We live in a very old and quaint cottage, just at the bottom of Hurstead Street in Baxenden. I can provide childcare for the main surrounding area's of Baxenden, Accrington, Rising bridge and Haslingden. With pick up and drop off for the 2 neighbouring schools in rising bridge and Baxenden.
The setting itself essentially has 2 large gardens, with a good play area. Around the back of the property is an area that is decked and also allows as a play area for children. These area's are risk assessed on a daily basis so that the children can access all areas' open to them.
The property provides for the children I mind the use of the ground floor which will provide fun, educational and messy play alongside areas for reading and quiet time. There is a large lounge which is equipped with toys for the children, a second smaller room that is just for the children this is a more educational setting where the children can have fun and play with different toys or read books, adjacent to this is the dining room. Meals are taken in the dining room and quiet activities and rest times are taken in the lounge or upstairs in the registered room for younger children.
The kitchen is used for baking activities, under close supervision of myself where the children can create and make play dough or learn how to bake cakes. All the area's in the property have access to a toilet or wash basin which is located upstairs. Nappy changing can take place down stairs or upstairs as I have access to a wash basin.
The back of the property leads to a safe, secure and picturesque play area for the children. New Decking with locked gates allows for children to play, make music, art or sing in a beautiful and natural setting. We have several bird nests that are visible and have recently watched 2 great spotted wood peckers fledge from their nest.
The front of the property leads to the main garden, which allows for the children to run freely on the grass, play in the mud kitchen, splash in the water table, play in the sand or go on a nature trail. Alongside the main garden we have a second area that is fenced and gated so it is secure for the children, I have created a mini allotment area which also accompanies area's for children to create their own imaginative storys using found objects on nature walks such a dinosaur world, locating types of leaves and learning about how we grow plants and vegetables. Each child will have access to their own small area of the mini allotment.
At the moment we have bug houses being created, sand pits, natural teepee's. In this area of the garden I have extended the educational, imaginative play and fun areas for the children so they can experience it in a different setting to the first garden area.
