Sing and Sign baby signing classes in... Southwark
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About Me
April 2024 bookings now open :)
At Sing and Sign Southwark, we don’t just teach you the signs; we put them into parenting context. Our classes are so much more than just learning a bunch of signs and songs every week!
APRI 2024 term bookings open now
Check live availability (and make your booking) HERE
For April 2024, we are offering classes in Crystal Palace, Dulwich Village, East Dulwich, Forest Hill, Herne Hill, and Penge.
What is on offer?
Sing and Sign Babes - for our youngest babies of 0 - 5 months
Stage 1 - for babies of 6 - 13 months
Stage 2 - for toddlers of 12 - 24 months
Each weekly class lasts approximately 45 minutes.
For all of the stages, your booking fees include:
Weekly venue class
Membership at the appropriate level (Babes, Gold, Premium) of our membership site
Access to our @home classes/videos during the term
Weekly live zoom on Saturday mornings
Membership of a WhatsApp group for your class
Sing and Sign Babes families also receive a complimentary Jessie Cat Songbook with CD and a peek-a-boo scarf.
What if I can’t attend a full term of venue based classes?
We have an option for you!
You may purchase the term of @home classes (Stage 1 and Stage 2 only) and watch that at home with your baby. @home also includes a year’s Gold (stage 1) or Premium (stage 2) membership.
How safe are the venue classes?
All of our teachers have received training for
Covid Infection,
Safeguarding and
Fire Marshall
We have completed risk assessments for Covid Security and general safety at all of our venues. We comply with our venues’ risk assessments, too.
We strongly encourage you to sanitise your hands when entering the venue and before/after touching any part of the building (door handles, etc)
We require our families to respect everyone’s health and safety and to NOT attend class when a baby or adult is unwell.
What makes Sing and Sign so very special?
At a Sing and Sign class, you will have:
An experience that rewards YOUR brain as much as it entertains your baby (and let’s face it, happy baby = happy parent!)
Fun whilst learning in class, because all you need is YOU and your baby, not loads of equipment
A fantastic insight into the best communication skills and tools for you and your baby to develop a deep relationship with each other
Class specific WhatsApp groups for sharing your questions, triumphs and ideas for babysigning
Access to learning a skill for life that carries over into your child’s later education and that you can use with other people for whom signing is their means of communication.
About us
We are driven to get as many families signing with their babies as possible. We are passionate about our classes; it is a privilege to spend time regularly with new families as they embark upon their parenting journey. It is a thrill, too, to be able to give families the gift of two-way communication.
If you live in SE1, SE5, SE15, SE16, SE17, SE19, SE20, SE21, SE22, SE23, SE24, SE25, SE26 or SE27.... then congratulations - this is your local franchise :)
We teach classes from Monday to Friday in
Crystal Palace,
Dulwich Village,
East Dulwich,
Forest Hill,
Herne Hill, and
Penge
For details of these classes please visit the More Info and Venues tabs above.
Laura Shiels and Suzy Young teach alongside me (Trish Cummings) to deliver our fabulous classes to you.
About the classes in Southwark...
Sing and Sign classes follow a ten-week curriculum covering all the signs you need to know for day to day life with your baby or toddler. There are three different age-appropriate stages available - for more information on the different Stages and course costs see the "more info" tab above. Click the 'Book Now' button at the top right of the page to view the timetable, join a waiting list or book a space. All classes are taught by me or Amy McIntyre.
Google “Sing and Sign Southwark” to read our Reviews - we think you’ll be impressed!
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More Info
Further information about classes/weekend workshops/term dates, etc.
Which Stage Class should I Attend?
We have 3 different "stages" of Sing and Sign which have been developed specifically for your baby's developmental stages.Sing and Sign Babes classes are for 0 to 5 month olds with their parent / carer. This gentle class explores themes such as eye contact, gesture and anticipation together with lots of cuddles, tickles and some simple signs. All building the framework for good communication and brought to you using our magic ingredient - music!
Sing and Sign Stage 1 is ideal for babies from 6 months old up to around 14 months old and their parent / carer. Themes include basic signs, nappies & bath time, emotions & bedtime. You'll learn over 100 signs related to your routines and also the sort of things your baby may be interested in, such as animals and vehicles.
It is quite a big step from Stage 1 to Stage 2, so most families attend Stage 1 for two terms before attending Stage 2.However, this is also dependent on your baby's age.
Sing and Sign Stage 2 is great when your little one is 14+ months, moving about and probably starting to talk (although every baby is different, so there's no hard and fast rule!) as it is more active and interactive. Themes include weather, opposites, colours and the phonetic alphabet, together with simple counting songs, turn taking, sharing and of course, lots of fun!
Some people don't hear about Sing and Sign until their little ones are 14+ months old and then wonder if it too late to start. Not at all! It may be more appropriate to come straight to a Stage 2 class, but if you e-mail me we can have a chat about your individual circumstances.How Long Do Classes Run For?
10 week Babes classes run for about 30 to 45 minutes - they are very relaxed. DO come if your baby is asleep - you will still be able to learn lots to take home and use with your baby.10/11 week Stage 1 and 2 classes run for about 45 minutes to an hour ( depending on the size of the group).
