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Original poster

Just had first inspection..........and I want to cry!

27 replies

star1976 · 12/03/2007 12:48

I only got Satisfactory, and all because of one stupid stupid stupid piece of (admitedly very important) paperwork that I didn't have signed by the parents!

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crace · 12/03/2007 12:59

Oh no! Which one was it?

looneytune · 12/03/2007 13:02

Oh, poor you! If it makes you feel better, I cried my eyes out after mine and I did well. I think we just all put so much into it and then (unless you have a nice inspector) they pick holes in any tiny thing and make you feel like crap!!! You should hear the things my inspector came up with, the parents just laughed!!!

I'm sure if you explain to parents, when you do interviews, they will be like the ones I've met and not let if affect their decision!

Sending you hugs as I know how you feel!

LT xx

Original poster
star1976 · 12/03/2007 13:04

I have all the emergency treatment forms signed, but mindee needed cough medicine couple of weeks ago. Called parent to ask if ok to give her and she said yes, she signed it at the end of the day and everything. But I didn't have anything signed before I actually gave her the medicine!

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looneytune · 12/03/2007 13:06

oh, how unfortunate Not a lot you can do now but I'm sure if they word your report to show that it's that particular thing they picked you up on, most parents wouldn't be bothered. After all, that signature is to protect you, not the parents.

{{{hugs}}}

Original poster
star1976 · 12/03/2007 13:11

Would have been a good but of course this one thing impacted three different areas! So three out of 5 were Satisfactory and 2 Goods.

She did say that the report would read very well cause in all other areas I did over and above what is expected of me.

Just really annoyed cause parents looking at reports will initially look at the rating!

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StrawberrySnowflakes · 12/03/2007 13:21

what a b*tch!(her not you), why weedle out of it saying it would read well if she was doning that..god im not looking forward to mine.you were only reg last year like me wern't you??

dmo · 12/03/2007 13:24

poor you dont be so hard on yourself
i was really down after mone i got sat aswel and i was so upset as it lasts for 3 yrs
just be confident in your work and parents will still come to you anyway word of mouth is far greater than your ofsted inspection report

OrmIrian · 12/03/2007 13:25

Sorry to butt in as I'm not a CM but until September we used a local CM - same wonderful lady for 9 years. She was absolutely perfect in every way and made it possible for me to work full-time through 2 children and carry on part-time with no 3. My kids thought of her as a spare GP. And she never ever got a good report from bl**dy Ofsted. Once because her accident book was too empty....Can't help thinking that they'd have marked down Mary Poppins for lack of paper-work. She's retired now and that is partly because of the change in regime.

Original poster
star1976 · 12/03/2007 13:27

Yeah been registered since September and this was my first 'proper' inspection!

Any idea when you are having your inspection Strawbs? I was given three weeks notice but most people say they normally only give a day or two?

Have been so nervous haven't eaten all weekend cause knew it was one day this week!

She said if parent had been here at the time of the inspection (as if that would happen) I could have got her to sign the appropriate paperwork and then it wouldn't have been an issue! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! Hmmm, mindee goes home in an hour, buy bottle of wine on way home from school for me to drink all to myself tonight I am thinking!!!

OP posts:
StrawberrySnowflakes · 12/03/2007 13:27

in all honesty, i have never been asked where my insection certificate is and ive had 45 mindees!(it is up in playroom but my walls are so full, no one notices it!)

Original poster
star1976 · 12/03/2007 13:29

Thanks everyone! You have made me feel a little better! Still worried noone will want to use me though. Only have one mindee and not had many other enquiries at all (none that I can take on).

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StrawberrySnowflakes · 12/03/2007 13:33

TBh i think as long as you can show you are ofsted reg most people wont question it, your not taking in 15 children and strapping them into to small car seats!

princesscc · 12/03/2007 13:33

agree with dmo - you are as good as the parents who recommend you. I had satisfactory because she came during the summer holidays and I didn't have any kids that day, so she could judge me interacting. Told all my parents and they said they loved me anyway. That's worth more to me.

looneytune · 12/03/2007 13:33

In my experience, the bits parents find the most annoying about childminders is all the paperwork as all they usually want is a lovely, fun person to look after their lo's. I've given medicine before without the form being filled in. I usually try and get an email so something in writing but if a child needs medicine all of a sudden and I am able to give it, there's no way I'd make them wait over an hour until their parents could get back from work, I'd want to make that child feel better!!!

