Nb33

Our Mary Poppins

Nicky was my Nanny for nearly 2 years whilst I was temporarily working in the Swindon area (Mar 2011 - Dec 2012). She had sole charge of my daughter and son (aged 2.5yrs and 10months) for 50 hours per week. Nicky is a natural with children and has the patience of a saint! She is very organised and extremely professional. She is conscientious and utterly trustworthy.
Nicky and the children developed a very special bond. She still visits us despite us moving away.
Nicky took a keen interest in developing the children in many ways. She would sit and read to them, get down on the floor and play with them, and would teach them patiently yet firmly about manners, eating properly and would encourage them when they needed it. She is able to discipline fairly but assertively.
Her duties involved taking the children on outings (petting farm, parks, bike rides, walks, library for example), arranging play dates, doing all the children's laundry, cooking their meals (she's a great cook) and keeping their living areas clean and tidy. She did all these things far better than I ever could!
What I loved about Nicky is that the children were always happy in her care and the television was hardly ever used.
Nicky was always punctual, never took a day off sick and was completely reliable.
I would employ Nicky again without hesitation and recommend her without hesitation - and be aware that she doesn't always do herself justice in interviews (she is too much out of her comfort zone!)

• Overall

by Parent on 29/04/2013

Reference from current job

Nicky is an excellent nanny in every respect and I would have no hesitation in recommending her to a friend. She has an excellent relationship with our daughter and is extremely hard working.
She has worked for us for 6 months, starting when our daughter was 17-months-old. She is leaving this post as we are having another child and my wife is going on maternity leave for a year. Were this not the case we would definitely be keeping her on. From the start she has not ‘forced’ herself on our daughter and allowed the relationship to develop naturally. They quickly formed a strong bond. She often asks after Nicky when she is not there and is always very happy to see her, and Nicky shows great affection in return.
Nicky’s duties include caring for our daughter and everything which goes with it, such as keeping her room tidy, cleaning up her mess, and batch cooking.
Nicky regularly goes beyond what is required of her: rather than just take her to play groups, she has become involved in helping them set up and clean up after; if she has a quiet moment during the day she will do general housework such as ironing my shirts which she does not have to do. Our daughter is very keen on reading and so she joined the local library and every week gets new books out for her. She likes animals and so Nicky has taken her on several farm trips.
Nicky is patient and encouraging. She will always put other's needs first. She is punctual and has been very accommodating when we have been late home from work. She has also helped out at short notice when we have needed to swap her working day.
Whoever employs her will be extremely lucky.

• Overall

by Parent on 29/04/2013