I initially found Sarah online when I was pregnant, and it was a relief finding someone who was able to do flexible hours, as both my husband and I work in London and everyone else seemed to only to 8am - 6pm. When I contacted her after having had the baby, she was extremely helpful and answered all of the questions this neurotic first-time mum had.

However, whilst the flexibility is a huge plus, the best, and most important thing is that Sarah is a fantastic childminder and she's wonderful with my little boy. I started sending him to her from the age of about 4 months, just for the odd morning here and there whilst I was on maternity leave so he (and I!) could get used to the idea. I found it hard initially, as I'm sure every mum feels; they don't want to be apart from their baby. However Sarah made it so much easier. She kept me closely posted and gave me a breakdown of everything he had done/eaten etc and how he had been.

When he was 11 months, I went back to work and Sarah started having him for 3 days a week, and they are long days (for both, I'm sure!). Whilst I was sad to leave him, I knew he was going to be fine, as I had already seen what a loving environment Sarah works in and how she engages with the children in her care. My son is now 18 months old, and whilst cannot talk, it is quite clear to me that he loves both Sarah and Gavin and their two children, Lydia and Micah, and these feelings are reciprocated. In fact, the majority of the time I pick him up, he wants to stay and play and plasters them in kisses, and it is only the promise of a beaker of milk when we get home that can drag him away from them and all the toys!

Sarah takes the children to all sorts of exciting places, and sometimes I see from her facebook page that they have done something on a day when my little one hasn't been with her, and wish he'd been with her that day! It is lovely to see the pictures of the little ones all having fun together, and as my son has grown up, to see the pictures of him playing with the other children.

Sarah is also incredibly thoughtful and sends photos or videos of him which really makes my day. She is very patient, and deals remarkably with my headstrong boy who has started the 'terrible twos' early. And she never looks exhausted when I pick him up; I don't know how she does it!!

It is a relief, and a weight of a mother's mind to know that one's child is looked after so well. Sarah is a natural, and I would recommend her to anyone, without hesitation.