My name is, Vanessa Rathmill and the founder of Read, Play, Create. 

​

Reading has always been a love of mine from early childhood. When starting my teaching career in Primary education, I didn't realise how much books and stories would come into play. As my career progressed, my passion for reading and igniting reading into young children grew. I soon became English lead and was given the opportunity to oversee the whole of the English curriculum from nursery to year 6. After extensive training in reading, it really struck me how early reading is incredibly important. It is in everything we do! I recognised that children who didn't read or were not read to, struggled within the school system. This enhanced my passion to grow the importance of reading to all my students and the community where I worked. 

​

Moving onto 2022, I had my first child, Archie. Wow! No-one really tells how you much your life changes when you have a child. Well, I was in for an absolute whirlwind. Little Archie had a health condition and it was terrifying. Going back to work after being on maternity for a year was hard! Being in teaching, it was definitely a struggle even without Archie's illnesses, trying to teach 150 children for 8 hours a day was tough. I had a lot of time off work with looking after Archie and that was when it hit me, I need something more flexible. 

 

​When he was 6 months old we began baby classes and we still attend toddler classes now. They are fantastic. I have enjoyed every single class we have taken and so has Archie. It has been absolutely beneficial for his development and social skills. 

​

After 3 years, I knew that baby/toddler classes was the way forward. With my combined experience of teaching, love of reading and having my own child, Read, Play, Create was formed!

 

To find out more check out my  BLOG page where I will posting all things baby/toddler related.