Three local childminders are celebrating after being graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors.

Mischelle Akid, 37, from Menston, received the top grading along with Vivien Bevan, 48, from Menston, and Julie Denton, 44, from Ilkley.

Mischelle, who has been childminding for 12 years, said the ‘outstanding’ grade was quite rare.

And along with Vivien, who has been childminding for four years, and Julie, who has been childminding for three-and-a-half years, she was delighted to receive the grading.

She said: “Since last September, when Ofsted introduced the Early Years Foundation Stage, childminders have to do a lot of work in their own time, lots of observations, risk assessments and other paper work, not to mention planning. It’s because of this that a lot of childminders resign.”

“When we are graded, we can either get unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good or outstanding. I received ‘outstanding’ and am very pleased that all my hard work out of hours as well as with the children has been recognised.”

The three women issued a joint statement saying: “The outstanding grade is important to us as it is professional acknowledgement of all the time and effort we put into ensuring children receive the highest quality care and education while in our settings.”