Charlotte and Karen, Co-Directors of Debutots and franchisees Lucy from Bristol and Laura from Pinner were honoured to attend I CAN’s Parliamentary Reception on 30th June.

Chaired by Michael Buerk, the speeches were hugely engaging and informative. "Listening to the very personal experiences of people whose lives have been touched by communication disability was extremely emotive and really reminded us why we are so passionate about supporting I CAN as much as possible," said Charlotte. "The reception was most inspiring and we are very grateful to I CAN for inviting us along," added Karen.

I CAN’s aims are directly reflected in Debutots’ practice and Lucy and Laura were delighted to deliver their classes as part of I CAN’s Make Chatter Matter Campaign Roadshow this year. The campaign, principally supported by the BT Better World campaign and Openreach, highlights the importance of communication as the foundation for learning and social development.

We were delighted to meet nursery operators and child carers from across the country at the Childcare and Nursery Show. There was quite a buzz around the Debutots stand, which was manned by Charlotte and Karen (Co-Directors of Debutots) and Debutots Franchisees Jennifer from North London, Clare from Essex, Rachel from South West London and Casey from Guildford.

From left to right:
Karen (Head Office), Jennifer (North London), Rachel (South West London), Clare (South East Essex), Casey (Guildford) and Charlotte (Head Office).

There was plenty of information shared with childcarers and nursery operators about our work. Even some of the other exhibitors were interested in finding out how Debutots can make a difference to children’s learning and development; including Dave Benson Phillips who chatted with Karen for quite a while!

The exclusive show offer of 10% off your first term’s booking is valid for one year from the date of the show and with a leaflet obtained at the show from the stand.

Childminders get creative
By Tara Dundon

Childminders in Peterborough are being encouraged to take part in a new curriculum of interactive storytelling and dramatic play sessions. Caverstede Children’s Centre, in Walton, Peterborough, is one of many centres across the country to offer support to childminders through the Debutots Childminders’ Support through Story Programme (EYFS).

Childminders will be encouraged to play creatively with their little ones during the sessions, guided by a skilled Debutots practitioner.

Interactive storytelling will promote skillful communication, drama techniques will foster cognitive development and fun, while imaginative role-play will grow the children’s positive sense of themselves and of others.

Senior practitioner for Children’s Centre services at Caverstede, where the programme is being launched in the area, Ann Perry, said: "Having Debutots at Caverstede is a fantastic opportunity for the childminders. The childminders will be able to access the workshop and use ideas in their daily practice."

For more information, call Paula on 01733 788148.

Lucy featured in a double page article about Debutots and the importance of children’s language and communication development. Specifically focussing on Lucy’s classes, two attendees and their little ones provided fascinating case studies!

Baby Talk

Parents making silly faces and strange noises are among the ways communication is encouraged in children at Debutots. Mother-of-two Lucy Smith, who runs classes in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, explains how the interactive approach works.

I’m the crazy drama lady and everyone follows my lead, so no one feels silly or shy in my classes – we just have lots of fun. Parents see the benefits and realise that what they do will get a direct response from their child.

Debutots classes build parents’ confidence and teach them how to play and communicate creatively and imaginatively with their children. This may surprise people, but it’s not always a natural instinct to know how to do this. After all, it’s been many years since the parents played themselves.

Debutots isn’t just another drama group – we only work with the under 7’s, and we don’t train children to become performers. There are no jazz hands! I take my love of storytelling and performing, and use that to enable children to develop their language and communication skills using a blend of storytelling, music and imaginative play.

I work with children as young as six months old, with their parents, who come to baby story play classes and they love it. I also work with children of school age, and I’ve witnessed the growth in confidence and language development of the older children in my groups too.

Many people ask me "How can a six-month-old baby respond to these classes?" When the child is really young, the focus is on working with the parents and carers. The multi-sensory blend of storytelling, puppets and movement to music means these classes are as fun and inspiring for the adults as they are for the little ones.

Children really do benefit from a positive early start with promoting their language skills, and our early language and play experiences are bursting with laughter and learning! On more than one occasion, within weeks of joining a class, I’ve seen children grow from being shy and non-communicative to confident social children who thoroughly enjoy the interaction in each class and go home talking to their parents about that day’s story.

I provide weekly handouts for parents so they can retell our stories at home – we may do something as simple as using "sssss…" while we pretend to be snakes sliding around the jungle, or we may use our bodies and faces to express our feelings as grumpy monkeys. No two classes are the same.

Parents have chosen to come to my Debutots classes with their children who have been diagnosed with delayed speech. They find Debutots a creative and innovative way to work with their children.

