A Thornbury dance school is offering free online classes for children during lockdown.

Tiny Toes Ballet usually holds children’s dance classes at Turnberries, as well as in Redland and Bedminster, but is now offering them online to support parents and teachers who are home schooling due to lockdown.

Its eight-week Free Lockdown Programme combines drama, dance and cookery and is aimed at children aged seven and under.

Daisy Scott, who runs the Bristol Tiny Toes Ballet franchise, says she is delighted to be able to help keep the nation’s children learning through lockdown.

“I have been running Tiny Toes Ballet Bristol for nearly four years and I really enjoy teaching the pupils and watching them grow in confidence, dance skill, and build friendships with their dance friends each week,” she says.

“Dance on Zoom each week brightens my day up and keeps me going through lockdown number three.

“Every week we’ll provide a learning through dance class, a learning through role play and drama class, and a practical learning activity, including arts and crafts and cooking classes.

“The resources will also come with a downloadable activity and a parental letter to explain the purpose of each weekly programme and which EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum outcomes the activities will meet.”

Tiny Toes Ballet is the UK’s first pre-school ballet programme to be fully integrated with the EYFS curriculum.

Founder Emma Morgan added: "We’re passionate about the value of our unique programme and wanted to use it to help as many teachers, parents and children as possible during lockdown.

“We’ve centred the activities around themes that we know children love: Three little pigs, Under the Sea, Down on the Farm and Superheroes, for example.

"The classes will run for eight weeks and we’re encouraging as many people as possible to get involved.”

“It’s been a pleasure to play our part in keeping the nation occupied, entertained and active during this difficult time.

“As long as the coronavirus pandemic continues, we’ll keep coming up with new activities to support children’s learning."

For more information go to tinytoesballet.co.uk.