Latest Reviews
Here are some of the latest reviews that we have received from parents who have used childcare providers and tutors listed on Childcare.co.uk.
I would like to leave an honest review regarding my experience over the last 2–3 months.
The main reasons I chose this childminder in the first place were the positive reviews, the close distance to San Rafael School, and the very good first impression she gave me at the beginning.
However, my experience turned out to be extremely disappointing.
The childcare support I received as a student was meant to help cover childcare costs for my children. Once she found out that the payments were coming through student finance support, I suddenly started being charged £20 per day for simply taking two children to school in the morning. On top of that, I had to provide my own food and breakfast for the children.
During the entire period, I did not receive a single proper update about my children — no photos, no messages about their wellbeing, no communication about how they were settling or feeling. What I did receive, almost daily (including late evenings and the next mornings), were reminders about payments, invoices, and requests for money.
Additionally, during colder days my children were not properly dressed and were allowed into the conservatory area without shoes or slippers, which caused frequent colds, runny noses, and discomfort. As a parent, I found this extremely concerning.
In total, for only four mornings a week of taking my children to school — while I was still providing food and breakfast myself — I was paying between £80–£100 weekly. In my honest opinion, this is completely unreasonable for the level of care and communication provided.
Sadly, I genuinely felt that the focus was entirely on money rather than on the children themselves. Over those months I never once saw any passion, warmth, or genuine interest in childcare. I also never heard her speak positively or lovingly about any of the children in her care, while invoices were being sent 2–3 times per week.
This is only my personal and honest opinion based on my own experience, but I do not believe this person has a genuine passion for working with children. To me, childcare should be about care, patience, kindness, and enjoying being around children — not simply about making money.
For this reason, I would personally NOT recommend this service.
Magda
Honestly, where do I even start? Little Wellies has been the best experience we have ever had in a childminder setting. The kids are obsessed with Sharon and Tom it's the cutest ever. They go above and beyond for the kids they are just incredible human beings. Not only do they make the days fun, they also make it educational! Thank you guys so much for being the best for our kids! ❤️ xx
Adriana is such a caring and kind person. My 2y old boy loved to stay with her. She’s well suited to stay during the day and night, having fed my son, read books, played around, did arts, changed diapers and put him to sleep. She communicates perfectly well in English and Portuguese with him. Would definitely recommend to other families.
This has been the worst childminder experience I have had in Cambridge. Instead of supporting parents, it feels like everything is only about getting as much money as possible from families. Parents already work hard to provide for their children, and a childminder should be helping families, not making things harder.
One of the biggest issues was the constant judgmental attitude. She commented negatively about my clothes and even said she would never let her own daughter wear the same things. She also made comments about “what my son might say when he grows up.” That kind of mentality is unhealthy and inappropriate around children. Children should grow up around positive, respectful people, not someone who judges parents for personal choices.
There were also problems with invoices and payments. I noticed incorrect calculations that always seemed to benefit her financially, which made me lose trust completely. On top of that, she was dishonest about funded childcare hours. At first, she promised I would receive the full 15 funded hours, but later reduced it to only 11 hours after realising she would not make as much money. It honestly felt unfair and misleading to parents who rely on honesty and transparency.
Another concern was the level of care provided. Most of the time the children seemed to just be sleeping so she would not have to do much with them, and it even appeared that she herself was sleeping often too. The environment did not feel active, engaging, or properly attentive for children. On top of that, the children regularly seemed to have viral infections, which made the overall situation feel even more concerning.
What made things even more suspicious was that as soon as these concerns were raised, her profile was hidden. To me, that says a lot about the type of person she is and how she handles criticism and accountability. In my experience, it felt more like parents and children were being used for financial benefit rather than genuinely cared for and supported.
A childminder should care about children, provide a safe and positive environment, and support families — not focus only on profit while judging parents. I would not recommend this childminder to anyone, and any childminder behaving in a similar way should also be considered unacceptable.
vibhasha
Jordan was an absolute blessing for us and our 3 year old recently. Our son had been in another setting for several years and had grown to disliking it. So we were apprehensive at first but from the very first visit we could see the 1 on 1 attention he was getting, the freedom to play with toys he wanted and the lovely other kids at the setting all meant that he was very happy to go each time. Even asking to go on days that weren’t on the schedule. Jordan has a calm and nurturing way about her and as a result the kids in her care calm and happy. She’s also brilliant at doing creative activities - making homemade rainbow rice and setting up a water station outside on the recent hot weather days. We also appreciated how capable she is at navigating the administrative system for childcare for us (i.e free hours, etc). I would highly recommend Jordan’s home away from home set-up for kids!
Our 2 year old daughter has been going to Wendy one day a week for almost a year now and we can't recommend her highly enough. She has built a lovely relationship with both Wendy and the other children and I can see how much Wendy cares for the children in her care.
