ENJOY YOUR SUMMER ...

   HERE IS OUR SUMMER 2010 HOLIDAYS ACTIVITIES LIST...

... which contains details of and links to a whole raft of activities which are going on locally, for children, families and young people.  It's full of ideas for things to do, days out, sports activities, craft workshops, what's on at local museums and libraries, National Trust activities, where to find holiday childcare and more.  We are sending it to all our parents (by email or paper copy).  If you click on the image below you can see the leaflet in printable format.  Enjoy your summer!

TO FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS ON ACROSS THE WIDER SURREY AREA THIS SUMMER, VISIT THE SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL WEBSITE - CLICK HERE TO LINK TO THE PAGES 

Surrey's Summer of Adventure 

The Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development (SOLD) Team has devised a series of adventure programmes for young people throughout the summer holidays - based at High Ashurst near Dorking, Thames Young Mariners near Richmond, Henley Fort in Guildford and on a canal boat moored at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford.  Climbing, sailing, mountain biking, swinging, kayaking and skippering a canal boat are just some of the things on offer.

Also: a range of day camps from locally-based centres.  New this year - Forest Adventure: days on survival skills, cooking and crafts. Or, try a day as a World War II soldier. Why not cool off on one of the Wey Days on the canal boat skippering a 19m canal boat and paddling in open canoes.

There are specialist courses in climbing and trail biking while Thames Young Mariners provides a number of recognised sailing, kayaking and canoeing courses for both beginners and improvers.

The multi-activity programme gives a taste of land and water-based activities to provide an action-packed break.

Find out more/book online at www.surreycc.gov.uk/adventurecourses

swim4life - FREE SWIMMING FOR KIDS AT LOCAL POOLS!

SCHEME TO END 31 JULY 2010

As part of the government's change4life programme, some of our local swimming pools, including Godalming, Cranleigh, Haslemere and Woking, have been offering FREE swimming for kids!!

THIS SCHEME ENDS 31 JULY 2010 - so enjoy it while you can!

More details about the change4life programme (lots of information and ideas) can be found on our 'Support for Parents' page. Or visit www.nhs.uk/Change4Life.          

KERRPOWW!!  FREE Fun-packed Family Events

For 0-11s and their Parents/Carers- 6th June and 4th July, 9.30 - 10.30am

at Milford Baptist Church, New Road, Milford

Games, craft, Songs, mess and much more.  Creche and coffee bar available to parents and carers.  Refreshments for all available afterwards.

For more information, call David on 01483 418426, Email: davidcmason@gmail.com

or visit www.milfordbaptistchurch.org.uk.

Music in the Park, Godalming

Every Sunday Afternoon, 3-5pm, at

the Godalming Bandstand, in the Phillips Memorial Park, by the river

All concerts are FREE, so bring your garden chairs and a picnic!  (In the event of wet weather, concerts will be held in the nearby Godalming Parish Church.)

Programme:

16 May 2010 - Barlow Robbins Solicitor's Concert featuring Godalming Band (our local brass band will open the season)

23 May 2010 - Sungard Concert featuring Claire Phoenix Band (chic soul/jazz style)

30 May 2010 - A J Buckley Concert featuring Horsham Band (popular brass band)

6 June 2010 - Penningtons Solicitors Concert featuring Farnborough British Legion Concert Band

13 June 2010 - Amaryllis Bridalwear Concert featuring Anthony's Allstars Jazz Band

20 June 2010 - Songs of Praise (your favourite hymns with Godalming Band)

27 June 2010 - Downs Solicitors Concert featuring East River (R&B, Latin and Jazz)

4 July 2010 - Seascape Gallery Concert featuring Godalming Rock Choir (a successful new local choir)

11 July 2010 - Ramsac Making IT Simple Concert featuring Slinfold Concert Band

18 July 2010 - Care Homes of Distinction Concert featuring Woking Wind Band

25 July 2010 - Cornmeter Concert featuring Lux D' Lux (lively, good-time blues band)

1 August 2010 - Rotary Concert featuring Friary Guildford Band (very accomplished brass band sponsored by Snappy Snaps)

8 August 2010 - The Star Inn Concert featuring The Star Folk (local folk group)

15 August 2010 - Clarke Gammon, Weller Concert featuring Crying Out Loud (R&B)

22 August 2010 - SCATS Countrystores Concert featuring Bagshot Concert Band

29 August 2010 - Hector's on The Wey Concert featuring Otis B Driftwood (jazz)

5 September 2010 - Dragonfly Office Interiors Concert featuring twentyfivemiles (tap your feet to the motown sound)

12 September 2010 - Godalming Trust Concert featuring Godalming Band (our local brass band to close the season)

PROMS IN THE PARK - Saturday, 18 September 2010 at 6.00pm - Farnborough British Legion Concert Band sponsored by Hart Brown Solicitors

NEW HEAD AT GODALMING JUNIOR SCHOOL

We are delighted to welcome Anthony White as the new Head at Godalming Junior School.  Anthony was previously Deputy Headteacher of Three Bridges Junior School near Crawley, West Sussex and his appointment follows the retirement of previous Head, David Andrew.  We wish David well in his retirement. 

ADHD Support Group

A new support group for parents & carers of children with ADHD

Come along and exchange information, offer each other support and understanding and let us know what you would find helpful from a support group.

The group is being organised by Debbie Dent, Elstead & Villages Children’s Centre Manager.  Meetings are held at St James' Primary School, Elstead, in the evenings, tea and cakes provided!  For information about the next meeting, call Debbie on 07810 48357, or email childrencentre@st-james-elstead.surrey.sch. uk.

Latest School Sports Partnership Newsletter Available

The Waverley and Ash School Sports Partnership, to which we belong, has published its latest newsletter. Click here to read/print it.

Amongst the articles, look out for:

• athletics for Years 3 and 4 at Broadwater school and for Years 5-7 at Godalming college.  Broadwater and Rodborough Year 9 and 10s helped lead the sessions, as Young Leaders.
• dance activities and Rodborough's Gym and Dance Extravaganza, held in March.
• Broadwater hosted a Badminton Festival for Year 2s in March...
• ...and a Dance festival in March for our pupils.

Home Access is a government drive which will help low-Income families to get access to a computer and the internet to get online at Home.

If you are a low income family in receipt of certain benefits you could qualify for a grant to buy a computer and/or a minimum of one years’ internet access. The programme is aimed at those that need it most and targets families that do not have access to a computer or the internet at home.

Children who have access to technology at home tend to do better in school exams, learn and achieve more, and have more fun while they're doing it.  It also benefits the whole family.  As well as allowing parents to find out more about what, and how, their children are doing at school, Home Access will help families to sign up for online courses, apply for jobs online, access online government services, and save money.  Using the internet to shop for everyday items and paying household bills can save you around £40 per month - that's almost £500 a year!

The programme is being rolled out across England from January 2010, with eligible families able to apply for a Home Access grant to pay for a computer and/or internet package.  To qualify:

• families must have a child in school years 3 - 9, who attends a state-maintained school in England full time, who has not already had a computer from a Home Access grant or similar programme (such as Computers for Pupils)

and receive at least one of the following:

• Free School Meals for your child, income based Job Seeker's Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and an income of less than £16,040, Guaranteed Pension Credit (not Savings Credit), income based Employment Support Allowance, support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Looked After Children who are in foster care may also be eligible for a grant and their local authority can apply for them.

Depending on what you need, the grant allows eligible applicants to buy one of the following packages:

     1.   Full package (a computer, one year's internet access, service and support)
     2.   A computer with service and support only
     3.   One year's internet access only

Families that do not qualify for a grant are still able to buy a Home Access package from a range of well known high street retailers, as well as other suppliers approved by the programme.

If you think you qualify for a Home Access Grant, please contact your child's school, which will have the contact information.  If you do have access to a computer, via a friend or work, you can read more about the programme by visiting www.homeaccess.org.uk/Information-for-parents.

Alternatively, you can call the Home Access Grant Helpline on 0333 200 1004

New Interim Head for St. Edmunds School, Busbridge

The new interim head for St Edmunds, from 1st January 2010, is Ann Ramiz.

These workshops run every Wednesday during the school terms, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. 

They are OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, not just those with children at the school.  So if you would like to learn a little more about how to use a computer, just call Tim Johnson on the number above and go along for a session.

PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS

ISSUES 1ST NEWSLETTER FOR PARENTS & CARERS

Partnership with Parents (PwP) provides information, advice and support to Surrey parents and carers of children of all ages with special or additional educational needs.  By means of introduction, click here to link to a downloadable copy of PwP's first newsletter - Participation News - about some events and activities Surrey parents and carers have participated in during the past year.  PwP is included on our Swift and Easier Referral to Specialist Services pages, or you can visit their website www.pwpsurrey.org.

swim4life - FREE SWIMMING FOR KIDS AT LOCAL POOLS!

Did you know that as part of the government's change4life programme, some of our local swimming pools, including Godalming, Cranleigh, Haslemere and Woking, are offering FREE swimming for kids!! This member of the Confederation team has already visited and 4 children had a fab time in the pool! So let's get active - give it a go! Click on the logo for more details. 

More details about the change4life programme (lots of information and ideas) can be found on our 'Support for Parents' page.

Or visit www.nhs.uk/Change4Life.                                                        

Click below to link to our Parents and Carers Newsletters:

• Newsletter 3 December 09
• Newsletter 2 April 09
• Newsletter 1 May 08