Reading Children’s Festival (6^th May - 4^th June 2023)

Reading Children's Festival 2023

For full programme of events and activities Includes activities taking place at Reading libraries, Children's Centres, Family Fun Fair at Palmer Park  Reading Children's Festival - 2023 Brochure

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Many clubs run during the half term holiday, these are for full childcare and there is a charge Reading Holiday Clubs

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To find out more about the activities running for young people with BFfC Youth Team visit BFfC Youth Service

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Avanti Cycling are running May Half Term courses 

https://avanticycling.co.uk/holiday-courses/

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Reading Museum May Half Term Activities

Visit throughout the holidays at the Museum and enjoy a range of nature themed crafts and paper craft inspired by their Abstract Art show. Free, drop Reading Museum May/June Half Term 2023

Reading Museum What's on Guide - April 2023 to August 2023

 

Merl Museum 

Merl May 2023 Half Term Activities  

This half term, enjoy workshops, trails, activities, crafts and more on the theme of fashion and up-cycling at The Museum of English Rural Life!

• Book a space on one of our Garment Upcycling with Fabric Paints sessions with artist Anurita Chandola on Wednesday 31st May, for aged 5+ (£5)
• Try out our Fun Butterfly Collage activity on Friday 2nd June, for age 3+ (£3) 
• Try our new mini craft pack activity: Beautiful Butterflies (£1.50 per pack)

https://merl.reading.ac.uk/event/spring-family-activity-pack/

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Reading Libraries

Rhyme Times run throughout the Year https://whatsonreading.com/venues/reading-libraries/whats-on-events also activities running in the half term

Tuesday 30^th May

• Tilehurst Library 10.30am to 11.30am. Mixed crafts, suitable for primary school age children. Cost £1 Tel: 0118 9015112
• Reading Central Library 10.30 am to 11.30am. Mosaic crafting suitable for children 6+, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost £1 Tel: 0118 9375950
• Palmer Park 1pm to 4pm. Make a paper plate weather forecaster. Open to all ages cost: £1 Tel: 0118 9015106

Thursday 1^st June

• Battle Library 2.30 to 3.30pm. T Rex craft activity, open to all ages. Cost £1 Tel: 0118 9015100
• Whitley Library 1pm to 3.30pm, Dinosaur Day. Suitable for primary school age children, must be accompanied by an adult Tel: 0118 937 5115
• Caversham Library 2pm to 3.30pm Snappy Crocodile craft, suitable for primary school children,  must be accompanied by an adult Tel: 0118 9015103

Saturday 3^rd June 

Reading Central Library 10.30am to 11.30am, Lets Party craft session, suitable for children 6+ accompanied by and adult. Cost £1 0118 9375950

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BFfC Reading Children's Centres 

https://en-gb.facebook.com/Readingchildrenscentres

https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/for-parents-carers/under-5/childrens-centres/

View the May Half Term timetables in downloads 

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Made by Tamalia, art activities for half term

Crafty Kids ‘Leap into Summer’ Thursday 1st June – 10am-12pm Made By Tamalia - Crafty Kids ‘Leap into Summer’

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Theatre 

South Street Arts Centre

John Hegley: I am Poetato https://whatsonreading.com/venues/south-street/whats-on/john-hegley-i-am-poetato For ages 6+ & their grown-ups. Saturday 3rd June, 14:00

John Hegley: Biscuit Destiny https://whatsonreading.com/venues/south-street/whats-on/john-hegley-biscuit-destiny Designed for adults, but suitable for 9+ Sat 3 Jun, 20:00 

Reading Rep  

Rumble Under the Rug from 31^st May until 3^rd June. There’s something rumbling under the rug. What could it be?  Is it an alien, a tiger, or a monster? 

