A brand-new musical outing starring everyone’s favourite CBeebies characters is arriving at cinemas this summer.
Featuring a star-studded cast – including Justin Fletcher, Maddie Moate, and Andy Day – CBeebies Musical: The Great Ice Cream Hunt promises to add a sprinkling of joy to the holidays.
Showing in 300 cinemas nationwide, the film is arriving from July 11. The musical is an original piece that includes song performances that are exclusive to the cinema and the big screen. The hour-long special won’t be appearing on the small screens until later this year.
The musical tale follows Lolly the cow and Pinecone the hedgehog as they investigate the disappearance of ice cream across the land.
During their adventure, the pair befriend Storyland Rangers at Coconut Cove, learn magical moves at Mermaid Falls and help a stressed-out caterpillar find his voice at the Summer Fruits Festival. But when they finally catch up with their prime suspect – the rain-loving Professor Raindrop – things aren’t quite what they seem…
Eve Gabereau, Director of Distribution at Vue Lumiere, said: “After bringing two bumper collections of Bluey to cinemas up and down the country, we can’t wait to showcase this original musical treat from CBeebies to young fans.
“It’s a great continuation of our work with the BBC and their Children & Family content on the big screen.”
This week, the globally acclaimed venue, The Famous Spiegeltent makes her grand return to St Andrew Square after almost a decade away from her spiritual home.
An iconic fixture at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 20 years since 1996, The Famous Spiegeltent has been instrumental in promoting the international careers of variety, cabaret, independent music and new circus arts.
This summer the grand dame of travelling venues opens her doors for 8 weeks of spellbinding performances, hosting the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival before delivering her own mesmerising programme of live performances, magic, enchanting melodies, and maybe a few surprise faces!
Opening its Edinburgh festival season, The Famous Spiegeltent will be hosting the renowned Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival for almost 30 concerts from 11 – 20 July.
Beginning with raconteur and brilliant jazz violinist, George Washingmachine, over 9 days, The Famous Spiegeltent will welcome performances from renowned musicians including leading force on the UK jazz scene, Joe Webb, and one of Scotland’s foremost trumpeters, Colin Steele.
Full programme and ticket details for The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival can be found here.
La Clique
2025 marks both The Famous Spiegeltent’s 105th anniversary as well as the 21st birthday of her notorious, multi-award-winning house show, La Clique!
Since its inception in 2004 in The Famous Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, La Clique has taken the world by storm.
The very essence of live entertainment, the international Oliver Award-winning sensation is a unique blend of daring acrobatics, jaw-dropping stunts, scintillating burlesque and raucous comedy. Visceral, ethereal and in-your-face, each act a masterpiece of artistry and athleticism, La Clique showcases a riotous troupe of crème de la crème artistes from around the world.
From 23 Jul – 31 Aug leave your troubles at the doors of The Famous Spiegeltent, be a part of history and come raise a glass to the 21st Birthday of this trailblazing icon of entertainment! This iteration of La Clique celebrates over two decades of cult status as the true pioneering classic within the cabaret/circus canon, bringing heritage artistes and the next generation of performers together for a spectacular six-week season of subversive revelry.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, La Clique’s birthday show promises an unforgettable night of pure wonder, joy and delight. Sexy, funny, and dangerous, the handpicked cast includes: the iconic Ursula Martinez, Captain Frodo, Tara Boom, LJ Marles, David Periera, Daredevil Chickens, Aurora Kurth, Masha Terentieva, Mikael Bres, Byron Hutton, Heather Holliday, Miranda Menzies and more
Over your head, under your skin, and below the belt! Hang on to your hat and strap yourself in, as we present … La Clique!
Bold Performances
Watch closely … are you paying attention? Introducing The Unfair Advantage (1 – 25 Aug)an intimate,unique and unprecedented hour-long theatrical event. Take a seat at the card table, sign a legal contract of secrecy and Australia’s leading sleight-of-hand magician Harry Milas will reveal the secrets behind the skill that saw him become a security weapon for the world’s top casinos.
Edinburgh’s own Captivate Theatre enter The Famous Spiegeltent to deliver two stellar musical theatre shows. Performed entirely by talented students, Les Misérables (School Edition), running from 1 – 10 Aug,has been seen by an estimated 22,000 people, with sell-out crowds, standing ovations and multiple five-star reviews.
