Testimonials

“Auntie Sandy… we are very grateful for the start E. had with you. She is definitely ahead of things when it comes to learning.. Her reading has taken off and she and H. have their own reading sessions with the teachers because they are so advanced! And that … is down to all the work you did … Her teacher said they always love getting children who have been to The Aunties! It is obviously because you ground them so well in so many aspects of life…. Lots of love to you all” FP

“Dearest Auntie Sandy …. The Aunties fill the world with love!”

“Dear Sandy, Vahik, and Ahlexi…. I just wanted to reiterate my heartfelt appreciation for the dedication, hard work and wisdom with which I see you running this nursery behind the scenes. We are both so grateful for the work you and all your staff do to create such a special, nurturing, safe, fun, and loving environment and we are equally grateful for your efforts to stay this way! Business is often seen as structures and statistics, but I think what makes your business so successful….. is that you keep the ‘human’ in the picture, and for me that is worth more than the little extra money we are paying for it. That is why I chose your nursery. Thank you again for having the courage to stick with your own vision of what works, from which E, and we as her parents benefit enormously. The experience of seeing E bound off excitedly to see her tribe is so precious and we are very glad to have found you! Love P,P,E.”

“Dear Ahlexi, Sandy, and Vahik… we have been really impressed and very happy with Aunties and all your staff who are a real asset and wonderful influence on the children.”

“Our daughter has benefited hugely from the nurturing environment provided at The Aunties, and the attention to her all-round development has been second to none. There is a palpable sense of teamwork amongst the staff which creates a calm, structured, and happy environment for the children. I feel S is part of a big family and learns enormously through her social interactions with children both younger and older than her, under the attentive guidance of the staff. The Aunties’ ethos is one of fairness, kindness, respect, dedication, and fun. It is from this foundation that the children develop a solid sense of self and of community as well as thoughtfulness, teamwork, patience, resilience, discernment, and countless other life skills. Auntie Sandy’s Advice Clinic has been of great support when we have come across parenting challenges, and we feel that the nursery setting enhances what we’re able to provide our children. Our 8-year old, who herself attended Aunties, loves coming back during school holidays. Both our girls come back home beaming – as well as counting in French, Spanish, and English, and with better table manners:) Through both the formal assessments and the detailed everyday feedback, it is clear the Aunties as a team know exactly what each child’s next goal is and their progress in general, and that they have their best interests at heart. The outdoor element is key to the way the nursery is run, and the Aunties use it to the children’s full advantage. The Aunties’ solid grounding in child development and genuine investment in each child, supports every child as a whole person. The nursery goes above and beyond expectations, and there is nothing I would change about it PK”

“Dear Sandy, Vahik, Ahlexi, and all the Aunties and Auncles, ….. Thank you so much for three and a half years of care, wisdom and love for S (and [mum] at times too!!!). S’s development has been something else – and we both strongly believe that the Aunties are a major part of that. We have been blown away by the work that your team does on a daily basis – we simply couldn’t fault it. You have something very special going on there – box it up, keep it and treasure it. We hope that many more children experience what S has during their early years…..You should also reflect on what a brilliant team you are and be proud about what you do on a daily basis….from Auntie Sandy’s surgeries through to constant reassurance to parents who are new to parenthood – you help in so many ways that have such a massive impact on family life. Over the past 18 months, you have dealt with a once in a lifetime event, and you’ve done that with resilience, humility, and happiness at all times. Well done and congratulations to you all. All our love, G, A and S xx”

“Dear Auntie Sandy, Many thanks for your time today discussing my child; I really appreciated it. Lots to think about including many positive suggestions which I have already started to implement. You really made me reflect and for that I am very grateful…. Thank you” WP

“Good morning Ahlexi, Hope you are doing well among all the craziness! I stumbled across this … poetry on the theme of ‘pudding’! It made me think of our first visit to the Aunties and Auntie Sandy giving [child] a squeeze and calling him a ‘little pudding’- I just thought it was so sweet and such a loving and warm term of endearment!). I thought I would share this lovely memory I have of first coming to Aunties…… Thank you for all you are doing to keep everyone well looked after, safe and sane during this time! …it’s so clear to me that you have the well-being of the children AND the parents firmly at heart and are always going the extra mile (or extra hundred miles at that!)… VP”

“Hi Ahlexi …..I trust you all absolutely to make the best decisions for the kids. All our experience of Aunties have shown me that….I can’t recall a single decision you have made over all these years that I’ve felt was off the mark and have always been greatly reassured by your wise and balanced thinking. I’m also greatly reassured by your ability to listen to parents’ opinions but not be swayed by them away from what you think is right. That is real leadership and I value it greatly. I know you consider and examine every decision in depth… and you have my absolute trust and support…. PR”

“Dear Auncle Ahlexi, and the entire Aunties’ Family…. the absolutely unwavering love, care, and commitment you give to all the children is simply unbelievable. I struggle daily with the stress of what’s next and how do we cope, and to be doing the same and yet able to sing, dance, and have a smile on your face all the time really does deserve a medal. I just wanted to do something as a personal gesture of thanks and appreciation of everything that you do….. I hope you like the picture. It captures what I think everyone feels when they are there – a place of magic, fun and love. Keep smiling, your efforts are not going unnoticed PT”

“To Sandy, Vahik and all the wonderful Aunties, …… we first visited Aunties on the off-chance that we’d found nursery for our precious little boy. We didn’t find a nursery that day – we found a magical, wonderful home-from-home filled with a loving family. We couldn’t quite believe our good fortune…… What remained consistent was the huge amounts of care, attention and love shown to all the children, and we certainly think this is what helped T to grow and develop into the caring, sharing and loving little boy of whom we are so very proud…..Aunties is such a special place, not just for the children, but for the parents too, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts. We’ll pop back from time to time to say hello and get our “fix”. All our love, P,C and T.”

“Dear Aunties and Auncles, What an amazing milestone! You must be so proud of all you have built, children nurtured, and accomplishments made. Happy to be celebrating with you. Here’s to many more anniversaries! :)” Love L,L, JC

“… As an employee of the Nursery, I’ve been able to witness first-hand this unique organization entirely focussed on a learning programme to teach children to be well-rounded, kind, responsible, and environmentally-conscious little people who are deeply connected to the natural environment…… I’ve had the opportunity to continue with my formal education ….. and received world-class in-house training constantly in psychology, first aid, safeguarding, relationships, values – which I can say, without doubt, has made me a better person….. As part of the culture and values…. we are treated like family…..”

“I have known the owners of The Aunties since 1989, when my daughter started to attend as a baby. I knew from my first meeting….what has been reported by OFSTED, Investors in People, and various organizations over the years, that this is an exceptional facility. As a parent, they offer everything that you could wish for your own child – and more. Their emphasis on the individual, personal attention to each child, and passion about outdoor education make The Aunties unique……. wonderful for those who attended as pupils to look forward to sending their own children to this amazing place!” VM

“We appreciate your integrity and clarity of purpose. Thank you”, PK

“… Can I….just take the opportunity to say how wonderful the settling in process is at Aunties?! A had two weeks of settles and just did his first couple of days there this week, and has been so happy and comfortable there! I have also felt so supported by Sandy and the lovely Aunties about my feelings upon returning to work and leaving A! What a wonderful place! We are feeling so lucky that A is attending Aunties! Thank you again D and A”

