Brilliant childminder in Nunhead/Peckham Rye/East Dulwich

[RobbleMuji]

We didn't know where to start when we were looking for childcare for our six-month-old daughter in March last year. We did the obligatory nursery visits, but they didn't seem quite right for us/our daughter when she was so little and their waiting lists were years' long. Southwark Council has a childminder coordinator and she invited us to the childminders' weekly playgroup in Peckham Rye park. We met a few childminders there, including Sultana and Shah, and we visited them first. They're a husband-and-wife team with three older children (two daughters in their late teens/early twenties and one ten-year-old son) and they seemed great on our first visit. They had a light living room, conservatory and lovely garden for the children to play in (they are both childminders, so they can care for up to six children at a time). It was a lovely family set-up and they made us - and especially our baby - feel welcome. But we hadn't visited any other childminders, so we thought we should see a few more before we decided. We did visit a few more childminders and only then did we realise how great Sultana and Shah are! We promptly called them back to book our daughter's place.

Our daughter started going to Sultana and Shah for two days a week at first when she was almost seven months old. She now goes for three days a week and Sultana and Shah are wonderful with her. She wasn't a placid baby (!), she is always on the go, very cheeky, often picky with her food and she wouldn't take milk from a bottle or nap at regular times when she first joined them, so we were a bit worried about how she would be with a childminder. But Sultana and Shah have so much experience and they took it all in their stride. She really settled with them, the other children they look after, and their own older children, who are great with the little ones. Now 18-months-old, she bounds into their house in the morning and is always talking about "Amma and Abba" (as the children call them).

Sultana and Shah do so much with the children in their care - trips to playgroups, parks and the city farm, art and crafts, singing, reading, puppet shows... paddling pools and even a bouncy castle appeared in their garden throughout the summer. We don't actually know where they find the energy because they are always doing so much with the children. They cook for them (and us sometimes!) too and, most of all, make sure they're happy. Their set up is like a mini-nursery but with a more homely, family feel. They organise an annual picnic for parents in Peckham Rye Park every summer and take time to really get to know the children and their families too. Sultana regularly sends photos and videos of our daughter in the day, so we can see what she's getting up to and how happy she is. And there is always her latest artwork in her bag at the end of the day, along with a home-made father's day card for her dad last June. We feel we really lucked out finding Sultana and Shah.

We are having another baby so are going back to two days a week in the summer, and some other children Sultana and Shah look after are moving out of London or moving on to nursery now they're older, so they have a few spaces coming up. (They don't do school pick-ups so they're best for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.) Get in touch with Sultana to arrange a visit: [email protected]

[Miri1980]

I don?t know from where to start, when we were looking for a nursery for our 1 year old daughter was not easy to find the right place for her, luckily Sultana and Shah where recommended by a friend. I can?t be more grateful for this recommendation. Our daughters start going to Sultana and Shah?s house 5 days per week before she was 1 year old.

Our daughter absolutely loves to go there, they do loads of activity with the children?s every day, and they took them out to different playgroups every morning. The facilities provided from them is like a mini nursery, they have a beautiful home with a very nice garden where the kids can play. They cook home made food for them which is delicious,,, our daughter really loves it.

Definitely highly recommend to anyone that is looking for a childcare, from our experience we can only be grateful for all the good things that they teach to our daughter and all the love and caring from both of them. They are amazing 

Get in touch with Sultan to arrange a visit [email protected]

[Fionat]

I just wanted to echo the above comments! It really is so difficult to put in to words just how grateful we are that we found Sultana and Sha, they have been absolutely incredible and we will be forever grateful to them both for the love and care they have shown our daughter.

Our daughter started with Sultana and Sha at 11 months old and has gone to them 5 days a week (currently 3 days since the recent birth of her baby brother). Before we found Sultana and Sha we had been doing the usual visits to the local nurseries but kept getting a feeling that a nursery setting wasnt quite right for her at that young age. We were so lucky we found Sultana and Sha and found their setting really appealing as it seemed to offer the 'best of both worlds' - you receive a smaller more family orientated setting but given Sultana and Sha work together they can take up to 6 children (max) so this allows the little ones to still get plenty of opportunity to socialise. They specialise in taking children under 3 so it feels like a mini nursery but with a genuine family feel. In fact we really do feel as if they have become an extention of our own family and our daughter has absolutely loved it and loves them.

As mentioned in the posts above, Sultana and Sha take the children out on a daily basis to playgroups which again we found really appealing as our daughter could still benefit from getting 'out and about'. They always wear hi vis jackets when they are out. As for the setting itself, Sultana and Sha have recently renovated their home and have a beautiful open plan living area with sliding doors out to their lovely garden which is perfect for the kids with plenty of space to explore and run around. They provide freshly made home cooked meals and we have found our daughter has become very adventurous with different foods and tastes which has been fantastic.

Again as already stated above videos and photos are sent daily which is so appreciated and its really lovely to see what and how our daughter is doing. This was particularly reassuring in the beginning. Our daughter regularly brings art work home and cards for the various family occasions such as birthdays etc. Our daughter is not only happy and content but she has also developed incredibly well. Sultana and Sha are very good at sitting with the children and introducing colours, letters, numbers etc and I'm amazed at how much our daughter has learnt with them. In addition Sultana has been very supportive at providing advice where needed and also advised us that our daughter was ready for potty training which we received full support with.

As mentioned, Sultana and Sha specialise in providing childcare for under 3's and our daughter is fast approaching this age and will therefore be going to nursery very soon. We are so sad that this time has come. As a result of this Sultana and Sha have a place coming up. Currently our daughter is doing 3 days but we would certainly suggest reaching out to Sultana to understand days/timings etc. We really cannot recommend them enough, they are absolutely fantastic and such loving, warm and caring people.

Do get in touch with Sultana to arrange a visit - [email protected].