Oxford

Karen Bisp - 01993 774781 - Email

Hello I am Karen Bisp, Mum to Rowan age 7, Eleanor 4 and Fraser 2.

I have been nominated as Franchisee of the year in the mumandworking awards for this year- I would love all the votes I can get so please vote for me at

http://mumandworking.co.uk/awards/franchisee/

It is much appreciated!

We have classes running throughout Oxfordshire, so please contact us for our up to date information and enrolement form.

We are currently enroling for our September term. Some classes are already full so please contact us to check for availability and to be added to the waiting list if you are unable to attend an alternative class.

If you should wish to book a space on one of the courses then please either:

1. Call me ( Karen) on 01993 774781 or Helen on 01993 709532 to request an enrolement form.

2. clicking on email above in yellow or via oxfordsingandsign@googlemail.com.

Class spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Our Signing story

We started signing with Rowan when she was around 10 months old, firstly using the sing and sign Video and then by attending classes. She amazed us all by signing around forty different things by the time she was 14 months old, particularly signing when she saw animals when we were out in the car!

Her communication developed so quickly and to such a high standard for a child of her age it was incredible. Although I cannot prove this was through doing sing and Sign, I truly believe that this gave her a huge head start in communication and understanding.

We then enjoyed signing with Eleanor, who at 8 months signed Lights (particularly when we were in a supermarket and they were bright!), more, milk and duck and was extremely pleased with herself!! At around 18 months she used 70 + signs including more complicated signs such as tortoise and giraffe and began to use and recognise some colours- which we still used up until she was around 2 1/2yrs old and this gave her great confidence. Her speech was not as clear as Rowans so we relied on the signs for a longer period of time.

We were still using the signs so overlapped with Fraser coming along, He picked up the signs very quickly - I am sure it helped that he had 4 people signing to him and the girls prompted us when we forgot!

Rowan and Eleanor loved being the big sisters and signing things to Fraser, particularly signing "naughty" when Fraser pulled their hair!

When Fraser was 2 and a true signing and speaking monster. His favourite spoken words tended to be truck, digger, brush and hoover during this point in time. He speaks in a lot of sentences now but still signs for a lot of things - particularly when he wants to make a point very clear - for example he will sign for more if he has just eaten something he really enjoyed - I think he thinks it will win me over as I am so pleased!!!

He particularly enjoyed using lots of animals signs - particularly giraffe and zebra - we are members at the Cotswold Wildlife park and became very adept at the signs for sharing, please/ thank you and sorry. As well as nappy change, birds, cars, trains, garden ( he loves being outside) eating/ hungry, drinking, milk and hot. He frequently used 2 signs together such as Daddy gone or Daddy work and he enjoys playing his own games with signs especially by hiding things and then signing Where..?. He was (and still is!!) obsessed with brushes, brooms and hoovers and signs for all of these by brushing his hair and saying the words as well - frequently embarassing me when we are out and about by signing and shouting hoover in an extremely excited manner!!

Now he is 2 1/2 and rarely uses the signs but speaks all the time and has great understanding of concepts such as colours, opposites and is ready to start his new challenge at playschool in September.

I have been teaching sing and sign in this area since September 2004 and am also a qualified Nurse. I hope you are able to come and enjoy the fun at class with us all.

Our classes

MONDAY

St James Church, Beauchamp Lane, Cowley, Oxford

Stage 2 at 9.45 am

Stage 1 at 10.45am

MONDAY

Bradwell village hall, Burford

9.45 for stage 2

10.45am for Stage 1

TUESDAY

Shipton Under Wychwood, New Beaconsfield Hall.

9.45 for Stage 1

10.45 for stage 2

TUESDAY

Woodstock

13.00 for stage 1

WEDNESDAY

The Yoga Garden, Summertown in Oxford

9.45 for stage 2

10.45am for stage 1.

THURSDAY

The High Street Methodist Church, Witney

9.45/11.45am stage 1

10.45/ 13.30pm stage 2.

THURSDAY

Headington, Oxford

9.45 am Stage 1

10.45 amd stage 1 (NEW Class time)

FRIDAY

The High Street Methodist Church, Witney

Stage 1 at 9.30am / 11.30am (FULL)

Stage 2 at 10.30am

FRIDAY

The Corner suite, Christchurch, Abingdon

10.45 am stage 1 (FULL)

and 9.45 am stage 2

To help me with all of these classes I have a team of great teachers who are as follows:

Sally Dubock who is a qualified primary school teacher. Sally and her family have been delighted by the postitive effect that signing has had for their daughter Hannah. They have attended for over the last year and Sally is keen to share her humorous stories and experience with you in class. Sally teaches the Cowley and Abingdon classes.

Claire Lake

Sally Balfour Allen

Amanda Dicken

Claire Ousey

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing the fun of baby signing.

I am happy to arrange demonstrations for groups, - please contact me to arrange a time and place.

For classes in Bicester, Brackley or Banbury please contact

Corma Holmes on 01280 704705 or

by email on mrscormaholmes@hotmail.com

Sing and Sign Affiliated Nurseries in this area
Petit Enfant Day Nurseries in both Brize Norton and Witney

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT CLASS # Classes are very relaxed and good fun! We keep class sizes small (around 11 per class) so you and your baby can enjoy the social aspect of class. # Classes run for an hour - we sing and sign for approximately 30-40 mins. # As a general rule, Stage 1 classes are great for babies aged from 6/7mths upwards. Stage 2 classes are most appropriate for babies who have attended at least one term of stage 1, and who will be around 14mths+ at the start of term(exceptions apply, please contact me if you are unsure!). # We know babies don't like to stay still so we don't expect them to! They are welcome to roam around the room if they want to - they will still be learning (you'd be surprised how much they can pick up whilst wandering!) When Jessie Cat, instruments or the prop bag appear they soon come back! # At the end of our music session the toys come out! Your teacher is available to answer any questions that may not have already been answered in class. # We learn all the signs through our easy to learn action-songs. Don't worry if you can't sing ... you don't have to! # At the first week's class you will receive your baby's own personalised folder to keep the weekly handouts, which recap what we have learned in class. # Cost per term is £55. Due to limited numbers per class you will need to book and pay prior to term starting. (Early booking is advisable) We can take payment via cash, cheque or bank transfer. SING AND SIGN IN LOCAL NURSERIES! Does your child attend a nursery? Sing and Sign now has an excellent Nursery Affiliation Programme which will train staff on their own premises at a time to suit all. We will teach staff a selection of signs, tailor made to the nursery's individual requirements and design an Individual Action Plan to inspire staff and make signing fun and easy to incorporate. Following training, the nursery will receive a Certificate of Sing and Sign Affiliation together with ongoing access to our signing resources and a complimenatary package of products. If your baby attends nursery or you know of a childcare facility that would be interested in receiving further information, please do pass our details on, or contact us at the number/email above. Local Nurseries which have enjoyed Sing and Sign Affiliation include :