SPEAKER_05 0:00

Hello and welcome back to the Download, the Claremont podcast, where we reflect on school life, creativity, and the moments that bring our community together. This week has been all about Art Week, a celebration of imagination, expression, and freedom. Our theme this year has been explore, express, and inspire. And across the school, children have been exploring mythical worlds, creating incredible artwork and discovering that creativity can take many different forms. The assembly explored how art had changed through history and how different people expressed themselves in different ways.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

The assembly showed that creativity can look different for everyone.

SPEAKER_05 1:36

Exactly. And by the end, everyone seemed to agree on one thing: art is everywhere. The theme for this year's art week has been mythical. Children across the school have been exploring mythical creatures from different cultures and periods in history, from dragons and phoenixes to sea monsters and magical beasts.

SPEAKER_02 1:55

It's really interesting seeing how myths change across different countries and stories. Some creatures are meant to be scary while others protect people. And everyone imagines them differently, which makes the artwork really unique.

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Creativity can be joyful, calming, and inspiring all at once. Meanwhile, Year 5 headed off on the trip to Grittleton this week. Trips like this are always packed with adventure, teamwork, and memories.

SPEAKER_02 3:15

They usually end up being some of the memories people talk about for years.

SPEAKER_05 3:20

That is very true. And finally, things could get very colourful this Friday. Whichever house raises the most money will earn the honour of seeing Mr. Jelly spray his hair in their house colours. The competition is on.

SPEAKER_02 3:37

That definitely sounds like a motivation to raise money. I'm not sure every colour will suit him, but it'll definitely be entertaining.

SPEAKER_05 4:06

We're joined today by Fairy Sarah, also known as Sarah Chamberlain, owner of Toadstool Parties, a company running theme parties and holiday camps for children across London, Surrey, and Herefordshire. Sarah, thank you so much for joining us today. Oh, pleasure. Thank you for having me. Thank you so much. Well, our digital explorers here have been working very hard and have come up with some fantastic questions to ask you about what it means to be a real fairy. So, uh Digital Explorers, I'm gonna pass over to you for our first question.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

Hello. Hi. Um, what made you want to become fairy Sarah? Good question.

SPEAKER_00 4:43

Well, having a children's party company, I thought, what do I need to do to become the most magical and engaging character I can? So, to be honest, I went back to the classics that your parents or grandparents would like as well. So, fairies embody everything that I try and incorporate in the parties. So I thought a fairy, fairy Sarah, would be a good place to start.

SPEAKER_05 5:10

If you were a party entertainer, um, digital explorer, what or digital explorers, what names would you have? What do you think would be a good name? Oh, tricky one, that isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 5:22

Does it have to be a fair? No, it can be anything, you mean anything.

SPEAKER_05 5:25

What would your name be? If you had to be a party host for the day, what would your name be?

SPEAKER_02 5:32

I'd be an elf.

SPEAKER_05 5:34

An elf? Okay. That's pretty good. Energetic elf.

SPEAKER_02 5:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 5:37

Yes, I think that would work quite well. What about what about yourself? What would you have?

SPEAKER_02 5:41

Um I'd be mushroom Leo.

SPEAKER_05 5:43

Mushroom Leo? I like that. Mushroom Leo. Yeah, that's a quite catchy name. Anybody else?

SPEAKER_01 5:49

I don't really know either. Okay, maybe it may be Luke the Dinosaur.

SPEAKER_05 5:52

Luke the Dinosaur, fantastic, super. No, okay. Okay, right. Next question then, please, guys. Well done. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

Which camp theme has been your favourite and why?

SPEAKER_00 6:04

Oh, well, I would say my ultimate favourite has been the camp where we invite animals along. I am a huge fan of animals, so we have a couple of companies that send in um owls and snakes and spiders, and we all, including all the staff and myself, get to hold them as well. So I probably would say one of the jungle or safari days. What's your favourite animal? Oh, good question. Um favorite animal. What that comes to camp or just generally? Uh genera. I would say I like well, I can't can I pick three? Maybe two. Two, okay, deal, deal. Elephant and dolphin.

