The Ashton Keynes Baby and Toddler Group meet on Friday mornings in the Village Hall from 10.00am to 11.45am.  All pre-school children and babies are welcome - you certainly don't have to 'toddle' to come along.  It's mostly mums who bring the children but of course we also welcome dads, grandparents and other carers too.  We meet throughout the year (including the school summer holidays and half-terms) - but we usually close for a couple of weeks over Christmas and New Year and for a couple of weeks in August when the hall is closed for annual maintenance.  Occasionally we will arrange to meet elsewhere - perhaps in the park in the summer - but we will try to give plenty of notice.

The Friday sessions have an informal structure. Basically, we set out the toys and a baby area and let the children play as they want, although we also organise some singing sessions/themed activities during each term.  From September 2006 each session will include a creative corner; using newly purchased children's tables, chairs, easels and other craft items.

The first session is free; we then charge £2 per session for the first child and adult, plus 50p for an extra child (under 6 months are free), which includes drinks and biscuits. After the other costs have all been paid (hall hire etc), this weekly contribution also helps to replace worn out toys/tables/chairs etc and to subsidise the annual Christmas party and other outings where possible. We also run low-key fund-raising events which we hope everyone can support and we try to have a few mums’ outings too!

The group has no paid helpers and relies on the goodwill of everyone who attends to keep things running smoothly. Most importantly we ask you to be responsible for the safety of the children in your care.

We also ask everyone to help bring in toys from the shed and set out the tables at the beginning of each session and to return them at the end. After you have started coming to the group regularly, we may well ask you to join the rota of opening, closing and refreshment duties.

The Baby and Toddler Group also have close links with the Ashton Keynes Pre-School and we can help you with any information or an introduction as your child reaches the appropriate age. Speak to one of the committee members for more details.

Please make sure that we know of any comments, criticisms or ideas that you have - we try to make sure that we tailor the group to suit its regular members. Finally - we hope that everyone will make you feel welcome and that you soon come to feel part of the group.