Daisychain0309

Cannot recommend highly enough

When I first went to visit Erin, I knew immediately that I wanted her to look after my daughter. At 7 months old, I wanted her to be in a home environment and Erin provided this. She is now off to school and has been with Erin for most of her life, and my second daughter now goes to Erin too.

She has been the most amazing carer for both of them and they absolutely adore her. Both were very difficult to settle in and Erin was calm and persevered through the process, reassuring me even when I was ready to give up. When they are feeling a bit sad or off colour Erin gives them lots of cuddles and they have thrived in her care. She keeps a close eye on their development and they have lovely manners which is nothing to do with us!

The children go on lots of outings and Erin drops off and picks up my eldest at a local preschool, which wouldn’t have been possible for me to fit in with work. She is very flexible with her hours which is invaluable for a working family. She keeps us up to date with texts and pictures throughout the day.

The girls have formed strong friendships with other mindees and Erin’s daughters which will last beyond leaving the setting. They enjoy playing with the dogs and other pets, with the toys and in the well-equipped garden.

I wish we could have kept the girls with Erin forever but a house move and starting school for our eldest means it sadly isn’t possible. We will always have a special place for Erin in our hearts and hope to keep in touch forever.

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by HelenJ about DaisyChain0309 on 09/07/2019

Daisychain Childcare - Simply the Best...

I first met Erin when my daughter was 4 months old and was still unsure if I was going to return to work but had been advised to look into possible settings ASAP because most have a waiting list. I must have visited at least 20 childminders and 9 nurseries and had a short list of 3 to contact should the time come. Being local, I would sometimes see Erin at some of the groups I took my daughter to and my heart always warmed when I saw how attentive and nurturing she was to the children in her care. Unfortunately when I did make the decision to return to work, Erin was full so I went for option 2. However we did keep in contact as I was very keen to move to Erin’s setting. I remember leaping with joy when I received an email from Erin saying “I will have a child starting school in September, so will have a full time EYFS space available.” My colleagues thought I had won the lotto but I was over the moon. I gave notice to Nursery and we moved in September 2016.

The main reason behind this decision was for the “home from home” environment and also the additional activities/environments she could provide, that my daughter wouldn’t experience in a nursey setting (visits to Odds farm, Black Park, changing of the guard, activity groups, toddler playgroups just to name a few).

I can honestly say moving my daughter from nursery was the best move I ever made. When my daughter started with Erin, she had sensory issues (she would gag when touching slime/fur etc) and was petrified of dogs. The fear of dogs was something I really wanted her to overcome. Through Erin’s gentle introductions and encouraging manner the fear was quickly eradicated and now she is extremely fond of Erin’s dogs Lola and Bailey. People continually comment on how caring and well-mannered my daughter is. Most people say this is instilled mainly in the parental home environment but this is also something Erin has always reinforced in her setting. Any behavioural issues are dealt with swiftly but in a firm nurturing manner. We had regular updates on her development and thoroughly enjoyed receiving photos during the day of what she had been up too. Erin is vigilant when it comes to the safety and the safeguarding of the children in her care and I have never had any concerns. Erin follows the EFYS framework and supports the children to reach their milestones. She has an open communication channel with parents and is very flexible and accommodating ( e.g late drop offs for my daughter to attend appointments etc.) regarding timings.

When my daughter reached Pre-school age, Erin did the drop off and pick-ups for me which was ideal. The decision to leave Erin was extremely difficult to make but our new school is significantly out of area for Erin. I have a super confident little girl that definitely knows her P&Qs and that has experienced so much more than being in a nursey from the age of 1. The teachers at her school have also mentioned that she is a complete delight and I cannot thank Erin enough for nurturing this wonderful soul over the last two years. Erin will always have a very special place in our hearts.

To me, the poem below sums Erin up:

Although I’m not their mummy
I care for them each day.
I cuddle, read and sing to them,
And watch them as they play.

I see each new accomplishment,
And help them grow and learn,
I understand their Language,
And listen to their concerns.

They come to me for comfort,
And I kiss away their tears.
They proudly show their work to me,
Mine are the loudest cheers!

I am not their Mother,
But my role is oh so strong.
I nurture them and keep them safe,
Though maybe not for long.

I know some day the time may come,
When we will have to part,
But I know each child I’ve cared for
is forever in my heart…

Author unknown

Erin has my details if you want to ask me any questions.

Best Wishes,

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by Parent about DaisyChain0309 on 04/10/2018

Review for Erin

Erin looked after my son Rory (aged 1-2), firstly part-time and then full time from May 2013 – January 2014. She also picked up my older son Henry (aged 4-5) from school and looked after him every afternoon/evening from September 2013 – December 2013. I found the quality of care to be outstanding. Erin always had the best interests of my sons at heart. She worked hard to ensure that a variety of activities were delivered, and planned many trips out which Rory really enjoyed. She also took him to toddler groups and planned a variety of craft and garden activities which enabled his speech and social development.
Erin’s communication was of a very high quality. She provided regular, daily, detailed feedback on the daily activities that Rory participated in, as well as information on his eating and toilet habits. Erin also texted me regularly during the day when there were any issues, or simply to let me know how Rory was getting on.
Both boys loved Erin’s after school activities, such as arts and crafts, dancing and playing with a variety of different toys. They also enjoyed spending time with Erin’s pets and talked constantly about Lola and Grayson!
Erin fed Rory all three meals and also gave Henry dinner. I was always impressed with the variety of food which both boys really enjoyed. Erin was also extremely flexible when Rory had some specific dietary requirements and I always felt secure that they were being fed nutritious meals at appropriate times (unlikely some of the nurseries I investigated). In addition I was impressed with Erin’s efforts to provide them with diverse mealtime experiences with her introducing foods from around the world. (After consultation with me about what they would and would not eat.)
Overall both boys were extremely fond of Erin. If we had not moved we would certainly have continued using her to care for both boys for as long as they needed care. They certainly miss her and talk about her often. The final sign of her genuine care of them was when she helped us to find another childminder in Maidenhead through her own contacts.

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by Parent about DaisyChain0309 on 03/03/2014

Wonderful Childminder

Erin looked after my daughter (who is now 16 months) for 6 months. We are moving so, sadly, we have to say goodbye to Erin but I know Ellie will miss her. Erin has been very flexible with my hours and has been extremely attentive to Ellie's needs. Her house is very neat, tidy and clean. Erin is very professional but also warm and welcoming. Ellie has become fast friends with Erin's own daughters and their charming dog, Lola. Even one of Ellie's first words was 'Lola'! As a nervous first time mum going back to work- she was exactly what I needed- knowing Ellie was is good hands and, not only would she be safe, but she would be engaging in fun activities, begin fed well and having a great time. You are more than welcome to contact me if you would like any further reference- but she is lovely and I would highly recommend her.

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by jking01 about DaisyChain0309 on 08/05/2013