Tinysteps

About Me

Hi parents! Born and raised in Mexico, married in London, I have many years of reliable, high-quality and safety-focused childminding experience, & a garden ground-floor setting! Studies have found that time spent outdoors enhances cognitive development in children aged 0 to 4 years. I always make sure the children are wearing warm clothes, before going into the garden.

Safety is the top priority of everything I do, and I'm a loving childminder who strongly focuses on the growth, educational play and development of children.

Please do not hesitate to click on the 'WEB' button, which takes you to my website for Tiny Steps.

I have my own setting in SW11, off Clapham Common North Side near Sisters Avenue (for years up until recently, I've been working in 2 childminding settings, in my last role as Head Childminder, in Kew/Richmond, full-time (Monday-Friday) until I started my own setting, and am still helping them 1 day a week for a few more weeks. I have several children signed up, with some having started already and they are very happy.

I am a mother of 1 (my daughter is now 19 years old already).

My setting is on the ground floor of a Victorian house; it therefore has plenty of fire exits, and I try to utilise the garden and park as much as possible even in colder times of the year, as I strongly believe in growth by being outdoors (of course, I wrap the children in very warm clothes). Many studies have shown that outdoor play has a positive impact on children's cognitive development. The garden cannot be accessed by any unauthorised people, as it is behind the house.

I take immense pride in my work, and diligently plan daily activities in advance, which are diverse and learning-, growth-, or fun-focused. The local park (Clapham Common) starts at the end of the street I'm on, and to cross the street (Clapham Common North Side) we have traffic lights – allowing for safe crossing for us to reach the park.

Daily online journals are completed and sent to the parents daily, with everything regarding daily activities and events recorded, to keep parents in the loop about the day's events. I have a very strong safety culture at Tiny Steps, which will be visible to you in all my daily journal entries.

I serve a nutritious and diverse menu, as I enjoy cooking very much, and keep the kitchen very safe, to ensure the children don't get injured. I use lots of fresh ingredients.

I adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) rules, aiming to support each child's growth by catering to their specific needs.

I'm happy to discuss your child's childcare requirements.

I commit to creating a very safe, nurturing, respectful, and affectionate atmosphere where your child can grow and thrive. I'm passionate about working with children, so joy is an inevitable side-products of the atmosphere in my setting.

I thrive on continuous learning and development, in the children and also in myself, so I take classes online every week to further improve my knowledge and skills, even though I have many years of hands-on experience already.

Research has shown that spending time outdoors has an impact on mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, and improving mood, allowing the little ones to focus on their growth. This makes the garden and closeness to the park invaluable.

My husband is German and British, and works in strategy consulting. He helps me with a lot, such as, in addition to me, checking all installations and alarms, etc. weekly, and administration and management of Tiny Steps.

Last, but not least, my name: Silvana.

FAQs:

Could you explain the difference between a nursery and your setting?

I manage the setting similarly to that of a nursery but like to think I have a more homely environment, with separate rooms and beds for sleeping babies, a closer relationship with the parents, the children get lots of time to socialise together in a mix of ages. I think that this is of benefit to both the older children who learn to be gentle and caring for the babies and for the babies, as they engage and are stimulated by watching the older children play.

Can I contact another parent for a reference?

Yes absolutely, I have lots of parents who would happily give references for me. Just ask and I can provide details.

Where do the children nap and how are they monitored?

The children nap in a separate quiet dark room, where they each have their sleeping space. I monitor them constantly while they are sleeping.