I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to you for the care, compassion, attention, warmth and interest you show to Fionn, Orlagh and myself. The children are really thriving at Bramble Bugs, learning to socialise with others, having the space physically, mentally and emotionally to develop, be themselves and learn about themselves and their environment. The different approaches and tools you bring to childcare and child development really seem to suit the twins, but these tools are only as good as the crafts people using them, and you are using them very well!! You provide such a calm, loving and gently stimulating environment for the children and I’m learning a lot from you. Recording and sending me some of the songs you sing was such a kind thing to do and has been invaluable in connecting the work you do at Bramble Bugs to their home life and providing continuity.

Thank you for helping me with the transition of sending the twins out into the world and into the hands of another caregiver. You know how nervous I was about it and the fact that I feel so comfortable and relaxed when they are with you is a testament to you both.

Their language and social skills have come on in leaps and bounds and Bramble Bugs has been a wonderful setting for them to play and communicate outside of their little twosome.

As they have settled so well, next term I would really like to book one more morning a week and for the children to use this morning on alternate weeks to come on their own for a session. I feel confident enough to do this now and I think it is important for them to spend a little time in the world without the other and it will allow me to spend quality one on one time with each of them once a week.

It is very comforting to know that if I am having any developmental or behavioural issues with the twins I can discuss this with you and we can come up with a plan together as to how to tackle it – again ensuring continuity. The advice about Fionn and his nightmares was spot on and making one simple change stopped them completely.
So, thank you again for taking care of us as a family so well!
Siobhan M.

As a Mother, finding the right childcare setting for my two young children was of such importance to me. I needed to feel certain that they would be surrounded by nurturing and care and that they would have opportunities to expand, grow and flourish. From the moment I walked into Yuta’s beautiful garden and was met with a hug, a homemade cake, and a cup of tea, I knew I didn’t need to search any further. My children’s eyes widened as they took her hand and she led them into the garden and quietly encouraged them to explore. Her tenderness, kindness and genuine care for my children over the last few years had meant that they have grown in body and spirit, and have used their nimble fingers, minds and thoughts to do exactly what I hoped for them- to reach into the world with a caring and encouraging hand to softly guide them when I am not there.

In Yuta’s care they have laughed, cried and had their tears softly wiped from their cheeks, and be tucked under duvets and read stories when the winter tiredness came near. They have made beautiful keep sakes, met new friends, and most of all, developed a deep love of Yuta- she is a very important person in their lives. The importance is a product of the care she has shown them and the fun they have had whilst being at Bramble Bugs.

I am lucky enough to now call Yuta a friend, and despite my children not attending Bramble Bugs anymore, simply due to the fact that they no longer need childcare, Yuta is still a very big presence in our lives. They simply have loved their time at Bramble Bugs and regularly ask if they can return. The other day my daughter drew a beautiful picture of a sunny bright house with a rainbow in the garden and a beautiful lady with a very happy face in it, when I asked my daughter who she was and where that place is, Heidi looked at me and said, ‘It’s Yuta and Bramble Bugs of course!’- of course it is darling, of course it is. Her picture kind of sums it all up’.
Jenny L.

Yuta has looked after children in my kindergarten group during the afternoons for a number of years. She is currently providing a child-minding service for 25 children who are attending or due to attend the Steiner Academy Hereford. Yuta has always demonstrated a very high level of professionalism, shown through the daily effort she makes to share hand-over discussions and in consistently working in partnership with me and my other three teaching colleagues to meet the social, emotional and learning needs of the children in her care. During the past year, Yuta has worked regularly with me to support a child in my Kindergarten with global development delay and she attended a medical training held at school with myself and my assistant for a specific health issue affecting this child.

Yuta works collaboratively with all four practitioners in our Early Years department to provide strong and steady rhythms in support of the work we do in Kindergarten and collaborates regularly to develop strategies for improving the behaviour of specific children in order that they receive a consistent level of support between the two settings attended by them.

Yuta provides a calm and nourishing home-from-home environment for the children and they are always very happy to go home with her at pick-up time. She can also be relied upon to pass on messages from me to the parents of children in her care and to act with complete discretion at all times.

Carolyn Bond (Head of Kindergarten – The Hereford Steiner Academy).

My two children Juliette and Lukas have been attending Bramble Bugs Childcare since it was first established. Both myself and my husband, Patrick, cannot sing the praises of Yuta and the childcare she provides highly enough. Yuta went out of her way to provide us with the childcare we needed when we first moved to Hereford, welcoming our children into their warm family. Our son and daughter consider themselves well and truly part of the Bramble Bugs family. They feel loved and welcomed, cared for and valued when they are with Yuta. The activities that Yuta provides are fantastic, giving the children a lovely variety of experiences. They are amazingly well thought out and it is obvious that a massive amount of planning and effort goes into the organisation of the children’s activities. The setting of Bramble Bugs is beautiful, inside Yuta ‘s home is beautifully set up for the children and the outside facilities are fantastic and well loved by the children. We feel very lucky that our children get to spend time with Yuta at Bramble Bugs and we will be forever grateful for the way they have welcomed the children into their family and looked after them with such love and care.

Laura H.

When I first met Yuta, we were at a mutual friend’s house and I had no idea that she was a childminder at the time. However, I noted how incredibly warm and friendly she was, and particularly how much my son, Teddy took to her straight away as well as how lovely Yuta interacted with him given she had never met him before. I later found out that Yuta was a childminder and immediately knew that if there was a time I wanted my son to be in any sort of childcare, she was the person I wanted to look after him. At that time Yuta wasn’t offering morning sessions and I felt Teddy was still a bit too young to be away from me as I wasn’t working and not in need of childcare.

About a year later, I found out that Bramble Bugs were offering morning sessions and I felt that it would be a good time to get my son gently used to being away from me before going to school later on in the year. I had absolutely no hesitation in sending him to Bramble Bugs and so we registered for him to start after Easter, 2017.

We had a settling in session, where Teddy just confidently left my side and got stuck straight into the beautiful play environments that Bramble Bugs offer. It was obvious that he was going to be happy! We then had a short talk with Yuta who explained how the sessions would run, and what a lovely calm environment they like to provide for the children and I was so excited for Teddy to start.

From day one, Teddy has been very happy. He leaves my side with a quick hug and gets straight into play without a worry about me leaving. He is always happy and content when I pick him up and loves to tell me about what a lovely time he has had. He looks forward to his sessions and often on days that he isn’t attending Bramble Bugs he asks if he can go there!

The communication we receive is excellent – the updates after each session, the Tapestry updates where we can see what our son has done during his sessions as well as the general checking of his wellbeing at the start of each session, and the email updates that we receive if there is anything additional that they feel they need to tell us. It is also lovely how is always so warm and caring towards my older son when we drop Teddy off in the morning.

I was always adamant that I wouldn’t send my children to a childminder as I had always had negative associations with ones I had met before, never finding one that seemed to really be enthusiastic about the care that they give. However, after meeting Yuta and seeing her beautiful setting, she completely changed that for me. I have absolute trust in the care that she gives to my son and I feel very blessed that Teddy has such a warm and caring environment as a gentle introduction to being separated from me. It is a really special place. We really are grateful to have found such a wonderful place for our son to be.

In conclusion, I would not hesitate in recommending Bramble Bugs for anyone looking for childcare. I honestly believe you couldn’t find a more calm, caring and wonderful environment than Bramble Bugs.

Charlie G.

I highly recommend Bramble Bugs as a safe, warm and friendly place for children to play and be well looked after by Yuta. The setting is truly magical, beautiful and carefully thought through. The activities the children partake in are varied, creative, engaging and fun. My son has enjoyed his first social experience without his mummy, the group is small enough to be intimate with each child’s needs met, he’s loved playing with his friends and shown confidence and independence. Our home doesn’t have the awesome sandpit, climbing frame, water pump or indoor activities on offer – Phoenix enjoys all these and more at Yuta’s! I feel like it’s a mini kindergarten, with all it’s natural beauty and rhythm, real play and the great outdoors! Preparing them for some of the skills needed to embark on a larger group of varied ages in September whilst being held, nurtured and guided by the very lovely and approachable Yuta!

Anna JR.

The whole Bramble Bugs experience has been phenomenally positive for both child and us as parents. Every Friday morning Tara is met with the upmost reverence and softness at drop off.

The love and attention she receives through the day is transparent when she comes back in the evening. Last Friday, her enthusiasm of saying ‘happy father’s day’ while handing me a bookmark she had made at childcare was one of the most touching experiences I have had as a parent. Her improvements in arts and crafts is evidence that she is progressing creatively & practically and is receiving the necessary adult input to encourage this.

The freedom of both the environment at the centre and the relationship that Yuta has nurtured with our daughter has facilitated in Tara a development in both spirit, intellect and enthusiasm for play.

It is our upmost ambition as parents that we engender the values in our child that will produce an adult whose self-esteem and value system will not be easily shaken by the vicissitudes of life. Entrusting her development to another adult at this early age was a monumental decision for us. Yuta has executed her role as our daughter’s guardian with the upmost professionalism and I have the most profound gratitude for her care and attention.

It is with this sentiment that I cannot rate Bramble bugs highly enough. We would whole heartedly recommend Bramble Bugs on the back of our experiences with it.

Paul & Anita F.

Yuta Fairs-Billam of Bramble Bugs Childminding Service has been my daughter’s childminder for the last 3 years. The setting offered at Bramble Bugs has all the benefits of a comfy and safe home environment with the added features of wonderful, adventurous outside play spaces filled with engaging activities.

Sukhi feels safe and happy at Yuta’s following a busy day of learning at school and I feel confident that my child is receiving an excellent standard of care, attention and safeguarding. Bramble Bugs manages the balance between engaging educational activities and the opportunity for the children to exhale and play after their day in their formal school setting.

My daughter has a loving relationship with Yuta, her own children and the other children who attend Bramble Bugs. Bramble Bugs operates a consistent daily rhythm and a clear behaviour code that the children understand and are comfortable adhering to.

Yuta treats the children with compassion and respect, recognising all their differing personalities and needs whilst maintaining a calm, happy and play-centred environment. It is very impressive to behold. I would not hesitate to recommend Bramble Bugs to parents seeking excellent childcare provision.

Claire C.