WHEN former project manager Abi Culter, from Worcester, had her second baby she started looking around for a new career to fit in with her family life.

She had been commuting to Solihull for her job but she realised the travelling would be too demanding now she had an addition to the family.

Abi and her husband, who live in Battenhall, started thinking about possible ventures she could try and looked into taking on a franchise.

She said she looked at quite a few different businesses but a children’s creative activity called The Creative Station jumped out at her.

“I could have worked in a shop in town but I wanted something stimulating. With Grace starting school next year, I’ve started paying more attention to the state of the school system and all the issues around testing children from such a young age.

“While I understand the subjects they study at school are very important, there is so much focus now on memorising information for the purpose of passing a test, leaving little time for free thinking and creativity to play much of a part,” said 35-year-old Abi.

“The Creation Station jumped out at me. It is an expensive franchise to buy but they are fantastic. There is a lot of support.

“You go on a week’s training course. There are about 104 members in the network and it is really supportive. Everyone in the network supports each other and people at headquarters are always there and give you all the help you need to start your business.

“We want to start children on a journey of creativity from early on, in the hope that they continue to be creative thinkers and don’t let test after test stifle them. After all, a world without creative thinkers can never progress.

“Our classes are not a ‘here’s one I made earlier – make this’ type of affair. Rather we introduce a topic for the session (this term is textures), give the children the materials and a vague framework and let them have a go at seeing what happens.

“Last term in ‘triangles week’ we were making boats out of clay. One young boy decided to make a submarine. I’m not sure there were any triangles involved but it was an awesome submarine which was perfectly symmetrical and he was so pleased with the result.

“That’s the type of thing we like to encourage – thinking outside the box and having a good go.”

Abi started offering sessions for children on April 1 this year but it was a struggle to find venues because many are already booked up.

After holding sessions at a number of venues in the Worcester area during the summer term, Abi has set up new classes for the autumn and is now concentrating on groups at St John’s Church, Bromyard Road; St Nicholas Church Barn, Warndon; Worcester Woods Country Park off Wildwood Drive and RGS The Grange, off Droitwich Road.

Abi currently offers sessions for six to 16-month-olds called Baby Discover and sessions for 16-month-olds to five-year-olds called Little Explorer. Sessions are also available for up to 11-year-olds, arty birthday party entertainment, group events and after school and holiday clubs for five to 11-year-olds.

Abi said she can provide activities children may not get at home. “It is ridiculously messy.” The Creative Station provides all the materials, splash suits where needed and table coverings.

She says she loves taking the sessions and seeing the children enjoying being creative. “The children are amazing. I am really enjoying it. Seeing the children’s faces when they make their first piece of artwork is lovely.

“With the babies you see their confidence grow really quickly,” said Abi, who thinks she is probably the most creative person in her family. She does cake decorating and sewing.

“I am pleased I made the change. I think going back to a nine to five job would have been easier in some ways but not as rewarding and I would not be able to spend time with my family. I am definitely happy about it.” Abi takes her own baby along to the sessions apart from the after school clubs.

The Creative Station was set up by mum of three boys Sarah Cressall in 2002, who has always been passionate about creativity and particularly art and design.

She discovered providing a “messy time” at home for her young boys was very challenging and realised it would be the same for many mums and dads. She started creating and experience that children and their parents or carers could enjoy together.

“I spent the next five years steadily developing the idea of arts and crafts activity sessions which took families on a shared journey of discovery,” said Sarah.

“My aim was to inspire children's natural creativity at an early age in a safe and nurturing environment using art, craft, music and movement.

“Not only was it great for children's development but it was really good fun to do this creative stuff with your child, especially when ‘mess' wasn’t an issue, and all the planning and clearing up was done by somebody else.”

The sessions are designed within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) of the Department of Education’s framework. They take into account The Early Goals for pre-school children to help them practise and develop their skills in preparation for school.

Apart from having fun with paint, materials, glue and glitter, the sessions show that the children benefit in many ways from giving expression to their imaginations. It helps them learn to make choices, share, listen, observe, pretend, problem solve, as well as play and interact with others.