Community directory

Best Start Club (St Albans, Hertford, Ware, Welwyn Garden City, Harpenden, Redbourn, Hatfield, and Stevenage)

Baby signing, singing and music classes and workshops across Hertfordshire – St Albans, Ware, Hertford, Redbourn, Harpenden, Hatfield, Stevenage, Berkhamsted, Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Hemel Hempstead.

Signing with Babies Since 2001

Baby signing classes with a full music and movement programme developed by the worlds leading provider of music and movement classes.

New classes start every 5 to 6 weeks

Classes:

Redbourn / Harpenden:
* Village Hall, Redbourn
Mondays 1.45pm

St Albans:
* Yoga Hall, 11 Hatfield Road, St Albans.
Mondays 12.45pm and 2.00pm

Welwyn Garden City:
* Backhouse Room, 116 Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City
Tuesdays 9.45am, 10.45am and 11.45am.

St Albans: (scroll down to end of page for our Drop-In Club)
* Charles Morris Community Hall Tyttenhanger, St Albans.
Wednesdays 9.45am, 10.45am, 11.45am, 1.00pm and 2.00pm.

Hertford:
* Quakers Room, 50 Railway Street. Hertford
Thursdays 9.45am, 10.45am, 11.45am. 1.00pm and 2.00pm.

Ware:
* Place House Hall, Bluecoat Yard, East Street, Ware
Fridays 1.00pm and 2.00pm

Hatfield:
* Howe Dell Community Hall, Howe Dell Children's Centre, Howe Dell School, The Runway, Hatfield
Fridays 10.00am and 11.00am

Stevenage:
* Great Ashby. Restarting January 2009

Redbourn / Harpenden:
* Village Hall, Redbourn
Mondays 1.45pm

North London:
* To meet demand we are currently running workshops at weekends to get you started.

Drop-In Baby and Toddler Group with – Baby Signing and Music
St Albans Baby and Toddler Club – From bump to 2 years

* Charles Morris Community Hall Tyttenhanger, St Albans.
Mondays 10.00am to 11.30am.

A new baby and toddler group meeting each Monday morning. A fun session to meet with other mum and dads with babies and young todders. Each week will also have a guest speaker to meet and speak with the families about some of the following subjects: Cranial Osteopathy, sleep techniques, Homeopathy, toy safety, baby signing, resuscitation, allergies, routines, baby massage, baby yoga, understanding clingy periods, sensory play, etc.

The session finishes with a signing, singing and music session. This club is a drop – in club so please come and see what we do and make some friends on the way.

Please see our website for Baby Club holiday activities

The Best Start Club team are passionate about giving children the best possible start in life. Their team have all either signed with their own child or come from a child care or teaching background.

Due to the popularity of these courses it is recommended that you book early.

Baby Signing Courses:

0-8 Months - Introduction:

This gently paced course introduces the first stages of signing. How to sign, what to sign, and when? We will also look at what to expect on the way and learn to recognise your baby's signing attempts. Our focus is on parent & child beginning to understand each other.

Themed classes support routines & subjects that attract and support younger babies. The class includes a gentle massage of baby, calming for both mum and baby, also settling the atmosphere for the class. By using sensory exploration, rhymes, songs & a special bonding time, your baby’s growth & development are stimulated & all of his senses engaged.

9 - 18 months - (Stage 2 and Stage 3)

Estabishing Communication (Core Programme)
These programmes seek to support baby's eagerness to learn, communicate and be better understood. Its finer developed motor skills make signing easier and allow us to introduce other fun activities including instruments, rhythm, listening skills and movement complimented by lots of music and songs.

18 months - 3 years - (Stage 4)

Discovering Music, Rhythm and Language (Progressive)
Can you sound like an elephant or hop like a bunny? Encouraging your child to discover an enchanting musical world builds confidence, self-control & communication. Singing, rhyming & object identification foster language skills, supported by signing. Creative movement to various musical “moods” develops balance, timing & spatial awareness. Listening & turn-taking encourage blossoming social skills. Building on the previous courses we now consolidate their understanding of signs and speech.

2 - 4 Years (Stage 5)
ABC Music and Me - Helping 2 to 4 year olds develop pre-literacy and language skills through a child's most loved ritual: music and story time. ABC Music & Me supports the early childhood standards and requirements for the "Foundation Stage Profile (FSP)".

Introductory Talks and Workshops:

The Best Start Club offers free introductory talks to all groups of six or more families across Hertfordshire.

Nursery and Childcare facilities:

Following work in a number of nurseries in Hertfordshire, The Best Start Club has created a program to suit all your needs. Let them teach you the skills so that you can provide baby signs as part of your program. Please call them to arrange a presentation and an opportunity to discuss your specific requirements.

Baby Massage:

Classes available throughout Hertfordshire: Watford, Berkhamsted, Radlett, Shenley, London Colney, Hatfield, Ware, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, Hemel Hempstead, Harpenden and Redbourn.

Taught by a Fully Certified IAIM Baby Massage Instructor.