Lara & The Little Ones

Ofsted registered childminder providing Childcare

in East Hoathly, East Sussex

About Lara
For Parents
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Hi, I'm Lara!

Thank you for considering Lara & The Little Ones for your childcare needs. My husband, Atilla, and I are proud parents to two wonderful children, Ottie (5) and Cem(3). Ottie attends a local primary school full-time, while Cem enjoys nursery three days a week.

We moved to Lewes three years ago, and it has been an absolute joy raising our children here. In fact, it was the inspiring experience I had with my daughter's childminder that encouraged me to pursue a career in childcare. My goal is to create a home-from-home environment where children feel safe, secure, and thrive in their development.

My Experience & Philosophy

With over a decade of experience as an Early Years teacher in Hackney, combined with seven years as a Level 3 qualified Forest School Leader, I bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to childcare. Before becoming a teacher, I studied English at Exeter University and spent many holidays working as a nanny and Mother's Help, which further deepened my love for working with children.

My background in Early Years education aligns perfectly with the needs of a childminding setting. I am deeply passionate about the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and dedicated to helping every child reach their full potential. I use the Development Matters documents to carefully plan and assess the needs of each individual child, ensuring that they receive tailored support and opportunities for growth.

I strongly believe in continuous professional development and am committed to staying up-to-date with training to enhance my skills and practices.

At Lara & The Little Ones, I provide children with the opportunity to play and discover using natural, open-ended materials in a home-from-home setting. I believe in the power of sensory, heuristic, and natural play to inspire curiosity and learning. The choice to play indoors or outdoors is always available, whatever the weather!

Fostering secure attachments is a core value of mine. While a child's primary bond is with their parents or carers, my aim is to form a nurturing and supportive relationship to help them flourish. Building a strong partnership with families is essential, and I welcome open, honest communication. Your knowledge and wishes for your child will always be my first priority.

Testimonials

I can honestly say that Lara is one of the most capable, organised, and kind-hearted people I've ever met. If I had to choose any adult outside my family to look after my daughter, Lara would be my choice in a heartbeat. She has an incredible natural gift when it comes to children. With her rare combination of warmth, patience, and instinct, she instantly puts both children and adults at ease.  

Her understanding of Montessori play is fantastic, she encourages children to explore and learn in a way that's creative, engaging, and fun. I often turn to her for parenting advice because she's so knowledgeable and wonderfully non-judgemental. She always has a wealth of ideas up her sleeve, and I love how she shares her passion for the outdoors with children, creating enriching experiences for them.

Lara's organisational skills and calm demeanour are equally impressive. She has a way of keeping everything under control and making you feel like everything will be okay.  She's reliable, thoughtful, and gives 110% to everything she does, especially when it comes to children. I'm constantly amazed by how prepared she is, she even brings curated folders of toys to keep kids entertained when we've been out together!  

I can't imagine anyone more suited to childminding. Lara truly cares about the children in her care and creates a safe, loving environment where they feel free to grow and thrive. Any family lucky enough to have Lara looking after their little ones will know they're in the best possible hands.

Lucy Baschieri-Salvadori

If I were to chose 3 words to describe Lara, they would be ‘kind', ‘patient' and ‘fun'. I met Lara when our eldest were just babies and we now have 5 children under 5 between us. When we meet for playdates either out walking or at one of our houses, she always has lots of fun ideas of fun things to do with the kids. We all love meeting up with them, especially when we visit them at their beautiful house and garden.

I've lost count of the number of times she has helped me with my three children either through advice (she is so passionate and knowledgeable about all things childcare) or by being a calm presence that helps calm the cries of a child who doesn't want to leave or plunges into a muddy puddle at the furthest point from the car park. I can't think of anyone I would rather leave my children with, she is an absolute gem.

Faye Stannard

Lara is a very experienced early years educator who has a great passion for giving children the best start possible in their educational journey. Lara's knowledge, skills and passion for early years guarantees that the children in her care get the strongest foundation in their physical, emotional and social development.

Her love of, and familiarity with animals and nature allows her to create an outstanding natural learning environment in which children thrive. Under her leadership, Parkwood Primary school's early years provision achieved an Outstanding grading from Ofsted. Lara's passion, vision and commitment to helping children develop a love of learning and the natural world is inspiring to all those who work with her.

Rumana Rafique
For Parents
Contact

Lara & The Little Ones