Book a session
In order to access sessions at Swings & Smiles, you will need complete our registration form in advance of your first visit. You will then be issued with a timetable and will be able to book sessions for your family. All sessions must be booked in advance, and as we do get busy we'd recommend booking at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.
Swings & Smiles is committed to providing you and your family with a unique family play experience here in West Berkshire. By completing our assessment form this means our professional play leaders and support staff will be able to provide a rich and safe play experience each time that you visit. Please be assured this information will be held securely. Parents are more than welcome to come for a visit prior to bringing their family if they wish to check out the facilities in advance.
Alternatively, please return the completed assessment form by post to Swings & Smiles, A Place to Play, Lower Way, Thatcham, RG19 3RR. We process assessment forms on a weekly basis. Each form will be assessed by a panel and you will then be advised of which sessions will be suitable for your family, and provided with our timetable so that you can book using the options below.
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If you have any questions about our assessment process please email office@swingsandsmiles.co.uk.
How to book
After you have completed your form and received confirmation of your assessment you will be able to book to attend Swings & Smiles. All sessions must be booked in advance and the best way to do this is by completing our online Booking Request form or by emailing us at office@swingsandsmiles.co.uk. Someone from the team will be in touch as soon as they can to confirm your booking.
Sometimes we will be able to take last minute or on the day bookings, if you would like to enquire about a last minute booking please call us on 01635 285170.
Due to growing numbers and increasingly busy sessions, we've recently made some changes to our registration process. We now require all families to complete our registration form in advance of visiting and use the booking process detailed above.
Our session
We'd love for you to come and join us for one of our sessions! We're open seven days a week and throughout term times and school holidays. We are always listening to feedback from our families so if you think there’s something missing from what we are offering, let us know and we’ll see what we can do.
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Our timetable is now issued each term. Please find the Winter timetables below:
We require all families to complete a Registration Form before their first visit, you will then be advised as to which sessions will be best for your family. Below is a brief overview of the sessions we offer.
Overview of our sessions
Minis
Join us for a fun-filled, friendly under 5’s group designed for children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. It’s a wonderful chance for little ones to play, learn, and grow in a safe and supportive space – and for parents to connect with others who truly understand.
Each week, we plan playful activities that support your child’s development and help them build confidence while socialising with others. From sensory play to creative crafts, there’s always something to spark joy and curiosity!
These sessions run Wednesday during term time and costs £2.50 per family.
If you would like more information or want to book on please email office@swingsandsmiles.co.uk
Respite
Swings & Smiles offers exciting respite sessions for children aged 5 and over, filled with fun, friendship, and engaging activities like music, cooking, and creative play led by our fantastic Play Leaders. These sessions run twice a month on Saturdays and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during school holidays, with morning sessions from 9:30am to 1:00pm (£45) and afternoon sessions from 1:45pm to 4:30pm (£35). We work closely with families to get to know each child before they attend, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive experience.
There is currently a waitlist, so if you're interested, please contact office@swingsandsmiles.co.uk to express your interest and find out more
After School Club
After School Club at Swings & Smiles is a vibrant respite group for children aged 5 and over, running every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (330 -530pm). It’s a fantastic opportunity for children to unwind after school, spend time with friends, and enjoy a wide range of fun activities led by our enthusiastic team—including music, cooking, and creative play. We take time to get to know each child before they join, ensuring a warm, inclusive experience tailored to their needs. Sessions cost £30
There is currently a waitlist, so if you're interested, please contact office@swingsandsmiles.co.uk to express your interest and find out more.
Youth Club
This group is aimed at children who attend a special needs school or resource unit, that are able to communicate their needs to the staff and use the toilet independently. The group aims to give children the opportunity to find common interests with like minded peers, form friendships and have fun together. Youth Club is for children in Year 9 years and older and run on a Tuesday evening from 6pm-7pm
Sessions must be booked and paid for in advance each term and are £10 per session.
Mini Spec (Y3-5); Spectrum (Y6-8); Oasis (Y9-13)
These sessions are perfect for young people with a diagnosis who attend mainstream school and are looking for a fun, relaxed space to hang out with friends. Just like our popular Youth Club, it’s all about socialising in a safe, welcoming environment—with games consoles, a tuck shop, and loads of exciting activities to enjoy. Whether it’s chilling out or getting stuck into something creative, there’s always something going on! Sessions cost £10.
Home Education Group
We have teamed up with a local tutor who will be delivering project style learning to small groups of children who are home educated. We aim to provide the children with a variety of skills taught in an informal way. There will be a clear objective for each project for the children to work towards but none of the pressure to do it in a set way, and there will be a key focus on having fun!
Thearuputic Family Play
Therapeutic Family Play sessions are perfect for our blue, pink, and purple members who benefit from a calmer, more sensory-focused environment. These quieter sessions offer a soothing space where families can enjoy meaningful time together through activities like Tac-Pac and sensory stories, designed to support emotional wellbeing and connection. It’s a gentle, nurturing experience where children can explore, relax, and engage at their own pace. The session costs £5 per family.
SIB Support
Sessions at the centre are a chance for siblings to get together and have fun, with staff and volunteers on hand to chat and support them with some of the challenges they may face.
Older SIB Support
This is for Year 7 and above, the sessions take place on the first Friday of the month from 6-7.30pm and the third Saturday of the month from 1.30 - 3pm.
Saturday SIB Support
This is for children aged 5 years up until they finish primary school. These groups run twice a month from 9.30 - 11am and 11.30 - 1pm.
SIB Support Workshops Online
We are excited to be able to offer our online workshops for siblings. They are open to any siblings from the ages of 7-14 years and are free of charge to attend. These online courses will run for four weeks and will aim to help participants learn more about disability, understand how to identify and manage their emotions, and to give them tools to work through any challenges they may face as a sibling. The workshop will be interactive and engaging, interspersing content with lots of fun and games. Play and having fun is at the heart of everything we do at Swings & Smiles and SIBSupport is no different.
These courses will run every Wednesday during term time, please email sibsupport@swingsandsmiles.co.uk for more information.
All siblings that attend the SIBSupport sessions will have the opportunity to attend a SIBSSupport workshop, these will be run online or in schools.
All SIBSupport is free to attend.