FAQ's
Are you both regiestered seperately? What does this means?
Ash and Claire are both fully registered childminders, but we are registered individually rather than as a single childminding business. This means:
✅ Same Quality of Care – Regardless of which of us is responsible for your child on a given day, they will receive the same level of care, following the same routines, policies, and activities.
✅ Separate Ofsted Registrations – We each have our own Ofsted registration, meaning we are inspected separately and have individual reports. Parents can check both registrations if they wish.
✅ Flexibility & Continuity – This setup allows us to offer more flexibility in how we care for children, while still working closely together as a team.
✅ No Impact on Fees or Service – There is no difference in cost or the way we run our setting. Your contract will be with both of us, and your child will benefit from both of us working together.
If you have any questions about how this works, feel free to ask! 😊
Are you registered with ICO?
We are registered with ICO
Our Registration reference is ZB734836.
You can download a copy of our registration certificate here: Download
How much do you charge? Do you except funding?
We currently charge £5.50 per hour from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday.
Friday and weekend care is currently £6.00 per hour.
We accept all forms of funding, 9 month old, two year old and three year old funding.
We also accept tax free childcare, childcare vouchers too.
One exception is if children are ill we offer 50% off to encourage parents to keep the children at home and keep our setting safe from spreading illness.
If we ever increase our prices we will let parents know with plenty of notice.
Are you insured?
We are fully insured with Childcare.co.uk, including
- Public Liability Insurance
- Professional Indemnity Insurance
- Legal Expenses Cover
- Employers’ Liability Insurance
Both our vehicles are also insured under Admiral Car Insurance
Pictures and Photos
We take pictures and photos regularly for a variety of reasons including observations, to send to parents, social media and more.
Every picture we take is in line with our Mobile phone and Camera Policy which you can read here: Download
When parents register they are asked to fill in a permission form about where we can share pictures; and they have the right to change or remove any images they request which we will do at the earliest opportunity.
What ages do you care for?
We provide care for children from 0 years old up to 11, offering a nurturing environment tailored to their developmental needs.
Our main children are in the early years, of 0 to 5.
What are your opening hours?
Our standard hours are 8am to 5pm but we may offer flexibility depending on individual needs.
We also offer occasional weekend and overnight carre for additional charges.
Do you provide food, or should I pack meals?
We do not provide regular meals, so parents will need to pack lunches and any required food for their child. However, we do keep a small selection of snacks available for emergencies. If your child has any allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know so we can ensure their safety.
What qualifications do you and Claire have?
We are both fully Ofsted-registered childminders with many different qualifications. We also both do continuous professional development to ensure we are up to date with training.
Ashleigh
- Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS)
- BA Combined Studies Specialising in Childcare
- NVQ3 in Home Based Childcare
- Paediatric First Aid
- Safeguarding Level 3 – Jan 2025
Continuous Professional Development
Activities are not Enough – 26th November 2024
Ofsted Inspection Checklist – 15th October 2024
Health and Safety Update – 8th October 2024
Safeguarding Paperwork – 1st October 2024
Early Years Professional Development Program (EYPDP) 2024
Childminding Mentor Program 2024
- Action Planning for 2025
- Prevent Awareness Jan 25
Claire
- BA in Early Years
- Paediatric First Aid 2023
- Continuous Professional Development
- Early Years Professional Development Program (EYPDP) 2024
- Childminding Mentor Program 2024
How do you handle allergies or medical conditions?
We take allergies and medical conditions very seriously. We work closely with parents to ensure we follow all necessary precautions and administer medication if required (with consent).
What is your sick child policy?
If a child is unwell, we ask that they stay home to prevent the spread of illness. If they become unwell while in our care, we will contact parents immediately.
Please have a look at our Infectious Control and Illness Policy here: Download
What happens if I need to cancel or change days?
Changing Days: Parents can request a change of days with 4 weeks’ notice, but this is subject to availability and may not always be possible due to numbers.
Child Holidays: If your child is on holiday, the full fee still applies to keep their place secured.
Provider Holidays: When we take planned time off, there is no charge to parents.
No-Shows: If a child does not attend without prior notice, the full fee still applies. We will always contact parents to check on the child’s absence.
Sickness: If a child is off due to illness, we offer a 50% fee reduction to encourage families to keep unwell children at home and prevent the spread of sickness.
How do you communicate with parents?
We believe in keeping parents well-informed and involved in their child’s day.
- Daily Updates: We use BabyDays and WhatsApp every day to share photos, updates, and important notes about your child’s time with us.
- Emergency Contact: If there’s ever an urgent issue, we will contact you by phone, and you can also reach us the same way if needed.
- Invoices & Important Notices: We send invoices and other key updates via email, including occasional newsletters to keep you informed about what’s happening in our setting.
If you ever need to reach us, feel free to message or call! 😊
How do you handle emergencies?
At Ash & Claire’s Childminding, safety is our top priority. We have up-to-date first aid training and follow strict emergency and risk assessment procedures to ensure the well-being of all children in our care.
First Aid & Emergency Response
✅ First Aid Preparedness:
- We are trained in paediatric first aid, covering CPR, choking response, and treating minor injuries.
- First aid kits are always stocked and accessible in our setting and when on outings.
✅ Emergency Response Plan:
- We provide immediate first aid where necessary.
- If required, we contact emergency services without delay.
- Parents will be informed as soon as possible with details of the situation and next steps.
✅ Fire & Evacuation Safety:
- We have a clear fire escape plan and conduct regular safety checks.
- Children are familiarised with evacuation procedures in a calm and reassuring way.
✅ Emergency Contacts:
- We maintain an up-to-date list of parent contacts, medical details, and emergency numbers to ensure quick communication when needed.
Risk Assessments for Activities & Outings
✅ Daily & Routine Safety Checks:
- We assess risks every day in our setting to ensure a safe environment for play and learning.
- Toys, equipment, and the general environment are checked for potential hazards.
✅ Planned Activities & Outings:
- Some activities, like messy play or physical games, are dynamically risk assessed—meaning we continuously evaluate risks as the activity happens.
- For larger outings (e.g., trips to parks, museums, or playgroups), we complete written risk assessments in advance to consider factors like transport, group size, and safety measures.
✅ Supervision & Safety Measures:
- Children are always closely supervised, and we tailor activities to their abilities.
- For outdoor trips, we establish clear safety rules and ensure children are aware of boundaries and expectations.
By combining emergency training, ongoing safety checks, and thorough risk assessments, we ensure that children can enjoy a fun, enriching, and—most importantly—safe environment at all times.
If you have any questions about our safety measures or would like to see specific risk assessments, feel free to ask! 😊
How do you manage behaviour and discipline?
We use positive reinforcement, clear boundaries, and role modelling to encourage good behaviour. If challenging behaviour arises, we guide children to understand their actions, regulate emotions, and make amends. We never use physical punishment—our focus is on kindness, understanding, and consistency.
You can find a copy of promoting positive behaviour policy here
What happens if my child has a special need or additional support requirement?
If you have any other questions or concerns, please give us a ring, email or Whatsapp
You can find our contact details here:
