Welcome back everyone! There’s been a lot going on at the Toy Library over the summer, including redecorating the toy library. We hope you like the new décor! We were very sad to say goodbye to playworker Kelly, but wish her well on her midwifery course. We also said goodbye to our Monday volunteer, Bartley, who is going back to university to study occupational therapy. We’d like to welcome our new playworker, Lizzie, who is running play sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays.
We’d also like to thank resident handyman Nick Grodzicka who has been busy fixing broken toys. We’re always looking for volunteers to help out at the toy library so if you think you could spare any time to volunteer, we’d love to hear from you. Call us on 020 8509 3401 or email e17toylibrarymanager@gmail.com Our new website is up and running and packed with useful information on play sessions, toy loaning, party hire and more. Thanks to Atty Cronin for all her hard work!
Don’t forget we’d love to hear your news. We always welcome your feedback on sessions you’d like us to run or toys you’d like us to buy. Find us on Facebook (Toy Lib Play Centre) or contact us via our website. www.walthamstowtoylibrary.org
Hints and tips
With lots of new members joining, we thought now might be a good time to share a few hints and tips for a fun play session…
*We do allow you to take photographs of your own child on the premises, but we ask that you be mindful of other children in the proximity and avoid including others in your pictures. If you are unhappy with someone taking pictures as you feel it is inappropriate, notify a staff member and they will help you.
*We don’t provide adult seating as these sessions are a time for you to enjoy playing and interacting with your child, so would like to encourage you to get on the floor with them. If you do require a seat, there are some available by the front door you can use.
*Snack time: we do not like to waste food so only prepare a small snack for each child, but each session varies and if you would like more snacks, please ask the staff/volunteer and they will happily bring you some more.
*Security: please always sign out when leaving and ensure someone locks the gate behind you if you are leaving early. We want to create a safe environment where you can relax and escaping kids is not relaxing.
*Tea and coffee are provided with a suggested donation of 50p. This money helps to pay for the snacks during snack time. PLEASE help keep our kids safe by only drinking your hot beverages at the counter and not walking around with a scalding drink.
*If at any time you feel a toy or any of the facilities are dirty or damaged please bring it to the attention of the staff, we strive to maintain high standards at all times.
*Please keep valuables with you at all times. Although the toy library is a safe location we cannot take responsibility for any lost items. Lost property is collected and held in a bucket by the front door should you lose anything. This bucket is emptied every couple
of months.
*Emergencies happen; if you need a nappy, change of clothes or a towel, ask a staff member.
*Please remove shoes to keep the floor as clean as possible for children to play on.
Dates for your diary
See our website or Facebook page for details of our special half term sessions, including Kids Kitchen (Weds), Seriously messy play (Thurs), our regular Twins group (Fri), a coffee morning (Sat) and two spectacularly spooky Halloween parties on Sunday 30th October, 10am–noon and 3–5pm (£6 per child, book in advance). The Blitz Factory (Ravenswood Industrial Estate, E17 9HQ) will once again be transformed into a Christmas Grotto on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December. We’ll also be hosting two Christmas parties for under 5s on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st December with lots of festive fun and a raffle with fantastic prizes. There will also be a special party for under 18 months on Tuesday 20th December.
Groups at the Toy Library and Play Centre
Breastfeeding support group Tues 12–1.30pm with Petra. Free, no need to book.
Tiny Time Music with Anita
Creative music-making for 0–3-year-olds. Mon 2.30–3.30pm.
Pay on the door: £6 for the first child, £9 for two children.
We are also working with the Lloyd Park Centre to deliver TOPS, a group for children with additional needs. If you are concerned about your child, please have a chat with us and we can refer you.
Two-year-old funded places Church Hill Nursery School have provision for 2-year-old funded places. Sessions run at Walthamstow Cricket Club, Greenway Avenue, E17 3QN, Monday to Friday 9am–12pm. If your child is eligible, drop by Walthamstow Cricket Club any morning during term time or
call in at Church Hill to complete a registration form. For advice call Church Hill on 020 8520 4919 and ask for Katie.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice Waltham Forest can help with debt, benefits and employment problems. They run advice surgeries at GPs and Children and Family Centres across the borough:
Chingford Children & Family Centre
Every Thursday between 9am–1pm by
appointment only
Wyemead Centre, 5 Oaks Grove, Chingford
E4 6EY
Tel: 020 8496 1551 (call to book appointment)
Handsworth Medical Practice
Wednesday 10am–1pm by appointment
only
Handsworth Avenue, E4 9PD
Leyton Children & Family Centre
Every Tuesday between 9am–1pm by
appointment only
Queens Road Community Centre
215 Queens Road, Walthamstow E17 8PJ
Tel: 0208 496 2442 (call to book appointment)
Leytonstone Children & Family Centre
Every Monday between 9am–1pm by
appointment only
2-4 & 8 Cathall Road, Leytonstone E11 4LF
Tel: 0208 496 2960 (call to book appointment)
St James Medical Practice
Thursday 10am–1pm by appointment only
St James Health Centre
47 St James Street, E17 7NH
Triangle House
Friday 10am–1pm by appointment only
2-8 Harrow Road, E11 3QF
Walthamstow Children & Families Centre
Every Wednesday between 9am–1pm by
appointment only
313 Billet Road, Walthamstow E17 5PX
Tel: 0208 496 3511 (call to book appointment)
The Great Weight Debate
Waltham Forest is taking part in the Great Weight Debate, a multi-forum conversation to raise awareness of childhood obesity in the
capital and get Londoners views on how to tackle childhood obesity. They would love to hear your views and what you think can be done to tackle childhood obesity in our borough. Visit
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GWD2016 to complete a short survey.
Things to do at home:
Make a nature box
Autumn is the perfect time to make a nature box and a fun activity for little ones. Take a shoe box or a biscuit tin to gather your finds, then head out to a nearby park or forest and look for conkers, acorns, beechnuts and fir cones. See how many different shaped
leaves you can find. The Woodland Trust (www.woodlandtrust.org) has a great leaf identification sheet free to download. When you get home, help your child make a label and decorate it with some
of the things they have found.
