Vanina C
Childminder in South Somerset District
Usually responds within 12 hours
Female Member since Nov 2009 Last Updated Jan 2024 Last Login Feb 2024
My Summary
About Me
Vanina Cooper, a childminder in Merriott. I have been an Ofsted registered childminder since 2008 and was given Outstanding in all areas when inspected in Feb 2009 ,August 2015 and Dec 2021.
I previously worked in a pre-school (graded Outstanding) and before that I enjoyed working for British Airways as an Air Cabin Crew, I am married to Simon, we have two daughters. My setting " Merriott Childcare Vanina Cooper Childminder " is an Outstanding level of care for children from birth and onwards. I am situated within the beautiful village of Merriott in Somerset and provide quality wrap-around childcare for the local village pre-school and primary school as well as offering flexible ad-Hoc sessions (some children are with me regularly and others come occasionally). I work with children and their families to provide high standards of childcare adapting to each individuals needs. Aiming to help children reach their own potential, achieve self-esteem and self-confidence.
I have been very fortunate to look after fantastic children and love my work.
My Experience
My time with the children is divided between our outdoor activities and the barn. One of the room is used for quiet time if the children feel tired and simply want to rest. The barn has a kitchen area, this is used for meals/snacks and all messy play as well as table top games etc... In the rear garden children will have the use of giant pirate ship climbing frame with slide, Wendy house, Dutch Barn play house and many outdoor toys. The house is within walking distance of the village school and children park. This enables us to walk and enjoy fresh air and daily exercise within our routines.
I work using the Early Years Foundation Stage and Early Years Outcome. I am registered to receive Education Funding (for up to 30 hours per week)
I employ two assistants
My Qualifications
Certificates awarded for training.webinars and courses attended:
Cambridge University Preliminary English Test
Cambridge University First English Test
British Airways Cabin Crew Training
CACHE level 2 NVQ & level 3 NVQ in Children’s Care learning & Development
Early years 1ST Aid (training attended every 3 years)
Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Catering (renewed every 2 years I am registered with the Food Environmental Health)
Safeguarding Children
Child Protection Awareness
Basic Food Hygiene Programme
Assertiveness for Childcarers
Reflecting Multicultural Diversity Through Play
Supporting Parents
Practical Ways of Tackling Discrimination in the Early years
Diploma in Home-Based Childcare Unit 1
The Emergent Writing Journey: From Mark Making to Writing
Can't Listen or Won't Listen
Maths in the Foundation Stage
Craft Workshop
Supporting Children with Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties
Early Years Foundation Stage Framework
Organising & Managing the Foundation Stage Environment for Teaching and Learning
Signs, Songs & Symbols
Getting to Grip with Planning and Observations for Childminders
Making Chatter Matter-Prioritising Conversation for the Under 3's
AGM Somerset Childminding association
How to become a Nursery Education Funded Childminder
Circus skills
E-Safety
Christmas Craft
Recycling craft creative project
Advanced Childminder
Working with young Disabled People
Spring Craft
Forest Skills in the Garden
Early Years Entitlement Funded Childminder in the County of Somerset
Childminder "Get together"
EYFS - Context and Principles for Early Years Provision
CACHE- Context and Principles for Early Years Provision
Safer Food Handler Level 2 award in Food Safety in Catering
Early Years Craft Ideas
Developing Early Writing
Letters and Sounds/Making a nursery Rhyme bag
Observations, Assessments and Planning
Winter Craft
Winter wonderland workshop
Environmental Health: Food Hygiene rating 5 (very good)
Introduction to Child Protection
12 hour Pediatric First Aid Course
Making it with Clay
Somerset Total Communication
Early Child Development-Foundation
Safeguarding Children with Disabilities
Infection Prevention and Control V2
How Children Learn
Schemas
Heuristic Play
Early Years Dance, Story and Imagination
Building Self Esteem as a professional
Musical Story telling
PACEY VOLUNTEER'S Week Facilitator
Early Years Dance and Imagination
Spiders
Caterpillars and butterflies
Autumn
Difficult behaviour in young adult/ teenagers
All About Me
Christmas Craft (outdoor resources)
Christmas Craft (recycled materials)
Managing your Ofsted inspection
Love Matters
Maths in Early Years Project
Observation and Planning
Fun, Confidence and Development through music
Quality Choice and Aspiration
Forest School Core's Kindling
Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
Music and Story Telling
Mathematics GCSE grade C
Performance Management
Annual Childminder Conference: Communication
Literacy/expressive arts
Maths in everyday practice
Food Allergy Online Training
Basic Food Hygiene
Pediatric First Day
Employment Responsibilities
Child Protection
Self Employed Childminders & HMRC
Child protection for the designated lead role of the childminder
Lead childminder standardisation meeting
Approved to deliver a Lead childminder service in Somerset Crewkerne area
Get together Peer support meeting
Early Years Provider Information Nov 2014
