Clara

About Me

**OFSTED OUTSTANDING 2022**
One part-time space available.

Hello, I am Clara Lynch (McDaid), an OFSTED registered Childminder, graded OUTSTANDING in all areas in all inspections. I have been childminding for 17 years and have since gained a First Class BA (Hons) full degree in Early Childhood Studies, following on from a Level 5 qualification in Early Years Leadership and Management. I am also a qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinator.

I am DBS checked, have Public Liability Insurance and am a member of PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years) and am also an accredited support childminder, on hand to support new childminders with my knowledge, skill development, training advice 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, most recently one highlighting the imporrance of creativity and the everyday implementation of everyday early maths. One conference, in Doncaster, surrounding the issue of Narrowing the Gap between boys' and girls' achievements, provided me with a wealth of information and useful tips to use within the early years provision in order to optimise every child's individual learning and develop opportunities . I always seize training opportunities when they arise and have recently completed a Department for Education Level 3 qualification to become a Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCo).

The courses complement my knowledge and abilities so that I am confident and skilled 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 embrace strong partnerships with parents and am very approachable, welcoming feedback and information which will help the child's development, security and stability.

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 by parents.

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 and a cat.

I have been childminding since 2007 and am delighted to have been graded as OUTSTANDING in all OFSTED inspections. 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, resulting in a calm and nurturing environment. We enjoy cuddles whilst reading (and whenever needed) when the children are engaging in a bit of down-time. The dynamics work well and I am always conscious of maintaining 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 Level 4

Child Mental Health

Prevent DutyTraining (Govt training)

Advanced Safeguarding Children

Practical Activities for a Multicultural Setting

Level 2 Food Hygiene / Catering

Level 3 Diploma in Home Based Childcare

Level 5 In Early Years Leadership and Management

ELKLAN speech and Language

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies First Class Degree

SENDCo Level 3

Fire Training

This is in addition to the mandatory courses undertaken:

Paediatric First Aid (updated Jan 2022)
Safeguarding

I have my own allergic child and, therefore, have experience and training in anaphylaxis, asthma and allergies as well as hypermobility. 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. Medication is kept secure and administration of medicine is always recorded and signed by parents.

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