ABOUT

My name is Nicki, and I am an Ofsted-registered childminder based in Bicester with over 30 years of experience providing high-quality childcare in a warm, welcoming home environment.

I offer both private and funded childcare, including provision for school-age children. My setting provides a safe, nurturing space where children can learn, explore, and grow with confidence.

Every child is unique, so I create personalised planning based on each child’s interests, abilities, and stage of development. I use the Development Matters framework to support their learning and guide their next steps.

Children in my care enjoy a variety of fun and enriching activities such as rhyme time, soft play, park visits, and outings by bus or train. These experiences help build confidence, curiosity, independence, and important social skills.

Our home also has some much-loved pets – two guinea pigs, Dave and Nigella, and a friendly cockapoo called Bella. The children enjoy learning about caring for animals and developing gentle, responsible behaviour.

Ofsted Grade Good February 2025

I am registered with Ofsted and was inspected in February 2025, receiving a “Good” evaluation.

As a childminder, I am assessed under the same rigorous standards as nurseries. The inspection focuses on key areas such as leadership and management, the quality of education and curriculum, children’s welfare and safeguarding, and inclusive practice, all aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

I am happy to share my full Ofsted report with parents—please feel free to ask if you would like a copy. Below is a summary of some of the positive feedback from my latest inspection.

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"The provision is good.

The childminder has established secure setting-in procedures that focus on the individual needs of the children. As a result, children are safe and happy in the childminder's home. She responds to them warmly, helping children to feel emotionally secure. Children are familiar with the daily routines and form close relationships with the childminder. They look to her for consolation and reassurance. For instance, the childminder comforts children when they are upset or hurt. The childminder builds her curriculum around children's individual needs and interests."

"She builds on children's speech and language, helping them to extend their vocabulary. Young children communicate well and eagerly respond to simple questions and instructions. Children develop an understanding of what contributes to good health. The childminder talks to them about how healthy foods help them to grow. She takes children to activity sessions with other childminders and their children. Children can play in the garden and have opportunities to visit various places of interest. For example, they walk in the woods, visit farms and local parks. This effectively promotes children's physical development and their understanding of the world.The childminder ensures that children enjoy their learning and that it is relevant to them."

"The childminder has established very positive relationships with parents. They speak highly of the childminder and the good-quality care and education she provides. The childminder regularly shares information with parents about children's learning and development."

How I Plan Your Child’s Day

Every child deserves the best possible start in life. High-quality early years education plays a vital role in helping children thrive, stay healthy, and be happy. When planning my curriculum, I create a positive and nurturing environment that supports the development of the whole child-encouraging growth across all areas of learning in a holistic way.

Personalized Planning Tailored to Your Child

To ensure the best care and learning experience, I gather information from parents, carers, and other settings involved in your child’s life. I also observe and engage directly with your child to understand their interests and needs.

Using the Development Matters framework, I assess your child’s current stage of development and identify their next steps. This helps me tailor activities and learning opportunities that support their growth and curiosity.

Focus on the Prime Areas of Development

My planning covers all seven areas of development, with special emphasis on the three prime areas that lay the foundation for all future learning:

Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social, and Emotional Development

These prime areas are essential for sparking children’s enthusiasm for learning, building strong relationships, and helping them thrive.

A Rich and Stimulating Learning Environment

I invest heavily in a wide variety of resources for both indoor and outdoor play, ensuring activities are age-appropriate and developmentally suitable. I also use trusted educational platforms like Twinkl to inspire new ideas and activities.

Children enjoy regular outings on the bus, which they love, and during summer, we occasionally take trips by train to add variety and excitement.

