Primary Times Warwickshire & Solihull Back to School 2019

42,000 COPIES FOR FAMILIES 

OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN 

Primary Times Warwickshire & Solihull 

Warwickshire & Solihull 

www.primarytimes.co.uk 

27 Nov – 11 Jan 

BOOK NOW www.belgrade.co.uk 

DAYS OUT • EDUCATION • COMPETITIONS • FAMILY FUN 

BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire | BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 1 

4 SEPT – 13 OCT


2 

BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire


BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire | SUMMER 2019 1 


Contents 

4 Local News 

Dear Readers, 

Back to School 

Issue 2019 


42,000 COPIES FOR FAMILIES 

OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN 

WELCOME 

6 What's on Where 

10 Launching a 

Love of Reading 

12 Box Office 

14 Pinboard 

15 Competitions 

Primary Times is independently published and distributed free through national primary schools in Warwickshire & 

Solihull. It aims to inform families and children about current educational issues, forthcoming events, courses, attractions 

and to give teachers, pupils and parents the opportunity to participate in the magazine by adding to its contents or by 

joining in the 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 Warwickshire & Solihull for their 

assistance in distributing the magazine and for their contributions to its contents. We would also like to thank all the 

advertisers who have supported this publication and therefore made it possible. Please support their endeavours when 

and where you can. The copyright on all written material, logos and advertising artwork produced by our studio remains 

with Primary Times or with the relevant contributor. Primary Times is currently publishing over 2 million copies per issue 

under franchise licences throughout Britain. 

Welcome to our back to school edition! We hope you had a 

fantastic summer break and now feel ready to start a new school 

year. We also want to give a warm welcome to all of our new 

readers who have little ones just starting their first year of school! 

It’s such an exciting time full of new experiences for them and 

you, and we hope these first few weeks go just as well as you 

would wish. For our regular readers, we’ll be bringing you local 

news and great competitions again throughout the year and lots 

of opportunities for fun with your family. 

Although we are between seasons, our What’s On Where 

pages still offer a variety of family and child-friendly events and 

activities on in your local area and we always try to include as 

many free events as possible. Don’t forget to browse our Box 

Office pages for local theatre shows suitable for your budding 

theatre-goers. Remember to check the venues’ websites before 

you plan to visit, in case there have been any changes to times or 

dates. 

We’ll be back again in October, in good time before the half term 

holiday and no doubt there will be lots of theatre tickets to be 

won! 

With very best wishes, 

The Primary Times Team 

Primary Times in Warwickshire & Solihull, 

is published by: 

Schools Publishing Limited 

Unit 1A, Thamesview Industrial Estate, 

Newtown Road, Henley on Thames 

RG9 1HG Telephone: 01491 411848 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire 

www.primarytimes.co.uk 

27 Nov – 11 Jan 

BOOK NOW www.belgrade.co.uk 

DAYS OUT • EDUCATION • COMPETITIONS • FAMILY FUN 

4 SEPT – 13 OCT 

...the UK’s biggest, free ‘what’s 

on’ magazine for parents! 

Sue Wintersgill 

sue.wintersgill@primarytimes.co.uk 

Kate Terry 

kate.terry@primarytimes.co.uk 

Design: Stuart Cameron 

The UK’s biggest free ‘what’s on’ magazine 

for parents! Primary Times in Warwickshire 

& Solihull distributes 42,105 copies seven 

times a year, and is part of a national network 

distributing more than 2.7 million copies in 59 

regions across the UK and Ireland 

Total Average Qualified 

Circulation: 42,105 

BPA March Statement 2018 

Visit us: suttoncoldfield.razzamataz.co.uk 

What will you become? 

#BrightFuturesAtRazzamataz 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire | BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 3


LOCAL NEWS 

4 


NEWS 

Do you have news to celebrate? We’d love to hear! 

Email sue.wintersgill@primarytimes.co.uk 


Major Writers & Broadcasters 

Lead Literary Festival’s Winter 

Line-Up 

The Stratford Literary Festival 

will be packing some of the 

most respected writers and 

veteran broadcasters into 

a weekend of events this 

November. 

In a programme of events 

running from 1st to 3rd 

November, the Festival will 

transport you from the world’s 

newsrooms to India of the Raj 

and even fair Verona, over three 

days of events for all ages. 

For families, there’ll be loads of 

half term fun for all ages with 

comedian Ben Miller meeting 

Father Christmas, the hilarious 

Andy Seed exploring all things 

gross, celebrating 50 years of 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

with the chance to help build a 

giant one, and the opportunity 

to explore the story with sensory 

stimulation through Arty Splatz. 

The Word Wizards will be 

letting you in on the naughty 

vocabulary of Roald Dahl, and 

events for children round off 

with some Really Big Pants 

Theatre Company storytelling 

fun. 

A busy schedule will include 

veteran broadcasters Sir Trevor 

McDonald and John Humphrys, 

as he hangs up his BBC Radio 4 

Today programme headphones 

for the last time, and both will 

be discussing the highlights of 

their careers, the interviews they 

have done with world leaders 

and the world affairs they have 

covered over the decades. 

Historian Sir Max Hastings 

reveals details of his new 

book on the Dam Buster raids. 

The outspoken Birmingham 

Yardley MP Jess Phillips will be 

campaigning for more open 

government in her book Truth to 

Power, and BBC’s Carrie Gracie 

will tackle the equal pay debate 

over which she left her role as 

China editor. Award winning 

historian Tom Holland will be 

discussing how Christianity 

has endured since the earliest 

times, as outlined in his superb 

new book Dominion, and the 

Oxford University Shakespeare 

expert, Emma Smith, will be 

bringing a new slant to the 

Bard’s work. Cheesemonger 

Ned Palmer takes us on an 

odyssey around the British Isles, 

with tickets including a glass 

of wine, cheese to sample, 

and a copy of his book, and 

producer David Parker reveals 

never-before-seen footage of 

Laurie Lee talking about his 

beloved Cotswolds. Finally, the 

legendary Jenny Eclair takes us 

from stand up to sit down with 

life as a novelist. 

‘Our Winter Weekend is 

crammed this year with loads 

to see and do,’ says Festival 

Director, Annie Ashworth. 

‘and will hopefully provide a 

diversion after the will we/ 

won’t we Brexit deadline of 

31st October! We’re offering 

up a platter that includes fair 

pay and fair play, the future of 

broadcasting, Father Christmas 

and cheese – so a bit of 

everything!’ 

This year’s Winter Weekend 

is sponsored by David Hunt 

Lighting, who are long-time 

supporters of the Festival. 

Waterstones will be selling 

books and the programme 

cover is designed by Stratford 

artist, Sara Huxley-Edwards. 

All events take place at the 

Stratford Play House, United 

Reformed Church or Hotel du 

Vin and tickets are available 

by phone on 0333 666 3366, 

online via the Festival website at 

stratlitfest.co.uk or in person at 

Stratford Play House. 

