Sarah O
Childminder in Reading
5.0
My Summary
Spaces Available For All Year Round Care. Tuesday To Friday 7.30Am To 6Pm.
About Me
Spaces available August / September 2026
Tuesday to Friday - 7.30am to 6pm.
Experienced Childminder who was rated good with two areas of outstanding on my last inspection.
I’m a childminder located near Palmer Park who is committed to delivering a high quality service to all the children in my care.
As well as being a mother to my 15 year old son I have also worked in a school for over 6 years and childminding for another 8 year. I have numerous qualifications relating to children and their development and wish to continue developing my skills.
I have a great understanding of SEN and SEMH.
I offer a flexible service to assist parents with their work and I accept all funding and tax free schemes.
Children have full access to my large garden and the downstairs of my home which has been adapted for my business. I am a creative person and children will have opportunities to explore their artistic side and use various mediums. Children get the experience of looking after my 3 guinea pigs and learn about keeping them healthy which helps them learn how to keep themselves healthy.
My home is located on the 17 bus route so is easily accessible to Reading Town Centre. It's also a short walk from two parks, a lake and some woods as well as Alfred Sutton Primary School.
I also believe children need to be around other children to help them gain social skills which are crucial for their social and emotional development. Therefore I will take children to other settings and groups to help them socialise.
My son is attending Alfred Sutton Primary School and I am offering wrap-around care to children who also attend.
I also offer holiday care where I will make these times as fun and varied as possible and will be arranging trips.
My Experience
As well as being a mother to my 12 year old son I have also worked in a school for over 6 years. In total over 15 years working with children. During my time at the school I was the Health and Safety Officer for the site I worked on, therefore I have an extensive knowledge and experiance on this subject. I was also the first aider and have lots of experience administering first aid to both children and adults.
I have qualifications in food and nutrition and am passionate about the importance of children eating a healthy and varied diet. I will give opportunities to grow, cook and eat these foods. I believe this is crucial to combat fussy eaters.
My Qualifications
I have numerous qualifications relating to children and their development and wish to continue developing my skills. These courses include CACHE Level 3 in Homebased Childcare, Schemas, Delivering the Early Years Framework, Expectations of Behaviour, Planning in the Moment and Supporting Emotional Development.
During my time at the school I gained numerous qualifications in Health and Safety as I was the officer there. These include H&S Level 3 for Managers, Fire Warden and Fire Awareness.
I also have qualifications in food and nutrition so will be providing home cooked nutritious meals. As this is a passion of mine, I will be growing food and teaching children to cook as I believe these skills are essential for them to grow up healthy and meet their full potential.
My Availability
I currently have spaces for an Early years, drop off and school collections for Alfred Sutton Primary School and school holidays.
My Fees
- Childminding from £6.50 per hour
Space available starting mid July or September. Tuesday to Friday all year round.
My charges will include any costs associated like food and baby wipes etc. Nappies will need to be supplied by yourselves. I will offer trips and activities with no extra charges, with the exception of any bigger prearranged and agreed trips.
Early Years - £6.50 per hour
School drop off and collections - £7 per hour (no retainer fee paid during holidays)
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Alfred Sutton Primary School
My Ofsted Inspections
The inspection grades below have been obtained from the Ofsted website based upon the registration number the childminder has provided to us. You should verify this information yourself prior to using the childminder.
My Documents
- Ofsted Certificate (added 20/01/2026)
- DBS Check (added 14/08/2022)
- First Aid Certificate: 1st Aid Certificate (added 03/05/2024)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Parents say
This childminder provides exceptional care in a nurturing environment where children thrive and develop confidence. Parents consistently praise the excellent communication, thoughtfully planned activities, and genuine affection shown to each child. The setting is welcoming and inclusive, with children eagerly arriving each day, demonstrating the outstanding quality of care provided.
Summary generated by AI from the text of recent member reviews
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Sarah O. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
Sarah has been looking after our little Jeremy since spring this year and saying that she is fantastic is an understatement! You can tell she really loves the children she looks after.
She has been incredibly patient with our son who was struggling with his naps, and she has adapted gracefully to the language barrier challenge. Jeremy's vocabulary has increased dramatically!
Our son is thriving there and he does not look back when we drop him off.
Her communication skills are second to none, as a first time parent I have learned so much from her and am really grateful for her reassurance. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience with children and is very generous with sharing it.
Her garden is well looked after with so many different activities for the kids and she puts a lot of thoughts into arranging activities for the children she looks after.
Thank you for everything you do Sarah!
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Linda
on 14/07/2026
Response by
Sarah O
on 14/07/2026:
thank you Linda. really appreciate your kind words x
Our daughter joined when she was just 10 months old, and now, at 3 years old, we couldn't be happier with the care, love, and support she has received.
From our first introductions, Frankie immediately showed signs she felt safe. As not the most confident child who would typically hold back from new people and environments, she immediately went to Sarah and was interested in the other children and the toys around. That’s all the reassurance we needed as parents.
Sarah’s week is always thoughtfully prepared based on upcoming events or chosen topics with activities tailored to each child's individual stage of development while also encouraging social skills, confidence, and friendships through shared play and learning. Whether it's visits to parks, local groups, nature walks, home activities or other educational trips, our daughter always has a fantastic day and we love the continued growth in her curiosity and confidence.
As a two mums family, inclusivity has always been incredibly important to us. Our family has been embraced without hesitation, and it's reassuring to know our daughter is growing up in an environment where diversity is celebrated and every family is valued.
Sarah has provided a setting that goes far beyond simply looking after children. Our daughter has been nurtured with kindness, patience, and genuine affection. Communication has always been excellent, with regular updates, photos, and honest conversations about her progress and wellbeing. She is a friend to us parents and such an important part of our lives. We can’t thank you enough!
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Carole
on 13/07/2026
Response by
Sarah O
on 14/07/2026:
thank you for your kind words. x
I honestly could have asked for a better person to look after my son. From birth up until our induction with Sarah, my son would not go to anyone other than me and my parter, and on our induction Matteo voluntarily went to Sarah with no indication. That right there gave the all the reassurance that a mother could ask for when leaving their child with someone else, specially as a first time mum.
Sarah has been such a vital part of Matteo’s development, always making sure he is where he needs to be, and doing the things that he should be for his age, to get him through them markers that the health visitors like to see, but she does so much more than just getting them to the minimum margin. Sarah make sure that all the kids in her setting are thriving, and it really shows when doing drop off and all of her kids go knocking on the door and are straight in without even giving a wave goodbye to the parents.
Sarah is so very understanding if the children are having a bad day, listens to their needs, and always makes sure that she is up to date with all the medication and allergy training, always to be on the safe side.
I feel Sarah not only helps the children, but she is also as friend to the parents and supports the family as well. This is what makes her such a vital part of our life’s.
We are grateful for the outstanding care that she provides our children and all the love, help and support she provides to the parents as well.
I cannot recommend Sarah enough, and do not plan on going elsewhere, when the time comes to having our next one.
Thank you Sarah for everything you do!
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Daniella
on 01/07/2026
Response by
Sarah O
on 03/07/2026:
thanks you
Our son has been with Sarah now for over a year and Sarah has been amazing. Her communication is great and Tommy always goes in with a smile and barely looks back.
Sarah is always looking at developmental goals for individuals and ties fun activities into each season. I really couldn’t be happier with our choice of childcare and will be sending our next child to Sarah too.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Jaz
on 20/01/2026
Response by
Sarah O
on 20/01/2026:
Thank you. I look forward to caring for number two x
I’m delighted to share my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional care provided by Sarah, my son's childminder since 2022.
