Pauline Housen's Reviews

The best childminder we could ask for

I cannot recommend Pauline highly enough. Choosing someone to care for your child is one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a parent, and from the very beginning, Pauline made that decision so easy. She is absolutely deserving of her 5-star rating and has exceeded every expectation we had.

Our son spent a wonderful period of his early years with Pauline, and we genuinely couldn't have asked for a more loving, caring and dedicated childminder. He adored her so much that he called her "Nanny Pauline," which perfectly sums up the special bond they built together. Every morning he was excited to go to her house, and every evening he came home happy, full of stories and eager to tell us about his day. As parents, there is no greater reassurance than knowing your child feels safe, loved and excited to be where they are.

One of the things that really sets Pauline apart is the incredible variety of outings and experiences she provides. She doesn't just look after children – she gives them opportunities to learn, explore and experience the world around them. Throughout his time with her, our son enjoyed regular trips to local farms, soft play centres, children's centres, and toddler groups, as well as attending toddler parties and seasonal events. These outings helped him build confidence, develop social skills and make lots of lovely friendships with other children. It was wonderful knowing he wasn't simply spending his days indoors, but was constantly being encouraged to explore, play, learn and interact with others in different environments.

Pauline also plans lots of fun and engaging activities at home. When the weather was hot they would have fun in the pool, and the fantastic garden, very child friendly. with a variety of toys. Whether it was arts and crafts, sensory play, reading stories, messy play or outdoor activities, every day was varied and stimulating. She clearly puts so much thought into making learning enjoyable while supporting each child's development through play.

She has also been an incredible support with important developmental milestones. She worked closely with us during our son's potty-training journey, providing consistency, patience and encouragement, which made such a difference. Our son was also a very fussy eater, and Pauline never gave up encouraging him to try new foods. She was patient, supportive and always communicated with us about what he had eaten and how he was progressing. Her partnership with parents is something we really valued.

Communication has always been outstanding. Pauline kept us updated about his day, his activities, his achievements sending pictures which was always lovely to see and anything we needed to know.

Another quality that really stood out was her flexibility. Life as a parent can sometimes be unpredictable, and Pauline was always understanding, accommodating and willing to help wherever she could. Nothing ever seemed too much trouble, and she genuinely cared about supporting not just our son, but our whole family.

Most importantly, Pauline treated our son like one of her own. He was cared for with so much kindness, patience and affection that leaving him each day was never difficult. We always knew he was safe, happy and loved.

As our son now moves on to nursery, it's emotional saying goodbye because Pauline has been such an important part of his life. The confidence, independence and social skills he has developed during his time with her are a credit to the care and dedication she has shown every single day.

If you are looking for a childminder who is warm, trustworthy, experienced, nurturing and genuinely passionate about helping children thrive, then I honestly don't think you could find anyone better than Pauline. We will always be grateful for everything she has done for our family, and I would recommend her without hesitation to any parent looking for exceptional childcare.

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by Annice on 28/07/2026

Pauline is amazing!

If I could, I would stay at home full time to look after my 18 month old son. Unfortunately I can't, so have needed to find someone I trust to look after the most important person in my world on the days that I have to work. I spent time visiting almost all of the local nurseries and didn't find anywhere that I felt happy with. I've known Pauline for a long time, but she isn't very local to me, but I knew she would be someone that I could trust and decided to give it a go. I drive for an hour to get my son to Pauline before work and over an hour again to collect him afterwards, but it is worth it. I know my son loves being with Pauline, her home is warm and welcoming, she is kind and caring, the care is second to none. My son is very attached to Pauline and I know that he is safe with her. Pauline is very experienced in child care and it shows in her interactions and the level of care provided. It feels like a home away from home for my son, as safe place where he can play and learn when I need to work. Communication with Pauline is easy, she is very accommodating, she is honest and reliable. I fully recommend Pauline to anyone needing child care support.

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by Theresa on 05/06/2025

A Truly Wonderful Experience with Aunty Pauline

Finding the right person to care for your child is never easy, but with Aunty Pauline, we struck gold. From the very first day, she welcomed our child, with open arms and a heart full of love. Her warmth, kindness, and genuine affection make her feel less like a childminder and more like family—she truly is like a second mother to my Lovely Daughter (LD).

Aunty Pauline creates a home-from-home environment that is both nurturing and incredibly safe. I always leave my LD in her care knowing she is loved, well-looked after, and completely secure. Her home is filled with laughter, learning, and the kind of gentle guidance that helps children flourish emotionally and socially.

What sets Aunty Pauline apart is her flexibility and understanding. As any parent knows, life doesn’t always run on schedule, and her willingness to accommodate changes with grace and compassion has made our lives so much easier.

My LD absolutely adores her, and it's easy to see why. Every day spent with Aunty Pauline is full of joy, discovery, and care. We feel so blessed to have her in our lives and would recommend her to any parent looking for a loving, safe, and truly exceptional childminder.

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by Deana on 04/06/2025

Like a member of the family - AMAZING CHILDMINDER

Pauline is a lifesaver. I am definitely an attachment parent and struggled with the mum guilt when leaving my 8-month-old daughter and then 2 years later my 8-month-old son with a childminder to go back to my career. Very quickly, both children settled well on both instances and with Pauline's calm, patient, loving demeanour coupled with a direct approach that is firm but fair, I know my kids are in an environment where they feel loved and safe but also know the boundaries and know to respect and treat the other children nicely.

My now 2-year-old son now calls her 'Nanny' as she really has become part of the family over the years. Both of my children have thrived in her care, all the children she takes care of are clearly happy, fulfilled and play so nicely together. I cannot recommend Pauline enough; she is truly someone who has taken all the stress out of returning to work. Also, I know the children have a great routine there. They attend playgroup most mornings with Pauline where they play with a variety of toys and meet a wider group of children, then retreat back to her home for lunch and some more play and down time. It gives a great blend of one-on-one time as well as teaching them to socialize with slightly larger groups, preparing them for nursery then school. My kids are both so happy and enjoy going to her.

As a parent, she has been nothing but flexible and understanding. We can always talk to her when timings have to change or if I need additional hours. She flexes and tries her very best to accommodate within reason and we have a good open relationship where I know I can trust her fully. Absolutely love working with Pauline - my biggest fear about us moving area is not having Pauline move with us!

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by Shamini on 16/01/2023