Gymnastics for infants in / around Stafford

My Name is URL

Well-Known Forumite
Hi folks,

I visited friends at the weekend and saw their little one go to gymnastics class which he (and my little one) obviously both loved to bits, so thought I would find something more regular for my little one around Stafford.... can I find anything? Can I heck...

Stafford Gymnastics Centre seemed the obvious option - only do classes for the littlest ones week day afternoons, nothing in the evenings, nothing at weekends..... absolutely baffled by that one!

So does anyone know anyone with kids that takes them to gymnastics classes, my little one is just over 2 so needs to cater for that age group. Would also have to offer "pay as you go" terms because thats the other thing with SGC, it seems you have to book 10 or so weeks and if you miss one, you lose the cash!

Cheers in advance for any help.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Hiya,

I can't help with classes for your little one, but I think the reason Stafford Gymnastics Centre doesn't do classes for 2 year olds in the evenings is that the evenings and weekends are taken up with the classes for older kids. With the older kids being at school and thus not able to attend in the day, and the Centre only having one floor, it means that only day time classes remain for the very youngest. There just isn't enough hours in the evening and weekends to fit the younger ones in given the demand from school age kids. I'm pretty sure that they run classes from somewhere around age 3 on a Friday after school though?

With regard to payment, the pay as you go system leads to the Centre paying for the facilities and coaches to find only a few kids turn up. It's just not financially viable. By paying for a 10 week course the Centre can predict their income regardless of how many kids actually turn up, and can also ensure the correct coach to kids ratio is maintained as they know how many kids are enrolled.

Hope that helps!
 

My Name is URL

Well-Known Forumite
With regard to payment, the pay as you go system leads to the Centre paying for the facilities and coaches to find only a few kids turn up. It's just not financially viable. By paying for a 10 week course the Centre can predict their income regardless of how many kids actually turn up, and can also ensure the correct coach to kids ratio is maintained as they know how many kids are enrolled.


Cheers for the info :)

Fair points above but I would respond as follows:

1. With coaches, the one we went to at the weekend only had two coaches but about 15 or 20 kids up to about 4 y.o. in the room. Basically they just make one parent stay with every kid and the two coaches then just lead the class with the parents helping out and monitoring their own kid. It worked really well and keeps costs down for the centre.

2. With regards block charges - completely understandable but in that case just make it (for example, no idea how much it really costs) £35 for 10 sessions or £5 per session if paid as you go.... most will go for the big discount but it doesn't exclude those who go away or work lots at weekends etc.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
My daughter (8yrs) does gymnastics after school with Stafford Sports & Performance Academy, - I don't think its the same thing, I will ask later (gymnastics tonight) if they run classes for little ones - I'm fairly sure that they do run other classes.....They do however charge by the term (but can make concessions for weekly payment , I think, if in receipt of benefits)

They have a Facebook page
https://m.facebook.com/StaffordSpor...zMTgsInBvc2l0aW9uIjowLCJyZXN1bHRfdHlwZSI6NjV9
They are on Twitter: @staffordsport
and have a website......
www.staffordsport.co.uk
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Soooo, gymnastics lady says that the under 5s is at Stone, she didn't have any info on her though at the time, but says they are also looking to expand during the year so more may be available soon.

I think tumbletots is still your best bet - & there must be other things like that....have a look on mumsnet as there should be info there I would think.

Good luck. :)
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Cheers for the info :)

Fair points above but I would respond as follows:

1. With coaches, the one we went to at the weekend only had two coaches but about 15 or 20 kids up to about 4 y.o. in the room. Basically they just make one parent stay with every kid and the two coaches then just lead the class with the parents helping out and monitoring their own kid. It worked really well and keeps costs down for the centre.

2. With regards block charges - completely understandable but in that case just make it (for example, no idea how much it really costs) £35 for 10 sessions or £5 per session if paid as you go.... most will go for the big discount but it doesn't exclude those who go away or work lots at weekends etc.


1. Stafford gymnastics Centre is a British Gymnastics (BG) registered club, I'm sure I don't know all the details but I would suspect BG have a ratio of kids to coaches that is fixed, regardless of parent helpers. I would also suspect that there are insurance issues with parent helpers. What happens if a parent is helping someone's child and they injure themselves? My guess is that it would invalidate the clubs insurance and probably the insurance of the gymnast.

2. Even if some pay for the course, any club offering pay as you go will have the problem of unknown numbers. Unless you know how many kids are coming, how do you ensure the staffing ratio is correct? Doesn't matter how much a parent is willing to pay, unless the club knows they are coming they can't employ coaches on the 'what if's'. I do understand what you're saying tho, my daughter is part of the competitive squad at the Centre, and we pay monthly (it's not cheap!!), for 4 sessions a week. But you know busy teenagers, always got things on, the number of sessions she misses can be quite high some months, but that's just how it is!!

Having said all of that, I do recommend Stafford Gym Centre/Club, the sprung floor helps to protect the kids joints, and if any child does have potential and wish to move in to the competitive world, it's a successful club to be attached to. It's an Acrobatics Club at the competitive level though, not a 4 piece club (beam/bars vault etc)

One final thing, I've just looked at there website and they do Fundamentals lessons, aimed at 18 months to 3 years old at 3.30 pm. I doubt any club would ofer something for the very young ones much later, they'll all be in bed!!!

http://www.staffordgymnasticscentre.com/#/book-your-course/4567923886
 

My Name is URL

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks very much littleme, will look into that.

kyoto49, I don't know the ins and outs of running such a club, all I know is what I saw at the club we went to. I think I wasn't clear / you misunderstood my previous post - the parents help their own kids, not other peoples. At that age its holding their hands whilst they walk along a beam or do forward rolls so little chance of injury. With the second point of staffing and knowing numbers in advance, if they can do point one (i.e. allow parents to support their children) then they don't need to know in advance. I admit though, it depends on if point one was possible though.

Anyway thats enough discussion from me - thanks again littleme, will look into the Stone option. Such a shame that will all of the "obesity epidemic" and "unhealthy kids" scenarios that are rammed down our throats, its so difficult to keep my little girl active in this way.
 
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