Childminder EY549001

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 creates an exceptionally nurturing, home-from-home environment where children flourish and thrive. She is deeply dedicated to ensuring children achieve their full potential in a happy and stimulating environment. Children attend with great joy and enthusiasm and are eager to explore the activities available to them. Children have high levels of concentration and focus on activities that hold their interest. For example, children carefully count treasure in the sandpit and then hide it again for other children to find. Other children take the greatest of care in weaving thread around pictures.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder has excellent relationships with the children, and their behaviour is exemplary. They are extremely polite to her and each other. Children easily take turns both in conversations and activities. The childminder listens attentively to what the children have to say and praises children for specific reasons. This helps children to understand what they have done well and fills them with confidence to keep on trying.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder has built up superb relationships with parents. Parents speak very highly of her, and they fully appreciate the family environment in which their children make excellent progress. They say that the childminder listens carefully to their concerns and suggestions. They recognise that working together ensures consistency of care for the children. The childminder supports parents very well to further their child's learning at home.

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need to do better?

n The childminder has a highly ambitious curriculum. She creates an immersive and engaging learning environment, and the curriculum is securely embedded throughout her practice. For example, children learn about the seaside through books and discussions. They have opportunities to further their learning through activities, such as making pictures using sand, singing songs and using many other seaside-based resources including games and puzzles. n The childminder promotes a love of books and early reading skills by sharing books with the children. Children love to snuggle up with the childminder as she reads a story. Older children join in with repeated refrains. She skilfully questions children to further their knowledge and explains new vocabulary clearly. n The childminder knows the children extremely well. She collects information from the parents and carries out regular assessments, which she uses to skilfully

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need to do better?

plan activities to ensure the children make excellent progress. She uses every opportunity to expertly support children's learning. For example, children counting cups and laying them in order are encouraged to look at the numbers on the cups, as well as comparing the sizes.

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need to do better?

29 August 2025 n The childminder is an excellent role model in respect and kindness to the children, and their behaviour is exemplary. She speaks warmly and gently to children and supports children in learning to respect each other. For example, children politely say 'please' and 'thank you' when having their snack and lunch. n Independence is evident in the children's play and self-care. They wash their own hands, older children go to the toilet independently and they all put on their own shoes and wellies. They choose their own resources and activities. n The childminder offers a wealth of experiences that are highly appropriate to the children. The children talk about a recent trip to pick strawberries and how they made jam. They regularly visit the local park and walk to the lake to look at the changes in the trees throughout the seasons. They are constantly motivated to explore and learn more about the world around them.

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need to do better?

n The childminder values and embraces the different languages the children bring to the setting. She listens attentively to what the children say. She and the children learn simple greetings in different languages. This helps children to feel valued and included. n The childminder is highly skilled at using every opportunity to support children's learning, particularly in speech and language. She knows when to intervene in children's play and when to stand back and watch the learning happen. When she intervenes, she skilfully clears up misconceptions and further develops the child's understanding. n The childminder values her assistants, their well-being and professional development. The ethos and vision of her practice is ambitious and focuses on positive outcomes for children. This is shared among her assistants, who embrace it with enthusiasm.

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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 EY549001 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10399365 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 9 Number of children on roll 38 Date of previous inspection 28 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and is located in Leighton Buzzard. She operates all year round, from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 6 and holds qualified teacher status. She works with two assistants each day.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder and inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the childminder's intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors. n The inspector and childminder carried out a joint observation and discussed the findings. n The inspector observed mealtimes and care routines. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation including the suitability of all household members. n The inspector held several discussions with the childminder at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector interacted with children during the inspection. She took account of the views of parents, three face to face and others through written feedback provided.

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Inspection activities

29 August 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

29 August 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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