Pebble helps to enable expansion plans for Cheshire Messy Play

When Char Marland launched Cheshire Messy Play in January 2024, she had no idea how quickly the business would grow. Having signed up to Pebble from the outset, Char had the foundations in place to scale the business fast - quickly growing it from a few classes a week to a full-time business in a matter of months. 

Filling a gap for child-led learning

With 18 years of working with young children, Char knows the importance of play in child development. When looking for mum and baby classes to attend with her ten-month-old son, she couldn't help the feeling that something was missing. 

Char explains, “There were lots of classes in my area, but they all felt very structured. Having worked as a nanny, in a kids club abroad, and also as a nursery deputy manager, I am a big believer in the power of child-led play. Children can learn such a lot from being allowed to explore their environments. So, I decided to put my experience to good use and launched Cheshire Messy Play - a safe and exciting place where children have the freedom to explore at their own pace and parents don’t have to worry about the mess!” 

The demand was unprecedented. The first class sold out within 12 hours. By the third week, it was fully subscribed for the rest of the term. 

Unstructured play, with learning at its core 

While Char’s focus is on giving children the freedom to learn and explore, the classes are carefully designed to ensure that children remain engaged and have fun. Each session has 8 exciting, taste-safe and non-toxic messy play activities to explore, and a painting or drawing activity, all based around a different theme. Each activity has a specific learning objective, and word prompts for the parents to encourage interaction and language development. 

Char continues, “Importantly, although the activity is structured, the way that the children engage with the activity is 100% led by them. They can think, explore and figure things out themselves, without being told what to do. It isn’t a classroom; they will spend enough time in structured learning environments at school -  but it is a fantastic way to learn” 

With classes open to children from 6 months to 5 years old, children have the opportunity to interact with other kids and siblings outside of their immediate age group. The broad age range is unusual, but it is an important part of why the classes are so successful - giving children the opportunity for varied social interactions while engaging in activities at a developmental level that is appropriate for them.

Pebble - making complex admin tasks simple 

Right from the outset, Char was keen to find an online system that would help manage sign-ups and subscriptions. And, as a class that actively encourages children to explore textures and get stuck into messy play, keeping track of allergies, intolerances, and consents was at the top of the list. Taking to the internet, Char explored the options, and Pebble stood out. 

Char explains, “Pebble gave me everything I needed and more. Some other providers focus on block bookings. But, as a parent myself, I know that flexibility is key. I wanted parents to be able to book one-off classes that fit around their busy lives. Pebble allowed me to do that, as well as giving me everything that I needed to run the classes. Parents sign up online and fill out all of the forms when they register. It takes the admin out of my hands completely. I have a comprehensive record of everyone’s details including allergies and consent forms. If I didn’t have that information on file, in a system that I can trust to store it safely, securely and in a way that is compliant with guidelines, I wouldn’t be able to run my business.”

Scaling the business - how Pebble has supported growth 

With classes filling up fast, Char has just handed in her notice as a Nanny. The plan is to take Cheshire Messy Play full-time from May 2024 - just five months after launching. The expanded business will also offer bespoke party packages, home messy play packs, intergenerational messy play, and classes specifically for home-schooled children up to the age of 13. 

Char explains, “I’ve been overwhelmed by the interest and by the amazing reviews that the classes have received. The Pebble system has allowed me to build a waiting list, which gives me the confidence to make the leap, knowing that the interest is there. I can also use Pebble to communicate directly with parents. If someone has booked and they let me know they can’t make it, I can offer a gifted spot to someone who is on the list - a great way to keep them engaged and eager to join when a place is available.” 

As well as providing a customer relationship management tool, and taking care of all of the administrative tasks associated with running a kids club, businesses like Char's can reach thousands of parents looking for new classes via the Pebble website, with the support of Pebble's marketing and business development team. In addition, the Pebble team is continually adding functionality that gives activity providers tools to grow their revenue streams and create operational efficiencies. 

Char concludes, “Using Pebble has really helped me to manage bookings and streamline the admin associated with running the business in a safe and compliant way. I am not techy at all - I’ve just never needed to be - but the Pebble team is supportive, happy to help, and really good at listening to what I need. It has made everything 100 times easier, and I wouldn't be without it!”

To find out more about Pebble, and how it can support your childcare business or kids club, visit https://bookpebble.co.uk/solutions/activity-suppliers