LEARN, LAUGH, AND GROW TOGETHER
I started Teddy-cation because I wanted a class that provided fun educational, interactive learning opportunities that covered different subject areas and worked different areas of the brain firing the imagination of young minds. I wanted a class that also provided a rich combination of educational experiences and fun innovative ways of learning, which would give parents practical ideas that they could use at home with their children and help prepare them for school life. A class that didn’t already exist out there for my toddler twins.
I have 17 years of primary school teaching experience including being Deputy Head for a number of years. This experience as well as being school ambassader for BLP, (Building Learning Power) and Assessment Lead, has helped to create the Teddy-cation curriculum for children aged 2 ½ to preschool age.
Being a mum of 6 year old twins has made it clear to me how important it is to introduce children to new educational experiences in an informal fun format creating a foundation block to build upon for future learning. I use elements of the Early Years Curriculum to help structure my classes, with a clear learning intention and fun activities working alongside parents with time to reflect on what we have achieved.
I also offer educational consultancy services and I am currently working with the Children’s Play Village in Warwick.
Educational benefits
Teddy-cation is a unique pre-school group in Warwickshire that provides Budding Brains (Buddies) with an opportunity to take part in a range of practical and rewarding activities based on: Communication, Language & Literacy, Physical Development, Mathematics, Understanding of the World, Expressive Arts & Design, Personal Social & Emotional Development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage. Using physical brain warm up technique principles helps to fire up neurons in the brain.
Many educators believe that using brain exercises helps improve childrens’ concentration, memory, physical co-ordination and self-responsibility in learning new skills and concepts. Learning takes places through explorative and imaginative play and through listening, talking and discussing.
These are short fun movements/exercises that take place at the start of the class designed to engage the brain for example:
This is an important developmental skill needed for everyday tasks such as putting on your shoes or hitting a ball. Crossing the midline with the dominant hand provides practise to develop good fine motor skills. It is suggested that not practising crossing the midline may make it difficult to track moving objects from one side to another or even tracking reading from left to right.
About our Classes
Teddy- cation is a new toddler class that combines education, with fun interactive activities covering different skills in the subjects areas; Art, English, Maths, Science, D&T, P.E. Geography and Music linked with Early Years Foudation Stage. By covering different subject areas and skills, each lesson is a new and exciting learning experience pitched at an age appropriate level .
Teddy- cation is tailored specifically to the pre school (2 ½ – 4yrs) developmental phase and develops language and communication skills, listening skills, social and emotional skills, confidence, co-ordination, imagination, enquiring minds, creativity and exploration of different subject area skills.
The classes follow a set structure with Teddy Neuron greeting each child, a brain warm up exercise, a mission set by Teddy Neuron, a fun practical activity based on a subject area, a circle time sharing and communication of the learning experience and sticker in their Super Hero Card, a self assessment activity to reflect on their learning and a good bye high five from Teddy Neuron. Each class teaches parents/carers simple skills and activities in different subject areas that can be used at home with the children.
Each class runs for 45 minutes over the course of a Warwickshire school term and has a maximum of 14 children attending each session. In the last week of each term Teddy Neuron’s Budding Brains (Buddies) get a certificate, and in the last week of the summer term they graduate into becoming Super Heroes themselves.
The Buddies are given the opportunity to speak and listen in a range of situations that will help to build their confidence and skills in expressing themselves. Through the class activities the children will respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions and actions. The children will be given simple instructions involving several ideas and actions. The Buddies will be given opportunities to express themselves talking about events that have happened in the class and what might happen next, and to make connections between ideas and events e.g. at the end of the session reflecting on their experiences throughout the session.
The Buddies will be given opportunities to practise skills in counting numbers, identifying shapes and exploring measures (talking about sizes and comparing them).
This involves providing opportunities for the Buddies to be active and interactive and develop their co-ordination, control and movement. The Buddies will be given the experience to explore large and small movements to work towards becoming more confident in a range of ways, for example: safely negotiating space and controlling equipment to include throwing and catching balls; handling different tools to develop fine motor skills including using a pen, pencil and paint brushes.
