Well I had my inspection to-day, only took them four and a half years to get round to this one. I got a good overall and she said that if there was an inbetween grade of very good she would have had no hesitation to give me that and that she would mention this in the report. So far so good, however some of the things she said to me were totally confusing.
She didn't like my next steps and planning following on from them, she said she couldn't understand how I was doing it and that it did not follow the EYFS, I tried to show her how I did it and why I did it but she couldn't get it, never mind she then said they have to find something to put down and that would be mine.
She then said that there should be a separate risk assessment for every single toy/activity we do, but as I said I risk assess every day each toy for the safety and suitability etc, and how would it work with spontaneous play, but still not happy with that.
I had my lost child policy included in my emergency action plan section, but she said the policy needed to be separate.
I should get the toys out for the children to play with not allow them free access.
I should not get the children to tidy one activity away before getting something else out, now I only have a very small living room for the children to play in so things need to be tidied away before they get other things out, surely this is against health and safety as well?
Need separate bowls for the children to wash hands, not too difficult for me only having two but some of you who work with others, have you got room for 6 or more bowls/washing facilities.
Also I should get the boys out of nappies, too old, just three, both have special needs and haven't got a clue yet.
There were other things but I am taking up too much of your time, just thought some of you due an inspection might find some of it useful.
One very positive thing was the boys were wonderful for me and the inspection only lasted 2.5 hrs.
Reading all this makes me wonder how I got good, sounds inadequate to me.
Sorry for the long one.
Teacake2

after reading that I'm worried for the call to come:(

But Congratulations on getting good:clapping:

Thanks for that, I will separate my lost child policy. I don't have a separate bowl for all the children though. They use the same but different towel to dry hands. Where would I put 6 bowls???? X

Don't they use a sink to wash their hands in? I don't get it ...
I'm not buying loads of bowls.

Congratulations on your grade. Hope it's over for you for another four and a half years! :D

Miffy xx

Congratulations! :clapping:

Crikey it sounds like your inspector had some set ideas about how things need to be done.

The Eyfs does say that everything a child comes into contact with should have a RA but most childminders simply use a generic 'playroom' RA which they use every day to check general safety etc.

I think you were absolutely right to argue that spontaneous play does not lend itself to that kind of RA. I wouldn't do anything new - wait and see what the new Eyfs says about RAs first.

The lost child policy is statutory - but I wasn't aware that it mattered where you put it as long as you have one! I would suggest if anyone has theirs in with another policy they simply separate it out if they are concerned.

I wonder how the inspector would get on with a Montessori setting... I ask children to put things away before getting something new out and my inspector didn't have a problem with it... hmmm.

You are not responsible for getting children out of nappies - I hope you argued that one!!

As for separate bowls... I have 1 bowl and I wash it in between each use :laughing:

Well done again! xx

Well firstly well done on the good grade:clapping: and secondly, I can't believe the amount of things she pulled you up on! anyway what you are doing is what everyone else is doing, your inspector was obviously feeling very picky!

well done on your grade - what a picky inspector. It shows there are still inconsistencies at inspections :rolleyes:

I don't have separate bowls, toys are tidied away and as for nappies - well tough! sounds like you argued your corner though - well done :thumbsup:

well done x

oh my god, knew it would be tuff with inspection but we are paid to look after children and care for their safety not do paper work. i feel like i have done more paper work for this job than running a playschool lol as long as children happy and parents you should be happy!!! :)

I have just had the call from Ofsted they are coming out to inspect me in 2 weeks time, 5 years this month since my last visit. They really cutting it fine as it has to be done before the end of October.

I having a new baby this week and it would have been too much on his 1st week, talk about beeing thrown in the deep end. I am away for a long weekend that week they coming on the Tues am. So not much time to be prepared. LOL.

I ran a Pre-school for over 15years, worked in a Nursery and in a school, never had as many policies, risk assessments etc as they want us Childminders to now have. I can understand we have to have and do certain things, but Ofsed gone O T T. I believe in change and keeping up with the times, but my i can't believe all the paper work we have to have in place. POOR TREES and environment.

I too only have a very small room in a terraced house, so all children and adults have to tidy up when finished with what they are playing etc with. We are teaching them good skills ready for Nursery & School. It is not safe to leave things lying around especially for some of us carrying babies around as well. Mine use the bathroom sink for hand washing but have their own towel. Children can only come out of nappies/pull ups when they are ready, boys are much later than girls anyway. I know of a 5 year old special needs girl still in nappies. My grandson is 6 1/2 and still wet at night and is now under The Birrmingham Childrens Hospital for guidance, so sorry Ofsted not all children are perfect timers for getting dry.

Thanks for your tips, they are food for thought. I shall be as firm back in a nice way if they try saying to me and i disagree.

Well Ofsted did not come today, looks like it may be tomorrow now, they are really cutting it fine. I just want it done and out the way now. Don't feel as ready as i should be, paperwork i know i could do more, but at the moment their is not enough hours in the day. Well better go and do the last bit of work before i go to bed.

Separate bowls what a load of rubbish what are they suppose to do in schools get issued with them at the start of term and carry them around on their head think I would have wet myself laughing if my inspector said that it sounds almost as ludicrous as when my nvq assessor said I had to do an accident report on my own child she didn't have an answer when I asked if I had to sign it again when id informed myself he'd had an accident at the end of the day lmao well done on grade sounds like a very tricky inspector

Well done on your grade, however I would wait for the report, and I would then be reporting back to ofsted with your arguments. Some of these comments are ridiculous.

You are using your next steps for planning end of, there is no right or wrong way!

risk assess every toy! :panic: .

Sepererate bowls - we would need 10 seperate bowls :laughing:

As long as you have a policy it is up to you where you store it.

The decission to toilet train should be done in partnership with parents, not partnership with the inspector :D

When I attended the meeting at the DfE about the consultation of the EYFS, they said Ofsted need to know when these inspectors are making unreasonable demands. If we do not inform them, then this sort of thing will continue. Please, I urge you to report this, if you are happy with your grade that is fine, but please argue the other points in writting. It might save someone else having to go through the same thing, particularly a new CM who could be put off for life!

Yes please do!! :panic:


Well done on your grade, however I would wait for the report, and I would then be reporting back to ofsted with your arguments. Some of these comments are ridiculous.

You are using your next steps for planning end of, there is no right or wrong way!

risk assess every toy! :panic: .

Sepererate bowls - we would need 10 seperate bowls :laughing:

As long as you have a policy it is up to you where you store it.

The decission to toilet train should be done in partnership with parents, not partnership with the inspector :D

When I attended the meeting at the DfE about the consultation of the EYFS, they said Ofsted need to know when these inspectors are making unreasonable demands. If we do not inform them, then this sort of thing will continue. Please, I urge you to report this, if you are happy with your grade that is fine, but please argue the other points in writting. It might save someone else having to go through the same thing, particularly a new CM who could be put off for life!

Separate bowls what a load of rubbish what are they suppose to do in schools get issued with them at the start of term and carry them around on their head think I would have wet myself laughing if my inspector said that it sounds almost as ludicrous as when my nvq assessor said I had to do an accident report on my own child she didn't have an answer when I asked if I had to sign it again when id informed myself he'd had an accident at the end of the day lmao well done on grade sounds like a very tricky inspector

Lol!!!:laughing:

Yes please do!! :panic:

I realised after I had replied to this, that it was an old post! Teacake2 has probably long since received her report. However I would still urge her to put something in writting to them.

Well here i am again and still no Ofsted inspecter has visited me, and they said i needed to be done by the end of Oct (5 years since last inspection). :confused:

It is half term here next week and i told them that and that i would be child free that week, the next time i will be available will be Tues 1st Nov, they told me that was too late. Guess now i will have to wait to see what Tues 1st November brings. :confused:

:confused: Well Ofsted did not come on Tues 1st November, so not sure whats happening now, if they come on speck or if they have to ring me up again to see what 3 dates i am free again. I'm sure they wanted to do me in the Half Term but minded child was on holiday that week. So they have not come on any of the 3 dates i gave them. Bit annoyed of all the waiting in i have had to do. I just want it over & done with now as it has been over 5 years since may last Inspection. :confused: :mad: :angry:

Well done. You can 'relax' now for another few years.

hi ive just had my inspection this week had a phone call on monday night and the inspector arrived wed ! i was a nervous wreck ! i'm guessing i had a really nice ofsted inspector after reading your blog ! and i came away with an outstanding :)