“….The Aunties offer inspirational and fundamental outdoor learning opportunities for the children in their care in a way that is unique to them. Not only do these experiences produce self-esteem and confidence, they also promote understanding and respect for our local environment. In an age where there is concern over children’s disconnection from nature, this type of education is essential and often hard to find….. I have no doubt of the many benefits for the children that attend The Aunties in having such rich opportunities to be outside on a regular basis….. There is much current research into the positive effects of the natural world on health and well-being, and, with the current focus on mental health, settings such as this will offer not only short-term learning for the children, but long-term positive outcomes for their health. In 2016, the RSPB ran a study….into correlations between children’s connection to nature and education, wellbeing, and action to save wildlife. They state: “The results of this pioneering research confirm the benefits on health, wellbeing, and even educational attainment of raising children, the future custodians of nature, with a sense of responsibility for, and kinship with, the natural world”….. A further study from the University of Plymouth found “many and varied benefits to children of living in the natural environment, not just from an educational perspective, but also in terms of their behaviour, social skills, health and wellbeing, resilience, confidence, and sense of place”. The Aunties have always been highlighted as a leader in this field, offering exemplary practice – and this is supported by their recent connection with Professor Anders Szczepanski, Sweden, a recognized world expert in outdoor play for children. To gain the support of such a high profile expert demonstrates the regard in which their practice is held….. I know the Enjily family are passionate about what they do….” KC, Forest School Service

“To all the Aunties and Auncles! Thank you for all of the love, care, and guidance you have provided for L and our family. We are very sad to be leaving you ….. As parents working in educational settings, we understand how important relationships are. The love, care, and guidance you provide, along with your attention to detail and the way you speak about L really highlight why he enjoys his time with you so much and the bond you created. Thank you for EVERYTHING! KCL and SWB”

“Good morning lovely Aunties and Auncles, we are very proud to have [our child] at such a unique and, frankly, incredible place. We see the results of how you look after him, love him and nurture his amazingness in his behaviour, confidence and joyfulness every day. Thank you so much……” RM

Observations from baby signing experts “Little Signers Club”, Little Signers Club is constantly developing its training provision for Early Years practitioners; on such occasions where we have new material that requires evaluating, The Aunties have been kind enough to allow us access to their highly-trained team. Their continuing feedback – and enthusiasm for our work – has proved invaluable. It ensures that our training is able to support the EYFS correctly as well as guarantee that our training is providing the right level of accessibility and information to inform the practice of other Early Years professionals throughout the UK.Last year, as a result of our continual re-evaluation and joint working practices with The Aunties, Little Signers Club was awarded Best Infant Sign Language Training Company (UK) in the 2016 Consultancy Awards. We also provide workshops for Childcare Expo (Coventry 2016 / London 2017) which have previously been ‘approved’ by the Aunties and which have been very popular at the Show. Over the years, Sandy has kindly reviewed other material for Little Signers Club which has gone on to be published internationally.In my experience, The Aunties at The Aunties’ Old School Nursery are an outstanding example of dedicated staff who have a deep understanding of how the nurture of young children provides ‘peak’ learning experiences for all concerned (Maslow / Bloom). I am always welcomed with enthusiasm and interest; their dedication to the support of children, in any way that is required, is inspirational. It is my privilege to be able to work alongside them….” Shelley Ensor, Founder, Little Signers Club (UK / UAE)

“We leave Aunties with a very heavy heart…..We are so appreciative of all the care you have given … and know that they have both been extremely happy with you and all the Aunties. As we have tried nurseries as far away as Australia, I think that I have strong evidence that you are simply the best nursery in the world!!! Thank you again, Lots of love, TM”

“I am so grateful that we had the pleasure of Aunties in our lives for this important time of healing and growth. You are exceptional at how you care for children … and there are many children who need… you in their lives. May you always be well, blessed and receiving of all the love that you give out to others, With our heartfelt love and thanks MFH”

“Dear Sandy and Vahik, A very HUGE thank you for such a lovely party! The children had such a wonderful time, and I loved the Aunties inspirational performance! If you ever have enough of the nursery game you could always take to the stage!”

“Dear Aunties, thank you so much for everything… You have truly lovely, funny, happy personalities and every day I go to work with a smile having dropped the girls off. I feel truly blessed that our girls are looked after by you all. Thank you for the amazing job you do!”

