Hello, and welcome to Baby Band!
I'm Charlotte, and a few years ago I did something a little bit scary... I left the classroom to build something of my own.
Baby Band started with a love of music (I grew up in a brass band, so noise and joy are basically in my blood!) and a big wish to do work that felt meaningful and fitted around my family. Today we're a proud little community of franchisees and teachers spread across nine areas of Yorkshire, filling baby classes, nurseries, pop-ups and festivals with songs, giggles and plenty of shaky eggs.
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If you're a teacher, an ex-teacher, or just someone who lights up around little ones and fancies being your own boss (without going it alone), you might be exactly who we're looking for.
I'd love you to have a proper nosy around. Scroll down to find out how the business works, what a week as a Baby Band franchisee really looks like, and how we'll support you every step of the way. Then, if it feels right, come and say hello. I'd genuinely love to chat!
Charlotte xx
The
of an idea in 2011
spark
Back in 2011, Charlotte was working as a nanny in London.
Frustrated by the uninspiring baby classes on offer and fuelled by a lifelong love of music, she began imagining something better, a music class that was fun, fresh and engaging for little ones and grown-ups alike.
The seed for Baby Band was planted.
The
launch in 2015
first
With the encouragement, support and initial investment from her friend Dave Wood at Promenade Music, Charlotte officially launched Baby Band in 2015.
Now living in Leeds and working as a nanny, she started running a couple of classes a week, each themed around a different storybook.
It was during this time that Charlotte met Pete, a fellow music lover and future collaborator.
A
pause
II
for life in 2017
Despite a promising start, life had other plans.
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In 2017, with the realities of bills to pay, Charlotte stepped away from Baby Band and returned to full-time teaching.
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But the dream wasn’t forgotten, quietly waiting for the right time to return.
After marrying Pete in 2019 and welcoming a new addition to their family following a long IVF journey, Charlotte made a life-changing decision.
When a request for part-time teaching was declined, she took a leap of faith, resigned, and revived Baby Band.
Together, she and Pete rebranded, redesigned session plans, wrote fresh new music, and built a website ready to start again.
A new
beginning
in 2019-2020
Baby Band on the
big stage
2021-2026
The relaunch gained momentum. A successful Christmas Party in 2021 inspired Charlotte to think bigger, and the first Baby Band Family Music Festival was born.
The inaugural event welcomed fewer than 300 people, but by 2024, attendance had grown to over 1300 families, turning Baby Band into a much-loved community event.
Thinking of leaving teaching?
Listen to Charlotte chatting to some truly inspirational people who have made the leap from teaching into something that feeds their soul AND gives them that valuable time they're looking for.