The Buddies will be guided to make sense of the physical world through opportunities to explore and observe what is around them, looking at objects, materials and living things.
The Buddies will be supported to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. We will provide opportunities for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings for a variety of activities in art, music, dance, design and technology.
Buddies will be helped to:
We aim to encourage Buddies to become confident in trying new activities, to be able to speak in a familiar group about their ideas and work as part of a group following the rules of the class.
Laura Foster reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
4 December 2016
We’ve just finished our 2nd term at Teddy-Cation and I really can’t recommend this class enough. Every single session is beautifully creative, engaging and so well organised. I feel these classes are really helping prepare my August baby for starting school next year. Thank you Becky & Teddy Neuron! �
Ayshea Tovey reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
19 April at 22:41 ·
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Great session this week Becky thank you. D is loving the sessions and she counted the 11 studs on my jumper last night, touching one stud for each number she counted. Amazing since she wasn’t doing that 2 weeks ago when we did the giant dice activity. X
James Dex reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
24 April at 14:08 ·
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My son Isaac loved the session, just the right mix of brain teasers, dexterity and physicality for him. He was singing the teddy neuron song all day afterwards!
Sarah Abercrombie reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
21 April at 13:18 ·
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We had a great time at Teddy-Cation, the girls loved all the different activities and were constantly stimulated (no mean feat). Becky’s experience lends itself perfectly to this class and preparing the little pre-schoolers for the big day! Thank you
Sarah Abercrombie
Lisa Dennis reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
27 June 2016
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Hi Becky
I just wanted to share my praise for the class you run on a Tuesday at Hatton Park Village Hall. Lexie really enjoys the class and loves the activities yourself and Teddy Neuron set. I like the way you use elements of the Early Years Curriculum to help structure your classes, which are fun and keep Lexie entertained while she is learning at the same time. I think it’s great that there are different themes each week and I love the fact that I can also take part and interact with Lexie on the activities which gives us great mum and daughter time especially when I want to make more use of our time together now that I have a newborn baby daughter. Keep up the great work and thank you.
Helen Watkins reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
3 May at 00:07 ·
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Ella and I had a fantastic time last she hasn’t stopped talking about teddy neuron and the things we did. Great mix of fun but learning and allows parent child interaction as well, we’re coming back
Donnamarie Davenport reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
29 April at 05:47 ·
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What a fantastic class my little girl loved the variety of things to do. This week there were things to find and match relating to the seasons, things to create a lovely flower picture and things to plant our runner bean so a real opportunity to engage all the senses – there was a bit of avid listening too!
My little girl also enjoyed the class a few weeks ago and has really mastered using scissors since coming along. Great entertainment for me and my pre-schooler
Sarah Tsang reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
1 December 2016
Fabulous class, well structured, educational and lots of fun. Lots of seasonal themes with plenty of variety in the activities each week. My son loves to tell everyone about what he has been doing with Teddy-neuron each week, and is always eagre to go to class. Highly recommended smile emoticon
Sophie Bullivant reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
16th May 2015
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First and foremost Becky is literally the Mary Poppins of the Midlands ! She has this really unique way of teaching whilst making the lessons oodles of fun ! Simply put this is exactly how teaching should be ! All the red tape and pen pushing measures from the government have put a stop to fun learning . These classes are so refreshing ! My kids have so much fun they don’t even know they are learning and can’t wait to go back ! A fantastic concept which I know is going to be a huge success …. So much so that I’m going to book ahead for as many sessions as I can !
Angela Lewis reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
13 October 2016
This is definitely the best class I do with my daughter (2y9m). She talks about it all the time, knows the day it’s on and is always enthusiastic to go even on grumpy days. It took her a few sessions to get used to Teddy Neuron but now she high-fives him with all her might grin emoticon:D
Each themed session has 3 main activities (a mix of crafty or active, all with an educational objective) aimed & timed well to suit all ages in the group, and we often have something to bring home to show Daddy.
Learning IS fun!
Bally Wadalia reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
6 October 2016
Highly recommended, it was our highlight of the week! My boys loved going to Teddy-cation. Becky is fantastic – she is so encouraging that the children can’t help but throw themselves into the activities. It also gave me ideas for new play and games at home.