For further information: 

stratlitfest.co.uk 

BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire 

Leamington Music 

Education Programme – 

Where The Music Starts 

Have you heard of Leamington 

Music before? They put on 

concerts bringing international 

musicians to venues across 

Leamington and Warwick and, 

they bring these musicians to 

schools too: last year, through 

their Education Programme, 

ten musical ensembles gave 

twenty nine workshops in 

seventeen schools throughout 

Warwickshire playing live music 

to well over 3,500 children and, 

this year, the programme is 

even bigger. 

Concert activities are extremely 

varied – this year they have 

string quartets, early music 

bands, brass ensembles, 

pianists, guitarists and even 

a recorder quartet who play 

every type of recorder there is, 

including one that is well over 

six feet tall! 

Leamington Music is offering 

the following workshops to 

schools: in October: Curzon 

Brass – a brass quintet 

which is formed of two 

trumpets, a French 

horn, a trombone and 

a tuba. In November, 

guitarist Andrey 

Lebedev from Australia; 

the Palisander Recorder 

Quartet who are doing 

a Family Concert called 

“Beware the Spider!”; 

and the Talich String 

Quartet from the Czech 

Republic who play two 

violins, viola and cello. 

An exciting Early Music 

ensemble, The Gonzaga 

Band, come in January 

with cornetts (a very old 

version of the trumpet), violins, 

a harpsichord (an ancient 

type of piano with a very 

interesting sound) and a singer. 

There’s another string quartet 

in February – the Consone 

Quartet – and then, in March, 

musicians from Ensemble 360 

will be giving workshops before 

their Family Concert of the 

brilliant book “Sir Scallywag and 

the Battle of Stinky Bottom”. 

Leamington Music work in 

partnership with Warwickshire 

Music to bring live music to 

schools all over the county 

(not just in Leamington and 

Warwick) and they want to 

bring these musicians to YOUR 

school! If you would like them 

to play for your children, just ask 

the school to fill in the form on 

their website – 

www.leamingtonmusic.org/ 

education – and they will do 

the rest. 

Choose How You Move in 

Leamington Spa 

You can now earn rewards for walking, cycling or using public 

transport in Leamington thanks to a new app-based rewards 

programme, ‘Choose How You Move Leamington Spa’ 

powered by BetterPoints, a behaviour change platform. 

Delivered by Warwick District Council and BetterPoints 

in partnership with Warwickshire County Council, the 

programme aims to encourage anyone who lives, works, 

shops in or visits Leamington Spa to log their green travel 

in return for BetterPoints that are redeemable on the high 

street, or can be donated to 

charity. 

The BetterPoints app is 

available for free download 

now on Android and OS and 

the Choose How You Move 

Leamington programme 

will be available for an initial 

period of four months. For 

more information and tools 

to plan your journey, visit: 

www.warwickshire.gov. 

uk/activetravel

Getting your child’s 11+ 

foundations right! 

Places at Grammar and 

Independent schools are highly 

sought after in Warwickshire 

& Solihull and every year, the 

competition continues to rise. 

So when should I start my 

child’s 11+ preparation? 

Research shows that with the 

right guidance, children who 

start their preparation in Year 4 

and 5 have ample time to make 

progress in their studies. This 

allows time to expand key skills, 

identify any weaker areas and 

tackle them directly. 

What can KSOL do for you 

and your child? 

We combine over 16 years 

of experience in the CEM 

Assessment format to create 

up-to-date personalised online 

programmes. These 

are monitored by a 

team of qualified and 

caring tutors. Every 

child is considered 

as an individual and 

courses are tailored 

to help improve 

particular areas of 

weakness. 

Our educational 

advisors are always 

available to offer 

you and your child 

additional support 

and guidance when you need 

it. KSOL ensure no stone is left 

unturned to help provide your 

child with the best 11+ education 

and you with the peace of mind 

that you are on the right track. 

Benchmark your child’s ability 

and increase confidence with a 

full CEM 11+ mock exam! These 

are designed to reflect the 11+ 

standard expected from your 

child at each stage in the year, 

providing helpful checkpoints 

and detailed feedback. Your 

KSOL tutor will then target any 

weaker areas from the exam and 

incorporate them into your child’s 

online programme! 

See KSOL’s “Back to School” 

offers at www.ksol.co.uk or 

complete a FREE week trial 

today! Call us on 0121 733 6558. 


Your child’s 11plus journey starts here... 

Award-Winning 11+ Specialists 

R 

Enrol and SAVE 

Back to School 

OFFERS! 

SAVE 

up to 

£50! 

Personalised 11+ tuition 

tailored to suit your 

child’s individual needs 

Call us today! 

0121 733 6558 

Trusted and recommended by parents for over 16 years 

Discover local Shirley (Solihull) 11+ mock exams and online courses at: 

www.ksol.co.uk 

Terms and Conditions available on the website. Offers end 30/09/2019 

JOIN SWIMMING 

LESSONS AND 

WIN A TRIP TO 

LAPLAND * 

Visit everyoneactive.com/Lapland 

* GB 18+. Prize draw, one entry per adult or child enrolled. Those already on Direct 

Debit or paid in full for lessons will automatically be entered into draw. Valid email 

address required to enter. Closing date 15/12/2019. Participating centres only. 

Holiday: 2 adults & 2 children, B&B, date restrictions apply, domestic transfers 

excluded. Visit www.everyoneactive.com/Lapland for full terms. 

LOVES LEARNING TO SWIM WITH US 

Bedworth 

Leisure Centre 

02476 499010 

Pingles 

Leisure Centre 

02476 321200 

Everyone Active manages these facilities in partnership 

with Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council. 

everyoneactive.com facebook.com/everyoneactive @everyoneactive @everyoneactive 

15558_Warwickshire Primary Times_Half Page_Lapland_Nuneaton and Bedworth.indd 1www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire | BACK TO SCHOOL 12/08/2019 2019 14:28 5


WHAT’S ON WHERE 

Ongoing 

If you are looking for more inspiration, there 

are many more events on our website 


Chatterbooks: 8 to 11-year-olds 

Selected Libraries across Warwickshire 

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/libraries 

Book talk, fun games and crafts. See 

website for more details. 

T: 0300 555 8171. 

Lego Clubs 



Imaginative, creative Lego sessions 

for children. For primary school aged 

children unless otherwise stated. 

Code clubs: 9 to 11-year-olds 



A nationwide network of free afterschool 

coding clubs for children aged 9 

to 11. Booking may be required. Please 

contact warwickshire.gov.uk for further 

information. 

Book Magic 

Selected libraries across Warwickshire 


Free family fun for children of all ages 

and their accompanying adults. Stories 

and crafts: a different theme every week. 

T: 0300 555 8171. 

