Our son has been in Sarah’s care near enough full time since March 2023 and we all couldn’t be happier with where he is. 

He has developed so well in the setting; his speech in particular which was fairly advanced at a young age. We feel the setting, how Monty and the other children are communicated with and the exposure Monty gets to the various activities and learning at Sarah's have aided this.

We love that Monty is taken to new and exciting places every day. He has lots of fun but also does more educational things to stretch him and give him exposure to public places and different environments. 

Sarah is very approachable and we never have any issues with communication. We communicate with her at drop off/ pick up and can message at any time during the day for additional updates. I feel she is always on hand to give advice and genuinely cares for our son, his development and his wellbeing. We get updates including pictures every day of what the children have been up to and if there is an issue or anything specific we were worried about before dropping him off Sarah will message during the day. 

We love the ethos Sarah has, to expose them to as much of the world as possible. They are always on adventure and no day is the same for the children. Yet they have routine in place and know what to expect whilst also being able to adapt to many new things. Sarah encourages the children to be independent which I feel will set my son up well for his transition to reception next year. 

Overall we could not be more pleased that our son is in Sarah’s care. Our sons needs have changed over the past 2 and a bit years he has been with Sarah. As a baby and into toddlerhood he has been well cared for. The effort she puts into plan activities, crafts, take the children places and to look after them is so appreciated.

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Sarah is an exceptional childminder, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have her involved in our son’s early years. Under her care, our little boy is developing into a confident, well-rounded individual with strong social skills. He is polite, self-aware, and comfortable interacting with children of all ages as well as adults.

One of Sarah’s strengths is the way she nurtures both independence and creativity. Our son confidently engages in imaginative solo play, often recreating scenarios and stories inspired by his time with her. He thrives outdoors thanks to the wide variety of activities she provides gaining physical confidence in the park while also recognising when to ask for help, showing both independence and emotional maturity.

Sarah’s setting is built around familiar, child-led routines that promote a sense of security and independence. This has made a real difference to our family our mornings are calm and positive, and he is always excited to go, which speaks volumes about the nurturing environment she creates.

He is also well-prepared for his upcoming transition to reception. The structure of the day, especially accompanying Sarah to collect older children from school, has helped him understand and feel excited about what lies ahead.

Communication with Sarah is always open and responsive. We receive updates on his development and day-to-day experiences whenever needed. Her use of Instagram to share daily activities is a brilliant tool not only does it allow us to peak into what he’s been up to, but it also helps us spark conversations with him at home.

Finally, her flexibility and understanding as working parents have been invaluable. Life can be unpredictable, and Sarah’s willingness to accommodate occasional changes is greatly appreciated.

In every way, Sarah provides a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment that supports our son’s growth and happiness. We couldn’t ask for more.

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Amelia has been with Sarah from 11 months and will remain with Sarah for wrap around and school holidays when she starts school in September.

Not only has Sarah and her team been instrumental in every milestone - walking, eating, potty training, talking, preparing for school etc, she has provided a positive and loving environment in which Amelia has thrived.

Clear boundaries and clear rules that the children understand and respect means Sarah is able to take them out and about to parks, shops and museums which the children love. Amelia skips in every day excited for the day ahead.

As Amelia is starting school in September in Little Gaddesden, Sarah has been preparing Amelia not only with the core skills she will need but taking her along to the school to familiarise her with the space which Amelia has loved.

Sarah has also been a great support to me and my husband. Any issues we have with Amelia’s behaviour we have been extremely well supported with sound advice from Sarah. Sarah is also flexible which is a godsend when trying to plan childcare around work.

I could not recommend Sarah, Mark, Lilly and their setting highly enough.

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Honestly wouldn't hesitate to recommend Sarah to anyone - she has been amazing for Lilly. They are always out and about, whether going to the farm, the zoo, toddler group or even the pet shop! Lilly runs in every morning and doesn't even look back. Lilly has the most fun but also has really benefitted from the stability/structure that Sarah, Lily and Mark also provide - she eats really well, says please and thank you, potty trained really quickly and can dress and undress herself, all things which Sarah has really promoted. Having the babies and also the older children all there playing together has been really beneficial too as she is learning lots from the older ones but also knows how to play nicely with those younger than her. Something which I don’t think she would have been able to do in a conventional nursery setting with the rigid age rooms etc. 

Baby days works really well for the invoicing etc and the daily pictures on Instagram are really lovely to look at to see what they've got up to that day. Lilly loves looking back at the pictures with me. 

Handover is always really easy and if I ever have any queries/concerns these are always listened to and answered! 

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Sarah has been looking after my daughter, Rosie, for 2 years now.  I first wanted Rosie to attend Sarah’s childminding services because of all the great things I’d read about her and the look and feel of her house, just from pictures.  When I first visited her, my husband was very wary of the 15 minute drive from us in Berkhamsted.  However as soon as we visited, he was persuaded!  Sarah offered a warm, loving environment I could sense straight away and I was so happy she was able to take care of her.

Overall feedback

Rosie is an extremely happy, confident and fun-loving girl, who looks forward to going to Sarahs every single day.  She adores going, has never worried about it and enters the place each day excited, happy and with all the hugs!  I love knowing that she will always be doing something fun and be outside.  She is always at a different park, walking to school, going to the farm, going to the zoo – everywhere.  Her life is rich and exciting because of Sarah, Mark and Lily.  They are always doing different sorts of crafts that are brought home proudly by Rosie.  She is well fed with structured mealtimes and warm, hearty food.  She is always returned to us clean (I’m amazed!) and happy.  Her routine makes her feel safe and secure, and when she was napping I could feel happy I knew the nap was happening in a warm and safe environment.  Sarah always has amazing activities for the kids to do at home, like worm collecting , playing with an abundance of toys and books, playing in the sand box, and a million other things.  Being taken out to a playground in the summer to have a picnic tea and run around is my favourite thing for Rosie as I know they’re all really making the most of the sunny days.  During toilet training, Sarah and Mark and Lily were amazing, slowly introducing them all to the concept, helping them continuously and celebrating the wins.  They worked with us on when was the right time for Rosie and we all nailed it! 

We are only leaving Sarahs fulltime care at the end of this year because it is time for Rosie to start nursery at the school she’ll be going to reception at in 2026, and it is much closer to home (and where her brother will be in Year 3).  We are very sad for her journey to end, although we’re hoping she can come back in the school holidays.  We recommend everyone to Sarahs care because Rosie, and all the children, are happy, well taken care of by an observant, caring, welcoming team of people who are invested in her growth, mindset and making sure they are always playing and having fun.  Rosie understands responsibility, sharing, playing carefully with others and the importance of good food and set routines primarily because of how she’s been brought up in the care of Sarah, Mark and Lily.  Our son was in one of the best nurseries in London and then one in Berkhamsted and I feel much better leaving Rosie with Sarah than there because of the strong impact she has on the children, the routine she brings but importantly the love and care she has for each child. 

Thank you for everything team – you rock x x

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Our 20-month-old son Alfie has been attending Sarah’s Childminding Services Ltd three days a week since just after his first birthday—and we truly couldn’t be happier with the care, attention, and opportunities he receives there.

Before joining Sarah’s setting, Alfie had a short and difficult experience at nursery. The communication wasn’t great, and it simply didn’t feel right for him. We viewed several other nurseries but struggled to find anywhere that matched our hopes—until we found Sarah. From our very first interaction, Sarah and her team stood out. They welcomed us with genuine warmth, were incredibly patient and understanding during Alfie’s settling-in period, and never rushed the process for us or for him. We felt instantly reassured, and that trust has only deepened over time.

Alfie has absolutely flourished in her care. His development has come on in leaps and bounds, and we’re certain it’s because of the enriching and active experiences he enjoys with Sarah and her team. From regular trips to the farm, soft play, and local parks, to thoughtfully planned indoor activities, every day is filled with learning through play, movement, and meaningful interaction. These kinds of experiences are so valuable for children his age—they help him explore the world around him, build confidence, and support his physical and emotional development in such natural, joyful ways.

Even on the odd day when the children don’t go out, there is absolutely no shortage of stimulation and fun. Sarah has devoted her entire home to the children’s experience, creating a space that is warm, exciting, and full of opportunities to learn and play. It’s clear how much thought has gone into making every corner of her setting a place where children can thrive. Alfie is always happy and engaged, and we never worry that he’s not getting enough stimulation or variety.

Sarah has also supported us with day-to-day parenting challenges, such as teeth brushing. It was something we really struggled with at home, but thanks to her gentle and consistent approach, Alfie got used to it in her setting—which made things much easier for us as parents. That kind of support is absolutely invaluable and speaks volumes about the level of care and attention she gives to each child’s individual needs.

Communication is another standout strength. The Baby Days system is clear and easy to follow, and we especially love the regular photo updates on the private Instagram account. It gives us a lovely window into Alfie’s world when we’re not with him. Alfie’s grandparents also get to see what he’s been up to, which means so much to our family.

