Little Tykes
Childminder in Littleover
Usually responds within 2 days
Female Member since May 2009 Last Updated Dec 2024 Last Login 30 Dec 2024
My Summary
About Me
I'm a mum and nana , my eldest 3 children are grown up with their own families . I have a 20year old old son.Who is Studying Sports sicence at Derby University . He lives at home with myself ,my partner and 2 gentle labradors .
I have previous experience working in child care as a pre school leader.
After school club chair , as well as a mum and nana to 4 beautiful grandchildren. I became a child minder initially to care for my granddaughter from birth to 4 years as she was born with disabilities and profoundly deaf.There were no cares available who had enough sign language knowledge or who my daughter was happy to leave her tiny premature baby with.I have found the perfect rewarding job and continued to work as a child minder once my daughter left university .I have been a child minder 16 years now . I love my job as a child care provider and have worked my way through university .
I have studied an Early Years Foundation degree through the OU over the last 4 years. Presently studying At weekends & evenings to make this a full degree in early years .
I miss my children being young and love my job as a child minder.
I have been graded Outstanding in all areas from Ofsted a number of times and also graded good. I aim to maintain this high standard while providing a fun learning environment in a family home setting.I follow the EYFS throughout my setting and early years outcomes.I work closely with families from the start to jointly provide the best environment and experience for each individual child.
I moved to Littleover from Ashbourne in the summer 2013 and enjoy living here closer to my older children and grandchildren with my youngest son.I am friends with other childminders and we go to parks,fire station trips , Carsington Water , Elvaston castle , strawberry picking ,children's play areas and this enables the children to make new friends and enjoy a many play and learning activities .
I love craft activities, getting messy ,exploring the out doors with the children. Giving the children in my care a fun home from home and parents the peace of mind their little ones are safe and nurtured . We have a large garden full of large variety of toys with a variety of areas enabling me to have a varied fun environment with a number of sheltered areas . Enabling us to use the garden all year around . The gardens secure , with security cameras on the front , rear and very private.
Child friendly
Correct 16/03/24
I have no spaces presently 2 spaces on a Thursday , **for children aged 6months to 4 years .
9 month old ,2 , 3 and 4 year old funding may be available. I offer 2 full time funded spaces daily . I take various child care vouchers too.
Please feel free to ask any questions. Ofsted report and references available on request to view during any initial visits to my setting .
Payments are made a month in advance with a £50 non refundable deposit to secure a full time vacancy .
During covid 19 I can offer a visual emailed viewing of my setting and a garden visit arranged after hours .
See my reviews on here and references available from ex clients
Last Ofsted inspection graded good in all areas May 2023
My Experience
Child minder for 16 years
Mum for 37 years and nana for 15years .
I started working as a childminder when my granddaughter was born profoundly deaf with CP. Nurseries did not meet her needs and care ratios were too high , so I changed careers to care for her. This is the most rewarding job I have ever had . I have worked with some lovely families and children. Gaining experience within the autistic spectrum ,blind ,deaf ,ADHD supporting children and families of children
O levels in
English
Maths
History
Latin
French
Home EC
Biology
Level 3 in
Hairdressing
Beauty Therapy
Foundation degree Early Years Education
Other
First aid
Child protection
8 week child minding course
Planning EYFS
Creative play
Premature baby care
Basic BSL
I continue to attend many courses to keep upto date with any changes and widen my knowledge.
My Qualifications
early Years foundation degree
Early Years Childminding block course-8weeks
EYFS planning
Working with children with communication difficulties
Creative play
First aid
Food hygiene
BSL British Sign Language
Child protection levels 1- Advanced
Providing play in child minding settings
Additional needs training.
Risk assessment
challenging conversations training
Physical development 0-36 months
Ofsted changes and requirements 2013
Advanced safe guarding
child development 36 -60 months
Characteristics of learning
Attachment theory
What's it like to be a 2 year old
Eat better Start better
Making meal times matter.
My Availability
Monday to Thursdsy 8am to 5.
I'm flexible however and may be able to work around the above hours. Additional out of hours costs will apply .
I take child care vouchers. Funded places may be available for 2 3 and 4 year olds..
Care to learn funding accepted and I can assist with applications if required.
I have availability from September 2024 Monday to Wednesdays
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | no | no | no | no | 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: 02/12/2024 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £8.00 per hour
I will provide nursery funded places from 2014.
Daily rates £60 per day
My fees are £8.00hour or £60 per day 8am to 5pm ,any hours outside of a normal day are charged at £8per hour or part hour extra.
Depending on the time of day required .
