Playgroups and classes
North Leeds and the surrounding areas are a fantastic place for bringing up children and there is plenty going on for children.
Below is a list of all the local playgroups and drop in clinics throughout the week and also details of all the children’s activities classes available across our area. Please contact the organisers directly if you would like to find out further information or to confirm class times or costs.
If you know of any other classes or groups which are not already listed, then please contact us here. Basic listings are free. ’Featured’ listings are £10 per month. For our full advertising rates then please click here.
Learn how to harness the soothing, nurturing power of massage at our baby massage classes in Harrogate, Guiseley and North Leeds.
In addition to helping you and your baby relax, massage is a great way to relieve common ailments like wind, colic and constipation and helping you and your baby to sleep. Baby massage can also provide a real neurological boost to your baby, helping to promote brain development, whilst strengthening the parent/baby bond.
Over the four-week course, you’ll learn the best ways to massage your baby, including a range of strokes, when to massage, how long to massage for, and how to adapt your massage to meet the needs of your baby.
Group baby classes are open to parents of babies aged 6 weeks to 7 months (crawling) – and are held at Nuffield Health in Harrogate and Guiseley. For each class, you’ll need to bring your own cushion and towel. Massage oil and a baby massage guide will be provided. There are also classes just for dads and their baby,
For more details on all classes please visit the Blooming Babies website or contact Annie Robinson: Tel: 07580004021, Email: yorkshirebloomingbabies@gmail.com
Bubbles Swim School runs swimming lessons for children aged 2 upwards across 5 different venues in Leeds. Run by husband and wife team Glenn and Lucy, and supported by a team of 5 experienced instructors, you can be sure that your child will receive excellent tuition in this very important life skill. Glenn has over 30 years experience in teaching children to swim and is present at every session to teach and oversee all classes.
All of our instructors are Level 2 qualified, hold a current life saving qualification and have DBS and safeguarding training ensuring your children are always in safe hands. Small swim classes with water based instructors ensure children get the most out of every lesson and make excellent progress whilst having lots of fun.
Parent and Toddler classes (age 2 – 4) – Monday and Thursday mornings @ Moorlands School, LS16 5PF
Daytime beginner classes for pre-schoolers (age 3.5+) – Monday and Thursday mornings @ Moorlands School, LS16 5PF, Tuesday mornings at Scholes Primary School, LS15 4BJ and Friday afternoons at Temple Moor High School, LS15 0PT.
Group lessons (all abilities age 3.5+) – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings at Moorlands School,LS16 5PF, Wednesday and Friday evenings at Temple Moor High School, LS15 0PT, Sunday afternoons at The Grammar School at Leeds, LS17 8GS, Sunday evenings at Woodhouse Grove School, BD10 0NR.
For more information or to book a place please contact info@bubblesswimschoolleeds.co.uk
“It is our mission to provide a positive environment where children can prosper through football”
The saying goes that you’ve not been to a kid’s football class until you’ve been to Catalan! We get kids of all levels to fall in love and stay in love with football through our inspiring weekly classes and holiday camps. We operate with small class sizes and professional coaching with plenty of 1-1 time available for when children need that little bit extra.
Expect to see inspiring content and an exceptional level of teaching, all in a warm and friendly family atmosphere.
Monday: 4.30pm Messi Mondays | 4 Classes (Ages 6-10)
Tuesday: 4.30pm Super Niños | 3 Classes (Ages 6-8)
Wednesday: 4.30pm, 5.00pm, 5.45pm & 6pm | 6 Classes (Ages 4-12)
Thursday: 5.00pm & 6.00pm Maestros | 3 Classes (Ages 8-12)
Friday: 4.30pm & 6.00pm Maestros | 6 Classes (Ages 5-8 & 9-13)
Saturday: 9.30am, 10.30am, 12.00pm & 1.30pm | 24 Classes (Ages 4-14)
Flutterbabies is a local company providing fun, nurturing and relaxed courses in baby massage, yoga, signing and swimming. Classes are structured around your baby’s development and are flexible and adaptable to work at a pace that you are both happy with. Our teachers are passionate about encouraging babies and their carers to bond, socialise and spend fun, quality time together.
Baby Massage: birth to crawling
Learn to communicate with your baby through nurturing touch and massage. Benefits include relaxation, bonding and colic relief.
Baby Yoga: from 8 weeks
Provides stimulation for your baby through gentle exercises and movement and there are some gentle postnatal stretches for yourself. You will have lots of fun playing, stretching and relaxing together
Baby Signing: 5 – 20 months
Learn to communicate with your baby or toddler before they have the ability to talk. Based on British Sign Language, we teach signs relevant to their daily routines, enabling them to express their needs or thoughts.
