Ofsted Inspection due from Tuesday - question

[lollipop kid]

Hello, I have my Ofsted inspection due from Tuesday this week - does anyone know if they will want to see all of my paperwork from the date of my last inspection over 3 years ago, or will they only be interested in paperwork for my current mindees?

Luckily, I have kept everything (except Learning Journeys - these went with the kids when they left); but just thought I would ask.

Thanks for reading,

L

[shortstuff]

I believe they only want to see what relates to the lo's you have on the day of inspection. Hth

[kats]

My inspector only wanted to see paperwork for the children i had on the day but she did want to see paperwork to show howi share info with other settings for children who were at nursery and school .

[blue bear]

They might ask how long you store records from children who have left and where bit they don't usually ask to see it.

[lollipop kid]

Thanks for all of your help, guys. Amazing as usual! Plus, I've had a look at some of the recent inspection feedback, and have now sent a note to a couple of parents asking them to drop me an email saying what I do to work in partnership with them. Fingers crossed!

I'm also in the process of putting together copies of questionnaires that I've had back so show - with two parents still to ask. (Looks like I'll be in the playground on Monday with a clipboard on this one!)

How long are you supposed to keep the paperwork for? Think it used to be 3 years apart from anything that might be needed for insurance claims (21 years - Public Liability).?! Next on my list is reading the Statutory guidelines again and re-checking my policies.

Thanks again,

L

I'll post again when it's over

[sarah707]

They only normally want to see info related to the children in your care at the time.

HOWEVER - if you have, for example, an accident book and they are flicking through it and see something related to an accident that happened years ago and want to raise a query about it, they will.

A friend was questioned about an accident that happened many, many years ago under the old standards because it will still in her accident book. The inspector said she didn't report it properly and she was given 'unsatisfactory' for safeguarding.

So do be careful to dot every i and cross every t!

Hth

[lollipop kid]

Thanks, Sarah.

I have an NCMA Accident, Incident & Medication folder that I use to store my blank forms in.

I store the "used" forms in my current contracts folder, under the child's tab; and I put their Child Record form and permissions in their Learning Journey folder. (It made sense at the time...) All the old ones are in my historic file.

Will have another look through everything once I've got it all laid out as an inspector would see it tomorrow and do tweaks then.

This is a minefield!

x L

[lubanana]

My inspector only wanted to see the childrens files I had in on the day, but as I had all the other childrens files available she did look through the daily diaries and aspects in the file that involved linking in with other preschools and outside agencies - this may have been that I mentioned to her that I had 2 children, who left to go to school in September, who were both on Early Years action plus. I wanted her to see these files as they had a very succesful transition to school and I had 2 very complimentary referenced from Early Years support, speech and language team and the inclusion team that I wanted her to see!
She was suitably impressed!
Show her what you want her to see - I reckon!
good luck to you,
Lu

[lollipop kid]

Hello all,

I promised to post an update once my inspection had happened, so here goes:

Firstly, I had the same inspector that I had last time round, so I was really nervous, as last time I accidentally knocked a cup of tea into her laptop just after she's given me a satisfactory grade. Total accident (her cup was in front of the cupboard where I keep my nappy cream, with laptop below - accident waiting to happen, really!)

Anyway, she came and was absolutely lovely. It was quite nice that she had done my last inspection, as she could see first hand how much effort I had put in since last time round.

The little boy (age 26 months) that I had with me was an absolute angel (he usually is). Once the nerves were out of the way, I just relaxed and got on with just interacting with my mindee, and we had a great time in the garden, while the inspector was sat with her back to us at her laptop. I didn't think she would have been able to pick up on anything we were doing, but she did, so that was great.

She asked to see what resources I have for showing different cultures - e.g. wok, chopsticks (I have both and the chopsticks are child-friendly ones, so big tick there); map and images of other cultures - I got mine from a Google search of "Indian culture for kids"; "African culture for kids"; and "Mexican culture for kids" last night: (only print the first page if you use these). Then I just stuck the whole A4 page onto the relevant side of my map and that was great. I put a globe on a low table that you can fly (bit of ICT), so it may have helped.

I was also able to show images that counter gender stereotyping - I used "Cops and Robbers", as it shows a female policewoman. Then I also showed her a little book called "Building Site", which shows a female joiner and painter. So that ticked those boxes.

She also liked the fact that I have a book about washing hands; and one called "I can flush" to help with toilet training.

Towards the end of my inspection, she asked if I had any resources to show positive images of disability. I couldn't honestly think of any, so I said No - then 5 minutes after she left, I found a book on my shelf called "Hospital - Talking it through", which might have been perfect as it shows lots of ill children in a very positive way. (E.g. a little boy who is recovering after having Chemotherapy, who is looking forward to going home soon as he's feeling much better.)

Another improvement point was to include information about activities using paint or dough for mark-making. The little boy I have can't be persuaded to go to the craft table at playgroup. I have one photo of him sticking and getting messy, but I couldn't find it. I'm putting these on here just in case anyone else has an inspection coming up so they don't get caught out with these ones!

She read the two year review that I've done for my mindee, and she said that she really felt that she knew him from reading it, so that was brilliant. She also loved the fact that I had references from parents (thanks to all at the forum for suggesting this!); questionnaires from parents plus a well-maintained attendance register (all parent signatures present and correct). She also said that she would be shocked if I don't get Outstanding at my next inspection, as I'm so close to it now - but I'm happy with Good and can't wait to see the report now.

I told my parents and they were all really pleased.

Thanks for reading - hope my experience helps. I had thought of everything apart from the "Politically Correct" stuff (I've always been a bit rubbish at that), so if your inspection is coming up, have something up your sleeves for these bits.



L

[claireh4505]

Thanks for sharing x

[CLL]

Thanks for that, always the little things we need to think about.