How long should SEF be?

[Glitter]

Hello,

I am desperatly trying to write my SEF as Ofsted are coming to do my first full inspection next week!

I am typing it as a word document, then copy and pasting it to submit online.

The problem is it is already seven pages long and I still have a lot more to do!

How long are other people SEF's? I don't want to write more than nesessary.

At least I have all day with no childern to get it done.

Thanks.

[Rick]

I don't think anyone can answer that but you. You're not obliged to do one but if you are it just needs to show how you evaluate your setting. Mine was between one and two sides of A4 for each section but some write less and some a lot more.

This thread may help

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/fo...valuation.html

Good luck

[bindy]

My first one was 26 pages long. The second was only 16 pages.! Good Luck!! It took me ages but very good to do before Ofsted come.

[sarah707]

It's up to you and how much you've got to say for yourself!

Mine is pages and pages and pages - I know another outstanding childminder whose SEF is one page per question.

probably somewhere in the middle is about right

[lizann]

mine is about 1 page per question at the moment but need to go though it again need to change a few bits

[bindy]

Does not have to be long to get an Outstanding. Sometimes one can babble and babble!

[KarenM]

Just starting mine too, kept putting it off until they released the shorter version. I'm aiming for 1 -2 pages for the first couple of bits, then more for the learning, development and well-being sections.

[MessybutHappy]

Mine would rival the thompson directory! But I know it's comprehensive and it works for me! Mrs O seemed happy...bored perhaps, but happy!!

[gef918]

I was told on a course recently that OFSTED had refused to read a SEF that was 100 pages long! I started panicking at that point, because mine was well on the way to that! I was advised to submit just a couple of pages for each section, but keep the rest for the inspection. I know that on the day I'm going to find it hard to talk to the inspector, so I prefer to know that she will be able to look through my paperwork which will hopefully answer any questions she has. My learning and development section is 26 pages long (with appendices that are at least that too!)

[Glitter]

Thanks for everyones replies. My SEF finally ended up as 9 pages long. The inspector really liked it.