Free Bookstart Packs for All Under-fives

Every child in Swindon is entitled to three free Bookstart packs.

Don’t let your child miss out!

Bookstart is based on the principle that every child in the UK should have the opportunity to enjoy book sharing from as early an age as possible. It is about quality time spent between parent/carer and child with no distractions from the TV or radio. It is about listening to stories, talking about the pictures and learning how to turn the pages. Bookstart is about pleasure, not learning to read, though it has been proven to have a positive effect on learning.

All partners in Bookstart make the following commitment:

Bookstart in the UK is the first, national, books for the under-fives programme in the world. As Bookstart partners we aim to provide every child in the UK with three Bookstart packs of free books and guidance materials. We are committed to promoting the idea of early book sharing and seek to give every child the opportunity to develop a life-long love of books.

Bookstart pack for babies aged 0-12 months

The Bookstart Baby pack is given to all babies of 6 to 12 months by their Health Visitors.

The Bookstart canvas bag contains two board books and a book of nursery rhymes, advice on sharing books, information about libraries and an invitation to join.

Bookstart+ pack for Toddlers 18-30 months

The Bookstart Plus pack for all toddlers aged 18 – 30 months is now available from all 17 libraries in Swindon, and also from Goddard Park Children’s Centre, the Robert Le Kyng Children's Centre and the SureStart Centres at Everleigh Drive, Penhill and next to the Pinehurst People's Centre. Packs can also be obtained from the Children’s Information Service, Theatre Square, Tel. 541786.

A bright coloured nylon satchel style bag with two books, a colouring pad, pack of crayons, a ' Numbers are Fun! ' bedroom frieze, a set of 'Bookplates' - colourfully illustrated stickers for children to place in their books, a book list and guidance leaflet, and ‘More things to do with books!' which focuses on early language and listening skills

My Bookstart Treasure Chest for children 36 - 48 months

The Bookstart Treasure Chest for pre-schoolers aged 3 yrs plus is given through preschools and nurseries  – for more information about the Treasure Chest please contact the Children’s Information Service, Theatre Square, Tel. 541786.

The Treasure Chest has a secret compartment,a colourful plastic carrier bag, two picture books, 'Treasure' - a book of ideas. There is also a guidance leaflet which focuses on early language and listening skills, a fiction and non-fiction book list for children and their parents, including information on how to access books on specific subjects, such as divorce and bereavement, bookplates, a pack of coloured pencils, barrel pencil sharpener, and an A4 colouring pad.

For more information about Bookstart please contact:

Robin Griffiths

Tel. 01793-707130

Email: rgriffit@swindon.gov.uk

Also see the Bookstart website at: http://www.bookstart.co.uk