SPEAKER_02 6:54

Oh, okay, I see.

SPEAKER_05 6:55

Okay, nice, nice question. Yeah, absolutely. Uh super next question then, please, guys.

SPEAKER_02 7:01

What do you enjoy most about walking with children?

SPEAKER_00 7:06

Well, I think children are brilliant for many reasons, but I especially like how honest children are. And I like how their brains work. I like how creative and uh and forward-thinking children are. I like the energy of children. Um, I think you have got boundless energy, which I aspire to have myself. Um, but yeah, I think it's just that the creativity mostly that you guys have, um, and just your energy. I think children full stop are brilliant.

SPEAKER_02 7:41

Do you think um it'll be good to describe you when you were a child using that?

SPEAKER_00 7:48

Oh, I'd I'd love that. I'd be very honoured if someone said that about me. I was a mixture of loud and quiet as a child, but I think me and all my friends were super curious, super imaginative, and super creative, just like you.

SPEAKER_05 8:03

Thank you so much. Nice question. How did you um how did you fall into doing children's parties? Was it something you always wanted to do? Or what was your bed, man?

SPEAKER_00 8:11

Do you know what? It it wasn't. It was something that I fell into. So I after school, after A levels, I went straight to London drama school for three years and then had a couple of years touring and um did a play on the West End. And then I had about three months of thinking, oh God, I haven't got any, I haven't got any work. And uh a boyfriend at the time said, Oh, come along to this mermaid party if you like. So I said, Oh, okay, fine. And I got to wear this amazing costume, and uh, during the party I thought, well, this is this is good, you know, but I think to be honest, I could organise this better. So I went home and I said, Do you know what? I'm gonna start my own company. And my boyfriend said, Oh, I now I said, Yes, yes, I'm gonna start my own company today. Um, and that's how it started, and then I just and then it progressed obviously and developed in many, many ways. But it was from having a gap um in my acting work that filled the gap, and then that kind of took over.

SPEAKER_05 9:12

It must have been quite scary, that kind of jump between kind of being employed to going, actually, I'm gonna start my own business. That's quite a big jump. And we know what that's like when we have an idea about something, and sometimes that can be a bit like, How can I get this idea moving, whether it's a story or a poem or a business? How how did that uh how did that come about? How those feelings, what did you have, or how do you feel at the time?

SPEAKER_00 9:35

Well, I know what you mean about when you've got this brilliant idea, it can be quite overwhelming because you're thinking, what am I gonna do first? But for me, it's all about small steps making it into a big step. So for me, I thought, right, I'm gonna have a children's party company. Well, the first thing I thought was, what's it gonna be called? So my first step was the name. Then, oh it's a big, I don't know if you heard that. I did hear that. Listeners, it was a there was a big rumble of thunder. And it's been chucking it down with hail. So hopefully that won't uh interrupt us too much.

SPEAKER_05 10:05

But what happens when fairies are off duty?

SPEAKER_00 10:07

Well, absolutely, yes, the wizards take over. Um yeah, the second step was okay, now I've got the name, I need a website. So it was creating a website. Um, and then thirdly, it was right, I need to let people know I'm in business. So I created these flyers and then thought, where do parents go on a weekend? And I put the flyers where I thought they'd go, and then I got a couple of costumes ready. Um, so it was all those small steps um led to being ready to actually book a party with somebody. Um, so it's just breaking it down so it doesn't feel too overwhelming.

SPEAKER_05 10:46

I think that's what we try and do, isn't it? We try and break down all the work that we do into smaller steps, whether we're creating a story with a story mountain, or whether we're kind of composing some music and breaking it down track by track. It's easier to deal with it when it's in smaller chunks, isn't it? Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much. Lovely. Um, right, next question then, please.

SPEAKER_02 11:07

What is your company actually called?

