Childminder EY221891

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 nurturing and supportive environment for children. Children demonstrate that they feel immensely safe and secure in the childminder's nurturing care. The sound of children's and the childminders' laughter echoes throughout her home. The childminder has an intense understanding of children's emotions and has a kind and gentle manner. The childminder supports children's behaviour exceptionally well. She nurtures positive behaviour and excellent conduct through engaging activities. Consistent, positive routines and encouragements promote children's social skills and thoughtful behaviour effectively. Children's behaviour is exceptional.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder plans a clear, sequenced curriculum to enable children to achieve as well as they possibly can in their learning. Activities are carefully planned to ensure progress, enabling children to build their knowledge with confidence and enthusiasm. The childminder has a deep-rooted knowledge of how children learn and how to promote a challenging environment around children's interests. As a result, children make exceptional progress in their learning and are ready for the next stage of education. The childminder appreciates the importance of nature and offers wonderful experiences for children to engage with in their natural world. Excellent use is made of community facilities, such as parks, toddler groups and nature areas. The childminder enthusiastically involves the children in gardening and nature activities, encouraging them to use their senses and learn how things we eat grow.

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need to do better?

n The childminder completes regular observations, next steps in children's learning and assessments to track children's progress, which are shared with the parents. The childminder effectively implements robust risk assessments and procedures to ensure children's safety and welfare. n The childminder makes healthy eating fun through positive conversations, activities, and stories. For example, children make fruit milkshakes using different-sized pieces of fruit, which helps to support the development of their fine motor skills when mashing and scooping the fruit with a fork. Children enjoy healthy, balanced meals each day and understand the importance of drinking water regularly. n Children delight in story time. They are encouraged to interact and predict what is happening; they are totally absorbed in the story and use props to bring it to life. The childminder pauses throughout the story to promote thought-provoking

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need to do better?

discussions with older children and engage younger children with props that link with the story. Children are mesmerised by the childminder's animated storytelling and join in with repeated refrains. Children love books and develop a

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need to do better?

25 July 2025 passion for reading from a very young age. n The childminder is an exceptional role model for the children. She inspires children to be confident communicators and values their interactions. As a result, children are incredibly confident communicators who display exceptional language and early literacy skills. For example, they engage with visitors sharing their interests in travel and 'The Titanic,' eagerly showing on the map where it was travelling from, where it was going and where it hit the iceberg. When playing with farm animals, children recognise the similarities of a goat's horns with those of a triceratops and know that 'tri' means three. n Children are focused and highly engaged learners. They make choices about their play and thrive in the engaging outdoor play space. For example, outdoors, children engage for extended periods in role play, and they talk about being careful around the oven and the barbecue, as it is hot. They use leaves, twigs,

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need to do better?

water, sand, and pasta to create inventive pretend meals which they share with their friends, the childminder, and visitors. The recycled cardboard box is used as a 'hiding place,' a 'vehicle' or a 'wardrobe' children can use to travel to various places for adventures. n The childminder promotes children's personal development exceptionally well by actively fostering independence and confident decision-making. For example, when older children express their need to use the bathroom, she encourages them to be independent and go by themselves, gently prompting them beforehand to think about what they need to do afterwards. Children confidently explain that they must flush the toilet, wash their hands with soap and water, and then dry them. This clear, consistent routine helps children understand how to keep themselves safe and healthy while reinforcing important self-care habits. n Children's inclusive behaviour, such as adapting play for others and explaining

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need to do better?

tasks, reflects distinctly secure social development and empathy. For example, children support their friends to tie their aprons when they notice that they are struggling. Older children know that younger children are not at the same stage of development as they are, but eagerly engage them and show patience. n Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents are amazed at the rapid progress their children have made in their language development and appreciate the number of trips and visits children enjoy with the childminder. Parents report that they feel extremely well informed about their child's development. They overwhelmingly praise the attentive and caring approach of the childminder. n The childminder is extremely reflective and evaluates the experiences she provides for children at every opportunity. This proactive approach fosters a consistent, high-quality experience for all children. The childminder undertakes a

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need to do better?

wealth of training and research to continue her professional development.

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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 EY221891 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10394429 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 11 Date of previous inspection 3 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2002 and lives in Stafford. She operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector around the premises and discussed how she organises her early years provision, including the aims and rationale for the curriculum. n The childminder spoke to the inspector about her intentions for the children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between the childminder and the children. n Parents shared their written views of the childminder's setting with the inspector. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

25 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

25 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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