Childminder OFSTED

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I've just started looking for a childminder for my baby boy to start in a few months.

I have looked through the family information service list of registered childminders for my borough, and the highest OFSTED rating is good. I was quite surprised to find none listed as outstanding.

As a teacher, I'm familiar with the criteria for outstanding in a school. Can anyone explain the difference for childminders? Also is it very difficult to be rated as an outstanding childminder?

The nurseries and childminders that I know who have got good rather than outstanding have done so because paperwork wasn't in place to make them outstanding (policies in one and progress steps in planning in another for example).

I'm a Good rated childminder and don't aspire to being Outstanding. I know my children get outstanding care - I care for them as if they were my own (probably better as I focus solely on them when I'm working rather than your own dc fit around normal life so shopping, housewor etc) we do a huge range of activities, go on outings, eat healthy meals etc but I'm not a teacher so haven't spent 3 years at uni learning how to delivery the eyfs and there's just me no TA, no helpers and I would rather spend my time playing with the children (& evenings with my family) than writing reports or doing observations. Not to say outstanding childminders don't do all this stuff but for me it was a big leap in admin and paperwork to get to outstanding and neither I, nor any of my parents are interested in this - we want outstanding care not education.

I don't find the criteria mean much, I saw two outstanding and one good and placed my son with the "good" one. She was kind and affectionate to the children in her care which was my number 1 concern. She'd not been rated as outstanding for something really random IIRC.

I have an outstanding rating, but I know loads of really fabulous CM's rated good. Please visit them and judge for yourself.

Ofsted are looking for something completely different to what children and parents actually need.

Not getting an Outstanding can be just down to paperwork.
The reasons I didn't get Outstanding at my last inspection were because I didn't talk to the 2 year old about the effects of exercise on his body......and because I didn't take the children to an asian supermarket....despite me having loads of diverse resources and caring for an asian family who give me samosas which we all try.
A friend of mine didn't get an outstanding because she didn't grow vegetables with the children-she lives in a ground floor flat!
All inspectors inspect differently-which drives us minders mad!! So, what one minder may get OS for, another may not.
Look past their grades and look at the bigger picture. All my children are what I call 'lifers'-they've been here for most of their lives! I'm losing one next week after nearly 10 years! The kids and families are happy to come here, happy to go home and happy to come again.
The line that stood out the most in my last inspection report was " children are happy and secure in the childminders company and obviously have a very strong bond with her". That's what I strive for as a Childminder whatever grade I get.

Definitely go and have a look and make the decision for yourself.
I know two very, very good childminders in my local area. They are absolutely amazing with the children, and I aspire to be more like them in everything that I do. We all work meet up often, create topics for the children and trips out that correlate etc. They are both 'good' and I am yet to receive a graded inspection.
A few streets down from me is an 'outstanding' childminder and whilst obviously I haven't seen her paperwork, policies etc I would need to be paid to send my children to her. She boasts about being 'strict' but to me it seems more like she is just nasty to the children. Children are confined to one small area of the house with very little toys, she goes out with the children very rarely, she owns a dog who is openly aggressive and has attacked the postman on several occasions, when she does come out to local playgroups/ play areas etc her children ALWAYS look visibly upset, are left to cry etc. The amount of parents who have come to me, having visited her first and said that they almost gave up on the idea of a childminder altogether is shocking.
And incase you're wondering, this lady has been reported for several safeguarding issues in the past all which she denied, and since the issue was not present when ofsted arrived, nothing was done.
This is obviously a rare case, but it does highlight that Ofsted aren't always looking at the same things that parents are.

Yeah, sure! All we had to do to achieve our Outstanding grades was to grow a few vegetables and write a few extra reports.
Now you, too, can all be Outstanding with that amazing revelation!

Or you can check Ofsted's website and find out what they're really looking for during an inspection (and it's not just paperwork in place).

I'm sure they're are a few anomalies to the grading but generally i think they get it right. Certainly amongst the CMs I know (about 30) it's pretty accurate.

And no it's not more difficult for a cm to get outstanding. I know plenty, about 8/9 of those 30.

I am Ofsted rated good and I feel I am really good with the children. The inspectors can pick on the day a random thing to improve on if they feel there is not an overall outstanding vibe. my last one was because I was allowing my (usually very unsettled) to use a dummy when playing which was obv impacting on her communication throughout the activity. (I am aware of the use of IES and don't usually use them but this lo had needed it so much I was giving it without even thinking so it was a valid point). First time was because I hadn't incorporated enough natural resources into my garden area. There are several outstanding childminders in my area, however they do not have a good reputation around the other mums and I have been told some horror stories over the last couple of years. Awful stuff (which has been reported) but they are still working. I wouldn't let the Ofsted grade be the decider tbh and I would go and see some of the good ones. Also ask around as word of mouth is by far the best indicator in my experience. All my work comes from word of mouth and I haven't had to advertise since I started.

Thank you so much for all your replies. You have helped to put my mind at rest.

I definitely would rather a childminder spend time WITH my LO rather than writing ABOUT him. And some of the feedback comments you've had sound ridiculous!

It's clearly very different to ofsted grades for me at work, so I'll try and switch off from that and just meet CMs with only my mummy hat on. I rung a CM yesterday who gave me a good vibe on the phone, so hopefully I'll feel that when I visit her too.

Are you an early years teacher? If so it does help when looking round places - especially if looking at nurseries. I saw one with empty book racks (first thing in the morning and no evidence of any in the room), one where the babies were 'usually taken outside once a day', one with all toys locked in cupboards and only specially set out activities on the tables (so no free access to resources for the children to choose what to play with at all). One nursery seemed amazing, then the manager showing me round was called away for a phonecall and I asked the 2 nursery staff if they liked working there and they looked at each other and laughed! It put me off nurseries for my children, as often the managers are great, but they employ young, cheap staff. With a childminder the person you meet is who will be looking after your child. (Disclaimer - that's my experience and I'm sure many nurseries are really lovely, plus everyone is looking for different things).

It's worth bearing in mind that if there are no outstanding childminders in your area that there can be political agendas to this. I was told there are currently only 8 in our large London Borough. It seems unlikely that out of 1000s of local childminders that only 8 are outstanding. So either inspectors have been told to be very strict, or the goals are hard to achieve for us.

Look at the children, are they happy, get plenty of fresh air, decent food, a range of activities (child/adult led) etc. Does the ethos meet what you want for your child - eg TV is often a bug bear for parents. I occasionally watch a targeted cbeebies show with the mindees, some may never watch anything or routinely have it on in the background. So it's good to decide whats important for you - and you'll probably get more of an idea after looking round a few places as you'll see things you like and dislike. Good luck.

Im outstanding for the second time so we do exist however many Ofsted inspectors come with a pre conceived idea that they do not give outstanding to cms.

It isn't about paperwork it is if judge fairly on your ability to meet the individual needs and planning for each child and knowing them well. I don't mean we are doing x y z topic but child a is interested in roadworks today so lets go on a walk let child take pictures print out cut up retell a story type thing supporting your planned next steps. Then if on the walk an insect catches their interest do insects instead.

Many cms have great paperwork all in order but cant talk about the children whilst dealing with everything going on meeting their needs answering questions thrown at them whilst teaching a child about halves and numbers then get down graded because whilst answering the question and washing the children's hands they forgot to say why do we wash our hands children. You have to be at the top of your game not flustered or nervous and that's really hard. Its like taking a driving test with a policeman in the car.

I would go and look at the cms on your list and watch then with the children they care for and take everything into consideration.

I'm a childminder and I'm rated good.
I know some of the extra things that I could do to gain an outstanding rating. However, they mostly include putting in extra time, money or changing things in my home which I believe would adversely affect my own children who are at school during the day.
As I'm self employed I don't get paid for extra paperwork /planning and I have to fund my own resources so extra purchases reduce my earnings. I have to make business decisions about income and expenditure and I also have to balance a home that I childmind from with the fact it is also the home of my husband and 2 school age children.
I am therefore happy with my good rating and don't particularly wish to pursue an outstanding grade.
I think some inspectors don't really understand the tricky home life balancing act required by a lot of childminders. I was marked down at one inspection because my own children had decorated our Christmas tree at the weekend and not the mindees in the week. We'd done crafts making decoractions for them to put on their own trees but apparently that wasn't enough and they should have decorated my own tree rather than the children who actually live here.

There is a childminder who I regularly bump into at baby groups/the library who is 'outstanding' rated and goodness knows why. She's often seriously impatient, makes derogatory remarks about her charges in earshot of other parents/minders and really doesn't seem to enjoy the job.
It's nothing so serious that I, as a bystander who doesn't know the full story would feel needed reporting to Ofsted but she isn't someone I'd want caring for my children. Just goes to show the ratings really aren't everything...

I am not outstanding because I don't use sign language when speaking to children (worth pointing out that all the children were 3 years old and very talkative at the inspection. I had two children who speak additional languages and the inspector saw me reading a book in three languages and supporting all the children sharing words in different languages and teaching each other). I fluently speak 5 languages but that's not good enough. Stuff those grades ... just go with the general feel you get ...

I am in Wales and it is slightly different but we are being given the same gradings in our next inspections. In my latest inspection the inspector gave me a predicated grade of good.

When I asked for feedback in how to get outstanding she wanted a couple more policies which were totally irrelevant to my setting and more daily written parental feedback. I already write in an A5 sized contact book and talk with the parents on collection. Writing to that degree is unnecessary and impacts on quality time spent with the children.

Visiting the setting and asking for recommendations from other parents is a better assessment.