SPEAKER_00 11:10

So I've got two actually. So I've got Toadstool Parties. So Toadstool, I called it that because it linked to the fairy world to the enchanted forest world. Toadstool, it's quite a magical little plant, isn't it? Yeah, or fungi. Um and then I've got Fairy Sarah and Friends, where I've got a YouTube channel that was kind of um that came out of workshops I would do. So I would used to hold fairy schools for children and pirate schools where they'd learn magic and craft and dancing. And so I've got two, yeah, toad store parties and fairy Sarah and Friends.

SPEAKER_02 11:48

Really cool.

SPEAKER_00 11:49

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 11:50

Awesome. All right, next question, please.

SPEAKER_02 11:53

How do you make sure everyone feels included and has fun?

SPEAKER_00 11:58

Well, at camps or parties or both. Um, both. Both. Well, I really try in the camps to make sure that we've got a variety of activities. So it's not just dancing, it's not just craft, it's not just play, it's not just magic shows, it's a bit of everything. So I try and make sure everyone has something they love. Um and to be included, I constant constantly I'm looking around the room to see if people are looking, are engaging, are happy. If someone's crying, I think, why are they crying? Is it just because they miss their mummy? Is it because they just fell over? Um, and I ask people, you know, what would you like to do next? Would you like to do a magic show or a or a you know craft? Um, so we have a timetable, but we are flexible. Um, but also it's we have pillars in our camp. We say we are a kind camp, a creative camp, and a confident camp. So kindness is really instilled and naturally actually in everyone that comes. But so if someone comes on their own and doesn't know anyone, um, we all rally together to make sure that they feel included. Um, because it can be quite scary, can't it? If you're the only one in the room who doesn't know anybody. So I just have eagle eyes and just watch out to see who who is okay. And if they're not, ask them what they need.

SPEAKER_02 13:25

I'd like to go to one of those camps now.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

Well, you're welcome to.

SPEAKER_05 13:29

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? It's nice when everything's inclusive in that way. Like schoolers, really, like if something's got a problem, it's we we notice it and we kind of support each other and help each other, and it's exactly the same in the camps we do there. Yes, another question, yes.

SPEAKER_02 13:42

It's just also I live at West End.

SPEAKER_05 13:44

Nowhere.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Anisha! Do you? Next to the duck pond. Oh no, it's a lovely spot there. Oh, you lucky thing.

SPEAKER_05 13:52

Very good. Did you have a question?

SPEAKER_00 13:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 13:54

Okay, super.

SPEAKER_03 13:57

What's been one of the um one of the funniest or most memorable moments from one of your camps?

SPEAKER_00 14:12

Oh, well, there are quite a few. So do you know what a parachute is? Those rainbow parachutes, those huge big ones, yeah. So you sort of wave them around. Well, one little boy, um, unfortunately, went into the middle, um, got a bit overexcited, and weed in the middle of it. So he weed on the parachute, which was memorable. It wasn't it wasn't particularly fun. Oh dear. But bless him, it was uh bit unfortunate for him, obviously, and he was terribly embarrassed. But I'm sure we've all had accents when we're little. Um that was memorable for everybody because uh yes, not it's not every day that someone weeds on the parachute. Um but um memorable, I guess for me it's when someone leaves and says, Oh mummy, it was such a good day, or I've made a friend, or someone who came in really shy um leaves super confident. But um, those little mom those little moments uh for me are super memorable.

SPEAKER_01 15:07

Oh okay.

SPEAKER_05 15:10

Awesome, thank you so much. What a great question. Who's next?

SPEAKER_02 15:15

Do you do anything outside of your job?

