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Original poster

Damn - inspection tomorrow (I think) - quick couple of q's!!

30 replies

lollipopmother · 26/10/2010 22:56

Is it ok to have one file that has all my contracts in? Each child has their own folder which has 'starting points', obs, art work etc, but should I put their contract in as well or keep them in a 'contracts' folder??

I am in deep s**t with one mindee, he comes once a week every other week
(and has only come twice so far) and I haven't got signed policies/permissions yet, mum keeps forgetting argggh, should I just pretend not to have noticed or should I point it out??

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thebody · 29/10/2010 18:13

well done.. but sitting for drinks... total crap... not practical at all as mine drink water all day so it seems anyway.. they always got to find something to say to justify their jobs...

relax now for another 3 years.... yipee..

Original poster
lollipopmother · 28/10/2010 15:17

Ah well never mind, at least it's all been done and I can stop living in fear! Thankfully pregnant mum of one of my mindees needed a breather after dropping him off, so she stayed for nearly an hour drinking tea and chatting, really calmed my nerves.

My DD had a complete meltdown when inspector was here so I thought I'd be done for but thankfully managed to whip out a load of nursery rhyme props and manically started singing and it did the trick! Youngest mindee smashed her head into a toy and had a massive bruise so I had to make a note but she didn't ask to see the book so that's a plus.

Oh, I made her read my SEF in the end, I'd done it whilst on holiday in France so she was going to read it whether she liked it or not!

This thread is like therapy, nice to unload! DP thought I should be graded outstanding, but as he doesn't know the first thing about CMing I don't think he'll be great to talk to about it!

OP posts:
RosieGirl · 28/10/2010 13:58

Well done lollipop, sounds as everything went really well.

Can't understand the snack thing as I have 7 children in the house today, so we have all had a "picnic" style snack, and picnic in the garden and parks all though summer, as others have said sounds like she must have been desperate to think of something - which is good for you. Smile

LadyLatherOfIndecision · 28/10/2010 13:43

oh grrrr to her not being helpful in guiding you as to what she would expect for an O/S

I can kind of see her point about sitting to table to eat - even with shoes off when they come in the floor isn't the cleanest place but it's no biggie, really; as HSMM says, when we are out and about picknicking the children scrabble in the dirt/grass around the picnic blanket

wrt drinks, mine sit to drink but only because I have wooden floors which are dreadfully slippy when wet so I imposed a sit to drink some years ago (also minimises cleaning up lol) - but the drinks are always to hand on the table. At least you didn't have that dreadful one a few years ago when someone on here was told they had to have an open jug for the children to pour their own drinks each time - this is toddlers I'm talking about ! Hmm

BUT a good is still hard to achieve, you will have had to demonstrate that your practice is better than OK, so a pat on the back and a big Well Done from me

Flowers
HSMM · 28/10/2010 13:35

Oh ... and congratulations

HSMM · 28/10/2010 13:35

They always have to mention something negative - even when you get outstanding! I can't see anything wrong with them sitting on the floor for a snack, as long as they weren't rubbing their food and hands all over the floor at the same time. I think my inspector saw us having a picnic in the garden, where my hens run free range and she wasn't bothered.

Original poster
lollipopmother · 28/10/2010 13:20

Uhg sorry, I need some punctuation in that first sentence!!!

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Original poster
lollipopmother · 28/10/2010 13:19

Thank you for all your comments and suggestions, the inspector came today and graded me as good, although when I asked her if there was a document I could see so that I knew how to be 'outstanding' for next time she basically said that she doesn't give outstandings on the first inspection but if everything stays the same then I'd get outstanding areas. She said my paperwork was all very thorough, so I'm happy with that.

One thing I got marked down on (which I kick myself for now) is that I didn't give them their snacks whilst in highchairs, I washed hands and made them sit on the kitchen floor (mopped every morning so didn't think anything of it), made sure they stayed in the kitchen for the whole snack. She said they should've been sitting as they'll catch bugs from the floor even tho I've washed their hands - fair enough. I was a bit shocked tho that she said they should be sitting for all drinks too - I thought they were supposed to be able to choose when they took a drink??

Bit peeved that she had to mention something negative in the report, but I won't make that mistake again come inspection day. Angry

OP posts:
LadyLatherOfIndecision · 28/10/2010 10:04

fingers crossed for you today

underpaidandoverworked · 27/10/2010 22:31

Lollipop, just make sure you have bottle of wine in your next door neighbours fridge for when the dreaded person and all your darling charges have gone!!!! Grin

Good luck hun, don't let them get to you - just imagine they are sitting there with no clothes on - but don't laugh out loud, hahaha Grin Grin

StarExpat · 27/10/2010 22:12

Thebody yes I am a parent. And a primary teacher :)
That is a long time for dh to be away, though supposedly distance makes the heart grow fonder...

