Babies and Toddlers
Bookstart a gift for life
What is Bookstart?
Bookstart is a national programme that works through locally
based Co-ordinators to give a free pack of books to babies with
guidance materials for parents and carers.
How will it benefit my children?
Sharing books with babies and toddlers is a wonderful way to
increase language skills and helps children to understand their
world. The first five years are the best time for learning to talk
and most of a child’s language comes from the adults around them.
Babies and toddlers who love books begin reading sooner and have a
better chance at school.
How is it funded?
Bookstart in Wales has been well supported by the National
Assembly of Wales. They provide central funding for materials and
have placed Bookstart as the foundation initiative of the Basic
Skills Strategy for Wales.
How do babies and toddlers receive their packs?
The Bookstart Books for Babies pack is given out to families at
babies’ 7 to 9 month health check by their health visitor. The
Bookstart Early Years pack is given out at the toddlers’ 2 year
health check.
Booktouch
Booktouch is a book pack designed to introduce blind and
partially sighted babies and toddlers to books. Please ask your
health visitor for more details The bag can be requested directly
by parents or carers of blind or partially sighted children up to
the age of 4. Please contact Bookstart at www.bookstart.co.uk
What if my child hasn’t received the Babies or Early Years
pack?
Please contact your health visitor.
BookStart and Neath Port Talbot Libraries
Song and Rhyme Times
Song and Rhyme Times are held each week during term time at the
following libraries:
Briton Ferry Library - every Monday
at 2:15 p.m., starting 25th September
Port Talbot Library - every Friday at
10:30 a.m., starting 29th September
Book crawl
Bookstart Book Crawl is a fantastic library joining incentive
for children age 0 – 3 years. Children receive a collection card
and then collect stickers on each visit to the library. When they
have collected 5 stickers they are given a certificate. There are
five attractive certificates to collect. A free book is given out
with the first certificate while stocks last. Just ask at your
local library for details.
If you need further information contact:
Lys Knight
Telephone: 01639 860015
e-mail: e.knight@npt.gov.uk
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