Coming to the end of 2009 gives Amanda ample cause  to reflect on what a fantastic year it’s been.  As well as running the hundreds of classes and parties that’s basically par for the course for her, she’s also found time to go to China with her classes, signed-up some brand-new Amanda’s Action Club franchisees, produced a new music CD and video and most proudly … opened her very own Amanda’s Play Centre in Bicester, Oxon. Wow – that was a year that was!

Anyways after all that – it’s time for Amanda to take a well-earned rest  (well sort of)! All her classes have now closed for 2009 and if you check out the Classes page of this website you’ll see the January 2010 dates when they start back up again in their various locations. 

For those of you who live a bit outside Amanda’s hitherto traditional London catchment area, in the New Year, Amanda’s Action Club is being exported south, to the Southampton area – starting in January 2010 with Jolene leading the way initially on Mondays and Fridays.

Also a little way out from London is the fantastic new Amanda’s Play Centre  just off the M40 in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Over the course of the Holiday season, if the weather allows, you might want to pile the kids into the car and have a terrific day out – parking is free and it’s plentiful. If you check out the website you’ll see easy to follow directions to get you to Bicester and if you follow the link that’s called Amanda’s Video  you’ll see a 4 mins 45secs video that was shot during the Launch Day on 30th November - it gives a real feel for all that’s going on indoors at the Play Centre.

The Play Centre is usually open from 10:00am to 6:00pm every day but if you check out the Amanda’s Play Centre  website you’ll see the Holiday opening times, repeated below for your convenience:

Xmas/ New Year Opening/Closing Times
Thursday     24th December 2009 – Closed
Friday            25th December 2009 – Closed
Saturday       26th December 2009 – Closed
Sunday          27th December 2009 – Open as normal (10:00am-6:00pm)
Monday        28th December 2009 – Open as normal (10:00am-6:00pm)
Tuesday       29th December 2009 -  Open as normal (10:00am-6:00pm)
Wednesday 30th December 2009 – Open as normal (10:00am-6:00pm)
Thursday     31st December 2009 -  Open – closing early (10:00am-3:00pm)
Friday              1st January  2010 -    Closed
Saturday        2nd January  2010 – Open as normal (10:00am-6:00pm)

Phew! that’ll be about it for this year and we’ll sign-off with Amanda’s best holiday wishes to all her little ones (and big ones too) and she looks foward to seeing you all again in 2010. Have a great Holiday!

Wow, as if Action Amanda hadn’t  already got the busiest life-style of anybody we know – she’s gone and committed to another fantastic new venture: Amanda is aiming to breathe new life into the old Mad Hatters Play Centre at 42 Murdock Rd, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 4PP.

Commencing on  Sunday 29th November with a star-studded OPEN DAY … Alison Wheeler (of Beautiful South fame) is going to host the grand-opening and also do a little bit of performing too.  Alison is one of the many celebrity Mums who take their toddlers to Amanda’s classes and Alison says: “you look for classes to occupy the baby’s day – or at least that was my initial thought. However, having taken several different classes, I can honestly say Amanda’s classes are the most entertaining. I will always have a soft preferential spot for Amanda’s class. She challenges traditional stereotypes for music classes and their teachers. She also encourages mothers to stop and think of the educational and developmental benefits of different elements in her class.”

OPEN DAY - Sunday 29th November 2009
Amanda’s Play Centre
Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: 42 Murdock Rd, Bicester, OX26 4PP
Parking: plentiful & FREE
Price: half-price @ £2 per child
NB: also there’ll be an initial £1 registration fee that will entitle the registrant to a Loyalty Card that will accrue benefits over time for regular attendance: everybody who registers will be entered into a special draw on the day with a super prize of a Voucher for a FREE Amanda Party (value £250!)

What else can you expect of this new exciting venture?

• It’s Amanda’s intention to open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Amanda will completely overhaul the catering side with a new ‘healthy’ menu of eating and drinking produce
• The Centre will receive the full Amanda flourish with her philosphy of Fun, Fitness and Music taking centre stage
• All Amanda sessions are action packed examples of early childhood education and children are encouraged, through exercise and movement, to have fun and let off steam
• Meanwhile parents /carers can relax and socialise in the cafe area – safe in the knowledge that their little ones are enjoying a great experience.

Want to get involved?
Obviously Amanda can’t do it all on her own and whilst she’s already got her own group of part-time helpers for her various ventures throughout London, she’s also on the look-out for help from people in Bicester who think they’ve got the right kind of instincts and may be interested in getting involved. Amanda’s looking for local Bicester people to fill various part-time / full-time (tbc) roles and local Bicester companies to work with:

• Catering staff to help prepare and serve her ‘healthy’ menu
• Lively enthusiastic ’leaders’ with a sport, leisure, dance type background, ideally in a pre-school children educational setting
• Local Bicester food/produce companies who may be interested in supplying  Amanda’s Play Centre
• Local Bicester companies who may be interested in engaging in promotional / marketing arrangements at Amanda’s Play Centre

If you think any of the above is right for you – then call Amanda for more info on 07946 707 695.

For those of you who are already familiar with Amanda’s fabulous baby and toddler classes – we know you’ll be thrilled to hear that (by popular demand) she’s now adding Beaconsfield to her list of venues at the popular Curzon Centre location, with the  First Class Starting on Thursday 10th September 2009.

Full Details below:

Location:
The Curzon Centre
43 Maxwell Rd
Beaconsfield
HP9 1RG

Class Taken by:
Clare

Class Times: Every Thursday
10:00am – 10:45am

Child Ages:
4m – 4yrs

Prices: Pay-As-You-Go
£6 for 1 child
£10 for 2 children (who are siblings)

Comencing on:
Thursday 10th September 2009

For more information, please call SARAH on 0785 527 6837 – otherwise email sarah@amandasactionkids.co.uk

The Childcare & Nursery Show takes place at Olympia Two from 26th – 27th June 2009.  And as if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, Amanda will be ’struttin-her-stuff’ on Friday 26th June 2009 between 3:15pm to 3:45pm, when she does her Lets Get ‘Fizz-ical’ session for the assembled Nursery professionals.

The exhibition is dedicated to all nursery owners, managers, nursery group executives and professional childcarers. The two-day event is a dynamic market place, learning zone and forum for its industry. Designed to inspire, entice, stimulate and inform all visitors.  So if you have to make a choice of the 2 days in terms of attendance – make sure that you opt for the Friday afternoon and give Amanda your support.

The Childcare & Nursery Show is the UK’s most established nursery business event; it’s free to attend and provides unrivalled opportunities for visitors to source and experience the very best – in day-nursery and childcare sector products and services.

Why not come along, seize the opportunities available to you and see exactly how the Childcare & Nursery Show can keep you one step ahead of the competition?
The following are links to the show’s website home and registration pages:
http://www.nurseryshow.co.uk/index.asp

http://www.blaxx.net/2009/cns09/reg/

The fantastic global phenomenon Baby Loves Disco will be in Westfield, Merry Hill on Wednesday 27 May: with 4 x separate sessions held @ 12noon, 1:0pm, 2:0pm and 3:0pm.  Boogie for free with Baby Loves Disco and your little ones at Fountain Square on the lower mall near M&S, then Amanda is going to be joining in and running a shortened 15 minute version of her fabulous infant and toddler activity class – towards the end of each of the 4 x sessions.

Note: Entry into the stage area will be by ticket only.

These can be collected from the Customer Relations desk on the upper mall near Beaverbrooks from 10am on the day of the event.
Maximum of 4 tickets allocated to each family (1 adult & 3 children).
Event may be subject to change or cancellation at any time.

For those of you who were lucky enought to attend Amanda’s April 2008 party Extravaganza! at Deep Seafood Restaurant – you’ll no doubt remember with great pleasure the stunning waterside location at Imperial Wharf, Chelsea.  Well Amanda and Deep are getting together again this year with a series of upcoming sessions in Spring 2009 (some of them ‘free‘) as detailed below:

To book for any/all these events, please call SARAH on  0785 527 6837 – otherwise email her at sarah@amandasactionkids.co.uk.

Location:
Deep Sea Food Restaurant
The Boulevard, Imperial Wharf
Chelsea
SW6 2UB
http://www.deeplondon.co.uk

Car Parking:

You can drive straight in to Deep as there is car parking available on site - you need to use their underground car park.   It costs £1.70 per hour during weekdays and £4 on the Sunday for the day.  If in doubt of any of the arrangements for which Deep have a responsibility their contact telephone number is:  020 7736 3337.

1. Sunday 19th April 2009 – entertainment led by Amanda
Event: an Amanda Baby EXTRAVAGANZA!

• for infants 0 – 18 months
• a fun-filled 2 hour party agenda from 2:30pm to 4:30pm
  - 2:30pm to 2:45pm = registration
  - 2:45pm to 3:30pm = entertainment with Amanda (this session is aimed at getting the Dads involved in activities with the infant, whilst Mum indulges in a bit of ‘pampering’)
  - 3:30pm to 4:00pm = Buffet/Refreshment
  - 4:00pm to 4:30pm = Boogie with your baby!
• ‘pampering’ will continue throughout the afternoon for those who wish it:  there will be 2 therapists in attendance with spaces for 16 x sessions for people to receive treatments (in 15 minute timed-slots)
• treatments on offer are file & paint (nails) and accupressure seated massage, both at £10 per session: to ensure you get a place you must book by telephoning Kathy in advance on 07947 475686. 

• Amanda’s Price - £10 per family (’family’ = parents + infant) - you MUST book in advance
• Deep will provide a special adult buffet menu separately priced at £15 (that must be Pre-ordered with Deep contact 0207 736 3337) also if required Mums and Dads, who wish to do so,  can additionally order from the normal Deep menu

2. Wednesday 13th May 2009 – led by Dean
Event: another FREE ‘taster’ session of Amanda’s infant and toddler interactive physical development classes that kids just love.

• from 10:30am to 11:15pm
• for infants aged 4m - 4 yrs
• Deep will draw up a simple children’s menu for ‘afters’ (that must be Pre-ordered with Deep contact 0207 736 3337) and Mums and Dads, who wish to do so, can order from the normal Deep menu.

PS: the purpose of this FREE ‘taster’ session is to enable Amanda & Deep to identify if there’s an audience, for a Wednesday session at this time and location becoming a regular weekly event.

3. Thursday 16th April 2009 – led by Amanda
Event: following on from an extremely well-attended ‘taster’ session of Amanda’s infant and toddler interactive physical development classes, Amanda and Deep have agreed to institute a regular class every week from Thursday 16th April (details below).

• from 4:00pm to 4:45pm
• for infants aged 4m - 4 yrs
• £9 per child: £16 for 2 children (who are siblings)
• Deep will draw up a simple children’s menu for ‘afters’ (that must be Pre-ordered with Deep – contact 0207 736 3337) and Mums and Dads, who wish to do so,  can order from the normal Deep menu.

To book for any/all these events, please call SARAH on  0785 527 6837 – otherwise email her at sarah@amandasactionkids.co.uk.

Car Parking:

You can drive straight in to Deep as there is car parking available on site – you need to use their underground car park.  It costs £1.70 per hour during weekdays and £4 on the Sunday for the day.  If in doubt of any of the arrangements for which Deep have a responsibility their contact telephone number is:  0207 736 3337.

