Drama Tots delivers weekly music and movement sessions at the setting. Classes are split into age groups: Rising Stars for those aged 18 months to three, and Bright Stars for three- and four-year-olds.
Leanne Jones: ‘The reason I have such a good working relationship with Becky is the shared ease of communication. We can come to each other with any questions or ideas we might have’
What are the benefits of your working relationship?
‘I have been working with Becky for over seven years now, with Allesley Green being the very first nursery to use my children’s classes. The setting was instrumental in the formation of Drama Tots. I was workingas a children’s entertainer at the time, and Busy Bees had booked me for their children’s Christmas party. After the party, they asked me if I supplied children’s activity sessions, and that’s what pushedme into actually taking the step to move on from children’s entertainer to starting my own children’s drama business.
‘I was already looking for a new direction to go in, as I have two young children and was looking for something term-time. I studied acting at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and had lots of experience of performing and writing shows for children. This turned out to be invaluable knowledge in engaging a young audience. I wanted to keep my love of performing going but, with young children, knew I couldn’t be touring any more, which is part and parcel of acting work. I’ve been steadily building my business ever since and I love it.
‘Today there are 15 Drama Tots franchises and the business which started in Coventry now reaches as far as Devon and the Isle of Man. Through Drama Tots we offer role-play and music and movement sessions, as well as nursery-based classes, parties and events. Drama Tots also offers franchise opportunities.’
How do you work together?
‘My working week is quite varied, including after-school classes in community centres, talking to early years settings, writing up business plans, and keeping on top of the business side of things. I work with Becky once a week, delivering an activity session designed around the EYFS framework and aimed at supporting communication and language, creativity, self-esteem and social development.
‘My sessions are all grounded in imaginative play, with a different themed adventure planned each week, such as under the sea, space, and all about me. I also cater for special celebrations, such as Diwali, Chinese New Year and Book Day. My aim is to bring these celebrations to life through role play, puppets, musical instruments and music and movement, so all children can access the curriculum through play. As everyone working with early years knows, not all children learn in the same way. Some children learn more actively, and a multi-sensory approach is needed to help them gain the full benefit from pre-school activities, so I incorporate some fun, sensory experiences such as bubbles, props and parachutes to cater for these children.’
What challenges have you overcome?
‘The Covid pandemic was a time I particularly valued the support of Becky and her team. Throughout the pandemic, they stayed with us and we supported each other, with the nursery using our online classes. We are a term-time business, but the nursery runs year-round, so when we are not able to attend they use our YouTube classes, which keeps the activities going until we can come back into the nursery.
‘Being valued by Becky and her team– as well as the parents and carers – is so important to us at Drama Tots. Busy Bees are paying for our services and we’re really grateful for their loyalty. To still be using us after seven years makes us feel very appreciated. There are some settings that don’t really see the point of having organised sessions as they can do some games of their own. The difference is that we arrive with all our equipment and everything well prepared. Everything we do is planned in advance. Nursery staff are just too time-short to do what we do.’
What makes your working relationship successful?
‘The relationship I have with Becky is really important, as you need that constant communication; finding out what staff have picked up on about their children’s interests and getting feedback on what children said about the last Drama Tots session. Good communication is vital as each group of children is different, coming with their own specific needs and preferences, both as a group and as individual children, and sessions need to be adapted for each individual cohort.
‘I’d say the reason I have such a good working relationship with Becky is the shared ease of communication. We can come to each other with any questions or ideas we might have. Trust is also a top priority and, for me, an appreciation of the effort Becky – and everyone at Busy Bees – have put into making me feel welcome and part of the team. Having that rapport with people you work with is so important, especially when working with such young children. Becky will always pass on information about children’s interests and what has been taking place at nursery, such as any events they have been celebrating or stories children have especially enjoyed, which I can then pick up on when planning activities for their children.
‘The Busy Bees staff are brilliant. Becky and the whole team have been so supportive in the growth of Drama Tots – Jill, the manager at Allesley Green, came to one of our conferences to give support, and they are always willing to help me however they can.
‘Their friendship and support means a lot.’
Becky Green: ‘Leanne is someone who will always make time for you – she’s never too busy. She is always keen to give and receive feedback’
What are the benefits of your working relationship?
‘Having Leanne with us at Busy Bees has been great. It gives our children so much fun; they really look forward to the sessions. Bringing in outside professionals introduces children to a new set of experiences, and Leanne ties her activities to the EYFS, covering multiple areas of development for maximum benefit.
‘Drama Tots has been beneficial for our children in so many ways, from helping children form friendships and building social skills to exploring dance and creativity. Leanne develops lesson plans to cover these important areas of development, and also early years milestones such as becoming school ready.
‘Focusing on areas that can be a bit of a worry for children by exploring them through play can put a different perspective on them, so they’re no longer seen as something to worry about, and are instead viewed as exciting.’
How do you work together?
‘A typical day at Busy Bees is varied and very busy, with children engaged in free-flow play both inside and out, organised around our children’s interests, and we incorporate Drama Tots activities into this through Leanne’s CDs and songs.
‘Leanne works so well with our team, which is important in a nursery when you rely on each other’s help, with Jill, our director, and Louise, our senior room manager and I all frequently collaborating by passing on our children’s interests.’
What challenges have you overcome?
‘The only one really was Covid. Leanne was a real help, setting up activities for us and for parents to use with children at home too.’
What makes your working relationship successful?
‘I think the main reason I have a good relationship with Leanne is that she’s so friendly. She’s someone who will always make time for you – she’s never too busy. Leanne obviously loves running Drama Tots and working with children, and this shows in her interaction with our children.
‘Leanne is such a friendly person, always keen to give and receive feedback – you can talk to her about anything. Some of our children here also go to her at weekends for drama sessions; children really take to her as she is so bubbly and full of enthusiasm.
‘Busy Bees have seen the impact Drama Tots has had on our children’s learning and development, building their confidence and self-esteem in a fun and engaging way. Leanne has been with us such a long time, she’s become a part of Busy Bees. We wouldn’t be without her now.’
