A few questions about OFSTED inspection, due anytime now

[sarahb1985]

Hi, I am due my first inspection soon and I'm really nervous! I have so much to do but have a few things I feel I really need advice on if anyone could help me!

-On the day;

1.What do I do about dirty nappies? We are on the 1st floor and usually I take them to the outside bin within 20 minutes but I'm wondering whether to buy a hygienic nappy bin that keeps germs and smells inside. I am panicking that a child will be asleep whilst I change another(this has never happened but I'm sure it will on inspection day!)

2.If I need the toilet is it ok to ask the inspector to step outside so I can place baby in travel cot/strap her in buggy whilst I go? I am worried she will think I'm being rude but don't know what else to do! Obviously I can't leave children alone with her! I never have visitors whilst I'm working but think this is what I'd do?

3.Can we go to the park, our usual visits etc or do we have to cancel all plans? We don't have a garden as such so go to the nearby park everyday, if we didn't I think mindees would go crazy!

4.I think I may have a child start around the time of inspection, will they be happy with just a few starting point notes?

I feel very unprepared! Panic buying resources now and changing the whole setting round as just not happy with the layout!

Thankyou in advance!
Sarah

[jadavi]

Hi my take on this:

1) yes I would buy an indoor tight sealing nappy bin

2) yes ask her to leave when you go to the loo or ask her what she thinks. It shows a high level of concern and care on your part. How do you manage when your dev officer visits?

3) yes cancel your visits out for the morning

4) ask new people settling in etc not to use that day if possible . My last inspection I had a crying baby all day settling but she liked how I dealt with it but I had assistants. I wished after that i had just changed his day that week.

The number one thing they look for is your good engagement with and knowledge about the children so I would choose really simple activities on the day that you feel very comfortable with that the children love and you can focus on them in the child led activities. Don't do anything new in case it backfires . She will ask you how your work with each child is supporting his learning . Be genuine and don't feel you have to use long words!
Refer to the seven learning and development areas and effective characteristics of the child if you can in your answer... Ie 'she loves putting things inside things and carrying them around so I have put out bags tins and boxes with little objects to collect.'

The second thing is good paperwork.but it can be short - so long as it is relevant.
make sure you have like a page long 'all about me' description of the child's starting points that you have stuck in the learning journey. I do it from the child's perspective to make it interesting. It is an a4 page long in paragraphs and covers most of the areas except irrelevant ones (ie no language or maths if its a young baby)

Transitions and communication with nurseries and schools and home is a big one. Tell them how you settle kids in with you, how you try to keep in touch with other settings even if the settings don't respond , how you keep in touch with parents.

Make sure you have an individual plan for each child (page long) in your planning file or stuck in your learning journey (this plan is good for six weeks) with seven boxes filled in and include a line or two about effective characteristics of learning and unique child. I'll try and upload the one I used which she liked a lot.

I don't do group planning and it wasn't missed or mentioned this week on my inspection.

Finally whatever system you are using to record evidence and next steps be ready to explain it. Mine is just a tracker like the sort Sarah has put in resources here - each area dated when evidence is there. again one page every six weeks. I use 2simple observations (phone app) which include the development matters and stick them in the LJ. She loved it for the detail . (My d o took this away to share too) I also include fun photos with captions.

As I do mainly continual provision and free choice I have written 6 sheets showing how it covers the areas and my resources:
'A space to explore, use my imagination and develop my physical skills'
A space to develop speech and communication skills' etc etc
However you want to divide it. I can share mine if you like.
I display these in my setting to share with parents.

By the way, The continuous provision sheets, the tracker, and the individual child's planner sheet - I only introduced three weeks ago and filled them all in retrospectively for each child. This was because my d o said she had got them from Ofsted and they were recommended. I also used them because I liked them and they were very concise. I like concise!
Prior to this I did my own system in a daily a4 diary but decided to change to this system. I now use my diary only for a quick plan of the day and notes about informal obs with next steps and any general day to day comments from parents. Three columns.( She liked this) I use the weekend pages for my action plan and self evaluation thoughts.(ten points in bullets - short)

I don't do themes at all except festivals and celebrations and even then wont do it if it is of no interest or relevance to the child. I told her and she agreed.

Make it clear how well you report back to parents - only my babies need daily diaries re nappies feeds etc - all the others have verbal catch ups .

Have parents write a quick feedback form
(Are you happy with the care xxx provides? Were you happy with the settling in process? Do you feel involved in and informed about his progress at my setting? Is there any way you feel we could improve on our care? Kind of thing - one page only.)

Do your self evaluation form for Ofsted on gateway when they ask. Give yourself at least good for each category and believe it and describe it in writing. Needn't be long.

Have an ongoing action plan in a diary and include evaluation of your practise (I do this weekly) ie change library books, research more sensory resources for xxx, put out posting toys for cxxx , get more arts and crafts ideas for xxxx) think about how to stimulate xxx for mark making....
Call it action plan and self evaluation on the heading!! Again not more than a page - maybe ten points .

I have cut my paperwork down hugely and she was very happy with it.

Then be prepared to discuss Safegusrding.
Written permissions for emergency medical care etc and my first aid kit were looked at .
Wash kids hands before a meal
Change them on the floor.

Try not to let nerves make you clam up. Concentrate all you can on the children and interrupt her talking to you all the time if they need you. Put them before her - she will respect that!

Other people may use totally different approaches and paperwork. Everyone says to do what works for you. Please pm me or write on here what you are doing if you'd like reassurance or help.

What I have done to good effect on my two inspections (both outstanding) were to tell her stuff almost before she asked. Show off what you have, what you know you do well, what you are proud of. Ie Start talking about transitions and partnerships and settling in and next steps etc etc etc before she does.

I am quite bold and confident so I yabber away non stop to her when I'm not talking to the kids . It must be much harder for a shy person but if this is the case I''d advise- just believe that you are doing a really good job and focus in your mind on how much you are enjoying working with the child, and why you chose this career - believe in yourself and be yourself and be genuine.

Please feel free to pm me about anything at all. I have pledged to support people on here as I have been so helped and felt just like you at first. Terrified. I hate that Ofsted have this culture of intimidation and am determined to fight it. I cannot believe I have pulled off outstanding twice now since I started two years ago (this time followed a malicious complaint) so I must be doing something right but was probably lucky with the inspector too.

[jadavi]

Sorry last point you asked.
Yes they will be happy with a few starting points about your new one as you are still observing him and haven't done his All about me page. You are still talking to parents and assessing him. Write down what you think so far though under heading 'starting points for xxxx'

[jadavi]

What do you mean you are worried a child will be asleep while you change another? Why is that a worry?

[FussyElmo]

Remember your inspector will have been crbed so you can leave the children in the same room. I think I said to mine im leaving the child in the same room as you because I know you have your crb.

[christine e]

Re going outdoors to the park I would mention when ofsted call you to arrange inspection that you do not have a garden so visit park daily and could they arrange it so they either come in the mornings or the afternoons (but not available for both) so that you know you will be able to take them out at some point otherwise they could have you waiting in all week. I am sure that they will appreciate that it would not be acceptable for you so stay in all week waiting for them to turn up.