Little Peeps
What They Say
In the report from the Care Inspectorate Wales on the 13th of July 2023 comment in the Well-Being section: “Children squealed with laughter as they travelled to the ‘beach’ on the ‘magic train’, engaging in movement and singing activities as they met with sea creatures on their journey”.
Our Journey
Little Peeps Playgroup first opened its doors in 1994, catering for children ages 2 ½. Now we have lowered the age to 2-4 years, to accommodate the need for childcare in the area.
Fast forward to 2023 and we are now part of Flying Start, which offers FREE childcare to children aged 2-3, becoming a Flying Start setting was a fantastic opportunity for us at Little Peeps, allowing children to attend our setting who may not have been able to before if the free childcare was not available. We at Little Peeps needed to make a lot of changes to the setting to support the changes from playgroup to a flying start, new equipment, toys, and new approaches.
One of the new approaches we have taken on board in peeps is the curiosity approach, this approach is where children are encouraged to use everyday household items, toilet roll tubes, and any other object without a “purpose”, this encourages the children to use their own imagination, make their own choices and figure things out for themselves which leads to confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving, this link in very well with little magic train.
Over the last 2 years we have incorporated Littlemagictrain into our routine, our Magic Train “Hank” has taken us on many adventures around the world! Our children absolutely love Hank and all the magical places he takes us!
Our children enjoy exploring different activities, messy play, crafts, and free play which incorporates the adventure we have been on. We have also made up our very own magical journeys, which match the themes we are using within the setting, from pirate adventures to St Dwynwens Day (Welsh Valentines).
'Pirate' Fun!
Munchkinos Childminding
Pontardawe Swansea
The Team
Munchkinos Childminding was established in 2008 and since then it has become a real family business. Our 4 children treat the children we look after like siblings and enjoy playing with them. Toni joined me (Claire )in 2017 and we haven’t regretted the move once.
We bounce off each other and enjoy seeing our ideas develop throughout the day. Watching the wonder and delight on the children’s faces never gets old and that is why we have a passion for what we do. As well as Munchkinos we voluntarily run two local playgroups and are active members of our son’s school PTA
We love going away in our VW camper to festivals and for weekend breaks, travelling abroad with, and without our children, musical theatre, and music concerts, and attending live comedy events as well as immersive events.
We believe it is important to share a sense of humour when working together, as well as working in childcare. We often spend a good part of the day laughing together with the children that we care for.
Claire enjoys circuit training, yoga, Pilates, Ariel yoga, mindfulness, meditation, trekking, walking, cold water dipping, and paddle boarding.
Toni is not so much a fan of the water but enjoys playing pool, and five-a-side football a couple of times a week.
We have a passion for healthy homemade food and share this love with our mindees who love to cook with us. They enjoy peeling, chopping, and preparing the ingredients for new recipes that we try out, but they mostly enjoy tasting them (as do we). We also enjoy sharing our love for the outdoors with the children and spend most of our days outside learning, laughing, and loving life. This promotes a healthy lifestyle, regulates emotions, and encourages children to learn and experience so much more than if they were inside all day.
We have 7 chickens, a dog, and a bearded dragon all of which are loved by our mindees as well as our family.
We love working with Gina and Simon The Little Magic Train. Gina is like a breath of fresh air and always inspires us and the children to go on exciting journeys.
School of Play
The Team
At School of Play, we are committed to providing enriching experiences that foster holistic development for children, particularly focusing on Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) pupils. From their first sport to their first art piece, we want to make those experiences great. We want the memories to be positive and unforgettable.
As a team, we create memories to last a lifetime across the 7 Holiday Campsites and 3 Wraparound Care Venues we run. We always make time to schedule a Little Magic Train Imagine Session. Gina’s innovative program is not only educational but also incredibly fun, aligning perfectly with our mission to make learning a joyous adventure.
Through The Little Magic Train programme, our team receives comprehensive training tailored to enhance children’s development within the EYFS framework. From our Holiday Camps to Wraparound Care, Gina’s expertise infuses every aspect of our programmes, ensuring that each child experiences both enjoyment and growth in equal measure.
Gina’s enthusiasm and brilliance shine through in every teaching session we attend, making the learning experience engaging and exciting for our educators and in turn, our children. The ability to seamlessly blend educational content with fun-filled activities is truly remarkable, creating an environment where learning becomes a magical journey.
The impact of The Little Magic Train programme on our children’s development is evident every day. We witness first-hand the joy and enthusiasm it brings to our young learners, as they eagerly participate in activities that stimulate their cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Gina’s dedication to creating an educational yet enjoyable curriculum has undoubtedly elevated the quality of our programmes, enriching the lives of countless children in our care.
We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with The Little Magic Train and the positive influence it has on our educational offerings. Together, we continue to nurture young minds, laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning and discovery.
Thank you, Gina, for your unwavering commitment to making learning a magical experience for children everywhere.
Do take a peek at our Space Imagine Session https://www.tiktok.com/@schoolofplay/video/7239723934965304602
Soar Childcare
The Team
Hello! We are the Walker family. My name is Marion Walker and I am a registered childminder who is regulated by Ofsted. I was born in Richmond, Virginia, USA in 1976 and lived there until I left for University where I studied music, theatre, and education. At University I met my husband, Graeme, who was an exchange student from England. We got married in the year 2000 and moved to England in 2003 when we were expecting our first child.
I am a qualified teacher with a master’s degree in special education. I have taught in Hertfordshire primary schools for five years and in American primary schools for three years. I worked in a child care centre working with children from birth to five years old for three years, and I have run several workshops for gifted and talented children in the US.
When I began to have children of my own, I wanted them to enjoy every day and have as many positive experiences as possible. I have a daughter named Hannah who was born in 2003 and is enjoying her time at secondary school. In 2008 we had our second child, Lara. I gave up work to be with my children, but found that I missed the buzz of the classroom. I love children and want to continue working with them. Childminding allows me to be at home for my girls (who sometimes still need me even thought they are teenagers), teach and nurture children and have a career.
I have my masters degree in Education, a BA in musical theatre and I also have my level 3 qualification in childminding as well as paediatric first aid. In my last three Ofsted inspections, I received an outstanding rating for my childcare in all areas. My most recent inspection was on the 25th March 2019.
I work with my husband Graeme. He is also a trained primary school teacher with a BA honours in Education. He saw how much I was having childminding and joined me about seven years ago and got an outstanding on his Ofsted inspection in 2019 as well.
We live in Bishop’s Stortford with our girls and two very sweet cats named Eclipse and Tobi. They do not come into the playroom very often but children can play with them if parents give permission. It is our philosophy that every child we care for should have fun, learn lots, feel valued and genuinely enjoy their time with us.
We offer a childcare experience in that we are a home from home environment but with two teachers who are highly trained and continuously strives to improve our practice. We have a very large designated playroom and outdoor area which enables us to change the setting based on the needs and interests of the children. We use an online system that enables us to send you photos and information about what we have been up to. I can also send activity ideas for you to try at home as well as keep a record of your little one’s learning journey.
We have the resources of a larger setting but within a much smaller, more personalised service.
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