Childminder EY415017

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

Children flourish in this warm, nurturing setting, where they feel valued and happy. They form secure, trusting relationships with the childminder, who gets to know the children and their families incredibly well before they start. This supports children to settle quickly and feel safe and secure.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder's kindness and patience are a strength as well as her clear expectations for children's behaviour. Children show high levels of respect for each other. They work together as a team and play harmoniously, sharing toys and resources. Despite being very young, children show mature social skills and consideration. For instance, having selected a basket of bricks to explore, children very quietly tip the bricks from the basket and remind one another to 'shhhh' so as not to disturb their friends who are enjoying a story. They are highly confident and develop positive attitudes to learning. As a result, children's behaviour is exemplary.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from a highly ambitious, precisely targeted and challenging curriculum. Activities are perfectly pitched to support children with their individual identified next steps in learning and development. Children enthusiastically take part in learning opportunities and are making excellent progress in all areas. They are consistently engaged in high-quality interactions to support their progress. Children are extremely well prepared to move on to the next stage of their learning journey. They quickly become full of confidence, resilience and great self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n The environment and curriculum is very skilfully planned and well adapted to be appropriately challenging for children's varying needs in all areas of learning. For example, children are supported to successfully build their physical skills. The enchanting outdoor environment has different areas to suit and stimulate children's different levels of physical ability. In addition, the outdoors provides magical opportunities for the children to participate in growing fruit and herbs, explore the wildlife in the wild meadow patch, use their imaginations in the woodland area and be creative in the sand and mud kitchen. n The childminder provides children with a wide range of first-hand experiences that support their understanding of the world around them. For example, children enjoy finding insects in the garden and looking at them closely, learning about their key characteristics. The childminder skilfully builds on this experience

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need to do better?

and shares her extensive knowledge of insects with the children. In addition, she provides the opportunity for the children to see and experience first hand the life cycle of a ladybird. n The childminder, co-minder and any assistants have fostered a real love for books, storytelling and songs. The childminder tells stories to children with

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need to do better?

17 September 2025 enthusiasm and passion, bringing stories to life for children to relish the magic. Children learn to have the utmost respect for the treatment of their beloved books from the very start. Even babies learn to pick books up from the floor and carefully turn the pages from right to left. The childminder is highly effective in supporting children's language and communication skills. She consistently engages children in impressive dialogue and introduces new language, such as 'delicate' and 'connecting'. n The childminder maintains excellent partnerships with parents. She sends regular updates about children's learning, accompanied with ways parents can continue to support this learning at home. Parents also receive other helpful suggestions. For example, she shares information about sleep routines and top tips for potty training. The childminder gives parents access to a book library, exploring an extremely wide range of parental guidance for parents to borrow.

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need to do better?

This joined-up way of working supports children to have the best possible start in life. n The childminder, co-childminder and any assistants continuously keep up to date with training and guidance to ensure their own professional development is current and precisely targets the care and educational needs of the children they look after. They have constant communication about the new information they have learned and how this can be embedded consistently in practice. This means that practice is continually improving to ensure children are receiving the best individualised learning experiences based on up-to-date knowledge and skills.

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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 EY415017 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10408372 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 14 Date of previous inspection 31 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2010. She works with another childminder and their assistant at her co-childminder's home in Marden, Kent. The childminder cares for children Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification. She is registered to provide funded education for children aged one, two, three and four years old.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke with the childminder, any assistants and children during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of the curriculum during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector read feedback from parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

17 September 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

17 September 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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