Catherine
Childminder in London: Islington (also available for babysitting)
Usually responds within 2 days
Female Member since Nov 2021 Last Updated Jul 2025 Last Login 25 Jul 2025
My Summary
Bright Minds Childcare
About Me
Welcome to Bright Minds Childminding, where Catherine, Halima, and Alex look forward to welcoming your family into ours, filling your child’s days with fun and inspiring learning experiences.
About Us
At Bright Minds Childminding, we are passionate about child development. Each child will receive the highest quality childcare, where they are encouraged and nurtured to develop at their own pace. This instils a love of learning and brings joy to their lives. Our mission is to support your children in becoming strong, confident, and independent individuals.
Between us, we have more than 30 years of experience in childcare, are qualified up to level 3, and hold a first-class degree in Psychology. Halima, a mother of seven and grandmother to eight (and counting!), brings a wealth of real-life parenting experience, alongside professional knowledge. Alex, our assistant, adds a unique and valuable dynamic to our setting. As an energetic and engaging male caregiver, Alex offers children a positive male role model and helps challenge traditional gender stereotypes in childcare. His natural ability to connect with children provides them with a balanced perspective on nurturing and care.
This combined experience and expertise allow us to bring out each child’s unique abilities, build on their naturally inquisitive minds, and encourage them to question, explore, and seek out challenges. We inspire children to build upon their individual strengths and passions through a variety of rich learning experiences.
Our Space
Our home is bright and full of enriching resources to stimulate children’s early years development. Young children learn through play and are encouraged to make their own decisions, explore, and express themselves freely. Your child will enjoy creative activities like water play, sand, painting, and crafts, as well as problem-solving with construction, reading from our large selection of books, singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments.
Garden and Outings
We are fortunate to have our own outdoor space, which backs onto a park. We ensure that children spend time outside daily, giving them the opportunity to run freely and explore nature. We also believe in giving children a wider understanding of the world, which is why we regularly take them on outings such as farms, zoos, libraries, markets and museums. These experiences foster curiosity, inspire learning, and help children develop a deeper appreciation of their surroundings.
Celebrating Language and Diversity
At Bright Minds Childminding, we celebrate the diversity of every child. We encourage the use of your child’s home language within our setting and strive to learn key words from it to make your child feel valued and included. This helps build their confidence and ensures they remain connected to their cultural identity while developing their communication skills.
Music and Creativity
We believe that young children respond in extraordinary ways to music and movement, which is why we include daily music sessions in our activities. By incorporating a mix of styles and genres, we inspire children to engage creatively, using movement, props, and their imaginations. These sessions promote cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
Food
We believe that only the best quality, sustainable food is good enough for our children. That’s why we order fresh, organic, and seasonal ingredients delivered by Riverford Organic Farmers. We are experienced cooks with a keen interest in health and provide high-quality, balanced, and tasty meals prepared from scratch, which are included in our fees. Children are encouraged to join in with cooking activities, helping them explore new flavours, develop their senses, and make healthy choices.
Partnership with Parents
We know that children benefit most from early years education when practitioners and parents work in partnership. We encourage you to get as involved as you wish and may even ask for your input in planning activities based on your child’s interests and strengths. We keep you updated on your child’s progress through regular communication in a way that suits you best.
Additional Learning Needs
Some children may require additional support due to particular learning needs. At Bright Minds Childminding, we tailor our approach to the individual child, setting achievable goals and appreciating their unique journey. We work closely with parents and, where necessary, other professionals to ensure that each child achieves their best possible outcomes.
A Warm Invitation
We look forward to welcoming your family into ours, where your child will thrive in a nurturing and stimulating environment. Contact us to schedule a visit and see how we can support your child’s unique journey!
My Experience
Experience of working within schools as a teaching assistant. Experience of working with children with special educational needs. I also have my own son of 3.5 years.
My Qualifications
First class BSc in psychology
Qualified in childcare (level 3)
My Availability
5 vacancies available for all ages. Flexible hours.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Evening | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 16/07/2025 | |||||||
My Fees
- Babysitting from £16.00 per hour
- Childminding from £10.00 per hour
£10 per hour. Monday - Thursday 8am-7pm -£90 daily fee (8-6). Detailed fee policy can be requested. Find us on Face at Bright Minds Childcare
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at St Mark's CofE Primary School
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Duncombe Primary School
- I provide pick ups at Grafton 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
- DBS Check (added 16/07/2025)
- Ofsted Certificate (added 18/11/2022)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Parents say
The childminder receives consistently high praise for providing exceptional care. Reviewers highlight the warm, nurturing environment and focus on outdoor activities. Children reportedly form strong bonds with the staff and enjoy stimulating experiences. Parents appreciate the reliable, flexible service and home-cooked meals.
Summary generated by AI from the text of recent member reviews
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Catherine. 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.
We had the pleasure and privilege of having our son in Catherine and Alex’s care from just over six months of age, and we cannot speak highly enough of the exceptional environment they provide. From the very beginning, it was clear that theirs is not just a childcare service, but a warm, nurturing, and joyful family home where children are truly loved and cared for.
From our very first drop-offs, we were struck by the cheerful, relaxed atmosphere and the happy energy of all the children in their care. Our little boy would wriggle with excitement when we arrived, and on more than one occasion he would lunge back into Catherine’s or Halima's arms at pick-up — a sure sign of the strong bond he had developed and just how much he enjoyed being with her and Alex and Halima.
