Snelling Tina - Childminder - 112857

When looking after a child with additional needs, I discuss their individual requirements with the parents and develop plans to meet these requirements, ensuring that the child has access to the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage. I ensure the activities or free-time allows the child to use their communication skills, their independence skill’s and to be active and inquisitive. I encourage the children to use their numeracy skills and develop problem solving skills through planned and free-time. Learning is undertaken in line with the 2012 edition of the EYFS framework and Birth to Five Matters. The children are provided with opportunities to learn through play with toys both within the house and also within the garden, we also undertake various learning activities such as drawing, painting, model making etc. We also undertake learning through recognition of shapes, primary colour’s, letters, numbers, basic words and their name. I encourage the children to benefit from a wide variety of learning opportunities, they are encouraged to select from a range of resources from low-level storage; such as reading, playing with toys and then returning to reading when they want. This helps to promote their independence and to make choices in what they do and when they want to do it. The children are provided with fresh nutritious balanced meals and snacks, which they may have helped to grow and pick from the garden. This enables me to encourage and build on the children's understanding of healthy eating and drinking.

OurUsually initial contact is via the telephone, face to face contact or by email. Good communication skills are vital between the parents and me, this starts at the first interview. It’s important that we can build a relationship, so that all areas of care and education can be discusses in full. I need to be able to find out what the parents’ wishes for their child are and if I can provide. I like to work closely with the parents and children. When meeting parents for the first time we discuss their child's needs and this enables me to plan activities at the right age/ stage of development. When looking after children with additional needs I discuss their individual requirements with the parents and then develop plans to meet these requirements. I prepare and provide to each set of parents a parent welcome pack and portfolio of information which they can take away to read in their own time, the pack contains a copy of the settings, the last Ofsted report and examples of relevant policies and information.

OurUsually initial contact is via the telephone, face to face contact or by email. Good communication skills are vital between the parents and me, this starts at the first interview. It’s important that we can build a relationship, so that all areas of care and education can be discusses in full. I need to be able to find out what the parents’ wishes for their child are and if I can provide. I like to work closely with the parents and children. When meeting parents for the first time we discuss their child's needs and this enables me to plan activities at the right age/ stage of development. When looking after children with additional needs I discuss their individual requirements with the parents and then develop plans to meet these requirements. I prepare and provide to each set of parents a parent welcome pack and portfolio of information which they can take away to read in their own time, the pack contains a copy of the settings, the last Ofsted report and examples of relevant policies and information.

I provide a childminding service from my home which is an end of terraced cottage, in the village of Greatham to the north of Petersfield in Hampshire. I live here with my husband and two adult children (all are CRB checked) and my very friendly Conure parrot. I have been a registered child minder since 1994 and have also been a member of PACEY (NCMA) since that time. The cottage is within walking distance of Greatham, Primary School, the village nursery and village play area. The village Hall is home to a local toddler group and hosts other early years children's activities. The setting is a smoke free environment, I use the Lounge, Dining Room, Kitchen, and Bathroom which are all situated on the ground floor as part of the setting. I also use the secure and fully enclosed garden when the weather is suitable. Access to the setting is via a footpath from road level, the roadway is a quiet village road with a 30 mph speed limit and on street parking facilities. I cover Greatham Nursery School and Greatham Primary School both within the village.

I endeavour to provide a professional high quality family and child friendly setting for the children within my care. As part of the initial interview the parents are asked to take home the 'Parent Information Pack' and decide if they wish their child to attend my setting, this will then lead to a second interview at which time both parties make the decision to proceed. At this point the contract and medical history information and other relevant forms are completed, a starting date is then agreed.. With a new child, I offer the parent the opportunity for me to undertake a home visit so as to bond with the child in their own familiar environment, or to attend my setting for play days to get to know the setting, the other children and myself.

I encourage Parents to talk to me on arrival and on collection, I ensure we have an ongoing diary so that the child’s needs are constantly being monitored. This way I can ensure that the child settles well and their needs are met along with the parents’ wishes. When older children arrive I take the opportunity to talk to the parents about their child's health (have they slept well, did they eat their breakfast etc.) This helps me to ensure the child's needs are met on daily basis. I encourage parents to discuss any issues at the end of the day or if needed to be discussed out the reach of the children in my care or other parents. I arrange to phone them at a convenient time or they can phone me early in the morning before the child arrives. I regularly ask parents if there are any activities that they would like included or any other ideas so that I could improve the provision for their child. Parents are provided with a folder of evidence at the end of each term, this shows the progression made by their child during this time. With the parent's permission I am more than happy to liaise with external agencies. It’s very important to communicate with all concerned, to ensure that the child receives support and is able to access all extra help and resources to enable the child to progress and give continuity of learning and continuity of care.

The setting is a smoke free environment, I use the Lounge, Dining Room, Kitchen, and Bathroom which are all situated on the ground floor as part of the setting. I also use the secure and fully enclosed garden when the weather is suitable. Access to the setting is via a sloping footpath from road level, the roadway is a quiet village road with a 30 mph speed limit and on street parking facilities. Entrance to the setting is via a single step with standard riser height, I would be happy to make reasonable adjustments to the setting.

My qualifications are: Paediatric First Aid, NVQ3 and City & Guilds in Early Years Care and Education, Level 3 in Child-minding Practice, Health and Safety Level 2, Food Handling Level 2, Safe Guarding for Early Education and Childcare Level 3. I have been on training courses for the following:- Multicultural Needs, Child minding with special needs, Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, this helps me when planning activities for the children. I would be happy to undertake additional training if this was deemed necessary.

The safety of the children in my care is paramount and I ensure they are safeguarded from danger. I have attended a safeguarding course and my safeguarding policy meets the EYFS requirements. I carry out a fire drill with the children so they are aware of what to do in an emergency. I complete monthly health and safety risk assessments on all areas within my setting and carry out visual checks daily. I have appropriate safety equipment in place and toys/equipment are cleaned on a regular basis.

Tina Snelling Home Telephone: 01420 538288 Email: [mailto:tinasnelling@btinternet.com tinasnelling@btinternet.com] Ofsted Registration 112857 Pacey Member