Storytime for all the Family
Join us for storytime for all ages as we join forces with Read North East, The North East Autism Society, Seven Stories and Percy Hedley Foundation on Saturday 25 March from 10am – 3pm, Upper Grey’s Quarter (opposite Chatime)
Come down with your friends and family for an enjoyable day filled with fairytales and adventures with the first three storytime sessions supported by a British Sign Language interpreter from the Percy Hedley Foundation.
Our morning session will cater for families who enjoy a quieter setting. During these sessions, we will have limited sensory fidget toys available for children to engage with while listening to the storyteller, which we hope will make storytime enjoyable for all.
Plus, families will also be able to speak with our partners and have any questions answered throughout the day.
Schedule
10:00am: Percy Hedley Foundation (Quieter Storytime with BSL Signer)
10.30am: Percy Hedley Foundation (Quieter Storytime with BSL Signer)
11.00am: Seven Stories (BSL Signer)
12.00pm: Seven Stories
1.30pm: Seven Stories
2.30pm: Seven Stories
Location
Upper Grey’s Quarter, opposite Chatime
National Literacy Trust – will be onsite 10am -3pm
Read North East by the National Literacy Trust is a campaign to help raise children’s literacy levels in the North East. The campaign encourages parents to chat, play and read to their babies and children, strengthening the culture of reading across the region, engaging businesses to play an essential role in addressing the literacy challenge and encourages parents to read with their children from birth to give them the best start in life.
Reading with your baby or child? Follow Read North East top tips:
- Introduce your child to your local library as soon as possible. It’s free to join, welcoming and fun
- Choose stories with lots of pictures for opportunities to interact
- Find a quiet place to read and turn off the TV and mobile phone if you can
- Don’t be afraid to share favourite books over and over again – this will help your child to learn new words and join in
- Sing songs or nursery rhymes together
- As your child gets older, choose longer chapter books to come back to each day. It will help to build their memory and understanding.
For more information on the Read North East campaign, including tips and activities for families to enjoy here
The Percy Hedley Foundation – Will be onsite from 10am – 1pm
The Percy Hedley Foundation is a disability charity based in North East England which supports people with complex learning difficulties, disabilities and additional communication needs. Percy Hedley provides education, care, support, accommodation and lifelong learning opportunities at their schools, college, homes and Horizons lifelong learning service and will be on-site to answer any questions you may have.
The North East Autism Society – Will be onsite from 10am – 1pm
For more than 40 years, the North East Autism Society has led the way in providing autism-specific care and education for children, young people, and adults across the North-East of England and will be available to answer any questions you may have on the 25 March.
Seven Stories – Will be onsite from 11am – 3pm
Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, is a registered charity and accredited Museum based in Newcastle upon Tyne. The well-known charity, famous for its love of stories, is a champion of reading for pleasure and dedication to protecting and celebrating children’s books will join us for multiple storytime sessions throughout the day.
Sensory Bags
Our sensory bag was designed by parents supported by the North East Autism Society to provide a relaxed and calming shopping experience.
The bag can be hired from our customer service desks at Fenwick and St Andrew’s Way for a £20 refundable deposit which you will receive back upon returning the bag. At present, we can only take cash deposits.
Why not check out our selection of child-friendly restaurants, perfect for a tasty bite to eat after a storytime session here.
