Our Little Friends
Our story:
Welcome to our warm and nurturing childcare setting. With over 20 years of experience, my assistant and I provide professional, home-from-home care for children aged 9 months to 5 years in a safe, caring, and stimulating environment.
Our spacious conservatory and all-weather garden offer plenty of opportunities for children to play, explore, and learn throughout the year. We are also fortunate to have access to our large allotment, where children enjoy spending time outdoors, caring for our friendly chickens, discovering nature, and taking part in exciting, hands-on learning experiences inspired by the Forest School approach.
We believe every child is unique, so we work closely with parents to provide personalised care that supports each child's individual interests, development, and wellbeing. Our child-led, play-based approach encourages confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
For added convenience, we also offer pick-up and drop-off from Sunshine Montessori Pre-School, helping make your family's daily routine that little bit easier. Whether we're exploring outdoors, enjoying creative activities, or heading out on local adventures, our aim is to ensure every child feels happy, secure, and excited to learn while creating wonderful memories along the way.
Allotment
The children's allotment offers more than just fresh produce; it serves as a vibrant classroom where kids can explore understand their environment. Through gardening, they learn to care for wildlife, fostering an appreciation for nature while promoting a healthy filled with nutritious foods and physical activity. This hands-on experience not only enhances fine motor skills but also boosts their confidence as they the fruits of their labor flourish.
Days Out
We believe in promoting your child's progression through exciting and engaging experiences. regularly attend vibrant toddler groups and explore wonderful places like Herne Bay, Whitstable, Eltham Palace, and more. Each outing provides unique opportunity for your child to discover nature, from observing lakes and rivers to enjoying the sensation of sand beneath their toes. Join us in creating memorable adventures that spark curiosity and learning!
Forest School
At Couper Childcare, we believe that children thrive when they have the chance to explore the great outdoors. Our Forest School program reconnects children with nature, fostering a naturally healthy lifestyle that encourages resilience,, independence, and self-motivation. By immersing them in the natural environment, we equip them with essential tools for happy and successful life. Join us in nurturing a love for the outdoors and all the wonders it holds!
Learning
We provide a diverse array of activities designed to foster your child's holistic development, aligning with the Early Years Foundation Stage. Our curriculum focuses on key areas such as movement, sound, and exploration of the world around us. As your child matures, our program adapts to include essential skills in speech, language, writing, and general awareness of their environment. We are dedicated to nurturing every aspect of your child's growth and learning journey.
Our Big Friends
Samantha
Registered Childminder
NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD)
Hello, I'm Samantha, a registered childminder with an NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development. I am also qualified in Forest School, an approach to learning that I am truly passionate about.
My Forest School qualification allows me to provide children with exciting outdoor learning experiences that encourage confidence, curiosity, resilience, and a love of nature. I combine these experiences with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, creating a balanced environment where children can learn, play, and thrive through both structured activities and child-led exploration.
Savannah
Childcare assistant.
Hi, I'm Savannah! I have a Level 3 qualification in Social Care, along with training in First Aid, Safeguarding, and Child Protection. I've spent the last four years working in a nursery, where I've loved helping children learn, grow, and have fun. I'm also currently working towards my NVQ Level 3 qualification.
I'm a positive, energetic person who loves getting involved in play, being creative, and bringing plenty of smiles and laughter to each day.
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OFSTED REPORT
Inspection of Couper, Samantha Catherine
5 Woodchurch Drive, Bromley, Kent BR1 2TH
Overall Effectiveness: "GOOD"
The childminder creates a busy yet calm learning environment where children show that they feel happy and safe as they explore. She works very well alongside her assistant to build warm relationships with children. Together, they recognise where some children are less confident in social situations and know exactly how to help them join in and play. All children develop a strong sense of belonging and enjoy their time at this setting. The childminder helps children to make good progress in their learning and development. She plans a curriculum that builds on children's interests and continually challenges them to learn new skills in small, achievable steps. She includes all children in all activities, while meeting their unique learning needs. For example, children sit together as a group to complete puzzles of varying complexity and show great pride in their individual achievements. The childminder is quick to praise children for their achievements. She and her assistant are warm and loving towards the children and give them the confidence to seek support or to share their ideas as they play. They gently prompt children to use good manners and praise them when they do. Children behave very well for their ages.
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The childminder is reflective and keen to continually improve her practice. She has met the actions set at her last inspection and works well with her assistant to achieve good outcomes for children. Her assistant has almost completed an early years qualification and uses what she has learned well to encourage children's learning.
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The childminder implements her curriculum aims effectively to help children progress well. She shares her intent with her assistant to make sure they are consistent in their approach to children's learning. They teach children well and revisit learning to deepen children's knowledge. The childminder monitors their progress and prepares them well for the next stages in their learning.
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The childminder and her assistant skilfully encourage children's communication and language development. They help children to learn and use new words, such as, 'Honeycomb' and 'nectar' as they follow their interest in bees. They ask interesting questions to encourage children to think and respond. They provide a language rich environment which underpins children's learning well.
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The childminder provides exciting learning opportunities that children enjoy and quickly learn from. Occasionally, she does things for children, such as washing and drying their hands or checking how well materials have stuck to glue on their art creations. These are things that children could easily attempt to do independently to further develop their emerging confidence, personal skills, and enjoyment of learning.
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The childminder encourages children to explore books and stories. Children look at books by themselves, with their friends and listen attentively to stories. Some cuddle up with an adult while others pretend to read out loud as they turn the pages carefully and point to the text. Opportunities such as these help to develop children's pre-reading skills.
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The childminder and her assistant are effective role models who encourage children to eat healthily and develop positive behaviours. Children play amicably together because the childminder and her assistant keep them well occupied in purposeful activity. They respond well to praise and are learning the value of contributing to everyday routines, such as tidying away and sharing resources.
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The childminder's current focus on encouraging children's small-muscle development is good. Children enjoy opportunities to pick up objects with their fingertips and they strengthen their grip and hand movements through squeezing and rolling play dough. They develop the skills needed for holding and using writing implements in the future.
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The childminder communicates well with staff at other settings that children attend, and with parents. She shares ideas and information with them to help to provide consistency in children's learning. Parents report very favourably about the childminder and her assistant and value the good care and education they provide for their children.
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