Helena
Childminder in Cardiff
Usually responds within 12 hours
Female Member since Jun 2012 Last Updated Dec 2024 Last Login 15 Dec 2024
My Summary
About Me
Hello, my name is Helena. I've been a Registered Childminder since 2004 and have had many more years experience working with children - providing a loving, secure and fun environment.
I was awarded the top grading of 'Excellent' in my recent CIW (Care Inspectorate Wales) inspection. I've scored top marks in the feedback questionnaires from parents and have extremely positive references available to view. My home is also inspected by the Food Standards Agency and I received the top rating of 5 for hygiene and food safety awareness. I provide nutritious snacks included in the price and have completed the course 'Community Food & Nutrition for Early Years' (Open College Network course).Certificates are available to view.
I keep the number of children I look after low (usually just 2) so that your child gets quality care and attention. Most days your child will play with a small group of children as I regularly meet up with a friendly, caring group of childminders. My main goal is for children to be happy, safe and secure and have fun whilst learning. I like to be active with the children and take them out every day - often outdoor based such as local parks, St Fagans, Duffryn Gardens, the museum, library etc.
Our family live in a spacious and bright home with a large, child friendly multi-sensory garden. The garden has a playhouse, mud kitchen, sand tray, slide, seesaw, ride-ons, children's table and chairs and lots of other toys and equipment. Our home is in a quiet street near Victoria Park in the Canton area, has good parking outside and is within close distance of Llandaff, Western Avenue and Cardiff Met University and also the Cardiff Bay Link Rd.
My Experience
I love my work as a childminder and although I've been registered for 20 years, I've had many more years experience working with children.
I have 2 daughters, both at University.
I have advanced childcare qualifications (listed below under my qualifications) and also studied at University. I'm fluent in Polish but my first language is English and the care of your child will be provided in English (and Polish if requested). Very basic Welsh is taught daily.
My Qualifications
The advanced childminding qualification - Cache Level 3 (Childminding Practice Levels 1, 2 & 3)
Paediatric First Aid
Food Hygiene
Language and Play
Community Food & Nutrition for Early Years (Open College Network course)
Child Protection & Advanced Child Protection
Special Educational Needs
Participation Training
Marketing
Policies & Procedures workshop
Expectations of Behaviour
Safeguarding Children
Supporting Children's Emotional Well-Being
Understanding and Working to the Foundation Phase in Wales
Outside Play in the Early years
The role of the SENCO
Early Mathematics
Phonics for Pre-school Children
Enabling Environments
Risk Taking in the Early Years
Reading in the Early Years
Technology in the Early Years
Health & Self-care
On the Spot & Action Planning Self-Evaluation
My husband, daughters and I are fully DBS Police checked and I have Public Liability Insurance. These certificates are up-to-date and available to view.
I'm registered with the CIW (Care Inspectorate Wales)
I have a Certificate confirming I've been awarded the top rating (5) from the Food Standards Agency
Full Driving Licence and Insurance
My Availability
Please can you let me know your child's age, the hours and days needed.
I work year round but can offer reduced rates for parents who are looking for term-time only care and do not need me during school/college holidays.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | no | yes | no | yes | no | no | no |
| Morning | no | yes | no | yes | no | no | no |
| Afternoon | no | yes | no | yes | no | no | no |
| After School | no | yes | no | yes | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 01/12/2024 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £6.00 per hour
I work year round but can offer reduced rates for parents who do not need me during school/college holidays.
I provide a daily diary detailing your child's day (for full days only)
I provide parents with daily photographs.
I'm registered for the Tax Free childcare, vouchers and Childcare Offer Schemes
Please feel free to e-mail me for further information with the hours and days you need childcare, the age of your child, the start date and if you'll get help with payments (eg Offer grants/tax universal credits) etc. Please let me know if only short-term care i.e. (anything under 6 months) is needed.
Thank you for taking the time to read my profile.
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Lansdowne Primary School
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Radnor Primary School
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Severn Primary School
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Howell's School
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Llandaff City C.I.W. Primary School
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at The Cathedral School
My Documents
- DBS Check (added 29/11/2016)
- Care Inspectorate Wales Certificate (added 29/11/2016)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Helena. 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.
I was anxious to drop my barely 3 months old with a minder, I went through several daycares and minders before I finally picked Helena and I could not have made a better choice, What drew me to her was her lovely nature and kind demeanor. She cared for my little one like her own. My baby leaves her house with more interaction and smiles everyday, meeting each growth milestone confidently with Helena’s help in taking her sightseeing, singing in toddler groups, walks in parks and gardens, each day with Helena is a new day with new activities planned.
Helena is very reliable with a very tidy home, from the front porch to the back garden, leaving my baby with her had me satisfied she was in a clean environment.
Helena’s got excellent communication and record keeping skills, sending updates with words and pictures of my daughter’s welfare which helped in keeping my mind at rest, I went through my day with breeze knowing my daughter was safe and sound, at the end of each day I got a fantastic record of my daughter’s sleep, feed, activity and behavior, this was really nice to keep track with my daughter feed and behavioral changes.
It is with great pleasure and happiness I am writing this recommendation, the quality of care Zahra received while with Helena was second to none, I was lucky to have met her in my challenging time with schooling and having a baby, she was my child stand in Granny and did an excellent job, I would recommend her to any parent seeking the best childcare.
Overall-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
Helena started looking after our son when he was 2yrs old - he will be starting school in Sept and will miss the many adventures he has shared with Helena!
Helena has offered exceptional attention to detail whilst caring for our little boy. She has taken a keen interest in topics used at nursery, and has created numerous activities following the same topics. Our little boy has loved spending most of his time outdoors exploring and being given space to enable his imagination to grow. He's also made some wonderful friendships with others his age from a small, core group of local childminders who Helena regularly meets up with.
Helena has been a significant part of our son's pre-school years and the creativity, adventure, education and care she has provided will be greatly missed.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
When I was looking for a childminder who can look after my son for a short term, I had a recommendation from nannys and childminders from play group I went. Helena is "the one" when I first met her. She is really professional, claim and her house is very clean and tidy. My son was 17 months on that time and he doesn't have a proper speaking word yet but when he met Helena, she understand him on the first time he spoke to her. My son never stay with someone else apart from me and my husband which made me so worry how can he cope wothout me all day. But he settle very quick and I can really peace of mind while I was working. I do recommend for everyone who looking for a professional childminder.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
Helena has looked after my son Rudy for around 3 years, I am extremely happy with the level of care Rudy has received, being in such a positive and happy environment has helped him to develop into a self-assured, confident little boy. Rudy has loved his time with her, he thinks the world of her, and happily expresses how much he has enjoyed spending time with her, a great testament of good care. We feel very lucky to have had her input in Rudy’s early years development and care. I would absolutely recommend Helena as a nurturing, caring and reliable childminder.Rudy has loved getting to know her and her family, he’s made lots of friends at the play group sessions Helena takes him too. We will miss her. I highly recommend her, she is one a million.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
You must be a registered parent and logged in to leave a review.
If you don't have an account then Register Free now.
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.
