I honestly can't praise Michelle and her team enough. My son has been going to Michelle since he was 10 months old (he's now nearly 2).

I was initially nervous about sending him to childcare when he was so little and I had to go back to work, but as soon as I met Michelle I was at ease. Michelle is an absolute natural with the children in her care, and all her staff are likewise. The children are extremely well looked after, played with, fed, and educationally simulated (in a way that is geared towards and appropriate for their age and developmental stage).

The range of activities Michelle does with the kids is amazing. Both creative and educationally stimulating, he is always buzzing about what he's been up to when he gets home. And when he was really little, Michelle and her team always involved him in the activities the big kids were doing, adapted so that he could have just as good an experience!

Our son has gone through - and is going through - some typical toddler phases. Michelle is an old hand (in that she is extremely experienced) but without being old school; she treats him with care and respect, whilst also modelling positive behaviours and boundaries in a gentle and patient yet clear way.

As we are keyworkers, Michelle also had our son throughout the lockdowns; it made me so happy he was still able to engage with other adults and children at a variety of different ages through such an otherwise strange time. Even without lockdowns, I think the blend of ages has been great for our littl'un, and I would not hesitate to recommend Michelle and her team to anyone considering using a childminder over other providers.

My little boy is always excited to go to "Shell's", to see his friends there, and literally runs through the front door without so much as a backwards glance: you can't say much more than that! And on 'baby's days' we get to see photos of him smiling all day long as well!

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