Frequently asked questions

To enrol your child at Natalie Wile Registered Childminder, please visit our website and fill out the enquiry form. We will then contact you to schedule a visit and provide additional information.

Yes, we provide healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the children. Please let us know if your child has any dietary restrictions.

We follow a play-based curriculum that emphasises  social-emotional development, language and literacy, cognitive development, and physical development.

Parents are liable for their agreed contracted fees (irrespective of whether the child attends or not for any reason) the only time parents do not pay is when the setting is closed to all children i.e Christmas and bank holidays 

All fees are paid in advance so if you pay weekly fees are due on the Monday of each week in advance, if fees are paid monthly it’s due the 1st of each month in advance. 

If you wish to have a reduction in days or a termination of your contract you must give a minimum of 4 weeks notice. You will be liable to pay the full current contracted fees for this period. 

We do try to go out of our way to communicate this to parents, by putting it on our policies and contract as well as explaining this before a place is taken up. Please be sure that you agree to these terms before signing your contract.  

Yes! As we are childminding setting registered to our home address our information is hidden on the tax free childcare site. Once you have secured your space for your little one and all paperwork is completed we will give you the information you need to sign up. 

You can find out lots of information over on the government website to find out what you may be eligible for.

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/upcoming-changes-to-childcare-support/

All of our families who are waiting for a space have various requirements so to make it fair we go in order of the waiting list enquiries.  

We start by offering any availability to what space has or is coming up to the family at the top of the waiting list, if that family doesn’t require the space that has came up and passes on that space (for example a Tuesday and Friday comes up and that family waiting needs Monday and Thursday) we would offer the space to the next person on the waiting list and so on.

We always try and let parents know when the next expected availability may be coming up so they have some idea, however this isn’t always possible.

Our advice would be to pop your little ones name on our list asap with your days and times requirements and as soon as anything becomes available you will be contacted. 

Change of clothing (including underwear and socks) nappies and wipes, nappy cream, bottle and formula milk, pair of slippers, hat, wellies, coat. 

This is not a problem although please inform us as soon as possible. A password system will be set up if we have not met the person before.

The child’s key person will keep an up to date record on your child’s progress they will share this information with you regularly sending their learning story home.

 We will hold regular parent telephone meetings to discuss child’s progress. 

At the end of each session staff members will talk you through your child’s day sharing  information such as what your child has eaten, if they have had a sleep, drinks etc…

You will receive termly progress reports 

Each group has their own group messages where your child’s key worker will update you on anything your child is going to be getting up too and what they’ve done.
We send out monthly and termly newsletters

You can speak to a member of staff at handover for a brief catch up on your child’s development and you can also arrange a chat with your child’s key worker or Natalie at a time convenient to all. 

We have breakfast up until 8 am, which is a mixture of cereals and either toast or fruit to follow.

We then have snack at 10:15 am, which is either fruit, breadsticks and raisins or salad sticks. 

Our lunch is usually around midday and a copy of our menus can be found on our social media accounts and you will also be given a copy as and when the menu is updated.

We then have another snack at around 4pm 

this is usually a cold meal e.g. sandwiches, crackers, ploughman’s etc. 

Fresh fruit and water is always available throughout the day. 

No unfortunately at nursery we have a strict policy on exclusion periods. For sickness and diarrhoea children must be away from nursery for 48 hours after last symptom.

Yes we are very flexible with meals and snacks, you can choose to supply your own meals and snacks or have our meals and snacks.

All we ask is if you wish to provide your own food for your child it requires no preparation (such as heating or cutting) it contains no nuts and it’s of a balanced consistency.
 

E.Y.F.S. stands for Early Years Foundation Stage. 

The EYFS is a curriculum set up by the Government that states how we as early years practitioners do things. 

The EYFS is split into 7 areas in total.

3 prime areas: 

Communication

Personal social and emotional

Physical

And 

4 specific areas: 

Maths

Understanding the world

Literacy

Expressive art and design

Within these areas we must ensure children are making progress in each area.

We advertise for staff using the government website but usually get most interest through social media and word of mouth. Fortunately our staff turn over is very low so we do not need to advertise regularly. 

For apprentices we use our training provider to place job opportunities on their website. 

Once we have applicants our recruitment process has various stages. 

First we ask for application forms and CVs we shortlist these and invite successful applicants to a formal interview with two members of the team. 

After the above has taken place we put the considered applicants information to our current parents who ask a few question of their own. 

This stage helps the parents get a feel for applicants and ask many different questions that we ask. 

The final stage is a trial where applicants come into the setting and work along side staff with the children across all areas of the setting. Once a decision is made staff take part in a full day induction and carry out a full DBS check before they start.

Yes we have a few students working with us at different stages through their careers all students carry out a full induction in which we outline what they are allowed and not allowed to do. Within this we talk through our student policy which is available in our policy section. Students are never left alone with the children and also are not allowed to carry out other tasks such as medication or toileting. We see the education of new practitioners as vitally important so enjoy having students and giving them positive role models to learn from.