Broadwindsor is an enchanting place to grow up, our village offers many resources for our young villagers . . . like everyone else we’re cautiously moving out of lockdown.
Schools: The primary school is in the village. The nearest secondary school is Beaminster, 3.2 miles over Clan hill. Other options for schools and education in Dorset can be found HERE.
Broadwindsor C of E (VC) Primary School – we are very proud of our lovely village school and the PTA ensure they participate in village events as do the other groups and associations. Situated opposite the allotments, the school aims to offer the very best learning environment and to promote high levels of self-esteem and a lifelong love of learning. The school website is HERE
There are two big clothes banks located just outside the school gates so deposits can be made at any time. All of the clothes donated raise vital funds to help support the school. Thanks for all donations so far – please keep them coming!
Beaminster School – Founded in 1685, find their prospectus HERE.
Keep updated on their Facebook page HERE.
School uniforms are purchased from Kitz UK.
Mountjoy School – co-located by Beaminster school offers education for those with special needs. The building is purpose built and single level, with facilities including a hydro pool, a sensory room and a soft play area. Their school website is HERE.
SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) is a Government department. Dorset Council’s Local Offer for children and young people from 0 to 25 years with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) provides information, advice and support for children and their families – Click HERE for more information.
Who can get Free School Meals? – Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit; this is as long as you’re not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income is no more than £16,190
- Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ payment (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit: this is as long as your household income is less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
If you think you qualify – you can apply HERE. You’ll need your National Insurance number or Asylum Seekers Service number so they can make automated checks to confirm your entitlement.
You may still have to upload your benefit documents to prove your entitlement.
They let you know straight away if you qualify for free school meals.
They send you a confirmation email shortly after.
LOCKDOWN EDUCATION:
BBC Bitesize offers learning and revision following the school’s curriculum.
Select from Primary (3-11 yrs.), Secondary (11-16 yrs.) and Post-16 (16+ yrs.).
Then select which UK country you are attending school in.
ClassCharts is the site where timetables and homework can be found.
Now that’s enough about school!
Girlguiding: Girlguiding offers girls a space to build confidence, have adventures and develop skills through trips and activities.
Leader, Emma House recently said “Girlguiding is very important today. It gives girls and young women a base to be supported by leaders, to grow in confidence, enables them to be their best and try new things in a nurturing environment. It gives volunteers the same opportunities as well. I’m a dairy farmer and the girls regularly come to the farm. We also go camping, try archery, build fires and shelters and we join in community fun.” You must register your daughter before joining – do it HERE. In Broadwindsor village we have –
1st Broadwindsor Rainbows – for girls aged 5-7 yrs.
Please contact Emma at 1stbroadwindsorrainbows@gmail.com
You can support/donate by shopping via easyfundraising – please click HERE.
2nd Broadwindsor Brownies – for girls aged 7-10 yrs.
Please contact Debbie at – 1stbroadwindsorbrownies@gmail.com
1st Broadwindsor Guides – for girls aged 10-14 yrs.
They meet fortnightly (alternate weeks with the Guides) on Thursday evenings at the Comrades Hall in Broadwindsor. Please contact Emma at 1stbroadwindsorguides@gmail.com
Serving all of West Dorset, West Dorset Rangers – for girls aged 14-18.
They meet fortnightly (alternate weeks with the Rangers) on Thursday evenings at the Comrades Hall in Broadwindsor. Contact: westdorsetrangers@gmail.com
M.U.G.A. – The Multi Use Games Area, affectionately known as the MUGA, next to the school opened in 2019 and offers a wide range of sporting options including tennis, basketball, hockey, netball, football, bowls and badminton. The MUGA is free to use. Read more HERE.
The 1st Mosterton Scout Group welcome boys and girls from the ages of 5 ¾ to 14 years old. The Scout Leader would tell all the children that by joining Scouts at 1st Mosterton Scout Group – this is what you will feel and experience and learn: Laughter, fear, bravery, awe, tiredeness, reflection, curiosity, fright, confidence, concentration, camaraderie, independence, socialising, apprehension, close and long-lasting friendships, courage, tenacity, perseverance, enchantment, accomplishment, love, pride and empathy. Oh – and more laughter –much, much more laughter!
They meet every Monday normally and are open to both boys and girls in three different sections:
Beavers: aged 5 ¾ to 8 years inclusive – normally meet 4.45pm to 6.00pm.
Please call Gill on 01308 868419
Cubs: aged 8 to 10 ½ years inclusive – normally meet 6.00pm to 7.30pm.
Please email Cathy on cathy.mostertoncubs@gmail.com
Scouts: aged 10 ½ to 14 years old inclusive – normally meet 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
Please email Chris at emmerson1@googlemail.com
Football!
There are a lot of football opportunities for boys and girls in this area and more young people are playing than ever. Organised football is linked with established clubs in Drimpton, Beaminster, Crewkerne and Bridport.
Horn Park Quarry:
Horn Park Quarry is a nature reserve between Beaminster and Broadwindsor. It is home to fossils of international interest dating back 170 million years. It is the country’s smallest natural nature reserve and contains what geologists describe as the most significant examples of ammonites in Britain. Beaminster Museum, in association with Natural England, is responsible for Horn Park Quarry and have the intention of organising visitor days as they did two years ago.
Bridport Sea Cadets aim to give young people 10 – 18 years an experience that will help them grow into the person they want to be in a safe and friendly environment. Read more about them HERE.
Keeping in touch in or out of lockdown . . .
All ages are now familiar with Zoom, a piece of software for your PC/Laptop/Mac (Click HERE to download) or an App for your smartphone (Links below).
You have to sign up, which is free and you’ll be asked for your email address and your date of birth. Once you have verified your email address, you can begin using Zoom. The ‘Zoom Client for Meetings’ will download automatically when you start or join your first Zoom meeting. If you are having difficulties, you can download it HERE.
All first-time Zoom users, upon joining their first meeting from a given device, are asked whether they would like their video to be turned OFF.
An online video-sharing platform headquartered in San Bruno, California and now operating as one of Google’s subsidiaries, YouTube is now visited by over two billion logged-in users and over a billion hours of video are watched by people every day!
On St. George’s Day 2005, Jawed Karim posted the first-ever video to YouTube. The 18-second video, entitled “Me at the zoo,” features Karim, a YouTube cofounder, at the San Diego Zoo standing in front of a bunch of elephants. Now you can view and/or listen to almost anything from all parts of the world.
Talking of all parts of the world –
Take a virtual tour of the world’s famous landmarks and museums.
Click HERE.
Kooth, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children & young people, accessible through mobile, tablet & desktop. Free, safe & anonymous online support for young people.
ChatHealth is a free school nursing text service available to all young people aged 11-19.
Young people can use this service to get advice about a range of subjects including mental health, relationships and drugs and alcohol.
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