Alison_'s Reviews
Childminder
4.96 out of 5
Parents say
This childminder is highly praised for providing excellent care in a nurturing home environment. Parents appreciate the variety of activities, outings, and educational experiences offered. The childminder is described as reliable, trustworthy, and flexible. Children are reported to be happy, thriving, and developing well under her care. Communication with parents is consistently noted as excellent.
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Parent reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Alison_. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
My daughter was 12 months when she started with Ali, and she has been with her for almost 3 years.
Ali takes the children to various exciting places such as playgroups, Wisley, Painshill Park, Newlands Corner, playground and many more, where they can explore world around them. Ali also provides fun activities: art, craft, baking, singing, dancing etc.
Communication has always been excellent and we are informed about activities and receive lovely pictures and comments on Tapestry. We're really glad that we chose Ali and would recommend her to anyone who is looking for a reliable and trustworthy childminder.
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Martie
on 16/12/2024
Alison has been looking after our daughter for over a year since she was 7 months old. She is extremely reliable and our daughter loves spending time with her and the other children. Her face lights up when we say it is an “Ali day”. We couldn’t hope for more and have already recommended to friends.
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Emma
on 03/12/2024
Ali has looked after our son since he was 7 months old for nearly 2 years. The only reason we are having to move him is due to a change in our jobs and other circumstances. He has been with Ali 4 days a week and loves his days in this setting which is a home-from-home environment. I am amazed at how many different places he goes including Wisley and other outdoor areas-we really value this for our busy and boisterous little boy. Ali has supported him with his communication and other developmental milestones. Furthermore, our son has developed close friendships with all the other children in Ali's care and at the playgroups/song groups he regularly attends with Ali. It is clear that our son has a very strong attachment with Ali and she understands his personality extremely well shaping activities around what he enjoys (wheels, helicopters, physical play etc). We will be extremely sad to leave!!
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Emily
on 07/05/2024
From the moment I met Alison I felt confident that she would take great care of Aria and she has. Communication is great, activities and care is amazing and Aria is always happy. Our circumstances have changed and we have decided to employ a Nanny to simplify life but it took me 3 weeks to actually give notice and I am still reluctant to leave Alison. Hopefully I will be able to utilise Ali on occasions if needed.
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Kerry
on 24/04/2023
Ali has cared for my youngest daughter, Kiki, for the past two years and I can't say enough positive things about her care. I would and have recommended Ali in a heartbeat. I am a mum of three and if I had my time again my older two children would be cared for by Ali too as opposed to attending a nursery setting.
Kiki has thrived with Ali and I can see a considerable difference in her knowledge of letters, counting, phonics and articulation compared to when my older children were due to start school. Ali plans such fun days for the children in her care, if it’s not creative arts it’s fun day trips out to Newlands Corner, Wood walks, Garden Centres or little soft plays. Or fun in her beautiful large back garden. The variety of activities are great, my middle daughter often says she’s jealous of Kiki's days with Ali!
Ali is super patient and was extremely supportive in potty training, nap changes and improving Kiki's social skills after lockdown dented her confidence a little.
Ali offers plenty of flexibility, clear communication and above else is nurturing and friendly.
I am genuinely sad to be saying goodbye in July as Kiki starts school in September.
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LL10
on 13/07/2022
Our daughter has been with Alison for a year and a half and it has been the best decision we made. Summer settled so quickly in Ali's home which really feels like a home from home with a lovely selection of toys and books and a beautifully spacious garden for the children to run and play in. She has grown and developed so much in her early years skills while in Ali's care largely due to the wonderful array of inventive and creative activities that have been provided. It's always such a joy seeing Summer proudly present something new she has created at the end of the day. In spite of all the restrictions during lockdown Ali has worked hard to provide a variety of different stimulating situations for the children to have fun, play and learn together. There is always a warm welcome and a true investment in the children's wellbeing. Alison has been fantastic support during potty training offering advice and guidance to a first timer which has been invaluable. As the children grow she encourages the development of independence in preparation for their next step in the world. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a caring and nurturing environment full of positivity and fun.
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Lucy W
on 01/07/2021
This is our second time using Ali as a carer for our children, so this speaks for itself - we had our first child Isla in her care for a period of time, and when our son came along they both returned to Alis to be looked after. I know as a parent it can be a hard and worrying time leaving your child with a minder but each time we had our children in Alis care she made us feel at ease knowing the children are safe, happy and loved when with her.
Ali has such a warm nature, a complete natural with different ages of children, my son and daughter are so fond of her and talk about her often when they're at home. They get excited and look forward to seeing her and spending time with her, I believe they all have a special bond together, which is lovely to see as their parent.
I have found Ali to be extremely accommodating, understanding and an excellent communicator - alongside this I am always amazed and inspired by how much she does with the children, they are always up to something. rain or shine, and their days are a mixture of fun with education in mind.
We have been so fortunate to have had Ali take care of our children, she comes in our highest recommendation.
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Rebecca
on 09/11/2020
Our little girl who is now just over two and a half has been with Ali since nine months. Both my partner and I work full time therefore a home from home environment was incredibly important to us where she can thrive around other children with the one on one care and nurturing that we felt she needed at her age. The fact Daisy goes so carefree into the house every morning, and only cries when she wants to shut the door because Ali and I are talking too much, is indicative of how happy she much feel being there and especially five days a week. The amount of activities, outings and variation Alison provides always amazes me when she has her hands full with the little ones, so her planning and investment in these children is truly fantastic. Her son Ethan is so loved by the kids and the house is truly a home. We treasure the relationship Daisy has with them all and feel reassured that she is learning great skills to prepare her for all of life’s little challenges. I would highly recommend Ali to all parents, especially those who want consistency, compassion and lots of fun for their little ones.
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AmyH
on 09/03/2020
Alison has been such a brilliant childminder for our 2 year old daughter Sienna. She settled into Alison's home so quickly (much better than she had been at nursery) and would highly recommend her. She has a lovely home with lots of toys/books/games etc and large garden for the children to play in.
We get daily updates through the tapestry app and a written report at the end of the day - which is so lovely to see what Sienna has been up to and always has lots of interactive activities and trips planned.
The only reason we are no longer using Alison is because we are moving house - but we are very sad to have to leave! Overall a highly professional and experienced childminder who I would highly recommend.
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LaraC
on 11/11/2019
Our daughter Sophia has been going to Alisons for 2 days a week for 9 months now and we have seen a wonderful change in her. Previously she was at a nursery 4 days a week and cried every day going in, and did not look forward to going, she would cry most of the way there. However since starting 2 days with Alisons she soon settled nicely in the nurturing setting Alison provides, and even stopped crying going into nursery for the 2 days she still goes. Alison has a lovely way with the children and we can see our daughter enjoys going there. We would highly recomend Alison and we are very grateful we made the decision to choose Alison as our daughter childminder.
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Melanie
on 02/09/2019
I am a full time working mum with two children. For my second child, I was keen to try a childminder homely setting than a nursery and Ali was highly recommended. My daughter has been with Ali for well over 4 years. We as a family have been very happy and satisfied with the setting Alison provides. She has made a significant progress in her early year skills, communication and education with Alison and other children in her care. She is well looked after, cared for and is always happy to go to Alison’s.
Alison uses Tapestry app to keep us updated with the children’s activities. The communication has always been wonderful and regular on early foundation year skills and milestones.
Zara gets amazing healthy and nutritious meals at Alison’s and enjoys regular outings and trips with other children.
Alison is also very flexible and accommodating around parents and children’s needs. Overall we would highly recommend Alison to any family and very pleased with her set up.
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Mao
on 28/08/2019
Ali is such a wonderful childminder, very enthusiastic, warm and welcoming which made my daughter and myself feel at home immediately. We've really been so lucky to have her look after our daughter. Ali always goes above and beyond whether it is doing new things with Isla to stimulation, education to play and fun whilst learning new words.
I would not hesitate in highly recommending her as a childminder, my daughter has been extremely happy whilst in her care and will be very sad to leave her and the other children. Ali makes everyday in her childcare so much fun and of interest for the children, I've been lucky to receive countless wonderful art creations from my daughter whilst in her care.
If I need childcare again I hope Ali has space as I couldn't think of anyone else better suited to look after my child.
