Gemma
Childminder in Leighton Buzzard
Usually responds within 3 hours
Female Member since Mar 2015 Last Updated Dec 2024 Last Login 22 Dec 2024
My Summary
About Me
I am an Ofsted Registered Childminder, graded Outstanding at my last inspection (Feb 2024). I have an Early Years Educator Level 3 diploma and I am a Forest Childcare Provider. I work from my family home in Leighton Buzzard. My aim is to offer my minded children a loving, caring and fun home from home environment. I work closely with my families and offer support and advice throughout our time together, and often beyond!
The children at my setting enjoy spending lots of time outdoors in all weathers. We make the most of our gorgeous woodland areas, nature reserves, lakes, Whipsnade Zoo, Mead Open Farm, English Heritage and National Trust sites and local parks and playground areas.
Puddlesuits and wellies are a must at my setting!! I encourage my mindees to jump in muddy puddles, squelch in mud, collect treasure (sticks, pinecones, pebbles etc), look for mini-beasts, climb trees, roll down hills and appreciate our great outdoors. I teach them about how important it is to lead a healthy, active lifestyle.
We also enjoy outings to the local library, garden centres, museums, soft play and stay and play groups. We visit local towns and shops and enjoy tea, toast and cookies in the cafés whilst learning about our community.
When we are at home I offer lots of fun activities like messy play, baking, games, story time, yoga, singing and dancing. I am a firm believer that a child learns through play and they are given lots of opportunity to do this. I have age appropriate toys, books, games and puzzles which I regularly rotate to keep things interesting. I have an enclosed garden where our two very friendly rabbits live and free roam.
My Experience
I have been registered since February 2015 and in that time I have professionally looked after many children aged from 5 months up to 9 years.
I also have three children of my own.
My Qualifications
*Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma
*I am a Forest Childcare Provider
*Local Authority Childminder Pre-registration course
*Introduction to Safeguarding Children (Level 1/Foundation) for Early Years Staff
*Single Agency Foundation Introduction to Safeguarding Refresher
*Emergency Adult and Paediatric First Aid
*Home Office - Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent (WRAP)
*Oral Health in Early Years Training
*Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM V1.3
*Early Years Maths
*Partnership with Parents
*Nutrition in the Early Years
*SEND: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
*Safeguarding e-Academy: An Introduction to FGM, Forced Marriage, Spirit Possession and Honour-based Violence V5
*Safeguarding e-Academy: Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect - Core V10
*Prevent COVID-19
*Causes and Spread of Infection
*Food Safety
*Supporting Children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs
*Safer Sleeping for Babies
My Availability
I am currently full (updated Dec 2024).
I am open Monday to Wednesday.
My standard opening hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm. I will consider earlier starts and later finishes depending on circumstances and availability.
I am open term time only. I cover some of the school holidays but not all.
I do not offer preschool/nursery/lower school drop off or collection.
I have a wait list. Please feel free to contact me to find out about spaces available and joining my wait list. It's never too early to make an enquiry!
Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before School | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Morning | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
After School | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Evening | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Last Updated: 19/03/2024 |
My Fees
- Childminding from £7.00 per hour
Please contact me for information about fees.
I accept funded children and I am registered for tax free childcare.
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
- Training Certificate: Level 2 Safeguarding Children (added 25/02/2024)
- Training Certificate: NCFE CACHE LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA FOR THE EARLY YEARS WORKFORCE+EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR) (added 25/02/2024)
- First Aid Certificate: First Aid (added 22/08/2017)
- Training Certificate: Safeguarding refresher (added 22/08/2017)
- Training Certificate: Safeguarding (added 22/08/2017)
- DBS Check (added 22/08/2017)
- Ofsted Certificate (added 22/08/2017)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Gemma. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk users 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.
Our daughter started with Gemma in December 2018 at 8 months old, we were apprehensive about using a childminder as we'd never been required to use one before so it was a first for us, but we needn't have worried. Gemma instantly made us feel comfortable following our initial inspection, her setting was home from home and just what we were looking for, clean and bright with so much to offer. She was warm and welcoming and I instantly knew we'd made the right choice in her.
Hallie stayed with Gemma until she started school in 2022. Genuinely the best 4 years of her young life. Gemma's communication was second to none, she provided regular updates throughout the day, she always offered a variety of activities throughout the day and encouraged positive relationships amongst the children in her setting, some wonderful friendships formed whilst Hallie was in her care. There were some challenging times during the covid pandemic but gemma was thorough and professional at all times, and it was clear that safety was paramount, one thing we always admired. The care of everyone in her setting was always at the forefront in everything she did throughout the time hallie was with her.
Hallie struggled with her speech and language and gross motor skills in the early stages, gemma was quickly on the case, she supported us in her referral to the health visitor for speech and language support and every week she provided feedback on what they worked on. Hallie thrived and this early intervention has been invaluable for her starting school. We couldn't have asked for more.
Her compassion, support and love for her little people was so clear to see, she truly made Hallie's early years the best we could've asked for, Hallie adored her and was so happy there, and I couldn't have asked for more from her or the setting. We were so sad it had to come to an end and I can not and will never stop recommending her childcare setting to everyone in need of a childminder. Thank you gemma for all you did for our girl.
My little boy started with Gemma in January. I had lots of emotions about going back to work and leaving H for the first time but there was no need - Gemma was there to help every step of the way!
H has thrived in Gemma’s care! Through her planned outings, Gemma has helped H to develop his love of the outdoors and his need to explore! He has loved becoming a member of her crew and has developing his language through socialising with others in her care!Gemma and her crew enjoy lots of days out in the woods, farm, zoo etc… and I enjoy receiving Gemma’s updates to see what adventures they have been on during the day!
H has had lots of ups and downs with his health and Gemma has always been there to offer advice and support alongside her policies. She always has his best interests at the centre of everything!
Gemma is the most kindest, caring, passionate, considerate (the list of endless) childminder and we would recommend her to everyone!
Thank you for everything!
Our son has been attending Gemma's setting since he was 13 months old and is now 2yrs.
We knew our search for a childminder was over as soon as we met Gemma. She is friendly, approachable, kind, enthusiastic, organised and professional.
Our son settled in straight away, with no tears at drop-off - despite having never been separated from me before. He happily goes into her arms or toddles in to see his friends, waving to me without looking back.
He loves attending her setting. The children in her care are so kind and caring to each other. They do lots of fun outings, including to the woods, zoo, farm, and a music group. She has really nurtured a love of the outdoors in my son (he'll walk for hours in the woods) and taught him how to be gentle and caring with babies and animals. His development in her care has been outstanding and he's always surprising us with new things he's learnt with Gemma, including learning to talk about his and others' feelings before he was 2yrs old.
Her communication is excellent - always clear, helpful, polite and sensitive. She also takes great photos! I love the daily updates.
She has clear policies and protocols to keep children safe, including managing allergies, and follows these. I have always felt confident that my son is safe in her care.
I trust Gemma completely. I know that my son's wellbeing is her top priority. She genuinely cares for him and knows him incredibly well. I also appreciate all the kindness, compassion and flexibility she has shown my family.
I highly recommend Gemma's setting. She is an absolutely wonderful person and I feel so lucky we found her.
Gemma is the most wonderful childminder; we feel so lucky to have been able to work with her. Our middle daughter joined her in the midst of the pandemic and absolutely thrived. She has now moved on to preschool and our youngest has been with Gemma since she was 5 months old.
Gemma plans lots of structured activities for her 'crew' to do and is acutely aware of each child's needs and where their next developmental achievement is likely to be - after safety and fun, this was really important to us. Gemma does lots of days out to woodlands and zoos and farms and creates a range of memorable experiences for her mindees - they form close relationships with each other and with Gem and her welcoming family.
Gemma runs her setting very professionally with smart invoices emailed on the same date each month and excellent levels of daily communication including a WhatsApp group for each child parents which she updates with photos and news throughout the day. Gemma has clear policies relating to health, absences, COVID and every aspect of childminding and both follows and refers to these.
If Gemma has space for your child, I would snap it up. Every time she has a space, she fills in immediately due to word of mouth. Children going to this childminder are safe, loved, encouraged and they thrive.
Gemma is a kind, caring and very fun childminder! She is very dedicated and passionate about what she does and this is reflected in the care and attention she gives to everything she provides and does with the children.
She has looked after my 3 year old boy for the last 16 months and has also provided wrap around care for my 6 year old. Both my children absolutely adore her especially my little boy who is with her 4 days a week. He enjoys every minute that he is with Gemma. Gemma takes him out everyday either to the woods (his favourite place!), the farm, the zoo and also many play and stay groups. She loves the outdoors as much as the children do! Gemma very much encourages learning outdoors which suits the needs of my active boy.
On top of this they create the most fantastic craft that is suited to all times of year whilst also enjoying other fun activities such as singing and dancing.
Gemma provides us with regular updates during the day which we absolutely love as we enjoy seeing all of the amazing things he gets up to!
I honestly cannot recommend Gemma enough, she is one in a million.
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This profile has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.