Childminder

Childminder

Unique reference number (URN): 2605703 Registered with Ofsted: 25/01/2021 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Achievement Strong standard

Children make consistent progress from their starting points across all areas of learning. Communication and language develop particularly well. Children communicate confidently, express their ideas clearly, listen attentively and engage in conversations during play and daily routines. They join in enthusiastically with songs, stories and discussions, showing growing vocabulary and understanding.

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Achievement Strong standard

Children develop the knowledge and skills needed for future learning. They show curiosity and confidence as they explore activities independently, make choices in their play and manage routines such as tidying away resources and preparing snacks. Older children sustain attention for increasing periods during group activities and discussions, helping to prepare them for the next stage in their learning, including school.

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Achievement Strong standard

All children make progress from their individual starting points. They participate fully in activities, grow in confidence and develop increasing independence and communication skills. Children demonstrate positive attitudes to learning and engage well alongside their peers.

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Achievement Strong standard

Children benefit from secure routines and positive relationships, which help them feel confident during times of change. They move between activities confidently and demonstrate emotional security within the setting.

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Achievement Strong standard

Overall, children develop secure foundations in communication, independence and personal, social and emotional development, which prepares them well for future learning.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Attendance is monitored carefully, and clear procedures are in place to safeguard children's wellbeing. Accurate records are maintained, including emergency contact details, which are used appropriately when children are absent unexpectedly and parents cannot be reached.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

The childminder promotes the importance of punctuality and consistent routines, recognising their impact on children's emotional security and readiness to learn. Parents are supported to understand the value of predictable daily structures, helping children to settle quickly and engage positively in their learning from the start of the day.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

A strong culture of kindness, respect and care is embedded across the setting. The childminder consistently models calm, respectful interactions and clear expectations for behaviour, which children mirror in their own relationships. As a result, children treat one another with care and consideration, showing affection and thoughtfulness in their play and daily routines.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Relationships between the childminder and children are warm and trusting, creating a secure environment where children feel valued and confident. This strong emotional base supports children to collaborate effectively, share resources and resolve minor disagreements with growing independence. Behaviour expectations are consistently reinforced through positive praise and clear explanations, helping children understand the reasons behind guidance. The childminder considers children's age, stage of development and individual needs when supporting behaviour, ensuring expectations are fair and achievable.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Children demonstrate positive attitudes to learning, engaging cooperatively in activities and play. They show increasing ability to work together, take turns and support one another, contributing to a calm and purposeful learning environment.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

The childminder promotes children's welfare and wellbeing highly effectively through consistently responsive, nurturing and individualised care. Children are supported to feel exceptionally safe, secure and valued, with routines adapted sensitively to meet their emotional and physical needs throughout the day.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Secure and trusting relationships are a clear strength. The childminder knows the children extremely well and forms strong, warm attachments that underpin their emotional wellbeing. Children show that they feel fully comfortable and seek reassurance and support when needed, reflecting deep levels of trust and security.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Children are supported very effectively to develop an understanding of health, safety and physical development through meaningful daily experiences. They are encouraged to manage their own hygiene needs, including toileting, handwashing and self-care, with carefully balanced support that builds independence. Healthy lifestyle messages are reinforced naturally through conversations about food, hydration and physical activity, helping children understand how to keep themselves well.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Emotional wellbeing is supported highly effectively. The childminder helps children to recognise, express and manage their feelings through calm, consistent interactions and clear explanations. This enables children to develop confidence, resilience and emotional security.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Physical development is promoted exceptionally well through rich outdoor learning and active play, including climbing, running and fine motor activities. Overall, the childminder's practice ensures children's welfare and wellbeing are prioritised at the highest level.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

The childminder delivers a well-sequenced curriculum that builds effectively on children's interests and prior learning. Experiences are carefully planned and adapted so children develop knowledge and skills through meaningful, hands-on exploration across all areas of learning.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

Communication and language are consistently prioritised. The childminder models rich vocabulary through calm, purposeful interactions and running commentary, encouraging children to explain ideas, ask questions and extend their thinking. Mathematical language is embedded naturally in play and routines, with children using terms such as 'more' and 'taller' and counting during practical experiences. Learning is strongly rooted in first-hand exploration of the natural world. Children investigate minibeasts, use magnifying glasses to observe closely and confidently match creatures to books to identify and name them. Outdoor learning is central, with children regularly climbing, running and developing physical skills alongside activities such as planting and watering sunflowers, where they discuss growth and size.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

