Charlotte Nicholson (The Playhouse)

Childminder

I am an Ofsted registered childminder. I have worked in childcare for a number of years and I have my own son Jude who is 12 & 16 month old Twin's Zuri & Zayn. I am reliable, cheerful, fun and trustworthy. I cater for all ages within my provision offering a fun and stimulating environment. I am flexible so please ask if alternate hours is something needed.

My Father sometimes volunteers alongside me  and has had all the relevant checks. We work very well as a team and the children thrive from the level of care and interaction provided from both of us. 

I try to be as flexible as possible to meet both parent and child's needs. I do a range of crafts and activities with children to keep the children engaged and stimulated in a safe and happy environment I meet the early years foundation stage requirements by planning daily activities around Communication & Language, Physical Development, Expressive art and Design, Literacy, Maths,Understanding the world, Personal Social & Emotional Development & Characteristics of Effective learning.

The older school children have time do any home work they have as soon as we get home from school if that is what the parents want. I will also help with reading if asked. I do prepare meals at an extra charge but find most of the families prefer to have meal times with their children work permitting.

  The garden is fully enclosed and safe for the children to play freely. Equipped with a mud kitchen and natural resources, bikes trikes and more. we have a paddling pool in the summer for toddlers and the older children with gazebo to protect from the sun. we have sand and water play. 

I like people to feel at ease and have fun in my home. I treat the children in my home as part of my family.

I can take children from birth to 13yrs.

I regularly take the children out and about we go to parks playgroups and socialise with other childminders and settings.  I arrange outings in the holiday periods involving the parents who wish to be a part of them or other helpers the children are always under my supervision and never left alone with anyone other than myself or my assistant. The outings could be anything from a trip to the zoo, beach,  museum or crabbing which is a favourite with most of the children we have a lovely holiday home lodge at Felixstowe beach where the children love to have days out as its right on the sea front.

I work in partnership with the parents swapping information on the children both on arrival and collections. I keep learning journeys up to date and other relevant documents. 

I sit with potential new parents and children and go through my policies and contracts with them we do a starting point for the child so we are both happy with were they are at the beginning. I show them a welcome pack which includes all my qualifications and insurances and registration details.

In holiday periods I offer a more laid back service than in school time as we have such a varied age range of children and am aware that for the school age children it is a holiday and should be treated as such but i still have a duty of care to the younger preschool aged children. with this in mind i arrange a list of days out to include lots of fun with education thrown in. This way the older ones feel they have had the fun time they want and the younger ones are getting the different areas of learning they need to. What ever we do their safety remains a priority and risk assessment is taken seriously.