Lollipop what a bummer. At least you'll be well rested, all sorted and ready for her when she decides to show up! :)
As for charging laptop, plugging it in works for me Wink

LadyLatherOfIndecision · 27/10/2010 21:55

hurrah to getting the paperwork from the parent !

okay

last few things:

Ofsted reg cert/first aid cert up

public liability cert to hand, ditto car insurance cert (may not ask for it but have it to hand)

schedule of training undertaken this year

remember to ask for ID before you let her in

GOOD LUCK

thebody · 27/10/2010 21:54

omg.. feel for you but remember.. are the kids happy with you??? of course they are and thats what ultimatly she SHOULD be looking at.. with all that paperwork coverec you should automatically get a good so dont worry..

have another glass and then hide the empties... obviously use all chinese plastic food trays for nice little art project for tomorrow..... good luck.. u be fine....

Original poster
lollipopmother · 27/10/2010 21:53

Damn, just noticed the spelling mistakes and typos, possibly should leave that risk assessment til tomorrow ConfusedGrin

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thebody · 27/10/2010 21:50

well I dont tbh as actually have never met her but the point is that i have in my contract that I take 5 weeks annual leave a year..

i think to take odd days off here and there to suit myself would be wrong and unfair on parents.. no I dont charge for annual leave and actually dh been in australia himself since JULY so was actually just sending christmas leave letters to parents as we speak.. taking 14 days off.. yipee.. as xmas on sat and sun... and he may go back again till may... dam!!!

Star are you a parent.if so think you are indeed a star.. aaahhh...

Original poster
lollipopmother · 27/10/2010 21:49

TheBody - Funny you should ask that question because actually I have just had a large glass of wine but only because .... she didn't bloody come!! I was a nervous wreck this morning, every time a child was dropped off I thought it was 'her', the final ring on the door was the mindees parent come to sign the missing permissions (hurrah!!) but I nearly vomited in my hallway. I couldn't sleep last night, 4hrs in total, so tonight I've gone for a massive Chinese and a large glass of wine and fully intend to sleep properly!!

Thank you for all your well wishes, I am sure she'll come tomorrow. I have all my permissions, lots of obs, planning is up to date, risk assessments are all there expcept for one which I am supposed to be doing now. Errrm, anything else? Daily diaries are there although she won't be able to see them unless I work out how to charge the laptop! Confused. Evacuation logs, alarm logs, complaints book, visitors log. Parents poster is up.

I hope it's done tomorrow so that the whole week hsan't been lost to blind panic!!

OP posts:
StarExpat · 27/10/2010 21:23

thebody - I would understand that. Aus is a far way to come from! Of course, I would expect not to be charged so I could pay the friend I have on back up to look after him (and know a week in advance so I could arrange it), but why wouldn't parents understand something like that?

Unless the point is that you don't want to see Aunty Gwen! Grin

thebody · 27/10/2010 21:03

agree with all the above.. Looney.. there are such twats around.. hold up high just jealousy imo.. and what comes around goes around!!!!

underpaid.. lol... my mother thinks parents ''would obviously understand'if i took 2 days off to see Aunty Gwen from Australia.. she has come so far!!!! bite tongue and smile time..

lollipop are you drunk!!! that could be good or bad news I guess....

underpaidandoverworked · 27/10/2010 20:44

Lollipop? Helloooooo?

Looney, you and yr parents know how good you are that's what matters! My mother still thinks I babysit for a living......

OP.....????

StarExpat · 27/10/2010 20:34

Looney how awful :( evil MIL!
Why do people try to sabotage others?!

Lollipop how did it go??

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 27/10/2010 16:40

Yeah, twice! :( We're pretty sure it's my MIL (long story and we've got lots of info now that makes us more sure it's her), even the local police are helping us. The stuff I was accused of was TERRIBLE!! Not so much about the actual children but horrible personal stuff about me which would make me an awful CM if it were true!! Anyway, that's being dealt with at the moment, nothing more I can do.

Lollopop - did she come today? If so, how did it go?

StarExpat · 27/10/2010 10:18

sorry I hijacked your thread, lollipopmother. I just came on here actually to say good luck on the inspection! :) I know it's always so stressful at school when we have an inspection and here there are loads of people to distract and for them to interview...etc. I cannot imagine how daunting it is when they are in your home. I hope it goes very well for you! x

StarExpat · 27/10/2010 10:16

false complaints made against you, looney? Shock. I know I don't "know" you as I've never met you, but I feel like I "know" you .. iyswim? and I just can't believe that. It's incredible what some people will do/say :(

HSMM · 27/10/2010 08:15

I keep everything about a child in their own file (except concerns), so that when they leave, everything in the file goes into my archives, or home with them. Your way sounds fine though, because you have all the stuff that's 'yours' together and all the stuff that's 'theirs' together.

bloodsuckingLOONEY · 27/10/2010 07:57

I have files for each child for EYFS stuff and plastic wallet type files for each mindee with the contract, child record form, permissions, receipts and anything else I think is not to do with EYFS. Not sure there is a right way but agree that Ofsted won't be interested in the actual contracts. All the best of luck and let us know how you get on. Bummer about the permissions for the other child but at least they are new so fingers crossed will be ok. I've never actually had the permissions etc. looked at during inspections (had 2) but had them looked at when false complaints were made against me as they had to check EVERYTHING. Guess each inspector is different though.

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