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Check out the new look www.swindonlink.com  19

                      Linking stay at home dads                                                     Childminders, Support Groups, Pre-schools,
                                                                                                      WTC, Clubs, Education, Funding, Health
                  There are an estimated 190,000 stay at home dads across Britain but                      Children’s
                                                                                                           Children’s
                                                                                                           Children’s
                                                                                                           Children’s
                                                                                                           Children’s
                  they can still find that they are isolated by their decision to look after
                                                                                                     Information Service
                                                                                                     Information Service
                                                                                                     Information Service
                                                                                                     Information Service
                  the children.                                                                      Information Service
                    Many extend the                                                                      A one-stop shop for
                  paternity  leave                                                                        FREE information!
                  available to them
                  and some dads de-
                  cide with partners
                  that they are in a
                  better position to be
                                                                                                        Why not pop in and see us?
                  at home with young                                                                   6 - 7 Theatre Square, Swindon
                  children.                                                                                Tel: 01793 541786
                    Andy   Hamer                                                                       Email: [email protected]
                  from Sparcells took                                                                    www.cisswindon.co.uk
                  a twelve month sab-                                                                Training, Parent & Toddler Groups, SEN,
                  batical from Swin-  Colin with his daughters, Lauren, Emma and Page  www.jojingles.com  Schools, CTC, Nurseries and much more
                  don Council to look
                  after his daughter Jessica and  gallop, has been looking after his
                  would recommend any dad to take  four children for over six years,
                  the opportunity to spend more  after retiring from stable work  Fun Song
                  time with their young children.  through injury.            Music Sessions
                  “Being at home has been excellent.  He is well known waiting for his  for babies & toddlers
                  It’s been great to have time to see  daughters at Brook Field Primary  6 weeks – School Age
                  Jessica grow up.”          and on the touchline watching his
                    The downside has been that the  son CJ play for Lydiard FC.
                  majority of groups are aimed at  He did not go to toddler groups
                  women. A dads’ group at Abbey  with the children, but enjoys trips
                  Meads disbanded after a few weeks  to Lydiard Park and taking them
                                                                           Daily sessions in & around
                                                                           Daily sessions in & around
                                                                           Daily sessions in & around
                                                                           Daily sessions in & around
                  because of lack of interest. Andy  to local play areas. He feels that  Daily sessions in & around
                                                                                  Swindon
                                                                                  Swindon
                                                                                  Swindon
                                                                                  Swindon
                  found that activity based sessions  stay at home dads can be forgotten  Swindon
                  such as Tumble Tots were the most  by society.               New Sessions at
                                                                               New Sessions at
                                                                               New Sessions at
                                                                               New Sessions at
                                                                               New Sessions at
                                                                         Space Adventure & Shrivenham
                                                                         Space Adventure & Shrivenham
                                                                         Space Adventure & Shrivenham
                  welcoming, including all carers  “Looking after children is no  Space Adventure & Shrivenham
                                                                         Space Adventure & Shrivenham
                  equally. “Interaction with moth-  longer women’s work. The whole  Call Cath on 01793 727286
                                                                           Call Cath on 01793 727286
                                                                           Call Cath on 01793 727286
                                                                           Call Cath on 01793 727286
                                                                           Call Cath on 01793 727286
                  ers is difficult and they tend to stay  macho man thing no longer exists.
                  with their friends. It’s been a bit  You’ve got to have some bottle to  www.minimusicians.co.uk
                  disappointing that they don’t take  make the commitment.”
                  that extra step.”           Stay at home dads can comment                                     www.musicbugs.co.uk
                    Former jockey Colin Hickey
                  from The Prinnells, who once rode  and share ideas at:
                                              www.swindonlink.com/forum
                  the famous Red Rum on a training                          Headstarts Day Nursery
                                                                                              Established 1990
                                 Fresh air learning
                  Children at Abbey Meads Primary School discovered they can learn           Delta Business Park, Westlea
                  just as well outside the classroom as inside on a day in mid-June run      West Swindon. Tel: 877779
                  by outdoors expert Gyles Morris.                                                       &
                    The youngsters made sculptures from material scavenged from their   The Children’s Centre at Robert le Kyng
                  school grounds, wove Indian dream catchers, whittled sticks and even  Westcott Street, Swindon. Tel: 484934
                  lit fires using flints.
                    Gyles said, “children won’t look after their environment unless they  Headstarts is a friendly, ‘family’ nursery offering
                  are given the chance to engage their awe and wonder of what’s around
                  them.”                                                       a warm, happy and relaxed environment where
                    Year 5 pupil Lalina Patel said, “I really liked making the dream  every child benefits from individual attention.
                  catcher; the idea of catching a dream is very interesting.”
                    Penny Clarke said, “it was nice and peaceful to work on the school  ❑ Monday – Friday 8am till 6pm all year
                  field and do interesting things. It was a fun adventure.”  ❑ Sessions for 0 - 5 year olds ~ am, pm, school day, all day
                        There’s nothing quite as tasty as a lunch cooked on an open fire
                                                                           ❑ Real value for money.  From  £144 per week full time
                                                                           ❑ Funded child-care credits available.**
                                                                           ❑ Government Funded Nursery Sessions**
                                                                                Free nursery sessions for 2.5 hours per day
                                                                                           worth £44 per week
                                                                                     Monday - Friday during term time
                                                                                        for funded 3 & 4 year olds*
                                                                               For further information or to arrange a visit,
                                                                                                                               ✁
                                                                                         call 877779 or 484934
                                                                                            SPECIAL OFFER
                                                                                  FREE child care worth £50 with this advert*
                                                                                                       *Conditions apply   **Rates may vary
               1 July 07                19                                            14/6/07, 6:44 pm
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