Contact Details
Deborah Thorsby
26 Esthwaite Avenue
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7NZ
Phone 01539 733607
Mobile 07905 687 627
Important Contact Numbers
Local Social Services Duty Desk , daytime - 01539 713377
Local Social Services, out of hours 01228 526690
Kendal Police Station 01539 722611
Ofsted, Complaints and Recommendations 0300 1231231
PACEY, legal advice line 0292 1156458
PACEY Information line 0845 8800044
PACEY Child Protection helpline, 24 hours 0808 800 5000
My emergency care contact numbers
Donna Mellard 07894293549 / 01539 733478
Karen Knipe 07733272931 / 01539 726067
Deborah Thorsby
Registered
Child minder
Looking
After children
Since May 2000
PACEY Quality Standards
1. Take a professional approach to child minding
PACEY child-minders are registered and comply with the requirements of their registration, have suitable insurance cover, undertake relevance training keep up to date with child minding regulations and legislation
2. Manage children's behaviour
PACEY child-minders never slap, smack, shake, bite, frighten or humiliate a child, take a positive approach to managing children's behaviour, set clear boundaries and share these with parents, give praise and encouragement, respond to unwanted
Behaviour appropriately, according to child's age and level of understanding.
3. Promote equality of opportunity
Child-minders treat each child as an individual and with equal concern, give every child equal chance to develop and learn, take into account each child's age of development, gender, ethnicity, home language and any disability, encourage children to develop a sense of their own identity and culture, help children to learn about cultures different from their own and to develop positive attitudes toward people who are different from themselves.
4. Respect Confidentiality
Child-minders do not share information about children and families without their permission, only break this rule in the interest of protecting a child when they seek advice from the appropriate professionals.
5. Promote children's learning and development
child-minders provide play activities and learning experiences suitable for each child's age and stage of development, support and stimulate children's social, physical, intellectual, communication and emotional development (SPICE), build learning into everyday activities, support and compliment what children learn at home and school and pre-school, keep parents informed about children's progress.
6. Work in partnership with parents
Child-minders recognise that parents are the most important people in a child's life, recognise that parents know their own child best, exchange information about each child with their parents, show respect for the families beliefs, traditions and wishes for the care of the children, arrange back up cover for emergencies, review contracts at least once a year, understand children's needs for on-going care with the same carer.
7. Keep children safe
Child-minders pay careful attention to safety and hygiene, ensure a smoke free environment, make detailed plans of what to do in an emergency, are aware of possible signs and symptoms of abuse and know what to do if they suspect a child is being abused.
8. Know about nutrition
Child-minders discuss children's dietary needs with parents; provide children with a healthy, balanced diet.
9. Have good business practice
Child-minders keep organised records of children's attendance, personal details and development, keep accurate written records of accidents and incidents in an accident book, and keep detailed financial records.
10. Seek support - NCMQ Child-minders seek advice from other professionals when necessary; take advantage of the opportunities for mutual support provided by the PACEY and local child-minding groups.
About me
I am married with three girls and have been child-minding since May 2000.
Before I became a child minder I worked locally in the hotel and catering industry
I am originally from Windermere and moved to Kendal when my oldest daughter was due to start school in 1995.
My registration allows me to look after 3 children under the age of 5 at any one time, with only 1 allowed to be under 12mths, occasionally I have an exception enabling me to look after a 4th child or to look after 2 babies at any one time.
I am a member of PACEY (Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years)and I aim to work towards their Quality Standards.
I am fully insured with Public Liability insurance as well as the usual House/Buildings/Car insurance.
I hold a clean driving licence and use appropriate child seats when out and about in the car.
I am out and about every day, whatever the weather with the children, we walk to parks, toddlers, shops, cafes, fun factory, places of interest and I have both single and double buggies and kiddie boards etc. Since 2009 I have been working with young adults with special and additional needs at a local college so I have some experience in this field.
I am also an active member of the Kendal & District child-minding Association and take part in all their organised activities and trainings to keep us up to date with all the changes and developments in childcare We attend organised Christmas parties for the children and a weekly toddler session.
My aim is to encourage children in my care to be happy, confident and friendly. I encourage children to mix, talk, play and socialise with children all ages and backgrounds.
Exercise is very important to me and I pass this on to children in my care is a fun and everyday way.
Healthy eating is high on my agenda, I provide varied and healthy snacks and I am very aware of Special dietary needs.
