February 2025 – E & S
“I am so grateful for everything that you do for M. He is so happy to come to nursery everyday and he really does have a great connection with you and the other children. You both go above and beyond what we would expect to see in a setting, and we appreciate you doing this for our son, thank you.“
January 2025 – N & A
“You are amazing Jo. Thank you for all the love and care you show our children and for helping with such a fantastic kick start in life. They are thriving in all aspects of life, thanks to you.“
January 2025 – A & M
“We are very happy with the care both Jo and Helen provide. A is clearly well looked after and happy in your care. We are very thankful how supportive you are towards A and our whole family. You two are doing an amazing job and we are very grateful we found you. We can trust you to look after A and know he is being looked after and is safe. He talks about you at home a lot, and its always positive.“
December 2024 – R & S
“A massive thank you to you both for the wonderful care, love and dedication you show P. Childcare was a massive anxiety point for me when returning to work and it feels me with so much happiness seeing how at ease and P is with you both and her friendship crew. She talks daily about her friends and loves spending time and playing with her friends. I hugely value that P is able to find comfort with you both through tough moments. It is wonderful seeing all the things P is learning and experiencing and watching her little character grow. Thank you“
December 2024 – N & T
“B has had a fantastic year with Helen and Jo. He loved the nursery from the minute he visited. Helen and Jo work so hard and are so kind, caring and fun. We trust them completely with B which is the best feeling. He has so many amazing opportunities and is very happy. Thank you.“
November 2024 – C & N
“L has benefitted from the care and education provided to her at Making Memories. Her personal confidence has hugely improved. Her dexterity and aptitude for learning has been nurtured and as such flourished. Her physical strength and mobility has always been a little late but with careful guidance, support and advice from Jo, this to has come a long way! We love how much L has grown with you and we are so sad you don’t keep them until 18!“
November 2024 – T & W
“Its a lovely setting and B is very happy. He especially enjoys the birthday parties with the disco lights, dancing and pass the parcel.“
November 2024 – K & L
“The way we see Helen and Jo with S and the other kids is amazing, they treat her like she is theirs. We feel so glad S is here, and are grateful and humbled how you look after her. You are shaping how she behaves, acts, and we will always remember this. You have made going back to work easier knowing she is in good hands and being looked after so well. We don’t know what we would do without you.“
July 2024 – G & A
“Leaving O at Making Memories, I felt I was entrusting him to a family member but with the advantage with years of professionalism and experience at working with children. We will always cherish the time O spent at Making Memories and are sad to be moving on.“
10th September 2021
“I feel that throughout the pandemic all precautions were met throughout, including educating the children. I was also appreciative of “O” being treated the same in respect to greater risk i.e. his mum being a nurse. Thankyou, very happy!“
1st September 2021
“Fantastic – couldn’t ask for more! You helped so much in the last 18 months. As always we are so happy with the care you provide for “R”, she is super happy and thrives in your care.“
1st September 2021
“We could not be happier with Making Memories, our son is so happy there, we love all the outings they go on and Jo is great at keeping us informed about what the kids have been doing. I can’t recommend them highly enough“
16th August 2021
“The pandemic was very difficult to all of us. We felt so happy when we found out that during the second lockdown the children could attend Making Memories. Jojo did literally everything to keep the children and family safe. We are very happy with everything you do for our boys, thankyou for all your love.“
7th July 2021
“As key workers you are very understanding and have kept our children happy and safe during some very uncertain times. Communication and addendums to policy and practice was shared with parents, it was concise and clear. YOU ARE INCREDIBLE! You make the environment and experiences so inviting and the children’s wellbeing is at the heart of everything you offer and provide, we are very lucky to have you.“
6th June 2021
“The Covid Pandemic was handled very well. Clear communication, and new Covid safe procedures meant I was confident my children were safe at the nursery setting. I am always confident in the care my children receive at Making Memories. Helen and Jo always ensure the nursery is a happy, caring environment, which allows my children to thrive.“
21st July 2020
“I think your fantastic and “J” has blossomed in his time with you. Couldn’t be happier with his time at Making Memories, so sad for him to leave“
14th December 2019 – KJ for Jo Duchnowski
“I have had the pleasure of working with Joanne for 7 years and in this time she has shown many skills in providing a safe and secure environment for the children and staff in her care. Joanne would go above and beyond to ensure that every child’s individual need was met; she would make sure that planning was suitable for the age of the child and that everything was being done to help and encourage all children to develop and reach mile stones. Joanne was very hands on in the units and worked with every age group from 3 months to 5 years whilst running a very high standard nursery. Joanne was always available to talk to parents and staff, and had a very happy and cheerful but professional personality. Joanne’s relationship with the parents and staff was fantastic and the children adored her. Joanne has a fantastic knowledge of the EYFS and the Early Years National Standards; she wrote all of the nursery policies and procedures and kept up to date with any change to legislation. Joanne was the nursery CPLO and has experience in dealing with sensitive situations in a professional and effective manner. Joanne will be a wonderful childcare provider with great ideas that will stimulate little minds and she loves a challenge.“
14th January 2019 – SS Owner & Manager at Footprints Montessori Day Nursery for Helen Rogerson
“I have known and worked with Helen for about twelve years and have always found her to be calm, patient and caring towards the children in her care. She has an excellent knowledge of child development and of the Montessori method of teaching and readily updates her knowledge according to new research and developments. She has a special rapport with children and one can tell that she really enjoys talking to them and finding them interesting and fun activities to try. I believe that any child who is lucky enough to be cared for by her will learn to love learning and have an excellent start in life.“
7th January 2019 – JH for Jo Duchnowski
“I have known Joanne Duchnowski for almost 15 years when she came to work for me as a manager of my after school club and holiday play scheme for children
aged 4- 12 years in Pyrford, Surrey, in September 2004. She was a determined young lady with obvious potential as she had very firm ideas as to how she was going to promote and run the club. She communicated extremely well with her staff parents and children and gained their respect quickly; she increased the attendance considerably; kept updated with all current procedures and government policies and clearly enjoyed her role enormously.
