We don’t have the best reputation for learning foreign languages in the UK. We all know a few set phrases and could perhaps muster up the odd verb or two from having learnt it at school, but getting to a true conversational and then fluent standard in a second language isn’t our strong point.

But why is that? Is it our arrogance in believing that English is such an important and widely spoken language that we shouldn’t need to learn any others? Is it because there aren’t enough classes out there? Or could it be that it just doesn’t seem accessible enough so what’s the point?

Well your excuses could be running out. Anna Spring Language School aims to bring down the barriers to learning French and make it as fun and accessible as possible. Their new programme is quite simply called £10 Tuesdays and offers people the opportunity to learn French for cheap, and not have to sign up to a long term course. Students can sign up as and when and turn up for an hour and a half on a Tuesday evening for some light grammar, a bit of French conversation, a game or two and even some drinks and nibbles! The aim is to spread the net as far and wide as possible, giving everyone the opportunity to learn some French with like-minded people, get access to resources and pick up some motivation to learn more. The founder Anna Springbett says:

“There’s no doubt that there’s a lot of great language learning resources and schools out there, but we’ve found that particularly in London, people are so busy they often can’t commit to a long term course or find the motivation to learn alone. So we created £10 Tuesdays for anyone of any level to come and pick up some more French. The aim is quite simply to make it easy for Londoners with hectic lives to learn a foreign language.”

Anna studied French at university and then spent the following 4 years there teaching and working for the British Embassy. She never considered herself to be naturally gifted in language learning so struggled through all the things the majority of English tourists are familiar with, i.e. disparaging glares when we can’t construct sentences, frustration at the sheer amount there is to learn and lack of confidence in being able to respond to questions. But she was always determined to become fluent and didn’t stop till she reached that point. On returning to the UK, she wanted to share the tricks and techniques she’d learnt with others. So Anna Spring Language School was founded to reach as many people as possible, helping them feel more at ease with the French language.

For more information and to sign up to £10 Tuesdays, please visit http://www.annaspring.co.uk

Most companies today offer services such as printing school id cards, however, most of them don't include a call off service. At Lesar UK we do!

A call off service is more commonly known as a backup, we basically print your school id cards then leave a number of cards on your file, these are called off when required, I.e. if someone loses their id card we can instantly issue you with another, normally next day, however, we do say 2 – 3 days for repeat cards.

The design of the school identity card is totally open to your requirements, whether you need a fancy design or a simple design. We have a dedicated team who will look after you throughout the process of getting your school id cards, they will work on a one to one basis until you receive your id cards.

Photo's?

Don't worry about how big the photo's are or whether there landscape or potrait, no matter the quality we can print this onto an id card, we will do all the resizing and cropping so its less hassle for you.

Are the school id cards tamper proof?

Yes, we use the latest technology when it comes to printing school id cards, all the information on the id cards is heat transferred into the cards, making the cards tamper proof but also not compromising quality.

If you would like more information about school id cards please visit our website.
www.lesar.co.uk

The children and staff at Early Learners Day Nursery have been enjoying their colourful new canopy. The nursery in Central Croydon which offers an exceptionally high standard of childcare and education and has just had a canopy installed by canopy experts Able Canopies.

The staff at the nursery wanted to enhance the children's ability to learn and play outdoors all year round. They are currently the only nursery in the nearby area with a canopy installed, and the staff have received numerous comments from the parents on how fantastic the canopy is.

"Thank you for all your hard work, the canopy looks fantastic!" – Kelly, Nursery Manager

The nursery chose the Coniston Wall Mounted canopy from Able Canopies extensive product range. This Coniston provides high UV protection from the sun and will mean the 42 children at the nursery can enjoy learning and playing this summer outdoors whatever the weather. To brighten up the area and match the existing colour scheme, the nursery chose to upgrade to Able Canopies Rainbow Package which includes coloured posts, post protectors and a colourful uPVC banner which is perfect for nurseries and primary schools.

"We found Able Canopies very helpful from the start; the quotation was well presented and met our specific requirements. The installation of our canopy was carried out without problems and we are very pleased with the final result!! Thank you to all at Able for your efforts!"

