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News in Plymouth

Will Young Performs at Plymouth Pavilions

Winner of the first series of Pop Idol in 2002, Will Young entertained old and young alike at the fully-seated Plymouth Pavilions on 2 October as part of his current UK tour. Will Young entertained and engaged with the crowd as only he can and left the stage at the end to a standing ovation, having been dressed as a boat - for a short while at least! Plymouth Pavilions was busy, but not full and parking near the venue was easy. 

 

Cineworld Announces Opening Date For New Cinema In Plymouth

Cineworld, the UK’s leading cinema chain, has announced that Cineworld Plymouth will burst on to the scene and open their doors to the public on Tuesday 22 October. The new cinema will be their first in Devon, located at Drake Circus The Barcode, and will feature twelve state-of-the-art screens including an IMAX® theatre, the world’s most immersive cinema experience, and 4DX, Cineworld’s most exhilarating way to watch a film. Cinema fans can take advantage of a range of offers at Cineworld Plymouth including weekly discounted Movies for Juniors screenings for just £2.50 on Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays, as well as the Cineworld family ticket. The cinema will also be available for private venue hire. For more information visit: www.cineworld.com

 

Plymouth: UK’s First National Marine Park

In September, history was made in Plymouth when key partners came together to sign a Declaration of Intent to create the UK’s first ever National Marine Park.

Plymouth Sound National Marine Park will aim to showcase to the world the unique and fantastic assets that Britain’s Ocean City has to offer, including an estimated 1,000 different species of marine life, and help boost the economy. The historic occasion follows a series of successful ‘Sea in the Park’ events which have been taking place at parks across the city taking the ocean to children over the summer holidays to help local people learn more about some of the 1,000 different species living in Plymouth Sound.

 

Plymouth Parents Asked for Views on Changes to School Term

Plymouth parents are being asked to give their views on the Council’s proposals to shorten the six-week summer holiday and add a holiday period later in the year. This is one part of changes to the school attendance regulations in the city.

The move would create an additional week of holiday at another point in the year, potentially October and May. This would then provide a potential two weeks for families when holidays are less expensive. Another option being considered is aligning INSET days to straddle a weekend outside of term dates.

For more information and to access the consultation survey visit the Council’s website – www.plymouth.gov.uk

 

New Cycle Path for Sherford Residents

Sherford residents can now make the most of the great outdoors with a new family-friendly walking and cycle path. The route links Sherford with Haye Road and is suitable for cyclists of all abilities. The path runs around the northern edge of the King George V playing fields between the existing trees and the hedge. Additional trees will be planted as part of the scheme and for those wishing to just watch the world go by there are new benches. If you’re looking to gain confidence or improve your cycling, get in touch with Plymotion - www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymotion

 

Celebrate Libraries Week in Plymouth

Celebrate the role of libraries in the digital world during this year’s Libraries Week, from Monday 7 to Saturday 12 October. To find out what is going on at your local library visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/libraries/activitiesandeventslibraries

 

Get ready for The Mayflower 400

Next year, Plymouth will be taking centre stage as part of the historic Mayflower 400 celebrations. A host of exciting signature events will be staged, beginning with Illuminate 2019, from 28 November to 1 December. This dazzling festival of light with projections at Royal William Yard and the Barbican will mark the start of the anniversary year. Also, in November, the £48m Drake Circus leisure development will open bringing a new entertainment hub to city.

Other unveiled Plymouth projects for 2020 include a ‘Mayflower Muster’ week in September; incorporating a 4 nations civic ceremony and major military displays; new historic trails, taking visitors on a journey back to the 16th Century and exploring the city’s wider heritage; renovations to the historic Elizabethan House, a “world class” Mayflower monument; major theatrical events and public art commissions; and the opening of ‘The Box’ – the multi-million pound attraction, gallery and museum complex which will become the city’s flagship cultural and heritage centre. Read more at www.mayflower400uk.org

 

Additional Help with Schoolwork from Drake Tutors

When it comes to schoolwork, a child of any age can benefit from extra support, encouragement and reassurance. Parents can help but sometimes their support may not be enough, and your child could benefit from additional outside help. Tutoring can be beneficial to many students and by using committed tutors, students can achieve their goals through regular hourly weekly support. Drake Tutors aims to find suitable tutors to meet parent’s requirements. For further information call 01752 776622 or email info@draketutors.co.uk

 

Jet Off for Some Winter Sun from Cornwall Airport Newquay 

Book yourself some much needed winter sun this year with twice weekly flights, all year round to Alicante from Cornwall Airport Newquay. Situated on the Costa Blanca, the port city of Alicante offers Spanish culture, history and beautiful Mediterranean beaches. With blue flag status and crystal-clear waters, Alicante’s beaches are perfect for relaxing in the sun or having a go at the various water sports on offer. Fly on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the winter. Book now at Ryanair.com. Or see www.cornwallairportnewquay.com

 

