I am an Ofsted Registered Childminder

Childminding since 2010

 Fully qualified Primary School Teacher with experience within a Nursery &
within Key Stage 1 (infants).
 Paediatric First Aid Certificate
 Fully insured.
 Been a Mum since 1996!
 Qualified Primary School Teacher (PGCE, QTS)
 Safeguarding Children Level 2 & Paediatric First Aid
 Awarded Early Years Professional Status (EYPS)

If you require any further information, please call me on

07769694133

Also have a look at my website and Facebook Page for pictures etc

www.la1childminder.weebly.com

https://www.facebook.com/clairschildmindingservice

Clair's Childminding Service

07769 694133

https://maps.app.goo.gl/83ERbvdJKVbMWDmh8

or email me at

[email protected]

Regular opening hours

Monday to Thursday 7.30am to 5.15pm other hours are negotiable so please

ask. If demand is high I may consider Friday opening if viable.

Term time only (closed in school holidays)

 About Me

My name is Clair McGrath Wilkinson and I have been registered as a childminder since June 2010, prior to that I worked as a
primary school teacher and before that as a Civil Servant. I am married to Dave who works part time for several different
employers, teaching English degrees for the Open University, Health & Safety for sports at the University of Central Lancashire
and at Lancashire Outdoor Education Centres. We have 3 children of our own and over 20 years’ experience as a mum. I have a
16 year old, a 25 year old and a 27 year old. As a fully qualified teacher I have experience in Nursery classes and Key Stage 1
classes. I am now registered as a childminder and can offer a caring and fun, homely atmosphere for your child.

About the care I provide

All Childminders, Nurseries & School Reception classes now follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, a curriculum from birth to
five. This means that there is consistency between all the different settings offering care & education for the 0-5’s. Choosing me
as your childminder means that your child will receive much more direct attention than a child in a nursery and will still be
following exactly the same curriculum guidelines. I provide a home from home experience, there are other members of the
family living on the premises and it is lived in! If you expect to see a show home then I am not for you. My home is hygienic but
not always perfectly tidy! It reflects a busy home where lots of play and fun happens and one where my days are spent caring
for and playing with the children, not tidying up after everyone – after all I often work with the children for up to 12 hours a day!
I have a playroom set up to be adaptable and suitable for 0 – 5 years so it isn’t set up to look like a nursery where they have a
baby room and a toddler room and so on but it has toy storage and a range of toys available as required either chosen by the
children or suggested by me.

In August 2012 I was awarded Early Years Professional Status the highest level Early Years qualification. I am also accredited with
Lancashire County Council and can offer the free nursery entitlement for children in the first term after they become 3 years old
so that children can remain with me for their nursery education and save you some fees as the entitlement is free and worth 15
hours per week. From September 2017 I will offer 30 hours free childcare to those eligible. I also offer this to eligible 2 year olds.
I will not be able to pick up or drop off from nurseries as this is unsettling for other children in my care. I can also accept Tax Free
Childcare payments.

From my experiences as a teacher and a mother, I know that children need lots to occupy them and I have a well-equipped
house with plenty of space for children to play together. Children can play freely in a playroom full of toys, games, books and
craft. A downstairs toilet enables easy nappy changes and toileting. The setting is homely and isn’t a nursery but is set up to be a
home from home while having dedicated child friendly spaces. I have a large garden space that is also equipped with plenty of
play equipment and fruit trees. For children aged 0 – school age I track their progress against the EYFS which is found on Baby’s
Days, an online system that we can both log on and find all childminding related business for which you will have your own
personal log in.

Care, Learning & Play

Children learn when they are in a safe and caring environment where they are stimulated through play.
Babies and young children develop best when they are in a caring relationship with an adult. A baby will learn to walk faster
when they have a safe pair of arms to walk towards and learn to talk, when they have an adult listening and responding to them.
I will strive to provide your child with an environment that will be caring, fun and stimulating. I will implement ideas from the
Early Years Foundation Stage.
I will provide activities that support the 7 learning areas:
The 3 Prime areas are what we focus on for the under 3’s
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Communication and Language
Then there are 4 specific areas for the older children but can still be relevant to the younger ones
• Literacy
• Mathematics
 • Understanding the World
• Art and Design

Loose Daily Routine

Children arrive at varying times: free play / Tv / Music

All children arrived: Chat discuss what the children want to do, offer activity options indoor or outdoor too. If the weather is
warm we will go outdoors in the morning in case it’s too hot in the afternoon

11am – Lunch, savoury foods encouraged and offered first, followed by fruit option

12pm – Chat about afternoon activities indoors or outdoors, offer options

Free play / naps if required or quiet time

3pm Tidy up, songs and stories

Regular activities

These activities include:

Dressing up clothes
Books, PC and DVD’s
Small world toys
Construction toys (lego, duplo etc)
Role play (toy kitchen etc)
Water and sand play
Arts and Crafts
Outdoor play and equipment
Puzzles
Games
Singing and musical instruments
And whatever else I find the children enjoy!
If there is a activity that you would like me to do with your child, please let me know. I am very happy to support activities that
you are doing at home or events that have happened. For example if you have been to a wedding I can continue this theme by
providing the children with material to use as wedding clothes and help them understand through books and other resources.

Sharing your child's development via Baby's Days

You can connect to the Baby's Days system and see your child’s progress which I track in a simple way
online, linked to the EYFS. There is also an app via which you can see your child’s progress, invoices and
add pictures and observations. See www.babysdaysforparents.com

What will care cost?

Help with childcare costs can come through a variety schemes and also via Universal Credit – these can all be found at the
government’s Childcare Choices website. To claim any of these you will need a contract from me that clearly states your
contracted hours and according costs. Once we have set out the costs in a contract it makes it easy for you to claim the help you
are entitled to.

Please ask me about the government’s free childcare schemes for 2, 3 & 4 year olds as I can deliver all of these and this will
further reduce your costs. My fees are in line with local rates and charges policy is in line with other childminders across the
country.

Core day between 8.30 and 4 = £38.50 This doesn't mean you must leave the child for full time, you are only booking to leave
your child for your agreed times late pick up will be subject to late pick up fee
Example: You need care from 11 until 2.30 3 hours 30 minutes, you would pay for the core day and you would pick up and drop
off at your contracted hours as set out above so that I could plan the day for all the children accordingly.

Non core day hourly rate = (time between 7.30 and 8.30am and 4pm and 5.15pm) £5.50 per hour
If you are later or earlier to collect than your contracted hours you will be charged late fees as the regular hourly fees in addition
to your contracted regular fees and there is no discount for picking up early.
Meals
Please bring a packed lunch or healthy meal to microwave may be brought if you wish – please make it healthy unless other
arrangements have been made with me.

Nappies and wipes are included in the fees.

Fees are payable monthly in advance by bank transfer only. My fees are both my wages for the time, resources, food and care I
give your child and the running costs of the place of care which is also my home plus any staffing costs. Remember to pay on
time as this is courteous and ensures your childcare will be available to you. I cannot provide care if the fees haven’t been paid
and I will not be able to accept your child on arrival.
Once a place has been booked for your child/children, fees will be payable for those contracted hours whether a child attends
or not.

Fees Summary

Core time – 8.30 til 4 – £38.50

all free funded hours
must be taken Childminding contracts
between 8.30 and 4

Meals (Lunch/dinner) £2.00 On signing your contract a deposit of 10% of the first month’s fees is
Packed lunch can be required. This will be discounted from your first month’s fees to you when
sent instead your first advance payment is received. Care will not commence until
advance payment has been received either weekly or monthly. If fees are
Hourly rate for the £5.50 not paid on time then I will not be able to care for your child so please
hours outside 8.30 til ensure that payment arrives in my bank account or in cash by the due
4pm This means a full day date.
fee 7.30am til 5.15pm
= £50.88 What do I pay?

You pay what is agreed in your contract (see the fees info above) these
Parent’s holiday Full Fee
are your ‘contracted hours’. Once a place has been booked for your
child/children, fees will be payable for those sessions whether a child
Parent/child sick Full Fee attends or not.

Statutory Bank Holiday No fee Settling in period

If you agree a settling-in period the starting date of the full contract
Childminder No fee
should be agreed and clearly shown.
sick/holiday
Signing the contract
Caring for a child on a Double fee
Bank Holiday (when All parties to the contract should read and understand it before signing
available) and dating it. It then becomes legally binding.

Notice to end the contract

Late pick up At the hourly rate or
after 6pm £6.50 per You must give 4 weeks’ notice to end the contract. The four weeks must
hour be working weeks and not times when either party is on an agreed
holiday. This should be given in writing. For Funded places I require 8
weeks notice and the council does not allow you to move provider during a term as they pay the funding on a termly basis.
Example: You need to give notice, there are 2 weeks of childcare coming up followed by a weeks’ holiday. You will still pay for 4
weeks and the weeks will be the 2 weeks before the holiday and then 2 weeks following the weeks’ holiday or you may pay the 4
weeks and leave immediately, otherwise I will still care for your child for the 4 weeks described above.

Paid time off for childminders

Workers in the UK are entitled to paid leave and it is advised that childminders include this in their contracts. I incorporate the
leave into my fees including payment for Bank Holidays that I would normally work. This is fair and is in line with other workers
in the UK.

Public Holidays

I take all public holidays that fall on a day I would normally work. I will charge the weekly fee if it falls on your contracted day. If
you really need care I may be able to cover at double fee.

Term time only contracts

This is my preferred choice of contract and I publish the term dates on Baby’s Days.

Free Early Education

I offer free places for 2 year olds, if eligible, for 15 hours a week and can offer 15 or 30 hours free for all 3 or 4 year olds
providing they don't attend another setting for their free hours, though they can be split between 2 providers. I can be much
more flexible than a nursery can. Free places must be taken at these times to maintain a consistent day and for staffing
organisation. The times are 8.30 to 4.00 so 15 hours is used over 2 days and 30 hours over 4 days.

These hours can be combined with additional paid hours and can be used flexibly.
These hours are termly so once you sign up to me or any other provider those hours must be used at that provider that term.
When the new term starts you can move your hours if you wish. There are 3 terms beginning 1st September, !st January and 1st
April.

These hours can be used with me until your child starts school or you may wish to send your child to a nursery for example for
the Summer term before they start school in Autumn.

For Funded places I require 8 weeks notice and the council does not allow you to move provider during a term as they pay the
funding on a termly basis.

Other considerations/FAQ’s

What should you expect from me?

I am reliable & provide information about your child’s day verbally as necessary and on the Baby’s Days system so please use
this. You may also add to your child’s progress on there. I provide a homely and caring atmosphere for your child where they can
feel relaxed and happy and able to learn through play at their own pace while observing their development and helping them on
their way. I also run a business so will need to discuss these matters with you from time to time.

What I should expect from you.

I expect parents to respond to communications from me in a reasonable period of time, whether the communication is by chat,
text, email or letter and to have regard to their contracted pick up and drop off times. Please let me know in advance if you
intend to arrive to drop off or pick up at a different time from the contracted one. If you arrive unexpectedly early I may not be
ready to care for your child or if your child is with me we may be out or not ready for home. If you are late to drop off, I may
have to take children to school and will not be able to wait. I appreciate that as a working parent you need to be able to go to
work, however if your child is unwell then they will be better cared for in their own home with a parent. I am happy to care for
children with minor coughs and colds but will not care for children who are very unwell, infectious or running a high
temperature. I have to go out each day to do school and pre-school runs and need to consider the welfare of all the children in
my care. If your child has had diarrhoea or sickness in the last 48 hours please do not bring them but call and let me know.
Children should be clear of all symptoms for 48 hours before returning to my care.

What does my child need to bring?

It is useful to have a bag with everything the child might need and keep it here to avoid lots of bags cluttering up the hall. Here is
a sample list but this may differ depending on the age of the child and weather; comfort items, sun cream, sun hat/warm hat,
waterproof jacket, wellies, nappy cream, spare clothing at least 2 changes, drink cup, non-spill please (I do have spare), food &
drink as agreed, toy if happy to share! Clothing worn / brought should be easy to take on and off – avoid shoe laces unless
learning to tie them, elasticated waistbands are easy for nappy changes and for children potty training or trained as it enables
independence. Schools really like children to be independent on arrival in Reception so make it easy for your child by picking
clothing that is easy for your child to manage on their own.

Sleep

All children sleep differently, I have travel cots that I can put up upstairs if necessary. Some children, especially as they get older
are happy to nap on the sofa or a floor cushion and that’s also fine. Some parents ask me to keep their tired, exhausted child
awake as if they sleep then, they won’t sleep later. I think that a tired child should sleep and keeping them awake is unpleasant
and sometimes impossible! So please don’t ask me to do that.

Potty Training

While I am willing to assist in potty training a ready child, I have a policy with useful info about readiness to train. Remember,
children need to be at a stage where they can pull down their own pants and sit on the potty or tell me they need to go before
we can start. Elasticated waist or easy opening trousers help your child enormously while training and beyond. They are
manageable and allow independence.

Please read my policy before asking as it will help you decide on their readiness and then we can discuss how to proceed.

Picking up and dropping off

To make dropping off nice and smooth I aim to have children dropped off at the door and picked up at the door after the settling
in period. I will answer the door to check which parent it is, then close for retention of warmth and the security of the children.
There are a number of reasons why I operate in this way.

a) The rest of the children aren’t disturbed by people coming and going, causing tears, excitement or behaviour problems.

b) Less wear and potential mess from shoes being brought into the home.

c) Security of the door to ensure no one leaves apart from who is meant to be leaving.

d) Some privacy for other family members who are not working but relaxing after work or getting ready for work.

I hope you have enjoyed what you have read and please come and visit.