Donna
Childminder in Southend-on-sea (also available for babysitting)
Usually responds within 24 hours
Female Member since Feb 2010 Last Updated Sep 2025 Last Login 22 Sep 2025
My Summary
About Me
Spaces are now available on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.
We are Donna and Lee Cannon Outstanding Childminder and live in Westcliff-on-Sea. We offer a unique childcare setting working as a husband and wife childminding team. We have one child of our own Holly who loves to be involved with the children playing alongside and helping out with fun activities. We have two friendly cats called Panda and Ringo and 3 remarkable chickens who we rescued, as these were ex-battery hens. The children love them very much and enjoy collecting fresh eggs from them in the mornings.
We both obtained Outstanding reports in our Ofsted inspections since 2022 to the previous day and have Level 3 Diploma for Children and Young Peoples workforce qualifications. Lee offers a new dynamism to our warm, homely setting he is a talented musician, singer songwriter, and sings and plays to the children. We are able to draw from our professional and parenting experiences to provide a safe, secure, and happy setting for children of all ages.
We both hold current paediatric first aid certificates and up to date safeguarding training and are members of Pacey formally the National Childminding Association and Ofsted registered with an Outstanding out come.
As a family, we love being outside and are very adventurous. We enjoy going to the beach, forest, and local parks. I have an annual Sea Life Adventure pass, Adventure Time, and an annual Hadleigh Farm pass. I am also a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, and I am a frequent visitor with the children. We are both active and energetic and love the outdoors.
We offer before and afternoon collections from Milton Hall School, Westborough School, and St Marys school
The hours we keep are 6.30 am till 6.00 pm
My settling period is about 2-3 weeks prior to the contractual start date and this includes a home visit where I would get to know your child in their home environment and to do a developmental check and to fill in an "All about me" form for your childs likes, dislikes, sleeping routines etc and also to get to know your family as a whole as I feel this is important.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. #lovetolearnplayexplorex
My Experience
Before I had my daughter I worked for a Japanese Publishing Company.
I was a Foreign Rights Coordinator and handled rights to book publications.
I was a live in Nanny to a farming family of 2 children in New Zealand.
My Qualifications
Safeguarding training with NSPCC- 23rd September 2006
Introduction to childcare practice-level 3 diploma- 12th of May 2006
Let’s talk with Under Fives providedElklan- 27thof February 2007
Safety of the lone worker - 3rd December 2007
Drugs and alcohol awareness - 4th February 2008
Behaviour, what behaviour - 15th May 2008
1, 2 Buckle My Shoe - 21st October2008
Improving Communications - 2nd March 2009
Coping with Conflict - 22nd April 2009
Autistic Spectrum - 10th October 2009
Accredited Childminder 2010
Practical Activities for a Multicultural setting - 22nd January 2010
Advanced Safeguarding - 20th February 2010
Marvellous Minders - August 2011
First aid for children carer practitioners - 10th November 2012
Anaphylaxis Training - 8th February 2012
Babies and toddlers speech language and communication development training - 6th of October 2012
Working with parents and families to support young children’s speech language and communication development - 6 October 2012
Working with under 3's positive approaches to supporting communications development - 6th October 2012
PSED Conference - 16thNovember 2012
Active listening skills and the therapeutic use of empathy - 23rd October 2012
Early YearsConference Let's Get Physical - 21st September 2012
More Great Childcare – 28th February 2013
Safeguarding refresher level 1 and 2 - 15th March 2013
Keeping up with Ofsted Changes- Childminding - 16th July 2013
Exploring literacy in EYFS - 4th October 2013
Understanding the world EYFS - 6th December 2013
Expressive arts and design EYFS- 14th February 2014
Makaton for Professionals Foundation Workshop - 21st June 2014
Safeguarding training Level 2 - 30th June 2014
How a child's early experiences shapes the rest of their life –20th August 2014
Early years conference - Enabling Environment - 18th October 2014
Level 2 award in food safety in catering–22nd October 2014
First Aid for Child Care Practitioners – Pronto Training – 14th November 2015
Supporting two-year-olds conference - 29th November 2014
Early Years Ofsted Conference - 26th September 2015
Level 3 diploma for children and young people’s workforce - 25th August 2015
NSM speaker Deborah Heart,Healthy lifestyles coordinated by the Southend Borough Council on healthy eating –28th January re 2016
Developing Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Related Conditions in the Early Years – 12th November 2016
