I had my inspection in December (its still not published!). I had a copy last week to check all the details are correct and I'm not really very pleased.

She told me at the end of my inspection that I had got satisfactory which I was disappointed with, but given the fact I was only minding one eyfs child for 2 and a half days a week and she had only been with me for 9 wks I guessed that was fair enough.

But now having read the actual report I'm really not happy. To improve my practice I have got to "increase my diversity resorces" and I have got to encourage parents to comment on children's progress! And that's it!

She has given me equal scores of 2's and 3's at the end so how come I'm not good? She says my paperwork is robust and although my planning is in the early stages it is showing that I understand the child's needs. She did say at the time of inspection that she understood that I didn't have much evidence as I had only just started minding but surely I shouldn't be graded down because of this?

Having spoken to other minders in my area I know this inspector is the one everyone dreads getting and I have checked out some of her reports on the Ofsted website which would back up the claim that she can be quite harsh but that doesn't really help me as I'm now stuck with this for 3 yrs!

I know some parents only look for good/outstanding minders and I guess I'm feeling a bit hard done by. My local support worker says its almost impossible to get good/outstanding at first inspection now unless you have worked as a childminder before in in a nursery but that seems really unfair to me.

The actual report is quite positive and I happy with that bit but what more could I have done to be good?

First of all - congratulations!! You are obviously doing everything you can.

Secondly - please don't worry about it. Like you I got satisfactory on my first inspection but she actually said to me that if I carried on doing what I was doing I would get good next time. I didnt understand that - if its good its good surely? Anyway when the report came back she put that the overall provision was satisfactory - but all my grades were for good! I just left it as to my mind it just showed up the system, not me. All my parents were happy - and even laughed at the report.

I have to say that no parent ever asked me for my the report. Or what grading I had. Or about the paperwork. All the parents wanted was for someone to take good care of their child and who they felt confident and safe with.

Please try not to worry about it xxxx

Thanks, she said the same thing to me about being good next time :angry:

I have yet to be asked by any parents what my grading is too.....in fact one parent didn't even know it was Ofsted who registers us, she thought it was the local health visitor :eek:

I think I'm maybe worrying too much xx

Only one parent in 5 years has been interested in my grading. Everyone else has gone on their gut feeling and whether they like me or not. Actually that one parent was the only one who visited me and didnt use me in the end, and I know she was looking for something more on a nursery basis, but not a nursery.

hi
can i just ask what area are you from?
i am going through the same process with my report
and put a complaint in at ofsted
still waiting for the outcome
if you are not happy put in a complaint
and well done for surviving a prospects inspection
Debra x

Sounds like you are doing exactly what you should be so dont panic and well done.

I dont know if it is still the case but I am sure that previously they only gave a good/outstanding if you are caring for 2 or more children when they visit so they can see how you manage etc regardless of everything else.

Alot of people found this quite unfair so I dont know if it changed when the EYFS came in

Well done on your grading and with only doing it for 9 weeks at the time!
As long as the parents are happy with your work and the children like spending their time with you, then they are the most important people!
Outstanding or Good does not mean that you will get any extra work.
People go by gut feeling and sometimes a too high a grade can get in the way.

You can only go UP! I'm now worried about being downgraded next time as although I've got a high grade it's not helped me get more work and until I get some more money in from CM I can't even think about doing the new NVQ3 and in the meantime have to work an evening job, so don't get the time to do any training, it's a vicious circle :(

Sorry not had time to read all replies so i may be repeating......

It depends what ares you were graded good and satisfactory. There are some key areas, which, if you get satisfactory in them, will mean that no matter what the rest of the inspection shows you will not get higher than satisfactory.

Sorry you are disappointed with your grade but you shouldn't be, it really is a good mark.

dont worry about your grade

i have never been without work in 24yrs, since grading came into action


1st time good , which was considered the highest at the time


2nd time good with two satisfactory , like you areas to improve = promote diversity and i hadnt recorded my fire drill , other mindees i knew at time filled in recorded form but didnt do their check. :eek:

i did get outstanding this time and would you believe i had a parent say no to me and went to a private nursery

so it dosent matter too much, parents want you they will choose you

good luck

Thanks everyone, its just nice for a bit of reasurance.

Its just hard when you try so hard to make sure that everything is in place and that you are doing your absolute best and that you think you are great :) and its a bit of a knock back when your told your not that great after all!

I have minded a total of 7 children at different times (since nov last year) and all parents I have met have used me so I know I must be doing something right!

Parents dont care about our grading. I cant charge more or get more work because of my grading. I'm pleased with it and feel it reflects my setting well but tbh I've read 'good' reports that were as good as mine. Oh well :)

Well done, enjoy your career XX

And there are childminders who are brilliant with lots of kids and are always on the go and they just get 'Satisfactory'. To me they are the real heroes as I certainly could not have 8 everyday like some of them have, especially in the holidays!

I have read the replies with interest.I have my first inspection next week and am dreading it.

BUT I am full and have turned 2 parents down in the past 2 weeks because they have seen me in action! I have the most amazing relationships with my children and parents and have only been minding since Sept 2010.I have told myself I will be the same person at the beginning of Friday as I will be when she leaves.I will however be looking forward to the weekend!

I have read through alot of posts and it does seem that it just depends on who you get to inspect you.

I would be proud of my grading.Well done you x

Jo

At the risk of upsetting anyone.... some parents DO read reports and ARE bothered about the grading system. Several of my families came to see me initially because of my grading and report.

I think once they meet you it becomes less important but if that's all they have to go on initially, how else can they decide who to go and see ?

I have actually disputed my grading and refused to accept it once and have certainly had wording changed on several of my reports over the years. If we don't blow our own trumpet then no one else will.

hmmmmm sounds like you had the same inspector as me, (my inspection was also done in December but i am still waiting for my report) she said the exact same things to me!!! i had only been minding since end of September and i was so annoyed when she had gone, i was gonna jack it in because she made me feel like i was rubbish :panic: but i stuck at it becuase i knew i was better than what she said :clapping: dont worry about it and keep your chin up xx

Congratulations on getting through your first inspection!

I have been watching posts relating to Ofsted inspections recently because I have my inspection next Tuesday.:eek:

I only have one EYFS child who comes one day a fortnight because she has just started pre-school and I'm hoping that isn't go to go against me - but who knows!!

I have also been reading the latest Ofsted reports of childminders in my area recently to get a feel for what they are looking for and the majority of them sound exactly the same to me although the gradings can be so different.

I too, would like to get a Good grading, only because I want to do Community Childminding and in my area that is their requirement. However, I will have to wait and see what happens next week.

Try to keep positive because as a lot of people have said, a lot of parents don't even ask to see the reports anyway.

Michelle x

I really do think (and others may disagree) that alot of it is down to luck of the draw as to what inspector you get!

Some say they don't give outstanding, some are just a lot tougher than others!

Have read lots of reports lately and the gradings vary so much when the content can look the same!

I am awaiting the outcome of an appeal against part of my report (not holding my breath!) and can't believe how much it has affected my confidence and how it is beginning to take over my life! The main reason being that I just feel it is so unfair and that's what I can't accept!

I think that it is too late for you to question the report but is a worth finding out for definate?

I know how you feel, I had my first inspection only 7 weeks after I started minding and only had one mindee. I was also graded satisfactory which at the time I was happy with as I'd only just started.

That was 3 months ago and now that I feel confident in what I'm doing I find it really disappointing to know that that grading will be with me for 3 years!!

PS Hasn't stopped me getting more mindees though ;)

Hi i agree that most parents dont even ask about gradings so i really wouldnt worry.x

Thanks again everyone. It really had knocked my confidence but I'm feeling a bit more positive now, although I still think its all a bit unfair!

Here's hoping I get a different inspector next time who values what I'm doing as much as I do!!!