E172: What Children Really Need Beyond the Classroom | Sarah Cressall OBE & Jane James

What does confidence really mean? And what do we wish school had taught us about life, resilience and being ourselves?In this inspiring episode of The School Run with Jane: Little Voices, Big Stories, Jane is joined by long-time friend, fellow franchisor and founder of The Creation Station — Sarah Cressall OBE.Sarah shares her remarkable journey from growing up in the North West of England to building one of the UK’s leading creative arts franchise networks and being awarded an OBE for services to creativity in education and business.Together, Jane and Sarah explore:* Why confidence is something we build — not something we’re born with* The life lessons school often misses* Creativity as a tool for resilience, wellbeing and connection* The power of mums, mentors and role models* Franchising, leadership and building purpose-led businesses* Why arts and creativity matter more than ever for children* How stepping outside your comfort zone changes your life* The impact of creativity in care homes, schools and communities* What Sarah’s mum taught her about courage, kindness and possibility* Why “being yourself” may be the greatest lesson of allSarah also opens up about:* Losing her father at a young age* Growing up with six siblings* Living with severe SPD during motherhood* Starting a business while raising three boys under three and a half* Learning to embrace failure, growth and reinventionThis episode is full of warmth, wisdom, laughter and honest reflections on parenting, business, confidence and finding your purpose.Whether you’re a parent, teacher, creative, entrepreneur or someone navigating life’s next chapter — this conversation will leave you inspired.About Sarah Cressall OBESarah is the founder of The Creation Station — an award-winning arts and crafts franchise supporting creativity, confidence and connection for children and adults across the UK. She is also an author, speaker and passionate advocate for the power of creativity in education, wellbeing and community.Podcasts for us are all about learning and sharing, of course free to listen to.It is brought to you by Little Voices so if you would like to buy us a virtual cup of tea /coffee when we are planning them out please click here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theschoolrunGet In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials @‌theschoolrun_official / @‌mrsjanejames on Instagram, or search and follow Jane James on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at [email protected]: For information on Jane’s company Little Voices head to http://www.littlevoices.org.uk⁠⁠@littlevoiceslimitedYou will often hear references to The Olive Jar to find out more follow @theolivejarcoursewww.theolivejar.online‌Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are just a mum and daughter, sharing their thoughts and chatting with guests that we really respect and sharing our personal stories and insights. Please seek professional advice if you need it.This episode is edited by Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real