Catherine’s home is beautifully organised and clearly designed with the safety, development, and enjoyment of every child in mind. There is a wide variety of toys and activities available, suitable for different ages and stages, all of which help children learn, play, and thrive. The space is thoughtfully prepared each day, with particular attention paid to cleanliness, safety, and fun.
One of the things we especially appreciated was how well Catherine planned for all weather conditions. From a paddling pool in the garden on hot days to regular outings to children’s pools and local water parks, the children were always kept comfortable, stimulated, and happy — rain or shine. She has a bouncy castle for kids!
Some of our most treasured memories as parents include the photos and updates Catherine and Alex sent via WhatsApp, showing our son laughing at the Hampstead Heath paddling pool, exploring museums, playing in sandpits, or enjoying a peaceful moment on the grass. These snapshots gave us immense reassurance and joy, knowing our son was having such rich, fulfilling experiences.
Catherine also stands out for her remarkable attention to detail. She was always quick to notice and manage any minor issues, like a nappy rash, before we even had to worry. All of our son’s belongings were always returned neatly and just as we had packed them, and we never once had to worry whether he was dressed appropriately for the weather — Catherine always had it covered. She handled everything with such quiet confidence and professionalism that we felt completely at ease, even on the rare occasion our son required medication. When he needed antibiotics for an ear infection, Catherine administered them reliably and kept us informed — we were never in doubt that he was in the safest of hands.
In short, Catherine, Alex and Halima provided the best possible start for our son. They offered a warm, loving, stimulating environment where he grew in confidence, happiness, and independence. We are incredibly grateful for the care, thoughtfulness, and joy they brought into his life — and ours.
We recommend Catherine’s setting without hesitation to any parent looking for exceptional, reliable, and wholehearted childcare. It is a truly special place.
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Fahim
on 17/07/2025
Our 2 year old son has been with Cathy, Halima and Alex for over a year now. He loves spending time with them and I can see they genuinely care about him. I never worry when I leave him and go to work. They always have plenty of opportunities for playing outdoors and there have even been a few day trips to the zoo and museums. In the summer they were always out at splash pools or at the water fountains in Granary square.
Our son has made friends with the other children and likes to talk about them over breakfast, before dropping him off. They all get on well, it's super cute. Cathy makes homemade meals that are tasty and healthy which is a big plus for us.
We have never had any issues, they are a warm, reliable, friendly, fun and caring team.
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Victoria
on 09/10/2024
Cathy has been looking after my son for almost two years now, from the time he turned 1. He has spent more than half his life with her and the wonderful family they have. Cathy, Halima and Alex have created such a loving, warm, safe, and encouraging environment for all the little ones in their care. My son requests every day without fail, 'Want to see Aunty Cathy, Alex, Aunty Halima' and all of his little friends.
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Tatianna
on 07/10/2024
We are so happy to have found the Bright Minds. Catherine, Alex and the team are fantastic, very kind, reliable and professional and the whole environment is stimulating and fun. Children have to opportunity to spend a lot of time playing outside which is something I highly rate, they also play with music and do fun and creative activities. Our 4 years old son has been with them for 1 year now, Catherine or Alex would pick him up from nursery and now reception a couple of days a week, and they help us during half term or with last minutes requests (they are always very flexible). Our son loves being with them and always comes home with something new to tell us, a new song or a new activity (most of the times he doesn't even want to come back home, as he is having so much fun with them!!). We very highly recommend the Bright minds. Fantastic team!!
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Giorgia
on 07/10/2024
My son, Kai, has been with Catherine for almost a year. She would pick him up from the reception on Tuesdays & Thursdays and these were his favourite days of the school week. If you are looking for a trustworthy, reliable, kind, professional and simply lovely person, I highly recommend Catherine! Her home environment is safe, creative and fun for kids.
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Vija
on 07/10/2024
Cathy, Alex and Halima are an incredible team and provided the most exceptional childcare experience for my daughter. She got to spent so much time outdoors and her social and communication skills came on leaps and bounds after starting at Bright minds. She would come home everyday very happy, with a full belly and jabbering to me about all the fun she had.
I found Cathy and her team so dependable and flexible add they really became an extension of our family.
Deciding on childcare for your little one is daunting but I know I made the right decision with this one and truly support their vision. My daughter started at around 9 months of age but we moved abroad at 18 months, honestly the saddest thing about leaving London was leaving these guys and I haven’t found anything that has matched it yet.
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Sophue
on 07/10/2024
We adore Bright Minds! Cathy, Alex and Halima deliver an incredible childcare service that is heartfelt, homey, full of adventure and play. My son started when he was 1 yo and we slowly built up to four days a week - we have been with them for over a year and still going. I love how physical their days are which I feel is important for a little boy. In the summer they spend long days in the park/lido/woods. The mix of ages has been important for his development and has helped our son become a very talkative, very physical, polite and kind little man. We love that Alex plays such a big role in the childcare - a nice change in a very female dominated care system. We’re also grateful that Cathy makes freshly made food and respects our decision not to let our son have sugar. For his birthday she carved a cake out of watermelon and covered in berries and candles. He was delighted! It’s a home away from home!
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Flora
on 07/10/2024
I highly recommend Catherine and the Bright Minds Childminding team! Catherine is caring, reliable, and consistently provides a fun, safe environment for the children. My child loves spending time there, and I have complete peace of mind knowing they’re in good hands. After using their service for two years, they've been an invaluable help, truly embracing the outdoor learning approach.
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Sara
on 07/10/2024
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