Bscuk
Childminder in Birkenhead
Female Member since May 2017 Last Updated Jan 2021 Last Login Mar 2024
My Summary
About Me
My name is Charlotte. For as long as I can remember I have known I wanted to work with children. I started my journey by completing sixth form A levels then studying an early years degree at university in Sheffield. Whilst working in a range of childcare settings, I continually felt their rules and regulations hindered the education, care and attention I longed to provide. This is when Bright Stars was born.
As a mother myself, I know how difficult it can be leaving your children in someone else’s care. For me, personally, I always wanted to know everything my child was learning and achieving whilst in childcare, yet I was always disappointed with the level of detail in the feedback from nursery staff. I was never satisfied with the notes in the daily diary and learning journey of my child. At Bright Stars we pride ourselves on our fantastic planning, assessments and next steps, we put lots of time and effort into our learning journeys and daily diaries to ensure they are always full of art work, detailed observations and with your permission, photographs of your child’s development.
My Experience
Before becoming a childminder, I had five years’ experience working with babies and children, in a range of settings. Whilst completing my A Levels, I attended the Wirral Toy Library and Resource Centre, for children with additional and complex needs. Here I worked on a one to one basis with the babies and young children, encouraging them to develop and learn through play and stimulation.
For six months I attended sessions to prepare for a visit to Lourdes, France. I travelled with a local community group to participate in a voluntary scheme which involved taking children with additional and complex needs on a break. My main roles were to care for children with a range of disabilities and prepare daily activities.
Whilst completing my degree I was required to attend three placements. Two of which were in private nurseries and the third was in a school pre-school. Throughout my time on placement, along with caring for the children I would also be required to carry out a number of tasks for university. This included; recording observations for the children, creating and introducing specific play plans for individual children and identifying ways to enhance children’s development.
Upon completing my degree I was employed by one of the nurseries in which I had undertaken my placement.
Tasks included:
• Providing excellent standards of care for children and parents.
• Keeping accurate administrative records of a child’s development
and progress.
• Working with various age groups
• Contributed to and participated in team meetings and activities.
• Welcomed and assisted visitor s to the nursery.
• Undertook out of hours activities like summer fairs and Christmas
activities.
• Recorded accidents/incidents in the correct log books.
• Encouraged children to respect each other and also teachers.
• Maintaining toys and play equipment.
• Finding ways to stimulate children.
• Following and implement the policies and procedures set out by the
nursery.
• Ensuring that all daily routines are adhered to.
• Helping to settle in new children.
For a year whilst undertaking my childminding qualifications, I worked alongside a registered childminder, as a childminder’s assistant. This has helped me to compile an in depth business plan and identify how I plan to run my setting to the highest possible standard.
My Qualifications
I have a variety of qualifications that will assist me when providing the best possible care for your child.
I have eleven GCSE’s at grades A-C and grade B in AS Level Food Technology and a grade B and C in A Level Health and Social Care.
I then attended Sheffield Hallam University where I completed a BA (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Studies achieving a 2:1. I completed my degree whilst raising my son and commuting to and from Sheffield, multiple times per week.
I feel my degree sets me above other childminders in many ways.
During the course I gained knowledge in the key areas of; early childhood education, safeguarding, child development, the health and culture of children. I developed my interests and career aims by focusing on particular areas, such as working with families and young children’s well-being. I developed a range of relevant practical skills, such as how to identify and support children’s individual needs, build appropriate and trusting relationships with children and their families, understand play situations in order to develop practice and experiences for young children and listen to children and understand how they think. My studies were led by a team of lecturers with extensive and varied professional experience in key services for children and families. Their backgrounds included; social work, health visiting, education and psychology and health, social care and education. As well as the theoretical understanding of these subjects, I developed my professional experience and confidence by working in a range of early childhood environments.
Through the following core modules I developed my understanding of the way children think and learn.
International perspectives on childhood
How different countries care for and educate children and how we can use aspect of this to improve the way we care for and educate children in England.
Leadership in early year’s settings
What makes an effective leader and manager, what skills and attributes they should possess and how the way they lead and manage can influence their workforce and the children they are responsible for.
Participation in the early years
The way we view children in our society can affect the level of participation we allow them to have in everyday life. We often label them as incompetent, when in other countries they have greater levels of participation due to their culture, which makes them appear more competent and independent.
Understanding looked after children
Understanding how children that are looked after though local authority care are affected and what we can do to improve outcomes and life chances for these children.
Children playing
Why children play and the different types of play they engage in. How their choice of play changes as they develop and what they learn from this. Different methods for observing play and how our findings can be used to plan the next steps for the child, in terms of learning and development, based on their play interests.
Healthy childhoods
What children need to live healthy childhoods and reach their full potential and factors that may hinder this such as socioeconomic factors. What can be done for children who may not have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Contexts for young children’s learning
What children need to enable them to learn effectively and factors which may hinder this. How different contexts can change the way children learn.
I have also completed a twenty thousand word dissertation on heuristic play and treasure baskets and how much benefit they have for babies and young children when created and implemented correctly. This knowledge provides a strong foundation for any career working with young children and their families.
After graduating university and starting work in a private nursery, I made the decision to become a childminder. My main reason for this was that I felt the rules and regulations of the setting restricted the level of care and attention I longed to provide for the children. I then registered as a childminders assistant and started training to become a chilminder. I completed the Banardos ABC Pathway Programme Level 3 Award in Preparing to Work in Home Based Childcare, along with a full two day paediatric first aid training course, a level 2 award in food safety in catering and carried out the necessary safeguarding training. I am also OFSTED registered and have a DBS (CRB) certificate.
Since becoming registered as a childcare provider in August I have completed the following courses;
• Schemas
• Raising Developmental Concerns with Parents
• An Introduction to Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum
Disorder
• Delivering the EYFS
• Channel General Awareness (terrorism)
• Expectations of Behaviour
• Supporting Children with Speech, Language and Communication
Needs
• Starting Out – Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being
My Availability
Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Evening | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Overnight | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Last Updated: 06/01/2021 |
My Fees
- Childminding from £3.60 per hour
As we offer a 24.7 childcare service, we have a range of fees including;
Overnight
Full Days
Half Day
Weekend Full Days
Weekend Half Days
Bank Holidays
Hourly
If you get in touch with us we can provide you with an accurate fee for your requirements.
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 10/05/2023)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for BSCUK. 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.
Where do I begin. We relocated to the area in 2019 and the daunting prospect of transferring our son from a much loved private nursery in Chester was made so much easier with the help of Charlotte and her team. Our son is quite particular in his routine but with the their help we navigated him through such a big change. As he grew his love for Brightstars did too as did ours. He transferred into school and then attended after school club with Charlotte. Charlotte even went the extra mile adding his primary school into her school pick ups. I gave birth to our daughter and immediately added her onto Charlotte’s waiting list. Once again the daunting task of returning to work after maternity and leaving your baby was upon me….I’m sat writing this review with two sleeping children who have been picked up after an amazing time at their childminders. Charlotte goes above and beyond to cater for our childcare needs and the amount of activities she provides both in her setting and trips is astounding. We couldn’t be without Brightstars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've had a really confusing experience with Charlotte. I jave been asking for availability for my son and was told there is a space for him, then I was invited to see Charlotte's nursery and she showed me around and we were talking about settling in sessions. Then I was given the contract that she asked me to sign and then we could set up some sessions with Max. I was amazed, I was really happy with everything and I also at that point already informed current nursery that my son will be leaving soon to this new place. 2 days after receiving contract from Charlotte I was trying to call her but she wasn'tanswering, I was texting but with no answer... Then another few days later I've just got a short message that she there is no space for my son anymore and still wasn't answering my phone calls, I even tried calling from other numbers but no answer either.
To be honest I am happy this happened before leaving my son at this place as this situation scared me a lot, I would definitely never trust the person who is so unprofessional to look after my baby.
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