Hello,
I am caring for a 1y, 16m, and 2.5y, and Ofsted have rung to check who and what days I mind, so I am assuming my first inspection will be very soon!

Does anyone have any ideas of good things to do on the day, bearing in mind they are so young. We are normally out for half the day and then have free play and a planned activity for the older ones while the younger one sleeps. It is impossible to do anything like painting or play do when 1y is awake as she just eats it!

I am worried that being home all day during an inspection will give us all cabin fever and I will run out of ideas!

Please help! Thanks x

I had a 15mth and nearly 3 year old and did finger painting with the baby on my lap. Mrs O liked the fact that I had two such different age groups and included them both in an activity. We did have paint in mouths and it was everywhere, but we all enjoyed doing it and then it took ages to clear up so killed some more time :laughing: Something else she liked was me encouraging the older one to help the little one with a toy and to show him how it worked :thumbsup:

How about getting a big plastic tray and putting lots of shape pasta, spoons and yog pots etc kiddies will play with this for ages filling up and tipping out pasta shapes you could add more and more things to keep them interested

good luck :)

Love both ideas, thanks - keep 'em coming!
Also, I know you mustn't leave the children alone with the inspector , so when I leave the room to put the lunch in the oven, go to the loo, or change a nappy do I have to bring them all with me, or do I ask the inspector to come with me instead?? Sorry if that is a stupid question!

I think its ok to leave them with Mrs O. I am lucky cos I can see my playroom from the kitchen

Mrs O was fine with me leaving mindee with her downstairs while I took younger child upstairs to bed. I asked if it was ok to leave him with her for a minute and she said was ok

Hx

I had 3 under 3's on my inspection day. We had already done a simple painting activity before the inspector arrived and these were drying.

The activities I had out were wooden blocks and lots of heuristic items (plus in the playroom the home area, an easel and books)

Our very loose theme this half term has been Old Macdondald - so around my setting were posters, children's art work and books / plastic animals and puppets all relating to the theme.

I just sat on the floor most of the time supporting the children in exploring the heuristic items and as and when adhoc singing and at one stage a story requested by the oldest (nearly 3). I spoke out loud (as usually do) about what the children were doing and praising them. I changed nappies and did snack time, put the little down for a sleep (and let her cry for the 4 - 5 mins which is usual for that baby) BUT nothing different to a normal day.

I did not rush around like a headless chicken trying to do everything - just showed the inspector my documents - in particular the learning journeys, my planning / evaluation book, my information for parents and my daily diary.

I find the best thing is to carry on as normal - and if you think your everyday practice is in someway lacking (in that you are thinking of 'special' activities to impress the inspection) then self evaluate your practice because there should be no need to change anything - just because an inspection is due.

Have confidence all of you due inspections - do what you always do - I did and I got outstanding.

I like to do cereal play instead of pasta when I have small ones that way if they eat it then it's fine :)

Sounds like you already have an active day, if you have access to the garden then you can still go out with Mrs o there, I did, even in the rain and we only came in when it bucketed down!

Don't try and change things you usually do, keep your routines and just go with the flow.

Whilst it's good to have a back up activity be prepared to just follow what the children want to do - you can get outside, my inspector came with us and watched the children play.

Good luck

Miffy xx

Hi, thanks for all your help, I actually had the inspection last week, and you were right, we just did what we normally do - except going out, of course, and it went just fine. I survived, and got Good, and I am thrilled with that! :clapping: Thanks again x