Cookie Maison
Childminder in Old Coulsdon (also available for babysitting)
Usually responds within 30 minutes
Female Member since Feb 2011 Last Updated Jan 2025 Last Login 23 Jan 2025
My Summary
About Me
Hi my name is Donna , we have a fantastic unique wooden cabin in the back garden which is 40 square metres.
The cabin gives the children loads of space to play and explore. The cabin is cosy and designed to provide a bright, safe and stimulating environment which encourges children to explore there surroundings with laughter and ease. All the toys are with in easy reach, for little hands. The floor is soft and colourful, the big windows look out into the garden, there is a sensory giant bubble tube, and a much more. The cabin is double glazed, heated, has a kitchen area, and a toilet. The secluded garden has rubber non slip decking outside the cabin with a large soft artifical lawn , so it useable all year round. In the garden we have large colourful toys, slides, cars,scooters and a wooden play house.
I have a well reckonised child care qualifications which is my NVQ level 3 in Childcare & Development, I am part of the Children Come First Network which is run by Croydon Council. I follow the EYFS framework for children under five in my care. I work with 2 assistants , we are all DBS checked and all first aid trained.
We provide breakfast, snacks and dinner. Parents or carers need to provide a lunch. We have a microwave so lunches can be reheated.
We go out most days to Happy Valley for a walk with our family dog, this gives the child a chance to explore our beautiful country side.
We care for children from 12 months upwards.
To ensure children settle properly with us they need to attend for a minimum of two days a week both of which need to be at least 7 hours each day.
I have a full clean driving license. We are CRB checked. Insured with the PACEY
We have a wonderful family cat called purdy and a family dog called Coco.
So if you would like to come and see were all the fun is give me a call.
Thank you for reading my profile.
My Experience
I have been childminding for since 2006. I have lots of experience of working with children from 4 months upwards. I have references avaliable upon request. I have experience of caring for children who have English as their second language.
My Qualifications
Awarded Outstanding in Jan 2011, NVQ level 3 in Childcare & Development, first aid, food hygine, Safeguarding Children
My Availability
Unfortunately we are full at the moment Full and part time spaces avaliable.
Opening hours are 7.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Thursday
Friday 8.30- 4 pm be
Children need to attend our setting at least 2 days per week. Unfortunately we cannot offer 1 day per week.
I do not do lunch time collections.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 22/01/2025 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £7.80 per hour
- Babysitting from £14.00 per hour
These can be discussed when you come and see the cabin, everything is included in my fees except nappies and my fees are very reasonable. Also I offer a relevant amount of settling in for free prior to the start of the contract to help eleviate seperation stress often felt by parents at this time.
Thank you for viewing my profile
My Local Schools
This childminder has not yet informed us whether or not they provide any drop off or pick up services at local schools.
My Ofsted Inspections
The inspection grades below have been obtained from the Ofsted website based upon the registration number the childminder has provided to us. You should verify this information yourself prior to using the childminder.
My Documents
- Ofsted Certificate (added 05/08/2023)
- UK Passport (added 03/08/2023)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Cookie Maison. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
I am not one to write reviews, but I wanted to take a moment to write one for Donna, whom we have relied on since our daughter was one year old. Donna has been an absolute lifesaver for us and has become not just a trusted caregiver but also someone we consider a dear friend. Since our daughter started going to Donna’s, she has thrived in so many ways. It’s evident that Donna and her team genuinely care about the well-being and development of each child in their care. Our daughter adores them all, and it warms our hearts to see the strong bond they have formed. Not only does she ensure their safety and well-being, but she also creates a nurturing and stimulating environment for learning. What sets Donna apart from other childminders we met is the level of comfort and peace of mind she provides us as parents. We trust her completely to care for our little one during the day, knowing that she is in safe hands. My husband and I cannot recommend Donna enough. She is an exceptional childminder who is truly a gem in our lives, and we are immensely grateful to have her. If you are seeking a childminder who priorities not only the safety and welfare of your child but also provides an enriching and nurturing environment for their growth, Donna is undoubtedly the person you need.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Alicia
on 14/02/2024
My son goes to Donna twice a week.He loves going and always goes with massive smile on his face.Donna is very caring and the children feel comfortable with her, like being in a home from home. she truly goes above and beyond
I would highly recommend her setting to anyone.”
Pamela. January 2024
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Pamela
on 25/01/2024
Donna and team provide an incredible level of care for the children at Cookie Maison. We found Cookie Maison after our son found it difficult to settle at nursery, I wish we had found it sooner! Donna takes time to really get to know individual children and within a few sessions it was clear that our son had bonded well with the amazing staff. The outdoor area is so lovely and the children are encouraged to spend as much time as they like outdoors when the weather is nice enough, this is incredibly important to us. The cabin is also lovely and always so clean - I don’t actually know how they do it! Couldn’t recommend Cookie Maison any higher!
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Angela
on 21/01/2024
My daughter found going to childcare challenging. I explained this to Donna and she assured me my daughter would be fine with her. I was shocked at how quickly she settled and Donna took the time to give her all the hugs, love and reassurance that she needed. Donna and her team are wonderful with all the children and they really spoil them at Christmas! The cabin is clean with all the facilities the children need. There is a great selection of indoor and outdoor toys and the kids are not restricted with how much outdoor time they have (they often have set outdoor times at nursery). We were sad when my daughter left to start school but grateful to have met Donna and my daughter still runs and gives her a hug whenever she sees her.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Morgan
on 17/01/2024
10 months ago my daughter suffered a huge trauma after losing her Granny and starting preschool at the same time which resulted in severe separation anxiety. I felt completely hopeless, but a few months ago I found Cookie Maison on this website and contacted Donna.
She went over and above what I'd expect (and experienced) from other childminders and she's built a fantastic bond with my daughter. She listened and understood the challenges we faced and helped us (and me) to work through them, slowly and at my daughter's pace. Donna is an angel and we couldn't have gotten through this without her. I cannot put it in to words how important Donna is in our lives now. My daughter asks on a daily basis to go to Cookie Maison now! This is a huge accomplishment and every time she goes to Cookie Maison her various anxieties are getting easier with Donna's love and support.
The Cookie Maison setting is beautiful and welcoming, with a huge variety of indoor toys (many are lovely wooden ones, and lots of gorgeous books) and outdoor toys for all ages and for different interests.
Every day the children are given the opportunity to do different activities, they learn through play, and go on walks to farthing downs/happy valley.
The cabin is magical and provides a comfortable, and comforting sense of home which my daughter loves. She particularly enjoyed finding the floor to ceiling bubble tube and the sensory elements to the cabin such as the lights. It is very clean and tidy, as is the garden.
Donna's family dogs are extremely friendly and calm, but kept in the house unless closely supervised. They are gorgeous doggies and make a wonderful addition to the setting, giving the children the opportunity to learn about animals in a safe and structured way.
My daughter hasn't stayed for tea much but the menu's that Donna provides are healthy, varied and home cooked. Lunchtimes are in the cabin or in the garden picnic style. She has great facilities, takes allergies, as well as cleanliness very seriously and always encourages healthy eating habits.
Her communication is fantastic and always keeps me up to date on my daughter's progress and takes photos (with my permission) which I greatly appreciate.
Nothing is too much trouble and I trusted Donna immediately. She's extremely kind, friendly, and clearly cares for the children she looks after as her own. I know my daughter is loved there. I wish I had found her earlier!!
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
ChapmanJ
on 14/06/2022
My son Luca goes to Cookie Maison full time. Donna, Louise and Emma are just fantastic. My son comes back home happy and only after 3 weeks of attending he is always happy when we drop him. I feel very comfortable leaving him there and I would not trust anyone else at the moment to leave my son with as much as I trust Donna and her team. They go above and beyond to keep the children happy! Thank you, Cookie Maison!
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
AnaMaria
on 09/10/2020
Donna is a fantastic childminder. My three old absolutely loves his time there. Every time I pick him up he’s beaming from ear to ear - that speaks volumes.
Donna is extremely experienced and has a wealth of knowledge in childcare. The cabin and the surrounding area offers a great open space for the children to play. Having the artificial grass means they can play outside whatever the weather.
She has also been very accommodating during a difficult time. I whole heartedly recommend Donna.
-
Overall
-
Setting
-
Cleanliness
-
Food
-
Communication
by
Jomo
on 30/04/2019
Donna looked after my son A from the age of 11 months to the age of 2 years, 2 months, for 2 to 3 days a week. There are so many good things I could say about Donna's facility and her care - but the most important one for me as a parent is that I was always 100% sure that A was well cared for and happy. I never had any doubts.
Donna is really switched on, completely professional, very knowledgeable but also very loving towards the children in her care and really cares about them. The size of her facility, with assistants who can stay at the cabin, also means that the younger children don't have to go on school runs and can follow their usual nap schedule, something that was very good for A as he was a very big sleeper!
The cabin and the garden are a lovely place.
A had a few ongoing medical issues during the time he attended Cookie Maison and Donna was completely happy to do her bit, including coming to my house to learn more about it all, and giving me really good updates on how A was doing when he was with her.
A is quite a picky eater and Donna went above and beyond to try and get him to eat new things and to have good well balanced meals.
If you are looking for a childminder, I could not recommend Donna highly enough. We will really miss her and I know we will stay in touch.
-
Overall
by
Nicola
on 20/08/2015
My two daughters aged 2 and 3.5 yrs have been going to 'the Cabin' full time 5 days a week since January 2014 and I honestly cannot say enough good things about their time there. Suffice it to say that we in the process of moving 35 miles away and we are still hoping to use Donna - she's that good!
The girls come home happy, usually with some arty creation and full of tales of their antics that day. They have made friends with others, particularly Donna's own lovely girls and the cabin set up far exceeds other child-minder environments. Definitely go and take a look for yourself.
-
Overall
by
Parent
on 28/08/2014
There was no doubt in my mind that Cookie Maison was the right choice for our sons as soon as I went to visit Donna and her fantastic cabin and garden.
We looked around some more but chose Donna without hesitation.
The boys settled in really quickly and love it there. The eldest has made some good friends and the youngest adores being spoilt by Donna and her assistants. I really like the fact that it is more social than a regular childminder but so much smaller than a nursery - the best of both worlds.
Donna has been really great at being flexible with hours / days when necessary which is great, and I feel really happy when I leave them there in the morning knowing that they are safe and happy and in a stimulating environment.
-
Overall
by
Parent
on 19/03/2014
Response by
Cookie Maison
on 20/03/2014:
Thank you Sophie
We adore the boys
You must be a registered parent and logged in to leave a review.
If you don't have an account then Register Free now.
This profile has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.
