Colsal

Simply the best!

Sally, Colin and Amber looked after our daughter from 1 until she left for preschool a few months ago. After looking at every nursery in the area, I knew as soon as I met them that this would be the right place for her. She thoroughly enjoyed her time here and often mentions how much she misses going here.

We got photos daily of the trips to the allotment, all their art activities and every day was a glowing review of the food.

I really can’t recommend them enough and feel very lucky to have found you!

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by Victoria about ColSal on 06/11/2024

The best childminders you will ever find…

Sally, Collin and Amber have been childminders to both my children over the course of the last 6 years. I always felt like we had lucked out finding them as they create such a home from home environment that exudes warmth, creativity and exploration for the children.
Both my children love going each day, we get regular photo and video updates of what’s happening and lots of beautiful art work brought home.
In the cabin there is a whole array of toys that I know Sally keeps super clean. They read a story stake each day and get the kids involved in the story telling. They have discos with bubbles and lights, fancy dress, and spend lots of time outdoors. My kids loved going to the allotments where they would do nature checklists and see the changing seasons. In the summer there is lots of water play outside, picnics, and even growing their own flowers.

Sally is very focused on the kids and their welfare at all times, I know that they are always in the safest of hands, as Sally is often taking courses to keep up to date with childcare regulations.

Sally has instilled core values in my children of kindness, consideration, gratitude, generosity and empathy which has set them up well for their futures.

Sally, Collin and Amber really are the best childminders you will find. We would give 100 stars if we could!

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by Aimee about ColSal on 08/10/2024

Exceptional childminding setting

We put our little girl in at Sally’s, Colin and Amber when she was only 1 years of age.
We were feeling very anguish, nervous to let go of my daughter and into a setting but as soon as we drop our daughter off, we felt a sense of ease because the setting was wonderful, the cabin was bright , filled with lots of toys and had a warmth about it.
5 years on and our daughter has learnt leaps and bounds.
Our daughters always go into Sally’s with a smile knowing she will be with kids that’s she has built good friendships with , and knows there will be varies activities from arts, crafts, story telling and play time in the garden.
We have being very fortunate to have such an amazing setting for our daughter because prior to Sally’s , I had done the rounds of visiting pre schools , nursery and was not very satisfied nor impressed until I came across Sally and her family.
I even hope to send my baby boy when I go back into work came 2025.

I would highly recommend Sally as she is caring, organised, informative, experienced and great with kids of all age.
Her setting provides a friendly , warm atmosphere, where the kids will learn whilst having fun and building great friendships.

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by Nurjahan about ColSal on 04/09/2024

Wonderful childminders and setting

We were absolutely over the moon to have found Sally, Colin and Amber. The setting was really important for us and it’s so wonderful to see pictures of the children having fun running around the allotments and learning about nature. We loved how much Sally gets the kids outside and how much effort she puts in to make the days varied. Our little boy has absolutely flourished under their care, from learning how to look after smaller babies to creating beautiful arts and crafts and having lots of fun along the way! We feel lucky to have found Sally, Colin and Amber and would have no hesitation recommending.

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by Debbie about ColSal on 09/09/2023

Lovely childcare setting - for us it was excellent

Our son has got so much from being with Sally - I moved him from another setting as it had too many babies and that was limiting the amount of activities and fresh air outdoor time he was getting. I was so glad I looked again and Sally and from the off she was speedy, responsive and organised, getting back to my call on a Sunday and organising a visit.

I was very taken by the setting immediately, her home and garden and the cabin are ideal - it gives a range of places for the children to spend the day - not just cooped up in one room! I also loved the mix of ages and the size of her setting - there were 9 children, and most were toddlers of either 2, 3 or 4 and there were just one or two babies so the mix was perfect for Rowan and for their splitting the group into activities. Their house is cosy, quirky full of creativity and fun and a real family home. This was also very important having gone to visit so many soulless corporate looking 'nurseries'!

Then the allotments were a big part of. our decision to go with them, it was amazing to see how much green space they have on their doorstep, the river where the kids play poo-sticks, the chickens and all the learning about growing food. Our son Rowan is a keen gardener now and loves learning about how things grow, I am sure Sally has had a part in this!

I was very anxious that Rowan keep his nap routine and I was so worried about how he would get to sleep without me but Sally patiently listened to all my concerns, and was also good reminding me kindly that she had done this many times, which was a helpful reminder as it was a real wrench for me leaving him, even though I had lucked out with such a great setting. I especially loved that Rowan would sleep in his own cot in her spotless and calm bedroom, and that she would rock him to sleep in her arms, while her daughter Amber and husband Colin looked after the other children. This level of care and individual attention was a huge relief to me, as were her regular updates on text with lovely photos and videos of our son. I felt so reassured. Sally was patient with my many requests and understood our gentle/attachment parenting ethos and respected our ways entirely and Rowan had his regular nap throughout his time there (nearly 2 years). This was very important for us and allowed him to be the calm, happy, emotionally well regulated child he has always been.

Rowan settled very quickly and enjoyed the setting very much, the variety or art and craft, the allotment walks, the walk through a country park on the afternoon school run, the singing and dancing, the nursery rhymes and language learning - Rowan always had great language but it has developed a lot with their input.

They helped with toilet training and Amber especially helped with this and encouraged his love of building of Lego! All in all, we are so very glad we met them and want to stay in touch. For us it was a great first step in separating from our son for a day, I never worried all day at work, I loved getting the updates and news and Sally was super diligent at replying to any concerns and questions, all this while looking after 8 other children, hats off to Sally!

Thank you for all your support and the care and love you showed our son. We will always remember you so fondly x

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by Gemma about ColSal on 03/09/2023