Bach to Baby @ The Minster

Bach to Baby Concerts 2nd June 11am Rustle of Spring

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Wellington Country Park

May Half Term Holiday Activities (tickets need to be booked in advance) 

Wellington Country Park - Animal Farm Week

 

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Windsor Castle Half Term activities 

Crowns and Coronations @ the Castle 27th May to 4th June Windsor Castle - Crowns and Coronations

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Football Camp & sport camp with U-Sport, Reading Football Club Community Trust soccer camp and Basketball Holiday Camps with Reading Rockets 

Reading Football Club Community Trust ~ Holiday Soccer Schools | Reading Services Guide

U-sport holiday camps in Berkshire U-Sports May Half Term Holiday Clubs

Reading Rockets - Holiday Camps

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Futsal Street Camp

For boys and Girls aged 4-14 years @  South Reading, Northumberland Ave, Reading RG2 8DH. May Half Term Street Camp  Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st of May

Email Nicole nicolesfutsalfinesse@gmail.com

https://nicolesfutsalfinesse.com/futsal-street-camp/

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There are also lots of Outdoor Spaces and Parks in the Reading Borough area visit Parks, Outdoor Facilities & Open Spaces - Reading Borough Council for a full listing, including paddling pool (open from 27^th May) at Christchurch Meadow and mini golf at Prospect Park

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SEND Short Breaks - May Half Term 2023

SEND Short Breaks funded by Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC)

SEND Short breaks during the school holidays and weekends are run by various providers and offer fun, activities, dance, music and more...

 

SEND Short Breaks Multi Sport Camp - Reading FC Community Trust

SEND Short Breaks Chance to Dance Stars CIC - Dance & Multi Activity Programme

Activities for children with SEND

Natural History Museum

Free tickets are available for the next Dawnosaurs event at the Natural History Museum in London on Saturday, May 27, from 8am to 10am.

These events are for children aged 5 to 15 with neurodiverse conditions (including autism and other sensory processing difficulties) to enjoy the museum with fewer people around. Siblings are welcome. Visitors have access to a wide range of galleries and activities, supported by experienced, autism-aware staff.

Click here for details and to book. You can also find free online Dawnosaurs activities at the same link.

And the museum is now running autism-friendly accessible sessions every other Wednesday for neurodivergent and disabled people to visit the new Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur exhibition.

The next session is between 10am and 10.45am on May 31, during the school half-term holiday.

Click here for more details and booking information.

The Natural History Museum is in Cromwell Road, close to South Kensington Underground station on the Circle Line.

Coral Reef

Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell runs regular Accessible for Everyone sessions tailored for disabled people of all ages and their families and carers.

The next sessions are during the school half-term break on Wednesday, May 31, from 8am to 9.30am, and on Wednesday, June 7, from 3.30pm to 8.45pm. Please note that places must be booked in advance.

Click here for booking information - carers' tickets are free of charge.

Autism Friendly Cinema’s

There are several autism-friendly relaxed screenings coming up at local cinemas in the next couple of weeks.

The Showcase Cinema de Lux, at Winnersh, has a relaxed screening of Fast X (12A), pictured, this Sunday, May 21, at 10am and of The Little Mermaid (cert. TBC) on Sunday, May 28, at 10am. Note that Showcase cinemas are now running weekly relaxed screenings every Sunday morning.

The Regal Picturehouse in Henley has an autism-friendly screening of Encanto (PG), this Sunday, May 21, at 11am.

The Reading Biscuit Factory cinema, at Broad Street Mall, has two relaxed screenings of Fast X (12A) next Monday, May 22, at 11.05am and on Wednesday, May 24, at 4pm.

The Corn Exchange in Newbury has a relaxed performance of Champions (12A), next Thursday, May 25, at 11am. The film, starring Woody Harrelson, is about a basketball coach who is ordered by a court to manage a team of players with learning disabilities.

The Vue cinemas in Reading and Newbury are scheduled to have relaxed screenings on Sunday, May 28. Details of the film are not available yet, so check with the cinemas.

The Cineworld cinema at The Lexicon in Bracknell will have a relaxed screening of The Little Mermaid on Sunday, June 4, at 11am.

For more details of autism-friendly film screenings in Berkshire and beyond, click here.

Don't forget that the CEA Card scheme enables a disabled cinema guest (aged 8+) to receive a complimentary ticket for someone who is assisting them when they visit a participating cinema.

Click here for details and to apply for or renew a card.