I have been speaking to a lot of childminders and they find the thought of Ofsted intimidating and threatening. Do you?

Is it because we see them as a boss? They don't they just regulate us

Is it because they tell you what to do? They don't, they can just advise

At the end of the day they are human beings who are doing a job with the guidance and structure that they have been given, just the same as everyone else.

Interesting I think..

Hello.

I dont like having an Ofsted inspection, as I always feel under such pressure. My last inspection took place over a morning, 9.30am-1.30, and the next afternoon, 3pm-5.30. I can honestly say though all of the Inspectors have been lovely and put me at ease.

Oh, and if I have had any questions, they have been really helpful!

I alway worry leading up to inspections but on both times as soon as the inspector arrives i'm completly at ease they have both been lovely and helpful

Angela

I think its only natural for us to worry at the thought of an inspection tbh, but I have quite enjoyed all of mine and don't really find the thought of ofsted threatening at all.

I probably did when I was newer at the job though I suppose as then it was the fear of the unknown

I've never felt threatened by ofsted though I will admit to worrying a bit beforehand. I think it is because we are being judged. Everyone likes to perform at least as well as in their previous inspection and of course because all inspectors are different and despite working to the same guidelines it can be 'odd' when you see a good childminder being graded satisfactory and a poor one good.
I think that inspections under ofsted are better than they were under social services, but that might be because I found the woman who did the social services inspections a bit creepy and patronising. Back then you had a whole month of expecting them to turn up at anytime. At least now it's only a few days.

more frustation than threatening.

I have made a few calls recently and was told I would gain an inspection anytime in the next 2 wks which was beginning of Feb. I'm still waiting but feel like I'm sitting on edge as trying to juggle study and paperwork along with my own family too.

if I'm not in here I'm shuffling paperwork and to be honest that isnt whay I wanted to care for children. If I wanted to shuffle paperwork i would be working in an office not at home providing a safe place for a child.

ugh anyway thats how i feel and waffled more but still ... no Ofsted isnt a threat but I've seen a few in nurseries and had an inspection 4 years ago so kinda know what to expect.

I have never felt threatened by Ofsted. I have always found them to be very straightforward and easy to talk to. When i had a problem with a complaint years ago they were really supportive of me.

I think we confuse feeling threatened with anxiety regarding inspections. As with any examination we want to do our best but are always thinking we have forgotten something. Its the basic "fight, fright & flight" syndrome which is actually healthy for us and keeps us on our toes.

I am not threatened by Ofsted at all. Frustrated yes at their flawed systems and the way that we have to be whiter than white and they are mostly grey!

I am not anxious when I get inspected as I know I am good at what I do and know they will always FIND SOMETHING to pull us up on because in their view we can never be perfect and there is always room for improvement.

They are our governing body but not our boss!

Mel

I have never felt threatened by Ofsted. I have always found them to be very straightforward and easy to talk to. When i had a problem with a complaint years ago they were really supportive of me.

I think we confuse feeling threatened with anxiety regarding inspections. As with any examination we want to do our best but are always thinking we have forgotten something. Its the basic "fight, fright & flight" syndrome which is actually healthy for us and keeps us on our toes.



Hear, hear, Penny, you couldn't have put it better.:clapping: :clapping:

This is interesting. No one on the forum who has replied feel intimidated/threatened, yet if you speak to the Ofsted inspectors they say that childminders in general are intimidated/threatened.

Also childminders without the support of this forum feel intimidated/threatened.

Nice to see good comments about Ofsted too saying that they put people at ease - as it should be.

This is interesting. No one on the forum who has replied feel intimidated/threatened, yet if you speak to the Ofsted inspectors they say that childminders in general are intimidated/threatened.

Also childminders without the support of this forum feel intimidated/threatened.

Nice to see good comments about Ofsted too saying that they put people at ease - as it should be.



I have never felt threatened/intimidated by Ofsted (I quite enjoy the inspections!), but then I have always had nice inspectors - firm, but fair! All my inspections have been before I joined the forum, so it isn't that that has given me the confidence. I think I'm just confident in what I do & have never been particularly bothered about what grade I got. I do what I do & if they like it, they like it. If they don't, tough!

Having spoken to others though, I know that there are certain inspectors who do seem out to intimidate. Some of them seem rude, unhelpful & determined to leave the cm a quivering wreck.

I think its pot luck in who you get. Most inspectors seem to be quite friendly but there does seem to be that one percent who are the opposite. I have had 4 nice Ofsted inspectors come out but when I worked in a nursery, 1 of the Ofsted inspectors was quite intimidating

I think I stress about the inspection mainly because I am being inspected in my home and dont want people to be critical of it.

All of my inspections have been before I joined the forum and I found all the the inspectors lovely. Sometimes it feels like everything else someone has always got a horror story.

Not ofsted but care commission, and I agree with most others, I don't feel threatened but I do feel anxious because I strive for excellence and I don't want them not to see this. I want them to really see all I do and I worry that they don't. My inspector this year was lovely and it was like having a friend over for tea:) :)

No, I don't feel threatened by Ofsted. To be honest I am quite an organised person so they really could could anytime and I would be ready.

I do not agree with lots of things that they set as standards though and I absolutely refuse to do those things (ie displaying my reg certificate in my house - *** is that all about?) which is probably why I will never get an outstanding.

I always fully explain why I dont do things though and will not be intimidated by them "pressuring" me.

No, I don't feel threatened by Ofsted. To be honest I am quite an organised person so they really could could anytime and I would be ready.

I do not agree with lots of things that they set as standards though and I absolutely refuse to do those things (ie displaying my reg certificate in my house - *** is that all about?) which is probably why I will never get an outstanding.

I always fully explain why I dont do things though and will not be intimidated by them "pressuring" me.

The displaying your certificate is not an "extra" but a condition of registration and you will be marked down. You could get a satisfactory or even an inadequate because of it.

Mine is on a cork board that I hung for her to see.

The displaying your certificate is not an "extra" but a condition of registration and you will be marked down. You could get a satisfactory or even an inadequate because of it.

Mine is on a cork board that I hung for her to see.


When Ofsted can explain to me why I need to have the certificate on display then I might consider it. Maybe someone here could explain why it is necessary? And, to be honest, I could just hang it up for the day she is here and then remove it - but what is the point in that?

I can see no logical reason to display it, its simply unncessesary. I didn't have it displayed for my last inspection and still got a good.

When Ofsted can explain to me why I need to have the certificate on display then I might consider it. Maybe someone here could explain why it is necessary? And, to be honest, I could just hang it up for the day she is here and then remove it - but what is the point in that?

I can see no logical reason to display it, its simply unncessesary. I didn't have it displayed for my last inspection and still got a good.

It wasn't a directive under the EYFS then

Can I ask why you are bulking at the regulations set out by Ofsted as they all seem to annoy you?

I am actually proud to display mine and I know where to grab the Ofsted number in a hurry rather than having to go into my folders to get it.

It wasn't a directive under the EYFS then

Can I ask why you are bulking at the regulations set out by Ofsted as they all seem to annoy you?

I dont mind rules and regulations as long as they make sense :D

But I don't want a notice board in my hallway, or children coat pegs with their pictures on, or my certificate displayed on the wall. These things serve no purpose, cannot be regulated and make no difference to the care that the child is given. And apart from that its my home - not a nursery! If parents had wanted a nursery setting for their child they would have sent them to one!

All parents are given a copy of my certificate in the welcome pack after being shown the original. I do not get passing trade (and nor do many childminders if any at all) and the children can't read :) so why does it need displaying? Who exactly is going to read it? having to hand for Ofsted to check makes sense - displaying it does not!

It wasn't a directive under the EYFS then

Can I ask why you are bulking at the regulations set out by Ofsted as they all seem to annoy you?

I dont mind rules and regulations as long as they make sense :D

But I don't want a notice board in my hallway, or children coat pegs with their pictures on, or my certificate displayed on the wall. These things serve no purpose, cannot be regulated and make no difference to the care that the child is given. And apart from that its my home - not a nursery! If parents had wanted a nursery setting for their child they would have sent them to one!

All parents are given a copy of my certificate in the welcome pack after being shown the original. I do not get passing trade (and nor do many childminders if any at all) and the children can't read :) so why does it need displaying? Who exactly is going to read it? having to hand for Ofsted to check makes sense - displaying it does not!

I diasgree with this (sorry!) I like to have a notice board it is a great way of sharing infomation with parents, I put mine up in the day and can easily take it down when the children go home. As for coat pegs I think they promote a great sense of belonging to the children. I am not a nursery but I am a professional establishment, that wants to create the best possible environment for children. I think everyone feels, it is sometimes a little unnecessary to have some paperwork up all the time, but they are the rules everyone has to do it and i've no problem with it.

LOL you don't have to apologise for disagreeing with me :D each to their own and all that!

My children have coat pegs - just not on display! I share information with the parents verbally over coffee before they leave - often 3 or 4 parents are having coffee in my lounge whilst I am still looking after their children, sometimes they are here for more than an hour after finsihing times. I don't expect other childminders to do the same - most can't wait for them to leave!

I can understand people "wanting" to do it (boards etc) but I don't understand why it is "compulsory" to do it.

LOL you don't have to apologise for disagreeing with me :D each to their own and all that!

My children have coat pegs - just not on display! I share information with the parents verbally over coffee before they leave - often 3 or 4 parents are having coffee in my lounge whilst I am still looking after their children, sometimes they are here for more than an hour after finsihing times. I don't expect other childminders to do the same - most can't wait for them to leave!

I can understand people "wanting" to do it (boards etc) but I don't understand why it is "compulsory" to do it.


It just is... and I don't want to do it - hence a mobile board