Karen Cr

Highly recommend!

My daughter started in Karen’s setting just after turning 8 months old. After just one visit to the setting I knew my daughter would thrive and love the environment Karen provides.
The daily updates and pictures I receive after every session made my return back to work so much easier as I could see my daughter loved being at the setting and was so content. As soon as my daughter could walk she would run to the front door and would be so eager to go and play and that confirmed to me that Karen’s setting was the one for us.
Karen often takes the children out to the park, the beach and meets up with other childminders, this was a huge factor as to why I chose Karen as I didn’t want my daughter to have some of the restrictions you would find in a nursery setting. Karen also keeps me up to date with all the educational activities my daughter does through videos and my daughter comes home with drawings that we keep and will repeatedly tell me about what she has learnt that day. My daughter will wake up every morning and ask if she is going to Karens and will get upset if I tell her she isn't going.
Karen has done everything in her power to make sure me and my daughter have been supported with the obstacles we have faced in the last 2.5 years. My daughter developed a medical condition and after every hospital appointment Karen has always messaged to see how things have gone and if there’s anything she could do to support us. Karen has also been there to support me and often sends me resources that she knows will benefit both me and my daughter. It’s the little things like this that show just how much Karen cares for the children but also the parents.
My daughter loves everyone at the setting and I couldn’t be more grateful to Karen for everything she has done for me and my daughter. She has been the biggest blessing to our lives and I could not recommend her enough.

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by Laura G about karen cr on 16/04/2024

Amazing childminder

Karen Creswick childminding has gone above and beyond to support both of my children within her setting. She communicates well with me regarding my children, whilst they are with her if needed, as well as an update at the end of the day. Karen sends me photos to show that my children have settled to put my mind at ease too. I am informed of what my children have been doing on the days that they attend and what learning they have done with photos and updates. My children are regularly sent home with learning activities and art pieces that they have done during the day, showing me how much time and effort that has gone into preparing activities for them.

She regularly informs me of their progress and how she is supporting them with this. This was particularly important for my Son due to his speech delay. The reports she has completed implies to me that she is supporting my children well and is helping them progress as best she can. I could not ask for anymore from Karen in the support that she has provided for my children. I feel that Karen puts a lot of time and effort into helping every child individually, to help them develop at their own pace and my children have significantly benefited from this.

Both of my children struggle with transitions and separation anxiety, and Karen has helped both children with settling into her setting more than I could have hoped for. My children are content and happy attending her setting and they have a great relationship with her and her assistant. I feel confident that their needs are met here, especially their emotional wellbeing, which they struggle with elsewhere. They walk out of her setting with smiles and always happy to go back. I feel that Karen has put a lot of time and effort into my children to ensure that they are content within her setting and this shows.

My children attend a childminding group on Tuesdays which they enjoy. They mix with a few childminding groups which has helped build my children’s confidence. They also visit parks and beaches most weeks to get them out to explore and into the fresh air. In the summer, they make the use of their garden also, which is my children’s favourite time of the year as they love being outside.

Karen is very approachable and is happy to help whenever she can. This is proven through the amount of time she has spent helping my son with his SEN. She has worked numerous hours to fill out all relevant paperwork regarding my sons SEN, including helping obtain his ASD diagnosis. I feel that my children and I, have been supported by Karen throughout their time with her, and we work well together.

I believe Karen has provided the best possible care in the best interest for my children, particularly for my son’s additional needs. Her support for the last 2 years has been amazing and I cannot recommend her enough.

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by Lauren about karen cr on 13/04/2024

Couldn't ask for a better childminder

I found Karen on this website during the 2020 lockdown as she was preparing to move to the area and I was preparing to return to work after maternity leave. Despite messaging lots and meeting in the park before my daughter started with her properly, I was very anxious to hand over my baby to effectively a stranger but Karen very quickly reassured me with her calm and experienced manner. My daughter absolutely loved going there as she was so stimulated from all the activities Karen plans and from being with other children her age. Karen also provided for her dietary requirements too. There was no question that when we had our son he would go too. They both went in every morning without so much as a goodbye and were always happy and smiley at pick up, having had a great day. Karen always provided updates of what they ate, slept and did with pictures and videos to give a flavour of their day. She had a set routine and the children always had craft times and outdoor play as well as play time with toys. We're so grateful to Karen for pushing our daughter and developing her EYFS education. We've sadly moved from the area so had to find a new provider but she and James will be sorely missed by all. My daughter keeps asking when she'll go back to Karen's. Thanks Karen and James, catch up soon! X

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by Jas G about karen cr on 26/07/2023

Response by karen cr on 28/07/2023:

Thank you so much for taking the time to post such a lovely review about our childcare!
You were amazing, trusting us with your little daughter in covid restriction times when we couldn't even let you in the door, so you could only meet me at the park and see pics and video of our setting!
It has been an absolute pleasure to care for your delightful daughter, encouraging her confidence and supporting her learning.She is amazing!
In more recent times it has been wonderful to care for your little son who has thrived and progressed so much in the last few months with us!
It has been really good to work with you as a family and to support and respect your specific choices such as diet for your children.
We will miss both of your children so much, especially your daughter as we have cared for her much longer. It would have been lovely to continue helping them both in their learning journeys of course, and although we totally understand you relocating, we are so sad they had to leave us.
We wish you all well in your new home in a new area and hope everything works out brilliantly for you all.
We will stay in touch and hope to see you from time to time!!
Best wishes always!
Karen and James, xx

Caring & friendly!

Our daughter was looked after by Karen for around 8 months. We loved hearing all about what she’d done & the friends that she’d made during her time there.
We were impressed by the amount of progress that our daughter made in this short time & loved seeing how Karen would set up activities that would incorporate play & learning.
Karen would send photos of our daughter everyday & message me with updates throughout the day to assure me my little one was enjoying her day.
Karen was very easy to talk to & went out of her way to help us understand everything that our daughter was doing/ not doing.
Would definitely recommend!

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by Kerry about karen cr on 04/02/2023

Response by karen cr on 28/07/2023:

Thank you so much for your lovely review.
It was lovely to care for your little girl and so brilliant to encourage and watch her progress here. She settled in and made some lovely friendships and loved to dance, learn and have fun with her friends!
It was great working with you as a very supportive family and we were all so sad that she couldn't continue with us until school age.
We hope all is going well for you all.

Kind, individualised care for your child

My son started with Karen and James at 8.5 months old, and gave him so much care and attention, he absolutely blossomed with them and before long looked forward to being dropped off! Karen sent me pictures of what he was doing during the day which helped me so much in those early days, I could focus at work because I'd seen he was having a good time!

He was always coming back with art pieces of various descriptions that he'd done himself, although I couldn't get him to do painting for more than 3 minutes at home, Karen would send me videos of him concentrating very hard and carefully doing his painting. I don't know how she does it. She would also include learning activities, for example around numbers and shapes.

All in all I would thoroughly recommend Karen and James to anyone, and I'm so glad we placed our son with them as I'm sure they've been a big part in helping him become a happy and confident child.

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by Emma about karen cr on 31/08/2022

Response by karen cr on 16/10/2022:

Thank you for taking the time to post your lovely review.
We loved caring for your son and it was lovely being a part of his journey as he progressed from being a baby to a little boy.
He was so enthusiastic and embraced everything on offer especially painting!
Thank you for being a great parent to work with and thank you for choosing us for your childcare.
Best wishes to you all for every happiness as a family with your new baby too!