Andrea Docherty reviewed Teddy-cation – 5 star
3 December 2016
I have been taking my 3 year old twin sons to the class for a term now and we love it and have already signed up for the Spring term. It’s an extremely well run class, full of fun and activity. Every week is a different theme with extremely well thought through activities held in a really friendly environment. It’s the best pre school class we do and I’d highly recommend it.
Photos taken by Lynne Gougeon and David Fawbert
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 Hatton Park Village Hall |
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Warwick Gates Community Centre |
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Whitnash Community Hall |
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Warwickshire Gym |
Starting School By Becky – Teddycation Starting school is a big milestone. It signifies a new chapter of independence and learning for your child! It is an exciting stage in your child’s development. As a teacher of 17 years you’d have thought I’d know the ropes when my twins started school in 2016, but being…
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🐻Teddy-cation’s little people 👫 love the great outdoors, we have been making the most of the good (ish) 🌦weather. Tree 🌳climbing, den building, catching crabs 🦀, rock pooling and sea paddling 🌊. So many health and developmental benefits of being outside! We can’t wait until Monday’s class (fully booked) – last one of the summer but we will be back for the Autumn term and booking will open tomorrow!👏🏻
Enjoy the weekend, let us know what you get up to 🐻❤️
Lovely day on Croyde beach today! Hope you enjoyed the day of sun before the torrential rain ☔️ tomorrow.
Autumn Term booking now open bookthatin.com/BookingWidget?id=170
#croydebeach #sunnyday🌞 #dunejumping #paddling #rockpooling #sandybeach #newterm #bookingopen #preschoolclass #teddycation #learningisfun #warwickshire #lovelearning
💥🐻Autumn Term Booking is now Open🐻💥
Book via this link:
bookthatin.com/BookingWidget?id=170
Thank you for your patience while the new booking system was being set up, hopefully as a customer it will make it easier for you to book a class place and for future bookings.
I thought I’d share with you all 2 beautiful pieces of artwork that were given to me yesterday. I have been lucky enough to have Molly attend my class first a couple of years ago (now going into year 2) and her brother Henry (who will be starting school in September) who must be easily one of my longest attendees – coming along (first as little brother to Molly then taking part himself) for over 2 years. It has been an absolute pleasure teaching them both and having them as part of the Teddy-cation family. Receiving feedback like this affirms why I love doing the job I do, I am so lucky to have met such lovely children and parents. Thank you! 🥰🐻❤️ #feelinglucky🍀 #grateful #lovelychildren #lovelyparents #lovemyjob💕 #teaching #futuregeneration #lifelonglearners #missthemalready #preschoolclass #warwickshire #openforbooking #teddycation
We had a lovely morning yesterday making everything seaside related! The children made some beautiful sea story stones, colourful jellyfish and investigated floating and sinking. #seaside #beach #jellyfish #scienceinvestigation #artwork #childrencrafts #finemotorskills #creativity #imaginativeplay #warwickshire
💥💥one space left at 11.15am💥💥
🐳Sea/beach theme this week. We will be painting pebbles, making a jelly fish and investigating floating and sinking!! If you would like to join us Tuesday 13th August 10am or 11.15am at Hatton Park Village Hall, I have just 2 spaces left on each session. £6.50 per child 🧒
Classes are open to 2.5yr olds up to year 2.
Book a place now 🏄♀️🐠🐡🐟🐬🐳🦀🦞🦐
Now this looks like a fun activity to do with the kids! 🐻
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Don’t forget to order your graduation shots from www.davidfawbertphotography.co.uk
If you need me to send you the link and password again, please get in contact and I’ll resend it to you! The photos are stunning 🐻🥰
Lovely day at @compton_verney we can highly recommend visiting the place, so much to do inside the house and grounds. #familytime💕 #warwickshire #comptonverney #fundayout #summerholidays2019 #friends👭 #somuchtodo #craft #greatoutdoors #birdwatching #ponddipping #openfieldstorun #playground
We had such a lovely morning making dream catchers using treasures we found in the woods. I love how the children thought about how each of the objects protected them from bad dreams e.g. feathers to tickle the dreams away, a swirl of the shell 🐚 to send bad dreams away in the spiral, pine cones to trap dreams between the scales, a witches finger (stick) to poke the bad dreams away. #outdoorlearning #woodlandtreasures #warwickshire #dreamcatchers #imagination #creativity #teddycation #fun
Our first Summer Outdoor Learning Class tomorrow and we can’t wait! We will be making a wild dream catcher using treasures we find in the woods. We will decide what each of things do to protect us from bad dreams – a spikey pine cone snag bad dreams, a shell to reflect bad dreams away and a witches finger to curse away bad thoughts.
