school holidays – Page 2 – The NEN

Fun family favourites leap into action on the big screen this Easter at Vue

A host of brand-new animated adventures and all-time family favourites are landing at Vue this Easter, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality family time at the big screen during the school holidays.

For the first time in almost a decade, the world’s most unlikely kung fu master Po bounces back onto this big screen with a hilarious new chapter, in Kung Fu Panda 4 on 28 March.

Facing his most fearsome foe yet in the many forms of the powerful sorceress The Chameleon, Po (voiced by the iconic Jack Black) must use his courageous Dragon Warrior martial arts skills to defend the Valley of Peace. However, he’s not alone, as he must team up with the crafty fox thief Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina) in this butt-kicking mission to ensure the world remains peaceful and at balance.

This Easter break will also see some familiar heroes take up the call when Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings paranormal pranks and ghostly grins to Vue from 22 March. Returning to New York City, the Spengler Family from Ghostbusters: Afterlife must unite with the original Ghostbusters to take on an evil force that threatens the world with a second Ice Age.

With a cast that includes newer names such as Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard and original ‘busters Bill Murray and Dan Akyroyd, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire looks to provide eerie thrills for the entire family this half term.

Sweeter than a spoonful of sugar, both Mary Poppins and its recent sequel Mary Poppins Returns are heading back to the big screen at Vue this Easter, marking 60 years since the release of the iconic first film.

Making its debut on the big screen after exclusively releasing on streaming platforms, Disney’s recent adventure Luca will be playing at Vue from the 5 April. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, this animated adventure tells a coming-of-age story about one young boy’s unforgettable summer filled with gelato, scooters and his new best friend – who turns out to be a sea monster from a secret world below the ocean.

Vue will also be bringing back some of the biggest family films from the past year, perfect for Easter viewing including the chocolatey charm of Wonka from 29 March and Disney’s Wish from 5 April as part of the Vue Mini Mornings series, shown every day across Half Term at 10am.

Robert Lea, Head of Screen Content at Vue Entertainment, said ‘We’ve got a great selection of new films and big screen entertainment on show this Easter providing the perfect way to enjoy quality time with the family over the school break.

‘With film screenings from just £4.99 online at selected venues the big screen experience at Vue is the perfect treat during the Easter holidays.

‘Even better, our Vue Mini Mornings at 10am, will continue to show the latest kids’ films at just £2.49 a ticket if purchased online and £3.49 in venue. Parents and children can come along, switch off and immerse themselves in great stories.”

Tickets are available now at www.myvue.com.

Hop to it – save on Easter childcare costs with Tax-Free Childcare

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working families to save money on their childcare costs in time for the school holidays

With the Easter break just weeks away, families yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare could be missing out on annual savings of up to £2,000 per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled.

Tax-Free Childcare can help pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability. Parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months, which means for every £8 paid into their online account, they will automatically receive an additional £2 top up from the UK Government.

It takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account and can be used to help pay for a child’s nursery, childminder, breakfast or after school club or holiday activity club.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Springtime is a good opportunity to take a fresh look at family finances.

“A quick check online and you can find out how Tax-Free Childcare can help cut the cost of your childcare bills. Every bit of financial support helps – I would urge families to ’hop to it’ and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK to find out how you could be better off and open your account today.”

Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money immediately, so it is ready to be used whenever it is needed; and unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:   

have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11^th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16^th birthday 
earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average 
each earn no more than £100,000 per annum 
do not receive tax credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK.

Families can learn more about the childcare offers available to them and what could fit their family by visiting Childcare Choices.

The UK Government is offering help for households. Check GOV.UK to find out what cost of living support, including help with childcare costs, families could be eligible for.

Spooktacular Events at Edinburgh Leisure this Halloween

Little monsters can actively enjoy Halloween this year and have a frightfully good time at Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft-play centres across the city.

Let them get into the Halloween spirit by joining one of our soft play parties. There’ll be ghoulish discos, petrifying party games and of course lots of soft play fun.

Prizes are on offer for the best fancy dress so get creative!

Where: Clambers at Royal Commonwealth Pool
21 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 5BB

When: 4.00-6.00 pm
Thursday, 19 October and Thursday, 26^th October 2023

Cost: £13.00 – non-members; £9.00 – members; free for 0-11 months

To book: Book your child’s space at reception during your next visit.

