Tiny tots at Chars's Reviews

Not a great experience

Good points - I believe the children are technically safe here and Sian in particular was very helpful at providing additional information, based on her observations, when my child needed a speech and language assessment.

Poor points - If your child is part time be sure to pick days when outings & activities regularly take place. We attended on a Thursday and Friday only and so my daughter never left the flat.
The advert lists 3 rooms that the children have access to, in reality there is one room that they spend all day in and then a room for their naps, the 3rd room is used for older children that attend for the drop off and pick service that goes out to local schools.
The dogs may be kept separate but their barking can often upset wary children.
Communication standards are very poor. When my daughter was potty training we were informed at 5pm with a shrug that she hadn't urinated in 8 hours. There was no information at all about how the setting was ensuring a safe reopening following the Covid 19 lockdown.

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by JB1 about Tiny tots at Chars on 18/06/2020

Response by Tiny tots at Chars on 18/06/2020:

Hi JB1
Thank you for your review you have given us.
I’d like to give you some feedback on the comments you have made about our setting.

Given that Sian was your registered childminder at the time we are pleased you felt that Sian provided Information to help with your child’s speech and language. As Sian was on maternity leave Charlotte took over the care of your child in agreement with yourself.

Firstly as stated we do have three rooms that we use for our childminding this would be the front room and the large bedroom and smaller bedroom at the front of the flat. You are indeed right that we use the large bedroom for the afternoon school children from 3:45-5:30pm which throughout Covid and still now we have not had any after school children due to not mixing settings. However in the day time from 8am-3pm the children have full use of this room where we set up multiple activities throughout the day.

Secondly all the children are never kept in the flat all day. Yes your child may have not attended play groups or sessions as she attended only part time but they all go out in our large front garden everyday. The garden which is full of stimulating activities and lots of play equipment.

We are also sorry that you felt that our dogs occasional barking caused upset to wary children, i would have hoped that is something you could have discussed with us. This is why we tell all our parents and prospective parents we have pets so they can choose as to whether they are happy to send their child to us.

Thirdly regarding potty training. Your child had been away from our setting for a little over two months. On her first day back when she was dropped off to us we were not even informed that your child was potty training it was only when we went to change her nappy we found she was wearing underwear. We offered her the toilet and potty on numerous occasions and had no luck. Your child had accidents on that day so had peed just not on the toilet or potty.

Fourthly We had written up a new policy regarding Covid-19 and taken on extra precautions to keep our self and our children safe. This was handed out to all parents and signed and returned. We feel this review has been written In retaliation to us not allowing children to attend that are also attending another setting. The most important thing is to keep ourselves and the children safe in the setting and minimise any risk.

We will take on your comments to help try and improve our setting for the future.

Great team

My son was in Charlotte's care from the age of 11 to 23 months and it was perfect for him as his first childcare experience. Charlotte, Sian, Natasha and Abi were all lovely and professional. He went through some tough phases in his development and it was great to know that he was always in the best hands. He had especially fun playing in the lovely outdoors area. The team also created a personal development folder for him. When we left my son was perfectly prepared to go to nursery. I can very much recommend this childminder.

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by Kerstin about Tiny tots at Chars on 16/10/2019

A wonderful caring environment for my baby girl

I cannot recommend Charlotte and her lovely team enough !! They have been looking after my little girl with so much love and attention it really felt like a second home to her. She was always so happy to go in in the mornings and was very excited at pick up time when telling me what she got up to during the day. The key to Charlotte’s success is that so many of her family members work with her. Your child is in effect being cared for within a structured but loving extended family atmosphere with lots of games and stimulating activities. What can be better than that?!

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by Emorris about Tiny tots at Chars on 02/10/2018

Loving caring environment to nurture your kids

Small family run childminding business who have looked after my daughter and now her son. No hesitation at all in recommending Charlotte and her team, for being caring and nurturing. Your kid won’t be lost in an institutional nursery but regarded as part of charlotte’s own family. They have tons of books, activities, learning games and outdoor space for kids to run around. Cooking and arts and crafts are just part of the daily regime. They take an active role in your child’s development and get to know the likes and dislikes and daily habits of your child very quickly. From the warm welcome and hug in the morning, to a fond farewell in the evening, they are really in safe hands. Both my daughter and grandson flourished personally and educationally there.

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by AngieM about Tiny tots at Chars on 01/10/2018

Couldn’t recommend more

My son was with Charlotte from the age of 9 months and was looked after like he was her own. We honestly didn’t have to give his safety or wellbeing a moment’s thought as he was so well cared for and nurtured there. The setting is perfect if you want your child to interact with other kids but don’t want them to be a small fish in the big pond of nursery.

Our son loved his days with Charlotte, Sian, Tasha and the rest. He loved being outside in the warmer months, he loved reading and learning numbers and the alphabet, he loved all the toys and puzzles, and he loved getting cuddles from all of the carers. He was always coming home with little cakes he’d made, pictures he’d painted, little craft projects etc etc. His progress folder was brilliant and confirmed to us that they knew our little boy’s likes and dislikes and funny little ways better than we did. He also ate better at Charlotte’s than he did at home.

He broke his leg (whilst at home with us!) and Sian was the first person at the hospital to see how he was and to bring us his favourite bottle. That’s how much they care. When he was released from hospital Charlotte really bent over backwards to look after him carefully. I’m sure other places would have been too worried and made us have him at home until he could walk again.

Really I can’t recommend Charlotte et al highly enough. If you want a childminder who will love and care for your child almost as much as you do, then they are your ones .

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by AnnaTB about Tiny tots at Chars on 07/09/2018