Play village opens soon

A NEW children’s play area is arriving in Wokingham and sessions are being run at a discounted price under a Try Us Out To Help Out scheme.

The Pop Up Play Village runs roleplaying events for young children to explore jobs including builders, vets, teachers and shop owners.

Its newest franchise is launching soon which covers Wokingham, Henley and Ascot.

Janine Pegg, director of the new play village, believes that role-play gives children an emotional and physical utlet, and lets them explore different behaviours through the guise of a character.

“I think at this uncertain time, roleplay is so important to children,” she said.

“It provides a form of escapism. During lockdown, a lot of parents have been anxious about teaching their children, but we need to make sure kids are playing too.”

And the Wokingham, Henley and Ascot franchise is currently offering a Try Us Out To Help Out scheme.

The scheme, backed by the Children’s Activities Association, is designed to support the children’s activity sector following the pandemic.

It is not a Government- funded programme, meaning the franchise is not recovering any of the discounted funds.

The Wokingham, Henley and Ascot franchise will be offering a 5% discount on customers’ first booking, and returning customers receive a 10% discount.

Ms Pegg initially planned to launch the Pop Up Play Village in February, but lockdown put this on hold.

Now, she is planning to open her franchise in the first week of October with the first round of play sessions held in Hurst.

And strict coronavirus policies will be in place.

“It’s very difficult to get children aged nought to five to socially distance,” she said. “But, parents are going to be in masks and will have socially distance.”

At the moment, people are being asked to book on to a block of three sessions over the month of October.

This is to ensure that the same group of people are attending the Play Village each week.

Ms Pegg says that all of her Pop Up Play Village’s coronavirus policies have been assessed by VisitEngland, and have been given the ‘ We’re Good To Go’ industry standard mark. to