Sonia Ford
Childminder in Norwich
Usually responds within 2 hours
Female Member since Feb 2013 Last Updated Jan 2025 Last Login 22 Jan 2025
My Summary
About Me
My name is Sonia Ford.
I have been Childminding since 2002 in my home in Old Catton where I live with my Husband, Son, 3 cats & our Cavapoo - Woody!
I offer a friendly, stimulating, smoke-free safe, home environment where children can learn, play and have fun!
We have a dedicated playroom and have games, books and toys for children of all ages, and a secure garden for outside play.
We regularly visit toddler groups, local parks and the library.
Sonia Ford Childminding - Service includes:
All day care
Outdoor play
Can provide emergency care
Use of a car
Term-time only contracts
Downstairs toilet
Healthy snacks
Outings
My Experience
As well as bringing up my own 3 children, I have been Ofsted registered since 2002 and throughout that time, I have had a wide range of experience in Childminding - caring for children from 12 days old to 17 years old!!
I have a lot of experience with newborns & twins, children with hearing difficulties, special needs, food allergies, eczema and asthma, and have cared for children whose second language is English.
My Qualifications
•I am registered with Ofsted.
•I am CRB checked.
•I have a full clean driving licence.
•I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office as a Data Controller.
•I have completed my ICP (Introducing Childminding Practice).
•I hold a current Safeguarding Children (Child Protection) certificate.
•I hold a current Paediatric First Aid certificate.
•I have an NVQ Level 3 qualification in Childcare Learning and Development (CCLD).
•I received a GOOD grade for care in my last Ofsted inspection.
Other qualifications / Training / Courses Passed:
•Basic Food Hygiene
•Food Standards Agency Food Allergy Training
•Child Protection Awareness
•Data Protection
•First Aid Essentials
•Equality and Diversity
•Personal Safety
•Introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage
•Ofsted Essential Paperwork
•Playing Together
•Autism - The Invisible Condition
•Autism - Aiding Communication Through Visual Support
•Autism - Understanding Play & Analysing Behaviour Of Children With Autism
*Step On Training
•NCC Prevent Training
•Channel General Awareness (Prevent Duty)
•Prevent For Leaders & Managers
•FGM: recognising and preventing
•Prevent Duty and British Values
•Supporting Children with Speech,Language and Communication Needs
•Observations and the EYFS
*Prevent Duty and British Values
*Schemas
*Tracking Progress
*Learning Through Play in the Early Years
*Risk Assessment
*Working With Babies
*Technology in the Early Years
*In addition, I attend regular NCC Briefing meetings to keep up to date on Training, Government Funding and Local and National Updates.
My Availability
My hours are from 730am - 530pm (however I can be very flexible), Term time only.
Please contact me for current availability.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Morning | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Afternoon | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| After School | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 22/01/2025 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £6.00 per hour
I currently charge from £5.50 per hour.
I accept Childcare Vouchers & Bank Transfers.
I accept all Funding.
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
- Ofsted Certificate (added 19/11/2020)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Parents say
The childminder provides exceptional care in a welcoming, home-like environment. Children enjoy a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, outdoor play, and social groups. Parents appreciate the regular updates, photos, and flexibility offered. The childminder is consistently described as caring, experienced, and highly recommended, with children thriving in her care.
Summary generated by AI from the text of most recent member reviews
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Sonia Ford. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members 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.
Sonia has provided an exceptional service for my son since he has started with her. She takes him out to many groups helping him get used to a social setting and his speech has come on leaps and bounds. she has really helped him to come out of his shell as I’ve picked up on him wanting to play with others as opposed to playing by himself. I couldn’t ask for a better service.
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by
Joseph
on 29/04/2024
Response by
Sonia Ford
on 30/04/2024:
Thank you so much! He’s settled so well and doing amazing! 🤩 x
Sonia is a lovely friendly lady and provides a relaxed home from home setting where the children can enjoy playing with a great variety of toys and each other. Thomas loved her pet cats and toy trains, and playing outside in the summer. He was very well looked after and I enjoyed seeing photos of what he had been up to. Sonia takes some lovely photos and he brought home some lovely arts and crafts projects as well. Thankyou so much Sonia!
