I'm a primary teacher and had a strict criteria for what I was looking for in a childminder. After meeting several other childminders in the local area, Margaret came recommended through a friend who's children were starting school - they sang Margaret's praises and said they were very happy at Margaret's.

When you have the responsibility of picking someone to be instrumental in the upbringing of one of the most precious things in your life, your mind focuses on the small things and everything has to be right. After spending 15 minutes in Margaret's company I knew right away that she was the person to take care of Rebecca. My husband came along for the second visit and he too came away with the same feeling. We both agreed Margaret was the right person to care for our daughter.

Since going to Margaret's (8 months now), Rebecca has come on leaps and bounds. Every day she's learning new things and we enjoy hearing/reading (in her daily diary) about what she and her friends have been doing through the day. Every day Margaret plans something exciting and challenging for the children. All the children in her care are happy and it says a lot when the children walk in smiling and excited to see Margaret. Having a variety of children at different ages certainly is helping Rebecca develop and it's great to see how polite and well-behaved all the children are in Margaret's company.

Margaret has become like one of the family and it means so much to have found someone we can trust to look after our daughter. We know she is safe, well looked after and encouraged to be the best little person she can be. Margaret has been a fabulous support to us as well as looking after our child, we ask her advice and she always has an idea or with her experience she usually has a tried and tested method.

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