With the new funded hours and everywhere getting full, I first connected with Paula in December 2024 to try to secure a childminder for when I return to work early 2026. We then continued to speak throughout 2025, however it took some time to get her to agree to meet. We finally met in September 2025 where we had a lovely meet and she said she could take my baby on 2 days a week from April 2026. A few days later she text to say she could now only start from July which is understandable as things change with her current children moving. However, very unprofessionally she texted me out the blue in January 2026 that she has agreed to extend her current children’s days and therefore will not have my baby now. She was lovely in person however I found the simple text, not even a call, after a year of communication very disappointing. To also cancel after agreeing because she would rather extend others very disappointing when could have simply kept the space for me. She was a nice lady but hard to secure and cancelled at the last minute over text when I go back to work in 3 months with no other option for care.

• Overall
• Communication