Pre reg visit next week!

[purpleblimey]

I have my pre registration visit from ofsted next Wednesday!! I have done my policies, risked assessed my house and garden and been through the ofsted pre reg visit preparation form, but I feel very nervous. I would really love to receive any advice or words of wisdom from all you lovely cms who seem like such a knowledgeable, friendly lot. Thanks in anticipation.

Honestly try not to worry! This is just an initial visit and you are not expected to be perfect!
The inspectors are human and when mine came she was really lovely and helped me to make some decisions about things that needed doing.

as goldie said, don't worry mine was really helpful. big focus on risk assessments. and alcohol. I had a bottle of wine in the fridge and got told off! everything was in the preparation form just went through that. if you are not sure if you want to register a room I would recommend getting it registered anyway. you don't have to use it but you can if you want in the future. its a pain to amend it later.

and registering for overnight wasn't difficult and handy to have.

Agree with the above. One thing I would add, is that if there are things in your house that you know aren't right, point them out to the inspector before she points them out to you, and let her know wha you are going to do about it... Eg I had a low level bathroom cupboard which stored chemicals and was difficult to fit a lock. I said that before I looked after any children I would either fit a lock or move the chemicals. When she came back for my first graded inspection (same inspector, six months later) she checked that I had done so. They want to see thay you are aware of what could cause a problem. Mine was also very positive, helpful and approachable, so I wouldn't panic. Good luck!

Oh thank you so much. The lady sounded lovely on the phone but I started to panic again yesterday whilst doing my risk assessments! Thank you so much for helping me calm down!

I have been a CM before, de-registered and I am now RE-registering.

My pre-reg inspection is also next week and I had a chat with the inspector on the phone last night. She said that they are now focusing less on the risk assessments and more on the person and the activities you intend to do with the children in your care. I have done my risk assessments and flagged up actions to be done, which are not done YET, but will be by the time mindees start (after Feb half term).

I really wish Ofsted would stop fannying around moving the goal posts all the time! I don't see why they have to 'focus' on areas - aren't all EYFS areas equal?