Studies have shown that singing with young children helps them to develop communication and language skills that are vital to them as they progress with their formal education.

It’s also lots of fun for all involved as anyone visiting a Singing Jo & Co sessions soon discovers.

It’s a huge hit with both children and the parents - and often grandparents - who bring them along with around 500 attending every week.

Jo Jackson, who runs the sessions along with assistants Frances Lightgow, Karen Albiston and Anne Hughes, got the name ’Singing Jo’ from the children she has worked with over the years, as she explained: ’I’ve been running the group for eight years now and the children started calling me "Singing Jo".’

Jo initially developed the sessions working for the Children’s Centre.

When they withdrew funding she was facing closure but some of the parents had other ideas.

Jo recalled: ’It went viral on the Manx Mammas page on Facebook with comments like: "Surely it’s not going to stop".

’We had loads of offers of help, including the offer of a van, taxed and insured for three years: it all just spiralled.’

Jo’s background is in education and her husband, Martin Jackson, is head teacher at Sulby School.

singing sessions are structured around the Early Years Foundation Stage and are now being offered by a number of primary schools around the island, including Peel, Laxey, Ballasalla and Henry Bloom Noble.

There is also a session in Jurby Community Centre and a singing and playgroup session at the Royal British Legion in Port Erin.

She said: ’Each session is based around singing, dancing, musical instruments, rhymes and drama.

’It provides multi-generational fun for babies, toddlers, children, family members and carers.

Confidence

’We’re geared around families and we want to look professional, placing a high priority on the development of communication, language and literacy skills.

’We nurture the kids and help with confidence and the earlier the better as the brain is 80% developed by the age of three. ’

The parents have no doubt of its benefits. One wrote: ’Almost one year on I have seen my son blossom into a little boy who can’t wait to get in the door each Wednesday and whose face lights up when I mention "going to singing".’

Another wrote: ’My daughter has certainly become more confident and engaged throughout the time we have been attending. I cherish the time we spend together at these session as it is something that we can both participate in.’

Funding from the Department of Education ends this month and Singing Jo & Co is now a registered charity as Jo seeks the further funding they need to keep going.

She said: ’After eight years of delivering our groups I remain passionate about the vital benefits of the sessions we deliver.

’Everybody leaves our sessions feeling uplifted and instilled with a general feeling of happiness and positiveness.

’We can’t ask for any more than that.’