SPEAKER_00 15:18

For fun, you mean? Yes, yes, I do lots of things. I love life. So I actually do a lot of things I enjoyed when I was your age. So I still play lots of netball. I play that twice a week. I do lots of uh exercise and running and yoga. I love games nights. I don't know if you guys like board games and card games, but I uh lots of me and my friends get together and cook together and have a games night. Um, I love exploring, I love reading, I love writing stories, which I do uh I sort of write adult stories outside of work. Um and it's yeah, I guess I'm sort of quite a curious-natured person. So I love travelling and I love being with people. I've got a dog, so I also like dog walking. Um, so I tend to be outdoors um or indoors making something. I'm learning how to rest and not do anything. I when I'm resting, I'm tending to I'm doing something. So I'm writing or I'm cooking or I'm watching something. Um, but I get joy that way, you know. I I get a lot of joy from doing things that I love. Um how about you?

SPEAKER_02 16:33

Uh well I've got I give you lots of things actually as well. Um like or do you want the microphone for that? And there's my yeah, so I do a lot basketball. Oh, cool. Um and rugby, but obviously the season's over now, so it's uh you know don't really train yeah very much anymore. But I still train weekly, three times a week, swimming. Oh well done. Which is like my main sport.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

What's your favourite stroke? Front crawl. Front crawl, well done.

SPEAKER_02 17:00

Yeah. Um and following that, the boys, the Claremont team actually um made it to the IAPS. So, yeah, which is also really goodly colour size. Like a kind of a competition, swimming competition with um multiple other schools going around. So there's around 160 schools. Oh gosh. Um, and so a couple weeks, oh month now, months, um we did a a like a front call relay, and we managed to qualify and came 18th out of the 160 schools.

SPEAKER_00 17:38

Oh gosh, what ran before they were random. Well done!

SPEAKER_02 17:42

So, yeah, and so now we're going to the London Aquastic Centre, the the swim squad. Oh, incredible! So, how many are in the swim squad? Is it four?

SPEAKER_00 17:52

Four squares. Four of you, yeah. Wow, well done. Yes, that's really good as well. Yeah, it's nice to have something active as well, isn't it?

SPEAKER_05 17:57

Yeah, really good. We've just had um, yeah, we were talking about Mr. Ferguson doing his London marathon, wasn't he? He's uh lots and lots of winners and things, and yeah, I think there's lots of people here that have these kind of enjoyments outside of school. Were you gonna talk about something that you do? Uh or are you gonna ask a question?

SPEAKER_02 18:14

Can I ask a question?

SPEAKER_05 18:15

Of course you can. Please do.

SPEAKER_02 18:18

Are those your fairy clothes or are they or are they just normal clothes you wear?

SPEAKER_00 18:23

Great question. So I'm currently, listeners, wearing uh jeans, which isn't very fairy-like, I have to say. Um, if I wore my fairy costume all the time, A, it would get dirty, and B, uh my neighbours think I would be, uh would think I'm a bit sort of crazy. And C, I would go into the supermarket and be asked questions constantly, and not, I'm sure, uh, if I wore my wings and flower crown and tutu all the time. So I only tend to wear it for parties or filming. Um, but I do love them. They're hung up on a hanger in my home, and I've got one for spring, summer, autumn, winter, and they look lovely. So visually I like to see them, uh, but I don't wear them every day.

SPEAKER_02 19:06

I can imagine how it would like be like if you just walked into the supermarket in a fairy costume, and then you were, and then everybody else was like, What?

SPEAKER_00 19:16

Yeah, well, exactly. I'd get lots of people coming up to me, I would imagine, and would oh yes, you exactly like a side aisle too.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

Um how important is imagination when working with children?

SPEAKER_00 19:29

Well, I think it's important when working with children and working with adults. I think imagination is key to a lot of things for me because it um it links into creativity so much, doesn't it? It's sort of it's integral actually. So um imagination creates idea, you know, makes things real. So if you can imagine something, you can make it real, I think. Um obviously, if you're thinking, right, I'm gonna imagine a unicorn and make it real tomorrow, maybe not. But as in terms of an idea. So imagination is the exercise for me of practicing something in my head and making it into reality. So that's how I started everything to do with my work as well. So all the ideas I had in my head, I've eventually made into um into my work into something tangible. Um, so imagination is probably one of my top five things ever.

SPEAKER_05 20:36

There's a really good exercise that you guys can do. And listeners, you can do this at home if you take a uh random object and uh come up with five different ways that you can have that object, but not in the process of using it. For example, uh, let me have a look at what I've got here. So you could I've got a box of tissues in front of me. Um, I've got to think about this being not a box of tissues. So it could be a telephone. Oh, hello, I'm on the telephone. Uh, or it could be a um a mustache. Hello, I've got a little mustache, yeah. Um uh or it could be um something like a um, I don't know, yeah, a boat. Yeah, try and imagine it to be different things. I know it's not, it's a box of tissues, but um, I haven't got I have to use my imagination to come up with as many things as possible as quick as I can. Um so it's a good one to and it's super fun, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 21:22

Having imagination, you know, there's lots of things we have to do in life that aren't particularly fun. Uh washing up, uh hoovering, making a bed.

SPEAKER_05 21:31

Um doing homework.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

But yeah, I mean but I guess if you make your homework, you know, imaginative and creative, it suddenly becomes exciting and engaging, doesn't it? So um yeah, it's super important.

SPEAKER_05 21:45

Awesome. Thank you so much. That was a lovely question. Right, who's next?

SPEAKER_00 21:48

Um me.

SPEAKER_02 21:49

Um going off with that you said it's uh creativity is one of your top five things. What is your top five things?

SPEAKER_00 21:55

Oh, food, one of them. Not in any particular order. Laughing, food, imagination, nature. Ooh, okay. And family and friends. I see. I think.

SPEAKER_05 22:12

That's gotta be up there, right?

SPEAKER_00 22:13

It's good. You'd hope so.

SPEAKER_05 22:15

Yeah, you'd hope. Great one, thank you so much. Right.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

Um, can I ask can I ask anyone here? Have you got any favourite things in life? I've got favourite. Let's hear them.

unknown 22:25

Well, should should you?

SPEAKER_02 22:27

You go first, you go first.

SPEAKER_00 22:29

You don't have to say five, you can say one, two, or three. I'd love to hear them.

SPEAKER_02 22:33

Well, I have one and I have two and I have three.

SPEAKER_00 22:37

Oh can I hear three?

SPEAKER_02 22:38

Oh, uh yeah. Uh one, my favourite thing is to sleep. Sleep. Well, yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 22:46

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 22:47

Playing any games in general. Yeah. I mean, I don't care from a computer or all the way outside, or maybe with your body itself.

SPEAKER_00 22:56

Great. Um three. Finally. Oh, tricky one. It is tricky because there's so many things to enjoy in life, isn't there? And we should have a top ten, but we'll we'll stick with three for now. Isn't school a lot? Eating.

SPEAKER_02 23:09

Depends how you're looking at it.

SPEAKER_05 23:12

Friends. It's gotta be fun.

SPEAKER_02 23:13

Yeah, friends. Friends and family sometimes. Sometimes friendly. Um one of them would be drawing. Drawing? Drawing. I don't know, mystical creatures, anything. Cool. Just from just drawing lines on a piece of paper, I just find it's amusing when I'm bored.

SPEAKER_00 23:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:32

Um playing outside, like on trampoline and stuff like that. Friends and family. Going on walks like um bike rides in the forests. And um sleeping as well. There we go. He's up there, I think. For everyone, isn't he?

SPEAKER_05 23:48

Up there, doesn't he? You can't you can't not enjoy sleeping.

SPEAKER_02 23:52

Uh I don't know how many I have, but I'm just gonna name some. Family, friends, piano, art, and kickboxing.

SPEAKER_05 24:01

Kickboxing, yes. Oh, I'm very impressed. Very good. Right, we're gonna need one or two more then, guys, and then we're gonna get we're gonna read our final question.

SPEAKER_02 24:10

So, um I've got four things about. So, um first is football.

SPEAKER_03 24:19

Uh the second is fishing. Fishing, fun. Um like fishing is my sort of like second big hobby.

SPEAKER_00 24:31

Great.

