Clarisse

10/10

Clarisse began looking after our then nine-month-old son in January 2023 as we needed cover from 7am until the early afternoon - and what a joy it has been to have her! I was initially nervous about leaving my baby with anyone as he wasn't the easiest and was still quite young. However Clarisse has really excelled in caring for him. I have found her to be very caring, patient and good with him, while also still enforcing rules and boundaries. Clarisse has taught him so much - including how to eat with cutlery, how to draw and how to speak a lot of French words! In fact, he still says 'oui' instead of yes! We have loved that Clarisse speaks so much French to him as I think it has helped his language development (as well as teaching us parents some things!) Clarisse has cooked him wonderful food and also takes him out regularly to the library and playgroups. She is a warm and caring person and a joy to have around our home. Sadly we now need more hours and are unable to afford her full time, but if we could we would certainly have kept her up until our son went to school or pre-school. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Clarisse to anyone looking for a nanny or babysitter, she is a wonderful, experienced and patient nanny.

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by Emily512 about Clarisse on 23/12/2023

Can not rate Clarisse highly enough

Clarisse has been working with our family as our family nanny since September 2018. We are desperately sad that she will no longer be working with our family, however our circumstances have changed so we just cannot offer the hours that she requires.

Clarisse has been looking after our 3 children aged 7, nearly 6 and nearly 3 for six months, and in that time she has made herself an indispensable and much loved member of our family. She helps get them ready for school, manages the school run, looks after our youngest in the day, and then does the end of the day school run, helping with the end of the day routine. During the day she will take our youngest to a variety of playgroups, keeping her active and engaged with different activities (singing, creative play, reading etc). She will take my daughter to the park, her allotment, and soft play. She has helped develop my daughter into an independant young girl.

She manages the 3 children all together in our own home, and is exceptionally fair yet firm when dealing with the inevitable demands that 3 lively young children put on her! Our middle child has as-yet-unestablished SEN, and Clarisse has really helped him in managing his emotions, been there to soothe him with TLC when he needs it. She also helps manage the household in matters relating to the children and is much better than I am when it comes to remembering when we need essentials like bread and milk! She will make the children's evening meals also (sometimes even leaving leftovers for us!).

Most of all, she is just wonderful with the children. As much as she has been a professional working with us, she has also developed into a real friend, and someone we will miss tremendously. I cannot rate her highly enough.

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by Lucy_M about Clarisse on 13/03/2019

Fantastic Nanny

Clarisse has been looking after both my children since 2013.

It is without hesitation that I can say we could not have had a better experience. Clarisse created a fantastic environment and atmosphere for children. She encourages learning and always gets the children doing creative play, which they greatly enjoy. So much so that they often ignore me when I come home!

I always feel that the children are being cared for as if there were her own children, safe and very well looked after. Clarisse is a natural with children of all ages..

She also very professional in her dealings with both the children, and us as parents too. We have had no complaints the entire period we have been dealing with her and always highly recommend her if anyone is looking for childcare.

The Williams Family

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by Sarah about Clarisse on 13/03/2019

Wonderful childminder, warmly recommended

Clarisse looked after my son Harrison full time Monday to Thursday when I returned to work following my son, Harrison's first birthday. Prior to that we had a few months of settling in sessions where Clarisse would collect Harrison from my house and take him to hers for a couple of hours each week. I even went with her to the playgroup once (at my request) to aid a smooth transition! As time went on his sessions with her became more frequent so that I was confident when my maternity leave had finished.

On a day-to-day basis Harrison was very happy at Clarisse’s home. When he was dropped off there were bigger children there and I loved that Harrison was able to interact with them socially and to build relationships, while still maintaining the intimacy of a childminder setting over a nursery. We had a family WhatsApp group (Clarisse, Daddy and Mummy) and regular updates are sent throughout the day – concerning nappies and food, and photos of him painting, playing music etc.

Roughly every half term Harrison came home with a written report. I love that it is hand-written with photos stuck in; it’s a real event for us and taken to all the grandparents! It’s a nice addition to see the progress he makes from a professional perspective, rather than from a parent’s. I love seeing the ‘targets’ that are set! It also shows how well she has listened to things I have said, perhaps as a passing comment (for example about how he likes to try and fit into small gaps!) that are mentioned in the report.

I am so happy that we found someone as good as Clarisse to look after Harrison. I hate that have to be away as much as I do, but it is such a relief to see how excited he is to be dropped off and his little games and rituals (waving to everyone, hiding from me!) when I pick him up. I love that she takes him out practically every day so he does get that all important social interaction and stimulation and know how well she knows him and likes him too!

Due to a change in my work my son now comes to work with me, otherwise he would still be with Clarisse. We still use her to babysit and for childcare in the school holidays - and Harrison still talks about her! I whole-heartedly recommend her to look after your children!

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by Chax about Clarisse on 12/03/2019

Fantastic childminder: calm, patient& supportive

Our son started with Clarisse in March 2017 at the age of 15 months. Initially Clarisse offered to collect him at the start of the day at our local playground: a surrounding familiar to him. This was particularly helpful as it reduced his anxiety at being left. The settling-in was gradual, and after around 10 to 12 weeks, he had adjusted to Clarisse and we were able to drop him off at her home.
Our communication and contact with Clarisse is maintained regularly across both email and Whatsapp. We have always been given updates and photos throughout the day. These help us understand his routine out of the house: when he eats, sleeps and has a nappy change, as well as his personal development.
In terms of activities, we are very happy with the direction and guidance provided. Our child has a broad range of interactions. From organised playgroups, trips to local parks and playgrounds, as well as structured home play and supervision such as painting, music time, dancing, puzzle games, cooking and more recently-his communication and vocabulary. Clarisse helps us to reinforce discipline by setting clear boundaries including no throwing toys or objects, and no running in the house. She encourages him to use cutlery to eat, and reminds him to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ as well as formally greeting ‘Good morning and at the end of the day, ‘Goodbye!’
We have noticed steady progress in our son’s confidence, physical development of balance and dexterity as well as his emotional happiness in groups and solo play.
We have received and reviewed formal progress reports from Clarisse. These have demonstrated his milestones and helped us stay informed.
Clarisse was personally recommended to us and we would not hesitate to pass on this recommendation. Her care has been one of the cornerstones of our son’s early development.
In summary, we are truly grateful for the kindness, guidance and support Clarisse provides our son. She has helped shape him into a happy, confident and well-humoured child. Thank you.

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by Parent about Clarisse on 20/04/2018