Nutkins's Reviews
Childminder
5 out of 5
Parent reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Nutkins. 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.
Jo is sensational. She provides a home from home for all her children. My son thrived with Jo and still absolutely adores her. Jo ensures that the children are engaged and well socialised.
She understood Frank and exactly what he was thinking. She not only took amazing care of him she also took care of us all. Providing advice and support for us. Frank loved his time with Jo. He has made friends for life and still talks about all the wonderful things he did with Jojo. Finding Jo was the best thing for our family. We still use techniques with Frank that Jo showed us. Even providing support to help us settle Frank into preschool. We all still miss Jo!
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Georgie
on 15/11/2023
Jo and her family are wonderful!
From the moment we met Jo we knew our child would be in the safest of hands! Jo is reliable, patient, caring, kind, generous and knowledgeable! She creates a fun and loving environment for all the children she looks after. Jo ensures the activities are varied and tailored to the interests of the child. I’ve seen my son’s verbal, physical and social skills drastically improve in the time he has spent with Jo!
Jo takes the time to understand the children she cares for and takes into consideration their individual development needs. She provides knowledgable, useful guidance and advice to support the parents! For my son’s two year checks she took the time to write detailed notes to support the session. Following the review and the information Jo had provided the health visitor said ‘you’ve got a good one there guys!!!’ 🙂
Jo’s house is a fantastic place for the children to play! She has a toy room set up for the kids to explore and outdoor space for splashing around in the summer months! Jo also takes the kids to do loads of varied activities and we always receive updates throughout the day to know he is having a great time!
Jo was also amazingly supportive to my family when we welcomed our second child. She was incredibly flexible having my first born for additional days whilst we adapted to life with a new born again!
We will really miss Jo being a regular part of our lives and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for childcare in the local area!
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Julia G
on 28/06/2022
Jo is an absolutely incredible childminder who my daughter has adored, since day one. Jo involves the children in such a variety of activities to stimulate their skills and interests. She also takes them to different playgroups, soft play and outdoor activities, getting them plenty of time to meet and play with other children and enjoy different settings. Jo is wonderful at understanding children's different needs and adapting her technique accordingly, to best communicate, encourage and help them.
I am devastated my daughter won't have the opportunity to stay with Jo after a year now, because I have been made redundant. My daughter's development and confidence has really come on in leaps and bounds in that time, and she will be losing out NOW stuck with Mum all the time!
Jo is kind, compassionate, understanding and just incredible. Any child would be lucky to be looked after her.
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Rachel
on 15/06/2022
Jo is a brilliant childminder who I would recommend unreservedly to anyone and everyone. Her care for my daughter has been wonderful and she has learnt so much through play as well as more structured learning. Lots of activities and my daughter was always so excited to go in the morning!
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Bpotter
on 22/06/2021
I cannot rate or recommend Jo highly enough. Her setting in her home is warm and welcoming and I felt completely at ease from the first visit, as did my son. She puts in so much effort with the children with varying activities day to day. She gives regular updates with photos and videos and communicates really well with parents from day one. She tracks and discusses progress and development wonderfully as well. My son had never been looked after by someone outside of the family until I took him to Jo and he settled in just a few sessions which I think is testament to how wonderful the environment is. All the other children seemed equally as happy and content that I saw. If you are local to the area and looking for a childminder I really wouldn't consider anyone else.
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Rebeca
on 19/07/2020
Jo has been a huge part of our life and family for nearly 4 years and I can not recommend her enough. She has looked after our son Harry since he was 10 months old and he’s starting school this September and she started looking after our little girl Daisy last September when she was 8 months.
Her childcare is absolutely amazing, both of our children always have the best time at Jo’s and it’s often a struggle to get them into the car at the end of the day as they just don’t want to leave her lovely home! She does a wide variety of activities, has loads of great toys and games, and lots of arts and crafts always come home with them. She also takes them out and about a lot locally as well as day trips which they love too. Both of our children have developed, grown and learnt so much with Jo and we can’t thank her enough. Jo sends pictures and videos throughout the day so we can see what our little ones are up to which is lovely.
We trust Jo implicitly and she had given us so much support and advice over the years that we will miss hugely. James and Bella her children are also absolutely amazing with all the kids Jo childminds, Harry and Daisy see them as their big brother and sister and love their company.
I wish the time hadn’t come where our children have to leave Jo’s as we have been absolutely delighted with her care but as our eldest Harry is starting school in September we are now taking on a nanny.
If you want a fantastic, trustworthy, fun, caring and supportive childminder, look no further!
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Sophie O
on 15/07/2020
My son has been attending Jo's since around 7/8 months old to him now almost 4 years old and adhoc childcare for my eldest during the holidays for me as well. My son loves spending time with Jo. The support given to his development is brilliant and recommendations on how I can support his development at home is really useful.
The updates via app/WhatsApp are good just so I can see how he is doing throughout the day/end of the day.
The range of activities and themes that Jo comes up with I find are really engaging and he seems to enjoy all the activities he gets to do. Lots of days out, groups, park visits and the woods which my son loves.
My daughter who started going adhoc at age 4 also loves spending the holidays with Jo. She helped her overcome some of her fears when she first started going like jumping/stepping off things and has so much more confidence when she is in her care and is much more willing to try new things.
Couldn't recommend highly enough, only leaving as son will be starting school nursery from September.
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Rachel54
on 02/07/2020
Our son spent 3 years with Jo and her lovely family, starting with 2 days a week and going up to 3 days a week once he had turned 2, to fit in with work commitments. We have only positive things to say about Sam’s time with Jo and we will all miss her so much. The amount of energy Jo has with the children is astounding and they learn so much and visit such fun places. Jo has the knack of being a true professional but also making our son feel like part of the family. We never had any issues during our time with Jo. She is always so cheerful and calm. The children formed really close friendships which will continue despite our recent house move. Jo was great at suggesting next steps and very flexible when Sam started at a local pre-school one morning a week, once he was 3 1/4.
Sam has benefitted hugely from his time in Jo’s care and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Nutkins Childcare.
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Kate
on 24/09/2019
We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the way you have cared and looked after our little one over the last few months.
Our little girl has developed really well under your supervision and been fortunate enough to experience such a wide range of activities. She particularly likes spending time at Fun in the Foam, alongside all the other various painting and play time activities you have introduced to her.
The level of detailed feedback including videos, pictures and progress reports is very comprehensive and informative.
We would happily recommend your services to any other parent contemplating childcare with you.
Thank you for all your support over the last few months.
She will really miss you and the experiences you create for the kids.
Tom and Nefi
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esther44
on 23/04/2019
I use Jo for ad hoc childminding for my 6 year old and 4 year old. They adore spending time with her, and tell me all about the amazing activities they’ve done and the things they’ve learnt with such enthusiasm, you can see how children thrive under her care. She is very knowledgeable about everything regarding little ones, and is lovely to be able to ask advice from. Knowing my children are in loving, safe hands means everything.
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Parent
on 26/11/2018
Our son, Sam, has been going to Jo's two days a week since September 2016. Jo provides a great 'home from home' and has really helped Sam settle in well. I spoke with and looked round many childminders and Jo stood out as someone very caring who goes the extra mile. Looking after under 5s only, means that the children get more attention, and avoiding lots of school runs allows flexibility when deciding what to do each day, to meet the children's needs. Jo's house is set up really well with a playroom, great garden space and so many activities and toys that are ever-changing. She also knows all the best places/groups to take the little ones. Jo is really organised and a great communicator via whatsapp, a daily diary and a journal with photos tracking each child's learning and development. Above all, the children in her care seem really happy and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending her!
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Kate
on 10/01/2017
Jo is really warm, caring and child-centred in her approach. She has a lovely way with the children and went that extra mile for our daughter. Jo’s house is such a fun and stimulating environment for children to play in! We looked into other childcare providers in the area but found nothing as good as the provision that Jo offers and we’re so glad that we chose her! Both indoor and outdoor areas have a fantastic range of toys and activities that promote learning, though the children have so much fun with Jo, they wouldn’t know they’re also learning!
We were also really impressed with the range of activities and trips that Jo takes the children on. Some childminders spend a lot of time at home, whereas Jo plans great outings and our daughter absolutely loved them - trips to the woods, seaside, farm, soft play places and a play centre where children can wear costume and enjoy pretend play as a shop assistant, hairdresser, fire fighter etc!
Jo’s EYFS provision is excellent. I've worked as a teacher and senior leader in education for years and I can honestly say that Jo's provision is outstanding. She promotes children’s learning in everything they do and tailors her approach to meet the needs of every child individually.
Jo sends photos and updates about your child, which we loved receiving and found really reassuring. Jo has lovely children and our daughter warmed to them quickly. She loved playing with them and talk about them for the rest of the week! We felt part of the family and always felt so welcome. I can’t recommend Jo highly enough.
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on 20/11/2016
Jo provides a great setting for young children. Her home has a playroom which is filled with many different toys, pictures and other sensory items. There is also a big garden, filled with ride-ons, sand and water stations.
As Jo does not look after school-aged children, the day is built around fun activities for pre-school children, without needing to factor in school drop-offs/pick-ups. Each day spent with Jo the children have a real mix of different activities, including indoors, outside and day trips.
Our daughter Mollie (under 1 year old) has thoroughly enjoyed her time with Jo and settled in quickly. She has loved the variety of playgroups visited, different day trips and activities based in the home setting. Whenever I pick her up at the end of the day, she seems very relaxed and happy. Jo sends lots of pictures throughout the day which we love, as we can see what Mollie is up to and how much she is enjoying herself.
Jo has completed detailed updates on Mollie’s progress and EYFS milestones that have been met. This has really helped us to see her progress and where she is heading in terms of development.
Jo has taken a strong interest in Mollie’s wellbeing, even outside of the childminding days. Jo has frequently made suggestions on what toys would suit Mollie’s developmental stage and how to tackle any issues e.g. teething.
I would struggle to think of any suggestions for improvement of the service Jo provides and highly recommend her as a childminder.
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RosieH
on 19/06/2016
Jo is an outstanding childminder with superb experience, skills, endless enthusiasm, efficiency and communication skills with children and adults. Having met many childminder's it is clear that some do not offer a feeling of 100% confidence to the parent.
My under 1 year old daughter thoroughly enjoyed her days at Nutkins and really bonded with Jo and her family.
She had great day's out and learnt and developed new skills through play and watching other children.
Jo is 100% reliable, committed and genuinely interested in the children's growth, fun and development.
Jo's house is bright, welcoming, clean, spacious and well equipped.
I highly recommend her!
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Parent
on 25/02/2016
My wife and I had recently moved to the area, our primary concern was to find childcare for our 12 month old son Owen. For us it was imperative that we found the very best childcare possible, particularly as we were both going to find it difficult to be away from our only child for the first time. We were into double figures at the number of childminders and nurseries we had seen, we then came across Jo. To start, Jo has the absolute perfect setting for any child of any age. A fantastic playroom with copious amounts of toys and books for all ages and sexes with bright colourful pictures, decorations and art all made by the children themselves. The garden is fully secure with ride on cars, tractors, sandpit, huge blackboard and a fantastic water activity centre like I've never seen before. Jo was very welcoming and caring from the off, allowing a breaking in period to test the waters as to how Owen settled. Little did we know that it was actually us that required the breaking in period and not Owen. From his first visit Owen greeted us with smiles and laughter when we went to pick him up. The very next day he walked/crawled off into the playroom to play with his new best friends James and Isabella and didn't give us a second glance. We had found the perfect place for our little boy! Jo would provide daily accounts of what Owen had been up to from visits to Hobbledown, woods, playgrounds and playgroups to the endless activities at home from messy play and art and crafts to fun games. It was evident within weeks how quickly Owen was beginning to develop his skills but what was probably more important to us was how happy and settled he was. We had absolutely no reservations leaving Owen with Jo, knowing he had the very best care he could possibly receive. We cannot speak highly enough of Jo and the dedicated time and care she gave to Owen. We will be eternally grateful for her help and guidance and consider her a very good friend for what she has done for us as a family.
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on 10/08/2015