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by
Della
on 07/09/2021
Response by
Sonia Ford
on 07/09/2021:
Aww thank you!
Hope you had a lovely summer?!
Thomas will be missed very much! 😍 xx
I couldn’t be happier with my choice of Sonia as my daughters childminder! Being the first in my friendship group to have a baby made it more difficult for me to choose a childminder as I had minimal recommendations to help me!
After the first time I met Sonia I knew she would be a great fit for my little girl. Sonia is extremely welcoming and provides a very lovely home from home setting which definitely put my daughter at ease.
My little girl has been with Sonia, 1 day a week, for close to 18 months and has enjoyed every visit! From crafts to visits to Catton Park, it has been lovely to always hear of the days she enjoys with her friends and of course the cats!! Sonia is extremely easy to get along with and is always very response to any messages/queries you may have.
We are very sad to be moving on but I would not hesitate to recommend Sonia to my friends! X
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hollybh
on 28/03/2021
Leo loves going to Sonias twice a week, he constantly talks about her and his companions. They regularly go to Catton Park and do lots of arts and crafts, the Christmas gifts sent home are guaranteed to make you cry (in a good way!). We get lots of lovely photos, and it's brilliant to see how happy he is with her. We would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a caring and experienced childminder in the area.
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by
Rowenna
on 24/02/2021
Response by
Sonia Ford
on 24/02/2021:
Aww thank you so much! 😍
The contents of this review are no longer available as the reviewer's account has been deleted.
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by
Parent
on 13/08/2019
Response by
Sonia Ford
on 13/08/2019:
Aww thank you so much! That was a lovely surprise to hear from you and for your kind review!
They are growing up too fast! I hope you and your family are well! Congratulations on another addition to the family?!! Xxx
Thank you for your kindness, love and care to Bella and for providing a very conducive environment for her to play in.
It's a shame we have to move away. You have set a benchmark to what we should expect to find in a childminder and I hope I can find someone as good in Loughborough. Thanks again, lots of luv - Peter & Linda.
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Linda VH
on 25/07/2019
Sonia is a brilliant childminder, shes been looking after my little girl one day a week for the past 6 months.
My little girl finds it difficult leaving us but Sonia has worked really hard on helping her to settling in and now she cheers when she sees where she is and is very happy there. Would 100% recommend Sonia and have recommended her to friends, one of whom has her little girl with Sonia too now.
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rozinale
on 19/06/2019
My son has been with Sonia for just over a year and he loves it, the seasonal crafts that he brings home are brilliantly made and you can tell he's had fun making them all. Sonia also looks after his older sister after school and she enjoys helping sonia with the little ones, highly recommend her.
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by
Parent
on 06/04/2017
Our 16 month old twin boys have been going to Sonia once a week for over 7 months now and they have a great time. They love the toddler group they go to each week & all the different toys they get to play with!
Sonia keeps a daily diary for each of them and always updates it so we can see exactly what they have been up to and sends photos of things they are doing which is lovely. The crafts and things they have made for Mothers Day & holidays have been brilliant!
She has been flexible with us when we have needed it and has taken them for extra days which we have been very grateful for.
They now walk in like they live there when we arrive which is great to see!
We would definitely recommend Sonia!
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by
Parent
on 09/06/2016
Sonia cares for our two boys two full days a week. The eldest is 2 1/2 yrs and he talks about her all the time. He really enjoys going to his childcare and in particular he likes the wide array of dinosaurs, the play groups they attend and the various crafts and activities she does with them. Our youngest (1 yr) goes with the flow but particularly enjoys being in a small group with the other children. I would highly recommend Sonia.
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by
Parent
on 08/06/2016
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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.
