Helen
Childminder in Datchet
Usually responds within 1 hour
Female Member since Sep 2014 Last Updated Jul 2024 Last Login 13 Dec 2024
My Summary
About Me
Outstanding Ofsted Registered Childminder
My name is Helen and I'm an Ofsted registered childminder in the pretty little village of Datchet.
I offer full and part time childcare as well as term time only. I currently offer the government funded hours to eligible parents for 2 & 3 year olds and will be offering this to 9 month olds when the government extended the funded hours in Sept 2024.
I graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Food Science. I was employed by the John Lewis partnership and sucessfully became a manager for Waitrose before becoming a childminder. I hold an Ofsted approved Paediatric First Aid Certificate and ensure I complete regular training to support my business and the children I care for. My business is also registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for data protection.
I use an online system called Tapestry to support my business where you will have access to your child’s learning journal which I regularly update with photos and information on your child’s development and the fun things we do. I’ve found it to be a great resource for sharing information with parents and also for parents to share information back. It also includes a daily diary which I send out regularly throughout the day so that you can see what your child has eaten and how much, their nap times and nappy changes.
My husband and i are both CRB/DBS checked. We have three sons, one cat and a Labrador.
We have a lovely house with a dedicated playroom full of toys. I also have a fully enclosed rear garden with lots of toys, a sand and water station for a sunny day and many other outside toys. I have a Ford S-Max with seven seats, appropriate childseats for different aged children as well as specialised car insurance for childminders.
There is a large park within a 5 minute walk from my home, as well as some lovely woodland parks (for example Windsor Great Park) which are within driving distance. We also regularly meet up with other local childminders where the children make friends outside of my setting.
I encourage good manners, sharing and respect as well as good hygiene, the children regularly wash their hands before each meal or snack as well as after playing in the garden and each child has their own towel to dry their hands. I also encourage independance, where appropriate children are taught to put on their coats and shoes as well as encouraged to help with laying the table for lunch and we have tidy up time at the end of every day. I encourage learning and development by following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) instilling confidence in the children.
We have lots of fun activities including:
Arts and Crafts
Baking
Themed Weeks
Celebration of Religious Festivals
Dressing up
Role Play
Free Play
Story Time
Music Time
Water/sand play
Classes/Playgroups
Outings
I have free flow in the house where the children can play in the living areas, playroom or garden as they wish.
My Experience
Not only do I have three children of my own but I have also been childminding for 14 years.
My Qualifications
Below is a list of the qualifications I have attained so far:
• BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Food Science
• CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Home-Based Childcare.
• QA Level 2 Award in Paediatric First Aid.
• Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering.
• Safeguarding in Education and Childcare Provision - Child Protection Basic Awareness Training.
• Introduction to the EYFS - The Learning and Development Requirements.
• Enlivening Literacy.
• Looking at Personal, Social and Emotional Development in a Childminding Setting.
• Move into Writing
• EduCare - Supporting Early Language Development
• EduCare - Equality and Inclusion in Early Years Settings
• EduCare - An Introduction to Child Sexual Exploitation
• EduCare - Improving Children’s Learning Through Play
• EduCare - Reflective Practice in the Early Years
• EduCare - The Prevent Duty in an Early Years Environment
• EduCare - Child Protection Advanced
• EduCare - Child Protection in the Early Years.
• EduCare - Understanding and Addressing Behaviour in the Early Years.
• EduCare - Speech, Language and Communication.
• EduCare - Promoting Positive Behaviour.
• EduCare - Effective Transition and Emotional Wellbeing in the Early Years.
I am committed to developing myself further and regularly attend training courses.
Please contact me if you would like to see my recent Outstanding Ofsted report from March 2020.
My Availability
Please contact me for my up to date availability.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 09/07/2024 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £6.50 per hour
Please contact me for my fees.
My Local Schools
This childminder has not yet informed us whether or not they provide any drop off or pick up services at local schools.
My Ofsted Inspections
The inspection grades below have been obtained from the Ofsted website based upon the registration number the childminder has provided to us. You should verify this information yourself prior to using the childminder.
My Documents
- Ofsted Certificate (added 12/09/2024)
- UK Driving Licence (added 20/11/2023)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Helen. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk users and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
Helen has looked after our 2 year old since she was 9 months old and has been just fantastic. Helen is thoughtful and caring and as parents who were anxious about leaving their baby and going to work, Helen could not have made this transition any more seamless.
She keeps in regular contact via tapestry throughout the day with pictures and updates which is really lovely. It has also created a lovely log of our child’s development and activities.
Helen is not your regular childminder, she goes above and beyond, encouraging development amongst the children through various play activities both inside, outside and at playgroups, soft plays and local parks.
Helen’s home is so lovely, with plenty of space for the children to play and explore, including the garden!
I could not recommend Helen highly enough and any one would be lucky to have her.
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Our son has been with Helen for eight months, we can’t say enough about how amazing Helen is. She is welcoming, knowledgeable, friendly and our son adores her. Leaving your child for the first time is a daunting experience but Helen made us both feel at ease, her communication is incredible. She provides daily updates on Tapestry and we love receiving these.
Our son loves going to Helen and we feel so comfortable leaving him with her. Her family are all friendly and her house has the perfect set up for children. We love the playroom and the fact that Helen provides a range of activities for all the children.
Our son has developed new skills since being with Helen.
We can’t rate her enough, we’re so glad that we found her.
Kirsty and Adam
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Helen has taken care of our now 16 month old daughter since she turned one. Our daughter attends four days per week for full days. We can’t say enough good things about her. Our daughter has been settled since day one, lives the time she spends with Helen and does the most wonderful things. She is always attending play groups, feeding the ducks, painting etc. The progress she has made since being there is unbelievable to see.
Her house is great. Lots of space and toys and a large garden which the children can access as they wish. Her own children are lovely and add a real family, home from home feel. I am always impressed by the other children who I see on pick up. They are all polite, amazing with my little girl and, most importantly, super happy whenever I see them.
We are so pleased we found Helen. I am a Head teacher and my husband a teacher and so we are well used to visiting schools / nurseries / childcare settings. Prior to meeting Helen we were registered at a well known, branded nursery near by and changed our plans instantly. We were also registered for one of our own schools for a 2+ place and we have also changed our plans for this as we would prefer her to be where she is! We have not regretted it for a second.
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My son was with Helen for 3.5 years, from when he was 10 months old until he left to start school. I was looking for a family environment and home-away-from-home for him and Helen offered just that. She and her three sons were welcoming and caring and gave him lots of attention, and they helped him grow into a confident, friendly little boy who was well-prepared to start school.
Helen’s setting is immaculately clean and she has a huge range of toys. As well as allowing free play she guides children in arts, crafts and baking. My son would come home with lovely pictures, great handmade cards for all occasions, and yummy treats that he’d helped to bake. Helen also helped teach my son new skills such as threading, counting, holding a pen and writing his name. He thoroughly enjoyed regular trips to the park, library and play-group, as well as special days out further afield.
One of the most important things to me was how frequently Helen kept in contact. Through photos, videos and messages she let me know multiple times a day what my son was doing and how he was. It was incredibly reassuring and helped me feel like I was part of his day, despite being at work.
I can’t recommend Helen highly enough.
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