Hi - some of you will know that I had my Ofsted inspection last Monday and I can see from reading other threads that I was not the only one - I also have spoken to other Childminders in my area who have had an inspection in the last month - I don't think the way they inspect you is fair and I want to write a letter to tell them - just wondered what you think -

No I am not complaining directly about the inspector or the fact I have worked my butt off for the last 3 years to try to improve my Good grade only to find I still got Good with no outstanding areas.

I want to point out to Ofsted that I wouldn't take 3 children under 3 to a job interview or invite someone like a Financial advisor to my house for 5 hours - because I couldn't give my undivided attention to the questions they were asking me and to show them the paperwork/evidence they seemed incapable of finding for themself -

my inspector choose to sit out in the garden to observe me with the children and choose to leave all the folders in the house on the table - then kept asking me how I recorded this or that - luckily my patio doors open onto the dining room but I still popped inside 4 or 5 times to get folders after I had told her I never left children in the garden.

Because we were in the garden when she asked to see my toy store/playroom and I didn't want to take the children back in (taking off wellies etc), I ended up letting her look at it on her own - I wasn't able to explain the resources I had and different resources I had for equal opps, etc

I think Ofsted should give you a week's notice of a firm date and time they will be inspecting - they should come and observe you with the children, then let another childminder (someone the children know), look after the children for you while you "Sell yourself" as you would in an interview and explain your paperwork - or they should come back in the evening. I know your SEF is a chance to tell them everything and that I didn't finish mine before she came but she asked lots of things that I had written about anyway.

I am really aware after the event that I hardly finished properly a single question as especially while in the garden the children needed my full attention. By the time the children had finished lunch and gone for a nap my inspector was ready to sum up and leave and by then it is too late to tell them anything new.

What do you think?

I agree whole heartedly with you, at my last inspection she came for over 4 hours, sat and looked at some of my paperwork, then everytime i tried to talk to the children i had with me she asked a question, i could not interact at all with the children because no sooner had i answered a question she asked another. She said everything i had was fantastic, the only comment was on my Dietary requirements form, i have two sections one for not having particular foods for medical reasons and one for personal reasons, she insisted that in the medical bit i included cultural or religious reasons. She took no notice of my explanation that i considered these to come under personal. The only other comment was that it would help if my assistant had first aid training, i told her that this was being done and she said it severely compromised child safety. I do not understand how when he couldn't be left with the kids and i was their childminder but nevertheless she marked us down.

I got all good areas which i guess i should be pleased with because when i opened the door to her she said, 'I do not give outstanding and don't like to give good and i have already given one this week!'

My friend had an inspection lasting two hours -didn't have or do a lot of what i did, was allowed to get on and play with the kids without interruptions and got outstanding!

Totally agree with you. I felt exactly the same about my inspection. Ending up getting good with no outstandings. Never felt I had time to sell myself. I had filled in sef though, very comprehensively, although they didn't seem to take much notice of what I had put. I had two inspectors, one being inspected herself! Inspection lasted 5 hours. When a parent collected whilst they were still here inspector just asked if they knew how to make a complaint if they needed to! Parent was flabbergasted and said guessed so but totally happy with me. :angry: Most other people i know only seem to have inspections lasted a couple of hours. So unfair how everyone has different experiences. I have since read a lot of inspection reports on OFSTED website and seen quite a few outstandings and from what I have read are doing same or less than me. :angry:

OFSTED inspectors are just not consistant, we have to work to the same "STANDARDS"
Seems they have their own!:angry: