Claire became highly recommended to us during a chance encounter we had with her when she was childminding 2 children belonging to some dear friends of ours when we were house hunting in the area. My return to work was imminent but I hadn't yet started investigating childcare options. We were left without doubt that we should approach Claire for our childminding needs upon seeing our friends' children so happy, relaxed and secure in themselves whilst in her care combined with our knowledge of our friends high standards and expectatons of anyone caring for their children!! IE if she was the right childminder for them she was definitely the right childminder for us!! During our initial meeting it was further confirmed to us that we had found our answer to our childcare needs by witnessing how our son responded to her so positively at only 8 months old. Our son, now 2yrs old, remains extremely happy to be with Claire on his days with her and greets her with great affection upon arrival to her house. He then runs into the lounge to find his friends first and his favourite toys.

Our sons happiness and contentedness in Claire's care is invaluable to us. However, above these basic essential elements, we continue to be blown away by Claire's committment in her partnership with us in our son's development. Since being in Claire's care we have seen remarkable improvements - his independance in his ability to eat, the variety of foods he now loves, his social interactions with others, his understanding of others needs, his advancement in his willingness to 'share', his quality of speech and his desire to understand and be understood.

Aside from our sons' developmental progress Claire has also partnered with us with in caring for any health needs that have arisen. After being prescribed glasses last summer, we have recently needed to undertake patching one of his eyes for 2 hours every day. We apply the patch at breakfast time, therefore, we have needed to ask Claire to be in charge of the patch coming off after the alloted time. This additional request from us has not caused issue at all for Claire even though we had to ask her to remove the patch on the first day of the patch being worn. Claire's calming influence on our son on this first day has set the precedent for every day since. Now nearly 2 months in, our son continues to take the whole patch thing in his stride, seemingly unphased by it all :-)

We are eternally grateful to Claire for the security she provides us and our son in the way she childminds him plus her professionalism, ability and dedication to her job. We are convinced that for Claire her job is not just a vocation but an undenialable calling.