Hi everyone. Need quick as advice as received my report today and have 24 hrs to write back if I feel something isnt right. I have been registered since last July and this is first report.

I really thought I would get better than a satisfactory. The 2 things that held me back were

Children do not have many opportunities to learn about differences and similarities as rescourses and positive images that promote diversity within the community are not used to help them learn to value and respect each other

And

The childmidner has not considered how to make best use of the garden all year round to provide children with opportunities to investgate the natural world.

I feel a bit :( by this and mrs o did say it would be a good write up and it is but these 2 things held me off a good grade. She did say because I havent been childminding that long its very unlikely to get a good.

Later in the report she stated we go on daily walks and visit the park and zoo. I als had various books out with multicultural people in and lots of happyland figures out. I just dont understand and not sure where I stand?!

This is all based around me childminding 2 days a week for a 14mth old who I have had since last july.

Hmm I think it sounds unfair to be honest especially the unlikely to get a good, some cms I know got an outstanding as their first. I think I would dispute it as mrs o is clearly contradicting herself. Hope you get it resolved xx

Hi everyone. Need quick as advice as received my report today and have 24 hrs to write back if I feel something isnt right. I have been registered since last July and this is first report.

I really thought I would get better than a satisfactory. The 2 things that held me back were

Children do not have many opportunities to learn about differences and similarities as rescourses and positive images that promote diversity within the community are not used to help them learn to value and respect each other

And

The childmidner has not considered how to make best use of the garden all year round to provide children with opportunities to investgate the natural world.

I feel a bit :( by this and mrs o did say it would be a good write up and it is but these 2 things held me off a good grade. She did say because I havent been childminding that long its very unlikely to get a good.

Later in the report she stated we go on daily walks and visit the park and zoo. I als had various books out with multicultural people in and lots of happyland figures out. I just dont understand and not sure where I stand?!

This is all based around me childminding 2 days a week for a 14mth old who I have had since last july.

It does sound a bit harsh. If you've only had a 14 month old since you've registered what is the inspector expecting you to do with LO. Surely you should be concentrating on the prime areas for a child of this age. You have provided multicultural toys and books, most other things will be lost on a LO of this age. What is a child going to get out of your garden at her age. Presumably the inspection was recent so weather isn't the best and LO is either not walking or just starting to. There's only a limited amount you can do with LO in your garden.

I'm in a similar position to you, mostly only have young children and have multicultural toys and books. I'm going to have to try and come up with something more substantial on these points.

I would contest it :thumbsup:

It does make me wonder if they should actually grade when you have only one child there (am not getting at you at all). But how can they really tell how good a person is when they are there for a short time and you are looking after a baby. Realistically what could I be doing to promote diversity, or any number of EYFS areas, if I had was minding a very young child.
At that age age they need love and care, and time spent playing etc etc.

It must be very difficult to "prove" yourself.
Good luck with your appeal x

I've seen that comment about your outdoor/garden on a few recent reports. (I'm swatting up on what get reported as I overdue and inspection).

However, as a Childminder who was graded Satisfactory at my first inspection, I must say it hasn't put off prospective parents. I have found if a family like you, they like you. At my initial meetings I do explain what I've done in response to the comments made.

Try not to worry too much, I know it's disappointing and to be honest, if I don't get Good this time round I will be gutted as I know I have come on leaps and bounds since those early days, but unless there is a glut of CM's in your area who are all Good and Outstanding, it shouldn't impact your business.

I would try appealing (surely it can't hurt?), but bear in mind that SOME OIs never give anything other that satisfactory to first timers. Sad but true. I got it last time and felt very upset for a good while after. It had absolutely no affect on my ability to find clients though. Most parents think what CMs have to do for Ofsted is bonkers.

I would appeal at least then you would know that you tried but at the same time you got the mindee you look after without being graded at all, so like others have said, sometimes if the parents and child like you and you have a reference from current parents it shouldn't put new parents off.

I probably would, using the contradiction as my defence :thumbsup:

How can I not be doing something that I am doing?!











I'm in a very argumentative, stubborn, pig headed mood tonight though, so probably shouldn't be giving advice :rolleyes:

To be honest, I think they grade someone on general evidence and look for the recommendations because they have to IYSWIM, not because those things are the only two things holding the cm back from a better grade. My recommendations were just daft/wrong and if I believed that those two things were the only two things which meant that I wasn't.outstanding, I would have appealed. However, because I think that if it wasn't those two things it would have been something else, I didn't. She would just have chosen some other inadequacy lol. She actually told me that she produces about 30 a4 pages of evidence upon which the report.and.grade is based. The report and grade was the culmination of all those pages of evidence, not just those two isolated issues.

I also.had a difficult inspector, known locally for.being tough. It's.disheartening, I know, to wonder 'what if' you had someone different.

I think you have nothing to lose by appealing, but I would.be.surprised.if it made a difference x

I am sorry you are disappointed with your report.

Those 2 actions are fairly typical tbh. As laura says ^^ they are aims for the future rather than the only things that stopped you getting a higher grade.

For whatever reason your inspector decided you didn't have enough evidence for good.

Now you can try to argue that - but it's not likely to get you far - or you can focus on the positives in your report and make sure you can tick every box in the inspectors guidance book at your next inspection.

Huga x

Hi everyone. Need quick as advice as received my report today and have 24 hrs to write back if I feel something isnt right. I have been registered since last July and this is first report.

I really thought I would get better than a satisfactory. The 2 things that held me back were

Children do not have many opportunities to learn about differences and similarities as rescourses and positive images that promote diversity within the community are not used to help them learn to value and respect each other

And

The childmidner has not considered how to make best use of the garden all year round to provide children with opportunities to investgate the natural world.

I feel a bit :( by this and mrs o did say it would be a good write up and it is but these 2 things held me off a good grade. She did say because I havent been childminding that long its very unlikely to get a good.

Later in the report she stated we go on daily walks and visit the park and zoo. I als had various books out with multicultural people in and lots of happyland figures out. I just dont understand and not sure where I stand?!

This is all based around me childminding 2 days a week for a 14mth old who I have had since last july.


I know exactly how you feel as I had a 15 month old just 2 days a week at my last inspection and I too got satisfactory. I put in a long letter of complaint as I just couldnt understand why I got this grading. Ive been childminding 15 years and not got this grade before. I feel they like to find fault Im afraid and have no faith atall in Ofsted anymore.