Pantosaurus Returns to Plymouth with PANTS Campaign

A giant, yellow, pants-wearing dinosaur is returning to Plymouth to help families and professionals start conversations with children aged 3-11 in their care about staying safe from abuse. Pantosaurus turned heads at the community launch of Together for Childhood in the pilot site area of Ernesettle at the end of last year, and it’s been confirmed he will be spending much more time in the city as part of Plymouth’s city-wide PANTS campaign. To find out more about talking PANTS with your children or the children you work with, email togetherforchildhood@nspcc.org.uk

 

Barbican Set for Mayflower Spruce Up

Roads and pavements around the Barbican and waterfront will be getting some TLC as part of a scheme to get the city ready for Mayflower400. Plymouth City Council is embarking on a £2 million Mayflower maintenance programme to make sure the streets are in tip-top condition for next year. To keep up to date with road closures visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/roadsandpavements/roadworks

 

Penguins Behaving Badly at Living Coasts

Zookeepers at Living Coasts in Torquay are naming and shaming their naughtiest penguins. They’re writing the names of mischievous birds on a chalkboard for guests to see - and singling out others for their good behaviour. The 63 African penguins and 12 Macaroni penguins at Torquay’s coastal zoo mix freely with guests, but some penguins are better-behaved than others!

Naughty activities include giving the zoo vets the run around, being nosy and sticking their heads into other penguins’ burrows uninvited and stealing nesting material like sticks. So, what gets a penguin on the nice list? Endearing habits – such as chasing butterflies - caring for an older partner, males sitting on eggs while females take a break and the loyalty displayed in a long-term relationship. For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk

 

Fun Family Activities in the Heart of Devon

Inspire your little ones to ignite their sporty and creative sides through several engaging hands-on activities this autumn. The Manor and Ashbury Hotels, near Okehampton, offer 70 compelling workshops - from Junior Archery to Decoupage, Swimming to Fabric Painting, and Junior 5-A-Side to Teddy Creations. The personalised activity programmes encourage families to collaborate through teamwork, problem-solving and creativity, all delivered by experienced tutors with a child-led approach. With workshops, tuition, meals and accommodation included in the price, the Manor and Ashbury Hotels tick every box. For more information, call 0800 781 9712 or see www.manorhousehotel.co.uk

 

Want to be a School Governor in Plymouth?

If you're interested in supporting and improving children's education in Plymouth, you may wish to consider becoming a school governor. You don't need to be a parent or have any formal qualifications, just an interest in education, a willingness to contribute to a team and time to commit to visiting your school at least three times per year. To find out more about the appointment process, email governor.development@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 307480.

 

TeachOut: a new, free resource to make planning educational experiences easy 

TeachOut is an innovative, FREE resource packed with ideas for teachers and Educational Visit Coordinators to help you plan your enrichment programme for the year ahead. From fun-filled residentials, to memorable day visits and interactive workshops that will bring your curriculum topic to life! TeachOut’s latest schools newsletter is out now, with a hand-picked selection of day visits and residentials all within easy distance of your school: bit.ly/teachoutnewsletter

 

Free School Workshops and Assemblies

TeachOut is always looking for ways to reduce the costs of your enrichment activities - you can browse the In School Services section at teachout.co.uk, where any free workshops or resources are flagged up.

There are a number of brilliant local education providers who offer their schools’ services free of charge. These include the Exeter Axhayes branch of Cats Protection League, who offer interactive educational talks on animal-related topics, and the NSPCC who deliver free safeguarding workshops and assemblies to children aged 5-11. Find out more at www.teachout.co.uk

 

Primary Maths Open Hub Meeting in Plymouth

Visit Plymouth City College’s ‘Maths Centre of Excellence’ to ascertain what they offer and plan how best to tap into this facility and opportunity. The next Primary Maths Open Hub Meeting takes place on Tuesday 26 November from 4pm to 5pm at City College Plymouth, Kings Road Centre, Devonport, PL1 5QG. For details call 01752 785891.

 

Lego Therapy Training: Tuesday 12 November

Lego Therapy was developed to improve social competence in children with autism, however it may also be helpful for children with other social communication difficulties and anxiety conditions, depression or adjustment difficulties. At a special training session in November, attendees can learn more about this collaborative play therapy and its role in supporting the social development of children with social communication and interaction needs. The training session will take place on Tuesday 12 November, from 1.30pm to 3pm, at Okehampton Primary School, Glendale Road, Okehampton. To book, email sue.vanstone@babcockinternational.com

 

Anti-Bullying Week: Change Starts with Us

This year’s Anti-Bullying Week will be happening from Monday 11 November to Friday 15 November and has the theme 'Change Starts With Us'. The goal is to inform schools, children, young people, parents and carers to know that it takes a collective responsibility to stop bullying. The aim of this year’s campaign is to create empowering, positive messages addressing the fact that when it comes to bullying ‘Change Starts With Us’. Education packs are now available for primary schools and include lesson plans, activity ideas and cross curricular activities. For more, see www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk