About Me
Hi my name is Sandie Noble. I am registered with OFSTED as a childminder. I live in Ramsgate, Kent.
I am married and have three children. I have worked as a childminder since February 2003. I care for children from birth to teenagers!
I provide a warm, caring and friendly environment where children can play, learn and develop. Parents can leave their children with me knowing that they will be safe, happy and loved. The children receive plenty of attention and lots of hugs and affection.
They are able to play with other children of various ages with a range of toys and equipment both indoors and outside in our large back garden.
MY QUALIFICATIONS
CACHE Introduction Childminding Practice course
Pediatric First Aid certificate
I have also attended several training courses on:
Child Protection
Behavior Management
Working with Parents
Creative clubs
Promoting your childminding business
Birth to three matters
NSPCC child protection awareness programe
Training in Progress
Diploma in Homebased Childcare
INSURANCE: I am a member of the National Childminding Association and hold my public liability insurance with NCMA and Royal and Sun Alliance. I hold a full, clean driving license and am covered for business use on my motor insurance so both myself and the children are adequately insured. I am a member of the AA and have a relay policy which means I can get my car recovered if I break down and myself and the children driven home by a mechanic from the AA. Whilst traveling by car, I ensure children are restrained in a safety seat and with seatbelts suitable for their age and weight.
If you require childcare or information about childcare in the Thanet area or anything in my blog please feel free to Email Me!
As a childminder, I am inspected by OFSTED (office for standards in education) regularly, usually every three years, from which I receive an inspection report. This is given to parents so they can be assured of the high standard of my childminding. At an inspection, I am judged on how well I meet 14 national standards for childminding set by OFSTED and I need to demonstrate how I achieve each of the standards.
I use the whole of my downstairs for childminding. We use the kitchen for eating, drinking and messy activities. The living room is used for sensible play or for quiet time, for example, watching a video or having a nap. I have a downstairs toilet so the children do not need to go upstairs.
Keeping Children Healthy:
Smoking- I have a no smoking policy in my home. Neither myself nor my husband smoke and I will not allow anyone visiting my home to smoke either, with or without children present.
Safety and Security:
My home is safe and secure for children both inside and outside.
Inside:
The following precautions are in place: safety gate at bottom of stairs, cupboard and drawer locks in the kitchen ,safety glass on doors, radiator temperatures are controlled by thermostats, socket covers on plug sockets, all medicines and hazardous substances are stored out of reach.
Outside:
My garden has fencing all around and access is only available from the house.The children are under my supervision when playing out in the garden to ensure their safety. When going out, I ensure young children are in a pushchair with fastened straps.
Toddlers will be on secure reins and other children (age dependant) will either hold on the pram with me (or hold my hand if no pram) or walk sensibly in front.
Registration: I comply with all the conditions of my registration as set out by Ofsted. My registration does allow me to care for children overnight
Ratios:
I am registered to care for 6 children under 8 years of age. Of these 6, no more than 3 may be under 5 years of age and of these 3, only 1 child may be under 1 year of age.. Children over 8 years of age are not included in these ratios.
Being a registered childminder is a responsible role that involves sharing responsibilities with parents and their families and recognising the prime role that they play in their children’s upbringing. I will observe the children’s development and progress and this will be shared with parents to ensure continuity of care between the family’s home and the childminding setting. Respect will be shown for the family’s traditions and childcare practices, and my childcare practice will be in harmony with the values, practices and wishes of parents, as far as possible in the context of caring for children from several different families.
Communication is very important. When I accept a new family into my setting, I like to be sure that we can share openly any concerns or questions that may arise. I welcome questions, feedback or discussions of any kind that affect a positive outcome for the child.
Sensitive issues will be discussed outside of regular hours either by phone or conference. If you call during the day, please be aware that I may be busy with the children and may not be able to answer the phone. If you leave a message, I will call you back as soon as possible.
Hours
Normal hours are 7:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday.
Before school session 7:30am to 9:00am.
After school session, 3:10pm to 6:00pm
Care outside these hours may be provided by special arrangement.
I am also available for overnight care but 48hrs notice is required.
Fees
I have a basic fee schedule, which is supplied separately. Your individual charges will be shown on your contract according to the hours booked.
My fees are calculated to cover expenses such as food, drinks, heating, electricity, toys, petrol and car insurance, safety equipment, arts and crafts activities, cleaning materials, Public Liability Insurance, First Aid Supplies, Registration Fees and my training.
FOOD AND DRINK: My fees include snacks and drinks and lunch. Snacks include items such as fruit, biscuits, ice cream and orange juice.
I will provide Breakfast, or Dinner for £1 per meal.
Alternatively, you can provide a packed dinner or something for me to heat up
I aim to provide children with a healthy, balanced diet. I do allow the children some treats but only in moderation. If I am required to provide meals for a child, an example of a day’s menu is:
Breakfast
Weetabix or Cheerios
Raisins or Grapes
Wholemilk Yoghurt
Fresh Apple or Orange Juice
Lunch time:
wholemeal ham sandwich,
a whole milk yoghurt,
an apple or banana,
a packet of crisps,
a drink of water, milk or reduced sugar juice.
Tea time:
Shepherds pie (made with lean beef mince, potatoes, carrots, onions, peas, sweet corn and stock cubes) and baked beans,
fresh fruit and ice-cream or angel delight
a drink of water, milk or reduced sugar juice
Snacks:
Fresh drinking water and juice is available to drink all day. I provide a morning and afternoon snack every day, usually a piece fruit in the morning, such as raisins, an apple or grapes, and a biscuit, bun or a small packet of sweets in the afternoon. I will sit with the children at meal times to eat and will encourage them to develop good table manners and eating habits.
Although I am not a preschool with a curriculum to follow, I use the EYFS framework and The Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage to help with planning activities and outings for the children. I do not follow a set plan as I allow the children to choose what they would like to do, however, I try to pick a weekly theme and plan the activities around this theme.
Indoors: I offer a wide range of activities for the children I look after to promote their development.
Some of these include:
painting
drawing
baking
cooking
play-dough
reading stories
playing board games
sticky pictures/collages
beads/jewellery making
watching videos/TV programmes (age dependant)
using the computer for games, learning or homework
singing and playing instruments
music and movement
dressing up/role play
sewing (supervised)
ball games
candle making
glass painting
marbling
I also have various toys available for the children to play with such as jigsaws, construction bricks and blocks, cars and mat, dressing up clothes, doctors and vets set, dolls, action figures and a tea-set.
Outdoors, I have a variety of equipment such as balls, skittles, skipping ropes, a cricket set, slides, a sand pit and a play house.
OUTINGS: I regularly take the children (in full day care) on outings, either by car (seat spaces permitting) or by walking to places such as:
picnics
the library
local parks
soft play gyms
local toddler groups
the shops/post office
feed the ducks and horses
Occasionally, when I have a small number of older children (usually school holidays), I may take them to places like the cinema or the bowling alley.
DAY PLAN:
This is a plan of an average day in my setting during term time.
Obviously, each day is different and changes according to the weather, how many children I am looking after and their ages, what they want to do, etc.
7.00 am: Children arrive, play with toys, read books or do drawing/colouring in.
8:30 – 9:15am: School run with buggy for younger children. I escort the children into the correct classrooms if required
9:15 – 11:30am: Visit the local Play Group or Play Gym.
9:15 – 11:30am: If we don’t go to one of the above we will do another activity at home
11:30am – 12:30pm: Lunch time for all.
12:40 – 1:00pm: School run for afternoon nursery session.
1:00 – 2:00pm: Quiet time. Naps for babies and toddlers. Reading books, drawing or watching TV to relax and be calm.
2:00 – 3:00pm: Dressing up, singing or playing games.Playing out in garden with slides and balls if possible.
3:00 – 4:00pm: – School run (with buggy if needed) -collect older children from their classrooms and younger children from nursery.
4:00 – Home time: – Free activity time, children choose
During school holidays this plan will change and we will have days out etc.
All parents must by law sign a contract; I use the National Childminding Association contract. This needs to be signed before the childminding begins.
I also keep:
Child Record Forms. This includes full details of the child and parents, emergency contacts, child’s doctor and health issues, any other preferences and additional information about the child.
Accident/Incident and Medication record forms
Daily diary for preschool children.
Parental permission form for transport in my vehicle, outings etc.
Complaints Policy and Procedure
Childcare Tax Credit Disclaimer
Childcare Providers protecting children
