About Us

Get to Know Us

About Happy Hares Childcare

We work as a husband and wife team who are both individually qualified childminders/Ofsted registered, and can provide childcare for up to 6 children each day.
We live in Walthamstow E17 (Northeast London), with our son and pet dog Milo, in a terraced house with a nice sized garden to play and grow fruit and veg. We are walking distance of Lloyd Park, Kitchener Road Park with Brokkys Croft (a small playground) opposite our house and a short bus journey to venues like Epping Forest/Walthamstow Wetlands.

About Nadine

I qualified in South Africa and have 2 years’ experience working in a South African early years preschool, before moving to London.

When I first arrived, I worked for 4 years temping in various school across London.

I worked for 19 years in a Tower Hamlets Primary Schools Early Years department, with children with a full range of needs, including those with SEND, and at different stages in their development. Which made me very familiar with the early years curriculum / frameworks and to plan provision for progress across all areas.

I was also deployed as the lead professional when the school opened their first two-year-old room. I led on all aspects of the curriculum, resourcing, safeguarding and communication with parents. Including inducting and leading a team of new practitioners.

I have been working as a childminder since June 2021.

I am passionate about providing first class childcare, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, with a relaxed attitude and making learning FUN!

A strong believer in learning through play and allowing children to express themselves through imaginative and role play.

Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of OFSTED and the EYFS standards, this enables me to set up outstanding and engaging indoor and outdoor activities.

I hold the following qualifications / training / certificates:

Sachs Certificate in Preschool Education (South African Scope Certificate) (SAQA) (NQF) Level 4
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Home Based Childcare Award
Enhanced DBS Certificate
Designated Safeguarding Lead Training Childminders
Full Paediatric First Aid
Prevent Awareness Training Course
Childhood Epilepsy Training
PACEY CPD – Expectations of Behaviour
PACEY CPD – Raising Developmental Concerns with Parents
PACEY Membership (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years)
Public liability insurance
Ofsted Registration Certificate

All documents are available on request

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About Steve

I trained for 3 years with Waltham Forest Outdoor Education Department, as a trainee outdoor education instructor in a youth training scheme. Working with school groups, teachers and special educational needs, assisting in running school residential visits including school camps, mountain walking, canoeing and outward bound adventures.

I then gained 4 seasons (full time) and 3 seasons (part time) experience, working for the old Lee Valley Watersports Centre as an outdoor education, team building leader, qualified Sailing Instructor a Kayaking/Canoeing Instructor and Bell-Boat Helm. Teaching to a wide range of people from primary to secondary age pupils, special educational needs and adults.

Over the years I became an experienced teaching assistant with a calm, patient, caring and warm approach. I have worked in the London Borough of Newham, with 3 years’ experience working with SEN primary students in a mainstream school, supporting them in their academic curriculum, social emotional behavioural needs, and teaching strategies for their individual additional needs.

And also nearly 19 years’ of experience working in a Newham school, for children with Social Emotional Mental Health, supporting them in their curriculum and incorporating outdoor education into their learning (including assisting in Forest Schools).

I have gained a great deal of experience in Health & Safety and carrying out risk assessments in an educational setting. I ensured that standards were met as the schools Educational Visits Coordinator including organising and managing numerous school residential visits (Camping/Snowdonia/Peak district Residentials).

I have now been working as a childminder since 1st June 2021 and I can use my vast experience to ensure that our home and outdoor environment is a safe place for the children that we care for.

I have been a qualified first aider since 1993 and certified in level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene since 2008 (both updated every 3 years)

Since November 2016, I have been a school governor for one of our local schools. Four years as a parent governor, a co-opted governor since February 2021, a trust appointed governor since October 2023, and now vice chair since September 2025.

I hold the following qualifications / training / certificates:

NCFE CACHE Level 3 Home Based Childcare Award
Forest Schools Level 3 Practitioner
Enhanced DBS Certificate
Designated Safeguarding Lead Training Childminders
Full Paediatric First Aid
PACEY Membership (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years)
Public liability insurance
Ofsted Registration Certificate
Prevent Awareness Training Course
Higher Level Teaching Assistant Diploma Level 4
NVQ Level 2 in Sport and Recreation (Coaching and Activity Delivery-Children)
PACEY – Effective Partnership Working with Fathers
Giving Emergency Medication for Prolonged Epilepsy Seizures (Buccal Midazolam)
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties TQUK

All documents are available on request