Bright Beginnings - A Child Minding & Babysitting service in Harrogate

30/01/2026

The latest hit for child minders is the proposed tax changes - we move onto a quarterly digital tax system with potentially expensive software costs, removal of a 10% wear & tear allowance, changes to claiming household expenses & now providing receipts for all items under £10.
This was announced at a similar time as registration changes to make it easier for child minders to operate from community spaces & schools 🤔
I’d really appreciate your support with signing this petition - it’s doing the rounds in child minding settings

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/754843?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPpZOdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeuVyegM6V18xcSd8knDojDgecaT2vmWuhe6X41XmJlsyJ9ibYPCQCmbdawLQ_aem_3pUYeStqJ_DjEz9uDJNGHQ

Retain the 10% wear and tear allowance for childminders, or introduce an equivalent alternative that reflects the additional household costs of providing regulated childcare from home and helps ensure childminding remains financially sustainable.

19/11/2025

Great to see the issue of child minder funded rates being publicised in the press this morning.

The number of childminders in England is falling - with one charity warning they could all be gone by 2033.

18/11/2025

Bit of excitement today at Bright Beginnings HQ as I was quoted in the national press (fame at last!)

As child minders we desperately need changes to be made to our funding payment system. It’s a system based on group setting ratios and one that doesn’t reflect a child minder setting at all.

The rates North Yorkshire pay decrease by age. £2.61 an hour less when a child turns 2 & a whopping £4.55 hourly decrease when a child turns 3 (that’s nearly 50% less!)

However for a child minder we only have limited number of spaces and only 1 of these can be for a child under 12months. As our children get older we can choose to accept a pay cut or give notice to the older children & look to our long waiting lists to book the next baby in. We shouldn’t be put in this position. Where is the recognition of the importance of continuity of care in the early years? I’m campaigning for child minders to be paid per space regardless of a child’s age.

To explain further - working with the same 4 children from 9 months of age would see our hourly pay rate drop by £10.44 when they turn 2. Those same 4 under 2’s then represent a pay cut of £18.20 when they turn 3. At 30hrs a week that’s a pay cut of £549 per week!!! Would you do exactly the same job with the same children for £18.20 less an hour?!

I’m keeping everything crossed that the funding system is made more child minder friendly in time for next financial year. Otherwise we will all be left deciding which children we can afford to continue to care for based solely on their age, whilst trying to meet the financial needs of housing & raising our own families. It will really be a business head over heart choice for so many of us.

02/06/2025

I’ve had a lovely day of home visits today to spend more time getting to know new starters & going through paperwork. Subject to contracts being returned, we have 6 children returning in September & 2 new starters joining us. Welcome to the family Aria & Lily x

This means that I expect to be full for Sept 25-July 26. My wait list for Sept 26 is open and I am taking details of any families who are interested in a place.

From this September, I’m making a few changes to Bright Beginnings in response to changes in my family circumstances.
- I shall be working 7.30am-5.30pm 5 days a week & will no longer be available for preschool supply teaching on Mondays. Sadly I’ve had to withdraw my application to become a part time Early Years Ofsted Inspector in favour of a full time guaranteed regular income.
- I will continue to offer only term time contracts, as this fits the Governments funded offer. However, I will be increasing the amount of holiday club days I offer to suit those requesting year long care.
- Whilst I will continue to babysit for a few long term families, I will no longer be taking on new babysitting families as I look to reduce my evening hours in response to the needs of my own children. Instead I will be referring any new babysitting enquiries to Hannah.
- From August Hannah will turn 16 and will be registering with Ofsted as my assistant next year, in order to provide emergency cover & help with holiday club. She will be dbs checked & pediatric first aid trained

28/04/2025

🌈 Local Child Minder with spaces available 🌈

Bright Beginnings is a small, unique and homely child minding setting located in Pannal.

I am a qualified Early Years Teacher, Mummy of 3, ex child minding advisor for NYCC, recently worked with the Department for Education as a Covid mentor & I’m on the (very slow!) pathway to hopefully becoming an Early Years Ofsted Inspector 🤞🏻 I have been rated outstanding by Ofsted in the past 2 inspections (June 2015 & June 2022)

I work from my 5 bed family home in Pannal which has 2 dedicated playrooms, fully enclosed garden & a huge selection of resources. I have 3 of my own children aged 11, 12 & 15. I live opposite Pannal train station, near the 36 bus route & have a parking space available for a family to use.

I am first aid trained, insured, registered with tax free childcare & can provide funded places to eligible 9 month - 4 year old children. This is my 13th year of Child Minding.

I enjoy getting out & about with the children and aim to be a loving first setting to bridge the gap between home and preschool or big school.

I currently have a space for a new little person to join us on a Wednesday & Friday. From September 2025 I shall be opening for 50hrs a week & have one 30hr funded place remaining.

My waiting list for Jan 26 is full with sibling babies but I can take details of families wanting a space to start in Sept 26.

Please get in touch via messenger, childcare.co.uk or 07870 810241 to arrange a visit.

Thanks Sara x

07/01/2025

Happy to help out any ex-Bright Beginnings families who are struggling with nursery/preschool/school closures this week.

I am remaining open all week - as long as you can safely travel to me. Remember I’m opposite the train station and near the 36 bus route.

Just drop me a message & I will see if I have space x

05/01/2025

🌈 Babysitting dates for Jan & Feb 🌈

Mon 6th Jan (booked)

Thurs 9th Jan (booked)

Mon 13th Jan

Thurs 16th Jan (booked)

Fri 17th Jan (booked)

Sun 19th Jan

Mon 20th Jan

Wed 22nd Jan (booked)

Sat 25th Jan (booked)

Monday 27th Jan

Fri 31st Jan (booked)

Mon 3rd Feb (booked)

Thursday 6th Feb

Sat 8th Feb (booked)

Mon 10th Feb

Tuesday 11th Feb

Sat 22nd Feb (booked)

Fri 28th Feb (booked)

Just £12 per hr via tax free (£9.60) for currently contracted 🌈 families.

£12.50 an hour bacs or cash for everyone else!

Any dates that you need that aren’t on this list? Just ask x