New Market Drayton Stay and Play group

A new Stay and Play group for families with young children is being run in Market Drayton one Saturday each month after asking parents and carers what further services they would find beneficial.

The free activity, held by Shropshire Council’s Sure Start children’s centre services, is taking place at the children’s centre at Market Drayton Infant and Nursery School, in Longslow Road.

The next session will be on Saturday 14 July from 10am to 12 noon. The following two sessions will take place on 18 August and 15 September, again from 10am to 12 noon.

The group provides opportunities for families with young children to take part in fun activities to support children’s learning and development, such as messy play, crafts and music, movement and story-time. Parents can seek information and advice from children’s centre support workers about children’s centre membership, other groups and services available in their local area and on a range of subjects such as healthy eating and child safety. Healthy snacks and cold drinks are also provided during the session.

Children’s centres offer services and support for families with young children across the county, including early years services, child and family health services, and support for children with additional needs.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for health and well-being, said:

“Children’s centre services help young children and their families to benefit from high quality health, care and education support. As part of this, Stay and Play sessions are held across the county.

“This new group has been set up following a consultation with families in the Market Drayton area and the first session on Saturday 16 June, proved popular with 13 parents and 20 children coming along.

“The session gives families a great opportunity to enjoy fun activities together, meet with other families, socialise and share experiences, as well as giving parents advice and information to support them and their child’s well-being. This Saturday group also gives parents and carers who work or study during the week the chance to use the services.

“The views and ideas of parents, carers, partners and staff are instrumental in shaping children’s centre services, and this is another example of how we are responding to ensure the services are convenient, offer support to as many people as possible and are focusing on those in greatest need.”

For more information about the session or other groups in Shropshire please contact Shropshire Council’s children’s centre services on 01743 452400 or go to shropshire.gov.uk/childrenscentres.nsf