Dismayed parents who attend a popular and long-running toddler group in Spennymoor have expressed their fears that the service may be forced to close after Durham County Council officials said the group must move to a new venue, which parents argue is not fit for purpose.
Toddle Time has been running twice a week in the main hall at Spennymoor Leisure Centre for 32 years with many of the concerned parents having benefitted from the facility themselves when they were newborns.
With the leisure centre having recently undergone a multi-million pound upgrade, including the installation of a soft play area, officials say the toddler group must move out of the main hall to the new area.
However, parents say the new soft play area, while an excellent new facility for older children, is not fit to be used for babies and infants.
They also expressed concern at the mental health impact on parents, carers and guardians who say the service provides a valuable social support network.
One concerned parent said: “I’ve been a childminder for nearly 29 years and been going to Toddle Time for 32 years since my daughter was born. I feel heartbroken that the management think it’s a good idea to close it because of the new play area.
“The play area is great for older children but not for toddlers and babies.
“There is no space for babies in the new play area, no toys for them to learn fine motor skills, cars or walkers to learn to walk. Basically nothing for under the age of two years.
“I couldn’t let any of the children I care for in, it’s it’s not safe for them.”
Another said: “Over the last eight years my two grandchildren and I have enjoyed the benefits of the toddler sessions.
“It provides children with the space they need to run around, that they wouldn’t have at home, and the chance to develop social skills.
“It gives the parents and grandparents the opportunity to get to know others and discuss any issues they may have, supporting each other, which is good for their wellbeing and mental health.
“To replace it with the soft play area by the pool could be a mistake. There is a need for both.”
Emphasising the need for the new soft play area to compliment the Toddle Time group, another grandparent said: “Our ‘group’ as we wish to call it, is a valuable social interaction for our children, grandchildren, child-minders and friends to meet and integrate at least once weekly.
“It provides mental, physical and social wellbeing for both children and adults alike.
“Its closure would be catastrophic to me and my granddaughter not to mention future grandchildren and for many others in Spennymoor and surrounding areas.
“The new venue offered to us does not offer the same facilities, space and interactive community that the current hall offers.
“In addition, the new area will probably be too expensive for the majority of those who attend Toddle Time and I fear the community spirit of this group will suffer and die as a result if we are not allowed to continue the current way.
“I believe the new facility is not suitable for the many babies under one year old who attend weekly.
“We do not wish to jeopardise the success of the new area provided by the council but simply wish to continue Toddle Time along side this new facility.”
Alison Clark, head of culture, sport and tourism at Durham County Council, said: “Spennymoor Leisure Centre’s new Play Zone is an inclusive space that aims to brings families together, and we are looking forward to welcoming people when it opens on Monday.
“The Play Zone is designed to promote the development of children aged from nought to 12 and includes a dedicated area for children under four. The improved facilities will allow parents and carers of young children to meet at any time within a dedicated social space and access activities including a soft play, multi-sensory room, Seaside Splash Zone, Aqua Babies and Aqua Tots, along with a new café.
“Sessions for babies and toddlers are also available at our partner gymnastic centre, which is located at the leisure centre and contains a fantastic range of early years equipment and space to play.
“Our Toddle Time sessions were duplicating this provision at a significant cost to the public purse, and the gymnastic centre is able to meet the demand.
“We have shown many of our Toddler Time customers around the play zone and have received a largely positive response.
“We understand there are still concerns surrounding the transition and are therefore continuing to run Toddler Time sessions alongside the new provision this month to give customers the chance to see the improved facilities in action.”
In response to a series of questions by Spennymoor News, a spokesperson said: “The Play Zone can accommodate 25 toddlers and 85 juniors,” adding that “multiple sessions will be available each day, seven days a week,” in response to whether the new facility was large enough to accommodate the current numbers that use Toddle Time.
“Parents and guardians are allowed into the new space,” they added. “Like all our early years programmes, it is the parent/carer’s responsibility to supervise their child(ren).
“The Play Zone follows recommended health and safety guidance that is standard practice.”
Explaining why the group has been asked to move from the main hall, they said: “Early Years will still be well accommodated for at the centre, with a range of options to choose from.
“Our leisure centres are physical activity hubs that need to accommodate all ages and as part of our ‘move’ agenda we will be offering more daytime activities in the main hall to accommodate older adults and people with long term health conditions.”
On whether bookings are now digital only, they responded: “Booking is not required but advised. Bookings can be made online on our thrive app or via the telephone.
“The Play Zone costs £5 for children over one and £1 for children under one. Toddle Time customers have been offered a discounted rate until the end of March to support the transition for any parents that wish to use the facility.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
