Brummie Mummies

Today's podcast is all about being school ready. A recent report has shown that many children are not what it calls ‘school ready' by the time they reach reception.  The Kindred Squared survey revealed big gaps in communication and focus, with children not being able to listen, respond to instructions, sit still or play with classmates together with issues around toilet training, being able to dress and to eat independently. The government has pledged to boost the proportion of children achieving a 'good' level of development from the current 67% to 75% by 2028. Today we're talking to Jenni Downes, principal at Erdington Hall Primary School, about her experiences of kids being school ready, and whether she thinks the government pledge is both necessary and achievable. She also has lots of tips on what we can do, as parents, to help our kids to be school ready. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if there was one piece of parenting advice that probably trumps everything you've ever been told? I feel like today's guest shared that with me when we met ahead of her appearing at The Baby Show at Birmingham NEC. As one of the UK's leading early years parent coaches and a former nanny who studied psychology, Heidi Skudder uses her hands-on experience to empower parents via her Positively Parenthood platform. She offers tips on everything from sleep and weaning to potty training and toddler tantrums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The thought of an accident or emergency strikes fear into the heart of every parent. But the key is to stay calm and not panic. And the only way to do that is to know what to do should the worst situation arise. Our guest today is Nicole Barnard who runs Daisy First Aid courses across the Midlands. She says that having practical techniques up your sleeve - and the right things in your first aid kit - can help build your confidence in your ability to know what to do if and when needed. She will be running workshops at The Baby Show at Birmingham NEC from May 9 to 11, 2025. Discover more of Nicole's advice on the BirminghamLive website and Brummie Mummies Facebook and Instagram pages and the Daisyfirstaid.com website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Miranda de Freston who set up Happy Confident Kids with her friend Laura Dumbleton-Jones in a bid to help children of all ages develop confidence and resilience with a toolkit of coaching and time spent in nature. They share their workshops with parents, teachers and sports coaches in a bid to make a real change by helping young people learn skills that can last a lifetime.

Which foods are best for boosting your child's immune system to stop them bringing home bugs? And which help boost their brains in time for exams? To find out we chatted to Natasha Maynard, company nutritionist for Tesco, which has just invested £4m into Fruit & Veg for Schools and is even putting slow cookers in the classroom. Let's find out how to kickstart our kids' health, even on a really tight budget.

Starting school is a huge deal for all families so it's not surprising we, as parents, feel pressured to get it right. My guest today is here to help. Adam Ames is headteacher at Pegasus Primary in Castle Vale and has loads of advice on making sure you choose the right school for your family, what questions to ask when you visit and what signs to look out for. Let's get straight into talking to him now. Find out more about choosing the right school for your child by reading more of Adam's tips on the Birmingham Live website nad on the BM Insta and Facebook pages. You can download or stream all our Brummie Mummies episodes on all major podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple.  Please share this episode with anyone you think might find it useful, follow Brummie Mummies on social media and sign up to our free newsletter. See you next time!

For lots of families, rising costs mean we can only afford to do one festive event this Christmas. So you really need to make it count. Today I'm joined by Olivia Shepard, a teacher and event organiser at Statfold Country Park for her tips on making one event the focus of a whole month of festive activities - without spending an extra penny. Find out more about Statfold's Magical Santa Express by visiting Statfold.com You can download or stream all our Brummie Mummies episodes on all major podcasting platforms, including Spotify and Apple. Please share this episode with anyone you think might find it useful, follow Brummie Mummies on social media and sign up to our free newsletter. See you next time!

Liz Deutsch was just six weeks old when she was discovered in a shopping basket under a hedge in Edgbaston. She'd been abandoned in hand-knitted clothes. Remarkably, with the help of the Birmingham Mail and the ITV show Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, Liz has managed to track down her family decades later - but it's led to even more questions. Liz is sharing her story in a bid to help others trying to trace long lost family members.

