British children are culture starved, study says
Millions of British children are "culture starved" as they have never been to an art gallery, theatre or museum, a study has claimed.
The research, commissioned by Visit Birmingham, found four in 10 children had never been to an art gallery, while a quarter of parents had never taken their offspring to the theatre. One in five parents said they did not think their child would be interested.
The study surveyed 2,000 parents of five to 12-year-olds around the UK.
It also found 17% of children had never visited a museum, while one in 10 had not been outside their home town to visit other sites in the UK. Half of parents said they made little effort to educate their children about culture or history and relied on schools to do so.
A quarter said they could not afford to visit attractions with 28% saying they did not have the time and 18% believed their child was "too young for culture". However half said they were more likely to take their children sight-seeing when they were abroad on holiday.
When asked what cultural activities their children had participated in, the most popular was learning an instrument (39%), with ballet (24%), painting (23%) and singing in a choir (22%) the next most popular activities.
Emma Gray, from Marketing Birmingham, which runs the Visit Birmingham campaign, said it was important for all generations to embrace cultural activity. "Culture can take many kinds of forms and it's essential our children are encouraged to get involved with this at any early age," she said. "A few trips during the year to museums, landmarks or even cultural festivals will prove to be memorable, informative and fun occasions for youngsters."
Bloo House launches new website
January 2012 : Bloo House News | Education
The school recently published its new website. The new style makes it even easier to navigate through the website and includes several additions, such as newsletter archives, galleries and book recommendations. We have also redesigned our blog page and created a new Parent Portal for current families at the school.
As well as a new look website, the school has recently opened a literacy clinic. Providing a unique service to children with reading difficulties, the clinic offers assessments and literacy programmes for children aged up to 13 years old. Each programme is tailored to meet the individual's needs, delivered by highly trained and experienced teachers. This innovative approach provides results that are measurable, significant and most importantly can transform a child's ability. To find out more about the Literacy Clinic, please email the school office.
Happy St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day - December 6th
This was predominantly a Dutch tradition that is now celebrated all over Europe. When the Dutch settlers moved to the United States, Sinterklass became Santa Claus or Father Chrtistmas.
Traditionally, this celebration differs from Christmas Day. The story tells us that in the Middle of the 4th Century, an Abbot called Nicholas was born in Turkey. Nicholas was well known for his piety and benevolence. Abbot Nicholas was especially remembered for his care and protection of young children.
One such tale of his kindness tells of a father with three daughters who was very worried that he would not be able to provide them with a dowry when they became married. Nicholas heard of this man and went to his house. He stood by the man's widow and when a moonbeam shone into the room, Nicholas tossed in a bag of gold. He did this each night until the man had three bags of gold - one for each of his daughters.
From this legend came the placing of gold coins, small gifts and fruit in the shoes and stockings of children during the night before the feast of St. Nicholas. In some homes across Europe, St. Nicholas may appear with his companion, Zwarte Piete, also known as Black Peter. He carries a big red book, where he reads reports about the children's behaviour. If the child has been good, they may receive a small gift. However, if the report is not so good they may find twigs or even coal left in their shoes!
This was predominantly a Dutch tradition that is now celebrated all over Europe. When the Dutch settlers moved to the United States, Sinterklass became Santa Claus or Father Chrtistmas.
Traditionally, this celebration differs from Christmas Day. The story tells us that in the Middle of the 4th Century, an Abbot called Nicholas was born in Turkey. Nicholas was well known for his piety and benevolence. Abbot Nicholas was especially remembered for his care and protection of young children.
One such tale of his kindness tells of a father with three daughters who was very worried that he would not be able to provide them with a dowry when they became married. Nicholas heard of this man and went to his house. He stood by the man's widow and when a moonbeam shone into the room, Nicholas tossed in a bag of gold. He did this each night until the man had three bags of gold - one for each of his daughters.
From this legend came the placing of gold coins, small gifts and fruit in the shoes and stockings of children during the night before the feast of St. Nicholas. In some homes across Europe, St. Nicholas may appear with his companion, Zwarte Piete, also known as Black Peter. He carries a big red book, where he reads reports about the children's behaviour. If the child has been good, they may receive a small gift. However, if the report is not so good they may find twigs or even coal left in their shoes!
Odds stacked against August babies
November 2011 : Education
The evidence for children starting school at age five, rather than four, has always been strong. Inevitably, summer born children are often the youngest in the year group and can struggle in school. Bloo House has always held firm to this philosophy and now the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) agrees, as reported by Sean Coughlan, Education Correspondent at the BBC.
The IFS study says that among seven-year-olds, August-born children are more than three times as likely to be "below average" as September-born children. August children are also 20% less likely to attend a top university. The IFS says the economic consequences facing summer babies will last "throughout their working lives".
The report from the independent financial researchers shows the sharp difference in outcomes between the youngest children in a year group - those born in August - and the oldest, born in September.
Researchers say that August-born seven-year-olds are between 2.5 and 3.5 times "more likely to be regarded as below average by their teachers in reading, writing and maths". They are also 2.5 times more likely to be unhappy at school at the age of seven and at an increased risk of being bullied. This suggests that August-born children may end up doing worse than September-born children throughout their working lives”.
