Treasured Times Outstanding Childminders, Partington

We have vacancies coming up for before and after school for children from Little Bollington school (if using the bus which collects and drops off at the house), or PCA. Pls contact us if you wish to enquire

Recently exploring “hats from around the world”, dressing up and reading stories. Counting in every day play and beginning to subitise small qty sharing, making close friendships, being kind to one another. Self:- noticing similarity and difference ad showing respect. Exploring our faces and noticing our bodies… with Halloween approaching, “what is a skeleton”?… where are “my” bones? Singing songs about bones, kind hands, feelings.. physical development:- learning to prepare food, talking about foods, balancing, building, climbing, sliding, riding bikes, walking, soft play throwing balls, sorting colours.. and so much more.

Another fabulous week of learning self care skills, caring for each other and animals, increasing vocabulary and learning new sounds and songs. Discussing and recognising emotions. Some are now Counting through play and able to recognise 1 and 2 items by subitising. (Subitising is the ability to instantly recognise the number of items in a small group without counting them one by one. This perceptual skill, derived from the Latin word for "sudden," is crucial for developing mathematical understanding by allowing children to see quantities at a glance, such as knowing there are four dots on a dice).

📚 School applications are now open for 2026 places

Parents of children due to start primary or secondary school in Trafford next year can now apply for their child’s school place.

🗓️ Deadlines

Secondary schools – apply by 31 October 2025

Primary schools – apply by 15 January 2026

Cllr Karina Carter, Executive Member for Babies, Children and Young People, said: "Our priority is giving children the best start in life – and applying on time gives parents the best chance of securing a place at their preferred school."

Apply and find guidance online 👇

🔗 Primary schools: https://ow.ly/X4ts50WRZqa
🔗 Secondary schools: https://ow.ly/n5i250WRZq9

Back to school and childminders. What a fabulous first week back. Happy children, happy parents, happy childminders. Well done everyone, not one tear, everyone straight back into engagement # # #. We’ve named the puppy “Billie” and she is so so good, calm and friendly and training is going really well too. Also Yuki spends a couple of days with her mum and sister too.

As I said …..

Funding rates for three- and four-year-olds putting childminders and families under pressure, warns Coram PACEY

Since the expansion of childcare funding in April 2024:

- 31% of childminders have restricted the number of funded places for three- and four-year-olds.

- 11% have stopped offering funded places for this age group altogether.

Almost 1 in 5 (18%) report that they have had a relative move a child from their childminding setting in order to access early years funding elsewhere. Of those who do provide early education and childcare for a child related to them, almost half (49%) do so free of charge.

Helen Donohoe, Head of Coram PACEY comments:

“With the expansion to funding for working families beginning on Monday, flaws in the current early years funding system are leaving childminders under huge strain. The rates for three- and four-year-olds are disproportionately lower than younger age cohorts, and because childminders work at much smaller ratios than nurseries, this shortfall hits them the hardest.

“As a result, around four in ten childminders told us that they either no longer offer, or restrict places for three- and four-year-olds. This is especially disheartening as these are often children they have cared for from an early age, building strong bonds and attachments. To stay afloat, many childminders are also forced to cut back on trips and activities or raise costs for privately paying families.

“The situation is made worse by the rule that prevents childminders from claiming funding for relatives. One in five have seen a relative withdraw their child from their care to access funding elsewhere, and around half of those who do provide care for relatives do this free of charge and absorb the financial burden themselves.

The unsustainable funding rate system is pushing more childminders out of the sector at a time when families and communities need their support the most.”

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eHNFaY2E

Government confirms the first wave of school-based nurseries across England - PACEY The Department for Education (DfE) announced yesterday that the first 300 school-based nurseries (SBN) in England have been confirmed

Lots covered again. Story week so children were making up stories using “you choose” books. Dressing up and being builders seems to be a theme at the moment and they all love the new outfits and tools. Lots counting included in all play and we’ve been talking about feelings and expressions.

Last week