Do you have a baby or toddler at home? Are you looking for an activity class to take them to? We are very lucky here in West Berkshire as we have lots of different baby and toddler activity classes to choose from. These groups are great for meeting other parents and bonding with your little ones, they can also help in other ways such as building your child’s confidence, communication and social skills.

You’ll find a list of activity classes for the 2023 Spring Term below so you can have a look to see if there is anything you would like to try. Most of these classes will require you to pre-book. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and is to be used as a starting point only.

You may also be interested in a list of Baby & Toddler Groups in West Berkshire, the Rainy Day Activities blog and the Indoor Play Ideas for Young Children blog.

Don’t forget to check out the What’s On calendar too for handy daily listings of events and activities in the area.

If you run an activity class and would like it added to the list or if you know of anything that we’ve missed then please get in touch. You can also complete this form.

Please check that all details are correct and up to date before going along to any groups or activities that are listed below, this guide is a starting point only – contact providers directly. Some activities will require you to book in advance.

Hartbeeps

These magical music & sensory classes for babies, pre-schoolers and toddlers take place on Mondays at the Old Bluecoat School in Thatcham, Wednesdays at Newbury Rugby Club and Thursdays at Thatcham Parish Hall. Classes are divided into different age groups (Baby Bells for newborn to sitting, Baby Beebs for sitting to toddling and Happy House for walkers and their siblings). Many of these sessions are fully booked but you can add yourself to the waiting list. Book or add yourself to a waiting list here. Visit the Hartbeeps Newbury & Thatcham Facebook page here.

For more details email emma.pack@hartbeeps.com.

Hartbeeps Newbury & Thatcham is a West Berkshire Family Life membership card partner! See details of our offer with Hartbeeps and sign up for your FREE Family Card via our membership page.

Buggyfit & Fitter Mother

Not strictly a baby & toddler activity class, these fitness sessions are run by the fabulous Fiona and are a great way to get fit whilst socialising and meeting other parents.

Buggyfit is a fun, safe and effective workout combining cardio, strength, resistance and core training. Suitable from 6 weeks postnatal onwards and for all fitness levels. Classes in Thatcham and Newbury.

For more details and booking info contact Fiona on 07919 092939 or email fionachaillier@gmail.com. W: www.fittermother.com.

With Fitter Mother, Fiona runs Circuit Mums, Boxercise, Fitness Pilates (online) and Fit in 15 (online).

Buggyfit Newbury & Hungerford and Fitter Mother are West Berkshire Family Life membership card partners! See details of our offers with them and sign up for your FREE Family Card via our membership page.

Fit with Nicci

Another fabulous family-friendly fitness instructor, Nicci runs two child-friendly classes at Northcroft Leisure Centre in Newbury. 

Tuesdays: Spin & Tone 1.30pm-2.15pm

Thursdays: Aerobics 9.45am-10.30am

Book via the Northcroft website or app or by calling reception on 01635 31199.

Keep up to date by visiting Nicci’s Facebook page and Instagram page.

Swimkidz

Providing swimming lessons for babies, toddlers and children, Swimkidz classes take place at Brockhurst School in Hermitage and the Hilton Hotel in Chieveley. More details on the Swimkidz website.

You can visit the Swimkidz Berks/Hants/Wilts Facebook page here. Call 07500056623 or email havefun@swimkidz.co.uk.

Swimkidz Berks/Hants/Wilts is a West Berkshire Family Life membership card partner! See details of our offer with Swimkidz and sign up for your FREE Family Card via our membership page.

Read our article about Swimkidz here.

Yabba Dance

Yabba Dance classes for under-fives are held at Cobbs Play Barn in Hungerford. The classes focus on promoting confidence and can help to improve co-ordination and balance; they feature a mixture of music including mainstream and children’s favourites.

Yabba Dance is a West Berkshire Family Life membership card partner! You can enjoy your first class for only £4! (Excludes holiday workshops). See more details and sign up for your free membership card here.

E: yabbadance@gmail.com. W: www.yabbadance.com. Facebook: Yabba Dance. Instagram: yabba_dance. Read our article about Yabba Dance here.

