IMPORTANT NOTICE
Childminding service is currently closed

What I do...

Hello and thank you for your interest in my childminding service. 
My name is Rebecca. I am an Ofsted Registered Childminder in Worthing, West Sussex.
My childminding business is called ‘Children at Heart’.
I chose this name because it reflects three key messages I believe in:
- Children are at the heart of my childminding setting;
- All my planning centres around the interests, needs & development of the children;
- In essence we are all still children at heart if given the chance!

I have been graded 'Outstanding' by Ofsted four times, most recently in February 2020.
In their report the inspector says:
The childminder is passionate about her role and highly driven. She has exceptional knowledge and experience, which is highly evident in her deep understanding of children's learning and development
The childminder has a very calm, patient and positive manner, which helps children to feel comfortable and flourish in their independence skills. Children develop a can-do attitude as they focus intently on mastering new life skills. 
Parents hold the childminder in high regard and say she is 'caring' and 'patient'. Children thrive in her care.
You can read the full report here

I have strongly held beliefs about the importance of child-led & child-initiated play that is supported by an interested adult, using children’s play to extend their learning & development in a natural way, very much as a parent would at home, using the domestic routine as an opportunity for building new skills. This approach is one that complements the Early Years Foundation Stage as this framework has a strong emphasis on play and planning that starts from the child.

A collaborative approach

I provide a high quality, friendly childcare service with a fellow childminder at her address in Salvington, Worthing (Playdays Childcare). 

At Playdays/Children at Heart we offer a stimulating and challenging range of indoor and outdoor play and learning experiences for the children in our care, including sensory play, loose parts, arts & crafts, construction toys, role play, small world, sand & water, gardening, dressing up etc, as well as taking them on outings to parks, shops, library and special trips such as farms. 

Playdays has 3 small dogs and 3 cats as pets, and the children are encouraged to help in their care whilst being well supervised.  

We offer Government funded early education (pre-school) places for eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds (subject to an available space). We also accept employer Childcare Vouchers. 

I only work part-time as a Childminder with Playdays as I am also a freelance early years trainer. Although I am still registered at my own house as my primary address with Ofsted, I am co-registered to work from Playdays' property and am not currently operating from my own home except on an ad hoc basis.  

​What is a Childminder?

Childminders are regulated & inspected on behalf of the Government by Ofsted and are required to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (2014) for all children attending their setting aged from birth until the 1st September following their 5th birthday. This means that we offer exactly the same type of care & learning opportunities (sometimes called ‘curriculum’) as nurseries & pre-schools, although not necessarily in the same way.

Childminders are self-employed; contracting out their services; responsible for setting their own own fees, terms & conditions; ensuring they have relevant business insurance; and paying my own tax & National Insurance. We are subject to government legislation including various Children’s Acts; Food Hygiene Regulations; Data Protection requirements; and Planning Regulations. We and any assistants are required to hold a current paediatric First Aid Certificate, undertake regular childcare training, register with the Environmental Health Department and be aware of the procedures for safeguarding children.