When I'm open
Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, all year round. I can sometimes be flexible if you ask.
A typical day
Play, outings and rest
We play, we rest, and we go out every week. When we're at home there's the garden. When we're out it might be a pop-in with other childminders, the park or somewhere else local.
Food
You bring your child's meals, and I provide water and snacks. I take care over allergies and cultural requirements.
Staying in touch
I keep a daily diary for each child on specialist childcare software, where I share their special "wow moments" and record how they're learning and developing. During the day I send messages and photos by WhatsApp, so you're not waiting until pick-up to hear how they're getting on.
What we do
- Forest school every week.
- Pop-ins and play groups with other childminders, so the children get to know others. Parks, farms, libraries and soft play.
- The garden has an 8-foot trampoline with a safety net, swings with protective mats, ride-on cars, trikes and scooters, and plenty of water play and sand play, with a paddling pool in the summer when the weather is right. The children help grow flowers and food, and eat the produce when it is ready. They learn words like "compost" along the way.
- Language. I run a language programme to help with speech and listening.
- Books and play. Books in many languages, including English, Portuguese, Turkish, Polish and Croatian, and books about festivals around the world and about all kinds of families. A play kitchen, dressing-up clothes, and dozens of boxes of toys and resources.
- Toys for everyone. Sensory toys for children with additional needs, and dolls, toys and books that show many different needs, abilities and backgrounds.
- Festivals from around the world, marked with music, arts and crafts.