A CHILDMINDER and her charges are celebrating after she received her third 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted in a row.

Sian O'Neill, of Share the Care, may have been childminding and babysitting for 20 years, but even with so much experience and passion for her work, reaching three outstandings consecutively is a rare feat.

When Ofsted inspectors visited Ms O'Neill in October they examined how the childminder not only cared for the children in her charge, but also how she taught them.

The report, published in November, said: "The childminder is a professional who is extremely dedicated to offering children and their families an excellent and continually improving service. She thoroughly evaluates

all aspects of her provision and frequently plans to enhance the environment that she provides."

It specifically noted how Ms O'Neill meticulously planned exciting and challenging activities for the children she was caring for, and how she had built an excellent relationship with parents, who hold her in high regard.

The report also further praised the childminder's work and said: "Children flourish with the childminder because of her child-centred approach to promoting their well-being."

Having fell into her profession 20 years ago when her own four children had got older, Ms O'Neill, who currently cares from seven children in total, has achieved something many people do not and been rated outstanding in 2006, 2009 and 2015.

She said: "I just fell into it - I have got four children of my own who are all grown up now. The oldest if 34. And I had a play room at the back of the house and most of my children's friends used to end up at my house, so I just thought I'd do the qualification.

"I get very nervous whenever I have an inspection like that, but it went very well. Ofsted is constantly changing and has changed a lot since my first inspection, and now it is more child orientated and child led."

Despite the glowing report, to further improve inspectors said Ms O'Neill could continue to promote and extend older and more-able children's understanding of letters and sounds.