Hi all,

I had the call, the officer was supposed to come today/tomorrow but called this afternoon to say because of the snow she will come next week :)

I have been reading a lot of the post's and got some great tips :-)

I have been childminding since July, one child and two children since september.

I have set myself a list of taks to have done for my inspection but have a few questions!??

How many risk assessments should I have completed!?

I have only done a observations sheet on each of the children once a month! is this enough!?

The inspector is coming about 12.30 ish just after the children have lunch. I have a routine with the children were I take them out in the morning to toddler group etc and then back home for lunch. After lunch they are always a bit tired so I put the tv on for them and they have a bit of quiet time and I read stories to them. One of the children is a bit of a tv addict! He goes mad if I switch the tv off as his parents let him have the tv on all day! I have read many times on here to carry on with your normal routine but I am panicking as I know if I try to turn off the tv he will get very upset. Generally the children are only in my home for a couple of hours as we are out all morning ant the I have the school run to do in the afternoon.

I do various activities with them colouring, drawing, catch, reading, puzzles, flash cards, duplo etc but I tend to let them decide what they want to do rather than plan them. And the tv is often on in the background, Will this go against me??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Thank you in advance

Try practising having the tv off for a bit.

perhaps sky+ some programmes you know they enjoy and then tell them at 1 o'clock (say after stories) they can watch 30 minutes / or x amount of programmes and then they turn the tv off. Praise them for doing this (even if you have to remind and direct them).

Mine all fight to turn the tv off :rolleyes:

Think your obs are okay. Sometimes I hardly do any obs, other tiimes I have numerous from the same day :o

Oh and good luck for inspection (I eventually put my tv on so that the inspector could go through my report with me) :thumbsup:

I also forgot to mention that both the two children I look after are my friends children so they are very used to me on a personal level and my family, we go on holiday with one of the childrens families!

Is it ok for my husband to be my emergency contact? and a friend of mine who is a childminder too?

My hubbie partly because the children are very used to him and are comfortable and happy around him and he works from home a fair bit.

My friend who is a childminder see's the children every day I have them in the school playground etc so they are aware of her but don't really know her.

Thanks again.

I would stick to your normal routines including TV time. There is nothing wrong with a bit of TV at rest / nap time.

You have not got time to introduce new routinues / activities (it can unsettle the children - last thing you want on inspection day).

So just do whatever you would normally do - but if thinking of changing things - including supporting TV addict to watching less TV - tell the inspectior- it is called reflection/ evaluation / professional development - all things the inspector will be looking for - so use to your advantage. You are a new childminder so of course you are constantly reviewing your practice.

Re risk assessments - if your system works for you (and covers areas in EYFS) have confidence and tell inspector why and how works. If does not work - tell inspector what planning to change/ implement.

Good Luck

Penny :)

You have had lots of good advice! I just wanted to wish you good luck.

Don't forget to let us know how you get on!! :D

Good luck from me x

I had my first inspection last week and was panicking like mad beforehand. I had planned activities for the children and did none of them when the inspector was with me as the children wanted to do their own thing. Just go with the flow of the day and do your usual things. My daughter was really testing me when Mrs O was there but she was impressed in how I dealt with it and how I didn't let my daughter stress me out! My moto is that you can only do what you can do and you can only do your best! Try not to stress out too much. You'll be fine! x :)

I would stick to your normal routines including TV time. There is nothing wrong with a bit of TV at rest / nap time.

You have not got time to introduce new routinues / activities (it can unsettle the children - last thing you want on inspection day).

So just do whatever you would normally do - but if thinking of changing things - including supporting TV addict to watching less TV - tell the inspectior- it is called reflection/ evaluation / professional development - all things the inspector will be looking for - so use to your advantage. You are a new childminder so of course you are constantly reviewing your practice.

Re risk assessments - if your system works for you (and covers areas in EYFS) have confidence and tell inspector why and how works. If does not work - tell inspector what planning to change/ implement.

Good Luck

Penny :)


I agree with Penny,

My dd is a bit of a tv addict unless I am giving her my full attention. If we are playing with her dolls/kitchen or arts and crafts she is fine with tv off, if I start to make dinner or something she insists on the tv on.

I've got my pre-reg on 15th december and I am a little worried about this:panic:

I would tell the inspector that your mindee has the tv on at home and mum is happy about it, and it is something that you are working on because you know its not good for them to have background noise ect...

As for the obs, I'm sure that you have been doing obs constantly over the months but just not writing them down. Try and remember some like playing with the tea set and talking to the dolls, or interacting with another child at toddler group or climbing up the slide. these are all obs. You don't have to have photos of them all. Write them down even if you cant date them,

I only have my dd at the moment because I am pre-reg but have been doing obs on her. I jot things down on post it notes and fill everything in at a later date :thumbsup:

Good luck:D

Thank you all for your replies I feel a little calmer now :) I must admit I have decided that what will be will be and I cant change how she is going to rate me.

I will post next week and let you know how it goes!! Not sure which day she is turning up.

Thanks again x x

Good luck, you will be fine, we are similar to you, out or play in the morning TV after lunch then naps if need be or quiet time.

Well Mrs O turned up on Thursday :) all went well. I carried on as usual and half and hour after she got to me I explained that we have some quiet time and that I put on a dvd and we sit on the sofa and read a book.

At the end she said that she was very happy that I stuck to my normal routine and that I recognised and my child's needs when I put the tv on and that as we have such an active morning that its fine to have some tv and quiet time in the afternoon :clapping:

good luck to all who have there inspection coming up x x