This reflects that these August children can be almost a year younger than their September-born classmates. This achievement gap has not been closed by the time youngsters are ready to leave secondary schools - with August-born teenagers 20% more likely to be in vocational rather than academic study after school.
They are also 20% less likely to be at a leading Russell Group university compared with a September-born teenager. These August children are likely to have lower confidence and less likely to feel they "control their own destiny".
This accident of birth can have far-reaching economic significance, says the IFS, as underachievement in qualifications at school will be likely to reduce employment opportunities in adulthood. "This suggests that
August-born children may end up doing worse than September-born children throughout their working lives, simply because of the month in which they were born," says IFS programme director Claire Crawford.
This research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is intended as a step towards finding a way of tackling the disadvantages of being the youngest in a year group. The rules for beginning school mean that a child reaches compulsory school age at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. However it is usual to start school in the September after a child's fourth birthday, which means that August babies would only just have reached the age of four when they enter the reception class. But parents should have a choice about whether a child is full-time or part-time and there should be the option to defer entry until later in the school year.
"Parents now have the choice of a place in reception classes from the September following a child's fourth birthday, so that their child is ready to start school," said a Department for Education spokesman. "If parents choose to defer entry, they can continue to access their entitlement to 15 hours of free early education in a setting of their choice."
The IFS study says that among seven-year-olds, August-born children are more than three times as likely to be "below average" as September-born children. August children are also 20% less likely to attend a top university. The IFS says the economic consequences facing summer babies will last "throughout their working lives".
The report from the independent financial researchers shows the sharp difference in outcomes between the youngest children in a year group - those born in August - and the oldest, born in September.
Researchers say that August-born seven-year-olds are between 2.5 and 3.5 times "more likely to be regarded as below average by their teachers in reading, writing and maths". They are also 2.5 times more likely to be unhappy at school at the age of seven and at an increased risk of being bullied. This suggests that August-born children may end up doing worse than September-born children throughout their working lives”.
This reflects that these August children can be almost a year younger than their September-born classmates. This achievement gap has not been closed by the time youngsters are ready to leave secondary schools - with August-born teenagers 20% more likely to be in vocational rather than academic study after school.
They are also 20% less likely to be at a leading Russell Group university compared with a September-born teenager. These August children are likely to have lower confidence and less likely to feel they "control their own destiny".
This accident of birth can have far-reaching economic significance, says the IFS, as underachievement in qualifications at school will be likely to reduce employment opportunities in adulthood. "This suggests that
August-born children may end up doing worse than September-born children throughout their working lives, simply because of the month in which they were born," says IFS programme director Claire Crawford.
This research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, is intended as a step towards finding a way of tackling the disadvantages of being the youngest in a year group. The rules for beginning school mean that a child reaches compulsory school age at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. However it is usual to start school in the September after a child's fourth birthday, which means that August babies would only just have reached the age of four when they enter the reception class. But parents should have a choice about whether a child is full-time or part-time and there should be the option to defer entry until later in the school year.
"Parents now have the choice of a place in reception classes from the September following a child's fourth birthday, so that their child is ready to start school," said a Department for Education spokesman. "If parents choose to defer entry, they can continue to access their entitlement to 15 hours of free early education in a setting of their choice."
Children's packed lunches lack 'fruit and veg'
October 2011 : Nutrition
The School Food Trust, which examined 3,500 packed lunches in England in 2009, says about 40% of lunchboxes do not contain any fruit or vegetables, compared with 10% of school dinners.
It said parents should consider switching to school meals. Meanwhile, the World Cancer Research Fund has set up a website to give parents advice on healthier lunchboxes. It says the same sort of changes as those made when TV chef Jamie Oliver championed school dinners are now needed. It wants parents to ensure their children's packed lunches always contain at least two portions of fruits and vegetables.
WCRF head of education Kate Mendoza said: "There is no doubt Jamie Oliver helped achieve great things for the food served in school canteens. But as the nutritional content of school canteen meals has improved, the healthiness of the content of lunchboxes has been left behind.
Patricia Mucavele, research and nutrition manager at the School Food Trust commented, "it is disappointing that children are going to school with lunchboxes that are not playing their part in helping to encourage the kind of healthy diet that is so important for their future. This is why we want to get across the message to parents that including a piece of fruit or using a portion of salad as a filling for a sandwich are positive things they can do for their children's health. She continued, "it can sometimes be difficult for parents to control what their children eat, particularly if they are passing shops on the way home from school or visiting their friends. But parents can influence what is in their packed lunches and the fact that not all of them are doing so is a missed opportunity."
She said they were aiming to advise parents about healthy options - rather than telling them what not to put in as has happened in the past.
HEALTHY LUNCH OPTIONS
- Butternut squash soup with wholegrain bread
- Cous cous with roasted vegetables and chickpeas
- Wholegrain pasta salad with tomatoes, green beans and sweetcorn in green pesto sauce
- Low-fat cream cheese on wholegrain cracker with grapes
- Carrot and cucumber sticks
- Dried fruits
The trust's 2009 Primary School Food Survey, included an in-depth look at the contents of almost 3,500 packed lunches across 135 schools in England.