Shining's Reviews

Exceptional Childminder Who Goes Above and Beyond

We cannot recommend Paula and Shining Stars highly enough. Choosing someone to care for your child is one of the biggest decisions you make as a parent, and from the moment Luca started with her, we knew we had found someone truly special.

The progress Luca has made during his time in her care has been incredible. He has grown so much in confidence, communication, physical development and learning. Watching him flourish over the last couple of years has been wonderful, and we know that so much of that is down to the nurturing, supportive and stimulating environment she provides every day.

Paula's Curiosity Approach-inspired setting is nothing short of inspirational. The thought, creativity and care that go into creating engaging educational experiences for the children are remarkable. The resources are beautifully presented, carefully planned and constantly evolving to spark children's curiosity, imagination and love of learning. It is clear how much time and dedication she invests in ensuring every child has meaningful opportunities to explore and develop.

Alongside this, the children enjoy delicious healthy home-cooked meals, and the atmosphere she creates is warm, welcoming and full of genuine care. She strikes the perfect balance between professionalism and affection, creating a home-from-home environment where children feel safe, valued and happy.

Communication has always been exceptional. The daily updates and photographs shared through the app give wonderful insight into the children's days, while her Instagram page and monthly newsletters showcase the fantastic activities and learning opportunities she provides including outings to the local parks, forest and library. Regular progress reports have also helped us understand and celebrate Luca's development every step of the way.

Paula has always been flexible, approachable and supportive, and we have felt completely confident leaving Luca in her care. Knowing he was happy, loved and thriving made returning to work as a teacher following maternity leave so much easier.

As Luca prepares to leave for school, we feel incredibly grateful for everything she has done for him and our family. We are so sad to be saying goodbye, and she will be hugely missed. The positive impact she has had on Luca's early years will stay with him for a very long time.

Thank you for everything. We couldn't have wished for a better start to Luca's learning journey. Carly and Sean

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by Carly on 29/05/2026

great setting, great care

Paula is great with children. Our 2 year old settled really easily with her. We love that she takes the children out every day; has lots of planned, educational activities; lots of toys and stories. She's also much more reasonably priced than many childcare options.

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by Vix01 on 14/05/2026

Wonderful ❤️

We can't thank you enough for the love, patience, and care you've given Aurelia over the past 3 years. You've created such a warm and nurturing environment, and it's been amazing to see how much she learned and grown under your care. You've truly been a part of our family you've made in Aurelia life. Thank you for being such a wonderful childminder! We always be grateful for the happy memories you've given Aurelia and your dedication, warmth, and professionalism have made a lasting impact. We'll always appreciate of everything you've done.

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by Marzena on 11/10/2025