Childminder EY268560

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 the care of the warm and nurturing childminder. They bound into her home with excitement, putting their arms out for a cuddle. The childminder responds gently and affectionately. She ensures that she provides a home-from-home environment, where children feel safe and secure.

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The provision is outstanding

The childminder plans and implements a highly successful curriculum. She ensures that children develop excellent understanding and speaking skills. As children play with a pretend medical set, the childminder explains to them how the toy oxygen mask works. She talks to children about how patients need to take deep breaths to fill their lungs with oxygen to help them breathe. Later, children are fascinated by a toy medical tool. The childminder teaches children the word 'otoscope' and how doctors and nurses use it for looking into the ear canal. Children practise using this word as they play.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have extremely positive attitudes to their learning. They consistently show enthusiasm and curiosity in all that they do. Children sustain attention for long periods, helping to develop their concentration skills in preparation for school. Children form strong friendships with their peers. They enjoy helping one another and show a willingness to play cooperatively.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy daily outings with the childminder in the local area to expand their understanding. For example, they visit a seven-metre-wide sculpture of the sun built by a well-known artist. Children show awe and wonder as they shout 'wow' at its beauty. They learn about scale and planetary perspectives and how big the sun is in relation to the earth. n The childminder keeps her knowledge updated, including changes to recent legislation. She ensures that she attends frequent training to benefit children. For instance, the childminder has increased her knowledge of using the same words in different ways to help children to understand and remember them. n Children enjoy exploring new smells. The childminder teaches them about different herbs and spices. She introduces them to new vocabulary, such as 'tarragon' and 'paprika'. The childminder and children talk about whether they like the smell. This helps children to expand their own thoughts and opinions.

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need to do better?

n The childminder talks to children about the importance of hygiene, such as washing off the germs that make you poorly. Even the youngest children confidently and independently wash and dry their hands. Children develop very high levels of independence n Children enjoy setting the table for snack. They work out how many plates they will need and pass them to their friends. Children name the colour of the plates

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need to do better?

23 September 2025 and show confidence in cutting up their banana with a knife. The childminder talks to children about how bananas are full of vitamins and good for their bones. She also tells them that bananas provide energy. The childminder skilfully helps children to recall their prior knowledge following a recent trip to the farm. Children confidently talk about how milk comes from cows' udders and how it turns into butter. They know buttermilk is great for making pancakes. This helps children to develop an understanding of healthy eating. n Children have an excellent understanding of the world. As the childminder reads a story about animals, children talk about the Sahara desert being hot and full of sand. They point out and name animals in the book, such as the koala bears, and tell the childminder how they live in Australia. Children then extend their discussion and talk about how this country is over the other side of the world.

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need to do better?

They also expertly comment how when it is dark in England, it is daylight over there. n The childminder forms highly effective partnerships with parents and carers. They comment on the excellent care the childminder provides and of the valuable support and advice she offers. Parents comment on the accelerated progress their children make since being with the childminder. They say she is part of their 'extended family'. n The childminder implements fun activities that build precisely on what children already know and can do. Children enjoy manipulating dough and use tools and equipment to support their pincer grip. The childminder encourages children to place paper straws over dried spaghetti to extend their hand-eye coordination. She also introduces new words, such as 'bergamot', as children comment on the lovely aroma of the dough. This helps children to develop their already excellent vocabularies further.

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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 EY268560 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 10408225 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 5 Date of previous inspection 28 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2003 and lives in Plympton, Plymouth. The childminder offers care all year round, from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday. She holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3. The childminder provides government funded childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder spoke to the inspector about children's learning and development, with a particular focus on communication and language. n The inspector and the childminder discussed the organisation of the early years provision, including the aims and rationale for their early years foundation stage curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while with the childminder. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The childminder and inspector carried out a joint observation and discussed how the curriculum is implemented and the impact on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The childminder provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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Inspection activities

23 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

23 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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