By Sam Hadfield, Luxury Travel Designer, Graceful Wanderlust As the new year dawns and new beginnings beckons, parents and carers are contemplating the adventures that await their families in the year ahead. With school holidays looming and the desire to create cherished memories ever-present, it’s time to step beyond the familiar and embark on journeys...
Category: General news
Ready for a new start in 2024 – consider becoming an emergency foster carer
Could you provide an emergency home for a young person when they need it the most? Wiltshire Council is asking people looking for a change of career to consider fostering to help provide homes for the rising numbers of children and young people in care. The council has a number of different roles available for...
St Philip’s Primary has ‘a culture of inclusion and equality’ says SIAMS report
St Philip’s Church of England Primary School in Bath was recently visited by inspector Daphne Spitzer for its Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) Report, which states ‘pupils enjoy their learning and highly value their time at school’. SIAMS’ inspections place emphasis on a church school’s Christian vision on both pupils and adults...
Bath mum launches a new relationship coaching service for families and children
When Bath mum Emma Arnaudet decided to qualify as Teens and Parents Coach, she had a clear aim for what she wanted to achieve. “To allow parents, children and families to achieve the greatest degree of happiness and to navigate skilfully through changes and difficult situations and relationships,” she explained, with an enthusiasm that exposes...
Bath Cricket Club – empowering children through mentorship and sports
Bath Cricket Club has been celebrating the success of its highly regarded Community outreach programme, which is dedicated to mentoring children from vulnerable backgrounds since 2018. Among the children currently benefitting from the initiative are pupils from St Phillips School, spanning reception to year 6, for whom is offers a transformative experience that extends beyond...
Two for one entry for all Bath residents visiting House of Frankenstein in January
To celebrate the anniversary of the first publication of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein on 1st January 1818, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein is offering all Bath residents 2 for 1 entry throughout January 2024. Mary Shelley was only 19 when she wrote most of Frankenstein whilst living at 5 Abbey Churchyard, Bath. Considered one the most important...
Being Seen – how preverbal experience can affect a child’s behaviour
Jacqui Ellis from Deep Connextions explains how she helped a child struggling with sleep, emotions, anxiety and completing everyday tasks Parents come to me because they are finding it difficult to understand why their child is struggling with sleep, their emotions and behaviour, balance and co-ordination, completing everyday tasks, learning new things or coping with...
Farmborough Primary School pupils enjoy a stargazing day with Bath astronomers
Pupils from Farmborough Church Primary school recently enjoyed a visit from local stargazing society Bath Astronomers, including the UK Space Agency’s Education and Future Workforce Lead, Ingmar Kamalagharan. With the astronomy experts leading the whole school through a day of activities, pupils from Reception to Year 6 enjoyed a packed day of learning, with Ingmar...
The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists comes to the Victoria Art Gallery
Take a trip down memory lane and discover the books that defined a generation in The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists at Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. Uncover the story of the talented artists who illustrated Ladybird books during their heyday and see hundreds of books and original artworks on display in this exhibition that...
Wiltshire school takes part in national anti-bullying pilot
Research* from the Department of Education shows that 40% of school pupils say that they’ve been bullied in the last 12 months and the most recent figures from the ONS also estimate that approximately 764,000 children across England and Wales have experienced at least one type of online bullying**. Whilst bullying can take place anywhere,...
Harmonie-Rose Allen receives Points of Light award from Bath MP
Bath pupil and charity fundraiser Harmonie-Rose Allen has been presented with the Points of Light Award by Bath MP Wera Hobhouse. Points of Light are outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community, and every week day the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer with the daily Points of Light...
Ten new free to access community projects for the Somer Valley
A bespoke taxi service on a side-by-side tandem trike, an arts trail, a Forest School for adults and handweaving sessions for people with learning disabilities are among ten community projects coming to the Somer Valley that will be free for people to access. The projects have been awarded a share of £115,000 from the Willson...
Kingsbury Green Academy pupils receive a lesson on careers
Skills and experience are crucial when it comes to securing your ideal job and your future, and Kingsbury Green Academy pupils will be a step ahead of their competition thanks to the school’s in-depth careers programme. In preparation for Year 10’s work experience week next July, pupils from across the year have been given an...
Congratulations to the Westbury Leigh CofE Primary School Ambassadors
This term, Westbury Leigh Primary School in Wiltshire has celebrated children who are exemplary in following the school rules and being a role model to others in living out our values by awarding them Ambassador status. Mr Fowler, Deputy Headteacher explains, “These are the pupils that the staffing team felt live out our school dream...
Melksham House to reopen as a special needs primary and secondary school
A Melksham landmark will take on a new role from autumn 2024 as final preparations are on course for it to open as a school for special educational needs. Melksham House has undergone refurbishment to provide schooling for up to 45 primary aged and up to 25 places for secondary age young people for an...
Not everyone will have a silent night this Christmas – what are the signs of domestic abuse?
Jackie Hubbard, Family Law Practitioner at Awdry Law in Wiltshire, explains the signs of domestic abuse and what can be done to help a victim Christmas is a time of peace and joy for many. However, for those who are in an abusive relationship, this time of year can feel even more isolating, and it...
Wiltshire families of children with SEND invited to shape future services
Wiltshire families with children and young people with special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND) and those accessing alternative provision are invited to help shape services in the future. A number of face-to-face meetings will be held in January across the county, with parents, carers, children and young people all invited to have their say....
Pokémon VIP visits after school club at Sheldon School in Chippenham
Sheldon School welcomed a very special visitor to its after-school Pokémon club. Simon Benton, VP of Trading Card Game Sales at Pokémon, joined the club to talk about all things Pokémon and share some of the unique items in his personal collection. The young Pokémon enthusiasts were delighted to look through his cards and memorabilia—including...
Royal High School Bath raises almost £3,000 for RUH children’s ward
Staff and pupils from Royal High School Bath presented RUH X with a cheque for £2,855 at their Prep School site, located just five minutes away from the Royal United Hospital. The money will go towards Artsparks on the children’s ward – part of the RUH’s Art at the Heart campaign – which helps to provide art workshops...
Lacock Primary School children enjoy an evening’s star gazing with Bath Astronomers
Children from Oak Class at Lacock Primary School recently enjoyed a star gazing event as a result of a visit from Simon Holbeche of Bath Astronomers. “Our science topic this term has been Earth and Space, and the evening was organised to enable the children to develop a deeper understanding of the subject and to...
Bath Mind Mental Elf festive run raises over £6,000 to support wellbeing in community
Bath Mind held its inaugural Mental Elf Fun Run at Odd Down playing fields on Sunday 10 December. Despite challenging weather conditions, 135 runners of all ages braved the elements and kept smiling, as they completed the 5K course. Many runners embraced the festive season, wearing everything from elf hats to Santa outfits. Ollie of CaliUnity led...