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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

The way Ofsted give childminders a window for inspection is cruel and pointless. AIBU?

16 replies

CallaCate · 27/01/2011 14:30

I'm a new childminder, been minding 5 months. My first grading inspection is due. I spoke to an inspector last week and she told me that they can't give exact dates, but she would be with me Wednesday or Thursday this week or next (as I am only working all day on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the moment). She generously informed me that if she hadn't arrived by 10am on any of those days, I could assume she wasn't coming and go out.

So yesterday and today I was all ready, hanging around until 10am, getting increasingly nervous (and pissed off). On the first day I had to hold off a tired 6m-old from his nap as we couldn't go out till 10am and I didn't want to put him down in bed (and thus keep older one at home) in case she didn't come. Today I had a 16m-old who is settling in and a bit funny at home for the first half hour or so, and very sensitive (so surely picked up on my feelings). I finally got him out at 10am and he's been fine since (as he always is after a little excursion).

Now I know it's just a few days, but what is the point of this? Why can't they say a day they're coming? At my pre-registration visit the inspector told me "try not to be nervous for your inspection, it makes it harder for everyone." Why then is the system set up to build our anxiety? (And that of the poor children stuck inside...)

So, AIBU? Am I missing something? Or is it pointless and cruel and should they just give us a date?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

keelybooboo · 27/01/2011 14:43

i agree! and YANBU!

i think the only fair way is for them to turn up randomly to get a true picture of the childcare, not to say it will be x, y or z day thus giving opportunity for the practitioner to do any of the following.....

'train' the children to wash their hands before food (i.e not have little jonny pipe up with "but we don't usually")

remove hand towels and replace with paper

pick and choose which children they have that day

put up art work displays and multi cultural posters

plan healthy snacks/food when it would normaly be biscuits/crisps

remove evidence of the dog and get a dog sitter for the day

all of the above are things that i know of people doing and i could go on......

keelybooboo · 27/01/2011 14:47

so actually no, i don't agree! i don't think they should give us a date at all - just turn up! if we're not there then they have to come back another time, simples

Original poster

CallaCate · 27/01/2011 14:55

I agree, it's not really fair or realistic that they let you know they're coming at all. Some of the things you listed are pretty shocking, keelybooboo! Although I'm not really surprised tbh. But seeing as they can't or won't come at random, what's the point of the window?! It's like they're pretending they'll catch you off guard, but we all know it's fake.

OP posts:

HSMM · 27/01/2011 17:50

I'd rather they just phoned and said "We're coming tomorrow", otherwise I would be out and like to plan my week.

BALD · 27/01/2011 17:51

hahahahhaa I was due in Jan last year and they finally came in June

Torture !

thebody · 27/01/2011 18:11

I like to plan my week too so would like notice.. however have nothing to hide so if they turn up thats fine too but would leave the inspector outside while I phoned to check they were genuine..

anyone can wear a badge and its well known in my area that I am a cm..

might get marked down for that but tough shite!!

PinkCanary · 27/01/2011 18:35

I agree with the 'I'm coming tomorrow' idea. This happened to me on my 2007 inspection. She rang Mon afternoon. Arrived tues at 9:30am. I had time to get everything out ready, but it also meant that I couldn't (not that i would have anyway!) implement any 'tricks' to fool her.

IMHO This would be the most efficient way of inspecting.

pollywollyhadadollycalledmolly · 27/01/2011 19:14

With the CC they give you short notice so as to ensure you are in!! lol

Original poster

CallaCate · 27/01/2011 21:01

BALD - But you weren't waiting expecting them day by day, were you? You were just waiting for them to call?

I too want to plan my week. Don't really care if they give me 2 weeks or 1 day's notice (although I agree "I'm coming tomorrow" would give a much more realistic picture), it's just the way they make you wait in anticipating it day after day, I don't see the point of it.

OP posts:

BALD · 27/01/2011 21:12

no not day by day but I was ready from the first week in Jan, (prev inspection was 3 years prior in Jan and my understanding was that the cycle of inspection is roughly 3 years, and all my minder mates were bang on this schedule) then basically 26 weeks of waiting for the call to say they were on their way

I was a BAG OF NERVES I tell ya

minderjinx · 27/01/2011 22:19

I had "I'm coming tomorrow" three times at my last inspection. It does seem to be the proverbial postcode lottery. My inspection, when it eventually happened was about ten weeks after the original announcement, by which time I was beyond caring (Well no, not really beyond caring, but determined to chuck in the business if they dared to find fault!). I can see both sides to an extent in that they obviously have emergencies to deal with, but it's the power without responsibility thing that gets me. How on earth would Mrs Ofsted react if we said "No we haven't done it but we'll get around to it some time in the next three months!"

...and as for training the mindees to behave, I don't know how I'd keep mine in line for that long if they weren't basically happy all the time.

anewyear · 29/01/2011 14:34

Yep I got a "I'm coming tomorrow" at my grading inspection
My next one is due in March, Id rather they just turned up to be honest, Cant be doing with being a bag of nerves all day.

4kidsandlovingit · 29/01/2011 15:17

What really gets me is the line "Just carry on as normal as if I wasn`t here" easier said than done. My inspecter phoned yesterday to tall me she will be here one day this week by 10 or not at all, so I asked her could she please not come on Wednesday as we always go out to toddler group on the way home from school on Wednesday to which she said "well that really scuppers my plans" Tough you want us to carry on as normal then I will, if you want to come Wednesday then come to toddlers with me. Now I know she is coming Wednesday afternoon. Not that she will see me do much, only have 1 10mth old on Wednesday and he sleeps the afternoon away after lunch anyway.

GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 29/01/2011 16:58

I think 'I'm coming tomorrow' is least stressful and most accurate but what happens if you're closed/have no mindees that day/have a big trip planned? I'd hope that you'd have the chance to say 'i can't do tomorrow because xyz' and give a list of potential days where they could ring the day before or defer it until the day after or something, as long as the inspection was within a specified time limit.

But the process is about as clear as mud, even to the inspectors.

Mum2twolovelyboys · 29/01/2011 19:53

I recently had my second inspection and I was told what day and time. It was very short notice, which was fine. I currently work part time and have school and pre school runs and babies that have daytime naps. The inspector was kind enough to understand how busy I am and fitted in with my day.

anewyear · 30/01/2011 18:35

"but what happens if you're closed/have no mindees that day"

Thats fine by me, Joking of course....

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