Reen's Reviews
Childminder
4.8 out of 5
Parent reviews
Below are the latest reviews for reen. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
I was so happy to have found her and that she agreed to mind my daughter since it was term time and with the nursery being closed I couldn't work (self-employed). My daughter enjoyed her time there and adjusted very quickly. I get very nervous at the thought of my daughter going on trips to the park or playground especially if she's new to the group and the childminder but Reen ensured me that she had a lot of experience and made me feel calmer about the idea. Thank you so much!
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Christa
on 27/08/2021
I did the rounds, trawled the nurseries, talked myself in and out of handing my first-born over to anyone outside my family and then I found Sharene.
She is calming, reassuring and has a lovely family set-up so that your child will benefit from intergenerational social interaction. They also have an excellent trampoline, trips out (Covid permitting) and lots of lovely children who are a joy to meet.
My son attended Sharene's for over a year and was extremely happy there (we only left because of the impact of coronavirus on our personal circumstances). He loved them and they were his first friends.
As a new -mum I was appreciative of their care with settling him in (and me), they did a couple of extra one-to-ones at the weekend to help him settle.
They also made suggestions of things that they had noticed for his continued development such as potty training to learning letters and numbers and how to support that learning in a fun way.
We miss them already!
Clare
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CHJ2019
on 27/09/2020
Reen is an excellent and knowledgeable childminder, who cared for our daughter since she was 5 months until starting pre-school. Reen is great with the kids, focusing on their development and helping with setting up good routines, some of which we would emulate at home.
Reen’s home environment is wonderful, there’s a great garden that kids use for play and games at all times. There are loads of activities such as soft play and visits to the city farm. Reen also organised events for parents and kids such as Christmas parties, summer picnics etc. Reen is also very flexible and accommodated us on numerous occasions.
Reen is calm, caring and patient and she gently teaches good manners and inculcates good behaviour in the children under her care. Kids all seem to love her, including our daughter who absolutely adored her.
I would highly recommend Reen as she is an absolutely excellent childminder who supports parents and children in their development and growth.
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Maria
on 17/09/2020
Reen cared for our baby son (turned toddler) for over one year before we left the country.
I was looking for a home environment for my son vs a nursery environment. Reen offered just that plus lots of activities and we were impressed with the days out like the city farm and local museums.
I would drop him off at 7am which was amazing for me as I had a long commute.
Our son was happy there. They seemed to have a lot of fun. Food wise, we provided our own.
Would recommend Reen as a childminder!
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cmarissd
on 30/07/2020
Reen has been looking after my son for 5 years now, and has never been anything but reliable and professional. She is often available at short notice to accommodate my sometime erratic working patterns, and always puts my son's needs first. On the vary rare occasion that she has has to deal with a personal emergency - as we all have to some time - she tries to give as much notice as possible.
Reen is not just a childminder, she is my partner in the raising of my son, focusing on his development as much as I do.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending her.
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Jacky
on 15/09/2019
My contract was for Reen to look after my son 4 days a week - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, plus every other Thursday and every other Friday,, which meant, I would have my son on my day off. She stated she worked some evenings which was great for me, as my hours at work were due to increase (full day on Mondays) - something Reen said would be fine. After signing the contract and paying for the month on Monday 6th May 2019 (for which she charged me a full day's fee; my son did not start in her care until the next day), she changed her mind and told me she could not look after my son as we had already agreed before payment, on Mondays. This meant I had to find alternative care for my son.
It also meant Reen was being paid for 4 days a week, but only looking after my son for 3 days a week, due to her going back on her word.
Reen had decided to take my son to clubs for which there was a £20 per day charge. She was still paid for full days 4 times a week, and reluctantly paid for 2 days a week for the clubs, but I had to pay £20 for the 3rd day each of the weeks the club ran in addition to her daily fee, despite her not even staying with my son. This meant she was paid 4 full days for nothing!
Also, as part of our contract, she was to help my son with some homework which she agreed to, but upon collecting my son, his homework was incomplete or not touched at at 99% of the time.
Considering Reen had stated she would not be taking any more time off this year until Christmas as she had travelled already the amount of days off Reen takes is shocking (and she has been paid in advance). Taking time off last minute too. I've received messages at 4.49 am, 11.52 pm and so forth which does not give much time to find/make alternative arrangements. I cannot see how this is professional.
Not to mention, another time she had a number of days off, when my son returned to her care, she questioned him, which she is not allowed to do. She called me at work, to tell me she was upset and crying because my son had told her I had said I wanted my money back. Not at any point, did she think she was in the wrong to do what she did, and spoke to me like she was dressing down a child. Turns out, my son had overheard me talking on the phone over the weekend to a utility company and thought I was talking to her. This would never of happened if she had not questioned him in the first place.
