Baby Sensory
Baby Sensory classes for babies aged 0–13 months run on Mondays (10:15–11:00) and Wednesdays (09:15–10:00) at Shernhall Street Methodist Church, 173 Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, E17 9HX, during term time. Both sessions are run by Madeleine Grand, who has led Baby Sensory Waltham Forest since January 2010.
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About this class
Baby Sensory at Shernhall Street Methodist Church runs twice a week during term time — Mondays at 10:15 and Wednesdays at 09:15 — taking babies from birth up to thirteen months. The franchise is Baby Sensory Waltham Forest, led by Madeleine Grand, who has been running these sessions since January 2010. She came to Baby Sensory in 2009 while looking for activities for her newborn son, and has been running classes in Walthamstow ever since.
Each 45-minute session follows a structure built around a baby's natural play-rest-play cycle. You can expect a mix of original and traditional songs and rhymes, sensory signing, tummy time, gentle movement, and hands-on exploration with textures and scents. The programme's instruments have been measured to confirm they stay within safe decibel levels for young ears, and the sensory materials are arranged at the distance at which babies at this age actually focus. The programme draws on 40 core lesson plans plus seasonal and special-event sessions, so what happens week to week genuinely shifts. Every session closes with sounds that mimic the womb, easing babies into a calmer state before you head home.
For families with a newborn under three months, the Hello Baby sub-programme is also available through the Waltham Forest franchise. It covers three areas: observing and interpreting your baby's behavioural cues; understanding colic and comfort techniques; and gentle touch through massage, reflexology, and yoga. Whichever session you attend, you're welcome to feed or cuddle your baby at any point — the class is designed to flex around what your baby needs in the moment.
To check current term dates or book a place, contact the Waltham Forest team on 07753 605850 or at walthamforest@babysensory.co.uk.
When it runs
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Common questions
What ages are the classes at Shernhall Street Methodist Church for?
Both the Monday and Wednesday sessions cover mixed ages from birth up to 13 months. The Baby Sensory programme is structured in two developmental stages — birth to 6 months and 7 to 13 months — so activities work across that full range. If your baby is under 3 months, the Hello Baby sub-programme is also available through Baby Sensory Waltham Forest.
When do the classes run and are they term time only?
Yes, both sessions run during term time only. Mondays run 10:15–11:00 and Wednesdays run 09:15–10:00, both at Shernhall Street Methodist Church, 173 Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, E17 9HX. Booking windows for new terms open on specific dates — for example, places for the June/July half term went on sale on Monday 27th April at 6pm — so it's worth contacting the team or checking the Waltham Forest timetable ahead of each new term.
How do I book a place?
Contact Baby Sensory Waltham Forest directly: call 07753 605850 or email walthamforest@babysensory.co.uk. You can also search using the WOW World Group find-a-class tool at wowworldgroup.com, entering the E17 postcode.
What happens during a session?
Sessions run for 45 minutes and weave together songs and rhymes (a mix of originals composed for the programme and traditional favourites), sensory signing, tummy time, movement activities, and exploration of textures and scents. A structured sensory play area is arranged to match what babies at this stage can actually see, and every session ends with sounds that mimic the womb to settle babies before you leave. The session follows a play-rest-play rhythm, with natural pauses built in alongside the more active moments.
Can I feed my baby during the class?
Yes. You're welcome to feed or cuddle your baby at any point during the session — that's part of how the class is designed to work.
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