Nicki Tayler

About Me

GRADED OUTSTANDING BY OFSTED IN JANUARY 2022 AND SPECIALISING IN BIRTH TO THREE YEARS.

My name is Nicki and I am an Ofsted registered childminder in Earley, Reading. I am 49 and have been married to my husband, Ian since 2003. We have three children - James, 19, Jack, 18 and Millie, 14.

We live in a detached house in Earley, with good access links to the A4 and M4. We have a dedicated playroom, somewhere quiet for little ones to sleep and a large enclosed, secure garden offering lots of opportunities to explore.

We are very fortunate to have a heated swimming pool which is separate from the garden play area. During the warmer months I am able to provide the children with the opportunity to gain water confidence and have some splashy fun! (Only with parents permission and when ratios allow)

We have a friendly dog called Shellie who has been with us since July 2013 and has proved an asset to the children's learning and understanding of animals. She is a 'Shih Tzu', - basically small, cute and fluffy and "hypoallergenic"! We find that our current parents are keen that their children gain all the advantages and confidence/experience of being with a dog but without them having to have the commitment at home.

I provide a warm, safe, friendly home environment, with a family atmosphere in which children feel valued, can play, learn and develop. Children will receive lots of individual attention whilst enjoying interaction with others. I appreciate that parents are the most important people in a child's life and therefore consult with parents on all aspects of their child's care.

Before children I worked as a Personal Assistant in a large corporate environment and when I returned to work after James was born I used both a nursery and then a childminder. I understand how important it is to find the right childcare and the pressure placed on working parents and I therefore aim to be as flexible and reliable as I can.

I aim to support your child's personal development and prepare him or her for the future. I follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in my setting which is a statutory framework that sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five. I plan activities, considering the children's next steps and current interests to choose appropriate activities based on our current topics and books. The children also participate in free play where they are able to choose their own activities, toys and games to play. A typical week would include story times, messy play, crafts, painting, play dough, trips to the park or places such as Dinton Pastures, sand and water play, daily outdoor activities as well as toddler groups and music sessions.

I am a Forest Childcare Provider and I believe that spending time outdoors is very important. The children go outdoors here every day, at least once a day, no matter what the weather because I believe that fresh air and wide open spaces are good for them! We have a fully enclosed back garden that the children can access whenever they want. But we also live near to lovely parks, woodland areas and nature reserves and we visit one of these places at least once a week.