I felt like all of my Christmas's had come at once when Maria had a space for my little boy.

As a first time mum with a breastfed, clingy 8 month old I was dreading returning to work and entrusting somebody with my child. I visited every nursery within a 5 mile radius but didn't feel comfortable leaving my baby in any of them. That was when a friend recommended Maria and I'm so glad she did!

From the first time I met Maria everything just felt right. Maria's home is so welcoming and is all about the children; she has a dedicated play room which is bright and and engaging, an array of toys and books for all ages and displays of the childrens work with photographs of things they have done on the walls in addition to a big outdoor play area. She even has a downstairs bathroom which is important when it comes to potty training!

Maria goes above and beyond in her role and didn't bat an eyelid when I said I wanted to settle my boy in gradually over a 2 month period, I was so anxious about leaving him and returning to work as I'd never left him before. With Maria I needn't have worried, she really is like family, she cares so much for your child that any guilt you feel about leaving them disappears. I can't describe how good it feels knowing that my little boy is happy, safe and being cared for whilst I am at work. Plus I  get regular texts, pictures and video updates which are so reassuring and make me feel like I am a part of his day.

In addition to the texts during the day we also have a diary where we can read all about his day, from what he has eaten and how long he's slept to what song he enjoyed the most during singing time. I always look forward to reading his diary at the end of the day and looking at the various paintings/crafts/baking that he has brought home.

My little boy absolutely adores Maria, he will happily go to her and gets excited when he sees her, it has been wonderful to see their relationship develop. It is clear that Maria has a really strong bond with all of the children in her care and she knows them all really well. The children's adoration for Maria is a true testament of how much she cares for them.

Maria ensures the children are kept busy and entertained all week. They meet up with other childminders so the children can socialise and do various things such as attend activity group, soft play, farm visits, go to the park/cinema/library etc.

Since my little boy has been going to Maria he has come on leaps and bounds, his communication skills have improved vastly and he has gone from taking the odd step to walking confidently. Maria has definitely played a role in this. He is also getting more adventurous with the foods he eats which I'm sure is due to the variety of nutritious food that Maria offers.

Maria is positive, happy, energetic, down to earth, trustworthy and reliable. I’m certain that being in such a positive and happy environment is helping Shay to develop into a confident and self assured little boy. I really believe that it is rare to find somebody like Maria and would whole heartedly recommended her to anybody.

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• Communication