Dawn's Reviews

Goes above and beyond.

Dawn came to my rescue in my hour of need! I needed help on a particular day for a period of time. Despite needing some much deserved time to herself she offered me her help. It was instrumental in getting my ducks back in line!

My son settled in immediately and I felt equally cared for. Dawn’s attention to detail with his routine was exceptional and her menu choices were delicious.

Our arrangement was only temporary however I wouldn’t think twice for having Dawn look after my son full time. We will miss her a lot.

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by katie on 05/05/2024

Response by Dawn on 05/05/2024:

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review, your words are very kind. It was an absolute pleasure to help you out in your time of need. I really wish you both well for the future and you know where I am if you need me 😊

A childminder who became a friend

Due to our family circumstances, i needed to go back to work after just six months, so finding a childminder who was going to be able to provide my child with the care and attention she would receive at home was paramount.

Meeting Dawn was exactly why we knew not sending our daughter to nursery at 6mths was the right thing. She has cared for our daughter like she was her own. Updates are regular and detailed. Her husband makes the children’s food from scratch and it is varied and nutritional and our daughter loves it. She teaches impeccable manners and how to be kind, loving and caring which is SO important to us.

We have met a long term friend in Dawn. Other than grandparents, there really is no one else we would entrust our child with. She loves her, we love her and whilst we know moving our child to nursery is the right thing for her social development as she prepares for school next year, it has been the hardest decision as we know we will have to compromise on many things.

Any parents who choose Dawn to care and look after their child will be making the absolute right decision.

Whilst we will miss our daughter being with her daily, we know we will retain contact for years to come.

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by Liz on 23/04/2024

Response by Dawn on 24/04/2024:

Thank you so much for your lovely words. It has been an absolute privilege to look after your very special little one. She has developed and thrived over the last 2+ years and become such a confident, affectionate, funny and very well mannered character. I am so proud and grateful to have been able to take some of the credit for this. I wish her every happiness in her onward journey and I will definitely be seeing you all soon. Thank you both for being so easy to work alongside, enabling us to provide the best possible outcome for her. It has been a pleasure.

Flexible and caring

We are so unbelievably appreciative of Dawn's flexibility and generosity in helping us out very last minute when our previous childcare arrangement fell through. Her care and love for our child was fantastic -and all activities and meals were well thought through. Communication and keeping us up to date with how our daughter was getting on was excellent and calmed any nerves about leaving her during the day. Would happily use Dawn in the future and would highly recommend to others.

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by Julia on 21/04/2024

Response by Dawn on 21/04/2024:

Thank you for your lovely review, it has been an absolute pleasure looking after your delightful little one. I am very sorry that I could only help out for a short period of time, due to a prearranged agreement. I hope she settles in well at her new placement,we will definitely miss her here. We will keep in touch and I look forward to seeing you again in the near future 🥰

The most wonderful childminder

Dawn is a wonderful childminder offering a clean and calm, home from home setting. Our son spent 18 months with her and he absolutely thrived!

When he started at 8 months, the settling in sessions were planned in a way to ease him in gently. She was so reassuring and sent regular communication and pictures to put us at ease. This carried on throughout his entire time and it was always lovely to see him having fun and what he was getting up to. Food, sleeps and nappy updates were always shared via WhatsApp so we could keep up to date.

She provides the most wonderful home cooked balanced meals, which smell and look so yummy! My son never came hungry and was always well fed. She helped encourage him to learn to use cutlery, as well as table manners!

We cannot thank her enough for her involvement in his development, from walking to talking, to eating, to counting. She provides a wonderful clean home, with all sorts of toys, games, outdoor toys and more to encourage him to progress. She really supported me as a mum (first baby) by reassuring me of any worries I had with his development.

Whilst my son was there, there were two other children which he loved playing with and it allowed him to learn to socialise, preparing him for nursery. It also meant he got plenty of attention and focus as it was a small group.

She never once let us down and always gave advanced notice of any holidays. We feel so lucky to have found her and lucky that our son got to spend a wonderful 18 months with her.

