Work by students from Section for Independence Through Education is on display at the London Institute Gallery, 65 Davies Street, W1. SITE, based at the City Literacy Institute, helps students with learning difficulties to gain skills in areas of learning which interest them. Free admission. Details: 0171 514 6000.

OCTOBER 3-11 BITE THE MANGO

As part of India and Pakistan’s independence celebrations, Europe’s leading South Asian and Black film festival at Bradford’s National Museum of Photography, Film and Television is focusing on 50 years of cinema from those countries. Other events include previews of Rosewood directed by John Singleton and Bengali director Malay Bhattacharya’s eerie road movie Fiction; and a free Channel 4 forum for budding screenwriters and film-makers, October 10, 4pm (pre-booking advisable). Details: 01274 732277.

OCTOBER 5 VICTORIAN LESSON FOR FAMILIES

OCTOBER 11 CANAL ART WORKSHOP

The Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Road, London E3, is running the lesson at 2.15pm and 3.30pm for accompanied 6 to 11-year-olds. First come first served. Suggested donation: Pounds 1 per family. Workshop participants will apply a new rose pattern to a tea tray or teapot stand, 10.30am-4pm. Fee: Pounds 5 plus Pounds 3 materials; Pounds 3 discount concessions. Must be pre-booked. Details: 0181 983 1452.

OCTOBER 8 WE LOVE BOOKS!

Teachers’ day during Book Week at the Reading and Language Information Centre, Reading University. Sessions will include: good books for use in the primary classroom;and The Teddy Robber, with the author and artist Ian Beck.Fee: Pounds 5, members free.Also, on October 9, a free course on poetry in the primary classroom with Morag Styles, 4.30-6pm. Details: 0118 931 8820.

OCTOBER 10 JEANS FOR GENES APPEAL

Teachers and pupils are invited to jump into their jeans for the day and pay Pounds 1 towards helping children with genetic disorders. Schools registering for a free information pack on 0800 980 4800 will also receive a science pack and free entry into a prize draw to win a Compaq Presario 5220 multimedia computer. The appeal is run by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and three other charities.

OCTOBER 11 AND 27 STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN

Poets Ian McMillan and Sophie Hannah will tell some of Hilaire Belloc’s Cautionary Verses to musical accompaniment in the Purcell Room, South Bank, London SE1, 11am and 2pm. At the second event in the Chelsfield Room, Naomi Adler will tell animal tales from around the world, using mysterious shadow puppets and unusual musical instruments. Tales include an Indian story about a hippo who wanted to fly. Performances: 11.30am (for 3-4-year-olds) and 2pm, 3.30pm (for 4-5-year-olds). Tickets: Pounds 6 adults, Pounds 3 children and concessions. Details: 0171 960 4242.

OCTOBER 15 SCIENCE FAIR

Nearly 100 competition projects carried out by hundreds of children from east Northampton will be displayed at Lings Upper School, Northampton. Investigations included: testing trainers, investigating memory, bread with attitude, vegetable clocks, graffiti, plants from pips, volcanoes, causes and effects of asthma. Details: 01604 402811.

OCTOBER 20 EQUALITY LEARNING CENTRE OPEN DAY

An exhibition of resources for play and learning will be mounted at 356 Holloway Road, London N7, together with free interactive, creative workshops on promoting equality through cultural awareness in the early years, anti-discriminatory practice, and embracing the diversity of children’s experience through work with musical instruments and sounds. Details: 0171 700 8127.

COURSES FROM OCTOBER OPEN MUSEUM COURSES

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, is running courses lasting one day to several weeks in conjunction with Goldsmiths University of London. This year evening talks are included for the first time. Subjects include: World War II at sea (seven Tuesday mornings); heroes of exploration (four Wednesday evenings); Isambard Kingdom Brunel 1806-1859 (November 15); telescopes and stars (November 29); wreck diving (December 12-13). Fees start at Pounds 6.50 per session or Pounds 25 per day (concessions available). Details: 0181 312 6747.

OCTOBER 11 SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND THE UNDER FIVES

Training day organised by National Association of Nurseries in Colleges and Nurseries at King’s Manor Campus, York University. Speakers include: Hannah Mortimer, educational psychologist and writer; Shan Oakes, SEN development officer for York; and Verity Cridland, speechlanguage therapist. Profits will be donated to Rutland House SCOPE School and the Blue Bus Cr che. Details: Jenny Taylor, 01904 744483.