High Park Hedgehogs

Today we joined other childminders and their children to take part in a scavenger hunt at forest school.

Just look at all of those marvellous treasures that the children found!

I am delighted to announce that, after several months of hard work, I have passed my schemaplay accreditation.

The director of the schemaplay community interest company, Lynette Brock and the accrediting panel commented on my work stating

‘you recognise schematic behaviours that children apply in their self- chosen free-play as they start to comprehend their surroundings, problems solve, explore a wealth of concepts, investigate and follow a particular line of enquiry.
You have demonstrated that children's learning and development is being fostered and enriched as a result of your perceptive observations that are followed up and responded to by the offering of ‘seeded’ resources and learning provocations that are meaningful. These provocations/challenges build on children's current schemes and previous experiences, promoting a more profound examination of concepts and aiding the assimilation of new language skills into their autonomous play where they continue to explore, problem solve and review their findings.’

I’m hoping to continue to further continue my knowledge here in the future and am very thankful for James Tunnell - NurseryNook Coaching, Training & Consultancy for all of his help and support.

Never stop learning :)

💚Colour match 💚

We took our green colour cards to the woods today to see if we could match any to any of the leafs in the woods..

🍃 Autumn bracelets 🍃

Today we created some beautiful autumn bracelets using fallen leaves in the woods.

We learned that some leaves change colour in the autumn and fall from the trees. We discussed all the beautiful colours we found.

Beautiful autumn 🍂

🍁🍂🍃 🍁🍂🍃☀️🌸🌼🌻🌹🌰 🍁🍂🍃🐿

Today we enjoyed some large scale autumn painting in the woods.

Some of the Hedgehogs also painted themselves!

What amazing masterpieces!

❤️ When the newly graduated Hedgehogs pop by for a hug,

❤️ When you get to spend your days like this.
Immersed in nature.

❤️ When children ask if they can stay at Tasha’s a little longer

❤️ when a hedgehog runs back as they need a quick charge up (a hug) before going home.

There are no words to describe how much I love my job and how lucky I feel to be doing what I love.

I couldn’t be happier; spending my days with these wonderful little people.

I mean, just look at how we have spent our day 🥰

🍁 Autumn Wands 🍁

The Hedgehogs enjoyed collecting lots of fallen leaves that the wind had blown down.

They used little cutters to make leaf confetti before sticking them onto our stars.

Some added paint and ribbons.

🍁 Leaf prints 🍁

The Hedgehogs collected some leaves, painted the backs of the them and then pressed them onto card.

We discussed the veins and learned the new vocabulary ‘midrib’.

What a wonderful morning in the woods! And just look at those lovely pictures!

The hedgehogs have enjoyed using their leaf detective cards to distinguish the difference between oak and hazel leaves.

Well done Hedgehogs.

🍃 Leaf hunt 🍃

We’re going on a leaf hunt, we’re going to find a long one….

We’re going on a leaf hunt we’re going to find a brown one…

The hedgehogs have loved being leaf detectives today!

Forest adventure!

Today we have spent the day exploring nature.

Beautiful!

🍂 Autumn Trees🍂

We sat together under a tree that was starting to change colour. We noticed yellow, green and brown leaves.
The hedgehogs used stampers to make these beautiful trees!

Well done Hedgehogs!

It looks like our cat Aladdin is finding our autumnal corner rather cosy!

Autumn is slowly drifting into the playroom and the cats are loving it.

Fingers crossed the Hedgehogs do as well!

Ever wondered why your childminder prefers tab nappies?
This is why.
On our trip to the woods I needed to change one of the Hedgehogs.
They were covered in mud and really didn’t want to stop to have their nappy changed.
It was a bit chilly and a bit damp as well!

Thankfully this child had tab nappies on.
This meant I didn’t have to fully undress them, they stayed dry and mostly warm too.

We were sorted in half the time it takes to fully undress for pull ups!

Which meant that this hedgehog was back off playing in the woods in no time!

Does anyone know where I can something like this in the UK?
I know my hedgehogs would love it.

Someone helped clean up the crumbs !!!

We are so lucky to live so close to the beach. There is nothing more wonderful than spending an autumnal day on the sand.

This little Hedgehog also investigated whether their head would fit in the bucket!

(It did and they thought it hilarious!!)

Everyone loves Tasha’s new posting box. Lots of problem solving going on as the Hedgehogs investigated which holes which balls would fall into.

Then they needed to work out how to get the balls out!

A little sensory exploration for the smallest hedgehog. They loved watching the glitter swirl and glide across the inside of the glass.

Then of course we played ‘peekaboo’ with it!

🌻 sunflowers 🌻

Today the Hedgehogs enjoyed painting their very own beautiful sunflowers!

Absolutely beautiful!

🦸 The secret superhero! 🦸

Can we all just take a moment to think of the unsung hero’s of every childminder. The husbands.
This is mine. This is Hedgehog Aiden.

They’re there to give us a hug when we have had a hard day. They celebrate the best days and the average days too. He has always supported my wildest plans, he doesn’t mind when I give up a Saturday to meet new parents or plan a Hedgehog party. He is my biggest supporter.

This is the man who never moans that his home is always a little upside down, that it’s filled with little feet or that his wife always has an idea….. or a plan…. He never moans that the freezer might be filled with frozen penguins, or the fridge full of snacks he can’t eat as ‘they’re for the children’
He never moans that sometimes his wife is pinching his tools or suggesting he help his wife in her next project.

Today he really saved us. Today we had a puncture mid school run.
Aiden rescued us with another pushchair and gave the bigger Hedgehogs a ride home (it’s ok he is my registered assistant! Phew!)

Today could have been an absolute headache. But Aiden saved the day! Yay!