Recent Ofsted inspection focus for childminders - I have been reading a few recent reports..!

I hope you find it useful :D

http://www.childmindinghelp.co.uk/forum/blogs/sarah707/89-recent-ofsted-inspection-outcomes.html

Thanks Sarah! I'd be interested in more info about the Letters and Sounds Phase 1. Can you point me in the right direction?

Very interesting. Thank you Sarah. X

Thanks Sarah! I'd be interested in more info about the Letters and Sounds Phase 1. Can you point me in the right direction?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/190599/Letters_and_Sounds_-_DFES-00281-2007.pdf

If you do a google search there are sites with games you can play and activities you can print etc

While it is useful that download is from the Dept for Education and Skills under the previous govt...the DfE does not recognise many publications from previous years...but good to get ideas from

Also plenty of ideas in DM which can be checked against EYO

While it is useful that download is from the Dept for Education and Skills under the previous govt...the DfE does not recognise many publications from previous years...but good to get ideas from

Also plenty of ideas in DM which can be checked against EYO

Our county is still doing training on "Letters & Sounds" - I have done Phase One parts 1-6 and am doing part 7 soon. It is very good for getting ideas and has been a great resource to use along side ECAT.

Thank you Sarah was just about to ask what we key things in recent inspections - aside from the windmills of course ;-)

Our county is still doing training on "Letters & Sounds" - I have done Phase One parts 1-6 and am doing part 7 soon. It is very good for getting ideas and has been a great resource to use along side ECAT.

It is a very interesting document...will certainly use it...thank you for posting it
The EYFS 2008 was always reinforced by the National Strategies publications...shame this govt has archived them

Tank goodness for publicity around 'Letters and Sounds' Phase 1! It is brilliant and so important. I get soooo cross when nurseries jump in and start doing letter recognition without doing phase 1 activities.

I think it is time to look really carefully at what Ofsted are saying during inspections - this is a very worrying article -

Ofsted reveals that half of outstanding providers downgraded | Parenta.com (http://www.parenta.com/2013/12/09/ofsted-report-reveals-that-half-of-outstanding-providers-downgraded-at-their-re-inspection/)

we need to focus on both the positives and the actions and reflect on our practice.

Letters and Sounds phase 1 is an excellent good practice tool - whether it's been put onto the 'outdated' list or not - and a number of inspector reports have advised childminders to use it!!

I will be writing something about it in due course.... :D

I think it is time to look really carefully at what Ofsted are saying during inspections - this is a very worrying article -

Ofsted reveals that half of outstanding providers downgraded | Parenta.com (http://www.parenta.com/2013/12/09/ofsted-report-reveals-that-half-of-outstanding-providers-downgraded-at-their-re-inspection/)

we need to focus on both the positives and the actions and reflect on our practice.

Letters and Sounds phase 1 is an excellent good practice tool - whether it's been put onto the 'outdated' list or not - and a number of inspector reports have advised childminders to use it!!

I will be writing something about it in due course.... :D

I did not say the document was 'outdated' Sarah.... I am already familiar with that article, yes Outstanding providers are being downgraded and we know why, it has been said over and over again and I hope the message has filtered to members here where many article have been shared

I said to look out because the DfE does not recognise many of the publications written by the previous govt. whether they were under the DfES or the DCSF as all the National Strategies are not available anymore...lucky me I have most of them in hard copy thanks to my LA for giving them away years ago....or me printing them when ages ago I realised they were a wonderful source of support.

I also said it is a very interesting document and it is a shame it has been archived.
The fact that some LAs are using it for training is indeed good news....there are many more resources that can be used to understand Letters and Sounds...in the previous EYFS 2008 Letters and Sounds featured prominently ...sometimes a bit too early too....not in the EYFS 2012 and that is possibly why there are actions being given at inspection...my view of course.

I have always taken seriously what inspectors feedback at inspection....I hope others do too but we do not read or go through inspection reports
Feedback from inspections is useful although it still varies from inspector to inspector...my LA shares 'recommendations' with us and in the same format: what is positive and got Outstanding and what actions we need to reflect on

Reflection is something we all need to do at all times...

What I also would like to see in this forum is respecting those Cms who have lots of initiative and are truly independent and offer support to others without seeking it.

I also think we need to switch to a more positive approach about inspections and encourage Cms to face them with confidence and not dreading them which is something that has become the habit ....feedback for those who have recently been inspected tells me the tide is turning a little and some CMs are even enjoying their inspection....it is very encouraging

No offence to anyone but it is respectful to remember we are all different and we may, sometimes, differ in opinion.

what about those childminders who have no formal qualifications or experience , or new to childminding ? Its very scary what is expected, too much in my opinion when we are often looking after under 3s, and much of what we sometimes do goes over their heads.

Wish we could go back to the freedom of play , and not analyse the kids to the enth degree.

Do parents feel we are judging/analysisng their child ? I really hope not

Tank goodness for publicity around 'Letters and Sounds' Phase 1! It is brilliant and so important. I get soooo cross when nurseries jump in and start doing letter recognition without doing phase 1 activities.

what are phase 1 activities ? Do you have a link to something i could look at please ?

what are phase 1 activities ? Do you have a link to something i could look at please ?
Hectors house posted a link in the 4th comment on this thread, if you go back and have a look.

what about those childminders who have no formal qualifications or experience , or new to childminding ? Its very scary what is expected, too much in my opinion when we are often looking after under 3s, and much of what we sometimes do goes over their heads.

Wish we could go back to the freedom of play , and not analyse the kids to the enth degree.

Do parents feel we are judging/analysisng their child ? I really hope not

That is the problem we are facing...while in the past we had lots of support and training ...now we are left on our own as LAs reduce the training to get cms started in their jobs and ensure they understand what is required in the EYFS

LAs have no duty to support cms, unless RI/Inadequate, but that could backfire...if good/outstanding cms lose their grades LAs will be hard pushed to place all the 2 year olds coming in this Sept and the new rule is 'payment by result'... that is what Truss has created in her 'market' idea of childcare.... that is why she is pushing children into schools as she is very short of fulfilling her policy and giving schools lots of money to trial her reckless idea.

This govt is bent on over assessment and pushing boundaries for young children...up to us to ensure we offer learning through play and do not put them under pressure while making sure any problems are flagged up and children get the support required.