Talking Tots, which uses fun activities to help one to four-year-olds develop their social, language and literacy skills, has won the Best Innovation category in the What’s on 4 Little Ones awards.

The awards celebrate the best pre-school activities in the UK and winners were chosen by online voting.

Mrs Calista Lewis, a former Courier news editor, launched Talking Tots sessions at St Paul’s church in January after seeing how children in Lancashire were responding to the classes run by Talking Tots founders Lisa Houghton and Tracey Park.

Lisa and Tracey, who have 30 years experience as paediatric speech and language therapists, started Talking Tots after seeing a decline in the social and communication skills of pre-schoolers.

The classes use colourful props, fun activities and games to develop:

l Social confidence

l Listening and attention skills

l Sharing and turn-taking skills

l Expressive language

l Word meaning and vocabulary

l Storytelling

l Word and letter sound recognition

Calista, 32, said: “It is incredible to see the development in the children even since January.

“I love taking the classes and it is clear in the faces of the children that they love coming – and they don’t even realise they’re learning.

“I’ve had some wonderful feedback from parents saying how much their children are progressing.

“As the mum of a three-year-old girl myself I know how exciting it is to see your child developing.

Calista currently holds classes in church rooms and community centres and is also hoping to take them into nurseries in the near future. Parents and nurseries interested in finding out more about classes should call Calista on 07957 453785.