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littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 12:50 PM
OFSTED are so insensitive wanting to come and inspect me at 8 months pregnant when i've only just started working how dare they?lol

what annoys me is my sister in law has been registered longer than me has been working longer than me and still hasnt been inspected.

Anyway the problem i have now is that I only started work on tuesday and so havent started obs or anything and really i know nothing about eyfs (i will look round the forum). I have my eyfs book too.

But what will ofsted be looking for. The boy i look after will be 3 in august so is there anything i should be doing? What sort of things do i right down as observations and how do i record it? Also I take him to the park most days do i need a risk assesment for the park everyday or just once a week etc? Do i have to have risk assesments down on paper? How would i do that?

HELP!!!!! lol

ma7ie
22-05-2008, 01:05 PM
Firstly don't worry. If you've only been looking after this little boy for a short time, they are not going to be expecting reams of observations.

Have you got any photos that you can put into a scrapbook with some headings on them?

EYFS isn't compulsory until September anyway so I'd suggest you concentrate on the national standards and the Every Child Matters Framework which is what you'll be inspected on.

I'm sure you'll be fine

Good luck.

Pauline
22-05-2008, 01:06 PM
Don't panic Sproggie! :)

They won't be inspecting you on EYFS as that does not come into force until Sept.

Explain that you have only just stated minding and that you don't have any written work but explain in detail what you PLAN do to, you could have some obs sheets ready and say how you are going to use them, what you plan to look for etc.

Same with risk assessment, write one for the park and explain that you plan to do them for other activities too as they arise.

Explain the activities you plan to do with the children, how you take them to the park for exercise and fun. Have some activities out for the 3 year old, something that he likes if you have had time to find out in the days you have been minding him.

I'm sure others will be along to help soon too. :)

Pauline
22-05-2008, 01:07 PM
we posted at the same time Marie! :D

ma7ie
22-05-2008, 01:08 PM
we posted at the same time Marie! :D

You explain far better than me though :blush:

NikNak
22-05-2008, 01:17 PM
Becuase the little boy is nearly three Ill bet you write a daily diary for his mother to read? You can be observant every day and record the simplist of observations such as he chatted lots today, was very active at the park, used the climbing frame well, can run really fast, held the pencil in his hand well, was creative with the stickle bricks, is mature for his age, holds eye contact well, socialises with other children etc etc. Do you get what I mean? Ofsted will be very happy with such observations done in this way for now. Once you get into the habit of writing his every move down it becomes second nature, honhest! x

littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 01:18 PM
:huh: I've only had him for one day so far! He doesnt start officially till wednesday. The only thing he was interested in was his nintendo DS that he brought with him so will have to get him out of that habit pretty quickly!

I think i will buy some playdoh to keep him occupied when the inspector is here and then i can talk to him about the colours and shapes and things and then explain that as an observation that i will write up when he goes home. Will that be ok?

Theres 2 different parks nearby and will be using both of them so will do 2 risk assessments for them but i dont really know how to write them but i think i bought the risk asssessment book off sarah a while ago so will have a read through that later.

The only problem i might have is that being 8 months pregnant i cant really run around after him like other people can and cant join in on some activities he is doing (like at the park the other day he wanted me to go down the slide with him but i couldnt climb up coz bump was in the way lol) will this affect my grade? I wonder if i can put them off till august when i return after my maternity leave :huh:

berkschick
22-05-2008, 01:19 PM
Have they given you a definate date?

They rung me in January to ask if I had any mindees yet, I said I had and then they said they would be in touch soon to arrange a date.

That was in January, they are coming next week!!

NikNak
22-05-2008, 01:19 PM
Oh and I forgot to say you can wright all this sort of info in the childs daily diary and show ofsted. You do not have to do any more. Good luck.x

littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 01:19 PM
Becuase the little boy is nearly three Ill bet you write a daily diary for his mother to read? You can be observant every day and record the simplist of observations such as he chatted lots today, was very active at the park, used the climbing frame well, can run really fast, held the pencil in his hand well, was creative with the stickle bricks, is mature for his age, holds eye contact well, socialises with other children etc etc. Do you get what I mean? Ofsted will be very happy with such observations done in this way for now. Once you get into the habit of writing his every move down it becomes second nature, honhest! x

I do have a daily diary for him, but his mother doesnt take it home :angry: she says she'd only forget to bring it back!

littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 01:21 PM
Have they given you a definate date?

They rung me in January to ask if I had any mindees yet, I said I had and then they said they would be in touch soon to arrange a date.

