Iona Aelle's Reviews
Childminder
Below are the parent reviews for Iona Aelle. Back to Iona Aelle's profile
Average Rating:
(4.71 from 14 reviews)
Iona has looked after our little girl from 9 months old, I was very nervous about the whole process and I hated having to leave her to go back to work but every step of the way Iona was and continues to be absolutely amazing! As soon as I met her she immediately made me feel at ease! She made the process so much easier and our little girl loves her to pieces.
Since being there our daughters development has been incredible, she has become so much more social and confident! Not only is she amazing with the children but she is also incredible if I ever need support as a parent! Our daughter has a dairy allergy and Iona has always been so accommodating and understanding of this adapting the foods she is given to suit her needs.
I would 100% recommend Iona to anyone looking for a childminder! You won't regret it!
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Tasmin C
about
Iona Aelle
on 01/02/2024
Our son has been with Iona for over a year now and it was the best decision in putting him with a child minder in a home from home setting. Iona’s home is immaculate and she provides all three meals and snacks on the days our son attends which takes such a huge weight off our shoulders.
Our son has made friends there and looks forward to seeing them every week, along with Iona, her family (and the dog!). Iona has supported with some tricky transitions back in after breaks and always sends reassurance messages if it’s been a hard morning which really does give such peace of mind. We get text updates at the end of each day and it’s lovely to see what they have been up to!
Iona does a great job of providing a safe, inviting, fun environment that can often leave our son appearing slightly underwhelmed when it’s home time! (No offence taken!) It’s really just testament that he’s very happy and safe where he is, which is all we can ask for!
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Sydni20
about
Iona Aelle
on 29/01/2024
Iona is an incredible childminder who we always recommend to friends and colleagues. She has looked after my little boy since he was 1 years old. He loves going and always asks if it’s an “Ona” day. I really feel that he has become a part of the family which is the main reason I chose a childminder. Iona is so kind and caring, she treats my son like she would her own children.
The children in Iona care enjoy a range of activities and have a fantastic routine that they follow. Iona’s house is immaculate and she has a wide range of toys/activities to suit his interest and development. My son loves visiting the library, toddlers groups and regular walks locally. Daily texts provide information about his day.
Iona always cooks fresh meals which means I do not have to worry about providing lunch. My son was slow to weaning and has various allergies which Iona has always supported us through.
I would highly recommend Iona!
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by
ACCP
about
Iona Aelle
on 24/01/2024
On multiple occasions my daughter was sent home or my husband an I were advised we couldn’t bring her. Even with medical professionals advising my daughter was fit and well she was still not allowed in the setting. Each month we paid up front but regularly had to pick our daughter up. She wasn’t given calpol and on the occasion she was, she was sent home within the hour. I was told often that my daughter wasn’t teething an that she was poorly, I was told I had to get her stools tested even when the doctors/health advisors reviewed her symptoms and she had no signs of being poorly. The last occasion when I removed my daughter I was told there would be 3 additional summer holiday children and if my daughter was crying and needed to be picked up she wouldn’t be able too. I had to give 6 weeks paid notice even though I lost total confidence and couldn’t possibly leave her. I’m so disappointed with the lack of professionalism, lack of understanding and total lack of willingness to care for my child. I now have my daughter in a nursery with no issues at all. I was so reluctant to write a bad review however, another issue has arisen today and I can’t let another family go through this.
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Portia
about
Iona Aelle
on 29/08/2023
Response by
Iona Aelle
on 29/08/2023:
Dear Portia,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I am naturally sorry to see that you have replaced your positive 5 star review with these concerns, which I take very seriously.
My primary responsibility is always the safety, health, and well-being of every child in my care. In line with best practices for child safeguarding in the UK:
Illness Protocol: It's my duty to ensure that children displaying symptoms of potential contagious illnesses, such as severe diarrhoea, elevated temperature, are cared for appropriately and that the potential spread of illness is minimised. My guidelines are in place not only for the safety of the individual child but also for the protection of other children. These are shared and agreed with parents on signing up to my setting.
Medication: I only administer medications like Calpol when I have the appropriate permissions and when it's deemed necessary for the child's comfort. Following the administration of any medication, if symptoms persist or worsen, it's often best for the child to be at home. Therefore, in such cases, I will administer the medication and then send the child home.
Communication with Parents: It's crucial for me to maintain open communication with parents regarding their child's health and well-being. This includes sharing observations and seeking clarity when there are health concerns. Whilst I appreciate asking for a poorly child to be collected has not been convenient, I will always put the health and wellbeing of the children in my care first.
Capacity and Care: In instances where there may be a natural increase in the number of children requiring childcare, such as during summer holidays, my foremost priority remains providing quality standards of care and ensuring each child's safety. Any recommendations made are always in line with my commitment to uphold these standards and within ratios. When a child is not able to join in with a normal day and is needing 1:1 care it is always advised if they are the same the following day they are best to be at home as 1:1 care is not possible.
I respect every parent's right to make decisions they deem best for their child. I'm glad to hear your daughter is settling well into her new setting, and I wish her all the best. If you'd like to discuss this further, I'm always open to conversations that can foster understanding and address any outstanding concerns.
I also find it important to note, for clarity and transparency, to readers, that your review was shared shortly after I followed up regarding an outstanding payment. Regardless, I remain committed to open dialogue and understanding any perspectives you may have on the matter.