Baby Swimming: 12 weeks – 4 years
Our carefully structured courses promote safe practices and water confidence in a fun and positive environment. The classes are child led and we never do any forced underwater swims.
Contact: Classes held every weekday in venues across the Leeds area, please get in touch for more details.
Samantha Dalton 07768 538527
Foot-Tech is an innovative football coaching school for boys and girls aged 4-14 that will give your child a completely new football training experience.
Weekly Sessions:
Friday: John Smeaton Leisure Centre, Leeds, LS15 8TA, 5pm-6pm & 6.15pm-7.15pm
Saturday: Soldiers Field, Roundhay, 8.45am -9.45am & 10am-11am
Saturday: John Smeaton Leisure Centre, Leeds, LS15 8TA, 10am-11am
Tel: 07732 865 677
Nearly 3 years in now and I’m nearing 3000 kids, big and small, taught to ride a bike for the very first time.
As a National Standard, British Cycling accredited Instructor for Bikeability Levels 1, 2 and 3 I can get anyone riding in a fun and friendly way. I am also a Qualified HSBC UK/British Cycling Level 1 Ride Leader… and also being a British Cycling Level 2 Coach also helps… with plenty of tricks and resources up my sleeve.
I can get your little ones started on a life of two wheeled fun and adventures from mastering balance bikes to proper pedalling to school or for weekend exploring. If they are already riding and need to brush up on their skills/got a new bike, then an hours 1:1 tuition is perfect too.
Kids shouldn’t have all the fun though so I can get you, a friend or a whole gang of pals pedalling too. Whether you’ve never even sat on a bike, you’re just a bit rusty or you want to take your skills and cycling confidence to the next level for commuting, fitness or just fun I can teach you how to ride happily, healthily and safely wherever you want.
Decades as a super keen rider and test consultant to the UK’s best selling bike magazines means I can even help you choose the best equipment, learn how to plan routes that suit your needs and ride them with you if that helps.
I’m fully insured through British Cycling, a qualified Emergency First Aider and have a full and complete Enhanced DBS certificate.
Cycle lessons for kids. Bike lessons for adults. Learn to ride a bike. Cycle tuition. It all boils down to one single word… fun ”
Everything about the 1:1 Magic Hour can be found here The 1:1 Magic Hour
Read Mumbler’s review of The Magic Hour here.
dave@iwanttoridemybike.co.uk | @Biketykes | Facebook |07930585022
LittleLions-Rugby is a fun play programme based on non-contact sports skills for girls and boys aged 2.5 – 7 years. The programme encompasses rugby specific skills such as running with the ball, kicking and catching, finding space and scoring a try, developing basic core motor and social skills within a team environment.
Don’t be put off by the word ‘rugby’. Our sessions are more like a multi-sports session where we have included a rugby ball at every opportunity because of our love for the game. No experience or knowledge of the game is needed. All your child needs (girl or boy) is the capacity to have ‘FUN!’
We offer a full and exciting morning for the children which they all thoroughly enjoy, not to mention it gives the parents/Carers a time to relax before taking up the reins again for the rest of the day.
For more information email: info@littlelions-rugby.co.uk
SATURDAY: 10.00am – 11.00am, Moortown RUFC Moss Valley, Alwoodley, LS17 7NT
SATURDAY: Noon – 1.00pm, Yarnbury RUFC, Brownberrie Lane, LS118 5HB
SUNDAY: 10.00am – 11.00am, Leodiensian RUFC, Crag Lane, LS17 5PR
The Kixx Leeds programme offers a high energy, fun, age-appropriate introduction to physical activity through football.
The programme has been carefully designed for both boys and girls 2-6 years of age. The innovative curriculum emphasises both the physical and social development of children.
Our goal is simple: To have a positive impact on every child we serve!
Saturday: Horsforth School, Lee Lane East, LS18 5RF, Ages 2-3 9am, Ages 3-4 9.40am, Ages 5-6 10.20am
Saturday: Garforth Academy, Lidgett Lane, LS25 1JL, Ages 2-3 9am, Ages 3-4 9.40am, Ages 5-6 10.20am
Saturday: Football World, Cross Green Business Park, Pontefract Lane, LS9 ORA, Ages 2-3 9am, Ages 3-4 9.40am, Ages 5-6 10.20am
Tel: 01302 618 080
**FREE Taster sessions available, please email james@rugbytots.co.uk for locations and times and to book on.
Fun, structured play sessions take children on a journey of sporting imagination with engaging and energetic coaches supporting them every step of the way whilst teaching how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team. Deliver a specifically designed programme for each age group with energy, enthusiasm and excitement.
“Be prepared to run across the jungle, wade through the quick sand or sprint through Rugbytots Valley avoiding all the smoking boulders.”
Age 2 – 3.5: Youngest classes require full parent participation and offer a fantastic opportunity to spend quality time with your child whilst they learn new skills, meet new friends and have an exciting introduction to Rugby.
Age 3.5 – 5: These classes do not require full parent participation. Your Rugbytot will be part of a dynamic session that will develop their social and physical skills in a positive environment.
Age 5 -7: Older age group classes really start to prepare children for life after Rugbytots. The same structure is followed but these sessions involve advanced team games and ensure that the basic skills of rugby are coached in the right way by maintaining small class numbers.
MONDAY: Bardsey Village Hall
TUESDAY: St Edmunds Church Hall, Roundhay (AM), Bramhope Robert Craven Hall (PM)
FRIDAY: Bramhope Robert Craven Hall
SATURDAY: Alwoodley Park Methodist Church Hall, Carr Manor Community High School
SUNDAY: Moorlands School, Headingley, Trinity and All Saints College, Horsforth, John Smeaton Leisure Centre
Click here to book a class or contact James on 0345 313 2948 or email
The Little Gym of Leeds offers progressively structured classes and a positive learning environment to create opportunities for your child to try new things and build self-confidence, all with a grin that stretches from ear to ear. Trained instructors nurture happy, confident kids through a range of classes like parent/child classes and gymnastics, plus fun extras like parties, camps and more.
3rd September 2018 – 21st July 2019 Class Schedule
For more information call 0113 3359915 or email
Unit H, Moor Allerton Centre, LS17 5NY
Preschool dance classes for children aged 9 months plus – fun and informal dance classes, teaching the basics of ballet.
Monday (Mothercare Crown Point & Yeadon), Tuesday (Alwoodley), Wednesday (David Lloyd Gym, & Wetherby) Thursday (Horsforth), Friday (David Lloyd Gym & Yeadon), Saturday (Boston Spa, Horsforth & Adel), Sunday (Guiseley)
Tel: 07702 965932
Come Swimming, Be Safe, Have Fun!
Sing and play through our structured awards programme and see your baby progress to a confident little swimmer. From 6 weeks old to 14 years old.
Monday: Farnley Academy – West SILC – Chapel Lane LS12 5EU
Wednesday & Friday: Pennyfields School – Tongue Lane, LS6 4QE
Monday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday: The Forum – Quarry Hill, LS2 7UA
Thursday & Saturday: Temple Moor High School – Field End Grove, LS15 0PT
Friday & Saturday: Hilton – Neville Street, LS1 4BX
Tel: 0333 8008345
Bikeability is ‘cycling proficiency’ for the 21st century, designed to give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today’s roads.
To book call 07504 282133
Tel: 07729185953
Dancebugs is a great introduction to dance, using stories and imagination the children learn fundamental skills. Balance, co-ordination and rhythm are all learnt in a fun based class.
Age range is from 3 to school age. First class is a free trial.
Classses on a Friday & Saturday
Firtree Lane, Harrogate Road, LS17 3EU. Tel: 0113 2950126
Lively, exciting, funky toddler dance, creative movement and music classes for 18 months to 5 years with props, lights, bubbles and lots of fun. All devised to improve listening, self control, gross and fine motor skills and confidence.
Monday: Alwoodley and Mothercare
Friday: Alwoodley and Garforth
Saturday: Chapel Allerton and Mothercare (*Classes take place monthly)
Tel: 07796 135199
A friendly fun dance school offering expert tuition in ballet, tap, modern, musical theatre, cheerleading and commercial dance. Children taught from age 2 upwards. Believe that all students, irrespective of initial ability, should be given the opportunity to grow and develop.
Classes run Mon, Tues, Fri & Sat at Alwoodley Park Methodist Church.
Tel: 0113 217 6873 for more information.
SATURDAY: 10-11.15am
£2.50 per child
Elevations Academy Leeds hosts over 50 classes every week for Children and Adults of all ages and levels in Chapel Allerton.
· Ballet
· Tap
· Jazz
· Musical Theatre
· Contemporary
· Cheerleading
· Break Dance
· Jazz
· Gymnastics
· Street Dance
The school is fully registered with the Royal Academy of Dance and the International Dance Teachers Association. Students have the option of taking yearly examinations with these worldwide organisations.
Chapel Allerton, Tel: 07790225385
Classes at Scholes Primary School (Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun), Mercure Leeds Parkway (Thurs, Fri), Bramley (Mon, Sat), Monk Fryston (Tues).
A family run school offering Ballet, Tap, Pointe and Jazz to children 3+.
Weetwood Primary School, Saturday, Monday & Thursday
Adel & Ireland Wood Centre, Saturday, Monday & Tuesday
St Stephens Church Hall, Alwoodley on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Tel: 0113 274 8404
Holtdale Approach, Leeds LS16 7RX. Tel: 0113 378 1301
*Updated Jan 2019, visit https://active.leeds.gov.uk/ for more details
For girls and boys aged 2- 6 years with pathways to teams and league games.
A safe and fun environment to encourage children into football.
Saturday, 10-11am.
Horsforth Sport Club (behind the Old Bell)
Fun French and Spanish classes for children aged 0 – 11 years old in venues, nurseries, schools and private homes. Using Makaton, games, stories, drama and songs we inspire little ones to love languages.
Contact: Anna Fisher on 07872344296.
Kirkstall Valley Woodchips is an outdoor group where 3-6 year olds can learn all about nature in a hands on way through exploration and outdoor activities. The group meets on Saturdays at 10:30am at Victoria Park Grove Pocket Park (Lilac Pocket Park, Victoria Park Grove, Leeds, LS5 3DR).
For more information contact at kirkstallvalleywoodcraft@gmail.com
A great family day out with 4.5 billion years of discovery. If you love Leeds history, the ancient worlds, natural sciences, there’s plenty to enjoy. Cafe & toilet facilities. Accessible site. Free admission, closed Mondays.
Join Rory, the Leeds City Museum tiger for regular craft activities at the Museum every Saturday between 11am and 12.15pm. Also offers free craft activities for children under five during Tiny Tigers sessions at 10am – 11.45am on Fridays.
Leeds City Museum, Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 8BH. Tel: 0113 378 5001
Toddler’s time (under 5s) to experience everything the big kids love about Freejumping.
There must be 1 paying adult to supervise every 2 toddlers. Babies in arms (i.e. not trampolining are not charged)
Monday – Sunday: 10am
Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Kirkstall Rd, Leeds LS4 2DG. Tel: 020 3846 1386
A football specific play programme for boys and girls aged 18 months to 5 years. Children will have a ball each for the the majority of the session and develop essential skills such as balance, co-orindation, social skills and much more in a fun environment.
Classes run on a Saturday morning at Abbey Grange School.
Tel: 0800 032 1806.
The Mini Kicks programme offers a high energy, fun, age-appropriate introduction to physical activity through football.
Our programme has been carefully designed for both boys and girls Ages 2-8 years of age. Our innovative curriculum emphasises both the physical and social development of our children.
Saturday: Football World Leeds Cross Green Business Park. Pontefract Lane, LS9 0RA. Tel 01302 618 080
Spanish classes for children of all ages.
9.15 to 10.00 for younger children
10.15 to 11.00 for older children
Saturday: Oakwood Church
Tel 0747 416 5473
Offer swimming lessons which are fun and give your children confidence in the water. Groups of 3 and 4 with water based instructors. Intensive courses available in school holidays
Saturday: Moorlands School, Headingley
Sunday: The Grammar School, Alwoodley
Telephone: 0113 414 4975/ 0778 2251970 / 0794 0917799
North Leeds Music Centre runs over 50 different music classes and ensembles for children and adults on Saturday mornings. Activities range from early years and toddler groups to advanced senior orchestras, and everything in between!
PQA is a weekend performing arts Academy providing tuition for children and young people from 4-18 years. Students spend three hours with us, rotating through hour-long sessions in Comedy & Drama, Musical Theatre and Film & Television. Students are split into groups according to their age and are taught by specialist teachers.
Offer a high standard of swimming tuition in a safe environment for children of all abilities from 4 years of age. Aim is to produce confident safe swimmers with the skills required to enjoy water based activities. All lessons are taught in small classes by experienced, water-based swimming teachers.
TeL: 01977 671755
Rugrats Kids Rugby is a non-contact rugby specific play programme for boys and girls aged 2-7. Your child will experience rugby skills such as running with ball, finding space, catching, kicking, scoring a try as well as working in a team and taking turns.
Saturday: Stainbeck Community Hall, Chapel Allerton
Tel: Hannah 07740 858749
Dads’ Group meets monthly on Saturdays (usually the first Saturday in the month), 10.30am – 12noon.
This is a great time for dads and toddlers to meet up, play and chat over coffee and bacon butties.
South Parade Baptist Church, Kirkstall Ln, Leeds LS6 3LF. Tel: 0113 275 4989
Saturday drop – in football sessions, 10.30am
“£2 a session really popular with 4 teachers and 4 small groups. No commitment just turn up and pay it is at Adel on Saturday 10:30” Mumbler May 18
21 ST Helens Gardens, Adel, LS16 8BT
SOCATOTS’ teach basic movement patterns, balance and motor coordination. Most importantly, we ensure that physical activity is fun. Everything we do is centred around helping children develop first as people, then as sports enthusiasts.
Thursday: Alwoodley, Friday & Saturday: Roundhay, Sunday: Horsforth
Sports Tots is a fun multi-sports session including, football, rugby, basketball, athletics and many more. Run by 2 qualified PE teachers, children will develop their early motor skills, develop cognitive and sports related skills and develop social skills whilst having fun!
For 2- 7 years (age appropriate groups)
Saturday, 9.00am Rugby, 9.55am Multi-Sports
Ralph Thoresby School, LS16 7RX. Tel: 07742 445913
Early Stages (4-6 years) classes run alongside the main Stagecoach schools, where young people learn skills in each of the three Musical Theatre disciplines of singing, dancing & drama (90 minutes each week)
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Leeds Grammar School, Alwoodley
Monday: Adel St John Church Hall
Principal Cris Salvador, 01943 817414
Early Stages (4-6 years) classes run alongside the main Stagecoach schools, where young people learn skills in each of the three Musical Theatre disciplines of singing, dancing & drama, so it is an easy step when it is time to transfer to the next stage. (90 minutes each week)
*Offer a 2 week trial*
Saturday: Roundhay School, Old Park Road, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS8 1ND.
Tel: 0113 361 2393
Set in the heart of Chapel Allerton, The Little Bookshop is Leeds’ only independent children’s bookshop. The Little Bookshop is a place to explore literature and illustration with your child. With a daily Storytime at 11.00am it is a great place to enjoy some downtime with your children.
47 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 3PD.
Learning to swim should be an enjoyable experience within a pleasant and safe environment. Swimbrite offers a wide variety of swimming lessons for all ages (from 6 months) and abilities operating the ASA’s National Plan.
Classes for all abilities:
Monday – Sunday at The Village Hotel, Headingley
Monday – Sunday at The Leeds Mercure Parkway Hotel
Wednesday & Thursday at The Grammar School , Alwoodley
Sunday at Woodhouse Grove School, Calverley
Tel: 0113 2033549/07527615736
The Tennis Tots™ programme caters for children from 2-6 years of age incorporating the early years curriculum as part of the overall programme.
MONDAY: Alwoodley Community Hall (Ages 2 -4 years)
WEDNESDAY: Adel Memorial Sports Club (Ages 2- 6 years)
THURSDAY: Adel Memorial Sports Club (Ages 2- 6+ years)
SATURDAY: Moorlands School (Ages 2- 6 years)
Tel:07753 800723.
Turtle Tots classes are for both toddlers and babies and teach children water confidence. Classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers continue until your little one starts school.
Contact Zoe on 07887 552 901 for details of classes and timetable.
Learn to act, sing and dance in our fun-filled theatre school.
Offering something for all children and teenagers. Training for professional performance, unlocking hidden talents, making friends, and developing valuable life skills such as interaction and confidence. We seek to inspire and nurture in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
Wednesday – Cookridge Methodist Hall, classes for 4-7 years, 8-10 years and 11-18 years.
Saturday -Abbey Grange Academy, classes for 4-7 years and 8-10 years.
Phone: 0770 103 3877
Water Babies runs fun, innovative baby swimming classes in Leeds. With a multi-award winning programme which teaches vital water confidence and safety skills from birth.
Mon, Tues & Thurs – Pennyfield School, Meanwood
Mon, Weds, Fri, Sat & Sun, Moorlands School, Weetwood
Lessons also run throughout the week at Guiseley, Leeds Hilton and Temple Moor
Tel: 01934 862802
YMCA Lawnswood offers Gymnastics and Tumbling classes from 3+.
Classes include: 3-4 Years Gymnique, general gymnastics 4-6years and 7+ and Tumbling classes from 7+
Classes run on a Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
YMCA Leeds: Otley Road, Lawnswood, LS16 6HE. Tel: 0113 261 2484
A fun session to build confidence, co-ordination and fitness. It gives parents the chance to connect with their children, and with other parents and tots, in a new way through structured movement and play.
Saturday Superstars, 9:15 am, Drop in class.
3 St Peter’s Buildings , St Peter’s Square , Leeds, LS9 8AH. Tel: 0113 243 8765
