At a recent conference with long-standing client NASUWT, something rather special happened.
For the first time in our 30+ year relationship, the children attending our event crèche didn’t just take part in activities within the childcare space and excursions… they stepped out and performed in a live flash mob in the main welcome area of the conference.
And… I joined them.
Despite my background in acting, it was a first for me too.
Led by the fabulous British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT), the flash mob was designed as a thank you to teachers.
For us, it became something more.
A brilliant example of the confidence and experiences high-quality event childcare can deliver.
At Nipperbout, I’ve always believed that event childcare should go beyond supervision.
When it’s delivered well, it creates an environment where children feel safe enough to try new things, build confidence and take part in experiences they might not otherwise have access to.
The flash mob was entirely optional. Children (and of course their parents) chose whether to take part.
Those who did spent time learning the routine, practising together and building the confidence to perform.
Some were immediately enthusiastic. Others took a little longer to warm up.
Both responses were exactly right.
Because the goal isn’t performance. It’s confidence.
The BYMT team were brilliant in helping the children and our team practice and prepare as you can see .
Nipperbout Ltd - Event Childcare Specialists you are just brilliant 🤩 so passionate and we couldn’t have done this without the Purple People. The children’s faces at the end brought me so much joy, seeing members smiling, joining in and the whole energy just being lifted was incredible.
Moments like this don’t happen by accident.
They are built on the same foundations that underpin every crèche we deliver:
- Experienced, qualified Purple people who understand how to support children at different ages and confidence levels
- Safe, inclusive environments where children feel comfortable
- Structured but flexible programmes that can adapt to each child
- Robust safeguarding and health and safety practices that give parents confidence to say yes
Working alongside British Youth Music Theatre, we were able to create something that felt both exciting and secure.
Children could step forward at their own pace, knowing support was always there.
It was so amazing to see the kids having so much fun
We’ve been delivering event childcare for NASUWT since the 1990s.
Over the years, I’ve seen thousands of children come through our crèches. They build friendships, take part in activities and create their own end-of-event performances for parents.
But this felt different.
This was the first time children stepped into a public conference space to perform.
The welcome area became their stage.
Our Purple People were there throughout. Encouraging and supporting.
And that’s where you really see the value of what we do.
Not just that children are safe and cared for, but that they are growing in confidence and feeling proud of themselves.
They returned to creche and immediately put on a second performance for the children who had decided not to take part.
They were so very proud of what they had achieved – and rightly so!
Take a look at the final performance.
Event childcare is often seen as a practical add-on.
In reality, it can play a much bigger role in the success of an event.
High-quality childcare:
• Supports parent attendance and inclusivity
• Enhances the overall delegate experience
• Creates positive, memorable moments for families
• Reflects a genuine commitment to accessibility and wellbeing
And sometimes, it creates moments like this that will be talked about way after the show doors close!
It brought me so much joy to be part of this with all of you! Thank you for inviting us to join!
Too often, childcare is framed as simply keeping children occupied.
What I see, time and time again, is something much more meaningful.
Children…
- build friendships over the course of an event
- gain confidence in new environments
- take part in creative, engaging activities
- feel included in the wider event experience
and occasionally… they step out and perform a flash mob in front of a conference audience.
This looks amazing! Proud to be NASUWT 🙌
I’m incredibly proud that we’ve supported NASUWT for more than three decades, and grateful to have been part of this moment.
A huge thank you to British Youth Music Theatre for bringing such energy and care to the performance and to NASUWT for including us.
This may have been a first for us… but it’s exactly the kind of opportunity I believe great event childcare should create.
