Hi, my name is Kerry and I run Jo Jingles classes in the areas of Halifax, Huddersfield, Brighouse and all the bits in between!

A bit about me …

I am a mum with two children aged 10 months and 3 years and until the birth of my youngest child I worked within the NHS as a paediatric Speech and Language Therapist. I always particularly enjoyed running groups with children and their parents/carers, particularly music and singing based ones and so when I decided that I needed a new challenge Jo Jingles immediately sprang to mind! I realised this was a great opportunity to combine my background, experience with children and my desire to work more flexibly. I have so much fun with all the activities. Both my own children love the sessions and have developed such a love of music already that I hope to inspire in your children when they come along to Jo Jingles classes.

What is Jo Jingles?

• Classes are both fun and educational. The aim of a Jo Jingles class is to introduce young children to music through the use of nursery rhymes, songs, musical instruments, movement, sound games and stories.

• Weekly, age specific classes typically offered are:

  6 months – walking
  1 – 2 yrs
  2 – 3 yrs
  3 – 5 yrs

Age groups may vary in some venues whilst we establish the class lists.

• Classes run for 45 minutes during term time only, with a maximum of 15 children.

• Interactive sessions where we ensure that we build upon a repertoire of both old favourites and exciting new songs.

• Pre-school concepts including numbers, colours and a variety of life experiences such as our bodies and going to a farm are introduced. A variety of themes are followed in classes.

• We have a large selection of percussion instruments and will generally use two different instruments each week. Each child will get his or her own identical instrument to play on – this helps to prevent toddler squabbles!

• For the 3+ age group who may be at playgroup or nursery school part-time, Jo Jingles is an ideal activity for mum to share quality time with her child before he or she goes off to “big school” and the 3 – 5’s class includes a “music theory” module where we learn about notation, musical instruments etc.

• Classes introduce children to routine in fun but structured activities.

How will my child benefit from Jo Jingles?

“A child is more confident, usually speaks early and gains an early grasp of the rules of communication if started early in clapping games, group activities and musical games.”       Dr Miriam Stoppard

Experts have found that music aids children in the development of many skills including:

• Speaking and listening
• Physical coordination
• Social interaction

It also helps to promote children’s confidence, intellectual and emotional intelligence.

All things that will benefit your child throughout life, particularly at school!

So not only will your child enjoy themselves, but he/she will also be learning lots of new things!!

As the children grow older and move through the Jo Jingles classes the programme supports them to develop the skills required to achieve their early learning goals.

These skills include:

• Language/communication and literacy
• Listening and attention skills
• Maths
• Movement/physical development
• Memory
• Personal social skills.