Jak
Childminder in Starcross
Usually responds within 12 hours
Female Member since Apr 2016 Last Updated Jun 2024 Last Login 18 Nov 2024
My Summary
About Me
My name is Jacqueline Kay (Jak). I live in the lovely estuary village of Starcross with my partner Chris. We share our home with our friendly Golden Retriever Simba, Max the cat and a tankful of guppies who keep having babies!
I registered as a childminder in 2016 after being a teacher for 18 years. I aim to provide a warm, home-from-home childcare setting, offering a wide variety of fun and educational activities for the children in my care, whilst following the curriculum of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In our home children will have full access to the living room and secure outdoor area and garden cabin, with access to the kitchen when helping with cooking and baking. Child-led and free play are encouraged, and we will also have themes and activities throughout the year in which the children will be encouraged to participate and help to develop.
We are lucky enough to live very near the seaside and a variety of open spaces, so the use of the great outdoors is encouraged and I aim to get out and about daily and in all weathers. We make use of the wonderful learning opportunities at places like Powderham Castle, Paignton Zoo, Dawlish Warren Beach and Haldon Forest, where children can explore and learn about animals and the environment.
I live very close to Starcross Primary School and Starcross Preschool and am able to offer pick-up and drop-off services as well as wraparound care for children who attend them.
My Experience
As well as caring for and educating children from 0-12 as a childminder for the past 8 years, I supported young people with a wide variety of learning needs during my former career as a teacher, as well as raising two children of my own.
My Qualifications
Ofsted registered childminder
Paediatric First Aid certificate
Group 3 Safeguarding training
Certificate in Education
Literacy Subject Specialism Level 5
Full, clean driving licence
My Availability
I am currently full. Please contact me if you would like to join my waiting list.
I work term time and during school holidays.
I am able to provide before and after school care.
My opening hours are 8am - 5.30pm.
Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | 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: 28/06/2024 |
My Fees
- Childminding from £6.00 per hour
Fees include snacks, drinks, meals and outings. Please contact me to discuss my current fees.
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Starcross 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.
My Documents
- Ofsted Certificate (added 22/01/2018)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Jak. 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 grateful to Jak for looking after our two boys for close to 7 years - she is wonderful. From the beginning when they came to her as babies I felt like she really knew, understood and cared about them like they were family. My youngest in particular was very anxious about being away from home as he started with her soon after lockdown and could not settle in other settings. Jak was patient and flexible with him and he soon settled and thrived in her home.
She works so hard, but is always smiling and goes above and beyond to create a 'home from home', in her welcoming house with gorgeous, gentle Simba her dog.
Our boys have been out on multiple trips with her, including local walks, trips to Powderham and the zoo, and also done some wonderful activities in her home, including growing vegetables and releasing butterflies that grew from caterpillars in her home. My eldest also loves playing Minecraft and Lego with the other children there, whilst my youngest enjoys drawing and colouring and making things. Jak is good at looking after multiple needs and celebrating each child's skills.
Jak is also so kind and understanding to parents' needs too! She has always been very kind and supportive, kept us updated on how our boys have been doing, championed them when e.g. their new teacher visited, and been as flexible as possible to accommodate us.
We feel very lucky to have had such a wonderful childminder for so long.Thank you Jak!
Jak has looked after my granddaughter since she was 18 months old and is now 4 and half. Daisy will be starting school in September with an abundance of knowledge, confidence and social skills due to the incredible Jak !! Jak takes the children to a variety of great places including the zoo, Powderham castle, playgroups, libraries, beaches, forests and many more. Jak encourages imagination and fun whilst teaching them how to share and interact with each other. I'm truly so sad that Daisy's journey is now at end with jak and is moving upto " big school " but we are so grateful for the love, kindness and knowledge she has given to Daisy.
Jak is an outstanding childminder, I originally found her when I was searching for childcare with my oldest son - through local recommendations. Unfortunately, she didn’t have any space available at the time.
However, when we had our second child I was lucky enough to reserve a space. However, due to issues around a feeding aversion, allergy and reflux we postponed our little boys start date slightly, this was not ideal but Jak was understanding. As parents we were naturally apprehensive about him starting childcare and wondered how he would respond to another care giver feeding him/ helping with his milk - we even wondered if this care arrangement would work out longer term due to the issues faced as a baby. However, this did not phase Jak at all, she bonded with him and he did with her, they have a lovely relationship and he feels safe and secure in her care. Our oldest son also knows Jak and has known Jak since he was very small too (through other childminders) he always seeks a cuddle from her when seeing her and since having our youngest who is in her care she is able to help, where possible with school holiday cover.
We get regular updates (whether she just has one or both of our children), we get sent photos of our children who are very happy in the environment/ her home and enjoy the activities she does and we never have any issues with not wanting to go or any problems at drop off - which proves to us how happy they are in Jak’s care. The children do a variety of activities which are local or require travelling - such as playgroups, farms, aquariums, woodland walks, dog walks and even just home days in the garden playing doing various activities, crafting, messy play or stories. We have seen masses of development in our youngest boy since he has started with Jak and she encourages his development, she updates us on which developmental areas they are working on together and we then encourage this at home too. She also works on areas of development with her mindees such as road safety or first aid (for the slightly older children to name a few), which are great educational themes to start giving them a basic understanding of. Jak also works with us and facilitates the needs of our child/children, she respects his sleeps times and makes sure he has the opportunity to nap in a safe environment, so that he returns home well rested and happy.
We are so happy with the level of care, support and love that (both) children get from Jak and we are so incredibly lucky to have managed to get spaces. I will be forever grateful for the incredible start to life that my little boy has had. Thank you Jak.
We’ve not long moved to Starcross and found Jak through recommendation. How pleased we were! She’s kind and welcoming, helpful & thoughtful. Our daughter has thoroughly enjoyed her time with Jak and comes home ‘buzzing’ from her after school sessions. Her family are lovely and Simba is melt your heart gorgeous. Jak has always been super flexible which is great for us as we have changing needs. We can’t recommend Jak highly enough.
Jak has looked after our daughter since she was 10 months old, she is now approaching 2 and absolutely loves her time with Jak. Jak is caring and fun but also consistent and safe in her approach to looking after the children in her care. I especially love that the children often get outside and have a day packed with learning and play. She takes time to cater for the individual needs of each child and is amazing at keeping a dialogue between herself and us the parents to keep us updated and informed about what our daughter is up to. I trust Jak completely with looking after my daughter and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for childcare in the area.
You must be a registered parent and logged in to leave a review.
If you don't have an account then Register Free now.
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.