"Stay and Play" type activities or sessions in Headington or Wheatley

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I am looking for good "stay and play" type activities - i.e something where I can take my daughter (18 months) and stay whilst there are organised activities (painting? etc) which she can participate in. I know there is something similar organised by surestart centres etc but wanted to know if anyone has any experience of these and could give me some ideas about what goes on at any of these types of things in and around Headington / Wheatley which is our local area. I am happy to pay if they are run by private organisations provided the activities are good and / or recommended. Ideally needs to be more than just toys (i.e. a normal toddler group) Thanks if anyone has any experience they can share with me

The Roundabout centre at the Omerod school does a few stay and play sessions a week. They seem to be very popular but I have only been with a baby,not a toddler.

SPLAT playgroup at St Ebbe's, Headington is on a Wednesday morning and has lots of craft/messy play/outdoor play. Gets very busy but is great for that age (and good cake!)
HTH

Thanks snowwombat that is very useful, i have not heard of SPLAT before I will google it

Bullingdon Community Centre, Peat Moors and St Francis Church, Hollow Way (same staff at both):

Family Art Monday Bullingdon 10-2 (Bring your lunch) Work with the resident artist. Also includes story group & library noon-2pm with stories and songs as well as library service.

It's mostly unstructured on the other days, but there is usually singing and sometimes cooking or art:

Stay & Play Bullingdon Tues 9-noon
Stay & Play Bullingdon Wed 9-2pm
Stay & Play St Francis Thurs 9:30-noon

Energizers toddler gym at Brookes University Sports Centre. You can do a structured development programme or just run around in the very large hall and play on the enormous bouncy castle. Parachute games and PE-style activites.

It's a bit much for my budget (£4) and the parking can be awkward now but we used to love it. First visit is free. www.primeenergy.org/pre.html

Headington Library does regular toddler storytimes/ rhymetimes, which are fun (and free); central library in town (an easy bus ride, part of the outing for toddler?) similarly.
Also recommend Splat, though my 20 month old would much rather charge around doing what she wants rather than take part in "organised activities" and for that reason, we love "ordinary" toddler groups. Most have some more "crafty" activities as well as toys; it depends what you're looking for.
Stay and play at the Roundabout centre is good and they sometime have organised toddler dance sessions.
Monkey music runs in Risinghurst on a Monday. You have to sign up for the term though. Busy Bees music is somewhere around. I've never done either but have friends who have enjoyed one or other.

Engergizers at Brookes is great. We go on a Thursday and the session is run by Richard, who is brilliant with the kids. During a recent warm up, he did a rugby world cup inspired Haka to in the Night Garden, which the boys the loved!It was brilliant

OK, reviving this post because I'm dead curious. I was told that the little Christan message whatever during Splat was HIGHLY evangelical. Like, hell-and-damnation sort of stuff. I don't mind Christianity, but that would make me very uncomfortable since I grew up a hippie dippy humanist. So, anyone who's been, what's the story?

(Alternately, what time do they do that bit at so I can miss it out?) ((Bored on Wednesdays!!))

Splat! is brillant!

I'd recommend SPLAT too ( I'm non christian!)

Headington The Slade childrens Centre has recently opened - heard really good things from other mums. I haven't been there as yet as DS has terrible cold / teething but as soon as he's better I'll be there!

Well, having been to Splat a couple of times I'll say it's too busy and pitched too old for my kid. Also on the expensive side, I'd rather cough up for soft play.

I never attended the religious bit because I knew it would make me seethe with righteous atheist fury. Was told by a friend that the one time she went they were all "the world didn't endwhen we said it would because we read that bit of the bible wrong. It's still going to end sometime soon." then again, I have trouble with songs sung at CoE schools, so it was never going to be a comfortable relationship. :D

Fridays at the Skade and Headington children's centre are very good.

Oh, and since it seems no one has mentioned it here, Little Sharks on a Monday is brilliant.

And I just realised that it hadn't been mentioned here because OP was looking for structured activities. facepalm