The weather doesn’t look great tomorrow but we run classes whatever the weather (unless unsafe weather is for-cast) so waterproofs are a must, wellies and a love of the great outdoors 😊 Park by the wooded area as per booking form or in the club car park itself and walk back to the woods. I will be standing near the woods to direct you. #outdoorlearning #usingourimagination #dreamcatcher #woodlandtreasurehunt #pinecones #shells #beingcreative #finemotorskills #enjoyingtheoutdoors #rainwontstopus #warwickshire #teddycationclass
You know how much Teddy-cation loves art and craft, well we spent an amazing day at Arts In The Park Leamington Spa. We enjoyed looking at all the fabulous range of art and craft stands. There is so much for the children to do, my daughter made a button turtle canvas and bead key ring – we could have done so much more! Pop along you won’t be disappointed. #artsintheparkfestivalleamingtonspa #artsinthepark #leamingtonspa #art #craft #creativity #warwickshire #childrensactivities #supportingsmallbuisnesses #greatdayout #AITP2019
Lovely day with the kids at All Things Wild. On the way back home we popped in our allotment to get some fresh vegetables. There is a beautiful Lilac/Buddliea (enlighten me to how to tell the difference) on the plot next to us and it was covered in butterflies 🦋 – isn’t this peacock butterfly just beautiful! Looking forward to Monday’s Outdoor Learning Class, where we will be making dream catchers. I hope you have had a lovely day too!#familytime💕 #daysout #natureatitsbest #peacockbutterfly #summerholidays2019 #outdoorlearning #warwickshire #wellbeing
We spent a lovely morning, with such a great bunch of children, making our hats and potions linked to our Alice in Wonderland Theme. The children’s imaginations for what could happen to you if you drank the potions were fantastic- they ranged from making you invisible, hypnotising you, transporting you to wherever you wanted to go and making all you dreams come true 🥰
The next summer class will run on Tuesday 13th August at Hatton Park Village Hall – the theme will be ‘the beach’ we have 2 spaces available for the 10am slot and 3 at the 11.15am class. If you fancy joining us please get in contact becky@teddy-cation.co.uk #summerfun2019 #crafts #creativityforkids #imagination #aliceinwonderland #learningisfun #warwickshire #teddycation
Can’t wait to share this magical pop up book with my summer class tomorrow! We have 2 spaces left at the 10am class and one at the 11.15am class. Held at Hatton Park Village Hall, Barcheston Drive. £6.50 per child – open to 2.5yrs up to year 2 aged children. We will be playing a game, making a hat for the Mad Hatter’s tea party and mixing our potions to shrink us or make us bigger. Contact me on becky@teddy-cation.co.uk or message me 🐻 #summerclass #aliceinwonderland #crafts #imagination #learningthroughplay #storytime #warwickshire #hatton #learningisfun
Tuesday’s weather looks rubbish but worry not as we have a fab Teddy-cation Summer class planned. Alice in Wonderland is the theme, where we will be making a hat 🎩 worthy of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and mixing our own potion bottle deciding what will happen to us if we drank it!
If you would like to come along we have 2 spaces left at the 10am slot and 5 at the 11.15am class. They take place at Hatton Park Village Hall, Barcheston Drive. £6.50 per child for 45 minutes of fun and exciting activities. Classes open for 2.5yrs up to year 2 aged children.
Message me if you would like to book a place – first come first served.
#teddycation #summerclass #aliceinwonderland #madhatterteaparty #hats #potions #finemotorskills #crafts #imagination #hattonpark #fun #bookaplace
