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8. LEISURE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROVISION IN AND AROUND HARINGEY

8.1 Toy Library
8.2 Holiday Playschemes
8.3 Special Needs play and resource centres
8.4 Drama, Dance and Cinema
8.5 Swimming
8.6 Trampolining, Basketball, other Sports
8.7 Horse Riding
8.8 Yoga
8.9 Holiday Services
8.10 Housebound Library Service
8.11 Music Therapy and Art Therapy
8.12 Local free trips with plants and animals
8.13 Haringey Autism Computer Club

8.1 Toy Library

Toy library and drop-in play session for disabled children. Playmates toy library: 2nd Thursday of each month, 1 - 2.30pm. Exhibition Hall, Hornsey Library. Transport available of required. Call Joy, Carol or Jaya. Tel: 020 8489 3439/3420. Snacks and drinks provided or bring your own lunch.


8.2 Holiday Playschemes  (Back to Top)

Provided by Haringey Early Years and Play for all children. Children with disabilities may attend any of the playschemes, but need to call the Childcare Information Service on 8801 1234 for detailed information and advice first, and if necessary to arrange special help for their child while there. You will then probably have to call the individual centre for programme and registration details, but you need to actually register in person to secure a place.

Holiday playschemes run during school holidays and half terms. There is a fee but they are extremely reasonable at around £30 per week for the first child, less for the second, and free for any other siblings. A few centres also have extended hours. Some parents have recently been told that they need to register 3 months in advance for a place for a child with a disability. Think ahead!


Some of the centres for children age 5 - 12 include: Tottenham (East) area:

Chestnuts Playcentre, St Anns Road, N15. Tel: 8800 9379.

Paignton Playcentre, The Triangle Community Centre, St Ann's Road, N15. Tel: 8802 1955.

Broadwater Farm Playcentre, Gloucester Road, N17. Tel: 88855 2852.

Welbourne Playcentre, Stainby Road, N17. Tel: 8808 1818.

Hartingdon Park Playcentre, Burlington Road, N17. Tel: 8801 3514.

Crowland Playcentre, Crowland Road, N15. Tel: 8800 4553.



Hornsey/Wood Green Area

The Grove Workshop (formerly the Actual Workshop), The Grove, Alexandra Park, N22. Tel: 8883 7173. (no toys, only tools)

Campsbourne Playcentre, Newlands Field, Newlands Road, N8. Tel: 8348 1358.

Log Cabins Playcentre, Falkland Road, Hornsey, N8. Tel: 8341 1847.

Stroud Green Playcentre, Ennis Road, N4. Tel: 7263 8397.

Noel Park Playcentre, Maurice Avenue, N22. Tel: 8881 1586.


For younger children (3 - 5 year olds), there are holiday playschemes at:

Pembury House Centre for Childhood, Landowne Road, N17. Tel: 8801 9914.

Rowland Hill Centre for Childhood, White Hart Lane, N17. Tel: 8808 6089.

There is also a drop- in for under 5s at:

The Islands (In the Grove), Alexandra Park, N22. Tel: 8883 7173.

(see also Markfield Project below (Section 8.3) for holiday and after school playschemes)



OTHER INDEPENDENTLY-RUN PLAYSCHEMES FOR CHILDREN 8 - YEARS PLUS, in or around Haringey:

  1. Summer respite play scheme for children with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. 4 weeks. Venue: 858 Finchley Road, Temple Fortune, NW11 6AB. Details from: Resources for Autism. Tel: 8445 5088/84583259.

  2. Kith and Kids. - run a number of projects and activities for member families, as well as opportunities for parents to get together socially and for support. Activities range from alternate Saturday/Sunday afternoon club sessions, 1- 4.30pm at the Keston Centre off Keston Road, N17., to week long social development projects in the school holidays, and a summer camp for 16 childen aged 8 and over. There is currently a waiting list for all activities - the first which is most likely to become available is the weekend clubs. Approximately half the children on Kith and Kids activities have autism, the others have a range of other learning disabilities. Well supported by volunteers, there is a waiting list to join. Contact tel:8801 7432. Based at: The Irish Centre, Pretoria Rd, N17.



8.3 Special Needs play and resource centres  (Back to Top)


  1. St Ann's Library, Toy Library
    Special Needs drop in play session. Fridays 10-12am Tel: 8442 8154/8489 8775


  2. Red Gables Family Centre, 113 Crouch Hill N8
    Monthly toy library and drop in play session for disabled children. Tel 8348 4660


  3. Markfield Project
    Markfield Road, London N15. Tel: 8800 4134.

    An independent family resource centre providing a range of inclusive services to disabled children, young people and adults and to their families. The Markfield Project runs Holiday Playschemes and After School Clubs, early years drop-in sessions, sibling support groups, and a range of diverse family support schemes offering advice, information and advocacy on a range of issues including a Parent Partnership Scheme. Membership is available for £15 (families/individuals) or £5(unwaged). Contact Anna or Evonne.

    The following sessions may be of interest to parents of children with autism: (Please note you need to contact the Project first - there is a waiting list for many activities and selection criteria)

    Under 5s drop in. Thursdays 1 - 2.30pm.

    After School Clubs (families must be referred by FamilyLink at Social Services)

    Saturday clubs for families and siblings.

    Sibs Saturdays (1st Saturday of each month 11am - 4pm - a group for Haringey young people aged 5 - 18 who have a sister or brother with a disability)

    Family Club (2nd Saturday each month) 10am - 2pm. Bring lunch and enjoy activities with other families.

    (Also parent support workshops from 10am - 12 noon in the Garden Room on behaviour support 'Calm and Safe' (10 Jan 2004, March 13 2004, and June 12 2004))/autism focus (8th May 2004)/School action/action plus (dec13 2003)/Statemented children (feb 14 2004).

    Holiday playscheme
    5 days a week for 10 weeks a year.
    Buses collect from homes from 8.30am arriving at the Project 10am. Buses leave from 3pm dropping back home around 4pm.

  4. Palace for All
    Scholefield Road, London N19 3ES.

    An Islington based parent run special needs centre with a playroom and play garden where anyone can drop in to play, chat or have a coffee etc anytime during opening times.

    In addition to the drop-in, there are more formal sessions for which you need to book as there are waiting lists. There is a special needs teacher who can see children in groups or in individual sessions and help develop an individual learning programme(CASTLE). There are sessions with physiotherapists, aromatherapists, a shiatsu therapist (term-times Tuesdays and Fridays 4 - 6), and special music sessions. Call or turn up if you would like to join any particular session. See enclosed brochures, or call Palace for details 7561 1689. Palace is open Tuesdays 10 - 6, and Wednesdays and Thursday 1 - 6.


  5. Resources for Autism Saturday Club

    Held at 858 Finchley Rd, Temple Fortune, London NW11 6AB.
    For children with autism aged 8 - 11. Saturdays 10am - 1pm for more able children. A well staffed playscheme where you can leave your child. Places need to be booked in advance on 8458 3259. The club aims to help children relax, develop play-skills and self -expression. They run trips to trampolining, bowling and other venues. Resources for Autism also have drama therapists and other skilled workers. Also summer holidays respite scheme. Call for details. (Sometimes funding has been too short recently to run this scheme - call)

    Resources for Autism Wednesday Youth Club
    Held at 858 Finchley Rd, Temple Fortune, London NW11 6AB
    For children with autism aged 13 - 17. Wednesdays 6-8pm. Places need to be booked in advance on 8458 3259.

8.4 Drama, Dance and Cinema  (Back to Top)

Drama

Dance

Children with special needs welcome at sessions run by Lisa Silverstein at Jackson's Lane community centre (Highgate) on Archway Road. Tel 8444 5333
News: (September 2004), Nevin Penny of Islington Active Autism would like to let you know that dance sessions are starting again for children aged 5-12. The venue is:Jackson Lane Community Centre in Archway. Sessions are on Thursdays at 5.00 to 6.00 pm. The dance teacher is Erin Carter, she is a professional dance teacher and all parents who are attending are happy with her approach.The dance sessions are quite dynamic and fun! If anyone is interested please let Nevin know. The course is advertised on the Jackson Lane Community Centre's web site: www.jacksonslane.org.uk under the title of "Hop, Skip and jump"

Cinema
Movies for Juniors at Cineworld. This is not a special needs or autism specific event in any way, but the Cineworld cinema in Wood Green (1st Floor, Shopping City above W H Smith) has a choice of three childrens movies every Saturday for just £1 a head So if your child may only sit through part of a film you won't have shelled out too much money! Call Cineworld on 8829 1400 for programme info. It will not say so on the recorded message but the movies which begin at 10am on a Saturday are all part of Movies for juniors.




8.5 Swimming  (Back to Top)

(just turn up, no need to book for any of the following)

Archway Pool. Macdonald Road, N19. Tel: 7281 4134. Fantastic disabled session mainly populated by autistic children with their parents and siblings. Uncrowded, very warm pool with waves, bubbles, slides etc and pop music turned off. Friendly and enormous fun. Saturdays 4.30 - 6pm.

Park Road Swimming Pool. Tel: 8341 3567
Piranha swimming club - disabled swimming group, open to any disabled person or child with carer. Monday evenings 7.30 - 9pm. Club run by Bill McLaughlin.

Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, 1 Philip Lane, N15. Tel: 8489 5322. Special Needs swim Sundays 11 - 12 noon. Also special needs swimming lessons.


Swimming lessons for autistic children.

Paul Hurley of Swim lessons is starting a first time course of 10 swimming lessons aimed at autistic children to introduce them to the water and starting to swim. Total cost £39. This first course runs at Highbury Grove School in Islington at 11am on Sundays. Starting Sunday 19th January 2003.

If the course attracts enough children, further courses will be run. Details from Paul on 020 7684 1592.

8.6 Trampolining, Basketball, Other Sports  (Back to Top)

Trampolining

Extremely popular with autistic children!

Queen Elizabeth Girls' School, High Street, Barnet. Mondays from 5pm. Have waiting list at present (March 2001) but hope to expand soon and add an extra night in a new venue. Call Ann Maria 8440 7881 or Julia on 8441 0407 for details.

Harrow Mencap - run a trampolining session. Sorry - no details.

Sobell Centre, Hornsey Road, N7. After school on Wednesday (drop in)and Friday (course) Tel:7609 2166. Popular, ring first for details.


(NB Try setting up your own trampolining group. Ann Maria from Barnet says it was not hard to do. You need:-

  1. A venue which already has trampolines. Ask Disabled Children's Team at Social Services for suggestions - they have disabled in- borough info)
  2. A special needs trampolining instructor (The Disabled Sports Forum have lists of instructors)
  3. A group of volunteers. Trampolining is proving so popular among disabled and autistic children, it should be possible to make the group self-funding, but there are also sports grants available from the ex-Millenium group ‘Awards for all' of up to £5000.)



Basketball

Saturday mornings for I hr. Ages 6-12 approx. Ball and basketball skills for children with Autism/Aspergers. Held in Islington. Details from Nevin Penny of Islington Active Autism. Tel 7281 7712

Sports Club
Keen Sports in Somers Town Sports Centre near Euston station will take your child for a couple of hours for free with a one to one helper to try out various sports. Held on Sunday mornings but you must call on a Thursday to book a place. Tel: 07941 312318

8.7 Horse Riding  (Back to Top)

Penniwells Riding Group for the Disabled, Penniwells Farm, Edgewarebury Lane, Elstree, WD6. Tel: 8207 4525.


Barnfield Riding Stables, Sewardstone Road, Chingford, London E4. Tel: 8529 5200. £8/hour hour one on one instruction for special needs children.

Gillians Riding Stables, Brayside Farm, Clay Hill, Enfield.Tel: 8366 5445.
Sunday afternoon session for children with autism and their siblings. Mostly children from Islington and Haringey NAS branches. £9 for half hour. Call for details - Caroline 7687 1498



8.8 Yoga

Yoga for kids and Special kids.

8.9 Holiday Services  (Back to Top)

Autism London - new and excellent factsheet with loads of holiday places and schemes accepting children and adults with ASD. Also ideas for funding and free holidays. Download from their website www.autismlondon.org.uk or call on 020 7704 0501

Holiday Care Service
UK's central source of information on holidays and support for disabled or disadvantaged people. Over 1,000 suitable properties including B&Bs, farmhouses, hotels, self-catering etc. Tel: 01293 77 4535/1500.

Mencap Holiday Service - offer a range of short planned breaks and holidays in UK and abroad. Produce a printed guide. Tel: 0161 888 1200.

Holiday tip for those in the Money - Centreparks usually gets rave reviews from parents of children with autism. However you need to book early and it is not cheap.



8.10 Housebound Library Service

Hornsey Library, Haringey Park N8. Tel: 8489 3439. Delivers books, tapes , talking books and jigsaws to Haringey residents, including children, who are housebound, cannot get to a library or have trouble carrying books.



8.11 Music Therapy and Art Therapy  (Back to Top)

Music

Art

8.12 Local free trips with plants and animals

-Golders Hill Park. Near Hampstead/Golders Green. Mini zoo, plus good playground and café. -Clissold Park. Near Finsbury Park. Playground, mini-zoo, paddling pool, café.

F.A.I.T.H Plant Centre. (FAITH stands for Further Advancement in Training with Haringey). Free for kids, £1 for adults. A weird little gem of a place, previously known as the Wolves Lane Nursery. A large tropical greenhouse with butterflies, koi carp, goldfish, terrapins, little pools and waterways. Also rabbits, guinea pigs, budgies and other birds, and a cafe area with vending machines. With easy parking just outside, it is situated on Wolves Lane, opposite the Sports Centre and supposedly open 7 days a week 9 - 4, but I've found it closed a few times so call ahead. Tel: 8888 5306.

8.13 Haringey Autism Computer Club

Haringey Autism has started a computer club which we hope to run weekly during term time. For more details Click Here

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