Children’s Minister, Beverley Hughes recently announced that parents who do not read stories or sing with their children are threatening their offsprings future development and intends to set up a new ‘parenting workforce’ trained specifically to deal with this issue. Miss Hughes was also quoted in the Daily Mail stating, “…It is necessary for children to develop emotional intelligence and flexibility, and to have good problem-solving and interpersonal skills… Some parents already know that reading and singing nursery rhymes with their young children will get them off to a flying start”.

Jo Jingles has been doing just that for more than a decade! As the UK’s leading provider of music, singing and movement classes for babies and pre-school age children from 6 months to 5 years of age, the company has long been an advocate of the benefits of exposing children to music at an early age. Research now confirms this early exposure does help to develop language, numeracy, concentration & listening skills, self-confidence & independence, physical co-ordination, social skills, intellectual and emotional intelligence.

In a recent Edition of Women’s Weekly it was reported by researchers in Canada that music lessons for children as young as four to six can enhance intelligence and memory.

When they compared brain scans of young children who had been learning about music in this way for a year with those of children who’d had no formal training, they noticed their brains processed data faster and stored more information. What’s more differences began showing after just four months of lessons. This adds to previous studies that have shown benefits to intelligence in older children given music training.

Debbie Bird , Jo Jingles franchisee for Aylesbury, Wendover, Halton, & Princes Risborough recently hosted a fun Jo Jingles music and movement session at Aylesbury Lending Library.

All 19 children and their parents participated in singing, playing musical instruments and guessing the animal!

For further details on Debbie’s classes call 01296 625599 or Email: debbiebird@hotmail.co.uk

The Kent on Sunday Paper recently ran a feature on Jo Jingles Franchisee, Claire Lambert who has scooped a place in the final of the "bfa Franchisee of the Year Awards", sponsored by HSBC and Express Newspapers.

Claire now joins the other 9 finalists at a special Awards Event in Birmingham on Thursday 5th October 2006.

For details on Claire's classes in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, St Mary's Platt, Matfield, Hildenborough, Bidborough, Bells Yew Green, Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough, Borough Green, Goudhurst, & Pembury - Tel: 01732 361314 Email: claire@jojingles.net or visit www.jojingles.net

and Burghfield Common, Charvil, Emmer Green, Lower Earley, Pangbourne, Reading, Shinfield, Tilehurst, Woodley - Call Lorna on 01892 532969 Email: lornalevitt@yahoo.co.uk

Edinburgh based Jo Jingles Franchisees, Joanne Goodall and Susan Jameson took part in the 30th Anniversary of the Edinburgh Cavalcade on Sunday 6th August, 2006. With the support of their Class Teachers and parents and children from their Jo Jingles sessions they joined in the parade which attracted over 100,000 people.

The Cavalcade parade included more than 3,000 participants from festival & fringe shows, community groups, commercial floats and bands from all over the world.

A total of 11 events run in the city for the festival season, including the Fringe, where Joanne, Susan and Big Jo were seen performing ‘Jo Jingles goes to the Jungle’ between 7th and 10th August. They ran 2 shows a day and they were all a complete SELL OUT.

Along with book & film festivals and the Edinburgh International Festival these events all contribute about £184m to the Scottish economy.

For details on Jo Jingles classes in Blackhall, Bo’ness, Corstorphine, Craiglockhart, Cramond, Juniper Green, Linlithgow, Morningside, Murrayfield, Oxgangs, South Queensferry and Trinity call Joanne Goodall on 0131 443 4196 email: joannegoodall@btconnect.com or visit: www.jojingles.com/EdinburghWest

For details on classes in Bonnyrigg, Duddingston, East Edinburgh, Fairmilehead, Leith, Liberton, Musselburgh, New Haven, Penicuik, Portobello call Susan Jameson on 0131 620 3282 email: jojingles@thejamesons.co.uk

Jo Jingles Franchisee - Alison Wright kept children entertained by demonstrating a number of Jo Jingles sessions at a recent Donkey Derby Event held at Sandbach Rugby Union Football Club, other activities throughout the day included fairground rides, side-shows and the largest bouncy castle assault course in Europe,

Over 3,000 people attended the event and more than £5,000 was raised to help further develop the Rugby Club as a local community facility.

For further information on classes in Macclesfield, Congleton, Middlewich, Sandbach and Holmes Chapel please call Alison on 01477 535124 or email: Alison@ace-kidz.co.uk.

Alison Wright who runs Jo Jingles in Macclesfield, Congleton, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel and Sandbach has been helping the company to celebrate 10 years of success.

