Visitors to the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham are invited to meet Santa in his Antarctic Grotto from the 25th November to 23rd December 2017.

All admission tickets to the popular city centre attraction include the chance to meet Santa stationed with his North Pole neighbours - the Gentoo Penguins - in the Chilly Ice Adventure area.

The centre’s family of Gentoo penguins are a firm favourite amongst visitors of all ages and the lovable waddling birds have expanded their numbers this year with the addition of the aquarium’s first ever baby chicks, born in June.

Plus, don’t miss Sea Life’s underwater Christmas tree located in the amazing 360 Ocean Tunnel, and discover how staff make sure all creatures have a very Merry Fish-mas! All this plus meeting Santa and a free gift from the man himself is included within all admission tickets for the perfect festive experience this holiday season.

Amy Langham, General Manager at the attraction said: “We’re honoured to have Santa choose our family attraction to base his North Pole HQ and look forward to welcoming many guests to experience the chilly Ice Adventure and see the cheeky Gentoo penguins when they meet him this Christmas.”

Plus, if you are looking for a fantastic festive gift, how about a unique VIP Feed experience with some of the centre’s most loved creatures? Prices start from just £65 with Molokai, the Giant Green Sea Turtle. For penguin lovers, there’s the opportunity to feed the adorable Gentoo penguins, firm favourites with visitors at the centre. Alternatively, visitors can brave the sharks and give them their tasty lunch time treats.

Every experience makes a great gift and includes priority admission, a Sea Life goody bag and of course the opportunity to meet an Aquarist and learn more about the lives of some of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures. Get those questions answered that have forever been burning in your mind and discover all about the special diets of the sea creatures.

The Half Moon in Kirdford has been brought back to life by its new custodian, Jodie Kidd. Having lived in the local area all her life, Jodie feels passionately about ensuring the pub remains at the heart of the village.

The quintessential Grade II listed building has been transformed into a charming country pub, restaurant and kitchen garden where the local guests are the heartbeat of the pub.

The garden is an important focus, with al fresco dining in the summer enabling guests to enjoy the peace and quiet of the village, and menus reflecting the changing seasons in the kitchen garden.

Jodie Kidd comments, “Honest, organic and home from home are just some of the values we hold close and wish to share with all our guests.”

Half Moon guests can expect flavour and quality to be at the centre of everything our Head Chef serves, with quality British produce enhanced by global flavours inspired by Jodie's travels.

The Half Moon's beverage list is equally important with a range of local real ales, craft lagers and fine Sussex wines for guests to enjoy and Jodie is planning an impressive line-up of events throughout the year from family fun days to glamorous dinner and dance evenings.

Jodie continues, “We are proud to be a pub first and foremost, aspiring to serve quality food and provide great service.”

The results are in for the Safer 6 campaign's third week, which had a special focus on Tipton.

From clean-ups and neighbourhood walkabouts, to speed operations, safety checks and talks at schools on knife crime, road safety and fireworks, the week was packed with activity.

A highlight of the week was a skateboarding event at Victoria Park, Tipton, where a wide range of services and organisations promoted safety, crime prevention, health and careers advice to young people.

The Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Ahmadul Haque MBE, deputy council leader Councillor Syeda Khatun and Tipton town lead member Councillor Ann Jarvis all joined in the event.

Sandwell Crime Prevention Panel volunteers spoke to 84 people, giving out 68 'no caller at the door' cards, 45 security torches/whistles, 39 purse bells, 32 security cords, 11 cycle coding kits and eight personal attack alarms. They also advised young people on mobile phone security.

The cannabis information trailer was there too, with officers giving advice on the risks of growing and using drugs.

The many activities in Tipton during the week including the following:

• Town lead Councillor Ann Jarvis, deputy lead Councillor Bill Cherrington and Councillor Pete Allen joined police and council neighbourhood officers for a speed operation in Toll End Road. More than 200 vehicles were checked, with 10 drivers warned and three speeding tickets issued.
• Fire crews carried out 86 'Safe and Well' visits, offering advice on anything from vehicle safety and smoke alarms to stopping smoking.
• Fire crews gave fire, road, firework and bonfire safety advice to children at Wednesbury Oak and Tameside primary schools. They also visited Burberry Court to offer fire safety advice to residents.
• Police and fire crews supported the Teamworx partnership programme at Malthouse Outdoor Activity Centre, getting young people involved in a range of fun and positive activities.
• The council's road safety officers gave an assembly at Silvertrees Academy and chatted to parents and children about child car seats and gave 'Be Bright/Be Seen' advice at Summerhill Primary, St Paul's CE Primary and Jubilee Park Academy.
• Offenders doing unpaid Community Payback cleaned up rubbish and cleared overgrown areas at Upper Church Lane open space, and joined councillors, neighbourhood officers and police cleaning up Fred Perry Walkway.
• Police talked to pupils at secondary schools and youth groups about the dangers of carrying knives and visited Glebefields Primary and Tipton Green Junior schools to raise awareness about community safety and 'stranger danger'.
• Council neighbourhood officers and Litterwatch held a litter pick on the Tibbington estate. Tipton Local, the council's anti-social behaviour team and police held a litter pick at Arnhem Way/Discovery Close following reports from a councillor. Litter picks were also held in Tipton Green and Jubilee Park.
• Council wardens issued two dog mess fines duing the week, including one at Jubilee Park, Tipton. The other was at Harry Mitchell Park, Smethwick.
• Councillor Bill Cherrington joined a walkabout with police and council neighbourhood officers on the Tibbington estate, chatting to residents about local issues.
• Public health officers held alcohol awareness session at Tipton Local office, talking about safe drinking and encouraging people to sample non-alcoholic beer and wine.
• Police, neighbourhood and anti-social behaviour team officers, the community alcohol awareness team and local councillors held a walkabout in Great Bridge, talking to a number of street drinkers and rough sleepers, seizing alcohol and signposting four people to organisations for support.
• Police held bike security marking and registration sessions at Farmfoods and at the Little Nippers Club at St Mark's Church Hall to help prevent thefts.
• South Staffs Water held a talk at Tipton Muslim Community Centre, helping people find a cheaper tariff.
• Trading standards carried out tobacco and alcohol test purchases. Of the five shops visited for alcohol and seven for cigarettes, none sold to the underage volunteer.
• Police attended a Parenting Pals session at Tipton Christian Church and a community lunch event at Jubilee Community Centre, giving advice on a range of issues.
• Trading standards and neighbourhood officers visited older residents to provide advice on doorstep security and scams.

