Providing a warm, safe, friendly, home environment with a family atmosphere in which children feel valued, can play, learn and develop.  Children will receive a lot of individual attention whilst enjoying interaction with others.  
A typical childminder day

Although my aim is to provide a "home from home" setting for the children in my care, even at home children need some sort of routine so that they understand the pattern of how their day will run. Therefore, although activities will be based around the needs of individual children, there will be a loose structure that will be followed to ensure that older children get to school on time, and that the younger children get to socialise at events outside my home such as toddler groups, music and cookery groups, and also to ensure that children learn the rhythm of their week and everyday lives.

Typical Daily Routine
This is a typical routine - not a rigid timetable that has to be followed! As a childminder I understand that children need to be treated as individuals.


Arrival from 7.30 am
Free play
8.00 Breakfast
8.30 – 9.15 School/nursery drop off followed by morning activity/outing including music groups, cookery groups, toddler groups, visit to the park etc.
11.30 onwards Nursery pickups
12.00 pm Free play at home followed by lunch
12.30 - 1.00 Rest time – either sleep or doing quiet activities downstairs i.e. looking at books, puzzles or just resting quietly on the sofa

Afternoon
Themed Activity – to follow theme of the moment including looking at seasons, any celebrations such as children's birthdays, Pancake day, multicultural celebrations etc.
3.00 – 3.45 School pick up – we will walk to pick up where possible
3.45 onward Snack time
4.00 Free play/ continuation of themed activity for children returning from school
5.30 Home time
Children collected



Please note:
•   The routine can be adapted to suit individual children, i.e. if your child sleeps in the morning instead of after lunch then provision can be made for this.
•   Activities will vary in the holidays, when there will be trips out with school age children, whilst also taking into account the needs of the younger children in the setting.
•   Part of each day will be spent outdoors, as not only is this a requirement of EYFS, but it is also beneficial for the children to get used to and enjoy fresh air and a variety of activities.
•   Examples of morning activities include music groups and singing at the local library, toddlers group, visits to the park and to feed the ducks, collecting leaves to make collages, visits to the farm to see the animals, visits to the library and local shops to learn about the local community, and many more!
•   Examples of afternoon themed activities include music and movement, creative "messy play" such as making collages with the leaves and other things we may have picked up on our morning walk! Other examples are painting, sticking and gluing, cooking, making and playing with play dough, and following themes including making cards for Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day, preparing for a birthday, following other religions or cultures celebrations and many more!