The number of children being referred to NHS mental health services in England for anxiety has hit the highest level ever recorded, according to a Guardian investigation. Our guest today is mum-of-three Esther Marshall whose beloved sister Rebecca committed suicide as a result of anxiety. She has bravely turned this into something positive in a bid to help children avoid harmful stereotypes - creating a series of children's books called Sophie Says which celebrate a world where kids grow up never doubting whether they are included. Having worked in diversity and inclusion for Unilever, Esther was shocked when she went on maternity leave and discovered a lack of diversity in the books she read to her son Asher so she decided to write her own books showing that both girls and boys can achieve anything that they set their minds to and that it's sometimes okay not to be okay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our frenetic lives, boredom seems to be something that should be avoided at all times but what impact is that having on our children? We talk to teacher and mental health expert Laura Tristram, who says that actually a child complaining about boredom can be a good thing

What age should children start thinking about their future careers? It's never too early, argues headteacher Sophia Haughton on the Brummie Mummies podcast. The Heartlands Academy headteacher tells our host Zoe Chamberlain about how parents and schools can help kids find their dream career.

Headteacher Raj Mann tells us all about how to navigate year 11! This episode is packed full of useful tips for parents who's children are tackling their final year of school.

Menopause is something that affects everyone, either directly or indirectly, and it's good to know about it well in advance so that you can spot the signs and take the best course of action for you. This week's guest is Dr Sarah Ball, a GP who runs the Health in Menopause Clinic in Sutton Coldfield. Sarah is keen to dispel myths and stigmas around HRT and mental health and her advice is valuable for anyone looking to stay happy and healthy throughout the menopause and into later life.

Maxine Nwaneri shares all. She sits down with Zoe to tell us her incredible life story, how she overcame hardship and how she finds balance as a working mum.

In this immersive episode RSPB's Lucy Lapwing talks us through how to identify birdsong, and talks all about the joy it brings.

Today we're joined by Brummie blogger Lavania Oluban who loves taking her son Arlo for day trips to London, and always travels there by train. Check out her top tips for places to go, money saving hacks and ideas for making it stress-free for everybody. Discover more of her suggestions on the Brummie Mummies Facebook and Instagram pages and on Lavania's blog arloriverrex.com

Zoe is joined by Mari-Carmen, a fitness coach and a specialist in women's health, to chat about how mums can stay fit and healthy (and happy) with the little ones around. You can find out more about Mari-Carmen Fitness here: https://www.maricarmenfitness.com/ Brummie Mummies is a Reach production, brought to you by Birmingham Live and Brummie Mummies. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zoe finds out how to be the grown up with Dr Martha Deiros Collado. Brummie Mummies is a Reach production, brought to you by Birmingham Live and Brummie Mummies. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zoe's guest this week is Danielle Grey, who has recently opened the Purple House Clinic in Birmingham. This centre specialises in offering mental health and neurodiversity services for children and adults. As a clinical psychologist, she's passionate about the importance of promoting mental health for young people and their families. The Brummie Mummies podcast is brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain.

This week's guest is Sadie Jones, a remarkable woman who experienced domestic violence both as a child and an adult and ended up homeless and living in hostels. But she transformed her life by empowering herself through fitness, food and feeling good. In 2021, she founded She Beasts in a bid to help other women enduring trauma to become their best selves. Together, they've gone from strength to strength and her community is growing to help more and more women and children. Sadie shares all in this episode. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain.

This week's guest is Mehreen Baig - a former teacher, examiner, writer and broadcaster who is best known for her Saturday afternoon show on BBC's Asian Network. Mehreen has launched an innovative education-meets-entertainment series on Youtube called Glow Up Your Grades - made for a generation whose education was disrupted by the Covid pandemic aimed at filling the gap in GSCE learning and helping students succeed. Mehreen shares loads of great advice to help students prepare for their exams and boost mental health and wellbeing at the same time. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain.

Zoe is joined by family blogger Lavania Oluban as they discuss all the amazing events happening around Birmingham and the Midlands this Christmas and New Year - including some free and cheap festivities too! Check out our guides to grottos, events, ice rinks, festive trains, light trails and more on the Brummie Mummies Facebook page and on the BirminghamLive website. Also head over to Lavania's blog arloriverrex.com to see more of Lavania's adventures with her son.

Tiktoker Emma Roberts, known online as Organised by Em talks us through some of her best tips and tricks for how to be an organised mum.

We love supporting family businesses on the Brummie Mummies Podcast - and we love saving money! That's why we've invited Laura from My Baby Stroller onto this week's episode to ask her for all her dos and don'ts when it comes to buying for a newborn. You can read more about My Baby Stroller on the BirminghamLive website and on the Brummie Mummies FB page. Find out more via Laura's website MyBabyStroller.co.uk too.

In this episode Zoe chats to campaigner Alison Cope - It has been 10 years since Alison lost her only son Joshua Ribera, who was known and loved by thousands as rapper Depzman. Joshua was stabbed outside a nightclub in Selly Oak. He was just 18. Alison has spent the last decade striving to empower thousands of young people and help them feel safe on the streets. Her warmth, strength, energy and passion is truly inspirational.  You can read more about Alison on the BLive website and on the Brummie Mummies FB page. Find out more about her tireless work and get in touch with Alison through her website AlisonCope.com The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard

In part two of our chat with Danielle Manton-Kelly, the early years expert shares loads of great weaning tips. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain, produced and edited by Matt Millard

Often in life, our greatest challenges turn out to be our biggest achievements. That was certainly the case for this week's guest Danielle Manton-Kelly. Her life turned upside down when she became pregnant at university, but with the support of her housemates who helped her care for her baby, Danielle completed her degree. Danielle had her second child just after qualifying as a teacher and her third after starting her own business. Now happily married with a fourth baby. Now better known as The Enchanted Nanny joins Zoe to talk about the strength those early days of single parenthood gave her and how she now creates unique spaces for little ones to be creative, brave and curious through play, songs and storytelling. Her son Will joined us on the call and had plenty to say too! The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard

The first day at school is a huge milestone - both for our children and for us as parents. This episode is all about how you can  prepare your child for that moment they walk into reception for the first time. This week's guest, David Barker is headteacher at The Oaklands Primary School in Acocks Green so he has lots of experience in seeing children arrive on their first day. We invited him onto the podcast to talk about what skills families should try to develop over the summer before starting school and what to do on that very first morning. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain.

This week's guest is none other than Casey Major Bunce, aka Major Mum Hacks! Her videos have proved to be game changers for so many parents as she offers simple ways to cut costs, reduce stress and save money. Casey says her love of hacks comes from her mum who was in a wheelchair and so had to find ways to adapt to make all of their lives easier. Casey discusses how she breaks through that mum guilt and need for perfection we sometimes feel, highlighting that having fun with your kids should always be our top priority! Follow Major Mum Hacks on Instagram for loads of Casey's tips. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard

We welcome Gemma Bird back to the show - known to hundreds of thousands of parents on Instagram and TikTok as Money Mum. School holidays are always expensive, so we wanted to know how Gemma makes her money stretch further when the kids are at home. She shares great tricks, hacks and tips for making the holidays fun and affordable for everyone. You can read more Gemma's tips and discover loads of free and cheap things to do around Brum on the BirminghamLive website and on the Brummie Mummies FB page. Follow Gemma's daily tips on Instagram and TikTok - just search MoneyMumOfficial. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We help you get prepared for the summer holidays as host Zoe Chamberlain welcomes producer Matt onto the show to run through her guide to the best beaches within easy reach of Birmingham. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is breastfeeding mentor Danielle Facey, who is on a mission to empower mums by encouraging them to do whatever is best for them and their baby in those precious early days and weeks. We invited her onto the show to talk all about the best ways to prepare, what mums should do if they are struggling, how partners can help out and why no-one should feel guilty about the way they choose to feed their baby. You can read more Danielle's tips and discover parent-recommended places to breastfeed around Brum on the BirminghamLive website and on the Brummie Mummies Facebook page and you can find out more about Danielle via her website thebreastfeedingmentor.com The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zoe's guest today is Farah Kawal, who runs Toddlers Den nursery in Bordesley Green. Farah knows how parents feel when they drop off their babies and children and she is full of reassuring advice to make things easier, not just for the kids but mostly for the parents too! The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest, Suzanne Alderson, has lived through every parent's worst nightmare. After sustained bullying at school, Suzanne's daughter Issy revealed that she was planning to take her own life. She was just 14. In one of her darkest moments, she decided she never wanted another parent to feel as alone as she did. The Solihull mum set up the charity Parenting Mental Health, enabling families to share their questions and experiences in a safe space. Suzanne chats to Zoe and tells her all about the charity that has now helped more than 37,000 families. She also shares the signs parents should look out for and how to help, not only a child, but the whole family through a mental health crisis. Find out more by visiting parentingmentalhealth.org The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sleep. It's probably the one thing we parents discuss constantly and the thing we dread about having a newborn. Sleep like a baby? We have no idea why we say that when every bleary eyed parent knows that babies don't sleep through the night! So how can we help our children get to sleep, whether they are babies, toddlers, school-kids or teenagers? This week's guest is sleep consultant Lisa Lamb, better known as the Night Ninja, she shares loads of tips for helping everyone in the family get a good night's rest. You can read more of Lisa's advice on the Birmingham Live website and on the Brummie Mummies facebook page and via Lisa's website nightninja.co. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is none other than Youtube English teacher sensation Mr Salles. Mr Salles offers tips, guides and suggestions on how to pass English GCSEs. He sits the exams himself to figure out exactly what kids need to do to get the top grades. Then he tells them how to do it. It's as simple as that. A father himself, Mr Salles talks about why he started sharing videos on Youtube, how they went on to have millions of hits, his children's own experiences in education and invaluable advice on how to make the whole learning experience more pleasurable for everyone. If you have a child who hates English or feels they aren't good at writing, then this episode is for you. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you feel your child may have additional needs or you are already embarking on the SEND journey (special education needs and disabilities) then this podcast is for you. Today's guest, Emma Pinnock, has been a teacher for more than 20 years, much of which was spent working in special needs education. Following the birth of her son Alex, who has down syndrome, Emma Pinnock set up a consultancy called Essential Education Group based in Birmingham, offering families practical advice on navigating the SEND journey. In this episode Emma shares some of that inside knowledge and personal experience to help you make sure you're getting the best support for your child. Find out more by visiting Emma's website emmapinnock.co.uk The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Georgie Moseley, who has dedicated her life to the Help Harry Help Others charity, which was set up in her son's memory. Georgie is well-known and much-loved in Birmingham for carrying on the legacy of her son Harry, who raised money for others whilst battling cancer himself. When he sadly died in 2011, aged just 11, Georgie and her children vowed to continue the Help Harry Help Others charity. Zoe chats to Georgie to find out where she gets her drive, passion and motivation to keep pushing to support more families. You can read more about Georgie Moseley on the BirminghamLive website and on the Brummie Mummies Facebook page and you can find out more about her charity via her website hhho.org.uk . The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we encourage our kids to help us save on the bills? And is getting them to do this a good life lesson for them? In this episode we hear from Dawn Baker from Home Start Birmingham, a charity that helps families in crisis. She has helped hundreds of families get on top of their finances over the years and has loads of great ideas on how you can get the kids involved in making your money go further. Find out more about Home Start by visiting the website www.homestartbirmingham.co.uk The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're talking to Kerry Beale from reading charity Coram Beanstalk about why reading is so important in every aspect of life. She has lots of tips on how to get even the most reluctant of readers to read. You can find out more about how to volunteer with Coram Beanstalk on the website  www.corambeanstalk.org.uk and there are lots more reading tips on our Brummie Mummies FB and Instagram pages and on the BirminghamLive website. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would happen if we just left our kids to their own devices, to maybe get a little bored like we did when we were kids? This week's guest, Adele Cleaver, is an author, play-worker and mum of two who believes that children should be given space to make their own play. Her book Children Don't Dissolve in the Rain is all about encouraging kids to do their own thing and how parents shouldn't feel the need to overstimulate them. Adele says it's ok for us, as parents, to just step back and let them get on with it, even if they fail, because this learning will set them in good stead for the future. Find out all about freedom and play in this episode! You can find out more about Adele on our Brummie Mummies FB and Instagram pages and on the BirminghamLive website and by visiting her website www.bigblueplay.org/shop.  The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teaching your children to have a healthy relationship with social media and their phones Social media can feel like a perilous activity for kids to navigate but it can actually be a positive and powerful experience when used correctly. This week's guest is Jamie Barton, headteacher of the Jewellery Quarter Academy and he has a wealth of tips and suggestions for parents trying to keep their children safe online. Discover more about keeping your kids safe online on our Brummie Mummies FB and Instagram pages and on the BirminghamLive website. The Brummie Mummies podcast is a Laudable production brought to you by Brummie Mummies and Birmingham Live. Hosted by Zoe Chamberlain Produced and edited by Matt Millard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices