David C
Childminder in Leeds
Usually responds within 3 days
Male Member since Nov 2022 Last Updated Sep 2023 Last Login Nov 2024
My Summary
Free To Learn Childminding
About Me
I am 39 years old and from the US and have worked in early years education since 2007. My wife Jennifer and I moved to Leeds in 2016. To make a long story short we have decided to go into business together - me as the registered childminder and her as the assistant/business manager.
We are primarily outdoors based, mostly in our back garden and walks to nearby Meanwood Park. Following the latest in research in early childhood development, we are big on outdoor, active play, relationships and tons and tons of reading!
My Experience
I have 15+ years experience working in early years in the US, Australia and 7 years in the UK and have exceptional reference letters from previous employers that I would be proud to share upon request. I have a passion for outdoor, active, self-directed play, neurodiversity affirming practice and making spaces where children feel they truly belong.
If by any chance your child is echolalic, I have recently been learning about Gestalt Language Processing and have practical experience in helping echolalic children further develop their language.
My Qualifications
I have an Australian certificate that is "between a level 2 and 3" qualification but honestly am quite well read in all aspects of early years education. I have a strong working knowledge of neuroscience, the role of active play in children's holistic development, attachment theory, sensory play and sensory issues, self-regulation and much more.
My Availability
*We especially welcome children who are or might be autistic, ADHD, have communication needs or for whatever reasons might not be feeling welcome in other settings*
We are open during 7:30am-4:30pm, Tuesday through Friday
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Morning | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Afternoon | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| After School | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 13/09/2023 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £5.00 per hour
£45 a day
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 Documents
- Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination (added 17/11/2022)
- DBS Check (added 17/11/2022)
- Ofsted Certificate (added 17/11/2022)
- First Aid Certificate: 2022 paediatric first aid certificate (added 17/11/2022)
- Reference: SIDC 2013 reference letter (added 17/11/2022)
- Reference: Gowrie Docklands 2016 reference letter (added 17/11/2022)
- Reference: Bankside Primary 2022 reference letter (added 17/11/2022)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for David C. 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.
We are so happy that we came across free to learn childminding. My son absolutely loves it! David and Jennifer are incredibly kind and nurturing. The kids are mostly outside doing exactly what kids should be doing - playing! We get lots of lovely pictures and videos. It just simply looks like so much fun!
Thankyou so much David and Jennifer for looking after my son in such a wonderful, happy environment 😊
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My husband and I honestly cannot recommend Free To Learn enough!
David and Jennifer are really genuine, kind people who truly have the children in their care's best interests at heart.
Leaving your child with someone for the first time is a difficult process, but David and Jennifer went above and beyond to make this as smooth as possible.
We get photos and updates daily which we love, and our son is clearly having the best time with them. Their out door learning through play approach really aligns with our own values. We also really like that their cats interact with the children making it feel like an altogether welcoming family environment.
We are very happy that we chose Free To Learn and feel like our son and the other children are in very good hands.
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Our nearly 2 year old has been going to Free to Learn since the start of the year and really enjoys and looks forward to it - we often get a big smile at drop-off time! Putting your child in someone else's care, especially for the first time, is a daunting thing but David and Jennifer really put our minds at rest from the start and were really responsive to our child's needs. They really bond with, and care about, the children they look after and share in their excitement at play, reading, exploring, watching the cats, etc. The emphasis on outdoor play and trips into the woods/park is great and it definitely encourages them to feel at home in the outdoors. The childminders bring a wealth of knowledge about early years development and how children learn about the world around them in an organic way, and the setting is relaxed and feels more like a family or community than a nursery. We stay in touch throughout the day as required via text message and most days get a couple of photos/videos which are always so exciting to see. We're really glad we chose Free to Learn and can't really imagine going elsewhere now!
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We absolutely love David and Jennifer! From the very beginning, it was evident that our decision was a brilliant one. Their outdoor space for playtime is an absolute gem where our two children have not only had fun but also learned so much about being independent.
What truly sets David and Jennifer apart is the relaxed atmosphere they create. It's a nurturing environment that allows children the freedom to explore, learn, and socialise with other kids. Our children have blossomed here, developing important social skills while enjoying their time in a warm and caring setting.
We can't speak highly enough of David and Jennifer's dedication and commitment to providing a safe, stimulating, and loving environment for our little ones. We are so grateful for this wonderful childminder and the positive impact they've had on our family's life. And David's book about Umar is in our regular rotation time at reading time, so definitely that out too!
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We have completely lucked out with David and Jennifer! Our 2 year old son’s Nursery left us high and dry at the end of last year and while it was a really difficult time, it led us to Free to Learn, and we tell everyone we speak to these days how this was a complete blessing in disguise. Everything they value including child led play, the outdoors, books, free expression and most importantly inclusion, has improved our son's temperament and skills significantly. He is happy, safe, and accepted for who he is with David and Jennifer and we never have to worry about how his day is going with ample updates, photos and videos of his day. He’s always having so much fun!
We really value that David has taken the time to get to know him one-on-one. He has additional needs and almost certainly neurodivergent, and the knowledge David has passed on to us through his experience and nuanced observations has been a revelation to us, and helped us to understand and manage his delayed speech and the regulation of his emotions. David has picked up on things a mainstream nursery never would have and we are so grateful.
Our son is absolutely thriving, loves his days at Free to Learn and we would highly recommend them if you are looking for childcare. Our only wish is that they would open up a school! 😆
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