We truly feel so lucky to have found Sarah’s Childminding Services Ltd. It is a setting filled with warmth, energy, and deep commitment to the children in its care. We have nothing but praise for Sarah and her incredible team, and we wholeheartedly recommend her to other families and to Ofsted.

Warmest regards,

Katie and Elliott (Alfie’s parents)  

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Jasper started with Sarah at the age of 10 months old after doing four months at a local Nursery . We made the decision to change Jaspers Childcare arrangements, because we felt that our sons needs weren’t being met and he wasn’t thriving in the environment. We can honestly say that this was the best decision we could have made. 

From the beginning the settling in process was absolutely seamless, we did 3 1/2 weeks of with the varied hours and days so Jasper got a real taste for what his days would be like and there was no problems, Sarah communicated brilliantly and we felt totally at ease. 

Since starting with Sara three full days a week Jasper is absolutely in his element. We have seen such big developmental leaps, he is hitting all his milestones and I think the balance of him being with his own age and older children is hugely advancing him. We love picking him up because he is always beaming. We always get a great debrief on pick up and Sarah will let us know if there is anything we should be aware of and tells us about his day. 

Sarah and her husband and Lilly do the most fabulous job with the kids, they are always doing activities being taken places and so much of the play is outside focused which is a huge plus for us. We are extremely happy with the communication, with the care, and how we can see what they are up too via the private insta. We feel our son is safe and happy and that is all that we could ever want and we trust Sarah emphatically. 

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We really love the setting for Robin, it feels homely, yet really well organised and really professional. The teams extensive experience really shows and I’m completely confident they provide a safe, fun and caring environment for Robin. 

We absolutely love the fact that the children are out and about everyday, as it really suits an active / busy child like ours. She’s so used to being out on adventures she climbs in her buggy at home and shouts ‘bye’ if we aren’t up and out promptly enough for her at weekends 

Sarah, Mark and Lily clearly have a genuine passion and care for the children. Robin obviously loves the place and happily trots off every morning. I feel like she’ll come away a confident, well round, well mannered little girl after her years with Sarah and co. 

Sarah has also gone above and beyond in supporting us with teeth brushing and sleep advice. Support I’m sure we wouldn’t have received elsewhere. We really appreciate extra support and guidance. 

We also really like having the Instagram account so we can see what she’s been up to. They take them to so many exciting places, it’s a child’s dream! 

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My daughter Bibi has been looked after by Sarah and her team since she was 8 months old (she is now three). Bibi attends four or five days a week, for about nine hours between 8am and 6pm. Sarah and her team have been super supportive and caring, my daughter is thriving under her care. 

Things that we love about “Sarah’s house,” Sarah’s team and Sarah herself:

- Joy, happiness, bonds: my daughter is very happy and talks with excitement about going to Sarah’s house (even asking to go there on her days off, which we try not to take personally!) Sarah and her team have a fantastic bond with my daughter. They know her well and can anticipate her needs. They know when she is coming down with an illness or acting out of sorts and tell me straight away by text or at pickup if it’s later in the day.  

- communication: We love the instagram account, which is a great way of seeing what the children have been up to. At drop off, Sarah always asks about Bibi’s night and how she is today. She’s always up for a chat even with lots of other parents arriving at the same time. Sarah is also super responsive to calls and texts during the day, and will send extra information and pictures if you’re at all worried about anything. The WhatsApp group is practical and frequently used, the monthly email is informative and helpful. Sarah has also encouraged contact between parents, which has given us a great network (and lots of new friends). We regularly do play dates with other families from Sarah’s house, and see the other children and parents most weekends for different classes or trips to the park.

- Development: my daughter is meeting and exceeding all of her development milestones, and Sarah and her team help her to do things I might not have tried yet. Sarah and her team really understand what children are capable of and supports them to achieve this (and also when they’re not ready to do things yet).  Bibi has been able to put her coat on independently since she was two, she is nearly there with other aspects of dressing herself. At the playground, in her football class, in the swimming pool she is more physically capable than a lot of her peers; and while we do lots of physical play at home, I believe this is also due to the activities Sarah organises for the children while in her care (soft play, playgrounds, games in the park such as races and rolling down hills etc). She is up for climbing to the top of the tallest climbing frame due to Sarah’s encouraging (yet safe) approach to risk-based play. Bibi has been able to use cutlery for a long time, and also enjoys colouring and making things that require “fine motor skills.” Sarah supports children to do new things, and celebrates when they succeed (eg conquering the big slide, doing a poo in the toilet!)

- social skills: I don’t know how she does it, but Sarah really encourages strong friendships between the children in her setting and this transcends age as well! Bibi has built brilliant friendships with her peers but also talks enthusiastically about playing with the babies and older children. Compared to other children her age, Bibi and her friends from Sarah’s do well at sharing and turn taking (which I might not expect at 3). Bibi is polite to adults and interacts appropriately with strangers when we’re out and about. Obviously some of this is from how we are at home, but I know it’s also Sarah’s expectation of the children when out and role modelled by Sarah, Mark and Lily.

- particularly for big milestones it feels like a team between us and Sarah, and Sarah knows each child individually: when we started potty training, Sarah essentially showed us how to do this and started for us in her setting. It was a complete team approach, and even though we had setbacks Sarah gave us loads of advice and help, and ensured we took a similar approach at home and at her house. We needed less support with food and weaning but I know other parents have found this helpful. There have been other examples though; my daughter had a problem with her speech, which we didn’t know was due to hearing loss. Sarah was one of the first to recognise there was something unusual going on and was very supportive as we went through various medical tests and procedures to correct Bibi’s hearing.

- Activities and learning about the world: one of the reasons we picked Sarah’s house for childcare (as well as Sarah’s experience and Sarah as a person), is the approach to taking the children out and about, spending time outside and making everyday activities learning opportunities. Sarah takes the children to places like pets at home and garden centres, as well as the zoo, Tring museum, the farm, soft play and loads of different playgrounds. It’s a big deal to leave your child with other adults who then take them out and about, but I have every confidence in Sarah. I know she and the team thoroughly research the place they’re going to, and also isn’t afraid to try somewhere new if it’s safe and can work for the children while offering them a new experience. Bibi loves going out in the bus! We also love the amount of time the children spend outdoors, and the balance between trips and child-led/free play at home or at a toddler group. 

- organised and flexible: Sarah and her team are super organised and also really flexible with hours and extra days which is hugely helpful to us as working parents. 

We couldn’t be without Sarah, Mark and Lily

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Our daughter has been at Sarah’s since just before her 1st birthday.

From the first moment we visited we got that feeling that Sarah and her team would be a caring, fun and stimulating place for adventures and learning.

The activities Sarah and the team do with the children are fantastic, trips out, road safety, how to care for each other, playing and exploring, crafts, school prep thier is an endless list. As the they get older you see the change in activities they get to do whilst the younger ones take a nap and I see now that these activities start to lead to being ready for the next chapter school.

School preparation- our daughter has certainly been prepared for going to school by Sarah and her team things like being able to putting on shoes and coats and zip them up, how to hold a pen/pencil, using scissors. All with the added bonus of still being able to play.

Personally I feel that being at a childminder where for four years she has been able to grow and interact with older and younger children is invaluable, there  has been peer learning as well as learning from older friends and caring for younger friends that you don’t get from a nursery setting where children are often in age groups.

Sarah this is a heartfelt THANK YOU from the anxious nervous mum on day one to the now very proud mum of a confident, caring child who is heading to school.

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Sarah and Mark have been looking after our two boys for three years now – from toddler/pre-school stage to after-school care. They have always been incredibly accommodating and flexible, and have been an absolute lifeline for us.

The thing that attracted me most to Sarah’s setting was the atmosphere of a big family. It really feels like a big happy home. The kids muck in together, and eat round a big table, and I feel they are accepted and loved for who they are. Having babies and big kids together mean the little ones learn from the big ones, and the big ones learn to be kind and helpful, and it also gives them a sense of responsibility. I also like the emphasis that Sarah and Mark place on being outside: playing in their amazing garden, or a local park, or walking to and from school. The play equipment in their garden is fantastic, and their house is wonderfully set up with toys and brilliantly organised. It has been an added bonus that Sarah is close to the staff at the village school, so our kids were introduced to the school grounds and teachers before they started, which I think helped their confidence.

The logistics of working with Sarah and Mark have always been fantastic – it’s never a problem to rearrange cover, and the payment system is efficient. I always like looking at what they’ve been up to on Instagram as well. All in all, I would highly recommend any parent to come and meet the team and see for yourselves!

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We couldn’t recommend Sarah enough. Sarah took Arlo in January 2021 and gave a sense of normality for him after his first year had been through the various covid lockdowns. Sarah really helped give Arlo an excellent start in life, the wonderful trips, playing and learning with other children in such a warm and welcoming setting. Arlo is a confident, contented and happy young boy and we believe Sarah has had a significant role in his development.