Toybox celebrates Good Relations Week 2020

Toybox is an early years outreach childhood programme launched in 2003 and funded by the Department of Education. Its aim is to improve long term outcomes for Traveller and Roma children and their families.  The programme uses home visiting, a focus on transitions and advocacy strategies to implement the programme.

Resources are available from the Early Years Online shop at www.early-years.org/shop

Toybox Service Design Manual

Toybox implements home visiting, a focus on transitions, the development of inclusive early childhood practice and advocacy strategies to ensure that young Traveller children and their families have access to high quality early education, formal schooling and family support. This Service Design Manual has been developed to support and assist practitioners/teachers, Early Years Specialists, training facilitators, home visiting and outreach staff, and other early years agencies to implement the Toybox approach.

Toybox My Child DVDs

Longitudinal filmed study conducted in 2010 and repeated in 2014 that explored the many experiences of Traveller families in early education who engaged in the Toybox project.  Together the study captured the voice of the child and parents and affirmed the impact the programme had on their lives. The DVDs presents supportive evidence to link the work of the project with the skills of children and the growing confidence among parents in accessing early learning programmes for their children.

Tales of the Road

Tales of the road storybook captures the life experiences, memories and traditions as told by Traveller families across Northern Ireland. It is a promotion of Traveller culture through illustrated storytelling.

All About Me book series

These books are a guide to the key stages in child development from conception to one year illustrated with words, images and illustrations.  Parents/carers will find information and suggestions which will help them support their baby’s growth and development.     

Toybox leaflet

Outlining the key components of the Toybox project in both English and Romanian languages (Bulgarian and Romanian) to support families.

For further information please contact the Toybox project at Early Years - the organisation for young children on +44 (0)28 9066 2825 or email toybox@early-years.org