EST
2018
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PHILOSOPHY
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I’m Helen from little puddle people. I live in Sheffield with my family, Calum, my husband, Ajay who is twelve and Harvey who is five. After having Harvey who has a genetic disorder I felt a new approach to work was needed so I could spend more time with him… little puddle people was born!
I believe a gentle, caring and nurturing approach to children’s care and development is key. Children need love and secure responsive relationships to support early brain development that will shape their lives forever. The early years are so important. I have worked in a range of different nursery settings taking on various roles over the last 15 years gaining knowledge and my own style along the way. We will be basing our experiences around child led learning in nature. I have been a qualified forest schools practitioner since 2013 and a Skogsmulle leader (Swedish nature teacher) since 2015. I have experience in running various outdoor groups including a fully outdoors Kindergarten. The great outdoors has a huge influence on the way I teach and the opportunities for learning I provide. Influences from nature, the world, weather and seasons are integral to my setting with trips out to local woodland, parks and the peaks planned daily as well as time out in the garden.
forest schools
take me to the woods
I have been trained as a Forest School Practitioner since 2013 when I trained with Archimedes (now FSE) the Forest Schools ethos and approach my teaching style and equips me with the knowledge to keep children and families safe in outdoors when accessing my groups and joining in with accessing variety of experiences such as fire lighting and tool work. I run a variety of outdoor sessions on Tuesday from Peak resort in Unstone, S18 where I have created a ‘natures playground’ for children to have the opportunity to thrive outdoors. This is a new site that is in it’s very early stages of development. The 300 acre site has been privately owned for the last 30 years and has been left to re wild from it’s golf course past before the exciting development of Peak Resort began earlier this year. I have been extremely lucky to secure a small pocket of woodland within the site to run sessions from. It has open meadow and grassland, woodland and a pond. It is beautiful and basic, I have dreams of developing pond dipping platforms, a huge mud kitchen, bird hides, dens and so much more but for now we have a bell tent for shelter, a little camping loo and a place to explore, play and be in nature together. There is a car park and an accessible path to the site suitable for buggies and wheel chairs, once in the site it is not currently suitable for buggies and wheelchairs, there are no ‘paths’ so to speak! For more information on these sessions please see the ‘shop’ section of the website.
found out more about the exciting project here
https://www.peakliaison.co.uk/
All sessions must be booked in advance please book on via the web shop.
I am available to work with your setting or group delivering forest school sessions, Skogsmulle sessions and anything in between. I can create bespoke workshops and training sessions to staff. Nurture groups, school groups, after school clubs and more! Please can in touch to discuss availability and requirements.
It can be a one off, a block booking or ongoing at your site or mine.
Please get in touch to discuss your requirements and we can create a collaborative plan.
After School Care
open all hours
I provide childminding care for children who attend greystones primary school.
I understand the importance of healthy food feeding brains! Children need a good breakfast to engage and concentrate in class until lunch time. I know all too well how ravenous children are when they come out of school, I don’t want a house full of hangry children. That’s why I include food in all of my wrap around care. There will be plenty of options to cater for even the fussiest of eaters.
Afterschool club - £13.25 per child includes a homemade tea and afterschool snack
Childminding
a home from home
I childmind from 9 am until 5.30 pm Thursday and Friday. If you require a slightly different option of days and times please do get in touch as I can be flexible.
I charge £5.75 per hour, per child.
I charge a £1.50 per day snack supplement to all early years children. This includes varied and healthy homemade snacks throughout the day.
I provide a cooked tea for anyone staying past 5pm for £1.50 per meal as an additional option. Again all meals are homemade and healthy, they are baby led weaning friendly.
We will spend time attending groups and with other childminders to ensure the children have a broad range of experiences and social opportunities.
We will follow the early years foundation stage curriculum to progress our learning following the children’s current interests using the floorbook planning approach.
We will spend time outside, every day, what ever the weather. Children will need to come prepared with warm weather clothing and waterproofs to ensure they can enjoy our adventures to the maximum. Accessing local parks, woodland, the peak district and our little garden will become part of our daily adventures. Your child may come home mucky but they will have had real life experiences and hands on learning to help them grow into well rounded human beings.
Each child will have an online learning journey that is updated regularly with photos and observations of our adventures and learning, you will have your own secure log in to view and comment on your child’s account.
Individual needs and routines are always taken into consideration when planning our day to ensure that the child’s health and well being is paramount as well as the wishes of the parent met.
Children will have opportunities to rest when needed, I have a buggy with buggy board, a cosy area set up in the living room. I am also confident in using slings to carry children of all ages.
Be Prepared
A few years ago I was lucky enough to train as a Skogsmulle Leader (Swedish nature teacher) and they let me in on their clothing secrets and now I’m going to share them with you! This technique applies to parents and carers too! So many times I’ve had shivering grown-ups soggy and wet as they bundled up their precious little one in the best waterproofs money could buy and forgot about themselves! Happy parents, happy kids so dress yourself well too! And don’t forget ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing!’
The 3 layer system
Base layer – thermal base (brushed or merino being extra warm) in colder months, cotton/technical cooling base in warmer months
Mid layer – knitted jumper/fleece/Sherpa fleece when very cold and a thinner jumper or hoody as it gets warmer.
Outer layer – this is your coat so when it’s cold it may be a big thick ski jacket or down jacket, in spring or autumn a lined waterproof and summer just a waterproof.
This system applies to top and bottom layers!
The Skogsmulle Leaders top tip!
Cover your glands – this means if you’re feeling cold instead of adding a layer all over add a layer to your glands. Wrists, necks and ankles lose the most heat – not your head! Trust me this works! I have suffered for years from cold feet and if I wear some funky knitted leg warmers on top of my socks my toes are warm!! Avoid cotton next to the skin when it is cold as it has cooling effects.
My favourite brands are Muddy Puddles, Toastie Kids, Decathlon, Acai, Buffalo, Didricksons, Kozi Kidz…ooh and quite a few more! You tend not to go wrong with Swedish brands and there are some pretty fab environmentally conscious UK brands too! Second hand is fab too!
Take care of your outdoor gear, don’t wash too often and when you do use a Tech Wash to retain it’s waterproof qualities. Usually twice a year I reproof all of our gear too! At the end of a muddy day I either let everything dry and sweep off the loose mud or rinse off under our outdoor tap then hang to dry. Normal washing detergents break down the waterproof qualities on outdoor clothing so it is best to avoid.
So, now you know! You are all guaranteed to enjoy your outdoor time so much more if you are kitted out well, happy exploring!
