Please find below inspiration for easy, fun family days out at National Trust’s The Vyne in Hampshire during the Easter and May half-term school holidays. A former Tudor palace turned 17^th-century family home, The Vyne is located in Sherborne St John, just outside of Basingstoke.

 

There is a free community minibus running between Basingstoke Train Station and The Vyne on select dates. Read on for more information.

 

Easter egg hunt at The Vyne

Saturday 29 March – Monday 21 April, 10am-3pm

Families can enjoy Bunny Hoopla, giant chess, croquet, dominoes and more Regency-themed fun in The Vyne's gardens before collecting their chocolate egg at the end. 

 

This is £3.50 per trail sheet and chocolate egg and includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg (*Suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies). Normal admission applies.

 

Little People, BIG DREAMS® at The Vyne

Saturday 3 May – Sunday 22 June, 10am-4pm:

Lively games and pioneering fun will encourage kids to ‘be bold, be brave’ and ‘dream big’ in The Vyne’s house and gardens where young readers can look out for vibrant illustrations from this best-selling biography series for kids by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara.

 

On this literary trail, discover remarkable true stories about inspiring people. In the gardens, try your hand at kangaroo pouch bean bag toss with Steve Irwin and ‘jam’ with Taylor Swift in the Summerhouse. Keep an eagle eye out with David Attenborough using binoculars at the bird hide and throw your own mini-theatre production with Hans Christian Andersen.

 

Join Jane Austen in the house before browsing the shop for copies of these much-loved books. Gardens open 10am-5pm. House open 11am-3pm. Last entry 4pm. Free event, normal admission applies.  

 

Vyne Line | Basingstoke community minibus

Saturday 29 March | Saturday 26 April | Saturday 31 May

11am depart Basingstoke train station | 11.20am arrive The Vyne | 3pm depart The Vyne car park | 3.30pm arrive Basingstoke train station.

 

This is a free shuttle service with the minibus kindly provided by Basingstoke Community Transport. Pre-booking your space on the minibus is essential. You can do this online at nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne or by phoning 03442 491 895. Please arrive 10 minutes before the departure time as this is when the bus will leave. Normal admission to The Vyne applies.

 

Accessibility information

There is lift access at the back of the bus and low step access at the front. For very young children, you'll need to bring a car seat with you. Please tell us if you're bringing a car seat when you book. The minibus can accommodate one stroller or wheelchair per journey. We need to know if you'll be bringing either of these in advance of the trip so we can prepare the minibus.

 

To enquire about accessibility on the minibus, or to let us know about any requirements you may have, please either call The Vyne's estate office on 01256 883858 or email thevyne@nationaltrust.org.uk putting Minibus Accessibility in the subject line.

 

Planning your visit to The Vyne | National Trust

For general visiting information such as opening times, admission prices and facilities, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne

 

For handy information to help you plan your family day out at The Vyne, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne/visiting-the-vyne-with-family

 

On behalf of The Vyne, I wish you a very restful Easter break.

 

Best wishes

 

Karen Legg

Marcomms Officer

The Vyne

National Trust

01256 885412

Dear Parents/Carers,

This year, World Book Day falls on Thursday 6^th March. World Book Day is a day set aside every year to celebrate reading, books, authors and illustrators. World Book Day celebrates the joy and value of books and reading, especially for children. To help get them started on their reading journey, every child receives a £1 World Book Day Book Token that can either be exchanged for one of the ten special £1 World Book Day books or used to get £1 off any book costing £2.99 or more. You can find out more about the books and ideas on how to share books at home at worldbookday.com/books. Your child will be bringing their voucher home on Thursday 13^th February to ensure they get the book they want!

 

The theme this year is ‘Read Your Way’ and being able to read for pleasure. Therefore, we are giving children the opportunity to come to school dressed as a character or a person from a book that they enjoy reading. They could be a cat or an animal from their favourite fictional story, a footballer from a non-fiction text or a scientist if they love learning about science and the world! The possibilities are endless. Please do not feel that you have to buy something new; we don't want anyone to incur any additional costs in putting together their outfits.

 

For this year’s competition, we are challenging children to design a potato book character. Simply use a potato and turn it into a character of your choice. Be as creative as you can! All entries must be given to your child’s class teacher by Wednesday 5^th March. Good luck!

 

 

We look forward to seeing everyone dressed up as part of World Book Day and taking part in a selection of exciting reading activities.

Kind regards,

 

Miss E Sheldon                                                                   Mr P Grinham

English Leader                                                                    English Leader

Dear Parents

 

Sports clubs for the spring term

 

Sadly, I need to inform you that Mr Standen will be leaving South View Junior School on 7^th March, for personal reasons.  

 

During his time at the school, he has shown great commitment to a wide variety of sports and has promoted them through his coaching; during breakfast club; and in after school clubs.  We are very sorry he is leaving but wish him well in his future ventures.

 

Unfortunately, this does mean that the following after school clubs will have to end:

 

Girls’ Football Club – last session of the club is Monday 3^rd March

Year 6 Flag Football – last session of the club is Wednesday 5^th March

 

Netball Club and 4LK Dodgeball Club will continue to take place.  Miss Mann will take the Netball Club and Mrs Kinnell will take the Dodgeball Club. Thank you to both for ensuring that these clubs will continue to run for the remainder of the term.

 

I am sure you will join me in wishing Mr Standen all the best for the future.

 

With best wishes,

 

Mrs Sheila Pape

Executive Headteacher

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

We are very excited to be welcoming best-selling children’s author, Mel Taylor-Bessent, to South View Junior School on 4th March 2025 to celebrate World Book Day and talk to pupils about her new book, Race to Imagination Island.

 

As well as talking to KS2 pupils about the power of their imaginations and how to build writing confidence, Mel will be holding a Q&A and signing copies of her books – including Imagination Island 2: Race to Echoes Edge (which isn’t officially out until 27^th March!). If your child would like to purchase a book/s, please can they bring in the cash on the day. The books are being sold at £7.99 each. If possible, please can children bring in the exact amount or £8 in a sealed envelope.

About Race to Imagination Island: 

Described as ‘Mario Kart’ meets ‘Jumanji’, Race to Imagination Island is the perfect book for anyone looking for a fast-paced adventure filled with magic, mayhem and stunning Pixar-style illustrations from illustrator, Alessandro D’Urso.

Billed as ‘pacy, funny and gloriously inventive’, it’s a story about an island that comes to life when you use your imagination, and a nervous ten-year-old called Luca who stumbles on to the island by accident…

 

Miss Sheldon

English Leader