Has anyone had an inspection recently? Do we know what their current focus areas tend to be? They don't seem to have been in my area in a long time so cant see any recent reports.

I had an inspection recently just over a week ago, I was asked a lot about Prevent/FGM/signs of abuse plus my inspector wanted to see how well I knew my children's learning and development , where they are currently/what their next steps are etc.

I had an inspection recently just over a week ago, I was asked a lot about Prevent/FGM/signs of abuse plus my inspector wanted to see how well I knew my children's learning and development , where they are currently/what their next steps are etc.

Thanks pixie, did you get an idea how they wanted to see childrens learning and development at all?

My friend had hers a few weeks ago and it was focused on prevent and safeguarding mainly

Thanks pixie, did you get an idea how they wanted to see childrens learning and development at all?


I don't think it matters how you present your learning and development it is more focussed on how well you know the children, how you plan for next steps. I use a mix of online and paper based as I use Tapestry for the learning Journeys as I find parents engage better with this but all my other paperwork is paper based as is very minimal.

A fellow childminder had her inspection recently ... very focused on prevent and fgm. Oh, and diversity....
Apparently having 'multicultural' dolls/ role play bits/ images in books, puzzles and games ( and on dvd etc ) / eating food from other cultures / finding out about festivals etc is not enough ... she must do more! ... but didn't elaborate on how ... childminder lives in a very rural area with a distinct lack of diversity! :rolleyes:

A fellow childminder had her inspection recently ... very focused on prevent and fgm. Oh, and diversity....
Apparently having 'multicultural' dolls/ role play bits/ images in books, puzzles and games ( and on dvd etc ) / eating food from other cultures / finding out about festivals etc is not enough ... she must do more! ... but didn't elaborate on how ... childminder lives in a very rural area with a distinct lack of diversity! :rolleyes:

Its interesting that these are still hot topics. More?! Goodness! Id insist on examples!

What I’m hearing is every inspector is asking different things? I had mine recently safeguarding and next steps etc come up but nothing about fgm or diversity didn’t look for multi cultural toys books etc! Didn’t even check around house or go in the garden !

Its interesting that these are still hot topics. More?! Goodness! Id insist on examples!

We really should be prepared to ask for examples shouldn't we?! The thing is, they catch us off guard and we are so relieved that the inspection is almost over by the time they are giving us feedback that we just want them out of the house for the next few years, lol!

It really would have been nice to have heard what examples she would have given on that one! I think it's quite poor practice to just tell us what we are weak on and not give suggestions. I know that we should think for ourselves, but a suggestion or two would just be nice to point us in the right direction.

We really should be prepared to ask for examples shouldn't we?! The thing is, they catch us off guard and we are so relieved that the inspection is almost over by the time they are giving us feedback that we just want them out of the house for the next few years, lol!

It really would have been nice to have heard what examples she would have given on that one! I think it's quite poor practice to just tell us what we are weak on and not give suggestions. I know that we should think for ourselves, but a suggestion or two would just be nice to point us in the right direction.

My colleague said she did ask what else she should/ could do and the inspector sidestepped the answer and talked about something else and my colleague didn't realise she hadn't had a proper answer till after she had left!

I suggested we had a day trip to a city about 1.5 hrs away and just sat in the main street and people watched :laughing: