Thank you for visiting my website.
My name is Claire. I have been Ofsted registered and inspected since April 2003.
I provide a fun and stimulating home from home environment for the children, and offer a wide range of activities, opportunities and outings for the children, tailored to their age and stage of development. We are out and about every day whether that is at the woods, at a playground, at a music session, feeding the ducks or going for a nature walk.
At home I have two dedicated playrooms, as well as a lounge, conservatory, kitchen, downstairs toilet facilities and garden for the children to use. Some of the activities and resources I have available for the children are a home corner and imaginative play, small world toys, loose parts play, mark making, a vast selection of books, construction play, puzzles, and we regularly prepare our meals and bake together. We have stories, songs and rhymes, and dancing to music every day. We have regular themes and topics running throughout the year, such as colours, shapes, seasons and the weather, animals, transport, keeping healthy, and we celebrate many cultural and religious festivals.
In my most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2024, I was graded Outstanding; the inspection report opened with “The childminder has an exceptional understanding of how children learn and develop. She meticulously plans her curriculum to reflect the learning needs of the children she is caring for. Children thrive in her care.”.
I have been married to Steve since 1991 and we have three grown-up sons. We live in a quiet cul-de-sac in Banstead, Surrey. When our eldest son commenced his formal education in 2002, I was unable to find wraparound childcare for him. So, after 17 years, I decided to leave my job with Barclays Bank Multinational Corporate Department to become a full-time mum to our sons. Realising there was a lack of childcare available in the area, and as I had always been interested in caring for children, I chose to qualify and become a registered childminder, and set up Claire's Caterpillars.
My Paediatric First Aid is kept up to date by regularly completing and passing Ofsted approved courses. As well as attending a range of Safeguarding courses, Food Hygiene, child development and speech and language courses, I also regularly attend various training events on a broad selection of childcare and related topics. I am a member of PACEY, the professional association for childcare and early years.
Steve is registered with Ofsted as my assistant and may help in the childminding business on an occasional basis. He is regularly working from home so the children know him well. He also regularly completes an Ofsted approved Paediatric First Aid course, and safeguarding course.
We have a no-smoking home and do not have any pets.
I look forward to discussing your child care requirements in more detail and to arrange to meet me and visit my setting. Please do not hesitate to call me on 07855 367776 or email me at claire@clairescaterpillars.co.uk.
A very happy 2 years with Claire's Caterpillars
Claire looked after our daughter for two years from when she was just over a year old and I was returning to work after maternity leave.
We picked Claire due to the home from home environment, her commitment to early years education, and calm, caring, and nurturing nature towards the children in her care.
Our daughter didn't take long to settle in with Claire and during her time at the setting enjoyed fun days out, interesting activities and made some wonderful friends.
When I compare Claire to other childminders I have met/interacted with, what I most appreciate is how seriously Claire takes her role in the childrens development, her extensive experience. and the effort she goes to with activities such as celebrating Christmas/Diwali/Mother's Day etc. My daughter came home with some truly lovely crafts!
Claire is also absolutely brilliant at providing updates from the childrens days, which was especially a godsend for me as an anxious first time Mum returning to work after spending a lot of my maternity leave in Covid 19 lockdown!
Thank you for everything, Claire!
Superb!
Our daughter has attended Claire’s setting for five years and loved it!
Claire and her family provide a safe, welcoming and loving environment. Claire works hard to ensure parents are communicated with and is on top of all child care regulations and policies. She always provides a range of activities for children to participate in and is amazing at arts and crafts!
I asked our daughter how she would describe Claire and she said ‘lovely, funny and happy!’ - what more could you ask for?!
Fantastic childminding for 5 years now!
My two boys have been looked after by Claire before/after school and during holidays for almost 5 years now. As working parents we needed to know our children were being nurtured, supported and developed. Clare does all this in a way that compliments our parenting, making it her priority to work in partnership with us to do what is best for the boys.
Her home environment is safe, welcoming, homely and her holiday trips and activities are a highlight! Her communication with us through newsletters and photos as well as at collection is always valued.
My husband and I could only do what we do because we were lucky enough to find Claire. She has been a constant source of professional care with personal commitment to each child she looks after and we cannot recommend her enough!
Been with Claire for 9 years!
I have been using Claire for childcare for approx 9 years now and both of my children went there from the young ages of 5 and 2. Claire, Steve and her family have always made the children feel very welcome in their home and the children have enjoyed participating in the range of activities she has provided alongside her own children.
Claire's home is secure and is filled with a range of toys and activities that are regularly planned and structured and she has very good communication with parents at drop off/pick up and via the newsletters. Both of my children are/have been very comfortable in her care and have always felt safe; Claire is very consistent with her communication with the children.
Claire has been entirely reliable as a childcare provider and we have used her in the past for school holiday care and predominantly before and after school care from infants through to the end of junior school. Claire takes her role very seriously and attends regular training on safeguarding and early years etc and deserves her outstanding Ofsted grading.
I highly recommend Claire's Caterpillars
Professional and nurturing
Claire has a kind and considerate nature and this comes through in her childcare. I can rely on her 100% which is exactly what you need when looking for after school childcare. She is punctual, organised and thoughtful.
She creates a home from home/ inviting environment for the children at her home, which has a great space for outside play as well as an array for toys and activities. We’re sadly moving schools, otherwise I very much would have continued to work with her and will miss her terribly.
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