Writer, Illustrator, and Editor
Jennifer Fishpool
Jennifer took over Welly Wren along with the Childminding Best Practice Club in 2022 back when the business was still called Kids To Go. . She has been contributing to the Club pack a lot longer than that though as the illustrator of the colouring in sheets. She writes the majority of the content and also provides illustrations, stories, photographs and editing.
“I have been a childminder since 2013. and now also run Welly Wren Ltd, writing, editing and producing resources such as the Ultimate Childminding Inspection Pack as well as the free weekly Childmindng Best Practice Newsletters – and the Childminding Best Practice Club Toolkits of course!
I originally did a Fine Art and English Literature Degree before training as a teacher. I then worked for the World Owl Trust for around ten years as the Office Supervisor as well as working as the Education Officer. (You often have to multi-task when working for a charity!) I am passionate about childminding and helping other childminders and enjoy coming up with creative and innovative ideas to inspire them and the children I work with to explore and learn about this amazing world we live in.”
Craft Contributor
Sue Atkinson
Sue is another one of the original team and contributes craft activities for the toolkits.
“I’m Sue, mum to two grown up children and childminder since 1999. I love nothing more than sitting with children and creating projects that will help them learn and develop. I am passionate about providing a wide range of exciting activities and opportunities for the children in my care. I also believe that it is important for childminders to support each other and share great ideas, promoting good practice.”
Activities and SEND Information Contributor
Claire Toms
Claire has been a contributor to the club from the very start in June 2017. She contributes all sorts of activity and craft ideas and in 2024 is increasing her input with new segments and training about children with special education needs and disabilities.
“I am a mum, childminder, early years teacher and all round creative person who loves making a mess with small people. I currently run St Saviour’s pre school and nursery and I am the EY teacher and SENCO. I also childmind after school and during holidays so the creativity and play never ends. ”
Under Two’s Activities Team:
Suzanne Hobbs, Patricia Santos Flatt, Claudia Santos, Priscillah Lancaster, Susana Gomez and Itohan Uhomoaguina.
Every month Suzanne and the rest of the group send in fantastic ideas and photos to help inspire you to do special activities with your children who are aged under two.
“We are a group of childminders each with varied experiences and backgrounds, showing the variety of roles that can lead to a childminding career! Suzanne was a primary school teacher with an English specialism. Tricia is from Portugal and used to be a personal banker. Claudia is also Portuguese and used to be a packing supervisor. Priscillah is from Uganda and used to be an accountant. Susana is from Bolivia and was a legal secretary and Itohan is from Nigeria and used to be a carer.
We decided 5 years ago to start planning outings and activities together. Over the years it has evolved into us meeting twice monthly to do CPD together and plan around a theme. With the ever-changing expectations put on childminders doing CPD together means we help keep up to date and learn and understand new ideas, terminology and how best we can support the children in our care.
When we plan, we incorporate the Under 2’s day, fortnightly Forest Childcare, a weekly music group, a weekly playgroup and a range of activities and experiences for the children to participate in that help their development and next steps.
As a collective we have 53 years experience in childminding. We are all mothers with our children’s ages ranging from 34 years to 9 months.
Childminding can be lonely but not for us. We work hard together but most importantly we have fun- with the children, during our working day and after our working week.
We take our job very seriously as it is our career. We take pride in the work we do, to help develop all the children in our care.
Tuff Tray Activity ideas contributor
Becca Durrant
Becca is a new addition to the team. You can now find her fabulous tuff tray set ups in each Childmindng Best Practice Club Toolkit.
“Hi, I’m Becca, married mum of 3 (ages 6, 10 and 13) and childminder for over 10 years. We live in Tylers Green near High Wycombe, Bucks. I look after babies and pre-schoolers in the local area and some older ones after school. I have a homely, safe and fun setting and am passionate about offering an engaging range of enjoyable activities and experiences.”
Craft Ideas Contributor
Sharan Sanger
Sharan has been contributing craft and other ideas to the club for a long time. You can often find her ideas in the ‘Over To You’ section of the toolkits although sometimes she sends in so many ideas there has to be a special, ‘Sharan Crafts’ page!
Photography
Emily Grey
Emily Grey is a professional photographer. Her work has been featured in Cumbria Life, Style at Home, and The Guardian Christmas Gift Guide 2023. You will see her beautiful work reproduced as printable posters in some of the toolkits.
Stories Contributor
Ruth Snowden
Ruth is a writer and artist, whose long and varied career has included being a teacher, childminder, mother and grandmother. She is the author of many books including ‘The Island that Wasn’t There,’ which is a story for children. She contributes stories to the toolkits and also writes content for the Forest Childcare Packs.
Craft and Diversity Activities Contributor
Michelle Byrne
Michelle joined the team in Autumn 2024 making her our newest contributor.
‘I’m a former Ofsted graded Outstanding childminder, now a 1: 1 SEN TA in Brunswick House Primary School, Maidstone, Kent. I have worked in the US as a digital marketeer and the Philippines as a journalist and TV presenter. I am mixed race (Filipino and American) and enjoy celebrating topics on cultural diversity. In my spare time, I play the violin in Kent Community Orchestra. People describe me as kind, patient, and creative. I believe that to learn effectively, children need hands-on exploration, peer collaboration, and a balance of indoor and outdoor learning.’