As of 2012 I am able to access 15 hours government funding for 2yr olds if families meet a specific criterion. The scheme is called Free Early Learning for 2yr olds. Information is available upon request.
Running of my setting
My Holidays/time off/sick days
Any time off I take is unpaid, therefore you will not be charged
My regular time off is Christmas through to the Monday after New Year before the schools go back.
I also try to take a week in summer and/or end of October.
I travel with Amabile Girls Choir as a Committee/first aider/cook and am also the cook/guider to a local Guide/Brownie unit on their weekend trips. Any days off required for these trips are unpaid and plenty of notice is given to parents together with alternative child-minders details that may be able to cover my time off.
Parents Holidays—Contracted hours will be charged during holidays, occasional time off and parents/child's sickness.
School Holiday—to be agreed at the time of completing the contract.
50% retainers of contracted hours will be charged to reserve a place during school holidays for those families that do not require care for their children at this time. Normal fee applies to extra hours required at this time.
Bank Holidays—I don’t work therefore don’t charge. But if your child requires care then an extra fee on top of the regular rate will apply.
Extra/Occasional/Swap days—I am happy to do this providing it is within child numbers on my registration and I feel I can manage all the children safely.
Fees & Payment—all contracts and child information forms are renewed and updated every September, at this time fees will be reviewed and may be increased. I prefer to be paid at the beginning of the month in advance but understand that this is not always possible. So I am open to alternative suggestion.
Toddlers/Days out—Attendance at Toddlers, Singing groups, Fun Factory or Entrance Fees etc. will be reasonably charged to your monthly bill.
Meals & Snacks—I ask that your child be provided with their meals but I am happy to supply meals at your request for a small charge. Occasionally I may substitute a meal with another if I consider it inappropriate, i.e. swap a tin of beans with a sandwich if we are going for a picnic. I provide a variety of snacks and drinks at no extra charge.
Equipment—My prams, car seats, high chairs, blankets, foot muffs, rain/sun shades, travel cot, beakers, sand pit, outdoor equipment, toys and books are all kept in safe, clean conditions and are well maintained. Any extra equipment I may need is bought as and when or will be borrowed from another child-minder or the local child-minding group.
Insurance—I try not to use my car too much but it is insured with Morton Michael who specialise in supplying car insurance especially for child-minders. I have childminder aware, home and buildings insurance. I am a member of NCMA and use their Public Liability insurance supplied by Sun alliance.
Early Years Foundation Stage
A new framework for learning, development and care for children from birth to 5
It’s child’s play
Play is vital for children. It’s through play that babies and young children learn, grow and have fun. It helps them understand the world and to develop socially and emotionally. Singing songs, reading together, playing games with letters and numbers, and having fun with friends gives them a head start. And that means not just a happy childhood. It also helps their confidence, so they can handle what life brings them.
All children should be able to play and learn in a fun environment with adults who understand and care about them. And you should be able to feel confident about leaving your child with a nursery, playgroup, pre-school or child-minder if you want to.
That’s why from September 2012, the early years foundation stage will be changed, every child who goes to a school or Ofsted registered childcare provider will be able to take advantage of this approach, wherever they live.
It means being sure each individual child is learning through high quality play, that’s tailored to them. So they develop at their own pace, having fun, making friends and learning as they play.
Becoming confident, secure children who, when the time comes, are better prepared for school. Not pushed, not pressured. But ready to reach their potential.
The child is at the centre of the early year’s foundation stage. The people working with your child will pick up on their interests and abilities, and build on them through play.
Keeping in touch
You’ll always be the most important influence in your child’s life. Getting involved and talking to your child’s child-minder makes a real difference.
How do you know how your child’s doing?
Childcare providers already put together information on how your child’s doing. They might take photos and describe what they’ve been doing during the week, for instance. Or keep a folder showing you what they’re learning, how they’re developing, what they’re interested in - and how they’re going to build on that. A 2 year check will be completed to assess your child's development and highlight any areas that need working on.
Trusting they’re safe
You can be confident your child will be safe because the early years foundation stage has safeguards to help ensure every child has a positive experience, surrounded by people who care for them.
Qualifications
- I hold a valid first aid certificate for babies and toddlers.
- I have attended training session at Kendal College for Child Protection and Behaviour management and gained a cache certificate, grade B’s.
- In 2009/10 I completed an NVQ 3 in Children's Care Learning & Development.
