cath47's Reviews
Childminder
Below are the parent reviews for cath47. Back to cath47's profile
Average Rating:
(5 from 8 reviews)
Catherine joined our family in late 2015 as a mother’s help to our 4month old twin boys. They automatically formed a precious bond due to Catherine’s soft and caring nature. She would take care of both boys and feed them whilst she insisted I got some rest. I would wake up to find the boys happy, fed and ready for some play! She gave recommendations on how I should help them in terms of development, she was never pushy and as a first time mum I appreciated the advice from a very experienced childminder.
Fast forward a year and it was time for me to go back to work. Catherine looked after the boys initially three days a week and then gradually built up to five. Catherine would take the boys on various outings including a weekly trip to Godstone farm and ‘Wednesday club’ where the children would socialise and enhance their learning. She would encourage varied learning though play and followed the ofsted guidelines giving constant feedback on their progress and included pictures along the way. I would often text in the day and Catherine never made me feel as if I was pestering her, she was warm with her responses and was always willing to chat if I missed the boys. The boys were born premature and I have always believed that Catherine encourages them to achieve more. They were writing at 3 years old and were potty trained by Catherine when they were 2.
When the boys turned 2 and a half, Catherine suggested that we should look into getting the boys into a nursery. This is exactly why we love Catherine, she was happy to forgo her income at the expense of the boys needs and next stages of their lives. We enrolled the boys into a morning nursery where they had the interaction with other children and a classroom environment (ready for school) and Catherine would pick them up in the afternoon. Catherine worked very closely with the nursery. Every week she would ask them on what their goals, activities and projects were for the week and would spend the afternoons enhancing these with the boys. At this point, I had started a new job and Catherine was amazing with her flexibility. She attended a grandparents day at the school and also came to their sports day which they absolutely loved.
When the boys went to school, this was a big changed for them. Their only constant being Catherine! She would pick them up after school and would give them something to eat and again, encourage play based on what they were learning at school. She would read with them if there was time to. In the school holidays Catherine would again have them for the whole day. She would also look after my eldest who is 10 years older than the boys. They would always come back having had an adventure, Happy, tuckered out and ready for bed.
Catherine is the loveliest lady you will ever meet. As I write this I have tears in my eyes remembering the lovely memories she has made with us all. She is caring and considerate and still acts with complete professionalism and integrity. When we talk about our family, the boys list Catherine not knowing any different and she will always be part of our family.
I wish Catherine the very best of luck on her new adventure and if she ever wants to come back, the door is wide open!
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Catherine has looked after our twin boys since they were 4 months old, they have just started in reception today!
Catherine is a professional, organised and caring individual. She takes good care of the boys and ensures that they are being the best they can be. She helped with potty training, making sure we were all on the same page. She has been fantastic following the early years curriculum and has been brilliant in encouraging them to hold pens correctly in order to progress with initial writing, letters, numbers etc.
Catherine is never indoors! They are constantly off somewhere on an adventure exploring local parks, adventure playgrounds - anywhere outdoors!
As well as being on top of EVERYTHING Catherine is the kindest person you will ever meet. During a family bereavement where I had to travel a lot, Catherine made sure that my husband and I didn’t need to worry about the children, she had it all under control making sure the boys were not affected at all.
We Would highly recommend Catherine as a childminder, she’s the best!
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Catherine has been looking after my son Aidan on an adhoc basis for several months now and we couldn't be happier with her. She is loving, fun, warm and caring and has provided an even better childminding service that I could ever imagine. As a first time mum, I was understandably incredibly nervous about leaving Aidan with anybody else than immediate family, but from the get go she made us feel comfortable and relaxed. Catherine has a wealth of experience and it shows! Her house is wonderfully set up with a very clean and colourful children's area, full of sensory toys for all ages and tons for kids to explore! Whenever Aidan is with her I know that he is safe and very happy...( maybe even more so than at home!lol!). Catherine is hands on and active and really enjoys taking Aidan out to activities and walks which he absolutely loves!!! And I have seen her in full play action in the floor playing with my son. I know that with Catherine he is learning, developing and being actively stimulated and i can see that when he gets home and shows me all his new skills!
All in all, I am greatful and delighted with Catherine and throughly recommend her!
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Catherine has been a fantastic addition to our family. She initially started off as mothers help when I gave birth to my twin boys but is now a nanny and babysitter for the boys and our 10 year old girl.
Catherine helps with homework with our 10 year old and encourages messy play and arts and crafts with all children. She is constantly singing and playing with the children, pushing their boundaries in terms of learning. She is loving and caring and has helped us immensely over the last 6 months.
She is incredibly reliable and trustworthy and would highly recommend Catherine in all aspects of childcare. As I will not be returning to work I will no longer need Catherine’s help day to day but will continue to use her as a baby sitter in the evenings as she pursues her career as a child-minder.
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Catherine has looked after our little boy since September 2013 and he settled instantly into her setting. They have developed a unique bond and he has flourished in so many ways. Catherine regularly rotates the toys and learning activities she does with the children and this keeps the environment fresh and encourages the children to develop many of their learning skills.
One aspect which we have been particularly impressed with is her thorough monitoring systems which chart many aspects of our son's progress across many area's such as social interaction and minor/gross motor skills and many other specific learning areas. As a parent you will be given these learning journals which are full of updated photographs and detailed notes with opportunities for you to make your own comments. It is an absolute joy to look through them and our son too enjoys this!
Our main concern has always been to find a childminder with whom our son is happy to be with as everything else will fall into place. Catherine is a very active childminder and they have regular visits out and spend quality time outside which little ones need. She feels part of our extended family through the quality of her care and we couldn't have asked for more.
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Catherine has provided exceptional full-time care to my son for the past two years, since he was 9 months old. He has flourished in her setting; he feels loved and secure and has great fun- so much fun that he doesn't realise that he's learned a great deal as well!
Catherine spends a lot of time tailoring her approach to suit individual children's needs and interests. Toys are frequently rotated so that children get to play with different things. There are frequent day trips to museums, farms, soft play centres and parks. On rainy days, my son often comes home with pictures, crafts or baking that he's done at Catherine's setting.
My son has learned numbers, shapes and songs with Catherine. He has learned to be confident in different social settings- both with other children and with other adults.
Catherine is a good communicator so I always know what my son has been up to when I have been at work. Despite leaving him when he was quite young (9 months old) I have never worried about leaving my son in Catherine's care because from day 1 it has been evident that my son is happy and secure there.
I've subsequently had a second son and, had Catherine been staying local to where I live, I would have had no hesitation in leaving him in Catherine's excellent care along with his older brother. Catherine will be missed as a childminder but, because of the relationship she's built up with our family, I have no doubt that we will stay in touch in future.
I really cannot recommend Catherine highly enough: she's not just "outstanding" on paper (OFSTED report), she's a lovely lady in real life who will provide a loving home-from-home environment to your child.
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Catherine is a most excellent childminder. Chatty, fun, accomodating and clearly experienced. Our little girl stayed with Cath and 2 other slightly older boys for a day a week between the ages of 18 and 24 months.
We did have a tricky start with settling in, but that was due to my daughter's nature and limited weekly attendance, rather than an adverse reaction to what was on offer at Cath's setting! Catherine was able to switch the day for our daughter to be with some slightly older boys, with whom she has now bonded wonderfully, and to perservere with the settling process.
Since our daughter had failed to settle with another childminder a few months before (at around 13 months), we were extremely grateful that Cath has suceeded in looking after our girl. She is now so settled, it really will be sad to have to say goodbye as she starts nursery!
You need have no hessitation in leaving your child with Cath - they will have great time, being kept busy and happy! I love the fact that there is a much used and well equiped garden, that Cath not only takes the children to various clubs, but does arts and crafts activities at home too, and often also baking too, which I'm really pleased about.
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Catherine provides excellent quality childcare.
Catherine has looked after both of my children since they were 10 months and 6 months old respectively. The children are now 6 and 4.
My children have gained confidence through Catherine's support and encouragement, and have an excelletn relationship with Catherine and the other children in her care.
We are very impressed with the wide range of activities that Catherine offers - she takes a genuine interest in the development of the children in her care.
We feel very lucky to have found someone of Catherine's calibre - highly recommended.
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