When we were looking for childcare for my daughter a couple of months before my wife went back to work we had initially hoped to go a bigger Nursery rather than a childminder. We thought that childminders only looked after a couple of children and we wanted our daughter to socialise wider. We were on the waiting list for a big nursery, and to be frank they messed us around. I guess they could because they had a waiting list as long as your arm!

My wife was going back to work so didn't have time to wait. We looked on this website and emailed a few. Melanie from York House was on of those people. She was close by, and we went for a visit.

We got so lucky, because although on here Melanie refers to herself as a childminder the setting, to me, is more like a small nursery. Because it's small, all the age groups (from 6 months to 3 years) are together and play with each other.

Our daughter loves it there, especially Melanie's daughter who plays with the children when she's back from school. They use the whole of the ground floor of the house and a sizeable garden with a bunch of expected toys and equipment for all age groups.

Their days are well structured and themed often according to what's going on in the calendar. The food is all vegetarian and home made on site. The communication with the parents is great with regular emails explaining future themes and general updates.

Thank you Melanie, Theresa and Julie.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication