Themuddybootsproject
Childminder in Reading
Usually responds within 2 days
Female Member since Oct 2009 Last Updated Dec 2025 Last Login 08 Dec 2025
My Summary
New Availability
About Me
New Availability:
I currently have one space available for a baby aged 9 months.
For details on availability, start dates, and fees, please contact me directly.
My setting is Ofsted inspected and Montessori-led and inspired, and I am Forest School certified. I was awarded a Certificate in Montessori Practice for Childminders (CPD), accredited by the Montessori Centre International, London.
I am recognised by Reading Borough Council as a Leading Childcare Practitioner and hold a full NVQ Level 3 in CYPW.
I live with my husband, my 20 year old daughter and our dog in a house with a larger-than-average garden, located in a quiet cul-de-sac within walking distance of West Reading Station, just off Tilehurst Road.
I work alongside two assistants, as well as my husband, and together we introduce children to basic German and Spanish.
We work from a separate annex building where we offer a loving, caring, and home-from-home environment, providing a reliable and supportive service for both children and parents.
My husband and I are both Ofsted registered and members of the Early Years Alliance and hold certificates in home-based childcare, paediatric first aid, full liability insurance, intermediate food hygiene, and health & safety and many more. I also hold the CYPW NVQ3 Diploma in Childcare. My setting follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidance.
All certificates are available to view, and I bring additional experience from raising my own child. We had twice Ofsted outstanding in previous years and now a good with expansion of employment of assistants.
I believe that home-based childcare offers children personalised care and support, allowing us to work closely and collaboratively with parents.
We provide a wide range of daily activities including painting, sticking, drawing, model making, play dough, baking, and seasonal crafts for Christmas, Easter and other celebrations. A particularly popular activity among the children is our regular visits to Prospect Park, where they have the opportunity to climb trees and use our tree swings. We also do a lot musical activity and ring games and songs.
We are active members of the local library, which we visit regularly (every Friday) for story and singing sessions, and the children are encouraged to choose books to take home.
My setting is a large detached property with a spacious, fully enclosed garden, equipped with a Wendy house, sandpit, outdoor toys, a fantastic mud kitchen, a small climbing tree a large mark making area. These facilities are available for children to access throughout the day.
We also explore local parks and nature areas and woods for Forest school learning regularly.
Our environment includes a wide range of stimulating and educational resources, including imaginative play materials, dressing-up outfits and role-play toys. Our setting and toys are Curiosity Approach approved and out emphasis is on natural materials.
We promote healthy eating and offer both hot and cold meals, as well as a dedicated sleeping area for rest and naps.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange a visit, please feel free to contact me.
My Experience
I use "BABYS DAYS" in my settings which is an OUTSTANDING EYFS SOFTWARE FOR CHILDMINDERS.
Baby's Days complies all the EYFS Development areas into a Software system which is a complex, modern and fast, yet this simple to manage system has been designed & developed to assist me as a childminder and parents. Parents get directly involved around all areas of the EYFS, which includes the structure of Learning, Development and Care.
We speak German and Spanish.
My Qualifications
Montessori Practice for Child minders(CPD)
Forest school Certificate.
Reading Borough Council awarded LEADING CHILDCARE PRACTITIONER
RQIA - Reading Quality Improvement Award
CYPW (Children and Young people workforce NVQ3 level 3)
I have full pediatric first aid, intermediate Food & Hygiene (fully qualified chef), Health &Safety Certificate, NCMA member, Safeguarding Certificate, Pediatric child minding Certificate since 2007 and my last Ofsted inspection was grade - twice "Outstanding - 2014" & 2019 as well as Good 2025
My Availability
New Availability:
I currently have one space available for a baby aged 9 months.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Evening | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Overnight | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Last Updated: 04/12/2025 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £9.00 per hour
New Availability:
I currently have one space available for a baby aged 9 months.
For availability and/or more information about rates, please contact me directly.
FUNDED HOURS: Funding available for 15 & 30hrs per week.
Fees charged are based on full days and opening times
Opening times: Monday - Friday from 7:30am - 6:30pm
If you have any question or would like to discuss fees or timing please call me directly
All food is prepared fresh as I am a professional Chef who had been working in
5 star hotels around the world,
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 11/05/2020)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for TheMuddyBootsProject. 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.
We are very lucky to have found Melanie - she was able to look after my 3 year-old son and 5 year-old daughter during lockdown (as key worker’s children), and she has been amazing!
My fussy eater son now eats vegetables (the food is amazing), the setting is beautiful and so well equipped, we love her straightforward but always caring approach, and she has been an inspiration in her safe and sensible approach to the pandemic.
