Beckys Childcare

About Me

** 1 x space available for an immediate start**

Hi, I’m Becky, an Ofsted registered childminder in Ashton-under-Lyne. I offer a warm, welcoming home-from-home setting where children are cared for as part of the family, while also following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum to support their learning, development and school readiness.

My aim is to give children the best of both worlds — the security, comfort and personal feel of a smaller home-based setting, alongside the learning experiences and opportunities they would receive within a nursery environment. Through play, planned activities and everyday experiences, I support children to develop the skills, confidence and independence they need to be school ready when the time comes.

One of the things I feel makes childminding so special is the opportunity to take learning beyond the setting. We regularly get out and about in our local community, visiting parks, farms, museums, playgroups and other places of interest. These experiences allow children to explore the world around them, develop their confidence in different environments, learn how to interact with different people and build strong social skills and relationships.

Although we spend lots of time out exploring, children always have their home-from-home base to return to — a familiar, safe and comfortable environment where they know they belong. I love creating a setting where children feel included as part of the family, whilst having the freedom to learn, explore and develop at their own pace.

Being a smaller setting also means I can really get to know each child as an individual. I can follow their interests, recognise where they may need extra support and provide plenty of one-to-one interaction and teaching opportunities throughout the day.

What does a typical day look like?
Every day is different, but a typical day might look something like this:

*Breakfast & free play
We start the day with breakfast for those who need it, followed by free play and opportunities for children to settle in, explore and play while everyone arrives.

*Out and about
We will usually head out for an outing, which could be a local playgroup or play centre, the park, a farm, museum or another place of interest. Getting out into the community gives children lots of opportunities to socialise, develop confidence and independence and learn about the world around them.

*Lunch & rest
We then head home for lunch and some quieter time. Children who still need a daytime sleep will have the opportunity to have their nap, while those who don't can enjoy some calm activities.

*Afternoon activities & learning through play
The afternoon may include a planned activity, arts and crafts, messy play, baking, imaginative play, books, puzzles or whatever the children are interested in that day. There are always opportunities to learn through play, develop new skills and build on what each child is already learning.

*Home time
Before long, it's time to finish our day, share what we've been up to and get ready to go home.

This is only an example of a typical day. One of the benefits of a childminder setting is the flexibility to adapt our plans around the children. If they are particularly interested in something, we can spend longer exploring it; if they need a quieter day, we can slow things down and if the weather is lovely, we can make the most of being outdoors.

I don't believe children need every minute of their day planned for them. They need time, space and opportunities to play, explore, ask questions, develop relationships and follow their own interests — and that's something I aim to provide every day.

For me, childminding is about much more than simply providing childcare. It is about building trusting relationships with children and their families, creating happy memories, encouraging curiosity and independence, and giving children the confidence and skills they need for their next steps.