When thinking about childcare options for your baby or young child you should consider using a Childminder. As a Childminder I have a small group of children each day in a home-based setting. In my setting your child has one special person who looks after them, so this is consistent and feels safe and secure.
The environment is part of my home and is cosy and comfortable. My first priority is always to build a secure attachment with a child.

As a Childminder I have to meet all the same requirements and standards as any other provision such as a nursery or preschool.

I have a slowed down pedagogy, which means we have a loose routine of events through the day but otherwise we take our time. We approach things in a mindful and purposeful way. Your child will be learning through play with a highly trained and experienced person who enhances learning experiences is a powerful way to build neural pathways in their brain. I am very interested in infant neuroscience and how children’s brains develop.

I love nature and through work with the children harness a love and respect for the natural world within my setting. We spend time under the trees, growing food and flowers and living in the seasons.

We plant, nurture, harvest and eat the food we grow in the garden. There is real magic and wonder in watching things grow.

We spend time outside in all weather conditions and learn about how to manage this through this real experience and finding the joy in all types of weather. Nothing is more fun than jumping in a muddy puddle on a rainy day.

Being in nature is proven to improve mental health, reduce stress and build resilience.

We have lots of garden visitors, bugs, spiders, squirrels, birds and sometimes a hedgehog. I teach the children about how to help care for wild animals as well as looking after my beloved pets.

The Mud Kitchen is a place where big messes can be made and are actively encouraged.

I love to explore arts and crafts with the children with a focus on the process of creating not the end product. This includes painting, drawing, collage, dancing, singing, sewing and woodwork. Children can learn and master skills in their own time and ways.

I love books and story telling and foster a love of books within my setting. I love to make props to enhance our story times.

Maths, literacy and science are threaded through a wide variety of activities and each week interesting invitations to play are presented for the children. Mostly we explore anything a child brings up or demonstrates their interest in through their focused attention.

As a little community we celebrate each other’s successes and support each other through challenges. Children learn empathy and social skills through supported interactions with each other. They learn how to acknowledge and manage their own feelings.