Tamworth Blog

A Sheep - Pic: Warchild

Christmas is a very special time on Ash End House Children´s farm. Included in the normal admission price the children are invited to dress up in costumes and join in a delightful Nativity Story in there old stables and with a real donkey, sheep and goats.

Then go and WAKE UP Father Christmas by singing “Jingle Bells”.  They can find him when he is usually snoozing by the wood burning stove in the barn.

Father Christmas can be found on the farm every day from 11.30am until 3.30pm from the 28th November until 2.30 Christmas Eve.

Ash End House Childrens Farm, is a family owned farm which has been operating as a Childrens Farm for nearly 30 years.  Their aim is to provide an enjoyable and educational hands on experience for children of all ages.  They are open to the general public and specialize in guided tours for school parties and play groups.

Opening Tiimes – are 10am to 5pm Spring, Summer and Autumn, 10am to 4pm in Winter (3:30pm Christmas Eve).
Last admission is 1 hour before closing.   The farm is closed from Christmas Day to New Years Day inclusive, reopening the next weekend in January. (2nd January 2010).

Prices – for children is just £5.90 including food for the animals, chick chatting and other activities. Adult admission price is just £5.50.

Children visiting the farm, either with their family or in a group booking, are given food to feed the animals, can have a newly hatched chick or duckling on their lap in a basket, collect an egg from the hen house to take home and have a farm badge of their choice. During Spring Summer season the children are also invited to help bottle feed the lambs and kids.

They can touch, see, smell, feel and hear lots of friendly farm animals and have fun seeing the variety of poultry in our ‘Funny Fowl’ farm yard.

Dosthill Primary School - Pic: Rob Farrow

Friday December 11 is the deadline for parents and carers to apply for their child’s Primary School place for 2010.

Officers at Staffordshire County Council have said that some 60% of the expected applications have already been received but some 40% of parents haven’t applied for their child’s place at any of the Tamworth Primary Schools.  The deadline for applications is this Friday, December 11.

Last year, Staffordshire County Council was able to meet the  parents first choice school in 94% of cases and 97% got a preferred school.

The Council are urging parents to make use of the online admissions process, some 50% of applicants have already utilised this.

County Councillor Veronica Downes, Cabinet Member for Schools, said:

“Whilst parents can apply for their child’s primary place in the usual way by submitting a paper application, these days it is even quicker and easier to do it online or over the telephone”

Once all applications are received on December 10 2009, the applications will be processed with parents being notified of their child’s placements during the week beginning 29 March 2010.  To register online visit the registration page here.

Queen Elizabeth Mercian School

Today marks the final day of Anti Bullying Week 09, the theme of which has this year been ‘Stay Safe in Cyberspace’.
Anti Bullying Week is held every year in November and sends a clear and positive message that bullying in our schools and communities in not acceptable.

Cyberbullying focuses on the use of ICT, particularly mobile phones and the internet to deliberately upset someone. As these threats are sometimes made anonymously and can be indirect, this form of bullying is often not taken as seriously. This does not mean that it doesn’t cause harm, it can be extremely painful and be inescapable for the recipient.

Bullying UK is the award winning charity, founded in 1999 by journalist, Liz Carnell and her son John as a direct result of their experience of dealing with school bullying.

Liz has been researching and writing on school bullying issues for 14 years and identified the internet as the cheapest way to provide information and advice. With the focus on Cyberbullying this year it gives a good opportunity to give the message that modern technologies remain a positive and productive part of the lives of children and young people and they can be used safely and constructively.

Since the charity was founded it has replied to more than 52,000 emails, 8,500+ of them last year. More than 500,000 people a year visit the website.

Many Tamworth schools use this day to raise awareness of Anti Bullying Week. QEMS pupils have today (Friday November 20) been encouraged to wear blue to school to highlight Anti Bullying Week, a voluntary donation of £1 can be made which is being sent to Children in Need.

For further information about Bullying UK you can visit www.bullying.co.uk You will find advice on coping with bullying as well as ways to support the anti bullying campaign. There are links to social networking sites and opportunities to post your views together with a wealth of information and useful links.

Drayton Manor's Magical Christmas with Thomas the Tank Engine

Drayton Manor fling open their doors this Christmas so you and your family can celebrate Christmas with Thomas the Tank Engine.

Drayton Manor will reopen it’s doors for a Magical Christmas with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends at the parks Thomas Land.  The magical Christmas will see Thomas Land transformed into a winter wonderland between Saturday 28 November and Sunday January 3.  Visitors will experience music, colourful decorations, snow machines, and a free Christmas gift for all children under 9 years old.

Colin Bryan, Managing Director of Drayton Manor Theme Park, said:

“This is the second year of opening for the Christmas period and we hope it will be even more successful than last year.

“Our aim is to provide an entertaining, value for money day out. With so many things to do in one day, families can be guaranteed a magical Christmas experience that will be remembered by all.”

Whilst the rest of the amusement park is closed, families can take a trip on Thomas, Rosie or Percy round to Farmer McColls to meet the resident reindeer’s. Families can also experience the magic of Christmas by watching a special live show, ‘Santa comes to Sodor’ where visitors can meet Santa himself. There is also a new festive film, ‘The Light Before Christmas’, which will be showing in the 4D cinema.

Check out Drayton Manor’s website for opening times, tickets start at £11.

Santa Clause is at the end of the Ice Cave trail

Twycross Zoo are this year introducing a Fantasy Ice Cave to get visitors into the Christmas spirit by meeting Santa at the end.

The Christmas dream begins as the children enter the Ice Cave and follow the avenue of seasonal covered trees to meet Santa Clause who will be sitting there waiting to learn what the children want for Christmas.

All children who visit Santa will receive a small gift as long as they have been good.  Remember, Santa has eyes everywhere and has a live video link to his helpers to see if the boys and girls have been good.

Alongside the Ice Cave there will also be a Snow Shy and Tombola and Santa will also be bringing his land train to Twycross Zoo which travels through the centre of the Zoo.  There will also be real life Reindeer at at Pets at Twycross along with their nativity scene.

There is a small charge for children to see Santa.

The Castle Ground Play Centre - Pic: Paulette Francessca Sedgwick

Keeping the kids is no mean task, especially with Half Term looming.  The Castle Ground activity centre play area which is in the Castle Grounds opposite the tennis courts may provide some respite.

Three days a week they offer 0 – 6 year olds entertainment and fun.  Running every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays between 9.15am and 2.30pm. Prices are £2.10 (£1.90 concessions)

Games – Dressing up Paint – Colouring Books –  Jigsaws – Cars – Home  Corner  whilst you pass an hour and have a tea or coffee amongst friendly staff.

Learn – Contribute – Enjoy – Be Active – Be and Stay Healthy – Stay Safe whilst having lots of fun.

For more infomation call 01827 709291

Meerkats eating from Pumpkin

Twycross Zoo are this half term bringing their popular Ghost Train.  Running from this Saturday (October 24) thru to Saturday October 31.  All sorts of ghosts, ghouls and gremlins will be haunting the train as it travels through the heart of the zoo.

The zoo will also be making feeding the Meerkats, Bat-Eared Foxes, Leopards and otters through hiding their food in bright jack-o-lanterns.  As well as being fun to watch this will also provide the animals with a new challenge in finding the creepy food inside.

From Thursday October 29, the Zoo Centre will be full of take home activities including making witch and wizard hats, decorated by cut out bats and spiders.

If you get hungry, the Zoo will also be offering ghoulish treats like their haunted cottage pie and lurch lasagne from the cafiteria.

Throughout the days the zoo will have witches and wizards running riot in the Gift Shop, casting spells on those who visit.  The gift shop will also give you the option to go home with the ultimate spooky souvenir and the opportunity to sponsor one of the zoos tiny baby Seba’s Fruit Bats which are roosting in the bat cave.

The Staffordshire Wild Life Trust are bringing their Wild Play back to Tamworth and are offering FREE sessions for 8 to 14 year olds during October as sites across Tamworth.  There are five different events during the Half Term Holiday including:

October Monday 26th – Kettlebrook, Stoneydelph Lake 10am .. 12 noon Contact 0785 4567704

October Tuesday 27th – Dosthill Park 10am – 12noon Contact 07854611449

October Wednesday 28th – Tameside 10am – 12noon Town Hall 1-3pm

October Thursday 29th – Dosthill Park 10am – 12noon Contact 0785 4567704

October Friday 30th – Wigginton Park – 10am – 12noon The Bumpy 1-3pm Contact 07971046820

Wild Play is about Children having fun in local spaces and respect the environment and world around them.

Tamworth Library - Pic: Paulette Francessca Sedgwick

Saturday October 17th – Tamworth Library is hosting a fun day with Origami.  Betwen1-15pm and 3-15pm.

It’s FREE for Children 5 years and over but they must be accompanied by an adult.  It’s part of family Learning group the library’s holding.

For more information call Tamworth Library 01827 – 475645 or drop in  to put your name down.  The Tamworth Library will be found back of St Edithas Church on Corporation Street.

Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding. ORI means to fold and KAMI means paper. Together, they form the word, “origami.” It is an art form that has been handed down from parent to child through many generations.

Victoria Mckenzi, Tamworth Library’s District Supervisor said:

”Origami involves the creation of paper forms usually entirely by folding. Animals, birds, fish, geometric shapes, puppets, toys and masks are among the models that even very young children can learn to make in just one sitting. It’s lots of fun for all ages, and everyone will have a fun day. It’s also FREE”.

The Big Yellow Bus in St Editha's Square

The big bright yellow ‘Reggie’ bus is touring Staffordshire, and was in Tamworth today promoting it’s child care and adoption services.

Clive Green, a Foster carer said:’

“I’ve been fostering for over 15 years, make’s you feel good offering a youngster a home and stability in there life. I really enjoy it. This bright yellow bus is now doing it’s last tour being old it’s costing to much to keep on road so new ‘Reggie’ bus will be about in few months for us to again promote the services we do whilst looking for foster homes. Fostering means caring for a child in your own home, providing a stable and supportive family for as long as its needed. ”

Sharon Harbone another Foster carer said;

”I had a knock at my door very late one night was the Police asking if i could take in a youngster. I knew who he was and his family so i did as it saved him going into care. Social Services said i had a natural talent  and suggested i became a foster carer. I’ve now been doing it for over 8 years and enjoy it, its very fullfilling.”

Anyone can be a foster carer, as Staffordshire Adoption and Fostering Services are constantly looking for carers from all walks of life. You could be married, Single, In a Civil partnership, Living in a settled relationship, from all ethnic backgrounds, cultures and sexualities. Working or not working. There are NO age barriers – although your age and health may influence the type of placement made. You don’t have to be a parent – many foster carers are, but others have no children. You may have experience of fostering so your interest would be welcomed. You don’t need a big house – but you do need enough space.

A child’s Religion and/or Culture is taken into account, so they need foster carers from all Religions and Cultures.  Some children stay for a short period whilst there family overcome a crisis, others may stay for much longer.

If interested or want more information before becoming a foster carer contact – Stafford Area Office, The Business Centre, Madford retail Park, Foregate Street, Stafford, ST16 2PA – Telephone FREE on. O8OO 169 2O61

E-mail the team on fostering&adoptionbus@staffordshire.gov.uk Also for more information go to there web site www.care4child.org.