What I Offer

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My name is Katy,

I have always had a passion for working with children as I love helping them achieve their mile stones and watching them grow into independent individuals. 

After leaving college I worked in nurseries for 12 years, building my way up from a Nursery Nurse to a Unit Manager. I decided to then try something new and went into Nannying, I was with the family for 5 years before having this amazing opportunity to open a childminding setting of my very own. 

I have a NVQ Level 3 and Management qualification, OFSTED Registered, First Aid, Safeguarding  Children, Forest Schooling, Food hygiene training, New born experience, Full UK driving licence 

I am a childminding service open Monday-Friday and offer full-time positions

Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm 

 Fridays from 8am-12.30pm. 

The Farmers Den is situated on 6 acres of  a private family-run farm located in Ringwood, Hampshire.

 We have  2 Donkeys, 1 Horse, 2 Shetland Ponies,  2 Goats, 11 Ducks, 13 Chickens, a cockerel and 1 Dog. We also breed Puddle ducks to sell. 

Children will be shown how to treat all animals with respect and will have the opportunity to help care for them, including stroking, brushing, walking and feeding the animals. 

There is plenty more to explore on the grounds, such as an air raid shelter (we call the underground house), woodlands, streams, a fairy garden and 'the den' that the children have made. 

I believe that children need a healthy balanced diet and are able to understand where their food comes from and why it is important to eat healthily. 

At The Farmers Den, Children are able to harvest, pick and eat their home-grown fruit and vegetables, collect eggs from the ducks and chickens and take part in food preparation for meal times.  

I take children with allergies very seriously, therefore I have a strictly no nuts policy and all children will have an individual health care plan in place. 

I encourage children to explore the outdoors in a safe environment, therefore I have a separate enclosed garden that has a vegetable garden, water tray, discovery table, weather chart, playhouse, Perspex for mark-making, water/ball run, sandpit, mud kitchen, balancing beams and an aeroplane see-saw.  The garden is always adapted to children's age/ interest, therefore I am constantly seeking new equipment and will also bring resources out from inside. 

I also have our children's play area has a slide, swing, climbing frame and fairy garden where the children can explore safely. 

I believe that every child is an artist, children can explore different textures, senses and materials in my art and messy play room. Each day the activities will be adapted to the children's interests and can vary from playdough and cutters to threading spaghetti hoops. Each activity will be adapted depending on the children's age/stage of development. 

The New Forest is just a short walk away. Children will be able to participate in Forest Schooling where they can learn about animals and their habitats, identify specific plants and be involved with problem solving to help build independence and self-esteem.