I just had a call from the same inspector that did my pre reg to say she's coming to do my first inspection! She asked me when I next had mindees and my mind went blank! I told her I had mindees on thursday and she said she'll come out Thursday morning at 9:45am! I have got mindees all week, but I've just taken on a new 3 yr old who started last monday and its his first day back at school tomorrow and first day of me taking him so i want to make sure he's settled first before my inspection, plus I want to make sure i've got all my paperwork in order! I haven't even started my SEF! What do I have to do with that??? I haven't got a clue! Lat time i tried to log in it said i din't have acess, even though i had my token.:panic:

Ever since I got off the phone I haven't stopped shaking. I feel sick to the stomach! I am SO nervous. It feels like being at school taking my exams again... which I failed because I was so nervous! I feel like crying!

Breath and relax. Que sera sera hun.

First of all don't worry about your SEF - do the NCMA self reflection tool - this will so the inspector you are trying and working towards the SEF.

Next start methodically goign through your documentation - make sure you have have up to date Safeguarding, Inclusion and complaints at the very least.
Talk to the children about a lady coming round to see you- they will soon get the idea.
Check your LJ's are up to date

Next collate a box of all the folders and files you want to show the inspector so its all in one place.

You WILL be fine, its natural to be nervous.

Easy for me to say but im sure you will be fine, good luck x :thumbsup:

Don't worry about getting online with your SEF. Try and do what you can on Word and print it out for the inspecter to see, at least she will see that you have done something towards it.

Good luck, you'll be fine :thumbsup:

Thanks everyone. I have been making a list of the things I need to do. Got a feeling i'll be up very late tonight making sure all my paperwork is in order! I dn't even know what the SEF is... so don't know what to put on a word doc!

Where do I get the NCMA self reflection tool from?

The one thing I am REALLY worried about is my upstairs window in my playroom. It has a fire escape window which cannot lock. It opens up when you push a button and turn a handle. At my pre reg she said i would need to get that sorted as a child could open it and jump out of the window. I have looked EVERYWHERE for a catch to put on it but they don't make them. So I have not been using the playroom for the children... only to store toys in and I bring them downstairs in the morning for the children to play with. To be honest, the room's not really big enough to play in anyway.

So, do you think this is going to be a problem? Can I just ask to be registered for downstairs from now on? Or will it be too late by then? I don't want her putting anything nasty in my report about the window. At the end of the day it serves its purpose. It is a fire escape window afterall. I don't see why I should block it up and put my own family at risk of fire.

I'm not sure why you would need to mention the window if it's not in a room children use!!

As for the Sef, these are the questions but don't get too hung up over them all.

Work on answering the first 5... they are the most important.

Take a deep breath and if you haven't got time to do it, then don't panic. Make sure the rest is right first.

Good luck! :D

Sarah, I originally registered the playroom as a room for children to use, and in my pre reg she said she would expect something to be done with the window by the time I had my inspection. Well, as the children rarely use it (only the baby i look after sleeps in there in a travel cot) and with the wedding and everything, I just never got round to having the fire department out to have a look at it. I have looked in every DIY store, but nobody makes any catches for them.

Thanks for the SEF link. I'm off to have a look now and will do what I can until mindee wakes up!. :)

Sarah, I originally registered the playroom as a room for children to use, and in my pre reg she said she would expect something to be done with the window by the time I had my inspection. Well, as the children rarely use it (only the baby i look after sleeps in there in a travel cot) and with the wedding and everything, I just never got round to having the fire department out to have a look at it. I have looked in every DIY store, but nobody makes any catches for them.

Thanks for the SEF link. I'm off to have a look now and will do what I can until mindee wakes up!. :)

Just tell Mrs Ofsted that then - justification is the name of the game.

Relax and go with the flow - no exams to fail here

If anything I think it's a safe guarding issue... what if on a rare chance we were upstairs in that room and there was a fire preventing us getting downstairs... that window might be our only way out. Just don't know how I could word that in a nice way to Mrs Ofsted! There is no way a child could open the window on their own. It's too hard. And children are NEVER unaccomanied in there anyway... as I say, it's only babies who go in there to sleep, or sometimes children may come up for 2 minutes to chose some toys to take downstairs or look at the wall display.

Hi there! Would this do from mothercare for your window?

/www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Window-catch/dp/B001B93GAU/ref=sr_11_1/278-6445861-1145915?_encoding=UTF8&mcb=core

Hi there! Would this do from mothercare for your window?

/www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Window-catch/dp/B001B93GAU/ref=sr_11_1/278-6445861-1145915?_encoding=UTF8&mcb=core

I am going to buy one of those to check it out... but I don't think it'll work. The window opens outwards and there is a uPVC frame around it, unlike the one in the picture. Can't hurt to give it a try though! Thanks!!!!:)

Hope it works - let us know if is any good! Wishing you Good Luck for Thursday :thumbsup: ! Keep us posted! xxxxxxxxxxxx

I bought that window catch but it's impossible to undo in the event of a fire so mine went into the bin (you have to squeeze the two end in and feed back through and it was soooo stiff I couldn't bend it in, which is a shame cos it would have been brill!)

I RA'd my windows as fire escapes, said they couldn't be locked as such and made it near impossible for kids to access them. LOs are only allowed upstairs when they are unable to get out of their cots. I had this in my paperwork in both the fire prevention part and the RAs etc and cross referenced everything.

Hope that helps,
Lxx

PS I didn't do my SEF at all, that is I spent 13 hours doing it and then it wouldn't print so she didn't see it, she based her grading on the self assessment in my diary that I do as a matter of course. SEF is not compulsory for childminders is what my inspector told me.

Hi, don't panick too much about your SEF. I was informed by my childminding support officer that it is not a necessity for your inspection ( it does not/ should not affect the outcome of your inspection). I was asked how I reflect on my practise, so I guess so long as you can show that you reflect on your practise, that's what their interested in. if you get chance to do some of it that would obviously be a bonus, but don't get too stressed about it!!!
Secondly your concerns about your upstairs window, I have spoken with my husband ( who is a registered window installer) and he has said that if the window is above 800mm then it is of legal height and doesn't need restrictors. However, if a fire escape window is locked by a key you may be in breach of fire regulations unless the key is accessible at all times next to the window! My husband has found some window restrictors suitable for plastic windows that can be screwed on, they can be found in Screwfix reference number 31180-96, these will meet fire regulations and the risk falling regulations.
I hope this is helpful. All the best.
Zoe :blush:

Thanks so much Zoe. I'm off to have a look on Screwfix website! I don't think they'll arrive in time if I order some now though :(

Thanks so much Zoe. I'm off to have a look on Screwfix website! I don't think they'll arrive in time if I order some now though :(

Hi I have a fire window that I keep unlocked that opens out too. I do not lock it as it would be a hazard in the event of a fire but I purchased a window alarm form the pound shop for you've guessed it a £1.00 and it ataches to the windo and the frame and a really loud alarm goes of if opened. like you a child would not be left unattended in this room unless sleeping so I feel that is adequate. Hope you get it sorted.
Debs

Hi I have a fire window that I keep unlocked that opens out too. I do not lock it as it would be a hazard in the event of a fire but I purchased a window alarm form the pound shop for you've guessed it a £1.00 and it ataches to the windo and the frame and a really loud alarm goes of if opened. like you a child would not be left unattended in this room unless sleeping so I feel that is adequate. Hope you get it sorted.
Debs

Oh my god! I've got some of those somewhere! I can't believe I didn't think of it before! Thanks Debs!:D

dont cry - you will be fine

the SEF is not compulsory - its a tool to help you both - but its new so lots of childminders have not completed it - you dont have to get it all done either - just complete what you want to and explain you are in the process of doing it - its a working doc after all

one top tip though - it might look as though it wont submit if its not completed in full - but you only need to type a character/letter/number in each box and then it submits - maybe copy and paste the sentance - awaiting completion in each box might help

Hi dont worry everything will be fine.There is a stick on lock thats meant for cupboards in Boots its easy to pull off in the event of fire and can be placed at the top of the window I use them for all sorts they are very adaptable.Hope this helps.You can download a blank sef from the Bromley childminders website and either fill it in online or print it off and fill it in.Your childminding development worker should also be able to print off a blank copy for you.You can then show it to the inspecter on the day of your inspection...this is acceptable even if it isnt completed.The Ncma self evaluation is available from their website.Good luck.