Catherine's Reviews

Our experience with Catherine has been outstanding

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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by Fahim on 17/07/2025

A lucky find!

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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by Victoria on 09/10/2024

Simply out of this world!

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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by Tatianna on 07/10/2024

Fantastic Childminding team!

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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by Giorgia on 07/10/2024

Simply the Best

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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by Vija on 07/10/2024

Exceptional Childcare with a real family vibe

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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by Sophue on 07/10/2024

A real home away from home

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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by Flora on 07/10/2024

Great Childcare with a Focus on Outdoor Learning!

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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by Sara on 07/10/2024