Frenchchildminder
Childminder in Blackheath
Usually responds within 2 days
Female Member since Mar 2013 Last Updated Sep 2024 Last Login 23 Jan 2025
My Summary
Home-From-Home Care, In French, Minutes From Blackheath Station. No Afterschool, Little Ones Only!
About Me
Bonjour les parents!
I am a French childminder in Blackheath, Ofsted outstanding and good with outstanding features, loving what I do! You can find out what Ofsted think of me by googling "EY460399" my Ofsted number.
I look after 4 young children on a full-day basis, in my house in Blackheath. The children are generally aged between 12 months and 4 years. In addition to speaking only French to the children, I offer completely cooked-from-scratch food, structured activities at home, piano and guitar playing, singing and books, and lots of fun and laughter! I am based 7 min walk from Blackheath station, in my house (with garden) in a quiet cul-de-sac, with easy parking for you to drop off/pick up your children.
I am looking forward to getting to know your little one and to spending some quality time with them : ) I believe it is great for children to be with a small group of other children that they can truly build relationships with, and to do so in a homely environment. We make a happy little group. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and pay us a visit... Merci!
Estelle
My Experience
I have a four-year degree in French literature during which I specialised in teaching French as a foreign language. Until 9 years ago that is what I was doing: giving one-to-one tuitions to adults locally. I am still teaching, but a different kind of students: young children! The fastest learners maybe!!
I have been working as a childminder for 9 years now, enjoying every minute of it. I also have two daughters aged 16 and 17, so it all fits together.
With the children, I have three main areas of focus: developing positive happy relationships within our little group ; developing the children’s independence ; and of course teaching them French.
Relationships: a small group such as ours that spends many hours together is the ideal situation for the children to learn how to enjoy positive, successful, caring relationships. Big enough to offer a choice of friendships, small enough to care and take every opportunity to teach the children how to relate with others! Most of the children here haven’t got siblings yet, so it is wonderful for them to have this large family a few days a week. And for me, of course I delight in a loving, fun, respectful atmosphere.
Independence: this is where the short Montessori In The Home training that I attended supports my own practice. With four children, everything takes a lot of time so I found I had to adapt the Montessori principles, but I definitely take the time to give attention to the children as they make their own observations, put on their own shoes, pour their own milk... We used to go out a lot, which of course had to stop with Covid, and in a way it has been a benediction because all the rushing is now a thing of the past and we take the time to just enjoy! Observing something in the garden, having a tickling session, painting cards for Mummy and Daddy, baking... we really are our own little playgroup and I have discovered the pleasure of taking it easy, fun and uninterrupted!
French speaking: there again, spending a lot of time at home lately has been extremely beneficial. We read a Lot of books (in French), it really is my default activity. Reading is good for relationships (four little ones squished on top of me listening to the story), it is good for learning about the world, and of course there is nothing better for language acquisition.
In terms of languages, I look after children coming from a wide variety of family situations: from English only at home to French only at home to a third language plus sometimes a fourth as well spoken at home... all cases are equally fine with me. These little brains are well stretched.
Generally, I have a positive, fun, encouraging attitude as well as excellent planning and a good routine. That means that the children feel secure and happy, which best allows them to learn and develop. I am 100% an outdoor person and take every opportunity to be out in the garden, eating al fresco as often as we can, sometimes in the tent under the rain!
Every day, I offer breakfast, lunch, a snack mid-afternoon, and a full dinner (aiming to finish dinner around 5.30pm). Healthy food is an absolute priority for me, I never use any processed or ready-made dishes and we only have sugar when we bake a cake. We even make our own playdough! I cook everything from scratch, with plenty of fruit and veg for happy, healthy children.
My Qualifications
I have all the required training to be an Ofsted-registered childminder including first aid, food safety, and safeguarding. I am a member of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (ex National Childminding Association), I have access to their training and 24/7 helplines and I follow their directives.
I also hold a 4-year degree in French literature specialising in teaching French as a foreign language, plus a few more qualifications... and: much love of children!
