Odete

Not a good experience

My daughter started with Odete when she was around 15 months and I left when she was 2 years old and I’m sorry to say that I can’t recommend her.

Her setting is chaotic. On numerous pick ups there would be so much mess in her hallway that she often had trouble finding my daughter’s coat or hat. I didn’t find there to be enough educational elements. Activities consisted of things like church playgroups, soft play, or the playground, which is lovely, but I’d have loved to see more structure and direct learning through play.

The food wasn’t always the healthiest, with lunches consisting of things like sausage rolls, chicken nuggets, chips, brioche or croissant sandwiches. She can be quite careless. For instance, I’m a Hindu and explicitly told her it’s against our religion to eat beef, but she forgot and once gave my daughter beef in her lunch. Another time she used an extremely old swim nappy, which gave my daughter a bad rash.

The last straw came when I told her of my intention to leave in June 2024. I was moving house and enrolling my daughter into nursery. I planned to move in August, in time for her September start date, so our months notice period would be in July.

Odete became fixated that I was trying to cheat her out of holiday pay (she had some paid holiday time which she was going to use in August) and that I made my plans based around that. She accused me of being scheming and manipulative, questioned my integrity and insulted me to my face. It was all really unprofessional and disappointing.
Then she said she’d only see out 2 weeks of the 4 week notice period, to recoup some of money she would lose by my leaving. To be honest, after the way she treated me, there was no way I could send my daughter back to her, so I fired her with immediate effect.

I wasn’t planning on leaving a review, but I felt I needed to share my experience, especially after finding a brilliant childminder to help while I moved. It opened my eyes to how a professional childminder should operate, which was not my experience with Odete.

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by Ayra22 on 11/10/2024

Response by Odete on 12/10/2024:

Arya start with me August/23 and she left July/24 took you a year to realise that I am bad childminder? Where your issue always being money that’s why she was only morning session in my setting, and you want me to wake her up at 1pm to save more money make concern of Arya wellbeing. Can tell the reason you left was because you didn’t want to pay for my 10 days summer Holliday as stated in contract, leave you a year to complain about my service where all text messages throughout the year that I show Ofsted you was happy with all service and free extra hours I used to give you. Ofsted it’s satisfied with no further concerns about my services.Take into account I still have same kids during the time Arya attend until today, they’re more than happy to leave a reference. Also they’re willing to leave a review in next few days in this platform. Sad to see you take this position because of the money where I done everything to help you and Arya during the transaction of baby to toddle and you congrats me all the time how happy you was with my service and when I throw a birthday party to celebrate Arya 2yrs and many more and see you try to ruin my reputation online it’s quiet sad to see how quick you change your mind based on money issue and I am able to see what you have inside your heart after all I done for you and your family 😔
Wish you all the best.

Amazing Childminder

Professional and consistant, Odete has been very caring toward our son and we are very thankfull to have met her.

She is a really great and lovely person and we highly recommend her.

Thanks for everything Odete.

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by Arnaud on 07/02/2023

Wonderful Childminder

Our 3 year old twins have been going to Odete since September last year for four days a week. They always look forward to their days with Odete and are excited to get there every morning.
Odete shares lots of photos and videos throughout the day of what the children are up to and she plans lots of interesting activities for the children. Our twins have developed a lot in their time with Odete thanks to her support. In the school holidays she organises lots of exciting days out for the children, including trips to the farm, museums, cinema and to meet Santa.
Odete prepares a range of healthy food for the children and they love her cooking. She communicates clearly and has been flexible on the occasion when our arrangements have needed to change.
Thank you Odete!

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by Anna on 25/01/2023

Thank you very much

Our son has been with Odete for while and we are deeply saddened to be relocating as it will be very hard to find again such a loving and professional childcare as her.

She’s been following the development of our son very well, updating us everyday of his improvements and lacks.

Communication has always been flowing and she has been sending everyday several pictures of their activities outdoor, manual activities indoor, meals etc….

Odete has always shown flexibility on extra hours or even evenings when we needed which was really refreshing and helpful.

The fact that Odete speaks Portuguese is amazing as she’s been helping our son ( Portuguese ) to practice on learning the language on top of English.

She has great indoor setting and also outdoor setting in her garden.

Overall very professional and we are very thankful to Odete for taking care of our son this past year and we definitely recommend her service to any parent.

We gonna miss you Odete.
Thank you very much.

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by Tania on 24/01/2023

Absolutely amazing childminder

My daughter has been attending Odete for past 10 months 5 days a week. She absolutely loves her, always happy to see her with massive smile on her face. For myself as a working parent, knowing that she is happy, safe and being well cared for is such a fantastic support. I’m extremely happy with the care my daughter receive and the great progress she has made whilst in Odetes care. Odete home is always welcoming, clean and well organised and my daughter have great fun playing with all the toys available and with the other children in her care.
She provides a wide, fun range of activities including plenty of outdoor exercise. My daughter recently enjoyed sand and water play, drawing and sticking, reading and puzzles as well as outings to the park, trips to feed the ducks and walks in the gardens and playgrounds.She is a great communicator and has no trouble in gaining children confidence and therefore encouraging good behaviour and kindness and compassion to others. When my daughter is hurt or feeling under the weather I know that she feels happy to be comforted by her and I am confident that she can administer either first aid or medication following all the correct procedures and completing the necessary records to ensure her health and safety. Odete provide food each day I know that she provide healthy lunches and snack such a fruits. Report of her daily routine and eating it’s always inform by the door on pick up every day.All in all I am thoroughly happy with the level of care my daughter receiving and I’m that being in such a positive and happy environment is helping her develop into a confident and self assured little girl.I would absolutely recommend Odete as a great and reliable childminder.

