Coco

About Me

I am a bubbly, no nonsense, funny person who loves life and children. My two children are growing up ( both at Uni 1 studying medicine and the other English literature). Although being busy with their lives, they both love seeing the children and interacting with the little ones when back home. I am French but married to an Englishman for 26 years now. I was an A&E nurse before becoming a Mum but I didn't want to return to nursing, having far too much fun playing with mud and paint, not to mention that there is nothing better in the world than having a little one cuddling you....The children in my care have lots of fun and are allowed to express themselves in many ways. I love cooking, so meals are homemade and the children can learn to cook and help in the kitchen ...even if it is 'only' to lick the spoon when too young to do more than that...I love books and reading to your children is very important to me. We are going out daily : parks and National Trust places, soft play, forest school, sports sessions and music classes and other outings including a weekly visit to the local library. We have twice a term a special outing such as going to the circus, the farm or a museum. We have playdates with few selected other settings that offer the children unique time to learn to socialise in bigger groups in a safe and small ratio adult/young children.
As a family we have travelled extensively so we are respectful of all cultures and happy to share our knowledge of the world with the children. We encourage all our families to share their own individual culture and celebrations.
We have a garden where the children are encouraged to play but we are also lucky to live very close to Ewell Court Park where we have lots of great adventures. We have a pretty play house where the children can have their own space, under my surveillance, to role play or relax. Their imagination is the limit in a safe environment. we also have recently added a garden room with bi-fold, so free flow is a way of living in the setting. We have a mud kitchen too.
My husband's views on working in London have changed since the pandemic and we have decided that he should join my crew. :). He is now my Ofsted registered assistant.

I believe in good manners and respect. I strongly think that children can only thrive if good/fair discipline is in place. My policies explain all my routines and behaviour expectations and will be provided on first visit from parents. I do provide daily diary on line for 5 and under and a termly report and meeting with parents to talk about their child's development and their next steps.. I follow the EYFS guidance and track every child's progress. I like to think that your child has found a home from home with us and feel secure, valued, listened to, happy and thriving like they are when with you. I do also teach the older children to become more and more independent and responsible.
My curriculum teaches the children to learn to think by themselves and have a go at finding solutions to their problems.. I co-play with them in order to teach them what they need to know but often let them take the lead, following their interests. They learn through play and fun experiences. We do love being messy! Sensory games are daily used. My pedagogy is to bond with your child, nurture them in a safe environment to discover Nature and the world, make friends and grow up ready for school with great foundation. I also make sure that they are ready for school when older, being able to be independent, resilient, able to control their emotions and not afraid to ask for help when they need it after a try or two.
My setting is a real home from home and the children are playing with real and natural resources and many "tinker" elements such as blocks and resources that provide the children- and myself- material to invent worlds and games anew every day.. Plastic is not banned but reduced to minimum.
I love the outdoor and the children in my care learn very quickly that there is no such thing as bad weather but only bad clothing. I have done an introduction to Forest School and my setting is in the final stage of the Hygge accreditation. Cosy, well-being, curiosity and happiness are at the heart of my work. I follow trends of pedagogy that embrace Hygge such as Montessori, Steiner, Emilia Reggio and the New Zealand philosophy of Early Year Education :Te Whariki. All the above fuel my passion for Early Years Education and help me daily to support you to raise your child with an outcome of reaching their best potential. I have recently achieved a level 2 NCFE CACHE in understanding mental health in the early years.

we live about 10 minutes walk from West Ewell station ( zone 6 for Waterloo station) and you can park in my street.

I am happy to be contacted if you think that what you just read is inviting you to know more about my setting and my ways of working with young children.