Testimonials
“We feel incredibly fortunate to have Filipa as the childminder for our 1-year old son. She came highly recommended to us by a friend and we were so impressed with the beautiful setting when we came to visit Filipa's house. She made us feel at ease from the beginning being so gentle and lovely during the settling-in sessions. Filipa is an exceptionally caring and loving childminder. Children in her care will thrive as she sees them as individuals, helping them to grow into their little personalities. She follows a lovely, gentle routine based on the Steiner approach with different activities planned at different days of the week, e.g. baking day or chopping vegetables.
Since we started with Filipa last September, she has moved into a beautiful garden annexe at the back of her garden which she has specifically designed for the children. It is absolutely gorgeous and our son loves playing in this beautiful setting. Our son asks to go to Filipa every day and talks about her and the other children a lot at home.
Personally, we don't think there is a nicer setting for the early years than Filipa's nest and we're very proud to be part of it.” A. Z., March 2024
“Filipa Pires has been a godsend for our daughter and family. I'd known about Filipa's work and Hummingbird's Nest in her lovely home via a baby group (Gentle Beginnings) at Steiner School but I thought she initially didn't have space. When I finally contacted her I got lucky and from thereon in we have felt so taken care of by her and her approach to us as a family and to our child. She was generous and patient with the settling-in phase and made us feel it would take as long as it would take - and that each child is totally different in their needs and therefore in their ability to acclimatise to new environments, activities and people/carers.
Filipa manages to create and sustain an atmosphere of both calm and order - whilst keeping it free and relaxed and open for the children too. She provides a wonderful balance of structure, learning, free-play, rest, nourishment, nutrition, awareness of nature/outdoors, respect and tenderness to each other, song, form, colour, cooking, tidying, making... Leaving our child at Filipa's for the past year and a quarter has felt like the safest and most closely connected to our own home environment an option we could wish for. She is fastidious, caring and extremely conscientious. We couldn't have asked for a better childminder.” O.C., February 2024
“Everything Filipa does is thought through with the utmost care. The wellbeing and development of the children that she cares for is given the highest priority and everything that she does follows on from there. Filipa is extremely knowledgeable about the needs of young children and draws on this in planning their environment and daily activities. The physical environment is beautiful and homely, with simple toys made from natural materials which foster the children’s creativity and open-ended play.
Filipa draws upon the Waldorf/Steiner and Pikler philosophies and focuses on simple, home-based activities and a predictable rhythm to each day and to each week, allowing the children to participate fully in their environment and supporting their sense of security and their healthy development. Filipa offers healthy and delicious homemade meals and snacks which were very popular with our daughter. Filipa always communicated very well with us and was very flexible and supportive of our needs as a family, adapting her plans to accommodate our daughter where it would be helpful following illness or even periods of poor sleep. We are still in touch and I am sure we will be for a long time to come! Thank you so much, Filipa for everything!” K.K., February 2024
“Children are happy and enjoy their time in this calm, relaxed and welcoming environment. They have plenty of opportunities to explore and expand their own play. Children develop their imagination and creative skills well. They play cooperatively together and develop close friendships. Children have secure attachments with the childminder, who is kind and nurturing.” OFSTED, April 2023
“We're so glad we found Hummingbirds Nest! Our little boy is so happy here! It is the most calming, nurturing, loving environment.
Filipa is incredible with the children, she is so loving and gentle and the children spend their days in the most beautiful ways. I can tell our little boy feels safe and settled in her presence. Filipa feels like family - I could not ask for better and I cannot recommend her enough!!” M. 2022
“My little boy attended Hummingbird Nest from when he was around 18 months old to 2 and a half. He had the most wonderful experience here, growing and learning in such a warm and nurturing home. Filipa follows a gentle, Waldorf Steiner inspired routine where children learn about life from the world around them; helping to prepare meals, taking care of nature and imaginative play with beautiful toys and props.
We sadly moved on from Hummingbird Nest due to a change in my work life, however, I feel confident we will remain firm friends with Filipa and her wonderful family for many years to come. Simply put, placing my little boy in her care twice a week was one of the best decisions I have ever made as a parent and I am so grateful he was able to experience this as part of his early years development.” C., 2022