This year you will soon be able to download a free World Book Day ‘app’ from the appStore – with exclusive short stories from Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and a whole load of other authors too.

There are all the usual resources for children, schools and libraries from the World Book Day website – with activity sheets, lesson plans and news about the latest books – for Nursery and Pre-school, Primary and Secondary school children too.

This year you can watch some great trailers and and see authors talking about their books too.

You can also enter a Design a Bookmark competition, with prizes for children up to 8 years, 9-12 years and 13-16 year olds.

Don’t forget you can use your World Book Day voucher to get some great books for just a Pound from a participating bookshop.

Get celebrating the book together – the World Book Day website is a great place to start!

From cinema trips to a Tumble in the Jungle, we have a range of activities for you and your children to enjoy and take part in over the holiday period.

You can see our morning and afternoon sessions on our web page here.

Don’t forget to book places, if required. See you at the Centre.

Winter Daze for February half term is now available to view and download on the LBWF web site.

Packed with ideas and information about centres of activity for the forthcoming half term holiday. The range of things to do covers sport, crafts, gardening and much more.

As always Waltham Forest services cover a range of ages, with something to do for the under 5′s, 5 plus, 13 – 19 years…and people of all ages and abilities too.

You can see the latest edition of Winter Daze on the Waltham Forest borough web site here.

You can download and view a .pdf copy of the booklet here.

Happy half term break everybody!

We have some great treats planned, right through to March so far. Whether you are a Cheeky Cooker, a Bubble Artist or just want to find a good read read in the library – them join the Dads Club here.

On March 12th we’ll be going to Brooks Farm in Leyton – bring some snacks with you…and watch out for the pink pig!

We have updated our main web site with news of our activities for January and February 2012.

You can improve your use of PowerPoint at the Centre, focus on families and, if you are a childminder, get involved in our upcoming childminder surgery.

We have a new baby massage course starting in February, running until mid-March.

Our ever popular Suntrap Forest Centre visits will happen again on February 29th too.

As always, there is a lot going on. Check out our main web pages for news at anytime. See you at the Centre.

Image: By kind permission – celebrating our last Baby Massage course

Waltham Forest are holding two major FREE firework displays on Monday 2nd. January 2012.

You can see the details below, with events at the Marsh Lane Playing Fields and also at The Highams Park.

We are going to be welcoming in 2012 with a bang, as we light up the sky of Waltham Forest with two spectacular firework shows that will be choreographed to music from the movies.

Mark the end of your seasonal celebrations by coming down to Marsh Lane in Leyton or The Highams Park to marvel at the fireworks, while enjoying our fun packed entertainment programme including a fantastic fun fair, fire performers and food and drink stalls for everyone to enjoy.

You can register with the Borough to keep up to date with the Big Six events in Olympic Year, with a chance to get free tickets to events, here.

We are organising two fun packed sessions of woodland activity at the Suntrap Forest Education Centre.

During our visits we will be making collages from the natural materials we find, and we can bring them home to share too.

The trips will take place on Wednesday 14th December and Wednesday 29th February. These will be great trips for children, aged 2 – 4 years of age and their carers.

See more on our Woodland Explorers web page here.

You will need to book, so to avoid disappointment call our Centre on 020 8518 7015 to secure your child’s place.

See you in the woods – The Barclay team

Barclay School & Children Centre will be closed on Wednesday November 30th Due to industrial action taken by members of staff.

In response to Governments decision to cut public sector pensions, a large number of staff have decided to go on strike. Although, we have looked at different ways of keeping the school and Children Centre open, it was felt that the health and safety of the children and families and adults using our services would be compromised. Consequently we have been left with no other option, but to close the children centre for the day.

Yours Sincerely

Robin Thompson- Clarke
Chair of Governors

A new edition of Autumn Daze is now available online to download. See more here for the 2011 edition.

This great Waltham Forest publication offers parents and carers information about activities available on the borough for the forthcoming half-term break.

There are details of things to do for children under five, for children between five and ten years, as well as for young people aged eleven to nineteen years of age.

You can also find activities for the whole family – from Brooks Farm activity sessions to spectacular firework display.

Check out the pdf version here. Free pdf software available here.

On Thursday 1st December, between 12.45 and 2.45 – read more here on our main web site. You do need to book and we do have some limited crèche spaces available, so make contact with us early to make sure of your place…

(Have you had a look at our Dads Group pages recently…lots going on, read more here).

Helping you keep up your skills at Barclay.