TWO childminders from Barnard Castle are celebrating after receiving "outstanding" Ofsted reports.

Kerry Jevons and Rachel Hanley are both members of the Teesdale Quality Assured Childminding Network.

Mrs Jevons inspection report said: "Children are warmly welcomed into a friendly child-centred home by the childminder who is extremely committed towards meeting childrens individual needs."

Mrs Hanleys inspector said: "The wide range of experiences provided for children, combined with an excellent understanding of how they develop and enthusiastic teaching, ensures all those attending have exceedingly good opportunities to make progress in all areas of learning."

Mrs Hanley is the first accredited childminder in County Durham to now provide nursery education. She can offer parents the full 15 hours flexible, free entitlement for nursery aged children or alternatively this can be shared with other settings.

Mrs Jevons said: "Im thrilled to have received such a fantastic inspection result.

"We both work hard to provide the highest standards of child care and could not have done it without the help and support of Vicky Taylor, our Network Co-ordinator, the children’s parents and of course our own families."

Mrs Hanley added: "Achieving the outstanding grading has helped raise the profile of home based settings that provide quality care, play opportunities and learning experiences for local children."