Karen looked after my son for nine months between me returning to work and him starting full time school and I could not rate Karen high enough. My son settled in immediately and loved going to 'play' with Karen and although he had never been to a childminder before, I had no difficulties with my son settling in at all and that was due to Karen's caring, calm settling in time for him, where she invited him to come and play for a while before being left for the whole session which really helped. My son would occasionally not want to go to nursery but I never once had an occasion when he did not want to go to Karen's.
Not only did Karen care for my son really well, he also had fantastic fun going on fun, exciting, educational visits with her, as well as playing at her house. She also liaised with his keyworker at nursery school and so she could follow the same planning he was following at nursery, helping him retain continuity in what he was learning. Then, not only she told me what she had been doing with him, she also kept a detailed diary of notes and photos showing me what he had been doing, which I still have now.
Before my son had another change of starting school, she also arranged to take my son into the school once a week to read books in their library which also helped him settle and was something Karen organised herself in my son's best interest and something I was really grateful with.
I had never left a child of mine with a childminder before, but my son's time with Karen could not have gone more smoothly and if I ever did have another child, I would not hesitate for one second looking at her for childcare. We still see Karen at the school my children attend and my son will often talk fondly about his time with her which is lovely.
I think she would make a fantastic childminder for any family. She is reliable, caring, honest and everything you could ever seek to find in someone you are trusting your children with.