Hi all

Long story which I will try to keep short! )Just read back and I haven't sorry!)

Had inspection last week (second graded) and got graded overall as Good, with 2 elements marked as satisfactory, engaging with parents and healthy lifestyles.

What I am really miffed with and do not think is fair is an action that I got given relating to Risk Assessments. I don't know if I am over-reacting or if she was justified in her findings but I just can't get it out of my head and feel very hard done by.

Action states "update the record of risk assessment so that it includes information on who conducted it, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident ensure that a full risk assessment is carried out for each type of outing and that these are reviewed before embarking on each specific outing and trip".

She pulled me up for not having my name on each risk assessment? I am the only registered Childminder and also the risk assessments are kept in a folder with my name and reg number on the front. She said at the inspection that she could see that I had written at the front of the risk assessments when my next one was due and that was good! I also explained that I mark it on my calendar so as to not to forget. Yet action says about date of review? My risk assessments have a column marked "action", have not had to take any action of yet but that facility is clearly there! I have risk assessments for the home and garden and all outings, such as park, library, soft play, rhyme time, farms etc! I also have a general one for walking and one for car journeys but she pulled me up as i did not have a specific "walking to the library" although my library one states risks to consider on how we get there, eg safety in a car park and crossing roads at pedestrian crossings etc!

I don't think I deserved an action for this but perhaps I'm wrong?

Also the satisfactory for partnership with parents has hit me hard, if anything I would say this is outstanding. She has actually quoted in the report "the childminder has good relationship with parents....." and then grades me as satisfactory. I have 1 child with additional needs who has various appointments, I have copies of al medical reports in her file along with dates and outcomes of any appointments, and this is just 1 example. All 3 familys that I work for wrote lovely references all expressing how well I keep them informed etc. When she came I was talking to one of the mindees about her grandparents visit that had just happened, mindee was using their nicknames and her speach isn't clear but I knew what she was talking about and this was discussed with the inspector. She asked if I'd met the grandparents and I said yes I'd met both sets!

I really don't know what to do? Just sign and send the action form back and swllow it or make it clear that I don't think there was an action to be answered in the first place?

Also at the moment it says "not met-action" at the bottom of my report in relation to the registers because of this action which I am devestated about. Will this change when they recieve the signed action back?

If you've managed to read this far thanks and I'd really appreciate any thoughts.

The wording the inspector has used for your RA action is standard. It comes from a list of wording that inspectors use.

it is not personal to you, it is on 100s of reports.

There is no set way to do an outings risk assessment... I personally have a blanket travel to and from place RA followed by specific RAs for different places we visit.

Clearly for your inspector this is not enough... however Ofsted have not got this in writing anywhere so it might be worthwhile you appealing it!

Having your name on your RAs is simple to correct - just put your name in the header or footer of the document and it will print. However again if you have your name on the file... then the inspector is nit picking and you might appeal if you wanted while you are appealing the other finding.

What were the negative comments linked to the working with parents grading? This one is easy to prove - newsletters, daily diaries, regular comments in LJs, input into how you work - questionnaires etc.

If you do all of this and more then I can only think you didn't share it all with the inspector... or she didn't see it for some reason.

Was it Ofsted, Tribal or the other one who inspected you?

Hugs x

Working with parents was the only item I was graded outstanding on. I think it's more written evidence (as Sarah mentioned above) rather than how well you know the parents or how well you get on with them. The inspector really liked my daily diaries - lots of photos, lots of information about our day and I'm lucky that some parents also write in them. She also really like my newsletter and the fact that I was sending out parent questionnaires regularly. Also, I have lots of information in my porch which she took time to read.

Linda.

Thanks Sarah

I believe her to be an Ofsted inspector rather than Tribal.

Have just looked and on the Ofsted Aug 10 info on Risk Assessments and it says "Unlike the risk assessment for premises and equipment, the legal requirement makes no mention of the need to review it regularly or make a written record". I don't understand how she could do an action on this if it's not a legal requirement? Should have said they were seperated as 2 actions, one for the name, review, action and then a seperate one for outings.

As for the working with parents she has put

"The Childminder has good relationships with the parents. they are provided with access to a comprehensive range of info about the setting included personalised policies and procedures. The Childminder ensures that parents are kept fully up-to-date about their child's learning through daily diaries for younger children, verbal feedback and access to their child's development file. The Childminder's ideas for further improvement are shared with parents and theire views sought, this will be further enhanced as they are able to contribute to daily diaries and learning journals." Then later on "she works closely with parents and other services to ensure that individual needs for support are met well, promoting inclusive practice."

Thanks too Linda.

