Childminder EY547779

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely settled, happy and engaged in the childminder's inviting home. They benefit from wonderful opportunities to learn through a wide range of highly motivating and exciting activities and experiences. For example, children grow vegetables at the childminder's allotment and collect eggs from her chickens. They learn about the value of composting, look at insects, and gather conkers during woodland walks. Children help to care for eggs and observe as they hatch. These experiences have a significant impact on children's understanding of the natural world and how to care for living things.

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The provision is outstanding

Children build strong bonds with the childminder. They have fun together and enjoy each other's company. The childminder praises children and delights in their achievements. This helps children to recognise that what they are learning has value, and builds their confidence and self-esteem. Children are extremely focused and engaged in their play and learning. They persevere as they learn and practise new skills, such as when cutting fruit at snack time. Children learn to play well together, share, and be kind to their friends. They develop independence rapidly and are very well prepared to move on to the next stage of their learning.

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need to do better?

n The childminder is highly ambitious for the children in her care and their progress. She gathers detailed information from parents when children start, including about parents' own ambitions for their children. This helps her to plan highly effective support for children's learning from the outset. The childminder models new skills extremely well, such as how to use tongs and cutlery. She provides detailed explanations alongside modelling the skills. This supports children's understanding and helps them to make rapid progress. n Support for children's learning about healthy lifestyles and nutrition is excellent. The childminder's curriculum strongly promotes outdoor play, fresh air and exercise. Children take part in cooking activities and enjoy healthy, homemade meals. They grow and pick strawberries and potatoes to eat. This helps them to be curious and find out about where food comes from. n The childminder uses very rich and descriptive language as she chats to children

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need to do better?

about their play. When reading books to children, the childminder introduces new words, such as cover and spine. Children learn the names of less familiar animals, flowers and things that grow, such as 'lichen'. This modelling of language has a significant impact on expanding children's vocabulary. n Children benefit from innovative opportunities to explore music and movement. They observe how musical instruments are played, and learn to move their bodies in different ways such as through yoga and dance. This helps children to develop their core strength, balance and flexibility as they hone their physical

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need to do better?

23 September 2025 skills well. n Children develop their coordination as they take part in exciting experiences, such as potato printing and pumpkin scooping. Children learn how to use their hands in different ways as they practise using tongs and chopsticks. This helps them to develop dexterity for later tasks, such as tying shoe laces and early writing. n The childminder provides thorough support for parents to extend their children's learning at home. She shares ideas for activities and healthy recipes. The childminder provides resources for parents to use, including packs to help support children's oral health and early mathematical skills. Feedback from parents about the childminder and her service is excellent. This promotes superb continuity of care and learning for all children. n The childminder understands the importance of working closely with other professionals involved in children's education and health. This includes children

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need to do better?

with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder asks school staff what they would like children to learn by the time they start school. This practice of information sharing helps to create a consistent approach to support for all children's learning which helps them to make exceptional progress. n The childminder reflects deeply on experiences for children in order to continuously improve her provision. She has a very positive attitude towards her professional development and looks to continually expand and enhance her skills and knowledge. The childminder also supports other early years professionals with their training needs. This helps to raise the standard of teaching and outcomes for all children across the sector.

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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 EY547779 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10399697 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 12 Number of children on roll 18 Date of previous inspection 11 December 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The childminder registered in 2017 and lives in Consett, County Durham. She operates all year round from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with an assistant. She offers government funded places for childcare and early education.

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Inspection activities

n The childminder showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they organise the provision and plan the curriculum and experiences for children. n The inspector discussed with the childminder how she helps to keep children safe and viewed a sample of documentation provided on request. This included evidence about first-aid training. n The childminder and inspector reflected on an activity together and the inspector observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact of this on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to children during the inspection and took the views of parents into account.

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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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