Amanda's Reviews
Childminder
5 out of 5
Parents say
This highly-rated childminder provides exceptional care in a warm, nurturing environment. Parents consistently praise her dedication, professionalism, and ability to foster children's development through varied activities and outings. She offers a home-like setting with healthy meals, while keeping parents updated through detailed daily reports. Many reviewers express sadness at leaving her care, highlighting the strong bonds formed and the peace of mind she provides working parents.
Summary generated by AI from the text of most recent member reviews
Parent reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Amanda. 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.
Amanda has looked after my daughter since she was 10 months old and it’s been an amazing experience. She made us feel instantly reassured and comfortable and I know my daughter is in the best care possible. She provides in depth daily updates which are so appreciated. We will really miss her when it’s time to go to nursery and I would definitely recommend her!
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AGibson
on 07/01/2025
Our daughter started with Amanda when she was 8 months old and it has been the best decision we ever made. Amanda is so much more than a childminder! She takes the children out every day and is fully focussed on them when she is with them - constantly talking, singing and interacting with them. She has stretched our daughter in the perfect way whilst upholding a safe and nurturing, homely environment. She has played a huge part in our daughter’s brilliant development with both her language and understanding, but I also know that going to Amanda’s is something my daughter looks forward to every single day. She is also an absolute pleasure to deal with as a parent. Thank you Amanda, we will miss you when our little girl starts nursery school! And to any future parents out there, I cannot recommend Amanda highly enough!
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CDLB
on 14/05/2024
I don’t think I have enough words to express how amazing Amanda is!!
My daughter has had the pleasure of being in Amanda’s care for almost 3years now. The first day we met Amanda my daughter bonded/trusted her from the very beginning. It felt like I had known Amanda for years but just hadn’t seen her in a long time for me that’s how it felt.
She is the most caring, loving, gentle and enthusiastic and warm childminder. It honestly felt like home from home. Amanda takes my child to playgroups , music group, soft play, park and shopping all the children love
everything that Amanda does with them.
My daughter absolutely adores Amanda and gets so excited when she knows she’s going there. My daughter has achieved so much since being with Amanda.
Amanda is very understanding with any situation. If I have any more children I wouldn’t hesitate in choosing Amanda I would choose her over and over again!!
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Corrina
on 24/04/2024
Amanda has been everything we could have wanted for our child. I am beyond confident that he has the best time everyday. This is confirmed through his wishes to go to Amanda’s on his days off, his enthusiasm to go in a morning and him not wanting to leave at the end of the day!
As a working mum I needed a child care provider who was reliable and this is exactly what Amanda is.
I love that Amanda takes the children to a variety of classes in the week and offers a varied balanced diet along with promoting independence and manners. I strongly believe the well rounded person my son is becoming is of huge credit to Amanda.
Thank you Amanda, Grayson is very lucky to have had this time in your care.
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Louise
on 11/01/2023
Amanda has been an absolute dream. My son started just under a year and he has flourished with her. What I love about Amanda is her personal touch -- she knows all the kids intimately from their personalities to their development areas. She shares great photos and updates every day, has an amazing range of activities for the kids (music classes, art, playgroup, baking, outdoor activities in the park etc) so I felt I was getting the best of both worlds - the personalised care of a childminder and the social interaction and activities of a nursery. And even with stay at home activities, her wonderful home has a great range of indoor and outdoor toys that she rotates. She has also been incredibly flexible when we needed to switch days and easy to talk to. I would 100% recommend Amanda.
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G Light
on 22/03/2022
Oh Amanda how we are going to miss you!
It is my daughters final week with Amanda before we leave (she will be 3 in a few months and starting nursery) and I am beside myself! Amanda has quite simply been one of the most wonderful experiences.
Having never left my daughter with anyone else before we started a year and a half ago, I was nervous, but Amanda was so reassuring and talked me through it all. She sent daily updates and photos and text messages to keep me in the loop and Amber settled into a good routine. There were playgroups, music classes, cooking, fun at home - I felt like Amber was in the best possible place where she was learning and growing all under Amanda's watchful and knowledgeable eye.
Not only has it been a warm and happy environment for Amber to thrive in but Amanda has also been a constant source of help, advice and support when I needed it as a first time mum going through all the stages of life with a toddler...getting rid of the dummies! potty training! Just a few of the things made so much easier with Amanda's guidance and encouragement.
Nothing seems to fluster her - she seems to have endless energy, is completely solid, safe, fun, approachable and straightforward - she really is a gem and I can't imagine what we would have done without her in our lives. Amber has loved going to her house each week and we are going to miss her hugely!! If you are looking for a child carer Amanda is genuinely the best of the best x
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GemmaC
on 28/07/2021
The most wonderful, nurturing and loving environment you can imagine.
Amanda's experience and wisdom speaks volumes. Our child settled very quickly into Amanda's home and fun filled routine. Everything seems very easy when Amanda's involved, nothing is a problem. Only yesterday we were discussing how fun it is for all the different ages to help each other and share the toy's (we left 3 months ago!).
To summarise, it really works, it's a lot of fun and huge leaps in friendship bonds are made. There is a legacy made at her home, "sprinkles of magic", she will always be remembered and missed, it's been a very happy time in our childs upbringing and long may we talk about Amanda.
If she has a space, TAKE IT! :))
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Emily C
on 02/11/2020
We were quite apprehensive to leave our daughter with a childminder after having care provided by grandparents since returning to work. We needn’t have worried, the loving and engaging environment Amanda provides really helped our child to settle quickly.
The whole settling in process was managed very well, Amanda met with us in advance so my daughter could meet her and we could see her very safe and child friendly home. Within a month my child was very excited to be going to Amanda’s and would run in without much of a goodbye... she used to ask if she could go there on the weekends!
The huge amount of activities and outings Amanda can fit into her days is really very impressive, it must take a considerable amount of planning and it’s all undertaken while maintaining a relaxing environment. Amanda does a group every morning and puts on a range of activities at home, including rotating toys in her house and garden. We especially loved all of the arts and crafts that came home and still have many of these hanging up around our house.
The Toucan Learn diary was wonderful, both myself and my partner enjoyed seeing what activities the children had been up to during the day and we laughed over some of the funny photos in the evening. Having meals captured in the diary allowed us to ensure we were providing a varied diet each week between Amanda’s and our own home.
We were extremely happy with the level of care provided by Amanda, I can’t recommend her enough. She creates a fun, engaging environment for the children with a reliable routine. We get on very well with Amanda, she is professional, has extensive experience and clearly enjoys her job. It was sad to say goodbye, she’s still regularly spoken about in our home especially by our child who has fond memories. We’re very lucky to have had the opportunity to have our daughter in her care and hope to work with her again in the future.
We miss you Amanda xx
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Sylvie
on 19/05/2020
I'm already emotional and I haven't even started writing the review....next week will be our last week with Amanda before we move out of London and it makes me so sad to be saying goodbye. It's terrifying leaving your child with a stranger but Amanda was great from day one and now feels like part of the family. My son joined her when he was 9 months and we increased the days when she also took our daughter a year and a half later. Amanda has been absolutely wonderful and our children love her to bits. My son gets upset every time we leave. She provides a safe, warm, happy and fun environment for the children and I really cannot recommend her enough. You even get to keep up to date every day with the activities through the online journal.
Thank you so much Amanda for the past 2 years. we will miss you! Now I am crying....
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khp28
on 20/11/2019
We were so lucky to have found Amanda as our childcarer when my daughter was only 4-5 months old.
At first it was hard for me to leave my daughter because i was purely breastfeeding, she wouldn't settle with a bottle, but Amanda was so patience and only took a few weeks for her to get used to Amanda and started taking a bottle.
During this 1.5 year with Amanda, we have been through so much together, i felt like I was partnership with her on the growth of my daughter. I always go to her first when I have a questions regarding food leaning, sleeping or i could share with her my frustration a s a first time mom.
Amanda is a reliable, friendly and supportive childminder, she makes sure your kids get to go outside and play with other kids. She connected me with other parents and it has been the greatest experience. I would definitely recommend her! x
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Allie
on 18/11/2019
Amanda is an exemplary childminder. Striking the perfect balance between loving family figure and childcare professional who will work with you to achieve the best for your child.
