Home Away From Home
Childminder in London: Harrow (also available for babysitting)
Usually responds within 2 days
Female Member since Nov 2019 Last Updated Jun 2025 Last Login 23 Jun 2025
My Summary
Registered Qualified Childcare Educator
About Me
A qualified and registered Nursery Educator/Practitioner who follows Montessori ethos with EYFS curriculum which sets standards for the leaning, development and care of children from birth to 5 year old.
I am a registered Childcare Provider with many years of experience in working with children. I also have experienced and qualified childcare practitioners working with me at my home-based childcare and Nursery/Montessori educational setting.
We are a perfect hybrid of a Nursery/Montessori and a loving homely environment, which I could not find when I was searching for care and education for my own two children.
Myself and my staff members regularly attend training and various workshops in order to keep our knowledge and skills updated so we can provide outstanding level of care and education to our children.
Currently I am reading towards TQUK Level 5 diploma in Early Years Lead Practitioner, Leadership and Management.
I am on two Registers under Ofsted as a Childcare Provider and Early Years Provider, and registered with Harrow Council. I am a member of PACEY and fully insured. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc Hons) from Queen Mary University of London. I am qualified as a Nursery Educator/Practitioner, and hold a Diploma in Children & Young People’s Workforce with Paediatric First Aid and Safeguarding qualification and many more (Please see under My Qualifications section below). I have also completed 4 years of MBBS (Medicine degree) before being pregnant with my daughter.
Our Childcare and Education setting based at a homely environment is called Little Explorers.
At Little Explorers, we want your precious little child (‘my children’ as I call them) to feel it is their ‘Home away from Home’ and grow up as a part a family. While their Exploration continues, we are passionate and enthusiastic about providing an outstanding level of care and education for them.
Our setting is nice and spacious with a stimulating environment. There are three spacious ‘play while you learn’ nursery rooms with many activities.
Ladybird room is for babies from 3 months to 1.5 years old.
Caterpillar room is for toddlers from 1.5 years to 3 years old.
Butterfly room is for pre schoolers from 3 years to 5 years old.
There is a dedicated dining and physical activities area (for dancing, music, yoga and exercises) for the children.
We also have a good size well maintained garden with many outdoor activities.
We help my children from their very young age develop in a number of key learning areas. They will learn not only to love, respect, and share with others, communicate, explore, express, but also to have self confidence, be creative and innovative, be independent as well as be part of a team, focused, disciplined, pay attention, concentrate, love and live with the nature and outdoors, enjoy music & arts, and at the same time play and have fun.
We organise free workshops for my children such as Phonics, Numbers, Writing, Reading, Music, Dancing, Creative Arts, Games, Sports (Cricket and football), Yoga, Outdoor Activities and many more which help their sensory and motor development.
With the parents’ permission, we get my children involved in gardening, going to children's parks, walking to local shops, visiting the library and Harrow Museum, Headstone Manor etc. such that they understand and mix with the outside world.
A well-balanced healthy diet is extremely important to a child’s physical and mental development. We cook and provide freshly homemade vegie and non-vegie food everyday together with fruits, milk, yogurt and snacks at no extra cost. I am very happy to work with children who have fussy eating habits.
We have a digital portal (App) where the parents receive daily updates with photos. Through the App you can view what food the children had, nappy changing times, if they had a nap and what activities they did etc.
Our children learn and celebrate all the cultural and community events following the UK Education frameworks for Early Years.
I am a mother of two beautiful children (a daughter and a son who are at school). Before becoming a childcare provider,
I used to work at St Mark’s Hospital at Northwick Park NHS in Harrow. My husband, who is also a registered childminder, is a freelance Engineering Project Manager graduated at Kingston University.
Above all, I ensure that all my children receive care, love and attention he or she deserves.
My Experience
Caring is something that I have experienced in offering from a very young age since being the only child born to deaf and mute parents.
I am registered with Harrow Council as a Childcare provider which has allowed me to deliver Early Years Education. I am fully qualified as a Nursery teacher/practitioner and passionate to be with children with nearly 18 years of childcare experience. I am a mother of two gorgeous children.
My Qualifications
BSc(Hons) Degree at Queen Mary University of London
4 Years of MBBS Degree at Medical faculty of Charles University
Qualified Nursery/Montessori Educator with NCFE Diploma for the Early Years Workforce
Diploma for the Children and Young Peoples’ Workforce
Currently reading towards TQUK Level 5 diploma in Early Years Lead Practitioner, Leadership and Management
Included in two registers under Ofsted - Childcare Register and Early Years Register
Registered Childcare Provider at Harrow Council
Member of PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years)
Fully covered with Insurance
CACHE Certificate in Childcare Service
Enhanced DBS Checked
Paediatric First Aid
Safeguarding Children
Training in Resuscitation
Health and Safety
Fire Safety
Infection Control
Equality Diversity and Human Rights
Mental Capacity Act
My Availability
We are flexible and available according to your requirements (full time or part time).
Please send me a message or call to discuss and arrange a meeting.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Evening | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 09/06/2025 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £7.00 per hour
- Babysitting from £15.00 per hour
Discounts will be offered depending on the number of days/hours of childcare requirements.
Fees will depend on the child’s age, number of attending days and hours per week.
Fees includes the following;
> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (veg or non-veg according to the parents’ preference for each child)
> Snacks (Fruits, yogurt, etc) and Milk in between main meals
> Workshops (Phonics, Numbers, Writing, Reading, Technology, Music, Dancing, Creative Arts, Games/ Physical activities, Arts & Crafts and etc.)
> Access to our digital portal (mobile App) with daily updates and photos of children.
> Celebration of Birthdays of each and every child
> Learning and celebrating cultural events (Christmas, Diwali, Easter, Eid and many more)
We are open on Saturdays and Sundays as well.
No additional charges.
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at St Anselm's Catholic 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 09/11/2019)
- DBS Check (added 09/11/2019)
- Training Certificate: Certificate in Safeguarding Children Level 2 (added 09/11/2019)
- Training Certificate: Cache Certficate in Setting Up A Childcare Service (added 09/11/2019)
- Training Certificate: Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce (CYPOP5) (added 09/11/2019)
- First Aid Certificate: British Redcross Paediatric First Aid Certificate (added 09/11/2019)
Reviews
4.56 out of 5
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Home away from Home. 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.
Couldn't be happier, or recommend Little Explorers enough!
Our son has just started school but has been with Little Explorers for years. He has grown so much in terms of confidence, social skills, and learning. Thushani and the other "Aunties" as how my son calls them are so nurturing, engaging, and caring. I couldn't have been more happy with leaving my precious baby with them every day, knowing that he was in great hands.
He has learned so much from Little Explorers, and made so many good friends who will now stick together in their new school, which is such a big win!
Our son used to attend another nursery before, but he began to refuse to go there and cry when we would drop him off, however since going to Little Explorers, he didn't want to come home when we went to pick him up!
Auntie Thushani, Uncle Gayan, Aunti Nachiko, and the rest of the aunties are the best!
The food my son was eating every day was also amazing! so varied and full of nutrition.
Communication was really good too, and being able to see photos and info on what my son was doing every day was very reassuring.
I wish I went to such a great family when I was little
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Steven
on 18/09/2024
Little explorers have created a loving and unique environment for both my children to thrive in. Thushani and her staff continuously go above and beyond when it comes to the children's needs and development with their love and care which is invaluable. They are extremely accommodating which is reassuring as I work full-time. They also provide daily updates on the wonderful activities they have put together for the children including meals and nap times which is very helpful. The memories created over the last few years have been priceless. They have become family to us and can't thank them enough for everything they have done and continue to do for my girls.
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Priya
on 21/11/2023
I cannot express how grateful I am with the nursery setting and incredibly kind Thushani who took care of my child since he was 2 years old.
From the moment we walked through the doors, it was clear that this was a place filled with warmth, care, and a genuine dedication to a childs well-being.
Thushani’s nursery is a true haven for young minds and a very safe environment that encourages learning through play.
Thushani and her team are patient, nurturing, and incredibly attentive to each child's unique needs.
