POPULAR Worcestershire children's nurseries have added a raft of extra activities to the day which are designed to make life easier for parents.

Hairdressing, language and music lessons, dance, movement and PE and aromatherapy, along with story-telling and a bouncy castle will be on offer at Leapfrog Day Nurseries.

The company, which has bases in Warndon and Evesham, stressed not all activities would be available at both nurseries.

Busy schedules

Joy Cotterill, manager of the Warndon nursery, explained that many of the parents whose children attend the nursery have to cope with very busy schedules.

"It can often be very difficult to fit in all the extra activities under one roof, so if we can provide them here it saves them time and hassle," said Joy.

"An added benefit is that the parents already know and trust us so they don't have to worry about safety or settling their child into a new group."

It is also planned to include a newly qualified or part-time teacher for pre-school.

Jan Friend, acting nursery manager at the Evesham base, said the nursery had a simple philosophy - to offer parents the very best childcare for their children.

But now they are taking this philosophy one step further by adding an extra range of services designed to make life easier for parents.

Leapfrog Day Nurseries Limited recently announced its intention to seek a full listing on the London Stock Exchange.

The company, one of the largest children's day care nursery groups in Britain, opened its first purpose-built nursery in Burton-upon-Trent in April 1998.

It is now positioned at the premium end of the childcare market, taking youngsters aged from three months to five years.

The Worcester Leapfrog Nursery opened in March 1999 and very quickly grew to reach its capacity of 105 children.