Working with children in Barnet

Barnet Libraries provides a range of services to support professionals working with children and young people.

Early Years

Training

Moving on:  early years library activities

Are your early years library sessions too successful? Do you need a better way to manage demand? Do you want to break the mould and ensure your sessions reflect best practice? This course will help library staff to improve the quality of early years library activities in line with the Foundation Stage Curriculum.

Course content

• applying the EYFS to library activities
• linking literacy, libraries and creative play
• developing practical skills for staff delivering early years sessions
• developing age appropriate activities
• turning visits into issues
• solving practical problems.

For more information about this and other training courses available and for full booking details please contact Sarah Ginn (Bookstart Coordinator) on 020 8359 7771.

Resources for early years settings

Barnet Libraries offer an exciting range of services to support early years professionals in their work:

• Pre-school library tickets: available for any early years setting or group. Up to 30 books can be borrowed for three months at a time.
• Childminder library tickets allow childminders to borrow up to 14 children's books for a three week loan period.
• Themed storytime boxes containing books, props and activities on a specific theme. Themes include animals, bears, space, jungles, food, night tales and multi-cultural tales.
• Library visits. Bring your group along for a pre-arranged rhyme or story session with a member of the specialist children's team.
• Bookstart gifting sessions providing Bookstart packs to children and parents.

Schools

Visiting the public library can enhance teaching and learning at all Key Stages, building independent research skills and developing reading confidence amongst students. Visits can be tailored to meet particular aspects of the primary and secondary curricula including literacy hour topics, information skills training and preparation for higher study. A pack of resources is available for schools to wishing to follow a cross-curricula programme of library visits.