Double gong success for proud Guisborough childminders Kim and Charlotte

A childminding duo are celebrating a double gong success - after each scooping awards for their work with youngsters.

Childminder Kim Forteath and her assistant, Charlotte Lear, of Little Sunbeams Childminding Service, in Guisborough, were recognised at the PACEY (Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years) annual conference.

Kim was a finalist for national Childminder of the Year 2024 after being awarded Childminder of the Year for the North East region in May. Her assistant Charlotte Lear scooped the national Rising Star Award 2024 - an accolade to recognise the next generation of talent in the early years sector.

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Charlotte was over the moon to be selected, saying: “I was so proud to receive this award. It means so much to have the work I do with children recognised in this way. I’ve always loved being around children and working with them brings me a real sense of joy. I get to watch them grow, help them expand their understanding and see them turn into kind friends who love and care for each other.

"I’m so pleased I chose to work in a childminding setting, I can’t thank Kim enough for all she’s taught me.”

Charlotte joined Little Sunbeams as a college student in 2019, becoming an employee when Kim invited her to switch to an apprenticeship in 2020.

Kim says: “During the pandemic it became clear to me how committed Charlotte was to supporting children and their families. Instead of staying at home when her college was forced to move online, she turned up on my doorstep every day to help me care for the children from key worker families.

"In a time when we were the only workforce expected to open our homes and our arms to numerous families, with no PPE or social distancing, Charlotte was here bringing normality and love to babies and toddlers while their parents kept the country moving. Being dyslexic, she was struggling with online learning and I wanted to find a solution that meant she could do more of her training hands on.

"I also really wanted to pay her a wage for the excellent support she gave me."

Kim added: " middlesbrough -college>Middlesbrough College were very helpful in transferring Charlotte to the apprenticeship scheme and she ultimately passed with a distinction. I’m so proud of Charlotte, not just for winning this award but for the hard work she puts in every day to ensure children get the very best start. As childminders we take the most precious person in someone’s life and provide care and education for them at the most crucial time for their brain development.

"Some of them might not even remember us when they grow up, but we will always be a part of who they are because we’ve touched their early years. It’s a huge responsibility but also an enormous privilege.”

Little Sunbeams was established by Kim in 2015. It has been rated outstanding by Ofsted in both of its inspections and serves families from Guisborough and the surrounding area.

The setting aims to inspire children to be kind friends and enthusiastic learners by providing a highly personalised curriculum for each child. Kim has also worked as a mentor on the DfE Childminder Mentor Programme and was a finalist for Childminder of the Year at the Nursery World Magazine Awards 2023.

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