One thing that sticks in my mind is Reen's behaviour between 21st - 23rd August 2019. Upon collecting my son from a club (as usual, Reen was not present, but was still paid), on 21st August, there was a notice on the door regarding a trip I knew nothing about, which was taking place the next day, 22nd August. Reen wanted the day off (again) on 23rd August, so I re-arranged to have my day off on 23rd August and instead, and to attend my important meeting on 22nd August. I explained to her what had happened; the adults at the club had said my son could not go on the trip as they needed advance notice to make sure there would be enough adults in ratio to the children. To my surprise (to put it mildly), Reen sent me a message: "I have x 2 interviews tomorrow so I am also not able to have him". The next one to follow: "They are also very important as i need to fill my vacancies". Bearing in mind 1) I re-arranged my meeting for accommodate her day off, and 2) she had already been paid for 22nd and 23 August! Why should I have to pay for her to hold interviews to fill her vacancies?!
I had to call my manager to ask her if I could have 22nd August off, just 45 minutes before I was due to start my shift. Thankfully, she was OK with it, but I still had to attend the important meeting, with no-one to look after my son. In the end my work colleagues came forward and babysat for me ... in the back office. Again, I cannot fathom how someone can see this as professional conduct, so I asked Reen for a refund.
The next day 23rd August 2019, after more than 24 hours passed, I messaged Reen again asking for a refund (all of these messages were done privately), and the response in the WhatsApp Group was "Hi Parents, I will be away for the weekend, my work phone will now be off till Tuesday morning, have a lovely long weekend, Reen, X". She then removed me from the group.
On Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August 2019, Reen messaged me to let me know she would not work out her contract. Luckily, I had already decided my son would not return to her care, and had made other arrangements, so I did not have to scramble to look for another sitter/childminder last minute, or potentially risk having to make the dreaded call to my manager again, just days later, to say I would not be able to going into work ... yet again due to childcare issues.
Had it not been for my 2 sisters and my son's Godfather helping me around their schedules, as well as a really understanding manager and boss, I probably would have been fired from my job because of Reen.
She must have known at some point I was going to write a review, so blocked my original profile. It does not surprise me, as when she questioned my son and claimed to be really upset - even though she was in the wrong - she turned to me and said "I've been doing this (childminding) for 11 years. I have nothing but 5 star reviews". Not sure what she meant by that, but her tone was off ... as if she was trying to warn me. Needless to say, I still felt I needed to write an honest review.
Very unreliable. You are always on edge as you never know when next she'll book yet more time off ... last minute too.
I definitely do not recommend.
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Persia
on 04/09/2019
I was very nervous returning back to work when my son was 7 months not sure who I could trust too look after my son but me.
When I met Sharene she was very calming and my son took to her in a matter of weeks she has good routines and my son has learned a lot since attending her child care.
I would recommend Sharene she is very caring and patient and does excellent job looking after all the children you can leave your child and be at peace knowing they are in good hand's.
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Deliab
on 22/01/2018
Sharene is an excellent babysitter and childminder. She really knows the children in her care and provides support for them and their parents.
My son has really grown and developed in the time he's been with Sharene. Her service is absolutely excellent.
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Parent
on 21/01/2018
She is brilliant. My son has been going to her since I had to return to work when he was 7 months old. She gives him individual attention, personalised care, awareness of his personality traits (both good and bad) and how to build them. Her interactions with him have changed as he has developed to suit his level of development. He is a calm, confident individual, filled with curiosity about the world around him - and a very large part of that is because of all the activities Reen undertakes with him and the other kids which she tailors to individual needs.
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Jacky
on 15/01/2018
Reen came very highly recommended by a trusted friend. I have found her calm, reassuring and kind. I feel comfortable leaving my baby with her and lucky that she is my childminder.
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Parent
on 13/01/2018
I was extremely nervous leaving my baby and returning to work but Sharene reassured me that my baby would be fine and she was. She is very supportive, kind and loving to my baby. I know when I leave her she is truly in safe hands.
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Parent
on 13/01/2018
I could not ask for a more supportive, caring and loving childminder for my children (now 7 and 4). Sharene provides a gentle, fun and educational environment for the tribe of children she cares for and has been particularly understanding of my daughter’s extra needs due to her diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome. Sharene genuinely loves the company of babies toddlers and children, treating them as individuals and showing respect and understanding for them at all times. She is truly talented when it comes to childcare and has absolutely found her natural vocation. She deserves to be awarded as Childminder of the Year as I do not believe you could find a better childminder in the U.K!
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Parent
on 13/01/2018
Sharene is our Childminder and on occasion has babysat our 2 young children. My husband and I work 5 day weeks and study with sometimes stressful deadlines. I used to panic when we get thrown into a tight deadline, but now we just take deep breaths, call Sharene and ask whether she can be flexible and provide us with the help we need. She has the keys to my house because we trust her utterly and wouldn't be able to manage our lives without her reassuring support and kindness and care to the children and us.
