We feel incredibly lucky to have found such a wonderful childminder for our child. From the very beginning, she showed an exceptional level of empathy and care towards every child, taking the time to understand their individual needs, personalities and interests, and responding to each of them in their own unique way.

She always knew when a child needed comfort and was incredibly patient in giving them as much reassurance and affection as they needed. She created an environment where the children felt genuinely safe, understood and cared for.

The food she prepared was also fantastic, and we genuinely credit her with helping our child develop such a positive relationship with food. They became interested in trying all sorts of foods and were always eager to try something new - something we are incredibly grateful for.

She also made sure the children had plenty of opportunities to explore and experience the world outside the setting. Weather permitting, they would regularly spend time outdoors, including trips to local playgrounds, parks and other places in the area. This gave them the chance to be active, curious and discover new things beyond the setting itself.

What stood out to us most was how she nurtured curiosity in the children. She encouraged them to explore, ask questions, discover things for themselves and take an interest in the world around them. At the same time, she fostered such a lovely sense of community between the children. They became a close, compassionate little group, learning to look out for and care about one another.

She also struck a wonderful balance between warmth and clear boundaries. Her rules were transparent and consistently applied, and she was firm when needed, while always remaining fair, calm and caring. The children knew what was expected of them, which helped create a secure and predictable environment without ever taking away from the warmth and fun of the setting.

She understood how important consistency and routine are for children. She made sure that the routines at her setting remained dependable and consistent, giving our child a safe and familiar place to return to every day. Knowing that, even when things at home might feel chaotic or uncertain, our child would have the same calm, safe and reassuring environment with her gave us an enormous sense of comfort as parents.

Looking back, choosing her as our childminder was genuinely one of the best decisions we feel we could have made for our child. She gave them so much more than excellent childcare — she gave them a safe space to grow, learn, explore, build relationships and become more confident and compassionate. We will always be incredibly grateful for the care, stability and love she gave our child.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication