We feel so lucky to have Zeb at Helen's Happy Home 3 days a week when we are at work. It was so easy to go back to work because Zeb loves it there and I totally trust Helen to care for Zeb brilliantly. Helen provides so many opportunities for playing and learning. From day trips we could never go on because we don't have a car, to trying new toys from the library, to art and crafts to getting involved in everyday activities like cooking. There is so much variety to what they do in a day. Getting updates on Baby Days is an exciting. Especially the photos- Helen manages to capture activities and moments which is heartwarming and reassuring. I think the best thing about Helen's happy home is that it is just that: a happy home environment. I'm impressed with how Helen handles conflict between children and I've learnt a lot from her. For example, Zeb went through a phase of hitting and kicking (like all toddlers). I was horrified, but Helen reassured me that it was normal and said we should just take him to a quiet place to explain that hitting and kicking hurts and it's not nice, and let him think about it. The behaviour soon resolved. Zeb has built excellent relationships with the other children, talking about them when he is at home and looking forward to seeing them. Zeb never had any trouble napping at Helen's- she incorporated Zeb's daily routine into the days he attends. He feels at home there. Helen goes out of her way to cater to special diets and provide nutritious food at meal times. For example, when Zeb was quite new I saw on babydays that they'd made pizzas, and I reminded Helen that Zeb doesn't eat dairy. Helen said she had got vegan cheese in especially.

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• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication