Teresa currently looks after my little boy, aged 1 and a half, and I can recommend her one hundred per cent to anyone looking for childcare in Gravesend.

Teresa is an outgoing, cheerful and active person who keeps her mindees occupied with a wide variety of activities, many of them out in the fresh air. My son is taken to lots of regular toddler groups around town for play time and socializing with other kids, as well as to parks, zoos, events, and once even to a local Christmas panto. He frequently comes home with lovely treats: cupcakes he helped make, flowerpots he helped plant, small toys Teresa bought him on an outing - and lots of artwork.

The setting is great; Teresa lives in a nice street with a comfortable house (with a wide variety of toys and books) and a lovely little back garden where the kids can play. But the kids are out and about mostly so there isn't a lot of time stuck at home, which we like.

Teresa's own children are very sweet and her youngest is like a big brother to my son, who doesn't have siblings of his own.

Two things in particular we value about Teresa as a childminder. First, she is studying for a Masters degree in early education, so she is very interested in learning about nurturing and developing children to their full potential. and putting those theories into practice. My son is clearly happy and flourishing under her care, and learning lots of words. Second, she is very flexible. My husband and I commute to and from London each day, and the few times something's gone wrong with the trains, she was very relaxed about a later pickup. She also lives within walking distance to the station which is helpful.