Joshua’s story

Taking part in a Play, Learn, Grow course has helped Joshua Bardsley and his young son to thrive. 

Joshua, who was diagnosed with autism at 21, joined the free eight-week development course so that he and his son, also called Joshua, could progress together by getting involved in fun activities. 

Joshua says the coaching course, through the Making It REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy) programme, helped both father and son to flourish. 

“I wanted to overcome my dislike of mess because I didn’t want to pass that on,” he explained. 

“Before coming here, I didn’t even wash the pots and I didn’t like using creams.” 

The course, delivered by the charity Home-Start HOST as part of their work for the Family Hubs offer, is accessed through home visits and face to face groups delivered in pre-schools, nurseries, schools, Family Hubs and community buildings, supporting children’s early literacy development. 

The course, for parents and their children aged two to five, aims to help parents to support their children’s early learning and development at home. 

Joshua, who joined sessions held at Richmond Academy, said: “We’ve took some of the activities from here and brought them home. So, for example, now we do things like making play dough and spending hours round the table as a family doing little activities to make the bond a bit better. 

“It gives you more to talk about and it helps with describing things.” 

For more information and to join the Play, Learn and Grow course call 0161 344 0669 or email plg@homestarthost.org.uk