Enthusiastic group enjoy visit to the zoo
Hundreds of parents and carers of babies have benefited from a
Vale of Glamorgan based fun workshops programme.
Organised by the Vale council through its education department,
the Language and Play Programme has been running for five years and
encourages and supports adults to explore ways of playing, talking
and reading with children up to three years of age.
The programme is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative and
takes place in a number of community settings, including schools
and nurseries, across the Vale. Language and Play co-ordinator
Sarah Richards said: "I believe the programme helps to remind
parents and carers that they are the best people to support their
children’s early learning.
"The free courses help parents develop their confidence to play
and converse with children and provide an opportunity for parents
to meet and share ideas."
A Language and Play venue for the last two years has been the
Communities First base at Aberaeron Close in Barry where many of
the enthusiastic and committed parents have been trained to deliver
the programme themselves and have set up their own mother and
toddler group.
To celebrate the success, Language and Play and Communities
First organised a fun day out to Bristol Zoo for parents and
children and Sarah said: "The day was a fabulous success, with the
rain holding off and the children and parents thoroughly enjoying
themselves. The children all made their own books with lots of
pictures of the animals which was a lovely keepsake of a memorable
day out."
Anyone seeking further information about Language and Play or
Communities First can contact Sarah on 01446 709483 or Michelle
Sullivan (Communities First development worker) on 01446
732406.
07/05/2008