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Personal Details
Hello!
I'm Sandra Barrow and I live at on Oxford Road in Calne with
my family. I am married to Gordon who works for Wiltshire
Police and we have three children - Andrew who 22 and is at
University studying Music, Adam who is 21 currently works
with me as my registered assistant and Daisy who is five.
We
also share our house with dog Owen, who is very friendly and
used to children. Although Owen is perfectly happy, friendly
and safe to be around the children he does spend much of the
childminding time in a separate part of the house. We also
have Whisper, a lovely cat we have adopted, two goldfish
(Sarah and George) and a hamster called Harry.
I am a
qualified science teacher but decided to become a
childminder after Daisy was born. I am Ofsted-registered and
also am a member of the NCMA (National Childminding
Association) as well as Little Acorns. I am a “Quality
Assured” Network childminder and I am also Accredited which
means I am able to accept the Government Nursery vouchers
for payment of childcare for 3 to 5 year olds.
Both
my husband and Adam are registered as my assistants and Adam
currently works part-time with me to enable us to provide
the best level of care we can. They both have the relevant
CRB checks and First Aid certificates required.
I have
two large playrooms available for the children to play in,
providing a wide range of play equipment, toys and
activities. We also have another room that is used as a
quiet room for older children. This is the book room and
contains our huge selection of both reference and fiction
books. The books for younger children are available for the
children to select downstairs in the playrooms. I have a
separate bedroom that is used solely for sleeping
childminding children (and possibly for overnight care in
the near future). We also have an extensive garden providing
a fantastic outdoor play area.
Typical Activities
I
offer a wide range of activities for the children I look
after, both at home and outdoors, including attending a
number of organised groups. I endeavour to provide
stimulating, home-based play facilities appropriate to each
child's age and stage of development and to incorporate
learning play into a daily domestic routine. Although many
of the activities I offer have an educational content the
most important thing is everyone is safe and we all have
fun.
I fill
out a daily diary/communication book to let you know what
your child has been doing during the day which parents find
very useful; this also contains photos. I work to the new
Government guidelines on EYFS and as part of this I produce
a learning journey (folder) for each child in which to
record achievements, photos and samples of the children’s
work which can be passed on the pre-school or Reception
teacher when the time arrives. It also make a lovely
keepsake of your child’s early years as well as giving you a
good indication of what he/she has been up to.
Some
of the activities I offer are: cooking, art and craft, water
or sand play, singing/music, story or reading sessions,
gardening, walks and visits to the park or library. I have a
wide selection of stimulating and fun toys including outdoor
toys such as bikes, cars, slide, swing, sand pit and water
table and play house.
I also
take the children on day trips such as visits to Bowood
House, Lydiard Park, Bristol Zoo or children's farms. I am a
member of the National Trust and we often visit local
National Trust properties and parks such as Lacock Abbey. We
also go to English Heritage properties including Stonehenge.
We visit soft play centres as well as various toddler groups
or activities.
I
regularly attend organised groups and activities in the
mornings such as:
Mondays – Soft play centre, Bowood house and Gardens or park
Tuesday – Free choice – home based activity or outside play
Wednesdays – Didgeridoo music group
Thursday – Free choice – home based activity or outside play
Fridays – Little Acorn childminding group.
Lunch
is followed by story time and then a nap for the younger
children that need it. A range of activities is also offered
until the school run such as dressing up, role play, small
world play (Happy land/Little people etc), music/dance with
instruments and CDs, construction (Megablocks, Duplo etc).
After
the school run I organise a range of activities suitable for
all the age groups I am looking after at the time. Depending
on the children I am looking after and collection times we
may go to Bowood or the park. Often we just play outside on
The Green after reading/homework has been completed.
Training and
Experience
•
BSc (Hons) Biology
• PGCE (Secondary Science)
• ICP (Introducing to Childminding)
• DCP (Developing childminding practice)
• ECP – (Extending childminding practice)
These 3 together form the Cache Certificate in Childminding
practice (CCP) – level 3.
• First Aid certificate (Early Years)
• Child Protection
• Trio Birth To Three Matters
• Food Hygiene and safety
• Trio Sensory Play workshop
• Trio Puppets workshop
• Trio “The Right to be Me” Drama workshop
I am
committed to undertake regular training to keep up to date
with new developments in childcare and I am currently booked
on a number of future courses. I am soon to start a EYPS
(Early Years Professional Status) course.
Contractual Details
My
normal working hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and I
charge £3.30 per hour during these times. I am very flexible
and I am willing to work outside of these hours if required
(and often do) including weekends and the charges for these
hours will be negotiated between myself and the parents. At
the moment I work every other Saturday and am willing to
discuss weekend work if required. I offer a reduced hourly
rate for siblings. I may also be able to offer overnight
care; please contact me for details.
I work
through all of the school holidays (including Easter,
Christmas and the summer break), but I am happy to offer a
term only contract. I also offer all year or school holiday
only contracts. I am willing to work bank holidays but will
charge double for this.
I charge full fees for any days that you take off for
sickness or holiday, but I do not charge for my own holidays
and will try to find an alternative childminder for these
sessions. I take up to four weeks holiday per year but give
plenty of notice. I usually take my holidays during school
holiday times.
Payment is required monthly in advance. I send out invoices
towards the end of each month for payment of the first
working day of the month.
The
hourly rate includes a mid-morning and mid afternoon snack
(cheese, homemade cheese biscuits, dried or fresh fruit,
yoghurt etc) and a midday meal for any child that is with me
for more than 5 hours. I can also provide a breakfast or
evening meals at a small extra charge. Most of the children
I look after have tea here. Drinks are also included; milk,
water, Hi-juice squash, fruit juices, fresh fruit smoothies
and fresh fruit milkshakes.
Where
possible I use organic and/or free range food and all meals
are homemade. I very rarely use processed food such meat
products although I do sometime used tinned beans/spaghetti
etc. I often make my own bread, savoury biscuits, cakes or
scones. I try not to use any food or drink that has added
colours, preservatives or sweeteners and added sugar is kept
to a minimum. I offer fruit at least 3 times a day and lunch
always includes fresh vegetables. I buy most of my fruit and
vegetables from Riverford Organic farm.
Lunch
is usually a hot meal and everybody sits down together
around the table (including Gordon and Adam if they are at
home). It is always a social occasion when we get the
opportunity to chat.
I
accept Childcare vouchers from the following schemes:
•
Accor
• Sodexo
• Busy Bees
• Allsave Ltd.
I am
happy to take vouchers from other schemes if required. Using
childcare vouchers can save you up to £1200 per year on your
childcare fees.
Vacancies
I
currently have the following vacancies:
Pre-school vacancies – Full and
part-time vacancies may be available
Before school - Holy Trinity only
After-school - St Margaret’s
Holy Trinity.
Please
call or email to discuss current or future vacancies. I am
happy to hold your details if a vacancy comes up in the near
future.
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