“A conversation the other weekend at home: “Daddy, when I go to the big school, what will I do at the weekends?” “…… the usual things, like we do at the moment …” “…… maybe I can go to The Aunties; then ….” (It made us smile; it said a lot!)”

“Dear Ahlexi, ….. we have been thoroughly impressed with the excellent care you and your staff have provided for T over the past two years, and have been delighted with the way he has blossomed under your thoughtful, respectful, and loving guidance. We very much appreciated your flexibility in organizing his move from Wheatley to Stanton, which was a great success, and we are very grateful for him having had such a wonderful start in life. There are so many ways in which you have helped make his time at the Aunties both fun and educational, and I am sure we will share some of these at his review meeting on Tuesday afternoon. As an Attachment Therapist, J has been in awe of the way you manage to provide such a secure base for so many little ones. We will all miss the Aunties and will continue to recommend it to our friends and colleagues until you are flooded with the offspring of psychiatrists! ….. warmest thanks, J and JD

“Dear Ahlexi, Sandy and Vahik …. We are really loving having her in your nursery and already noticing how it is helping her take the next steps in her development and how confident and independent she is becoming. So I just wanted to thank you both for the love and care you so obviously put into the nursery and for your sensitivity and understanding of the children’s emotional needs (and the parents’!). Best wishes P

“Hi Sandy…. Your new logo is gorgeous; very apt as my first thoughts of ‘Aunties’ Nursery’ has always been children in their tog suits enjoying and exploring the great outdoors! Well done to whoever designed it!”

“Dear Aunties, Thank you all so much for looking after H for the past four years. She has had a wonderful time and has so many lovely memories of you, not forgetting her instructing us: “Hands in laps” and “Elbows of the table, darling” during meal times! I can’t quite believe our time with The Aunties has come to an end (sniff, sniff). Thank you once again, Lots of love, K,N,H and E”.

“Dear lovely Aunties, Thank you for all the care and love you’ve shown both our lovely girls and us. Thank you for everything you’ve taught them and for preparing them so well for big school. It’s been a fantastic six years and we’re so grateful for the brilliant start in life you’ve given them. We will miss you very much but we will always remember “a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck, the Aunties love us!” With love and thanks, A, P, S and ER”

“Dearest Aunties, We can’t thank you all enough for the fantastic care you have provided for A and O. We are always greeted with smiles, enthusiasm and loads of energy, which is always a great start to the day. We want to say an extra special ‘thank you’ to Auntie Sue for helping A through a very difficult situation … her insight and experience along with her warm, encouraging way really helped us all! We will always be grateful. Thank you all for all your care, cuddles and laughter…We will always remember you and have lovely memories of our time with you. Thank you again for being so lovely and for enriching the lives of A and O. You might say you were just doing your job, but we think it fair to thank you for the really excellent care you give. You don’t have a magic wand, but a hard working team that goes ‘above and beyond’ in a world that is increasingly “I’m all right, Jack”. Your dedication and professionalism deserve this pat on the back. Dearest Aunties, we will never forget you. Thank you! All our love and hugs, F, M, A and O”

“To Aunty Sandy, Uncle Vahik and all the Aunties, Thank you for offering a service that is one in a million having given generations of little people the very best start in life over decades. We are so lucky to be part of your very special and extended family. With much love, TD and J J and N xxxxx”

“To our dear Aunties, Thank you so much for your loving care…..We really couldn’t have asked for more when we were looking for a nursery for our son. You have been a great source of advice on everything from J’s eating habits to his eczema. Aunty Sandy even correctly diagnosed hand, foot and mouth after the doctor had dismissed it the day before! The details that you notice and the dedication you show really are amazing; thank you! Also thank you to Auntie Sandy and Auntie Sue for being shoulders to cry on (literally!). All our love, J, J, S. F

“Dear Sandy….thank you so much for helping the NES [National Eczema Society] with this important article. I really feel your input will bring the article to life and the nursery angle is very important (although I fully appreciate that The Aunties’ Old School Nursery is Gold standard!)….” Education in Dermatology

“Hi Sandy, Hi Vahik, ….. My jaw dropped to the floor yesterday, I have never known such honesty and business fairness – truly amazing! … Thank you.”

