Michele James

About Me

Caring, qualified, registered childminder; working from the rural village setting of Newdigate.
Mother of two older children, I have been a childminder for over 26 years. Providing an happy stimulating fun and loving family home environment with friendly pets, its a fusion of forest school and play space. I believe that outdoors enables a greater sense of self, exploration, sense of freedom and wellbeing, enhanced learning and an understanding and empathy for the natural world. Studies have shown a raised endorthins and heightened physical wellbeing from being outside. I was a garden based setting for all these reasons, but with the age of minds in my care and the extremes of the weather, I find today that we have the best of both. in the cooler months we start and finish indoors and chose to explore other settings like fishers farm for their heated softplay spaces to give us a sense of change and space when the garden based setting is just to extreme for the youngest children to weather more than a short time. The setting has a large, light airy indoor space that we retreat to. the outside setting comprises of tailored areas to provide comfort, safety and early exploration security and playfull fun. Comprising of the little explorers indoor cabin, under covered open play zones, playhouse and mud kitchen and shop, art area, play frames, gardening area, outside kitchen and dining. The setting encourages extended open ended learning and flow.

Your child will be joining our close sibling like minding family and will feel like this is their second home.

I have a love of nature, stories, adventures, crafts and music and try to incorporate these aspects into everyday. We seek fun, follow dreams, explore the world and have fun whilst we learn together. My strengths are safety and communication.

I am passionate about giving young minds the building blocks to achieve and enjoy life. Its all about the fun and sharing quality time with piers and siblings. A no pressured, encouraging play environment with lots of toys, musical instruments, puppets, story sacks, crafts, dressing up. And resources For every age and interest. A safe enclosed (not overlooked) large well stocked garden; with playhouse, chill out story area, sand pit, jungle gym and trampoline and many other outdoor play resources.

I encourage empathy, politeness, respect for themselves and others, to take and self assess risk and keep trying. Exploring new environments and experiences, moving the children forward to broaden their understanding of the world. Working closely with parent and respecting parents wishes, ethos and culture. I consider each child in my settings individual needs.

We are one big happy family. Regular off setting experiences include, parks, woods, farms, softplay, local museums, pond dipping, environmental centres, sea side trips, playgroups, bird sanctuaries and beach visits, Wisley and National trust properties, bug hunts etc.

Empowering the children to make choices that are shaped and listened to, disgussed and achieved (if possible and practical for all the children involved) shows they are a valued member of the setting and gives them a sense of belonging ownership and worth.