AIBU to go through all potential cm's OFSTED reports with a fine-toothed comb?

[dogdaysareover]

I am in the process of finding a cm for DS. He is my first baby and as such I haven't got a network of mums with older children iyswim. I am a teacher myself and am usually very cynical about OFSTED reports. I have been through the OFSTED mill enough times to know that a ten minute 'drop in' to your lesson is never representative of all of the hard work you have done throughout the year and also depends very much on how the kids decide they will play it. I've known classes really stitch up colleagues because they think it's funny to play up to an inspector and cases where weaker teachers are made to look good because of additional support being given on the day, bad kids moved out etc. (I know, but it happens) However, I now find myself reading, re-reading and re-reading again the reports for DS's possible cms. It's turned into a bit of a guilty pleasure to be perfectly honest I just don't know where else to start without any word of mouth recommendations to go on. What do other mums do?

I'm a CM. I have references to show parents. Also sometimes prospective parents visit during hours I have mindees

So long as you remember to be very cynical about ofsted you should be fine.

I never particularly recognised the nursery I used very happily for 4 years from its Ofsted reports so didn't bother when choosing CM, just visited during working day and picked one I liked. DC v happy so far, so seems ok.

I read the Ofsted report, met the childminder, and asked to speak to some former parents as references.

"Fine-toothed comb." I like your getting that right. Too many people speak of a fine tooth-comb, a comb for fine teeth. Ooh, and you're a teacher. The next generation of pedants educated children is assured. Thank you.

Tinkertitonk - did you mean 'you're'?

No - 'your' is correct surely?

I like 'you're' - it's a contraction of 'you are'

I like your (ability for) getting that right.

I think.

I'm going with your in this case.

If you're enjoying reading the reports, who cares? I'm sure you will balance your descison with other things. It would be worse if you didn't read them at all.

I was looking at 'you're' not at 'your'

Do you want a childminder who will spend more time taking your kid to the park or writing about taking your kid to the park? Paperwork seems to count for a lot with Ofsted when I'd rather they were playing.

I started with the reports and a pinch of salt (they complained about not writing down when nappies were changed. Like I CARE if DD is changed at 3:05 or 3:07, as long as she's changed as and when needed!), then got what personal information I could from meeting her, seeing how she interacted with the children, and speaking to her references.

OP- I could almost have written your post! Also looking for CM for my (P)FB, also a teacher and obsessing about finding the right person. Haven't quite got as far as reading OFSTED rpts yet but constantly checking out local CM profiles online in manner of Internet dater/similar! I think will look at the reports to get a short list and then see if I can visit some of the CM's in action. But yeah- totally agree that OFSTED isn't the be all and end all I'm presuming that gut instinct will help. . . really don't want to have to go back to work though. Sigh. Good luck!

Pilchard, no. In this context "getting" is a gerund, not a participle, so that "you're getting", where "you're" is a contraction of "you are", would be meaningless. Here "your" is a possessive pronoun.

We were really lucky to find our childminder from our church. All OFSTED inspected but a family we knew a bit (and have obviously gone on to know a lot better). We went on how we felt when we went for a visit and how DD was over the first month or so, settling in. Generally the vibe from the home and other kids as well as how our CM spoke about her policies and what she'd do activity-wise with DD.

We recently viewed a nursery and I didn't even read more than the basics from their OFSTED report. I phoned them a couple of times to see how helpful they were and arranged a visit (obviously to see the premises but also to see again how they were with DD and us).

I guess you can have the best OFSTED report and miss the obvious stuff like a loving environment etc. As others have said, I'd rather DD had her nappy changed when needed than the paperwork regarding that filled in to the exact minute.

Good luck in your search.

YABU but you are aware of that. YABPFB but everyone does it to some level. It will be fine!

I would read them to make sure there are any unsresolved safety issues etc but other than that I wouldn't bother. Some satisfactory reports are glowing but some procedures just haven't been in place long enough and some outstandings may have just been manipulated great on the day.

When DS1 started pre-school I didn't even read the reports and I am glad I didn't, the 1st choice one he didn't get in to so we went to the next nearest. If I had read the report I may not have sent him but it turned out to be so much better than the other one (who are outstnading according to ofsted but definitely not according to professionals, staff and parents!).

A visit and your gut instinct is so much more important - but you know that really don't you.

read them but I think you can gain far more when you contact/visit them. Over the years I have had three childminders. For the first, as I worked for social services (who at time regulated childminders ) I asked recommendation of woman in charge - my childminder was ok but not brilliant ie had favourites/double standards etc.

When we moved I contacted loads (some I freely admit to disregarding if they never answered phone/got back to me or one who was screaming away at her mindees as she answered!) and then met my childminder for a visit and was very comfortable with her and she looked after my children for 8 years.

When we moved again I used same process, one CM I visited was lovely but somehow it all felt very clinical and that my child was definitely seen as a business asset rather than a child to be loved in my absence. I had arranged to see another CM and as I stood at door and she approached (at time very unconventional style of hair, multiple piercings and tattoos - very uncommon then) I hoiked up my judgy pants - made a no decision but being polite went through with the visit.

I soon realised she was awonderful, loving, caring CM who was most definately the right choice for my child and she was her CM until sadly she moved away couple of years ago (still a good friend).

So as others have said -visit and gut instinct has a lot going for it

I wasn't too fussed about the OFSTED reports. I was more influenced by the children that my CM was looking after at the time - she had two families who had been with her for more than 7 years, which seemed a good thing to me. Also, of those two families, one child had been with her since he was 6 months old, and another since she was 12 weeks old! I phoned both these sets of parents, and another set who's numbers she gave to me and got very positive reports from them. I am now one of the parents whose number she gives out for references, as we've been with her for 7 years too

When we visited, she was both business-like and also clearly enjoyed her work. Her teenage children were fabulous with the mindees (one of those teenagers is now a qualified CM in her own right, and works with her mother), so the atmosphere in the home was so welcoming.

Good luck, a good CM is worth their weight in gold!

My dd1 old cm had a fab ofsted however she was crap! My dd suffered numerous bites from her daughter , the kids were sent upstairs to play unsupervised so they weren't in the way of the babies and whilst upstairs my dd suffered a horrific burn to her hand from touching a lightbulb on a lamp that had been left on for hours!

We have used many cms and my advice is visit lots and go with your and your child's instinct. We've had amazing ones and only that one bad one

Forgot to add cm made burn worse by putting cream straight on it and not putting it under cold water so check they are properly first aid trained!!! And have a good amount of common sense!

Personally I wouldn't set too much store by Ofsted. Someone I know has just had her wrist slapped for not having a fire blanket next to her hob.

The fact that she's not providing cooked food, and won't be cooking when she's looking after children appears to be irrelevant- it's simply that there is a box which has to be ticked, however stupid.

I didnt look at the ofsted report for my current childminder . I always choose childcare by talking to the person and working out in my own mind whether i would be happy to leave my child with them . Its worked so far , have had four childminders over the last 17 years and they have all been excellent . Two of those were just starting and my children were their first mindee's. Go with your gut and sod offsted

Poledra , are you in yorkshire ?