Sarah
Childminder in Northwood
5.0
My Summary
About Me
Hello, I’m Sarah, an experienced and passionate registered childminder based in Northwood. I provide a safe, caring, and nurturing home-from-home environment with a secure garden, where children can learn, play, and thrive. I live with my husband and our two teenage sons, who have grown up around young children and understand the importance of creating a warm and welcoming family atmosphere.
With over 12 years of experience as a registered childminder, alongside more than 8 years working in a local nursery, I have developed a wealth of knowledge and experience in supporting children’s learning and development. I hold both NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Childcare and am committed to providing high-quality care that helps every child reach their full potential.
My setting offers a wide variety of engaging toys, resources, and activities, both indoors and outdoors, carefully planned to support each child’s individual interests and stage of development. We love exploring the local community and regularly enjoy trips to parks, museums, farms, music sessions, messy play, libraries, and playgroups, giving children exciting opportunities to learn through real-life experiences, play, and discovery.
I follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to ensure every child is supported in all areas of their learning and development. However, I believe the most important part of my role is helping children feel happy, safe, valued, and confident. Every child is unique, and I tailor my care to meet their individual needs, interests, and routines.
Building strong relationships with parents is at the heart of what I do. I believe that working closely together creates the best possible outcomes for children, and I pride myself on providing open communication, trust, and support for every family I work with.
I truly love what I do, and I feel incredibly lucky to play a small part in each child’s journey. Watching them grow in confidence, develop new skills, and achieve their milestones is the most rewarding part of my job. Every day brings new adventures, laughter, learning, and memories, and I strive to make my setting a place where children feel excited to come, explore, and flourish.
My Experience
I have over 20 years of experience working in childcare. I spent 8 years working in a local nursery, where I progressed from a part-time nursery assistant to the role of Room Leader. In this position, I was responsible for leading a room of up to 23 children, managing a team of five staff members, planning daily activities, and ensuring the highest standards of care and learning were maintained.
For the past 12 years, I have been a registered childminder, providing high-quality, home-based childcare in a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment. During this time, I have built strong, trusting relationships with families and supported many children through their early years, helping them grow in confidence while reaching important developmental milestones
My Qualifications
I hold both NVQ Level 2 and NVQ Level 3 qualifications in Childcare, along with a Diploma in Home-Based Childcare. I am committed to continually developing my knowledge and regularly attend training to ensure I provide the highest standard of care and education.
My qualifications and training include:
* NVQ Level 2 in Childcare
* NVQ Level 3 in Childcare
* Diploma in Home-Based Childcare
* Paediatric First Aid
* Enhanced DBS checks completed and cleared for myself, my husband, and my son
* Child Protection
* Healthy Eating
* Developing Music with Children
* Rhymes and Singing
* Singing Fun with Babies
* The Power of Puppets
* Makaton Levels 1 & 2
* Attention Hillingdon Leader
I regularly update my training to keep my knowledge current and ensure I continue to provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment where children can learn, develop, and thrive
My Availability
Full and part time places available
My Fees
- Childminding from £8.00 per hour
I accept government funding
Fees to be discussed on first visit
My Local Schools
This childminder has not yet informed us whether or not they provide any drop off or pick up services at local schools.
My Ofsted Inspections
The inspection grades below have been obtained from the Ofsted website based upon the registration number the childminder has provided to us. You should verify this information yourself prior to using the childminder.
My Documents
- Ofsted Certificate (added 28/11/2020)
- DBS Check (added 28/11/2020)
- First Aid Certificate: First aid (added 27/12/2023)
- First Aid Certificate: First aid (added 28/11/2020)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Sarah. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
Sarah is not only fully qualified and experienced, but also possesses a truly warm, caring nature which instantly puts you at ease. As a first time Mum, returning to work when my little boy was only 8 months old - I was very anxious about leaving him and wanted to make sure that we found the right person. Sarah did not make us feel pressured at all to confirm a placement with her straight away, but instead actually encouraged us to look around and ensure that we were making the right choice for both us and our son, stating that the most important thing was that we all felt comfortable. This sums up Sarah's professionalism but also just highlights her kind, self-less nature. From the very beginning up to now, she constantly considers our feelings and supports us in raising our child the way that we are happy to, e.g. sticking to our routine, bedtime schedule, meal times etc. It is also very helpful that Sarah sends a summary of our son's day before pick up so that we are fully aware of how the day has been.
Our son has been full time with Sarah for almost 6 months and we love the close bond that he has made with Sarah, her own children and the other children in her care. Sarah regularly sends photos throughout the week, to help put worrying minds at ease! She is very proactive in ensuring that the children are always stimulated through regular outings and activities and I have no doubt that this has helped to accelerate our son's development. We could not have asked for more in a childminder for our son - Sarah really is the best!
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Rachel M
on 27/08/2024
We feel so lucky to have found Sarah. She has looked after my 3 year old son on an ad hoc basis for a few weeks while my husband was working abroad and I couldn’t get my son to his usual childcare setting. Sarah was so understanding of our situation and was amazingly skilled at welcoming and settling our boy in quickly. They were out and about all the time doing a variety of activities and B was full of the joys at pick up. Sarah will be our only go to if and when we need help with childcare and I’m just so glad that we found her. Thank you Sarah!
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Emily
on 23/07/2023
I couldn’t be more lucky to find Sarah to take care of my daughter for 1.5 years. As first time mum I was very anxious to let somebody else take care of my toddler when I had to return to work. When I met Sarah, I knew instantly that she would be great. Sarah is very pleasant, attentive and easy to talk to. It was very much home to home environment where they took trips to different parks, farms and met other friends every day so it was always new adventure for little one. Sarah supported and help us with every milestone or challenges we had. Big thank you!
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Greta
on 10/07/2023
We found Sarah locally on this website and couldn't have been more impressed from the offset after meeting her. My daughter has now been with Sarah for over a year, all week (after I returned to work) since she was 11months old and we are super pleased with her development, vocabulary and social and independence skills now that she is nearly age 2.
My daughter already communicates in 5-6 word sentences and I know so much of this is reinforcement from the activities/day trips that Sarah takes them on and encourages. She often uses words I'm surprised at her knowing! My daughter when she stated at 11months settled in within a week as the environment was so welcoming and even now she daily recounts all her friends from Sarah's house - they really do share a lovely bond in a homely setting!
The days out with Sarah are also the best - my daughter loves going to the farm, play groups and library - Sarah puts in so much dedication to ensuring the kids are getting a well rounded experience. She encourages independence at every opportunity (practising removing shoes coats themselves, eating etc). We started potty training our daughter at 20 months and Sarah was incredibly supportive in making this successful for us (and at 22months Naveya is perfectly day trained!) and we have honestly seen our daughter flourish in every way, growing up alongside Sarah, all the kids and Home!
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Uma
on 07/03/2023
We knew instantly that Sarah was the right childminder for us. I was so worried about finding a suitable childcare provider for my 11 month old who has additional needs. Straight away I felt at ease and she has been extreamly accomodating.
1 year on my son is thrieving in Sarahs setting. We also decided to send our daughter to her one day a week instead of nursery as we love that she takes them out in trips where the children get so much stimulation and learn so much.
Sarah is lovely human being with a bubbly personality. The kids enjoy being with her and I feel at ease leaving them with her.
We look forward to another year with her:)
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Rachel
on 01/03/2023
We were really anxious about finding childcare for when I returned to work. Sarah has made the transition seamless and stress free. Vinnie absolutely loves spending time with Sarah and is always eager to go with her. We are a very disorganised family and Sarah makes everything so easy for us. I love getting our updates through out the day it makes me feel less guilty for not being with him. Sarah has introduced vinnie to a great range of activities and always makes such an effort at mealtimes. I don’t think we could have done it with out you, thank you so much Amy and Robert
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Amyhall1
on 18/02/2023
We feel very lucky to have found Sarah. She has looked after our daughter amazingly for the past two years. Sarah is warm and kind and takes being a childminder very seriously. Her home is always clean and inviting. Our daughter is very happy with Sarah, she is part of the family! They get out and about most days; to the park, visiting farms, museums, local playgroups. When they are at home they do art and crafts, play with toys/games, cooking/baking, reading stories, sensory play. Sarah keeps them busy learning and being well entertained. A wonderful childminder!
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Lucy
on 06/02/2023
Thank you for caring for my child so well, you have been a big part in all our life’s, thank you for supporting us with the difficult stages of Evie’s development, we will miss you so much, and can’t wait to visit when we are back down
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Rebecca
on 22/01/2023
Sarah is simply the most easy going, down to earth, trustworthy person you will ever find to look after your children. Finding childcare for your children after a year off and finding someone who is not a family member or a friend was one of the most nerve wrecking times for me but when I met Sarah early in 2019, I instantly knew I wanted Sarah to be our childminder. Sarah had a friendly manner over the phone and when I met her in person was so welcoming. Sarah’s house is always spotlessly clean and safe.
Our daughter Isla has now been with Sarah for nearly 3 years and has had the best start in her learning journey. They go on days out to the farm, adventurous walks, attend play groups and visit other childminder’s houses which has enabled Isla to develop her social skills and make really strong friendships with other children and adults along the way (including Sarah’s own boys and husband who Isla absolutely adores!) When they have days at home they are always busy baking, making, doing puzzles, having story time and playing in the garden… the list is endless.
Sarah and I have both recently had house moves to different areas but throughout Sarah was very flexible in helping us make our childcare arrangements suit our working needs. If plans change last minute, Sarah is also very accommodating. On occasions where Sarah has needed to talk to us about Isla, Sarah always remains very professional and is very approachable and understandable if we too have had any issues with Isla ourselves.
Isla is now due to go to school in September and as much as she is excited for that, I know she will miss Sarah a lot. However, we are lucky enough to be able to send our son Jaxon from March so Isla will still be able to see Sarah too. Jaxon has already visited Sarah’s a few times whilst I have been doing KIT days and it is safe to say he has already become part of their little family!
Thank you Sarah for everything!
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Cbraham
on 11/01/2022
Sarah has been a key extension to our family since our son was 8 months old and he is now 4 years old, she has taken care of both of our children! After endless searches for Childminders and nurseries, Sarah stood out from everyone, her kindness, warmth and loving nature towards our kids was instant and it shines through how much she loves what she does, this in itself is rare.
She is not just any Childminder, she has helped us as first time parents go through every milestone with our son, from weaning, walking, talking, teaching rights and wrongs, potty training and starting school nursery. You can imagine the emotion that is involved with every stage, however Sarah doesn't judge she takes it all in her stride, she listens, is empathetic and puts you at ease. She works with you to continue what you are doing from home like nap times for example and even goes to the extent of celebrating cultural festivities with our children. We loved the diva lamps Rian made for us and still have them.
Our kids loved going to Sarahs, her setting is spacious, homely and is shared with her husband, two sons, a tortoise and Lenny the cat. They would always come home just as happy as when they went in. It was lovely our children would always refer to Sarahs older boys as "my big brother". As professional working parents, it was comforting to know our children were going from a 'home to home'.
In advance Sarah would inform us of the activities she had planned from going to the zoo, parks, strawberry picking, farms. library, play groups and many more. Even when the weather wasn't great the kids would be baking, painting, writing, singing and dancing. It's such a joy to get videos sent to you throughout the day and then to come home to the childrens creations. She would provide healthy meals and snacks throughout the day and would take extra care around dietary requirements.
Every day Sarah sends home a Communication book, detailing everything our children did for the day, from nappy changes, activities, sleeps, food and drink so we were kept fully informed.
Sarah is a real credit to her profession, she has been amazing for our family and we will miss her terribly as we are relocating.
She comes highly recommended and your mini me's will be in safe hands.
Mrs R Sidhu
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Anna
on 03/08/2020
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This profile was last updated on 24th July 2026 and has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.