The main added-value I provide is that I always speak French to the children. I have raised my own children bilingual (actually "2.5-lingual" as my husband is Italian) and their French is absolutely superb. I use the same resources with my "minded" children, actively teaching them new words, making sure they get many opportunities to re-hear and repeat... I am passionate about teaching French, passionate about giving children a loving, positive, exciting environment, and very keen to create a good relationship with you the parents!
I will look after children whose home language is English, French, or any other language, that is perfectly fine and feasible. Please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss any question.
My Availability
I do not currently have any openings but please do feel free to make contact, It’ll be lovely to hear from you even if you’re just planning ahead and wanting to start establishing a relationship… Your child can be with me for even just one day per week which is completely fine, I only do full days (not half days although you are welcome to drop off and pick up at any time that suits you of course).
I have a very flexible settling-in procedure: you spend with us as much time as you like. Typically we would initially talk on Zoom one evening so I can chat to both parents, show you the documents I use, explain how I plan for the children's development and track their progress, and discuss any question you might have. You then pay me a visit at my house to actually see us in person with the other children around, see if you feel your child could be happy with us... All being well, we then start the actual settling in a few weeks before your starting date, you come round a few times joining into our activities, sharing our meals... initially of course you stay with your child, then when we feel it’s the right time you leave your child for maybe an hour, then a bit longer… and when we feel your child is ready, they can properly start! I don't charge for the settling visits, I just want to make it a happy and easy transition for your child and you.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Morning | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Afternoon | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| After School | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 14/09/2024 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £12.00 per hour
£120 a day, I open at 7.45 and close at 6pm but there is complete flexibility for you to drop off or pick up when suits you. This fee includes breakfast, lunch, snack and a proper dinner (so you don't have to cook in the evenings, just perhaps give your child a light snack before bedtime), as well as all activities and resources. I cook everything from scratch and I am always happy to buy nice new resources for the children's learning and development. All I need you to bring is nappies and a full set of spare clothes.
Small print: I will not increase my fee for all the time your child is with me, however any subsequent children will attract my fee at the time they start. I communicate my holidays to parents months in advance so you can get organised. I take 6 weeks off, usually one week at Christmas, one at Easter, one May half term, and three in August. In case I have to cancel a day (extremely rarely) I give you a replacement day or I pay you back. Families pay me monthly in advance by direct debit. I accept Childcare Vouchers and Tax-free childcare vouchers. I love what I do and I'll be looking forward to meeting you and to spending time with your little one and do my best to give them a happy time here with us.
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
- Reference: March 2020 - 22 (added 21/05/2020)
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- Reference: March 2020 - 4 (added 21/05/2020)
- Reference: March 2020 - 3 (added 21/05/2020)
- Reference: March 2020 - 1 (added 21/05/2020)
- Reference: Childcare.co.uk 5 star excellence (added 21/05/2020)
- Reference: Childcare.co.uk 5 year certificate (added 21/05/2020)
- Reference: Parents’ letter to Ofsted prior to inspection (added 27/10/2018)
- Inspection Report: Outstanding Ofsted Certificate (added 27/10/2018)
- Training Certificate: Planning for Next Steps (added 27/10/2018)
- Training Certificate: Introduction to the 2017 EYFS (added 27/10/2018)
- Training Certificate: Safeguarding Children Level 2 (added 27/10/2018)
- Training Certificate: Food Safety At Work Level 2 (added 27/10/2018)
- First Aid Certificate: Paediatric First Aid (added 27/10/2018)
- Ofsted Certificate (added 27/10/2018)
- Utility Bill: Water supply bill (added 27/10/2018)
- UK Driving Licence (added 27/10/2018)
- DBS Check (added 27/10/2018)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for FrenchChildminder. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members 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 could not have asked for a more perfect childminder in every single respect.
(Also when writing this review I asked my husband if he had anything to add, and he said it’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for Estelle and how much she has transformed our lives!)
She is absolutely brilliant - we could not ask for a more caring, attentive, helpful person to look after our daughter who is quite highly sensitive and intense, and as sensitive parents too we had big concerns about the transition to childcare. But Estelle made the whole process manageable, seamless and supportive for all of us. She is incredibly thoughtful and considerate and allows the settling process to be tailored to your family which is amazing.
She is so warm and lovely, she has formed a truly great bond with our daughter, who frequently asks to phone her when she’s not with her!, and seems to have the perfect balance of activities, crafts, time outdoors, trips to different London locations and cultural visits - we are super grateful for her commitment to diversity and inclusion too and love that the children went to a mosque before we have! Our daughter loves her garden and little chalet too.
She is also incredibly thoughtful, and her communication is amazing both in terms of daily updates on WhatsApp which we love, but also regarding any challenges, queries, and she kindly does home visits to review progress too.
Our daughter has truly flourished from her time with Estelle and it’s so lovely to hear her French improving (we get the most adorable Franglais at home and she loves to teach us words!)
As an overly anxious parent finding childcare was always going to be a wrench for me but Estelle made me comfortable from the word go and I could not love and trust anyone more as a carer for my girls - we look forward to our littlest starting soon - and can only encourage families to snap up a spot with her because she absolutely is one in a million. I need more stars than five to give her a rating. She’s fantastic.
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Briony
on 28/07/2024
Our toddler has formed a really positive bond with Estelle and the other children she cares for, and he really enjoys his time with her. She provides a nurturing and creative environment, with lots of activities - music, crafts, cooking etc - and time spent outdoors. Our son found the transition to being looked after by someone other than his parents a bit of a challenge at first, and Estelle was responsive to his needs and gave me confidence he was being supported and well cared for. She’s warm, friendly and engaging. Highly recommended!
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123ABC
on 18/10/2022
I first met Estelle at the playgroup she used to run and she was so warm and welcoming that she instantly put me and my little boy at ease. She is so engaging and brilliant at story telling and singing that my little boy instantly adored her. I also observed how attentive and caring she was to the children in her care. During lockdown, she ran wonderful story telling and song sessions on Zoom which were such a treat and we so enjoyed taking part. I think any child would be incredibly lucky to have her as their childminder.
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Catriona
on 09/09/2020
Estelle gave our daughter an amazing first experience of being away from her parents in the day. She is very approachable, outdoorsy and always doing lovely things with the children. She is relaxed and a calming person for Henrietta. Her daughters helped Henrietta sleep. She was always very well fed and looked after. She also did things to help our family like collect Henrietta when my wife had a bad back. I can’t recommend her highly enough.! I hope Henrietta can continue to see her.
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Gareth
on 07/08/2020
We have really enjoyed the Zoom sessions that Estelle has been doing since the beginning of lockdown! My son is usually distracted when trying to attend virtual events, but every time Estelle appears on screen he's hooked. She's an excellent story-teller and makes all the nice gestures and sounds to keep the little ones involved. I'm not sure who enjoys her songs more, me or my 2 year old? :-)
We'd be delighted to have her look after him and would not hesitate recommending her to any parent out there.
Merci beaucoup, Estelle!
Best,
Irina & Lucas
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irrrina
on 03/08/2020
The Zoom sessions organised by Estelle have been such a joy and relief during these challenging times. My daughter, who is just under 2 years old, enjoys them so much. We look forward to them every week!
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MarieAnn
on 01/06/2020
Estelle has been a wonderful support to so many parents during the covid-19 pandemic.
Offering online story time and singing time every day, doing it with positivity, gusto and smiles for the little ones.
My little one learnt to make actions to one of his favourite songs thanks to Estelle!
Big thank you to her : )
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Leilah
on 23/05/2020
I first met Estelle 3 years ago. I was looking for a childminder in the Blackheath / Lewisham area who could look after my daughter a few days a week when I went back to work part-time. Based on the experience of others I thought it was going to be a gargantuan task finding someone who would share the same values as me. Estelle was the first childminder that I met and now 3 years on I know that I was incredibly lucky to find her. Three years within the community, spending a lot of time in the local playgroups, I know that she is one in a million and I have yet to meet another childminder who shares the stringent standards that she sets for herself in terms of caring for the little ones under her supervision. Her dedication and organisation is second to none that I have met. I always say that the gods were looking down on us the day that I found her ad :)
My daughter spent two years with Estelle (from 9 months until nearly 3 years old) 2 or 3 days a week. She still spends the odd day with her when Estelle has a free space for her. It is a real treat for her and she loves returning to spend a day and see Estelle. I hope that when we get to schooling age that she will be at the local school so that she can spend a few afternoons a week with her in the future.
Estelle is kind and caring. She never raises her voice with the children. She is patient and loving with each one. She loves what she does and it shows. She understands that each child is unique and tailors their care accordingly to their needs. The fact that she is so organised makes for a nice streamlined day for the children and therefore a stress-free day. As a result the children are very settled and happy with her.
What are the values that we share?
- Stability. It is very important to provide a routine, a stable environment in which the children can find comfort. This is very apparent at Estelle’s.
- Love & caring. Estelle makes sure that each child feels cared for on a one-to-one level. She does this by making sure each child has some one-to-one attention. She is loving and caring and the children love her in return. She is also firm with them in a kind way and in return they always behave for her. A real Mary Poppins!
- A clean, tidy, organised home with well-defined play areas so that the children can circulate with ease and select which toys to play with each day.
- A great selection of toys and activities planned each day that allow the child to develop skills no matter what age. But more than that Estelle has an amazing imagination and sense of fun and comes up with all kinds of fun things for the kids to do on a daily basis. They embrace this and they are always playing and having fun in the house or in the garden.
- A lovely convivial spirit: no matter what age the children sit around the table doing activities together like they would in a family setting at home. My daughter still has wonderful relationships with the children that she spent time with there. There are at peace with one another. A lovely spirit reigns.
- The importance of song and music. The children learn lots of French songs while they are with her.
- The use of child-friendly soaps and wipes. Estelle washes a great stack of face cloths daily so that she can clean and dry the children’s faces and hands daily with them thus using less wipes and less harsh soaps that are found in the wipes that you can buy. This is the kind of detail that is just lovely.
- The importance of providing a balanced diet and offering healthy snacks like raisins and fruit. Estelle makes her food from scratch and does not use pre-made sauces etc... She keeps an eye on their daily salt & sugar intake.
- Estelle bakes with the children just like they would do in their own homes with their mum.
If you are thinking of placing your child with Estelle then I cannot recommend her highly enough. We have always been very happy with her and of course she has a big place in our family and in our little’s one life. After mummy & daddy, she is our little one’s closest person. This is still the case 6 months on after our little one has been at nursery 6 months. Additionally we wanted our little one to be in a French-speaking environment and this has worked out well for us. I think any child benefits from the exposure to a second language at this age.
The only difficulty can be getting a space! But trust me, it is worth waiting for or ideally let Estelle know early when you are wanting a space for so that she can let you know as soon as one comes free.
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by
Jane
on 11/02/2019
Estelle has been looking after our now 26 month old one day a week for the past year. He loves going there and runs into her house in the morning without even looking back.
He eats and sleeps very well with her and I think that being with other children has been great for his socializing (while being in a nurturing home environment, which seems the best of all worlds for us rather than nursery yet). I love getting video updates throughout the day as to what he's up to.
I'm very happy he's getting exposure to French and although English is our main language at home, he's coped with it fine (I had wondered if one day a week would be enough but it seems to be).
We're definitely hoping our second will also go to Estelle's!
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se3mum
on 04/12/2018
Estelle is looking after our 16 month old son since April. We met at the Diabolo Menthe French playgroup in Blackheath where we got to know each other whilst I was on mat leave. A. has felt so at ease and comfortable within Estelle's setting from day one. Estelle is extremely warm and we see her more as an extension of our family. With her we know that our little is safe and cared for. We also know daytime activities are innovative and stimulating. He is happy and developing leaps and bounds. Plus we never worry as Estelle shares updates with us, sends photos throughout and discusses new ideas with us so the kids have the best time. We are really working together and all playing a part in creating a great little world for our son to grow up in. We are lucky to have Estelle and we couldn’t recommend her more highly.
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Alice
on 22/11/2018
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