Sounds Right Phonics Dartford

In case you have been living under a rock, or just do not have daughters under the age of ten, the big news this weekend, is that Frozen Two is here. So also are the dresses, toothbrushes, lunchboxes, pencil cases, pyjamas, the toilet roll (I like to think that is made up, but it is probably true). But what about the main event itself? For the first time in forever, can a sequel live up to its predecessor, or should we all have long since let it go? To sum it up simply, it is a great effort, albeit a bit of a fixer-upper. The storyline is more ambitious than the first film, and as a result, whilst it is entertaining to watch, it does not have the same emotional resonance that made the first film a hit with the adults as well as the little ones. It delves into the secrets behind Elsa’s powers, and the shameful past of Arendelle. We find out more about Elsa and Anna’s parentage, and the film takes us to a range of backdrops which are almost as visually impressive as the amount of dress...

When I was a child I developed a strange habit whenever we went on holiday. Every new hotel room or holiday cottage or caravan we went into, I would always head straight to one place: the wardrobe. Whatever coats or hangers were in there would be pushed to one side, in order to find the back of the wardrobe. And every time I realised that the back of that wardrobe was solid and fixed, I would experience the same sense of disappointment. Narnia had eluded me once more. I am sure I am not the only child who has tried to walk through the back of the wardrobe, for C S Lewis creates a world that is enchanting and alluring, despite all its dangers. Who would not want to go to a land covered in snow, where you can meet a faun, or talking beavers and a magical lion? The detail of his world is breath-taking to a child, and the memories will never leave you. Even now, when I see a lamp post covered in snow, I am immediately taken back to that first scene in Narnia, where Lucy collides with Mr...

Next week, I am going to be launching a very special new class at Heathfield Court Care Home, in Erith. This class will have the same fun and energy that comes with every Sounds Right Phonics class, but we will also be joined each week by the residents of Heathfield Court, making it our first regular intergenerational class. Why attend an intergenerational class? There has been a lot of research revealing that these classes bring substantial benefits to the community. For the care home residents, the classes are a valuable opportunity to interact with others, and experience life beyond the care home. Loneliness amongst the elderly is a huge problem in this country, and the classes offer the residents a chance to make meaningful connections with others.They look forward to seeing the children and the parents. Other nursing homes in the UK that run similar intergenerational classes have also reported that daily interactions between the residents themselves have become more positive, as t...

When I was at university, and having a tricky time, a friend gave me a Christmas card, and had written nolite te bastardes carborundum at the bottom. I was baffled by this coded message, and it was then that I had to admit, to my coursemate’s horror, that I had never read The Handmaid’s Tale . This was particularly shocking as I was studying English Literature, with a specialism in feminist perspectives. Needless to say, this was quickly remedied. This time, with the follow-up, The Testaments , I was determined not to be late to the party. I always used to tell my students that dystopia is never really about the future, it is a warning to the present generation, and The Testaments , like its predecessor, is a tale for our times, albeit one that gives us an inkling of hope. The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985, and was seen as a commentary on the dangers posed by the return of ultra right-wing policies to US politics. Ironically, nearly twenty-five years later, it has become ...

When I went into hospital to have Julia four years ago, I literally had no idea how long to expect to be there. I was looking at the prospect of being induced, and potentially having to spend days in hospital. In my bag, I packed the three books that I knew would give me comfort in an unfamiliar environment: Pride and Prejudice, I Capture the Castle and Little Women. Of all three, it ended up being the last that I turned to that night. As soon as I got to that first page, it was like my four best friends jumped out of the page to hold my hand and see me through. It is the charm of the four main characters that makes reading this novel feel like coming home. Alcott captures their voices and personalities so beautifully, and makes them vivid and lovable, despite and perhaps even owing to their individual flaws. Growing up, it was quite impossible for me not to love a book about a girl called Jo who loves reading and wants to be a writer. She is talented and stubborn, but also fiercel...

The book I have decided to start off the blog with is a classic, but when I look back to my childhood it is the definitive book that stands out time and time again. After all, if ever there was a champion for any child who loves to read, it is Roald Dahl’s Matilda. It is always difficult to pin down exactly what it is about a book that you love, when the book is so deeply ingrained in your childhood. I remember reading Matilda again and again almost obsessively, never tiring of the characters and the story. It is hard as an adult to try and break down and explain the magical experiences of childhood. But here it goes… first and foremost, I love the intelligence and wit of Matilda, combined with her child’s need for love and affection. Watching her take on the adults in her life and win is hilarious, but the way in which she discovers a new maternal figure in Miss Honey, is also deeply moving. It is essentially the narrative of two lonely outsiders who find each other, and remin...