Gentle Beginnings –  popular, small, calm and supportive groups for parents and babies up to toddling

These highly regarded groups, which I have run for 11 years now in York, offer a calm supportive space for mums/dads and infants from birth to 18 months old.  The groups provide a place where you can gain confidence and trust in your abilities as a parent, learn about the amazing Pikler approach, the benefits of slow parenting, and make new friends. Parents usually stay with the group for a year to 18 months and make deep friendships that last way beyond the group life. You can find out more about the groups and my experience and other work on the website link below.

Come and join us for a free first session!

I also offer online one to one support sessions to new mums and dads if this would be helpful.

And please email me or phone me if you would like more information.

Dorothy Marlen

Agility Classes

5-11 years Ninja Obstacle Training – Great for beginners and younger children
Welcome to Ninja training.
Obstacle coaching combined with parkour style movements. A fun class that will have you swinging, climbing, leaping and jumping across different obstacles!

11-17 years Warrior Obstacle Training – more challenging obstacle techniques and parkour style movements
Warrior Obstacle Training is focused on advanced obstacle techniques and parkour style movements. In addition to the coaching we focus on developing core strength which is key to achieving the objectives of this programme.

More information, schedules and booking is here https://www.agilityparks.co.uk/kids-classes

Parties 
We offer a range of parties from toddlers to children and teenagers. Agility Party Hosts will look after with most of our packages  you get you own disco party room or a party table reservation in our restaurant or café.

Visit the website HERE

💜  Check out the York Mumbler blog post for exclusive photos of when we visited Agility when it first opened! 💜

Classes and live music events for you and your little people!

Here at Baby Band, we offer fun and educational classes full of music for little people, aged 3 months to 4 years, in and around York.

Led by our skilled and experienced class leaders, we sing, dance and play with REAL instruments to explore different musical concepts. Whatever your ability, it’s all about learning how to be musical with your little one and helping them develop a love of music in a relaxed atmosphere.

Don’t worry, you won’t be subjected to endless twee nursery rhymes here! Every few weeks we focus on a different genre of music from musicals to 90s pop, jazz to Disney classics, rock to girl bands. It’s much more fun when we all enjoy the music.

If your little one is feeling a bit cool for ‘Baby Band’ then why not join one of our ‘I’m with the Band’ classes. A music class aimed just for the big ones (well, 3 & 4 year olds!) which dives deeper into learning key musical terms and concepts but in the coolest way possible.

Classes run throughout the year including the school holidays where older siblings can join too for a small extra cost.

Baby Sensory is an award-winning, sensory development programme specifically designed for babies from birth to 13 months.  Each week is a different theme and full of fun, sensory experiences!  We have a vast range of sounds, smells, sights, textures, music, movement, baby signing and singing to help with baby’s brain development.  We’ve done the research; so you can enjoy the fun…

Baby Sensory and the WOW Group are founding members of the Children’s Activities Association and are proud of our GOLD level accreditation.  We take the safety and quality of our programmes seriously to ensure you get the BEST experience!

Baby Sensory is running classes in various locations around York:

Mondays – Clements Hall, York, YO23 1BW

Tuesdays and Wednesdays – Haxby Memorial Hall, Haxby, YO32 3HT

For your local class leader’s contact details and to book a class please visit our website:

At Baby Swimmers we follow the Starfish Awards, so little ones can gain water confidence and build a foundation to swim unaided in the future. We play games and sing songs which are skill related and also teach water safety skills so they can learn to swim back to the side, hold on and climb out when they are strong enough.

Our structured classes work towards this and are also fantastic for bonding with your little one, as well as enjoying yourselves in a fun relaxed atmosphere, which we always ensure is at your little one’s own pace including underwater swims. Babies use their natural reflexes when they are in water, so it is always a good idea to start as soon as you can, as swimming is a great workout and helps to strengthen their muscles and also increases alertness.

