Michelle

Nothing but praise

My two sons, now 2 and 3 1/2 years old, have been in Michelle’s care since she started her childminding business 18 months ago. My husband and I have nothing but the highest praise for her and the care she has provided for our sons over this time.

When I was returning to work I had an open mind as to whether I would have the boys in nursery or with a childminder, so I viewed and met with a few of each to help me make a decision. Everyone says that once you find the right place for your child/children, you just know. I wholeheartedly agree with this, because as soon as we arrived at Michelle’s lovely home and she greeted us at the door, I just knew this was the right setting for them. The first impression I had has stayed with me throughout the time the boys have been in Michelle’s care.

Both boys have thrived with Michelle. She encourages them in every aspect, whilst respecting and being mindful of their individual personalities. She is warm and consistent in her approach and she plans such a variety of activities and outings for the children, keeping them busy and encouraging their imaginations. In Michelle’s home they’ve done lots of baking, painting, play dough, tuff tray activities, water play, reading, music/dance/singing, gymnastics and enjoyed the high quality and variety of toys she has available. She takes them on fabulous outings including woodland walks, toddler groups, the zoo, museums and many more. Meals and snacks that has provided have been healthy with a good variety of foods.

She has shown great flexibility in terms of adjusting to a few changes in our attendance patterns. Michelle also agreed to pick my older son up from nursery on the days he is with her, which I greatly appreciate as it has given him the opportunity to attend a lovely school nursery, which he wouldn’t have had with me at work. I can see how much work Michelle has put in to him, in terms of encouraging and extending the beginning of his understanding of numbers, letters and sounds.

Michelle’s home is spotlessly clean and has a very warm atmosphere, as well as being light and bright with very good outdoor space that the boys enjoy using.

Michelle’s daughter is a really lovely and caring little girl, and it has been heartwarming seeing the relationship the boys have developed with both her and Michelle.

I can’t speak more highly of Michelle - she is super professional, always pleasant to deal with and a very likeable person all round. Thank you Michelle for the wonderful care you have given our precious boys, it means the world to us both.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Jillian on 21/03/2020

Michelle has been our Nanny for 3 years

I simply cannot say enough about Michelle and what she has meant to our children and our entire family for the past three years. Michelle started working and looking after our then ten month old twin boys for us in October 2015. Looking after such young twins is no easy feat and Michelle took it all in her stride with a sense of calm as well as authority. For a year Michelle kept them occupied three days a week taking them to different activities in the morning and in the afternoon playing and reading to them at home. In addition to the child care she provided, Michelle prepared three healthy meals each day for the boys.

In 2017 we had our third baby and Michelle began to juggle both the twins and a new born. I definitely would not have been able to get through the first few weeks without her as I knew that the twins were so happy in her care that I didn’t have to worry about them whilst dealing with a newborn.

With the twins now at nursery every morning Michelle also juggles getting all three of them ready in the morning and doing the nursery run.

She truly treats them all as if they were her own and shares such a special bond with each of them individually. Michelle has done so much more than merely supervise our children. She does a vast range of activities with them from painting, cooking, arts and craft to exploring the great outdoors and nature. One of my sons is more challenging and Michelle is often working with him on his behavior and as a result, he has improved tremendously. For instance Michelle from an early age has worked on letters and phonics together and at 3.5 they can now write some letters and are trying to blend to read.

Among her strengths are her punctuality and efficiency. I simply cannot understand how she gets so many things done in such a short time. She is also very thoughtful, always remembering important dates in the lives of our children and bringing them cards and gifts.

We are so sad that Michelle is leaving us but I am confident that she will always be a part of our lives.

Michelle will be a superb childminder and I know that any child would love her as much as mine have and that you would never be disappointed in her services. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Parent on 18/06/2018