The staff, parents and children at the nursery thinks the canopy is fantastic and are really enjoying the benefits.

For a free survey from Able Canopies, please call 0800 389 9072 or email sales@ablecanopies.co.uk

To view our full product range please visit www.ablecanopies.co.uk

A Great Read online store for Christian books.A great ready online book store is now with best sellers Launching new web store for books " A great Read.

A Great read name suggests that what we are offering .Agreatread is a leading online books store of uk.Gaze at our online book selling store which has wide range of thoughtful Christian books,books for children and many more.There are special sections for best sellers,new releases and top authors on book store for customer comfort.

Agreatread provides is online book store sells every kind of books like biographies,fiction,humanities,lifestyle,society,technical.Our books are always almost come with 10% discount.If you take a look costly we keep postage and packing cost very competitive.

There are special prices for book club members,if you go through our book store there are two prices retail prices and our prices.Our prices are for our book club member.Hurry up and become our book club member for special prices on your book purchase.You will get a mail regarding new special offers and discounts.

We are registered office and there are various trading name like 'A Great Read','Haven on Earth','agreatread.co.uk','A Great Read book club' and 'A Great Read,Christian book club'.

You can find us at our registered office address:
A Great Read Ltd
3 & 4, The Drove,
West Wilts Trading Estate
Westbury
Wiltshire
BA13 4JE
Contact us: 01373 823451
URL: http://www.agreatread.co.uk/

My Friendly Lunchbox is keen to start working together with schools to spread information about healthy and waste free lunch boxes. Apart from offering lunchbox products that are kind to children and the environment, the website is also a good resource for families and teachers for information on waste free lunches, money saving tips, recipes and ideas.

Lunch time at many schools around the country is an eco-nightmare of juice bottles, plastic bags, crisp bags, biscuit wrappers and cling film. Packing a waste free lunch is therefore one of the best ways to introduce children to the concepts of reducing waste and conserving resources. The idea of a waste free lunch is to replace all disposable items and unnecessary wrapping and replace them with reusable drink bottles, food containers and sandwich wrappers. To fill up a lunch container with a handful of crackers, vegetables, fruit and cut up cheese eliminates waste, saves money and is usually healthier than pre packed single serving packs and pouches.

Waste Free Lunch Programme
My Friendly Lunchbox, is keen for more schools and families to find out about the information and products provided on their website, and has produced specific flyers that can be handed out in childrens book bags. The flyers have a discount code that offers families 10% off the entire range of quality reusable lunchbox products, all which are free from BPA, PVC, Lead and Phthalates. Schools can also take part in fund raising by selling the Easylunchboxes containers and bags to raise money for their school. Teachers can find more information about the Programme here: http://myfriendlylunchbox.co.uk/schools.html

Further Information
Everyone has heard about Jamie Olivers successful journey to improve school dinners but the packed lunch boxes have had some bad publicity lately and is often branded the unhealthy alternative. The fact remains that millions of school children still take a packed lunch to school every day and most parents are very keen to provide a nutritious packed lunch for them. My Friendly Lunchbox urge families to Join the Lunch box Revolution and visit their website for inspiration, useful information and quality products that make packing a healthy lunch box easier more fun and potentially waste free.

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DanceHouseUK has recently gained Recognised School status, just a short time after opening its doors. The award from the UK wide Council for Dance Education and Training acknowledges DanceHouseUK's policy's and procedures as exceeding their stringent standards.

DanceHouseUK Principal Natascia Mazzucato said "I am so pleased to have gained this Recognised School award. It is important to me that we follow best professional practice, to keep both the students, and our teachers safe, and to ensure their continual enjoyment and progress"

Choosing a Recognised School allows parents to choose a dance school that follows professional practice. A parent would not consider leaving a child at a nursery school or playgroups without checking the credentials of the establishment, yet when it comes to choosing a dance class it is often priorities such as cost, convenience and friendships that determine choices and not professional standards.

Anyone wishing to learn more about DanceHouseUK, or is interested in joining classes, should contact Natascia Mazzucato on 01424 843 546.

The school calendar often presents us with fantastic opportunities for fundraising events. School events that mark particular social events, media events and term ends are especially productive in terms of fundraising opportunities, as parties and discos tend to go hand in hand with glow and flashing novelties.

