& all things nice summer 2013
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Magazine from Sugar & Spice Childcare Recruitment AgencyTRANSCRIPT
THE MAGAZINE FROM SUGAR & SPICE CHILDCARE RECRUITMENT AGENCY
IN THIS ISSUE...
Who are we?
Delicious pasta
Slugs and Snails and babyhood tales – musings from a new mum
Coffee with Clemence de Crecy
Discover a healthier you
Independent School show
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& all things nice
Childcare Recruitment Agency
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The lovely sunshine we have all
been experiencing recently is like
the return of a globe trotting friend -
you’re thrilled to see them, but can’t help
wondering how long they’re
going to stay around this time!
Let’s just hope that the sun we
have been enjoying stays with
us throughout the summer
and we can all get a chance
to enjoy it.
If you’re looking for
something fun to do during
the summer, why not go to
see a classic film? No, I
haven’t lost my mind, by
suggesting you go into a
darkened cinema in the
searing heat (although they
do have air conditioning if we get so
lucky!), I was thinking more along the
lines of the Nomad roaming pop up
outdoor cinema experience! This
summer they are showing classics such
as Never Ending Story, Ghostbusters,
Roman Holiday, to name but a few. The
locations are almost as good as the
films themselves, such as Coram Secret
Garden, Fulham Palace, Queens Park,
Hyde Park Lido etc. This year they are
also teaming up with Homelanz, which is
an annual one-day festival celebrating
the best Southern Hemisphere music,
entertainment, culture, food and drink.
Held in a friendly, leafy corner of West
London. Nomad will be showing Mad
Max and Priscilla Queen of the Desert at
the festival.
If you’re one of the unlucky people
who suffer from hayfever and dread
summer and the outdoors, Allergy UK
has teamed up with Haymax,
www.allergyuk.org/e---l/haymax who in
turn have produced a really useful guide
to hayfever relief on their site. The link is
on the Allergy UK site.
As always, we have had great support
for the magazine and we would like to
thank everyone for their help, in
particular, Clemence from Bigoodi,
Juliette, their lovely PR exec, Keith (who
has graciously agreed to become a
regular food contributor!), Independent
School show and our regular columnist
Kathryn and her little man, William, who
became a big cousin a couple of months
ago (huge congratulations to Rachel and
Tom on the arrival of Harriet Grace!).
Don’t forget, if you want to book a
Nanny or Maternity Nurse, then please
get in touch, we would love to help you
find that special person for your family
and we have some really amazing
candidates to choose from. We are also
pleased to offer a special 15% discount
off any of our bespoke childcare
packages featured on our website, if
booked before the end of July 2013. Just
quote SUM01 when registering online,
or when calling to speak with us.
Wherever you go and whatever you
do during the summer, enjoy!
Summer buzz...
asparagus is here! I love the stuff,
usually just on it’s own, steamed with a
little lemon juice, olive oil, black pepper
and shavings of parmesan. But I also
fancied having it as a main dish –
something summery and Mediterranean
to usher in better weather.
I give you Hasta Pasta – so named
because hasta is the Latin word for
spears which asparagus resembles –
and it sounds snappy too!
Ingredients for 4200 g asparagusClove of garlic peeled and finely choppedI red chill de seeded and sliced into thin strips.90 g of cubed pancetta – or you could use lardons or 2 slices of smoked bacon, chopped400 g fusilli pastaOlive oilParmesan to grateBlack pepper
FROM ALFREDO’S TABLE
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Put your pasta into a large pan of lightly
salted boiling water. Add a drop of olive
oil to prevent it from sticking.
Snap the ends off the asparagus – if you
bend them near the end they have a
natural snapping point – or just chop off
the last 3 centimetres.
Then chop each spear into three even
pieces.
Steam the asparagus for 3 to 4 minutes
until you can just pierce with a knife. You
want a little crunch to remain! If you do
not have a steamer – fear not! Fill a
saucepan with boiling water and simmer
them for 3 to 4 minutes instead.
Once the asparagus is on, heat a
tablespoon or two of the olive oil in a
frying pan, pop in whichever bacon you
are using, and fry gently for 2 minutes
until it begins to brown a little. Add the
garlic and red chilli. Fry gently for
another two minutes or so.
Drain the asparagus and add to the
frying pan to soak up the juices a little.
Drain the pasta – divide between 4 bowls
– add a portion of the asparagus mix.
Drizzle over a little more olive oil to taste
before serving with lots of good
parmesan grated over and a grind or
two of black pepper.
A super and simple summer supper!
Recipe provide by Keith Bradbury
www.ilovealfredos.com
If you haven’t already heard about
our agency, prior to reading this
magazine, we thought it might be a
good idea if we introduced ourselves to
you properly!
What is different about Sugar & Spice Agency?We represent the interests of both the
families and the nannies. It’s vital in this
industry that all parties are happy and
well represented so that the nannies
become an extended part of the family.
As a boutique agency we are proud to
be able to provide such a personalised
service. By offering such an exclusive
service we are able to be as selective
about the positions we will accept as we
are about the Nannies we sign up to join
our agency. In addition to this exclusive
service we are one of only a handful of
agencies in the UK to offer a differing
fee structure, to try and match every
families needs.
How long have you worked in recruitment?Prior to launching the agency, I owned a
highly successful private nursery in
North London. For over 15 years, I was
responsible for all the recruitment of the
staff in all areas of the nursery and I
have utilised the experience in this field
to bring it to the more personalised area
of Nanny recruitment.
What sort of people do you find employ nannies?There are no specific criteria for people
employing nannies. Traditionally, it was
viewed as the preserve of the rich, but
now, in addition to high profile families,
we have families where both parents are
full time professionals, single parent
professional families, full time students,
and generally families who don’t have an
extended family support network to fall
back on.
What do you feel is the best thing about hiring a nanny?Without a doubt, the flexibility for the
parents and the children. All children are
different and a professional Nanny can give
fantastic educational benefits, offering
personalised and dedicated care. If your
job does not have conventional hours a
Nanny is invaluable, and of course if your
child is sick, you don’t have to take time
off work!
Do you feel it is essential for nannies to have qualifications?We feel good solid experience is just as
important as a qualification. That said
though, we like to encourage all our
Nannies to seek training, if they don’t
already have this, as it will lead to more
exciting career opportunities for them in
the future. We do however insist that as
a minimum, all our Nannies are
experienced in Paediatric First Aid. We
have recently linked up with a new First
Aid company, who not only teach First
Aid, but also teach fire safety in the
home too, which is a first in the industry.
Who are we?
Would you like to change anything about the Nanny industry?It would be great to have more tax relief
given to families who employ Nannies.
So many families need the flexibility of a
Nanny, but can’t afford to pay a liveable
wage due to the extra cost of employers
tax and national insurance. In addition, it
would be great to have proper
regulation of Nannies, the same as
teachers, nursery workers and
childminders are. We fully support the
‘Regulation Matters’ campaign and hope
to see this introduced soon.
Does the perfect Nanny exist?Yes! There are some amazing nannies
out there, caring for and helping to
shape the minds of our young children.
The ideal nanny is someone who is kind
and loving, discreet, totally focused on
the child’s needs, has a good sense of
humour and can multitask without
batting an eyelid!
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What sort of thing should a parent look for in an agency?They should firstly ensure that the
agency is reputable, check their website
to see who the owners are, the history of
the agency and read some testimonials.
Make sure the agency is operating a
professional service and not just offering
a mobile phone number as contact. They
should look at the agency screening
process, and what the minimum
requirements of nannies are before the
agency will consider signing them. In
addition, they should make sure that
they are part of some professional
organisations; such as REC, IOR, Best
Bear, ANA etc and that they have a good
support system in place, for both client
and nanny. Check that the agency offers
a replacement guarantee or refund
option. Check also that the fees are
acceptable to you, before you engage
the agency.
Why should you choose an agency to find a nanny for you?The saying ‘you get what you pay for’
rings very true in relation to finding a
Nanny. The best nannies are not trawling
through the wanted ads or posting their
profiles on job boards. They are
generally very happily employed. When
their current family no longer needs
their services (because their children are
now school age or they are moving for
instance), the first thing these nannies
will do is contact their preferred
placement agency to advise them of
their future availability. By using an
Agency, you have access to genuine,
professional career nannies.
www.sugarandspiceagency.com
?
Now that he’s older and wiser, William
was feeling a little miffed with the
column always being about his mum’s
thoughts. So, in true toddler style, he
asserted his authority, completely
disarming everyone with his cuddles and
smiles! So, in this edition, we therefore
give you - Babyccino with William!
What makes you unique? I have just discovered that I am William,
and that I am different from everyone
else. I can now say my name ‘’Illum.’ I
always point out which toy is Illum’s toy
and which drink or piece of food is
Illum’s. I like being William.
Favourite things in life?Wellington boots! I love going out in the
garden whether it is sunny, rainy, snowy
or windy! I wish I could wear my wellies
in the house too.
Your ideal weekend?My weekend treat is a
cup of milk and a
book in bed with
mummy and daddy
before we get up.
Then I would head
straight to a farm to see all the animals,
(especially the lambs) and to ride on a
tractor. Mummy and daddy would take
me out for brunch (I might even have a
babyccino!) before a lovely long nap. In
the afternoon I would love nothing more
than visiting my grandparents and
spending lots of time playing with them.
On Sunday I would do it all again!
Your favourite book?I love the little kitten in Little Beauty by
Anthony Brown, a strange choice,
perhaps, but I have always loved this
book since I was little. I also enjoy lifting
the flaps on Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
and Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill. I Know a Rhino by Charles Fuge is my book of the
moment, and I also really enjoying
spotting the duck on each page of
Usbourne’s First Hundred Words.
Favourite tv show?Peppa Pig! Oink! Mummy quite likes it
too.
Favourite food?I like almost anything, but my favourite
meal would be mummy’s fish pie
followed by my grandma’s apple sponge
with custard. I love snacking on apples
and dried fruit and when I go around the
Slugs and snails and babyhood talesMusings from a new mum by Kathryn Pople
..I am good at making a big trumpeting noise......
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Suzanne Ferreira Physiotherapy, is a Physiotherapy, Pilates and Fitness Studio specialising in the
diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of all musculoskeletal disorders. All their practitioners are dedicated to health and fitness, and are highly qualified and expert in their fields, so you can be certain you are in good hands.
Located in a truly unique location (that many of their regular clients refer to as their ‘health haven’). The studios overlook the Hampstead Heath Ponds, a tranquil and beautiful setting that provides an ideal backdrop for healing and relaxing, both physically and mentally.
The fabulous team at Suzanne Ferreira really understand the vital role of a healthy nanny to a family and in recognition of this, for the summer, they are offering a discount of 25% if you are a nanny, or want to treat your nanny. Just quote “Healthy Nanny” to receive 25% discount at Suzanne Ferreira Physiotherapy.
+44 (0)20 7209 491296c South Hill Park, London NW3 2SN
DISCOVER A HEALTHIER YOU
supermarket I always have a carrot to
chew on. If I could choose a snack to
have everyday though, it would be a
cheese scone!
Favourite animal?I would say an elephant because I am
good at making a big trumpeting noise
and waving my hand around as a trunk. I
do love following my great-grandma’s
cats around the house, I just wish they
would love me a bit more!
Tips for parents dealing with toddlers?ALWAYS let us have our own way. (I don’t
know why, but Mummy is shaking her
head…)
Tips on being a big cousin?Assert your authority quickly. I am older,
therefore wiser.
What are your favourite things to do as a family?Just play in the garden. We are
fortunate enough to have a small garden
and recently bought a trampoline. Hours
of fun for the entire family!
Do you have a hidden talent?Apart from being a crazy mum-preneur
not really! I love juggling with many
projects at once. Being able to speak
French and English fluently really opens
up my mind to new cultures and ways of
working.
Favourite things in life?Sounds cheesy but probably my husband
and my boys…. And then my work and my
staff!
Guilty pleasure?Wine… I can’t stop looking for new things
to try, taste and enjoy! We have a very
good wine shop in Parsons green nearby
the salon called Le Petit Canon. They
organise wine tasting and you can also
order online. I am a great fan.
Bigoodi is a brilliant new salon for
children that not only gives fantastic
haircuts, but stocks childrenswear too.
You can also host children’s parties in
the store! We caught up with founder of
the company, Clemence de Crecy to find
out the inspiration behind the quirky
salon...
What inspired you to start Bigoodi?I have always been an entrepreneur at
heart, looking for new ventures, new
companies to invest into. I graduated as
a lawyer and went on to do a master in
marketing and communications. In 2008
I decided to start up a PR company
called Clementine Communications and
opened offices in London and Paris
shortly afterwards. Then, time to get
married in 2009 and my first baby in
2010!
Born with big hair on his head, I had
trouble to find a specialist hair salon in
London to look after him and decided
that I needed to create a new concept
store to answer my needs and the needs
of many mums out there! In May 2012,
COFFEE WITH CLEMENCE DE CRECY
the first Bigoodi salon was born in
Parsons Green, London.