4 Sept – 19 Sept 

Birmingham Heritage Week: Soho 

Rooftop Tours 

Soho House B18 5LB 

www.birminghammusuems.org.uk 

Tours: 11.30am, 1 and 2.30pm. Take a 

tour up to the roof of Soho House to 

take in the panoramic views of the local 

area. Explore the elegant Georgian home 

of Birmingham’s foremost industrialist 

Matthew Boulton and the meeting 

place of the Lunar Society during 

Birmingham Heritage Week. Tours cost 

£10 per person. (Entry into visitor centre 

and grounds are free.) Pre-booking is 

advised. T: 0121 348 8150. 

6 Sept 

Jewellery Quarter Heritage Walk 

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter 

B18 6HA 


2-3.30pm. Birmingham’s world famous 

Jewellery Quarter has been Britain’s 

main seat of jewellery and silver 

manufacture for at least the last 150 

years. Come along for a lively guided 

walk looking at the people, places and 

themes that have helped to shape this 

singular working district. Pre-booking is 

essential. T: 0121 348 8140. 

I See the Future 

Henley Street CV37 6PT 

www.shakespeare.org.uk 

10am-5pm. See Stratford’s future 

through giant binoculars. The 

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, in 

partnership with the Royal Shakespeare 

Company and Creative Producers 

International, has commissioned 

Anagram to create an innovative artistic 

project that will explore the experiences 

and perspectives of Stratford-upon- 

Avon residents. Working with the local 

community, two pairs of giant binoculars 

will curiously appear on Henley Street 

and in the Bancroft Gardens over the 

weekend of 6-8 September. Creations 

developed at previous workshops will 

be transformed into vibrant animations 

that play inside the binoculars during the 

weekend. 

6 Sept – Ongoing 

Disability Play Sessions 

Bermuda Adventure Softplay World 

CV10 7SD 

www.bermudaplay.co.uk 

6-7.30pm. Once a month, the centre 

closes early to host a session for 

children with disabilities or special 

needs to come and play, with limited 

number of children. Siblings, parents and 

carers/guardians welcome. Pre-booking 

essential to secure your place, as places 

are limited for comfort and safety. 

T: 0024 76400 593. 

9 Sept 

Wildlife Watch After School Club - 

Wild Food Forage 

Brandon Marsh SSSI Nature Reserve and 

Visitor Centre CV3 3GW 

www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk 

3.45-5pm. Running monthly on Mondays. 

The sessions are aimed at children aged 

4 years and up, but younger siblings 

are welcome, adults must accompany 

their children unless they are 8 years 

and over. Please be aware activities 

occur in all weathers, so please dress 

appropriately. T: 02476 302912. 

•Heritage Week 

Birmingham Musuems 

10 Sept 

Wild Home School - Tracks and 

Trails 




2-3pm. Wild Home School sessions, 

happen every second Tuesday of the 

month. With each session varying 

between a mix of curriculum focused 

activities, Bushcraft and nature based 

activities. Each session you’ll be heading 

outside to learn about something new, 

with every month having a different 

theme, aimed at home schooled children 

working at a KS2 level (around 8 years 

and up). T: 024 76 302 912. 

11 September 

Birmingham Heritage Week: Meet 

Sir Thomas Holte Tour 

Aston Hall B6 6JD 


1-2.15pm. Sir Thomas Holte: hero, villain, 

murderer, or simply misunderstood? 

Who is the man behind the myths? Entry 

to this event is included in the price of 

admission. Pre-booking is essential. 

T: 0121 348 8100. 

12 Sept 

Birmingham Heritage Week: A 

Servant’s Life Guided Tour 



1-2.15pm. A special guided tour which 

focuses on the servants at Aston Hall. 

Entry to the tour is included in the price 

of admission. Booking essential. 

T: 0121 348 8100. 

13 Sept 

Birmingham Heritage Week: 

Heritage Open Day 

Sarehole Mill B13 0BD 


Tours: 12 and 2pm. Take part in free 

costumed tour of Sarehole Mill. Tours 

last approximately 45 minutes. Free but 

pre-booking required. T: 0121 348 8160. 


Heritage Open Day 2019 Tours 

The Albany Theatre CV5 6JQ 

www.albanytheatre.co.uk 

Various times. Guided Tours of The 

Albany Theatre as part of Heritage 

Open Days. Book your place on one 

of the Heritage Open Day tours. Have 

a glimpse into the world of a working 

theatre, learn the history of an Art Deco, 

1930’s building and see what very few 

get the chance to see in a backstage 

tour of The Albany Theatre. Celebrate 

the culture of Coventry and the whole 

of England with Heritage Open Days. 

There’s something for all ages to enjoy. 

Each tour will be approximately 45 mins - 

1 hour long. T: 024 7699 8964. 

14 Sept 

Heritage Open Days - Old Yardley 

Walk 

Blakesley Hall B25 8RN 


11.30am-1pm and 2-3.30pm. Join experts 

from the Birmingham and Warwickshire 

Archaeological Society in a leisurely 2.5 

mile stroll around the village of Yardley 

to celebrate Heritage Open Days. 

Discover the hidden history of the area. 

These walks are free – pre-booking 

essential as only 30 places per walk. The 

walks will begin at Blakesley Hall. 

T: 0121 348 8120. 




B18 6HA 


10.30am-5pm. Free costumed guided 

tours of the Smith & Pepper jewellery 

factory to celebrate Birmingham 

Heritage Week and Heritage Open Days. 

Pre-booking is essential. 

T: 0121 348 8140. 

Birmingham Heritage Week: Water, 

water everywhere and not a drop 

to mill! 



1-2pm. A free illustrated talk on 

waterpower at Sarehole Mill as part 

of Birmingham Heritage Week and 

Heritage Open Days. Pre-booking 

required. Limited places. First come, first 

served. T: 0121 348 8160. 


Heritage Open Days - Guided 

Tour 

Weoley Castle B29 5RJ 


12-1pm. Free tour of Weoley Castle 

as part of Birmingham Heritage Week 

and Heritage Open Days. Pre-booking 

required. T: 0121 348 8140. 

Family Day 

University of Warwick CV4 7AL 

www.warwickartscentre.co.uk 

10am-5pm. Join the University of 

Warwick for an extra-special Family Day, 

jam-packed with discovery, exploration 

and experiments. Dozens of stalls, 

workshops, talks and performances will 

take over the campus, exploring space, 

dinosaurs, cities of the future, our planet, 

ancient worlds and more. 

T: 024 7652 4524. 


Birmingham Heritage Weekl: 

Heritage Open Days 



11am-4pm. Visit this magnificent 

Jacobean mansion for free as part 

of Birmingham Heritage Week and 

Heritage Open Days. Last entrance to 

the hall 3pm. T: 0121 348 8100. 





Tours: 11.30am, 1.00pm and 2.30pm. Free 

entry into Blakesley Hall with costumed 

guided tours of the Hall. Pre-booking is 

essential. To book tickets please call 

T: 0121 348 8263 . 