I can certainly recognise when a child who attends my class has delayed language. One little boy would simply babble but still have good eye contact so I knew he was communicating with me. The parent had been very concerned, but after a term, the child’s speech has developed considerable. Both parent and child have become more confident abd even socialise independently wit their group. This was a child who had before clung to his mother’s leg – what a fantastic outcome for him!

Featured Case Studies

‘Her confidence has grown’

Kim Payne takes her daughter, Grace, to Bradley Stoke. She says:

Grace was just 18 months old when she joined Debutots Early Years Drama and she’s about to start her third term with them.

In all honesty, I was initially embarrassed about going to something like this where you have to jump around and be really interactive with your child.

However, after a couple of sessions I realised just how much Grace loves it and how much it benefits her. I even got Grace’s dad to come to one – which meant a huge amount for him to be able to see what she does while he works – it was a very bonding experience for the family.

Grace is now two years old and absolutely loves Debutots. She’s a true thespian – always singing and dancing, which obviously are a fantastic way to develop her communication skills.

I try to keep it consistent by encouraging her at home as well as at Debutots – so I always ask her to tell stories and perform anything new she has learned. She will happily keep us entertained! It is amazing because Grace used to be painfully shy with strangers. She has blossomed into a chattering storyteller. She loves to come home and go through what she has learned. Both her confidence and my confidence have grown since we started going.

Anything that helps Grace develop her communication has become a priority. For one thing, her social skills are already shining through – I don’t want her to be one of those young school children who hides in the back row and never makes any friends, Her play-acting, singing and storytelling are all important skills in speech, language and communication.

The Debutots experience has been an incredibly important one for me, as it’s been such a bonding experience for me to connect with my daughter; we play more together and have fun.

‘It’s such a bonding experience’

Wendy Donaldson has been taking her 13-month-old son, Devon, to Debutots classes in Bradley Stoke since he was seven months old. She says:

It’s the storytelling that I think is so important. To tell stories through play and acting – using words, sounds and expressions – is fantastic for developing a child’s speech, language and communication skills.

It encourages them to learn and use different emotions, which is obviously great for every child’s social and emotional development.

Aside from the bubbles, it is the animals that Devon enjoys most about Debutots. Going to the sessions encourages him to communicate his love of animals, rather than keen it to himself. He can experiment with animal sounds, which were his first ever sounds, and all the time share his love of animals with his peers, through conversation and drama.

It is such a bonding experience going to the classes together. The interaction between Devon and me throughout the class and at home is so special. I love sharing the joy he gets from going to the classes. He is constantly learning new skills, demonstrating his new words and developing new ways of communicating with me.

The classes help parents learn how to interact with their child. It’s tragic how many parents just don’t know and it’s not their fault. Alter all; children don’t come with a manual! Debutots acts as a guide and gives parents tips for what to do at home and follow up. We take anything new he may have learned, such as new words, and go home and show off to Dad.

There is also a lot of problem solving that goes on and they don’t even realise they’re learning. The sessions are just a big game to them and they don’t realise they’re learning constantly using every sense – sight, speech, their body and brain.

It combines everything necessary for successful development and all in a fun way.

April 2009

Debutots and I CAN feature in the Bristol Evening Post.

The children’s communication charity I CAN estimates about 10 per cent of children in the UK – an average of three in every classroom, have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), either as their primary disability or as part of another condition such as autism, dyslexia or cerebral palsy.

Debutots is actively involved in I CAN’s three-year awareness raising campaign called Make Chatter Matter, which aims to ensure that speech, language and communication are embedded at the heart of children’s policy.

The campaign, principally supported by the BT Better World campaign and Openreach, highlights the importance of communication as the foundation for learning and social development.

After two years of campaigning, the importance of speech, language and communication is now emerging as a national issue like autism and dyslexia.

The issue was made a priority for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in the Better Communication Action Plan in December, 2008. The Department of Health (DoH) also recognised the issue through the publication of the joint DCSF and DoH Child Health Strategy in February 2009.

I CAN and BT World have produced The Communication Cookbook, which contains 20 games to help develop all children’s speech and language. Schools can order their free copy from www.communicationcookbook.org.uk. There is a small charge for postage and packing.

Throughout 2009, I CAN will be holding the Chatterbox Challenge, a sponsored activity supported by Openreach, in which thousands of nurseries, schools and children’s groups, including Debutots, around the UK will perform their favourite weather themed songs and stories to raise money to help I CAN support children who struggle to communication.

April 2009

Debutots raise over £100 in Chatterbox Challenge

Swindon’s Debutots Early Years Drama group explored an original and exciting weather-themed story for the Chatterbox Challenge this week at their storytelling and drama sessions.

