Finding her rhythm with Story Sense! Franchisee Sarah Davies on storytelling, sensory play and starting something new

When people ask Sarah Davies what she does for a living now, she keeps it simple.

“I run sensory story classes for the under-fives. They are fully immersive and interactive sessions bringing stories to life. (And then I would proceed to start describing what a session looks like!)”

But behind that sentence is a whole world of bubbles, puppets, sand and giggles. Sarah runs Story Sense North Cheshire, leading immersive storytelling and sensory play sessions that spark imagination in little ones and connection with their grown-ups.

And if you think it sounds like just another baby group, think again.

A class that connects generations

Some of the most powerful sessions Sarah runs don’t just involve under-fives, they include older adults, too.

Her intergenerational classes bring together children from Penketh South nursery and residents from the neighbouring care home, Meadowview - a partnership that began, quite simply, through community.

“I have wonderful support from my mums who attend my classes at The Oaks Centre. They often tag me in social media posts, recommend me to people, and let me know of upcoming events that I might want to attend.”

One of those mums mentioned a Christmas fayre at her daughter’s school. Sarah went along, and that small step ended up opening a much bigger door. Staff from Meadowview were there too and invited Sarah to attend their own event, originally to explore buying sensory materials for residents.

But when Sarah sat down with Tracy, the activities coordinator, the conversation took a different turn.

“We discussed the content of our sessions. I popped in again to show her some of the photos we use in class, and when I met the residents that day and shared the images with them, we decided to trial a session.”

Sarah admits she was unsure at first. But the response from the residents was immediate.

“I was initially sceptical of this being successful, but I was wrong. The session was received exceptionally well.”

From there, things grew. The residents loved it. Tracy suggested inviting the children from Penketh South, who already had ties with the care home.

“I contacted Claire, the head of early years, and discussed the possibility of an intergenerational session. This was welcomed by the school, and to date, we’ve done three, with more planned for the new school year.”

The local paper even covered it, but as Sarah will tell you, the real story is in the moments shared between children and residents.

A leap into something different

Before Story Sense, Sarah had spent two decades as a HLTA in a special school. It was a job she cared deeply about, but there was a voice in her head asking if there might be something more.

“I started looking into different options and came across an ad for Story Sense on Facebook. I started to follow the page and looked into it a bit further. I then scheduled a call with Nikita. This was an informal chat to learn a bit more about Story Sense.”

She followed that instinct all the way to Devon, for a Story Sense discovery day.

“I came away from that day "buzzing". It was one of the best experiences of my life. As I travelled home, I talked things through with my mum, who had travelled down with me, she could see how excited I was by this. I took a bit of time to think it over and decided that this was what I needed to do. So, I took a massive leap and said yes.”

As with any new job, there’s lots of training to get through, but Sarah felt confident with the backing of other franchisees and Nikita being happy to answer questions!

“Now that I am part of Story Sense, I've realised how happy I am.”

It wasn’t about suddenly having it all figured out. It was about following a gut feeling. And about taking a leap into something new, even when it felt big and scary.

Building something of her own

Since launching, Sarah’s sessions have been featured in the local paper, and her name has been put forward for multiple awards. But when asked what’s made her stand out, she doesn’t talk about strategy or branding - she talks about passion.

“I have been absolutely blown away with my awards nominations. By starting Story Sense, I have met and worked with a lovely photographer called Jen, she has told me that my sessions are magical and that she can see my passion shining through. So, it could be this passion that stands out to others.”

Parents who come to her classes often share supportive testimonials describing how their children light up, engage more, and grow in confidence week by week and it’s these relationships that matter.

Work that fits your life

One of the things that makes franchising with Story Sense different is the flexibility. And for Sarah, that’s meant a big change in the rhythm of her week.

“The flexibility of being a franchisee is amazing. I can now pick my own days and hours of work.

No more long days and even longer meetings at the end of the day. We still have meetings/training, but they are quick and at a convenient time. I am my own boss, so I work when it's convenient for me, whether it's an actual class or social media posts.

I fit everything around my life instead of fitting my life around my job.”

She’s still busy, planning classes, sorting props, replying to messages, but she’s doing it on her terms. The balance isn’t perfect, but it’s real.

The honest version of starting something new

If you ask Sarah whether running a franchise is easy, she won’t sugar-coat it. It’s hard work. But it’s also joyful. Fulfilling. Worth it. And for anyone considering joining Story Sense, she’s got a message grounded in reality.

“It's hard work. But, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. I'm happier, it's flexible, you can make it suit your life. It's so much fun, but my favourite part, has to be, being part of and aiding the development of all the little ones that attend class, oh, and the cuddles!”

“This is why I do it”

Some of the best moments don’t come with an award or a press feature. They happen mid-messy play, when a toddler is covered in cocoa powder mud, completely immersed in the world they are creating.

“There are several moments. The smiles, the participation and engagement, the language development, the confidence, it's a pleasure to see and be a part of.

But a standout moment for me is any messy play class. These are my favourites as you get to see little ones live their best lives. Whether they get stuck in and really messy or they decide to eat everything that's on offer. The choice is theirs and it's great to see.”

This is what it’s about: building stories from the ground up. Creating spaces where children can be themselves, explore freely, and feel safe enough to get stuck in - or not. Sarah gets to be part of that every week. And as she puts it, she’s never been happier.

Ready to build something of your own that actually works around your life? Let’s chat.