Autumn Wild Camp Out 

Ryton Pools Country Park CV8 3BH 

www.eventbrite.co.uk 

The Autumn Wild Camp Out returns by 

popular demand. Book your pitch soon 

to avoid disappointment. Pitch up from 

10am on the Saturday with organised 

events beginning at 4pm through to 

Sunday morning. These include a variety 

of structured family and child friendly 

activities (mostly optional). Activities will 

include treasure hunt, wild archery and 

quoits, friendship bracelet making, a 

baked potato tea, nocturnal walks and 

wildlife watching, ghost stories, toasting 

marshmallows, wild small mammal and 

moth trapping, bushcraft demonstrations 

and more NEW activities for 2019. 

Booking essential: T: 02476305592. 

15 Sept 





Tours: 12 and 2pm. Take part in a free 

costumed tour of Sarehole Mill. Tours 

last approximately 45 minutes. Prebooking 

required. 

6 



4 Keys To 11 Plus Success 

Tuition 

We appreciate that 11+ preparation is critical to support one of the 

most significant milestones in our students’ education journey. 

Our aims therefore are fourfold to help your child pass the 11 plus 

examination. 

We encourage children to learn to work effectively and without 

distraction and develop good working habits. We work with 

our students to identify their strengths and weaknesses then 

address their weaknesses and maximise performance in their 

areas of strength. We help children to develop their confidence 

which significantly improves their capability in a constructive and 

positive way. Most importantly, we provide our students with the 

tools to work independently, which is a vital lifetime skill. 

Pease do contact us if you would like to discuss how we 

can help your child pass their 11 plus on: 0785 259 9172 

www.11pluslessons.co.uk 

Open Morning 

Saturday 28 September 

9:30am – 12noon 

Year 3 

& Year 5 

Assessments 

registration 

also open 

To confirm your attendance: www.warwickprep.com/eventbooking 

admissions@warwickprep.com | 01926 491545 | @warwickprep 

An Independent Day School and Nursery for boys aged 3-7 and girls aged 3-11 

NATIONAL YOUTH 

GIRLS’ CHOIR 

School Year 6 to Year 10 


BOYS’ CHOIR 



TRAINING CHOIR 


Auditions 2019 

#startsomethingamazing 

Booking opens Mon 23 September 

Audition on any of the 21 days including 

Birmingham on Wed 13 November 

Free auditions for children on free school meals. 

Financial assistance available. 

Find out more at nycgb.org.uk 

Auditions Programme 

Principal Supporter 

Registered charity No. 515660 



WHAT’S ON WHERE 



Soho House B18 5LB 


11am-4pm. Explore Soho House 

for free as part of Heritage Open 

Days. Walk in the footsteps of some of 

Birmingham’s greatest industrialists, learn 

about the Boulton family and life in the 

18th century and see how the servants of 

Soho worked at Matthew Boulton’s home. 

T: 0121 348 8150. 

Falconry Day 

Weoley Castle B29 5RJ 


11am-3pm. Come and see the 

magnificent birds of prey as they fly over 

the ruins of Weoley Castle. Children must 

be supervised at all times. 

T: 0121 348 8140. 


Foundry Wood CV32 6AF 

www.foundrywood.co.uk 

11am-3pm. Representatives from 

the Friends of Foundry Wood will be 

available to explain about the history of 

the site including links with the Railways, 

Foundries and the recent conversion into 

a community woodland. 

Pizza Making Session 

Foundry Wood CV32 6AF 

www.foundrywood.co.uk 

12-2pm. Come and make a pizza, watch 

it being cooked in the wood fired pizza 

oven and eat it in the woodland clearing. 

£5 per pizza. There is no need to book – 

but be prepared to wait if it’s busy as only 

one pizza can be cooked at a time. Drop 

in at any time during the session 


Birmingham Botanical Gardens B15 3TR 

www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk 

10am-7pm. Come and explore the 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, bring a 

picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery. 

An idyllic way to spend a Sunday with the 

family. Admission will be free as part of 

the Heritage Open Day scheme. 

T: 0121 454 1860. 

Harvest Home 

Mary Arden’s Farm CV37 9UN 

www.shakespeare.org.uk 

10am-5pm. Try your hand at traditional 

crafts, like candle-making, willow weaving 

and wool crafts. Enjoy puppet shows, face 

painting, Tudor music and more. There 

will be plenty of fun activities for the 

whole family to enjoy. Normal admission 

applies, so if you’re already a valid ticket 

holder you can come and join in for free. 


Kenilworth Arts Festival 

Kenilworth. Various Locations. 

www.kenilworthartsfestival.co.uk 

Kenilworth Arts is an annual, multi-genre 

festival. The festival takes place over 

10 days in September, with events, 

workshops and exhibitions held in various 

venues around the historic town of 

Kenilworth, Warwickshire. 

21 Sept 

Music Making Day 

Warwick Hall CV34 6PP 

www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk 

A fun day of music making and 

workshops for any child in the 

Warwickshire area in Years 4-7, 

culminating in a short performance at 

3pm. To book a free place please contact 

Louise Sharp, l.sharp@warwickschool. 

org or Katherine Lambeth, k.lambeth@ 

warwickschool.org 


Minecraft Castle Building 

Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan 

Garden CV8 1NG 

www.english-heritage.org.uk 

Workshops at 10, 11.15am, 12.30, 2.15, 3.30 

and 4.45pm. For the Minecraft fans in 

your family Kenilworth Castle is mixing up 

the ancient and modern with a second 

season of the popular castle building 

workshops, curated by their expert cube 

construction friends at Blockbuilders. 

Normal admission prices to the site 

where the workshop is taking place also 

apply. Booking essential, see website 

for details. Age: 7+ Under 16s must be 

accompanied by an adult. 

22 Sept 

Harvest Festival 



11am-4pm. A celebration of the harvest in 

cooperation with Let’s Feed Brum. 

T: 0121 348 8160. 

Autumn Foraging Workshop 



1-3pm. Experience the Warwickshire 

hedgerows in a way that most people 

miss: the treasures hidden under every 

leaf and around the next corner. Discover 

the lost art of foraging: How to identify, 

harvest and cook a plethora of wild foods 

out in the park before experiencing the 

culinary delights of the countryside 

kitchen in an extraordinary feast of 

traditional hedgerow fare for all. Tickets 

required for all attending (£8 per head). 

22 Sept 

Fun in The Park 

Tudor Grange Park B91 3LU 

www.solihull.gov.uk 

11am-5pm. The annual charity fundraising 

event returns. You can look forward to the 

display of Classic Cars and the Dog Show 

which have become family favourites. As 

usual there will be demonstrations and 

activities throughout the park with a full 

programme of events in the main arena. 

26 Sept 

Family Bat Night 

Ufton Fields CV33 9PU 


6-7.30pm. Learn lots of exciting facts 

about bats and use a bat detector on a 

short walk around the wood to hear their 

ultrasonic calls and spot them flying 

around. This is a unique way to discover 

this wonderful reserve and learn more 

about its elusive inhabitants. Suitable for 

children aged (4+) children need to be 

accompanied by an adult and dogs are 

not permitted at this event. 