We first sent our son to Amanda when he was one. He hadn't settled in a nursery environment but was quickly happy and comfortable with Amanda. His time there was such a success in terms of his happiness and development we also sent our daughter there when she turned one. For a while they were both with Amanda at the same time and the dynamic between them, Amanda and the other children was fantastic. Amanda has helped raise our son and daughter and they see her as part of the family. They have left her now but she remains a good family friend.
The practical side of Amanda's work is also faultless. Meals, daily diary updates, daily trips to various activities and face to face chats at drop off and pick up are all fantastic and you know your child is getting the best out of every single day.
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Icemoon
on 01/09/2019
Amanda looked after our little girl for 18 Months and made our life so easy! She’s a fantastic childminder and our daughter loved her time there. She left Amanda in July this year and she still talks frequently about her now and what she did there. Whilst she was there, we saw her independence and confidence grow, she made amazing friendships with the other children Amanda looked after. She always came home with lots of stories about the day, rhymetime, Mark in the park, the library, playgroup, the park etc. Amanda was always out doing activities with them. She used to come home with lots of great art work and homemade treats. We could not have been happier with the care Amanda gave and we miss her and her family very much! We can’t thank her enough and I would recommend her to anyone! She has a great chilld friendly home and lovely garden. She would also make lovely home cooked food which our daughter loved. Lizzie
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Parent
on 28/09/2018
Amanda is absolutely amazing - so amazing, in fact, I'm finding it hard to put into words just how exceptional she is!
I was extremely nervous about leaving my son with a stranger for the first time, but Amanda instantly put me at ease. And I had no doubt at all who I wanted to look after my daughter. Both of them absolutely loved being with her and still talk about her now. My son (after almost two years at nursery) still asks whether he can go to play at her house!
Amanda's highly experienced and it shows. She's confident and authoritative and yet, at the same time, warm, caring and kind. She has a great rapport with the children and also their parents and having seen her in action, I never once doubted her ability to look after my children. One thing's for sure she's not the type of childminder who you'll find skulking at the back of a class on her mobile - Amanda's the one at the front - keeping her children in check whilst at the same time allowing them to build confidence and independence. She's also not one to sit still and comes up with a huge range of activities to keep them occupied - parks, playgroups, music classes, football, shopping trips, day trips, cooking, painting, building, sticking, gardening - you name it - Amanda's doing it!
She has a lovely, clean, spacious house and garden, cooks fresh, healthy meals and snacks and above all provides a perfect place for kids to play and learn.
If you're on the look out for a childminder and Amanda has space - grab it! In my opinion, you really won't find better.
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on 08/04/2018
Amanda really is a fantastic childminder and we felt so lucky to find her. Our daughter joined Amanda at ten months old and left at 3 years old to join nursery. Amanda creates a wonderful warm and loving environment in her lovely home, surrounded by her own wonderful family which really add to the overall positive experience. My daughter loved Amanda's daughter and would regularly come home talking about her. She made a great friendship with a fellow charge and due to being there for 2 years Amanda felt like part of our family. The online diaries are brilliant and in the over 2 years my daughter was with Amanda she never missed one. Seeing photos of your child having a your time whilst you are at work gives you such joy, and peace of mind. As well as taking her charges out everyday to a different playgroup the activities that she arranged at home were always fun, from fab arts and crafts, to baking, to singing songs, it was all covered. Amanda was great with all the milestones, offering advice but never pushy. Her love of children shines through and I wouldn't think twice about recommending her. Be quick though, she's in high demand and i can see why!
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Jessica
on 26/02/2017
My youngest daughter has been with Amanda from October 2014 until December 2016, starting when she was 13 months. As soon as I met Amanda at her lovely home I knew she was the childminder for us - calm, professional, down to earth and friendly with clearly a great relationship with her mindees.
Amanda supported us fantastically with all of the toddler transitions - toilet training, dropping dummies, reducing naps and my daughter gained a huge amount from her time there, making great friendships and learning loads. Amanda keeps herself and the children busy with regular weekly activities such as playgroups, Rhyme time sessions and the library, as well as special activities like day trips and swimming.
Communication is great, with Amanda updating an online diary daily so I can easily log in and see what they are up to. Amanda very rarely took any unplanned time off in over 2 years and is extremely reliable and flexible.
My daughter is now happily settled into nursery but often tells me she wants to go back to Amanda's house and always has big hugs for Amanda when we see her around the local area.
I have no hesitation in recommending Amanda and couldn't have asked for a better childminder for my daughter, really a home away from home.
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on 30/01/2017
Amanda is a legend! She has taken care of our little one for the past 10 months, since our daughter was seven months old. We knew from the moment we met her that she was the person we wanted to look after our daughter. Despite her services being in high demand she bent over backwards to fit in around our requirements and make my transition back into work as stress-free as possible. Amanda has the perfect balance of being professional, efficient and organised but also friendly, down to earth and fun! All the children she looks after adore her and our little one literally bounces with excitement each time we arrive at Amanda's front door! She involves the children in a variety of activities from visits to playgroups and children's centres to trips to the park, playing at home and in the garden, singing reading and dancing. I honestly don't know where she finds the energy! She provides healthy and nutritious meals and is structured with meal and nap times. At the end of each day we can log in to our 'diary' page for a full report on what our LO has been up to, complete with detail on eating, naps, nappy changes and even lovely photos. In terms of peace of mind and value for money we simply couldn't ask for more. We are moving to north London and if we could take Amanda with us we would! Sad as we are to leave her, we feel so pleased and privileged to have met her and I have no doubt that whoever takes our daughter's place will be equally as happy with her services.
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on 07/01/2016
Amanda has been absolutely brilliant and we are very sad to have to leave as we are moving house. Goodness knows how she does it - the children all seem to have such a happy / busy time and yet the house is immaculate!
Our son has been so happy at "Mamda's" - it has been so lovely to see him eager to head off there and grinning when I arrive to pick him up. She keeps the children thoroughly entertained with regular playgroups, music groups, playing in the park, the library, crafts etc. Plenty of things I hadn't thought of doing with my son...
As well as being incredibly kind, she is utterly professional and unflappable. She keeps an online diary detailing what he's eaten, done (with pictures), sleeps, nappies etc, which is hugely helpful. I'm sure her efficiency with the children has led him to the consistent lunch time naps he now has.
We are truly sorry to have to leave but I'm sure that the next lucky charge will fit in with Amanda's little team very well indeed.
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on 26/10/2015
We knew as soon as we met Amanda she was the person we wanted to look after out little boy, she was so enthusiastic about her work and had a clear love of babies and small children.
Our son was only six months old when he joined Amanda's brood, I was able to go back to work full-time without the slightest worry or sense of guilt, as I knew he was in the best possible hands. That was two years ago and he has developed into a bright, chatty, cheerful little boy and this is in no small part due to Amanda. His days are full of activities including playgroup, rhyme time, cooking, gardening, art and plenty of play both in and out doors. There is also lots of learning with reading, counting and colours etc. Amanda fills out a daily on-line diary, complete with photos, so parents can see what their child has been up to, home cooked meals, sleep, toilet etc.
Amanda has two lively, polite children of her own - a great advert for the type of young people she nurtures. Our son loves going to Amanda's and judging from the smiles and giggles from his friends he is not alone.
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on 08/07/2014
Amanda is amazing. The care that she provides for my son (who has been with her since he turned 1) has been faultless and the fact that I can leave my son in such a happy, safe and loving environment gives me enormous peace of mind. It is obvious that Amanda loves babies and children and this comes across in her every action with them. She fills their time with fun activities from across the range of creative, active and literary, but also gives them plenty of time to play with the great range of toys in her spacious home and large garden. She also cares greatly about developing the children, teaching them their colours and numbers, naming things as she goes along, encouraging them to repeat words and actions. As a result, my son has a lot of fun with Amanda, and toddles into her home each morning happy, confident and excited about the day ahead.
Her food is great (I know this because I have tasted it!). Amanda has a lovely family – her two children are fun loving, kind and polite, and she instills the same traits in the children in her care. Amanda writes daily updates to a secure online site, often uploading photos so we have a lovely record of what they have been up to. On top of being the best childminder I have met, Amanda is organised and considerate in planning time off so we are able to plan around any holidays months in advance – a huge advantage when we don’t have family close by to help out. I could not recommend her more.
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C Pang
on 22/05/2014
My daughter started with Amanda at the relatively young age of 8 months. She has now been there a year and I can honestly say it was the best decision I could have made. You can see that Amanda genuinely cares about all her charges- and that they adore her.
She has a lovely home and 2 charming children of her own- always a good sign! My daughter eats a brilliant array of healthy home cooked meals (probably much better than she eats at the weekend!) Amanda has a full schedule of activities to entertain and stimulate her charges including lots of time outdoors, either at the park or in her lovely this is a massive plus for us living as we do in a small first floor flat.
Amanda does a daily report on her children's activities, meals, nap times etc etc. This is an example of the professionalism with which she approaches her role and the extra mile she goes to keep you well informed and ease. Having initially considered moving our daughter into a nursery once she turned two, we now feel that the environment Amanda creates is the best place for her to be much longer than this.
As someone who went to a childminder myself and greatly enjoyed the experience I had high expectations of Amanda and its fair to say she has surpassed them all!
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on 18/09/2013
Amanda has been looking after our son for the past six month, and we could not ask for a better care for him. She's completely dedicated to the children, very organised with her work and always comes up with new ideas to fill the day in with fun activities.
Our son has been quite choosy when it comes to food, and Amanda has done an excellent job with helping us extend his menu.
We cannot recommend her enough!
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on 18/07/2013
The contents of this review are no longer available as the reviewer's account has been deleted.
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on 08/10/2012
My son Leo has been with Amanda over a year now, having started with her when he was 7 months old. After speaking with and visiting several childminders in our area, Amanda was hands-down the most professional, organised and engaging. Leo adores Amanda and loves spending time with her, the other children she looks after and her own two children who are around when not at school. (Another reassurance when meeting Amanda was how lovely her own two kids are - obviously great parenting!) There is lots of room in her house and garden for the children to play and plenty of toys on-hand when spending time at the house. The kids are also taken frequently to play groups, outings at the park and the occasional special trip to a soft play centre. I have lots of art work from Leo's play groups which decorate his room at home, including gorgeous bunting made during the jubilee with Leo's hand-prints, olympic themed paintings and paper medals as well as lovely cards and photos. Amanda has been so generous, surprising us on more than one occasion with a lovely birthday gift for Leo and a one-year anniversary gift of our time with her. I never worry when Leo is with Amanda as she is a great communicator calling and letting us know if there is ever an issue or something we should be aware of. The written reports are wonderful to have and we have saved a few that were especially cutely written on Leo's very good days. We have even developed a system with Amanda posting photos of Leo to my Facebook page so that I can see what he's up to during the day and share it with all our relatives who live overseas. In short Amanda's attention to detail, willingness to go above and beyond, and her lovely relationship she has with Leo give me peace of mind when I leave him with her each day.
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on 27/09/2012
The contents of this review are no longer available as the reviewer's account has been deleted.
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on 09/05/2011
Amanda has been my son Casper's primary full time childcarer since he was 11 months old. We are soon to be moving on and we will all be very sad when that day comes! Amanda offers a safe, warm, friendly environment in her home which has a large area for childminding including a large grass garden with a huge amount of toys and play equipment. Amanda could put any nursery to shame with the facilities she has on offer! She provides healthy, nutritious (and delicious!) food gobbled up by all the children and actively encourages eating fruit and drinking plenty of water. Casper has a full week of activities with Amanda - from playgroups and rhyme time to parks and library visits. Amanda goes on regular outings with the children and also on special outings to the zoo, snakes and ladders, the cinema and museums every once in a while. Amanda is a professional, intelligent and loving childminder but will be strict and offer the right amount of discipline at the right times. My son is a bright, articulate and happy child, who is also a great eater (!) and I certainly put this down to the care he has had from Amanda at these crucial years of his life. Amanda will take each individual child's needs into to account (including nap times) and provides a daily written report as well as giving you all your child's paintings and "craftwork" you could possibly squeeze on to your fridge!
Your child will be well looked after in a home from home environment, and I cannot recommend Amanda enough - you will be hard pressed to find a childminder who can match her excellent standards.
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on 27/04/2011
