Lydia's Reviews
Babysitter
Below are the parent reviews for Lydia. Back to Lydia's profile
Average Rating:
(4.95 from 59 reviews)
Brilliant service that Lydia and Dale offer. My daughter has been extremely happy and her learning has advanced so fast since she started. I would definitely recommend them and with another one on the way I know where they will be going!
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We used Dale and Lydia's service for approx 4 months but much to our regret and disappointment had to leave them as we have now moved.
Our daughter was very happy whilst in their care and they truly run a lovely service, though I don't think service is quiet the right word as they where like good friends who clearly thoroughly enjoy what they do. All the other children always look so happy when we pick our daughter up and Dale and Lydia sometimes seems to get overwhelmed in the mornings with big hugs off some of the children arriving!! So yep I cant recommend these guys enough if your looking for a lovely environment for your children. Best of luck for the future, David.
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My daughter has been cared by Lydia and Dale since January 2013 and I can honestly say that there has not been one day that I haven’t arrived to find her with a big smile across her face, laughing and wanting to tell me all about the fun things she has done at their home that day.
Lydia and Dale are the most dedicated, professional child minders I have ever encountered. They are unquestionably genuine in their devotion to providing the children they care for with a nurturing, creative, educational and safe environment. Their efforts go above and beyond not only other childminders in the area but also some nurseries. If Ofsted had an ‘exceptional’ rating that trumped ‘outstanding’ then I’ve no doubt they would be awarded it.
I can only echo all the positive remarks left below. The children are constantly engaged in fun activities and always monitored. Never, ever is their safety compromised. It is also worth remarking on how lovely the children are who attend. On my first visit to A Home to Grow I was struck by how cheerful and sweet all the children were. Clearly they have good parents :) but equally Dale and Lydia ensure that the children treat each other with the same respect and care that they demonstrate in their interaction with them.
I too am surprised to read the negative feedback from Roxani. It, in no way, reflects my experience or that of the other parents. When I read the comment I could only conclude that the adage, “What Peter says about Paul says more about Peter than it does about Paul” was apt for this parent. My daughter also waded in the paddling pool that day. It was a very hot day so I was glad she had the opportunity to have some ‘cool’ fun. She was not sick afterwards but she was a very happy bunny. Lydia and Dale ensure that every day is a fun day for the children.
I cannot recommend a Home to Grow highly enough.
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We hesitated between a nursery and a childminder for our 11 month old but the feel you get when entering a Home to Grow is the best of both world!
Lydia and Dale put lots and lots of energy and effort in resources, activities, singing and learning.
They now care for both our boys. We feel we can discuss everything, tell them everything and this is ever so important when leaving your little one in the care of someone!
Lydia and Dale currently have an assistant to work with them. They are very professional in the choices they make and we feel our boys are very well cared for.
They are excellent with their babysitters agency too.
On the whole, we are not going anywhere anytime soon!
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My son attended A Home to Grow full time from Dec 2011 up to June 2013, and we could not have been happier with his care. I was working long hours and it was such a weight off my mind to know that he really felt he had a home from home at their house.
Lydia and Dale are incredibly gifted with children, they follow the Early Years curriculum in a really creative way. Even at less than 2 my son was desperate to tell me about all the things they'd taught him, and got so much enjoyment out of his 'learning time'. They are really imaginitive and never seem to run out of fresh ideas. Despite the very long days and hard work that they put it, they never seemed to get the slightest bit impatient. All the children adore them and behave well as a result.
Lydia's own daughters are also a great testament to how well their approach works; they are kind, impeccably mannered, helpful girls who are great role models for the younger ones.
We have sadly moved out of the area now but if I could have taken them with us I would have done! I don't think they charge enough for a service which is twice as good as I've had at the two highly rated private nurseries that I've used both before and after. I would recommend them to anybody.
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My daughter has been at A Home To Grow since she was 10 months old and I could not be happier with the incredible child-minding care that Lydia & Dale at A Home To Grow provide, a sentiment that I know the other parents who send their children there for any length of time agree with.
Lydia & Dale have put everything into making their home into the most amazing place for children to be looked after, learn and play, and in over a year I don’t have a single negative thing to say about my daughter’s care with them. As well as caring, they are thoughtful, fun, diligent, they communicate everything, and their ONLY priority is the well-being of the children they are looking after (well, that and providing the best fancy-dress costumes ever!)
I have never written a review before, but I feel so strongly against the absurd claims made by “Roxani” that I have been moved to do so. My daughter will have been the same age as the child in question at the time, and from the brilliant Weekly Photos that parents receive it is possible to see that in that hot month there are only VERY happy children splashing around in a warm-looking paddling pool. I just feel lucky that the children even had the opportunity to be outside in a lovely garden enjoying the weather, especially in the company of others their age (and more importantly responsible adults) and the fact that someone has claimed otherwise, is ridiculous.
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Our little girl has been attending a Home to Grow from a very young age, on a full time basis since January 2013, and was on a part time basis before that, starting September 2012.
When we first met Lydia and Dale it was obvious from the very first 10 minutes conversation that we wanted them to take care of our only child. Not only are they lovely people, but they are extremely professional and always put the children’s interest first. For a start, they give children healthy meals and everything is homemade by Dale, they never leave a child with a full nappy and have the days filled with different activities. All of these help the children develop their sense of imagination. From a very early age, our little one was painting/drawing, playing dress up and reading books. We are also glad that Lydia and Dale are taking the children to the park, to the zoo (twice in less than 8 months) and occasionally to museums, not to mention they have a lovely garden in central London where the children can play with the abundance of toys they have. At the end of the year, Lydia and Dale are organising a Christmas show, with the little ones singing and dancing, this is the best opportunity to spend time with our child and her friends at a Home to Grow.
Our daughter has always a smile on her face when we reach to the door of a Home to Grow and I find that she evolves so quickly and learns so much with them, speaking and behaving very well now.
Little details which are worth so much for parents: we receive daily diaries by email including what the little one did and ate, how long she slept, etc., also, on a weekly basis we receive pictures of the highlights of the week. This is so important to be able to see their life when we are away, and also for them to look at it later.
For all the above, we would like to thank Lydia and Dale for all they do for the children and for their devotion to their job. There is no doubt that we would recommend their services and even have our next child with them!
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I am leaving this feedback to say to Lydia and Dale that we appreciate everything you did for our daughter. Unfortunately my work situation changed and we no longer needed child care but whilst my daughter was at your nursery I felt content.
I am a very good judge of whether my young daughter has had a good day or not and my little girl skipped with joy when I arrive and was so happy.
I felt that everything that could have been done was done. I am amazed that the three adults that work at A Home To Grow have such a smooth system and work so well as a team to care for these children. I find one child tough but they manage 6 effortlessly!
I have just read the negative feedback below and am shocked as I was there that day and it was during a heatwave back in July. The children were having a great day though I must be honest and say the little girl's Mother seemed rather aggressive and was not happy that her daughter didn't want to leave with her. I heard some of the requests she was demanding of Lydia and Dale and frankly they were saints to be so warm towards her.
One afternoon when I was collecting my daughter I saw Roxani outside their house spying on them to see how her daughter was and when I told Dale he seemed to not mind one bit and even took her out a cup of tea and a homemade blueberry muffin.
Such a shame that there are a minority that try to ruin a good thing for others.
I can seriously say that as soon as I secure new work I will only consider you guys and I'm so sorry that your amazing patience and dedication isn't appreciated by everyone.
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Lydia and Dale took great care of my son as the were his childminders full-time. He was so happy there and talked about them all the time.I have had many different child carers but Lydia and Dale were by far the most hard working and passionate. I always felt at ease when my son was with them and Lydia and Dale always updated me what my boy was doing.
We moved away and we will miss them dearly.
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Incredible service, wonderful people. These guys work tirelessly to care for little ones and also teach them education and essential life skills.
These childminders are open longer hours than any I know and are really conveniently located on the way to central London in a delightful quiet road near a fruit market.
The other children are polite and well mannered, greeting me as I entered and other parents seem warm and welcoming.
I used to work with children but never before have I seen such hard work and dedication at succeeding in satisfying above and beyond in every area of learning and development. The children that attend here seem to love it as they have so many toys to play with and a delightful well stocked garden. If I was a child I would enjoy spending my days there.
I have heard the food is delicious too, freshly home cooked meals prepared by Dale, the smells were heavenly each I collected my child.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed knowing my child was safe and happy there.
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