My family
I live with my husband, Leo (a primary school teacher) and our two young children (4 and 6.) In 2017 we bought my childhood home from my mum, who has built a house at the bottom of the garden and is very tolerant of her lively neighbours!
We started the renovation work on the house, including building an extension, in January 2018. Although somewhat exhausting, it was so rewarding and we are really enjoyed seeing the house develop. We have the outside to finish landscaping, but so far so good!
I have always had pets, from the cats (Meg and Mog) and guinea pigs (Rosy and Posy) in my early childhood, right up to the three cats, two tortoises, two rabbits, one dog and numerous ponies we have accumulated now. I really valued growing up surrounded by animals, and I see the same joy in my children now. Leo's main job is keeping a lid on our enthusiasm and stop the house turning into a zoo!
We started the renovation work on the house, including building an extension, in January 2018. Although somewhat exhausting, it was so rewarding and we are really enjoyed seeing the house develop. We have the outside to finish landscaping, but so far so good!
I have always had pets, from the cats (Meg and Mog) and guinea pigs (Rosy and Posy) in my early childhood, right up to the three cats, two tortoises, two rabbits, one dog and numerous ponies we have accumulated now. I really valued growing up surrounded by animals, and I see the same joy in my children now. Leo's main job is keeping a lid on our enthusiasm and stop the house turning into a zoo!
Speaking of horses...
I've been riding since 1990 and was lucky enough to get my first pony in 1995. We attended pony club and competed (when she would agree to get in the horsebox!) and she stayed in the family for the rest of her life. I have had several fabulous horses since then, and my special horse at the moment is a beautiful, intelligent Icelandic mare who I am mainly hacking out and also training for competing in TREC. We also have some adorable, hilarious Shetland ponies who are sweet, kind, cheeky and brilliant with the children.
In my spare time?
Although there isn't much spare time, when I have some, I really enjoy sewing. I'm very much the amateur but I will have a bash at most things! I mostly make clothes for the children - and a few for me, too. Leo and I have also taken up stained glass artwork and make the time to do this at least once a week.
Why childminding?
As a teenager, I always thought kittens and foals were more appealing than children, although I always enjoyed teaching younger people to ride. I worked as a Teaching Assistant at a primary school in my gap year before initially studying Physiotherapy at university, during which time I continued to teach riding and volunteering with a paediatric physiotherapist who used riding as a therapy.
After a couple of years in different careers, I returned to uni to study my passion - Equine Science. Despite being focused on horses, the modules that interested me the most were all about behaviour and learning, focusing on the impacts of stress and anxiety on the ability to learn; something that I have subsequently found has linked into my understanding of children's learning.
Whilst working as a yard manager for a year, I realised that my favourite part of the job was working with my employer's children and this lead me to complete a PGCE in Primary education. I completed this at Masters level and my dissertation was on the use of self and peer assessment as a mode for moving learning forwards.
I worked as a primary teacher for several years, before becoming pregnant with our first child and realising that the hours required as a school teacher would not be compatible with the amount of family time I hoped to have. I wanted a better work-life balance! I was lucky enough to become a tutor in a community company, teaching a mix of 16-19yrs students not otherwise in employment or training, and adults. My subject passions have always been science and maths and I have enjoyed developing my maths teaching skills whilst teaching GCSE maths.
So why childminding?
When I was getting ready to return to work after our eldest was born, I hated the thought of leaving him and going to work to earn money to pay for someone else to look after him. I considered childminding at this point so that I could look after him myself, but the timing and house wasn't right. Over the next 4 years, I researched and thought about what the job entails and once we moved into our new house, it felt like the right time. Little Legs #1 started school in 2018 and being able to do school runs for him and his friends, as well as continuing to watch his fiery little sister grow and develop, all whilst gaining the rewards of caring for other Little Legs - well, why not!
After a couple of years in different careers, I returned to uni to study my passion - Equine Science. Despite being focused on horses, the modules that interested me the most were all about behaviour and learning, focusing on the impacts of stress and anxiety on the ability to learn; something that I have subsequently found has linked into my understanding of children's learning.
Whilst working as a yard manager for a year, I realised that my favourite part of the job was working with my employer's children and this lead me to complete a PGCE in Primary education. I completed this at Masters level and my dissertation was on the use of self and peer assessment as a mode for moving learning forwards.
I worked as a primary teacher for several years, before becoming pregnant with our first child and realising that the hours required as a school teacher would not be compatible with the amount of family time I hoped to have. I wanted a better work-life balance! I was lucky enough to become a tutor in a community company, teaching a mix of 16-19yrs students not otherwise in employment or training, and adults. My subject passions have always been science and maths and I have enjoyed developing my maths teaching skills whilst teaching GCSE maths.
So why childminding?
When I was getting ready to return to work after our eldest was born, I hated the thought of leaving him and going to work to earn money to pay for someone else to look after him. I considered childminding at this point so that I could look after him myself, but the timing and house wasn't right. Over the next 4 years, I researched and thought about what the job entails and once we moved into our new house, it felt like the right time. Little Legs #1 started school in 2018 and being able to do school runs for him and his friends, as well as continuing to watch his fiery little sister grow and develop, all whilst gaining the rewards of caring for other Little Legs - well, why not!