:mad:

hi all,
I'm new to this forum but feel the need to get advice and support, critisium and feedback about my recent Ofsted inspection.

I'm new to childminding, have been registered since Jan 2010, care for 1 child aged 13months, plus my own children aged 18mths and 3yrs.

Ofsted came to inspect me 6months after my registration, and have graded me as inadequate due to a lack of paperwork :(

During my inspection the lady was very nice and almost helpful ! ? Then at the end she explained it all to me, and said that she would write my report in a "positive light" but had to list me as inadequte for now. So i'm thinking this isn't too bad.....
Today my written report drops on the door mat and i'm disgusted to see that she's pulled me up on stuff like the Complaints phone number being incorrect, even though she told me it was OK to use the old number for a further 3 months..... ?!!?? The report also says my planning is no-existant.... she commented on my folder which is titled "planning" but never asked to look inside so how would she know it was non-existant..... ???!!!?? :angry:

I'm so cross. I know I have areas of paperwork which I need to improve on, and I openly admitted this to her ie. risk assements need more detail, and my planning, Obs and assment need to be more structured. But i'm very green to all this and have a hectic home life to contend with, whilst trying to jugle an income from childcare and do my DHC. 6 months in and i've recieved no information about where I can get help to guide me on all this crappy paperwork, and thanks to Ofsted i'm not feeling very lost and depressed :(

What next ?
I want to chuck it all in already!? :panic:


H E L P !! !! !! !! !! !! !!

oh hun - didn't want to read and run and will post more later.

Juat wanted to send you love and hugs. You must be feeling awful.

xx

Unfortunately Ofsted don't give new childminders any leeway on being new, it's straight in there with a full inspection.

We have to be up and running from day 1.

Now, you have time to turn the inspection round to a positive.

You know what you need to do from reading the report and you can put systems in place to get it sorted.

There is lots of information and advice as you look around the forum... if you ask questions members will share their knowledge too.

Don't despair, treat it as a positive and move on with it.

welcome to the forum!:D

Right so you now know what Ofsted would like you to improve on - take the issues one at a time and tackle them by being positive. Phone number wrong - even though you were told that, ok - put it right, done! Have your planning ready next time they come and make sure they see it!

Come on here for help and advice and you will be fine :thumbsup:

Don't chuck it in - you're doing fine - you have your two little ones and a mindee (with parents that are happy with your care?) and they are probably also encouraged by the great job you are doing with your own kids.

The system is flawed with inconsistencies, no two inspectors are the same - they have different views as to adequate planning, obs, ra etc. Really they should be there to help us improve not to judge or knock down. I wish there was a crib sheet as to how many obs, in what format (and someone other than a few parents and ofsted inspectors were interested in them!)

Do you have a support childminding network, childminding matters etc in your area - a friend who is a more experienced childminder that you can ask for help. It was grossly unfair of her to say the planning was non existant if she just didn't look in the folder! The sort of good news is they will be back in a few months by which time you will have your paperwork sorted - it seems to me it was the paperwork not the care that was the problem!

Wearing my parent hat, I would chose a childminder with great care over one with average care and tip top paperwork!

Dont panic :) You will be getting another inspection within a few months (maybe 6 mths) so have time to work on the actions you've been given to improve. Phone your Early Years and ask for a development worker or Network co to visit you, they should be able to help you get sorted in time.

morning jen and welcome im sorry to hear you have received inadequate from ofsted but like sarah says you now no what youre weak points are so you can turn it around im presuming ofsted having given you x amount of time before re inspecting you? so first thing first pick a start work through it then next etc its never easy juggling a family and a job thats why so many people think of us as babysitters or have it easy well as you no its not and we are professionals so need to get it right. if you need any help let me no good luck you will get there don't give up now.:) sandy

You've come to the right place. :thumbsup:


First things first, you have an income which to me is the biggest stress being without.

Now you have found this forum so in my opinion things can only get better :D


This profession can be very lonely - and other Childminders in your area may not feel that they want to share information because it makes you stronger and with the nature of the job that might mean you get the contracts and not them.


Take it a bit at a time.

This forum has everything to help you out of the inadequate into the Outstanding :thumbsup:

hiya welcome to the forum

I barley scraped by on my first inspection mainly due to incomplete paperwork.

I was part way through the DHC and booked onto a first aid course but not yet completed. Back then cms could start providing courses were booked.

i had been a cm for 6 wks when I was inspected and had afterschool care only so no under 5's so wasnt able to gain anymore higher than a satisfactory.

