Thank you to Tily Bud for emailing Ofsted to get a written answer on this one...

I thought it deserved a thread of its own so everyone sees it...

I hope it's right :D


Thank you for your e-mail.

The new inspection cycle began on 1st September 2008 and replaces the cycle that was in place when your inspection took place in November 2007.

We will normally inspect newly registered providers within a short period after registration has been granted (if you have children on roll). After that inspections are carried out once every three or four years.

However we will prioritise inspections where:

• The last inspection concluded that the quality of the childcare or nursery education had significant weaknesses

. There have been significant changes since the last inspection, such as appointment of a new manager, high staff turnover, or in the case of childminders, a change in premises.

. We receive information, such as a complaint about the childcare.

The outcome of each inspection is presented in a report to the provision, and is also displayed on the Ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk usually within 15 working days.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards

Ruth Molyneux

thanks everyone!

so, just to get this clear ... regardless of when you were last inspected, your next inspection will be within 3-4 years?

so, someone who was inspected say in jan 2006, who might be thinking they were due as inspection jan 2009, could be inspected now in 2008, or maybe not until 2011?

(doesn't actually worry me, as i was inspected a couple of weeks ago!)

a bit brain dead today!

xxx

Thanks for that Sarah

Angel xx

I would think that if a complaint was made that would be higher priority than anything else but maybe thats just me.

Paula

so, someone who was inspected say in jan 2006, who might be thinking they were due as inspection jan 2009, could be inspected now in 2008, or maybe not until 2011?

Yes precisely!

sorry to a bit thick :blush: ,but where does it says that you will be inspected before you supposed to be(ie if you had inspection in 2007 it does not say that you will be inspected as soon as poss. it says 3-4 years)
or have i understood it wrong??:rolleyes:
So as of 09/2008 the inspection is 3-4 years.

I think it is things are as they always have been unless there was a cause for concern in your last inspection and it therefore could be earlier but that would be of no surprise to them as the cause for concern would be flagged up on their previous report and then they should be prepared - I personally think that Ofsted and their inspectors have a hec of a lot on their plates and they will continue to inspect people in turn as they cannot risk leaving some peoples inspections to overhang for too long. I think that they have factored in the extra year as in 3/4 year because they now need to inspect those that fell short on previoius inspections because the standards were raised with EYFS and if the standard was low under the old system them they need to ensure it has been raised to at least a satisfactory under EYFS. Have I made myself clear here - i've got a gum infection and tooth ache so am in pain and cannot concentrate.

Have I made myself clear here - i've got a gum infection and tooth ache so am in pain and cannot concentrate.

Poor you Celine, hope you feel better soon. :)

As regards these inspections and whether they will or won't be early, surely the best advice is always be ready and you have nothing to worry about! :huh:

Yes Pauline I agree but I don't feel we or Ofsted will fully know what they are looking for with these new inspections and I think that is worrying for people especially people like me who are new to all this and are still getting to grips with everyday stuff like accounts, milk claims, insurance issues etc etc and may have recently had their first inspection. Then undertaken EYFS training and got some sort of paperwork into place to work withing the boundries then to be faced with the idea of having a second major inspection within a year of setting up a business is pretty daunting especially when you know there are people out there who may not be practicing in as professional a manner who could perhaps do with being inspected - I just think it should be done fairly unless of course there were some concerns in the previous inspection I do feel really sorry for people who have just set up and who are due their first inspection now within the 1st few months of ETFS - I don't feel the inspectors are really all that sure what they are really looking for and don't really have any real bench marks to base their judgments on. Again am I making myself clear although my last dose of pain killers have kicked in they are only taking the edge off the pain and I can tell you that if Mrs O knocked on my door tomorrow while I'm feeling like this and my paperwork is spread all over the dining room table and my bathroom looks like a building site plus my husbands case is half packed in readiness for his 3 month trip to Indonesia - Not only that but My daughter has a half packed ruck sack getting ready for her guide holiday in Southport on Thurs - its my mindees birthday 2 moro so M is 2 and I will be having a wee party for him and will also take them out to Soft Play and the list goes on and on - I don't think I would be faced with any option but to throw in the hatchet and resign.

I have 2 older minder friends who are being inspected in the next week one on Friday and the other next Tuesday and they are at a loss with all this EYFS stuff - I really do feel sorry for them plus 1 has had bone marrow cancer and is not in remission yet and probably never will be and I don't feel all this stress will be any good for her. She has a fantastic play room with a small kitchen for minding and she is so so brilliant with the children and all of her parents love her and surely that is what matters more than any paperwork at the end of the day. These 2 minders were due their inspections in or around June or July and due to the delays created by the inspectors having to undergo EYFS training and the small alterations to the National Framework so I just feel its so very unfortunate for them to have to undergo their inspections now in the first couple of months - I know its unfortunate for everyone who has to undergo their inspections at the moment and I feel that some inspectors may have some very unrealistic expectations of some minders knowledge and paperwork.

I know that there was very little consistancy in the EYFS training and I was on the same course as the two ladies mentioned above and it was total rubbish all the woman spoke about was what she did at childrens centre in another town. Then last week one of them re-did the course which was delivered by Bev Amison Consultancy and she found that much better and that will stand her in good stead - I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for my experience in the past and this site for all I know. I am my own worst enemy as my nerves ruin everything for me - i just go to pieces and lose my tongue totally disconnects itself from my brain and i just freeze and can't answer questions.

i completely agree. Had my ofsted inspection 2/2007 and had all good.
But i had one child 3yrs old ,working part time and very well behaved child it was:clapping:
I have now working full time ,one is 2 yrs old the other is 3yrs and is very agrresive and poseesive over anything.
doing my college as well and so my papework is not that great plus i am recovering from gastric flue so i really hope i will not get my inspection till the older goes to school next year so he does not show me off:blush:
or at the worst at least till early nexty year:rolleyes:
i also believe that it also depends what kind of inspector we have and i had really nice one.
I am sure i do everything ok ,but a bit worried cause it is slightly differentto the last inspection.

I see what you are saying Celine, but what is the worst that can happen to yourself and these older minders you mention? If they have been doing everything right up to now then they will probably graded good or at worst satisfactory during an EYFS inspection but they won't be graded inadequate or anything and there is no need to be thinking of shutting down.

Suppose it depends on how much your grade means to you, if you can be happy with good/satisfactory then don't worry - chill! :)

Thank you to Tily Bud for emailing Ofsted to get a written answer on this one...

I thought it deserved a thread of its own so everyone sees it...

I hope it's right :D


Thank you for your e-mail.

The new inspection cycle began on 1st September 2008 and replaces the cycle that was in place when your inspection took place in November 2007.

We will normally inspect newly registered providers within a short period after registration has been granted (if you have children on roll). After that inspections are carried out once every three or four years.

However we will prioritise inspections where:

• The last inspection concluded that the quality of the childcare or nursery education had significant weaknesses

. There have been significant changes since the last inspection, such as appointment of a new manager, high staff turnover, or in the case of childminders, a change in premises.

. We receive information, such as a complaint about the childcare.

The outcome of each inspection is presented in a report to the provision, and is also displayed on the Ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk) usually within 15 working days.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards

Ruth Molyneux

I suppose the answer to that Sarah is, that it is right until Ofsted change their minds lol which they seem to do every time you ring them lol xx