In November we will be holding a “Get ready for Christmas” boot fair at the Kings Hill School and in December Precious Moments will be coming to the school again to video the children in a Christmas setting and putting them on DVD as presents for family members.

Our most exciting event happens on 19th December when Kings Hill Pre-School will be teaming up with Kings Hill Bouncy Castles to bring to you Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Fete – we are making a special grotto in the community centre so he feels at home and anyone is invited to come and see him and give him their Christmas Wish List. We would love to see you there from 3 to 5pm for a mince pie and mulled wine.

For more information on the pre-school and our community events please visit our website at www.kingshillpreschool.co.uk  or email us at committee@kingshillpreschool.co.uk

Alternatively visit www.kingshillservices.co.uk for all community events and further information on Kings Hill Bouncy Castles.

Kings Hill Pre-School is very proud of it’s ties with the local community. Not only does the school provide an excellent setting for 2-5 year olds to develop and grow ready for their transition to “big school” it also holds many events where members of the community can get together, meet new people and have a great time.

These events, whilst providing a great opportunity to socialise also greatly help the school in terms of fundraising. It is through these events this year that we have been able to keep the school looking new and pristine and improved the security with a larger entrance area and new security system. The fundraising events have also provided the children with new toys and books, an exciting new educational outdoor area, IT equipment, and new furniture.

We would like to thank everyone that has helped make these events such a success, including the local businesses on Kings Hill, particularly those in and around Liberty Square, and most importantly the parents and carers, the staff, committee and children from the pre-school are extremely grateful. We look forward to seeing you at our forthcoming events.

FOOT HEALTH OF FUTURE GENERATIONS AT RISK

The UK is leading the way in Europe* when it comes to understanding the importance of wearing correctly fitting shoes, but with a whopping 75% of the adult population** suffering from some form of foot problem, its fair to say that few British grown-ups are putting this know-how into practice.

An average person takes 4,000 to 6,000 steps a day, so it is not unusual to experience a bit of shoe leather wear and tear, but a pair of badly worn down adult shoes can be a tell tale sign of a foot health problem which has stemmed from wearing poorly fitting shoes during childhood.

This lack of understanding is leading British parents to unknowingly compromise the healthy development of their little ones’ feet as they are continually growing and don’t fully form until they are aged between five and eight. Wearing correctly fitted shoes during this important time could prevent long-term damage to hips, knees and backs later in life and this is where Twofeet, the UK’s first ever at school professional shoe fitting company, steps in.

Campaigning for British parents to put their children’s feet health first, this innovative business has been set-up to address an issue that is currently being overlooked. With endorsement from HRH the Duke of York and Olympic athletes such as Iwan Thomas, it is making headway in the world of foot health.

Twofeet warns that gimmicky shoes designed to catch the eye of a child may be neither functional nor good for their feet. By re-educating parents, teachers and children, the company aims to raise national awareness of the problems that can escalate in later life if correctly fitting shoes are not worn.

‘…I feel that both shoe fitting and shoe selection is critical for a huge range of foot and leg complaints. It often forms the basis of my treatment regime and in some cases is the only form of treatment’ says Ben Curry, Podiatrist.

Twofeet franchisee and mum of one, Emma Cox, adds: “I left my previous role as an Advertising Manager as I am really passionate about foot health and wanted to try and make a difference. My son was born with club foot which affects his mobility and has resulted in him spending many long and painful days in hospital. His illness has really opened my eyes to the importance of the correct footwear, as without it his condition would be worse.

“At Twofeet we are on a mission to educate parents everywhere about the importance of the right shoes in those all important early years. Not only am I doing this to help safeguard my son’s future, I am also doing it to make parents everywhere sit up and take notice. Any parent can bring their child along to one of our shoe fitting surgeries, and we can also arrange private one-on-one sessions so there are no excuses.”

*www.feetforlife.org
**www.feetforlife.org

ENDS

For further press information, images or to interview please contact Cerys Wason or Rebecca Hardy at SASS on 01565 832 832 or email cerys@sassagency.co.uk

Notes to Editors

• Twofeet is a unique and convenient service for time-poor parents that puts the health and well-being of their children’s feet first.

