I did not want to leave a negative review, however after my experience I feel it is important to share, particularly for parents of children with additional or complex needs.

My son has significant medical and developmental needs, including a history of stroke, swallowing difficulties requiring thickened feeds, and airway conditions that require careful monitoring, especially when he is unwell. I made this clear prior to him attending, as consistency, communication, and attention to detail are essential for his safety and wellbeing.

I initially attended a short trial session and then enrolled him the following day. From the beginning of his first full day, I did not feel reassured. I was not greeted by the childminder directly, and instead an assistant collected my son from the front door. I was not invited into the setting, and the interaction felt very rushed. I was not asked detailed questions about his needs, routine, feeding requirements, or how to manage his condition. Given the level of care he requires, I would have expected a much more thorough introduction and handover. Instead, I found myself quickly explaining important information at the door, including his feeding and use of thickener.

During the day, communication was limited. I was contacted regarding his milk, however this highlighted to me that there had not been a proper opportunity to go through his feeding routine and requirements in detail beforehand. With a more thorough initial discussion, this confusion could have been avoided.

When I came to collect my son, he was handed over by a different staff member. There was no proactive or structured handover provided. When I asked about his day, I was told that she was not sure as she had only just come on shift and that I should contact the childminder directly. I found myself having to ask multiple questions just to get basic information. For a child with additional needs, I would expect a clear and informed handover at collection, and this was not provided.

I also experienced several issues with organisation and the handling of my son’s belongings. Items were not returned as expected, including feeding items and personal belongings. I had to request that staff go back and check for missing items. One dummy that was eventually returned to me was visibly unclean, with debris on it, and I had to ask for it to be washed before it could be given back. This raised concerns for me regarding hygiene and overall attention to detail. Another dummy was not located at all.

In addition, my son had been asleep for a significant portion of the session (approximately two hours) and was not offered his planned meal upon waking, despite this being included. As a result, he returned home hungry, which was not in line with the routine I had communicated.

For example, I received a message stating that he was not drinking his milk, but without any additional context or reassurance around how this would be managed. As a parent of a child with additional needs, I would have expected a more supportive and reassuring approach in communication.


Following his attendance, my son became unwell shortly afterwards. While I understand that illnesses can be picked up from many environments, this added to my overall concerns, particularly given the hygiene and organisational issues I experienced during his time at the setting.

Overall, the experience felt disorganised, rushed, and lacking in clear communication from the outset. I appreciate that settling-in periods can take time, however I believe that basic standards such as proper handover, organisation, hygiene, and communication should be consistent from day one. For children with additional needs, these are essential requirements, not optional.

To be fair, the provider did process my refund promptly and handled the cancellation professionally.

While this setting may be suitable for some families, based on my experience it did not provide the level of communication, organisation, and attention to detail that my child requires. I also felt the childminder was a bit more money driven than actually cared for my son. This was my experience. And it’s sad it put a bad taste in my mouth.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication