The classes are centred around magical stories in which the children (and you!) take part, so that for example we might meet a lion, so we would do a lion pose. We have basic structures in the class (such as a kiddy "salute to the sun" sequence, and a "Bendy Giggly" song) so each week is a mixture of the familiar and the new. At the end of each adventure we have a relax song, where you and your child can snuggle up and assimilate all we have done. My current mums tell me it is very different to the other things they take their children to and very relaxing as well as a real opportunity to spend quality time with your child away from the stresses of modern life.

In yoga we value the children being themselves more than doing what they are told (provided it is not disruptive or harmful to others!), so they have a greater sense of freedom than some more prescriptive classes, which also greatly adds to the creativity that their input can provide (it is normal for pre-schoolers to sometimes want to wander about, or lose interest, or do things differently to other children....!). We incorporate all the things that children love in one class (movement, songs, music, dance, story, imaginary play), making them highly engaging. I keep the classes small so that they are intimate, friendly and so that I can give all the children my attention (this does mean that I have to charge £5 per lesson, but my mums feel that it is well worth it). We end with special Tatty Bumpkin stickers which the children stick onto beautiful certificates that I provide.

Really you have to experience it so that you can understand the magic of these classes, which is why I offer free taster sessions.

• The classes have been devised by physiotherapists, educationalists, musicians yoga teachers as well as parents and children!
• We teach beat competency; the music has been specially designed for Tatty Bumpkin classes by educational musicians to help the children to learn “Beat Competency”, (the ability to move rhythmically to a beat), which is a vital skill in learning to walk, dance, talk, write, and many other daily activities such as cutting with scissors or hammering a nail! Recent research indicates that children with a good grasp of beat competency are more likely to do well at school.
• The classes meets the Governments Early Years Foundation Stage goals; in addition to physical moves the children also learn about the world we live in, they learn social skills such as sharing and the parent child bonding helps enhance emotional security (a vital pre-requisite to happy children who are ready and willing to learn about their world).
• The classes are multi-sensory to enhance retention and learning whatever your child’s primary mode of learning is (Hearing, Sight, Touch as well as Smell and Taste)
• The classes have proven therapeutic benefits (some of the many benefits are: calms nervous system, improved concentration, increased strength, maintenance of flexibility and joint mobility, improved co-ordination and balance, improved confidence, creativity and imagination, releasing day to day tension/anxiety, improved memory retention (through mind calming techniques). The gross and fine motor movements used help to stimulate the parts of the brain also required for talking, reading, writing and mathematical understanding and have been proven to be a vital factor in assisting children to learn in all these areas and more.
• We are CACHE accredited (Council for awards in Children’s Care and Education)
• We are members of the Pre-school learning alliance