Anyone experience of Stagecoach?

[dinny]

Was looking at website and it all looks really well run and fun. Anyone's child been or currently go? Do they love it?

[dinny]

come on....

[escape]

it's a franchise thang, sooo, it all depends on the owner/operator really. The reputaion of the organisation is excellent, but like anything, some leaders are gonna be better than others. IIRC, the kids do an hour each of drama,dance and singing per session.

[kitsandbits]

Yes, the drivers are always grumpy and claim they have no change, and the buses always smell of wee.

Oh, and there will be a chav on the back seat smoking weed;

[babygrand]

Yes, my dds have both done Stagecoach for years (You might find some old threads about it) and they both enjoy it - although i would say only one of them 'loves' it.

I think it builds confidence, and it gives children who might not get picked for performance at school a chance to do something. Also it's a good social thing, and I believe it's good for kids to have friends outside school.

Like anything, it's only as good as the individual specific teachers they have. Go along and have a look and talk to the local Principal.

[dinny]

Kits, lol, that was so funny - was trying to work out where the kids would be going by coach, lol

Escape - can I ask which area you did yours in?

[crunchie]

dh is a stagecoach teacher and my kids go and love it!! It is great , and hour of singing dancing and acting each sat am. It is quite pricey so if he wssn't teaching I may not send them.

[gess]

ds2 goes- I signed him up aged 4 as I thought he needed some time away from his severely autistic brother. he enjoys it. They do a lot of games in his age group (early stages 4-7) & he's made some good friends. It's not pushy. DS2 is a 'classes' kind of guy though- he loves organised activities. Not sure whether it will suit ds3 (rebel) when the time comes.

[MrsCarrot]

DS1 went till he left the early stages, he enjoyed it but didn't love it enough to carry on after 7. The time (and money) doubles then.

DD is 5 and LOVES it. They do a real variation of things, drama, dance and singing. I think Boogie Beebies Pete was there at the end of term much to her excitement.

[escape]

THe one I know of is in the west Yorks area, din't send any of the kids, it was just a 'rival' to the Youth theatre that I ran!!

[dinny]

anyone any exp of Redhill?

[crunchie]

Crunchie's DH here. I would certainly echo what the others have said about each school being only as good as it's teachers. Where I work we are all professionals in our own fields, ie actors,singers and dancers,but I do know others where the teachers only experience is from their own school days. There are no qualifications required to teach at Stagecoach. The other problem is that some parents use it as very expensive childcare, meaning you have some unmotivated kids who can totally ruin it for the others. It can be excellent, and i don't want to put you off, but make sure you talk to others that are at your local one.

[dinny]

Thanks, Crunchie's dh!

Our local one is definitely run by working actors... Will investigate! Thank you!

[Cammelia]

My dd has attended the summer workshop for the last 2 years and loved it, this year they performed High School Musical.

She likes the idea of attending during term time but we cannot fit anything else into her schedule (sorry, I mean life )

[dinny]

Thanks for the posts - have sent off for some info, reckon dd would really like it.