Monthly Archives: May 2017

Wiltshire libraries to celebrate National Bookstart Week

Wiltshire libraries to celebrate National Bookstart Week

Wiltshire Council libraries will be celebrating National Bookstart Week (5-11 June) with special rhyme times and other activities, to encourage families to have fun reading together, anywhere and anytime.

The theme of this year’s National Bookstart Week is Let’s Explore Outdoors. Children who attend any of the events and visit libraries can pick up a free mini copy of the picture book Everybunny Dance! by Ellie Sandall.

National Bookstart Week is an annual celebration of BookTrust’s flagship reading programme, Bookstart, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Bookstart gives every child in England and Wales a free reading pack in the first year of their life and again when they are three years old. The library service manages Bookstart in Wiltshire and works with health and early years professionals to distribute the free packs.

Wiltshire Bookstart co-ordinator, Sarah Hillier, said: “Bookstart is a wonderful programme, each year in Wiltshire we gift over 4,000 packs to babies at their health checks and over 5,000 to 3 year olds through their pre-school or nursery. Feedback from parents, carers and professionals tells us how much they value these packs and how it can really encourage parents and carers who might not otherwise consider reading or sharing books with their very young children.”

Diana Gerald, chief executive of BookTrust said: “It is important for parents and carers to find the time to read with their children, sharing the adventures that books can offer. Shared reading and encouraging reading for enjoyment from a young age can help children on their reading journeys and inspire a lifelong love of reading. Quite simply, those children who read for pleasure are more likely to be happier, healthier and do better in life than those who don’t.”

Regular rhyme times and other activities during National Bookstart Week are listed below, all are free, some may need to be booked.

If families are unable to make it along to their local event they can join in the fun at home, with plenty of bunny-themed arts and crafts and games, all on the Bookstart website at www.bookstart.org.uk

Special Bookstart Week activities:

Bradford on Avon library
Thursday 8 June, 10.30-11.15 – (weather permitting) an outdoors rhyme time on for both babies and toddlers
Friday 9 June, 10.30-11 – story time in the library.

Chippenham library

Wednesday 7 June – “Explore Outside” We Sing Wednesday
10 – 10.30 Baby rhyme time
11 – 11.30 Toddler time
Join us for rhyme and songs in the garden behind the library (weather permitting).

Corsham library
Friday 9 June 9.30-10.30 – Every Bunny Dance story and craft session followed by regular rhyme time session

Malmesbury

Hop into Malmesbury Library on Weds 7 June & celebrate with our special guest the Bookstart Bear!
10:30-11:00am – “Let’s Explore Outdoor” themed story, rhyme and activity session for pre-school age children.

Salisbury
Tuesday 6 June, 10.30 – 10.50 – Rhyme time for babies/11.15 – 11.35 – Action Time for toddlers. Wake up your sleeping bunnies for two special sessions celebrating National Bookstart Week 2017

Thursday 8 June, 11 – 11.45 – Bookstart Bear Club Story Explorers: “Everybunny Dance” story and craft session for Under 5s, followed by songs on the green (weather permitting)
Trowbridge library
Thursday 8 June – Teddy Bear’s Picnic, plus ‘go on a Bear Hunt for Bookstart Bear’. Will include stories, colouring, singing and healthy snacks.

Council consults on continuing street drinking restrictions in Midsomer Norton and Bath

Council consults on continuing street drinking restrictions in Midsomer Norton and Bath

Bath & North East Somerset Council is inviting residents to have their say on restricting street drinking in public places in Midsomer Norton and Bath.   Currently there are Designated Public Places Orders (DPPOs) in place which restrict street drinking and prohibit people from having alcohol in their possession in designated public places in the… Read More…

Foreground launch the first part of a major new series of permanent art commissions for primary schools across Bristol

Foreground launch the first part of a major new series of permanent art commissions for primary schools across Bristol

Framed within the parameters of Bristol City Council’s innovative public art strategy, Primary/Bristol has been commissioned by Bristol City Council and is the most extensive programme of commissioning contemporary art for school environments in the UK. Foreground are lead commissioning partners in the programme working alongside Arnolfini, Bristol, with both organisations delivering separate but complimentary programmes… Read More…

Gold medalist supports Big Pledge events in Wiltshire

Gold medalist supports Big Pledge events in Wiltshire

People were encouraged to sign up for this year’s Big Pledge London Calling challenge at two events last week, with a little help from Paralympic Gold medalist swimmer Stephanie Millward MBE. Stephanie joined Wiltshire Council’s Big Pledge team at Springfield Community Campus in Corsham to support getting people involved and being more active. Stephanie said,… Read More…

Unique pliosaur on display at Bristol Museum

Unique pliosaur on display at Bristol Museum

The world’s only known fossil of a species of pliosaur, Pliosaurus carpenteri will go on display at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery this June. The length of a bus with sharp teeth the size of bananas, four huge flippers and crushingly powerful jaws, the pliosaur was the ultimate predator of the Jurassic seas. Discovered in… Read More…

Whitsun Family Fun at the Palace!

Whitsun Family Fun at the Palace!

This May Half Term, don’t miss a range of entertaining and educational activities taking place for families at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells. Kicking off on 29th May (Bank Holiday Monday) with a ‘Nature Ninjas’ activity day in the Community Garden, children will be encouraged to try their hand at pond dipping, minibeast hunting, seed… Read More…

Bath prepares for Tour Series to roll in to city

Bath prepares for Tour Series to roll in to city

Thousands of spectators are expected in Bath on Saturday 20 May, as the city plays host to the first ever Saturday night stage of The Tour Series, with a brand new city centre route, starting and finishing on the majestic Great Pulteney Street. Bristol Airport and KLM are joint sponsors of The Tour Series Bath… Read More…

Would Your Child Benefit from a Club?

Would Your Child Benefit from a Club?

There are many clubs that run in after school hours. Some could be held at the school your child attends or at other places like a church. Most of these run during half term breaks and the summer holidays which ensures your child will have activities they can do to keep them entertained. This also… Read More…

Is your child too tired to learn?

Is your child too tired to learn?

New research has confirmed what we have long suspected – that lack of sleep among primary school children is having a devastating effect, with nine out of 10 teachers complaining that pupils are too tired to learn. The poll also reveals that more than half – 55% – of teachers agreed that the brightest children… Read More…

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