Jos Playhouse

Amazing childcare (and parent care!) provider

Based on a recommendation I decided to meet Jo when considering someone for my one year old daughter. After our first meeting I knew that Jo would be a great fit for our family and I was right! Not only does she do a great job of looking after my daughter (who is ALWAYS happy to be with Jo!) but she is great at supporting me too. Naturally, as a first time parent I have had many (many) questions and worries and Jo has really helped to put my mind at ease. She is great at communicating with me and has been very accommodating with any requests regarding my daughter.

The whole process around settling in was very smooth, with Jo suggesting a suitable schedule to ensure my daughter was able to settle in well. We also met with Jo a few times prior to the start date to finalise plans and visit the playroom, where the facilities are great for our little one.

Overall we have felt really well supported and very happy with the huge decision to send our daughter to Jo! We would highly recommend her to anyone.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Emma on 16/03/2025

Jo is amazing!

Jo is the best find ever- we couldn’t love her or recommend her more. She has cared for our daughter as if she was her own- always keeping in contact and sending pictures and voicenotes throughout the day. Our daughter absolutely loves going there and talks about Jo as if she’s a member of the family (which we feel like she is)! Jo is warm, flexible and does such a lovely range of activities with all of the children in her care. She genuinely cares about each of the children and they all feel so at home there. I am so happy that we found Jo and will be genuinely sad when it’s time for my daughter to head off to big school!

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Misha on 09/10/2024

We love JoJo

My son has been with Jo for just over a year now, he was 11 months when I returned to work. He absolutely loves going to her everyday and we love having her as part of our extended family! The kids go out every day and go to such lovely places and playgroups. We get regular updates and photos of him throughout the day, if I’m particularly missing him one day she’s more than happy to send extra videos and photos of him having fun, I’m the only one missing him as he is definitely having too much fun to miss me! Her home is lovely and clean and has a wonderful garden space for the kids to run outside. Her sons are amazing with the kids when they get home from school and my boy thinks he’s got two older brothers- obsessed!! Jo’s really is his second home. Thank you Jo and we look forward to continuing to work with you! 💛

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Anya on 07/09/2024

We love Jo - Update

My son has been with Jo for a year now. My main concern with going back to work was handing my baby over but i honestly do not worry when he’s with Jo, he genuinely loves her and shes so on the ball.
We get regular updates and feedback too which is so helpful.
My son has had a few issues however Jo is always looking out for his best interests. I love that she sends us updates throughout the day.
Jo is so amazing with kids, she’s definitely in the right job.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Calley on 05/09/2024

Jo is the best

My little boy started with Jo in September. We first met Jo in January when I was looking for a childminder. She invited us to playgroups a few times and we did ‘settling in’ days so that by the time I went back to work it felt natural to leave him with Jo. She’s always on the ball and you can see the children love her. In terms of paperwork she dots all the i’s and crosses all the t’s! Every day she updates us on how he has been and we get pictures of him having a lovely day. Jo’s house is clean, tidy and organised and the garden is a lovely space.
Since starting with Jo, my little boy has gotten into a better routine already. He’s eating better and sleeping better. We’re slowly coming off of dependence on bottles.
Honestly couldn’t be happier that we found Jo!

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Calley on 09/10/2023

Thank you x

Jo has been looking after my 21 month old since I returned to work last September. I found the adjustment returning to work really hard but the one thing I felt comfortable with was knowing my little one was being looked after by Jo. She has such a beautiful bubbly personality that the kids adore. She takes them out every day, has themed playtimes and creates a wonderful home from home. Jo is great at keeping in touch with the level of contact I need at that time with voice notes, photos and videos. She updates me with new words for that day, phrases, likes and dislikes and how my little one is developing generally. Most importantly my little one is excited every single day I drop her off and doesn't want to leave! Jo loves her kids as if they were her own and that is more than any parent can ever ask for. Thank you Jo

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Alex on 20/04/2023

Top Notch Childcare

Jo Jo, as we all know her, is the most loving, caring and attentive person I have ever come across. Jo Jo cared for our first child from the age of 1 1/2 to school reception age. He learnt how to socialise, talk, play and achieve in all the other aspects of personal care in a beautiful lovely setting. So, when it came to find a childminder for our second child Emma, who was born with Downs Syndrome and had multiple communication and health issues, Jo Jo was our first port of call. She made space by rescheduling her days to provided Emma with the right amount of support so we felt safe. Emma learnt the essential building blocks for social interaction with her peers which as a parent I couldn’t have done on my own!