For toddlers we follow the STA Stanley Awards, so again little ones can gain water confidence and build a foundation to swim unaided. For this age group we still sing songs and have fun with games and also start to teach the basic strokes, continuing with water safety skills and teaching your toddler to hold on, turn, then push off the side to swim to you independently. Classes will focus on floating, learning to tread water, rolling, push and glides, diving for sinkers and more.

Swimmers Academy is for our older swimmers where we focus on stroke technique and stamina, classes run for any age from Beginners and go through to Gold also incorporating Lifesaving Awards.
All teachers are fully qualified with specialist training for your little ones. Our classes are child led to ensure each child is taught and developed at their own pace.

We Swim at :

Monday, Tuesday : New Earswick
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: Roko
Saturday: Robert Wilkinson, Strensall, Stamford Bridge & Pocklington

We are the largest provider of swimming lessons in the UK, offering lessons at our York leisure centres, Energise Leisure Centre, York Leisure Centre and Yearsley Swimming Pool.

We offer programmes for all ages and abilities, with times and days to suit you. In our lessons, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Your children will be taught by experienced, highly qualified teachers, following an industry leading programme. Plus, you can track your child’s progress using our online too, called the Home Portal. We have designed our swim school programme to be flexible and affordable.

Our Monthly direct debit payments include free swimming for your children!

We offer the following:
Baby & Pre – School
Energise – Mondays and Saturdays.
York Leisure Centre – Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Swimbies – 3 months to 12 months.
Splashers – 13 months to 2 years.
Paddlers – 2 years to 4 years.
Pre – school – 3 – 4 years.
Primary School Age – available at all 3 centres
Foundation (small pool) – Children aged 4 years +
Development (main pool) – Children aged 5 – 12 years
Academy (main pool) – Children up to 16 years old, who have completed development.

Private lessons and level water are available. Try our lessons for free, with a free class pass. E-mail Stef on the address below for this.

For everything else please head to our website.

Teaching children to swim confidently with excellent stroke techniques for nearly 40 years!

Coral started the swim school in the 1980s and for many years developed it based on the principles of teaching children to enjoy swimming and gain confidence in the water.

We continue to focus on creating a fun yet challenging environment, developing water confidence and getting the strokes correct as learners progress from absolute beginners through to the Gold Award & beyond; with distance and water skills & safety certificates achieved throughout their journey!

We have Adult & Baby/Toddler/Preschool sessions, and teach children independently from 3 years old. We move individuals up when they’re ready, we don’t make them wait for the end of term or until a whole class is ready to progress.

Our teachers are trained Aquaphobia Coaches too & provide extra support if fear/anxiety is identified, present &/or affecting development.

Our lessons, with a high teacher-pupil ratio, are delivered at:

New Earswick – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday:
3-4pm Adult & Baby/Toddler
4-6pm 3+ Children

Robert Wilkinson Primary (shallow pool), Strensall – Thursday & Friday:
4-6pm 3+ Independent & 1:1
*4pm Friday 2-4 year olds, with Adult

Our aim is to achieve consistent progress (at each child’s own speed rather than at the speed of the swim school) resulting in confident, capable, and safe swimmers.

MY BABY CAN DANCE/ NEWBORN CAN DANCE YORK is a multi award winning movement to music activity class which follows the development stages for the little ones.  Ideally suited from birth up to 4 years old, for children with additional needs there is no upper age limit.

We run weekly interactive fun classes combining movement, singing, musical shakers, numbers, colours, shapes, phonics and much more.

The sessions achieve a proven learning and development path for the little ones using a repeatable formal which increases learning and memory in a safe, caring, positive and informal environment.  The little ones can build their confidence, social skills and discipline all within the fun and fast paced sessions.

Classes run throughout school term times with payment being made in advance in half termly blocks.  Subject to availability people can join at any time and just pay for the weeks remaining in that current block.

For the time being social distancing will continue with individual sanitised kit bags for each participant.

For up to date class information contact me:-

The Patricia Veale School of Dance is one of the most established schools in York with an excellent reputation of producing highly trained dancers in classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap and modern dance.

