Where do we even start with even trying to explain how amazing Raquel is?! She has essentially been like a second mum to our little boy who has learned and developed so much thanks to her. We had initially put him into a nursery at about 9 months old, but found that the environment wasn’t quite right for him and he benefited more from being in a home from home setting with fewer children. I found Raquel through the Childcare website and contacted her to explain our situation - she immediately made me feel at ease and like we were in such capable hands, especially with her being a mum to 4 boys herself so she had already first hand experience alongside being a childminder (something we personally felt the nursery staff lacked). She understood our need for a certain nap routine at that point and was determined to make sure our son felt settled as well as making sure we felt assured. She texted us regular updates with pictures, videos and voice notes throughout the day so we knew he was happy and it didn’t take him long before he was settled in. He is now about to turn 3 and I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s part of Raquel’s family!

She goes above and beyond expectations. When we told Raquel we were experiencing difficulty at mealtimes, she introduced a weekly home cooked meal for all the children to help encourage him to eat better and he’s now eating foods we didn’t think he even liked. She had toilet trained him by the time he was 2 and I genuinely don’t think we would have done it without her. If he’s been ill or on holiday, it’s not unusual to get a text from Raquel checking in to see how your little one is. That’s just the type of person she is - she treats her mindees like her own. She takes them on so many little outings and experiences that he wouldn’t have been able to do if he had been in a nursery and I honestly believe what he’s learned from Raquel, her children and the other mindees has really shaped who he is as a person. Whether that’s counting, colours, manners, vocabulary - and even some Zulu!

We couldn’t be more grateful to have found Raquel when we did and only wish he could stay forever! Thank you Raquel!

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