A COWLING woman who runs baby sign classes is in the running for a national award.

Liz Ensor is a finalist in the What’s On 4 Kids Activities Awards 2020.

She is an independent business called Toddle Up and Sign and has been offering classes in Skipton, Glusburn and Ilkley.

She started the classes three years ago after working for over 10 years in the deaf community. The classes are aimed to aid communication between parents and children before they have their full range of vocabulary.

Each class uses well known stories and songs to make learning enjoyable and entertaining for little ones, and parents/ caregivers.

During lockdown she kept the business going by offering free Zoom sessions to parents.

She said: “It is a wonderful to be recognised in these awards. It has been a difficult year for my small, independent business and so I am particularly thrilled to be a finalist.”

The awards were launched in 2007 to celebrate the UK’s best children’s clubs and classes, along with leaders and volunteers - as nominated and voted for by the experts - parents, carers and parents-to-be.

This year more than any other year these national awards are an important recognition of the crucial role children’s activities play in the lives of families across the UK – and how the dedicated people who make these activities possible have done everything they can to keep classes running online during lockdown - and now are getting back to in-class sessions that are safe and just as beneficial to the health and well-being of children and parents.

Liz is a finalist in the Most Loved Activity Leader in North England, sponsored by Nat West category which means they are invited to the first ever virtual ceremony for these award on October 8, live and online with Red Book Productions and hosted by Jonathan Bremner.

What’s On 4 Kids managing director Sam Willoughby said: ‘Each and every year it’s a pleasure to welcome back so many activities especially during such a challenging year.”