Glow items such as glowsticks, glow necklaces and glow bracelets add vibrant neon colour to any celebration and are fantastically popular across all age ranges, from younger kids waving them to older kids accessorising with them. Because glow items are packaged in high volumes you can receive high quantities for a relatively low cost leaving huge scope for fundraising margins.

Flash novelties are also incredibly popular with kids. Flashing novelties not only provide a source of amusement on the night but are also something tangible that the child can take away from the event and can be enjoyed again and again. Its because of this that flashing novelties really sell themselves and require very little push for sales, but best of all, theyre incredibly cheap to buy and so the margins that they return mean increased funds for your school.

So how do you ensure that youre getting maximum fundraising capabilities from these products? When presented with a huge choice of products, we tend not to choose. When sourcing products for your fundraiser, try not to offer too wide a range of products. Look for products that outline your fundraiser theme, for example Valentines Day might use hearts and fairy wings, Halloween might use flashing devil horns and flashing star wands, Bonfire Night might use products that spin using bright colours that replicate firework effects such as mini spinners, rainbow windmills and Heli Headlights.

Consider the nature of the event, some events are more suited to hand held novelties, others may require hands free and so head wear or items that can be worn around the neck on safety lanyards may be more appropriate. Also consider theming your events according to media trends, for example this year sees the release of the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film (arrrgghhh!) cue lots of Jack Sparrow wannabes, the release of the final Harry Potter instalment (wizards) and a Royal Wedding (Princesses) all have fantastic scope for fundraising.

Age and gender should also be considered, young boys tend to like to stage laser sword fights worthy of any young Jedi, or simply resort to bashing each other (flashing foam sticks are particularly effective at keeping them safe in this instance)! Younger girls tend to enjoy dressing up with costume jewellery such as squidgy jelly rings and flashing star or butterfly wands.

Whatever you choose for your range try not to offer too many similar items, only offer one kind of sword, one kind of wand or one form of head wear etc, too many choices along similar lines will ultimately leave you with unsold stock and cut into your margins, that said dont worry if you have any bits and pieces of stock left over, all glow products have a two year shelf life and flash novelty batteries will hold for up to twelve months.

Worried about product failures? Dont all Glowsticks.co.uk glow and flashing novelties are 100% guaranteed and so if you experience any problems with your products, simply let us know and we will endeavour to replace or refund them, which take all the risk out of buying for you.

And so to summarise.

Do consider a theme for your event
Don consider media trends
Do consider your audience age
Do consider your audience gender
Do offer a varied product range glow necklaces, glow bracelets, wands, swords, headwear
Do offer choice, just not TOO MUCH choice
Dont worry about failures, all Glowsticks.co.uk glow and flash products are 100% guaranteed.

Looking for effective fundraising ideas at your next event? See our full range at www.glowsticks.co.uk and get a fabulous 10% PTA discount across your order.

Playdale Playgrounds has launched a brand new dedicated schools and nurseries website www.playdaleschools.co.uk

Created especially for the education sector, the site aims to be a one-stop-shop for childcare and teaching professionals looking to enhance their outdoor learning environment.

With Key Stage references, an extensive product range, funding information and playground designs, Playdale Schools is the perfect resource for creating an inspiring play area where pupils can develop their skills through play.

Playdale has more than 30 years experience of designing fun, challenging play areas full of physical and mental stimuli to help children grow stronger and more confident in surroundings they feel comfortable in.

For more information, visit the site today!

One aspect schools affected by the decision will now need to spend time and crucially, money, addressing is carrying out improvements on the facilities that exist already. In order to do this, researching the benefits and durability of such improvements is a must, as well as understanding the up-keep and maintenance required for the longevity of such renovations.

Some areas could pose health & safety implications or require more serious remedial work if they are not suitably refurbished soon. Such areas include assembly rooms, gymnasiums and theatres which are subject to heavy traffic. Most of these floors have wooden flooring, but constant, heavy traffic can leave them looking old and worn, and eventually cause irreparable damage to the wood if not properly finished and protected with good quality flooring products. It is not just the aesthetics at jeopardy; these surfaces pose a greater risk of trips and slips. It can be difficult to balance low cost with high durability, which is why when it comes to flooring refurbishment, comprehensive experience and knowledge of requirements are of prime importance.

