Childminder settings come in all shapes and sizes, with different approaches and resources. So whether you take an open-ended play approach, outdoor learning focus, or natural and neutral approach to childminding, the objective always remains the same, to provide the best possible childcare.
Meet the childminders!
Three childminders, Pebbles Childcare, the Natural Childminder and Childcare Adventures, have let us take a peek inside their fabulous childminding settings. Here they show us how they best utilise the space in their setting and to help inspire other childminders.
1. Chloe and Bridgit, Pebbles Childcare:
“We have a small designated playroom of which we rotate resources and change the physical set up each week. This way we can continually meet the ever-changing needs and interests of our children. This also means we are utilising our own outdoor space as well as the local community too.
Drawing on a range of pedagogies, we aim to provide an exceptional enabling environment. With ‘loose parts’ resources being freely accessible throughout the setting and dedicated learning areas to challenge the children’s thinking and inspire their play. We also adopt a Froebelian approach in regards to using the outdoors and natural world. As huge advocates of risky play; we aim to incorporate the elements; earth, wind, fire and water into everyday activities.”
To discover how Pebbles Childcare utilise their outdoor space, read more here.
2. Sam, the Natural Childminder:
“Our focus is on our outdoor space as we spend the majority of our time playing outside. We love playing in our mud kitchen and the water tray is an absolute favourite. We have a tuff tray, which we change weekly. One week it could be a sand pit and the next week its a dinosaur land! We were gifted a wooden cable reel, which fits perfectly in our garden and has endless uses!
Inside we play in our playroom. We have a good variety of wooden toys and have created a home corner with play kitchen, table and chairs and a dolls highchair and cot. Bags and hats hang on the wall making them easily accessible and inviting.
We keep our play areas neutral and introduce natural materials to create a sense of calm and tranquility. As much as possible areas are simple and uncluttered. We are an eco-conscious setting so as much as possible, we avoid buying plastic, instead we stick to real items that we find in charity shops or open ended wooden toys.”
3. Hannah, Childcare Adventures:
“My garden is where I do most of my childcare as I currently have a small terraced house. My garden is laid with astroturf and has wooden decking at the back with an inbuilt sand pit. Along the walls of my garden I’ve built a water wall with a variety of pipes and buckets for water play. My areas of play in the garden are a mud kitchen which is great for imaginative play, a sand pit that I use for balls or fill with water for play with scoops etc. I also have a Wendy House that is used daily. There are also a variety of wooden and plastic play things, such as boats, play food, train track etc.
Inside, most of my play centres around my kitchen. Baking and pizza making are firm favourites amongst the small ones! Tuff trays are used for indoor small world play, messy play and any kind of sensory activity. I have a set of shelves set aside completely for childcare activities and boxes set aside containing musical instruments, dress up, cars etc.
My current house is only small and so I want to reassure you that no matter what the size of your setting you can make it work!”
New to childminding? Make sure you have the essential equipment with our handy childminders checklist.
We would love to see inside YOUR setting! Share your images with us on social media by tagging us or using the hashtag #ExploreWithEYR
