Caroline

About Me

Welcome to my magical ‘Sparkle Garden’ home nursery! Set in a colourful and cosy summer house at the end of my garden, the indoor and outdoor spaces provide all sorts of enticing possibilities for fun and creative play.

As the mother of two (now adult) children, it’s been a longing of mine to work with young children. After a long-term career in the advertising industry (as a creative copywriter), I made the vocational change I’d been dreaming of and completed a rigorous early education training with a top-notch Ofsted-registered childminder agency. I’m delighted that my love of words, language and art can now be channelled into inspiring young minds.

Here are some of the things I think your child will love about my approach and my setting:

WRAPAROUND CARE
My breakfast and after-school clubs provide a relaxing atmosphere where school-age children can let off steam or chill out and rest – whatever they need. This isn’t school – it’s home from home. (However, if they have homework, they’re welcome to do it here!) I'm happy to drop off and collect your child from schools close to the Fulwell area of Teddington and Twickenham Green.

HOLIDAY ART CLUBS – for ages 6 and upwards
When I was a kid, all I wanted to do in the school holidays was do art and make stuff. And I haven’t changed! I’m so delighted to welcome your child to this creative yet calm environment with a small group of children – so not too noisy. We explore all manner of projects including upcycling found objects, painting on silk, painting in the style of famous artists like Picasso or Van Gogh (and dozens more activities). There’s sometimes an outing to a London art gallery too, for inspiration.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
No kid likes being cooped up indoors all day (and neither do I)! My summer-house nursery has patio doors opening onto the sparkly garden so we can flow between indoors and outdoors, wherever our play leads us. What’s growing in the vegetable patch? What’s cooking in the mud kitchen? What do bugs look like magnified?

Every day we go on outings to nearby green spaces like Bushey Park or Marble Hill Park to catch and throw, race and chase, and be intrepid explorers or nature spotters.

EVERY DAY’S AN ARTY PARTY
Moulding, modelling, splodging, splattering, sticking, squishing, painting, printing – so many colours, materials and tools to explore – your child will be in art heaven in my home!

MUSIC IS MAGICAL
Singing songs around the piano is a heartening way to bring everybody together and can powerfully switch up the mood from mopey to happy. Especially if everyone has an instrument to toot, tap, ting or strum!

WORDS ARE WONDERFUL
I still have a poetry book that I wrote and illustrated when I was six. Encouraged by an amazing teacher who ignited my passion for words, I’d like to offer your child what she gave to me.

COSTUMES ARE COOL
Dress-up play lets littluns step into different roles and scenarios, sparking their creativity and imagination. My colourful costume corner has a wall mirror so they can try out different looks.

YUMMY FOR TUMMIES
Whatever we eat here is nutritious and delicious (with the occasional treat)! And I carefully discuss menus and ingredients with you (for preferences and allergies).

(SECRETLY) LEARNING THROUGH PLAY!
Have you ever hidden finely-chopped vegetables in your children’s spaghetti sauce to get those nutrients into them? Well, I like hiding ‘learning’ in the games we play and the outings we go on. Our sporty games include rhyming and counting to make words and numbers fun. Even walking back from the school pickup can be an adventure – collecting curiosities for the nature table or spotting red things, round things or even a rhombus!