In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by the multi-talented Sarah Dover, professional singer, teacher, and performer whose journey from a 10-year-old history-making chorister to a "weddings and events extraordinaire" is nothing short of inspiring.

Jane and Sarah share a unique bond; not only did Sarah teach for Little Voices, but they both trained under the same renowned vocal coach, Jane Irwin. Sarah opens up about the highs of performing, the physical and mental battle of undergoing major spinal surgery at 16, and why she is passionate about protecting the creative spark in every child.

In This Episode, we Discuss:

• Breaking History: Sarah’s experience as one of the first girl choristers at Durham Cathedral in 800 years.

• Resilience through Recovery: The terrifying moment Sarah lost her voice due to major spinal surgery & how she fought to get it back for Chetham’s School of Music.

• The "Squiggly" Career: Transitioning from the high-pressure world of opera to building a flourishing wedding and events business.

• The Creative Classroom: Why music teachers are the gatekeepers of personality in a rigid education system.

• Confidence as a Tool: What it means to "sound like enough" and why you should never listen to the people who say "you can't."

Connect with Sarah Dover:

• Instagram:

@sarahdovermusic

Support The School Run:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider buying us a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrun

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

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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 do you wish school had taught you about understanding yourself?

In this episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by Jayne Marie Pooley (Jaynee), a marketing expert of 30 years now Creative Therapist and Little Voices Principal.

Jaynee shares her incredible journey from being inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s son to navigating a terrifying family health crisis that led her back to her true passion: the arts. We dive deep into why "joining the dots" of your life matters, the power of listening to build resilience in children, and how to find your "Ikigai”

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• ​ The Squiggly Career: How Jaynee transitioned from high-level marketing for tech giants like Microsoft to running her own Little Voices franchise.
• ​ Creativity as Healing: The moving story of how singing and drawing helped Jaynee’s daughter recover from a sudden illness.
• ​ Neurodiversity in Education: Why rigid curriculums often miss a child’s true potential and the importance of creative problem-solving.
• ​ Finding Your Tribe: Jaynee’s experience joining the Little Voices network and why she felt like she was "coming home."
• ​ The Power of a "No-Connectivity" School Run: A beautiful memory of a simple walk home that changed everything.

Connect with Jaynee:

• ​ Website: www.littlevoices.org.uk/cotswolds
• ​ Social Media: littlevoicescotswolds
• ​ Email: cotswolds@littlevoices.org.uk

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 it mean to be a "Child Champion"?

In this week’s episode of The School Run, Jane is joined by the world-renowned safeguarding consultant, Ann-Marie Christian. From her early days as a foster sister to her 30-year career as a registered social worker and international consultant, Ann-Marie shares her deeply personal journey of advocacy. Together, they discuss the evolution of child protection, the "affluent neglect" often overlooked in wealthy communities, and how we can empower our children to listen to their "early warning signs.

In this episode, we discuss:

• ​ The Origins of Passion: How a childhood encounter with a neighbour in distress and growing up in a fostering household shaped Ann-Marie’s career.
• ​ The Evolution of Safeguarding: Moving from "welfare" to a proactive culture of empowerment and the impact of the #MeToo movement.
• ​ Listening to the Body: How to teach children to recognise their "early warning signs"—from racing hearts to tummy aches.
• ​ Affluent Neglect: Breaking the myth that safeguarding issues only happen in disadvantaged areas.
• ​ Legacy & Inspiration: A tribute to Ann-Marie’s 93-year-old mother, the original "magic" welfare officer.

Connect with Ann-Marie Christian:

• ​ Website: https://annmariechristian.com/
• ​ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-marie-christian-frsa

• ​ Specialism: International Safeguarding, DSL Training, and Cultural Competence.

Brought to you by Little Voices:

Nurturing confidence and big futures through drama and singing.

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