For further information on Alison's classes that are packed with lots of musical fun including children's instruments, singing well-known songs and nursery rhymes call 01477 535124 or email: alison@ace-kidz.co.uk.

Liz Wilson, Jo Jingles Franchisee for Winton, Poole, Ferndown, Corfe Mullen, Charminster, Broadstone and Ringwood recently took part in a Charity Sing-a-thon in Ferndown to help The Heatherlands Parent and Toddler Group raise funds to keep Jo Jingles Music, Singing & Movement Classes running at the Group.

For further information on Liz's classes call 01202 739444 or email: liz_jojingles@btopenworld.com

Jo Jingles (Street) helped 'Children's World' celebrate its 25th birthday in Abbey Park, Glastonbury on Monday 29th May 2006.

Children's World is a Charity set-up to provide educational, creative and social benefits for all children, with particular reference to children with special needs, and works at schools and special schools throughout Somerset and what was Avon. Emma Davis (franchisee) and Jo Jingles ran 5 music and movement sessions throughout the afternoon event for children of all ages.

Watch out for more postings later in the year, as Big Jo will be joining 'Children's World for the 7th Bristol Children's Festival' from 4th - 7th August and the 25th Anniversary Glastonbury Children's Festival from 11th -14th August for 8 days of wonderful fun, while marking his own 10th Anniversary.

A musical celebration was the only way to recognise a successful ten years of Jo Jingles in West Yorkshire.

Present and former Jo Jingles children were present at an afternoon of animal activity in Leeds. The event, which took place at the beginning of April, began with craft activities - all based on an animal theme. Children from the ages of one to fourteen made a variety of lion, tortoise, elephant and stegosaurus puppets in addition to hanging Japanese fish and animal pencil tops. Budding artists also helped colour and paint a series of huge animal pictures which decorated the front of the stage for our Carnival performance.

Local musician, Nick Meredith, and his Carnival Orchestra then gave a performance of Saint-Saens' 'The Carnival of the Animals'. The performance was enhanced with narration and some audience participation! This was a unique opportunity for many very young children to hear a 'live' orchestral performance.

After the Carnival Orchestra's performance we invited our special guest - Big Jo - onto the stage. The day was complete with all the children joining in a variety of Big Jo's favourite songs including Wind the Bobbin, Jo Jingles says and the Fancy Dance.

The event was a great success and a FANTASTIC £1200.00 was raised for Martin House Hospice - Yorkshire's first hospice for children and young people.

Naomi Chance, local franchisee for Helston, Penzance, St Ives and Hayle recently kick started Jo Jingles 10^th Anniversary tour at Flambards in Cornwall.

Big Jo was on stage alongside Naomi and Plymouth based franchisee Claire Jones, in the Kingsford Venue to hear hundreds of children sing 'Happy Birthday' and Jo also participated in some of his favourite songs.

For further details on Naomi's classes Tel: 01209 832910, Email: jonaplay@btinternet.com or visit www.jojingles/westcornwall

For details on Claire's classes in Plymouth, Ivybridge, Plympton and Plymstock Tel: 01752 698651, Email: jones.cl@tiscali.co.uk or visit www.jojingles.com/plymouth

Ronnie Morris, Jo Jingles Franchisee for the Essex area recently had her amazing story of courage and determination featured in the East Anglian Daily Times Parenting Magazine.

To read Ronnie's story please click here to download the whole article.

For further information on Ronnie's classes in Clacton-on-Sea, Wivenhoe, Lawford, Manningtree, Ipswich, Dover-court, Great Bentley, Brightlingsea, Hadleigh, Stratford St Mary and Holland on Sea call 01206 250192 or Email: jojingles.frating@tiscali.co.uk

Emma Davis, Local Franchisee for Bridgwater, Taunton, Glastonbury and Street recently celebrated her first year of running Jo Jingles Classes by holiday a birthday party at Animal Farm Adventure Park in Burnham-on-Sea. More than 200 children attended the event and as can be seen from the picture Big Jo made a special appearance.

Many congratulations Emma and here's too many more years of jingling success!

Gill Thomas's (Jo Jingles, Managing Director) achievements were recently celebrated at the Company's Annual Conference in Beaconsfield when her franchise network presented her with a surprise bronze statuette, (specially commissioned and produced by local artist Anne Hogben) to commemorate 10 years of success with Jo Jingles.

Having started her first music classes in Beaconsfield in 1991 and launching the company as a national franchise in 1995 Gill has developed Jo Jingles to be the UK's leading provider of music, singing and movement classes for pre-school age children from 6 months to 5 years of age.