“Dear Ahlexi, Sandy and Vahik ….. I thought it might be useful and timely to provide you some feedback. From the moment C and I first visited Aunties when looking for a nursery for T, we knew we’d found the perfect place. Our initial visit provided us a view of a friendly welcome, a clean and safe environment and caring staff. It just appeared such a happy environment and the children clearly enjoyed being there. Despite Aunties being a 20-minute drive in the wrong direction and other, less costly options available closer to home, our decision to choose Aunties was a very easy one. To our delight and amazement even our initial expectations were surpassed once T started actually attending Aunties. What we found was all the things we expected, but more incredibly seeing the love and care bestowed upon the children really did make us realise we had found somewhere truly special. The efficiency, care and love with which Aunties is run, is truly incredible. No matter who greets us at the front door, there is always, without exception a happy, welcoming greeting. The drop-off and pick up procedures are clearly defined, easy to follow and fully overviewed by the Auntie or Auncle on ‘reception duty’. As we’d expect, the handling of any medicine is done with upmost care and attention. The facilities are first-class with a fantastic garden with plenty of areas to discover, providing a never-ending canvas for their imagination. Feedback of T’s’ day from how well he’d eaten, what activities he’d undertaken and praise for things he’d done well, are very important to us and are always provided. The proof of the work you do with him through play, singing, reading, writing and numbers far exceeds what we ever expected. In fact his development in all these areas was plain to see when we recently introduced him to a local pre-school for some additional mornings. They were amazed at what he could do and what he had learnt, much of this thanks to Aunties. With the benefit of clearly defined and published activities at Aunties, we can follow the same themes with T at home which of course aides further development. To us, the true measure of the nursery is demonstrated in the way in which T loves attending Aunties, enjoying the varied, fun and enlightening days he spends in your care. We never cease to be amazed at the developmental changes we have seen during his time at Aunties, seeing first-hand when we drop him off and collect him how he interacts with the other children, forming friendships and the genuine love he has for all the Aunties… In our eyes, it really is a very magical place, and we are so very lucky to have found you and that it you are in easy reach of our home. Moreover, we too, in addition to T, have been made to feel a part of the Aunties ‘family’, with help, guidance and support provided to us whenever we needed it or asked for it. In summary, Aunties has proved and continues to prove to be an absolutely amazing nursery and thank you for looking after our precious little boy so well and helping us provide him with a perfect start to his life. With our warmest regards and enormous thanks for being ‘Aunties’..” C & P H

“Dear wonderful Aunties… You have been so absolutely fantastic – we feel so very lucky to have found you. The care, love, nurturing, learning, exploring, discipline and fun that you provide is amazing. Thank you for making our girls feel so cherished and encouraging them to be their kindest and best. With lots of love K P

“Dear Auntie Sandy, and all the Aunties, ….Suddenly I find it’s three years and a few months later and little 13 month old J is nearly 4 and a half and off to school! How did that happen?! We just wanted to thank you all so much for looking after J over the past 3 and a bit years. I don’t know if you remember, Sandy, but when I first met you I burst into tears – I had been back at work for a month and the childminder turned out to not really like children! J came to you and settled happily immediately – I particularly remember the way Auntie Sue asked J if she could pick him up and put him at his ease. I cried again when I left him with you for the first time – with relief! Thank you Auntie Sandy for your endlessly patient advice – I will miss your wisdom! You have all been a huge part of our lives for years – we will really miss you! Thank you! Lots of love, J,P,S and T.M”.

