I was inspected for the 1st time on Wednesday & my report arrived today, to confirm that I have been graded as Outstanding!! :jump for joy: I cried when she told me & she then gave me a big hug. I have read lots of threads re inspections & am greatful for all tips that I have picked up along the way.

I do feel that I was very lucky, she was lovely & made me feel as relaxed as possible. It all lasted 4 1/2 hours! She was excellent with the children & even played with them. Is that normal? She was so nice that part of me doubts if I am really outstanding, maybe she is just a very 'soft' inspector. She did my pre reg visit & I remember telling her that I was aiming to be an outstanding childminder. At the time, she said that it would be very unlikely, although that I could receive a few outstanding elements.

Sorry for droning on:blush:

well done :clapping: they wouldn't grade you it if you didn't deserve it so don't put urself down, enjoy it and now begin to enjoy it without the stress for a while :thumbsup:

congratulations and well done :clapping: :clapping:

Well done thats brillant for a first inspection:clapping:
You must have worked really hard.

Have you worked in Early years before or is it all new to you?

well done to you :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:
i know how you feel i too got graded 'OUTSTANDING' on my first inspection. so congratulations keep up the good work !!:clapping:

excellent news:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

they defo wouldnt give it if you didnt deserve it

obviously very well desereved xxx

Congratulations! :clapping:

Thank you everyone for your kind words.

Pixie Dust - Yes, left a pre school in July, as wanted to give more to a smaller group & was also unhappy with some people getting away with doing the bare minimum:angry:

Blimey, that's the quickest I've ever known anyone get a report through. They must really be on the ball :eek:

Well done. That's a fantastic achievement :D

Wow that is fab well done you! You must have worked so hard!
Please pm me some tips! lol

Well done!! Don't doubt it just accept it that she thought you deserved OUTSTANDING :clapping: :clapping:

Well done. I have just had my first graded inspection and was told she couldn't give me outstanding on my first inpsection because there is never enough evidence so soon after starting but to expect outstanding next time if things stayed the same. Must just differ between inspectors. :clapping:

Well done you :clapping:

Thanks again for more kind words.

Jax Clinch - Sorry to hear that. My inspector did say that it was rare, & she went to make a phonecall to confirm that she could give me the grading. (When she went to make a phonecall I thought that I was in real trouble!:panic: )
Yes, I think that my inspector obviously was very kind, & maybe you would have had the same result with my inspector. So maybe I should only be good? I hope that you aren't too disheartened & I am sure that you will achieve it next time. Whereas me?...

Congratulations! :clapping:

Miffy xx

Congratulations! You obviously deserved the grade otherwise she wouldn't have made the phone call. :clapping: Hx

Well done :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

Well done, any tips for us?

I was told they always talk to somebody else before confirming an Outstanding, that's why people are often told not to tell anyone their grade until they get it in writing. So don't worry you are probably still a bit shocked, but there is no doubt you deserve it, enjoy:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

Allie

congratulations:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

congratilations and well done :clapping: :jump for joy:

How clever are you!!!!!:clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

I do so ofsted would come to me its 3 years and 3 weeks since they last came!! not that Im counting!! The waiting isnt half stressful!!

well done hun. congratulations :clapping:

well done

My husband and I are new to childminding so have all of this to come!

Any tips to help us?

For those of you who asked for tips, I'm not sure that I have anything revolutionary.

I made sure that I had pushed out questionnaires to my parents & they had all been returned. One parent had written a nice letter. When I handed the file over to her, she commented that I was very organised (not really, was confident that my parents were happy & wanted to have evidence for Ofsted). I also made sure that I had proof that I share info with pre-school.

I set everything out for my day, but abandoned a planned activity & just went completely with the childrens interests for that day. I proved what they knew by asking them what do we do before we have snack etc... I was worried that she might think that I talked too much, but she disagreed & said that I was always modelling/repeating & expanding.

She liked my LJ's although she thought that I put too much in (I agree, takes forever). Lots of people comment on planning, but I had no proof of planning other than my summative assessments. I was able to tell her exactly where I was taking each child on their own learning journey. (although I quite often comment in my LJ's 'based on ...... I planned for ......activity', but not always.)

Other than that I just ensured that I had all of the required paperwork in place. Oh, I had started my SEF, but I still have 1/2 to complete.

I think that I was lucky that everything with the children ran perfectly & that she was lovely.