I had my first graded Ofsted inspection on Thursday. It lasted from 830 am to 245 pm so quite a long day. This was mostly due to the fact that it was half term and my own children aged 5,4 as well as my 22 month old were present. Due to it being half term, I only had one mindee - a 9 month old baby who only started with me 3 weeks ago.

She spent time observing me - and I felt very self conscious - I just sang songs (with puppets) and read some books, and we did abit of guided walking round the room as he has just started cruising. There isn't much else you can do with a baby so I was abit worried about covering diversity, and going outside and such like. In the end I was so worried that I mentioned it and suggested we go out for a walk. However the inspector was very nice and understanding. She was very picky about certain things - like the positioning of my bookcase in relation to my reflection area, and she didn't like the fact that I didn't keep my craft box in the play room. This is because I don't want toddlers opening it, getting the paint out and painting the carpet, and furniture which has happened before. Mrs O felt that I wouldn't offer craft activities and messy play if the box wasn't in the room. To give her credit, she did give me time to respond to this - I told her it wasn't safe to keep the box in the playroom and that I did messy play every day - look at my planning! She didn't seem to agree. Apart from this niggles, she looked at my policies, risk assessments, working with parents, completed and very detailed sef and my planning - and said it was all fine. I was awarded a Good (she said that I hadn't been minding long enough to get an Outstanding and that I would probably next time).

I am quite chuffed but irritated by the nit picking. My planning was abit ropey I felt, but this didn't get mentioned at all. After reading previous threads, I worried about getting outside with the baby in this wet, cold weather but that wasn't an issue either. I haven't been especially diverse witht the baby although with the other children I made abig effort for Chinese New Year and we had lots of stuff all over the walls covering art work, a year of the snake picture which all the children had contributed to - the baby did a hand print. For working with other care settings, I have one reception aged child and the school had written me a fantastic leter which was in my file. Mrs O liked this, but wanted to see more evidence from the school and me about sharing of information - as I didn't have this child that day, I didn't have her school books here.

Thanks to all of you on the forum for all your tips and hints. I have spent the last couple of months pouring over your threads and it really helped me get my paperwork in order.

Wow thank you for your detailed feedback - I know I have found it useful and I am sure others will too!

It sounds like you had a tough time... and gave a really good account of yourself - congratulations! :clapping:

Well done Tracey on a fab inspection and thanks for the detailed feedback :thumbsup:

well done you :clapping: I so wish they would stop making comments like you havent been minding long enough to get an outstanding, sounds like she was struggling to find fault, thank you for the feed back.

Congratulations and well done. And Oh my, what a long day, bet you were exhausted !!

Wow sounds like a tough day, and well done you for getting your good!

God job Tracey! nI bet you had a very tiring day, but it was all worth it right? Don't worry about the "good' rating. It's a good start. I'm sure you can work your way to the big "OUTSTANDING" soon.

Good luck!

Well done you! :clapping: It sounds as though the inspector put you through the mill, but you kept your cool and got a "good" result! :thumbsup:

Relax and celebrate now.

Miffy xx

Well done you! :clapping: It sounds as though the inspector put you through the mill, but you kept your cool and got a "good" result! :thumbsup:

Relax and celebrate now.

Miffy xx

I have been minding for many years now and have noticed over the last year or so how picky they are seeming to be getting, not sure if this is good or bad. Is it to keep us on our toes. The layout of my room has never been a problem, lots of labelled boxes of toys etc. Now i suddenly have too much equipment in their eyes and should only have a few bits about. Alernating what i have got, so where has their freedom of choice gone. I only have a little room and now they say my room in not big enough, as the floor space sizing per child has now changed.

So i feel like sometimes it dosent matter how hard you try it never seems good enough for the nit pickers. I do take all on board and do try to rectify it as soon as possible. I also do try and move on with the times. I never used to worry about inspections, but am more worried now of my next inspection especially from all the reports i am getting off other local Childminders and through the forum. But i am a strong person so am trying not to let it worry me too much. LOL.