Mary is quite simply awesome and I could not do without her. She is a brilliant childminder and my two children, a boy aged 2, nearly 3 years and daughter aged 6 1/2 years, love going to her home (in fact they are disappointed on the days when they are not going to Marys!).

The most important thing to me about Mary is her ability to make my children feel at home, and as Millie's mum has already said, Mary's is a 'home from home', where the children feel welcome, safe and loved.

Mary has looked after my children since the Summer 2014, when I returned to work full time as a Police Officer due to separating from my husband. Mary has been fantastic at helping my children to feel settled despite having to accommodate my unsociable and ever changing shift pattern. She is always understanding if I am late off work and has never let me down, despite what ever else life has thrown at her.

Mary primarily looks after my 2 year old son, whose development has come on leaps and bounds since being with her. He has hit all of his development milestones and exceeded many. Mary has every toy conceivable and comes up with so many fun ideas for the children to play, as well as taking them to toddler group and on days out. I love that all the children of different ages interact so well and it is very much like an extended family.

Mary very much has the same idea as me with regards to manners, discipline and the children learning responsibility. This is not only reflected in Mary's own two children, who are both lovely, polite and well mannered, but also in my children's development. Mary's eldest child (and husband on occasion!) also babysits for me and, like his mother is fantastic with children. He is a very mature and responsible young man who has been invaluable to me often at very short notice.

Mary is quite simply, 'The Best'!