Wendy is always professional, calm and caring and has been fantastic at encouraging my daughters development, including potty training.
I would highly recommend Wendy to anyone looking for a childminder in the area.
Natalie has been looking after my son when he was 1 year old. I was very nervous leaving him with someone new as he is my first born but Natalie was so welcoming and she understood how I felt. She kept me updated with all the activities they’ve been doing, with how he slept and if he ate.
Natalie always organised fun days out, lots of time in nature, lots of educational play. I was very impressed with her.
Unfortunately we’ve moved away so we couldn’t continue with Natalie’s help.
I would recommend her to anyone.
Anna
Lauren was looking after my son when he turned 1 year old. As he is my first born I was very nervous to leave him with someone new but Lauren kept me updated with photos of him, his naps and how much he ate. He always had so much fun and learned a lot. I would highly recommend Lauren.
Anna
I feel very lucky to have found such an amazing childcare provider. From the very beginning, she made both me and my child feel comfortable and welcomed. She is always smiling, positive, and full of warmth, which creates such a happy environment for the children.
What I appreciate most is how genuinely caring and attentive she is to every child’s needs. My child is always excited to go there and comes home happy every day. She plans fun and stimulating activities that keep the kids engaged, learning, and enjoying themselves.
Her home is always very clean, safe, and well organized, which gives me great peace
Amazing! Needed a childminder at short notice, Shaz was incredibly helpful when filling out forms and talking through the process as I had not used a childminder before. Shaz is friendly and gives great advice. Both my boys (3 and 1.5) settled with her and enjoyed being with her. She often took them to the park, library and playgroups and sent me videos and pictures to help me feel at ease. I would definitely use Shaz next time I need a childminder as my boys were happy and settled with her and she communicated often over WhatsApp, phone calls, face to face conversations and with pictures/videos .
Amber
I have posted review previously but wanted to add more positive experience. My little girl has been with Sonata since Sept 2024 and will stay with her for another year becos Sonata is simply part of my daughter's life now! The care standard is beyond excellent, when I compare the type of care she is getting here to a mainstream nursery,the difference is massive! Variety of structured activities going on every day, focus on tailored child development, Spanish lessons, sports classes, daily outdoor sessions, plethora of updates through the day, healthy food options with loads of fruit and veg - this type of care is even better than I could have provided. Every day my little bun arrives without looking back and leave with beaming smile, waving her auntie Sonata goodbye. At home she excitedly reviews the pictures of activities she has done all day and tells us about it. The progress my daughter made in last 2 years is remarkable and I attribute it wholeheartedly to Sonata and her skills.
I can genuinely recommend Happy Hearts to any parent looking for reliable setting where your child will be happy and well cared for!
After a difficult experience at a nursery, I knew I needed to find something different for my daughters — somewhere they would feel safe, loved, and genuinely cared for. Finding Delion's Daycare was truly a turning point for our family. From the moment I met Aunty Grace, I could feel her warmth, patience, and genuine care. Her home was welcoming, clean, and spacious — exactly the kind of environment you want your little ones to be in. When I brought my daughter for a second visit, she — who is usually quite reserved around new people — walked straight in holding Aunty Grace's hand. I knew then that it was the perfect fit. Both of my daughters have been with Aunty Grace, and the mum guilt I carried from their nursery days completely disappeared. It never felt like a childcare arrangement; it felt like leaving my children with family. The daily updates on the parent app gave me real peace of mind, and both girls were potty trained before their second birthday, thanks to Aunty Grace's gentle guidance. My eldest is now in school and is ahead of her peers — her teacher was genuinely impressed by her knowledge of numbers, letters, and vocabulary during the home visit before she started. That is entirely down to how seriously Aunty Grace takes the early years framework. She doesn't just look after children — she nurtures them, teaches them, and sets them up for life. We are moving away and it is the one thing that truly breaks my heart about leaving. We will miss Aunty Grace and everything she has given our girls more than words can say. If you are looking for a childminder who will love your child as her own, look no further.
When we first started our childminding journey with our children, I found it very difficult to imagine leaving my child with a stranger. We met several childminders, but Dawn was the only person I could truly picture caring for my children. She immediately gave me confidence and has completely proved to us that childminders can be the best option for young children.
Dawn has looked after both our daughter and our son wonderfully, and we have been extremely happy with the care she provides. She always plans fantastic activities for the children, both indoors and outdoors, and the days are full, varied and engaging. She is brilliant at supporting their development, including gross and fine motor skills, counting, recognising letters and learning through play.
The children regularly go to playgroups, parks, picnics and meet-ups with other childminders, which gives them lots of social interaction and new experiences. Also, my children always come home having finished everything in their lunchboxes, including the fruit and vegetables, which I’m very grateful for as they come home happy and not grumpy.
Whenever we see the photos and updates of what the children have been up to during the day, me and my husband always end up saying, “I want to go to Dawn’s too!” 🙂 She creates such a fun, caring and engaging environment for the children.
Dawn is warm, attentive and genuinely caring, and the children truly enjoy going to her. She keeps us updated with photos from the day and messages about what they have been doing, which is always very reassuring. Her communication is clear, friendly and reliable.
We feel very lucky to have found Dawn and would highly recommend her to any family looking for a caring, trustworthy and engaging childminder.
Marki
Tracy has been absolutely outstanding in the care and development of my daughter. She regularly organises engaging outings and adventures including soft play, animal activities, themed learning experiences, and educational play that have significantly supported my daughter’s growth, confidence, and overall development. Since being in Tracy’s care, my daughter has grown exceptionally in her skills, knowledge, communication, and ability.
Most importantly, my daughter is always safe, happy, and genuinely excited to attend. The home environment is warm, welcoming, clean, and extremely well maintained, creating a positive and nurturing atmosphere for children. Tracy has a natural ability to interact with children in an age appropriate, caring, and emotionally intelligent way. She understands how to manage emotions, encourage learning, and support each child individually.
Tracy is also incredibly approachable and supportive to parents. If there is ever a concern or something you need advice on, she is always available to talk and offers an abundance of knowledge and reassurance. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Melania
We feel incredibly lucky to have found Jen as J.’s childminder and cannot recommend her highly enough. From the very beginning, it has been clear how much care, thought and dedication she puts into looking after the children.
One of the things we especially love is how thoughtful Jen is in choosing activities and toys tailored to each child’s interests and stage of development. She creates such fun, engaging and educational days filled with activities like baking, sensory play, singing and dancing, reading stories, trips to the library, creative play and so much more. She also encourages parents to support and develop their child’s interests at home, which we have really appreciated.
Jen makes a huge effort to keep the children’s days varied and exciting. She regularly takes them to playgroups, parks and outings with other childminders and children, giving them wonderful opportunities to socialise and build confidence. During holidays and half terms she plans lovely special trips too. J. especially loved train rides, visits to new playgrounds and little café treats.
We have also been so grateful for how flexible and accommodating Jen has always been. She has never had an issue with different drop-off times or helping us out when we were running late, which made a huge difference to our family life.
Communication has always been excellent. Jen keeps us very well informed through the app and WhatsApp, regularly sharing updates and photos from the day, which has always been lovely to receive and very reassuring as parents.
Most importantly, J. absolutely loves his time with Jen. We have seen such a positive impact on his confidence, speech and overall development since being with her. It is also very clear to us how happy the other children and families are with Jen, and how warm and positive the relationships she builds with them are.
We are incredibly grateful for everything Jen has done for J. and would wholeheartedly recommend her to any family looking for a caring, professional, fun and dedicated childminder.
Marki
I honestly can’t recommend Steph enough. From the very beginning she has been caring, reliable, and amazing with our child. It’s such a comfort knowing she is in such a happy and safe environment every day.
Our child absolutely loves the different activities and days out she plans. She regularly takes them to the library, baby and toddler groups, and local parks, and there is always something fun and engaging for the children to do. It’s lovely knowing she is not just being looked after, but are learning, socialising, and having so many new experiences too.
We get little snapshots throughout the day of all the fun they are having, and it’s so reassuring to see our child smiling, playing, and enjoying themselves. It really makes a difference and shows how much care and effort goes into what she does.
Steph is warm, patient, and genuinely cares about the children she looks after. Our child is always happy to go there. We feel very lucky to have found her and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a fantastic childminder.
Both my children have attended Diana’s setting which is a home from home experience. My little boy started when he was 18 months old and continued to go until he left for school. He loved going and has made some lovely friends. He still loves going back during the half terms. My daughter started with Diana when she was 7 months old and still attends her setting. Both my children have learnt so much with Diana and developed skills that contribute to helping them move onto school. She treats my children like they’re her own and takes them on lots of exciting trips. I appreciate all the work she does with my children and they are polite respectful bright individuals because of the time she takes with helping them learn.
Beth
I am so pleased to have found Sharon and Tom and Little Wellies Childcare after previously having a difficult experience at a local nursery. They have not only looked after our son over the past 18 months, they have also become a huge part of our lives. Our son has thrived under their care, we have seen amazing progression in his speech, his physical and emotional development and his understanding. They provide all his meals which he loves - I never thought he would ever eat vegetables but now he loves them! He always runs up to the front door at drop off and never wants to leave. Sharon communicates all of his progress via Tapestry and WhatsApp so I'm always up to date with everything each week. I am so pleased we found Little Wellies and can't praise Sharon and Tom enough.