Ben42

My Summary

My Experience

I was registered as a childminder in November 2011 and have been minding children continuously since January 2012.

Since March 2009 I have provided care for my step-daughter's five children (caring for grandchildren does not of itself require registration.) One thing that prompted me to become registered was that a number of parents who saw me caring for my grandchildren asked me to look after theirs too. I wanted to do it properly and legally, with the children's best interests being safeguarded, so that's why I trained and became registered with Ofsted.

I have been involved with children for much of my life, as a member then leader of uniformed organisations such as the Boys' Brigade and Girls' Brigade; training Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates; voluntary work with Riding for the Disabled Association; setting up and running a mother and toddler group; helping out with my two nephews and babysitting (including looking after a boy with Asperger's Syndrome.)

My previous jobs have involved working face-to-face with the public: first in retail, and then I spent over twelve years with London Underground at Heathrow. That taught me how to remain calm and focused under pressure, and deal with all sorts of challenges, from helping a lost child to keeping an accident or heart-attack casualty alive.

Gill has previous experience as a mother, and with children's groups and uniformed organisations, as well as having worked in retail management and food production.

I currently provide professional care for several children across different days of the week, and have numerous other 'occasional' clients who use our services as and when they need.

My comments book contains good feedback from parents and children alike, and we offer a telephone reference facility allowing you to put your questions in confidence to parents whose children we have cared for.

My Qualifications

I hold the following qualifications, which are compulsory for all legally-registered childminders:

* Induction for Home-Based Practioners
* Paediatric First Aid certificate (renewed every three years)
* Child Safeguarding certificate (renewed every twoyears)

I also hold a Level 3 Diploma in Childcare, which is widely regarded as the 'industry standard' for childcarers.

I hold a Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (formerly known as the 'food hygiene certificate'). As well as being approved and passed safe by Ofsted and Prospects, my home is routinely inspected by Broxtowe Borough's Environmental Health Department. We are proud to have been awarded a perfect 5 rating with no faults for our food hygiene standards.

Before becoming a childminder I was educated to degree level BA (Honours). I also gained an introductory level NOCN qualification in British Sign Language for the Deaf (BSL.)

I am committed to ongoing professional development through training. I have completed numerous courses, including:

* Diploma Level 3 in Childcare (Children & Young People's Workforce)
* An introduction to Phonics
* Signs and Symbols
* Talking Matters - speech, language and communication
* Professional Standards workshop
* Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Childcare Practice
* Communication and Interaction with Children
* Safeguarding and 'Prevent' duty
* Domestic violence
* Families under pressure
* Promoting and supporting hand-washing and hygiene in Early Years settings
* Supporting children's well-being
* Supporting children through trauma
* Attachment theory
* Transitions and settling in
* Children's rights (OpenLearn/Open University)
* Cultural capital

As an additional compulsory element, all adults resident in my home (which are my wife and I) have undergone enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks. Gill has been vetted and accepted by Ofsted to act as an approved assistant. She also holds a current paediatric first aid qualification.

As a 'data handler' I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, which ensures that I comply with the General Data Protection Regulations..

I carry full public liability insurance.

My Availability

Please contact me for details.

The vacancy situation rarely seems static or straightforward: probably because we offer genuine part-time arrangements which take account of families’ real needs. When I came into childcare, I was shocked at how many settings want to dictate to parents based on the childminder or nursery’s needs and not the clients’. We understand that parents’ childcare needs are usually shaped by their work situation, and that the employment market has never been so uncertain.

I am delighted to offer day care (full or part time) as well as before and/or after school care/drop-off/pick-up at Trowell School.

I am happy to help parents with whatever they need: all-year-round; term-time only; ad-hoc; occasional or emergency care.

At present, I work between 6:30am and 5:30 pm.

I can provide an occasional evening babysitting service for clients who have a childminding arrangement with me. My insurance policy covers this in my own home and the parents' home, subject to contract and risk assessment.

Please note that I am not licensed to provide overnight care.

All legally-registered childminders are restricted by Ofsted in terms of the number of children in each age-group which they are permitted to care for at any one time. As a husband and wife (childminder plus assistant) team working together, we are officially permitted to care for double the usual number of children but we firmly believe in putting the emphasis on quality and we purposefully choose not try to cram in the maximum number of children the law allows, but always consider the individual child and the overall mix so as to provide something closer to one-to-one care. As a result, some days/half-days may sometimes be fully booked, even where we still have ‘on paper’ spaces.

Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

My Fees

• Babysitting from £10.00 per hour
• Childminding from £6.00 per hour

I am delighted to offer FREE SESSIONS to eligible 2, 3 & 4 year-olds. Free hours for children of 9months and above will be introduced from September 2024. This is often called "nursery funding" but is open to suitably qualified Outstanding-grade childminders. Additional services such as extra hours can be purchased over and above the free hours. Free care is provided under terms set out by the government and local authorities; please ask for details

We offer a straightforward, inclusive price with no 'hidden extras' and aim to charge only for booked time. We often come across parents who have been disappointed by other settings which offer a deceptively low 'headline' rate, only to be charged extra for activities, toddler groups, outings, holiday absence and even times when the setting is closed and childcare is not available.

There is a daily food contribution charge of £2.50. This covers all meals, drinks and snacks, and is less than the cost of a school meal. We don’t like having to charge at all, but are left with no choice because the inadequate rate at which the government pays for 'free hours' does not cover the cost of food. The charge does not apply to children under 2 years of age.

We only ask parents to provide nappies, wipes and formula/expressed milk. This allows parents to choose their preferred brands, and avoids us raising fees for everyone to cover the cost of babies' consumables.

We accept payment through a number of schemes such as Tax-Free Childcare and childcare vouchers, which offer substantial savings on childcare costs. Practically all working families qualify for savings of around 20% - 25%. Please ask for details. All families' needs and circumstances are different and we can talk you through the various schemes which will save you money.

*****It is never too early to ask about childcare, especially in an area where high quality provision is in short supply, so if you are at all interested please contact us to arrange an opportunity to view our premises. Have a look round and a chat over coffee to discuss your needs, with no obligations. .*****