The children have an amazing time with her - they run in excited every morning without turning to say goodbye, and can’t stop talking about their day when they come out!
It was only supposed to be a temporary stop-gap during the pandemic, but we are lucky enough to have secured a place for him next year as well.
Thank you Melanie, we are so grateful to have found you!
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by
Laurie
on 08/07/2020
Response by
TheMuddyBootsProject
on 08/07/2020:
Thank you so much for your kind words. They have settle very nicely and made lots of new friends they valued a lot by their friends and make me smile at lot.
Melanie is simply the best!
Our son loves getting up in the morning as long as he knows he is going to Melanie's! He is now 3 and has been with her for over 2 years now, I give Melanie a lot of credit for helping him grow into the great little person he has become.
We have been nothing but happy with Melanie, our friends and family hear about her often, and every time we meet with other parents we make sure we speak of how lucky we are to have found her!
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by
Ephie
on 08/11/2018
Melanie has been caring for our son Freddie (aged 3) in her setting on a full time basis since he was 9 months old.
My wife and I have been extremely happy with the care Freddie has received, and the great progress he has made. Melanie’s home is always welcoming, clean and well organised and Freddie has great fun playing with all the toys, games and books. Her garden is fantastic as are the rest of her settings, giving the kids freedom to play and explore. He’s made great friends with the other children in Melanie’s care and is always happy to get ready in the morning to go!
Melanie provides a wide, fun range of activities including plenty of outdoor exercise and trips to local attractions including farms and zoos. Freddie loves this and these added experiences are helping immensely to increase his vocabulary and understanding of the outside world. Without Melanie’s constant tuition and attention I don’t think that Freddie would have made the progress he has.
Freddie receives all of his meals, freshly prepared and his diet is excellent because of Melanie’s introduction of new and varied foods. His behaviour is fantastic which is testament to Melanie’s patience and communication with Freddie.
Not only does Melanie look after Freddie on a full-time arrangement, but we also receive an online diary in the evenings which keeps us regularly up to date with the activities Freddie is undertaking as well as the food he has eating during the day. The added bonus of pictures shows us how happy Freddie is!
Melanie has seen Freddie learn to walk, talk and develop in to a very happy little boy and without her guidance and support we don’t think he would have progressed so well.
We are so happy with the level of care Freddie receives and will be sad when it is time for him to move on
Melanie is a brilliant child-minder, who we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
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by
Parent
on 10/07/2014
Melanie is a professional, dedicated and talented childminder. The moment I met her and experienced the environment in which children in her care are looked after, I had no hesitation whatsoever in entrusting her with my daughter's care.
Melanie provides a schedule of activities which rivals that of any nursery I have encountered. Any initial misgivings I may have had about childminders not being able to compete with the repertoire of nursery activities have been completely over turned by Melanie's amazing schedule.
Melanie provides children with both a fun and educational schedule, in a warm and loving environment.
I would highly recommend Melanie to any parent who wants reassurance that their children will be cared for to the highest possible standards available and who will thoroughly enjoy and benefit from the experience of being away from Mum and Dad.
PS - her cooking, apart from being nutritious and varied, is delicious!
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by
Parent
on 20/12/2011
My daughter was with Melanie for nearly 2 years and it was the best decision we ever made. My daughter was so happy at Melanie's and I knew automatically that she would be safe and happy with Melanie and her family. When we sadly had to move our daughter out, it was a very sad day and we still miss her!
The facilities at Melanie's house are brilliant and she always had a wide range of toys, books and activities for the children to do.
Melanie is a great cook and our daughter without doubt prefers Melanie's food to mine!
I would thoroughly recommend Melanie to anyone as she is 100% professional as a child minder, loving to the children, and her daughter is a great role model for my little girl!!
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Overall
by
Parent
on 12/12/2011
My daughter started with Melanie for 3 days a week at the end of August and settled in straight away. She now gets excited as we drive down the road towards Melanie's house.
Melanie has made the transition of going back to work so much easier for me as I know that my daughter is in a secure location with a childminder who is pragmatic and caring. Melanie does so many activities with the children that are fun, educational and encouraging of exploration and development. The children all play so well together in the environment she has made.
I am so pleased that I found Melanie and that she had a place available when I was looking for a childminder. In the new year my daughter starts full time there and I am sure she will enjoy everyday, I would definately recomend her.
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by
Rufus1
on 28/11/2011
The contents of this review are no longer available as the reviewer's account has been deleted.
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by
Parent
on 16/10/2011
The contents of this review are no longer available as the reviewer's account has been deleted.
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by
Parent
on 07/10/2011
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