There are no additional costs for food outings charged .Parent need to provide powdered milk .
I provide fresh home cooked meals , organic fruit and veg snacks and meals on outings .
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
- First Aid Certificate: first aid (added 05/03/2020)
- Ofsted Certificate (added 04/03/2020)
- Childminding Agency Certificate (added 04/03/2020)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for little tykes. 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.
I left a review a few years ago when my daughter left Zena's to go off to school. My son who was 9 months when he first started with Zena. The obvious choice as my daughter loved every minute at Zena's. In the 3 years that he has been there, he has had so much fun. Day trips to Burton Adventure Farm, playing at Zena's, trips out to soft play, baking, painting and development learning through play with such a large range of toys and resources.
My son loves baking and is delighted when he comes home with little cakes or special cookies for mothers day or mummys birthday. He enjoys a range of healthy food and little treats where he makes his own pizzas with fresh home made dough.
He has made some great friends and he gets to spend 3 days a week with his cousin who has recently started. It will be so difficult seeing him going off to school but will be returning to Zena's with his sister in the school holidays. He has made so many friends also with the other childminders that Zena meets up with which gives him more chance to socialise and play with children from a range of ages which will really help when he goes to school. My son has had some difficulties in some areas of his development which Zena has supported him with and always ensured him that he wasnt different from the other children. I have so many pictures / memories from his time with Zena, the same with my daughter. I love looking back and so do the kids. When the kids are all grown up and no longer need to attend it will feel like saying goodbye to a member of the family.
Thank you for everything Zena and we still have a few more years for the kids to have more fun.
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by
kimtooze
about
little tykes
on 04/03/2020
This lady is amazing! My daughter has been with Zena since she was 6 months old, all day, Monday to Friday and my daughter loves her so much!
Zena welcomed Kaitlyn with open arms and she now has a 2nd family.
I feel like I’ve found another Nana for my daughter.
Most days are spent doing an activity, whether it be at the farm, soft play, drawing, painting, baking, crafts or spending time with Mandy (another childminder)
I was pretty lucky when looking for a childminder, I only contacted 2 (Zena and Mandy) and I now get the best of both worlds, as they spend time together as a group.
Kaitlyn has made so many new friends and I am not looking forward to September when she goes to primary school.
I can not recommend Zena enough as a childminder, she is informative, I get pictures nearly every day and I know when I drop Kaitlyn off she is safe and will have an amazing time. (She normally doesn’t want to come home)
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by
Beki
about
little tykes
on 04/03/2020
Zena has looked after both of my youngest children. January 2014 - January 2016 for one child and September 2018 to this July 2020 for the other. We’ve never had a problem with her and my children have always been happy with her. They have lots of friends to play with and go on a lot of outings. The children have always eaten well with her and she has mine eating things they apparently don’t like! She was flexible and helpful when I attended uni and just as flexible when I returned to work. If I had any more children then they would be going to her too! She’s always friendly and happy, and always good to have a chat with about anything. I’d highly recommend Zena.
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by
EmmaLW
about
little tykes
on 04/03/2020
We first met Zena after having our first daughter. We knew just from ready her amazing list of qualifications, family background and the adventures the children go on this was the childminder for us. The first meeting, she made us feel so welcome and had a lovely chat. We drove off the drive and knew she was the one. My daughter was with Zena from the age of 9 months to 4 years when she left to go to school. We then had our son who still goes along with his sister during the school holidays. The amazing photos I receive of both of them having so many fun days out to the farm or local parks along with learning new skills are treasured. They enjoy healthy snacks throughout the day and lovely fresh meals prepared each day. So many educational and fun toys for them to play with as well as a lovely safe garden to play in.
The kids see Zena as another member of the family and never want to come home. My daughter is now best friends with Zenas granddaughter which means hopefully we will never have to say goodbye to such a wonderful women/childminder. If only there was an overnight service for when mummy and daddy need a night out ; )
Have recommended Zena to family and friends. My cousin will be taking her daughter to Zena when she returns to work in the next few months. Thank you for you do Zena.
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by
kimtooze
about
little tykes
on 27/07/2018
Zena has been looking after my 2 year old son since the first week in January. Childminder to home communication is excellent with daily reports written in my son's book and photo's sent to me during the day. My son is taken out alot with trips to Tubby Bears, the park, Mandy's house, playgroup etc as well as crafts and playing in the garden at Zena's house. He's well fed and is given a large variety of food. My son enjoy's being at Zena's house and he is alway's very happy. I'm hoping it stays this way up until starting school :)
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by
EmmaLW
about
little tykes
on 24/04/2014
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