Rhianna has been a part of our family for six years and I’m truly sad as I write this, knowing that come September she will have a less prominent role as my children’s third parent. I say ‘less prominent’ because my (nearly) seven year old son has promised to still pop in for tea at hers when he’s ‘a grownup’ and because both he and my (nearly) four year old daughter fully intend to visit in the school holidays. Apart from a brief settling in period (made significantly easier by Rhianna’s outstanding experience with children), both my kids have happily skipped off into her house every day and come out beaming with handfuls of artwork, baked goods or fantastic stories of their days out. I feel truly fortunate to have found Rhianna on here: From day one when I dropped off a very clingy 11 month old to year 3 when I dropped off a second clingy 11 month old to our sixth year preparations for school, not once has she dropped the ball. Her home-from-home setting is filled with love, kindness, fairness and consistency. The children love her to bits, willingly respect her rules (far more than they do mine!) and they respect and care for each other. Knowing that they have always been safe, happy and amazingly well educated has significantly lessened the worries of being a working Mum. I have never once felt my kids have lost out (despite spending 44 hours a week with Rhianna) – She has only enriched their little lives, nurtured them like her own and set them up so well for the big wide world of school. There is no doubt she has our children’s best interests at heart.

As a parent, I find Rhianna immensely organised and I am always struck with her ability to keep her policies, menus and lesson plans updated. We receive a termly lesson plan from her which details theme of the week and the planned activities for each day. This is immensely helpful in planning how to dress children (for example for muddy walks, music classes, playgroup, messy play, baking, the zoo or the beach). She is also top notch at updating us during the day: we will always receive a timely update on any illness or injuries (for example a grazed knee on the school run) and just the right number of photographs so we know what the children have been up to, including their important achievements. Rhianna’s organisation also helped both my children safely navigate a milk allergy. Rhianna has always worked as a team with my husband and me, always to the benefit of our children. We have a most thorough update at the door each evening and she has worked with us on behavioural issues and been an integral part in getting both children potty trained too, always ensuring the praise or rewards we were offering at home were continued into her setting.

Rhianna’s setting benefits from a small number of children which has meant my children have always felt comfortable and have developed some wonderful friendships. At the same time, it allows Rhianna to individualise her sessions to the children she has: My son went through a stage of being fascinated with buses – so she made sure he was able to have a bus ride into town. My daughter is very crafty, so she has plenty of time to exhibit her artistic talents. From the age of two and a half, she has held a pencil correctly and this is undoubtedly due to the encouragement Rhianna has provided. Earlier this year, she was desperate to write her name and Rhianna gently and patiently supported her in this. My son, conversely, was not remotely interested in crayons or writing, so Rhianna used her own creativity to ensure he was exposed to plenty of activities: playdough, threading and ‘tweezer games’ to strengthen his hand muscles in preparation for writing. In addition to the small group of regular attendees, the children get to meet with other children at play groups and combined childminder activities. My children have had experiences which will prepare them for life: learning to use zebra crossings during ‘Road Safety Week’, visiting the dentist and learning to brush teeth for ‘Oral Health’ or visiting the local Temple, attending the Gurdwara and learning about Black History Month to promote their understanding of diversity. Finally, Rhianna’s home is immaculate, her garden a safe, fun place to have daily outdoor time and her family members loving and kind to our children.

I truly believe we have had the best childminder and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

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