Inspection looming!

[pinkrangerstartstowaddle]

I am looking for a little guidance please ladies!

I have been registered since march but only look after one little girl before and after school on a ad-hoc basis ( norm twice a week)

Now i know my inspection will be in the next few months and i have saved threads about everything that i will possibly need, i have just sat here and printed/written down everything that i need. I do not plan to take on any more mindees at the mo as i am 6 months pg but the little girl i have will continue to have up until 2 weeks before and then start again 2/4 weeks after so no doubt my inspection will happen.

I have in place:
Policies
Birth to 3 ( have the pack and read)
signed agreement to my policies
A folder for complaints
List of activities
Visitors log

I need to:
Put registration & Insurance cert up
Example menus
Fire evacu written up
get a fridge them
More Multi cultural toys

a few question i have is

1. best/ cheapest place to get multi cultural stuff ??
2. Food Standards - how do i go a about getting my certificate???
3. Mindee details - Putting them in a envelope and putting them in my NCMA case with lock - will that be o.k
4. I have no back up childminder is this o.k and i do i need to have a policy on what will happen in an emergency to me or mindee ?
5. do i need to do anything different with a child of 6?? Thank you all very

from what I got told yesterday at my pre-reg briefing, OFSTED have changed the rules (again!) and if you don't have a mindee when they visit they cannot grade you - if you know the dates that you won't have mindees let OFSTED know so they can arrange for a date that you will have a mindee.

1. for multicultural stuff, you could borrow stuff from the toy library or ask them for a brochure and buy through them (I think you get a discount being a CM)

I dont know about 2 & 3

4. I dont think you need to have a back up CM but its best to have somewhere in your T & C's that if you are off/ill you will give them as much notice as possible so they can arrange alternative childcare. does your network co-ordinator have a list of CM's in the area you might be able to use as a backup??

5. you just need to have toys for the age group to show that you are catering for all ages (e.g. puzzles, jigsaws, books, games etc)

Hi try not to panic! If you have only been childmindingfor a few months the inspector will not expect everything to be in place yet just the most important things (insurance, registration and showing you have made a start at getting multi cultural toys and writing policvies) My inspector was very understanding when I explained that all my equipment is bought when I sign new mindees as not cost effective to have toys for 6 year olds when you are not looking after any. She totally agreed and said that wasn't a problem as she could see the toys i had for them catered well to their ages and was sure I would expand on them as they grew up or other mindees signed up. Just 2 pointers check your first aid kit and change OFSTED contact number in the accident record as they have cahanged it since they sent them out.

Something as simple as a book showing different cultures is ok.

Do you know of a cm near to you who you could speak to about being your emergency? You culd cover for each other.

It sounds to me like you are more than ready. Don't panic, I'm sure you'll be fine.

One more thing, display the OFSTED poster with the telephone number on it, ooh and make sure you demonstrate handwashing whilst Inspector is there and ummm ummm (had my Inspection in January, thinking furiously) do you use disposable kitchen towel for drying hands, they like that!
Also plastic gloves for nappychange. And my Inspector was very 'hot' on Child Protection procedure, so make sure you have the guidance info for who to contact in that event. You could look on OFSTED website where they display all reports to see if you can pick up any pointers fro the most recent reports. Good luck, you sound very prepared.

Try this for multi cultural paper dolls here
I printed them off an stuck them onto card but you could also laminate them. The hardest bit is cutting them all out. At the bottom of the page it says paper dolls you will find alsorts of different clothes for them. My 6 yr old loves to play with these.

Mumlove - them dolls are fab!!

Will be printing some off this afternoon to do with Ds and Mindee this afternoon!!