Our son was in the care of Sarah for 2 years from the age of 12 months. From the start she was very caring and he took to her very well. It was comforting to know that he was getting plenty of attention and cuddles after I had gone back to work.

Sarah is warm-hearted, energetic, patient and caring, and she became like a second mum to our son. It was very reassuring as a parent to know that our young son was receiving excellent care and attention in a friendly home environment. Even now that he has left he is still very attached to her and loves to go back to visit. He also loved having Sarah's own older children around and enjoyed playing with them. All the children enjoyed mealtimes together, which was always healthy home-cooked food.

Sarah has an excellent approach to encouraging the children's learning and activities, for example learning words and colours, and she encourages courtesy, helpfulness and good behaviour, for example at meal times and tidying up. She also encourages independence, with little things such as teaching our son a special trick to put on his coat himself (which he then delighted in showing everybody!).

And as parents she was full of useful advice for us too, as she is a parent to three children herself.

Overall we were extremely happy with the care that she gave, and would definitely recommend her as an excellent childminder.

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