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: info@sugarandspiceagency.com

Facebook: facebook.com/sugarspiceagency

Twitter: twitter.com/sugarspiceuk

Pinterest: pinterest.com/sugarspice39

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