Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 43400

just make your friend aware that au pairs are not registered and do not receive training etc. personally i'd be looking at a childminder for a 10 month old to ensure they're fully trained in everything e.g. first aid, childcare etc.

Reply ID 43405

Registered childminders can be found here - I haven't used any of them but I believe they're all OFSTED-ed and police checked etc, etc http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp

Reply ID 43414

I've had four au pairs, two fantastic and two that were awful. It is a bit of pot luck with what you get. They are fine for helping out with housework, taking older children to school etc but there is no way I would leave a 10 month old child all day with someone who is not qualified in any way and possibly has no experience with young children who is also likely to be homesick and whose English is possibly not that great either. Your friend needs a childminder or a day nursery.

Reply ID 43419

2 Au Pairs. Both a disaster. Never again for us.

Reply ID 53346

Can anyone recommend a nursery in Hertford please? We're going to view them all but just wondered if anyone could recommend one over the others?

Reply ID 53405

Tiny Toes over all the others. only disadvantage is lack of garden, but they're working on this.

Reply ID 53421

We are big fans of Busy Bees - it has been great for us for both our little ones.

Reply ID 53557

Grasshoppers is our fave so far, although waiting to see Busy Bees and Monkey Puzzle.

Reply ID 53591

I'd suggest reading the ofsted reports for the ones you're interested in. It made us remove a couple from our list. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/

Reply ID 53618

Already read the Ofsted reports for Grasshoppers and more than happy with it. There are no published reports for Tiny Toes or Monkey Puzzle

Reply ID 53619

Bengeobabe, we viewed Tiny Toes last week and I don't know what it was, but it didn't feel quite right. When we were at Grasshoppers, all the staff were fussing around my daughter whereas we didn't get that at Tiny Toes. We've already discounted that as an option. They have apparently just got planning permission for a garden though. I do like the fact that it's smaller than the others, but there was just something about Grasshoppers that made it stand out so far. Off to see Monkey Puzzle tonight, which has by far the best setting - a converted Barn in Cole Green. Will have to go for a second viewing when the kids are there though

Reply ID 53622

i have to say that out of all the nurseries, Tiny Toes were the cuddliest, and my little girl couldn't be better looked after. it is a small home from home nursery - much less regimented than grasshoppers, but the less people that go to TT the better as far as i'm concerned!!

Reply ID 54162

Does anyone know when the garden will be ready at Tiny Toes? Their website says work will commence in Jan 2008 but there are no further updates...

Reply ID 54166

they have been working through a few issues with neighbours etc. but have got planning permission. your guess is as good as mine now!

Reply ID 55928

Hi, just seen your message. Dont know if your friend has found a childminder but I am Ofsted registered and been childminding for 9 years. I have a vacancy at present so let me know if I can be of any help. Thanks

Reply ID 55960

Definately Grasshoppers. I moved my daughter from Tiny Toes to there...the original reason was due to lack of garden at TT but once she was at Grasshoppers I was so glad we changed. The staff were great, my daughter made friends quickly, was happy and ate quite well there.

Reply ID 63791

Ofsted reports are now available for monkey puzzle - Does anyone here use this place? what are their thoughts? For us it's between monkey puzzle and grass hoppers, at the moment it's 1 vote each from my wife and I, so looking for some way of making a decision :)

Reply ID 63817

we would have loved to take the little one to Monkey Puzzle, but the final nails in the coffin were that they wouldnt take her for just one day a week (which was what we wanted at the time - she is now in Two days a week). Secondly, Although the traffic is bad in the mornings geting to Grasshoppers, it's not as bad as it would be coming back from Monkey Puzzle and getting snarled on the A414 approaching the Railway Bridge roundabout. She loves Grasshoppers and I'm glad we chose it.