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MamaIren
on 13/01/2018
Reen looks after a lovely group of children and creates a calm and really caring environment. basically i knew straight away that reen was really special as soon as i met her, i'd gone to visit a few childminders before i found her and literally they do not compare. The kids develop socially, sharing with each other and learning how to be gentle and generous with the smaller children, and they are always out and about - whether its the park, the pet shop, the cinema, or soft play. I have recently moved cities so very sadly had to leave Reen's, but his new playgroup staff all comment on how caring my son is towards the other children, and i have no doubt that this behaviour is a lot to do with what was encouraged and nurtured at Reens.
I cant recommend her enough, she manages to balance warmth and care with professionality, which i think is exactly what you want from a childminder.
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Parent
on 27/10/2017
Before I took my child to Reen, I read some of her reviews and thought they cannot be true.
They are.
She is brilliant.
My son has been going to her since I had to return to work when he was 7 months old. It's been 3 years now - and although I have now also started him at nursery for his pre-school year - I still take him to her 2 days a week because what she gives him a nursery cannot: individual attention, personalised care, awareness of his personality traits (both good and bad) and how to build them. Her interactions with him have changed as he has developed to suit his level of development. He is a calm, confident individual, filled with curiosity about the world around him - and a very large part of that is because of all the activities Reen undertakes with him and the other kids which she tailors to individual needs. When I have concerns about one part of his development possibly lagging, she always comes up with a targeted creative way of helping him develop that skill through play.
On a personal level - I am a working mom who works in news, so unpredictable hours, with a husband who is frequently away. Reen is always flexible within reason, and takes a lot of the pressure off me, making coping with a demanding job and not enough hours in the day possible. I would not have survived these last 3 years without her.
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Jacky
on 27/10/2017
Reen and Kyra the wonderful pair welcomed my daughter into their lovely homey settings when she was 13 months old, I must say as a first time mother leaving my daughter full-time for the first time was absolutely daunting, but she settled in no time. They are super supportive, calm, understanding, and flexible - made me feel secure too which hugely helped me with the transition back to work. I love the age mix at Reen's, it's like my daughter has lots of siblings to grow up with. and they're always doing a wide range of fun activities and outings. I cannot recommend highly enough.!
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Motoko
on 09/09/2017
Needed a babysitter for an evening while on holiday, found Sharene, and was delighted with the communication. She was punctual and friendly! Couldn't have chosen a better sitter! Thank you Sharene xx
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Parent
on 08/07/2014
Sharene is my daughter's "super childminder". She may not be on channel 4, but she's our family's superstar!
Sharene genuinely cares for and respects the children she looks after. She really partners with all of the families. She spends time talking with us and really listening to our concerns. If there is particular concern that we have with our daughter, Sharene will support us and even go the extra mile through the developmental stage. She will even help with picking the most appropriate local school for your child.
She provides suitable activities for the different personalities and ages and there are so many days out that I get jealous that I can't join them! Bad weather doesn't stop Sharene. She values taking them out to a variety of places all throughout the year. They go to play clubs, parks, bowling, the city farm, Winter Wonderland, the London Eye, Southbank, etc.
Sharene is really flexible and will work with you on supporting you on returning to work.
My daughter started out when she was just under 1 year old splitting her time between Sharene's and a private nursery. A few months after she turned two, my daughter was getting too distressed on her nursery days, so we put her in with Sharene full time since and we have never regretted the decision. She feels safe at Sharene's and she thrives under Sharene's calm and empathic stewardship. She is learning in a loving and non-judgemental environment where she is learning a well-balanced foundation of skills.
One of the best things I really like about Sharene is that she is a great role model with a high level of emotional intelligence combined with a great understanding of children. Sharene is helping my daughter learn how to identify her emotions, manage them, how to care for others, how to assert herself, how to listen to others and how to resolve a conflict. Sharene builds her confidence and self-esteem- great assets before entering big school.
Sharene has connected the children and there is a strong sense of unity between them, their families and Sharene's family. We are all well bonded- so much so, that they have become our extended family. When living in a big city, far from our family in Australia, it means a great deal to us, that our daughter doesn't miss out on love, care and well-balanced relationships with our adopted extended family.
Sharene is reliable and has our full trust. On the few occasions when she cannot work, she will inform you of planned dates well in advance and will work out a mutually agreed plan, if there is an urgent need. Her back-up childminder, Sally, is another enthusiastic and trustworthy childminder with whom the children interact with regularly at club and feel safe with.
Sharene is a valuable member of our family and I would highly recommend her.
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MamaIren
on 14/03/2014
Sharene is everything you would look for in a childminder. She genuinely loves babies and children and this shows in how well she cares for our daughter and recently our baby son, and of course the other children she looks after.
She is often out and about with the children and structures the day well, with different activities at home, as well as trips out: bowling, city farm, cinema, soft play and local play clubs are just some of the recent activities she has taken the kids to.
She has a genuine interest in helping her children to learn and progress and carries a gentle authority that means that the children respect her and want to please her. She is very approachable and good at communicating with parents as well as children. I have found her entirely reliable and trustworthy. On the very rare occasions that she is unable to work, she will always arrange cover with another childminder with whom the children are familiar.
I could not recommend her more highly.
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by
Parent
on 11/03/2014