Les Mis is the story of love, compassion and redemption, featuring hit songs I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home and many more – don’t be put off by School Edition! From 12 – 24 Aug, prepare to be drawn into a dark and ghoulish world as the streets of Victorian London come to life in their thrilling production of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.
Mesmerising Music
The Paris icon and the Glasgow girl, Christine Bovill established her reputation as one of Europe’s finest interpreters of French song with her smash-hit Piaf. With a fresh take on this self-penned work, she now returns with Christine Bovill: Piaf Revisited on the 5, 12 & 19 Aug, to the venue of her original triumphs, looking back on her remarkable journey.
Performing for two nights only, on 11 and 18 Aug, see multi-award-winning vocalist Niki King take to the stage of The Famous Spiegeltent for Time. A deeply connecting musical experience, Time explores universal truths of loss, fear and the power of love and connection, while reflecting the concept of time itself.
What are synths? Where did they come from? And why are they synonymous with cats in space? Laurie’s got answers. Part live gig, part TedTalk, Laurie Black: Deadly Synths (12 & 19 Aug) tells the history of the sound of the future through seven decades of synth tunes.
Sounds of Scotland
Presented in association with Scary Biscuits Promotions, The Famous Spiegeltent is delighted to announce Sounds of Scotland. From African dancebeats, Americana, Folk, Roots, Funk, Blues, Rock and Indie, this strand of the 2025 programme, running outwith the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, showcases some of the best music being created in Scotland, welcoming artists and audiences to The Famous Spiegeltent for a series of intimate, one-off performances.
Enjoy an evening of exuberant Afrobeat, Mbalax, Ska, Reggae dance grooves with double-bill Samba Sene & Diwan + Makossa (28 Jul). Samba Sene & Diwan is an eclectic mix of musicians, led by charismatic Dakar-born singer Samba Sene.
The music is a thrilling fusion of funky mbalax/Afrobeat grooves, with undercurrents of ska, rock and Senegalese soul. Makossa is a long-standing Edinburgh institution, a feelgood band, led by Peter Akyeampong, with influences from African to Latin, Funk, Reggae and Classic Rock.
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award nominee, and daughter of Proclaimer Craig Reid,Roseanne Reid, takes to the stage of The Famous Spiegeltent on 29 Jul supported by The Rezillos’ Fay Fife, with her alt country Countess of Fife band member, guitarist Brian McFie.
In a night that promises to be musical medicine for the soul, acclaimed Edinburgh singer-songwriter and one of the brightest stars of the UK roots music scene Adam Holmes performs with some very special guests on 30 Jul.
On 4 Aug enjoy a stunning double bill with Liz Jones & Broken Windows and Steve Ray Ladson. Taking tones dynamically from blues, folk-rock and psychedelia for a classic stage buzzing live performance, Broken Windows will be led by force of nature singer Liz Jones. After blowing audiences and judges (including Simon Cowell) away on his recent performance on America’s Got Talent, singer Steve Ray Ladson brings his specialty Blackgrass Brothercana to the tent.
Award winning troubadour and proud Leither Dean Owens occupies the unlikely common ground between post-industrial Scotland, America’s desert states and the lush Italian hills. On Aug 6, he will be accompanied by his band The Sinners – expect a joyous, melancholy mix of songs and stories from Dean’s 12 album international career.
A darkly magnetic experience as blues meets alternative rock in a cinematic descent through Edinburgh’s shadowy underbelly The Filthy Tongues on13 Aug. Spawned from Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, expect pounding rhythms, brooding melodies, and razor-sharp storytelling.
On 20 Aug, Main Street Blues bring their popular show Kings of the Blues to The Famous Spiegeltent celebrating the music of blues legends BB King, Albert King, and Freddie King. Following their forthcoming sell-out show at The Famous Spiegeltent as part of The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2025, Black Cat Bone bring their raucous, blues infused rock’n’roll to the tent again on 26 Aug.
Experience the primal force of their music: thunderous guitar riffs, pounding drums, prowling, fuzzing basslines and a haunting voice that carries the ecstasy and agony of a lifetime.
Award winning Kirsten Adamson (daughter of rock legend Stuart Adamson Big Country/Skids) is performing double duties on 26 Aug. She headlines with her band The Tanagers, who have just finished recording the highly anticipated follow up album to her widely acclaimed Landing Place album. She’ll also play a short opening set with her duo band, The Marriage.
Closing the Sounds of Scotland music programme in style, get ready for a night of fearless funk, creative jazzy fire, and groove-soaked energy from Edinburgh- based collective James Brown is Annie on 27 Aug.
Keep an eye out for more special events and some surprise faces yet to be revealed in The Famous Spiegeltent’s grand return to Edinburgh!
Creative producer and Spiegelmaestro David Batessaid: “Leave your troubles at the gates to St Andrew Square and step into our world to discover our specially curated spellbinding programme.
“After almost a decade away, we are delighted to return to Edinburgh, where it all began, to salute The Famous Spiegeltent’s 105th anniversary and the coming of age 21st birthday of the one and only La Clique.
“We are honoured to share this celebration with the people and the place that has forever changed all our lives. To our Edinburgh devotees and newcomers alike, we can’t wait for you to join us and raise a glass to this historic season!”
New report reveals harrowing accounts from children facing unsafe housing, food insecurity and barriers to education – with many normalising deprivation
Children express clear understanding of systemic failures, calling for more accessible and compassionate support and services
Urgent reforms across housing, transport, education and community safety needed to break the link between a child’s background and future opportunities
Children in England are facing ‘Dickensian levels’ of poverty, going without basic needs like heating, a place to wash, somewhere to eat breakfast, or safe transport to school.
Frank testimonies from school-age children, shared in new research by the Children’s Commissioner, expose a crisis of hardship, shame and systemic failures and illustrate the stark reality of what it means to live on a low income in 2025.
The Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has set out practical recommendations for tackling – and ending – child poverty based on the insights children have shared with her.
These have been shared with the government’s Child Poverty Unit to shape its forthcoming strategy and ensure it reflects the many ways children experience poverty: going hungry, feeling unsafe at home, travelling hours to get an education and being stigmatised for having less that their peers.
‘Every time I got [food packages] the food was always out of date and mouldy…I know I’m poor but I’m not going to eat mouldy food.’ – Boy, 15
‘The system’s so muddled up that they make you feel greedy for even wanting it…. it’s our rights. We didn’t choose to be poor.’ – Boy, 18
‘Some of it [free school meals] looks like food you wouldn’t feed to a dog’. – Boy, 15.
‘Sometimes if I have the money, I catch the bus, but sometimes I have to walk and I just feel very uncomfortable… at nighttime.’ – Girl, 14.
Recommendations include the introduction of a ‘triple-lock’ on all child-related benefits, to help alleviate the severe conditions children and their families are living through, and to deliver greater financial security for hundreds of thousands of children. All four UK Children’s Commissioners – from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – have jointly backed this call, alongside a repeated call to end the two-child benefits limit to prevent hundreds of thousands of children being driven into poverty.
Other proposals from Dame Rachel de Souza include free bus travel for all school-age children, priority for housing to be given to children in low-income households, auto-enrolment for free school meals for all eligible children, improved communication and data-sharing between schools, GPs and local authorities.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: ““Since becoming Children’s Commissioner, I have been struck by the change in how children talk about their family lives over that four-year period. Issues that were traditionally seen as ‘adult’ concerns are now keenly felt by children, who see their parents’ worries and the struggles they face: the hours they work, the homes they live in and the ability to put food on the table.
“Children shared harrowing accounts of hardship, with some in almost-Dickensian levels of poverty. They don’t talk about ‘poverty’ as an abstract concept but about not having the things that most people would consider basic: a safe home that isn’t mouldy or full or rats, with a bed big enough to stretch out in, ‘luxury’ food like bacon, a place to do homework, heating, privacy in the bathroom and being able to wash, having their friends over, and not having to travel hours to school.
“Children spoke to me about the sense of shame that comes from knowing you have less – but, as one of the richest societies in the world, it is decision makers who should be ashamed that children are growing up knowing their futures are being determined by their financial circumstances.
“We have seen some positive steps by the government to get more money into families’ pockets – but we need leaders at every level: government, business, transport and every public service to commit to bold, practical measures that break the link between a child’s background and their opportunities.”
In interviews and focus groups with 128 children aged between six and 18, children didn’t talk about ‘poverty’ directly but were acutely aware they were growing up not having enough money to do the same things as their peers and feeling a sense of shame at being seen as ‘lesser’.
Everyday impact of poverty: Children spoke about their families going without heating, food, and other essentials, often accepting these hardships as normal. Many experienced poor-quality, overcrowded and unsafe housing, as well as frequent moves while facing long waits from housing providers and prolonged stays in temporary accommodation, leaving children with no stability or space to thrive, which impacted their wellbeing and education;
Food insecurity and health inequality: Rising costs mean many families have limited access to nutritious food, relying on food banks, school parcels or poor-quality free school meals, about which children raised concerns around the quality and stigma of receiving. Children also face long waits for healthcare and unequal access to mental health services, with a perception of a two-tier system, where those who can afford private care receiving faster treatment.
Barriers to education and opportunity: Children highlighted the cost of uniforms, limited transport meaning long walks or complicated commutes to school, and access to extracurricular activities as major obstacles. Schools play a crucial role in supporting children, but reported support was inconsistent. Limited career guidance and low pay were also cited as restricting the prospects for young people experiencing poverty.
Broken system and inaccessible support: Children showed a striking awareness of their family’s access to social security benefits, including the need for benefit rates to be increased. Many spoke of the need to make the system easier to navigate and with better access to services like housing, repairs, GPs, and school-based initiatives.
Unsafe and isolated communities: High crime, unsafe streets and unaffordable transport left children feeling vulnerable and cut off. Despite this, strong community bonds offer a sense of belonging and resilience in the face of hardship.
In response to children’s evidence, the Children’s Commissioner highlights the need for changes beyond the social security system to the public services that children rely on. Her recommendations include:
Uplifts to all child-related benefits on an annual basis as costs rise, so families can meet their children’s basic needs, and removing the two-child limit;
Housing reforms to ensure no child or family is housed in any B&B-type accommodation for more than six weeks. Children in low-income households should be prioritised for affordable housing and no child should ever be placed in temporary accommodation alongside other single adults;
Improved access to transport so as many children as possible benefit from free bus travel – as a minimum, all school age children in England should have free bus travel;
Improved oversight of Free School Meals, with better assessment and enforcement of school food standards to ensure all children receive nutritious, high-quality meals – and for all eligible children to be auto-enrolled to receive them;
Increased safety in communities, with visible reforms for children including prioritising the rollout of PCSOs, increased street lighting and more neighbourhood watch style initiatives in areas with children on low incomes.
Long-term vision for youth activities with children from low-income households front and centre of the government’s forthcoming National Youth Strategy, as well as a commitment to funding the Holiday Activities and Food programme beyond April 2026.
Children’s testimonies:
‘I would…change the amount of money people get from Universal Credit…because £920, is that enough for one month?’ Girl, 11.
‘In our area sometimes there’s stuff like robbing and sometimes there’s drunk people and stabbing … It’s not really a nice because sometimes it can be really dangerous… but sometimes it can be a nice merry community.’ Boy, 8.
‘Sometimes when I need to take a bath or have a shower, the water doesn’t really work sometimes… so sometimes when [children] don’t have enough water to take a shower, they always just have to go to school not clean and they didn’t shower.’ Girl, 10.
‘They’d make you walk in the cafeteria with everyone there, so everyone knows you’re poor because you have to wear a lanyard or a band on your wrist…Everyone had regular water bottles, but they had different ones for free school meals that were smaller than everyone else’s.’ Boy,18.
‘Sometimes when we go to my auntie’s house, she gives us food to take because she cooks out of home…that’s the only time I eat normal food and not take out.’ Boy, 13.
‘I remember when my sister was just born…you have to keep the house warm. But you can’t keep the house warm…because there was six of us in the house at the time…you’re trying to feed everyone, keep everyone warm and then pay for every expense around the house, so it’s quite a lot’. – Girl, 16.
‘[My mum’s] always encouraged me to reach out and try and find jobs or…some kind of income because we are quite low on the ground.’ Girl, 16.
‘I grew up in a household where my mum has [severe illness], so I’m a young carer, I have been since I was 8…I still can’t get carers allowance because I’m in full time education but the second I get in, I’m still doing all my jobs, still looking after them. What am I meant to do? Not go to college or uni? You have to give up your whole life just to care for your family, it’s all good but…you need a future.’ – Boy, 18.
