NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOY
& LEISURE LIBRARIES
68 Churchway, London, NW1 1LT
Tel: 020 7387 9592 Fax: 020 7383 2714
Email: admin@natll.ukf.net
Registered Charity Number 27029
Dear Early Years Advisor
I am the Education Development Worker for the National Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries. My role is to promote toy libraries in schools. Listed below are some of the benefits of having toy libraries in schools.
Shared Resources
Good quality resources can be very expensive, particularly specialist equipment designed for use with children with specific learning difficulties. Individual classroom or school budgets may not be able to provide a good range of resources. However, if a group of schools pool some of their resources they can set up a toy library giving them all access to a greater variety of equipment. They could also share the running costs of the library by providing a venue and/or staff.
Promoting Literacy and
Numeracy
Toy libraries provide an excellent facility for schools to work in partnership with parents. A toy library, which is stocked with games offering opportunities for children to practise specific skills, enables teaching staff to encourage parents to become involved in their child's learning. There may be funding available for projects specifically aimed at improving literacy and numeracy.
Reaching out to the Local Community
Many parents and children find schools intimidating for a variety of reasons. Having a toy library on the premises provides an opportunity for both parents and children to access the school in a relaxed and informal way, before compulsory school age. If they are used to visiting the school and have met the head teacher and members of staff, it is easier to make the transition to school and parents are more likely to be involved in school activities.
Parent Volunteers
Most toy libraries rely on volunteers to run successfully. Many parents have found this to be an excellent route back to work. Parents who leave the workforce to raise a family often lack the confidence to return to work once heir children reach school age. Toy libraries have been very instrumental in giving parents the confidence to return to paid employment. By working as volunteers and accessing NATLL training they have discovered new skills and interests.
If you think a toy library would help any of the projects you are currently working with, or you would like any more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Heather Geens
Education Development Worker
Director: Glanys Cartor MBE
Founders: Jill Norris: Roger Jefcoate CBE
President: Glenda Jackson CBE MP
Vice Presidents: Prof Roy McConkey; Prof Elizabeth
Newson CBE; Prof John Tomlinson CBE
Patrons: The Baroness Chalker of Wallasey; Gloria
Hunniford; Charles Kennedy MP; Sit David
Money-Coutts KCVO; John Monks; Margo MacDonald MSP; Giles Radice MP; Les
McEwan
A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England number 1221864,
Registered Office: 60 Churchy way, London NW1 1LT