I am currently working alongside my mother (Marie Bell) and father (Stuart Bell) who are also OFSTED registered childminders. My mother has been registered since May 1994 and my father since August 2010. As there is three of us all fully registered in the same setting we are able to increase the number of children we care for at any one time. We currently do morning afternoon and evening drop off and pick ups to Newbottle Primary Academy and Burnside Primary School. Our setting is currently open between the hours of 6:30am till 6:30pm Monday- Friday term time and school holidays excluding weekends and bank holidays. We are open 48 weeks of the year, however parents are notified well in advance of all planned holidays. We offer a safe and structured environment for all the children in our care. We live on a private drive so the children are able to play outside our house without the risk of any traffic, We also have a large garden that the children too are able to play in. We supply fun and educational toys, opportunities and activities. The downstairs of our house is dedicated to childminding, there is a lower level toilet spacious sitting/dining room for activities to take place. We have regular visits out to our local parks, pet shops, garden centres and library. During school holidays we are able to travel further afield and have fun filled days out. We provide all Early Years children with a learning journal that shows how they are progressing. We also provide healthy meals for children in our care (sample menus available) this is at the parents request and for no extra charge. What our Parents have had to say:
"Our son loves coming to see you 'his extended family'" (Kirsty Seymour)
"Our daughter enjoyed your company as she was learning and developing in your care"
"The kindness you show and the help you give means so much"
"We wish to thank you for being so flexible and stepping in at a moments notice"
"Thank you for all the words of encouragement and love"
"Thank you so much"
And much much more
Before becoming a registered childminder i studied at college and then went onto university to achieve a variety of childcare based qualifications they include:
BTEC National Diploma in Early Years Level Three:
This qualification allowed me to become a nursery nurse had i wished to do so, throughout my training i worked in a variety of settings with children of different age ranges, I completed over eight hundred placement hours over the two year course. My first six month placement was working in Newbottle Primary School whilst there i worked with children between 4-5 years following the Early Years Foundation Stage. I then moved up to work with children between the ages of 6-7 years whilst here i gained knowledge of the National Curriculum. In my second year i attended Nesham Nursery a private setting and worked with babies ages ranging from six months to two years. I then moved onto a placement in Sunningdale School for children who have a variety of special educational and health needs. In this setting i was working with children between the ages of 2-4 years. During the various placements i had to plan a range of activities that were age,stage appropriate for the children i was working with. I also carried out observations and highlighted different routines the setting followed and the importance of the routines. I received feedback from all my placement supervisors. I completed this course with a Merit Distinction grade
Outstanding Achievement in Higher National Diploma in Working with Children and Families Level Five:
During my time studying on this course i was constantly developing my childminding experiences, as the course was only part time i attended university two days a week and spent the other three days working along side my mother gaining new experiences and the ability to develop professionally. Throughout the course I kept a learning journal of activities i had carried out with the children and how the activities had aided the child's development. This journal includes photographs of the children and links to the Early Years Foundation Stage. (this journal can be seen on request)
I graduated from this course with Merit Merit grade.