‘In my house, the heating doesn’t work. Every time we [put the heating on] it’ll take like £10 a day from our electricity. And sometimes the electricity just turns off.’ Girl, 10.
‘It took [the council] three months to move us out, which was…so much stress …and the mould was making me so ill…We got home and there was a hole in our floor and the mould wasn’t done properly…It feels like you’re fighting a one-way battle because they they’re not actually doing what they can do to support us.’ Girl, 17.
‘There are a bunch of people who walk by going to a club – when they leave, they’re always drunk and chucking glass around.’ Boy, 10.
Livingston Designer Outlet goes Jurassic crazy this July with lifelike dinosaurs, ranger training and endless photo opportunities for the whole family to enjoy. From Monday 7th to Sunday 20th July, guests can enjoy a host of dinosaur-themed events, making it the ultimate day out to remember.
Dinosaur discovery trail
Trail: 7-20 July
Roaming dinosaurs: 9-11 July & 16-18 July, from 11am – 5pm*
Location: Livingston Designer Outlet
Guests can embark on a journey through time as they explore six dinosaur themed zones located throughout the outlet, featuring animatronic dinosaurs, a jungle environment and exciting sound-effects. Between 9th–11th and 16th–18th July, the experience will become even more immersive as roaming encounters with raptors and a T-Rex will make unexpected appearances throughout the day.
Exclusive dinosaur appearances
Noisy Norman: 7-11 July & 16-20 July
Giant T-Rex: 12-15 July
Location: Grand Staircase
Throughout the event, two life-size dinosaurs will be taking over the Grand Staircase – Noisy Norman an animatronic model and a static Giant T-Rex. Standing at almost 2 metres tall and 3 metres long, Noisy Norman towers over guests and roars into life for those who are brave enough to get close. Watch out for his swinging tale and razor-sharp teeth. A Giant T-Rex will take Norman’s place from 12th-15th July, ready to wow visitors with equally great prehistoric power.
Ranger training & baby dinosaur experience
9-11 July & 16-18 July, from 11am – 5pm*
Location: Grand Staircase
Budding explorers can sign up for Ranger Training at Dino Basecamp, where two expert safari rangers will guide guests through a 15-minute session covering essential dinosaur survival skills! At the end of each session, newly qualified rangers will get the chance to meet a baby dinosaur.
Michelle Whitelaw, Centre Manager at Livingston Designer Outlet, said:“We are always looking for ways to deliver memorable experiences alongside brilliant shopping, and bringing the Jurassic era to Livingston Designer Outlet is not one to be missed this summer.
“Whether it’s meeting Noisy Norman, taking part in ranger training or getting amazing photos throughout the whole outlet, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”
Livingston Designer Outlet is Scotland’s largest outlet shopping destination, offering over 80 brands, restaurants and cafés under one roof.
Dynamic Earth launches its Toddler Tidal and Deep-Sea Discovery Zones for little ones across the Capital
This summer Dynamic Earth is encouraging wee ones from across Edinburgh, and surrounding regions, to set sail on a magical underwater adventure at the city’s leading Science Centre and Planetarium.
With the launch of Ocean Commotion Soft Play on June 23rd, the venue aims to provide accessible, stimulating and interactive engagement opportunities for little ones needing to let off some steam and spark their curiosity in our planet.
For just £4, kids aged 0-6 can expect to explore, climb, splash (not literally!), and play away in the ocean-themed interactive costal escape. No booking required for this fun, interactive soft play.
With every corner of Ocean Commotion designed to boost your child’s development through play, whether they’re learning to crawl, climb, or conquer new challenges, kids are sure to have some fintastic fun beneath the waves!
Sea Turtle Sanctuary – Allow your littlest adventurers to safely drift, crawl and discover Dynamic Earth’s serene ocean cove.
Toddler Tidal Zone – Let wee ones (recommended 12 months plus) build, slide and grow their confidence as they explore the world around them.
Junior Deep-Sea Discovery Zone – Bigger adventures for your budding explorers. Take the training wheels off and scale Dynamic Earth’s rock-climbing reef, before taking part in interactive activities that fuel both skill and imagination
Parents who want to let their little star(fishes) have fun in the venue’s brand-new interactive ocean escape can pay-on-the-day, with £4 granting their wee ones *unlimited access to Dynamic Earth’s world beneath the waves.
