If you have any questions not answered here, please contact me...
hello@ketteringchildminder.co.ukI am highly qualified as a childminder with a strong background in primary education and early years. With 10 years of experience as a Key Stage 2 primary school teacher, I am well-equipped to support children's learning and development. I hold a BA Hons in Primary Teaching with QTS from the University of Hull, Scarborough (2011) and a BTEC National Diploma in Early Years from Tresham College, Kettering (2008).
To further enhance my childminding skills, I have recently completed the Childminder Introductory Training Course (March 2023) from childmindinguk.com, which covers essential modules such as:
I also have a Paediatric First Aid certification, ensuring the utmost safety and wellbeing of the children in my care.
In our childminding setting, we adhere to the UK Ofsted legal requirements for child-to-adult ratios. I, Melissa, am the primary childminder, and my husband Simon is an assistant, as he works from home.
During term time, I care for my full quota of children, whilst Simon looks after our two children. This allows us to maximise the number of children we can accommodate whilst still maintaining a safe and attentive environment.
During the school holidays, we can utilise Simon's quota as well, enabling us to offer additional spaces for children. We ensure that the child-to-adult ratio always complies with the legal requirements, providing a high level of care and supervision for all the children in our setting.
It is important to note that the government is currently in the process of reviewing and changing the quota requirements for childminders. As a result, our numbers may be subject to change. We will closely monitor these updates and adjust our services accordingly to ensure that we continue to comply with all regulations and maintain the highest standards of care for the children in our setting.
Our approach to discipline and managing challenging behaviour focuses on promoting positive behaviour and fostering a supportive, nurturing environment. We believe that understanding the underlying causes of challenging behaviour is key to addressing it effectively. Therefore, we strive to identify and address any triggers or unmet needs that may contribute to a child's behaviour.
We implement clear rules, boundaries, and expectations in our setting, ensuring that children understand what is expected of them. We praise and reward positive behaviour, and we consistently reinforce these expectations through gentle reminders and discussions.
When challenging behaviour arises, we use a range of age-appropriate strategies to manage it. This may include redirection, time-outs, and problem-solving discussions to help the child understand the impact of their actions and learn how to make better choices in the future. We always communicate with parents and carers about any behavioural issues, working together to develop an effective and consistent approach to support the child's needs and promote positive behaviour.
Above all, we maintain a caring and empathetic approach, ensuring that each child feels valued and respected, and that their emotional well-being is supported in our childminding setting.
Our approach to planning activities and supporting children's learning and development revolves around books and literacy. We believe that every child should enjoy the adventures and endless stories that books can offer, leading to engaging activities, games, and more.
We base our activities on the children's interests, derived from the books and stories they enjoy. These activities are designed to cover the seven areas of learning outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS):
Our setting is tailored to provide the perfect backdrop for these adventures. We have a safe playroom, a quiet living space for reading and relaxing, and a secure outdoor play area. Additionally, we are just a short walk from Wicksteed Park, offering endless opportunities for outdoor adventures and learning experiences.
As we guide children through their literary journeys, we ensure a balanced routine that supports their development and well-being. We regularly communicate with parents and carers about their child's progress, as well as their favourite books and stories. By working together, we can set achievable goals and targets to further enhance the child's learning journey.
Our ultimate goal is to provide a supportive, nurturing environment that cultivates a love for reading and learning, inspiring children to embark on endless adventures through the magic of books.
No, we do not have any dogs, cats, or other pets in our home. This decision has been made for a variety of reasons:
Our priority is to create a safe, nurturing, and inclusive space where all children can thrive, and we believe that maintaining a pet-free environment helps us to achieve this goal.
We understand that every child is unique, and we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all children in our care. I have always had a keen interest in SEN (Special Educational Needs) and have gained the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certification in Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (September 2020) from North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College.
We aim to be as accommodating and supportive as possible for any special needs or requirements your child might have. By working closely with parents, carers, and any relevant professionals, we endeavour to create individualised plans to meet each child's needs and support their development. This may involve making adaptations to our setting, implementing tailored learning strategies, or providing additional resources.
We encourage open communication and collaboration with parents and carers to ensure we have a thorough understanding of the child's needs and can provide the most effective support. Our goal is to create a nurturing and inclusive environment that allows all children to thrive, feel valued, and reach their full potential.
Please do not hesitate to discuss any specific needs or requirements your child may have with us, so that we can work together to provide the best possible care and support for their individual needs.
As a new childminding service, we are continually refining and curating the best schedules to ensure an engaging and nurturing environment for the children in our care. We adapt our routine regularly, based on feedback and our experience, to provide the most effective and enjoyable experience for the children.
Our daily routine revolves around a book of the day, which may be part of a weekly theme. We plan adventure activities and learning experiences inspired by this chosen book. Our daily schedule generally includes a mix of structured activities, free play, outdoor exploration, and quiet time.
Around midday, we provide a designated quiet time to allow children to rest and, if needed, take a nap. This helps them recharge and maintain a positive mindset for the remainder of the day.
We understand that every child is unique, and we are happy to adapt our schedule to meet individual needs and requirements. Our primary goal is to create a supportive, flexible, and engaging environment that fosters learning, development, and well-being for all children in our care.
Please feel free to discuss any specific needs or preferences with us, so we can work together to ensure the best possible experience for your child.
Ensuring the safety and security of the children in our care is of paramount importance to us. We have implemented a range of measures and protocols to create a safe and secure environment for the children:
Risk assessments: We regularly conduct thorough risk assessments of our setting, both indoors and outdoors, to identify and address any potential hazards. This includes our home, play areas, and any external locations we visit.
Safeguarding training: We have completed safeguarding training and stay up-to-date with the latest best practices to ensure the well-being of the children in our care. This includes maintaining a designated lead for safeguarding and child protection.
First Aid certification: We hold a valid Paediatric First Aid certification, enabling us to respond effectively to any accidents or emergencies that may occur.
Secure setting: Our home and outdoor play area are designed with safety in mind. We use safety gates, secure fencing, smoke alarms, door latches, and socket covers, as well as many other measures for peace of mind. Any potentially hazardous materials or objects are stored out of reach of the children.
Supervision: We maintain the appropriate child-to-adult ratio as per Ofsted guidelines, ensuring that every child receives the necessary attention and supervision at all times.
Emergency procedures: We have established clear emergency procedures and regularly review them to ensure their effectiveness. This includes procedures for fire safety, first aid, and any other potential emergencies.
Open communication: We maintain open and transparent communication with parents and carers, keeping them informed about their child's well-being and any incidents that may occur.
By implementing these measures, we strive to create a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for all children in our care, where they can learn, grow, and have fun with peace of mind for both parents and carers.
Our fees are based on the individual needs and requirements of each child and the hours of care provided. We are happy to discuss these with you during an initial consultation, taking into account any specific requests or requirements you may have.
At the moment, we are in the process of setting up to accept government schemes and plan to provide comprehensive support options in the near future. This will include accepting childcare vouchers and government subsidies to make our childminding services more accessible to all families.
We accept recurring card payments via Stripe, which helps ensure a seamless and secure payment process. Payment is expected promptly and in advance of the child's attendance. We appreciate timely payments to help us maintain a high-quality service for all children in our care.
If you experience any difficulties with payments or have concerns about meeting the fees, please let us know as soon as possible. We are committed to working with families to find the best solution and ensure that all children have access to our caring and nurturing environment.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like more information about our fees and payment policies.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we have policies in place to address illness, holidays, and emergencies to ensure the well-being of all children in our care and maintain a high-quality service.
Illness: If your child is unwell, we kindly ask that you keep them at home to prevent the spread of illness to other children. In case of a contagious illness or infection, please notify us immediately so we can take appropriate precautions and inform other parents as necessary. If your child becomes unwell while in our care, we will contact you and make arrangements for them to be collected as soon as possible.
Holidays: We understand that families have different holiday schedules, and we aim to be as flexible as possible in accommodating these. We also take 20 days of holiday per year and will provide a minimum of one month's notice for any planned closures. If you know your child will be absent due to a planned holiday, please inform us in advance, so we can adjust our planning accordingly. Please note that our fees may still apply during your child's absence, depending on our agreed terms and conditions.
Emergencies: In the event of an emergency, we have established clear emergency procedures and have undergone appropriate training, such as Paediatric First Aid, to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in our care. We will always prioritise the safety of the children and take appropriate action, such as calling emergency services if required. We will also make every effort to contact you as soon as possible to keep you informed of the situation.
We ask that parents and carers provide us with up-to-date emergency contact details and any relevant medical information for their child, to help us respond effectively in case of illness or emergencies.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like more information about our policies on illness, holidays, and emergencies.
Please complete the following form to register your interest and we will be in touch as soon as we have registration confirmed from Ofset and vacancies open