Wee Bairns Childminding

✨ Meet the Team! ✨

I’m Katie, co-founder of The Autism Parent Sanctuary.

I’m just a typical working mum who works for a charity, and runs a dance business in my spare time. I love spending time with friends, reading, going to gigs, and making memories with my family. I have over 15 years experience working in the third sector for charities such as Marie Curie, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and ENABLE. Previously I was an operations manager but am now a manager for Alopecia UK overseeing all of their volunteers as well as their peer support groups throughout the UK.

My son Oliver is 4 years old and is currently on the waiting list for a neurodevelopmental profile assessment, but he shows characteristics in line with autism and sensory processing differences. Oliver is my greatest joy, alongside his little brother Harris who is 3.
We’re a typical family who love days out, trips to the beach, holidays, eating out, and visits to Blair Drummond Safari Park.

However, my husband Calum and I have had to fight for support for our son since the day he was born. As first-time parents during Covid times, many of our concerns were brushed off until Oliver ended up in hospital at just 4 weeks old and was diagnosed with a breathing condition.

Since then, we’ve continued to advocate for our little boy and fight for the support he needs within both the healthcare and education systems. We’re incredibly lucky to have a wonderful network of family and friends around us, and the nursery we moved Oliver to, as well as his school, have been fantastic.

Like many parents, I’ve found this journey challenging at times. One of the things that has helped me most has been connecting with other parents of children with additional support needs. Having people who genuinely understand the daily challenges, worries, and wins makes such a difference. I’ve especially valued speaking with parents of adults with autism who have already been through those early years. Their wisdom, reassurance, and experience have been invaluable.

That’s why we decided to create this peer support group - so other families can benefit from those same connections in a safe, welcoming, and judgement-free space.

I’m passionate about supporting other parents who are navigating a similar journey, and I look forward to building a community where no one feels they have to do it alone. 💙

What a great day out this morning thank you Play Alloa for having us and putting on great activities. Then off to MOCS Alloa for soup and yummy cake were going to miss yous but have an amazing holiday you deserve it we will be first in line when your back.

Great to see our friends aswell wish the weather stayed so we could go to park 😂

Jane's Childcare Scottish Childminding Association Clackmannanshire Childminders

☀️ What a sun-soaked week it’s been so far! 🍉😎
​We are making the absolute most of this gorgeous weather! Yesterday was such a blast visiting our friends at Janeschildcare—the perfect day for splashing around in the water and cooling down with some yummy watermelon! 💦🍉
​Today, the fun continued at Alloa Tuesday Tots for their gardening day! 🌱🌻 We had the best time making bird feeders and running around playing with all of our friends. 🐦✨
​Our hearts (and energy bars) are full! How are you all enjoying the sunshine? 👇❤️

​ Alloa Tuesday Tots Clackmannanshire Childminders Scottish Childminding Association Jane's Childcare Alloa Ludgate Church

2nd year off uni passed and omg what a year it's been with working,learning to drive running two other groups and uni assignments aswell as dance rehearsals it's been a stretch but I got there. 🙌

It’s been an absolutely brilliant week for so far! We’ve had nothing but smiles and some sunshine 🫣😜, and as always, the wonderful Jane's Childcare has been right there along for the ride. It’s definitely easier to tackle the daily chaos when you’ve got your favorite partner-in-crime by your side!
​The highlight of today has to be our big bus adventure . We decided to swap our usual walk for a trip on public transport, and the kids were in absolute heaven. There is nothing quite like the excitement of a "giant bus" and a window seat to make a toddler's day—they were buzzing from start to finish.

​However, it’s fair to say the experience was a little more "traumatic" for Deborah! 😅 Between navigating the wagon and wrangling two very energetic little ones onto the bus, I basically completed an Olympic-level workout. While the kids were living their best lives, I was busy proving that childminding requires the patience of a saint and the strength of a weightlifter.
​The little ones are already asking when we can go again, but I think I might need a very large cuppa and a quiet evening to recover first. What a week! 🚌✨
​ Scottish Childminding Association Clackmannanshire Childminders

They say it takes a dedicated community to raise a child, but in the heart of the Wee County, I’ve learned it takes a truly special network of childminders to keep that circle strong.

​Being a childminder is a job filled with so much joy, but without a solid team behind you, it can be a lonely path to walk. That’s why I feel so incredibly lucky to be part of our Clackmannanshire group. We’ve managed to turn what could be an isolated role into a shared journey, creating a space where we aren't just colleagues, but a lifeline for one another.

​Between the constant stream of laughter that gets us through the busiest days and the way you all patiently put up with my latest "crazy" ideas and wild activity plans, there’s never a dull moment. Whether we are swapping messy play hacks, navigating the latest best practices, or simply being the voice on the other end of the phone who truly "gets it," we make each other better. We share the triumphs, the chaos, and everything in between, ensuring that no one ever has to figure it out alone.

​To my fellow Clacks childminders: thank you for having my back, for joining in on the fun, and for making this job so much more than just a career. Together, we’re providing the very best for our little ones, and I wouldn’t want to do it with any other crew!

​ Scottish Childminding Association Clackmannanshire Childminders Wimpy Park Community Group

What a lovely morning we had at Alloa Tuesday Tots learning all about safety in the sun 🌞,(not that we've got any) we made beautiful sun catchers, then had a little chill with a spot off reading and some music. We loved our cheese toasties for snack yummy 🤤
We will see everyone next week
Scottish Childminding Association Alloa Ludgate Church Jane's Childcare Clackmannanshire Childminders

Booking still open for tomorrow guys come join in the fun and IV got some great activities planned for all the little ones and if that doesn't entice. We're having cheese toasties for snack 😋🤤 yummy xx

Stay and play session, focusing on Sun Awareness Week! Our sessions activities will focus on how to keep ourselves safe in the sun!

As we celebrate world childminding week I wrote a wee something.

The "Just" in My Title

​"I’m just a childminder," I say with a smile,
When asked what I do to pass every mile.
A simple description for a world so vast,
Building the foundations meant forever to last.
But peel back the label, look under the hood,
And you’ll find a dozen roles, if it’s understood.
​
I'm the chef turning peas into spaceships and crusts into gold,
Balancing nutrition for the brave and the bold.
​I'm the Justice in court of the playroom, where tensions run high,
I’m the neutral negotiator when the feathers fly.
​The Medic on Call with a "magic" cold cloth and a kiss for the knee,
I heal every graze that a parent can't see.
I'm ​the Architect of Play building castles from boxes and worlds out of clay,
Engineering the wonder at the heart of the day.
​I am the Linguist, decoding a babble,
The Librarian guiding the quest through the fable.
I’m the Janitor scrubbing the glitter and grime,
And the Timekeeper racing the clock every time.
​But deeper than tasks, in the quietest part,
I am the Keeper of the Tiny Human’s Heart.
I’m the bridge between "Mama" and "See you at five,"
Ensuring their spirit and confidence thrive.

​"Just" is a word that carries no weight,
When you're shaping a soul and deciding a fate.
​So next time I'm asked, I might give a wink,
And pause for a moment to let the truth sink.
I’m a teacher, a nurse, and a safety net, too,
I’m a childminder.
And there’s nothing "just" about what I do.

Scottish Childminding Association Care Inspectorate