Maria

About Me

Welcome to Maria’s Childminding

Hello, I’m Maria, an Ofsted-registered childminder offering warm, nurturing and personalised childcare from my home in Brough.

I provide care for young children in a calm, welcoming home-from-home environment, where they can feel safe, secure and genuinely cared for. As a mum myself to my 10-month-old son, Max, I understand just how important it is to know that the person caring for your child will treat them with patience, kindness and affection.

A Little About Me

Caring for and supporting others has been at the heart of my working life for many years.

Before becoming a childminder, I worked within health and social care, including day services supporting adults with autism and people with multiple physical and learning disabilities. I later worked for the local authority as a Care Coordinator before moving into advocacy – a role that I particularly loved.

As an advocate, I supported people to have their voices heard and fought fiercely for their rights, choices, dignity and respect. That experience shaped many of the values I now bring to my childminding setting.

I am naturally a warm, calm, caring and empathetic person. I believe every child deserves to be listened to, respected and understood as an individual. Children develop at different rates, have different personalities and communicate their needs in different ways, and I want the children in my care to feel accepted and valued for exactly who they are.

My Home & Family

I live with my partner, Sven, and our 10-month-old son, Max. My setting is very much a family home rather than a nursery environment, and I want children to feel comfortable and relaxed here.

I have created a dedicated, thoughtfully arranged play environment where young children can explore, play and learn at their own pace. I particularly value open-ended play, books, creativity, sensory experiences, music, movement, nature and opportunities to explore the world around us.

I also have an allotment and greenhouse area, which gives us a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors and experience growing our own food. Children will be encouraged to get involved in simple, age-appropriate activities such as planting seeds, watering, watching things grow and eventually harvesting what we’ve grown together. There will also be opportunities to taste fresh fruits and vegetables, helping children explore new foods and begin to understand where their food comes from in a fun and hands-on way.

We also have two small family dogs. I understand that parents may have different feelings about pets, so children's interactions with the dogs will always be carefully managed and supervised. Children will never be expected to interact with them.

My Approach to Childcare

I want children to have a childhood here – not simply move from one planned activity to another.

There will be plenty of opportunities for learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), much of this will happen naturally through play, conversation, exploration and everyday experiences.

We might spend time reading together, singing songs, getting messy with paint, exploring sensory materials, visiting the library, going for walks, noticing the changing seasons, touching leaves and flowers, playing outdoors or simply following something that has captured a child's interest that day.

For babies and very young children especially, I believe that secure relationships come first. A child who feels safe, loved and understood is in the best position to explore, learn and grow.

Working With Parents

I believe strongly in working in partnership with parents. You know your child better than anyone, and I want us to have an open, friendly relationship where you feel comfortable sharing information, asking questions and talking to me about your child's needs.

I'll keep you updated about your child's day and share the little moments that matter – what they've enjoyed, things we've explored and those lovely everyday achievements that can otherwise be missed when you're apart.

Food & Everyday Essentials

I provide children with healthy snacks, drinking water and milk during their time with me.

I do not provide meals, so parents will need to send their child with an appropriate healthy packed lunch and/or other meals needed for the hours they attend. This also allows parents to choose foods they know their child enjoys and that meet their individual dietary needs.

Parents will also need to provide nappies, wipes, spare clothing and suitable seasonal items such as coats, sun hats, warm hats and gloves as appropriate.

Most Importantly…

I want Maria’s Childminding to be somewhere children are genuinely happy to come.

My setting is intentionally small and personal. I want to know the children I care for properly – their personalities, their interests, what makes them laugh, what comforts them when they're upset and the little things that make them who they are.

My career has taken me through different caring and advocacy roles, but the values behind my work have remained remarkably consistent: kindness, dignity, patience, respect and seeing the individual rather than simply the person receiving a service.

Those are the same values I bring to caring for children.

My aim is simple: for your child to feel safe, happy, valued and cared for, and for you to be able to leave them with me knowing they are in warm and capable hands.