A former primary school teacher who set up her own children's activity class business has been award best in category by an industry body.

Laura Nicholls’ baby and toddler group Adventure Babies has been awarded Best Kid’s Activity Class by the family-friendly events guide Red Kite Days.

Each week, Laura’s sessions bring a book to life using props and puppets to support the story, and for younger children there is sensory play, messy play, singing, parachute time, and lights.

The 38-year-old, who was an early years teacher for 15 years, takes her classes to venues in Northwich, Davenham, Nantwich and Middlewich.

Northwich Guardian: Story session with lights (Adventure Babies)Story session with lights (Adventure Babies) (Image: Adventure Babies)

Laura said: “I still have no idea who nominated me, but I sent thank yous out to all the parents, just in case. No one has come forward to say, ‘that was me.’

“I received an email off Red Kite Days saying that I had been nominated and had made it through as a finalist for the Kids Activity Class.

“After voting closed, I got an email the following morning to say that I had won the category. It was amazing.”

Adventure Babies sessions welcome families with new-borns to five-year-olds, with some special classes around Halloween and Christmas for children up to five.

Laura added: “Sessions last 45 minutes, and I do a couple each day. I move around different venues during the week - Northwich on Monday and Tuesday, Davenham on a Wednesday, and then Middlewich and Nantwich on Thursday and Friday.

“I was quite lucky that we were classed as an educational and support group for parents through some of those smaller lockdowns, so I was able to operate through some of those, while other places had been shut down.

“From January 2021, where everything went into lockdown for four months, we got told we couldn't operate at all then. But I did free Zoom sessions for the children and parents.

“We would sing some songs, and I’d read a story. It was just to try to give parents some mental support.

“I think it kept some people sane during that time, myself included.”