The Baby College parent and child programme
was developed and designed by mums and
teachers, Alison Lawson and Sally Seward,
and has been running since 2000.
PE teacher, Alison first became interested in developmental issues when trying to help her two sons deal with the traumas of dyslexia. She understood that neurological developmental delays could lead to problems with learning and, in her quest to discover more information, she undertook training at the Institute of Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) in Chester, UK.
As a neurodevelopmental practitioner and an
associate of the INPP she spent much time
helping school-age children who were
underachieving educationally due to
developmental problems. Alison then went on
to set up gym-style classes for babies
where she used specific movement routines
to encourage correct early development.
Running these for more than 15 years, she teamed up with new mum, Sally, who had attended her classes. Together they established the Baby College programme with Sally using her journalistic skills to research baby development and parenting. The Baby College classes were specifically designed to offer a complete developmental workout.
Both Alison and Sally felt there was a need for a fully rounded programme for babies that also provided a special time for, often, busy parents to get to know their young children and how they grow. Both have an overwhelming passion for baby and child development and acknowledge the vital supporting role any parent plays in bringing up their children.