Volunteers' Week PACEY 2015
PACEY Local Facilitator Somerset Area 2015
SCMA AGM 2015
Basic CAF
Early Years Provider Information July 2015
Get together Peer support meeting July 2015
Record of Assessment PACEY Sept 2015
Channel General Awareness module
Annual childminding Conference - Nov 2015
Supporting and extending language and communication
Narrowing the gap, Taking strategic Approach to Working with Children
Maths in Early Years for England Jan 2016
2 Year Olds are Unique
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Supporting Children and Young People's Speech. Language and Communication
Integrated 2 Year Old Review
Awareness of Prevent Duty
Heath & Safety
Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being
Volunteers' Week PACEY 2016
Somerset Childminder Association Awards 2016
NCFE Level 2 IT user Skills (ITQ)
Characteristics of effective learning
Threshold for intervention training
Food hygiene & safety level 2
Child Protection for the Designated Lead Role for the Childminder
SCMA 2017 Conference Promoting Children’s Well-being
Mud kitchen and outdoor Maths
Cooking
Emotion coaching
Lead childminder meeting: Early Help assessment. Professional choices
30hrs childcare time to prepare
E-safety guidance for practitioners working with children
Risk taking behaviour
Self-Harm & suicidal thought in Children & young people
FAA level 3 award in Pediatric first aid
Business Briefing session
Cluster meeting
Cluster meeting
Lead Childminder Crewkerne area April 17-March 18
Female genital mutilation: recognising and preventing
Cluster meeting
How food affects your body
Muddy Puddle Walker
Cluster meeting
GDPR Myth busting
Prevent
Safeguarding recording & record keeping
Keep them safe from sexual exploitation
Level 2 Specific Learning Difficulties
Automated External Defibrillator
Quest
Supporting Speech Sound Difficulties & Stammering in the Early Years
Early Years Funding Portal
Little Princess Trust Hair donation
Engaging Boys in Writing in the EYFS
Safeguarding Audit
Committed to Improve their online Safety provision
Slime workshop
Cluster Meeting
EY Communities event
Providers evening
Moderation
Safeguarding for the Lead childminder
English Initial assessment
English Level 1 Diagnostic
Cluster Meeting
EYI from Sept 19
Food Hygiene & Safety Level 2
CACHE Level 2 Understanding Children & Young People’s Mental Health
Individual -next steps- Planning
Cluster meeting
Teaching 3 & 4 years old
Outings
Cluster meeting
Working with Parents
Teaching boys and girls
Working with other settings and professionals
Supporting children’s home learning
Early Help Assessment
Phonics for Pre-school children
Leadership and management
EYFS Safeguarding and Welfare requirements
Business Planning
Teaching Reception children
Prevent
Childminder organisation
Infection Prevention control
Resources to promote learning
Enabling Environment
The Outside Curriculum
Coronavirus Risk assessment
ADHD Awareness
Prevent COVID-19
Metal Health and Wellbeing
When the world re-start Covid 19 (restarting your business)
Paediatric first Aid
Staff wellbeing
Getting to Good
Children returning to settings
Safeguarding During Inspection
EYFS Reforms-Tracking children's Progress
The Leuven Scales
Early Years Adopter 2020 webinar by Julian Grenier
SASP EYFS Physical Activity Audit AWARD
EYFS Reforms- Designing your own Curriculum
Physical Activity Interventions in EYFS
Get together County Council via Zoom
EYFS Reforms Sequenced Curriculum
Early Years Provider Information Afternoon
What the UK thinks about the Early Years
Spotting the signs of child exploitation (video) PACE
Preparing for Ofsted
Wriggling to writing
Introduction to Development matters
Working Together to Safeguard Children Update
Maths Know How
OFSTED Big Conversation
SALT (Speech and Language Therapy)
AFRUCA Africans Unite Against Child Abuse series 5 “What is witchcraft abuse”?
Food Allergy and Intolerance Training
My first Emotions
Keep Talking - Bilingualism
The EYFS 6 months on
Through the eyes of the child: intent, implementation and impact
EYFS Maths one year on
Introduction awareness of Autistic spectrum conditions
SASP sports Audit
Michael Rosen Story time
What happens before reading
Safeguarding quiz
Role play in early years
Childcare conference “Environment makes a difference”
Loose parts play
Musical play spaces
Self Harm Awareness for frontline practitioners Level 2 08/3/23
OFSTED OUTSTANDING EDUCATION, CARE & SKILLS 2008/2009
OFSTED OUTSTANDING EDUCATION, CARE & SKILLS 2014/2015
OFSTED OUTSTANDING EDUCATION, CARE & SKILLS 2021
Award received: SOMERSET CHILDMINDER'S CHOICE 2016
SASP EYFS Physical Activity Audit Award 2020
SASP EYFS Physical Activity Audit Award 2022
My Availability
Monday to Thursday 7.30 - 17.30
Term time only if required
We are closed 5 weeks (unpaid leave a year) and Bank holidays
Merriott school pick up/drop off Merriott preschool pick / drop off
Merriott School pick up £3.95 per hour. Early years children £4.95 per hour
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Morning | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Afternoon | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 10/01/2024 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £4.95 per hour
I am an "Early Years Entitlement Funded Childminder in the County of Somerset and receive Nursery Education Funding for up to 30 hours a week for children aged 2, 3 & 4 years old.
I accept childcare vouchers & government funding for 2,3 & 4 years old
Hourly Rate is: £4.95 (Snack included).
Merriott school children and or holiday school children £3.95
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Merriott First School
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 16/04/2020)
Reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Vanina C. 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.
My daughter started at 8months for 2weeks before lockdown, and returned again at 11months. It's become apparent the more she can communicate to us, how excited she is about going & now doesn't want to come home when collecting!!
Vanina & Jane are very experienced. We quickly saw many positive changes, and great developments since attending. Her ability & confidence has come on leaps and bounds thanks to their great ethos and encouragement. The setting is welcoming, and so lovely, with great outdoor space. They do many different activities all for learning and education, but based on fun at the same time. Plus, when times allowed, trips and visits out too! The communication is also great, with regular updates and information of developments & day to day activities.
As a first time mum & particularly through a global pandemic, it's a great peace of mind to be confident of a safe environment. Having worked tirelessly to change and adapt policies and procedures in line. As well as supporting all, even when not able to attend. I could not reccomend highly enough!
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by
SamBray
about
Vanina C
on 26/02/2021
Response by
Vanina C
on 02/03/2021:
It's our pleasure to look after her. Thank you for trusting us and for the lovely feedback. Vanina
My little boy started at Merriott Childcare in Sept 2020. Due to Covid he had missed out on months of critical learning, development and social interaction. Since attending Vanina's setting he has come on leaps and bounds. The setting has really helped to develop his skills in such a short space of time and he absolutely loves to go. I work in a primary school myself, and as settings go this is as good as provisions get. You won't find any better. Vanina and Jane are amazing with the children and the opportunitites that the children are given are out of this world. I am a first time mum and from the second I dropped my little boy off I had 100% trust and confidence in both Vanina and Jane. I would highly recommend this provision.
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by
Laura
about
Vanina C
on 26/02/2021
Response by
Vanina C
on 02/03/2021:
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, we greatly appreciate it. Knowing that you work in education and understand the importance of working in partnership makes us confident that we are getting it right. Vanina
My two children have attended the setting since they were 9 months old. Now nearly 6 and 2.5.
They absolutely adore Vanina and Jane and so do we!
The setting is welcoming, with no end of resources, indoor and outdoor, which Vanina and Jane work extremely hard to maintain and keep up to date. They cover so many topics at the setting and without doubt both of my children’s development has been massively enhanced by going to the setting.
Outside of COVID the children love going on day trips to groups, national trust, and the beach to name a few. They do cooking & crafts aside from playing. My children feel safe and secure at the setting and always come home having had a great day. During COVID the setting has been very accommodating especially with the constant changes in guidance and rules. I can’t praise Vanina and Jane highly enough.
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by
optiplex
about
Vanina C
on 24/02/2021
Response by
Vanina C
on 02/03/2021:
Thank you for the feedback. It's been wonderful looking after the children. We look forward to more memories and fun with them :) Vanina
This childcare setting is 1st class. The children learn so much attending, mine have attended since 9months old and every morning I’m asked “is it Nina and Jane day”. I love the outdoor space this setting provides and the days out they have when allowed are brilliant - it’s a real home from home.
Throughout COVID19 Vanina and Jane have gone above and beyond, keeping up to date with policies and procedures ensuring the setting remains safe at all times. I would not have wanted my children to go anywhere else throughout this whole pandemic and it made me feel easier being a key worker knowing they were left in safe hands. It’s been a difficult time for everyone but they have made it far easier and less stressful.
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by
Natalie
about
Vanina C
on 24/02/2021
Response by
Vanina C
on 02/03/2021:
Thank you for the review and sharing your thoughts with other parents looking for childcare. Your girls are a delight to look after and we are grateful you chose us. We are aware that your qualifications in childcare and value your experience and thoughts. Vanina
Both Vanina and Jane are highly experienced childminders that are highly recommended in the village. Vanina has a beautiful setting, with lots of outside play equipment. They both work hard coming up with different ideas for themes and activities. They put a lot of attention into healthy eating and self care, which really helps to prepare them for when they start school.
Vanina has been a god send to my family, offering flexibility with hours when we have needed extra hours due to me being in hospital or through me being furloughed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. She is always offering ways that she can help.
My eldest child (7years) has been attending since she was 8months old and still enjoys going. Now her brother (2years) attends too, and loves it equally. Really wouldn’t go anywhere else!
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by
Lisa
about
Vanina C
on 24/02/2021
Response by
Vanina C
on 02/03/2021:
Thank you for all these wonderful years of partnership. Your children are part of our world :) and we love looking after them . Vanina
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