• It is the brainchild of Conor Quealy, the father of three young boys. Conor’s children all required new school shoes at different times, resulting in many stressful visits to the high street. Conor believed there had to be an easier option, and the idea of having the boys’ feet measured and shoes fitted in schools was born.

• Having suffered from Severs Syndrome himself as a child, Conor is fully aware of the importance of regular childhood foot health checks.

• Conor left a career as a successful international investment banker to pursue his ambition of owning his own business, doing something he felt passionate about. He aims to put his 20 years worth of business acumen to good use and make Twofeet an extremely successful business venture.

• Twofeet comprises of a team of professionally trained shoe fitters who provide a free measuring service and foot health check in the convenience of the school environment. If school surgeries are not suitable, they can also arrange home visits and fitting parties for larger groups.

• Twofeet is committed to educating parents and their children about the importance of foot health, and is on a mission to advise people how important it is to wear correctly fitting shoes from an early age.

• Twofeet delivers the best quality school shoes in a convenient school environment, while educating teachers, parents and children about the importance of foot health.

• Because all childrens’ feet are different, Twofeet stocks an extensive range of quality shoes from leading brands – designed to fit every shape, size, uniform and budget.

• Following a consultation with one of our professional shoe-fitters we guarantee the perfect fit to ensure healthy feet, and quality shoes that will withstand the playground test.

• With the Twofeet Summer Growth Spurt Guarantee, the company will exchange any unworn shoes (in their original condition) for a larger size, free of charge.

Trains and Treats 2009

Back To School Special
Sunday 6 September

Birchley Railway
Birchley House
Biddenden
Kent
TN27 8DZ

All proceeds to the NSPCC.

Please click here for more details.

Childminders generally are permitted by Ofsted to care for no more than 6 children under the age of 8 at any one time, and only 3 of those children may be under 5yrs old. Due to these restrictions, childminders operate on a smaller scale than their day nursery counterparts; which means that they can offer more individual care, ensuring that each child’s care is tailored to their individual development needs.

Ever been to a day nursery? The first thing that you will notice is just how hectic these places are; this is just a result of scale, lots of very excited children, creating climate of hysteria. This setting is not for all children, some may find it very intimidating.

Childminders are able to tailor their day around the child, following their routine at home; children like to keep to their routine if possible. Staff turnover is generally quite high staff, making it very difficult; especially for new children, to bond and settle in to a new environment.

Maybe the reason why day nurseries are so chaotic is because they are unable to tailor their day around each individual child; practically impossible..

One of the most important areas in childcare is building a relationship with parents; communication is the key. Childminders have the time to talk to parents in confidence, giving them the opportunity to discuss any developmental concerns that a childminder is duty bound to discuss, under the EYFS guidelines.

The security aspect of childcare is essential, as child safety is paramount. In a day nursery or any other large setting this may be compromised, due to the general chaotic environment. In a childminder setting, it’s a one on one; parent and childminder.

Childminders, are running their own businesses, and as such are able to offer flexible care, in terms of childminding hour hours. These are not restricted to the opening hours of larger settings. Some childminders offer overnight emergency, holiday and weekend care.

www.charlieschildcare.co.uk is a Registered Childminder based on Kings Hill.

• Holiday cottages to rent are usually owned by private individuals. Some are let directly by the owners, but the majority are let through letting agencies. If you rent your cottage directly from the owner, it will probably be cheaper. However you don’t have the same sort of quality guarantees that you have when you use an agency. Agencies are very fussy what properties they take on to their books and insist on minimum standards of fixtures and fittings etc. Many homes rented from the owners are delightful, but it will be more a case of hoping for the best.

• If you are looking for holiday cottages to rent in very popular areas such as Cornwall, you need to book very early. It’s so easy to fall in love with a particular property and start day-dreaming about being there on holiday. It can be very disappointing when you find it’s not available for your holiday dates.

• Remember most holiday cottages were once someone’s home. Unless they are in a holiday park or holiday complex, they probably won’t have been purpose-built for holiday makers. So they may have little quirks such as steep twisty staircases, narrow passages or the bathroom on the ground floor. This should be part of the fun!

• Bear in mind that the British weather is not always predictable. Make sure before you book that the cottage offers plenty to do when it’s wet. Most cottages let through agencies will have satellite TV, DVD players etc. and many have games rooms or pool/snooker tables. Alternatively find out if there are nearby sources of entertainment such as cinemas, bowling alleys or amusement arcades.

• When booking, check carefully what is included in the price. If the cottage is let through an agency, the brochure should state clearly what is included and what is not – i.e. hot water, electricity, gas, bed linen etc. If you are renting direct from the owner it’s a good idea to get it in writing. Some seem to charge all sorts of things as “extra” which others include as standard.

• If you plan to take your dog or other pet, DO check carefully whether pets are allowed. Many holiday cottages for rent do allow dogs, but others do not as they feel allowing dogs puts non-dog owners off. Also if you are a smoker or have a smoker in your party, do check smoking policy. Some holiday cottages are for non-smokers only.

To those who have been renting holiday cottages for years, these points may seem obvious. But in fact they are all things that many people don’t realise. And they can make the difference between holiday enjoyment and holiday misery!

Author www.holidayletproperty.co.uk

Another reason for the mushrooming of the second home market is the growth in cohabitation. While married couples are liable for Capital Gains Tax on selling the second home, unmarried couples can have two homes without paying CGT. This virtually makes buying a second home a tax-free investment.

A third reason is the boom in property prices. If your home has increased in value and you have a lot of equity, it’s much easier to afford a second property.

So what would your reasons be for buying a second home?

• As a holiday home, either in the UK or abroad. This is the most popular reason. But there are plenty of others.
• As an investment. Many people are disillusioned with the stock market and regard bricks and mortar as a more secure home for their money – whether buying a second home as a buy-to-let, or to resell at a profit. As with other forms of investment, you can lose as well as gain!
• As a pension. Some people like the idea of buying a second home and putting it into their pension pot. This has become possible under changes to pension rules in 2006. There are complicated legal restrictions which apply and you need to look into these carefully. You won’t be able to live in the property when you retire, as it will have to be sold to pay the pension. And DON’T put all your pension into a second home – diversify.
• As a pied-a-terre. More and more people are now buying a second home in town where they work, so they can live there during the week and spend the weekends with their family at their main home in the country. Conversely, some families live in the town home during the week and enjoy their second home as a weekend retreat.
• As a “handout” property. An increasingly popular reason for buying a second home is to provide accommodation for a son or daughter at university. Parents can avoid tax liabilities by putting the property in the child’s name and acting as guarantor for the mortgage.

Whatever your reason for buying a second home, you need to consider it carefully and take the best advice. As long as you go about it the right way, it can be an exciting and profitable purchase.

www.holidayletmortgages.co.uk

First and foremost, you need to consider seriously whether you actually need loan insurance. But if you decide that you do, it’s worth looking at ways of minimising the cost. There’s really no point in paying out more than you have to.

• If you are thinking about using the loan insurance offered by the lender, make sure you insist on seeing what the total cost of the loan would be WITHOUT the insurance. The lenders will be reluctant to part with this information, but you have a right to it. This will help you to judge what the true cost of the insurance is.
• Rather than using the loan insurance offered by the lender, consider going for a stand-alone PPI (payment protection insurance) policy. These policies usually cost a lot less and apply to any loan or credit agreement, not just one specific one.
• Read the small print very carefully to find out what is actually covered. There is no point in insuring for things that don’t apply to you. For instance, if you are self-employed, insurance against redundancy is irrelevant. Insurance against going out of business may be more to the point. Negotiate with the lender for a reduced rate to cover only the factors that apply to you. They are often very anxious for the business and may do a deal.
• Check carefully how the lenders set the premiums. If you are taking the lender’s insurance, you may find that they add the cost of the loan insurance to the original loan – meaning you pay interest on that in addition to the loan interest! A few lenders simply add the loan insurance premium to the monthly statement. Point this out to your lender and threaten to cancel the deal if they don’t do the same. If they won’t, ask your broker to find you one that will. The loans industry is competitive so you are in a buyer’s market!

There’s no virtue in paying over the odds. It really mounts up over a period of time. It’s worth looking at any way you can reduce the cost.

Visit http://www.enhancedwealth.co.uk/insurance/loan-insurance/ for a loan insurance quote.

Quite obviously, many pet owners answer No. A recent survey found that 85 per cent of dog owners and 83 per cent of cat owners have no pet insurance.

What’s more, another survey found that of ALL the types of insurance you can get, pet insurance is the most confusing! There are so many providers, so many levels of cover and so many exclusions and inclusions that the easiest thing to do is just give up.

But “should I insure my pet?” is not really the right question to ask. The real question is, “How important is my pet in my life?”

The most common type of pet insurance you can take out is pet health insurance – insurance that helps to pay vet’s bills for your dog or cat. Vet’s bills are rising by an average of 11 per cent per year and one single treatment can easily cost hundres or even thousands of pounds. If you can’t afford the treatment, your pet will have to be put down.

But medical insurance is by no means the only type of pet insurance. Insurers offer a range of policies that enable you to insure against almost anything. For cats, the most common problem after medical problems is disappearance and you can insure aginst your cat wandering off, being stolen, and costs of advertising and rewards.

With dogs there’s a much wider range of things that can happen – not only medical and theft/disappearance but, crucially, third party liability. This type of pet insurance covers you if your dog bites someone or causes a road accident, or damage to someone’s property. This can run into huge sums, both for compensation and legal fees. The growth in the “compensation culture” means all this is much more likely than it was even ten years ago.

So, have you fallen in love with an appealing puppy or kitten? It’s so easy to do, isn’t it? But it’s astonishing how few owners research the costs of pet ownership before taking on a dog or cat – food alone can cost hundreds of pounds a year, plus equipment like beds and toys, and routine medical costs such as vaccinations, neutering and flea and worm treatment. This is one reason why there are such huge numbers of stray dogs and cats on the streets, and homeless pets in rescue centres.

Do you know how much you can come to love your pet? Do you really want to be faced with the choice of having your pet put down, or going into serious debt to pay a bill you can’t afford? This DOES happen – many, many times. Faced with this possibility, pet insurance seems the only sensible way to go.

Visit www.petquote.co.uk for pet insurance.

A holiday home mortgage can also be known as a second home mortgage or a holiday buy to let mortgage depending on its use. Obtaining a holiday home mortgage can be a complicated matter and finding the right lender is an important decision. There are more conditions and criteria’s involved in obtaining a second home mortgage. The lender will need to consider numerous factors upon an application, especially the person’s current liabilities such as other mortgages under the same name, any other loans the person might have outstanding and their current credit rating.

It is highly advisable to carry out extensive research before investing in a holiday home. Talking to a holiday home mortgage broker will give you some great advice regarding the prospect of applying for a mortgage on a certain property, also you will need to find out what type of mortgage and for what amount you will need. It is important to find out if the purchase of your desired holiday home is feasible, make sure you know of any defects or repairs which may need to be carried out, these problems could eat into your budget. Obtaining the services of an experienced holiday home mortgage broker can take away many hassles and worries as they are very knowledgeable and can advice you on all aspects of obtaining a mortgage for a holiday home.

Purchasing a holiday home can lead to numerous advantages; it’s a great way of experiencing weekend breaks, especially if the holiday home is in a peaceful location. If the holiday home is not being used for an extensive period of time, it can be rented out to a tenant, this is a sensible way of earning extra income to help pay the mortgage; it can also lead to long term profits. Purchasing a house which has potential for growth in value is essential, if the time comes to sell the property, it can be sold for a handsome profit in the future.

Visit www.holidayletmortgages.co.uk  for more information.