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by Andrea on 06/12/2022

Response by Odete on 06/01/2023:

Thanks Andrea for your kind words, glad to hear you and your child are happy with my services. I am thankful to work with such easy and understand parent like you, does make my days much easier, your child it’s an amazing girl, thanks for being part of my family 😅

Very bad setting

The worst child care setting!
Odete was extremely difficult to communicate and very unprofessional.
It all started when I asked
her several times I wanted an update daily about my son’s day which she refused to do it.
She didn’t do any activities with my son nor with the other children for their development.
She once said my sons day was no different from being at home!
Every time my son came home with a bruise she would say she didn’t see anything.
He would lose weight every time he was going to her. Until this day I don’t know what food she gave him.
I literally left my child with her without knowing anything about his day.
She once said we were late to pick our son when our contract was 8am to 6pm, this was like 5:30 when she messaged us.
She didn’t want to work until 6. So why sign the contract?
She doesn’t follow the contract.
At some point she had 2 babies under age of one which is not permitted by ofstead.
Her setting needs a lot of improvement and she is not up to standard to look after any child. I didn’t trust her that’s why I left.

Be careful parents, choose wisely.

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by Delia on 08/09/2022

Response by Odete on 20/10/2022:

Thank you for sharing your feedback.
The correct procedure has been followed up and has been resolved.
Good luck for the future.

Short but sweet

Our son was just about to turn 3 when we decided on Odette as his childminder. She took his cautious nature & worked calmly with him to nurture his natural talents for learning & urged him to push himself further in order to maintain his cognitive growth & blossom in other areas where he was lacking. She supported him while also reassuring & collaborating with me to provide the best environment I could have asked for.
Thank you Odette! We'll miss you!

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by Lesa CPB on 06/06/2022

Response by Odete on 06/01/2023:

Thanks Lesa for your lovely words, happy to hear that you can see support from my side. Was nice to work with your family, thanks Which you all the best back home to America. 😅

More than just a childminder

Having experienced other childcare settings including nurseries, I can confidently say that Bernardete is the best childcare solution we have experienced so far. Bernardete has looked after our son for 6 months now and it has been a very wonderful experience for us as parents and also for him. She is very enthusiastic about her job and takes it beyond just a job but as a passion. She always has new and interesting activities and toys for the children to learn and grow, whilst ensuring that they have an all-round experience (educational, social, sports, etc). She carries us, parents, along very efficiently as well, backing up every day's activity with evidence and ensuring partnership working to aid development. Her flexibility has also made life so much easier on us and she is ever willing to help when she can.

Our 2-year-old son has come to love Bernardete so much that he wraps up his day with her with the words "I like Bernardete", and he mentions her every night in his prayers.

I will definitely recommend Bernardete as your childminder.

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by Happy on 02/01/2020

Response by Odete on 02/01/2020:

Dear Fisayo, thanks for your lovely kind words, really appreciate your feedback, you and your family become so special in such sort time and your son it’s an amazing boy make my day so special and different everyday that’s what I love the most in my job. 😅

Brilliant childminder

I chose Bernardete to be my childminder having seen her at toddler groups, out and about and also from personal recommendations.

She has a really lovely manner with all the children in her care. She always seems kind, calm and patient with them and all the children are happy and well behaved and know what’s expected of them. I also liked the fact that I would see Bernardete out and about whatever the weather so that I knew my baby would get the advantage of going to the toddler groups that I would take her too. I regularly see her taking the children to the park and in the garden.

Since my daughter has been going to Bernardete’s, I’ve been reassured that I made absolutely the right choice. She’s so happy there and really loves her childminder.
I’ve been impressed by the variety of toys that Bernardete has and that the children don’t play with just gender stereotype toys. I’ve really seen my child’s progress since she’s spent time with Bernardete and the other children in her care. She’s learned more words even saying ‘thank you’ and has started to draw, something I would never have thought of doing with her. While she’s pleased to see me at the end of the day she’s never desperate to go home and always arrives at Bernardete’s with a smile.

Whenever I’ve visited Bernardete’s I’ve seen all the children happily and safely engaged. When I’ve been at dinner times the food has looked and smelt very tasty. I’ve always felt very comfortable to ask questions about my daughter’s and her day.

I highly recommend her to be your child’s childminder too.

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by Lena on 12/12/2019

Response by Odete on 02/01/2020:

Dear Lena,
Thanks for your toughest words, It’s great to work with you, you make my life and my job so easy, Juliana it’s amazing and lovely child, thanks for let me taking part to Julianna development.

Fantastic, very enthusiastic Childminder

We loved having Odete as our Childminder. She was very caring and loving to out daughter and became part of our family. She is very active with the kids. Unfortunately we moved away so we had to leave her.
Can warmly recommend Odete.

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by Parent on 22/05/2017