WIN! 4 Tickets to the Christmas Spectacular Show !

Returning for its fifth fabulous year, The Glad Rag Production Company is delighted to bring the Christmas Spectacular 2016 to the Regent Centre stage. Bursting with festive delights this highly acclaimed company will create a magical Christmas treat for the whole family to enjoy.

Once again this talented company brings together an evening of stunning dance routines, sparkling vocals and more than its fair share of laughter to delight audiences of all ages.
We return to the North Pole where Santa is hosting an Elf Convention. With visiting Elves from Germany, America and Spain, we take you around the world in 90 minutes and along the way our sparkling singers, stunning dancers and adorable babes perform West End musical showstoppers, all the Christmas Classics and of course the hilarious “If I were not on Santa's team”. Benji and Bruce the polar bears will, of course, be on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Running right up to the Christmas Eve this Christmas Cracker of a family show is guaranteed to fill you with the spirit of Christmas.

We have a Family Ticket for 4 to giveaway on Thursday 22 December for the 7pm Evening show . It's easy to enter, just email us at dorset@mumsnetlocal.com and mention 'Christmas Spectacular'.

Winner will be chosen by December 12th Midday and notified by email.
Over 18's only to enter.

Review: Cinderella Pantomime in Bournemouth

CINDERELLA

BOURNEMOUTH PAVILION THEATRE

SATURDAY 03 DECEMBER 2016-MONDAY 02 JANUARY 2017

We were invited to review Cinderella, this years pantomime at the Bournemouth Pavilion and once again we had a lovely time.  The fabulous Rhydian (X-Factor) as Prince Charming and a grown up Dani Harmer (Tracy Beaker) as Cinderella were a pleasure to watch. We were pleased to see the return of Noel Brodie as Buttons and his comic timing had the audience and the little helpers giggling away.

The talented Gary Jordan played Dandini and Melanie Walters (the lovely Gwen from Gavin and Stacey...would you like an omelette?) was delightful as the Fairy Godmother.

The children loved the crowd participation and booed and cheered when prompted, and found the ugly sisters (David Ball and Michael Chance) hilarious! They must be exhausted after so many costume changes!! Bringing back some of the funny scenes from previous years always delights the children as they know what to expect. This year they invited daddy and he said it was the best panto he had seen and hopes to return next year...believe us when we say that is a huge compliment!  

 Book tickets online HERE

Ofsted praise for Poole schools

Bradley Simmons, Ofsted Regional Director for the South West, has sent a letter to the Leader of the Council Cllr Janet Walton, congratulating the Borough of Poole on the much improved school results this year.

Mr Simmons said: “This more consistent and sustained picture of improving achievement in Poole is testament to your hard work and that of your teams. You have been resolute in addressing the issues we raised in our inspection of your school improvement service published last year.”

In his letter, Mr Simmons said Poole schools had performed above national levels in almost every area.

At Key Stage 1, Poole schools performed above the national level in reading, writing, mathematics and phonics. At Key Stage 2, performance for the combined attainment measure of reading, writing and mathematics, was also above the national level.

Secondary schools in Poole also built on last year’s improvement. The proportion of Poole pupils passing GCSEs in English and mathematics at grade C or better was 67.6%, against a figure of 62.8% for England.

He added: “There is much stronger evidence than in the past of all stakeholders working together, of mutual challenge and accountability.”

The improvement in performance is a result of a strong partnership between the council and local schools, along with support from Poole School’s Alliance, Poole Teaching Schools Alliance, and the new teaching school Sigma.

Cllr Mike White, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Capital Projects, Borough of Poole, said “We are very pleased to receive congratulations from Ofsted. It is good to know that such hard work and dedication from pupils and teachers, led by heads and governors, along with everyone involved in education in Poole, has been recognised.

However, we still have much more to do. We want all our schools to be good or outstanding, and we want to be well above the national average at all key stages. We will continue to work hard with all our schools and partners to fulfil the aspirations and ambitions we have for our children and young people here in Poole.”

Review - Hape Space City

Hape Space City

Hape Quadrilla is a High Quality Wooden Marble Run Construction System. It provides endless creative building possibilities and encourages spatial think and problem solving. This 176-piece set includes marbles and glow in the dark accents for galactic racing. Each of the different colour blocks has a different function and it’s the world’s only kinetic marble run.

Inside the box:

The box contains 176 pieces and an instruction booklet with several different options to build, our 10yr old reviewer could easily follow the instructions and build the sets.

The sets do require some problem solving from the children as they build them, the blocks need to be placed in the correct position for the marbles to run through. Both the 7yr old and older child were keen to work together to solve this and we were pleasantly surprised that they didn't get frustrated but this element seemed to hold their attention.

Once the set was built they got to work racing their marbles and they really enjoyed playing together, the cat also seemed to find the experience very entertaining and sat and watched the marbles for ages which the children found hilarious!

When the girls decided to build a different design they added all the glow in the dark stickers which they placed carefully onto the pieces. When it became dark the turned off the lights and using the glow in the dark marbles which they loved. our photo wasn't great but this one shows how great the set looks in the dark.

The set states it's recommended for ages 6-12 years and we think this is a good guide. It's well built and will last a long time, we love wooden toys and this one has something different about it that captures the attention of the children. As with every other Hape Quadrilla Marble Run Construction Set, it combines easily with other Hape Quadrilla products for easy expansion and unique combinations that will enhance your child's play experience.

Hape Space City is available from Amazon for £120

Win tickets to Marty MacDonald's Toy Machine at Regent Christchurch

A brand new show featuring the voices of CBeebies’ Justin Fletcher and Nicole Davis
as Pongo the Pig and Molly-Moo the Cow - from the team who brought you Marty MacDonald’s Farm!

Following their sell out success last October with Marty MacDonald’s Farm, Honalee Media return with their latest show, Marty MacDonald’s Toy Machine, for the October Half Term holiday and it is on at the Regent in Christchurch on Thursday 27 October 2.30pm.

Everyone at Marty MacDonald’s Farm is delighted with the special delivery that’s arrived – the Toy Machine that makes all of the toys in the world! But then they realise that Crafty the Crow has been up to mischief and it shouldn’t really be there at all… Worse still, the machine has stopped working, so they need to fix it before the Toymaker comes to get it back!

Join Marty, Sally the Scarecrow, Pongo the Pig, Molly-Moo the Cow and Sheena the Sheep in a fun, musical, interactive adventure to repair the Toy Machine, save the day and give the world back its toys! This brand new show features the voices of CBeebies’ Justin Fletcher and Nicole Davis as Pongo the Pig and Molly-Moo the Cow

Songs include:
Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes, The Wheels On The Bus, The Hokey Cokey, The Grand Old Duke Of York, Mary Mary Quite Contrary, Old MacDonald Had A Farm and many more! We use Makaton™ signing with our singing so everyone can join in!
www.makaton.org

Marty MacDonald's Toy Machine is a fun, interactive, song-filled adventure, set on a colourful farmyard and featuring a host of lovable puppet characters. It's family show particularly suitable for 2 – 7 year olds, lasts for 80 minutes (including a 15-minute interval)
and has a special cast meet & greet after the performance. www.martymacdonaldsfarm.co.uk

We have a family ticket for four to giveaway -  https://goo.gl/F4fBDx 
Good luck!

Poole Libraries are making homework heavenly

For those children struggling with spelling, muddling along in maths, hating history, or simply looking for a great environment to learn, there is somewhere to go.

Available during school term times, Poole Libraries free homework clubs are for all children, but specifically those aged 8-14 years old.

The clubs, located at libraries across the borough, offer a safe and friendly environment to work in, with help-on-hand from library staff to access books and find information. There is free use of computers, with internet access, as well as free photocopies and print-outs, and high quality online resources linked directly from the Borough of Poole website.
All Online resources can be accessed any time, from home or school and include fantastic sites such as BBC Bitesize Revision, Britannica Spotlights, and Oxford Reference.

To kick off the Autumn term, there will be a special Homework Club promotion beginning on 26^th September, with Homework Club showcases happening in all libraries. Parents, pupils and teachers can come along to find out what local Homework Clubs can offer, as well as enjoying fun quizzes and refreshments.  All showcase events are listed in the Sep- Dec 'What's On' brochure, available now in libraries and online.

Homework Clubs are not just for kids either. Any adults who have a few hours a week to spare, are invited to volunteer to run a club. Helping young people have a bright future, and making a positive impact on children’s lives, volunteers will be helping children with homework questions, finding resources, and enjoying homework. More information about volunteering, and the Homework Club, can be found at all local libraries, and on the Borough of Poole website. 

Homework Club Showcases :
Monday 26^th September: Branksome, 3.45- 4.45pm Canford Cliffs, 4.30-5.30pm Creekmoor, 4.30-5.30pm Oakdale, 3.30-4.30pm Parkstone, 3.30- 4.45pm

Tuesday 27^th September: Poole Central, 3.30-5pm

Wednesday 28^th September: Hamworthy, 3- 4.30pm, Rossmore, 3- 4.30pm

Thursday 29^th September: Broadstone, 3- 4.30pm, Canford Heath, 3- 4.30pm

Summer fun at Poole Park Funday

A spectacular family Funday is being held in Poole’s much-loved Victorian park on Thursday 4 August.