We see her and her husband as family friends now and will be staying in touch!

Thank you

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by Fran on 12/01/2024

Response by Dawn on 13/01/2024:

Thank you so much for your kind words.
I was very sorry to see Laurence go, but understand the logistics made it necessary,
I miss his cheeky little face and lovely cuddles.
Look forward to seeing you soon 😊

You will be so grateful to have found Dawn…

Dawn is a fantastic childminder and is very attentive to the children's needs. You can rest assured that your child will be extremely well
looked after, including their emotional needs as Dawn is very caring. Dawns home is an impeccably clean, safe environment with lots of developmental toys and a lovely outdoor space. My son enjoyed nutritious home cooked meals, a warm and comfortable environment that was just like a second home for him. There is nothing more important when going back to work to have peace of mind that your child is in safe hands, with Dawn I knew instantly that she was the right choice. My son had a brilliant time with Dawn and would blow kisses and wave at her each day when I picked him up. I am extremely grateful to Dawn and all of the support she provided, she is a true find and anyone that is lucky enough to contact her at a time when she has availability will not be disappointed! Nothing is too much trouble, always reliable and the level of care is second to none. Thank you Dawn!

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by Claire on 10/02/2022

Highly skilled and experienced childminder

We first used Dawn before I went back to work after having our first son. She took care of him while I went to job interviews. Right from the start I had complete confidence and peace of mind with Dawn. My boy had a milk allergy at the time which she managed with no problem and he always seemed happy in Dawn's home.

When our nursery closed at the start of started and I needed childcare as a key worker. I contacted Dawn to see if she could help us with my two boys! They are now 2.5 years and nearly 5.

Dawn was able to take the boys so that I could get to work. They both settled in really quickly. It's a home from home in many respects. Dawn has kept them entertained, well fed and in line! She has been preparing wonderful lunches for them including a roast! They love the different toys and the garden.

I think Dawn's experience really shows in the way she's managed their squabbles and misbehaving. She's firm but fair (even my 4 year old says so) and is not phased by any challenging behaviour.

Dawn lives in a quiet cul de sac which is ideal for drop-offs.

I'd highly recommend Dawn. She's been an absolute life-saver during lockdown!

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by NHSRach on 03/07/2020

Thanking our lucky stars!

We have just celebrated our first year of Dawn being our 20 month old son's childminder and I can safely say it is one of the best decisions we have made. I was very anxious at going back to work and finding a suitable childminder to look after our then nearly 8 month old on a full time basis as he seemed so tiny but from the word go it has only been a success. I can honestly say I have never ever worried whether my son will 'be alright' and it is such a relief to head off to work without worrying about him in the slightest knowing he is in the safest of hands.

Dawn has made every effort to provide a caring, supportive and loving environment for the children. Our son has never been reluctant to go to Dawn's house in the mornings, I am so lucky that we have never had any tears when I say goodbye, he races up to her front door and in fact now he is starting to talk even asks about Dawn at the weekends. It eases the 'mum guilt' of needing to work full time as he clearly has a whale of a time with Dawn and is extremely fond of her, yet is still happy to come home - truly the best of both worlds.

Our little boy has a Cow's Milk Protein Allergy and Dawn and I have worked very closely together on this. We are currently attempting the milk ladder challenge and Dawn has been extremely understanding and supportive of these tricky circumstances, working in tandem with us at home. Our son is always catered for with the most delicious sounding meals and Dawn has always been willing to accommodate his allergy with no fuss or bother.

Our son is an energetic toddler and enjoys his time outside but Dawn takes the children for a walk just about every day and has the perfect safe enclosed garden for the little ones to play in with lots to keep them busy so he has a chance to let off some steam. There are plenty of different toys and books to keep little hands and minds occupied. Dawn keeps her house in lovely order and it is a wonderfully clean space for the children to play in.

One of the best things personally is the chance to have a quick chat every morning - we have worked through the first hints of toddler 'tantrums' together, teething, crawling and learning to walk, the aforementioned allergy and many other stages and challenges of being a first time parent. Dawn offers fantastic support to us as parents and I truly feel we work together to bring our son up with a fair and consistent yet loving approach. With all her experience Dawn has plenty of hints and tips, all of which seem to magically work and I would have never have thought of! With no grandparents or close family nearby Dawn provides this type of friendly and caring support yet backed up with her professional experience which is invaluable to us.

I would not hesitate to recommend Dawn to anyone who is looking for a childminder or babysitter, you really can't go wrong!

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by RT64 on 01/05/2019

Lovely babysitter

We have used Dawn a few times to babysit our 3 years old and our 1 year old. She's very responsive, communication is always straightforward. And the children very quickly warmed up to her. We could tell right away that she has a lot of experience and is very comfortable around little ones.

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by Isabelle on 02/10/2018

I can’t say enough!

I first met Dawn when she babysat for us just over a year ago, and she came armed with a folder brimming with her qualifications, [outstanding] Ofsted report, and references galore, but very quickly I think I said to her ‘I don’t need to see all that!’. I could just tell that my little angels had shone down on me that day, and we’d very fortunately met someone who’d become a big part of our lives - particularly my 18 month daughter (who was 6-7 months at the time).

I am self-employed, so whilst my hours are somewhat flexible, I do end up working (ad-hoc) very different hours each week, and Dawn has been a true blessing in providing us with flexible childcare and babysitting, and in supporting myself and my husband in the day-to-day ups and downs of first-time parenthood!

First and foremost I guess (in my head anyway!), is that we don’t have any family nearby, and whilst I grew up spending lots of time with family/grandparents, Beatrice doesn’t have that luxury, so I was keen to find a childcare solution that’d give us as close to that kind of nurturing, loving environment as possible, especially as Bea was so young. Dawn provides SUCH a lovely environment, and more importantly, she’s such a lovely lady through and through - and a caring, loving, patient, good humoured and consistent ‘rock’ in Bea’s life.

Beatrice loves her time with Dawn and the other children that Dawn cares for. It’s such a calm environment there, with lots of encouragement to learn through constructive play, but also upon learning/developing important social skills which I am extremely keen that Bea has firmly instilled in her, not just at home, but by anyone who looks after her now/in the future....good manners/politeness, sharing, kindness and consideration, calmness, good humour, and good behaviour in a nutshell (excusing the odd tantrum of course!). Dawn is firm when she needs to be (which I appreciate and wholeheartedly support) but always fair and consistent. That in itself is important to me - that we are both singing from the same hymn sheet as it were.

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise when I say that Dawn (and her husband Michael) have become very good friends/surrogate members of our family - which I never imagined, but feel so blessed to have that relationship. I honestly never worry whether Bea will ‘be alright’ with Dawn, as she treats each child that she has under her wing as if he/she was her own family member. She’s a true asset and our own real-life angel.

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by Parent on 14/11/2017

Outstanding Ongoing Childminding

Dawn provided truly wonderful care for my daughter Holly (now nearly 6 years old) from her baby days, through toddlerhood & preschool and I count my blessings that Dawn has been able to continue taking care of Holly during the school holidays and as a much valued and reliable babysitter.

During our time with Dawn, our family circumstances have changed and she has been a wonderfully supportive constant for both Holly and myself during these difficult times. We have felt welcomed into her family and feel she is part of ours. I trust her implicitly.

Dawn is warm, open, approachable and incredibly knowledgeable. Her home is beautiful, clean and welcoming. Resources for the children are plentiful and constantly updated. She is a wonderful cook and Holly really enjoys having her meals there. Holly loves spending time with Dawn, is always excited to see her and is sad to leave at the end of the day.

I would urge any family to place their children with Dawn - you will not be disappointed!

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by Parent on 08/11/2017

Lovely, warm, caring child-minder

I would highly recommend Dawn Spearing as a child-minder. Dawn has been looking after my two daughters, aged 4 years and 19 months, since they were both nine months old. Over the past three years Dawn has taken exceptional care of my children and been a pleasure to deal with on a daily basis due to her friendly-manner and professionalism.

Dawn is a very caring and loving person and always puts the needs of the children above everything else. Her home is a lovely, clean, caring and stimulating environment where my daughters have always settled quickly and been very happy. Dawn provides a great variety of toys and activities to ensure the girls are engaged and feel challenged to learn and develop. Dawn has gone out of her way on several occasions to provide games and activities that my daughters have shown a particular interest in, often buying new resources to add to her already impressive collection.

The girls have enjoyed walks around the lake which is close to Dawn’s house along with their regular visits to the playground. Dawn provides very healthy and varied home-cooked meals for my daughters and my eldest daughter already knows the importance of getting fresh air and a balanced diet due to the great example set by Dawn.

Along with her excellent care of my children, Dawn has been a great source of advice and knowledge to me and my husband when facing different challenges with the girls. Whether it is difficulty sleeping, fussy eating habits or just pushing the boundaries behaviorally, Dawn has given us very practical and effective tips drawn from her extensive experience in childcare.

I am very sorry to be losing the services of Dawn due only to a change in my work circumstances and the girls will miss her as well.

I know Dawn will be a very welcome addition of her new family.

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by Parent on 06/11/2017

Wonderful child-minder

Dawn has been looking after our daughter Maria four days a week since last July. Maria was nine months old when I returned to work and I felt very reassured leaving her in Dawn's excellent care. Dawn is an exceptional child-minder. She is professional and takes great pride in her work. Her home provides a lovely environment for the children. Maria is extremely well looked after and I know Dawn provides Maria with the same love and care as if she were her own child.

Dawn also babysat Maria when she was only a few weeks old. Dawn knew immediately how to comfort and soothe Maria and I knew I had met a wonderful, kind person. I am delighted Dawn is looking after our daughter and I highly recommend her.

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by Parent on 10/11/2014

Response by Dawn on 11/11/2014:

Thank you Elaine for such a lovely review, I am enjoying Maria's company so much. She is such a bright, contented, little lady and is very entertaining I look forward to a long and happy relationship with you all. I am so pleased you are happy with the care I provide for Maria, this is very important to me.

I highly recommend Dawn as a babysitter

Dawn has baby-sat for our daughter for the past 12 months. She has always been so helpful and courteous and prompt. Recently, due to my husband working overseas, she has been babysitting 3 evenings a fortnight so I can continue my studies. With the change our daughter has been a bit unsettled being left and Dawn has been very caring and considerate with us both. She has taken time to help her settle and always lets me know she has settled down after I have left and lets me know how the evening has gone when I get home.
I have also been to Dawn's house recently, it is so well equipped and always spotless.
I think Dawn has the right balance of being warm and caring whilst providing discipline and structure and would highly recommend her to anyone.

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by Parent on 05/11/2014

Response by Dawn on 11/11/2014:

Thank you Jennifer for such a lovely review, I strive to conquer the challenges that Scarlett presents for me and feel we are finally becoming friends. She really is a lovely little girl when she allows me in and I am sure we will continue to build our relationship , hopefully she will soon feel more secure and less anxious when separated from you. I think regular contact is helping us to achieve this. Thanks again.

Fantastic babysitter

We are recently relocated to Surrey and therefore needed to find a sitter for our 3 1/2 year old twins. It was a bit of a daunting task, not really knowing anyone to ask for personal recommendations so I signed up for childcare.co.uk. Having used these sites before, I know you can find all sorts of individuals who claim they are experienced, etc., but we gave it a shot. Imagine how excited and blessed we felt when we found Dawn. From the first moment we made contact with her, we were impressed. She is courteous, prompt, and straight-forward. Upon meeting her, she was very professional with the adults, but also incredibly caring and sweet with our children. Her references were stellar and justifiably so. Dawn truly cares about the children--their needs and wants, likes and dislikes. She always brings books with her to share with the children and they very much look forward to their story-time with Miss Dawn. Given her experience as a mom, grandmother, and preschool teacher, she is very in-tune with the needs of the children--in terms of setting boundaries, making them feel safe and valued, and watching out of signs of sickness, etc. Getting to know Dawn, she is a wonderful person with a kind heart and a great sense of humor. I heartily recommend Dawn as a sitter or child-minder as she will truly treat your children as her own.

