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Rainsford, Shirralee Anne
Services and organisations that have the Local Offer flash have filled out inclusion information, meaning that they meet the needs of people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

My name is Shirralee Rainsford and my career in childcare began after the birth of my daughter in 2008.   Since then, I have had the pleasure of working with over 30 children and their families, all from very different backgrounds, with varying needs.

Originally my family and I lived in London where I worked from home as a childminder, working with children and their families.

Many of the children I have worked with have had complex physical and/or learning disabilities including hearing impairment (profound hearing loss), global developmental delay, Autism and Downs Syndrome.  I have experience of children with gastrostomy feeding tubes, febrile convulsions and epilepsy.

After relocating to Cornwall, I have worked in primary schools as a one to one support worker in early years, key stage 1 & 2.

I have a Foundation Degree in Early Years Childcare & Education and have also attended numerous training courses including Mental Health Awareness, Augmentative Communication, Eating well for Under Fives, Supporting communication for children with complex needs, Autism for girls, Diabetes, Exploratory Play for Babies and Toddlers, Sign A Long (Makaton) and more.

All the children within my care have access to their own play room stocked with a varied selection of toys and materials to enable them to learn and develop through play in a home from home environment whilst feeling safe, secure and valued. They have access to a large outdoor area, mud kitchen, sand and water trays and trikes.

I am registered with Ofsted, have a Level 3 Safeguarding certificate, Paediatric First Aid and am fully insured. I am also a member of the Quality Childminding in Cornwall programme. 

My hours of working are listed below, although I understand how important is it to be flexible.  Should you need childcare outside of my normal working day, or if you have a changing shift pattern, please discuss this with me. I will always try to be as flexible as I can, and work around your preferred hours.  

I am able to provide free childcare for 2 and 3 and 4 year olds, when they are funded by the government for their 15 or 30 hours.  

Who to contact

Contact name
Shirralee Anne Rainsford
Contact position
Childminder
Telephone
07506 012397
E-mail
shirralee.rainsford@outlook.com

Where to go

Address
Portreath
Redruth
Cornwall
Postcode
TR16

Other details

Costs

Table of costs
Table of costs
AmountCost Type
£6 Per Hour
Details
Minimum of 3 hours per day.

Please note my fees do not include food. Please ensure your child has a packed lunch.

Childcare outside of normal working hours (Monday - Thursday 8am-5pm) will be charged at £7.50 per hour.
Do you offer a free or reduced rate to carers?
No

Inclusion within our setting

Dietary needs

Has provision
Yes
Experience with
No food provided
Details
A healthy snack, milk and water are available for all of the children in my care, however please provide a lunch box and evening tea if applicable to your childcare hours. Please discuss any meal arrangements with me.

Cultural provisions

Languages spoken

English 

Pet provisions

Are there any pets at the setting?
Yes
List of pets
Cats
Other furred animal

Childcare information

Vacancies

Immediate vacancies
No
Details
I am full at the moment, however please contact me to discuss your childcare needs and I will keep your details on my waiting list and contact you as soon as I have a space available.
Date updated
22/03/2022

Funded places

3 & 4 year old funding
Yes
2 year old funding
Yes

Opening times & facilities

Opening times
Opening times
DayOpening timeClosing time
Monday 8am 5pm
Tuesday 8am 5pm
Wednesday 8am 5pm
Thursday 8am 5pm

School pickups

Offers pickups
Yes
Details
Please discuss your requirements with me.

Ofsted information

Ofsted URN
EY548565
Link to latest ofsted inspection report 
Inspection history
Inspection History
Inspection DateInspection typeInspection Outcome
21/01/2020Inspection (Early Years Register)Met

Inclusion details

Saint Piran's Flag
SENCo name
Shirralee Rainsford

Early Years Local Offer response

Learning and development

Systems and strategies we have in place to identify children that may require additional support

Before I provide childcare for your family, I like to find out as much as I can about your child, which will help me to settle them when he or she stays with me for the very first time.  I will ask you to fill out an ‘All about me’ booklet, which will help me get to know about your child before I spend time with them and will tell me all I need to know to ensure your child is safe and happy whilst in my care.  The booklet will ask you questions such as, what are your child’s routines, likes and dislikes, nap times, how do they like to be comforted etc. Until I get to know your child personally, I can only rely on the information that you provide.  


When your child comes to my setting for the first time, I like to spend time with you and your child together, so that he or she becomes familiar in the new surroundings.  This will give them a chance to get to know me and will give them time to explore the playroom and toys that I have here. When the time comes for them to be left alone with me, they will hopefully feel comfortable and familiar with my home, and me. 


All children develop in their own individual and unique way and it is important that I am aware of your child’s development, so that I can provide the right activities and support to help them achieve their milestones.  During my childcare career, I have attended many training courses that has deepened my knowledge of child development.  To allow me to keep track of your child’s progress, your child will be given a Learning Journey, which will record all of their learning whilst in my care, and you are invited to include any experiences your child has at home, to this learning journal. In the first few weeks of childcare, I will make a baseline assessment of all the milestones your child has achieved until now, compared with the Development Matters and Every Child a Talker guidance. From then on, I will continue to observe your child regularly during their time with me and keep track of their development in this journal.  Should there be any gaps in their progress, I will discuss this with you and together, we will support your child to ensure they achieve their full potential. Should your child already have a Learning Journal from a previous childcare setting, it would be beneficial to include all of their previous learning experiences in their new journal.  As well as being a very useful way of keeping track of your child’s progress, the Learning Journal is a lovely book of memories to share with your child as they get older.  


If your child is in my care when they reach their second birthday, I will complete a 2 year review, which is shared with you and your Health Visitor.

How we identify and support children's learning and development needs

Since 2008, I have been working with the Early Years Foundation Stage either as a childminder, in nursery or reception class. I have gained much experience within the early years by way of theory and in practice.  Having worked in nursery and reception classes, where there have been anything up to 90 children in the setting, I much prefer the smaller setting that childminding can offer. This allows me to get to know the children on a much more personal level. When childminding, I have a maximum of 3 children under the age of 5 years. This allows me the flexibility to meet every child’s needs, whilst providing for each child’s individual interests.


As part of ongoing observations, I use the on-line system Baby's Days.  This allows me to keep all of your child’s progress up to date, whilst sharing their achievements with you.  Any gaps that appear within your child’s progress are highlighted, so that I am able to support your child in this specific area.


Baby's Days also provides us with a daily diary, where I am able to keep you informed of your child’s day with me, including what they have eaten, nap times and even toileting!  Baby's Days also allows parents and carers to upload pictures or videos, this allows us to work together to support your child’s learning and development.


Communication is key. It is vital that we communicate with one another either face to face at drop off and collection time, or via Baby's Days, Messenger or WhatsApp, whatever you prefer as long as the channels of communication are open for both of us.  It is equally as important to keep informed of your child’s progress if they are attending another setting alongside my childcare.  I will ensure that information is shared with the other setting to ensure continuity of your child’s progress.


Following our ongoing observations of your child, should we identify a need for support from another childcare professional (eg, speech and language), I will of course discuss this with you before moving forward with any referral

Links we have to other agencies

I have worked with many other childcare professionals including Health Visitors, Speech and Language and Portage. I attend the local SENCO meetings to keep informed and up to date of current procedures.  I am within a short driving distance of Camborne, Redruth, Pool, Troon and Hayle Family Hubs.

How we support children transferring to school

Throughout your child’s time with me, I will support the development of their confidence and independence, two skills that are very important for when they move on to school. We will ensure that your child has time to practice self-help skills such as being able to put on their coat and shoes, and going to the toilet independently.  It is equally important to support your child’s confidence so that they feel comfortable and able to ask for help, should they need to.


