Wendy Mo

About Me

Hi, my name is Wendy, I am a registered Childminder who lives in the village of Hurstpierpoint, near Hassocks. I am happily married, we have 3 grown up daughters who live out of the village, and 2 gorgeous Grandsons who I enjoy spending as much time as possible with, and another one on the way. We have a 2 year old little dog, called Jasper, and a 3 month old puppy Olly, both are good with the children and very much a part of my setting just like our previous dog was. Neither dogs do not shred hair, so is ideal for anyone with pet hair allergies including myself. I fully involve the children in helping to care for Japser and Olly including taking them for occasional walks and playing ball with him. There are times when both dogs are seperated from the children, ie when doing activities, meal times and going out..

I offer a caring, stimulating and relaxing home from home environment. Children have access to most rooms on the ground floor of my home. The sunroon opens into a secure garden, offering fun and learning, inside and out, all year round. We visit toddler groups, other minders settings, farms, soft play venues, adventure playgrounds, parks, the woods, the beach, libraries, children's centres and go for walks in all weathers, often with other minders and their children. I work alongside other Childminder’s and often they come to my setting for play dates, enabling children to interact and make friends. I encourage learning through fun based learning activities, such as, imaginative & messy play, puzzles, games and playdough, art & crafts, singing, music & dancing, physical games, exploring activities, growing vegetables and cooking activities. We also have time and space for relaxing and unwinding activities too. We spend a lot of time exploring out and about in the fresh air with mother nature, favourite activities include dog walks, Gruffollo hunting, jumping in puddles and creating patterns in the mud with sticks.

I abide by Ofsted Statutory requirements and I use the Early Years Foundation stage framework as a guidance: offering children activities that stimulate their interests and supports them to progress in all areas of their development. My pedogogy to teaching has been influenced by Reggio Emillio, Steiner, Montesorri and others, all children develop their own way of learning and working out things for themselves following schemas, I do my best to ensure each child's chosen pattern of learning is supported.
I have various policies which underpinn my practice as a childminder, I endeavour to keep up with all changes in laws and guidances, including Covid. I worked throughout Covid, which was quite a valuable learning experience in itself. I use daily learning journals which keep parents informed and involved in both the care and learning their child receives from me. I send photos via Wats app and I also operate a private social media page just for parents, where I share photographs and details of activities we are doing or where we are visiting, sharing with parents their child's day to day activities and achievements. I provide healthy breakfasts, snacks and an evening meal if required, I ask parents to provide a healthy lunchbox. I have my meals with the children and we sit at a table or on a picnic mat, encouraging good eating habits and manners: I also encourage children to try new foods through choice, developing their confidence around food and healthy eating. I also have experience of providing food and support to children who have food allergies or intolerances. I encourage children to help to lay the table and clear up after themselves.
I encourage children to be as independent as possible, for example hanging their coats up and learning how to put on a coat, all help with their transition into school. I also have experience in supporting children who may have additional or medical needs, as long as I feel my setting is the right one to meet their needs. when we go out I teach the children how to keep themselves safe, for example how to listen, stay within visible distance of me and to cross a road safely.
we go out within our local community, attending a local toddler group, we go to messy sessions at local cafe and attend the library, and of course go exploring in the woods and have fun in our many playparks and our local farm, Wasbrooks. we go out in the car, which is fitted with carseats, and go to the beach, woods, soft play and parks, we also visit other childminders and they visit me. children build upon good relationships, and make friends and develop confidence around community members, for example other allotment holders, local shops like the green grocers where we go to buy fruit and of course the lovely ladies who run our local toddler group.
I try to develop children's understanding of where their food comes from and we do many cooking activities and growing veg activities in the garden to support this, we have just been allocated an allotment in the village, which I am currently making completely safe for children of all ages to enjoy and learn about growing and tasting fruit and veg. I have a toy kitchen, spades, diggers, gardening equipment which help children develop their awareness of their natural world, and allow them to have fun. I used to have one in my old town of Crawley and the children learnt so much from.
I like the children to develop an awareness of environmental issues, we do lots of recycling and create things using recycled materials. There are many points locally to take recycling to, like wrappers and packets which I fully involve the children with. We often take things to the local charity shop and exchange them for other toys.