Scotland’s first dedicated complex needs college will receive up to £1.4 million to secure its future for the next two years.
Since launching in 2022, the Corseford College pilot has received over £1 million from the Scottish Government, which has helped to provide 35 students with complex and additional needs an opportunity for further learning beyond school.
An independent evaluation found the pilot provided valuable support to young people with complex needs. It also included key recommendations for the future model of provision in Scotland which the Government will be considering in the months ahead.
The College has now received additional funding to continue the pilot for two more years. A total of 41 young people will benefit from specialist support in the 2025-26 academic year starting in August.
Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College’s future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported.
“We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future.
“We are determined to support Scotland’s young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.”
Capability Scotland Chief Executive, Brian Logan, said: “The Scottish Government’s funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College’s pioneering approach to specialist post-school education.
“We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their cooperation and unwavering commitment in making this possible.
“This success reflects the dedication of the college’s staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. The funding secures Corseford College’s future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.”
Amie Leckie, Health and Wellbeing Specialist at Heart Research UK, explores how good nutrition is one of the most important building blocks for a child’s health and offers advice on how to support your child’s heart health.
In today’s world, where convenience foods are often within arm’s reach, it can be challenging for parents to ensure their children are eating nutritious, balanced meals.
Amie Leckie, Health and Wellbeing Specialist at Heart Research UK, says: “Children can be quite picky, and dealing with a stubborn child who refuses to eat any vegetables can be a real challenge.
“However, making small, consistent changes in how we approach children’s diets can have lasting positive effects on their health, energy levels, and even behaviour.
“At the core of a healthy diet are three main principles: eating foods as close to their natural state as possible, limiting processed foods and eating balanced meals.”
Prioritising whole foods
When we talk about whole foods, we mean foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. For example, a banana is a whole food and banana chips are a processed food; a potato is a whole food, but crisps, which are made from potatoes, are a processed food.
Whole foods should be the foundation of children’s diets as they are full of essential nutrients, which are crucial for a child’s growth and development.
“Whole foods include fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, lean proteins, and healthy fats,” Amie explains. “Fruits and vegetables, for example, are full of antioxidants and vitamins like C and A, which support immune function and eye health. Wholegrains like oats, brown rice, and quinoa provide steady energy throughout the day and help maintain healthy digestion.
“Lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, eggs, and beans, contain vital building blocks for muscle and support cognitive function. Including healthy fats from avocados, nuts, seeds, yoghurt and olive oil is important as these fats support brain development and hormone production.”
Childhood is a stage of rapid growth, and it is vitally important that we give their bodies what they need to grow properly. When children regularly eat whole foods, they get the nutrients they need to grow strong and stay healthy, while also developing their taste buds for healthy foods.
Limiting processed foods
Processed foods are foods that were once whole foods or a group of whole foods that have been modified somehow. When this happens, essential nutrients are lost and often, especially with pre-packed foods, ingredients have been added such as salt, sugar, sweeteners, flavourings and unhealthy fats.
Processed foods are everywhere, and they often appeal to children due to their convenience, added flavours and eye-catching packaging. For parents, it can be hard to avoid these, especially as children get older and start noticing food products in the wider world, rather than just what is in their house.
Processed foods include sugary cereals, crisps, fizzy drinks, fast food, ready meals, packet noodles and packaged snacks.
The added ingredients in these products can lead to overeating, energy crashes, and may increase the risk of childhood obesity, diabetes, and other long-term health issues, affecting children’s behaviour.
Amie explains: “The key to limiting processed foods lies in focusing on balance and moderation rather than completely banning them. It’s okay for kids to occasionally enjoy these foods, but parents should be mindful of how often these foods are part of daily meals. Try to cook as many meals as possible from scratch and limit your reliance on convenience foods.
“A helpful tip is to make healthier swaps where possible, such as offering water or milk instead of sugary drinks or opting for wholegrain crackers and natural peanut butter as a snack, rather than crisps and chocolate. Start with small swaps and layer them as the weeks go by, so it doesn’t upset your little one too much.”
Creating balanced meals
Thinking about offering balanced meals can help parents ensure they are providing nutrient-dense plates that will keep children nourished and full. A balanced plate typically consists of a variety of food groups such as vegetables and/or fruits, wholegrains, proteins and healthy fats.