WIKIDS

WIKIDS (Workouts Inspiring Kids) classes run in Kintbury for children from the age of 2 up to the age 15. WIKIDS aim is to inspire and motivate children to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle, get them moving and show how much fun keeping fit and active can be! Classes are for children of all abilities and can help to develop many skills such as balance and co-ordination; as well as improve life skills like teamwork and problem solving.

Current classes: Tuesday – Kintbury 6pm: 9-15 year olds. Saturday – Kintbury 9am: 4-5 year olds, 10am: 6-10 year olds.

WIKIDS also run afterschool clubs and a school holiday club for 4-11 year olds.

WIKIDS is a West Berkshire Family Life membership card partner and is offering our members a free taster session on any classes and a 10% discount on birthday parties (new clients only)! See more details and sign up for your free membership card here.

W: www.wikids.co.uk. E: nicki@wikids.co.uk.  Instagram: wikids_berkshire. Facebook: Wikids.

Boogie Mites West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire

Fun music making classes for babies and toddlers. Boogie Mites is holding classes at Hogan Music & The Waterside Centre in Newbury, The Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham and Cobbs Play Barn in Hungerford. Sessions also run in Wantage. Classes are divided into Babies and Family Music. Sessions at The Nature Discovery Centre take place outdoors and are called Nature Sound Seekers. For more details email lizziel@boogiemites.co.uk and visit the Facebook page here.

Boogie Mites is a West Berkshire Family Life membership card partner and is offering our members a 15% discount on your first block booking! (New clients only). See more details and sign up for your free membership card here.

Baby College West Berkshire & North Reading

Baby College classes are for babies from birth and children up to the age of three. They involve a carefully designed mixture of physical, multi-sensory and cognitive games, exercises and activities including music, dancing, signing and much more – all designed to cover every aspect of your child’s development. Classes take place in Thatcham. Theale and Tilehurst. In order for you and your child to get the most from the programme delivered, Baby College asks that you commit to the term/remainder of the term. Split payment options are available upon request. All details of classes and booking can be found via the Baby College website.

Phonics with Robot Reg in Thatcham, Newbury, Calcot & Theale

Fun, high energy pre-school phonics classes for 1-4 year olds. Learning through play with a lovable mascot Robot Reg and opening up a world of literacy for you and your child. Classes take place in Thatcham (Mondays), Theale (Tuesdays), Calcot (Wednesdays) and Newbury (Thursdays). Minis (1-2 years is 10am-10.45am). PreSchool (2-4 years) is 11am-11.45am). Full 10 week term = £70, 3 week trial = £21. Book online: https://www.robotreg.co.uk/find-a-class/newbury-and-thatcham/

Trainmaster Berkshire

Providing train-themed play sessions, Trainmaster has events in Thatcham at the Parish Hall. Tickets are £7.25 and can be bought via the website. You can also follow Trainmaster Berkshire on Facebook.

West Berkshire Family Hubs

West Berkshire Family Hubs run groups and provide support for families with children up to the age of 5. The hubs are located in Thatcham (the Central Family Hub), Newbury (Family Hub West) and Calcot (Family Hub East). There is also Hungerford and Area Family Centre.

You can see which groups are running and book here.

West Berkshire Libraries

West Berkshire’s libraries run several activities for under 5s, including Rhymetimes, Duplo sessions and Storytimes. You’ll find details on sessions on the West Berkshire Libraries Facebook page.

They also run sessions for older children.

Music with Mummy Newbury

Popular music sessions for babies and pre-schoolers, Music with Mummy classes take place at Newbury Rugby Club and the Chequers Hotel, Newbury. Find out more by visiting the Facebook page here. You can visit the website here.

Moo Music Newbury, Thatcham & Hungerford

Musical sessions for children aged 0-5. Sessions take place in Wickham, Thatcham, Newbury and Kingsclere. Spaces are very limited and need to be booked in advance (some sessions are fully booked). Find out more via the Facebook page. Visit the website here.

