The Walthamstow Toy Library and Play Centre is an educational charity which provides babies and children under the age of five with a stimulating and creative learning environment.
WTL&PC’s mission is to provide a safe and stimulating place for young children and their parents and carers to play, learn and interact. Six aims underpin this mission. These are to:
- Support children aged under five to learn and develop and to prepare for nursery education;
- Promote bonding and attachment between children and their parents or carers;
- Reduce isolation and help parents to develop supportive social networks;
- Promote the health and well-being of children and families;
- Enable access to our services from all sections of our local community particularly those on a low income; and
- Represent the aims and interests of our members.
In order to achieve these aims, our work is based around the following objectives:
- Provide a friendly, welcoming and safe environment for children and their parents or carers;
- Run high-quality, structured play sessions led by experienced play workers, based around the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum;
- Make available a diverse range of toys for play and learning, providing play ideas for parents and carers to use at home;
- Maximise access to our services, especially among those on low incomes;
- Work in partnership with other organisations, both locally and nationally, to promote our aims; and
- Involve our members in evaluating, improving and running our services.
In all our work we aim to adhere to our core values by providing services that are:
- Child-centred
- Supportive
- Fun
- Sustainable
- Community-based
- Educational
The centre is run by a volunteer management committee of local parents and carers. It’s open to all members, and new recruits are always very welcome and we have four part time staff.
Staff
Centre Manager: Helen Crockford (E17toylibrarymanager@gmail.com)
Play Workers: Nina Sosaveron, Kelly Hayes and Carol Slaney
Contact: committee@walthamstowtoylibrary.org
