Meerkats
Childminder in Chorley
Usually responds within 30 minutes
Female Member since Jan 2011 Last Updated Apr 2024 Last Login Sep 2024
My Summary
About Me
Hello my name is Vicky Skyner, together with my daughter we run Meerkats Childminding Services here in Chorley (PR6 0LA)
**** WE WILL BE MOVING TO WHEELTON IN SEPTEMBER **** this will be a fabulous premises in beautiful surroundings ! We will still be childminders we wont be classed as a nursery and our premises will still be a home from home setting !
I have been a registered childminder for 16 years and my daughter has been registered since 2020.
We provide a welcoming and homely environment with facilities which include dedicated rooms full of age related fun facilities, a quiet room, role play areas an outdoor cabin and an astro turfed garden for all year round secure outdoor play we also have a newly built "Rabbit Cabin" so the children can interact with the bunnies in an outdoor area! We have off road parking and a very large play area which we use daily directly in front of our home.
We are accredited which means that we can accept government vouchers for 2,3 & 4 year olds both the universal 15 hours and the additional 15 hours if you are eligible - we also accept the government tax free voucher scheme
We work alongside experienced assistants, and so can increase our ratios .This allows the children to socially interact with their own age group within the setting, while still having access to 1:1 care when needed, parents like this setting because the children can still mix well with others while being in a smaller home based setting.
All members of staff are DBS cleared, and have suitability letters from Ofsted they also hold their safeguarding, first aid and food hygiene certificates and all are level 3 in children's learning and development qualified. We hold both business insurance and we are registered with the independent commissions office.
I have pets in the setting which include dogs, who the children adore and bunnies!
We promote learning through play providing a large variety of resources and learning experiences both indoors and out with weekly planning on a wide range of topics which all incorporate the EYFS
Graded Outstanding in all areas by ofsted (December 2016)
*****GRADED OUTSTANDING JUNE 2022 *****
My Experience
*I have been childminding now for 16 years
*My daughter has been childminding for 3 years
*We have experience with children who have additional needs
*Newborn experience
My Qualifications
We are all qualified to a minimum of level 3 in children learning and development
We all hold a Paediatric first aid certificate
We have all undergone safeguarding training
We all hold a food hygiene certificate
My Availability
We work from 7.30 - 6 with earlier starts available on request
£44 a day 7.30-6 including lunch and dinner
Fully qualified staff
Established over 16 years
Graded outstanding in June 2022
Childcare in a homely environment
All vouchers schemes accepted
Government funding accepted
WE HAVE VACANCIES AVAILABLE !!!!!
STARTING IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2024 we will appointments available to view the premises in august please contact us
We only do full days 7.30-6pm
We are not a babysitting service
We have a minimum 2 days a week policy
starting in April 2024 please contact for further details
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 17/04/2024 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £4.40 per hour
fees are £44 for a full day 7.30 - 6 including lunch and dinner
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at St George's Church of England Primary School, Chorley
- I provide pick ups at Highfield Community Primary School
My Documents
- DBS Check (added 29/06/2021)
- Childminding Agency Certificate (added 29/06/2021)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Meerkats. 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.
My son has been with Meerkats since he was 7 months old. I had heard great things about meerkats whilst I was in the process of looking for childcare and I was over the moon when Vicki got in touch to let me no she had a space available. We went and visited her at the setting an within a short amount of time I knew this was the place for us an I have been so happy with my choice. My son is so happy whilst he’s there. All the team are fantastic at what they do an so friendly it really does feel like a home from home. I can not recommend them enough if you are looking for a friendly home from home setting with a team of caring, funny and attentive ladies. My son is around children of different ages and this has helped him to develop his physical, social an emotional skills that I don’t feel he would in a setting of just his own age group. The activities they do help to make learning fun for all children regardless of there age as they adapt them so everyone can get involved.
Thank you Meerkats for everything you do x
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Really wonderful childcare setting. The staff know and understand each child and know how to get their very best. The setting is homely but structured and the learning is outstanding.
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I’ve got 3 kids and we’ve lived in a couple of places so I have experienced other childminders and nurseries before but let me tell you this place is the jackpot. My son started at 1yo and will remain there now until school as I can tell it’s the best place for him. The owners are so nice and provide really good communication whether it’s letting the parents know how the day is going through pictures in their page, clearly communicating policies, direct contact for issues and always a smiling face at the door. My son is shyer than some and yet still is happy to be at Meerkats and I know he is well looked after and his confidence will grow with them. I really just can’t fault them at all to be honest. Really nice setting too and lots of activities. Vicky and Abi have created a prime example of childcare.
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Our little girl has been at Meerkats since the age of 10 months and is leaving this summer as she starts school in September. She has been provided with the most exceptional care throughout her time at the setting and all the staff have been outstanding in helping her grow and develop as an individual. There are so many wonderful aspects of Meerkats, which has the benefit of a home setting whilst also having the feel of a larger group (approximately 10 children). Our daughter learnt so much from being around children a year or so older than her when she was young and this has really aided her personal development. As parents, we have worked with the staff at every stage of her development and have sought advice from them when faced with challenges at home. It has been a wonderful partnership where we have made decisions for our family that have been supported by the staff at the setting, particularly surrounding naps, feeding and potty training. They have gone above and beyond to accommodate our requests and supported us at every turn. We are particularly grateful to Meerkats for steering us through the tricky situation of the pandemic and working tirelessly to protect all the children in their care from not just Covid, but all other illnesses that are out there in the world. We have never once regretted our choice of childcare and cannot express fully in words just how truly amazing Meerkats is for children of all ages.
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Our son started at Meerkats in June and has settled in really well. He was only 10 months old when he started, and I was naturally anxious about leaving him and going back to work, but Vicky and the team at Meerkats have been great with him. The communication is fantastic and I always feel like he is being well looked after- I never worry about him when he’s at Meerkats!
I think it’s great having a mix of ages as it helps to build his confidence around other children, and he still gets his naps and quiet time when he needs it.
Overall, an amazing place where my son is obviously going to flourish over the next few years, and where the staff really are passionate about what they do. What more can you ask for?
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