Early Years Safeguarding Refresher Southend-on-Sea - 5th November 2016
Early Years British Values Training Southend-on-Sea – 28th April 2017
Early Years Safeguarding Refresher Training Southend-on-Sea – 29th September 2018
First Aid Training for Child Care Practitioners – Pronto Training – 17th November 1018
Effective Partnership Working with Fathers – PACEY online training – January 15th 2019
Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Early Years Settings – PACEY online training 16th September 2019
Childminding Network Meeting – Southend on Sea – 26th September 2019
Early Years Hungry Minds Conference Southend-on-Sea – 5th October 2019
Prevent Duty Prevent e-learning Training – 3rd January 2020
Coronavirus Outbreak Young People - 26 March 2020
My Availability
My daily hours are 6.30am - 6.00pm Monday - Thursday
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Morning | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Afternoon | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| After School | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Evening | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Overnight | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Last Updated: 18/09/2025 | |||||||
My Fees
- Childminding from £7.50 per hour
- Babysitting from £15.00 per hour
6.50per hour
My Local Schools
- I provide drop offs and pick ups at Westborough Academy
My Ofsted Inspections
The inspection grades below have been obtained from the Ofsted website based upon the registration number the childminder has provided to us. You should verify this information yourself prior to using the childminder.
My Documents
- DBS Check (added 15/03/2022)
- Ofsted Certificate (added 18/11/2020)
- First Aid Certificate (added 28/11/2024)
- Training Certificate: Genda Training (added 02/06/2024)
- Inspection Report: 2022 Donna Cannon Ofsted Report (added 17/03/2022)
- Exam Certificate: Level 3 Diploma in Home-based Childcare (added 15/03/2022)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Parents say
This childminding service offers a nurturing, fun, and secure environment for children. They provide a wide range of activities, including outdoor adventures and themed events. The childminders are described as caring, flexible, and accommodating, going above and beyond to meet children's needs. Parents appreciate the regular updates and the loving atmosphere provided.
Summary generated by AI from the text of recent member reviews
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for Donna. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
Donna and Lee have provided a nurturing, fun, warm and secure environment for all 3 of my children over the past 8 years.
I found trying to find the right care for my child daunting as a full time working mum - but as soon as I met Donna I knew that her passion and nurturing would help not only my worry of leaving my children but ensure they thrived.
Donna and Lee looked after each of my children from 11 months old with my youngest now starting school.
The children have had the opportunity to make close friends, have regular adventures to the forest, beach, parks, museums, playgroups, library visits as well as enjoy the wonderful home environment Donna and Lee have created with daily activities and themes offering plenty of play based learning.
Every child is different and Donna and Lee have provided outstanding care that has suited each of my children as they have developed, grown and flourished.
For the care they provide I could not recommend them more highly.
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Gemma
on 15/08/2025
Donna and Lee took care of our son Grover for two years, between the ages of 16 months and 3.5. They have a great setting with a really lovely outdoor space. Grover loved attending and seeing what they had in store. It seemed they always had good activities, in line with the seasons and fun outings. I appreciate the care they took with Grover and sent us plenty of updates everyday. Thank you both!
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danielaw
on 05/05/2024
Our daughter and son have been going to Donna and Lee for a couple of years now and they absolutely love it there!
Donna and Lee offer a very loving, clean, playful and educational environment. They always have something planned. There is never a dull moment!! My children especially loved the Halloween party last year with lots of fun activities, amazing decorations and lovely food. They also always remember children's birthdays and make them feel so special ❤️
I will be forever grateful for how accommodating and flexible Donna and Lee have been for us. They always go out of their way to do what is best for our children. They genuinely love and care for the children they look after. They definitely provide a service that is above and beyond!!
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Kasia
on 25/04/2023
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This profile has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.
