LauraS
07-01-2013, 11:30 PM
Well Ofsted have been and gone. The result - I got good. I'm ok with that, especially given how stressful I found it. I'm normally really good under pressure but totally lost it yesterday, and what with preparation, raging insomnia and an eight year old with nightmares I had about two hours sleep last night.
It took about four hours, with about an hour or so observation in the morning, a short time looking at my paperwork - maybe an hour at the very most. Then the rest was questions. The focus was on parent and nursery partnerships, knowledge of the children (open questions like, how has child A progressed with you over the past two months in such and such an area.) Also on provision, eg how do you support learning in so and so area. Questions I found really difficult to answer in depth on the spot with no recourse to my cp folder, planning, ljs etc. And with the children wanting my attention and just generally getting a raw deal.
The whole thing wasn't as in-depth as I thought it would be. She didn't seem to look in great detail at things like paperwork other than to ensure the statutory things were covered. She often just asked whether I had such and such a policy, for example, rather than looking.
I felt a little perplexed with a couple of the recommendations - one in particular I feel I'm already doing (and did point out), but am pragmatic about it - she would have had to pick something so might as well be those, and I don't think they will read badly at all to a prospective parent.
Overall, glad its done. I was worried before the inspection that I would lose motivation to improve and keep updating after they had been, but if anything I feel more motivated now. I feel free to go out and plan things that please the children, rather than doing.things with one eye on what might please ofsted ;). We're going to have a blast!
Here's to the next three years :D
It took about four hours, with about an hour or so observation in the morning, a short time looking at my paperwork - maybe an hour at the very most. Then the rest was questions. The focus was on parent and nursery partnerships, knowledge of the children (open questions like, how has child A progressed with you over the past two months in such and such an area.) Also on provision, eg how do you support learning in so and so area. Questions I found really difficult to answer in depth on the spot with no recourse to my cp folder, planning, ljs etc. And with the children wanting my attention and just generally getting a raw deal.
The whole thing wasn't as in-depth as I thought it would be. She didn't seem to look in great detail at things like paperwork other than to ensure the statutory things were covered. She often just asked whether I had such and such a policy, for example, rather than looking.
I felt a little perplexed with a couple of the recommendations - one in particular I feel I'm already doing (and did point out), but am pragmatic about it - she would have had to pick something so might as well be those, and I don't think they will read badly at all to a prospective parent.
Overall, glad its done. I was worried before the inspection that I would lose motivation to improve and keep updating after they had been, but if anything I feel more motivated now. I feel free to go out and plan things that please the children, rather than doing.things with one eye on what might please ofsted ;). We're going to have a blast!
Here's to the next three years :D