There has been a development regarding my inspection and I am annoyed and confused about it.
I feel very dispondent now about childminding and Ofsted!

This week I had a call from the Ofsted inspector who did my inspection 2 weeks ago.
She said Quality Assurance had called her and said that she needed to provide a reccommendation on my report and couldn't think of one so what do I think she could put.
I asked if she had to put one and she said yes.
I said that I couldn't think of one as I feel I am running a good practice so she said the only one she could think of was about transitions and my liason with schools. At the time of inspection I had no school children but have a transitions file and it clearly shows draught letters to parents and schools and my procedure to ensure smooth transition etc. On my inspection she read it and said it was good.
I said that idf she had to write this could she word it so that it said something about recommending I ensure I put this into practice when required and she said that was a good idea although she would have to re-word it.
The inspector said that she was calling to discuss this as she didn't want me to get a shock when I receive my report!

I was shocked!!! and after talking to my childminding support officer am very unhappy with this. My CO has discussed it with colleagues and they feel I should complain and ask that this recommendation is not put on.

I don't know what to do as I am worried about what else she will put. Shall I call Ofsted and ask that the inspector calls me or do I deal with it through the helpline or do I wait for the publication of the report.

I have really had it with Ofsted!

For some reason I think they have to do it. I was granted Outstanding at my last inspection after she had been here from 9.55 till 3.55 and then went away and discussed my outcome with others and she put a recommendation on mine I cant remember off the top of my head but I know they do sometimes compare notes with others . xx Hope this makes you feel better I think they do it for everyonexx

for some odd odd odd reason they are supposed to 'make a recommendation' - typical Brits - we can never allow ourselves to be happy or pleased with what is actually there.... noooooo we need to still give ourselves a little dig just to remind ourselves that we ain't all that.

Yes I would shout loud and proud from the rooftops and object merrily all the way to getting the recommendation. Ask to see where it says you HAVE to have a recommendation - make their lives difficult.

There is always room for improvement and so the reports have to contain a recommendation. i would wait for your report and you may find it has been worded positively starting with continue to or further enhance....

My inspector struggled to come up with one and then decided on continue to explore opportunities for cpd , or words to that effect. meant nothing really but this is what she felt I was saying when she was questioning me about how I would keep on improving over the following 3 years.

Grrrr! I KNEW it!!
I was suspicious that they HAD to give a recommendation, as mine was so daft it was almost laughable!
I don't know if I am more or less annoyed now....:rolleyes:

Thankyou for your replies.

Ofsted have told me today that she has not followed correct procedure in calling me and asking what I think she should write. That is really what my gripe is. The inspection was a little weird as I knew the inspector( only to greet and pass the time of day) from her volunteering on her day off at my local playgroup so she said when she got to me that she was still ok to do the inspection but implied at the end that she couldn't give me an outstanding as it wouldnt look good as we know eachother. She gave me 2 actions and said they were tiny ones that she had to add as she couldnt think of anything else to justify the good grading.

I was happy with it all until she called me the other day again about this latest thing.
Ofsted have been very helpful although referred me to Tribal who just dont answer the telephone!!!

I just want them to leave me alone for three years...lol

I had the same thing!

Graded outstanding in all areas. The inspector couldn't find one tiny thing wrong so had to put something stupid which makes me look like the worse childminder ever!

My recommendation was that I have to reliably write down whether a child has had medication or not before they come to me in a day.

Before I wrote it in if they had and wrote nothing if they hadn't. I knew exactly what it means and so did parents. I could see at a glance that children had not had meds, or if they had. Now it looks as if I was careless about medication.

Still got outstanding though so I shouldn't worry I suppose, just a silly niggle.

I think it is ridiculous! :(

I think it is ridiculous! :(

I agree...absurd!

I am feeling really quite despondant re:childminding at the mo. Have had 2.5 yrs of Ofsted cancelling my first inspection and when I finally have it they send someone incompetent and who asks me what she should write!

We could do their jobs better than they can!!!

Surely if she was that impressed with your setting that she struggled to come up with even one recommendation then you should have received an "outstanding" grade?