Helen
Childminder in West Dorset District
Usually responds within 12 hours
Female Member since Apr 2022 Last Updated Dec 2024 Last Login 16 Dec 2024
My Summary
About Me
Hello I am Helen an Ofsted Registered childminder of Aunty Helen's Childminding Service based in a village location near Sherborne. We are fairly rural so countryside walks, down lanes, through muddy fields and down to the river are what we do around here. We also do have a play park we can utilise often.
I work alone and live with my partner, my 2 teenage children, our 2 cats and a puppy.
We are a ‘baby setting’ focusing on babies and younger toddlers children from 9 months to 36 months at which point I encourage them to phase out of my setting and onto a pre school. By this age they trend to outgrow our small baby focused setting and I believe that a child of age 3 or 4 years old would benefit more from a larger more educational based setting to prepare them for transitioning onto school.
I offer a safe, welcoming, nurturing and fun but relaxed 'home from home' environment where a small group of children are equally supported and encouraged to grow, learn, play and develop at their own pace and in their own way. Our early years educational style is child led and free flowing. Children will be offered various activities in and out of the home such as arts and crafts, messy play, creative role plays, play dough, sand water and other sensory play, music, singing and movement to music, reading, story and rhyme times, puzzles, loose parts play and natural resources to form creative play but activities are based on the child’s individual interest and attention span rather than a planned group activity aimed at delivering a particular curriculum.
We have a lovely large private enclosed garden which backs onto fields and also a child's local play park so ideal for outside play and outdoor activities which children will be encouraged to utilise on a regular basis. We often go out most mornings to various places such as local playgroups, stay and play centres, soft play centres, children's play parks and Boogie Bunnies a baby and toddlers music and singing group.
Children will sometimes also be taken on outings such as Farm and Animal parks, Beach School, Forest School and other.
My Experience
I am an Ofsted Registered Childminder since January 2022, practiced since May 2022. I had my first graded inspection on 1st May 2024 and was awarded a GOOD. Under the EYFS I am able to provide care for a maximum of 6 children under the age of 8 years, of which 3 under 5 years at any one time. I have 2 teenage children of my own and have experienced being a parent who had young children in childcare settings both in nursery and also a childminder. So I understand the difference in the two types of care. I enjoy the energy that young children bring, we have fun learning and playing at my setting, working well with families to support and encourage healthy development. Over the past couple years most children have settled very well and we have formed wonderful bonds with children and their parents. I have all the necessary childcare training, safeguarding, paediatric first aid, DBS checked etc. Contact me at Aunty Helen's Childminding Service for further info and or if you wish to be added to my waiting list or would like to book a setting visit for a current space.
My Qualifications
Full Paediatric First Aid, PDSCP Multi Agency Working Together in Safeguarding Children Level 2 and 3 and Foundation in Safeguarding Children Level 1. Introductory Training Course in Childcare (Ofsted Recognised) Other CPD Certificates include: Nutrition 1 Healthy Eating in the Early Years - Why it Matters and Nutrition 2 Special Diets and Fussy Eaters. Safeguarding Children and Food Hygiene. Cultural Capital, Teaching and Learning in the Early Years (Pedagogy), Understanding and Working with EYFS, Education Inspection Framework (EIF) and Understanding Ofsted Inspection
My Availability
I am currently FULL but if you would like to join my waiting list for future spaces then please check out my website
My Opening hours are as follows:
Mondays
0800 - 1730
Tuesdays
0800 - 1730
Wednesdays
0800 - 1730
Thursdays
0800 - 1730
Fridays Closed
Saturdays Closed
Sundays Closed
Bank Holidays Closed.
Minimum booking requirements apply contracted hours must be a minimum of 7.5 hours per day across 2 days per week.
I take children from 9 months to 36 months old on either an All Year Around Contract (47 weeks per year) or a Term Time Only Contract (TTO based on state school term dates of 38 weeks per year) or After School Care.
Holiday Only Care is offered only to pre existing registered children who are on a TTO contract but may need Ad Hoc hours during holidays or for ‘Returning Children’ who have transitioned onto pre school at age 3 and 4 but wish to come back during the school Holidays or for After School Children again who would like extra hours in the holidays.
As of 1st September 2024 I am also able to offer funded places to registered children only for the 15 hours per week (TermTime Only) to eligible 2 year olds and under 2 year olds from 9 months old. I do not offer funding for 3 and 4 years olds as they will usually be encouraged to move onto pre school at this age.
I DO NOT offer AD HOC BABYSITTING
I DO NOT offer WRAP AROUND CARE
I DO NOT offer OVERNIGHT CARE
I DO NOT offer HOLIDAYS CLUB TO NON REGISTERED CHILDREN
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Morning | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Afternoon | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| After School | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 01/12/2024 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £6.40 per hour
Please contact me for further information Thank you.
My Local Schools
- I provide pick ups at Thornford CofE Primary School
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.
This member has chosen not to display their Ofsted inspection ratings on their profile. We recommend you check their current registration status and read their latest inspection report before using them.
My Documents
- UK Passport (added 28/07/2024)
- First Aid Certificate: Full Paediatric First Aid Training Certificate 25/5/24 (added 28/07/2024)
- Inspection Report: Ofsted Graded Inspection Report (added 28/07/2024)
- Training Certificate: Pan-Dorset SCP Update Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding (Level 3) (added 05/04/2024)
- Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination (added 28/04/2022)
- DBS Check (added 26/04/2022)
- Training Certificate: Introductory to Childminding (Ofsted Recognised) (added 21/04/2022)
- Training Certificate: Safeguarding (added 21/04/2022)
- First Aid Certificate: Full Paediatric First Aid (added 21/04/2022)
- Ofsted Certificate (added 20/04/2022)
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.
My twins have been attending Helen’s setting for 18 months and they have loved it.
Helen is really great with them and plans interesting activities to keep them busy! Her setting is lovely, nuturing and safe, a home from home with a wonderful outdoor setting too.
Thank you Helen for being a part of the twins’ first few years!
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by
Lucy
about
Helen
on 28/02/2024
Response by
Helen
on 28/02/2024:
Aww thanks so much it’s been my pleasure. Thank you for choosing Aunty Helen’s for your beautiful boys. I have really enjoyed getting to know them both so much they have made me smile and laugh and I really will miss them as I’m sure the other children here will too when the time comes for them to move on. Please do keep in touch x
Aunty Helen’s has been the perfect fit for our son. He has thoroughly enjoyed attending her setting where he has thrived so much.
Helen has provided such a safe and happy space for our little boy to explore and learn.
Making a decision to go back to work and leave your child with someone for the first time is not an easy one, but Helen made it feel relaxed and the perfect option for us as a family.
It’s more than just a childminding service, she loves and cares for the children she looks after as well as their family’s.
We could not recommend her enough and feel so lucky that we found her
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by
Rebecca
about
Helen
on 09/12/2023
Response by
Helen
on 09/12/2023:
Thanks so much Rebecca it has been an absolute pleasure working with you and your husband to provide Early Years Education and care to your little one and watching the development over our time together and he will be greatly missed by not only my but all his little friends he has made here.
Best Wishes
Aunty Helen x
Aunty Helen is amazing! From the moment we visited her lovely home, I knew that she was the right fit for us and for our little boy.
Helen's setting is fun yet calming and you can immediately see the thought and love that she puts into her toys and daily activities. A huge bonus for us is her beautiful garden; full of play things and space to run free!
C loves his time at Aunty Helen's and settled in immediately. He has made friends with children older and younger than him and really enjoys heading out to toddler groups and playgrounds with Helen and his pals.
Whilst juggling our own busy lives, Helen is patient, flexible and accommodating and helps out whenever she can. She cares so strongly about all of the children in her care as well as their families.
I've heard a few mixed stories of childminding experiences, but I can genuinely say that we lucked out big time with this one!
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by
Alice DS
about
Helen
on 28/06/2023
Response by
Helen
on 28/06/2023:
Thanks so much Alice for your lovely review and positive feedback of my services. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you getting to know your lovely family and taking care of C, whom I will very much miss when the time comes to move on. Aunty Helen x
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This profile has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.