We will go on regular school runs to build on routine and familiarity. 


Home visits are usually arranged by the teacher to be at the child’s home, however I am more than happy to make arrangements for such visits to take place in my setting.


To ensure a smooth transition, it is important that the teacher is familiar with your child, therefore I will be happy to share your child’s Learning Journal with the teacher, with your permission.

Welfare

Specialist skills or training our staff have

Since 2008, I have worked with many children with varying needs.  I have experience with Gastrostomy feeding tube, Febrile Convulsion, Cochlear Implants (profound hearing loss), Global Developmental Delay, Autism, Downs Syndrome and Mental Health.


My Paediatric First Aid certificate is updated regularly, as is my Level 3 Safeguarding and Child Protection. I am always keen to attend training courses to extend my knowledge and ensure I keep up to date with current procedures.

Support we offer regarding children's health and well-being

If your child has any specific health issues, please discuss these with me so that I am able to support your child to the best of my ability.  If I require any further training to enable me to support your child, I will need to put this into place at the earliest convenience. It is important that any existing routines your child has, are maintained in my setting to ensure continuity. Good hygiene routines will be modelled for your child to learn, as it is so important (now, more than ever) for children to learn why we must wash our hands and keep ourselves clean.  Children in my care are encouraged to become independent and are given the time to do so.


Risk assessments are completed regularly for my setting, and for any outings I take the children on.  This ensures that I am aware of any possible dangers that may arise and allows me to address how I can avoid these.  I have many policies in place, including a sickness policy to reduce the risk of infection.


Fresh water and milk are readily available to all of the children in my care.  I do not provide food in my hourly rate, however, please discuss any healthy meal arrangements you may need.  I have attended the Healthy Under 5’s training.


We are very fortunate to have a large outdoor area, where the children can enjoy lots of fresh air, a mud kitchen, outdoor toys and our vegetable plot.  We invite the children to grow their own vegetables and when they are ready to harvest, we teach the children how to prepare the vegetables ready to be enjoyed.


We live very close to the beach, and love to spend time making sand castles, digging and exploring. We are also very close to Tehidy Woodlands, another exciting outdoor learning opportunity that we enjoy regularly.  

Ways we inform parents about how their child is being supported

Communication between myself and parents is vital.  I understand how busy our lives can be and not all parents will have the time to stop and chat at drop off or collection time. As explained earlier, I use the online system Baby's Days, which allows parents to see what their child has been doing during the day, how much they have eaten, when they have slept, as well as what activities they have enjoyed and most importantly, what learning these activities support. If preferred, I will also contact parents via text message or WhatsApp if this is more convenient.  Parents are invited to feedback any suggestions they have for my setting, good or bad.

Our complaints policy

My complaints policy is available to all parents, either a paper version, or email. I would hope that parents feel that they can communicate any concerns they may have with me, so that I can resolve this immediately.  If parents feel that they cannot discuss an issue directly, my policy advises parents to put any complaint in writing to me or to Ofsted, details of which are displayed in our playroom.  Any concerns are logged and are available to be seen on request.

Access

Alterations we have made to make our building accessible

My home is a bungalow with one small step to enter the building (manageable for wheelchair users). The playroom, kitchen and bathroom all on one level.  

Facilities we have for personal care

Our bathroom (toilet, basin, shower and bath) is on the same level as our playroom.  This room can be used for personal care. We encourage independence with toileting and provide a step for smaller children to be able to access the toilet independently. Children are encouraged to wash their hands at the basin with soap and water, and are given individual hand towels for drying. 

Specialist resources we have

We have a wide range of resources available to children with all abilities. Our playroom is accessible to all abilities.  Should I require any further specialist equipment, I would source these through other agencies when needed.

How we include all children in activities, such as trips

I include all of the children in my care, in all of the activities and outings we enjoy.  Each child’s ability and stage of development is taken into consideration when planning such activities, and are adapted accordingly.  

Last updated: 04/09/2023

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