Glow Tots Sensory

A free flow, child led session where children play and explore using a range of educational sensory equipment and toys including sounds, bubbles, textures and lights. Sessions take place in Burghfield, Thatcham, Upper Basildon, Tilehurst and Calcot. Book your space here. Visit the Facebook page here.

Corn Exchange

Tots Adventures

Two five week courses for 2-4 year olds. It’s £30 for the five-week course (one adult and one child). You can find out more and book here.

Rhyme & Shine

Music and movement sessions for under 2s that take place on Thursdays at 10.30am. It’s £5 a ticket (one adult and one child) and this includes a regular tea or filter coffee from the Corn Exchange cafe after the session. You can find out more and book here.

The Base, Greenham

Songs & Stories in the Gallery – Thursday 09 February & Saturday 04 March 10am-10.30am

More details here.

Baby Massage Newbury

Baby Massage classes in Newbury run by Caz Campbell. For more information and to book you can visit the Facebook page here.

As well as teaching baby massage, Caz is an emotional coach for children, teenagers and adults and has written two guest blogs for us:

Why do our Children Behave in Certain Ways?

Exploring our Emotions – Why do we Get Anxious, Angry or Afraid?

Naturally Curious Play

Nature-based play sessions for children aged 6 months-5 years in Padworth. Sessions take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10am-11.30am.

You can find more information on the Facebook page and you can book your tickets online.

Little Quavers Music

Music sessions for under 5s at Henwick Hockey Club in Thatcham. Sessions take place on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10am. £7 per child and £3 for additional children. For more details, visit the website here.

Worker Bees Role-Play

New role play sessions in Burghfield (and Shinfield). Visit the Facebook page and Instagram page, and book online.

Songtree Music

Music sessions for toddlers on Monday mornings at the Fieldgate Centre in Kingsclere. Visit the Facebook page here.

Waterminis at The Watermill Theatre

Creative sessions for children aged 0 to 4 years that take place on Thursday mornings (10.15am-11am). Children and their grown ups will play drama games, sings songs, bring stories to life and more. £6 per session for one child, £9 per session for a family. You can find out more and book here. You can also email outreach@watermill.org.uk or call 01635 570927.

Story Adventures in the Garden at The Watermill Theatre

A monthly group for under 5s – story-based and sensory outdoor play. Takes place on the first Tuesday of the month, 11am-11.45am. These sessions are free. Find out more and book here.

Didi Rugby

Didi Rugby sessions for ages 18 months to 6 years take place in Thatcham. Free taster sessions are available, email craig.hunter@didirugby.com for more details. Visit the Facebook page here and the website here.

KD Gymnastics

KD Gymnastics is on Bone Lane in Newbury and runs an open play gym for 0-5s on weekdays, it’s £5 for one adult and one child. £5 for each additional child and £5 for each additional adult. Runs on a drop-in basis. More information including times can be found on the website and you can also visit the Facebook page.

Mini Maestros

Lively music classes for 0-4 year olds in Newbury.

For more information you can visit the website here.

Releve Dance Pre-School & Toddler Dance Classes

Pre-school dance classes at Brightwalton and Woolhampton Village Halls. Visit the Facebook page here for more information.

Baby Ballerinas

Ballet and tap classes for children aged 2-7 that take place in Stockcross. More details and booking info can be found on the website.

Baby Sensory

Classes for babies from birth up to 13 months that take place in Thatcham & Newbury. You can find more details on the website.

Toddler Sense

Classes for children aged from 13 months up to the age of 4, taking place in Burghfield. For more details and to book, you can visit the website here.

Rugby Tots

Classes for children aged 2-7. Classes take place in Thatcham and Newbury. More details can be found via the website.

Little Kickers

Football classes for children aged 18 months to 5 years, taking place in Thatcham. More details can be found via the website.

Baby College Henley, Bracknell and Maidenhead

Not quite West Berkshire but we know there’s a few of you from East Berkshire way and Baby College has also a franchise running classes in Maidenhead and Bracknell. Classes run in Maidenhead on Mondays and in Bracknell on Mondays & Tuesdays. Find out more and book via the website.

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The West Berkshire Family Life website and membership scheme are very kindly sponsored by Complete Childcare.