That was in January, they are coming next week!!

I got a letter through this morning saying they have been trying to contact me to see if i am minding yet. They rang my mobile this morning but i ignored it coz i had a headache and couldnt be doing with ofsted haha. (i got the phone call before the letter btw lol)

berkschick
22-05-2008, 01:22 PM
Dont panic, it is likely they wont actually come to see you for a few months. I felt the same as you as I had only been minding for 4 days when they rung me in January!

I would ring them and explain the situation and ask for the visit to be put off until after you have had the baby.

littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 01:24 PM
Dont panic, it is likely they wont actually come to see you for a few months. I felt the same as you as I had only been minding for 4 days when they rung me in January!

I would ring them and explain the situation and ask for the visit to be put off until after you have had the baby.

Will they put it off just because i'm pregnant though?

ma7ie
22-05-2008, 01:25 PM
I do have a daily diary for him, but his mother doesnt take it home :angry: she says she'd only forget to bring it back!

Well that's her choice but at least you're doing it and Ofsted will be happy with that. They don't need to know that she doesn't take it home.

Don't worry about the risk assessments too much. I'm not the best person to advise you on them but I just have a general Park risk assessment that covers the main risks. If you pm me you email address I will send it to you. It's just one that I got off the Bromley site and altered slightly. I don't do it for every outing but I check and update it regularly.

ma7ie
22-05-2008, 01:27 PM
I got a letter through this morning saying they have been trying to contact me to see if i am minding yet. They rang my mobile this morning but i ignored it coz i had a headache and couldnt be doing with ofsted haha. (i got the phone call before the letter btw lol)

It took them 4 months to arrange a visit to see me after the call so I wouldn't worry too much :D

berkschick
22-05-2008, 01:28 PM
Are you taking time off after having the baby? I think they would make allowances for this.

Honest, dont panic. I think this is just the call to get you in the system to have an inspection in the next few months.

littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 01:35 PM
Are you taking time off after having the baby? I think they would make allowances for this.

Honest, dont panic. I think this is just the call to get you in the system to have an inspection in the next few months.

I'm due July 11th. I'm taking all of july off and going back to work the first monday in august

NikNak
22-05-2008, 01:42 PM
Just because you have had that call doest mean they on the way any time soon! I had the same call in January and still had no inspection. The neat step is that the actual inspector will ring you to tell you which week or day she is actually coming. All you need to do is tell her your situation and she will rearrange for when you had baby etc> Just remember to keep up with the daily diary and make observant comments even if parent doest take it home! It will look good for ofsted! x

littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 01:45 PM
Oh thats good then. I need time to get used to this childminding lark first before someone comes and critisises me lol! Will be good to have baby first before ofsted decide to come round too! Lets hope they are as slow as all of your inspectors lol

NikNak
22-05-2008, 01:46 PM
Also as far as risk assesments go, you can tell inspector that you plan and think ahead at all times with regards to the visits to the park etc. If you verbally tell her the things you obviously look out for such as rubbish on fllor, broken equipment, gates securley locked, no dogs, etc etc she again will be ok with this.x

mrsb
22-05-2008, 01:56 PM
round here, ofsted won't actually come to inspect if you don't have a child there with you anyway so if all else fails just let them know that anyway ;)

And loads of luck with the baby ;) you're brave having less than a month mat leave though:eek:

littlesprogs
22-05-2008, 01:58 PM
round here, ofsted won't actually come to inspect if you don't have a child there with you anyway so if all else fails just let them know that anyway ;)

And loads of luck with the baby ;) you're brave having less than a month mat leave though:eek:

cant really afford anymore time off than that to be honest. I only look after a 3 yr old anyway so it wont be too much of a problem anyway i just wont take any more on until i feel up to it.

Spangles
22-05-2008, 03:33 PM
What I would do is take a handful of photos of him doing different things at the park.

You could then write a short ob about your trip to the park - what did you notice he liked, what was he good at/not good at - how can you help him to improve, did he listen to you? did he enjoy walking? What did he take notice of - i.e. birds, sounds, trees so you get an idea of what he's interested in and can follow up. Just write down in very short form a few of the things that you will already have in your head. Write just odd words on what going to the park achieves etc.

Also just do one risk assessment on the park trip and worry about others when you go there.

I bet you've got it all in your head anway and it's just a case of jotting it down in brief next to a couple of photos! It won't take ten minutes!

Good luck with your inspection by the way!