“The Aunties are excellent at recognising individual needs. They are very skilled in making a child feel important, valued, and well loved. I have no doubt when leaving my children that they will be treasured and nurtured all day.” A. and A.

“A parent leaving for logistical reasons wanted to provide the following reference: “… an excellent nursery. Having researched other forms of childcare Aunties offer many features which you don’t get with other childcare on offer… some of what is offered which I consider to be superior to other childcare offerings includes: (1) a large amount of outdoor play. Many other nursery providers offer outdoor play on a less consistent basis and my view having seen in other nurseries many children contained within a relatively small indoor space for what must be many hours (especially during the winter months) is that being outside is a good thing. My daughter loved it. (2) A daily timetable of activities which are of excellent quality and seem to happen more frequently than at other nurseries where they are a “special” event (or in some cases non-existent). Examples are cooking and baking, which all children regularly participate in, nature projects which all the children get involved in (birdbox, egg incubator, worms and caterpillar, etc), regular singing (my daughter teaches me songs she has learnt every night at bath time!) and listening to Classic FM every morning and book reading/ story time (which is particularly important for language skills). Some of these things do obviously take place with other childcare providers but at Aunties these types of things seem to be more ingrained in the culture. (3) Staff who appear to be more involved and personal in their care than at some other childcare providers. there is nothing more reassuring to a parent than to leave a child with a carer where they feel there is a personal bond being build or in existence with their child. Hearing both the carers and the other children at the nursery ‘calling out’ my daughter’s name as she walks into nursery in the morning and hearing her mention the names of some of her new child ‘friends’ … are some of the nicest feelings, that your child is more part of a family during the long hours of a working day. I would not hesitate to recommend Aunties” J.B.

“… I wax lyrical about The Aunties’ Old School Nursery at every opportunity and will continue to do so; don’t ever change. I love the way you cuddle the children and that you love each and every one as if they were your own. If only I could take you all with me! … Once again, thank you is just not a big enough word for how we feel about what you have done for us; we are so grateful”. A. and A.

“Dear Wonderful Aunties, We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love and care you have given to A. over the last four years. Your nursery is the most fantastic, happy and nurturing environment for any child. A. has been so blessed to have had your guidance, affection and support, giving her so many qualities which will stand by her for the rest of her life. We cannot possibly say goodbye but will see you soon as we will visit frequently. We wish you all the very best and may The Aunties’ Old School Nursery and your work continue to flourish. All our love ” P. and J.

“Our dearest Aunties, Well, what can we say? Each of you is so special and you have lavished love, affection and kindness on us every day for years. We feel so fortunate to have had you in our lives surrounding our boys with so much love as in an extended family. Your dedication to the children and your commitment to maintaining exceptional standards in your nursery are amazing. Thank you for giving our boys such a brilliant head start; your educational techniques are wondrous to behold (how do you make digraphs such fun for 3 and 4 year olds?)! We could go on and on, but basically we know we could not have been part of a better nursery!!! We are going to miss you all so very, very much. You”re dear friends and we”ll never forget you. Lots of love…” V. and S.

“Dearest lovely Aunties, How much we will miss you all. You have been so wonderful to us all. L. has blossomed and learnt so much and enjoyed every moment with you. She”s so lucky to have had you as her friends…. We”ll be back … W. and C.

“What can I say? Thank you all so much for your kindness (to us and to the children): for caring; for calling H. “princess” (it always makes her smile); for teaching J. table manners!!; for giving me total peace of mind: and for giving our children five wonderful years of memories that will stay with them forever. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We will miss you! With all our fondest love, M. and M.

“We would like to thank you and the other Aunties for the excellent care that you have provided for T. and K. … I have been very impressed by the happy, stimulating, family atmosphere that you create, and the emphasis on fun while also providing a learning environment.” L.P.

