Megan from North London shares her journey as a long term practitioner…
I started working for Debutots in May 2019 doing one hour a week assisting for a club in Golders Green and then was offered several classes after another practitioner went on maternity leave. It was amazing – there was a mix of nursery classes, working with preschoolers, toddlers and babies, as well as lunchtime clubs and after-school clubs.
When COVID started we ran the school clubs online, which was a challenge, but we managed and I delivered several online clubs each week. It was brilliant to keep some work and an income and maintain our contact with the children. The clubs were so well received by children and their parents.
I really like Debutots because of the structure. I like knowing that I’m going to be telling a story each time, I like being able to structure the theme of the class around an original Debutots story. I also like the flexibility of the classes, the fact that you can adapt the content of the class to suit the children in the group. For example, some groups love to do more of the music to movement exercises and retelling the story all together. Other groups love the themed drama games and others like to discuss the story a bit more as they link it to their own experience of the world. It means we can deliver the best possible class for each and every group we work with.
I also like the variety of sessions there is on offer at Debutots, for example
you don’t just do lunchtime clubs or after-school clubs, you can work with babies and toddlers in a nursery, you can run parent and child classes, you can run camps and parties. I’ve also absolutely loved doing intergenerational sessions in care homes. It’s a very versatile ‘product’ and a very versatile job. It never feels boring, it never feels like the same thing… there’s always something new!
I’ve enjoyed the progression over the last 5 years and I’m now trusted to observe new practitioners and give feedback to Jennifer. I’m also the practitioner in charge at a camp when Jennifer’s not able to be there.
I genuinely love the ethos behind Debutots. I love the fact that the main thing is to ensure children are learning, developing and communicating with each other whilst having a good time! There’s no agenda to deliver performances and we;re not asked to do anything just to make the company look good. It’s honestly all about the children.
Whilst there is a fantastic structure, it’s very clever as sessions are still very child led. The classes exist for the children’s enjoyment; for their mental health; for their development and learning; for making friends; for having a good time and for developing their confidence and creativity. That’s what Debutots is all about.
Debutots is very emotionally rewarding. Sometimes, when you’re telling a story and there’s a sad part, I’ll see a child, who is usually jumping about, trying to make other children laugh, who is sitting there, listening intently and empathising with the character’s experience. I just love the moments when you’re telling a story and you catch children looking at you, just desperate to know what’s going to happen next.
Children are in school every day for such a long time and it’s such a structured system that they have to adhere to. For them to just be able to go to a class and realise that they’re going to have fun, interact and gain confidence is amazing, so important and so monumental in their development.
The support I get from Jennifer, the Debutots franchisee is amazing. I’ve worked for several different companies and you just do not get the same level of support, you do not get the same level of understanding, appreciation, patience and kindness. I really believe in the company and enjoy the classes and really trust the person I work for which creates such a good working environment and makes me want to do a good job even more than usual!
Jennifer really cares, and that’s infectious! She is in this for the love of drama and to truly make a difference to the children in her community and that trickles down to the practitioners in our team. I know the classes are important for all the children but they’re important to Jennifer and they’re important to me. The care and attention to detail makes working for Debutots such an enjoyable experience because you know that you have support; you have a boss who truly puts the children’s best interests as well as your best interests at heart.
To become a Debutots practitioner – please contact your local Debutots and apply today!
