Mind That Childminder

Mind That Childminder

A professional but easy going Early Years podcast for Childminders.

  1. Oct 31

    Ep 18: Making Early Maths Add up!

    In this episode, your host and colleague Charlotte will be supporting childminders in removing barriers relating to maths outcomes and making sure childminders feel confident in delivering early maths opportunities. This episode looks at UK frameworks and a range of research while making complicated words simplified and giving practical ways to support maths through play. Music: Cute Avalanche- YouTube Audio Library References: Frameworks- Realising the Ambition (2020) https://education.gov.scot/media/3bjpr3wa/realisingtheambition.pdfDepartment for Education (Sept 2026) ‘Early years foundation stage statutory framework For childminders’ Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5f8e320dd52549f5f96c8c/EYFS_childminders_from_September_2026.pdf (Accessed 21/09/26) National Minimum Standards (June 2026) : https://www.gov.wales/national-minimum-standards-regulated-childcare-children-age-12-years-statutory-guidance accessed 21/09/26 Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (2019) ‘Curricular Guidance for Pre-School Education’ https://ccea.org.uk/downloads/docs/ccea-asset/Curriculum/Curricular%20Guidance%20for%20Pre-School%20Education.pdf Other- Ward J (2024) Available at: https://ndna.org.uk/new-research-shows-early-maths-intervention-gives-children-sustained-progress/ (Accessed 21/09/26)Department for Education (April 2026), https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/areas-of-learning/mathematics/numbers (Accessed 21/09/26) AVCİ K ,AKMAN B, (2022), “Teachers’ Views on Early Childhood Maths*” , Available at: https://doi.org/10.17522/balikesirnef.1224695 (accessed 5/10/26) Davis J, Kelly L, 2017, ‘Encouraging Family Involvement in Math during the Early Years’, Dimensions of Early Childhood Vol 45, No 3, Available at: https://shareok.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/2f972e93-fe21-44ec-9044-7efbefddcc1b/content (Accessed 5/10/26) Leeper M, 2015) ‘Developing Early Maths Through Story’, Practical Preschool Books, Available at https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d6saEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=childminders+maths&ots=8MjGCDCEit&sig=cKlzqjefeB-GJAEa-pC8Y3YwjZI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=childminders%20maths&f=false (Accessed 5/10/16) Van Oers, B. Emergent mathematical thinking in the context of play. Educ Stud Math 74, 23–37 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-009-9225-x accessed 5/10/26 Whitebread D, 2012, “The importance of Play” University of Cambridge, Available at file:///C:/Users/Will/Desktop/Podcast/maths%20episode/david-whitebread---importance-of-play-report.pdf Accessed 5/10/26 Faculty of Education, 2022, Available at: ‘Learning through 'guided' play can be as effective as adult-led instruction’ https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/learning-through-guided-play-can-be-as-effective-as-adult-led-instruction (Accessed 5/10/26) Birchenough J , Zhao V, Byrne E, 2023, ‘A playful, evidence-informed approach to maths education’ Available at: https://www.pedalhub.net/resource-library/resource/item/a-playful-evidence-informed-approach-to-maths-education/ Accessed 5/10/26 Clarifications/notes: Apologies for slight blurriness part way through! Dr David Whitebread (Not professor) https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/pedal/news/2021/04/16/

  2. Apr 6

    Ep 15: Are you a school ready childminder?

    Your host and colleague Charlotte chats through 'school readiness' and shares a shocking discovery in the research! This episode will help you gain a realistic view around this hot topic in the media, and gives you some things to consider about what school readiness might even mean to people in different roles.Audio credit : Cute Avalanche YouTube audio libraryReferences:https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education/why-childcare-matters/https://startingreception.co.uk/https://www.corampacey.org.uk/starting-school/https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/sites/default/files/children_first_-_pathways_to_school_readiness_1.pdf_2021_1.pdfhttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a817e64ed915d74e6232919/Are_you_ready_Good_practice_in_school_readiness.pdfhttps://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/ready-to-learn-increasing-the-number-of-five-year-olds-with-a-good-level-of-development/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-handbook/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-handbookhttps://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/berj.3937https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/identifying-tensions-between-school-readiness-policy-and-teacher-beliefs-knowledge-and-practice-in-early-childhood-educationKay 2022, https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X211052791https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10105144/1/Transforming-Early-Education-in-England.pdf#page=20https://www.corampacey.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Resource-School-Ready-Report.pdfhttps://kindredsquared.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/School-Readiness-Survey-January-2026-Kindred-Squared.pdf

  3. Jan 25

    Ep 14: Crisis Happens! Now What?

    Listening to this episode will help you feel supported on how to process and get through a crisis, particularly as a Childminder where children are often entwined with our home and home life. Your host and colleague Charlotte is joined by fellow Childminder and the creator of Nurture Co. - Emma to support you through things that you might come across during a crisis. Find out more about Nurture Co: https://www.nurtureco.uk/Audio: Cute Avalanche- YouTube Audio LibraryResources:*Self referral form: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression/*Definition of crisis: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/crisis_1*Ofsted data: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspections-statistical-commentaries-2022-to-2023/a-focus-on-childminders*Further reading**Student crisis support literature review: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Victor-Tyler-2/publication/388509842_Mental_Health_Interventions_for_College_Students_in_Crisis/links/679b8d158311ce680c44538d/Mental-Health-Interventions-for-College-Students-in-Crisis.pdf*quarter-midlife crisishttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.2147/PRBM.S438866?needAccess=true*Parenting burnout https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891524524001883#sec0010*Teacher burnout: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-025-09986-2#Sec20*Working women burnout: https://imcra-az.org/uploads/public_files/2025-10/81183.pdf*Hope https://journals.aom.org/doi/full/10.5465/amle.2025.0145*functions of hope https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10463283.2024.2347815#d1e173

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A professional but easy going Early Years podcast for Childminders.