Local residents are invited to join in the fun from 10am to 3pm by the cricket pitch as Poole Park takes centre stage with a host of activities for all the family to enjoy. The fun packed day, which is supporting the £2.7 million bid for Heritage Lottery Funding, includes lots of free activities with everything from ferret racing and circus skills workshops to sports and under 5’s soft play. Bouncy castles, climbing wall and face painting will also be available for a small charge.

This will also be the final opportunity for visitors to have their say on the proposed plans for the park, particularly around the play areas. This feedback will help shape the final designs of the park before they are revealed later this year.

Martin Whitchurch, Project Manager, Borough of Poole, said: “This event is not only a great way to spend some fun family time together in a beautiful setting, but marks the end of the public consultation on the proposed plans for the park. So it is important that park users and visitors are given this final opportunity to help shape our bid to secure £2.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

Councillor John Rampton, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Parks and Open Spaces, Borough of Poole, said: “Poole Park is a wonderful facility which everyone can enjoy and we are really excited about the plans for its future. It's also a great example of people working together to help secure vital funds to preserve and enhance this popular and historic park.”

Recommended places to Breastfeed in Dorset

Looking for a nice quiet place to feed your baby? We have some recommendations from mums who have tried them.

If you know of a great place then please let us know dorset@mumsnetlocal.com

Bournemouth and Poole

Beales Bournemouth - Local mum said "I'm a big advocate of public breastfeeding but I also very much respect if a mum would like a bit of privacy, which is why I was thrilled to find Beales in Bournemouth have a baby changing room with a little side room with a comfy chair, its very quiet, I was in there ages changing both children and no one else came in, its on the 4th floor, I'll be remembering this spot when I come to Bournemouth!"

 

Also recommended are John Lewis in Branksome , Dingles in Bournemouth and Castlepoint.

 

In Parkstone Waitrose café is popular with breastfeeding mums and Greggs are very happy for mums to come in and feed.

 





Competition - Once upon a Princess at Regent Centre Christchurch

Be our guest! Once Upon A Princess stars all your favourite storybook Princesses, live on stage! Get ready to 'Wish Upon A Star' and 'Let It Go' as the princesses perform some of the most popular movie musical songs in this sing-a-long celebration!

Produced by OCD Productions UK in association with Enchanted Parties. The ultimate pop princess party is at The Regent Centre Christchurch on Thursday 31st March at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets £10 each.

We have four tickets to giveaway for the 6pm show. To enter just email your details stating the word 'princess' to dorset@mumsnetlocal.com.

Entrants must be over 18 yrs old. The competition closes 23rd March 9pm.
The winner will be notified by email and a response is required within 72 hours or we reserve the right to choose another winner.

 

Buy tickets here

 

Great Value Season Passes at Farmer Palmers!

Keeping the children entertained can be a difficult and expensive task especially when the weather is bad. One way around this is to purchase season passes at local attractions, they offer great value for money and mean you can visit for just a few hours if the weather changes later in the day.

 

If you are near the Poole area we recommend Farmer Palmers farm park. It's ideal for children 0-8 years and their parents/carers, although worth noting our 9yr old still enjoys it with her younger sister. With a season pass every visit can be a different experience, there are lots of animals to look at and children can bottle feed the lambs or goats, hold a guinea pig and even watch the pig racing which is lots of fun.

Entrance fees to soft play areas can be expensive, buying a season pass gives you unlimited entry. At Farmer Palmers there are several play areas and bouncy castles both indoor and outdoor, ideal for mums meeting for coffee while the little ones play. We have always found the café to stock lovely food and there is a picnic area just outside for warmer weather. Really worthwhile having passes while the children are at toddler age with something different to do each time, look at the animals, ride on the toy tractors and arrive back home worn out for an afternoon nap!

One of the outdoor play areas has a water feature which is very popular so pop swim things and a towel in your bag for warmer days. The play area is also in sand so a bucket and spade will come in handy too!

The woodland walk is always worth doing and the children love finding the areas for them along the way.  Take a look

The older children (and the dads) love the go karts which are situated next to the bouncy castle keeping all ages entertained and in sight. Great for an after school or weekend treat!

Our favourite part of the park is the deer safari. Ride the tractor trailer to the deer enclosure and hand feed a deer. (small charge applies)

There are lots more attractions including the Maize maze, milking demonstrations and more.
Season passes at Farmer Palmers are £40 for adults and children over 3, £19 for 2yr olds, disabled/carers/senior citizens £35. This is for 12 months equivalent to less than 90p a week!