T: 02476302912. 

28 Sept 

Women’s Work in the Jewellery 

Quarter 


B18 6HA 


12.15-1.15pm. Come along for a tour and 

learn about the work undertaken by 

women from the late 1800’s until the 

1980’s and the many vitally important jobs 

that women worked, from working in the 

office to manual work such as press work, 

polishing and enamelling. 

T: 0121 348 8140. 

28 Sept– 29 Sept 

Minecraft Castle Building 

Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan 

Garden CV8 1NG 

www.english-heritage.org.uk 

Workshops at 10, 11.15am, 12.30, 2.15, 3.30 

and 4.45pm. For the Minecraft fans in 

your family Kenilworth Castle is mixing up 

the ancient and modern with a second 

season of the popular castle building 

workshops, curated by their expert cube 

construction friends at Blockbuilders. 

Normal admission prices to the site 

where the workshop is taking place also 

apply. Booking essential, see website 

for details. Age: 7+ Under 16s must be 

accompanied by an adult. 

2 Oct – 6 Oct 

Horse of the Year Show 

The NEC, Birmingham B40 1NT 

www.hoys.co.uk 

Horse of the Year Show celebrates 

the end of the competitive season 

by crowning the Champions of the 

most prestigious National Showing 

Championships. Most HOYS competitors 

will have qualified and stood champions 

at major county shows, so it’s little wonder 

that Horse of the Year Show has become 

known as the “Show of Champions”. 

T: 0844 581 8282. 

3 Oct 

Candlelit Tours of the Back to Backs 

Birmingham Back to Backs B5 4TE 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk 

6-8.45pm. Enjoy a tour of the Back 

to Backs in the atmospheric glow of 

Candlelight. Booking essential. Children 

•Heritage Open Day 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens 

welcome but must have their own ticket. 

T: 03442491895. 

6 Oct 

Apple Day 



11am-4pm. Blakesley Hall’s annual 

celebration of the apple with garden trails 

about the Blakesley Apple Trees. Find 

out about the history of the apple, how it 

was used in Tudor times and take part in 

the Apple Trail. Taste freshly squeezed 

apple juice from the Blakesley orchard. 

Apple themed cake and drinks for sale 

in the lovely tearoom. Free event but 

chargeable activities T: 0121 348 8120. 

Apple Day 

Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve CV3 3GW 


10am-2.30pm. Celebrate the wonders of 

this fruit and taste some freshly pressed 

apple juice. Prepare, mill and press 

apples. Explore the tastes of different 

varieties of apple and the juice made 

from them . Play apple games like ‘make 

the longest peel’ and ‘guess the weight’. 

T: 024 7630 2912. 

7 Oct 

Wildlife Watch After School Club - 

Pizza Making 




3.45-5pm. Running monthly on Mondays. 

The sessions are aimed at children aged 

4 years and up, but younger siblings are 

welcome, adults must accompany their 

children unless they are 8 years and over. 

Please be aware activities occur in all 

weathers, so please dress appropriately. 

T: 02476 302912. 

8 Oct 

Wild Home School - Brilliant Birds 




2-3pm. Wild Home School sessions, 

happen every second Tuesday of the 

month. With each session varying 

between a mix of curriculum focused 

activities, Bushcraft and nature based 

activities. Each session you’ll be heading 

outside to learn about something new, 

with every month having a different 

theme, aimed at home schooled children 

working at a KS2 level (around 8 years 

and up). T: 024 76 302 912. 

10 Oct 

Candlelit Tours of the Back to Backs 

Birmingham Back to Backs B5 4TE 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk 

6-8.45pm. Enjoy a tour of the Back 

to Backs in the atmospheric glow of 

Candlelight. Booking essential. Children 

welcome but must have their own ticket. 

T: 03442491895. 

12 Oct 

Wild Autumn Evening Out 



5-8pm. Join the rangers for an evening 

of nocturnal campfire fun. Take a look 

at what animals the night cameras have 

taken pictures of over the past month and 

find out about our nocturnal wild animals 

in the park, some of which we may be 

lucky enough to see as dusk falls. Enjoy a 

campfire baked potato and some melted 

marshmallows before the rangers lead 

you to the meadow to have a go at some 

tracking and stalking games in the dark 

to finish off the evening with a laugh. 

Tickets required for all attending (£8 per 

head). Ratio 2 children to 1 adult, suitable 

for Children aged 5 years +. 

8 



5 Benefits Of 

11 Plus Mock 

Exams 

Taking the 11+ examination can 

be a daunting prospect for 

children as well as parents who 

naturally want the very best 

education for their children. 

We understand this and are 

able to offer the opportunity to 

expose your child to authentic 

examination conditions but in 

a supportive and encouraging 

environment. Our examination 

papers are updated to reflect 

the recent changes to the 11 

plus exams and we send results 

via email on the day following 

each 11 plus mock exam. The 

report identifies strengths and 

weaknesses, so that we can 

target the areas which need 

attention. Our mock exams can 

also be used to independently 

monitor your child’s progress. 

We can help your child build 

confidence under examination 

conditions and overcome 

nerves, develop effective 

examination techniques 

and become familiar with 

the format of the CEM 11 

Plus used in Birmingham, 

Walsall, Warwickshire & 

Wolverhampton. Book online at: 

www.11plusmocks.co.uk 

Nursery at Warwick Prep 

For most children, life at Warwick 

Prep begins in our warm, welcoming 

and secure Nursery. 

A dedicated Early Years team help each child to feel 

happy, confident and able to achieve as they take their 

first tentative steps into the exciting world of learning. By 

providing a carefully balanced programme of structured 

activities, alongside learning through discovery and play, 

the children grow in confidence while developing core 

skills and independence. 

The children follow the EYFS curriculum and move from 

room to room throughout the day as they carry out 

different activities. Fun topic based events are planned 

with Reception, thus allowing for a smooth transition as the 

children move into school. 

The curriculum is enriched by outdoor trips for example, 

visiting Warwick School to celebrate Chinese New Year 

and a local study project at Hill Close Gardens where 

the children develop curiosity and learn about the world 

around them as they explore all their senses. Educational 

visitors are warmly invited into the Nursery, often providing 

inspiration for innovative music and movement events in 

the School Hall to which parents are invited. 

Drop-off is available free of charge from 7:45am with an 

After School Club that runs until 5:45pm. 

Excellent Facilities 

Our purpose-built building has three quiet rooms and a 

large playroom for role and imaginative play. The craft 

room is well resourced for those fun, messy activities! We 

also have computers and interactive whiteboards, and 

finally a large, secure outdoor play space just for Nursery. 

The children make use of the School’s facilities including 

the Library, Music rooms for their specialist Music lessons, 

Dining room, Bridge House Sports Centre and the Astro 

Turf for PE and School Hall. 

We also hold a weekly activity group for children due to 

start Nursery the following September, called Nutkins. 

This provides a gentle introduction to school life for both 

children and parents in a relaxed atmosphere. 

To find out more about Nursery at Warwick Prep visit 

www.warwickprep.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter 

and Instagram @WarwickPrep. We regularly post stories 

about the fun activities that take place in our Nursery. 

150719_Primary Times_184x135 Editorial.indd 1 www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire | BACK TO SCHOOL 16/08/2019 14:27 9


Launching the 

love of reading 

From Reception class to a lifetime of stories, we team up with the BookTrust 

on the importance of reading at home… and we creep inside ‘The Cave’ 

Tips for reading 

at home with them: 

Set aside some time 

Use funny voices 

Find a quiet spot without 

screens 

Let them choose the book 

Point to the pictures 

Research shows that reading frequency 

and enjoyment often drops as children 

get older and regular story-time at home 

stops. Without the support of shared family 

reading, kids’ interest can easily decline and 

starting school can be a key time for this to 

happen – particularly when books begin to 

be associated with the challenging task of 

learning to read. 

Practical tips for encouraging reluctant 

readers and how to make reading at home 

a happy habit include creating a reading 

corner (if you have the space) and a reading 

hour, and campaigns like ‘Time to read’ 

offer additional ideas. Parents and carers 

are encouraged to keep making that allimportant 

time to read with their children in 

order to keep their love of stories alive now, 

and as they get older. As we all know, this can 

sometimes be a struggle when screens and 

toys are competing for our children’s attention. 

As we go back to school, the BookTrust takes 

on a huge challenge to help children and 

parents everywhere read more at home – it 

distributes a book to every single reception 

age pupil, which is around 700,000 children! 

Local authorities receive the books and share 

them with Reception classes and Reception 

aged children who are home schooled. 

“Each year we distribute around 3.4 million 

books to children and families. But it’s not 

just about reaching children with books – 

it’s about engaging families and children 

in reading; reminding them why it matters 

and encouraging them to find the time 

for reading for pleasure because it makes 

such a difference to children’s lives and 

development,” the BookTrust told us. 

What could be a more joyful way of 

kickstarting a child’s reading journey than 

receiving a free book in the first few days at 

school? Feedback from parents and schools 

has flooded in since the free books were 

first handed out four years ago; proving that 

receiving a physical book makes a difference 

to a child’s reading journey. 

“The feedback from teachers and families is 

incredible. Every year, parents get in touch to 

tell us how much their children loved the story 

and how excited they were to talk about it. 

“One parent even told us that her son loved 

his Time to Read copy of The Bumblebear so 

much that all he wanted to speak about for 

months afterwards was bees!” 

Sometimes the Time to Read book is the 

first a child has ever owned and teachers 

often recount how proud their pupils were 

to receive their very own book, something 

special just for them. 

Maybe your Reception aged child 

has their copy? We hope you enjoy 

reading it together and sharing it with 

any older siblings. 

The Cave is a 

clever and fun 

book. It has a 

clear storyline 

which keeps 

the reader 

guessing until 

the end and 

has lots of 

detail in the 

pictures, so 

it’s one that 

will be read 

time and 

time again. 

10 



MUSIC FOR 

YOUR LITTLE 

MONSTERS 

The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra – Sunday 17 Nov, 2.30pm, 

Symphony Hall • We Got Rhythm – Sunday 2 Feb, 2.30pm, Symphony Hall 

BSL 

Interpreted 

Supported by 

Call 0121 780 3333 or book online at cbso.co.uk/families 

No-one ever forgets the first time they heard a live orchestra 


BOX OFFICE 


0231512 

TICKET 

Office 

Your family theatre guide . . . 

Albany Theatre, Coventry 

www.albanytheatre.co.uk 

3 Oct – 4 Oct 

The Scarecrow’s Wedding 

Various Times. This heart-warming 

and award-winning adaptation of 

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s 

bestselling book is bursting at the 

seams with Scamp Theatre’s inimitable 

style. This epic love story promises 

wit, drama and wedding bells! Packed 

with live music and laughter, this is one 

hour’s magic that you and your children 

will never forget! Suitable for children 

aged 3+ 

22 Oct 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

4pm. This timeless classic has made 

its way off the page and onto the 

stage! Eric Carle’s well-known books 

captivated readers with his iconic 

colourful hand-painted tissue paper 

collage illustrations and distinctively 

simple stories, introducing generations 

of children to a bigger, brighter world – 

and to their first experience of reading 

itself. Suitabe for all ages. 

24 Oct 

I Believe in Unicorns 

1.30pm. An enchanting and interactive, 

award-winning production, to spark the 

imagination in both young and old! We 

challenge you not to believe in unicorns 

after joining Tomas’ spellbinding journey. 

Suitable for aged 6+. 

All Saints’ Parish Church, 

Leamington Spa 

www.leamingtonsinfonia.co.uk 

17 Nov 

Preschool Prom 

3pm. In this fun, family-friendly concert, 

children will experience the drama and 

delight of orchestral music, along with 

familiar nursery rhymes, action songs 

and stories. A treat for toddlers and 

adults alike, this is the perfect event to 

introduce families to classical music. £3 

per ticket, Free-entry for babies up to 

12 months. 

Belgrade Theatre Coventry 

CV1 1GS 

www.belgrade.co.uk 

14 Sept 

Complete Madness 

7.30pm. A sensational theatre 

extravaganza featuring the amazing 

talents of this five-piece band who will 

take you on a musical rollercoaster ride 

through the story of one of Britain’s 

TICKET 

0231513 

Box 

most memorable, visual and fun bands. 

T: 024 7655 3055. 

Bridgehouse Theatre and 

Warwick Hall 

CV34 6PP 

www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk 

5 Oct 

Festival of Voices 

7pm. The fourth Festival of Voices, 

rejoicing in the sheer variety of choral 

music in and around Warwickshire. 

Once again, Divertimento will be 

joined by six very different groups, 

each showcasing their own unique 

talents and repertoire. The evening 

then culminates in a rousing finale with 

all 300 voices singing ‘Down by the 

Riverside’. T: 01926 776438. 

13 Oct 

Nick Cope 

11am. Nick has a brand new album 

out called “Have you heard about 

Hugh?” featuring songs about Head 

lice, Hedgehogs, Redundant Robots 

, Saving the Polar Bears and Honey 

Bees, Gender stereotyping the list 

goes on!!! Featuring the vocal and 

Viola talents of the sensational Jackie 

Oates. For the last 9 years Nick has 

been writing, performing and recording 

music for children and their families 

and has established a fanatical army of 

little people and their parents from all 

over the world. T: 01926 776438. 

Royal Spa Centre 

CV32 4HN 

www.warwickdc.gov.uk 

7 Sept 

Heartbreak Productions: Gangsta 

Granny 

2pm and 6.30pm. Local professional 

theatre company, Heartbreak 

Productions, bring their unique and 

entertaining brand of open air theatre 

indoors to the Royal Spa Centre. 

Meet Ben, an 11 year old fed up with 

spending his Friday nights at Granny’s. 