“E. has spent his most formative years in an environment which quite simply could not have been bettered…. A formal thank you from us both for not only caring for our child in a way that completely alleviated our anxieties, but also for helping us develop his personality in a manner which has always met with our absolute approval. Thank you too for your personal warmth in making all members of our family feel so welcome at every arrival and departure…. E”s departure will bring to an end the regular “socio-foodie” consultations…. It won’t be quite the same at the school gates … Once again, thank you all for everything. P. and M.N.

“Dearest Aunties, Thank you so much for all of the kind and loving care you provided. We feel incredibly lucky that she had the opportunity to attend such a wonderful nursery where each individual is made to feel so valued, important and loved…. The Aunties’ is such a special place… Thank you so much! K D and E S

“Dear Ahlexi, Sandy, and Vahik, I just wanted to thank you both for the love and care you so obviously put into the nursery and for your sensitivity and understanding of the children’s emotional needs (and the parents!). PK

“Thank you so much for helping me bring up O. You have taught him, loved him and supported him. You have given me the gift of being able to develop myself at a time when it could have been impossible. I couldn’t have hoped for anything more. Thank you for loving him. A. xxx”

“Dear Aunties, What a BIG THANK YOU we have to say to you. Thank you for giving T. such a secure, loving (and firm – when needed!) environment in which to blossom and grow in confidence. And thank you for all the invaluable parenting advice thrown in when times have been tough and exhausting. You gave us the confidence to keep going and low and behold things are getting easier. You are UNIQUE! We will miss you ALL. Much love K. and R.

“Sandy, you are a joy to work with and you deserve the accolades you have achieved” Children, Education and Families Directorate “holistic development, emotional intelligence, and building self-esteem in and through a natural environment is central to The Aunties…. Oxfordshire Forest School Service

“… I have taken great interest in the growth and development of the nursery. From a small and modest start it has developed into an outstanding example of what Nursery Education should be. This was recognised in the recent Ofsted inspection when the nursery received an excellent grade in all categories. From the outset the warm and caring relationship with children was apparent , as was the respect for each child as an individual, having emotional, social, physical and educational needs to be nurtured. This relationship is summed up in their other name “The Aunties”. This is not sloppy idealism but a family that cares for each other, where older children care for those who are younger, where sharing is important, as is the need for children to have the space and time to develop their own ideas… Structured learning is there when the individual child is ready to progress at his or her own pace, but as in a family, you also do things together in small or large groups. Every opportunity is taken to exploit the natural surroundings of the site as a play area, and as a place for exploring the natural world. Sandy has a talent for producing an internal classroom with the collective art of the children as interesting as the outside world. Sandy also has the ability to enthuse parents, and her staff, who are trained to be as caring, encouraging and aware of each child’s individual needs as she is. I have no doubt that what she has achieved Mrs Enjily can replicate wherever she goes …”. P.H. (Long-standing educator)

Dear Sandy, Thank you so much for giving my three children such a wonderful start in life. You are always so kind, supportive, helpful and loving. I am so grateful to have met you and appreciative of your wonderful work. You truly are a special soul. With love, E.W. xx

Dear Aunties, Thank you so much for all your help and support over the last year. You’ve helped me to grow into a big boy ready to go to school. Your love and kindness have made nursery such a happy time for me.. I shall treasure many happy memories and the wonderful times I’ve had. It’s been a privilege to be part of the Aunties’ family and I’ll keep in touch to let you know how I get on in the future. With grateful thanks, love and best wishes from A.L.

All of the Aunties, You are all my heroes! Love L.

Dear Aunties, Thank you for all your hard work and loving kindness. You’re an outstanding example to all of us.,Love from I.R. XXX

To all the wonderful Aunties,….Since he joined you’ve transformed him in so many ways. He’s so much more confident and able to play with other children, and his reading and writing have amazed us! It’s quite something when your three year-old has to explain to you what a ‘digraph’ is… We’ve been amazed and delighted with the way you’ve looked after C, and also with the support and advice you’ve given us too. Neither we nor C. will ever forget the Aunties! Love, A., P., and C.

