As I've mentioned, we've had a new fence recently and changed the position of our side gate. As a result, the dustbins have to move too. They used to be at the side of the house, out of view of the main road (so weren't an eyesore to passers by) but were separated from our play area by the side gate. Perfect.

Now though, the bins have to either be on our patio where we play, or at the side of the house which is still accessible by the children and somewhere they have to walk right past each morning to get to our back door (currently getting parents to come round to the back garden to drop mindees off instead of at the front door).

Hope that makes sense!

Anyway, I know I can train the children not to touch the bins, and we won't be playing right by them, but how strict are Ofsted with regards to dustbins? Am I reading too much into it?

Where are your dustbins and have parents or Ofsted ever mentioned them?

When I lived in my flat we didn't have this problem! We had a communal, gated bin shed away from my private garden.