How Many People Attend Sing and Sign Classes?
Class sizes are limited. We need to allow space in classes for self determined social distancing, so, apart from on special occasions (e.g. Granny coming to stay for the week), we have to limit places to one adult per child. Visitors are ONLY permitted on an individual basis and you MUST check with Trish Cummings and receive written permission.You may not assume that it is ok to bring along extra people to the class.I Have Twins / Triplets - How Many Places Do I Pay For?
Twins/Triplets are welcome and only pay for one place if there is only one adult. If you bring Dad / Granny or another adult helper each week, you will need to book and pay for 2 places.I Have An Older Child - Can They Come Too?
NOT UNTIL THE PANDEMIC IS A DISTANT MEMORY. SORRY.
How Much Does It Cost?
Babes classes cost £95 covering your weekly venue class, a live zoom on Saturday mornings, the Jessie Cat Songbook, online Babes membership (1 year), our brand new Babes online videos and songs , plus complementary Jessie Cat Bag and Peekaboo Scarf.Stage 1 & 2 classes run for 10 weeks and cost £110 for the weekly venue class, plus the prerecorded online classes for this course (which includes the Sing and Sign Membership gold package (1 year online subscription) and a weekly live zoom on Saturdays.
I Am On Holiday For A Couple Of The Classes. Do I Still Have To Pay The Full Amount?
In a word, yes! This is a local, small business that supports a family, despite Sing and Sign being a nationally known and leading brand. We commit to you and we ask you to commit to us.
Sing and Sign classes operate as a course, not a drop-in and your place is guaranteed each week. Many people miss one or two weeks because of illness / holidays etc. and they soon catch up as our classes are purposefully repetitive to help you remember the songs and the signs (and babies love routine too). We also send you email handouts to complement the classes. AND you can always watch the online prerecorded classes as many times as you wish, each week.
Can I Attend A Taster?
I used to run free taster sessions, but unfortunately I have had many people come along for the freebie with absolutely no intention of signing up for classes, and this has excluded other genuine enquirers from attending a free session.
From time to time I will run individual taster sessions which cost £10. If you then decide to sign up for the next term of classes, I will refund you the £10 after you have booked and paid for your term of classes.
One of the lovely things about Sing and Sign is that we keep the class sizes small and you see the same people each week. Having someone come for one week during the term would change the dynamic of the group and also wouldn't be appropriate as it is a course which builds each week, not a drop-in. For those reasons, we don't allow people to drop in for a "taster" during term time.
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Venues
For specific class times....
please visit my booking page https://www.bookmyclass.co.uk/Singandsign/default.aspx?fid=22
Day Time Stage Location Monday AM Stage 1 SE19 Upper Norwood Library Hub Monday PM Babes SE19 Upper Norwood Library Hub Monday AM Stage 1 SE23 St William of York Catholic Church Hall Monday AM Stage 1 & 2 SE22 Goose Green Centre Monday PM Babes SE22 Goose Green Centre Monday PM Babes SE16 Canada Water Studios Monday PM Stage 1 SE16 Canada Water Studios Tuesday AM Stage 1 SE22 Goose Green Centre Tuesday PM Babes SE22 Goose Green Centre Tuesday AM Stage 1 & 2 SE24 South London Dance Studios Tuesday AM Babes SE24 South London Dance Studios Wednesday AM Stage 1 & 2 SE19 Upper Norwood Library Hub Thursday AM Stage 1 SE21 Grafton Dance Centre Friday AM Stage 1 SE20 Melvin Hall Friday PM Babes SE20 Melvin Hall Friday AM Stage 1 & 2 SE22 Goose Green Centre -
Nurseries
Nurseries: how many parents have overlooked you because you don't sign with the children in your setting?
Increasingly I'm approached by parents who are returning to work, seeking advice on which local nurseries use signing with their children.
Babysigning is an invaluable tool to use with children, particulaly in multilingual communities, and it offers many benefits and rewards, for children and staff alike.
Here are some local nurseries who have already received (and greatly enjoyed) my Sing and Sign Nursery Affiliation Programme training sessions:Arc Nursery, 39 Crosby Row, Borough SE1
Kiddi Caru International Nursery, Empress Approach, Earl's Court, SW6
Kiddi Caru Streatham Nursery, Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16
Playhouse Montessori Nursery, 1a Dunbar Avenue, Streatham, SW16
All of these nurseries have given me very positive feedback on their training experiences with me and have also fully embraced signing with the children in their care.
Our Sing and Sign Nursery Affiliation Programme is effective, efficient, good value for money and highly regarded by the nurseries that I have visited; one member of staff rushed up to me on my return visit to tell me that "Your training was the best we've ever had" - and this was from an OFSTED Outstanding Nursery.
Please do contact me if you'd like to include your Nursery Setting in the Sing and Sign Nursery Affiliation Programme. I will inspire your staff to become proficient signers - and you, your staff, your parents and most importantly, the children entrusted to you will reap the benefits the early pre-verbal communication brings.
Do not hesitate to contact me through the "Make an Enquiry "button on the right of this page, please. -
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