Got the Call....

[RosieGirl]

They are coming to inspect next week, I am sat here with my head in my hands falling apart . I was due my inspection July last year and all last year I was really good, pro-active everything running smoothly. I took on some extra school/nursery children in Sept (still within EYFS) and know that I am not really good at EYFSing them after they have been in nursery all day, picking them up at 4pm, then cooking them dinner, (very special dietary requirements lots of serious allergies) by the time they eat it, they barely have any time for anything "constructive", I have tried different ways of trying to record/plan but I am sooo busy tea-time I know I will really fall down on this.

I did a parent questionnaire in Dec and all was really good, I love the kids and have a fab set of parents, and I know in my heart this is what is really important. But after a January/February of lots of illness and flu, including me going to a neurologist because of consistent horrible headaches, (lovely support from parents) I have really dropped behind on the paperwork side of things as haven't had the energy to sit doing anything but the absolute necessary in the evenings.

I have a very un-supportive H, (who has told me today that he has invited my BIL with his 2 spoilt children, and I just want to clean, clean, clean and work) cannot understand my anxiety at all, (never really liked my childminding) just thinks that I should say sod them, but after working so bloody hard for the past 3.5 years they are coming at a time I am at my very lowest and am now desperately trying to catch up, but feel I am swimming upstream.

Sorry to whine, just wanted to vent, as have no local childminder friends as live in the sticks, but its my 2nd late nighter, desperately going through reams of photos to link to obs and stuff.

don't make yourself ill over it sweetheart

good luck and shout out if you need ideas/a boost/a cry x x x

Deep breath Rosie.

Explain to the inspector that you have been ill. Will your lovely parents write 'references' for you to say how wonderful you are?

Make sure you have the 'must have' parts of the EYFS stat book covered, and all your safeguarding stuff (that seems to be their biggest concern at the moment) and do what you can with the learning journeys but don't kill yourself in the process. You are only human - and so are the inspectors!

Hi Rosiegirl - if it's any support my inspection was due just last November and I had geared up towards it by doing everything by the book and had a big splurge in the summer when I updated my SEF and risk assessments. November came and went and what with my Mum being in hospital with pneumonia and me and my sisters having to look after my Dad (who has alzheimers) it all went a bit downhill.

Beginning of this year I've got on track again but still feel I'm doing too much and ofsted haven't kept to their side of the bargain so why should we?

Don't worry as I'm sure you'll be ok and it sounds like you have lots of mindees anyway.

Thanks BALD, sat here with a large , need to get a grip. Make a list of definite essentials, ensure statutory stuff is up to date (which I think is) then things that may be useful, such as take the shed loads of empties down the bottle bank (they are out of kids way, but just my luck she will see them out of my playroom window)

Really appreciate that Scarf, I too was doing everything by the book and filled in the SEF which took ne ages.

Although my H is a prat sometimes, he does have a point when he said that what is the worst that can happen, he said will any of your parents walk away unless something is really bad, which it isn't, and I know they won't.

Really must do work.....

Hi - hope you are feeling a bit better - but I know you probably won't unti the inspection is over. I was similar to you - due an inspection July last year - but didn't get the call until a couple of weeks ago. I must admit went into 'headless chicken' mode for a while - even though I knew most things were ok - it is just - is it ever enough. Just think this time next week it will all be over - as long as all the statutory requirements are in place you will be fine. Try not to stress too much - I know I did. However, inspector I had was really nice and couldn't understand why we stress over everything so much!

You sound like you have been doing a great job. Check your paperwork is in order, which it sounds like it probably is. Update files from now onwards and explain their was a little blip while you were ill.

Any references your parents would like to give would be great, but don't worry if they don't. One of mine gave me a lovely written note the day after my inspection!

My DH told me at my last inspection not to worry, and what is the worst that could happen, blah blah blah. He also hated the time CM took up. Now he is CM with me and says he was only trying to be supportive and stop me worrying . Maybe it's just a man thing? (apologies to the men out there)

While you are taking the empties down the bottle bank remember that, in my experience as a CM customer and now a CM's husband, parents really don't care what Ofsted say or what your Ofsted grade is. It sounds like you are providing great childcare.

Good luck :)

[a man btw!]

Thanks everyone, after the thread on behind on paperwork, I realise it isn't just me. After trolling through diaries of a couple of the kids looking for obs, I realised how much I do with the kids, its just that I do it naturally and don't think to make a special observation each time.

I am feeling much calmer now and actually looking forward to getting it out the way so I can focus on the future.

maidbloke, lovely to hear from a positive CM Husband, thanks.

RosieGirl goodluck. Do you have the ofsted inspection checklist. That helped me a lot in january when I had my inspection.

Hope it goes well.

good luck 5Rosiegirl.. just hang onto the fact that the kids are happy and the parents are happy with you.. thats all that really matters isnt it.. not some one off visit from an inspector.....