Ickenham Hillingdon Childminder "Little Explorers"

👀 When does print support learning… and when does it quietly become visual wallpaper?

Recently, I’ve been reflecting much more carefully on how accessible print within early years environments really is for our youngest children.

This reflection became even stronger during our recent Oliver’s Vegetables explorations and while looking at the huge amount of adult-facing signage often shared across social media.

💭 Full reflective blog now live.

🔗 Link in bio.

The Grumpy Old Stone investigation continues... 🪨

Yesterday one of our Little Explorers began making a plan.

Cake appeared on the board 🧁 ... then a van 🚐 so the stone could travel home 🏡 and finally be left alone.







Inspired by The Grumpy Old Stone story

Drop the emoji you think the children chose 👇🟡 Buttons
🍭 Lolly sticks
🎨 Paint
👀 Googly eyes

What if one of the biggest influences on early years practice isn’t documentation, but appearance?
The EYFS has moved us away from excessive paperwork, yet images and presentation still quietly shape perceptions of quality.

This reflection explores what happens when we stop prioritising how learning looks, and focus instead on its impact within the child.
🔗 Read the full reflection here:
https://joannehall-hillingdon-childminding.co.uk/when-we-stopped-looking-for-the-camera-and-let-learning-take-over/

In the EYFS, curriculum impact is seen in what children do, say and remember over time.

Through everyday stories, simple resources and responsive interactions, learning becomes meaningful and transferable-within the setting and beyond.

🔗 Read my reflection blog by following the link:

https://joannehall-hillingdon-childminding.co.uk/curriculum-in-the-ordinary-measuring-impact-through-what-children-do-say-and-remember/