When my first child was small, I registered and worked as a childminder in Hereford for 3 years and then moved to South Wales to work at a University. When my son came along, I was certain that I wanted him to go to a childminder rather than a nursery. I knew it would be really tough leaving him with anyone having looked after my daughter until she started school. I already knew an incredible local childminder who I completely trusted, but was devastated to find that she only had space one day a week. She recommended Amber for the other 2 days, and assured me that she would have happily left her own children with Amber.

I'm notoriously picky, but when I met Amber I knew that our childcare search was over, and that she was 'the one'! I cancelled all of the other childminders that I had booked in to meet and signed up with her immediately. This was a brilliant decision, and my husband and I (and our son) couldn't have been happier with her. We only stopped using Amber because my husband's working pattern changed, so he was able to look after our son at home on 'Amber days'.

Amber is cuddly, hilariously funny and genuinely loves children. She has an amazing bond with my son. When he was a baby he was always happy to arrive at her house. I remember him humming tunes when he was very small that I had never sung to him, and realised that Amber must have been singing to him regularly. When he started speaking he sometimes used phrases that I could tell he had picked up from Amber (I could tell this becuse he said them with a slightly Bristolian accent!) - these phrases were all lovely positive, things like "wow - that's brilliant!" and "amazing!"

Amber is incredibly professional. Her house is immaculate and she is very well organised on her policies/procedures/contracts/billing. She plans bespoke activities to suit the children in her care and she takes them out every single day. She is part of a circle of exceptional childminders that live in Llantwit Major and they all meet up regularly and plan educational activities together for all of the children, such as sand and water tables in the garden, or picnics at the park. This has meant that my little boy developed friendships with a wide range of children. Typical activities were trips on the train to Bridgend and then a play at Once Upon a Playtime or picnics in the park.

I cannot recommend Amber enough - she ticks all the boxes and we miss her already!

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