Amie says: “A good example of a balanced meal for a child could be baked homemade chicken goujons using whole wheat breadcrumbs, homemade sweet potato chips, steamed broccoli drizzled with a little olive oil, and a side of fresh fruit such as apple slices or melon wedges.
“This combination offers a range of nutrients, including protein, fibre, carbohydrates and healthy fats, which are essential for growth and energy. The combination of these foods will help keep children feeling fuller for longer and keep their blood sugar stable, which means steady energy and fewer sugar cravings.”
Encouraging kids to eat a variety of colours on their plate is a fun and effective way to ensure they are getting a variety of different vitamins and minerals. Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different antioxidants and nutrients, so diversity is key.
Fruits and vegetables are a great source of fibre, which helps keep the digestive system healthy.
Heart Research UK has created a Rainbow Food Challenge to help encourage your children and yourself to try some new foods, so download your copy now.
Amie advises: “Parents can often feel a sense of failure if their children don’t eat what they make or try tactics to encourage children to eat by offering rewards and treats, which in the long-term don’t help establish healthy eating patterns.
“Parents cannot control what children will decide to eat on any given day, but they can, to some extent and at least in the home environment, control what foods are on offer, and lead by example and nourish ourselves with healthy food.”
Building healthy eating habits from a young age sets children up for a lifetime of good health, which includes heart health. By focusing on whole foods, limiting processed foods, and creating balanced meals, parents can provide the essential nutrients their children need to grow, thrive, and feel their best.
It may take time and patience, but with consistent effort, the benefits of a nutritious diet will soon become clear in a child’s energy, mood, behaviour and overall wellbeing.
Join us to celebrate International Moon Day on Sunday 20th July Get involved with moon-centric activities from 10am – 6pm!
FREE Drop-in Activities
Enjoy a variety of free drop-in activities to commemorate this iconic day in space history. Have fun creating your own Lunar Wheel, guessing what the moon is made of, making your own asteroid and crater, and building a Lunar Lander.
11am – 3pm | Free | Drop-in | No ticket required.
Wallace & Gromit: All Systems Go AR Trail
Find and follow the seven markers around our immersive galleries to embark on a unique Augmented Reality trail to help Wallace & Gromit ready their rocket for blast off! Enjoy meeting and posing alongside the inventive duo, try on Wallace’s Techno Trousers, take a selfie as Feathers McGraw and launch a rocket through our rainforest! Included in your add-on ticket is an activity pack with colouring, dot-to-dots and a build-your-own rocket to take home.
10am-4pm | Annual Pass and ‘All Systems Go’ Trail Add-On Required.
Meet the Astronomer Live Talks
Meet our in-house astronomer, Dr. Alastair Bruce, as we find out more about the iconic Saturn V rocket. Listen to insights from Alastair and have the chance to ask your burning questions about space!
11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm | Free | No ticket Required.
Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out
Join the inventive duo in our Planetarium as we screen this Wallace & Gromit classic. Wallace & Gromit enjoy a day out with a difference when a quest to find cheese takes them to the moon!
12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm | Annual Pass or Planetarium Only ticket required.
CapCom Go: The Apollo Story
Enjoy this full dome film in our Planetarium for one day only. Learn about the Apollo moon landings, and the journey that led up to the famous small step for man. Check out our Planetarium schedule here.
11am, 4pm, 5pm | Annual Pass or Planetarium Only ticket required.
Up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs to be rolled out across England to provide wide-ranging help for families, such as parenting and early development
Parents across England will benefit from greater support to make family life easier on their doorstep, as the government rolls out ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ across every local authority – relieving pressure on parents and giving half a million more children the very best start in life.
Postcodes shouldn’t dictate the support available, but one in four families with children under five cannot access local children’s centres or Family Hubs, rising to one in three lower income families.
This means thousands of parents cut off from vital community support networks and specialist services – left to navigate the challenges of parenthood alone – as well as a devastating impact on children’s life chances, with early development, wellbeing and future attainment all in jeopardy.
Best Start Family Hubs will act as a one stop shop for parents seeking a range of support, including on difficulty breastfeeding, housing issues or children’s early development and language, reassuring families that they have convenient access to support in their local area or can be efficiently connected to specialist local services.