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Rebecca
on 05/08/2019
Alison is a wonderful childminder. Having had a couple of negative experiences with nurseries and nannies with our daughter, we were very cautious about finding the right home-from-home environment for our son. From the moment we met Ali we knew she was the right person to look after our little boy, providing a very safe, nurturing and quiet environment. We haven't ever had any doubt in our mind that he isn't happy or being looked after at all times, which has been hugely reassuring.
Ali not only provides a lovely home environment for the children but she takes time to think about creative activities and crafts for the children to do, as well as ensuring they enjoy daily outdoor activities and walks too. Our son was very quiet and shy when he first started at Ali's but soon made good friends with the other children who are all lovely and it's been a joy to watch him come out of his shell. It's clear to see he trusts Ali completely and has developed a special friendship with Ali's son which is very sweet. Ali also takes the time to make nutritious, home-cooked meals for the children and ensure they follow good hygiene practices.
Ali keeps us updated frequently through the online portal on activities during the day as well as his developmental stages.
We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Alison to anyone looking for a wonderful, homely and loving environment for their child.
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Parent
on 20/11/2018
We are so delighted to have found a childminder as wonderful as Alison. Our little boy (who is almost 2 now) has been going to Alison’s since he was 14 months old, and he absolutely adores his days there and all of the lovely friends he has made too.
For my husband and I, it was an emotional and daunting time settling our son into a brand new routine of childcare when I returned to work, but Alison helped to make the whole experience a lot easier for us all. Our son quickly settled with Ali and made some lovely friends there. The children do wonderful activities each day such as soft play, arts and crafts, imaginative play, outdoor play etc. Ali keeps us updated with his progress each day via a fantastic app, where pictures and videos are uploaded and Early Years Foundation Stages are identified.
We are very grateful for everything Ali does and highly recommend her!
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Parent
on 30/01/2018
Our 3 year old has been going to Alison's for 12 months now and has grown & learnt so much. Alison is great at keeping you up to date with activities as she uses an online notification app which links the child's learning to the early years foundation stages. Alison does so much with them, they get taken to soft play, playgroups, wisley & little walks around the area which is fantastic. Our daughter has made some lovely friends and runs to the front door each day I drop her off! I would throughly recommend Alison.
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on 21/09/2017
I am a full time working mother with two children. Both times I have relied on nurseries for early childcare. For my second child, I was keen to try a homely atmosphere and I was very lucky to find Alison.
Alison is a friendly, pleasant and approachable person. My daughter has thrived in the caring atmosphere and we have noticed a big difference in her development and skills since being with Alison. She is also very efficient, hardworking and flexible. This is very important in a busy working life and she is often willing to go out of her way to help and negotiate things. She truly is interested in her profession and cares for the children with passion.
I have found all the children in her care happy, cared for and disciplined. She cooks amazing nutritious balanced meals for children and my daughter now eats vegetables happily (much to my relief). It has been a great pleasure to have Alison in our lives and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for quality child care.
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Mao
on 21/12/2016
Our 3 year old daughter started with Alison 7 months ago and has attended 2 days a week since.
We have certainly noticed she has grown in confidence and her interaction with others has become second nature.
We cannot recommend Alison highly enough. We found her extremely competent, contentious and trust worthy.
This is our only daughter so we were quite apprehensive about leaving her with someone we did not know. However we were very soon put at ease. Alison updated us every day with her activities and progress including photos and emails. It was evident how much our daughter enjoyed being with Alison. Every time we went to drop her off, she became very excited, and from the moment we picked her up she would talk about her day all the way home.
Alison is very professional and works with you and your child to develop their skills and yet maintains a very personal approach.
We would like to thank Alison and her family for looking after our daughter. We highly recommend her and would not hesitate to use her again in the future.
Many thanks
James & Ivana
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Parent
on 09/10/2016
When looking for a childminder for my first son I visited approximately 12 different childminders, none of whom I felt comfortable leaving my son with for one reason or another. I was on the verge of giving up and trying a nursery (something I didn't feel was right for my shy boy) when I was recommended Alison. I knew the instance I met Alison, and was welcomed into her home, she was the one to trust with my son. I have never looked back, he has been with Alison since 18months and even though he attends preschool now he still likes to visit and have days at Alison's in the holidays!
The setting is a lovely big airy house with a delightfully large back garden, the donkeys, which are sometimes in the paddock behind, really do put a smile on the children's faces.
Alison provides excellent care, she is fair with the children, but also sets boundaries, which the children happily respect, this also feeds into the family home supporting rules and boundaries set at home. Alison is great at working with parents on anything that may concern, including helping with potty training, which helped my son greatly.
The activities and trips planned are very educational, the children learn so much without even realising they are learning as they have such fun in doing so. No weather is bad weather, Alison asks that the children have sufficient clothing so that she can take them to planned trips. This pleases my son greatly as he is a real out doors little boy.
The feedback is constant, monthly folders of the children's time and the activities they have carried out are given for review. They are so detailed with the children's work and photos we look forward to this each month!
My shy son settled in very quickly, and loves the whole family, especially Alison's own son who entertains the little ones so well. I felt so happy and confident with the progress of my eldest, as soon as my second son was born I reserved a space for him. All of the above now applies to him!
I cannot recommend Alison highly enough!
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on 23/07/2015
Our little boy has been going to Alison's for 10 months and has hugely benefitted from her care and attention. Alison puts so much effort into all aspects of childminding - fun and educational activities are planned for every day. These are all recorded and fed back to parents regularly. Alison really brings your child on and we can see all the skills our son has developed with her reflected at home. Good communication means we can build on these at home. Alison has been flexible to our needs, also providing ad hoc care for our older son, again with excellent activities and ideas to keep him engaged. Above all Alison really cares about the children and puts them at the centre of her work and this loving care really shines through. We highly recommend her, and our third child will be joining her soon too!
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Minmun20
on 28/06/2015
Alison came highly recommended to us by a local mum and she didn't disappoint. Alison quickly settle my 7 month old son in, at a time when separation anxiety was at an all time high! My son loves his days with Alison. She provides a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment. Alison takes the children on fun and exciting trips and keeps us well informed of our son's daily activities and developmental progress. My son loves every member of Alison's family - especially her own son who keeps him entertained and amused! My son benefits and enjoys the wonderful set up of Alison's home and stunning garden. We don't live in Clandon, so it can take a while to get to Alison, but it is totally worth it. We are all very happy with the care Alison provides and the reassurance for the rest of the family that our son is in safe and caring hands is invaluable.
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on 25/06/2015
I have used Alison for both my son and daughter since my son was 9 months old. I have been really happy with the care she has provided for both of them, they really are like part of the family when they are there. They love the huge garden in the summertime and in winter there are always lots of activities and fun days out. They are happy and cared for. I work in the childcare industry and Alison was highly recommended to me by the professionals. Sending them to Alison was the best decision I ever made.
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on 09/02/2015
I've been using Alison for occasional childcare for several years now, and she is excellent: really warm and caring with the children and takes them to lots of interesting places. I would have no hesitation in recommending Alison to anyone looking for a chlldminder.
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on 30/06/2014
Ofsted was correct when they assessed Alison as she been nothing but outstanding looking after our daughter. There are times when I have to tear her away as she's having so much fun and runs to the door in the morning!
I knew from the moment I met Alison that she would be our childminder. She has fantastic facilities and comes up with a host of activities that I would never bother to do at home!
Our daughter has been with Alison since she was 11 months and is now over 2. I have shifted days and times several times as my circumstances have changed and Alison has been nothing but accommodating - especially when my son was born.
I cannot recommend Alison highly enough, she really is outstanding.
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kirstyh2
on 26/06/2014
I have 2 boys aged 3 years and 18 months. They have both been cared for by this childminder for 3 days a week since they were 1 year old. I could not ask for more from the care provided. They are part of a caring and consistent environment and run through the door every morning. They are provided with a huge selection of toys which are rotated and age appropriate. The childminder uses a themed approach relevant to the time of year/festivities/celebrations going on. She has a beautiful very big garden in a rural location. They go to playgroups weekly as well as occasional days out. The childminder is always calm and seems to get the best out of my boys in terms of behaviour and their development. Communication is excellent I really could not praise her highly enough. If you are looking for a childminder you won't find a better one!
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on 18/06/2014