We offer professional ballet classes to everyone, from pre-school 2.5yrs, children, teens and adults, to progress and develop skills in technique, knowledge and artistry. The first steps of a little ballerina starts right here with nurturing and careful training for young children that develops into many exciting years through a life of a dancer.

Situated in the heart of Acomb York in our own premises, with free parking. The school is a clean and safe environment with changing facilities, office and a fully equipped dance studio with ballet barres, mirrors, music system and a professional dance floor.

These unique, fun and exciting children’s ballet classes are created to nurture young children’s desire to dance and give inspiration to engage in their first little steps in dance.

With the use of props, imagery and enchanting music children are guided into a magical themed adventure packed with interactive exercises which gives children the ability to learn basic steps and techniques along with musicality that is required for a head start in dance, whilst having fun, developing confidence and interacting with other children to develop social skills.

The school encourages parents to take part in the younger classes so you can experience and become part of the children’s calm and inviting atmosphere.

6-8 Regent Buildings, York Road, Acomb, York YO26 4LT

Are you looking for a class which is fun, upbeat and action-packed? Are you keen to give your child a good foundation in early literacy skills? Would you like to join a class that you can enjoy together with your child, whilst learning about phonics at the same time, and discover lots of ideas for ways that you can support them at home?

Come along to award-winning 45-minute classes aimed at toddlers and pre-schoolers between 1-4 years, which are delivered by an experienced teacher and are based on the Early Years Curriculum.

Weekly sessions gently introduce letter sounds, whilst also focusing on developing confidence, turn-taking and listening skills. Classes help children develop an early interest in sounds without even realising, as they are too busy playing and having fun! This is the perfect class to help boost your child’s confidence, whilst compliment what they learn at preschool and prepare them for big school.

Come and groove on down to our dough-disco, shake your pom-poms and meet our mascot Robot Reg who shows children how to use his arms to orally blend and segment the sounds for reading and spelling!

MINIs sessions (1 – 2.5 year olds) are play-based sessions that help to develop speech & language skills and early vocabulary through short activities and role-playing, including nursery rhymes.
PRE-SCHOOLER sessions (2.5 – 4 year olds) include sound recognition and oral blending & segmenting, which are foundations for learning to read. This is through fast-paced, fun games and activities which encourage listening for sounds.

Classes
Monday afternoon @ Wigginton
Tuesday morning @ Clifton Moor
Thursday mornings @ Wigginton
Friday mornings @ Copmanthorpe

£6.50 per session and payable as a block of 5 sessions

Contact Sam for more information

Puddle Ducks are award winning providers of swimming lessons to babies, toddlers, pre-school and school age children. Our classes are designed to promote bonding, water confidence and water safety in a fun and loving environment. We take your little ones through a structured programme designed to develop their natural affinity with the water and encourage them to learn to swim independently.

And although we have spent many years carefully developing our progressive lesson plans to develop swimmers, our teachers adapt every activity to suit each child. Our approach ensures that your child’s needs are expertly fulfilled – never forcing development, but rather nurturing it to ensure a positive experience and love of swimming.

Our baby and pre-school programme is offered through five levels:
Floaties (0-6 months), Splashers (6-15 months), Kickers (15 months – 2.5 years), Little Dippers (2-5 years) and Dippers (2-5 years)

We run classes 7 days a week at the following locations in and around York:
New Earswick, ROKO Health Club, Archbishop Holgate’s School,  The Crown Hotel (Boroughbridge), Energise hydrotherapy pool (Acomb), Queen Margaret’s School (Escrick) and Goosewood Holiday Park.

We also run Aquanatal classes, so you can start your journey with Puddle Ducks before your baby arrives!

PureSwim Yorkshire are proud to provide gentle and fun swimming lessons for little ones aged approximately 8 weeks to 11 years. Our baby and pre-school lessons focus on water confidence, parent and child bonding and important water safety skills in small groups.

Once Children are ready to be in the pool by themselves (approximately age 4) we work through the STA award scheme including rookie lifeguard classes for our older children. Our Class sizes are small (maximum 5 in a beginners group and maximum 6 with our advanced swimmers) and until the advanced stage our teachers teach from in the pool.

