dreadful ofsted inspection

Do you really need to have a top grade report? My Ofsed was done during the summer holidays last year and the day she came I didn't have any kids, so she said she could only give me satisfactory. TBO my families are more than happy with me and I get so much work through word of mouth from them. They all look after me as much as I look after them and get some wonderful gifts from them, xmas & birthday. My biggest reward is a 14yr girl who I used to mind still pops in and refers to me as her auntie now!

Hi looneytune, mine was a lady called Carol willet, she was soooooo fussy. Told me that on first inspections you will not be graded above satisfactory. Friend 200 mtrs away got graded good on first inspection and we do nothing different!!!!

It does seem to vary a bit from inspector to inspector.

Unique Reference Number: 116374 Inspection date: 18 September 2006 Inspector: Margaret Moffat Type of inspection: Childcare Type of care: Childminding
"The childminder has all the relevant documentation in place to ensure children's safety and welfare. However, she does not ask parents to sign the attendance register to confirm the record accurately reflects when children attend."
Was put as a recommendation:
"ensure parents sign attendance record to accurately reflect when children attend."

Another inspection report said:
Unique Reference Number: 144838 Inspection date: 18 August 2005 Inspector: Nikki Whinton Type of inspection: Childcare Type of care: Childminding
"There is no longer a requirement for parents to sign the attendance register."

Wonder when Ofsted will actually make up their mind. Anyone found anything official from Ofsted which says that registers no longer need to be signed by parents?

Saz, who was your inspector? I hated mine too and reckon we'll fall out next time too! Just wondered if it was the same lady? Can email it if don't want to post here

alibubbles I would get your eyes tested

If I get same inspector next time think I will fall out with her. She was very negative, must have got her on a bad day.

saz, I read that as ' gave mindies a SMACK!!'

I too got outstanding and don't get parents to sign child in and out. I was told it was not necessary.

One childminder who deoes, got crtiticised for not putting the exact time!
i

I got outstanding and I don't ask parents to sign.
Parents have enough to do when they come in and out, and if Ofsted trust me to care for children they had better blimmin well trust me to fill in my register properly too.
The tax office does.

I was told on my inspection that if you wanted to achieve the 'outstanding' grade that Ofsted looks for things like getting your register signed by the parents.

My inspection nearly 2 yrs ago didn't go too well, I gave mindee's a snack, washed there hands and then 10 mins later they wanted some more fruit so sat them at the table and gave them some more, Ofsted pulled me up on not washing there hands again saying I should have!!!

I mnetioned that i had fallen out with an Inspector when i first started CM'ing in England, not long after the changeover from Social Services to OFSTED. It was about mulit-cultural provisions, and she was all set to fail me on my inspection.

african princess, i agree with what your saying - they are trying to turn us into nurseries. I know there are a lot of regualtions that need to be adhered to when it comes to childcare, but i think a lot of the things that they (they being OFSTED or the CAre Commission) want us to implement are just getting ridiculous.
One of my mindees goes to a playgroup. The floor space in the room he goes to is chock a block with toys, equipment etc. It's all things they have been told by the Care Commission that they must have. now they have been told that the actaul availiable floor space isn't big enough!

2004 Childminding Guidance under Standard 14 says:
"a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of the persons who looked after them"

Got to dash to work, will see if I find anything else mentioned about attendance registers later.

I was told by my last inspector that we need to keep attendance records, but parents do not need to sign. Therefore I keep it all on my pc.
Inspections are supposed to be every 3 years, aren't they? Has anyone had one a lot sooner than that, without explanation?

Being worried about our inspections is something even those hardened-minders (like me!!) get worried about. I know I do a good job, my minding parents know I do a good job, and I don't need some naff report available for people to look at which has picked holes in something minor which another inspector wouldn't have had a problem with.

It is the inconsistency which is so intensely irritating, which is why we don't stand a chance of ever being really ready for our inspection.

NannyNick, do you know if we have to have registers signed by parents, I was told I had to, some others have been told not to, can you find the legals for us.

blimey thats ridiculous if you change sheets 4 babies!
i thought you had put 2 babies to sleep in the same cot together!!
what will ofsted want next?!!! its ridiculous!

Osted inspectors. Pah! I'm a teacher, don't tell me about ofsted!

ATM if 29 out of 30 kids work hard, enjoy the lesson and learn everything, and 1 child doesn't, the lesson is unsatisfactory!

All the children have to learn in every lesson. So if one of your kids gets dtiched by their boyfriend and are too upset to work, tough shit, the teachers lesson is unsatisfactory.

They expect perfection

My inspector has given me about 4 weeks notice and sounded nice on the phone. Trying to lull me into a false sense of security perhaps?????

Meant to add.....

africanprincess- have no exp with contesting an ofsted decision but good luck!!

star1976- Good luck with your inspection and don't worry about it! As long as you meet the national standards you'll be fine. Have a read through them, I'm sure you're doing exactly what you're supposed to be!!

I was super stressed before mine but it went well. I got "good" for everything. I think I have one of the better inspectors as every time I've seen her she's been really nice and helpful. I hope I always have her and she stays nice!!!!!

I am getting really worried about it. I only have one mindee 14 months, and my DS 12 months. Although I know that they are perfectly happy and entertained through the day, I am worried that what I do won't be upto Ofsted's standards.

Also someone mentioned a menu? Do you have to have a set menu that you follow religiously cause I kind of decide what I am going to cook for lunch on the day (but give parents a few examples in my portfolio)?

And does the inspector look at your portfolio?

I am already not sleeping cause of this!

at my last inspection I was told a lot of cms are getting disappointed as, having got a good last time they are expecting to get at least that this time. She said that many childminders are not acheiving the same grade because the inspection is different (we didn't have 5 mini-grades last time, for example).

I agree with not putting babies in a travel cot as part of your normal routine but if you had to attend to an injured child/answer doorbell/use wc or whatever you have to make the best arrangements you can to ensure the children's safety. With the plasters - have you got anything in writing from your first aid course that you could send to Ofsted? Have all your mindies parent's declined permission for their use? Plasters were on my list of items to include (nov 05) but we were told not to use them without written permission. So its reasonable to keep them in a separate box. (Don't forget if you are injured someone else may use your kit to treat mindies).

why did you put 2 babies in a travel cot together?