The walks are accessible to all levels of fitness, they are just a great way to get out of the house, get some fresh air and meet other parents with young children (who have also been up all night with a screaming baby!).

Thanks again to Barbara who has done a great job of organising these walks and the sling walks over the past few months.

After several meetings with the early years team at education Leeds, Lisa is now pleased to announce that they have found new premises. ‘Bright Ideas Preschool Otley’, will be opening in September 2012 at Cross Green Community and Youth Centre. They will have an exact date once they have had their Ofsted registration inspection in July!

Bright Ideas Preschool, will be offering a childcare provision for children from two years old. They will be open Monday-Friday term time only, and will be able to offer the following sessions: 9am-12pm, 12pm-3pm £10 and 9am-3pm (full day) £20.

For enquiries and pre-registration email: lisa@methodistpreschoolotley.co.uk

Well done Lisa and all the staff for making this happen!

• Baby firt aid course: Special OFFER for Moormums £40 for 2 People (instead of £25 per person)
• Child first aid course: Special OFFER for Moormums £40 for 2 People (instead of £25 per person)
• Combined baby and child course: Special Offer for Moormums £45 for 2 People (instead of £30 per person)
• Peadiatric first aid course: Special Offer for Moormums £140 for 2 people (instead of £80 per person)

For more details and to book your place contact Paula on email: pacotraining@live.co.uk or Tel: (01943) 430425 or 07835 169411.  Alternatively, visit the PACO training website.

• Andrea from Ilkley
• Sarah from Ilkley
• Ruth from Baildon
• Catherine from Menston
• Rebecca from Guiseley
• Louise from Baildon
• Hannah from Ilkley
• Steph from Baildon
• Kathryn from Bingley
• Katie from Ilkley

They will each be able to choose from Aquatots, adult lessons or 5+ classes at one of the local swimming pools (Ilkley, Keighley, Bingley, Shipley, Eccleshill, Bowling, Queensbury, Tong and Richard Dunn).

Thank you to all those who entered for supporting MoorMums.

Babies Can Sign in a kindergarten in Austria

Local baby signing company, Babies Can Sign®, has secured a place as the lead partner in a European funded project sharing their methodology with three other countries – Slovenia, Lithuania and Austria. Ensuring childcare professionals in these countries now also receive training in the use of signing with babies and children – hearing and deaf.

Since launching in 2006 Babies Can Sign® has gone from strength to strength. Due to popular demand not only have they opened more venues throughout Leeds and Bradford but expanded to North Yorkshire and Somerset.

The brain-child behind the organisation is Vicki Gilbert, an experienced teacher and signer and member of the International Instructors Network for the original baby signing program www.sign2me.com Vicki’s success at using her signing skills with her first child, now 10 years old, inspired her to share this wonderful communication tool with other parents and carers.

Vicki and the other teachers agree one of the best things is to hear the joy of parents when their young children can communicate with them. An email this week from one parent said this “I just wanted to email you to see how you are and also to say that she has started signing loads in the last couple of weeks – it’s like it has all suddenly clicked into place for her – it’s amazing and truly wonderful to see. So thank you so much for introducing us to this fantastic communication.”

Babies Can Sign® are excited to have their first family bringing their 3^rd child to classes! Many want to keep coming; having exhausted all the courses (sometimes repeatedly!) families can now attend the drop-in sessions in a variety of venues visit www.tinysigners.co.uk where you can download a voucher for a FREE first session. These sessions are particularly popular for those bringing more than one child, including child-minders and are suitable for babies to pre-schoolers. For just £3.50 attend when you can and benefit from our loyalty scheme, earning free sessions.

At all the classes there is a friendly, informal atmosphere where you are free to attend to your child’s needs as well as enjoying the class – don’t worry if they need to feed, be changed or even have 40 winks during the class, but you usually find there is far too much going on to distract them! A combination of music, popular songs, instruments, stories, puppets and a variety of other props alongside using signs, create an interactive approach. Combine this with some refreshments and comprehensive hand-outs to support the signing experience; you will enjoy a ‘package of communication.’ And have lots of fun!

Those who cannot attend classes can learn at home with an easy-to-use book, CD and DVD (Let’s Sign Songs for Children) produced in conjunction with Cath Smith, one of the leading authors of British Sign Language learning materials.

To join one of the sessions, have Babies Can Sign® visit your nursery, school or pre-school or share their philosophies with your staff please visit their website or contact them enquiries@babiescansign.co.uk telephone 07422 96160.

Photoshoot parties include 1 1/2 hours of photoshoot time, two 8 x 10 prints, one digital image emailed to each guest, Birthday number helium balloon, password to view/order images on the Little Pixels website, 10% off standard print and CD prices for you and all your party guests.

Check out what is on at your local one, there are lots of play sessions and classes available and they often only charge £1 per family.

Gardening in Bingley

Bingley Children’s centre are running a gardening club for under 5′s.  1.30pm – 2.30pm on Wednesdays.  Ring the centre for further details (01274 435850).

Weaning in Otley

Otley Children’s Centre have got an 8 week programme all about weaning and giving your baby/toddler healthy eating habits from the start.  The HENRY course is run on Tuesdays 9.30am – 10.30am.  Ring to book a place (01943 467379).

Little learners in Ilkley

This is a course specifically designed for 1 yr olds.  It is run on Wednesday mornings at the Ilkley Children’s centre.  Call the centre for more details (01943 436264).

Melanie Macauley from Sing and Sign with star pupil Kitty Quin

Babies use all kinds of signs and gestures as a natural part of learning to talk. Encouraging your baby with extra signs like milk, more, change nappy or tired will help your baby communicate!

Baby signing with Sing and Sign is easy because they make it fun to learn! Your baby will recognise important words sooner and can use the signs to “talk” to you before speech.

As Britain’s first ever baby signing classes, Sing and Sign has just celebrated it’s tenth anniversary this year! Sing and Sign was launched in January 2001 in Brighton breaking new ground as the first programme of its kind. The winning format has now taught many thousands of families how to enjoy signing with their babies around the country.  Read our special feature to find out more about baby signing and how it works.

If you would like to join one of their classes, your baby needs to be around 6 months old, each term is 10 weeks long and costs either £55 or £52 with a Leeds card.

The next term starts the week commencing the 23rd April and classes are running in Otley, Ilkley, Guiseley, Moortown, Roundhay, Headingley, Chapel Allerton, Horsforth, Pudsey and Drighlington.  For details of times and venues, visit the MoorMums listing page.

Please visit www.singandsign.com and book yourself a place using the on-line booking system or telephone Melanie Macauley on 0113 2676105 for further details.