Sam

Outstanding Childminder

Sam is without question an outstanding childminder. She is highly qualified, dedicated, caring and thoughtful. With her amazing help we have watched our son grow from those first unsteady days of settling into a confident, well-mannered, intelligent and emotionally balanced child. Academically, our child has excelled.

We started our journey with Sam in early 2017 and during those 3.5 years we have experienced only the best for our child. Every day spent at the setting is an adventure; through a structured routine and creative planning the children hardly realise how much they are learning about themselves, the world they live in, and both socially and academically. So much thought and preparation goes on in the background; where many practitioners look to achieve the standards laid out by EYFS and Ofsted, Sam is always looking at where she might exceed those expectations for the child as appropriate and finding creative ways to do so. We have also appreciated the online diary system of reporting our son's day, milestones and achievements and looking back at photos now we see how many incredible trips and adventures outside of the setting he has experienced in her care.

Sam works with parents to ensure that their values and standards are matched in the setting. Through every developmental stage we have had her full support: from walking, talking and potty training to reading, writing and preparing for school. We have been happy with her approach to behaviour management and how she encourages the children to have respect for themselves, to show kindness for others, to appreciate and enjoy the setting itself and to trust and respect her, with a variety of calm and sensible approaches. Our child trusts her completely and has built a lasting relationship with her and her family.

Which leads to the most important factor of all. Leaving your child with Sam is like leaving your child with family. Your child will feel valued, loved and safe in Sam's home. She will always be "Aunty Sam" to us! We recommend her most highly as an outstanding childminder who is always going above and beyond expectation.

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by Mrs B about Sam on 29/07/2020

Outstanding childcare provider

We have had exceptional childcare since my two sons joined the setting in 2017. Sam is an outstanding childcare practitioner, and is highly qualified and dedicated to delivering top quality childcare across all age groups. She is passionate about providing a safe, loving and fun environment. Her focus on early years education is second to none – she had our youngest writing his name and reading words by 3 ½!

She is creative in her planning, often focusing on current events like Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Thanksgiving, etc., and includes a wide variety of activities like yoga, outside exercise and special outings. The setting is always welcoming, clean and well organised and our sons have great fun playing with all the toys available and with the other children in her care.

Sam provides healthy food each day, ensures the children rest when they need to, and encourages good personal hygiene.

Beyond all this though, it is Sam’s warm and friendly but no nonsense approach which sets her apart from other childcare providers we have experienced.

Sam is a great communicator and has no trouble in gaining our children’s confidence and therefore encouraging good behaviour and kindness and compassion to others, both skills which are important to us at home. When our youngest steps outside his boundaries she responds with firm but kind discipline explaining what we would like to see in terms which he understands. When he is hurt or down, I know that he feels happy to be comforted by her and I am confident that she can administer either first aid or medication following all the correct procedures and completing the necessary records to ensure his health and safety.

She completes a daily online diary detailing what the children have done each day. From this I have a complete picture of the boys’ whole day. This helps me to feel involved with his care and that I can talk to him about his day.

Over the past three years, I feel our boys have become part of Sam’s family, and she part of ours. I would absolutely recommend her as a great and reliable childminder.

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• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by rainh2o about Sam on 07/02/2020