Have you had any negative experiences during your Ofsted inspections?

Have inspectors said things to you which you do not think are right?

If so, will you please share them with me for something I am writing - confidentiality assured.

Please pm me if you would prefer not to write it on the forum.

Thank you! :D

Yes.
My prospect inspector said three things that I didnt like

'Childminders dont really get Outstanding. Its usually nurseries that get outstanding because the are bigger with more networks and SEN children'

'I cant give you Outstanding because you are not part of a network of other childminders'

'You wouldnt want Outstanding anyway'

Im still waiting to get my report to read what it says :D

Thank you JCrakers ... and to those who have sent me pms! :clapping:

Any more feedback gratefully received :D

You HAVE to use socket covers
The 'calibre' of children you are currently caring for will affect the grade
You have to produce your car insurance details otherwise I will have to mark you down

My inspector told me the carpet in the conservatory wasn't clean enough. She then said" I see you have a carpet cleaner there, do you have any intention of ever using it?"

Thank you Pips... i've heard the socket cover one a few times and have a quote from the Ofsted newsletter covering that one.

Car insurance... i've not heard that but I do know a childminder who was marked down for not going upstairs to get her driving licence - she had 3 children with her and couldn't face taking them all up. With hindsight maybe she could have put all her car documents together in her risk assessment file.... hmmm interesting one I'll have a think.

Calibre of children - totally unacceptable comment! :panic: Inspector needs sacking - sadly won't be because it's the childminder's word against the inspectors so they won't make a judgement.

Thank you!! Please keep them coming :D

My inspector told me the carpet in the conservatory wasn't clean enough. She then said" I see you have a carpet cleaner there, do you have any intention of ever using it?"

This is a recurring theme - unprofessional and unkind comments from inspectors.

Sadly as there is no proof it was ever said it's hard to make a complaint - however we should be complaining!!

If enough of us complain then the evidence against these inspectors will start to grow and they will have to take notice.

Thank you for sharing Sylvia xx

i had an inspector be incredibly stroppy on the phone when i had to cancel my inspection due to my own child being ill. she then got stroppy and told me i had to make myself available, when i said i would be unable to do either of the other 2 days she suggested as my ds had hospital appointments to find out WHY he was ill! she asked if anyone else could take him. i said DH and i were going together.

but then, when she came, she was really nice! i think she was just frustrated, as was i, that we couldn't arrange the inspection !!!

i had an inspector be incredibly stroppy on the phone when i had to cancel my inspection due to my own child being ill. she then got stroppy and told me i had to make myself available, when i said i would be unable to do either of the other 2 days she suggested as my ds had hospital appointments to find out WHY he was ill! she asked if anyone else could take him. i said DH and i were going together.

but then, when she came, she was really nice! i think she was just frustrated, as was i, that we couldn't arrange the inspection !!!

I think this one shows that Ofsted inspectors are human and like all of us they sometimes get frustrated!

It's just as well you didn't complain I suppose given your eventual grading from her... :laughing:

Thank you so much for sharing - this is really helping me! :clapping:

Keep them coming guys please :D

Thank you Pips... i've heard the socket cover one a few times and have a quote from the Ofsted newsletter covering that one.

Car insurance... i've not heard that but I do know a childminder who was marked down for not going upstairs to get her driving licence - she had 3 children with her and couldn't face taking them all up. With hindsight maybe she could have put all her car documents together in her risk assessment file.... hmmm interesting one I'll have a think.

Calibre of children - totally unacceptable comment! :panic: Inspector needs sacking - sadly won't be because it's the childminder's word against the inspectors so they won't make a judgement.

Thank you!! Please keep them coming :D

thing is Sarah - normally all that IS kept in my file - however my hubby had the documents for something he had to do! Thankfully he came in as my inspection was ending and i could prove that I hate the relevant docs.

Oh yes - the same inspector inspected my friend on the friday (and gave her outstanding - rightly so) and then inspected me on the monday told us TWO different things about LJ's for reception aged children - I do a continuation of LJ's as I would for little ones - apparently I was not doing enough and the next steps needed to be furthered for this age group.. yet my friend stops the formal LJ and just does a scrapbook with minimal comments and links, no next steps etc....

go figure

Oh yes - the same inspector inspected my friend on the friday (and gave her outstanding - rightly so) and then inspected me on the monday told us TWO different things about LJ's for reception aged children - I do a continuation of LJ's as I would for little ones - apparently I was not doing enough and the next steps needed to be furthered for this age group.. yet my friend stops the formal LJ and just does a scrapbook with minimal comments and links, no next steps etc....

go figure

Now that's the kind of thing which... if mentioned in the report... can be complained about so the wording is changed.

You can use the Eyfs which states that you should be providing complementary care and other relevant quotes to fight it.

However if it was just a comment and not in the report again there's little that can be done because it's one word against the other.

Ho hum it's becoming more and more clear they are a law unto themselves.

But they shouldn't be! This shouldn't be allowed to continue.

Thanks for the feedback guys! :D

Mine told me after 2 minutes of being here that I will get a GOOD as that is what she gathered from my SEF - she hadn't even started my inspection :angry:

She told me she had to leave after 2 hours as she didn't want to put more money on the car meter.

She told me that I wouldn't want Outstanding as I would have nothing to work for (I told her I did want an OUtstanding and why I deserved one :p)

She informed me that she didn't want to see any paperwork at all and she was happy to just drink tea and chat about bringing up our own children.

Not what I was expecting.....

:eek: to some of the comments

nothing to report mine have always been nice! dreading the next (over due from Nov 11!!) one

One of mine told me that she decides the grade as soon as she walks in the door and sees your childminding room

Before my last inspection, before she had even stepped through the door I was told that she already knew what grade she was going to give me, and she never changes her mind.

Mine hadn't read my SEF beforehand because it wouldn't load on to the system- I explained it to her over the phone and she said she would read it while she was here. She didn't, so I asked if she would like to take a copy with her. She took it and posted it back with a little note of the front saying 'well written' or something along those lines. I was gutted to be honest, not sure what I expected her to say but that SEF took me HOURS! I wondered why we even have to do one if some inspectors aren't even interested in reading it.

Now that's the kind of thing which... if mentioned in the report... can be complained about so the wording is changed.

You can use the Eyfs which states that you should be providing complementary care and other relevant quotes to fight it.

However if it was just a comment and not in the report again there's little that can be done because it's one word against the other.

Ho hum it's becoming more and more clear they are a law unto themselves.

But they shouldn't be! This shouldn't be allowed to continue.

Thanks for the feedback guys! :D

No nothing was in my report - I think she was extremely savvy in that respect (as most of them are) say something and not put it in the report because then its just your word against theirs (and hey why on earth would an inspector lie!)


All of her comments were only verbal.

I really got the impression she'd given her allocated 'outstanding' already that month (to my friend) and she wasn't going to go over her quota (can you tell I am still bitter lol)

I should think Sarah you will be able to re-write 'war and peace', with all the information provided! We have always been very lucky with inspectors apart from one that gave Mick good on the grounds that he was part time :rolleyes: However we had our pilot inspection on Monday for the new inspection to rolled out in September. We spoke at length about some of the comments we had heard over the years. She said unfortunately inspections will be always open to personal interpretation, however many of the unfair comments should not be said and should be complained about.

I will try and do more feed back on the experience when I have a bit more time. Unfortunately for us it was not a brilliant experience as the children in our care were hideous on that day and the 5 hour inspection felt like a week :panic: One thing that was evident and came across very clearly was the emphasis is very much switching from focussing on the welfare requirements to concentrating on the learning and development experince the children receive. They will want to see how the children are helped to keep safe (observing your practice) but they do not want reems of paper work and tick lists; which personally I think is fab :D As soon as my current assignment is submitted to uni next week, I will try and evaluate the inspection alittle more. Hth :D

Before my last inspection, before she had even stepped through the door I was told that she already knew what grade she was going to give me, and she never changes her mind.

Exactly what mine said, you dont live on the South Coast do you :laughing:

My first grading inspection -
Rang booked appointment (days they may come) on last day rang at 9am to say had an emergency wouldn't be able to come
rescheduled - she had it in her diary on a different date than the one she said so again another week of not turning up.
Third time lucky a different inspector turned as the one who was meant to call was called to another emergency.
The inspector that turned up - first words out of her mouth "You will not get Outstanding as no childminder gets outstanding on their first inspection"
Left me feeling very out of sorts even though I got a good. She said "your very close to outstanding but I do not give outstanding on a first inspection".

Second inspection was far better though - same inspector who visited the first time and got an outstanding.

I was Inspected last September and don't use socket covers but had in my RA folder info from Fatally Flawed Site and from this site and the inspector never even asked me about it and I got Outstanding for all aspects of Keeping the Children Safe.

I have mine and dh car insurance details in RA folder but not driving licence, we keep those ourselves and the inspector never asked to see mine. I suppose I could add a copy of them to the RA folder for the future.

It just goes to show how different they are.

Mine went mental because I hadn't planned a sit down craft activity for the children on the day! I had a 17mth old and a 13mth old both boys on the day. neither of them would have sat at a table doing crafts :laughing: No credit for knowing my children there!

I thought we had a lovely display of skills. We spent nearly 2 hours in the garden with them climbing the Little Tykes cube and going down the slide. Using the rockers, the older one did a fantastic example of how a child first climbs on to a bench, turns around a sits down, all safely supervised. Then they were playing in the sand, filling and emptying various shapes and containers, mark making with different spoons etc that they found in the sand and bruming cars around. I thought it was a fab example of child lead play that encompassed all the areas of learning and many aspects. The inspector said we spent too long in the garden :eek:

an inspector who came into my outdoor area, looked at all the things I had (mark making, waterplay, sand,) commented on my veggie patch and asked what we did

then my report read along the lines of 'good outdoor space with lots of toys, ride ons for developing physical development' :panic:

no mention of any other resources covering other areas. I just think this was inspector ignorance of what outdoor areas are for though.

Her specialist area (i.e. she asked most questions about) safeguarding - that was her background, therefore I feel her experience/background prior to inspecting swayed her to ignore the wider aspects of devleopment

I was Inspected last September and don't use socket covers but had in my RA folder info from Fatally Flawed Site and from this site and the inspector never even asked me about it and I got Outstanding for all aspects of Keeping the Children Safe.

I have mine and dh car insurance details in RA folder but not driving licence, we keep those ourselves and the inspector never asked to see mine. I suppose I could add a copy of them to the RA folder for the future.

It just goes to show how different they are.

Mine went mental because I hadn't planned a sit down craft activity for the children on the day! I had a 17mth old and a 13mth old both boys on the day. neither of them would have sat at a table doing crafts :laughing: No credit for knowing my children there!

I thought we had a lovely display of skills. We spent nearly 2 hours in the garden with them climbing the Little Tykes cube and going down the slide. Using the rockers, the older one did a fantastic example of how a child first climbs on to a bench, turns around a sits down, all safely supervised. Then they were playing in the sand, filling and emptying various shapes and containers, mark making with different spoons etc that they found in the sand and bruming cars around. I thought it was a fab example of child lead play that encompassed all the areas of learning and many aspects. The inspector said we spent too long in the garden :eek:

How can you possibly spend too long in the garden?!

How can you possibly spend too long in the garden?!

This was my thought! My munchkins love it outside.

Brilliant comments guys these are just the sort of things I need to know about.

You are all fab! Thank you! :clapping:

How can you possibly spend too long in the garden?!

Well my thoughts exactly, and it was the first good sunny day we had had for so long and the children were having great fun.

Well my thoughts exactly, and it was the first good sunny day we had had for so long and the children were having great fun.

It's exactly the type of comment I am looking for because it shows the inconsistency of Ofsted inspectors and the ways in which the requirements can be twisted out of shape.

If a childminder has an 'outside play' type ethos or a forest school approach and explains this to the inspector, along with clear evidence of the children learning and developing well from the outside approach and during their outside play then there is no reason for the inspector to make a negative comment.

If outside play is rudderless and just to keep the house tidy that's another matter...

Thank you for sharing Ricky :D

I caught up with minder friend this week, she was last inspected 4 1/2 years age.

She completed her SEF sent it off. Then her inspector kept asking her questions about the background of her mindee's and she told her it is all in my SEF, "oh I haven't read that, it isn't compulsory".

Yet another minder friend was marked down and had an action on her ofsted report because she had't completed her SEF.

I meant 4 1/2 years not age xx

At my pre inspection, the inspector commented that my house was very small and that I didn't have alot of space. I wouldn't mind, but I live in a 3 bedroomed semi that is on a cornder plot, and the garden is large enough to fit another house in!!!

My guess was that she must live in a mansion!!

Kathryn x

I caught up with minder friend this week, she was last inspected 4 1/2 years age.

She completed her SEF sent it off. Then her inspector kept asking her questions about the background of her mindee's and she told her it is all in my SEF, "oh I haven't read that, it isn't compulsory".

Yet another minder friend was marked down and had an action on her ofsted report because she had't completed her SEF.

That is wrong. I was inspected last Sept and had not completed a Sef (:blush:) though I had plenty of evidence of reflective practice. The inspector wasn't in the least bit bothered that I hadn't done one and I got Good with Outstandings.

Our inspector said and I quote "I don't give outstanding on a first inspection, but if I did then you would be outstanding, oh well at least you know you will get it next time"
She then put on our reports (separately), "lives with her gay female partner" when I rang her and told her to change it she said no, so I said fine if you don't I will be taking this further and making a complaint as you wouldn't have said I have a straight male partner! She changed it to my wording of living with her partner who is also her co-Childminder.

Then when mrs o came out regarding a complaint she spent the whole time complaining it was her day off and her husband was waiting and wasn't happy, she said "oh you know what men are like, oh wait I guess you don't as your gay!"

Our inspector said and I quote "I don't give outstanding on a first inspection, but if I did then you would be outstanding, oh well at least you know you will get it next time"
She then put on our reports (separately), "lives with her gay female partner" when I rang her and told her to change it she said no, so I said fine if you don't I will be taking this further and making a complaint as you wouldn't have said I have a straight male partner! She changed it to my wording of living with her partner who is also her co-Childminder.

Then when mrs o came out regarding a complaint she spent the whole time complaining it was her day off and her husband was waiting and wasn't happy, she said "oh you know what men are like, oh wait I guess you don't as your gay!"

:eek: That is totally and utterly unacceptable.

Sadly a complaint is difficult, time consuming and unlikely to help because it's your word against theirs.

HOWEVER if enough people complain about unacceptable comments then Ofsted will have to sit up and take notice if the same inspector is constantly receiving complaints made against them.

Hugs to you and your partner xx

I caught up with minder friend this week, she was last inspected 4 1/2 years age.

She completed her SEF sent it off. Then her inspector kept asking her questions about the background of her mindee's and she told her it is all in my SEF, "oh I haven't read that, it isn't compulsory".

Yet another minder friend was marked down and had an action on her ofsted report because she had't completed her SEF.

see now that's when it does my head in. sooo inconsistent. I know someone who once got oustanding for health and safety (this was pre-EYFS) but her action was to make sure dangerous tools were put away in the garden as her dh had left some out :rolleyes: ooh let me see the irony in that!

1st graded inspection

Apparently i dont know anything about phonics as i dont have a formal qualification in phonics (she put "the childminder has limited knowledge of phonics")

Also i wasnt celebrating other religions (i explained we did all the major celebrations and the children came from secular families) even though the kids were all under two years old!

otherwise she was lovely.

The inspector who dealt with our complaint said she understood how painful complaints are as she has more than 20 complaints about her in the past year. I wonder why lol

The inspector who dealt with our complaint said she understood how painful complaints are as she has more than 20 complaints about her in the past year. I wonder why lol

I'm sorry I shouldn't but this made me smile :)

The inspector who dealt with our complaint said she understood how painful complaints are as she has more than 20 complaints about her in the past year. I wonder why lol

Judging by the comments she made to you, I can understand why :rolleyes:

Miffy xx

I run a toddler group with 2 other childminders and the inspector asked me if any black and coloured people attend :eek: I was gobsmacked as it is not something I really notice and she was shocked I didn't know how many coloured people attend.

My inspector time before last said " oh I see you dont have any experience of minding children with special needs"
ERRRRM my dd has SLD and physical disabilities, my house has various adaptations and I can do makaton, pecs and epipens. "yes" she said " but you havent minded any" :angry: I gave up at that point:rolleyes:

My inspector was looking at the photos of the various children on the display and said "Oh that child looks quite dark skinned, is she dual heritage? Only in your SEF you said you only have white children." To which i replied "No! In my SEF I have said that all my children speak English" Then Mrs O said "Isn't that the same thing?" The irony in this being that Mrs O herself is both English and black!

My inspector was looking at the photos of the various children on the display and said "Oh that child looks quite dark skinned, is she dual heritage? Only in your SEF you said you only have white children." To which i replied "No! In my SEF I have said that all my children speak English" Then Mrs O said "Isn't that the same thing?" The irony in this being that Mrs O herself is both English and black!

:eek::eek:Oh this one really has to come tops of ignorant.... along with Pinky's inspector

My inspector time before last said " oh I see you dont have any experience of minding children with special needs"
ERRRRM my dd has SLD and physical disabilities, my house has various adaptations and I can do makaton, pecs and epipens. "yes" she said " but you havent minded any" :angry: I gave up at that point:rolleyes:

My friend had similar - her DD has arthritis and a muscle condition, they have a stair lift at home and a wheelchair in the porch. :rolleyes:

My friend had similar - her DD has arthritis and a muscle condition, they have a stair lift at home and a wheelchair in the porch. :rolleyes:

See she hasnt got the experience either! :p:laughing::laughing:

I run a toddler group with 2 other childminders and the inspector asked me if any black and coloured people attend :eek: I was gobsmacked as it is not something I really notice and she was shocked I didn't know how many coloured people attend.

'Coloured'??? What century is she in?:panic: Good grief.:eek:

'Coloured'??? What century is she in?:panic: Good grief.:eek:


I know I wouldn't mind but she was black herself, I was shocked as I don't take any notice what colour skin they have x

I completed my SEF [albeit handwritten with written confirmation that they had received it] When it came to inspection, she hadn't read it [nor did she have any intention of doing so even when I shoved it under her nose] Needless to say I am very loathe to do it again as it took me a whole day.
I spoke at length about a couple of children that I had had concerns about [one on SS radar and one just about to be] and the procedures I had followed etc. I also pointed out that I was less than impressed with SS and their attitude and that I was in an impossible situation if other 'professionals' weren't following up children that I considered to be 'in need.' Also that my first mindee [in my opinion] was seriously neglected and I was quite pleased with the way I had handled the situation bearing in mind the parent used to turn up drunk at pick-up.
2 hours later she asked me ' so do you think you would recognise the signs of neglect/ a child in need?':angry:
I got the distinct impression that as I was last on the list of many overdue inspections that fortnight, she had switched off and just wasn't listening.
And she said I had too many books!
Call it blowing my own trumpet but my son is on the gifted and talented register and he didn't get there because I have 'too many books':angry:
But I'm over it now.:laughing::laughing::laughing:

I am working my way through all the areas of the forum as I try to find my way around.......have to say this thread really should have shocked me....but it didn't.........its something I have heard over and over again.......its scarey .....do they have special training to be able to treat people like this???? x

i wasn't happy with my end result of satisfactory. but was told although i had good on many aspects it wouldn't be a good because i had only been in my new home for 8 weeks still haven't got things sorted mainly all in garage. oh wants to decorate before it all gets set up. also she only wanted to see files for children i had on day of inspection 1 had been with me for 2 weeks and the other 3 days so not much in folders. did show her folder of a child who recently moved to another country but couldn't accept as they weren't there. all my resources are on the internet but couldn't show as internet was down and because i couldn't show her then and there she couldn't give me a good. she did say that the forms are designed for nurseries and not childminders, don't aim to be minding at this rate by next inspection. yet a friend of mine has been graded good with another inspector and hardly had any paperwork set up. when are they going to give us the same information and stop looking at us as though we are nurseries.

You can use anything ive told you Sarah, lol, one thing sticks in my mind is that when she past comment about me having boxes of toys for under 5s on the floor and i only had a 10 month old baby that day, that i would be better off just looking after over 5s, the cheeky s............d :laughing:

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to contribute.

It seems from looking at all the answers that there are a lot of inconsistencies which I think we knew really didn't we?

It also seems that there are a lot of people who need to make complaints - because without complaints things are not going to change.

Thank you again! :D

Er, is there any reason why we can't record an Ofsted inspection, provided we inform them before they turn up?

Er, is there any reason why we can't record an Ofsted inspection, provided we inform them before they turn up?

Do you mean make a tape recording of the inspection?

I have no idea about the legalities - I imagine you would need permission or it could be a human rights violation.

I am not aware of it ever being suggested... although I do know that you can record in some instances such as if you have a suspension visit...

I'd be interested if anyone knows for certain :D

.....do they have special training to be able to treat people like this???? x

Sadly I don't think they have enough training - at least not if some of the threads on here are true. :(

Miffy xx