CM CLUB - OFSTED coming to see me about requests made - said as there's been a few...............

[looneytune]

Wow, I emailed a guy at Ofsted with my request for increased numbers and overnight care. The guy received it this morning and this afternoon an inspector called and wants to come on Friday. Typical, go on holiday on Monday so it will be messier than usual with piles of stuff but hey ho.

Only thing that concerns me (apart from normal Ofsted nerves) is that she said "as there have been several requests recently, I'd like to come and chat it all through and look round". She sounded nice and didn't make a big thing of it but that comment threw me a bit. Is there anything wrong with making several requests to Ofsted about things?

Should I be worried?

I wouldn't worry

I'd talk about meeting the parents needs - ensuring you are working with the rules - optimising your optons

Does she mean you have made several requests or just cm's in general?

Thanks. She just mentioned several requests which is true. Think this is my forth one in less than a year - does that sound odd? All relevant for different circumstances.

I'm probably just being silly, just the whole OFSTED thing makes me nervous but I think that's because of my terrible experience at my inspection Even though I got an all round good with 2 outstanding elements, I still ended up in tears when she left - it was the way she was about truly stupid things!

If you think about it with your resonable head on, she's coming to look, to make sure you don't live in a tiny house with not enough space for anymore! It does make sense. If you were the parent, you wouldn't want to know that your cm had lots of children in a small space would you? She's just doing her job hun, try not to worry about it. Try and remember she is only doing it for the good of the children in your care. Its her head on the line afterall if she just says 'yeah, no problem!' Look on the bright side, at least you haven't got to worry about it for weeks on end before they come to visit. It'll all be over this time next week and you'll have your extra numbers and everything will be peachy.

Oh yeah, totally understand them coming, I was expecting it - it's more the comment she made I suppose, I just wonder why she said it.

Anyway, I'm being silly so will go away now At least I should I'll have an idea or know before I go away

You're not being silly, OFSTED has a knack of making us feel bloody incapable of looking after kids! Gotta go do Guiding things now, catch up later!

Thanks I just had such a horrible time with the inspector who inspected me - expecting me to do silly little dances because a mindee had nice manners - I said 'oh, well done, lovely manners' in a nice friendly voice but she expected a huge performance. That wasn't realistic as I'd done all that type stuff when she first did the lovely manners but in time, it becomes normal and you praise but not in a dancy type way!! Oh, I could go on but I'm now going to try and forget that inspector as she was unrealistic! This one sounded nice so fingers crossed she's human unlike the other one!

I've gotta go too but thanks for making me feel better about it

Just in case you look in again. I am only a satisfactory cm according to the powers that be, but the greatest praise I get, is that I have been full for 10 years and everyone of them has come on recommendation from another mum! I am showered with gifts and cards from my mindees & parents at christmas and birthdays and even end of school summer term. THAT is how I measure my worth as a cm. If your parents are happy with you, who are OFSTED to say whether you are outstanding or not or indeed question the way you reward a child that you know best!

looney i/ve heard all sots of comments from Inspectors, don't let it worry you.I still get nervous when they come.

I also don't think you need to worry about anything. As others have said, it is probably just for a general chat - maybe she wants to sort out absolutely everything you could possibly want to ask all in one go! You may end up being registered for more children than you could possibly want!!

Have they always approved your previous requests?

I'm not that experienced with the variation thing. I've only recently put in my first request which they allowed. I have dealt with one ofsted inspector, who is lovely. She did my initial inspection, then my frist proper inspection and it was her who dealt with my variation request. So hopefully the one your seeing will be as lovely as mine!

I hope it goes ok on Friday!

My friend had this recently OFSTED only there about 10 minutes, said the same reason for coming, wouldnt worry about it at all

Hi again

MaureenMLove - thanks so much, I couldn't agree more! So many childminders can put on a great act, have great paperwork and become outstanding when in fact they're not at all. My point was just that although I shouldn't have been upset after my inspection as did well, I was still mortified and that was to do with the actual inspector and how she made me feel I'm hoping it's not the same one - I'm going to call for her name as silly me forgot to write it down!

Shoshable - glad I'm not the only one who gets nervous This lady on the phone did sound human so I'm going to try and forget my previous experience.

TP - yes, that makes sense and now I've calmed down, I'm glad they are going to try and sort out everything they can. As for registering me for lots more kids - don't think they will ever do more than 6 under 8 anyway will they? (not that I want more! )

Mogs0 - thanks I've had 2 approved for 4 under 5's and 1 refused for 2 under 1's (as both were VERY young). I've met 2 inspectors so far, first one for my intial inspection was really nice but the droid I got for the main inspection was not! The lady on the phone sounded nice so fingers crossed it's ok

S88AHG - I know I shouldn't worry, I promise I've calmed down now

Well looney? Have you had it yet?

Hi, it's Friday. I was just thinking of emailing you about this swim jacket as couldn't come this weekend due to my brother coming back from Australia and I've just been up to my neck in it the last few weeks. I've got my hair being done near Water Road tonight but I don't think it's possible to get to you before - are you around this weekend? Or maybe I should just buy one? Sorry, I've been a right PITA haven't I!

Guess you are over this way you can collect if you want to. Got to try and find where i put it now.

Am in for some of this weekend but should be out as its my birthday. I hope i will be out let me know.

Will email you

How did it go?

Hi Nick, great thanks She was a HUMAN inspector and was more interested in things like how come I've had 2 babies start at such a young age etc She's agreed to what I asked for and was looking into having extended hours on my cert for my 4th under 5, in case they end up wanting me in the holidays, mornings before school etc.

Did she give you any idea how long it will take for your new certificate to come through?
Its now 2 weeks later for me and nothing yet.
Still struggling with daytime filling up though so no real hurry!!!!!!

Well I told her the parents were desperate for me to do 19th July and she said 'gosh, they're keen aren't they'. She said she'd get her bit sorted asap and hopefully I will have my certificate waiting for me when I get back from holiday (we go on Monday for 2 weeks so I hoped within a couple of weeks).

If you need the cert then I'd phone and ask how long - hope it arrives soon and thanks again for your help

I applied for a variation for 4 under 5 last friday and got my certificate in the post on Monday morning all done over the phone.

I requested to speak to the inspector who did my Ofsted last September, they said she was on holiday and they would phone her. They did and then phoned me back and said yes.

They said we presume you wish to waive your waive to oppose the change, - naturally, so it was all agreed!

I think Ofsted are brill!

Wow, that's bloomin fantasticly quick!! Well done