Well where to begin. I have written a little about how upset I got yesterday at my grading inspection but here's for the fuller story.

I had three little ones here, 32 months, 23 months and 14 months. When she arrived the 14 month old was in the cot upstairs asleep, with the listener on.

As she was late arriving she missed us making play dough, which was so much messy fun it was great. All three got stuck right in. Even the older two who don't like getting dirty. Little one was getting incredibly sleepy by this point so I put her up to bed.

On arrival Mrs O introduced herself and proceeded to tell me that as it is my first grading the best I could hope for would be satisfactory. She then told me all of the official things she needed to and cracked on with criticising me and my methods.

I got what felt like a very negative grilling. She doesn't like the software system I use to keep the parents updated. She also doesn't like that all of my P and P's are stored on there and electronicly signed. Apparently she wanted to see each document signed individually. Also every CM that she has inspected, who uses the system, can magically never find the information she wants to see so doesn't like it.

In the end I phoned the help desk for the software company to ask if I could show her them all signed individually. He started quoting the EYFS which was great. Apparently they don't need individual signatures. The parents just need to acknowledge them, so by signing them all with an encompassing statement like on the system is covering the requirement. She then referred to her books and called a colleague for confirmation.

The colleague must have agreed with my method because that was the last I heard of it until the end. She stated that I should have my permissions for emergency medical treatment on paper as a doctor would want to see it if I needed to take a little one to hospital. Also that as all people flap in a medical emergency I should have them on paper as I would be in too much of a state to find them using my log in to the system when I really needed them. Well tell me if I'm wrong but do doctors really want to see a piece of paper before they complete any urgent medical treatment? In my experience they will carry out what is required and let someone else worry about the other stuff. Also I don't know about any of you guys but I don't flap in an emergency. I just crumble afterwards. Had a few emergencies to deal with over the years so I know how I cope.

Next was about why I planned the activity I did that day. Well my response was that the older two don't like being dirty so want to help them along with that. Also as the younger one is only in her third week here I am still getting to know her and don't know how she reacts to things like getting messy. Apparently that means that i haven't included the youngest one in my planning.

Well she looked around my house and was happy that I don't leave little ones alone upstairs as I don't have stair gates up on my stairs. The only mindees that go upstairs are ones that sleep in cots and they get carried both up and down the stairs and are never allowed to walk around up there.

I finally got something positive said to me when I told her that I have always preferred to say positive things to the little ones to boost confidence that to correct behaviour later. All of the little ones that come here have praise lavished on them. She just said 'yes Ive already noted that'.

In her summing up she said she could see how much fun the little ones have here and how good a bond I have with them. Next it was that she had to make some recommendations for me. So what could we come up with? I basically wrote my own for her. She then told me I had achieved a satisfactory but a high one. She didnt actually give me anything to work on, except the things I plan on doing already.

Well after I got over the initial shock and had a brisk walk to collect DS and to after schoolies I got my head together enough to ring ofsted. They told me that the official line is 'it is highly unlikely you will get an outstanding on a first grading inspection but not impossible'.

I have slept on it and still feel as angry, so I think that I will wait to receive the written report and then make a judgement on whether to appeal the decision or make a complaint, or both.