Jo Jo is a wonderful person with bags of love to make your kids feel safe and cared for. You do not need to look anywhere else!

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by TTame on 07/07/2019

Jo Jo - my children’s second mum

Jo first caught my eye in the playground at school while I was dropping my daughter off in reception class. She cuddled two of her looked after children and wished them a good day at school. This may seem small but this made a big impact on me. This showed to me Jo really cared for the children she cares for and treats them very much as her own. It really is more than just a job to her.

Fast forward from meeting Jo at the school gates she has looked after my eldest before and after school as well as my youngest full time now for over a year and I could not think of anyone I would rather look after my children! I think she does a better job than I do!

Jo has such a kind nature she is nurturing of all the children as well as providing support and guidance to the parents. She is brilliant and nothing short of a super star! ⭐️

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by EmilyS on 02/07/2019

So glad we found Jo

I first found Jo when I needed to work after having my first born. I was extremely nervous about leaving her with someone new, and saw a few childminders in the area. None like Jo. She was so welcoming and warm, our daughter seemed to fit straight in.

Now my son goes to Jo and I couldn't have been more confident taking him to Jo, I knew he was in safe hands and he loves his Jo Jo days!

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by Clare on 24/06/2019

Words cannot express

It has actually taken me quite a while to sit down and write this review. I have been waiting for an opportunity where I have time to really do it justice, to find the right words and take my time over conveying my thoughts.

I found Jo, by chance and through looking on this website, for someone to love and care for my very long awaited and precious little girl.My daughter has been with Jo and her brilliant family since she was 8 months old. I cried at our first meeting, just talking with Jo about taking care of my daughter while I returned to work was a very emotional time in my life. I instantly knew that Jo was the perfect person. Poor Jo, she was absolutely brilliant with me - a stranger, weeping in her playroom! This didn't phase her at all and she cared for me too and had all the right words to say.

I have never looked back. Jo has now cared for my gorgeous girl for over three years - welcomed her into her adorable family and cares for her as one of her own. They have an amazing bond, Jo knows her like the back of her hand and my daughter couldn't be more happy, settled and well rounded. They go all over the place and have amazing experiences together, but I love the fact that they also do things that she would be doing if she were at home with me - putting the washing on the line, helping with preparing dinner ... real life experiences too.

Jo provides a beautiful setting. Her home environment is rich and stimulating and the other children (both her own and those she cares for) are now considered extended family. When I met Jo's boys, saw what well-rounded, polite and super individuals they are, my belief that Jo would instill boundaries and provide love and warmth to my daughter was cemented.

When my daughter was much younger, we worked as a team to maintain good routines and eating habits and Jo always respected my opinions and welcomed my feedback. We discussed and agreed consistent strategies for managing my daughter's phases of developmental behaviours and Jo has always been excellent in giving feedback about my daughter's day. We still work in this way now, although routines, boundaries and expectations are so firmly embedded now that handovers are a tiny fraction of the time these days!

Jo is meticulous in ensuring my daughter makes progress in her learning too and has therefore been giving her access to both formal and play based learning experiences, all based upon my daughter's individual level of development and readiness for different learning experiences. We make a great team, sharing information and ideas and Jo planning and developing experiences to extend and excite my daughter.

I feel that there is still so much I could say; praises I could sing and shout from the rooftops. My daughter's time with Jo is now in its final year and although I know that her 'boots' will be filled by new little 'shoes' who will be loved and cared for in just the same was as she has been, I genuinely hope Jo's door remains open to visits, because in her, I believe I have also found a friend for life.

With the hugest thanks to Jo and her wonderful family.

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Food
• Communication

by donjee on 08/11/2018