With the amazing summer of sport that is rapidly approaching, everyone at MAD Academy has been inspired to get into the sporting spirit. Our music and movement classes this term all have a fun and physical sporting theme and we shall be discovering all about different events, athletes and sports with the help of our new CD.

The CD is packed with 25 catchy children’s songs and music tracks. Some of the tunes will be familiar as you sing along to ‘If You Want Your Team to Win‘ or ‘5 Little Men Running in a Race‘! Other new songs will soon become firm favourites, such as ‘Meena the Triathlete’ or ‘The Race is On!’

You can start enjoying our new CD now with our FREE music downloads. We are giving away four of our fantastic songs absolutely FREE and you can download them now!

To order your own copy of MAD Sport, just visit our shop!

Founder, Helen Harrington, and her team, will be at the Boutique Hotel, 63 Bayswater Road, West London from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday 13th May. If you are interested in possibly joining MAD Academy or would just like to find out more about what we do, book your place today. As well as giving a business presentation, Helen will be there to chat with you and answer any questions you might have about teaching children, running classes, or launching your own franchise business.

All attendees will also receive a FREE gift and a £500 discount voucher.

So, if you are considering a change of career or have always wanted to run your own business, come along and find out about what MAD Academy could offer you.

We will also be attending:

• June 17th – Watford
• July 15th – Maidstone
• September 16th –  Solihull

For further details visit our Open Days page.

Pauline was interviewed for their popular ‘Behind the Scenes with…’ feature in which they focus on local people who run family orientated businesses in London and the Surrey boarders.

You can read Pauline’s feature in full on the Families Online website. So check it out and discover what it is really like behind the scenes of a successful children’s music and movement business!

Swimming Fun!

As a treat mummy said she would take me to the local swimming pool for a splash around, we had to pack our swimming stuff before we left, I packed my swimming trunks, my arm bands to keep me afloat, a big fluff towel and my goggles so I could see under water! On the way to the pool we sang let’s go to the pool, I was so excited! Once we arrived we paid the lady to enter and headed to the changing rooms.  We got changed in to our swimming suits and put all our clothes in a locker then headed to the pool area. I had my arm bands and goggles on ready for the fun to begin. Mummy got in 1st and looked pretty shocked at how cold it was! I slowly got in, it was pretty cold but once we splashed around for a minute it soon warmed up. Mummy and I had so much fun swimming and splashing and using my goggles to look under water. The time went so quick and before I knew it mummy was saying it was time to get out. So out we climb, it was so cold and I couldn’t wait to get a towel around me. Once we dried off and got changed we decided to head to the café for a hot chocolate to warm ourselves up before heading back into the rain. It was such a fun day.  What fun things have you done whilst it’s been raining?

Don’t forget to check out the new colouring and puzzle pages on MAD Academy’s website, they are totally pawsome!

Ralph x

• Class A: Walkers to 2 years old – 9.45 to 10.30am
• Class B: 2 to 4 years old – 10.45 to 11.30am

So, if you regularly attend a MAD Academy class and want more MADness in your week, or you fancy trying MAD Academy out for the first time, why not come along for FREE to The Parish of Our Lady of Peace Halls, 338 Wokingham Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 7DA on Thursday 10th May 2012.   If you want to attend please email Trish with your name and contact details, and the names and ages of your children. Alternatively you can call her on 0118 977 0050. She will contact you to confirm your place (there is a maximum of 10 children per class, booked on a first come first serve basis).

Just 12 months ago Sophie was a Sales Manager for BT, a career she had been pursuing for 12 years. So what prompted the change? As Sophie explains, “I had just had two children and I really wanted to improve my work-life balance so that I would able to see my children more often.”

She heard about MAD Academy franchises and decided to try running her own business teaching music and movement classes for preschool children. “I was very impressed by the developmental benefits of MAD Academy and how much work had gone in behind the scenes to make sure that all the activities of the classes have specific demonstrable benefits for the babies and children.”

Now Sophie is bringing these benefits to the babies and toddlers of North Oxford and Bicester. In just a year her business has gone from nothing to running 10 classes a week and working with local nurseries and children’s centres. “I love being my own boss! I worked for a large corporate previously where I could make very few decisions. Now I can make decisions myself and quickly too – it’s a great, refreshing freedom.”

“It’s been a hard year, really busy. But the effort you put in does pay off. The highlight has been how many customers come back for a second or a third term. I’ve already seen tiny 12 week old babies grow up and move into my walkers classes which is wonderful.”

Sophie’s customers are returning because they love the fun and energy she brings to her classes. Indeed, they love her classes so much they have now nominated her as the Most Outstanding Activity Leader in the South for the Under 5s in the What’s on 4 Little Ones Awards. “I was absolutely thrilled to be nominated! It’s really wonderful to know that the parents appreciate the classes so much.”

Now she just needs parents to show that appreciation again by voting for her on the What’s on 4 Little Ones website. Voting closes on 6^th May. Let’s hope Sophie’s run of success continues and she wins her award – what a first year anniversary present that would be for Sophie!