 

Find out more about Farmer Palmers Here

Business Opportunity for Local Parent in Dorset

 

Stagecoach Theatre Arts is a highly regarded network of performing arts schools with a proven record of delivering quality dance, drama and singing lessons to youngsters worldwide.

 

Over the years Stagecoach has provided a springboard for some of the UK's leading young talent and has had the privilege of watching thousands of kids grow in confidence and ability.

They have a thriving network of more than 320 fun and friendly franchised performing arts schools at safe and convenient locations in the UK, and a growing presence in ten other countries.

 

On offer are brilliant kids’ parties, children’s holiday activities involving musical theatre and drama workshops, and their very own talent agency for children and young performers. 

 

The goal is to inspire and enrich young people through the performing arts and introduce them to new opportunities in a happy, safe and secure environment. 

 

The franchise to a local stagecoach theatre school is up for sale and is an ideal business opportunity for a parent or ex dancer/singer to work around family commitments.  The ready-to-go business has established teachers and students so your business will provide an income straight away.

 

Call 07435 974901 for more details.

 

 

Poole Library Launches Code Club

Children in Poole can learn all about computer programming at a new Code Club available at Poole Central Library

As part of its Digital and Learning Offer, Poole Central Library launches Code Club on Wednesday 27 January, joining the nationwide network of free volunteer-led coding clubs for children aged 9-11.

Code Club will show children how to program by encouraging them to make computer games, animations and websites in a fun and engaging way. Children are invited to come along to the first session at 4.30-5.30pm on the day.

Code Club goes beyond knowing how to use technology to how it works and how to build it too.  Children will also develop their problem solving and logical thinking skills.

Mohan Iyengar, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Libraries, Borough of Poole, said: "We’re in a digital age and it’s terrific that our children have the chance to get hands-on with coding. Code Clubs are an exciting new venture, and just a part of the Learning and Digital Offer in our library service.”

Code Clubs support the Government's STEM programme (science, technology, engineering & maths) by increasing young people’s STEM skills in order to provide employers with skills needed for a 21st century workforce. This helps to ensure the UK’s position as a leader of science based research and development.

Code Club will be held at Poole Central Library on Wednesdays 4.30 – 5.30pm during term time. Places are free, but you do need to book. To book a place visit any Poole Library or phone 01202 262449 or email libraries@poole.gov.uk. More information about Code Club can be found at: www.codeclub.org.uk

Review - The Owl Who Lost Its Twoo

 

The Owl Who Lost Its Twoo

 



We have been asked to review the children's book 'The Owl Who Lost Its Twoo' written and illustrated by former primary and special school teacher Suzie Allkins. Suzie is also a mum to two children and lives in Dorset.

Ollie the owl may have a tiny beak but he is very noisy and disturbs the fox, mouse and bat in the moonlit wood. The wise old wizard owl puts a spell on Ollie to help him become less noisy but the spells goes wrong and Ollie loses his Twoo! Poor Ollie is only able to shout 'Twit' and the creatures in the wood think he is being unkind, this upsets Ollie and he hides away quietly.

The fox, mouse and bat ask the wizard owl for help and he finds Ollie and offers to put the spell right if Ollie promises to speak more quietly. The wise owl gets the spell right this time and Ollie has learnt his lesson not to yell and to think about the words he says as they can hurt too. Ollie the owl still enjoys a loud Twit Twoo when no one else is around!

We found this to be a delightful book with a lovely story which reminds children to talk nicely to each other. The story includes rhyming text and repetition which make it interesting to read and listen to and the pictures are beautiful giving a fondness to the main character. All the children who have listened to the story have sat still until the end and wanted to go back and look at the pictures. It has become a popular choice for bedtime reading alongside some of our other favourites.

Click to see the book on Amazon

South Coast's Largest Indoor Ice Rink in Bournemouth

Ice skating is back at Bournemouth International Centre this winter! The Rock Ice Rink is the South Coast’s biggest indoor seasonal ice rink and is open until Sunday 21 February 2016.

 

As a fun all-weather activity, it’s perfect for kids and adults alike. Even the youngest children can have a go using the Ice Skating penguins with their parents in the Kids area separate from the main rink.

Tickets to skate are £8.00 including the skate hire with family tickets and group (10+) concessions also available. Standard sessions are 90 minutes (including getting skates on and off) from 4pm daily during term times and 11am in the holidays with an additional late session on Saturday evenings.

Fire on Ice DJ nights are back too!
Thursday 17 December 2015, Thursday 21 January 2016 and Sunday 14 February 2016.
Hosted by Fire radio enjoy an extended skate session with a live DJ 7.15pm – 10.15pm
(Skate times will be 7.30pm-10pm) £9.00

 

Buy tickets