With this wonderful enthusiasm I offered her the role of managing my preschool for children aged 2 1/2 – 5 years in New Haw, Surrey. She took on this new role with the same passion and eagerness and soon progressed to managing my nursery for children aged 2-5 years whilst I took long time sick leave. In this time she had to manage 12 staff members, undertake planning for play in all areas of learning, carry out safeguarding issues, design and execute an outside extension, review policies along with all the day to day running of a busy nursery. In her 8 years of employment with me she was always trustworthy, reliable and sincere and along with her positive sunny disposition I would not hesitate in recommending her to care for children of any age – an exemplary child carer.“
25th October 2018 – HP Room Leader and Senco at Footprints Montessori Day Nursery for Helen Rogerson
“Helen Rogerson who I have known for fifteen years. We first worked together at Noahs Ark Day Nursery in Woking where during our time there I was her manager.
In 2005 we both left this work place to work in another Day Nursery, Footprints Montessori Day Nursery. This time we worked alongside each other with the two to three year olds as joint room leaders.
We studied together for our Montessori Diploma the following year, Helen was working full time and attending college two evenings each week.
During her ten years at Footprints she has worked with all ages from birth up to five years; taking timeout to have two children of her own but her returning to work after her maternity leave each time.
Helen is totally dedicated to working with children and through observations and getting go know individual children she has planned activities accordingly.
I have witnessed her carrying out various messy play activities, cooking, reading stories, singing songs, taking children on nature walks and sharing with them her enthusiasm in life experiences.
Helen shows such a warm and caring nature towards children, parents and colleagues alike.
As well as these activities Helen has taken on other responsibilities such as daily care routines including nappy changing, toilet training, feeding, administering medicines, first aid procedures, dealing with parents and general day to day tasks.
Helen is punctual and always tidy in in her appearance. She is honest and reliable and she always displays a positive attitude in her work.
We have become good friends as well as colleagues over the years and what a pleasure that has been.
I wish her all the best for the future.“
14th October 2018 – AN for Helen Rogerson
“I went back to work when my baby was 7 months old and as hard as it was having to leave my little girl, I knew that in Helen I had chosen the right person to look after her. There was no one else I would have chosen and she made it that bit easier going back to work. Helen is so kind, calm, trusting and patient and so absolutely brilliant with children. She would always have something planned or set-up for when Ava arrived; a teddy bears picnic, water play area, sensory play, arts & crafts, painting, tunnels, reading corner are just a few examples. There was always an endless supply of toys, books and sensory play which Ava always loved and would walk/crawl straight over and start playing/interacting. Weather dependent, they would always do something outside to get some fresh air and have a bit of a run around. Ava was always so happy and content in Helen’s company which meant a lot to me and put me at ease.Helen would write me an update every day in a little book on what Ava had eaten that day, how much milk she had, how long she slept for and what she had been up to that day. Myself and my husband absolutely loved reading it. I’ve kept the book as a keepsake! She’d also send pictures which we loved getting throughout the day and seeing what Ava had been up to and seeing how much fun she was having.I’d 100% recommend Helen in a heartbeat and really could not have asked for anyone better to look after my little girl. “
17th October 2018 – AP for Helen Rogerson
“I have known Helen for a little over 4 years and during that time I have found her to be nothing but kind and caring to both adults and children alike. We met when our eldest children started preschool together and we had also had new babies the same age so we instantly had a lot in common and soon forged a very close friendship. Since then our families have become incredibly close and have shared many fun days out, weekends away and holidays together. Helen has a wonderful, happy nature, constantly has a smile on her face and is a delight to be around. She is not only honest, a great listener and has a good heart but she also has a fantastic sense of humour and is extremely fun to be around, a combination which can be hard to find. I trust her implicitly with my children and they adore her. She is an incredible mother, a wonderful friend and would be an invaluable asset to any childcare facility. “