In her first year of life, Daisy was at risk of missing out on important opportunities to explore new foods, textures and sensory experiences because her mum, Sarah, was experiencing overwhelming anxiety following the loss of her first baby. Sarah worried that introducing new foods or activities might put Daisy at risk, making every day developmental milestones feel frightening rather than exciting.

Through home visits followed by regular attendance at one of our Learn and Grow groups, Sarah received reassurance, practical guidance and encouragement from both staff and other parents. As her confidence grew, Daisy was able to experience a wider range of foods, sensory play and age-appropriate activities in a safe, supportive environment. She also benefited from regular opportunities to play alongside other children, supporting her confidence, curiosity and early development.

Today, Daisy enjoys exploring new experiences with confidence, while Sarah feels equipped to support her daughter's development and continue these activities at home. Sarah said:

"Joining the Learn and Grow group helped me realise I wasn't alone. What once felt overwhelming became something we could enjoy together, and I now feel far more confident as a parent."

When Theo first started attending our Learn and Grow group at eight months old, he was experiencing delays in several areas of his development. He had not yet started crawling, was reluctant to explore his environment and was finding weaning difficult, eating only a very limited range of foods. His mum, Lucy, was experiencing severe anxiety following his birth and found it difficult to leave the house, meet other parents or allow Theo the freedom to explore and play independently.

Through regular attendance at Learn and Grow, alongside tailored home-visiting support, the family received gentle, consistent encouragement over the course of a year. Theo was gradually introduced to new foods during group snack times, while Lucy received practical support at home to build her confidence with preparing healthy meals and establishing routines.

As Lucy's confidence grew, so did Theo's opportunities to learn and develop. She became more comfortable allowing him to explore, play alongside other children and experience new environments. Encouraged by staff and other parents, Lucy built friendships, became an active member of the group's WhatsApp community and began meeting other families outside the group, reducing the isolation that had previously limited Theo's opportunities for social interaction.

Today, Theo is enjoying a varied diet, confidently exploring his surroundings and benefiting from regular opportunities to play with other children. Lucy now attends groups independently, feels confident leaving the house with Theo and recently travelled with him to visit family abroad—something that had once felt impossible.

When Mia and her mum, Dana, first began attending our Learn and Grow group, Dana lacked confidence in playing with her daughter and was often unsure how to support her learning at home.

During one of our Story Sack sessions, families explored Handa's Surprise through storytelling, matching games, sensory play and the opportunity to prepare and taste the fruits featured in the book. Mia was captivated. After recognising the fruits from the story, she eagerly explored their colours, textures and smells before helping to prepare her own fruit kebab. Dana was encouraged to read the story several times during the session, supporting Mia's vocabulary, communication and curiosity.

The experience continued long after the session ended. Inspired by Mia's enthusiasm, Dana bought the book to read at home, where it quickly became a favourite. Mia now regularly retells the story during imaginative play with her dolls—one of whom she has named "Handa"—demonstrating her growing language, memory and creativity. She also discovered a new favourite fruit: mango.

Today, Mia enjoys exploring stories, imaginative play and new experiences at home. Dana now feels much more confident supporting her daughter's learning through everyday play, reading and shared activities. She told us:

"I have learned more imaginative ways to play with my children.""Joining the Learn and Grow group helped me realise I wasn't alone. What once felt overwhelming became something we could enjoy together, and I now feel far more confident as a parent."