Rolling out in every local authority by April 2026, Hubs will offer interventions and courses which work for parents – such as stay and play groups which help parents connect or sessions which help manage children’s emotional needs – while providing a single point of access for services across health, education, and wellbeing.
Backed by over £500 million, the rollout will help transform the existing Family Hubs and Start for Life programme and create up to 1,000 hubs across the country by the end of 2028. This includes areas currently without any access to support hubs – from Warrington and Leeds to Reading and Somerset.
Sure Start revolutionised family and community services, with research showing that children who lived within a short distance of a Sure Start centre for their first five years were 0.9 percentage points more likely to achieve five good GCSEs at grades age 16.
Plans launched today will draw on lessons learned from the legacy programme, as well as build on infrastructure from the current Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.
It complements work already underway to make family life easier and alleviate the burden on parents, including by expanding government-funded childcare to 30-hours, increasing the reach of school-based nurseries, and rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary school to support working parents.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: “It’s the driving mission of this government to break the link between a child’s background and what they go on to achieve – our new Best Start Family Hubs will put the first building blocks of better life chances in place for more children.
“I saw firsthand how initiatives like Sure Start helped level the playing field in my own community, transforming the lives of children by putting in place family support in the earliest years of life, and as part of our Plan for Change, we’re building on its legacy for the next generation of children.
“Making sure hard-working parents are able to benefit from more early help is a promise made, and promise kept – delivering a lifeline of consistent support across the nation, ensuring health, social care and education work in unison to ensure all children get the very best start in life.”
Hubs will also act as a ‘front door’ to local family help workers for vulnerable families – providing a single point of entry to join-up universal services and children’s social care, ensuring early help before issues escalate.
This forms a key plank of the government’s direction setting ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’ strategy to be published tomorrow, making sure parents don’t have to battle complex systems to access basic parenting, health and family services.
Building on the legacy of Sure Start, we're creating up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs across England.
The Rainbow Family Hub in Washington provides vital support to support children and families. Backed by £500m, our hubs will reach half a million more children by 2028. pic.twitter.com/oTDXp3K681
— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) July 6, 2025
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Every child – no matter their background – deserves the best start in life. I know what it’s like to grow up in a family where work is low-paid and insecure, and I know the power of a good support network.
“That’s why, as part of our Plan for Change, rolling out these Best Start Family Hubs are so vital – one stop shops offering parents not only crucial connections with other families but also the health, education and wellbeing support they need.
“By bringing together early support services and investing £500 million in children’s development, we’re taking preventative action that will improve lives and reduce pressure on the NHS – a key part of our 10 Year Health Plan.”
Best Start Family Hubs will help families with services like:
Activities for children aged 0-5
Birth registration
Debt and welfare advice
Domestic abuse support
Early language support
Health Visiting
Housing support
Infant Feeding Support
Mental health services
Midwifery/maternity services
Nutrition and weight management
Oral health improvement
Parenting Support
Reducing Parental Conflict
SEND support and services
Stop smoking support
Substance (alcohol/drug) misuse support
Support for separating and separated parents
Youth services
To further streamline the path to support, a new Best Start digital service will also be launched to enable parents to access evidence-based guidance within seconds.
The digital platform will provide advice on a range of topics and connect parents to their local Best Start Family Hub, as well as link to the NHS App – making sure these services are at the centre of every community, whether on- or off-line.
Anna Feuchtwang, CEO, National Children’s Bureau said: “The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change set out his ambition to improve outcomes in early childhood. Now the government has put its money where its mouth is and committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority.
“With indications of a funding boost for babies and young children already included in the 10 Year Health plan, I am delighted to see children and families being given clear priority in government spending decisions. We hope to see a similar priority being given to the early years workforce in the Best Start in Life Strategy published tomorrow.”
It comes as the government has already confirmed it will launch a new data tool for schools to assess whether there is more they can do in reception year to get children ready for year 1, and that every council will be expected to play its part with an individual statutory target for school readiness in their area.
The Hubs will be open to all, making a particular difference to the most vulnerable families and helping tackle the stain of child poverty ahead of the ambitious strategy due to be launched by the government’s Child Poverty Taskforce.
‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’ also outlines the key role local authorities will play to drive improvements in the number of children achieving a good level of development by 5 years old.
England’s local authorities will build on their existing work with families, young children and babies, to develop ambitious local plans for meeting their 2028 target.
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