Dear Dr. Vahik and Auntie Sandy, …..A. told me one day (when I was picking him up from school: “I miss the Aunties…”. It gave me this heart-breaking but heart-warming feeling at the same time, as he misses you because he loves you very much…. A’s hands got cold burn at school a couple of weeks ago. That also made me think of you because that never happened while he was looked after by you (or by me!). It makes me appreciate even more now how well looked after he was…. I hope you are OK and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.” L.V.

Over the past two years I have enjoyed an excellent working partnership with the owner/managers of The Aunties’ Old School Nursery, Sandy and Vahik Enjily and their staff. My role has been as assessor/trainer delivering Childcare NVQs and as the provider’s Department Manager. Both Sandy and Vahik support their staff 100% throughout their training…..’On the Job Training’ is effective, relevant and up to date, actively embracing the Early Years’ Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and using the Guidance. The Owner-Managers show clear effectiveness in leadership and management, putting the children and staff first as their prime focus of quality assurance and objectives to drive continuous improvements. During the two years I have been visiting the Aunties, I have seen the Wheatley ‘branch’ come to fruition, the staff becoming qualified and progressing into Foundation Degree study. This has brough about promotion and results in an effective and motivated team. ‘The Aunties’ offer an ideal environment in the support of training provision; qualified staff demonstrate best practice and are excellent role models… The nursery client group attracts children from multi cultures; this is reflected too in the staff recruitment and the outcome has been a vibrant mix of cultures, characters(!) and nationalities. Amongst the interest, challenge and stimulation, what shines out is: happy children enjoying a calm atmosphere where they feel cherished. The care is of a family style where brothers and sisters can enjoy…playing and bonding. This is such an important nurturing aspect essential for our future society – completely lost in larger settings where the only practical solution is age separation – also ignoring the development benefits found in younger children observing older children, and older children helping and nurturing younger children….. Aunties is first choice by many families….For both children and staff it is a pleasurable environment for work and play. Haydon Training Business College

Dear Aunties, We would like to say THANK YOU! Thanks for the great time C. had with you. Thanks for your help, your kindness, your patience, your love – and all the little things we got from all of your over the years. You made our start here a lot easier than we thought it would be! We will never forget C’s nursery years! Because of your and your amazing work with our daughter, she is now a really German-British girl! See you over the fence! B.,J.,J., and of course C

Dear Aunties, A HUGE thank you for making me into such a happy person. I have loved being part of the family and look forward to my days with you. I have made good friends with people my own age and even some people mummy’s age! My mummy is a happier person too since I’ve been at Aunties. She says it is ‘cos she gets her own time without worrying about me too much! She says: “Could Aunties please open a school and university and then we’d be sorted?! Anyway, thanks for the hugs, love, kisses, the playing in the woods, the learning, the fun and the wonderful start you’ve given me. See you next week. Big kisses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx C.O.

To The Aunties, …. what a beautiful place we come to each day … We wanted to say thank you for the wonderful job that you are doing … You make us feel warm and secure, loved and happy… this is one very special place to be! Lots of love from S and KF. xxx

Dear Auntie Sandy, Auncle Vahik and ALL the Aunties, We just wanted to say a huge thank you for looking after the boys so well. They have loved every minute of their time with you and will miss you all. Thank you, Sandy, for all your advice and support. Am still hoping one day we’ll be able to let you know that N is going to bed at a normal time! Love G, G, N and F.

Dear Aunties, Thank you for your caring, affectionate and kind approach and for looking after J and L so well … R, J, J and L xxxx

Dear All The Aunties, Thank you so very much for all the love and nurturing you have given to J…. Thank you for helping him to learn (and love), so many of the important things in life … exploring, singing, sharing, playing, learning, digging, splashing… and for making him feel so loved and cared for. With huge gratitude and love, A and DL Only an Aunty can give hugs like a mother, keep confidences like a sister, and love like a friend. Thank you xxx