Ok, I'm crazy because it is gone 2:30am - yes! I'm actually loosing sleep over this and undertaking the difficult task of typing this on my phone just to get it off my chest!!

There have been 3 Ofsted inspections in my immediate area over the last week all received Outstanding.

1st one. No surprise, she was a nursery manager before she became a CM. Paperwork and practice is spot on. When EYFS first came in she talked me through how best to set out my LJ's to ensure I was getting all the relevant information in.

2nd one. Lovely lady, often seem at groups scribbling away notes on the children etc. Once brought her LJ's to a drop in group to give others ideas, does extensive planning and has general good practice.

3rd one. Day before inspection was at CM drop in group asking around what the Statutory Framework was and how she could get a copy! (DO said only available online now so would have to download. She was making notes of legally required written policies. As far as LJ's went she said she ran a scrap book system of a photo with description at side. NO link to EYFS area of learning, NO Development Matters statement and NO next steps!! I actually felt worried/quite sorry for her.

Truely couldn't believe it when I saw her in the playground immediately after her inspection where upon she told me she got OUTSTANDING in all 17 areas :eek:

Now I am working hard (like everyone) else to maintain my 'Good'. Before would have been happy with that because I feel an Outstanding is beyond my grasp/capabilities now..... I just don't know :panic: If she deserves an outstanding then so do I, and 98% of the childminders I know!!!!

Thank you for sticking with my if you have intact read this far - I will now try to sleep.

P.S. I hope this post doesn't make me look like a jealous person or a case of sour grapes :(

I feel your pressure and your annoyance, its the same around here. Just take a deep breath and try and show yourself to the best of your ability. Does No3 have the gift of the gab? I was told that as long as you could verbalise where the child is in the eyfs then you could still get an excellent inspection.

Unfortunately different inspectors interpret the EYFS and their handbook in different ways. So do nursery managers, teachers and childminders. It is so frustrating to know that it isn't really a "fair" system in that sense.

I think you just have to keep doing things the way you feel is the best and make sure you can explain why. If you (like me) are better at expressing yourself in writing than verbally, it is even more important to have completed the sef and have all your paperwork in order.

xx

Some people are good at "talking the talk" and the inspector only sees a snapshot of what happens for a few hours on a certain day.

Are you sure she did get outstanding - it's not unknown for people to say they have when they actually haven't :rolleyes:

Miffy xx

Never thought she would lie Miffy - anyone could check couldn't they?

She said that the inspector hardly asked her any questions, sat in the kichen and she was in the lounge with the children. She never saw the inspector except at the very begining when they had lunch.

Don't know who the inspector got the answers because she hadn't completed her SEF and had no self reflection paperwork at all.

This whole thing makes me feel 2 ways -
1) What's they bloomin' point! - I'm killing myself keeping on top of it all constantly examining my paperwork and trying to do a little extra to keep me 'Good'. As I always thought the bare minimum was only going to result in a 'Satisfactory'.

or

2) Go all guns blazing to try to get an Outstanding myself :angry:

I can understand how you feel. I was happy to get good on my first grading inspection, until I started to view childminders as i needed one for my own two children whilst i attended a college course one afternoon a week.... well my eyes were opened.... they all had good and their practice was nowhere near the level of mine, paperwork non-existent, knowledge poor and one lady's resources for under fives consisted of a three drawer stacker unit with a broken doll, a handful of lego, three crayons and some macdonalds toys. I was gobsmacked. i asked if she used the toy library and went to playgroups etc to be told 'no... she preferred to be at home'. Well that made me mad for a bit that i was lumped in the same category as minders who obviously made no effort whatever and thought it was ok to present that view to parents (I didn't say before i went that i was also a CM). it's just the way of the world but you can rest assured that parents go on moire than ofsted reports when they make a decision and will see through poor practice and recognise a good minder when they see one!

Now get some sleep!

jen x

This is the problem with Ofsted. You get one inspector who likes to see one thing, another that likes something completely different. We had a talk at our NCMA regional policy forum last week and we all agreed that an inspector may have had a row with their OH or not been feeling well and all these things can affect their day. Sadly I don't know how they can be consistent unless they follow strict guidelines to the letter rather than look to their own preferences - which honestly MUST have some bearing as they are only human.

I'm desperate to hold onto my 'Good' but I'm terrified :(

I agree its not a fair system. When June and I had our inspections (April 2009) the Inspector was singing our praises all the way through the inspection, excellent this, wonderful that - we both got good - with ok we were more than happy with, but did leave us wondering what more we had to do to get Outstanding :rolleyes:

I know my being able to "talk the talk" probably lets me down as I can't for the life of me blow my own trumpet, but I think they should have one of their hated tick sheets, so they make sure they are all checking on the same things. One seems to be hot on one thing, and another seems to favour something else, when really they should all be singing from the same hymn sheet :angry:

Some people are good at "talking the talk" and the inspector only sees a snapshot of what happens for a few hours on a certain day.

Are you sure she did get outstanding - it's not unknown for people to say they have when they actually haven't :rolleyes:

Miffy xx

Exactly what I was thinking. I know a cm who told me she'd just got outstanding in her inspection, she's been minding for donkeys years. I looked her report up online as mine was approaching and I was looking at what the inspector has remarked on as so good - to find she had a Good grade - I was totally bemused as to why she lied :huh:

I agree with Miffy - wait until you can check up on her report! A childminder near me implied that she had got an outstanding report but in fact when it was published, her overall rating was good with just three outstanding elements!

Exactly! A childminder I know said she had got good (which is great) and had some outstanding but her report is all 2's andthe word 'outstanding' is not in her report anywhere so I don't know how she reckons that -unless I am missing something!
Having said that, I have always thought that the gaps between the grades are just too big and there should be a better system, maybe like the schools have like A and A* or B and B+, if you see what I mean.:)

why worry yourself Button :) , do what you do and have always done.....

so what if Jo bloggs has outstanding etc etc just do what your comfortable with and get the grade you deserve whether its good or outstanding.

I share info with other childminders in my area and they share info with me but I don't worry myself thinking hers is better than mine, I just do my paperwork to my standard and hope for the best!!

I'm due my second inspection this side of summer and keeping my fingers crossed for GOOD as my first was satisfactory but admittedly had hardly ANY paperwork on the go.

I'm sure what you have is just fine....don't get yourself in a pickle :thumbsup:

if she really has done as little as you say I would be very surprised if she has outstanding in all 17 areas, on the other hand she may have been playing down everything she has in place and may well deserve her grade, until her report is published you won't know the truth of the matter.
until then try not to fret about it. I do everything to the best of my ability without it taking over my whole life, I know I am providing the best care i can for my families and it's their opinion that matters to me not an Outstanding grade