Highly effective teaching is evident in how the childminder extends learning through play. During baking, she creates opportunities for problem-solving by adjusting ingredients so children identify what is missing and work collaboratively to resolve it. Children demonstrate cooperation, independence and sustained engagement.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

Themes such as seasons, animals and nature are revisited through varied experiences including sensory tuff trays, bubble games linked to animal movements and story-based learning. Children recall vocabulary such as 'cocoon' and show secure understanding through repetition and exploration.

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Curriculum and teaching Strong standard

Equality and diversity are embedded through discussions, resources and experiences that help children respect differences and recognise similarities.

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Inclusion Strong standard

The childminder has created a highly inclusive practice where children's individual needs are identified quickly and accurately, particularly in relation to communication and language and personal, social and emotional development. She understands children well and acts promptly when any emerging needs are identified, ensuring appropriate support is put in place without delay.

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Inclusion Strong standard

The childminder works closely with the local inclusion team and other professionals to access timely advice and guidance, which is consistently and effectively implemented in daily practice. This ensures that barriers to learning and wellbeing are reduced through well- considered adjustments, flexible approaches and responsive teaching. Support is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains appropriate and continues to meet children's needs effectively.

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Inclusion Strong standard

The childminder engages positively in training and uses what she learns to strengthen her practice and improve outcomes for children. This supports her ability to ensure all children are fully included in activities, with experiences adapted so they can take part meaningfully regardless of age or stage of development.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Thorough partnerships with external agencies and local networks ensure a joined-up approach to supporting children. This collaborative working has a clear impact on the consistency and quality of support, helping all children to participate fully, feel included and make progress within an inclusive environment.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

The childminder demonstrates a highly committed approach to leadership and ensures statutory requirements are met, with children's safety, wellbeing and learning prioritised in all decisions. She is reflective and engages in ongoing training to strengthen her practice, with a clear focus on enhancing outdoor learning and enriching children's experiences through natural resources.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

The childminder is ambitious for all children and understands them well as individuals, adapting provision to meet their needs, interests and stages of development. This ensures children are fully included and supported to develop confidence and independence.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

Partnerships with parents are strong. The childminder actively seeks their views and uses this information to support and extend children's learning. She also works effectively within her local network of childminders to share ideas and improve practice.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

Transitions are managed well, with children supported to develop independence, social skills and confidence for the next stage of their learning. The childminder prepares children effectively through daily routines and close communication with families and schools.

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Leadership and governance Strong standard

The childminder continually reflects on and develops her already highly effective provision. She is strengthening longer-term planning to complement her responsive, in-the-moment approach, while maintaining the flexibility and child-centred practice that are clear strengths of the setting.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children thrive in this warm, nurturing and highly stimulating environment where they feel exceptionally safe, valued and included. They arrive happily, settle quickly and confidently explore the inviting indoor and outdoor spaces. Deep relationships with the childminder help children to feel emotionally secure, and they show genuine kindness, care and respect towards one another.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children enjoy extensive opportunities to learn outdoors and become deeply engaged in purposeful play. They excitedly make lemon and herb potions, explore minibeasts in natural environments and carefully water plants while discussing what they need to grow. Children show high levels of curiosity and sustained concentration as they use magnifying glasses and non-fiction books to identify insects and learn more about the natural world. They proudly recall previous learning, including stories such as 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', and confidently use new vocabulary in conversations.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children behave exceptionally well and play collaboratively. They share resources, take turns and support one another naturally during activities such as baking, where they independently mix ingredients and solve simple problems together. Communication and language are promoted highly effectively through calm interactions, meaningful conversations and rich experiences that inspire children to talk and think deeply.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

All children, including those who may need additional support, are fully included and encouraged to develop confidence, independence and resilience. Children are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of learning and development.

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About this setting

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 08:00 - 17:00

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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Next steps

The childminder should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known or previously known to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with the childminder and children during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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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About this inspection

A quality assurance visit by an additional inspector was carried out at this inspection. This data is from 8 May 2026

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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