Paula

About Me

I have been an Ofsted registered childminder since July 2018. I was most recently inspected by Ofsted in June 2022 and was immensely proud to receive an outstanding rating. I am enthusiastic and love working with children. I provide a safe, caring, home environment where I encourage kindness. I want the children who come here to feel like they are part of a big extended family and am really proud when I see the older children helping and playing with the younger ones.

I will work in partnership with parents/carers to ensure that each child receives the care they need. I will discuss each child’s likes, dislikes and daily routine as part of the settling in process to try and create childcare that is simply an extension of their familiar home life.

I have a particular interest in language and communication development in children and provide play activities to help build young children’s skills in this area. I use an “in the moment” approach to childminding. This means that activities are responsive, spontaneous and child-led rather than me having definite planned activities for a day - when children are able to select how they play they gain confidence and are more engaged. I spend a lot of time talking and listening with the children to see what they are interested in or curious about on each day and use that as the basis for activities and learning moments. I ensure that I follow the Early Years Foundation Stage as prescribed by the Department of Education.

Children have access to a wide selection of activities, including: construction toys, small world toys, musical instruments, dressing up and role play. I also have many wooden loose parts toys which encourage children to play imaginatively.

I set up a craft table each day, and offer lots of resources to encourage creative play and early mark making (a precursor to writing). I also have a huge selection of books which I love reading with the children.

We spend lots of time outdoors as this is an excellent place for children to learn and play. I have a secure garden with lots of outdoor toys, a slide and a very popular mud kitchen.

Weather permitting, we stay and play on Bradway Primary School’s playground for 45 mins each day after pick up time. This provides an excellent opportunity for school children to have more outdoor playtime and is really useful in helping younger children’s transition to starting school. We also go on picnics and outings, often very excitingly by bus, to places including: Local parks, libraries, Graves Park and Animal Farm, Western Park Museum and the cinema.

I have three teenage children and 2 very friendly pets - a cockapoo called Ollie and a cat called Poppy. My husband, my 19 year old daughter, 17 year old son and I all have enhanced DBS certificates.