I got outstanding with my P with P as I only do this verbally at the door morning and night - she did witness this though when a parent dropped off

I would appeal

I do feel for you honey. My first inspection she told me I was doing everything for a good and if I carried on then I would get good next time - er if its good now then surely its good!!! When the report came back I didnt know whether to laugh or cry - everything was rated as a good but she only gave me satisfactory!!

I decided the parents and the children were the most important people - they read the report and they ALL laughed at the contradiction and told me not to worry about it.

Sorry - havent really helped you very much but just wanted you to know I do understand how you feel. Like Sarah says - sometimes they nitpick. My friend got pulled up because although she had permissions from parents to use appropriate car seats for transporting children - she neglected to put "in the car" - because of course you would use car seats somewhere else wouldnt you????

Thanks Cathy.

I do tend to take most things to heart and DH is def the more level headed one but even he has read it and agrees that I am not over-reacting.

If it wasn't for the action i would probably let it go but at the moment I'm not actually meeting the criteria to be on the registers and I just don't agree with that. I keep looking at the "not met" and it's really upsetting me. Have spoken to other local Childminders and they have said that my risk assessments are more indepth etc than theirs yet they didn't get pulled up. A recommendation I can take but not this official "action".

Just don't think she was very "with" it. She verbally pulled me up saying that in my Safeguarding Policy I didn't have the procedure of what I would do if me or my husband were accused of abuse. I was like, erm yes I definately have, she re-read it and said, oh I missed that! Also suggested getting something like a sand table for the garden, I had to point out the one that was there!!!

Nic, the EYFS specific legal requirements for Risk Assessement states:-

"The risk assessment must identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis: providers must maintain a record of these particular aspects and when and by whom they have been checked. Providers must determine the regularity of these checks according to their assessment of the significance of individual risks".

So from that wording, I guess it is a legal requirement to have your name and the date on each risk assessment.

I remember I asked for help on here about risk assessments when I registered last year. The response was that I should add my name, date and a review date which I did.

Gosh you poor thing! I think that I have had a lucky escape. I signed my RA's, but didn't put my name on them (thinking it was obvious that they are mine) I must have had a really soft inspector.

Thanks everyone.

I really don't know what to do!

The only thing that I agree with is that my name isn't on each one, fair enough. But I am not a nursery, I do not employ an assistant, I work alone and the folder clearly states my name, but yes agreed my name is not on each one. Is this grounds for an official "action"? The date I complete my home risk assessment is on each one that I complete, a review date is in the file and I have an action column incase anything is picked up that needs actioning!

I don't want to make an issue of it if I am actually in the wrong but feel I was really unlucky to have this as an action. Does anyone know if when I sign the action form the register requirements are changed to met or am I stuck with this for the next 3 years?

I don't think actions are updated... they stay on your report and the next time you have an inspection they are checked.

I would say appeal - what have you got to lose?

Put together a letter giving as many quotes as you can from the statutory requirements and send evidence that you are meeting them.

Hth :D

Thanks Sarah.

I think that I'm going to have to challenge it as it's all I'm thinking about at the moment!

I know it's petty but on the report she has put that I mind 2 children in the EYFS group when it states on my SEF that it is 3, and she actually asked me the children's ages on the day. (one child is in reception but still in EYFS)

Would you mention that or not?

I was thinking of e-mailing them with quotes from the update on risk assessments from Aug that clearly states that regarding trips and outings "Unlike the risk assessment for premises and equipment, the legal requirement makes no mention of the need to review it regularly or make a written record". And also stating that I do actually have these in place and can provide copies.

Was also going to attach a copy of the risk assessment for the home that clearly states date and action.

Does anyone know if they could possibly ammend it if they agreed ( I know they might not agree) without another visit or would it definately be another inspection if they felt I had a case?

I really appreciate all of your help and advice. Was really looking forward to this weekend,, inspection done, tax return done and it has completely spoilt it. :(

I got an action on my last inspection because I hadn't filled in my attendance register for that morning - bear in mind, that I had one child that day who arrived at 8.45am and the inspector came at 9.00am. The action said I didn't keep an up to date record of attendance

I argued with her but she wouldn't leave it. She lectured me for a good 10 minutes on it's importance - which I would understand if I hadn't filled it in for weeks, but it was 15 minutes! As soon as she turned up all thoughts of register went out of my mind until she picked it up and I remembered I hadn't done it that morning.

Anyway, (sorry I started ranting!) in answer to your previous question, the 'not met' part stays on your report. Grrrrrrr. Thankfully my parents couldn't care less what my report said (!) and any future parents who see the report will be told the full circumstances.