Where: Scrambles at EICA Ratho
South Platt Hill, Newbridge, Edinburgh EH28 8AA

When: 3.00-5.00 pm, Friday, 27th October 2023

Cost: £13.00 – non-members; £9.00 – members; free for 0-11 months

To book: Book your child’s space at reception during your next visit.

Where: Tumbles at Portobello
20 Westbank Street, Edinburgh EH15 1DR

When: 3.00-5.00 pm, Friday, 27^th and
4.00-6.00 pm – Monday, 30^th October 2023

Cost: £13.00 – non-members; £9.00 – members; free for 0-11 months

To book: Book your child’s space at reception during your next visit.

Tickets are now on sale. Entry is for ticket holders only. Please present tickets at the venue’s welcome desk. Each venue will close to ‘pay as you play’ entry one hour before the start of the party. Children must be under the supervision of their parent/carer at all times.

Soft Play Membership – October offer

From only £17.99 a month*, your little adventurers can have fun in our three unique soft play venues across the city as well as receiving exclusive member benefits throughout the year.

This is a great way to keep your kids active and entertained.

Find out more about the offer here.

*Membership is £17.99 a month for one child, £31.99 for two children and £39.99 for three children.

Drumbrae Library Hub October break activities

We’ve had a wee couple of changes to our October Break events, all of the same fun things but Saturday event will start slightly earlier!

Attached is the revised poster for all of yous – see you next week!

A quarter of adults would panic if they saw someone struggling in the water

Research from a national charity, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), shows that one in four adults in the UK would panic if they saw a stranger had fallen into open water, was having difficulty and might drown.

The charity is asking the public if they would know what to do if they saw someone in difficulty in the water. With a number of high-profile drowning cases hitting the media in the last year, the charity is looking to educate more people on the Water Safety Code to ensure everyone can stay safe around the water.

With the summer holidays just around the corner, the charity’s annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign (17-24 June) will be sharing vital messages with the public to ensure that people understand how to stay safe, and if they do see someone in difficulty, that they know what to do.

The research from the Royal Life Saving Society UK also showed that one in four UK adults would enter the water to try and help a stranger who has fallen into open water and was having difficulty. The charity also noted that a further 25% would not be sure whether to enter the water or not.

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “With June, July, and August proving to be the months with the most fatalities, it is vitally important that everyone has an understanding of water safety, especially during the summer months.

“We might see people heading to the various waterways in the UK and Ireland on warm summer days and entering the water to cool off. We want people to enjoy the waters that the UK and Ireland has to offer but to do so with the right knowledge and to do so safely.

“We often see that people see someone else in difficulty in the water and they try to help by entering the water themselves, this often results in them getting into difficulty too. The best thing to do when you see someone in difficulty in the water is not to panic, call 999 and try to throw them something that floats that they can hold on to. We would then advise to keep talking to the person in the water, keep watching them, and wait for the emergency services to arrive.”

In 2022, 105 people drowned during June, July and August and the charity’s Drowning Prevention Week campaign aims to reduce this figure significantly.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has a range of free educational resources available on its website for children, young people and parents and are holding their annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign between 17-24 June to equip everyone across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge to make the right decisions about water safety.

Lee Heard continued: “This year for Drowning Prevention Week we are aiming to educate more people than ever about water safety and give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.

“We have a range of free educational resources available on the RLSS UK website, including lesson plans for schools and resources for parents, as well as a brand-new animation to allow families to start the conversation about water safety by learning the Water Safety Code.”

Drowning Prevention Week takes place 17-24 June and free resources can be downloaded from www.rlss.org.uk/dpw.

Amazon Announces New Term-Time Contracts

Amazon offers new term-time contracts, providing its operations employees in Dunfermline and across the UK guaranteed time off during Summer, Easter and Christmas holidays, enabling more time with their children
The innovative contract is part of a wider flexibility boost which also includes a part-time pick-your-shift option

Amazon has launched an innovative new contract that offers parents, grandparents and guardians of school-age children the choice to work term-time only.

The new contracts, available at the Dunfermline fulfilment centre, guarantee time off for the six-week Summer break, as well as the two-week Easter and Christmas holiday periods, without affecting the comprehensive range of benefits they receive, including private medical insurance and life assurance.

