Activities & Gallery

I aim to provide children with a well-rounded early years’ experience with a focus on play and exploration.

I use the ground floor of my home for Childminding. The conservatory is used as a playroom and has direct access to the garden. I plan activities which will interest your child and support them in their development. I also encourage children to select their own activities and provide resources which are open ended and encourage critical thinking and imagination.

Developing communication skills is very important in my setting, we do lots of storytelling ,singing, reading and listening to children, this also supports children's self-regulation and executive function skills.

In the setting we have lots of messy and sensory play, including a mud kitchen, a mud pit and painting wall. There are opportunities for role play and mark making throughout the setting.

We use the seasons to explore the world around us and spend a lot of time outdoors in all weathers.

Children are supported as they develop life skills and are encouraged to take part in daily routines such as preparing snacks. We all eat together, and this is a great opportunity to chat about our day. We also occasionally eat out at local cafe’s as I feel this is a valuable life experience and supports children to understand that we need to adapt our behaviour according to where we are.

We go out of the setting on most days, sometimes just to the park or to feed the ducks, other days we may cycle to Highwoods or catch the bus or train to Wivenhoe. We are also regular visitors to Colchester Castle Museum, Hollytrees (social history museum) and the Natural History Museum.

Twice a month the children and I host the "Rhyme Time "session at Wivenhoe Library.

We attend the following activities "Story time in the Forest” at Highwoods and an artist lead creative group at the Firstsite Gallery. We also visit a local residential home for the elderly twice a month. Several times a year we visit the local theatres to see children’s productions.

During the school holidays we often have days out to the beach, the Museum of East Anglian Life at Stowmarket, Ipswich and Poplar Garden centre or meet up with other childminders for picnics. Every summer I organise a big get together for all my current and past minding families.