Activities Within the Setting

Your child will have access to a diverse range of fun and educational activities, including:

Playdough, imaginative play, puzzles, and games
Peg boards, music time, dancing with disco lights and streamers
Magnets, stampers, stencils, shape and number activities
Tuff trays, junk modelling, stories, iPad learning, dressing up
Construction sets, small world play, painting, yoga, and more

Outdoor Play and Garden Activities

Our garden is packed with equipment and activities to encourage physical development and exploration:

Trikes, bikes, scooters, stepping stones
Parachute games, bats and balls, water wall, slides, rockers
Den building, bubbles, netball, playhouses, play kitchen
Sand and water play trays, chalk drawing, and much more

Exciting Outings and Community Experiences

We regularly enjoy outings that enrich your child’s learning and social experiences, such as:

Rhyme Time and events at the local library
Bus rides, cinema trips, soft play with bouncy castles
Feeding ducks, charity shop visits, nature walks in Cutslowe Park
Playdates with other childminders, visits to the Community Café run by special needs teenagers
Parks, picnics, breakfast outings, special children’s events
Exploring and observing the world around us

I strive to create a balanced mix of activities to keep your child engaged, happy, and excited to learn every day. If you have any questions or would like to know more about our daily routines and activities, please feel free to get in touch!

Qualifications and Training

SENCO Early Years Co-ordinator Government Qualified.

Level 3 Diploma in Pre-School Practice/Practioner

NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award for Special Educational Needs

Development

I have completed the Department for Education’s 2024/2025 Early Years Child Development training, covering eight comprehensive modules:

Understanding Child Development and the EYFS
Brain Development and How Children Learn
Supporting Children’s Personal, Social, and Emotional Development
Supporting Language Development in the Early Years
Supporting Physical Development in the Early Years
Mathematics
Effective Curriculum and Assessment
Supporting Individual Differences and Needs

Additional recent training includes:

Understanding Distressed Behaviour in Children (Newbury College)
Understanding Mental Health in the Early Years (CACHE NCFE)
TQUK Understanding Children and Young Peoples Mental Health
Up-to-date Designated Safeguarding Lead training
St John Ambulance First Aid Certificate for Early Years Practitioners

I regularly participate in webinars and ongoing training to stay current with best practices.

Please feel free to contact me to enquire about my current availability.

Opening Hours and Fees

Monday to Thursday:
7:00 AM – approximately 5:30 PM

Pre-School Children

£6.50 per hour
Minimum booking: 7.5 hours
Funded places available – please contact us for details

School Children

Morning sessions: Please contact me.
After school sessions: £6.00 per hour (minimum 2 hours)
I provide care for Glory Farm School students
For care before 8:00 AM, please inquire about pricing

School Holiday Care (for School Children)

£6.00 hour
Minimum booking: 7.5 hours

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or to book a place!

Please note: I have around 16 working days off per year and try to give as much notice as I can

Funding

Enrichment Activities and Outings

Children attending the setting may participate in enrichment these. activities are provided to enhance the statutory early years education offer.

Examples may include:

Library Rhyme Time sessions
Visits to local parks or community activities
Trips to soft play centres
Bus trips or local outings that support children's learning experiences

Voluntary Contributions

Parents may be invited to make a voluntary contribution towards these experiences,

Additional Charges

The government funding covers early education and care only.

Parents may still be charged for optional extras such as:

additional hours beyond funded sessions
Picking up late Fees

All additional charges will be clearly communicated to parents in advance.

Meals, Consumables and Personal Care Items

The government funded early education entitlement covers early education and care only. It does not cover the cost of meals, snacks, nappies or other consumable items.

Parents are therefore required to provide the following items for their child each day where needed:

Food, meals and snacks
Drinks or bottles where appropriate
Nappies or pull-ups
Baby wipes
Nappy cream (if required)
Sun cream suitable for their child
Weather-appropriate clothing (e.g., hat, coat, spare clothes)

These items ensure that each child’s individual needs, dietary preferences and skin sensitivities are respected.

If any essential item is forgotten, the childminder may provide a temporary supply to ensure the child’s wellbeing. In this situation, parents may be asked to replace the item or reimburse the cost.

Providing these items helps ensure children remain comfortable, safe and able to participate fully in activities throughout the day.

This approach complies with the guidance set out by Oxfordshire County Council, which states that providers may request parents supply consumables while ensuring that funded hours remain free at the point of delivery.

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Funding and Payments

I offer stretched funding and can help by adding additional hours and spreading the cost evenly across the term to provide families with a fixed monthly payment. Please note that payments are required one month in advance.

For funded hours, a voluntary contribution may occasionally be requested to help cover the cost of special outings or additional activities. These contributions help make these experiences possible but will never affect the quality of childcare your child receives, which always follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.