SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER's Reviews
Childminder
Below are the parent reviews for SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER. Back to SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER's profile
Average Rating:
(5 from 12 reviews)
Our son has been going to Shirley’s for 2 years now and together with Gladstone and their assistant they have created such a safe and caring environment. They do lots of fun activities and the children look so happy whenever we drop and collect our son.
They spend the day doing a variety of activities including baking, cooking, learning and going to the local park or a museum - just to name a few.
We receive daily photos and updates on how his day is going which is a nice touch.
They truly have created a great space for the children to enjoy, including a garden in which they have built there own play area.
Over the years they have become like family. We are so grateful for the way they have taken care of our son and will truly miss them when he goes to nursery.
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by
m1sbahm
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 18/07/2020
Our son Idris has been going to Shirley’s for one year and together with her husband Gladstone and their assistant Milene, they’ve been absolutely fantastic. I feel we had got very lucky as they are always going above and beyond and are genuinely caring, loving and friendly.
The downstairs of their home is for the children and kitted out with lots of toys, books and art work done by the kids and is very clean. They have a lovely garden which is much more than a playground, most of it created by Gladstone. It has swings, slide, wooden climbing ship etc and also a vegetable patch where the children learn about gardening. In the summer the kids can also enjoy the paddling pool outside. Our son was scared of the pool and bath times were a nightmare, but Shirley and Gladstone helped him to gain confidence and now he loves to be in water. The children are always doing different activities, messy play, art, baking, celebrating cultural events, reading, singing and prior to the Covid pandemic they were taken on outings to the park, Kew gardens and local libraries and children centres. Idris often comes home with cakes and biscuits the children had baked. Organic food is made fresh for the children daily with dietary requirements taken into account with lots of healthy snacks. They are very flexible and have a lot of facilities catered for the children which we felt made our life easier incase we forgot to pack something for Idris in the mornings...they have a huge car with children seats, double buggies, kids outer clothing and swimsuits, hand sanitisers etc, you name it, they have it or they will try their best to provide.
We look forward to the daily pictures and detailed updates Shirley provides on Whatsapp. Shirley and Gladstone are very knowledgeable about children development and we fully trust them and are certain our son is taken good care of. The children are very caring towards one another which reflects the kindness taught under Shirley’s care. He always looks happy to be there and often doesn’t want to come home. As working parents, the pick ups/drop off provided has been brilliant and has helped us a lot.
They have become like family and sadly as we are moving areas our son will soon stop attending. We would like to say a huge thank you to them for all their hard work and for truly loving Idris and all the kids as if they were their own. We wish we could take them with us and no-doubt we will miss them tremendously!
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Iqra
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 28/06/2020
Shirley's set up is the best thing one could ever dream of for their children. Mine have been with her for over 2.5 years and I cannot think of anything I would recommend she and her team do differently. It's just perfect!
First, there is the family spirit we are all after as a parent - to have a home away from home for our children. As a family-run business with the excellent level of support from Gladstone and Milene, Shirley truly nurtures all the wonderful children she looks after as if they were her own. And the simple fact that our kids don't want to leave their premises when we pick them up at the end of the day says it all.
The second aspect is educational. Shirley and Gladstone are ever investing in new toys, materials and training courses to make sure they offer our children a wonderful learning experience. Being myself a language and cross-cultural professional, I really appreciate the fact that they teach them new things about the world, international cultures and the planet in general on an ongoing basis. They have themed weeks and the kids learn while having fun, they absolutely love it. They also take them on outtings to the local library, farm etc.
Third, but not the least, they cook all of their food fresh and organic. They truly watch the children's diet and teach them to eat well and varied.
Outdoors and physical exercise is also a great thing that Shirley values for our children. Their custom-built play area in the back garden is all children could ever ask for (they even have a pirate ship!) and they make sure that (weather dependent) they take them outdoors as much as they can - whether it be in their own garden or local parks.
I cannot recommend her services enough and if a case could be made in terms of best practice for childminders, I truly believe they should come and see how things are done at Shirleys!
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by
MelCheva
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 09/03/2020
Shirley is the most amazing childminder and we are lucky that our daughter has a place with her.
A good friend recommended Shirley and now I have no hesitation in recommending Shirley to anyone I meet. Margot has been with Shirley and Gladstone for 18 months, since just before she was one. She settled in seamlessly and is over joyed every day that she gets to go to Shirley's.
Shirley provides a loving, nurturing home from home packed with fun activities and educational opportunities. Every day the children play outside if possible, do singing and dancing, messy play, structured story time, mark making, craft activities, role play games and generally having fun.
Margot loves the delicious and nutritious food that Shirley makes and is always coming home with extra treats that they have made for us.
If Margot has ever struggled with naps then Shirley has spent time cuddling her and holding her until she slept and teaching her to self settle kindly and with love.
All the children are happy whenever I pick up or drop off and my daughter never wants to leave. She even asks to go to Shirley's at the weekend!
Shirley has also provided extra support by looking after my son on an ad hoc basis and has been flexible whenever she could be.
I completely recommend Shirley (and Papai) to anyone looking for a loving and safe place for their child.
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HelenB
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 09/03/2020
Our son Harry has now been with Shirley and Gladstone for 18 months, attending 4 days a week. In that time, they have become like family to us. Our son has thrived in their loving, fun and energetic home. Their days are filled with lots of fun activities such as going to the park, arts and crafts, baking, messy play to name a few. Harry really loves playing in their garden and has made lots of little friends. We get regular updates about Harry's day which we love receiving. The children also get three wholesome meals a day, as well as healthy snacks throughout. We find dinner especially helpful, as being working parents, it takes pressure of us to have dinner prepared for when he gets home.
Our son gets so excited when he knows he is going to Shirley and Gladstone, which is testament to the caring environment they provide. I hope if we are fortunate enough to have another child that they will also attend Shirley and Gladstone's.
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Katrina
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 30/09/2019
I tell my friends and family that Shirley is our angel and I mean it - I couldn't ask anyone for anymore when it comes to looking after our daughter.
Juno started with Shirley when she was just nine months. As our first child we had no nursery experience and weren't exactly sure what was right for Juno or us and just had to go with our gut. We'd signed Juno up for a nursery but I still wanted to meet some childminders to compare environments. A friend introduced me to Shirley and as soon as we met her we knew she was perfect. She offers a home from home and cares so much about the children she looks after, which is all I wanted for Juno.
Shirley, and now with her husband Gladstone (who the children adorably call "Papai"), offer structured days full of fun activities such as messy play, arts and crafts, reading, singing, cooking, gardening, everything! They provide three organic meals a day and are excellent at communicating what Juno has been doing everyday and her progression etc. Their lovely home is full of toys and pictures and warmness and they have a nice big garden too. They've helped with potty training, weaning, preparing for nursery and baby number two - basically whatever we're doing, they'll do it too. They have a 4 year old daughter Olivia who is brilliant with the children and Juno wants to have over for sleepovers all the time!
Juno is now two and a half so now she's older we're getting her ready to join a nursery but aren't ready to lose Shirley and Gladstone completely so will keep her there one day a week! They've welcomed Juno into their family as much as we've welcomed Shirley into ours.
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JulPrice
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 29/11/2017
Shirley and Gladstone have always provided fun, loving and engaging care for my daughter Nell. Although she only attends once a week, she settled instantly and looks forward to her day with them every week. Their home is bright, warm, welcoming and is filled with artwork the children have done - a perfect childcare setting. Nell’s days are filled with endless activities such as art, baking, singing, dancing, reading and park trips. Everything is child-centred and child-led and the children are involved in all stages of activities. They provide an excellent organic menu. Nell has developed great relationships with the other children and a really strong bond with Shirley and Gladstone. My older daughter who attends school always wants to stay at Shirley’s when we drop off Nell! Shirley’s communication is brilliant and our families have developed a lovely relationship. I couldn’t recommend Shirley highly enough.
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by
Parent
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 29/11/2017
Shirley and Gladstone have been like part of the family for us. My daughter Alice settled in at Shirley’s when she was 9 months old. Like most new mums, I was terrified about leaving my daughter with someone else, but I need not have worried, as Alice absolutely loves it!
Where to start…
The loving and caring environment that Shirley provides was what initially sold me on Shirley as the right childminder for me. However there have been so many aspects of Alice’s day that makes me so happy that Shirley and Gladstone are part of ours and Alice’s life. The attention, energy and structured activities that the children do is amazing, from painting, baking, singing, dancing, gardening (and growing butterflies from a chrysalis!), outings to the park, children's centre and bouncy castle. The children have such a fantastic time and absolutely love the energy and entertainment that Gladstone provides and warm and nurturing care from Shirley, together they make such a well rounded environment for the children.
The food is organic where possible and the variety and nutritious meals that are prepared are outstanding.
The updates we receive through the daily diary and whatsapp messages is really lovely to show what fun Alice is having each day.
Finally the pick up and drop off by Gladstone at our home made the transition back to work much more simple.
I can’t recommend them enough
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by
Parent
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 28/11/2017
I found Shirley on this site and got a glowing reference for her through word of mouth, too. I actually visited her setting on the wrong date by accident - but Shirley still welcomed me into her lovely home, which I found to be extremely clean and tidy, despite the fact she wasn't expecting visitors.
Shirley loves kids and is passionate about their personal and academic development. Our son absolutely adores her and learns so much with Shirley every week through fun and engaging play. He comes home singing new songs, showing off the many arts and crafts he gets to make and brimming with confidence. Shirley's place is the perfect middle ground between our home environment and nursery school, which is why we chose to keep sending our son to her two days a week after he started at nursery. I've found Shirley to be incredibly kind, very organised, cheerful, warm and attentive. She gives detailed reports to parents of what our kids have been to each day and is very receptive to input from us as to things we'd like her support on.
We're confident we've given our son the best start by sending him to Shirley - and he'll miss her terribly when he starts at full-time nursery school. We're really hoping Shirley will have a space available for our daughter when the time comes, too, because I honestly don't know what we'd do without her!
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Parent
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 03/05/2016
Shirley has looked after my daughter, for three days a week, every since I went back to work when she was five months old. From the outset we knew that the we had found the right childminder for us; Shirley is kind, patient, intelligent, resourceful and loving. Her home is stimulating enough to keep the little ones occupied and engaged, but warm and soothing enough that it feels like a home from home.
Religious holidays are celebrated, games and activities are played, language is developed, expression is encouraged and we have regular updates via whatsapp photos throughout the day, a daily diary and an annual report of our daughter's progress.
All in all Shirley and her family have become a part of ours and, most importantly, my daughter adores her and her time there!
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by
Parent
about
SHIRLEY CHILDMINDER
on 31/03/2016
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