What makes your company so unique?We are a luxury provider of haircut, nail
design, party and retail for kids ( 0 to 12)
– A unique destination in central London
as we are gathering all these services
under one roof. We are currently
renovating our party room and from
September a dedicated area will be
welcoming kids to celebrate their
birthdays.
What were you doing before you launched Bigoodi?I still run a PR company as well as
running Bigoodi. A good friend of mine,
Sarah, invested into the business in
October 2012 and became my business
partner. She is at the salon one day per
week to help me with staff HR and
develop the retail side of the business.
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Fail safe dinner party dish?Definitely pasta! I am not a cordon bleu
cook and with a crazy schedule and two
young kids, you have to improvise! I am
always coming up with some new sauce
recipes influenced by my home country,
France.
Any tips for working parents?Never set up a business without the full
support of your partner, set yourself
some objectives and stick to them. If you
are happy in what you are doing and it
does not feel like a chore, your children
will know and feel it!
Any plans to expand Bigoodi in the future?We are currently talking about taking the
brand to a new level – My business
partner has got some great contacts
working with franchisees around the
world so watch this space! The second
Bigoodi salon might well open its doors
before end of 2013!
www.mybigoodi.com
9th & 10th November 2013
For conscientious parents considering a
child’s education may start before birth.
But as the journey to find the perfect
school begins, the huge task of matching
a cherished child to the ideal school
becomes reality. The Independent
Schools Show has been carefully
designed to educate parents about the
benefits of independent schooling
before the panic sets in, as well as
demonstrate the joys of seeing a child
flourish in the right school.
9th and 10th November 2013 will see the
Independent Schools Show, which is the
most established show of its kind, enter
its seventh year.
Since its launch it has helped thousands
of parents and their children with the
journey to selecting the ideal school to
meet their individual needs.
The UK’s reputation for independent
education is unparalleled with its long
history of producing eminent World
leaders, celebrated business minds and,
most recently, Olympic gold medallists.
But with around 2,500 private schools
within the British Isles, finding the school
that ticks every box is a daunting task. In
a single day, visitors to the Independent
Schools Show are able to explore day,
boarding, single-sex and co-educational
options from all over the country at
preparatory and senior level and receive
expert advice about Scholarships,
Bursaries, admissions procedures and
payment options as well as countless
other resources.
The Show’s Founder and Director, David
Wellesley Wesley explains why attending
this event will form an essential part of
parents’ search: “Parents and
prospective pupils will have the chance
to compare and contrast the different
ways schools work, what they offer and
whether they feel right. Over and over
again it is this feeling of personal
chemistry that parents cite as their main
reason for choosing a school. Talking to
OVER 3000 PARENTS INVITED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL
the exhibiting schools or indeed to our
staff at the show, will be the beginning of
the road to find the perfect school.”
Not just for grown upsAs well as a wealth of information for
parents (and a Champagne Bar for those
without children in tow) the show’s
organisers have made it fun for small
people! As well as a bouncy castle, face
painting and a creche there will be an
organic cafe – because well-fed children
are happy children!
Independent Schools Show UK –
Battersea Evolution, London SW11 4NJ,
9th & 10th November 2013
Register in advance for free tickets:
www.schoolsshow.com
See the full list of the schools exhibiting
at: www.schoolsshow.com/schools-map.php
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It’s a book by Lane SmithCan it text, blog, scroll,
wi-fi, tweet?...No....it’s a
book! If you despair of
your children using
your ipad or the
computer all the time,
and long for the day
of leisurely reading in
the garden and
turning pages, rather
than pinching and zooming, this book is
the perfect antidote. It features an IT
savvy Donkey, an ape who loves to read
and a little mouse (who has a cheeky
little punchline, which will no doubt
amuse older children enormously, if only
for being allowed to say a slightly
naughty word!) It has such beautiful
illustrations, and shows in a playful and
light-hearted way why printed material
should never really become obsolete.
Ten Little Rabbits by
Virginia Grossman and Sylvia Long
Although this book has
been out for quite a long
time now, the beautiful
illustrations within are
timeless. The premise is
simple, essentially it is a
counting book for young
children. The book cleverly
encompasses weaving, fishing and
storytelling whilst it takes you on a
journey of North American traditions. If
you are looking for a counting book with
a difference, you won’t be disappointed.
Reading Corner
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Telephone: 020 8906 4383
Mobile: 07785 391 378
web: www.sugarandspiceagency.com
email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/sugarspiceagency
Twitter: twitter.com/sugarspiceuk
Pinterest: pinterest.com/sugarspice39
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