Meet the mum of two who brought award winning toddler classes to south Liverpool.
Rachel Conroy attributes the success of her business to the support of her loving family. Toddler Sense South Liverpool is part of a larger umbrella company Toddler Sense, that Rachel bought a franchise of when her youngest son was just five months old.
Rachel says: “I bought Toddler Sense South Liverpool in April 2021 and launched it publicly the next month. Within just one night of social media there were almost 1,000 followers.
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"It became clear that my prediction had been correct. Families across South Liverpool were desperate for somewhere new for their toddlers to learn and play. I opened my doors in August 2021 and it has thankfully been jam packed ever since, with each term of classes selling out.”
Toddler Sense South Liverpool is located in the CADWA WOW Centre, Childwall. Formally an old social club, which has been lovingly converted into to a children's centre, now visited by around 600 baby and toddler families per week.
Rachel attributes her success to the support of her family. She adds: “l have been married for five years to my husband Anthony. He was the driving force for me leaving primary school teaching after 12 years to pursue the dream of running my own business and being my own boss. So I owe all of this brave and bold business move to him! Together we have two young children; a daughter, Amber who is four and a son, Sonny who is two.”
Rachel recently won an award for Most Loved Sport or Physical Activity at the Kids Activity Awards 2022. “I was delighted to be nominated by some of my customers for the national award earlier this year, and astonished to win!”
Rachel’s business runs alongside Baby Sensory South Liverpool, bought from the same umbrella company. Both organisations operate out of the CADWA WOW CENTRE, Childwall. The owner of Baby Sensory South Liverpool Chelm Holmes, also won the national award this year for Most Loved Baby Activity.
Before purchasing the franchise, Chelm was Head of Performing Arts in secondary education for 14 years and attended baby sensory classes with both her children. Chelm says: “The classes were a place of happiness, support and encouragement. I felt that they guided and inspired me as a parent.”
After to a spinal surgery, Chelm couldn’t return to her full time teaching role and felt there was something really special about Baby Sensory. She says: “A position became available to be a sensory class leader and jumped at it. With the incredible support of my family and the belief that I was doing something right for me, I have never looked back.”
Chelm has been running Baby Sensory South Liverpool for four years now, and it was her family who have lovingly renovated the CADWA WOW CENTRE into a fantastic recourse that so many families now enjoy.
She adds: “My passion is to make people smile. To feel good and dedicate precious time to their little ones, in such a busy crazy world.
“I have been honoured to receive the title of Best Baby Activity at the prestigious Whats on 4 Kids Awards, for the last two consecutive years. To have Rachel next door, is to provide a pathway for our graduating babies, which is great for families. It was amazing to win our awards together.”
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