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by ErinC24 on 23/02/2014

Response by Dawn on 06/11/2014:

These two boys are an absolute delight to spend time with, they enjoy our story time sessions. They have many interesting books of their own but look forward to me taking some of my books to read to them also. I appreciate how valued the family make me feel and love to help out whenever I can, especially as they have no family near by. Thank you Erin for such a lovely review.

Truly Outstanding Childminder

Dawn is a fantastic childminder and truly deserves her Outstanding status. She is dedicated to providing excellent care in her lovely home. Our daughter Holly (2yrs, 2 months) has been with Dawn since August last year and we could not be happier with the care she provides.

Dawn ensured Holly had a great settling in period and she has really been happy there since day one. Dawn provides a really wide variety of toys and equipment and whilst she is always happy to let Holly choose her favourites, there are always new and engaging activities on offer.

Dawn is really friendly and approachable and I can freely chat to her about Holly's development - we feel really supported as a whole family by the excellent and nurturing care that Dawn provides for Holly and cannot recommend her hightly enough!

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by Parent on 20/02/2014

Response by Dawn on 06/11/2014:

I enjoy taking care of Holly and have loved watching her change from a baby into a delightful little girl. I have been able to use my training, knowledge and experience to help me work in partnership with her parents to support her in her development. I am proud of the relationship that I maintain with Holly and her parents and look forward to a long and continued relationship with them all. Thank you Kate for such a lovely review.

Brilliant Child Minder

We needed to find childcare for our son (Paddy) when he was 3 months old and this was a real concern for us, from the moment we met Dawn and ever since then we have been DELIGHTED and very thankful to have found her to look after Paddy.

My wife was nervous of leaving Paddy with someone, as he was so young. This transition has been made so much easier with the knowledge that Dawn will be looking after Paddy’s well being as much as it would be at home.

Entrusting someone with experience of looking after young babies was vital to us, Dawn has that experience in spades. Her home is a really peaceful sanctuary and spotlessly clean, she has a wide assortment of toys, chairs and mats for our son to lie and play on and she has a real love for looking after young children. Dawn even went the extra mile and bought a travel cot for Paddy to use for daytime naps.
We are regularly kept informed on how our son is getting on day to day and she goes out of her way to be helpful, such as washing any clothes/bibs if they get messy or ‘accidents’ occur. Dawn also makes sure his feeds and sleeps coincide with what he does at home.

Dawn has been incredibly adaptable and flexible too, on occasions he has been dropped off early or we have collected him a little late – none of which is a problem.

We feel genuinely lucky to have found Dawn and I am convinced Paddy would not be cared for better anywhere else.

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by Parent on 10/10/2013

Response by Dawn on 06/11/2014:

I have loved every minute of the precious time I have spent looking after Paddy, having had him from only three months old, I soon became very attached to him. I have enjoyed working closely with his lovely parents building a routine for him and helping to guide them through the weaning process. Paddy is one of the most contented babies I have had the pleasure to care for.Sadly for me Paddy left me shortly after his first birthday due to his mum being on Maternity leave with baby number 2. Unfortunately due to the fact that they live an hours drive away it would no longer be practical to bring both children to me on a daily basis. However we remain in close contact, baby Arthur arrived safely in August and is gorgeous. Paddy was very pleased to see me despite us being apart for three months and when he held out his arms to me I realised why I love what I do. I am hopeful that I may have occasional opportunities to work with this delightful family again, but know we will remain friends forever. Thank you Ed & Jo for such a lovely review.