Jason Young of J.Young flooring has extensive knowledge when it comes to refurbishing and maintaining floors. Jason offers his advice to schools looking to maintain and protect school floors:

1. Choose the right product

Use a seal rather than polish, from a trusted flooring product company. Regulation has forced manufacturers to reduce the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in their seals. This new focus has seen investment in products and modern seals are easier to apply, have fewer health & safety implications (particularly for application) and are more durable. The three main varieties are:

Oleo resinous
Solvent based
Water based

Jason recommends Granwax finishes as they offer a range of UV stable finishes that look good for longer and are durable enough to stand heavy traffic. Always make a note of which products are used. This can have an impact on how the surface should be treated and/or resealed in future.

2. Clean the floor once a week with a good degreaser/detergent

Making sure the floor is free from dirt and debris to avoid scratching the finish is a daily task, but take time once a week to make sure the floor is free from any other spills or marks by cleaning with a good quality degreaser or detergent.

3. Apply two thin coats of polish regularly to protect the floor

Applying a couple of coats of polish like Granwax Acrylic Floor Polish to a clean, dry and lightly abraded surface will not only enhance the overall appearance of the floor, it will also offer further protection.

4. Have the surface/seal checked at least annually by a professional

Prevention is certainly better than cure. What tends to happen on many wooden floors especially sports halls is that areas of heavy traffic have the seal worn away more quickly. If a seal is simply reapplied, build up can occur at edges and less worn areas – its far better to have a regular scrub & seal.

5. Try to avoid or minimise the use of things that can damage the surface

Common culprits are:

Party poppers

Stilettos

Roller skates

Dragging tables and other furniture across the surface

Its also vital to clean up any spills or leakages as soon as possible to prevent damage to the finish and the wood.

Regular cleaning and maintenance are vital to ensure the longevity of a school floor. Investing in these areas decreases the likelihood of costly remedial work in the future. For schools looking to improve the teaching environment without breaking the budget, a renovated school floor can really make a difference.

Budding young writers have the chance to show off their talents; with the launch of a story competition from Bradford based National Breakdown. The journey services and specialist insurance company, based in Yorkshire, is asking children and teenagers, who are 16 years or under, to pen a piece entitled My Journey. National Breakdown is looking for inspiring or imaginative stories, between 250 and 300 words long, which describe a journey that the writer has taken or imagined.

The competition ends on the day the FIFA world Cup begins and the overall winner will receive £100 worth of Argos gift vouchers and an England Supporters kit containing flags, face paint, fun wigs and an inflatable hand. Eleven runners up will also win an England supporters kit each, in time to cheer England on in the World Cup.

The competition is a great chance for aspiring authors to showcase their story online, as the competition winner will have their story published on the National Breakdown website for the entire year The eleven runners-up will be published on the site for a month each, one at a time, over the next twelve months. Every website visitor and customer will be able to enjoy the Journey tales and hopefully readers will be inspired by the winning stories. It could even be the first glimpse of the work of a future Stephanie Meyer or J.K Rowling!

Carolyn Bowe, Marketing Director at National Breakdown said: At National Breakdown, we help our members with their journeys every day and after 25 years we have some great stories to tell. Now we would like to hear other peoples stories about their journeys. Entrants can be as imaginative as they like it can be a real journey or one that they would like to make and it doesnt have to be a physical journey, it could be a life journey or a journey of overcoming almost impossible odds.

National Breakdown are looking forward to receiving some exciting pieces to read and publish on their website, and the winning entries will be the ones that the judges think have shown the most imagination. National Breakdown offers a range of journey services, including Breakdown assistance in the UK and Europe, Commercial insurance, travel insurance, breakdown cover and vehicle inspection. It has grown in recent years to become one of the preferred service providers to business fleet and haulage clients in the UK. Their Truck Assist product was the first Insured breakdown cover for HGVs on the UK market. To enter the competition and to read the full rules and guidelines, please visit www.nbclick.com