Hi,

Its my first inspection next week:eek:, its the same lady that came to register me which makes me feel a little bit better, but am sooo nervous.

I have read many tips on here so I know quite a few things that I need to have ready but any advice would be very much appreciated.

Some people have said on here that because its their 1st inspection you can only get satisfactory, is that correct?

She also said that I do not need to do an SEF but can I think of something that I have done but then changed to make things work better!! Can not think of anything.

Anything you can think of that may help would be great.

Thanks

melco

i have recently had my inspection and my inspector told me that as a new minder you can only get a satisfactory although if you come from a childcare background (e.g worked in nurseries fro a long time) then you could get a good x

good luck
xx

oh and she did mark me down for not completing my sef :-( so i would say if you get chance then definitely do it x

if she told you you do not need to do a SEF then theres no point doing one now! The SEF is really just a way to recognise in your setting or in yourself somehting that you need to do to make something better.

It could be anything from a training session you did that made you change something or moving things around in your setting to make it more accessible for children. Maybe everything was too accessible so you removed some toys and now rotate them! Maybe it was starting to use safety reins when with a certain child who didn't like to hold your hand but you still wanted to keep safe.

SO for me for example I didn't have a hand wash facility down stairs i had to use the kitchen sink after nappy changing which I felt was un-hygenic so I said I wanted to look at ways to improve it. Also it was tricky for washing hands of the little ones who couldn't reach and do it independantly - I either had to lift them or get them to stand on a chair.When environmental health came I asked them about it and they agreed it was un-hygenic and they said a bowl of warn soapy water would suffice. It was commented on in my Ofsted that children 'learn the importance of healthy eating and self-care because they knew routines to wash their hands before meals and after messy play.'

it was my first ofsted and I got a good in all areas - i think it really depends on who it is doing your inspection.

The SEF is not compulsory but reflecting on your practice is which is probably why she asked you to think about what you've changed (and how this has benefitted the children you look after).

Good luck with your inspection

Miffy xx