About Me

My name is Victoria McAllister and I have been a childminder since 2007.  Poppykins Daycare operates from my townhouse in Llanharan, Pontyclun and we have been living there since March 2023.  I am a single mother, living with my two teenage children, two cats and two Springer Spaniels. I follow a Vegan diet, do not drink alcohol or smoke.  I love long walks in nature with my family and dogs and enjoy cooking and experimenting with new flavours and recipes.  



My Experience

Being a mother to two teenage children I have a wealth of experience of childcare along with caring for children since I was 16 years old.  

I have had experience of working with children with special dietary needs, eczema, kidney problems, NG fed and allergies requiring the use of an EPI-pen.

I love training and attend weekly training sessions with Kinderly which covers a variety of topics related to childcare. I also complete the following training on a regular basis:

Child Protection 

Paediatric First Aid Basic 

Food Hygiene

Qualifications

I have completed and passed the following:

Transition To Play Work Level 3

CACHE Level 3 Diploma In Home Based Childcare, 4 Units

People 1st, Hospitality (Supervision) Modern Apprenticeship

City & Guilds, NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision

Bachelor Of Arts in Hotel Management

Higher National Diploma in Hospitality Management

NVQ Level 2 In Catering and Hospitality (Food Preparation and Cooking)


Animals

I believe children learn a great deal from being in contact with animals. We have two cats and two Springer Spaniel dogs who have free rein of the home and come and go as they please.  The animals are never left alone with the children unsupervised. 

The Spaniels are very fond of story time and when we play instruments. They love a fuss and enjoy being stroked and have toys thrown to them.  They have a section of the garden they play in which is checked throughout the day.  

All animals are kept up-to-date with annual injections and monthly flea and worming treatments.

The animals are also given time and space to be away from the children if they so wish and have separate areas upstairs to do so.

The animals are fed before the children arrive/after they leave and their food is never left on the floor when the children are present.