Activities while ofsted carry out cm grading inspection?

[Ilovebagsandbruuuce]

oh help! I'm a childminder and gave just had the call to say that ofsted are coming to visit me in the next couple of weeks for my very first inspection to get my rating.

Onlookers after a 8m and 26m mindee plus my 5yo and 14m will be present.

Am looking for ideas of both indoor and garden activities that all children will be interested in doing or watching for the younger ones.

Am thinking a teddy bear picnic with snacks and tea set? Painting, general free play etc. Man im nervous.

What did you do while ofsted were there??

Also how many cm's here got outstanding on first inspection? Have heard it's rare but not impossible?

Thanks for any help!

Really should spell check! Meant 'I'm looking' not onlookers! And have not gave :-)

I would pick an indoor activity as the Ofsted inspector will need access to a plug for their laptop lol.
I would pick a simple activity that you know all the children can participate and enjoy, their delight and enjoyment of this will speak volumes.
Just carry on with any theme for that week.

Don't panic just make sure all relevant paperwork is to hand so you don't have to go searching for anything they ask for. I gave them all my folders in a box.

I wouldn't do anything that you don't normally do as children do have a tendency to verbalize any change in routine LOL

At my recent inspection, the inspector liked the "free flow of my house" that children could sit at my dining room table and do drawing (pens, paper always out to allow spontaneous creativity) and choose from lots of toys in the playroom, we also spent quite a lot of time outdoors, as the weather was good I had the sand and water tray out which was commented on and the children can access the garden freely.

I personally would avoid painting as you could end up spending too much time on setting up and clearing (unless you allow for it).

Have lots of things to hand, that you can get out quickly and easily. My treasure basket was really useful and some lovely colourful fabrics which are always on hand were used. I also have some crystals hung in the window and luckily the sun was shining and I had rainbows all over the room which she though was lovely. It was also remarked on how I talked to the children, asking them questions, like "wow, where are the rainbows coming from" then asking them to tell me the colours, then counting how many we could see - all basic stuff really.

Basically I didn't do anything too different from usual, but was obviously nervous and aware of someone being there.

The report really reflected on the morning activities and I was praised that it was very "child led" that I reacted well to their interests and what they chose to do. I actually liked the fact that the report was more based on that than the paperwork aspect

I made sure non of my own children were home with me, I got my dh to have the day off and take him out for the morning and not to come back before I rang. I did it so I wasn't distracted not because he was badly behaved but it was the best tip anyone gave me and it kept the age range similar and easier to plan for as my ds was older than the others at the time and I really didn't want him asking for the tv on or anything that I had to say no to, I also didn't want it to look like I was ignoring him and concentrating on the mindees.
I made green playdoh for my inspection, it was great to mark making, we used cars to make lines and talked about all the different shapes etc and I also didn't try to introduce a new activity, I had all the paperwork laid out on the kitchen table ready so I could concentrate on the mindees and leave the inspector to it.

I think it's the luck of the draw whether you get an inspector who wants to ask you a lot of questions and you will therefore need an activity the children can become immersed in by themselves or whether they're able to just stand back and observe.

I doubt you'll find an activity which covers both situations so I would plan for either and try to take their measure within the first 10-15 minutes.

A treasure basket is a wonderful resource for all ages, as is playdough (especially with different textures) and you can make stamps out of playdough, talk about it etc, then maybe create food for a teddybear tea party, which sounds like a lovely idea btw but possibly not suitable if the inspector is the interfering type...

Personally I love activities with pasta: threading pasta shapes on string, covering them with paint,the difference between cooked pasta and raw pasta - loads of appropriate language and you can talk about where it comes from etc too.

At our recent inspection we went outside and put the bubble machine on, that went down really well with the inspector as the children ran around chasing the bubbles and we had a baby in a buggy so held the bubble machine up so he could see the bubbles coming out easily. She commented that we made sure we included all the children in the activity and that the children enjoyed the outside space.
Also it doesnt take any planning or setting up or clearing away!

good luck, im sure will will do just fine!

My last inspector followed me inside and out. She was there during lunch time too. I more or less let the children choose activities, but tried to steer their play in a way that was easy for me to manage while talking to an inspector. They spent quite a lot of time chalking on the patio. The playroom got trashed with dressing up clothes. The inspector looked through my paperwork while I read stories. Some of these are easier/harder with little ones. If you can possibly manage for your own children to be 'out', it always goes a lot easier . (I do know a CM who witnessed her own daughter BITE the Ofsted inspector)

oh my gawd HSMM poor CM and poor inspector

yy to not changing anything

do what you would normally do, follow the children's lead

it's okay to be nervous, and yes some (a few) DO get os on first inspection

yy have all files to hand, out on the table/in a box for the inspector to leaf through

courage mon brave

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. You've all been really useful and I really appreciate it.

I'm up so late as guess what, one of many late evenings preparing!

Am looking into childcare for my own 2 for likely days! Top tips ladies.

plod on, matey

My first tip: Don't perform for the inspector. The inspection is to find out what you are like as a childminder not to find out who good you are at passing 'exams'. At my last inspection the inspector chatted to me about ways CMs try to pull the wool over their eyes so they actually look out for that sort if thing and the LOs tend to drop you in it apparently.

2nd: Like others have said make sure you know where all your paperwork is.

Final: Keep calm and don't panic, there are lots of nice inspectors out there :)

what activities would you do if you have a 5 month old, a 6 month old and a 15 month old

Paula I would do treasure basket and music play - outside if the weather is nice. Could bring out some bubbles too - and 15 month old could play with umbrella - to shade from sun.

I was told by my inspector that they are not allowed to give Outstanding on a first inspection. Ridiculous I know!

Good luck you'll be fine.

I bought the large Tin Foil roasting tins from the £1 shop and filled them with different shape and coloured dried pasta.
I also had an assortment of cups, bowls, spoons, ladels etc for the children to use.

Mrs O loved the idea.

At my first inspection I only have a 1yr old mindee. We went out in the garden and played with some water and guttering and then ran toy cars down a giant cardboard tube.
The inspector had all my paperwork to hand and I laid everything out in 'logical' order for her.
She followed us outside and she asked questions about different things and liked the fact that the pond could be seen but not be accessible.
We went back inside after about 1hr playing outside and then mindee was getting tired as it was time for his nap, so I told the inspector that he usualy watches 'In the night garden'.
So I sat on the sofa with the mindee and talked to him about what was happening on the screen.
She then followed me upstairs for his nap. A few more questions and then she told be my grading and I got OUTSTANDING!

She was more shocked than I was! Could not fault my paperwork, loved the way the garden was 'child friendly' and I was in a bit of a daze for a few days I can tell you.

I was just glad to get it over with and to be honest, being outstanding does not get you more work and some other Cms can be jealous. But I was just glad to know that it could be done at first inspection.
The night before, after lots of nights of hard work, finishing off and tweaking everything, I just though to myself "If this is not good enough, then I don't know what is!"

Just be natural and do spontaneous things based on your mindee's interests

Paula, I wouldn't 'plan' activies for 5 and 6 month old! just do what you normally do! My 8 month old loves been able to reach into her toy box and make choices on what to play (non-crawler) loves bubbles and treasure basket, sensory play on high chair tray (edible!) like rasberries cut in half and LO will move hands around exploring the texture and taste music box (finger puppets, singing songs, round and round the garden) playing peebo! so don't 'plan' as such follow the childs interest!

15 month old can also do the same and feel grown up as how they play would be different, maybe starting to tune out music time, able to use the hand puppets. HTH xx