My Ofsted is coming this week and I want to know the difference between good and satisfactory, no one from early years has been to see me and I'm going into my first inspection totally blind, I will be quite happy with satisfactory as even thou I registered in August I only had a child from December, 3 days a week.

Do these grades out parents off

Sarah's Jellytots x

All childminders are graded from a starting point of 'good' nowadays.

The inspector asks - are you good... are you not good enough to be good (satisfactory or unsatisfactory) or are you better than good (outstanding)?

To be satisfactory you must comply with all the requirements - don't miss anything out from this document - Ofsted | Are you ready for your inspection? A guide to inspections of provision on Ofsted's Childcare and Early Years Registers (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/are-you-ready-for-your-inspection-guide-inspections-of-provision-ofsteds-childcare-and-early-years-r)

And from the EYFS and other Ofsted factsheets eg Ofsted | Factsheet: childcare - Requirements for written documents: childminders delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/factsheet-childcare-requirements-for-written-documents-childminders-delivering-early-years-foundatio).

To be good you need to be doing that little bit more... to be outstanding you need to be doing even more.

this is the evaluation schedule -it's not exactly light reading but it is very informative -

Ofsted | Evaluation schedule for inspections of registered early years provision (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/evaluation-schedule-for-inspections-of-registered-early-years-provision)

Good luck! :D

Thank you Sarah :-) tbh I would be happy with satisfactory but to be even more honest I don't think they should be doing first grading so soon but that's just my view and I'm worried that it will hang over me for work for the next 3 years :-(

Sarah's Jellytots x

I am merely a "Satisfactory" minder, in an area with lots of Childminders. I was graded after only a month of Childminding, a month into EYFS on which I had had no training (I put my reg process on hold due to house renovations).

My report says I am warm and caring and children are looked after and happy in my setting. My setting is like a home rather than a mini nursery. I'm expensive but include everything. I am closed one day a week.

I have been childminding for nearly 5 years and mostly have been as full as I want t be/can be. I find that what gets you the work is if you click with a parent, If they feel their child is looked after and if your setting suits them. Some want a home from home, some feel more educational stimualtion is more desirable (although they don't always realise we all deliver the EYFS but we all have different styles). If you are close by. If you collect from pre-schools/nurseries and Primary schools they may be interested in at a later date.

I've not got work due to location, Needing a Thursday (my day off) and not working around it. Realising they prefer a nursery (due to me being closed from time to time for sickness and holiday) or when I was pregnant.

There is more to you than your grade... you just have to believe it!

I had 'Outstanding' at my first grading but that's because I'm anal with paperwork. But I'm due an inspection anytime now and I don't expect to get that grade again as I only have one mindee at the moment and can't be compared to other minders who are full all the time and work hard with their LJ's. Paperwork was the focus last time, but I won't be able to 'shine' with only one mindee so I really not bothered as 'Outstanding' never made a difference to me. Parents go by who YOU are not what your grade is. :thumbsup:

I had 'Outstanding' at my first grading but that's because I'm anal with paperwork. But I'm due an inspection anytime now and I don't expect to get that grade again as I only have one mindee at the moment and can't be compared to other minders who are full all the time and work hard with their LJ's. Paperwork was the focus last time, but I won't be able to 'shine' with only one mindee so I really not bothered as 'Outstanding' never made a difference to me. Parents go by who YOU are not what your grade is. :thumbsup:

Thank you :-) xx

Sarah's Jellytots x

I am merely a "Satisfactory" minder, in an area with lots of Childminders. I was graded after only a month of Childminding, a month into EYFS on which I had had no training (I put my reg process on hold due to house renovations).

My report says I am warm and caring and children are looked after and happy in my setting. My setting is like a home rather than a mini nursery. I'm expensive but include everything. I am closed one day a week.

I have been childminding for nearly 5 years and mostly have been as full as I want t be/can be. I find that what gets you the work is if you click with a parent, If they feel their child is looked after and if your setting suits them. Some want a home from home, some feel more educational stimualtion is more desirable (although they don't always realise we all deliver the EYFS but we all have different styles). If you are close by. If you collect from pre-schools/nurseries and Primary schools they may be interested in at a later date.

I've not got work due to location, Needing a Thursday (my day off) and not working around it. Realising they prefer a nursery (due to me being closed from time to time for sickness and holiday) or when I was pregnant.

There is more to you than your grade... you just have to believe it!

Thank you :-) xxx

Sarah's Jellytots x

Hi I got a 'good' for my first inspection and i hadnt seen any one from early years to behonest they have only just contacted me even though ive been leaving messages for them. ANd i had only been childminding a month (October) before they had came in the november 2012


You will be fine



My Ofsted is coming this week and I want to know the difference between good and satisfactory, no one from early years has been to see me and I'm going into my first inspection totally blind, I will be quite happy with satisfactory as even thou I registered in August I only had a child from December, 3 days a week.

Do these grades out parents off

Sarah's Jellytots x