AND........as for inspector.........that's really WRONG of her to have said it would have been ok if parent signed the form whilst she was there, isn't the whole point that you should have had it filled in before giving it - don't get what she said that for!!!

Anyway, treat yourself tonight to cheer you up, you deserve it!!

Original poster
star1976 · 12/03/2007 14:42

Mindee just been collected and told her mum about inspection. She said I can give her telephone number to prospective clients and she will give me a glowing reference if anyone wants one!!

OP posts:
looneytune · 12/03/2007 14:54

There you go then, who cares what Ofsted think about paperwork eh!

StrawberrySnowflakes · 12/03/2007 15:23

fab

ThePrisoner · 12/03/2007 19:25

So ... I have signatures from parents that I can give medicine (like Calpol) if I think it's necessary, and that I will try to contact parents beforehand to check if I can (but some of my parents are almost impossible to contact unless it is really a dire emergency) ... does that mean that this is not acceptable??

No problem then. I will either not medicate any child no matter what (even though the parents trust me enough to care for their child and to use my judgement), or I will have to lie, give them the medicine but not put anything in my medicine book at all. Neither of those are acceptable and are, potentially, both dangerous.

star1976 - you have my sympathy because I think the inspector's decision sucks. Perhaps you should write and ask what you should have done in these circumstances.

Thankfully, there are lots of normal, decent parents out there who will judge you on your ability to care and nurture their child, not on whether you have the right bit of paper.

suejonez · 12/03/2007 19:29

I wouldn't worry about it (though I'm sure you are). I'm a parent and I didn't even look at the report. Friend (from mumsnet!) recommended her, I spent an hour with her, loved her hme and dogs etc DS has been very happy there (all three days so far!).

As someone said - recommendation FAR more important in my view.

SHOSHAlee · 12/03/2007 19:33

TP, no you cant have one any more pre signed I got picked up on it, I always had a presigned med form for Calpol, Teething granules/gel, not allowed anymore, Parents have got to be psychic and know that there child will need meds before they leave them and sign for it!!!!!! Bloody stupid, I had a parent in a meeting last week, lO had a temp from a cold, couldn't give Calpol till I could get hold of them a hour later, but you can phone NHS direct now and get the OPK from them.

By the way filled my upcoming space today yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

suejonez · 12/03/2007 19:40

sorry but as a parent I'm shocked by that. Its ridiculous. You trust someone enough to leave your child with them but they aren't trustworthy enough to decide they need calpol without somthing in writing from the parent?

StrawberrySnowflakes · 12/03/2007 19:42

its worse than that sue, it has to be authorised, and you have to specify whether tis calpol or boots own etc, same as plasters..cant use em without parental consent

ThePrisoner · 12/03/2007 19:54

I will contact my network lady tomorrow to find out where they stand, because they don't have a problem with this.

More importantly, I think I will write to Ofsted and ask them to put in writing EXACTLY what we have to do. This situation is absolutely pathetic. I am feeling very cross!!

I have a vision here of children being deposited here each morning and parents being asked to sign for everything on a daily basis!

I collected a child after school today with a temperature of 101 (she has a cold), who I duly dosed with illegal substances. Her mum was in a meeting and would have been very hard to get hold of to summon back early, I've had her dd for nine years and know her extremely well, and the parents trust me. She was due to arrive an hour later anyway!!

Next time, I'll just write on the child's head that I've given medicine, but won't put it in my book.

suejonez · 12/03/2007 19:58

Strawbs (are you she who was formaerly known as SallyS...?) thats nuts! Plasters?! . Wouldn;t it be possible to geta parents petition up to change this or at least let parents give consent for certain things eg plasters OK at any time, calpol OK if discussed beforehand or by phone, cat A drugs only if Johnny is really whingey...etc

I'm so shocked - I had no idea.

bmz · 12/03/2007 20:05

also even with a satisfactory you've still passed the National Standards. i think parents get a feel about yourself, home etc when they come to visit - the inspection report isnt the be all and end all of everything. At least its over now for 3 years.