Barbarac

About Me

Xx Free Funded Place Available Xx

Hello and Welcome!
We are Barbara and Dave, a husband and wife team passionate about nurturing young minds through an approach inspired by the Montessori philosophy and the great outdoors.
Our journey into childminding didn't start in a traditional way. Coming from a professional backgrounds, we always found joy in the simplicity and wonder of nature and the empowerment that comes from child-led learning. It became clear to us that we wanted to step away from our corporate routines and create something more meaningful -not just fir ourselves but for the children and families we work with.
Our daily routine consists of the following: The children arrive, we greet each other, and then sit down for breakfast. After breakfast, we begin our weekly theme, where we discuss our plan for the day and start our daily tasks. For example, this week we are focusing on modes of transportation. On a particular day, we might talk about trains (other days might cover buses, horse and carriage, cars, airplanes, etc.).

After breakfast, the children practice the letter "T" for "Train." Then, we build our own train using 5-6 different loose parts. During this activity, the children concentrate, choose materials, use their fine motor skills, apply their knowledge, learn new words, and use their imagination to build the train.

Next, we go on a day trip to the Whytall Transport Museum, where the children learn more about local history and have the opportunity to see beautifully restored buses and a mini ride-on railway. They can also play with wooden mini railways. We enjoy a picnic lunch at the museum before heading back.

Throughout these day trips, conversations with the children continue, and they show great interest, asking a lot of questions. Upon returning, we have a snack while reading a story about Thomas the Tank Engine. Then, we practice handwriting and numbers with a worksheet. Afterward, the children build puzzles featuring Thomas the Tank Engine.

Finally, we cook homemade playdough together, colour it in different shades as the children like, and explore the patterns the toy trains create in the playdough.
In the evening, we start building our train track on the playroom floor. While doing this, we discuss what the children's favourite activities were throughout the day.

I enjoy having an open-door conversation with parents, where they can come into my hallway and share their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions while dropping off or picking up their children. I find this extremely useful as it creates a lovely, free-flowing exchange of information between us. It also helps me incorporate their feedback into my next lesson plan.

I follow the Early Years Framework System planner (the same used by nurseries and schools) to create a unique learning and development plan for each child. This covers the areas of Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social, and Emotional Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design.
Please take a look at my website to see our daily and weekly activities.

Each child will have their own folder within their learning journal, which will provide detailed information about their development. This helps ensure a smooth transition from my setting to school.

Every child’s learning is observed and tracked so that I can create the best strategies to support their continued growth.

In the Baby Sensory sessions, there is an incredibly detailed lesson plan backing up everything your baby learns. This includes exploring what they touch, see, hear, smell, and feel. I provide ideas for creative play, massage, tummy time, movement, visual development, textures, scents, and music. I also use a combination of original and traditional songs and rhymes to develop early speech and language skills, along with sensory signing activities to help you and your baby communicate from birth.

The toddler area is equipped with road maps, signs, fire trucks, trains, garages, and electronic toys—so many that I rotate them regularly!

We visit our local library has a wide range of books, from baby books to those suitable for school-age children.

The study area is designed for school-age children to practice what they’ve learned, while toddlers experiment and develop new skills. I make my own slime, playdough, and salt dough. We play with magnets and learn about numbers, counting, shapes, and the alphabet.

I also love taking the children to National Trust sites, heritage sites, petting farms, playgrounds, local parks, and soft play areas. We also meet with other childminders and attend toddler groups (when Government Guidelines allow). The kids really enjoy playing together.

I usually send daily pictures and updates to parents, which I find to be a really useful tool for helping them feel at ease. They get to see what their children are doing and how happy they are. Some of the pictures are printed out and included in the children's journals, along with their craft work.


Offer flexible hours

Limited Funded Places Available

Tax-free and Childcare Vouchers childcare available

The fantastic Learning environment, big garden.

Home-cooked healthy meals

Homemade messy play ie play dough, paint, slime

Day trips

Play Park, Playgroups

Regular updates on your Child's Learning