Rachel

About Me

Experienced, friendly, Ofsted registered childminder, who loves children’s curiosity for the world around them. I offer a warm caring home from home environment. I live with my partner Gavin, and our blended family in a beautiful part of Somerset, East Huntspill. We have a beautiful large garden with apple and pear trees and blackberry bushes ready for children to explore an incredibly beautiful place full of awe and wonder. I enjoy being outside and like to create an indoor/ outdoor environment, I believe being outside in all weathers, gives children experience's that they may never have had if they are not playing in the rain, splashes and using their senses to explore the world around them.

We have six children (2 who live with us) and 4 wonderful grandchildren who we love to spend time with. 2 dogs who are very friendly and love a tummy tickle.

I have over 30 years of experience in the Early years, as an Early years Educator, baby and preschool senior room leader, graduate leader and worked up to being a deputy manager.
I am baby massage trained and have run many groups with families and their children from 0-5.

So why become a Childminder? well from the age of 16 I knew I would be spending my career working with children and families. I was a young mum myself having my first child at 18 and went on to be a childminder in Bristol whilst I had my second child, and then left that journey to work within schools, creche's and spent over 12 years as an early years educator and a family support worker in a lovely children's centre in Bristol.
This gave me so many exciting training opportunities to extend my own learning and development.
I left the children's centre to build and extend our new family and future in Somerset, I went back into Nursery life, in Burnham on Sea, Weston and Portishead. This offered great opportunities for me and extended my own learning and development again, but just did not give me the scope to be the experienced educator I am.
I would leave feeling frustrated that I could not give every child my 100% due to being so busy wearing so many other hats.

So this is where our journey began.
It has taken two years to get where we are and it has been an exciting journey to be able to offer children a nurturing environment, where attachments will flourish and I will be able to give so much of my time, experience, nurturing personality, and be able to offer so many exciting learning opportunities to the children in my care.
Parent partnership is especially important to help maintain attachments and build relationships with your child. you are their first educator and settle sessions and a minimum of two sessions are important to maintain this.
I have an Early years Degree, Level 3 NNEB in Early years, NCFE level 3 award in Home Based Childcare I also hold a GCSE in Child Development. I am paediatric first aid trained, hold a current enhanced DBS check and I am on the update service as are all my family over sixteen who live with us. I have also completed an NSPCC Child Protection course, FGM training, I have been the safeguarding lead within many nursery settings, SENCO, I have passed my prevent duty course also, and I have a food hygiene certificate, I also have public liability insurance,
I enjoy being outside and like to create an indoor/ outdoor environment, I believe being outside in all weathers, gives children experience's that they may never have had if they are not playing in the rain, splashes and using their senses to explore the world around them.