Making stained glass windows

 Making stained glass windows

I was recently given some rolls of old overhead projector acetate and they have been sitting in the shed for a while as I wasn't too sure what to do with them. Then I realised that they would be great against the windows as they let the light through so I decided to get the kids to make their own stained glass windows. This is how we did it.

First I cut the acetate into rectangles. I then taped it to the table so it wouldn't curl up or slide around as the children were painting. I used masking tape for this to help the children to see where the edges of the plastic were as it is tricky to see.

Then I gave the children a variety of colours to paint their own designs. It is a good idea to add a bit of PVA glue to the paint as otherwise the paint flakes off the plastic.

I found it easiest to just lift the picture with the masking tape still attached and stick it straight to the window initially so it could dry, although if yours are very  thickly painted you may want to dry them flat so they don't run.

Once they were dry I swapped the masking tape for clear sticky tape and hey presto! The children love looking at them and they look lovely when the sun shines through them.

Elizabeth Millet

Childminder

About me                       

My name is Elizabeth Millet, I am a childminder with a lifetime of experience of caring for and educating children. Even as a very young child I used to help friends of my parents look after their babies! I have an NNEB certificate, which I gained in 1996. I subsequently worked in nurseries for 9 years caring for children aged between 3 months and 4 years.

I then trained as a teacher and gained BA HONS with Qualified Teacher Status and worked for 2 years teaching Reception Class and then 1 year teaching Year One.

When I stopped teaching to start a family I decided I would like to continue caring for other children and to keep up my skills and so I decided that childminding from home would be an exciting and fulfilling new venture, whilst also allowing me to be with my own children.

Our Home                                      

We have a clean, well-equipped and welcoming home. It is very child-friendly and I strive to create a stimulating environment for the children in my care. Our home is a non-smoking pet-free environment(except for a goldfish!) and I have an enclosed garden which we are planning to develop so that the children can use it in all weathers.

Our house is fairly spacious with a conservatory which we use as a playroom, a lounge for quiet time and a dining room for eating and creative play. There is a spare bedroom to accommodate a travel cot or child’s guest bed should your child require a daytime nap.

Our home and garden have all been approved by Ofsted so you can be assured that your child is in a safe environment.

Our Family                                      

My husband works locally in Basingstoke Town Centre but will occasionally work from home.  He has had a DBS check and is signed up to their update service. He is French and so we have many French books and CDs and although I am English my French is also good so if you wish, your child could be introduced to learning a new language from an early age (a good head-start before school!)

I have a son called Joshua who will be 7 in October and a daughter called Olivia will be 5 in July.  I am confident in my ability care for and provide a broad range of experiences for other children as I have so much experience in child caring. When I worked as a Nursery Nurse I had 3 babies aged 3 – 18 months in my care and have since had sole charge of classes of 30. Joshua and Olivia are very friendly and easy-going and enjoy socialising with other children. They are very used to having other children around as I have been childminding since they were babies.

Food and Drink                 

        

I can provide a range of healthy meals and snacks for your child unless you prefer to send in your own food. My kitchen is extremely clean and I have strict hygiene and food preparation rules. I am registered with the Food Standards Agency as a Food Business. I believe that the children in my care should have constant access to fresh drinking water so sports bottles or trainer cups will be kept in the play area at all times with cups of water available separately at mealtimes.

Activities                      

I provide a broad variety of activities and educational experiences for the children in my care including: messy play, construction, story telling, singing, outdoor play, imaginary play and much more. As well as this I aim to take the children on at least 2 or 3 outings per week. As well as the local SureStart centres we have trips to the local parks and playgrounds, soft play and occasional trips to places like the local Farm or the Museum.

A happy environment creates happy children!