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Children as young as three are getting to grips with their ABCs thanks to the help of a family-run tutoring business.
Adele Conlon, owner of Telford-based Shropshire Tutor, began working with nursery children three years ago delivering her Little Learner programmes in English and Maths.
But the sessions have become so successful and popular that she now runs the sessions at six different nursery sites across Shropshire.
The latest nursery to sign up to the Letters and Sounds and Marvellous Maths sessions is 0-14 in Coleham, Shrewsbury.
Miss Conlon also works in partnership with ABC Day Nursery in Telford and from April will be delivering sessions at all four of its sites in Lightmoor, Hadley, Hollinswood and Preston On The Weald Moors. She also works with Smiley Faces nursery in Wellington and Tortoise nursery, also based in Wellington,
Miss Conlon said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with so many fantastic nurseries and so many young children across the county.
“It’s a delight to see children at such a young age develop confidence in both maths and English.
“But above that it’s amazing to see them having so much fun whilst they learn.
“The Little Learner programmes I deliver in nurseries are all about having fun.
“The emphasis in early years is to develop learning through play and this is exactly the ethos I adopt in the sessions.
“I use props and everyday objects to aid learning and the children really enjoy it.
“In Maths they learn all the basic mathematical skills such as counting, adding, subtracting, investigating 2D and 3D shapes and how to write numbers in a fun an in engaging way.
“In English the emphasis is on learning phonics and the sounds associated with letters. More often than not children who have been involved in the sessions are able to write their first and second name by the time they start school which is really incredible.
“Learning through play forms a much more solid foundation for learning because children have fun along the way.
“With changes to the primary school National Curriculum and children expected to know and learn so much more at a young age these Little Learner sessions really help prepare children for that transition into school.”
Mum of two Lorna McCann, from Childs Ercall, said: “My eldest son, who started school in September, took part in both the English and maths sessions run by Adele at his nursery and he absolutely loved it. By the time he started primary school he could write his full name, recognise shapes and knew all about vertices.
“My younger son, who has just turned three, is now also enjoying the sessions. He looks forward to every Wednesday with Adele and is always bursting into tune singing all the new phonics songs he has learned. Adele brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the classes, it’s no wonder the children pay her so much attention.
“She is brilliant.”
For more information on the sessions run by Shropshire Tutor visit the website www.shropshiretutor.co.uk or contact 0800 689 0193