This summer I had the joy of attending two weddings, and as I watched the careful planning and celebration unfold, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities with SFSC delivery. There’s a long checklist, at least two people running the show, and lots of guests some excited, some nervous and some frustrated but all expecting to feel welcome, safe, and supported. Luckily, planning and preparation is one of our team’s key strengths.
Of course, our official delivery checklist keeps us on track – from confirming your co-facilitator, contacting parents, risk-assessing the venue, arranging the crèche, registering the programme, and planning your sessions together, right through to the end-of-programme certificates, evaluation, and Programme Summary Report (formerly Class Summary). It’s a lot to hold.
I asked colleagues across the team to send me their top three delivery hacks independently. I expected some overlap as we’re a close, skilled team with shared foundations, even if the delivery is personal. Here’s what they said:
Joy
- “I always start by asking myself – if I were a parent walking in, would I want to stay? A welcoming space is everything.”
- “At the start and end of each session, we do a one-word check-in. Parents can choose any adjective – but they’re not allowed to say ‘OK’!”
- And finally – “never forget to bring humour. It lightens the load for everyone.”
Antoinette
- “Step back and observe – verbal and non-verbal responses tell you so much.”
- “Know your co-facilitator’s strengths and weaknesses – it makes the partnership work.”
- “Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, but I like to agree who will take the lead each session.”
Eleni
- “When planning, convenience is paramount – think about the barriers and how to remove them.”
- “Know a little about each parent before you start – their name, their children’s names and ages – it eases connection.”
- “Lights, camera, action! For me that means being emotionally available and ready to engage.”
Jade
Well, Jade couldn’t help herself and came up with twice as many hacks as anyone else! I’ve included her first three – not necessarily the most important, but the ones that came to her mind first:
- Programme materials (paperwork, stickers, pens, SFSC posters) – “so parents feel the course is structured, professional and engaging”
- Refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits, food) – “because a warm drink and hot food helps people feel welcome and valued”
- Crèche materials (toys, snacks, plates, cups) – “so children are safe, happy and cared for, and crèche staff feel equipped”
Maryam
- A quick check-in with parents before the first session helps build familiarity and reassures them.
- Be fully prepared with registers, slides and a plan with your co-facilitator so you can focus on parents.
- Set clear boundaries early but keep it flexible until the group finds its rhythm.
Chantel
- “Have SFSC materials, slides, registers ready and sort refreshments/lunch and crèche with your co-facilitator.”
- “Keep the space clean, safe, welcoming and remember to brief venue staff so they know what to expect.”
- “Recruit viable parents, build a genuine, transparent connection, and maintain it as ongoing support.”
Bernadette (me!)
- “I metaphorically put my own stuff to one side, so I’ve got the headspace to ‘hold’ parents.”
- “I check in with my co-facilitator before we start to make sure we’re both on form.”
- “And yes – I’m the one who triple-checks the tech!”
“To give parents the best of me, I set my own stuff aside. Parking my everyday distractions before the session means I can be fully present, professional, and open.” Bernadette
Whether it’s Joy’s humour, Antoinette’s eye for detail, Eleni’s “lights, camera, action,” Jade’s well-stocked crèche, Maryam’s preparation and boundaries, Chantel’s focus on kit–space–relationships, or simply remembering to pack the extension lead, these checklists remind us that good delivery is about being human first, facilitator second. Just like a wedding, the planning matters, but… it’s the atmosphere you create on the day that people remember. The overlapping points isn’t accidental but rather what happens when a close team keeps the same promises to parents, week after week.
So, to everyone about to start their SFSC programme this term: we wish you every success. May your venues be welcoming, your registers full, and your AV equipment behave itself!
Bernadette Rhoden, Head of Training & Curriculum
