FAMILY MATTERS / EDUCATION EXTRA
CALLING YOUNG WRITERS OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS!
The National Young Writers’ Awards has returned bigger and better than ever before as author, TV presenter and adventurer, Steve Backshall has been named judge for 2017. The competition, organised by tuition
provider Explore Learning, which has a centre in Southborough, has been running for nine years and has inspired hundreds of thousands of children across the UK to put pen to paper and give writing a try. The free-to-enter competition is open to
children aged four to 14 and this year’s theme is The Future, where entrants are encouraged to write a 500-word story set in 3017. The competition runs until Friday 5th May and children from all over the UK are
encouraged to enter. The winner will be surprised in a school assembly by Steve who will announce the National Young Writer of the Year and present them with a trophy, a trip to Disneyland Paris for their family and £500 worth of books for their school. Every child who enters will receive a certificate to celebrate their story, along with personalised feedback from Explore Learning. To enter simply send the 500-word story set in 3017 to NYWA, Explore Learning, 74 North Street, Guildford GU1 4AW or enter online at
explorelearning.co.uk/youngwriters. Don’t forget to include your contact information so they can get in touch if your child wins. • Visit
www.explorelearning.co.uk/schools
Now we’re farming
The Kent County Agricultural Society, Education and Farming Committee, are continuing to offer ‘Farming in the Classroom’ talks and visits in 2017. The talks were traditionally run by the Women’s Food and Farming Union, which formerly closed the national organisation after 37 years last year, and will now be supported by the Kent County Agricultural Society. At the Society’s recent AGM, Tish Neaves, the Chair of the Kent Branch of the Women’s Food and Farming Union, presented the Society’s Farming and
Education Committee with a cheque for £3,315.01 to continue to fund school visits and aid the Society in providing educational opportunities to children and adults throughout the year. • For more information, visit
www.kentshowground.co.uk
Gruffalo illustrator
visits King’s Rochester To help celebrate World Book Day last month, King’s Rochester Pre-Preparatory School welcomed a visit from acclaimed children’s illustrator Axel Scheffler. German-born Axel, best known for his work alongside writer Julia Donaldson on The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, as well as family favourites Room on the Broom and Stick Man, was also visiting King’s Rochester as part of the school’s German-English enrichment week. Students, who have taken daily German lessons since age three, interviewed Axel in German before a dual language reading of The Smartest Giant in Town.
MAKING HISTORY COME ALIVE
It’s a fact: pupils do not always appreciate their history lessons at school. This indeed was the case for Oliver McMechan as he was growing up in Kent and Sussex. “It meant boring lessons full of text books and dates,” recalled Oliver. However, when he glimpsed the human stories behind the dates, together with the magic and mystery of other civilisations and some insight into incredible characters that once walked the earth, the subject came alive. Now a professional actor, Oliver believes that his vivid memories
of theatre companies visiting his school are what sparked his passion. Fast-forward to today… and Steps in Time is now 10 years old and provides a play that encourages children to focus on fun while tapping into the history curriculum. And the children do not just sit in the audience. They help tell the story by playing Egyptian gods or Roman slaves. • Steps in Time is offering a 15% discount for schools that mention INDEX when they book. For more information, call 07788 417642 or visit
www.steps-in-time.co.uk
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Axel then kindly signed copies of his work for all students and drew them their very own doodle!
www.indexdigital.co.uk
www.indexdigital.co.uk getting married? –
www.planningyourwedding.co.uk
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