I got an action on my last inspection because I hadn't filled in my attendance register for that morning - bear in mind, that I had one child that day who arrived at 8.45am and the inspector came at 9.00am. The action said I didn't keep an up to date record of attendance

I argued with her but she wouldn't leave it. She lectured me for a good 10 minutes on it's importance - which I would understand if I hadn't filled it in for weeks, but it was 15 minutes! As soon as she turned up all thoughts of register went out of my mind until she picked it up and I remembered I hadn't done it that morning.

Anyway, (sorry I started ranting!) in answer to your previous question, the 'not met' part stays on your report. Grrrrrrr. Thankfully my parents couldn't care less what my report said (!) and any future parents who see the report will be told the full circumstances.

Honestly, that is so petty!

Miffy xx

Thanks Sarah.

I think that I'm going to have to challenge it as it's all I'm thinking about at the moment!

I know it's petty but on the report she has put that I mind 2 children in the EYFS group when it states on my SEF that it is 3, and she actually asked me the children's ages on the day. (one child is in reception but still in EYFS)

Would you mention that or not?

I was thinking of e-mailing them with quotes from the update on risk assessments from Aug that clearly states that regarding trips and outings "Unlike the risk assessment for premises and equipment, the legal requirement makes no mention of the need to review it regularly or make a written record". And also stating that I do actually have these in place and can provide copies.

Was also going to attach a copy of the risk assessment for the home that clearly states date and action.

Does anyone know if they could possibly ammend it if they agreed ( I know they might not agree) without another visit or would it definately be another inspection if they felt I had a case?

I really appreciate all of your help and advice. Was really looking forward to this weekend,, inspection done, tax return done and it has completely spoilt it. :(

Good luck with your appeal - I think the original inspector is asked to look at things again and then she may decide to amend wording or it may be decided you have another inspection with a different inspector.

If you are saying the inspector missed evidence, I would also point out that she missed something in your safeguarding policy until you pointed it out to her and the sand table in the garden - it might be your word against hers but you never know if there have been any other complaints against this inspector so everything is worth mentioning.

Miffy xx

Blimey Georgie that is so harsh! :eek:

I decided to dispute the actions and also the wording of one of the recommendations as it was so vague!

Has proven to be abit of a nightmare so far as it is Tribal that I am having the main dealings with not Ofsted! Was told by Tribal that it was them I needed to deal with and not Ofsted but after taking advice I have CC'd Ofsted in with everything and am glad I have because it is them that have issused the complaints reference number and given Tribal a kick up the backside to get the ball rolling.

Not holding out much hope of getting it changed, even though I am sure that it is unjustified, but at the end of the day it is my word against hers.

I am regretting not challenging more of the report, such as the 2 satisfactory individual gradings. No mention at all in the reports of the glowing and really heartfelt reference in one case (additional needs mindee) that all of the parents gave me! Also, thinking back she said that she could not fault my resources and went on about how fantastic they were, but only marked it as "good", surely her praise should have led to an "outstanding" there?

Anyway rant over, for now!

I do feel for you honey. My first inspection she told me I was doing everything for a good and if I carried on then I would get good next time - er if its good now then surely its good!!! When the report came back I didnt know whether to laugh or cry - everything was rated as a good but she only gave me satisfactory!!

Who did you have the same one as C

Sorry - havent really helped you very much but just wanted you to know I do understand how you feel. Like Sarah says - sometimes they nitpick. My friend got pulled up because although she had permissions from parents to use appropriate car seats for transporting children - she neglected to put "in the car" - because of course you would use car seats somewhere else wouldnt you????

If that is C she had the inspector from h*ll if I remember rightly who when she registered Gary wouldn't register us for any more children as she wouldn't take my conservatory into the equation as it couldn't be used all year round (bear in mind this was December and children were playing in there!!!) oh and ignored the children completely

Nic, the EYFS specific legal requirements for Risk Assessement states:-

"The risk assessment must identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis: providers must maintain a record of these particular aspects and when and by whom they have been checked. Providers must determine the regularity of these checks according to their assessment of the significance of individual risks".

But as the EYFS is aimed at all EY settings I would think this is more relevant to nurseries pre schools than a childminder working on their own and you would think that they would use common sense that it is the childminder doing it

So from that wording, I guess it is a legal requirement to have your name and the date on each risk assessment.

I remember I asked for help on here about risk assessments when I registered last year. The response was that I should add my name, date and a review date which I did.

My hubby is also a registered childminder although he works full time elsewhere and my RA's don't have that information on it and it was fine

I only date the actual RA if there is any action. When I review it it is written on my review sheet not on the actual RA

Well 2 weeks later finally Tribal are looking into it.

Got a phonecall yesterday from somebody who will make the decision once she has collected evidence from the inspector!

Not holding out much hope but at least I have tried.

Also now have a parent off her own back contacting Ofsted to complain about part of the report as she thinks it's insulting to her as a parent!