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Drama Tots Achieved 4x Growth with the Leading Franchise Management Software for Kids’ Clubs
See how Drama Tots grew from a village hall class to an 18-branch franchise teaching thousands of children each week.
Leanne Jones started Drama Tots in 2016 with a simple idea. She wanted to create fun, engaging performing arts classes for babies and toddlers. What began in a village hall soon grew into something much bigger. Today, Drama Tots teaches more than 250 children in its flagship branch and supports 18 franchisees across the UK and the British Isles.
As demand increased, the admin followed. Leanne needed a way to stay organised, support her franchisees, and offer parents a smooth booking experience. She began looking for a reliable booking and management platform and found ClassForKids, a system built specifically for kids’ activity clubs.
Drama Tots has grown at an impressive pace since then. Revenue has risen to almost 4x what it was, franchisees feel confident running their branches, and parents enjoy a quick, professional booking and payment experience. If you have growth in mind this year, Leanne’s story shows what becomes possible when your systems are ready to support your ambitions.
What challenges did the Drama Tots franchise face as it grew?
Leanne’s inspiration for Drama Tots came from her experience attending baby and toddler classes with her two sons. She saw a gap in the market for sessions that combined fun and education through performing arts. She wanted a job that fit her passion and her family life, so she launched Drama Tots and created the type of classes she wanted for her own children.
As Drama Tots grew, Leanne realised her systems were not keeping up with the pace of demand. Classes filled quickly, parents needed clear communication, and franchise opportunities began to appear. She knew there was potential for something much bigger, but she also knew that a growing performing arts franchise needed strong foundations.
Leanne had a strong brand and a loyal customer base. What she needed next was a system that supported sustainable growth.
How did ClassForKids franchise management software help Drama Tots grow?
When Leanne introduced ClassForKids, everything became more organised. She finally had one place to manage bookings, registers, safeguarding information, finances, and franchise-wide reporting. It gave her a clear view of the whole business and helped every franchisee feel confident from the moment they joined.
Leanne explains why the ClassForKids performing arts management software made such a difference:
What I loved most about ClassForKids was just how intuitive and user-friendly it was for me, my franchisees and our customers. It’s so much more than a booking system; it does all our admin for us.
ClassForKids supported Drama Tots in all the areas that mattered.
- It kept bookings, attendance, and payments organised in one secure place.
- It stored medical notes, additional needs, emergency contacts, and photo permissions, so safeguarding became easier to manage.
- It gave franchisees a simple system they could use confidently from day one.
- It offered parents a smooth booking and payment journey that took just a few clicks.
- It showed clear financial reports that helped Leanne see where each branch was growing and where extra support was needed.
- It centralised communication with parents, which meant important updates reached the right people quickly.
Leanne and her franchisees could finally focus on teaching, supporting their communities, and growing their businesses, with the confidence that the admin behind the scenes was under control.
Are you thinking about franchising your kids' club but not quite sure how to find the right franchisees? Have a read of our blog here for practical tips.
The results: almost 4x growth and a thriving franchise network
Drama Tots has grown faster than Leanne ever expected. The franchise now includes a flagship branch with more than 250 children each week and 18 franchisees across the UK and the British Isles. Together, they deliver fun and engaging performing arts sessions to hundreds of babies and toddlers.
Since adopting ClassForKids, Leanne’s revenue has increased to almost 4x its original level, and she now has a clear view of her franchise’s success and the confidence to continue expanding.
Leanne explains how ClassForKids made this growth possible:
At the touch of a button, every franchisee and I can see the payments we’ve received and where they’ve come from, and that allows us to identify how much we’ve grown, the support that’s needed, and the opportunities for improvement in each area.
Safeguarding has also improved across the franchise.
The registers feature is brilliant from a safeguarding point of view. I have access to every child’s medical information, emergency contacts, and photo permissions. Everything I need is kept securely in one place.
Drama Tots now runs with confidence and a strong foundation for continued growth, supported by tools that keep every branch organised and every parent informed. Click here to explore the register management tools that help growing kids’ clubs stay organised and confident.
Franchise management software designed for franchisee success
The impact of ClassForKids can be seen across the entire Drama Tots network. Franchisees feel more organised, more confident, and better supported in their growth.
Lauri Bradley, who runs the Drama Tots branch in Nottingham, joined the franchise without a business background. She now teaches more than 100 children each week and has increased her income by 55% since adopting ClassForKids.
In her words:
“I am not from a business background, but ClassForKids makes running my branch so easy. I can see all the information I need at the touch of a button, from financial reports to children’s allergies. It helps me stay organised and focus on growing my business.”
Leanne also uses ClassForKids to support her franchisees as they grow.
“I am able to support my franchisees by seeing what their registers look like and whether their trials are converting. It gives me a clear view of how each branch is doing.”
This visibility helps Leanne guide her team while giving franchisees the autonomy they need to run their classes with confidence. Click here to find out how our features help franchisees stay organised and confident while keeping the whole network aligned.
A better customer experience for parents and schools
A simple booking and payment experience makes a real difference for busy parents. With ClassForKids, Drama Tots delivers a clear and professional journey from the moment a parent lands on the booking page. Parents can book and pay in 3 clicks, receive all the information they need straight away, and feel confident that their child’s details are held securely.
Leanne has seen the impact first-hand:
It is just so easy. Parents can book and pay in three clicks, and I can reach them with updates about upcoming terms and events at the touch of a button.
ClassForKids has also supported Drama Tots as they expanded into schools with lunchtime and after-school sessions. Schools appreciate the simplicity of the process, and parents enjoy the same smooth booking experience they expect from regular classes.
Parents book their children through a link we send to schools, which takes them straight to our ClassForKids booking page. We receive all the information we need, and the schools appreciate not having to do the extra admin.
With ClassForKids giving parents and schools a simple and reliable way to book classes, make payments, and share important information, Drama Tots has been able to grow this part of the business with confidence.
What you can learn from Leanne’s success
Drama Tots shows how much easier it is to grow a performing arts franchise when the right foundations are in place. Demand matters, but the organisation behind the scenes is what keeps growth sustainable.
Here are the lessons Leanne’s journey highlights.
- Growth becomes easier when bookings, registers, and payments are managed in one secure place.
- Parents return when the booking journey feels simple and professional.
- Franchisees thrive when they have the tools to stay organised without extra work.
- Clear reports help club owners see what is working and where extra support is needed.
- A consistent system across every branch builds trust and keeps the whole franchise moving in the same direction.
If you want to grow your performing arts club or franchise with confidence, the right tools can make a real difference. Speak to one of our experts today and find out how you can do the same.