During this time Sarah's dedication, compassion, expertise and supportive approach have created a nurturing environment where my child feels safe, happy, and valued. Her patience, kindness, and encouragement have helped him blossom into a confident and well-adjusted child that eagerly explored new interests and acquired essential skills that laid a solid foundation for his future education.
Sarah's commitment to my son's growth and development extended beyond basic care. She tailored activities and experiences to stimulate his curiosity, encourage his creativity, and promote his cognitive and physical development. Her guidance helped him navigate challenges and develop positive behavior and social skills.
Moreover, Sarah's dedication to preparing my child for preschool was truly commendable. She implemented structured routines and educational activities that ensured a smooth transition for him. Her thoughtful approach, coupled with her unwavering support and encouragement, instilled confidence in my son.
In addition to her exceptional caregiving skills, Sarah's professionalism and reliability were evident in every interaction. She maintained clear and open communication, providing regular updates on my son's progress and milestones.
In summary, Sarah's impact on my child’s life has been immeasurable. She not only provided him with a safe and nurturing environment but also enriched his early years with love, support, and valuable learning experiences.
I cannot speak highly enough of Sarah, and I will be forever grateful to her for all dedication and commitment and positive impact she’s had on my child. I couldn’t be happier with the care she’s provided.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Dominika
on 14/03/2024
super-professional staff, ongoing communication with the parent, and always being at the forefront of providing the best quality care. I feel so relieved to know that my son is in the best childcare setting.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Ramya
on 19/11/2022
Our 2 3/4 year old son has thrived under Sarah's care since joining her at 11 months old. Despite the restrictions of Covid-19, he has developed socially, personally and academically under Sarah's care and absolutely loves his time in her setting; he's often very upset to see me when I come to pick him up! He settled really quickly and thoroughly enjoys the excellent range of activities Sarah puts on; she always seems to be able to adapt the activities to focus in on his interests while also using her extensive knowledge of child development to ensure he's making progress while having fun. Her setting is clean and engaging and Sarah is clearly invested in our son as she goes above and beyond to support him, regularly suggesting activities or lending us books in which he has shown interest. She also keeps us up-to-date with regular photos and explanations of the tasks he is doing and how this exemplifies the skills he is working on which is lovely to see. We will definitely be sending number two to her as well!
-
Overall
by
Jake
on 27/03/2022
Sarah is a hardworking and patient lady. I met Sarah when my son was around 10 months.
We had a previous childminder before Sarah that told me that my son was too needy and clingy and needed to be independent at his age. So we had to stop using her services.
This was when I met Sarah, I explained my situation and she told me it was normal for a baby at that age to always want to around an adult.
She assured me that my son was going to adjust in time. I decided to go for her and every time I picked up my son, he was happy compared to when he was with the last lady looking after him.
Sarah also have a wonderful son; Toby saw my son as a little brother. Damisi was always happy around Toby. Toby is a also calm, respectful and descent boy.
This lady is a God’s gift to my son and I. And you will not regret having her as a childminder.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Damilola
on 03/07/2020
Sarah has been looking after my 2 year old son and 5 year old daughter since April 2019. Both children absolutely adore her and her setting. They walk in happy and never want to leave at the end of the day! Both have thrived in her care. Sarah provides a range of fun and exciting experiences for them; she has gotten to know them very well and thinks carefully about their development and needs within the eyfs framework.
Sarah is reliable and flexible and always provides thorough handovers.
We are really happy to have found Sarah and grateful for the exceptional care that she provides.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Parent
on 06/06/2020
My girls are with Sarah just for wrap around care. She provides a warm, homely setting with good home cooked meals and plenty to keep them busy. My girls have found a new friend in her son and are excited to go to Sarah. If my kids were younger I’d happily leave them with her all day and know they were well cared for
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Parent
on 30/04/2019
You must be a registered parent and logged in to leave a review.
If you don't have an account then Register Free now.
This profile was last updated on 31st May 2026 and has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.