All she wants to do is play Scrabble 

and eat cabbage – not exactly his idea 

of fun. Hungry and bored Ben goes 

searching for something more edible 

in the kitchen and stumbles upon an 

old biscuit tin. The tin holds more than 

just digestives, however; it contains 

Granny’s biggest secret… 

T: 01926 334418. 


Dear Zoo Live! 

11am, 1.30 and 2pm. Rod Campbell’s 

best-selling lift the flap book has 

delighted generations of young readers 

since it was first published in 1982. And 

has sold more than 8 million copies 

worldwide. This production will delight 

all those who have read the book (both 

young and old) as it unfolds with childengaging 

puppets, music and lots of 

audience interaction. Recommended 

suitable age: 2 - 5 yrs. Running time: 55 

minutes. T: 01926 334418. 

27 Sept 

Top Dog Film Festival 

The Top Dog Film Festival presents a 

cinematic celebration, honouring the 

bond between dogs and their people. 

This carefully curated program of 

canine-themed films is comprised of 

the most inspirational and entertaining 

stories about dogs and their human 

companions, from independent films 

makers around the globe. 

T: 01926 334418. 

12 Oct 

Comedy Club 4 Kids 

2.45pm. Since 2005, the Comedy 

Club 4 Kids has been getting the best 

stand-ups and sketch acts from the 

international circuit to do their thing 

for an audience of children (aged 6+) 

and their families. A decade later, the 

company has expanded from one 

London residency to being countrywide, 

running shows and workshops all over 

the UK from Peebles to Portsmouth, 

even producing a book on how to 

write and perform stand-up. The show 

is family friendly, but without any 

patronising idiocy. In fact, it’s just like a 

normal comedy club, but it’s on in the 

day, kids are allowed in, and thus there 

is a higher than usual chance of heckles 

like “why is that your face!?” T: 01926 

334418. 

The Abbey Theatre 

CV11 5DB 

www.abbeytheatre.co.uk 

18 Oct 

One Night Only 

7pm. An evening of dance and aerial 

performances from the Children, 

Instructors and adult students of Bliss 

Pole and Aerial. T: 07946 282630. 

The Attic Theatre 

CV37 6YY 

www.theattictheatre.co.uk 


Great Expectations 

Various Times. The classic novel follows 

the life of Pip. A young boy who helps a 

convict escape from prison. As he grows 

up he is informed that an unknown 

benefactor has paid to make Pip a 

gentlemen and elevate him above his 

station. T: 07952 819557 

The Core Theatre 

B91 3RG 

www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk 


Memories are Made of This 

2.30 and 7.30pm. This fast moving, roller 

coaster of a journey through some of 

the greatest songs of the 50’s, 60’s 

and 70’s, will be a show you are sure to 

remember. Over 160 amazing costumes, 

a touch of humour from one of the UK’s 

top comedians and performances rarely 

seen outside the ‘West End’ from this 

superb cast of singers and dancers. 

Including songs by Jersey Boys, Four 

Tops, The Supremes, Frank Sinatra, Elvis 

Presley, Elton John, Abba and many 

more. T: 0121 704 6962. 

15 Oct– 20 Oct 

The Sound of Music 

2.30 and 7.30pm. Based partially on 

Maria Von Trapp’s autobiography, The 

Trapp Family Singers, The Sound of 

Music includes a remarkable number 

of popular songs, such as The Sound of 

Music, My Favourite Things, Climb Every 

Mountain, Do- Re-Mi, and Edelweiss. 

T: 0121 704 6962. 

Warwick Arts Centre 

CV4 7AL 

www.warwickartscentre.co.uk 

3 Oct 

Candoco Dance Company 

7.30pm. Candoco Dance Company 

created a sensation last year when its 

contemporary dancers performed to 

over 10 million people on Strictly Come 

Dancing. This renowned company of 

disabled and non-disabled dancers 

continue to deliver a profound, 

boundary-pushing experience in its 

latest double bill. T: 024 7652 4524. 

6 Oct 

Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman 

2pm. Sing-a-long-a Productions, 

producers of Sing-a-long-a Sound of 

Music and Sing-a-long-a Grease brings 

you their newest show, the smash hit 

film musical that everyone can’t stop 

singing – The Greatest Showman! Cheer 

on Hugh Jackman, lust after Zac Efron 

and hiss Rebecca Ferguson (…or maybe 

not) as you experience The Greatest 

Showman in the greatest way possible – 

with lyrics on the screen so you can join 

in as loud as you want. T: 024 7652 4524. 

13 Oct 

Repeated Patterns: Family Concert 

4pm. Join London Sinfonietta musicians 

and presenter Patrick Bailey as they 

delve into the mesmerising world of 

minimalist music in this family concert 

featuring music by composers Steve 

Reich and Philip Glass. Discover how 

repeating musical patterns can create 

incredible soundworlds, make music 

with the musicians and take home 

some tricks to nurture those budding 

composers in the family! 

T: 024 7652 4524. 

Wolverhampton Grand 

www.grandtheatre.co.uk 

1 Oct– 5 Oct 

The Wizard of Oz 

Various Times. Join Dorothy Gale 

and her faithful dog, Toto as they are 

whisked over the rainbow to the magical 

land of Oz. In her quest to find her way 

back home Dorothy encounters a host 

of enchanting characters, and finds new 

friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man 

and the Cowardly Lion. They follow the 

Yellow Brick Road, mercilessly pursued 

by the Wicked Witch of the West, to the 

magical Emerald City in search of the 

mysterious and almighty, Wizard of Oz. 

Recommended age 12+ 

www.example.com 

12 



PRIMARY TIMES EXCLUSIVE 

23 – 26 Oct Kids from £15.50* 

BOOK NOW 

www.belgrade.co.uk 

*Tickets include a £1.50 booking fee. No booking fee applies if booked online. 

Thu 3 & Fri 4 October 

Thu 24 October 

Tue 22 October 13 & 14 November Mon 9 - Sat 28 December 

albanytheatre.co.uk | 02476 99 89 64 

Albany Road | Coventry | CV5 6JQ 



PINBOARD 

Take your class to Stratford Butterfly Farm for 

a lesson they won’t forget! 

Stratford Butterfly Farm offers a wonderful field trip for 

children of all ages and abilities to learn about tropical 

rainforest environments and the plants and animals that 

live within these habitats, as well as the life-cycle of a 

butterfly. With plenty of hands on, close observation 

and activity in an authentic rainforest environment, the 

Butterfly Farm is the perfect place for a magical and 

educational day out with your class. 

All pre booked groups of 10 or more receive a guided 

tour at no extra cost. Tours last for approximately one 

hour and are led by an experienced member of the 

Education Team, who will present all aspects of the 

Butterfly Farm in an engaging and educational manner. 

For those studying a particular topic, let us know before 

you visit and we can plan the tour to the needs of your 

group. 

School visits should be booked in advance. If you have 

a particular date in mind please book early as spring 

and summer months are especially popular. Current 

school rates are £5.25 per child or teacher with one free 

teacher place for every 10 children. 

If you book a school visit to the Stratford Butterfly 

Farm you can combine it with either: Shakespeare’s 

Schoolroom & Guildhall, The Mad Museum or a boat 

trip with Avon Boating. All the details are on the website: 

www.butterflyfarm.co.uk or e-mail email schools@ 

butterflyfarm.co.uk for more details 

Following a hugely 

successful production of 

Cats earlier in 2019, West 

Bromwich Operatic Society 

return this autumn with 

The Wizard Of Oz. They 

recently held auditions to find a dog 

to play Toto and now they have a fourlegged 

sidekick for Dorothy (Jessica 

Harrison) it’s time to follow the Yellow 

Brick Road! 

Dorothy and her faithful dog, Toto 

are whisked over the rainbow to the 

magical land of Oz. In her quest to 

find her way back home Dorothy 

encounters a host of enchanting 

characters, and finds new friends, 

the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and 

the Cowardly Lion on their way to 

the magical Emerald City from 1 – 5 

October. Tickets can be bought at the 

Box Office, online at grandtheatre.co.uk 

or by calling 01902 42 92 12. 

Make this 

Christmas 

the cat’s 

pyjamas with 

a trip to Puss 

in Boots at 

the Belgrade 

Theatre 

Coventry. 

Packed with adventure, magic and 

seasonal silliness, this hilarious “tail” 

tells the story of a crafty cat and his 

human friends, Simon and Matilda 

Pudding. When an evil ogre takes 

over the village of Baggy Bottom 

on the Bog and threatens to evict 

the locals, it’s up to one fearless 

(and fashion-conscious) feline to 

save the day – but will our hairy 

hero be triumphant? 

Once again written and directed 

by Iain Lauchlan (The Tweenies, 

Fingermouse, Playdays), this year’s 

glittering Belgrade pantomime 

promises the purr-fect treat for 

all the family, complete with 

fabulous sets, crazy costumes and 

a hilarious new script. With seats 

already selling fast, there’s no time 

to paws! 

Get your claws on tickets now by 

calling the box office on 024 7655 

3055, or visiting www.belgrade. 

co.uk where prices are cheaper. 

Birmingham Botanical Gardens 

How do bananas and pineapples grow? Why is white chocolate white, but 

milk chocolate brown? Are leaves really green? 

Learn the answers to these questions and more when you book a factfilled 

and fun-packed trip to the award-winning Gardens. 

Enjoy the new Sensational Science session, with hands-on, plant-based 

experiments for KS1 and 2, and in December, the Chocolate Fun teaching 

and tasting session is the ideal pre-festive treat. 

Get the most out of your day, with our special offer of two teaching 

sessions for just £10 (a saving of £4.80). 

17,000 schoolchildren and teachers visited us last academic year – 98% 

said their trip was good value for money! 

“Fabulous – the children learnt so much.” 

“Children loved the sessions – they won’t stop talking about them.” 

14 


Win! 

Win a Family Ticket to see The 

Very Hungry Caterpillar at the 

Albany Theatre on 22nd October at 4pm 

One of the most iconic characters in children’s literature will wiggle to 

Coventry this Autumn in celebration of a big birthday. The Very Hungry 

Caterpillar Show will play at the Albany Theatre on 22 October as part of a 

major UK Tour celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the book. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of 75 enchanting 

puppets during a magical 60-minute show that faithfully adapts four of 

Eric Carle’s best loved books for the stage. 

Who wrote the all-time children’s favourite book, The 

Very Hungry Caterpillar? 

a) Dr Seuss b) David Walliams c) Eric Carle 

*Family ticket is for 2 adults & 2 children **Tickets are non-transferable 

WIN! 

WIN! 


To enter these competitions please go to... 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire/competitions or via 

Facebook at www.facebook.com/Primarytimeswarwickshire 

• Closing Date: 01/10/19 

l Closing date is the 23/09/19 

A Family Ticket to see The Wizard 

of Oz at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 

Join Dorothy Gale and her faithful dog, Toto as they are whisked over 

the rainbow to the magical land of Oz. In her quest to find her way back 

home Dorothy encounters a host of enchanting characters, and finds 

new friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. They 

follow the Yellow Brick Road, mercilessly pursued by the Wicked Witch 

of the West, to the magical Emerald City in search of the mysterious and 

almighty, Wizard of Oz. 

This is an amateur production. 

To win a family ticket to see The Wizard Of Oz on Tuesday 1 October at 

7.30pm, answer the following question: 

Where does Dorothy end up in her quest to find her way 

back home? 

a) The Ruby City b) The Diamond City c) The Emerald City 

Tickets are for the specified performance only and cannot be given for any other 

performance or production. Tickets have no monetary value. 

COMPETITION TIME 

To celebrate the launch of its new Aquadoodle Pro range, which 

makes learning fun and mess free with zero waste, TOMY has 

launched a national drawing competition to find the next 

budding artist. 

Thanks to the My ABC Doodle, children can learn to count and 

write while having fun time and time again with absolutely no 

waste! Fill the no-mess water pen then trace over the letter 

and number shapes, to copy basic writing strokes. Once the 

water has dried, designs fade away meaning the 

My ABC Doodle can be used again and again! 

For more details on the competition 

and how to enter, head to 

www.tomy.co.uk/primarytimes 

▲ 

www.primarytimes.co.uk/warwickshire | | BACK TO TO SCHOOL 2019 15


Be prepared for every 

bump, sniffle and itch 

Stock up on children’s health 

essentials today 

✁ 

Please speak to a Pharmacist to find the most suitable treatment for your child. Nurofen contains Ibuprofen. 

Calpol contains paracetamol. Always read the label, please speak to a Pharmacist. Subject to availability. 

Save 

£5 

on £20 spend 

Terms & Conditions: This voucher entitles you to £5 off when you spend £20. Offer not 

available in LloydsPharmacy within Sainsbury’s. Offer cannot be used on purchases of any 

codeine based products, NHS or private prescriptions, infant formula milk, wipes or nappies. 

This voucher must be redeemed by presenting in store at the time of purchase. Voucher is 

valid from 2nd September – 31st October 2019 inclusive and cannot be used in conjunction 

with any other offer, voucher, code or colleague discount. No cash alternative is available. 

Photocopied, damaged or defaced vouchers will not be accepted. Only one voucher per person. 

Pharmacy colleagues: Voucher is to be redeemed once. Please scan the barcode and cross 

through once used. Please return with other redeemed vouchers through the standard returns 

process. Colleague discount cannot be used with this offer. Promoter: LloydsPharmacy 

Limited, Coventry CV2 2TX. 

16 

Order by 3pm for FREE 

next day delivery 

LloydsPharmacy.com

Primary Times Warwickshire &amp; Solihull Back to School 2019

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?

Primary Times Warwickshire & Solihull Back to School 2019