Jan B's Reviews
Childminder
Parents say
The childminder receives mostly positive reviews, with many parents praising the loving care and support provided. Children reportedly thrive in the nurturing environment, developing skills and forming strong bonds. Some reviewers highlight flexibility and excellent communication. However, a few negative reviews mention unreliability and last-minute cancellations, causing stress for some parents seeking childcare arrangements.
Summary generated by AI from the text of most recent member reviews
Parent reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Jan B. 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.
I contacted this childminder since she was the closest to my house. She re-scheduled my appointment three times with different reasons like decided not to take any new child, held up with lot of paper work, etc. All the time information was given only on the day of appointment - an hour or two before. When we finally met in person she was sweet and spent the time knowing our child. She confirmed to take in our little girl from Nov. A month later she messages saying she decided not to take any further kids and I should look for a different childminder. She is so unreliable and put us through lot of stress in the whole process.
by Krithika on 24/09/2024
Jan Jan is an amazing child minder. She made us all feel like family! My son still talks about her til this day. Her and her husband and her son are all amazing people. They have the perfect setting! I would definitely be seeking their help if I need to.
Thank you jancis for everything you did for my son. Xx
by Shahida on 20/06/2022
You will not find a better childminder than Jan and Bryan, their personalised attention and love has seen our little girl thrive under their care for the past 3 years.
They have been the biggest support to us over the years, and have become part of our family, so much so that the thought of our little girl moving on to school and not seeing them every week leaves a ache as they are just the most wonderful people you will ever meet. Theres so much I could say about our incredible experience - their flexibility for changing schedules or last minute changes is a huge support for working parents, incredible home cooked meals despite intolerances, help with development, being a sounding board and tapping into Jans wealth of knowledge as one walks the path of parenthood as a first time parent. There’s nothing more reassuring than seeing your child happily toddle off in the morning and come home happy and excited to tell you what they did that day.
We are so thankful to you both ‘jan jan’ and Bryan, you’ve had a remarkable impact on all of us, but especially Taelyn and we are grateful for all the effort and time you have invested in her, none of it went unnoticed - we will continue to sing ‘twinkle twinkle chocolate bar’ daily and think of you both 😆
by Talya on 28/07/2021
Jan and Bryan are two of the most wonderful people you could ever want to have in your children’s lives. My children adored going there and they both thrived under their love and care so much so that on my day off when I did the school run and my 2 year old saw Bryan doing the school run she would get so upset as she wasn’t going home with him!!
Communication is top notch and the flexibility they provide is so reassuring. My husband and I worked over an hour away and we knew if there was ever an issue with traffic etc that the children would be well looked after until we got there and without the judgement you often get with nurseries!
We moved recently to be closer to work and leaving these two behind was such a wrench!
My children loved Jan Jan and Bryan, so much so that only the other day, 3 months after we left my 2 year old said “miss jan jan and Bryan”. Thank you both for loving my two as much as we do. Xxx
by Rachb81 on 18/01/2021
Response by Jan B on 23/01/2021:
Both children were a joy to look after and played well with other children
What a lovely family xx
My daughter has been coming to Jan's for 4 and a half years. All I can say is, shes amazing, soo accommodating and she does so much for all the children. My daughter has made life long friends. Shes just brilliant, i was so lucky to find her and the bond she has with my daughter. I couldnt of found anyone better to lopl after my child.
by Nicki on 10/05/2019
My daughter has been going to Jan for the last 5 years and I have never had amy issues whatsoever. Very loving towards the kids and parents alike. My little one looks forward to all the activities and days out. Would absolutely 100% recommend her. Feels like my child is with family 👌💯
by cavelle on 01/05/2019
My son been going to Jan since have 9 months old and spent nearly 2 years.Making frends and dereloping very well and Jan has always provied full document his progress 😊😊He have an amazing relationship with Jan and Braian .They are amazing always help others pepole. I Couldn't have asked for better child-minder
Thank You 😘😘😘😘😘😍😍😍😍😘😘😘
by Kasia on 28/04/2019
Jan is an amazing and caring childminder who goes above and beyond. She looked after my two children for a number of years and the progress they made during that time is credit to her and the tailored individual attention she gave them. Jan is a caring and inspiring role model for the children and I feel so privileged that my children had the benefit of her in their lives.
by Debbie on 16/02/2019
Response by Jan B on 21/04/2019:
Debbie's children were a joy to look after. They were bright, friendly and inquisitive children who wanted to experience everything. We had so many happy times especially with outdoor play. They made a lot of friends with the other minded children which helped make a very cohesive group
These children were a credit to their parents.
I am now looking after Debbie's god-daughter who is very similar to her own children.
So I have got a lot to look forward to. I love this job!
Our daughter Mia came to Jan when she was one and a half year old. She was treated there as a family member,She went there daily and came back with a smile, sometimes she did not even want to leave, which probably best shows what kind of person is Jan and Brian,her husband .Mia started school this year, but she still can not wait for all school breaks ,which she will by spend with Bartrams family.In Summary,we were extremely happy with our choice of Jan,we entrusted our most precious possession to her and never regretted it.
by Parent on 11/12/2018
Response by Jan B on 11/12/2018:
Iwona, Thank you for your kind words. Your daughter Mia is very special to all of us. She is a brave, clever, and creative child. She has two very good parents who have always done the very best for her. We hope we have contributed to her development and she has enjoyed her time with us. We have all missed her a lot since she has started school but we are looking forward to seeing her during the holidays
During her last few months we followed a "Get ready for school" learning programme. Mia was able to do everything she needed to be independent and learned a lot of extra things such as learning a little French with me. She is now attending an After School Club for French and is excelling in all areas of learning. Today I saw her in a Christmas concert where she was performing with children a year older than herself. This little girl will go far !
My son who is almost 3 has been going to happy days for almost a year now, he absolutely loves it, he has come on leaps and bounds in his speech and confidence.
Jan and Brian make me feel at ease and always there to help with advice, short notice work commitments and just overall couldn’t be more helpful.
My son can be very shy with new people but warmed to the surroundings on our first visit.
They also take him out on trips which he loves
by Parent on 02/10/2018
Response by Jan B on 03/10/2018:
Emma is a very caring mother who is totally interested in doing the best for her son. Her little boy was shy at first but this was to be expected meeting new people in a place he did not know. We took time to get to know what he likes and how he learns. Then we put this into practice. With positive support for his learning there was very little two year old tantrum behaviour.
He has developed into a marvellous boy. He is very outgoing and engages with other children and adults very easily. He is confident with physical activities. He is very creative, Yesterday he made a whole small village on the sand table during the afternoon. He likes to try new things and then reflects on what he has achieved, showing really good critical thinking. His highest level of development has been his language skills. He has moved over most of the areas of learning from that equal to his chronological to the 30 to 50 months area.
Emma and her son are a joy to know
Our son has been going to Jan since he was 9 months old and spent nearly 2 years there full time making friends and developing very well and Jan has always provided full reports to us to document his progress.
He now goes back during school breaks and always looks forward to it and loves his time with both Jan and Brian. Jan has always been flexible with the days and hours she can accept us dropping him off as we are both working parents and have differing shifts.
This has always been very helpful.
We would certainly recommend Jan as a child minder to anyone who asks.
by Parent on 05/09/2018
Response by Jan B on 30/09/2018:
This little boy has been a bright, fast learning, wonderful boy, with a cheeky smile since he was a baby.
It has been a joy to see him grow and help to reach his potential in all areas of learning,
He now attends during school holidays and we have even more fun. All the regular children I look after look forward to him being here during the holidays.
It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with such pro-active parents, who are totally engaged with their son
I've got two boys (6 and 3) and they both been going to Jan and Brian for nearly two years now. My younger son does full time and my older son does afterschool club.
We have an amazing relationship with Jan and Brian, I couldn't have asked for better child-minder!!!!!
by luba1 on 04/09/2018
Response by Jan B on 04/09/2018:
These two boys captured my heart from the very start. They have both progressed incredibly well. They both have their individual personalities and good imaginative play. They have excellent language skills, speaking two languages and teaching me a few words. They have excellent social skills, making friends with the other children here, which produces a wonderful dynamic setting.
This whole family brings joy to our lives and we feel privileged to have played a small part in helping their sons reach their full potential
My 2 girls have been going to Jan and Brian’s now for a year and they absolutely love it. I am very happy with the care that is provided for my children and am very grateful for everything Jan and Brian do for us. In particular, my hours at work change each week but Jan and Brian are more than happy to accommodate this at short notice which makes my life so much easier. Thank you Jan and Brian.
by Parent on 27/08/2018
Response by Jan B on 27/08/2018:
Michele's daughters are a pleasure to look after. The youngest girl is imaginative and caring. She is always happy to join in and play with her friends and try different activities. Her older daughter is a wonderful sister. I look after her after school and she always is happy when we go to the park on the way home. Two wonderful girls from a lovely Mum.
Signed the contract and cancelled on us via massage 4 out of 6 times during settle-in session. Cancelled on us day before full time agreement so I have 12 hours to find a new childminder. lost for words, as seems to be a nice person, just show that not everyone is as nice as you may think.
by Ewa on 13/05/2018
Response by Jan B on 14/05/2018:
There are several issues connected to these parents which I will not expose here for legal reasons as I may be taking this further.But I will reply to some of the comments. I terminated their contract before the start date, due to bad time keeping and aggressive behaviour towards me. This is perfectly legal and is in keeping with the childcare contract both parents signed. Yesterday the parents called the police to report that I had terminated the contract, but also that I had stolen childcare items from them. THEY REPORTED ME AS A THIEF. I informed the police re the contract and told them that the mother had left a bag of nappies for me to use for the baby and some toddler snacks. I had not stolen these. They were left for me to use for their child and I had told them that my husband would drop them at their house, as I was not able to drive due to an injury. The police officer arranged that nappies could be collected from my doorstep and in future they must not harass me. Most upset by this unfair review
my grandson has been going to Jan from last year and he has liked and looks forward to it . Jan was very unprofessional he was there last week then i received email today saying my grandson has no place in term time no warning didn't see her or letting me know before hand , instead of sending me a email.
by Shirley on 15/04/2018
Response by Jan B on 16/04/2018:
Shirley
I have looked after your grandson during school holidays only and not during term time
I sent you a letter by post after the last school holidays warning you that this would be happening.
