As always Waltham Forest have produced a great holiday activity supplement to keep you informed about what is going on during the holiday break.

You can view, print or download a pdf copy of Easter Daze 2013 here.

Choices of venue and a great range of activities for the the whole age range of your family. get your free e-copy of Easter Daze here.

Have a good seasonal break!

Do you have a Waltham Forest library card? Do you have a PC, Mac or tablet device? Then the library service has a great facility for you.

With you library card you can download free eBooks at any time from the London Libraries Consortium web pages. Simply create an eLibrary account on the web site, using your Waltham Forest library card details.

There’s also a Guided Tour about downloading digital media.

Simply install a small piece of free software to your device, when you log in, and you are ‘good to read’.

Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period. There are no late fees!

History, drama, teenage fiction, current events, short stories and much more. An electronic library the whole family can enjoy and read together on your own device.

Another great publication for the forthcoming holidays – Winter Daze.

Free to view or download from the Waltham Forest borough website, you will find loads of ideas and activities for the whole family during the February break.

See the latest Winter Daze here. (.pdf)

Also remember, there is always a full What’s On section on the web pages of the borough Children & Young Peoples Directory – see more here.

You can download free Adobe pdf software to access our publications here.

Please be advised that due to adverse weather conditions the school will be closed on Monday 21st January, 2013.

To check on the status of other schools in the borough, for siblings and neighbour support, you can see a current list on the Waltham Forest web site here…remember to refresh your browser, or use the CTL and F5 keys to get the latest updates.

Wrap up well!

The deadline for applications for applying for a primary school place is getting nearer – online and paper applications should be submitted by 15th January 2013.

Waltham Forest has a very comprehensive web page, which gives you information about applying for a primary school place. You can find it here on the borough web site.

The easiest and most secure way to apply is online. There is a link to the online applications website here. Alternatively, a paper application form can be downloaded here (pdf) , requested from the School Admissions Service or from your child’s nursery or early years setting.

The School Admissions Service in the borough can be contacted here…

School Admissions Service, Sycamore House, Town Hall Complex, Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 4JF Tel: 0845 200 1551
10am – 4pm, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
primary.admissions@walthamforest.gov.uk

Why not celebrate the start of the New Year with a great Borough firework display.

A date for your diary? 2nd January 2013, from 5.30pm to 8.00pm

The events will take place at two venues. See below…

Leyton Jubilee Park, Marsh Lane, Leyton E10 7DE

The Highams Park, The Charter Road, Woodford Green IG8 9RE

These free events will include fantastic firework shows choreographed to music as well as food and drink stalls available during the events.

You can read more details about transport, parking restrictions and parking for those with mobility needs here.

Did you know that children can borrow up to 15 books and 6 junior CD’s for free from the Borough Library Service?

Your local library offers not ony access to books, but also to computer learning facilties, story-telling and craft activities, as well as home work clubs and holiday activities.

For younger children, your local library is a great place to check out the Bookstart programme – designed to offer every child a pack of free books and fun materials about reading.

If you haven’t yet, take a leaf out of our book – get down to your local library this Autumn and join in the fun.

You can find more information about children’s book services in the borough here.

Advice about how to join your library can be found here, including how to join on-line too. Happy reading…

The Borough are holding a celebratory fireworks event this year on November 5th. You can download an LBWF event poster with the details here.

Date: 5 November 2012 Time: 5pm-10pm
Location: Chestnuts Field, Waltham Forest Town Hall Complex, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF
Admission: Free Event

2012 has been an amazing year, and while we know it’s not over yet we want to help you round off the Olympic Year and our Big 6 celebrations with a BANG!

This year admission to the event is free for you and your family. And as well as a stunning fireworks display there’ll be music, entertainment, fairground rides and a wide range of refreshments to snack on, so come along and join the party!

This is a competition, with the support of Waltham Forest Library Service, for artists, writers, poets and photographers – of any age – to submit a piece of original creative work during Black History Month.

As part of Black History Month we are looking for Waltham Forest residents young and old to submit their own original artwork, photos and poetry on the theme of ‘Recognising the Past, Shaping the Future: What Black History Month Means to Me’. Winning entries will be selected from a variety of age groups and reproduction of this work will feature on bookmarks and/or postcards available to the public within Waltham Forest Libraries.

You can find all the details for this competition here on the Waltham Forest web pages… Get creative for posterity!

World Book Day next year will be on March 7th, 2013.

Now is the time for nurseries and primary schools to register their interest in taking part in this great literacy event for children. Eight more great books will be available for only £1 each.

The World Book Day web site has some great resources available for children, schools and parents and carers. You can download resources now from this World Book Day web page here.

Once registered more materials are available to support learning – look out for the ‘sign-up’ link on the resources page – use them in the classroom, at home, or in your library.

You can see the books selected for next year’s event here…and there will be some great events and activities taking place too!