My son adores Thushani, and I have seen positive growth in him since starting at this nursery. I always felt informed and involved in my child's progress.
I am so thankful to have found such a wonderful place for my child to thrive.
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by
Anuja
on 10/10/2023
Thushani and her husband welcomed us into their childcare setting back in late 2019 when I was looking around the local area. I knew right there and then that this nursery would be the one for us!
My daughter was there from 18 months to just recently aged 4 where she graduated from Little Explorers. I can't express my thanks and gratitude enough for these people. Although when I met them, they had just started out, they were more professional, passionate and hard working than other places I have known that have been going for years.
Thushani has such a natural and loving way with kids which can only come from the heart and from being a mother herself. Her team are also fantastic and I loved seeing the daily/weekly updates and observations of my daughters learning journal.
Thushani is so helpful and accomodating and has gone above and beyond to help me and my partner at short notice over the years despite her business increasing and many more children attending. I have laughed, cried and smiled looking back at all of my daughters photos and her learning record. You can't always get the perfect childcare for children but Little Explorers is pretty much there.
We will truly truly miss this place and would say to any parent enquiring- this is the best childminder/nursery in Harrow!!
Thank you so much to Thushani for everything xx Layla and family
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by
EmJ90
on 28/08/2023
Met Thushani and discuss set up of planned childcare. She said she will send an invoice so I have an idea of the fees however she never did. I messaged her but still no response. It’s a shame bc my son seems to like her place.
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by
Mama
on 10/02/2023
Response by
Home away from Home
on 13/02/2023:
Thank you very much Pia for your review on Friday the 10th February. We replied immediately via Whatsapp to you to try and resolve the matter. Our understanding was that the fees were sent to you on the 10th December and we also did not receive any communication from you either as indicated in your response. It seems that communications from us to you and you to us were not received after the 10th December. Any issues would definitely have been sorted much earlier but unfortunately, it took you two months to let us know from the 10th December and we clearly understand that you might have been very busy to correspond with us earlier. I am glad that your son enjoyed his time here when you came to visit us on the 9th December and it is a shame that we were unable to meet the times that you required.
May we take this opportunity of wishing you and your son all the best.
Thushani on behalf of Little Explorers.
I highly recommend Little Explorers, Thushani helped us out at short notice and worked wonders with both of my children - my son learnt how to spell his name within a few short weeks and my daughter who can be really quite nervous around new people warmed to Thushani immediately. They were cooked fabulous meals and always came home telling me what a lovely day they had, the extra mile was always reached... My son even had his own birthday party and cake arranged for him, so much thought and care went into their time there and I was always kept updated (she takes absolutely lovely photos!) I will always be grateful to Thushani for their time at Little Explorers, my kids miss her lots and I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone.
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Harriet
on 12/07/2022
We needed a childminder urgently for a few weeks to take care of my little one who is exactly 1 year old. Thushani very kindly offered to help. It was incredible how quickly my daughter settled in with her. My daughter had never been outside our home much given that she was born during the pandemic and with all the lockdowns there was never much an opportunity for her to socialise.
Thushani took very good care of my daughter and went to great lengths to ensure she ate well and was properly engaged all day. She understood my anxiety with leaving my daughter for the first time and sent us pictures and videos of our little one regularly to reassure us that she was completely alright.
On the last day, my daughter even leapt to Thushani and that showed how fond she had gotten of her. This is truly the best care that she could've received. Thank you for helping us and little S out xx
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Saranya
on 17/08/2021
Our daughter has been with Little Explorers for just over a year and we couldn’t be happier. They always went above and beyond to support us as and when needed. We felt it was a home away from home for our daughter and she was very happy there. Little explorers offer a very caring, nurturing, reliable and professional environment which we would highly recommend.
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Shelini
on 09/07/2021
My boys attended Little explorers which is a home based setting; they immediatly felt comfortable with Thushani and they where in a relaxed enviroment. They had plenty of activites to do, Thushani kept me updated and was very proffesional in her approach. I highly reccomend Little explores.
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Mumoftwo
on 05/01/2020
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