Meerkats

Brilliant, friendly and caring

My son has been with Meerkats since he was 7 months old. I had heard great things about meerkats whilst I was in the process of looking for childcare and I was over the moon when Vicki got in touch to let me no she had a space available. We went and visited her at the setting an within a short amount of time I knew this was the place for us an I have been so happy with my choice. My son is so happy whilst he’s there. All the team are fantastic at what they do an so friendly it really does feel like a home from home. I can not recommend them enough if you are looking for a friendly home from home setting with a team of caring, funny and attentive ladies. My son is around children of different ages and this has helped him to develop his physical, social an emotional skills that I don’t feel he would in a setting of just his own age group. The activities they do help to make learning fun for all children regardless of there age as they adapt them so everyone can get involved.
Thank you Meerkats for everything you do x

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by Evette on 01/08/2022

Exceptional childcare

Really wonderful childcare setting. The staff know and understand each child and know how to get their very best. The setting is homely but structured and the learning is outstanding.

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by VickyW on 25/07/2022

Professional but caring environment

I’ve got 3 kids and we’ve lived in a couple of places so I have experienced other childminders and nurseries before but let me tell you this place is the jackpot. My son started at 1yo and will remain there now until school as I can tell it’s the best place for him. The owners are so nice and provide really good communication whether it’s letting the parents know how the day is going through pictures in their page, clearly communicating policies, direct contact for issues and always a smiling face at the door. My son is shyer than some and yet still is happy to be at Meerkats and I know he is well looked after and his confidence will grow with them. I really just can’t fault them at all to be honest. Really nice setting too and lots of activities. Vicky and Abi have created a prime example of childcare.

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by Nicole on 25/07/2022

Exceptional Childcare!

Our little girl has been at Meerkats since the age of 10 months and is leaving this summer as she starts school in September. She has been provided with the most exceptional care throughout her time at the setting and all the staff have been outstanding in helping her grow and develop as an individual. There are so many wonderful aspects of Meerkats, which has the benefit of a home setting whilst also having the feel of a larger group (approximately 10 children). Our daughter learnt so much from being around children a year or so older than her when she was young and this has really aided her personal development. As parents, we have worked with the staff at every stage of her development and have sought advice from them when faced with challenges at home. It has been a wonderful partnership where we have made decisions for our family that have been supported by the staff at the setting, particularly surrounding naps, feeding and potty training. They have gone above and beyond to accommodate our requests and supported us at every turn. We are particularly grateful to Meerkats for steering us through the tricky situation of the pandemic and working tirelessly to protect all the children in their care from not just Covid, but all other illnesses that are out there in the world. We have never once regretted our choice of childcare and cannot express fully in words just how truly amazing Meerkats is for children of all ages.

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by Lucy on 24/07/2022

Amazing place!

Our son started at Meerkats in June and has settled in really well. He was only 10 months old when he started, and I was naturally anxious about leaving him and going back to work, but Vicky and the team at Meerkats have been great with him. The communication is fantastic and I always feel like he is being well looked after- I never worry about him when he’s at Meerkats!
I think it’s great having a mix of ages as it helps to build his confidence around other children, and he still gets his naps and quiet time when he needs it.
Overall, an amazing place where my son is obviously going to flourish over the next few years, and where the staff really are passionate about what they do. What more can you ask for?

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by simm29 on 24/07/2022

The best around!

I couldn’t recommend Meerkats enough! My son has been here for just over a year now. I was worried it would take a while for him to settle in as I moved him from a previous nursery due to staffing issues. It was the best decision I made and my son settled in so quickly. I wish I had found them sooner! Vicky and her staff are amazing! I have never come across any other setting that care for the children like Meerkats do. I am so excited for my baby girl to join and start her Meerkats journey with you. If you’re looking for a professional, fun, educational & warm place for your child, then there’s no better place than here!

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by Jade on 24/07/2022

The Best Around

Both boys have attended Meerkats and the youngest still attends now, started at 8 months old. Absolutely love it still, wouldn't have him go anywhere else, he has settled in absolutely amazing. The girls are fantastic and they are like an extended family for the kids.
Meerkats have been there since finding out we was expecting him as our eldest attended at the time. Infact i was pestering Vicky for a place as soon as we told them haha! And here we are 😁

Our eldest first started in August 2017 aged 1 and we couldn’t of imagined him going elsewhere. The facilities here are second to none and of very high standards. He come on so much at Meerkats, at first he found it hard leaving us and the separation anxiety he had was something else but with the help and perseverance from the Meerkats team he overcome that and eventually he was running in. This definitely helped when he went to primary school, the confidence he had was unbelievable!
The welcoming from the staff is like no other, Vicky and her team are so enthusiastic and passionate with what they do.
Work with Meerkats as a team and they are the best, the policies and contracts in place are straightforward and so easy to follow. Everything about Meerkats is perfect and i wouldn't change a thing.
They go above and beyond in everything they do.
We've experienced 2 different types of children attending, one who settled and not a problem going in at all and one who cried at every drop off with separation anxiety for a few months but Meerkats make everything alright 😊

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by Charl on 24/07/2022

Fantastic A*

We chose Meerkats 7 years ago when our eldest boy needed to start childcare at 10 months old. Everyone said, you will know when you like a place and we did… as soon as we walked in the door! The kids were happy, Vicky was super friendly and we loved the homely feeling yet couldn’t get over how amazing the set up was and the facilities.

Our eldest thrived at Meerkats, he loved it. You really helped him settle in as a baby, his smiles said it all. When it came to potty training we worked together at the right times and it was a doddle. You worked so well with him getting him ready for school. He was very comfy with adults but not so much with children but we worked together and with all your help and support, he came out of his shell, enjoyed more interaction with children and was more than ready for school.

Our youngest started at 9 months old and is leaving this year, all ready to start school. We have had a few issues with him and his communication (probably due to covid we think) but you picked up on it and brought it to our attention - you have worked so hard and it’s really shown when he comes home, he always talks about what he has learnt, what he has done, who he has played with and slowly but surely he is becoming more chatty in Meerkats. I really do feel that his knowledge on numbers, some letters, his enjoyment for colouring/writting has come on leaps and bounds.

The updates and photos we get via Facebook are brilliant. The baby’s days is also a great app to keep up to date and view important info. The passion Vicky has is outstanding, she always puts 100% into everything she does, I love the fact we get to have Christmas parties and summer graduations (excluding covid times) as it’s great to see how everyone is together and the enjoyment on the kids faces, parents faces and Meerkat staff faces.

I think what I like most about Meerkats, is the fact both my boys feel/felt at home with you. It really is like a second family. I know that when they are with you they are in the best care, safe and happy. My boy often talk about Abi at home and always wants to tell her something or show her something. He asks when Vicky days are, looks forward to them and count down to them!

Choosing a childminders or nursery was such a big decision but having chosen Meerkats I can say it was my best decision.

Honestly, in 7 years there is not one single thing I could ask them to do any better.

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by Liz on 23/07/2022

Wouldn’t recommend.

If you are after a childcare provider that will not throw in the towel when things get tough because a child is teething and having separation anxiety suddenly, after 4 happy months, this is NOT the place for you. If your child has a routine that you would like to keep while at nursery (having bottles of milk, times of day to sleep) this isn’t the right place for you either.

The owners demeanour is surprisingly blunt given the industry. We understood a child can be difficult and clingy at times. But we were not expecting a text out the blue to say ‘we think it would be in the child’s best interest to find somewhere else’. A professional would have discussed the matter in person and tried to find a solution to make the child happy and comfortable. How is making a young child move to new childcare when they are suffering separation anxiety in their best interests.

I think this childcare provider is more suited to children at pre school age, they do seem to put a lot of effort into their activities, but I feel they are aimed more at 3-4 year olds, and not for the babies / toddlers.

Our child seems much happier now at a nursery with more children their own age. I wouldn’t recommend them for baby/toddlers after our shocking experience.

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by Vanessa on 23/07/2022

Response by Meerkats on 23/07/2022:

Should this review have come from the right intentions then it would not be copied and pasted on multiple platforms - not only that, direct contact is usually the first point of call for someone who feels the service offered isn’t satisfactory which in this case has been neglected - our policies are clearly outlined upon signing up to the setting and should they not be adhered to a breakdown In relationship is inevitable which in this case has unfortunately happened - there are two sides to every story and we have many many families over the past 13 years that would disagree with this review

Amazing

Our boy has been going to Meerkats for 2 years now and we couldn’t imagine him going elsewhere. The facilities here are second to none and of very high standards. He has come on so much since starting here and at first he found it hard with being separated from us and was very emotional to say the least but eventually with all the help from Vicky and her team this is now the total opposite and he walks in smiling all confident. The welcoming from the staff is like no other, Vicky and her team are so enthusiastic and passionate with what they do. We love all the updates and observations we receive on a day to day basis as its so lovely to see the activities they are doing. Meerkats become part of the family and I would 100% recommend them based on our personal experience.

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by Charl on 22/10/2019