The Play And Learn Scheme (PALS) Sheerness has been in operation for approximately 4 ½ years. The Scheme receives funding from Sure Start Sheerness, Social Services and the NSPCC and I should like to thank all members of the partnership for their ongoing support.

The team consists of three play workers and a co-ordinator.

PALS offer a free home based play service to all families with babies and children up to the age of four years in the Sheerness area. The Play Workers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience with them to the homes, with a fully packed bag full of toys, books and play equipment which is aimed at promoting and helping the child’s development and encouraging family participation and interaction.

In addition to home visits, PALS run two weekly groups. Baby PALS group, age range 0-18 months is from 1.00pm -2.30pm on a Thursday afternoon. Little PALS is from 10.00am -11.30am on Friday mornings. These groups run right throughout the year. There are a range of age appropriate toys and activities on offer, refreshments are provided and story time, song time, or baby sing and sign ends the sessions. Face painting, seasonal activities, puppet shows are put on by the Play Workers and the children become thoroughly engrossed in these events. This is the ideal opportunity for the team to promote and encourage parent/child interaction and communication. Also to reduce the isolation felt by many families.