A CHILDMINDER who has been looking after children for 30 years has been rewarded for her dedication and hard work.

Cath Park, 79, from Bishop Auckland has cared for more than 100 children and has now been rewarded with a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted.

Over the past three years members of Durham County Council’s Early Years Team have been working to raise standards of childminders within County Durham.

The number of childminders in the area achieving at least a ‘good’ rating has more than doubled, from 36 per cent to 82 per cent.

The Ofsted report said Mrs Park, who started looking after children in 1985, provides a ‘broad range of activities and experiences that stimulate and motivate children.’

Adding: “The childminder effectively uses puppets and other props to enhance children's love of stories and books and children are encouraged to develop their early writing skills.”

Ofsted officials also praised her approach to taking on board as much training as possible and putting into practice what she has learnt.

Mrs Park said: “I always give my best in anything I do and my focus is with the children – they are what keep me going.

“The support I have received from the council has been a great help and I know I only have to pick the phone up and my questions are answered.”

Nora Waugh, early years development lead at Durham County Council, added: “Our childminders provide an excellent service for parents in Durham and it’s wonderful that Cath is so enthusiastic and determined to do the best she can for the children in her care.

“After so many years of hard work she really is remarkable.”

Mrs Park is so positive about caring for children that both her daughter-in-law and granddaughter have now also become childminders.