I honestly cannot recommend Lou highly enough. Finding someone you can trust to look after your child is one of the biggest decisions you make as a parent, and from the very beginning, I knew Joshua was in the safest, kindest and most caring hands. Lou has been so much more than a childminder to us, and I will always be grateful for everything she has done for Joshua and our family.

Lou is one of the most kind-hearted, caring and dedicated people you could ever wish to look after your child. She genuinely goes above and beyond in every possible way, and it is clear that looking after children is not just a job to her; it comes from the heart. She truly cares about every child in her setting, their happiness, their development and making sure they feel safe, loved and included. Joshua was never just another child in her care; he was treated with so much love and affection, almost like one of her own.

One of the things that really stood out to me was the structure, thought and effort Lou put into Joshua’s learning and development. She followed a structured learning approach similar to what you would expect in a nursery setting, helping the children learn, grow and develop while still making everything fun and enjoyable. She organised daily activities, encouraged the children to explore new things and made sure they had so many different opportunities to learn through play. You could see how much time, effort and thought went into planning activities that supported their development and helped them build confidence and independence.

Lou also regularly took the children to different groups, outings and activities, giving them experiences beyond the setting itself. What makes this even more special is that she would often put her own money towards these experiences because she wanted the children to have the very best opportunities possible. That says everything about the kind of person she is. She genuinely wanted the children to have wonderful memories, try new things, socialise and enjoy their childhood, and she was always willing to go that extra mile to make it happen.

The garden was another huge bonus, with such a lovely space for the children to play, explore and enjoy being outdoors. It gave them the freedom to run around, have fun and make memories in a safe and welcoming environment.

Something I will always be grateful for is the love and care Lou showed our family during a particularly difficult time. When we had a funeral to attend, she kindly had Joshua earlier than originally planned to help us out. She never made us feel like we were asking too much, and she was always willing to help whenever she could. Those little things make such a difference as a parent, and they show just how thoughtful, compassionate and genuinely caring she is.

Joshua also met his best friend at Lou’s setting, which is something so special to look back on. Knowing that he was not only being cared for and supported but was also building such a lovely friendship and making happy memories made the experience even more meaningful. The friendships, experiences and confidence he gained while he was there are things I will always treasure.

Lou also looked after my daughter, Isabelle, during the school holidays, and Isabelle absolutely loved going too! It meant so much to know that both of my children were happy, cared for and excited to spend time there. As a parent, there is no better feeling than knowing your children genuinely enjoy going somewhere and feel comfortable, safe and loved when they are there.

I can honestly say Lou became like a second mum to Joshua. The love, patience, kindness and attention she gave him meant so much to me, and I never had to question whether he was being properly cared for or whether his happiness mattered. She gave him so much more than childcare: she gave him opportunities to learn, friendships to cherish, experiences to remember and a place where he was truly cared for.

Although Lou looked after Joshua as his childminder, I am so grateful that our relationship has grown beyond that and that we are now friends. That alone says so much about the person she is. Some people come into your family’s life for a reason, and Lou is definitely one of those people.

If you are looking for a childminder who will genuinely love and care for your child, put their needs first, support their learning and development, create wonderful experiences and go above and beyond what is expected, then I honestly couldn’t recommend Lou enough.

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