Ruth has been my children's childminder for the past two years and she currently cares for my son on a full time basis Monday - Friday which includes his 15 funded hours. Ruth also collects my daughter from school approximately 3 times a week and cares for her until my husband and I return home from work.

Ruth lives with my husband and I and our two children in our family home and childminds from this address. She is thought of as a member of our family and prior to her qualifying in this field she provided care to both of my children as a friend. I have watched Ruth grow within her current role and develop her skills over the last couple of years and I have been deeply impressed by her professionalism and her ability to manage the relationships that she has with the children that she minds. Both of my children have a deep respect for Ruth and have developed secure emotional attachments to her which has enabled them to be able to share their home with other children without this causing any anxiety or to be unsettled. Ruth provides them with clear, consistent boundaries and they understand what her expectations are of them and they have both flourished in her care. Ruth provides this same level of warmth, encouragement and security indiscriminately and as such she has fostered a safe environment in which both Jasper and Izzy are happy and at ease.

I leave my home in the morning knowing that my children will receive the best possible care. They will be listened too, spoken to, encouraged, praised and taught tolerance, understanding and kindness. Their basic care needs are always met to the highest standard. The levels of supervision that Ruth provides ensures their safety. They are stimulated and afforded opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge, self-care abilities and social understandings. They have a predictable routine. consistent boundaries which reflect their parents values and they are provided with guidance and boundaries which will continue to shape their relationships when they are no longer in Ruth's care.

My son and daughter love Ruth as an Aunt, but they trust her as their care-giver and they seek her out for reassurance, for support and for fun. As a parent I could not recommend Ruth highly enough but the most telling sign that Ruth is providing my children with everything that they need is through their voices. My daughter will pick an extra chocolate to take home to Ruth and will draw pictures which suggest Ruth has been and continues to be a key figure in her life, and my son, when I have a spare morning off from work will say to me when I tell him 'Can I still go to group with Ruth?' Even on a bad day Ruth knocks Mary Poppin's out of the park.

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