Durkin, Rhonda

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder provides a breathtaking learning environment that helps to support children's curiosity, awe and wonder. She successfully implements her vision to create a magical space where children are excited and enthused to explore. Children play with deep focus and show immense delight as they investigate the rich range of activities that are available. This wonderful positive attitude is a secure foundation to children's learning. To illustrate, children fizz with excitement as they dress up. They wrap shawls around their shoulders and choose hats from a well-stocked hat stand. They spray perfume and adorn themselves with bracelets, rings and watches. Children play with great imagination and become fully absorbed. They also demonstrate impressive physical coordination as they dress themselves with ease. The childminder creates an inspirational learning environment. In turn, children have a thirst to explore, and their progress is rapid.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder is attentive and responsive to children's emotional needs. She recognises when children are feeling safe and self-assured and skilfully optimises this by encouraging children to make independent choices. Equally, when children become a little cautious, the childminder responds quickly with plenty of nurturing reassurance. This highly responsive approach helps to ensure that children flourish in their emotional resilience and well-being. The childminder helps children to develop a mature appreciation for the world around them. For instance, each week, children visit a local care home. They play games and sing with elderly friends. This superb multi-generational experience helps children to learn first-hand respect and appreciation for others different to themselves.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a deep understanding of child development and how young children learn. She makes good use of this exemplary knowledge to provide a rich and challenging curriculum. She captures accurate observations of children's progress through effective assessment systems. Planning closely incorporates children's interests, and activities are precisely linked to children's gaps in learning. In turn, children make excellent all-round progress. n Communication and language are promoted through all aspects of the day. The childminder asks challenging open questions, and children frequently engage in two-way discussions. During conversations, children use complex sentence structures and descriptive words. Music plays in the background, and children copy familiar verses from songs, practising language through rhythm and rhyme. The childminder regularly reads to children, and themed books are used to

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need to do better?

extend activities. Literacy helps to further develop children's impressive vocabulary. Children excel in their language and communication skills because teaching in this area is outstanding.

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need to do better?

2 July 2025 n The childminder expertly knows how to involve herself in children's play. She skilfully guides activities to build on what children already know. For example, children use fishing rods to pick up a number objects. The rods wobble and move, which requires careful precision and focus. This extends children's fine motor skills. The childminder suggests children identify the digits they successfully retrieve, incorporating number recognition into play. They are further challenged to create a number line, developing their awareness of sequential counting. The childminder is an extremely talented teacher, and children benefit greatly from her high expectations. n Children show superb behaviour. They listen intently to instructions and respond positively to requests. For example, children try hard to please the childminder when they are asked to tidy up. They proudly put items back where they belong

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need to do better?

and step back to admire the clean space they have created. Children are helpful and respectful. n The childminder engages in a relentless programme of professional development. She completes hundreds of hours of training every year. This tenacity impacts positively on the childminder's extraordinary skills and knowledge. She is a passionate and driven practitioner who strives for continued excellence at every opportunity to benefit the families she supports. n The childminder's practice is worthy of dissemination to others. She has a strong reputation in the local community and shares her good practice ideas with local early years practitioners. The childminder has a popular social media page with an international following. She uses this online presence to share activity ideas and impact positively on other professionals from the sector. n Mealtimes are used by the childminder to teach children about key life skills.

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need to do better?

Children help to set the table and pour their own drinks. They show confident and independent self-care skills. Children comment their food is 'delicious' and have great appetites. Children's health is very well promoted at mealtimes. n Partnerships with parents are strong. The childminder provides parents with practical ideas to enable them to support children's learning at home. She values parents as children's primary carers and educators and strives to offer them exceptional support. Children benefit from this truly joined-up approach to their care and learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 309124 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10392209 Type of provision Childminder

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childminder

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inspection

Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6 Date of previous inspection 9 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2000 and lives in Colne, Lancashire. She operates all year round, from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3. She provides government funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector around her home and explained how the environment is made safe and secure. n The childminder explained how the curriculum is designed and how assessment systems and teaching support children's learning. n The inspector spoke to children and considered their comments. n The inspector observed activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Parents shared their written comments, and the inspector took account of these views. n The inspector looked at key documentation, including training records and evidence of insurance.

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Inspection activities

2 July 2025 We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

2 July 2025 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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