Carlene

A great find

Carlene has provided a lovely nurturing environment for our daughter. She loves Carlene and always looks forward to going. The experiences she has are always interesting and our daughter likes to chat about them after pick up.

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by Hannah on 01/07/2024

She’s simply fabulous

We are incredibly grateful to have had Carlene care for both of our children. She provides a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment where our kids have thrived and my youngest continues to. Her warmth, patience, and genuine care are evident every day. The activities she plans are both fun and educational, and our children always look forward to their time with her. My eldest absolutely adored Carlene and would always get excited to see her when he was in her care (he is now in school) and she’s fabulous with my youngest who is just 6 months old and she’s taken to Carlene beautifully. Communication has always been excellent, keeping us informed and reassured (which I very much appreciate). We highly recommend Carlene to any family looking for a dedicated and caring childminder, we actually moved away and then moved back to Winchester where I had my daughter and knew that when it came to me going back to work, Carlene was the lady I would be contacting for her!

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by Kirsha on 09/06/2024

The most imaginative & nurturing childcare setting

Our little boy started with Carlene when he was 1 and within weeks his speech and confidence took off. I was nervous at leaving him but Carlene's communication was fantastic - she would drop us a text to let us know as soon as he settled and what he was playing with, which helped me feel confident at work as well. I love seeing her write ups of their days on tapestry, but I also love that she has time to talk to us at pick up too.

Every day when we pick Danny up Carlene tells us in detail what they did that day. She knows the children and celebrates their acheivements wholeheartedly and will notice when Danny learnt new words, and help him in his interests and wish to be independent. She takes the children out to interesting places every day, but also helps them to wonder at the everyday - with trips to the park to try different toys on the slide, or to the cathedral or picnics around the area.

Carlene provides a varied diet for the children and consistent routines in meal times and naps, so that I suspect Danny eats more politely and definitely naps more consistently with her than at home now! We couldn't be happier with her and Danny absolutely loves his days with her.

Thank you.

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by K Palmer on 26/09/2022

Everyday Adventures

We are so happy to send our daughter to Carlene’s. Each day they spend so much time out on adventures, meeting other children or playing with Carlene’s pets. Her home is always welcoming and full of all her favourite toys and books. Carlene seems to have endless energy and is full of fun, creative activities.
We love reading her updates on what they’ve been up to each day, and it’s great to read the regular developmental reports she does so that we know how our daughter is progressing.
It’s obvious how much the children love Carlene and all her family and we couldn’t be happier with her as a childminder.

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by Rosalind on 25/09/2022

second family

Where do I begin! Carlene has been looking after my daughter (almost 4) for coming up 3 years. I initially wanted my daughter to go to a home from home environment and as soon as I met Carlene and her family I knew it would be the perfect setting. My daughter has absolutely thrived since being in Carlene’s environment, the experiences she has had there are invaluable. My daughter is always happy at drop off and collection, excited to tell me about her day. Carlene is very adaptive and flexible, she encourages positive values, healthy living, education and play. The children spend a lot of time playing outside and going to different places for days out which they love! Carlene provides healthy lunches and snacks for my little girl.

Carlenes family are like a second family to my daughter. Her husband, 3 children (and pets) are just the best, kindest people. My daughter loves the school holidays where she gets to spend more time with Carlene’s children.

I couldn’t recommend Carlene enough and am forever grateful that I found her.

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by char on 25/09/2022

Caring, thoughtful, amazing

Carlene is an amazing childminder, she has had Joshua now for over a year and he has grown with her and has come out a lovely little boy, carlene has nutured him and helped him gain his confidence and his robustness to the full, I would recommend carlene to anyone who needs a loyal and amazing childminder. Joshua lives all the activities and adventures they go on and is always tired by the end of the day, and to me that is very satisfying to see as it means his day has been full of fun.

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by Heather on 04/01/2020

Wonderful Childminder

Carlene has been my daughter’s childminder for 13 months, and we couldn’t be happier with the care she has provided. My little girl started with Carlene when she had just turned 1, and Carlene was wonderful at helping her settle in. She is now excited when she goes to Carlene’s house, and I can tell she feels safe and happy there. Carlene is great at giving me updates regarding my daughter’s progress and keeps us well informed with what they have been getting up to. She is extremely mindful of my daughter’s needs, and is happy to follow her routine for naps etc. I have also been very pleased with the healthy lunch and snacks she has provided.

Carlene always plans amazing activities and excursions with the children. I love that they are outside almost every day! She has such a great way with the children, and is so good at planning activities that are both fun and educational for them. My little girl has learnt so much whilst being under Carlene’s care, and it has been wonderful for her to socialise and form a bond with the other children, as well as Carlene’s lovely family.

I wholeheartedly recommend Carlene!

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by Joanne on 16/10/2019

Fantastic, energetic and caring

Carlene looks after our 2 year old and has done for the past 10 months. We couldn’t be happier with her. She has so much energy and is fantastic with the children she looks after. Everyday they are doing something different from watching boats coming in to visiting the zoo or exploring woods.
Carlene also has a fab connection with the children and this is evident in the way my daughter greets her. I can really see how our daughter has and is thriving with her.
I couldn’t recommend Carlene more.

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by KatyS on 10/10/2019

Very happy to recommend

Our son has been going to Carlene for 4 months now and we are so pleased with how things are going. He is so settled and content. Nothing is too much trouble for Carlene and she has always kept us up to date with what’s going on.

I love hearing how he has been getting on and the adventures he has been on... Carlene does a great job of mixing up the safety and security of familiar surroundings with fun day trips and new experiences. Come rain or shine they are almost always out and about up to something. I love reading the updates from the day and seeing the pictures and videos... after a sometimes long day at work they really brighten up my evening!

It is clear how Carlene genuinely cares for the progression, well being and development of our son just as we do and hope that our son can continue going to Carlene for a long time to come! :)

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by Parent on 03/04/2019

A gem of a find!

My son started his settling in sessions with Carlene 18 months ago, has now been with Carlene full time for 15 months. He is so happy, and adores Carlene (and the family) which has made my return to work bearable and possible.

Carlene’s 3 children are probably the best advert for her, and her style. They are the 3 loveliest, friendliest, happiest children I have ever met and are all so interactive with my son. I really feel my son has an adoptive family and he often talks about them at home.

Carlene only looks after a small group of children, which means that they get the interaction with other children, while also getting some focused attention, rather than being one of a larger group. I am sure this has helped my son’s phenomenal development.

Almost every day the Children are on a trip somewhere, or out and about at a playgroup or play park. When they are at home, they play as well as do crafts and “educational play” (from shapes, animals etc to planting seeds and digging in the garden).

Carlene cooks a very healthy diet for the children and her family, but also relatively adventurous. But this means my son will eat almost anything.

I cannot rate Carlene highly enough and feel so fortunate that I found her just as she was starting up. I hope that she’ll have space for no 2 when the time comes as I want my second child to have the same love, support and fun as my son has.

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by FandV on 12/06/2018