Iona has cared for both of our girls and we are so grateful to have found her! Having gone back to work when my daughter was 4 months it was very important to us to find a childminder with recent experience in caring for babies and young children. Having met with a few childminders I was starting to feel rather stressed about finding someone suitable, however as soon as I met Iona and entered her home I immediately felt at ease. Her setting is immaculate, warm, bright and inviting and she is well set up and equipped to look after babies (as well as toddlers and older children of course). Both our girls have been comfortable in Iona’s care from day one - always delighted to be dropped off and happy at collection. She provides a home away from home and our children have been cared for as if they were her own.
We would highly recommend Iona if you are looking for a fantastic childminder to look after your children, you will have peace of mind that they are being properly cared for in a safe, loving and stimulating environment with someone who will endeavour to assist and support you as a parent through all the various phases your child and you will have to navigate such as feeding/weaning, sleeping (dreaded sleep regressions!) or behavioural.
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JEllison
about
Iona Aelle
on 02/03/2023
Our son was with Iona from 15 months and we were so happy to find her on here. We wanted our son to be in home setting for his start in childcare due to being a lockdown baby as we wanted him to socialise but experience that extra love and care you get from a childminder and my goodness did we get that and more!
Iona made our son feel so loved and part of the family that we had zero issues with him going in and leaving us, he’d run in happy and excited, in fact it was more of an issue that he didn’t want to come home!
Not only did he love her, so did we! She is a fountain of knowledge in all thing’s child development. She has helped us on our CMPA journey, the adjustment to socialising after lockdown, she’s given us sleep advice (as she’s also trained in babies sleep!) and really helped us to manage the introduction of a baby brother in recent months.
The development our son had in his time with Iona has been wonderful. She helped with concerns we had and worked on them at hers and also put our minds at rest when worried about what we thought was slow development in others, reassuring us that he was developing as he should.
She keeps in touch during the day with the odd photo and if not, at the end of the day she sends a detailed review of your child’s day, including meals and photos, in which you can witness the abundance of joy your child is having with her and the other children.
Iona’s children are also so loving and caring with the children in her care, they really make the children feel at home.
We recently left Iona, due to us moving out of the area and to say that we were all sad about this is an understatement! My wife cried leaving her as much as our son! If taking her with us was an option, we definitely would have done it!! For a 2 and a half year old, the ease to forget people easily when not around them often is normal but our son, he has not and talks about her and the family, including Hugo the dog! We have kept in touch since leaving and certainly will be visiting when back in the area.
Honestly, you won’t regret choosing Iona for taking care and loving your child as much as you do so I will finish this by saying CHOOSE IONA!
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Jonathan
about
Iona Aelle
on 16/01/2023
Iona has looked after my son since he was 7 months old. She is kind, caring and has been extremely helpful with my situation. My son has been doing so many activities with Iona and I feel he is very advanced because of her help.
She has a lovely, clean house and cooks delicious food for the children. Ionas communication is amazing, sending updates all the time.
Would highly recommend Iona to anyone needing a childminder.
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Shannon
about
Iona Aelle
on 16/01/2023
Amazing childminder! Iona has looked after our daughter from 11mo to current 2.5years and she loves going. Children enjoy a range of activities both in and outdoor. Always enjoy art or craft activities linked to Halloween, Christmas etc and make cards for Mother/Father’s day etc which is a lovely touch. Weekly visits to the park, rhyme time at the library and regular play dates with other childminders and trips to soft play. Tasty, varied, home cooked food means our little one has always eaten well there. Our daughter has CMPA and Iona has supported us with the milk ladder and ensured that she has always been eating dairy free. We love how caring Iona is, particularly when she has been poorly or upset- she has an endless supply of cuddles! We find the daily texts and photos really informative and her two year report showed how well Iona knows our daughter and has supported her progress. We have recommended her to several friends who have all loved her too. 100% recommend.
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cridge
about
Iona Aelle
on 16/01/2023
Iona has taken care of both my son and daughter since they were just over 1 years old. They are now of school ages (5 and 7) and still LOVE coming to Iona's during the holidays. That says so much in itself!
Iona has provided a wonderful, calm, happy, healthy and nurturing environment for my little ones to thrive in. I have felt so relaxed whenever my kids are in her care knowing they are being doted on. Iona is warm, intelligent, fun and passionate about giving children the best headstart in life. She has been a major part of my kids milestones and has helped to shape my little ones into the happy and bubbly little humans that they are today. She provides a home away from home and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone. She has been a blessing in our lives and feels like extended family to us. I am so grateful to her for all that she has done to nurture my children in her care, and the support she has provided to our family. We will cherish all the happy memories my kids have created with her and continue to look forward to coming back in school holidays. <3<3<3
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Rebecca
about
Iona Aelle
on 01/09/2022
Out little boy Luca has been with Iona since he was three months old as I only took a short maternity leave. She is a kind, loving person and she is knowledgeable in all aspects of childcare - I don't think I could have gone gone through this first year without her invaluable support. She is thorough, very organised, punctual, flexible, and most of all, she is very affectionate towards our son who is thriving under her care. Iona's setting is beautiful and I was very impressed with the amount of activities our little one does on a daily basis. We could not thank Iona enough for everything and we would high recommend her to anyone, without hesitation.
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Ioana
about
Iona Aelle
on 02/10/2019
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