Saturday pm Archbishops’ School (age 4+)
Sunday am -Archbishops’ School (Age 12 months +)

Monday 11:30-1pm – New Earswick (6 weeks-preschool)

In MAY we are relaunching l baby, toddler and pre-school midweek lessons in our Fabulous city centre location.

10% discount when you quote Mumbler

Come on a musical journey with our characters Rat-a-tat, Arabella and all their friends as we explore songs, instruments, language, dance and our senses in our weekly Rhythm Time sessions!

We are a teacher-led class for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, developing understanding of pulse in music, encouraging fine and gross motor skills, and leading you and your little one through a series of group and individual music activities!

Sessions are planned with education in mind, matching activities to the framework for the EYFS, and stimulating a LOVE of music in your child. Each 30 minute class is tailored to their specific age range and is designed for progression as your child grows.

Rhythm Time runs every day of the week all around York, giving families a chance to meet and socialise in their local community. In Summer 2024 we have classes in:

Acomb – Monday and Friday
Clifton – Tuesday
Tang Hall – Wednesday
Rufforth – Wednesday
Sutton upon Derwent (nr Elvington/ Wilberfoss) – Thursday
Earswick – Thursday
Fulford – Friday

Class prices start from £7.14 per class, with a whole host of other membership benefits including priority booking on events, unlimited classes, and sibling discounts.

If you are interested in joining our classes, please visit rhythmtime.net, follow @rhythmtimeyork on Facebook or Instagram, or WhatsApp Tori on 07751768331.

What Would Your Baby Like To Say?

Babies use all kinds of signs and gestures as a natural part of learning to talk; think of the delight we have when they learn to point, wave or blow a kiss! Encouraging your baby with extra signs like ‘milk’, ‘more’, ‘change nappy’ or ‘tired’ will help your baby communicate more easily. Developed with the help of Speech and Language professionals, Sing and Sign Baby Signing classes utilise music and songs, props and rhymes in fun sessions that makes learning to baby sign both easy and fun!

Our courses are designed over three developmental stages that broadly equate to:

Sing and Sign Babes – 0-5m (5 week course – £37.50)
Stage 1: 6 – 13m (10 week course £75)
Stage 2 : 14– 24m (10 week course £75)

All courses enjoy class WhatsApps and Online Resources, too!

Have twins? They attend two-for-one!

Monday – Wilberfoss Community Centre – All Stages
Tuesday – Communitea, Selby – Babes + Stage 1
Wednesday – Belfrey Hall (York CC) – All Stages
Thursday – The Poppleton Centre – All Stages
Riccall Regen Centre – Babes and Stage 1
Friday – Acomb Methodist church – All Stages

Can’t make a Stage 1 or Stage 2 venue course? Why not sign up to our streamed video course, Sing and Sign@Home, which you can enjoy 24/7 from the comfort of your own home?!

Feel uplifted and connected through singing together… and enjoying tea and cake!

We are a group focussed on women’s wellbeing. This is a rare group for women at all ages and stages who want the healing power of music and community in their life.

Why do we sing? Because it feels good! And there’s science behind it…studies have found that group singing lessens anxiety, eases postpartum depression and reduces stress hormones. Music making exercises the brain and body. It improves breathing, posture and muscle tension.

Children are very welcome and are able to witness their mum joyfully singing and soak up the magic, and sometimes join in too. We start with a simple warm up and then sing uplifting songs from all over the world! We create beautiful sounds and layer up our voices in harmony. You do not need any singing experience to join us! Parts are taught by ear and there is no pressure to join in, feel free to listen and be soothed by our voices.

‘I can’t sing’ voices welcome! We sing for connection, not perfection.

When:
Mondays (termtime): 9.30 – 11am, at Heworth Without Community Centre, Y031 0HQ.

Contact Jess to book!

💜First session free!💜

SquashTots at Wigginton Squash Club runs during term time only and not on bank holidays.

The session lasts for 40 minutes and aims to improve your childs agility, coordination, boost their confidence and give them a basic knowledge of squash.

Session Times:
9:30-10:10 for 4 year olds (currently empty as the kids have all moved up to school)
10:20 – 11:00 for 2/3 year olds (currently we have 3 spaces left)
11:10 -11:50 (depends on which group has more kids signed up, 6 spaces)

£5 a session and the first session is free.

Swimming with Linzi is all about having fun whilst learning to swim, gaining water confidence and safety skills.

With only 7 children in each class, only 1 lesson running at a time & the whole pool to ourselves, we have lots of space. In this environment I find my swimmers really enjoy their lessons and thrive learning to swim following the progressive STA guidelines.

I  get to know all the children individually & adapt my teaching to suit every child. Your child will be enabled to happily progress at their own pace.

Classes are based at Carr Junior School (Acomb) and Robert Wilkinson School (Strensall), teaching from babies through to school age and beyond on various days, at various times. See the website below for more details and to book.

About me; I run a small independent swim school set up after training and teaching my own children to swim many years ago. I realised then that the whole goal to swimming success is learning through having fun!

I have over 16 years of swimming teaching experience and I am a fully qualified STA Swimming Instructor, STA baby and pre-school teacher. I hold a Level 3 STA Diploma in Aquatic Teaching for Baby and Pre-school, STA lifeguard certificate and have DBS clearance.

Activity classes with lots of fun and adventure. Perfect for Toddlers from 13 months – 5 years. Create special memories with your toddlers with a combination of soft play, bouncy castles, tunnels for the first half of the session, followed by music, dance, imaginative play, balloons and bubbles.

Toddler Sense introduces a whole new world of adventure for toddlers and children. Great music, great equipment and great new ideas! Imagine climbing a snow mountain, going on safari, digging for fossils, swimming with dolphins and hunting for dinosaurs? Every week introduces a whole new adventure. The main emphasis is on mobility, excitement and adventure in this fast-moving, action-packed programme.

Award-winning, sensory-rich toddler development programme, where structured play goes hand in hand with imagination, adventure and the freedom to explore. Activities carefully constructed to stimulate your child’s brain, co-ordination and physical development.

A number of classes running on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in York.
Please visit www.toddlersense.com/york to book on.

Mondays: Melodie Park, Wigginton Road (Clifton Moor)
Thursdays: Haxby Memorial Hall, 16 The Village Haxby
Fridays: St James the Deacon Church Hall, Woodthorpe

We also offer children’s parties on a weekend combining our Bouncy castles, soft play and lots of fun and engaging activities. Please get in touch for more information on our party packages.

Our progressive play programme is designed to develop your child’s physical skills. Using bespoke colourful equipment, we focus on agility, balance, climbing and co-ordination, which enhances brain development and builds confidence.

Every session is supervised by our specially trained staff, getting the best out of each child. Up until 3 years, grown-ups participate as well so that parents, carers and even grandparents can spend time with little ones as they develop. The journey begins for babies from 6 months old who can sit up unaided. Here’s how our classes break down:

6 Months – Walking: Babies explore the equipment in a happy and relaxed environment, helping them to reach key milestones such as crawling, cruising and walking.

Walking – 2 Years: Confidently walking toddlers are now introduced to an exciting circuit of equipment as well as hand-held co-ordination activities, developing their fine motor skills. ‘Circle Time’ helps language development through rhymes and action songs.

2 – 3 Years: Working together in small groups, little ones are introduced to stations with more challenging equipment to refine their agility, balance and climbing skills.

3 Years – School Age: Children now take part independently without their grown-up, putting into practice their skills for life.

Use Mumbler discount code to receive a £5 trial with this code : QPA549

T: 07960854480

Wild Things Explorers – for children aged 18 months to 4 years

Embark on a journey of discovery with Wild Things Explorers – an enriching outdoor experience tailored for children aged 18 months to 4 years.

