kidswithallan's Reviews

Trusting you gut - re settling in

We recently switched childcare to Debby and Allan. We were very conflicted about whether to do this (as my daughter was making some progress settling in her other setting). However I felt out of the loop with how her days were going, I wanted to feel more involved in the settling in process. I'm SOOO glad we made the switch. Debby and Allan were so open to hearing what I felt like my daughter needed from a setting AND what I needed from a setting(!) As me feeling confident would inevitably rub off on her too. They made suggestions about what might be the best first steps for settling in, and what the next steps might be after this. They did 2 straight weeks of settling in sessions (even on a Saturday morning!!!) all with the aim of helping her to adjust to them, adjust to the routines and adjust to the setting. They put so much thought and care into each child, I honestly don't know how they find the time and energy but they do!

Throughout the two weeks of settling, there was constant communicating back and forth. Which was incredible for me. I feel like some settings want to reassure parents saying "they're fine" when you know that isn't the case (you can tell if they've been distressed or teary eyed ...and then they are acting differently at home). I do understand this logic to an extent - but for me, not hearing the detail was making me feel more distressed, as I felt I didn't have the full picture. With Debby and Allan, they took this on board and in the early days they sent videos of her frequently (even if she wasn't happy), this allowed me to feel like I knew how best to support her when I picked her up. But also it allowed for the adults to brainstorm together what to do (one example being when she was on video letting out short sharp cries, I knew she hadn't slept well...and together we agreed to give Calpol which completely turned her day around 🙂). For settling in they actually listened to me about her likes and dislikes....They heard she liked encanto songs and played them for 2 weeks straight as a comfort blanket for her ❤️ (although I think Allan quite enjoyed this to be fair!!)

There are still some teething issues - inevitably, as life isn't perfect. One example being, she is not eating much at lunchtime. However, we are in communication about this. They are receptive to my ideas and also make suggestions based on their experience. They reassure me that this can be common in children who are still settling. We message each morning about potential issues - whether it might be teeth, normal toddler fussiness etc.... Long story short - it's a really good working relationship - we have good communication, share ideas and have the combined goal of making my daughter feel safe and loved 💕

I was a self-proclaimed anxious mum, very attachment focused (cosleeping, coregulation etc). I felt like no one could look after my baby as well as me, but needed to get back to work (as I'm sure many mums can relate to). I feel like if I could make a mould of who I'd want to look after my children, it would be Debby and Allan. 3 weeks in she is happy, playing with other children and goes over in the morning happily for a cuddle (After only 3 weeks!!!❤️) This all makes it so much easier for me to have the headspace to go back to work. They will probably never fully realise how appreciative I am for this - they give me peace, so I can get on with other things. I cannot say enough good things!

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by Aisling about kidswithallan on 21/10/2024

Response by kidswithallan on 21/10/2024:

Thank you so much for your kind words , it’s been amazing to see her confidence grow from strength to strength in such a short period of time and yes I think I do love Encanto way to much 🫣

Fantastic childcare

My daughter (2yo) has been going to Debby & Allan's (or Debbyallan as she always calls them) for almost a year and she loves her time with them.
As we moved our covid-baby from grandparent-childcare to a totally new place & situation, we preferred a childminder to a nursery, and we're so glad we chose Debby & Allan: our daughter has been able to get the benefits of being with a little gang of children of different ages and abilities, and of the sort of 'family-style' outings you just can't get with nursery.
Every day, the children are out and about, and even if bad weather means they're visiting a shopping centre rather than a farm or park, Debby & Allan do such a great job of making it a fun learning experience. (This has also made me feel more confident that even if I'm not "doing activities" with my daughter all the time, she is still gaining something from being out with me. And it takes the pressure off a bit, as I know that with Debby & Allan she will be having a really sociable, enlightening full week.)
From the first meeting, it was clear how great they are at adapting to the needs of the kids in their care, and communicating what they're up to with parents. We really appreciate the videos/ photos and messages about how our daughter is getting on, and seeing how much fun she is having with them and the other kids. Our daughter's communication, confidence and manners have definitely improved thanks to her time with Debby & Allan, but she is also completely accepted and enabled to enjoy herself.
My mum, who was a teacher for almost 40 years, also praised Debby and Allan's way of talking to and with the children.
They have also been so helpful and considerate when we have needed to make changes to our days, and were really understanding in allaying our anxieties when my daughter first started with them, making her transition to childcare so much easier for the whole family.
Although food is not provided by Debby & Allan, they have been really great at encouraging our lunch-averse child to try to eat, without ever making it into an issue.
In short, we really recommend Debby & Allan.

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by Lauren about kidswithallan on 06/02/2023

The best childminder in Brighton

Our son has been with Allan and his partner Debby for about 18 months now and we can't recommend them highly enough.
They take the children out every day to a variety of exciting things - e.g the aquarium, toddler groups, national trusts, paradise park etc. Far more places than we would ever have time to visit!
It's clear they are experts in their profession and have taught our son many important life skills such as how to slide safely (backwards on his tummy) and how to go down stairs safely (on his bottom). They are versatile and plan their days around the children's needs and ensure they have plenty of time to rest (either in the buggy or the car) and are good at ensuring they get adequate sleep opportunities according to their age. They also offer the option to pick-up and drop-off which have been invaluable with our busy schedules. Because there is 2 of them working together this means they have twice the capacity of other childminders. We really like this as it means there are more children for our son to socialise with and it offers the feel of a 'mini nursery' whilst still being very personal and homely.
They send lots of photos and videos daily so you can really feel a part of your child's day and are excellent at communication. They are very genuine in their love and support for their children and are both very kind and friendly people. Our son is so excited to see them and speaks so happily of his time there and that makes us very happy too!

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by Jenna about kidswithallan on 04/02/2023

Amazing childminder

Our son has been with Allan for just over a year now and has been settled and so happy since day 1. I was very nervous going back to work and leaving my son, but Allan was so kind and patient and oferred many settling in sessions....mainly for me! I was worried about naps as my son has always been a contact sleeper or has sleeps on the go (car, buggy). Allan oferred to wear our sling and we went through a few plans in case he didn't settle when he was tired. In the end my son fell right into step with Allan and we never had a problem or a worry.

My son loves the adventures they go on and has learned so much from Allan. He talks constantly about Allan and the friends he has made. Every morning he asks to go to Allan, even on the days he is home with me. When he gets something new one of the first things he says is he wants to show it to Allan. My point being with all of this is that my son adores Allan.

We get updates and pictures/vidoes throughout the day, but they never feel like they are taking away from attention the kids should be getting. We are kept up to date about milestones and development. My son has also learnt safety skills and how to be kind.

One of the things I love the most is that I genuinely feel that Allan loves and adores every child he looks after. I think he sees something wonderful in each child and helps foster kindness in all of them.

We couldn't be happier and we highly recommend Allan!

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by Cece415 about kidswithallan on 03/02/2023

Now part of our chosen family

Our first and only child is now 20 months and has been with Debbie and Allan every week since she was 6 months old. I was cautious and unsure about whether or not childminders were the right option for us and I spent ages researching every possible option months and months in advance.

To this day every single day I count my blessings that we found Debbie and Allan. They are truly family now and they don’t just ‘mind’ our daughter, I consider them our co-parents as they love her for exactly who she is and nurture her unique little personality and teach her and go absolutely above and beyond not just to meet her needs promptly and with such care and sensitivity but also to enrich her life and make her feel special.

They take her on outings that we never could and she has done and seen so much more because of them.

They have used gentle compassionate methods to teach her so much in terms of her emotional and social development as well as her language and other educational skills.

They squeeze the best out of every moment they have with her and make it fun filled and joyful and peaceful and calm as well.

You never think you could so deeply trust someone outside of your own family with your child but I trust them both totally 💯 to always do the best by her.

They have so much experience and have so often (when I’ve asked for it!) been the source of wise guidance and reassurance when I’m trying to learn each new stage of parenting.

Thanks to them I have a happy secure little girl who looks forward to her ‘Debbie and Allan days’ and when she is with them I can completely switch off and relax knowing that she is not just safe but having a wonderful adventure (though the also always make sure to send lots of photos and video updates every day in case I do want to see exactly what is going on / I’m missing her a lot that day!). I’d be happy to speak to anyone who is considering placing their child in their setting and answer any questions.

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by RoseA about kidswithallan on 03/02/2023

Family-style care w/lots of learning opportunities

My daughter has been with Debby & Allan since she was 10 months (she has just turned 2). It’s always worrying to leave your child with ‘strangers’ for the first time, but Debby & Allan felt like an extended part of the family very quickly. They are fantastic with communication, sending photos & videos throughout the day, so I’m never wondering what my daughter is up to or how she is. She loves the trips they take the children on daily and has had far more educational visits with Debby & Allan than I would ever have been able to provide myself - National Trust houses/parks, the Aquarium, the seafront, Paradise Park, local parks all over Brighton & Hove, Middle Farm, St Matthias PlayCafe and more. She always sleeps well after a busy day with them! It’s also been great for her social skills, helping her learn how to play, share and empathise with other children. Debby & Allan are incredibly flexible and I’ve been able to book my daughter in for extra days with very little notice. We don’t have family in Brighton to help with childcare but Debby & Allan fill that gap brilliantly. We are so grateful that we found them.

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by HannahJW about kidswithallan on 03/02/2023

A wonderful, warm, caring home from home

Our son has loved his time with Allan. He has always gone to the setting happily and excitedly and we have always felt that he is being nurtured, cared for, loved and stimulated whilst not with us, but in a very family-oriented way, which we really appreciated. He has made lovely friends and has fantastic experiences which have set him up beautifully for his next step.

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by KateLibb about kidswithallan on 06/09/2021

Amazing and loving environment

Dylan really enjoys his time with Debby and Alan and gets a lot out of their outings. He is always happy to attend the setting and when his dad takes him in the morning Dylan tends to be really animated when they turn on to their road. Dylan often talks to us about Paradise Park when he gets home on the days they have been there.. he loves the dinosaurs and talks about walking around and always shows us his stamp on his hand really proudly! He loves museums and anywhere he can run around pressing buttons or looking at animals which is something he gets to do quite a lot with Debby and Alan. One of the reasons why we chose them as childminders is because they put a great deal of emphasis on treating each child as individuals and being really caring and loving towards the children. I think Dylan sees his time with them as a second home! Also, they spend a lot of their time outdoors visiting mosques, chapels, national trusts and just being out in nature or running along the beach. Dylan has been with Debby and Alan for almost two years this coming May and he has thrived. We have recently had another little boy who will be looked after by them in September and knowing how happy Dylan has been with them will make it a lot easier for us as parents when the time comes. There are children of all ages at the setting which I think has been really positive for Dylan to learn to be gentle and caring with younger children.
As childminders they work in partnership with us and always keep us up to date with what they and the children are doing as well us keeping us informed of any relevant training they have undertaken. The Sparks videos that Debby creates are excellent and it's really good to see what they get up to. Debby and Alan send us photos and messages throughout the day when Dylan is with them and this is really lovely to see how they are all getting on. Dylan was born premature and I remember when we first met Debby and Alan they were very understanding with his needs and development. They often carried Dylan in a carrier that we lent them because this is where he was most happy when he was very young.

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by Shahira about kidswithallan on 17/02/2020

Loving environment

Our daughter has been with Debby and Allan for almost a year now. We are so happy that our friends recommended them to us and that we decided to leave our daughter in their care when I went back to work.
Debbie and Allan work closely together, which provides a great opportunity for Melissa to not only engage with two very caring and loving adults but to also spend a lot of quality time with other children. We love that they are always out and about, making sure that our daughter experiences different environments and sees and learns new things while being safe and loved. She was so small when she started, so it was a bit difficult at the beginning, but she has now formed such a strong and loving bond with both Debby and Allan!
It’s such a privilege to be able to see her grow and develop, which is made easier with all the information, messages and videos that we receive via whatsapp. It reassures us that our daughter is not only safe and happy, but is having unique experiences and adventures ☺

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by h_step about kidswithallan on 13/02/2020

Exceptional childcare provider

Since day 1 my son (Sam,9 yrs), has really enjoyed spending time with Allan and he looks forward to seeing him. Allan is caring, professional and has been accommodating and flexible in all areas - with providing pickups, he can provide food and has been able to offer me childcare outside of regular hours, and make adjustments to days when necessary.

Allan provides quality childcare which is stimulating, engaging and fun! He takes my boy to local play centres and playgrounds, to the beach and they play hide and seek, get fresh air and exercise. He shows a genuine warmth and interest and I feel very lucky to have found him.

Whilst out and about Allan and my boy have come across a few parents with children known to myself and my son - they have each made a point of coming to tell me how impressed they are with Allan and given him high praise indeed! I also get regular photos and video updates throughout the day which I love...I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Allan, he really offers exceptional childcare.

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by lisansam about kidswithallan on 13/02/2020