip 

of the year to see what wildlife 

treasures can be found above and 

below the water. For children of 

all ages, but 1 to 1 supervision 

required for under-5s. 

10.10am-11am, 11.10am-12noon 

or 12.10pm-1pm. £4 per child. 

Tel: 0116 257 2888 


Sat 22 

NCT Nearly New Sale 

Loughborough Students’ Union 

Building, Ashby Road, Loughborough, 

LE11 3TT 

A fantastic opportunity to buy good 

quality pre-loved children’s clothes 

(ages 0-14), baby equipment, 

toys, books, games and more. 

11.30am-1.30pm (11am entry 

for NCT members). £1 per adult. 

For details visit www.nct.org.uk/ 

loughborough 

Sat 22 

The Anker Morris Men 

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & 

Country Park CV13 0AD 

We are delighted to welcome The 

Anker Morris Men to the courtyard 

at Bosworth. 11am. Tel: 01455 

290429 




Education 

Kip McGrath Tuition Loughborough 

– linking school and home 

When you bring your child to Kip McGrath for 

a free assessment, we know that you may be 

desperate with worry for your child. We offer 

hope, reassurance and support. 

Hope is for knowing that there is light at the 

end of the tunnel. No matter how far behind in 

school your child is, we will work 1-2-1 with your 

child to stop the slide and start the rise. 

Reassurance is for the knowledge that our 

teachers are qualified and experienced, love their 

work and will understand the needs of your child. 

Support is for taking your child at their level, no 

matter how high or low, and moving them up. 

We also support parents, helping with questions 

you want to ask in school but are afraid to, or 

don’t know how. 

Parents and teachers tell us about the remarkable 

difference that Kip McGrath tuition has made. 

We want our students to succeed, to enjoy 

tuition and arrive and leave with a smile on their 

faces. We make learning enjoyable and fun. 

Come and join us and find out how Kip 

McGrath works. See our advert for details. 

Individual Tuition 

The Reading Shop first started offering 

individual tuition to children in September 

2001.Since then it has taught over 400 

children. 

Its aims are simple: “we only take children 

who are showing a significant delay in 

learning to read and spell and we don’t give 

up until they have caught up.” Most children 

make rapid progress: an average gain of 

13 months in reading age over 8 hours of 

tuition, i.e. 30 minutes a week of 1:1 specialist 

teaching over 16 weeks. 

As soon as they are reading and spelling at 

the right level for their age, they leave! 

“We recognise that parents who bring 

their children to us have often endured 

months if not years of worry, so we aim to 

make them welcome. In our friendly and 

comfortable premises, they can relax and see 

that their children are enjoying their lessons 

and making progress.” 

Please telephone 079739528 for further 

information. 

The 

Reading 

Shop 

...helping children to 

success since 2001 

Skilled one-to-one 

tuition for children 

who need extra 

help in reading 

and spelling 

For further information 

about classes telephone 

(0116) 2717077 

www.thereadingshop.co.uk 

Created by Freepik 

Education 

Loughborough • 01509 236622 

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To advertise 

here and reach 

51,000 

parents, 

teachers 

& children 

call 020 8529 

7982 

April 

Sat 22 

St. George’s Festival 

Leicester, various venues 

Annual family-friendly festival 

with music, dance and live 

performances, on Orton Square and 

venues around the Cultural Quarter, 

St. George’s area and Leicester 

Market. Tel: 0116 454 3600 

Sat 22 

Real Life Gifs 

Phoenix, Leicester LE1 1TG 

Learn how to turn Gifs – short 

animated images used on web 

pages – into real life paper 

animations. Inspired by early 

cinema techniques, this workshop 

shows how you can bring these 

ideas to life in the digital age. 

Suitable for accompanied children 

aged 4-10. Drop in 12noon-3pm. 

Tel: 0116 242 2800 

Sat 22 

St George’s Day Event & Scout 

Parade 

Hinckley Town Centre 

Celebrate this great patriotic day 

in your community, with flags 

lining the streets, activities, 

demonstrations, theatre and stalls. 

All performances and activities 

are free. Fun for the whole family 

including Punch & Judy and 

traditional Morris dancing. 10am- 

2pm. Tel: 01455 238141 

“ 

We saw it 

in Primary 

Times 

“ 

Please mention to our 

advertisers that you saw 

their advert or listing in 

Primary Times! 

Sun 23 

Free Canal Boating Taster 

Sessions 

ABC Boat Hire, Union Wharf, Market 

Harborough LE16 7UW 

Drifters Waterway Holidays and 

the Canal & River Trust are offering 

a chance to try canal boating, 

with free trips on skippered 

narrowboats. Drop in 11am-4pm. 

Tel: 01858 432123 

www.drifters.co.uk/openday 

Thu 26 

Autism: Challenging Behaviour 

Workshop 

Salvation Army, Ladysmith Road, S. 

Wigston LE18 4UZ 

For parents and carers who are 

supporting people with Autism. 

Topics include what we mean 

by challenging behaviour, the 

impact the behaviour makes, the 

cause & purposes of behaviour & 

strategies to help you manage. 

9.45am-12noon. Free for parents 

& carers, £10 for professionals. 

To book email: marketing@ 

glebehouseproject.org.uk 

Thu 27 – Thu 6 July (every Thurs) 

Children Contemporary Dance 10 

Week Course 


Leicester, Lancaster Rd, LE1 7HA 

Provide your children with a great 

activity, training and love for 

dance. 4.30-5.30pm. Tel: 0116 252 

2455 www.sites.google.com/site/ 

sarachirimini/ 

Sat 29 

Blue Lights Day 

Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester LE4 5PX 

Railway running day with the 

emergency services. Free admission, 

small charge for train rides. 11am- 

4pm. Tel: 0116 299 5111 

Sat 29 Apr & 6, 13 & 20 May 

Children’s Art & Craft Club 



For children who love to make, 

paint, draw and craft, our 

weekly term-time club gives 

children aged 6+ all kinds of 

different opportunities to try new 

techniques, learn new skills and 

get creative. 1pm-2pm. £35. To 

book tel: 01858 466692 or visit 


May 

Mon 1 

May Day Carnival 

Stafford Orchard, Quorn LE12 8BS 

Popular annual event for all 

the family. Stalls, fairground, 

entertainment, refreshments and 

much much more. From 12noon. 

www.quorndon.com 

Mon 1 

Green Man Mask Making 



Celebrate spring by making your 

own Green Man mask and explore 

the origins of this representation of 

life & nature. Drop in 11am-1pm & 

2pm-4pm. Free. Tel: 0116 225 4900 

Mon 1 

The Rites of Spring 


A folky fun day for all the family 

with Maypole, Morris dancing, 

crafts and trails (12.30pm-4pm), 

plus the opportunity to do-si-do in 

the Great Hall with Ceilidh band 

3Around3 (12.30pm-5pm). £2 

adult, £1 child. Tel: 0116 253 2569 

Fri 5 

Special Needs Evening 

360 Play, Meridian Leisure Park, 

Braunstone Town, Leicester LE19 1JZ 

This regular evening brings 

children, parents and carers 

together to compare notes, make 

new friends and have lots of fun. 

Brothers, sisters and friends 

all welcome. Full use of all the 

facilities will keep even the most 

energetic children occupied for 

the evening. 6.30pm-8.30pm. 

£6 per child, adults free. For 

details tel: 01162 894731 or visit 


Sat 6, 13 & 20 

Gallery Family Workshops 


Leicester, Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA 

Explore themes, materials and 

ideas from our Night in the Museum 

exhibition with our friendly learning 

team. For all ages. Drop in 1pm- 

3pm. Free. Tel: 0116 252 2455 

www.attenborougharts.com 

Sat 6 

Messy Play 

Emmanuel Church Hall, Forest Road, 

Loughborough, LE11 3NW 

Relaxed monthly session for 

families with children aged 0-5 

with a range of craft and messy 

activities. Previous activities have 

included baking, planting seeds, 

junk box modelling and painting. 

10am-11.30am. £2.50 first child, 

£3.50 2 or more children aged 12 

months+ (inc refreshments). 

www.nct.org.uk/loughborough 

Sun 7 

Burbage Common Open Day 

Leicester Road, Hinckley LE10 3DD 

23rd annual countryside open day, 

with workshops, alpacas, traditional 

crafts, stalls, Morris dancers, 

Maypole dancing, animals, falconry, 

pond dipping, den building, farmers 

market and lots more. 10.30am- 

4.30pm. Tel: 01455 255799 

Sat 13 

Achille Wood and Farm Walk 

Hill Farm, Packington, LE65 1W 

A leisurely 2-mile stroll around 

the farm and woodland, taking in 

Canadian Bison, Red Deer, Alpacas 

and many more. Finish with a visit 

to the farm shop for refreshments. 

10am-12noon. Children welcome. 

Dogs on leads. Tel: 01283 551211 

Sat 13 & Sun 14 

National Mills Weekend 

Various venues 

Annual festival of our milling heritage 

provides you with an opportunity 

to visit mills, many of which are not 

usually open to the public. 

Visit www.nationalmillsweekend. 

co.uk/nmw.htm 

Sun 14 

Family Wild Walk 



LE15 8BT 

Explore the Reserve on one of our 

wild walks, a relaxed introduction 

to some of our very special 

wildlife – suitable for the whole 

family. What wildlife we see will 

depend on the weather, but we 

can guarantee a lovely walk in 

a beautiful location. 2.30pm- 

4.30pm. £5 adult, £3 child. Booking 

essential, tel: 01572 770651 or visit 


Sun 14 

Fete, Dog Show & It’s a Knockout 

Stathern Lodge, Dove Cottage Hospice, 

Stathern, Melton Mowbray LE14 4EX 

A great fun day out for all, bigger & 

better for 2017, with games, stalls, 

refreshments & prize draw. Free 

entry. Tel: 01949 860303 

We take great care to 

ensure information 

is correct at the time 

of press. However, we 

would advise parents to 

phone & check details 

prior to making a long 

trip ...or a promise! 



Competition Page 

Prizes sourced by 

Send entries with your name, address, telephone number, email address and school you attend by 

post to: Primary Times, P O Box 39047, London E4 8YZ Enter on Twitter – Tweet your answer to @PrimaryTLeics 

remember to follow us so we can send you a direct tweet if you win. Alternatively enter online 

www.primarytimes.net/leicestershire and click onto our competition area. 

Can you beat the Cube?! 

Win a family ticket to the theatre as part of this year’s Spark Festival 

The Spark Festival are giving away a family ticket for four people to see 

Digitopia at Curve. 

Digitopia is one of the highlights of this years festival, combining 

theatre, dance and some incredible, interactive computer graphics. 

Join Dotty and Hex in this fantastical wonderland for a rollercoaster 

ride of digital surprises. Dotty’s friend Hex is a simple twodimensional 

line. One day he really wants to make a curve. With 

lots of effort he learns to bend, then multiply, and he can turn into 

anything he wants to, eventually popping into three dimensions. 

Digitopia is a real visual treat and is suitable for 6 to 13 years. 

This year’s Spark Festival runs from Monday 22 to Monday 29 May and promises the usual 

mix of unforgettable theatre, dance, music, visual arts, workshops and creative digital 

technologies alongside FREE drop in activities at the City Play-ground in venues across 

Leicester over the bank holiday weekend. 

The Rubik’s Cube, first launched 37 years ago, with 43 quintillion 

combinations and its unique turning and twisting action, is still 

the ultimate when it comes to perplexing puzzles. Primary Times 

Leicestershire & Rutland has teamed up with John Adams to offer 

3 lucky winners the opportunity 

to win a Rubik’s Cube along 

with a Rubik’s Twist and Rubik’s 

Spark in a package worth over 

£40 each! 

The Rubik’s Twist is the twisting, turning challenge that can take 

the form of thousands of figures and shapes. Instead of having a 

single solution, the Rubik’s Twist can be used to create multiple 

outcomes of unlimited puzzle shapes! 

Experience Rubik’s like never before with Rubik’s Spark, the 

amazing new electronic cube, featuring six challenging games 

for both individual and social play! 

To be in with a chance to win a family ticket (up to four people) to see 

Digitopia at Curve on Tuesday 23 May at 7pm, simply answer this question. 

In Digitopia who is Dottys friend? 

Send your answer to the address at the top of this page by Monday 24 April 2017! 

For a full brochure of this year’s fun packed festival call 0116 261 6893 or go online 

www.sparkfestival.co.uk. 

For your chance to win one of these great packages, all you 

need to do is correctly answer the following question and send 

your entry in to the address at the top of the page. Good luck! 

How many games does the Rubik’s Spark feature? 

a) 3 b) 5 c) 6 

Closing date: 24 April 2017 

If you aren’t lucky enough to win this time, you can get your own 

Rubik’s Cube from: www.johnadams.co.uk 

We have ‘The Boss Baby’ 

goody bags up for grabs! 

Primary Times Leicestershire 

& Rutland have teamed up with 

Twentieth Century Fox to celebrate 

the launch of a new DreamWorks 

Animation! You are invited to meet 

a most unusual baby…. he wears 

a suit, speaks with the voice and 

wit of Alec Baldwin and stars in the 

animated comedy, The Boss Baby. 

Which famous actor plays the voice of The Boss Baby? 

A Brad Pitt B Alec Baldwin C Ryan Reynolds 

To be in with a chance of winning one of these fabulous prizes all you need 

to do is send in your correct answer to the address at the top of this page 

by Monday 24 April 2017 

Win Win Win! A family 

ticket to see Gangsta 

Granny at De Montfort Hall 

It’s Friday night and Ben knows that 

means only one thing – staying with 

Granny! There will be cabbage soup, 

cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben 

knows one thing for sure – it’s going to 

be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that 

Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more 

exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the 

adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny! 

