Frequently Asked Questions
What are your exact operating hours?
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Mon–Thu Evenings: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
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Friday Evenings: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
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Alternating Saturdays (Full Day): 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
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School Holidays: Flexible daytime and evening sessions available
(Note: Availability is tailored around a term-time role in a specialist school).
Service areas: East Bristol & South Gloucestershire (Kingswood, Hanham, Warmley and Longwell Green). Further afield considered depending on the day, time and realistic travel time.
Can I book recurring or regular weekly slots?
Yes, if you need consistent evening or Saturday care on an ongoing basis, you can arrange recurring bookings by contacting me directly to secure your preferred slots ahead of time.
How does booking work?
How far in advance do I need to book?
You can request a booking online through the website (preferred method). Choose your service, select your preferred date and time, and complete payment. I’ll then check availability and travel time before confirming the booking. Alternatively, You can also email hearthchildcare@gmail.com.
Booking requests are subject to confirmation, including availability and travel time.
Online bookings need to be made at least 24 hours in advance (this is a system rule). For urgent requests under 24 hours, please email hearthchildcare@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to help where possible.
What are your hourly rates & minimum booking?
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My rates vary depending on what session you are booking. Please note: All paid services are 2hrs minimum booking. Here is the breakdown:
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Day Childcare (School Holidays):
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Half Day (Up to 4 hours): £70
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Full Day (Up to 9 hours): £155
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Shorter sessions: £18/hr with a 2-hour minimum
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Evening & Weekend Childcare:
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Mon - Thurs (Up to 5 hours, up to 9pm): £90
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Fri - Sat (Up to 6 hours): £110
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Shorter sessions: £20/hr with a 2-hour minimum
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Hearth Family Start:
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Completely free for the first hour (with a parent or guardian present) before any paid care begins. This one-time introductory session is exclusively for new families and can only be used once.
What other costs or fees are there?
All rates are fully inclusive. Travel costs and any resources I provide are already included in the price — there are no extra charges. Parents are responsible for providing food, nappies, and any other items their child needs, which should already be available at home.
What is your cancellation policy?
More than 48 hours before the session: full refund 24–48 hours before: up to 50% of the fee may be retained Less than 24 hours: a cancellation charge may apply depending on the circumstances Full details are in the Full Terms & Conditions
How does payment work and when is it due?
All payments are paid in full at the time of booking online. At the moment, no other payment methods are accepted.
What ages of children do you care for?
What does the session look like?
I support children of all ages starting from 6 months and up. While I have the most experience with nursery-aged children, my work in a specialist school has broadened my expertise to support children across a wide range of ages and developmental stages.
While my childcare is open to all children, I have relevant training and hands-on experience working in a specialist school. This allows me to bring a personalised approach to my sessions, no matter what your child needs.
Do you support children with SEND or additional needs?
Every session is entirely led by what works best for the child on that day, and I always follow the parent's and child's established routine to keep things familiar. We won't follow a rigid schedule; instead, we just go with the flow. If I spot a particular interest or feel it could add a nice touch, I might occasionally bring along a small resource bag. Otherwise, our time is rooted in everyday life—if they are willing and able, I naturally involve them in whatever I'm doing, like tidying up toys together, keeping things relaxed and collaborative.
How do you get to know a child's specific needs before starting?
When you request your Hearth Family Start, you'll pick a day and time and complete the "Getting to Know Your Child" form all in one go. I review both together before accepting the booking. From there, we meet for a complimentary, one-time introductory session in your home with you or another guardian present, held before any paid childcare begins.
While we do touch on the important practical details like routines and safety, the real heart of this session is about connection. It is a wonderful, relaxed opportunity for me to spend quality time getting to know your child, following their lead, and letting them become familiar with me at their own pace. It is also a great chance for you to ask me anything you like, see firsthand how I interact and support children, and ensure everyone feels completely comfortable and confident before any paid sessions begin.
What are your safeguarding policies?
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Safeguarding and the welfare of every child is the absolute top priority at Hearth Childcare. Every necessary and legal measure is taken to keep children safe, which includes maintaining rigorous safeguarding procedures, keeping clear incident reports, and following all requirements outlined in the full Hearth Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
What happens in an emergency or accident?
If a child becomes seriously unwell or is involved in a medical emergency, appropriate emergency assistance will be sought immediately, and parents or guardians will be contacted as soon as reasonably possible. Hearth Childcare does not routinely administer medication, so in an emergency, emergency services' instructions will be followed. Any accidents, injuries, or significant incidents occurring during a session are recorded and communicated to parents or guardians.
How do home safety and visitors work since care is in our home?
Because care takes place in your home, parents are responsible for ensuring the environment is reasonably safe and disclosing any known household hazards. Once a session begins, the front door is kept locked where appropriate to prevent the child from leaving unsupervised and to block unauthorized access, and unexpected visitors will not be let in. If a delivery arrives, the door will not be answered unless you have given prior instruction to do so and proof of the expected delivery time can be shown.
Are you first-aid trained and background-checked?
Yes, I hold a current Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certification and have a fully enhanced DBS on the Update Service. I also hold a Level 3 Childcare Qualification and a Level 2 Health & Social Care qualification, alongside a wide range of relevant professional training (including safeguarding, medical needs, mental health, and specialized SEND care).
What makes Hearth Childcare different?
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In-Home Comfort & Familiarity: Care happens right in your child's own home, keeping their familiar routine, favorite things, and safe space intact without the overstimulation or unfamiliar setting of a traditional nursery.
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The "Safe Person" & Child-Led Approach: Grounded in the philosophy that "behaviour is communication," sessions focus on building a genuine, trusted connection so children feel safe enough to be themselves.
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Specialist SEN Support: Backed by hands-on specialist school experience, patience and training to handle big emotions, transitions, and additional needs with patience and understanding.
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Personalized Extras & Perks: Every session features deep personalization—including occasional tailored resource bags brought for children who need extra support.
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For parents, exclusive access to our WhatsApp Parent community for updates, announcements, and weekly offers, alongside a loyalty card rewarding your 6th booking free after 5 bookings of at least 3 hours each (currently available to our first 15 joining families).
Why choose an in-home childcare provider like Hearth?
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Undivided Attention: Your child receives 100% of my focus, building a true "safe person" connection impossible in a busy nursery.
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The Comfort of Home: Familiar surroundings entirely remove the overstimulation and stressful transitions of group settings.
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Child-Led Pacing: Care adapts in real time to your child's emotional state, routine, and SEN needs rather than a rigid schedule.
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Expertise Beyond Babysitting: Backed by over six years of professional early years and specialist school experience, delivering expert support rather than basic supervision.
How do we get started working together?
The process begins by requesting your "Hearth Family Start" online through the website, where you'll choose a date and complete the "Getting to Know Your Child" form all in one go. Once I review the details and confirm the booking, we will meet for our complimentary, one-time introductory session in your home with you (or another guardian) present. This gives us a chance to get to know each other, allows your child to settle in, and ensures everything is a perfect fit before any paid childcare begins!
What is your professional background and experience?
With over six years of experience in the childcare sector, my journey began at college studying Level 2 Health and Social Care alongside childcare, before stepping straight into nursery work where I completed my Level 3 qualification through an apprenticeship. Over my time working in nurseries, I grew in confidence and earned the deep respect of staff, managers, parents, and children alike, which led to my promotion to Deputy Room Lead. Wanting to expand my expertise further into specialist support, I transitioned into a specialist school environment. Today, I bring that rich blend of over six years of experience, nursery leadership and specialist SEN experience straight into families' homes through Hearth Childcare, running it alongside my role in the specialist school.