had my first inspection and will just quickly tell you about it: first of all she came in and I asked her to take her shoes off, she said she didnt mind but what was she suppose to wear. I offered her guest slippers which she refused to wear if they had been worn by anyone else. Then I offered her shoe covers which go on your shoes, again she refused to wear them if they had been used, luckily my neighbour had given me a new box which I found 5mins later. What a great start!!
Anyway she then said I needed a stairgate and fire guard although the fire is disconnected. I dont look after children under the age of 2 so do I need 1?
She then asked if she could speak to the parents privately although I didnt have a problem with it, is this normal? my mindees mum said she was very intimidating and she "felt sorry for me with an inspector like that"
Anyway just wanted to know what everyone thought of all this??

It is very much a personal thing with a fire guard - some inspectors will ask for one and others will accept your risk assessment which says that you don't use the fire, discourage rough games in that room, teach children about the dangers etc.

Lots of inspectors ask to speak to the parents. I wouldn't worry about that one.

How did you get on? x

I have been childminding for 17yrs and have never had an inspector speak to my parents. However they have never been at the house when the inspectors were there. Not that I would mind but I would expect them to be polite.

As for the shoes, how rude. I bet you are not the only one to ask her to remover her shoes and perhaps she should have a change with her. I don't have shoe covers and it would never have occured to me to have any. I have only ever seen those used at the local swimming pool!

Did you have a RA to cover not using a stair gate or Fire Guard?

Poor you. Did everything else go OK?

It is normal to speak to parents privately to ask about the care you provide.

When I had my inspection the lady took her shoes off without me even saying anything to her.

Hopefully apart from that it went well for you.

Poor you. Shoe covers:eek: I just ask people to take their shoes off ( the ones that cannot read the please remove your shoes sign!) even Ofsted ,and had no problem with that.
Glad i didnt have the same inspector as you, poor thing.

i have two fake marble fire places neither in use,i have nt had a graded inspection yet ,one is in the kitchen /diner the other in the room to be used as a play room i was concerned about the corners of the hearth ,mrs o told me to get a cheap quilt and chuck it over

the room with the fire in is just a quiet room anyway for reading, eating etc so the children dont really run around.
She said its a health and safety issue if she removed her shoes!! the children were without shoes and socks but thats their choice although they do have slippers.

I had a ra for the fire and upstairs is not registered, anyway my development advisor said that you dont need to have either in place if you are not minding children under the age of 2. Mrs O said that wasnt the case, is she right? Oh and socket covers are a must! she said lots of ppl are not using them and are being marked down because of it.
My daughters nursery have shoe covers for parents who cant/wont take their shoes off, they are just by the door as you enter but they are reused by others, so was surprised Mrs O had a problem with using used ones!!
But overall I got "good" which I am happy with, but just felt she wasnt very nice

Glad you got a good.

We will see about the socket covers. i have never used them and never had a problem. I am due an inspection soon so we will see. I have Risk Assessed and I have the download from the Fatally Flawed Site that confirms that Ofsted do not require them.

2 childminder friends of mine don't use them either and they have both been graded Outstanding this year. Just goes to show all Inspectors are different. They both had dofferent inspectors.

Oh and I don't use a stairgate either and I have 13mth. 16mth and a 2year old. I don't currently need to use the upstairs and the layout of my ground floor means the stairs are the furthest point in the house from where the children are or need to go or can go without getting past me first I have RA that I do't need one.

I had a ra for the fire and upstairs is not registered, anyway my development advisor said that you dont need to have either in place if you are not minding children under the age of 2.

No that's not right it is not in legislation that you do or do not need a fire guard depending on the age of the children.

It depends on the layout of your house, the use of the room, children's individual risks (Johnny is likely to dash head first into the fire so need one etc) and your risk assessment.

Mrs O said that wasnt the case, is she right?

Yes

Oh and socket covers are a must! she said lots of ppl are not using them and are being marked down because of it.

No they are not a statutory or guidance requirement.

There is a big issue around this one at the moment.

Ofsted have stated that they do not legislate on it - so it is down to your policy and RA again.

My daughters nursery have shoe covers for parents who cant/wont take their shoes off, they are just by the door as you enter but they are reused by others, so was surprised Mrs O had a problem with using used ones!!
But overall I got "good" which I am happy with, but just felt she wasnt very nice

You might find this thread useful -

http://childmindinghelp.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=85128&highlight=socket

Hope this helps :D

my inspector spoke to the dad and he was happy to sing my praises, then as he left he wispered 'i hope i did all right'. my inspector was scary but nice with it, just very professional. yours seems a bit narky?! all done now xx

Oh my word!! She wouldn't take her shoes off?! Maybe she had weird feet....or a hole in her sock lol

At my pre-reg meeting my Ofsted lady automatically took her shoes off and left them in the kitchen and then my niece (18 months) proceeded to not only play with them the WHOLE time but also wear them to strut about....neither of which bothered her lol

Congratulations on your 'good' grading, hope the next inspection is less stressful x x

My inspector bought her own slippers ha ha

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Not sure if Im missing something here?! Do ofsted require you to always ask guests and children to remove shoes or is this your personal preference as its your house?

I always ask people to take off shoes, don't give them slippers or anything else. Never have done either and every inspector over the years has just removed shoes. Including a high up man from Ofsted I unfortunately had to let in earlier in the year.

We live on a farm and I keep as much of the outside where it belongs :thumbsup:

Sounds like she was having a bad day poor you

I just had my pre reg and the inspector was fine with taking her shoes off i did ask about the socket covers as i have them but then having been reading about it on here and she said yes they still need to be in place

the room with the fire in is just a quiet room anyway for reading, eating etc so the children dont really run around.
She said its a health and safety issue if she removed her shoes!! the children were without shoes and socks but thats their choice although they do have slippers.

What a load of rubbish! She obviosly had smelly feet:laughing:
I don't let anyone in without taking their shoes off it's my house and my rules and can't stand people trapsing CRAP all over my new lovely carpets:thumbsup: What a horried lady.

Ofsted spoke to one of my parents at the door as she came early to pick up as lo had dental appointment. She asked her loads of questions but parent was lovely:thumbsup:

the room with the fire in is just a quiet room anyway for reading, eating etc so the children dont really run around.
She said its a health and safety issue if she removed her shoes!! the children were without shoes and socks but thats their choice although they do have slippers.

Health and Safety at work about the dropping things on your feet! But unless she was in all your cupboards taking toys down etc.. then I dont know what she was moaning about.. unless.. she had on Sunday socks...?