The contracts, aimed at better supporting family needs, were successfully trialed at three sites following employee feedback, and are now being phased in for employees in Dunfermline and across all Amazon’s fulfilment centres – the places where Amazon store, pick and pack items for sale. They will be rolled out to sort centres and delivery stations across the UK later this year.

Amazon also announced a new flexible part-time contract for a minimum of 80 hours a month which lets employees pick and mix the shifts which suit their needs; part-day or full-day, day or night, weekday or weekend. The contract will support people who are unable to find work due to family or other commitments that require flexibility, return to the workplace.

As with all roles at Amazon, a current employee could refer a friend or family member to this option, which could also provide similar, required flexibility to a partner at home. The part-time contract, piloted at five fulfilment centres and now being expanded to a further seven sites, was also introduced as a result of employee feedback.

Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “We’ve listened to our employees’ views on flexible working and I’m really proud that we’ve introduced new and innovative options based on their feedback.

“Both of these contracts put a really important emphasis on work-life balance and I’m certain they’re going to make a positive difference for many of our people.”

John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK Country Manager, said: “At Amazon, we’re always innovating for our employees and our customers. I’m delighted to announce these new flexible working initiatives that provide even more choice for current and future employees, enabling them to better manage their home and work commitments.

“Amazon already provides a four-day working week for our fulfilment centre employees in the UK, and term-time contracts are another great example of how we are using feedback from our people to support them with their childcare needs, giving families more time together.”

He added: “Providing a flexible part-time contract where people can pick the shifts that best suit their needs will support our employees’ partners and other job-seekers with family caring commitments a route back to the workplace, helping to boost household income.”

Amazon already offers multiple types of contract. A standard working week is 40 hours, with shift-swaps and part-time options.

Term-time contracts are now available to thousands of Amazon’s fulfilment centre employees. The part-time pick-your-shift option has been rolled out to seven fulfilment centres following a successful trial, with more sites soon to follow.

GRoW (Get Ready for Work) supports women back into the workplace. Director Liz Sewell is particularly interested in term-time contracts: “Term-time working has the potential to give a lot of people the support they need, so it’s an interesting and progressive change at Amazon.

“We know that many women want to work flexible hours and for those with younger children term-time working makes so much sense. We believe it’s a great way to support a widening of the workforce as well as providing valuable flexibility for parents.”

Conifox put the FUN into February – Half-term events for all the family

Edinburgh’s Conifox Adventure Park puts the fun into February this half-term with a bumper package of fantastic family activities.

From wizarding lessons to teddy workshops, discos, Frozen singalong cinema and a Nerf battlezone, there’s no excuse for boredom on this school break.

The entertainment at the Park, at Kirkliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, starts on 1^st February with Teddy Workshop, a chance for little ones to create their own furry Teddy-Tastic friend after a play in the Activity Centre. Suitable for babies to 12-year-olds, there are three sessions each day on various dates.

Friday nights are the perfect time for family discos when the Activity Centre will open in the evening for an exclusive session where all ages will be invited to strut their stuff on the dancefloor. DJs Mark Martin and Claire Kinnaird will entertain guests with fun, games and prizes, together with a bumper 2-hour play session.

The Nerf Battlezone is set for warring teams to fight it out from 4^th – 26^th February, with four hour-long sessions each day on various dates. Suitable for children ages 5 upwards with an accompanying adult and entry to the outdoor Adventure Park included in the ticket price.

At the start of the half-term break, Professor Artemis’ Conifox Wizard School opens for the new intake. On 11^th and 12^th February our students and their adults can learn how to brew potions, cast spells, make slime and create delicious wizarding treats in an event inspired by the world of Harry Potter and delivered by Fun Scientists. Four, hour-long lessons will be held each day.

The end of the month sees the Frozen Singalong Cinema event, delivered by Wish Upon a Star Entertainment – a chance to sing along with all your favourite songs, hear stories and play games with the Snow Sisters and Kistoff. Suitable for babies to 12-year-olds, there are three sessions each day on 25^th and 26^th February.

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James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park, says: “After all the excitement of the festive season, February can seem a bit dull but we’ve decided to inject the feelgood factor throughout the month with a whole range of fun activities for all the family.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming kids of all ages for some fabulous entertainment over the half-term break and beyond.”

To find out more about Conifox Adventure Park and Activity Centre visit www.conifox.co.uk and to book tickets visit www.conifox.co.uk/whats-on