In this inspiring episode of The School Run with Jane, Jane chats with Kelly Cox, Head of School Partnerships at Wavelength, an education technology platform helping young people access maths in a more personalised, confidence-building way.

Kelly’s story is anything but ordinary. After attending 15 different schools, moving across the UK and beyond, becoming the first in her family to go to university, travelling the world for almost a decade, accidentally discovering teaching in South Korea, and later working in UK schools, Kelly has built a life shaped by resilience, curiosity and service.

Together, Jane and Kelly explore what school teaches us — and what it often doesn’t.

They talk about friendship, confidence, belonging, career choices, travel, neurodiversity, maths anxiety, teaching, faith, transferable skills, and why every young person deserves to feel understood.

Kelly also shares how Wavelength supports schools, teachers, SENCOs, parents and young people by helping pupils learn in a way that works for their brain — especially those who may be neurodiverse, disengaged, anxious, or struggling to access maths in a traditional classroom.

This is a warm, thoughtful and uplifting conversation about finding your path, learning differently, and remembering that confidence often grows when we feel truly seen.

In this episode, we talk about:

* What it was like attending 15 different schools

* Being the first in the family to go to university

* Why transferable skills matter so much

* How travel can shape confidence and independence

* Teaching in South Korea and discovering a passion for education

* Supporting young people with additional needs

* Neurodiversity, maths confidence and personalised learning

* Why teachers need tools that help them understand the whole child

* How Wavelength supports schools across the UK

* Confidence as something others may see before we feel it ourselves

* Friendship, belonging and choosing your circle wisely

* What school should teach young people about life and themselves

Guest

Kelly Cox

https://www.wavelength.org/

kelly@wavelength.org

Podcasts for us are all about learning and sharing, of course free to listen to.

We have some small costs to cover so if you would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea and Chocolate fudge brownie Frappe with soya milk, coffee and cream (Liv’s favourite) when we are planning them out please click here …..[https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun⁠⁠ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun

Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials \@‌theschoolrun_official / \@‌mrsjanejames on Instagram, or search and follow Jane James on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at liv@schoolrunpodcast.com

mrsjanejames@icloud.com

Links: For information of Jane’s company Little Voices head to*

http://www.littlevoices.org.uk⁠⁠ http://www.littlevoices.org.uk

**Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are just a mum and daughter, sharing their thoughts and chatting with guests that we really respect and sharing our personal stories and insights. Please seek professional advice if you need it.**

This episode is edited by Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real⁠ https://vault.makingdigitalreal.co.uk/

In this episode of The School Run Podcast: Little Voices, Big Stories, Jane chats with Anne-Marie Martin; founder and franchisor of Diddi Dance, newly appointed CEO of the Children’s Activities Association, marathon finisher, charity fundraiser and passionate advocate for collaboration, inclusion and raising standards across the children’s activity sector.

Anne-Marie shares her inspiring journey from a little girl in Derby who fell in love with dance at just three years old, to training professionally, performing commercially, launching Diddi Dance, building a successful franchise network and now leading the CAA into its next exciting chapter.

Together, Jane and Anne-Marie talk openly and honestly about confidence, rejection, resilience, perfectionism, motherhood, leadership during lockdown and the reality that none of us have all the answers.

This episode is packed with warmth, humour, honesty and inspiration and is a powerful reminder that finding your calling can happen at any stage of life.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Anne-Marie’s journey into dance and performing arts

* How Diddi Dance began and grew into a franchise network

* What the Children’s Activities Association (CAA) does and why it matters

* Raising standards in the children’s activities sector

* The importance of safeguarding, compliance and external validation

* Why helping children find “their thing” matters so much

* Confidence, resilience and dealing with rejection

* The realities of entrepreneurship and franchising

* Leadership, collaboration and community in business

* Motherhood, perfectionism and personal growth

* Running the London Marathon for Caudwell Children

* TikTok, visibility and stepping outside your comfort zone

* What Anne-Marie would tell her younger self

About Anne-Marie Martin

Anne-Marie Martin is the founder and franchisor of Diddi Dance, a preschool dance franchise helping children discover movement, music and confidence through fun and engaging classes across the UK.

She is also the newly appointed CEO of the Children’s Activities Association (CAA), a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising standards, supporting providers and promoting safety and best practice across the children’s activity sector.

Alongside her work in business, Anne-Marie is a passionate advocate for collaboration, inclusion and creating opportunities for children and families through movement and creativity.

Guest Links

Find out more about Diddi Dance and the Children’s Activities Association online, and follow Anne-Marie on Instagram and TikTok as @OriginalDiddiDancer.

Podcasts for us are all about learning and sharing, of course free to listen to.

We have some small costs to cover so if you would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea /coffee when we are planning them out please click here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun

Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials @‌theschoolrun_official / @‌mrsjanejames on Instagram, or search and follow Jane James on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at jane@littlevoices.org.uk

Links: For information on Jane’s company Little Voices head to http://www.littlevoices.org.uk⁠⁠

@littlevoiceslimited

You will often hear references to The Olive Jar to find out more follow @theolivejarcourse

www.theolivejar.online

‌

Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are just a mum and daughter, sharing their thoughts and chatting with guests that we really respect and sharing our personal stories and insights. Please seek professional advice if you need it.

This episode is edited by Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real

What does confidence really mean? And what do we wish school had taught us about life, resilience and being ourselves?

In this inspiring episode of The School Run with Jane: Little Voices, Big Stories, Jane is joined by long-time friend, fellow franchisor and founder of The Creation Station — Sarah Cressall OBE.

Sarah shares her remarkable journey from growing up in the North West of England to building one of the UK’s leading creative arts franchise networks and being awarded an OBE for services to creativity in education and business.

Together, Jane and Sarah explore:

* Why confidence is something we build — not something we’re born with

* The life lessons school often misses

* Creativity as a tool for resilience, wellbeing and connection

* The power of mums, mentors and role models

* Franchising, leadership and building purpose-led businesses

* Why arts and creativity matter more than ever for children

* How stepping outside your comfort zone changes your life

* The impact of creativity in care homes, schools and communities

* What Sarah’s mum taught her about courage, kindness and possibility

* Why “being yourself” may be the greatest lesson of all

Sarah also opens up about:

* Losing her father at a young age

* Growing up with six siblings

* Living with severe SPD during motherhood

* Starting a business while raising three boys under three and a half

* Learning to embrace failure, growth and reinvention

This episode is full of warmth, wisdom, laughter and honest reflections on parenting, business, confidence and finding your purpose.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, creative, entrepreneur or someone navigating life’s next chapter — this conversation will leave you inspired.

About Sarah Cressall OBE

Sarah is the founder of The Creation Station — an award-winning arts and crafts franchise supporting creativity, confidence and connection for children and adults across the UK. She is also an author, speaker and passionate advocate for the power of creativity in education, wellbeing and community.

Podcasts for us are all about learning and sharing, of course free to listen to.

It is brought to you by Little Voices so if you would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea /coffee when we are planning them out please click here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun

Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials @‌theschoolrun_official / @‌mrsjanejames on Instagram, or search and follow Jane James on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at jane@littlevoices.org.uk

Links: For information on Jane’s company Little Voices head to http://www.littlevoices.org.uk⁠⁠

@littlevoiceslimited

You will often hear references to The Olive Jar to find out more follow @theolivejarcourse

www.theolivejar.online

‌

Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are just a mum and daughter, sharing their thoughts and chatting with guests that we really respect and sharing our personal stories and insights. Please seek professional advice if you need it.

This episode is edited by Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real