"Organisations work closely together all year round and these results are just a snapshot of the ongoing efforts to improve the town."

More than 700 pupils took to the stage to shine in front of over 2,000 family and friends at this year's spectacular schools' Diversity celebration, One World, One People, One Voice.

They wowed the capacity crowd at the Civic Hall on Thursday night (2 November, 2017), performing a wide range of song, dance and drama which showcased the cultures, languages, traditions and faiths found in Wolverhampton.

The annual event, now in its 30th year, involved 705 pupils from 22 schools and groups.

The performers included children from Penn Hall, Wodensfield Primary, Perry Hall Primary Multi Academy Trust, Merridale Primary, Amethyst Trust, Lanesfield Primary, St Michael's CE Primary, Christchurch CE Infants, Bantock Primary, Green Park, Goldthorn Primary, St Andrew's CE Primary, Northwood Park Primary and Villiers Primary, Bilston CE Primary, Stow Heath Primary, Springvale Primary, St Luke's CE Primary, Elston Hall Primary Multi Academy Trust, Loxdale Primary, Trinity CE Primary and The King's C of E schools.

There were also performances by the Wolverhampton Music School String Orchestra, the Diversity Community Choir and the City of Wolverhampton Council's Choir.

Councillor Val Gibson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "I was delighted to be able to attend this wonderful annual event, which showcases what a diverse and multi-cultural City we live in – and just how talented our young people are.

"I would like to congratulate everyone who was involved for their hard work which resulted in a fabulous evening's entertainment which was enjoyed by all, including over 2,000 proud parents in the audience."

A leading University of Wolverhampton academic took part in a national campaign to train children to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Dr Petula Nurse, the University’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ambassador and Principal Lecturer in Biomedical Science in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, took part in the recent National Restart a Heart campaign – training over 200 children at a local Wolverhampton school.

Restart a Heart Day is a Europe-wide initiative created by the European Resuscitation Council aimed at raising cardiac arrest awareness. The campaign was launched in 2013 to teach members of the public how to help restart the heart of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.

Petula said: "The Restart a Heart awareness day was a great opportunity to show how every child can be a life saver and create awareness of how CPR can save a person's life."

Petula teamed up with other volunteers - David Glover (St John Ambulance), Dr Theresa Thomas (University of Birmingham) and Barry Parkes (Alstom Transport) - and trained 209 children in CPR at St Andrews CE Primary School, Wolverhampton. Pupils were trained in groups and practised on mannequins.

Over 16,000 primary school children across Birmingham and the Black Country were trained on the day.

Chloe Armishaw, Teacher at St Andrews, said: “I am really grateful for all the effort you put into the day and I feel the children really learnt something from the day.”

All children participating received a Restart a Heart certificate of involvement from the British Heart Foundation.

Homework is an instrumental part of the national curriculum for both primary and secondary school children, but how do parents help their children when they come unstuck? And how do they ensure their child’s learning continues when they leave the classroom?

New research by home education provider Oxford Home Schooling reveals that 13% of primary school pupils spend five hours or more on homework a week, compared to 39% of those in secondary school and more than half (55%) of sixth form or college students.

With homework playing such a huge role in a child’s education, Dr Nick Smith, principal at Oxford Home Schooling, shares his top tips on how parents can help children with their homework.

Keep up to date with homework policies

Read the news and keep up to date with school policies and standards. It’s important to know what is expected of children when it comes to homework, so you’re able to help in a productive way. Swot up so you’re not left flustered if your child asks a tricky question.

Create a homework-friendly area

Create a calm and relaxing area that will stimulate a child and heighten their willingness to learn. This might be a private study room in the home, a corner of the bedroom or simply a seat at the kitchen table. Whatever the location, ensure your child feels comfortable working in this area.

Shower children with praise and support

It doesn’t matter whether your child is struggling with a certain subject or exceeding expectations, praising their efforts continuously is really important. These positive words will help to shape their learning and progress.

Set a good example

Read a book in front of your child, as well as carrying out general life admin tasks such as studying bills, and keeping things in order. Children are more likely to follow your lead and advice if they see you setting a good example.