PARENTS have started up their own toddler group with the help of their school.

Mums and dads from Ferndale Community Primary School, in Wiltshire Avenue, Rodbourne, raised the need for a group in the area and worked with the school to set up the project.

Siobain Chase, learning mentor, said: “We had a wonderful time – all our parents are absolutely fantastic, they seem to be excited that there is something in the area. They’re very enthusiastic and more than happy to work with us.”

Ferndale Community Primary School is funding the whole project.

The group currently runs from 9am till 10.30am in the key stage one hall and the first session saw around 15 children. It has already extended its care to a wider age range from babies to pre-schoolers.

The school has lent the group a couple of teaching assistants to help it get started, but it is hoped that over the coming months the parents will take a central role and eventually run the service.

Although there are a couple of toddler groups in Gorse Hill, parents raised the need for a more local group at the beginning of February.

David Warren, headteacher at Ferndale Primary School, said: “It’s not just for people associated with the school, it’s for the community.”

“If that means frends of friends want to come along that’s great.”

He said the venture had already seen families previous unconnected to the school coming in.

He said: “It starts the link between them and the school that much earlier.

“Whilst I appreciate some may have older siblings at the school, it’s a chance for them to get a feel at a young age.”

Parents and governor at the school Craig Scott added: “It’s nice to have something on your doorstep.”

“As pupils they go to the same building.

“It will be familiar for them and it’s the same group of children so they don’t have the daunting prospect of making friends when they get to school.”