Clara

About Me

Hello, I am Clara Lynch (McDaid), an OFSTED registered Childminder, graded OUTSTANDING in all areas. I have been childminding for 16 years and have since gained a First Class BA (Hons) full degree in Early Childhood Studies, following on from a previously undertaken Level 5 qualification in Early Years Leadership and Management.

I am DBS checked, have Public Liability Insurance and am a member of the PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years) and am also an accredited support childminder, on hand to support new childminders with my knowledge and experience. All of the above has helped to develop a great local support network which is advantageous to the children, parents and to me.

I am very up-to-date in terms of training, safeguarding and legislation and regularly attend Early Years conferences, one fairly recently in Doncaster surrounding the issue of Narrowing the Gap between boys' and girls' achievements. I always seize training opportunities when they arise and am currently nearing completion of a Department for Education Level 3 qualification course to become a Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCo).The courses complement my knowledge and abilities so that I am confident in delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum in the best way possible and in an entirely inclusive way.
I have a very holistic approach and consider all aspects of a child when planning activities and experiences.

I cover Southend on Sea, Westcliff on Sea, Leigh on Sea, Thorpe Bay, Shoebury, Rochford and Great Wakering.

I have two daughters who are happy, warm, very bright, funny girls. They love having babies and toddlers in the house and are extremely nurturing and gentle. The children love them.

I currently look after 7 children under 5 and do not offer primary school collections or deliveries, preferring to focus on educare of children in the early years age category. I convey information regarding the children's learning via email, messaging and informal chat at delivery/collection and regularly send photos to visually demonstrate what the children have been participating in. I plan activities, outings and the use of resources based on the child's interests, abilities, information passed to me by parents and through observation. Developmental milestones are monitored within the notion that each child is unique and will develop within their own timescale and in their own, individual way. The Early Years Foundation Framework underpins all that I do.
In order to ease the transition into this childcare setting, I am happy to do initial home visits and create bespoke settling-in programmes. I am also very happy to hold individual parents' evenings on an ad hoc basis, if required.

We live in a lovely house close to Southend Victoria station and town centre, as well as St Marys school, St Helens and Milton Hall. We have a play room (for general play such as dressing up, role play, home corner, reading, music, dolls etc)and morning room (for craft activities, woodwork, piano-playing and mealtimes).

The children have access to a huge selection of books and poems and also read e-books with me. This complements the hardcopy books, whilst adding new interactive technical skills.

We have a nice enclosed garden with a cat as well as an 13 year old enormous gold fish which all the children regularly enjoy re-naming. (Currently Fishy.)

I have been childminding since 2007 and am delighted to have three OUTSTANDING inspection reports. I am qualified to degree level in this field and I am passionate about my work and love being around children. I have very happy, positive, engaged children in the setting and we all communicate and socialise extremely well. The dynamics work well and I am always conscious of maintaing that when introducing a new child into the group. I offer a trial period to ensure that everyone is happy before we proceed on a permanent basis.

I am always trying to better myself, professionally, and have undertaken the following courses:

Understanding Aspergers and the Autistic Spectrum

Safeguarding Children

Child Mental Health

Prevent DutyTraining (Govt training)

Advanced Safeguarding Children

Practical Activities for a Multicultural Setting

Level 2 Food Hygiene / Catering

Introduction to Childminding Practice (Unit 1)

Unit 2 of Diploma in Home based Childcare (for which I was graded an A)

Unit 4 of the above Diploma (grade A)

Unit 3 of the above Diploma (grade A).

Unit 5 of the above Diploma. (grade A) (These are all Level 3)

Level 5 In Early Years Leadership and Management

ELKLAN speech and Language 6 week course

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies First Class Degree

Fire Training

This is in addition to the mandatory courses undertaken:

Paediatric First Aid (updated Jan 2022)

I have my own allergic child and, therefore, have experience and training in anaphylaxis, asthma and allergies as well as hypermobility. Since the new legislation (that came into play on December 2014) all businesses which offer food must meticulously list all know allergens in the menus that they offer. To reinforce this I note each of the 14 main European allergens if they are contained within any food that I provide. I also identify and avoid any additional allergens or irritants which may be unique to a child. Children with allergies are very welcome to bring their own food and parents/carers of babies with dairy intolerances/allergies are encouraged to leave a supply of their specific milk powder at the setting.

I charge an hourly rate and invoice in advance by cash, standing order or childcare vouchers (including tax-free vouchers)