What can I say about the wonderful Helen?

When I went back to work, my little girl was a year old and very clingy - she’d cry when anyone who wasn’t me held her. I met so many childminders and didn’t feel they were the right fit until I met Helen. The moment she welcomed me into her beautiful home, I felt sure it was the right place for us and Leila proved it by smiling and giggling when Helen held her for the first time.

In total, Helen looked after Leila for two years - through a global pandemic, potty training and a new sibling. Leila blossomed in her setting. Thanks to Helen and her lovely family, Leila is a happy, sociable, confident preschooler now with excellent manners. I credit Helen and her endless patience for this.

Helen is a warm, friendly, wonderful person who has a magical touch with children. They gravitate to her and she makes them feel truly special. She is flexible, responsive and cares so deeply for the kids in her setting. She’s also endlessly creative and spends much of her own time setting up for new activities. Leila would come home every day with arts and crafts bursting to tell us what she had learned at Helen’s house! She planted flowers, learned about new animals and insects, discovered different cultures and celebrations, made firm friends and gained so much independence. Every day, we dropped Leila off at Helen’s knowing she’d be loved and cared for. Helen even coped wonderfully with Leila’s very picky eating, trying new dishes with her until she found some Leila would eat - in fact, Leila ate better at Helen’s house than she does at home! We feel very lucky to have found her.

I would recommend Helen’s setting to anyone looking for a home-from-home environment for their children. She is incredibly reliable and has never taken a day off sick. I can’t speak highly enough of her and the care she provides.

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• Cleanliness
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• Communication