Their efforts raised more than £100 for children’s communication charity ICAN, which develops speech and language skills as part of Chatterbox Challenge 2009.

And thanks to the generous support of BT’s Openreach, every penny will go directly to help children with communication difficulties.

"Chatterbox Challenge is the perfect opportunity for the children to learn and begin to enjoy the art of language and communication through storytelling," said Jenni Saunders, the local Debutots franchisee.

"Together, the children and their parents explored our exciting and original story, Naught Nimbus and the Courageous Clouds, through sound and word play, simple drama games, gesture and imaginative play. The repetition of words and sounds, actions and gesture throughout the interactive storytelling will aid the development of important communication skills whilst helping us raise vital funds for ICAN."

Debutots classes provide a unique blend of interactive storytelling and dramatic play in parent and child sessions, nurseries, schools, afterschool clubs and holiday clubs.

For more information email jenni@debutots.co.uk.

March 2009

Local Mum Makes Her Start Up Debut

Have you ever wanted to achieve your ‘Work Life Balance’? One local mother of 2 has done just that with the help of Be Enterprising’s Emerge start up programme.

Clare Hodgson, of Consett, was referred to Emerge to apply for a business start up grant and in September last year she signed the franchise agreement for Debutots, a drama-in-education company for the early years.

Clare was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1991 and continued to work until the birth of her second child in 2005. Clare said, "Being out of work for so long was hard. I missed the independence I had from my part time work. With my MS now stable, I wanted to look for a career that would fit around my busy home life and still enable me to spend time with my 2 daughters. I have always loved amateur dramatics and it was purely by chance during a search via the internet that I came across Debutots."

Debutots classes provide a unique blend of interactive storytelling and dramatic play for children aged 6 months to 7 years. Working in the County Durham area, Clare starts each class with a new story which is then recreated by the children using their ideas to develop their imaginations, creativity and build their language, listening and social skills.

Clare continued "I knew when I saw the Debutots site that I wanted to take it further. I went on an Experience day to see if it was right for me. My husband has his own successful business so I knew a lot of what was involved working for yourself, I just needed some guidance getting there."

Clare added "Trying to juggle home and work has been the hardest part of setting up my business. Anyone who is self employed knows that it is not a 9 to 5 job and a lot of my preparation needs to be done on an evening once the children have gone to bed! My Emerge Advisor has been extremely supportive and I received a start up grant which was an enormous help. I know that if I ever need any help or advice they are just a phone call away."

Gillian Khachikian, Emerge Advisor said, "Clare has so much energy and enthusiasm it is infectious. Everyone who has seen her classes are amazed at how beneficial they are and how much the children enjoy them."

You can find out more about Debutots by calling Clare on 01207 583 274

March 2009

Swindon Biz Watch on the Chris Warburton Show

Jenni was invited into the studio to talk about her business in the current economic climate. "I started my business in September," said Jenni, "So I have been working in the current climate from the start and don’t know anything different... because our classes tick a lot of boxes – they’re educational and fun – parents are happy to spend their money on the activity."

Jenni went on to say that setting up her Debutots franchise has been very rewarding and has provided her with the flexibility to earn her own income around her children’s timetables.

Would Jenni recommend this path to other mums? "I definitely would," said Jenni, "But make sure you take the right steps to find something you’re passionate about!"

It really is all about the work-life balance and the need to earn that all-important extra income. Jenni’s enthusiasm and passion for her work came across in droves throughout the interview. Providing a worthwhile and unique service to parents, nurseries and schools means that Jenni’s business is thriving – well done Jenni!

March 2009

Making Chatter Matter in Bristol

Lucy was invited to spend the day at the Galleries Shopping Centre in Bristol where she worked with children’s communication charity I CAN to mark the launch of the I CAN Make Chatter Matter campaign in Bristol.

Bristol children and grown-ups were treated to a jam-packed weekend of Debutots classes, magic and face painting and in addition, a speech and language therapist was on hand to offer expert advice on children’s communication development.

Local shoppers and their families added their favourite words to a giant wall of words at The Galleries and below are some of the Debutots children adding theirs too!

ITV came down to cover the event and based their report on Lucy’s story. "If you go down to the shops today, you’re in for a great surprise ..." was the opening sentence of their report on the event where Lucy delighted children and grown-ups with the original Debutots story of Tiny Ted and the Beary Big Picnic – a story about a very big shopping list for a very tiny teddy!

Several children who regularly attend Lucy’s classes went down to the galleries to join in with the fun and support their favorite activity practitioner – a big thank you to them!

March 2009