Dixons Marchbank Academy scoop an award for their Stay and Play sessions

Dixons Marchbank Academy, located in Bradford, is thrilled to announce that its Stay and Play sessions have won the 'Best Practice Voluntary Sector Award' at the Rhyme Challenge Awards. This award, presented by the Lord Mayor at the City Hall, recognises the exceptional efforts of the academy in delivering innovative and engaging activities as part of the challenge.

The Nursery Rhyme Challenge, hosted annually by Bradford Council, invites participation from school nurseries, private nurseries, day-care centres, and libraries. Dixons Marchbank Academy stood out by implementing creative approaches to delivering rhymes to children, demonstrating a commitment to early childhood development and education. The award-winning Stay and Play sessions, not only engage parents and children in the joy of nursery rhymes but also emphasise their educational significance. The Nursery Rhyme Challenge aligns with the academy’s commitment to fostering early literacy skills, numeracy, and social interaction in children. Parents are encouraged to actively participate in the sessions, reinforcing the importance of nursery rhymes in a child's development.

Sameera Khan, who leads the sessions shared, "my creche workers and I try really hard to work with parents to provide the best Stay and Play sessions we possibly can. We really motivate the parents to take part in the sessions and ask them to continue to practice with their children at home. We come up with innovative ways of delivering the rhymes to the children and we explain the importance of nursery rhymes, how children learn numbers, the alphabet, new words, actions, and build confidence by joining in with the group. The main thing is to have fun, to win the challenge is a bonus. Congratulations to all the parents and children who took part."

Dixons Marchbank Academy extends its engagement beyond its premises. Library visits are organised offering parents and children a chance to enjoy story time, snacks, and free books. This initiative serves as a gentle introduction to the joys of reading for pleasure.

The group is eager to expand its involvement to include its nursery in the challenge, with aspirations of securing success in that category as well.