Swindon Foodbank We would like to say a huge thank you to all of ...

Swindon FoodbankWe would like to say a huge thank you to allof you who have donated food in the lastcouple of months, thehamper in receptionhas constantly beengetting fuller andfuller! All yourdonated food goes tofamilies who desperately need help in thiscurrent economic crisis and we know they arevery grateful for your help.June Half Term holiday 31 st May – 4 th JuneTo celebrate the sunny (!) half term week wewill be offering some exciting events Family WeekOn Wednesday 2 nd June a bookable ‘BookstartBreakfast Session’ will be put on between 8-8.45 with stories from Carolyn fromBookstart. The Stay & Play session will runslightly earlier also from 9-10.30. (Suggesteddonation £1 per family)Centre ClosuresThe centre will be closedcompletely on Monday 31 stMay for Bank Holiday.We will also be closedTuesday 1 st June with a halfterm holiday timetable in place,see below for details!Please also keep an eye out for closure signsin the centre as we sometimes have to closeat short notice due to staff related issues.On Thursday 3rd June, get your hats andsunglasses ready as we are putting on a familypicnic at Lydiard, 11am – 2pm. (There will be noStay & Play session on this day). No need tobook a space for this just turn up with yourpicnic.Our last half-term adventure will be onMonday 7 th June at Lower Shaw Farm. We’llbe meeting there and enjoying the experiencebetween 10am-2pm. Again, places need to bebooked so please put your name down in thebooking form.Booking forms can be found on the trainingnoticeboard in the break-out area.Saltway Children’s Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon, SN5 5TD. Telephone: 01793 465364.

Dad/Male Carers GroupThis group caters for 0-11 year oldchildrenThe next groups are:Saturday 22 nd May andSaturday 26th June10.00 – 11.30amCome and experience fun play time with yourDads / grandads / uncles / male carers.Snacks available. (Suggested donation £1 per family).Dates/Workshops for your DiaryIs your baby 6 months or coming upto 6 months? Lynne Smith, HealthVisitor and Dana Dodson,Playworker will be delivering a oneoff session about weaning on:Monday 19 th July 11.30-12.45 at Salt WayChildren’s Centre.The session will include meal ideas, recipes,methods, time saving ideas etc.If you put your name down on any of theactivities but are unable to make it, it would behelpful if you could let us know as soon as youcan as we will be able to offer your space tosomebody else on the reserve list, particularlyin order for us to save on our crèche costs,thanks.Parent ForumThe parent forum noticeboard isalso up and running in thebreakout area so take aminute or two to have a catch upwith what they’re doing.If you would like more info about the forum orwould be thinking of helping out, talk to TracyPetty, Chairperson or any of the othermembers and find out their latest plans andevents (contact details available). Their latest‘St George’s Day’ cake sale raised £50!Your donationsHow would you like to create some specialmum and child time while helping your childdevelop in a fun way? Our resident ….PlumHutton will be showing us how on Tuesday 8 thJune, come along!And finally, we’ll be offering a ‘Toddler Teas’workshop on Wednesday 16 th June to giveideas on appropriate finger foods and lunchesetc.A FREE CRÈCHE is available forthese sessions - limited spacesare available for the sessions soplease place your name on the booking forms,or ask at reception.To date, your kind donationsduring groups have contributed to thechildren’s snacks (and adult teas & coffees!)and most recently the chocolate eggs for theEaster egg hunts in April. As a charity we willnot charge an entrance fee to come into ourgroups, however, we do ask for a donation ifyou can manage it (suggested donations £1 perfamily per session)..Saltway Children’s Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon, SN5 5TD. Telephone: 01793 465364.

National Child Safety WeekHave you ever thought about what wouldhappen if we didn’t ….. or why we do…. Wouldyou like to sit in a fire engine or try on apolice hat? During the week of 21 st June wewill be focusing on all aspectsof child safety.Our big event is on Tuesday22 nd June (10am-2pm). Comealong and have fun with all kinds of people. Aswe are having this event there will be no Stayand Play session. No booking required forthis event, open to all families VouchersClosing date for Tesco vouchers hashappened, we had approximately 600 and willbe looking to purchase outdoor equipment ofsome sort, watch this space!Going back to work….?Salt Way has access to lots and lots of lovelychildminders who, along with the childrenthey look after, create some fantasticcolourful pictures and promote fun social timeduring their groups - lunchtimes can get verynoisy with lots of chatter (and sharing offood!).Take a look at their noticeboard in receptionto see what fun they have.If you are looking for a local childminder, whynot come to their group onTuesday 11.30-1.30And have a chat to them?Sparcells and Peatmoor Stay and PlayThe stay and play group for families withchildren under five.The next group will be onThursday June 10thatThe Oakroom, PeatmoorCommunity School, Pepperbox Hill, Peatmoor1.15pm – 2.45pm.All parents and carers are welcome.Refreshments provided.Please note this is a Stay and Play group forPeatmoor and Sparcells families only!(Suggested donation £1 per family)Work ExperienceWould you like to gain someoffice skills experience? Weare looking for volunteers tohelp out in the Salt Way officedoing data entry, taking telephone messages,helping with updating the noticeboards etc.You will have to be CRB checked and provide 2references before starting but you can thenstart updating your skills ready for going backto work! Also remember, you can put yourexperience on your CV for future employmentand if you are with us on a regular basis, wewill be able to provide a reference for any newemployer Ask at reception or call 01793 465364 formore details.Parent Feedback BoardKeep an eye on the board, it will be updatedvery soon….!Saltway Children’s Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon, SN5 5TD. Telephone: 01793 465364.

Tidy Up Time!After a hard session playing and mixing withtheir friends, lets show the childrenhow we clear away…. by putting thebooks on the shelf, by packing awaythose bricks , and then… lets letthem show us how they can do it too - theycan then show you how they’ve learnt to tidyaway and help you at home!Message from KayTuesday & Thursday Stay & Play sessionsSince restructuring the opening times ofthese sessions to allow our very localresidents the chance to use the groups, weare pleased to let you know that thefeedback has been positive from thoseattending. Just a reminder though that thegroups are still open to anybody, simply thatthe entry timing is staggered. For thoseliving outside our immediate area, please feelfree to telephone the centre around 9.30amto see if there are any spaces still availableand come along!I appreciate the decision to offer a staggeredentry system to our Stay & Play’s hasn’t been apopular decision for you all. Ideally we wouldlike to be in a position to offer sufficient Stay& Play’s to meet the demand for you all,however, that is not possible as we are a verysmall team and are here to deliver variousother services in order to meet the Children’sCentre agenda.We think it is great that you all want to useour services at Salt Way and we do not wantto stop anyone coming, which is why we areoffering this staggered entry system. Soplease do make use of it, there are quite oftenspaces at 9.45am.If you are still not happy with our decisionthen we do have a formal complaints procedurewhich I’d be happy to talk you through.Kay Kane, Centre ManagerSaltway Children’s Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon, SN5 5TD. Telephone: 01793 465364.

Saltway Children’s Centre, Pearl Road, Middleleaze, Swindon, SN5 5TD. Telephone: 01793 465364.