SPEAKER_03 24:32

And I also I enjoy um I enjoy playing tennis, but um it's not the best thing I like.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 24:43

Um and the last one is I um uh well I like school but not always. So sometime school. Yeah. Depends what day.

SPEAKER_05 24:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:57

Okay, Friday, yes. Monday.

SPEAKER_05 25:00

Okay, let's go with our final question then, guys. So who's gonna give us up the last one? Oh, sorry, we're gonna do the last thing.

SPEAKER_02 25:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 25:08

Go on then.

SPEAKER_02 25:09

Um, my favourite things are football, I support Arsenal. It's just a family tradition. Yeah, and um, I also like tennis, playing tennis.

SPEAKER_00 25:21

You're a sporty lot, you aren't you?

SPEAKER_02 25:23

And family and friends.

SPEAKER_00 25:26

Wonderful. I wonder, listeners at home, what are your five uh top five things in life? Or maybe top three. Should we go top three or top five? Um five. Depend. Top five.

SPEAKER_05 25:38

I think top five's always pretty good. Five gives you the choice, doesn't it?

unknown 25:41

It gives you more options.

SPEAKER_05 25:42

Yeah, it gives you a few more bits and pieces. Super, all right, we need one more question then, guys, because I'm away out of time, so we need to wrap this up. So we need the final question, which uh uh whoever's got that one.

SPEAKER_02 25:53

Um so basically, how do your parties and camps basically work? So, like how like basically basic like what how how do they work basically? How do they work?

SPEAKER_00 26:09

So just so I'm super clear, do you mean what do we do at camps? Or are you or the what do the staff do? Um just what do uh you do at camp? Oh well, we do quite a bit um because we currently hold um camps at Claremont at Fancourt, we have access to your beautiful grounds. So we do a lot outside. We have that forest school field bit that we do lots of nature craft in and uh and sort of imaginative play. We do magic shows, we do dancing, we do singing, we do sporty games, um, we have yeah, lots of craftanoons. So in the afternoon, we do lots of craft, um, we do lots of drama games, we eat, which is great. Um, we have free time in the playground, and then like I said before, sometimes we have uh special guests coming in. So in Halloween week, so in October, we're gonna have some animals come back. Over the summer, over the summer, we've got some uh sort of farm type animals coming in, hopefully. Um small, not huge cows or horses or anything, little rabbits and guinea pigs. Cow at Claremont now we've got well, yes. You love guinea pigs, um so yeah, we do lots of things. Uh, we're always trying to do new things. If you've got any suggestions of what we can do at camp, totally open to it. Um, but yes, we do mainly do uh building up uh creativity and confidence through all the activities that I've just mentioned. Um, and it's open for three to nine-year-olds now. So it feels like one big family because we're all one big group. So the little ones get help from the big ones, and the big ones can help with the little ones, and we all stick together and create a magical day.

SPEAKER_05 28:13

And if people want to find out a little bit more about where to book your US party entertainer, where would they go to?

SPEAKER_00 28:19

Yeah, so you can find us at www.toadstoolparties.com and there's a party section and a holiday camp section, or if you'd like to tune in to the YouTube channel where there's a real unicorns and a baby dragon, it's called Fairy Sarah and Friends.

SPEAKER_05 28:38

Awesome. Well, I think I'm gonna go away and subscribe like now, because that sounds incredible. Um, so thank you so much for joining us today.

SPEAKER_00 28:46

Oh, thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure. And well done, guys, for asking such brilliant questions in such an articulate way. You were fantastic. Well done.

SPEAKER_05 28:54

Thank you, guys, well done, and thank you very much for coming.

SPEAKER_00 28:57

Thank you. You hey, you too.

SPEAKER_05 29:01

This week has reminded us that creativity gives us freedom, freedom to imagine, freedom to express ourselves, and freedom to inspire others. Keep exploring, keep creating, and don't be afraid to share your ideas with the world. Thanks for listening to the download, and we'll see you next week.