I tell my friends and family that Shirley is our angel and I mean it - I couldn't ask anyone for anymore when it comes to looking after our daughter.
Juno started with Shirley when she was just nine months. As our first child we had no nursery experience and weren't exactly sure what was right for Juno or us and just had to go with our gut. We'd signed Juno up for a nursery but I still wanted to meet some childminders to compare environments. A friend introduced me to Shirley and as soon as we met her we knew she was perfect. She offers a home from home and cares so much about the children she looks after, which is all I wanted for Juno.
Shirley, and now with her husband Gladstone (who the children adorably call "Papai"), offer structured days full of fun activities such as messy play, arts and crafts, reading, singing, cooking, gardening, everything! They provide three organic meals a day and are excellent at communicating what Juno has been doing everyday and her progression etc. Their lovely home is full of toys and pictures and warmness and they have a nice big garden too. They've helped with potty training, weaning, preparing for nursery and baby number two - basically whatever we're doing, they'll do it too. They have a 4 year old daughter Olivia who is brilliant with the children and Juno wants to have over for sleepovers all the time!
Juno is now two and a half so now she's older we're getting her ready to join a nursery but aren't ready to lose Shirley and Gladstone completely so will keep her there one day a week! They've welcomed Juno into their family as much as we've welcomed Shirley into ours.

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