- I am part of the local child minding network which requires us to attend extra trainings on all sorts of child based care and development. I can provide 2funded places for disadvantages 2 year olds, depending on familys meeting certain criteria.
- I have also completed various Educare and NSPCC child protection awareness and safe from harm programmes.
- As required by Ofsted I keep up to date with changing regulations and legislations
- Child-minders and their homes are inspected every 3/4 years by Ofsted and are judged on how they are applying The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- We are expected to undertake regular training, keep risk assessments and plan for the development journey of children in our care.
- First Aid and Safeguarding Children knowledge is refreshed every three years or when new legislation is introduced.
- I have recently spent 4 years working with young adults with special needs and have undertaken various awareness and trainings during this time.
Crafts—we do crafts at home and at toddlers, these are provided at no extra cost.
Please provide plenty of nappies for your child daily and a change of clothes or extra layers appropriate to the time of year. I so have spare waterproofs for walkers and a variety of wellies for wet days, hats for sunny/cold days.
Please provide high factor sun cream should we be treated to any summer weather. Don’t worry if you forget as I do keep some in my prams together with a first aid kit and hand sanitizer.
Diary—I provide a diary which I will complete daily and include photos of your child's routine, activities, friends, achievements etc. Please feel free to do the same as this is your to keep. It is a useful tool in keeping us all up to date on what is happening at home, grandmas and my house, holidays and days out and development stages.
Problems—I like to consider myself very approachable. Any worries at all, please share.
Evening Babysitting—I do provide this service. I am also a member of Sitters.
Opening Hours
My normal hours of work are from 8am—6pm but I am flexible depending on requirements and my existing schedule.
I provide a minimum session of 2 hours (as required by Ofsted) for over 4’s and 6 hours for under 4’s and am willing to take children requiring part or full time care.
I also provide wrap round care for children attending nursery and full time school in a smoke free , relaxed, and caring environment.
Heron Hill is my main catchment school but I am willing to pick up from other schools if my schedule allows it.
Drinks and snacks are provided throughout the day but I do ask parents to provide healthy meals for their child, although I will cook for children on parents request for a small fee.
Nappies, spare change of clothes and appropriate outdoor wear are to be provided by parents daily.
Activities & Toys
We do painting, glue and sticking; play dough, colouring, gloop, dress up, days out, rides on buses & boats, trips to markets, fish shops, parks, playground & local attractions.
Strawberry, blackberry picking, have snacks in cafes, visit the fun factory & the library, and go to see other children in child-minder homes visit local parks, take trips on trains and busses, feed the ducks and make the most of the weather.
The outside area at my home is continually under improvements, I have a fully enclosed front garden with grass for summer playing and my back yard has had an enormous chalkboard put up to allow for outside mark making, and is now undercover to allow for all year play if the children are brave enough, we do planting and growing of veg in the Spring/Summer, construction, and have various equipment to play with outside.
Toys include lots of Weebles, Duplo, food with shopping baskets, microwaves and picnic sets. Train sets for all ages, tents and tunnels, building bricks, castles and soldiers, dolls and prams, baby toys, story bags, dress up etc….
Routine of a typical week.
Monday
Walk to School
Walk to Fun Factory for a play, Juice and snack
Back to Debbie’s for lunch or to the park for a
picnic if weathers good.
Nursery drop off.
Play at the park after lunch, mid afternoon drink and snack or sleep time.
Walk to School
Drink and snack for after school children.
Play outside with bikes, construction, water, slide, see saw.
Tea and home times.
Tuesday
Walk to School
Toddler group, stories, singing time,(messy play), drink and snack.
lunch. Nursery drop off.
Strawberry picking as nice day, don’t need snack as ate loads of strawberries/raspberries.
Walk to School.
Drink and snack for after school children, puzzles, books and tent out.
Tea and home time.
Wednesday
I work at a Residential College for young people with special and additional needs and have done since September 2009
Thursday
Walk to School
Walk To toddlers today at URC, stay for lunch club.
Walk back for afternoon children or nursery drop off.
play on field with ball, midafternoon drink and snack
Paint or glue out. Walk to School.
Drink and snack for after school children.
Play outside with bikes, chalkboard and sand ect.
Tea and home time.
Friday
Walk to School
Day at Debbies, craft, play ect. Walk for afternoon children or nursery drop off.
Trip in car to farm,butchers ?
Walk to School.
Drink and snack for after school children.
Play outside with the chalk board, bikes, and sand.
Tea and home time.