Parent and toddler group up and running at Cornwall College Saltash

A new parent and toddler group run by Childcare students at Cornwall College Saltash has got off to a great start. Only in its second week, the students now have a group of eight toddlers attending the two hour session with their families.

Being held at the College's campus in Church Road, Saltash, the sessions are supervised and supported by childcare lecturers who are working alongside students studying on the second year of their Caring for Children qualification.

The sessions take place every Thursday during term-time between 9.30am and 11.30am. Parents are asked to provide food and drink but the cost of attending for them and their child is only £1.

Jenna Rawling from Saltash went along to the group with 22 month old daughter Gracie. She said: "We had a great time at the College and Gracie really enjoyed herself. It was great to be able to visit and help support the students on their course."

The students working within the group are all school learners who attend college one day a week on vocational options. They are all aged between14 and 16 and go to secondary schools in Looe, Saltash and Notre Dame in Plymouth.

The introduction of the parent toddler group means they get the opportunity to gain real experience of working with children in a supervised setting.

Childcare tutor Clare Jeffery said: "It's great that we have seen such brilliant uptake for the sessions so far. The group are really getting involved and loving every minute of working alongside the children and it's really supporting their learning on the course with some fantastic practical work."

"The real value for our students is to benefit from genuine working with children scenarios and to get practical experience of working with children under supervision," added Clare.

The groups are open to any parents with children from six months to four years.

Anyone wishing to attend can book a place by calling the College on 01752 850250.