So I did not understand why I should have told you again.
I emailed you today just to confirm this.
I have not been unprofessional, just very busy.
I am very very cross that you would say that. I have always responded to your requests at a moments notice. eg When I supplied invoices, receipts and copies of receipts before you had even paid so that you could get your tax funding sorted out. Some childminders would have charged you for that.
The next school holiday is six weeks away so this is more notice that I am due to give. To give me two stars is an insult. You should be ashamed of yourself
Since my son Olivier has been going to Jan’s I’ve been reassured that I made absolutely the right choice. He’s so happy there and really loves Jan and Brian. I’ve really seen Olivier’s progress since he’s spent time with Jan and the other children in her care. He’s learned more words and became more confident. Jan and Brian are wonderful people, very kind, understanding for the needs of children and parents, always willing to help and talk, always smiling and full of energy. I can see that their work gives them satisfaction and is their passion. I am very happy to meet them and my son can grow up in such an environment. If we had another kid I would not hesitate to use them again. I highly recommend Jan and Brian as a childminders :)
by Parent on 02/09/2017
Response by Jan B on 04/11/2017:
Monika
Your son has been a delight to look after.
He is a happy, contented child who is very willing to join in all activities and play with other children
We have missed him at Happy Days and wish him much enjoyment at his Preschool.
Jan and Brian are lovely people and Happy Days is a place our daughter loves going everytime. The facilities are good and clean and there is a range of activites for the kids both indoors and out.
I would recommend Happy Days for anyone.
by Parent on 10/07/2017
Response by Jan B on 11/07/2017:
I have really enjoyed looking after your daughter. She is a bright, friendly girl who has made some good friends. She is developing well beyond her chronological age. It has been wonderful taking part in your child's care
Arranged to meet with Jan to agree care arrangements. Jan cancelled via text an hour before our meeting. I was told to call the following week to arrange another appointment.
Tried to arrange another meeting but was she is not available and got offered an appointment in two weeks. I stated this was three days before I needed to have childcare in place so would prefer to meet sooner. Got no response.
by Kempston on 09/07/2016
Response by Jan B on 31/08/2016:
I am very sorry. I did not mean to waste your time.
For the last two months my step-father has been terminally ill. His condition deteriorated over this period of time.Different procedures were carried out to sustain his life, which gave us hope and then took it away again. I was driving to Birmingham and back again the same night several times per week. Together with this I was working 12 hours per day as a childminder, including some weekends, and looking after my family.
Usually I receive about 2-3 requests for childcare per week, During the week you contacted me I received 22 requests for childcare..These take time to respond to, to book visits to the setting, put together info packs
My step-father died in agony earlier this week.
Jan arranged to meet with me & my partner twice with our baby. The first time she cancelled 3 hours before we were due to meet stating she was ill. The second time she cancelled an hour and 45 minutes before we were due to meet stating a parent had extended their hours and she couldn't accept us anymore, even though she had previously told us she was accepting from March onwards. Cancelling was all done by text message, no phone call out of courtesty.
by Parent on 26/02/2016
Response by Jan B on 18/04/2016:
Jamie I am so sorry you were disappointed- You should have contacted me and I would have tried to sort something out.
i was ill just before your first proposed visit, then an existing parent did ask to extend her child's hours, which meant that the hours you wanted were no longer available. I had 17 requests for childcare that week so texting was the quickest and most efficient way to cancel.
We had not met, and I had not promised you anything. You left it very late to start your search for childcare which inevitably made it more difficult. I hope you have found some childcare which suits you now
My son has been going to Jans house full time for a year now. He extremely enjoys going there and feels very comfortable. He always tells me about the wide range of activities he does and how much fun he has had. Jan is very good if you need to change a time or day etc and is very accomadating to your childcare needs. I would highly recommend Jan as a childminder and i know my son will miss her greatly when he starts school.
by Parent on 07/09/2014
Response by Jan B on 09/12/2014:
I try to communicate and work with parents. This is something I have been improving on during the last year, The closer relationship between parents and childminder leads to a more informed approach to the child's support in his/her care and development.
Regarding Sara and her son we worked very well together giving each other regular feedback sometimes on a daily basis. I was very lucky to share his care with Sara, as we worked well together. If one of us found something which would help his development, we would both do research and try it out. He has turned out to be a wonderful child, ready to experience more and fulfill his potential. We all miss him very much.