At Wild Things Explorers we believe in the power of outdoor play to nurture curious minds and adventurous spirits. Through hands-on exploration and nature-based activities, children not only learn about the world around them but also cultivate resilience, creativity, and a deep appreciation for nature. The highlight for many families is the campfire finale! Children eagerly gather around to toast a marshmallow and savour a cup of hot chocolate.

Younger siblings can join in too for free (up to 18 months old) and benefit from being outdoors too.

Nestled in the heart of York, our sessions take place in a hidden wooded area within the grounds of Millthorpe School, just off Scarcroft Road. Easily accessible by foot, bike, or bus, many families can leave the hassle of excessive driving behind.

Sessions run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings. Secure your child’s spot by booking in advance, as spaces fill up quickly. Choose from flexible booking options, including block sessions or convenient drop-in tickets available each week.

All sessions run in a wooded area, in the grounds of Millthorpe School (Nunthorpe Avenue, YO23 1WF).

Friendly outdoor forest school sessions for families with children from 18 months to 5 years.
Stay and play in our beautiful woodmeadow every Monday with expertly guided outdoor activities that your little explorers will love!
Let your little ones grow and learn in a unique and nurturing environment.

Contact No. 07500285677

Heworth Gym Club is hugely popular in York for children’s Gymnastics

We are a charitable organisation focused on recreational gymnastics and trampolining for the ages of 2-18.

Classes run from a dedicated facility.

Our Pre School Classes run Monday – Friday during term time, with 5 classes running per day.

Boys and Girls plus trampoline classes are running too.

Many changes have been made due to Covid-19 – please see the website for all the details of this.

For further information please contact us.

The Gymnastics Centre, St. John’s Walk, Heworth, York, YO31 7SX

York Swimming Academy is one of York’s leading swimming lesson providers and is dedicated to delivering high quality swimming lessons for great value.

Children can start in our ‘Discovery Ducklings’ Classes from new-born. Whilst those children aged 4yrs and over can begin in our first of seven progressive stages.

We implement Swim England’s Learn to Swim Framework, an all-inclusive programme designed to take the non-swimmer from his or her first splash to full competence in the pool. The framework has clear progressions between each stage and children are awarded a variety of certificates on their journey to becoming fully competent.

Our teachers are Swim England (ASA) qualified, and classes are limited to 8 children per class. Our beginner classes have 2 teachers, teaching from inside the water.

Spaces are available now for an immediate start!

New Earswick Swimming Pool:
Monday 13:00 – 14:30 (Pre-School Lessons 0-4yr)
Wednesday 09:15 – 10:15 (Pre-School Lessons 0-4yr)
Thursday 16:00 – 18:00
Friday 15:30 – 16:00 (Pre-School Lessons 0-4yr)
Friday 16:00 – 16:30
Saturday 15:00 – 18:30
Sunday 10:00 – 11:30
Sunday 15:30 – 16:30

Stamford Bridge Swimming Pool:
Sunday 09:00 – 12:00

Carr Junior School:
Sunday 08:30 – 12:00

The Mount School:
Wednesday 18:00 – 19:30

Queen Margaret’s School, Escrick:
Tuesday 17:00 – 18.30
Friday 17:00 – 19:00
Saturday 9:00 – 10:30

Yorkshire Rose Academy of Dance (YRAD) was founded by Principal Kerry Whitfield in 2013, and her passion for the arts gives the students at YRAD an encouraging platform to be their best. Kerry is a former professional dancer who trained and works with both The Royal Ballet School and The Royal Academy of Dance.

The school offers a vast array of classes for children to learn and develop in the performing arts industry. Classes are fun, inclusive, inspirational and gives students a strong work ethic and discipline. YRAD has an enthusiastic and supportive team of skilled professionals at their core, plus they invite external pros for Workshops / Masterclasses throughout the year. Children have the opportunity to audition for our affiliated Children’s Talent agency giving them a chance to be cast in Theatre, TV and Film.

Dance styles include Acro, Ballet, Commercial, Contemporary, Modern, Musical Theatre, Street Dance, Tap and Zumba.

Mention Mumbler for a free trial.