hi

been a childminder for 9 weeks and had my first inspection this morning. i got a good across the board and 1 recommendation to purchase more multi cultural equipment

im am so disappointed. put my heart and soul into this and to be so close then not get the outstanding has upset my loads. I am a perfectionist and i am trying to see the bright side.

:(

Oh , you should be so proud of yourself not upset. You have only been a childminder for 9 weeks and some inspectors won't give outstanding to 'new' childminders anyway. Keep your chin up and give yourself a big pat on the back for what you have achieved.:)

"Good" is a fantastic grade so you should be very proud after just 9 weeks. I do know how you feel as my first grading was "Good" but I just missed being "outstanding" aswell. I felt a little disappointed but then thought actually I am happy with my grade and now I can build on my practice and be outstanding next time and this is what I have done. I personally think the opinion that the parents have of your service is more important than an ofsted grade, so chin up and be pleased with your excellent "Good". Well done!:clapping:

Firstly can I say well done on your inspection result.:clapping: :clapping:

Secondly - can you please please calm down???? There is no reason at all for you to be in tears - there are childminders on this forum who have worked their socks off for 20 years and are perfectly happy with a "good" grading. For goodness sake it shows that you are doing things over and above what you actually need to. To expect an outstanding after nine weeks to be honest is an insult to others.

You have done very well - congratulations but please put things into perspective.

Good is an amazing result for a first inspection. Celebrate- it's a fab achievement :clapping:

thanks everyone for their kind words

iv calmed down now. i am very proud just disappointed. As for insulting others that was not my intention and i certainly don't see anything wrong in trying to do your best.

Iv informed parents of my result now and they are over the moon !!!

thanks everyone

A 'good' grade for your first inspection is fantastic - be proud!

and the multicultural recommendation is one they often say :rolleyes: It takes time to build up resources - make that one of your next missions :thumbsup: I have been minding 16 years and at my inspection 2 weeks ago was not told (for once) to get more! I have been getting more diverse items over the past 3 years :)

Well done you - I would have to do cart wheels to get an outstanding

Good is a fantastic result so don't be hard on yourself

debbie - thats the only other thing i could have done - cartwheels. My playroom is like a nursery - labelled and photos on boxes, cll area, computer, book area, easel, childrens own display boards, letter magnets on magnet board, even had them out playing in our 12 inches of snow we have today. what else did she want :rolleyes: :)

I got a Good for my first inspection and I was ecstatic - my inspector said it was fab to get Good for a first inspection as mostly people got Satisfactory. I was pleased as I was a new minder and to get outstanding straight off, for me personally, would mean I had nothing to aspire to. Giving an outstanding after 9 weeks of minding, imho, would make a mockery of the system but that's just my opinion.

Now you can relax for the next 3 years and enjoy the job and the challenges and putting your ideas into place.

Good is not good it is very good and takes a lot of hard work and effort.

Please don't be so hard on yourself - your grade shows you are working way above the minimum standards.

To have enough evidence after just 9 weeks of childminding is very hard - to show self relection and evaluation after 9 weeks is near impossible.

I think you should be going out to celebrate your achievement.

Very well done

Penny :)

i think i have such high expectations of myself as i have been a nursery nurse for 13 yr. i should have said that.

im hard on myself and just needed to hear from others who are childminders too :)

To have enough evidence after just 9 weeks of childminding is very hard - to show self relection and evaluation after 9 weeks is near impossible.

Absolutely. After 9 weeks you can have a lovely set up but would not be able to show how you are developing the children (you would probably have only done one summative assessment in that time), how you are meeting all the children's needs in detail, and you wouldn't have a great deal of evidence at all. Hats off to you if you have some evidence but it's unlikely in that space of time you would have much.

Good is GREAT!!!!!:D

Well done on 'good' . That is great:clapping:

i think i have such high expectations of myself as i have been a nursery nurse for 13 yr. i should have said that.

im hard on myself and just needed to hear from others who are childminders too :)

I have been minding 16 years and was a nanny for 12 years before that - I know that I know what I am doing, and that it is right for the children. Only now have I got Outstanding - was satisfactory last time and good before that so you can tell how chuffed I was. It was, for me, more about putting myself across in everything I do - have always found paperwork and evidencing things hard as childcare is as natural as breathing to me and it takes so much effort to get it all on paper.

Thanks to the forum, I got it in the right balance this time :thumbsup:

yes i agree with you. i know nothing else other than childcare but you are right, showing someone else what you know is difficult. at least though i can now work towards something where as before i was trying without really having a starting base xxx

I think you should be very proud of your grade especially after only 9 weeks in the job.

There are some inspectors who would not give a good on the first inspection never mind an outstanding.

If your mindees parents are over the moon for you and you know that you are doing your very best, then that is what really matters.

