Peep groups in Oxford
Peep began in Oxford in 1995, with a simple view: parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. Peep groups now reach families across the UK and around the world, but Oxford is still our home. We continue to run free, local Peep groups where families can learn, play and grow together – and we’d love you to join us!
Peep Learning Together Groups
We run free weekly Peep Learning Together groups for parents with babies and children under 5 in the Leys, Littlemore and Rose Hill in Oxford.
We explore practical ideas and simple activities to use at home, alongside singing and sharing experiences. The sessions recognise and celebrate the many ways you already support your child through small daily actions and activities that can seem unimportant but are vital for building your child’s learning and development. We highlight opportunities for learning through daily activities like talking, singing, cuddling and playing and explain their role in supporting your child’s development.
Peep Learning Together focuses on five strands of early development:
Peep Antenatal Groups
We run a five-week Antenatal Group every half term. Located in Littlemore but free and open to expectant parents from all areas.
Get to know other expectant parents
Get to know your baby now
Discover how to strengthen your bond
Consider how life will change
Find out about local support
Understand and support early brain development
If you have a child under 5 living in Rose Hill, Littlemore or the Leys, they could be receiving free books to keep, delivered to them every month.
Sign up using the Peep registration form: Sign Up
The books are subsidised by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, enabling babies and young children to build up their own library of books at home. They have discovered that:
- parents in receipt of the Library were 30% more likely to read daily with their child.
- children receiving the Library for more than a year had a 40% increased chance of achieving a ‘Good Level of Development’ at the end of Early Years Foundation Stage, and a 54% increased chance of achieving the Early Learning Goal for reading.
‘The excitement when we receive the new book, it comes from both of us. As he is at an age when he is extremely curious, every new book is a joy and learning new sounds. I couldn’t say which one he prefers more, as he like them all. Gifting a child a book, it’s the greatest gift of all.’
‘I’ve been really impressed with the quality and variety of the books. Quite a few I’d heard of before, but I think only two (in three and a half years) had we actually already owned. Micah has been a big fan of the flap books when he was a big younger especially.’
Peep TALK Groups
Peep run an eight-week TALK Programme aimed at supporting speech and communication development. Located in Littlemore but free and open to concerned parents of 2-4 year olds from all areas.
Do you have a child aged 2-4 and you are concerned about their speech, language or communication development?
Join our 8 week group, we share research based activities and ideas that support language development in a fun and supportive environment.
Before I felt so helpless that I couldn’t help my daughter (apart from the Health Visitor). Now I have ideas of what to do – from TALK and the Health Visitor.” Parent, Oxford
I’ve stopped asking my son so many questions and now describe what he is doing. I give him more time for listening and responding. I like learning new ideas every week and also seeing that we aren’t alone.” Parent, Oxford
What is Growing Minds?
If you live in The Leys, Littlemore or Berinsfield you are eligible to receive free support for your children under 5 through The Growing Minds project which supports early years and school readiness in the area in three ways:
- Peep who run free education-based baby and toddler groups, stay and plays, outdoor groups, trips and more.
- Home-Start which can offer one to one support.
- Dolly Parton’s imagination Library which delivers books to children under 5 once a month.
If you live in one of our areas and would like to register follow this link:
You can find out more about our Growing Minds partners below:
In our groups families have the opportunity to complete a Peep Progression pathway in the form of a memory portfolio which can lead to a recognised accreditation. Talk to your peep practitioner if you are interested in completing a portfolio.
