Information for families in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Dalders, Mrs Dawn (The Secret Garden)

Full / part time care and early education with emphasis on the outdoor environment, stories, rhymes and songs. Everyday activities include feeding the birds, planting, watering, harvesting and cooking. Children get a cooked meal and fruit snacks every day, with the occasional picnic in the summer- special diets catered for within reason. Each child has a ''Learning Journey'' which is shared with parents. Pre covid times, we held an annual Open Day where we invited parents, siblings, and grandmas and grandads, we will resume this as soon as it is safe enough for all. We have a private WhatsApp group so that parents can see what their children are doing every day, and they can comment and contact each other. We do not offer any school drop offs or pick-ups.
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Venue/Contact Details
01425 270120
07816 850894
Address
36 Avenue Road
36 Avenue Road
Walkford
Christchurch
Postcode
BH23 5QH
Directions
See Journey Planner on the right-hand side of this page, where you can view bus, car and train routes from your location.
Details
Childcare type
Childminder
Provision type
  • Childminder
Overall limit on childcare numbers
12
Eligible to take 2, 3 & 4 year old entitlement
Yes
Facilities
  • Baby Changing Facilities
  • Computers
  • Meals Provided
  • Outdoor Play Area / Garden
  • Quiet Area
  • Separate Sleeping Area
  • Visits and Outings
Times and Costs
Opening times:
Monday 07:45-18:00, Tuesday 07:45-17:15, Wednesday 07:45-18:00, Thursday 07:45-18:00
Availability
  • All Year Round
Costs:
Cost per hour: £5.00
Other Costs:
Parents can use their Early Education funding at any time during opening times. 1 2 3 and 4 year old funded places available with no extra charges although we request that if your child is in nappies you provide nappies and wipes and if they have a cold you provide them with tissues. Registered Childminder with more than 30 years experience and Senior Practitioner Status (Foundation Degree Open University Level 5). Husband works as my Assistant. I speak some French and Arabic and can converse fairly well in Portuguese. I have a background in Nursing (SRN). We are helpful and flexible. Apologies but do not have any vacancies until at least September 2025.
Ages, Booking Details and Referral Information
Ages:
From 0 years to 12 years
Referral process:
  • Please call to check if we have a vacancy to suit your requirements. If we do, we will arrange a time for a visit, and take it from there. 
Vacancies and School Pick Ups / Drop Offs
Vacancy information
We do not have any vacancies at present and do not anticipate any until at least September 2025.
Number of vacancies
0
Quality
Ofsted URN
Last Inspection Judgement
Good
Last Inspection Date
04/06/2024
Religious and Additional Needs Provision
Additional needs supported:
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder
  • Behaviour, Emotional & Social Difficulty
  • Eating Or Drinking
  • Global Development Delay
  • Medical Condition, including Allergies
  • Physical Disability
  • Toileting & Hygiene
Languages spoken
  • English
  • Portuguese
Religious / cultural provision:
We leave the ''celebrating'' of events up to each Childs family.
Special dietary provision
I have a working knowledge and can cater for type 1 Diabetes, Vegetarian, Low salt, Gluten/Wheat free, dairy free, ketogenic for medical reasons, halal & Kosher diets. 
SEND Local Offer SEND
Description:

1) How do you communicate with the parent/carer whose child has SEND?

Each child has an individual “Learning Profile” which is shared regularly with parents and any other settings they attend, and goes with them when they leave or start school. I talk to parents daily about what their child is doing in my setting, and what they can do at home to support their learning. I encourage parents to tell me what their child is doing at home, so that I can extend their experiences here. We also have a WhatsApp Group, just for parents with children at the setting, where photos and brief comments on activities are posted frequently. At the end of each term parents receive a summary of their Child’s ‘Next Steps’, based on observations and knowledge of their child, ready for the next term. Each year, parents receive a Summative Assessment showing their child’s learning and development. Parents are welcome to step in at any time to see what their child has been doing. In addition, we hold an Open Day each Summer so that all the children, siblings, parents and carers can get together socially.

2) How do you help children settle into your setting?

As a childminder, I am my own SENCO, and am happy to arrange a time for parents and their child/children to make an informal visit to see if this is the right setting for them. If they would like to take up a place, then they would make another appointment to sign a contract and ideally, we would arrange some settling in sessions, which initially involve a parent/carer staying with the child. Then the child would have a few short sessions where they stay on their own. During this time, I would also make an informal home visit - maybe to drop in some paperwork. The idea is that the child would come to see me/us as ‘friends’ of their parent/s or carer and build up trust before they start.

3) What help and support does your setting offer to children with SEND as they move rooms or move on to school?

When your child is here, I will encourage independence, and help them gain the skills they will need for when they go to nursery/school. We will talk about and read stories about what nursery/school is like, and what they can expect.

4) How do you find out how each child likes to learn?

Initially, I will be guided by the child’s parents. I see parents as experts on their own children and will collect as much information as possible from them about their child before they start, finding out what their child enjoys, their character/ personality and their style of learning.

Children also are 'Experts on their own lives' and are able to show and tell their preferences. I use information collected from parents, children, carers and any other settings they attend, to plan enjoyable activities, which will help their child learn and develop. As I observe their child and get to know them, I will be in a better position to plan for their learning.

5) Inclusive Practice and SEND training and expertise within this organisation.

I have 30 years experience working with children, and over the years have cared for many children with additional needs, including Disabilities, Diabetes, Down Syndrome, Tracheotomy, Severe Allergies, Chronic Asthma, Eczema, Autism, Sensory Overload, Dyslexia, Sickle Cell Anaemia, Speech and Development Delay, Difficult Feeding, Coeliac, and Epilepsy. I am trained to check blood sugar, administer insulin (or glucagon), epi-pens and inhalers, use suction apparatus for tracheotomy, and use a hoist machine. I am trained in Paediatric First Aid. I have a good understanding of and can cater for special diets. My assistant (also husband) has well controlled type 1 diabetes (for almost 50 years). I can speak schoolgirl French, a few words in Arabic and Latvian, and enough Portuguese to hold a conversation(estou ainda aprender). I will gladly learn a few words of a new language to help a new child settle and feel at home.

Policies
Are your staff DBS Approved?
Yes
Do you have a First Aid Policy?
Yes
Do you have Public Liability Insurance?
Yes
Recognised as:
  • 30 Hours Free Childcare Provider
  • Tax Free Childcare Provider
  • 2 Year Old Early Education Provider
  • 3 and 4 Year Old Early Education Provider