A CHILDMINDING service provided in a Borders village is the bees knees, according to an outstanding inspection report.

A representative of the Care Inspectorate paid an unannounced visit to Lizzie Bizzie’s Childminding service on August 14.

The service is provided by Elizabeth Taylor from a detached bungalow in the village of St Boswells and is registered to care for a maximum of six children up to the age of 16.

In evaluating the quality of the service a six point scale is adopted of which one is ‘unsatisfactory’ and six is ‘excellent’.

The inspector awarded four top marks for the quality of care, play and learning, its setting, leadership and staff team.

The report found that children “thrived in a warm, nurturing environment that fostered feelings of love and security”.

It noted that the childminder’s approach to professional learning was “aspirational” and having a positive impact on outcomes for children.

Children also received an “outstanding” balance of indoor and outdoor play experiences.

The report states: “The childminder felt strongly about exposing the children to early reading skills and to develop a love of books.

“She was passionate about the importance of songs and rhymes for developing language and communication skills.”

The report found that the childminder demonstrated “an exemplary approach to professional learning”.

It adds: “The childminder was celebrating 20 years of being a childminder and this occasion was marked by planting an apple tree and having a get-together with all families in ‘our’ local woodland.

“As a result of this everyone was able to celebrate success. One parent told us, ‘In my view you will never find a more dedicated and passionate woman involved in childcare. She has the best interests at heart all the time’.”