And the ‘magic’ just keeps on flowing from Amanda’s Action Kids: with another great new morning class for the babies and toddlers of Harrow – starting on Monday 16th March with a FREE ‘taster’ class at St Peters Church on Sumner Road in Harrow. Then every Monday after that at the same location: to ensure that you secure a place, email sarah@amandasactionkids.co.uk or ring Sarah 0785 527 6837.

Full Details below:

Location:
St Peters Church
Sumner Road
Harrow
HA1 4BX

Class Taken by:
Laura

Class Times: Every Monday
10:00 am – 10:45 am

Child Ages:
4m – 4yrs

Prices: Pay-As-You-Go
£5 for 1 child
£9 for 2 children (who are siblings)

Comencing on:
Monday 16th March 2009 (FREE ‘taster’ session)

For more information, please call SARAH on 0785 527 6837 – otherwise email sarah@amandasactionkids.co.uk

For those of you who are already familiar with Amanda’s fabulous baby and toddler classes every Tuesday and Thursday at Common Ground Cafe Bar, Wandsworth Common – we know you’ll be thrilled to hear that (by popular demand) she’s now adding two extra sessions every Monday afternoon – with the First Class Starting on Monday 16th March 2009.

Full Details below:

Location:
Common Ground Cafe Bar,
Wandsworth Common
Off Dorlcote Road,
London,
SW18 3RT

Class Taken by:
Amanda

Class Times: Every Monday
3:30pm – 4:00pm
4:10pm – 4:40pm

Child Ages:
4m – 4yrs

Prices: Pay-As-You-Go
£5 for 1 child
£9 for 2 children (who are siblings)

Comencing on:
Monday 16th March 2009

For more information, please call SARAH on 0785 527 6837 – otherwise email sarah@amandasactionkids.co.uk

Amanda was right in there amongst the TV news-makers today when a Sky TV News reporter popped along to her class at the Common Ground Cafe Bar, Wandsworth Common.  Sky News  were doing a ‘vox-pop’ piece with the Mums who attend Amanda’s classes there, seeking their views on the French Justice Minister 43-year-old, Rachida Dati who gave birth to a daughter Zohra, born prematurely last Friday by caesarian section 15 days ahead of her due date: by Wednesday she had checked herself out of hospital and attended the first cabinet meeting of the new year in a sleek black suit. 

Anyways, various Mums aired their views to the Sky News reporter as to the sensibleness (or otherwise) of the French Justice Minister’s actions but unfortunately Amanda’s input didn’t make the final-cut of the report.  Yes, she was visible there in the background of the piece, in her so familiar Amanda uniform, leading the children – but her input never saw the light of day.

For those of you who wonder what she did say - Amanda merely pointed out that she herself was back in action leading her classes 2 weeks after the birth of her own daughter. Not quite as quick a return as Rachida – but not too far behind. Quel fromage!

Amanda is thrilled to be appearing in the Children’s Party Zone, supporting Yellow Umbrella Day this year – Chiswick’s largest annual charity festival that will take place this year on Sunday 21 September at Chiswick Park (opposite Gunnersbury station).

Apart from Amanda – this year’s festival will offer more entertainment than ever before: there will be live music running for most of the day, a circus skills workshop, pony rides, BBQ, face painters, street performers, Grand Prize Draw, bouncy castle, mask making, giant games, stalls, and much more… including a cake-bake contest for those who are that way inclined.  As always, the day will also feature a 10K run and 5K walk. 

Is there parking available?
Yes, there is plenty of free parking in the business park itself.

Amanda’s Action Kids is one of 3 x local children’s businesses using the Children’s Party Zone space (the others being Chiswick Theatre Arts and Little Kickers) all sharing a marquee.

Amanda will be delivering her usual knockout, 20 minute action packed sessions for children aged 4 months – 5 years, with 2 separate sessions timed at:

• 12noon to 12:20pm
• 12:40pm to 1:00pm

It’s sure to be a great day out and Amanda’s really looking forward to seeing you all there – so get yourself down there!