FAMILIES who have benefited from the support of a therapy centre packed into OXSRAD in Marston, Oxford, as a new series of monthly events was launched.

The Owl Centre for Children's Therapy will host a parent information and support group on the last Thursday of every month, starting this week.

The sessions aim to introduce parents to the services The Owl Centre provides, give top tips for speech and language development and answer any questions parents might have.

On Saturday youngsters and their parents enjoyed the fun at a party to celebrate the new support group.

The Owl Centre founder and speech therapist Nicola Lathey joined in with children as they leapt onto the bouncy castle and watched a magic show.

She said: "At each of the sessions there is going to be a different professional to talk about the different aspects.

"This Thursday I am going to do a focus on children with eating and drinking difficulties.

"Thereafter we will have a psychotherapist who will talk about anxiety at school and a dyslexia expert who will talk about how to many dyslexia in schools.

"The therapy we provide at the moment has to be paid for.

"Either the school or the parent pays and this will be something entirely free and will hopefully provide support to all walks of life."

The Owl Centre was founded in 2011 and originally offered speech and language therapy but has grown into a multidisciplinary practice.

Its headquarters remain in Oxford but it now covers more than a dozen counties.

Christina Morris and her son Jamie were among those who attended the party.

Jamie, 12, has autism and first started therapy sessions with Ms Lathey when she worked for the NHS.

Ms Morris said: "Nicola is easy to talk to and open, I found her very relaxing and easy to approach.

"I would definitely encourage other parents to come along.

"It is a long waiting list through the NHS and I know it can be pricey to go private but these sessions will be free."

Each session will run at OXRAD in Court Place Farm, Marsh Lane in Marston from 10am to midday.

Eynsham Primary School headteacher Ian Moore, who has used the Owl Centre's services, came along to lend his support.

He said: "At my previous school we noticed an increasing number of pupils coming in with speech and language problems.

"We got people from the Owl Centre to come in who gave us some advice on which pupils should be referred to the NHS and what we could do in the class.

"I would encourage parents to come along and find out more."

For more information visit theowltherapycentre.co.uk or call 01242 571883.