From the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories comes 

this amazing story by David Walliams, the UK’s best-selling 

author for children. 

“I am over the moon that Gangsta Granny is coming to the stage. It’s the most 

popular of all my books and I am sure this production by the brilliant Birmingham 

Stage Company will delight not just children but their parents and of course 

grandparents.” David Walliams 

For your chance to win a family ticket for performance 28 June at 7pm, 

just answer this question: 

What talent show is Gangsta Granny author David Walliams a judge on? 

A) The X Factor B) Britain’s Got talent C) The Voice 

Send your answer to the address at the top of the page along with your contact details 

Closing date 24 April 2017 



Family & Children’s Shows 

De Montfort Hall 

Box Office: 0116 233 3111 

Leicester LE1 7RU 

Sun 2 Apr 

Justin’s Party 

Justin Fletcher is coming to town 

and you are invited to his brand 

new show, which is packed full 

of fantastic songs, dances and 

hilarious games guaranteed to 

make it the party of the year. There 

will be lots of exciting surprises 

along the way and you’ll get to 

meet Justin’s adorable new puppy 

Engelbert! So what are you waiting 

for? Get your party clothes ready 

and come and join in with this very 

exciting fun-tastic celebration! 

Attenborough Arts 

Centre 

Box Office: 0116 252 2455 

University of Leicester LE1 7HA 

Sun 23 Apr 

Oliver in the Overworld 

The first ever musical created from 

scratch with sign language, this is a 

funny and surreal tale of a little deaf 

boy who travels to The Overworld, 

The Land of Machinery, seeking the 

parts to mend the memory of his best 

friend Oliver the Grandfather Clock. 

With beautiful puppets, magical 

transformations, 10 super songs and 

daft dances, and fully integrated 

Sign Language, it is suitable for both 

deaf and hearing audiences. 

Loughborough 

Town Hall 

Box Office: 01509 231914 

LE11 3EB 

Wed 12 Apr 

Alice in Wonderland 

A spectacularly bonkers show for 

children and adults - join in the 

hilarity before having the opportunity 

to meet the characters after the 

show...why not come dressed up as 

your favourite? Suitable for all ages 

We take great care 

to ensure information 

is correct at the time of 

press. However, we would 

advise parents to phone 

& check details prior to 

making a long trip 

...or a promise! 

Century Theatre 

Box Office: 01530 278444 

Snibston Discovery Park, Coalville 

LE67 3LN 

Fri 19 May 

Cinderella 

Vienna Festival Ballet is proud to 

present this classic tale, one of the 

best-known rags-to-riches fairy 

tales of all time. 

CURVE 

Box Office: 0116 242 3595 

Leicester LE1 1SB 

Mon 3 – Sun 9 Apr 

Fantastic Mr Fox 

Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather 

fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how 

determined the farmers are to get 

revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save 

his family and friends? This world 

premiere and flagship production 

for the Roald Dahl centenary 

celebrations promises a dahl-icious 

theatrical feast with live music and 

gloriumptious designs. 

Tue 11 – Sat 15 Apr 

We’re Going On A Bear 

Hunt 

Michael Rosen’s award-winning 

book is brought to the stage in 

this fun-filled adaptation set to 

a versatile lively score. Join our 

intrepid family of adventurers and 

their musical dog on their quest to 

find a bear; as they wade through 

the gigantic swishy swashy grass, 

the splishy splashy river and the 

thick oozy, squelchy mud! 

Thu 13 Apr 

Silver Electra 

It’s 1937. Amelia Earhart, the most 

famous woman on the planet has 

gone missing in her silver Electra 

aeroplane. 40 years later and 2,000 

miles away in Australia, an old jar 

of freckle cream is discovered by an 

elderly woman on the beach. Could 

it offer a clue to the disappearance 

of Amelia? Created for children aged 

9-14, and their families. The perfect 

introduction to English Touring Opera. 

Sat 22 Apr 

Peter and the Wolf 

The musical story of a mischievous 

boy who lives with his grandfather. 

Against his grandfather’s wishes, 

Peter wanders out into the meadow 

to play with his animal friends. 

Grandfather has warned Peter of a 

wolf in the nearby forest, but not 

heeding his advice, he finds himself 

in peril. Find out how this clever boy 

and his animal friends triumph.

Primary Times Leicestershire & Rutland issue 96 Easter 2017

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