Hope you can soon start to enjoy what you have already achieved

Miffy xx

Agree with the other posts, you should be very proud. I am hard n my self too but a Good is fab and I would be happy with that and so should you. :D

I recently got Good for my first inspection too and although I was really happy, I was secretly hoping I may just scrape Outstanding. I've been a Nanny for 10 years and consider myself to constantly go above and beyond the call of duty for the children I care for (just today I sat and stitched my little schooler's gloves to a string so he doesn't lose them and get cold hands. Not because I was asked to but because I care)

But as far as Ofsted are concearned if it's not on paper, it didn't happen. Hate all this paper work lark. It's the most "Hands on" job there is yet we have to put it all on paper!!! Some things you just can't!!!

I have paper work coming out of my ears which is all just gabber and nonsense and completely pointless just for the sake of having it cos I knew I had to.
Only now am I starting to realise what they want to see. They want to see planning and that you're properly thinking out your activities and what you're doing and recording the children's development etc. It's hard!

"Good" is a fantastic grade so we should both be very happy!

Crack open a bottle love! It's over for 3 years!

debbie - thats the only other thing i could have done - cartwheels. My playroom is like a nursery - labelled and photos on boxes, cll area, computer, book area, easel, childrens own display boards, letter magnets on magnet board, even had them out playing in our 12 inches of snow we have today. what else did she want :rolleyes: :)

But it isn't about what your setting LOOKS like, it's about the outcomes for the children and OFSTED need to see lots of evidence for this. There are many, many OUTSTANDING childminders who do not intend to be mini nurserys
and operate a classic "home from home" service and they have buckets of evidence how they improve the outcomes for the children in their care.
You have done extremely well to be graded as GOOD. Now gather your evidence and build on your already GOOD practice.
Carol xx

congratulations on your first inspection.
well done x

well done good is great

Dawn x

But it isn't about what your setting LOOKS like, it's about the outcomes for the children and OFSTED need to see lots of evidence for this. There are many, many OUTSTANDING childminders who do not intend to be mini nurserys
and operate a classic "home from home" service and they have buckets of evidence how they improve the outcomes for the children in their care.
You have done extremely well to be graded as GOOD. Now gather your evidence and build on your already GOOD practice.
Carol xx

the most important thing to focus on is "do the kids enjoy their time with you"?

if thats yes who caes what ofsted say, I was graded good at my first inspection, didnt want and still dont want an outstanding (pressure isnt getting an outstanding, its keeping the outstanding!!!) why did i not want an outstanding?? cos i dont care what ofsted think ........ as long as the parents are hapyy with the care i provide, and the children are happy and developing here then I AM OUTSTANDING :thumbsup:

the most important thing to focus on is "do the kids enjoy their time with you"?

if thats yes who caes what ofsted say, I was graded good at my first inspection, didnt want and still dont want an outstanding (pressure isnt getting an outstanding, its keeping the outstanding!!!) why did i not want an outstanding?? cos i dont care what ofsted think ........ as long as the parents are hapyy with the care i provide, and the children are happy and developing here then I AM OUTSTANDING :thumbsup:

When inspector said 'outstanding' I said 'do I have to'! I was hoping for a good and had worked to have evidence to go up from satisfactory - I told her the comments from parents mean more to me really and she agreed that the notes/letters/cards/references almost brought tears to her eyes and were proof that I was giving the right care :thumbsup:

When inspector said 'outstanding' I said 'do I have to'! I was hoping for a good and had worked to have evidence to go up from satisfactory - I told her the comments from parents mean more to me really and she agreed that the notes/letters/cards/references almost brought tears to her eyes and were proof that I was giving the right care :thumbsup:

and thats what matters isnt it :thumbsup:

i hope to keep my good at my inspection which is due in 18 months, :D

24 hours has passed and I am now back to normal?? and very a whole lot more posutive about it. Also reading all your comments has helped loads as i dont know many other childminders so its been great having the opinions of others in the same childcare sector and not just those who work in nurseries. Thanks again xxx:)

24 hours has passed and I am now back to normal?? and very a whole lot more posutive about it. Also reading all your comments has helped loads as i dont know many other childminders so its been great having the opinions of others in the same childcare sector and not just those who work in nurseries. Thanks again xxx:)

Pleased you are feeling better about it! I guess it must be hard when you don't get the result you think you deserve. I am glad we don't have the pressure of "grades" in Wales:D

To get good overall all after 9 weeks is a massive achievement,and shows just how hard you work:thumbsup:

i got good on my first inspection, and i was so pleased with myself then on my second i got outstanding and this sounds ungrateful but its brought nothing but hastle and snide remarks and lots of new friends all eager to come for coffee:angry: and it also made me want to leave childminding and not push as hard as i did the first time if that makes sense, and i know i will not get it again as i dont want the hassle and the attention that comes with it.

We are all oustanding as we all work so hard, and give tirelessly to this job and paperwork, and thats all that matters it is only a word at the end of the day its what YOU do that counts.

Congratulations on your result you should be very proud of yourself:clapping: :clapping:

24 hours has passed and I am now back to normal?? and very a whole lot more posutive about it. Also reading all your comments has helped loads as i dont know many other childminders so its been great having the opinions of others in the same childcare sector and not just those who work in nurseries. Thanks again xxx:)

Oh Im glad you're feeling better about it - we all have 'those' days now and again!!! Onwards and upwards - your children are very lucky to have someone like you who cares a lot about the service you provide.:thumbsup: