Zdenka Nigosova worked for us as a part-time nanny to our two daughters for 3 months between April and July 2020. The circumstances were difficult. Our girls were 28 months and 8 months old when she started, the youngest had spent very little time away from me and we were in the midst of lockdown, my husband and I both working from home. Zdenka was a consummate professional, getting to grips with a difficult role with confidence and enthusiasm.

Zdenka built relationships with both girls such that they were happy to spend the day with her, despite knowing that mum and dad were just upstairs. She developed a routine for both girls that involved pre-planned activities, often focused around a book, which she brought with her every day as well as trips out to a different local park each day for games and exercise. She cooked healthy meals, helped wean the baby and encouraged the toddler to try a wider variety of foods. She trained both girls to have more regularly timed naps than they had been having and the baby to self-soothe herself to sleep. She also helped the baby crawl and take her first steps and the toddler potty train.

Throughout the time that she worked with us, Zdenka was punctual, well-prepared, imaginative yet structured, loving yet disciplined and very much a self-starter, able to work well with limited direction. We could not have asked for a better nanny to help us through this difficult period.