She said I was borderline in/sat but due to my other qualifications and how I worked with the children I was graded satisfactory which made me feel like chucking it all in too.

Go though your report bit by bit, look for answers within the forum, try and book onto an EYFS course and keep your chin up. Gradings are there to assist us and help improve ourselves (even though it doesnt feel like that).

Dont give up but at the same time dont overwork yourself to get everything done overnight.

If she thought you were at the bottom scale of inadequate she would have closed you down with imediate effect.

Hi Jen , welcome to the forum!
Everyone on here is happy to help and there is an amazing amount of knowledge ( 90% of it in sarah 707s head!!) - so decide where you want to start , and trawl through here and get tips from everyone , and adapt them suit yourself and your home.
Within 6 months you'll be amazed what a difference it will make.
I echo what others have said , it doesnt mean that you have to spend the next 6 months ignoring your family and knee deep in paperwork , give yourself a couple of hours , maybe one evening a week for catching up - and another for obs/ planning forward - and youll be sorted in no time.
I remember posting in tears , not knowing where to start on my paperwork mountain...but the support here is invaluable...
Beware , its addictive though , and many certified nutters are in residence!!!

Hi, and welcome - as others have said you have definitely come to the right place. There is loads of info on here and if you can't find it just keep asking us the questions. Sarah 707's ebooks are a god send and well worth the small cost of buying - have a look at her website.

We have all faced setbacks at some time on here so i don't think there is anything that we can't answer between us.

I am sure you are doing a great job with the practical things so keep focused on that - that's honestly the hardest part, the paperwork is easily sorted:thumbsup:

didnt want to read and run, you have been given loads of great advice already, you can only improve on your grade, the positives being you know where you have to improve and you will receive tons of help and advice here,

good luck

Paper work can be really overwhelming. First thing I would do would be to write an action plan so they can see you have taken your report seriously and are working to sort it. Find out if your council run courses, ours do free ones and I learned lots about obs and planning using them, if not you can get books from the library, if they are not in your local one its worth asking if they will order them in. Dont know if anyone has mentioned the bromley website but that has loads of stuff, I spent a bit of time looking through and picked out the bits I thought I could use. http://www.bromleycma.org.uk/ You will get there, if the caring side is there then thats what really matters, the paper work just needs to be tackled bit by bit

Chin up Jen,
As others have said, work on it bit by bit otherwise it becomes daunting!
Keep asking advise and questions here, you will soon be confident for your next inspection.
Carol x

Hi Jen,

As said above just be positive. Try Sarahs site you have to pay (she emailed you above) for help or go on Bromely's website for free paperwork you can adapt yourself.

:D :D :D

I agree with everyone else hon but wanted to send a hug. :)

Well done on coming on here for advice.It makes me so mad when paperwork takes presidence over happy well cared for children.I have 1 baby mindee 7mths for 18 hours per week so far my weekends have been spent trying to keep up to date with paperwork ect.I bet I've spent more time on paperwork than I've had with my mindee!
Good luck with turning things round.Big hug from me.

I agree some great advice given, you've made a good start joining the forum. Like others have said work on it bit by bit and you will soon have negatives turned into positives sooner than you think.

You've already been given lots of brilliant advice but I just wanted to send you a big (((hug))).

You'll get loads of help and support from everyone on here - I've only been minding 7 months and I've learnt loads more from this forum than I have from anywhere else. Day or night you can ask a question (however silly it may seem!) and someone will answer it for you.

I know you must be feeling down but please don't give up yet - it's a fantastic career, despite all the paperwork!

Hi

As others have said, take it one step at a time.
From the report, write a list of the sections that need to be improved and introduced.
Take each section at a time. Sarah has some great E-books and the Bromley Childminding site have loads of paperwork that you can use.

If you get stuck, ask on the forum, we will all be happy to help.

Just remember, you are not alone and we are here for you. :thumbsup:

Hi Jen welcome.
Sorry to hear you're ofsted visit has left you feeling sad.

Any new job is difficult at first, and childminding is no ride in the park.

We all struggle with the paper work, but like everything, it gets easier with practice and time.

Just remember, we are all here for you so don't feel alone!

Chin up, it can only get better!

((( HUGS )))

You see, we nun of us perfect, i can't even use the right spelling!!:laughing: