Margaret Woodhams

Childminder

I registered as a childminder in 2003 and work from my home which is in the centre of Ipswich. I am an accredited childminder offering government funding at my setting. I am qualified to level 4 with an Open University Childcare learning and Development qualification. I have achieved the Suffolk SENCO qualification. I frequently aim to develop my CPD, by doing online training and attending courses. My first aid, safeguarding and food hygiene are all up to date. I am a quality assured setting and have been awarded the Every child a talker (ECAT) certificate for my setting. I use the Early Years foundation stage (EYFS) curriculum to provide learning through play experiences and record the children’s achievements in their personal learning journeys, this documents how your child is growing and developing in their pre school years prior to entry into full time school. I use information provided by the parents to offer play based learning that is of interest to the children in my care, whilst introducing other ideas along side. During their time with me the children do lots of lovely activities ranging from crafts to cooking and growing. We attend local toddler groups, have visits to my allotment as well as using other local facilities such as parks and library’s, as well as further afield such as the beach and farms. Children who attend before and after school are able to play with a wide selection of toys, take part in crafts, let off steam in the garden or relax with books or watching the television, these children can also be catered for in the school holidays with days tailored as much as possible to their likes and interests. My setting encompasses the joy of being able to provide a homely experience whilst caring for children aged 0-13. I welcome input from parents and carers as this enables me to provide the high level of care expected from childminders. It also helps me to get to know your child and families and how to best work in partnership with you.