Childminder not yet inspected by OFSTED

[modgepodge]

Just wondered how other people feel about this. I am looking for a childminder; I’ve met a couple and the one I really like is quite new (registered less than 2 years ago) and has not yet had an ofsted inspection. She seems absolutely lovely and seemed to know her stuff - showed me learning journals etc, and she was lovely with the child she was looking after when I met her.

Would the fact a childminder hasn’t yet been inspected put you off? I guess everyone has to start somewhere - ofsted can presumably only inspect people who already have kids in their care??

Just concerned that I wouldn’t know if anything was wrong - I’d feel awful if I put my child in her care and then she was inspected as RI or inadequate 😬

Ofsted conduct an inspection before registering new childminders and essentially judge them to be good before they can start childminding.

It didn't put me off - my son was our CM's first ever mindee and he's being going there for 8 years. I think a lot of the inspection is about paperwork and record-keeping, whereas I was much more interested in the bond I saw develop between them, and the kind of parent I could see she was to her one kids.

Is she ofsted registered? If not then most voucher schemes won't allow you to use childcare vouchers to pay her or the tax free child account?

Mine was new too and hadn't been rated yet. She is amazing, honestly just the best woman in the world. She got an outstanding rating when they did come last year but I wouldn't have avoided her because she hadn't been rated yet.

I think her rapport with your child is one of the biggest factors

She is registered, but hasn’t yet been inspected and therefore got a grading. So do ofsted inspect before they start then and just not give a grade?

This has backed up what I thought. Frankly I’m not that bothered about the EYFS curriculum and so that all the nurseries I looked at were so keen to explain to me (it’s not like I’d be following the curriculum if I kept her st home with me!) - as you say it’s the way they react to the children that’s the most important thing 🙂

I registered with Ofsted two years ago also: they came out to check my suitability, plans and knowledge. That registration visit is like an inspection, you just don't get given an official grade. You are however, deemed "good" so you can offer funding. I believe the current time frame before the first inspection is two and a half years, so she (and I!) will be inspected before Christmas.

Ours is also registered but not yet inspected - my understanding is that Ofsted visit to check the space is suitable and safe and talk to the childminder to check they understand all the key issues before registration, but obviously at that point they don't have any mindees for them to see interactions with, any learning journals or records, etc. so obviously they can't judge on that. Like you I felt slightly uncomfortable about that but we liked our childminder so much we went with her anyway and so far we've been very pleased we did (he's been going for three months). Have you ever read an Ofsted report on a childminder? If not, look at some reports on other childminders in your area - I think you'll find it reassuring because to be honest they don't tell you that much, and the difference between the outcomes does seem to be largely how detailed their paperwork is.

Yes they visit as part of your registration. Check ID, the house, qualifications and generally have an informal interview to assess suitability. No grade as you’re not working with children yet but you are recommended for registration if all is well.

Thanks all, this has put my mind at rest 😁 sounds like she will most likely be inspected before my daughter starts anyway.

Have to confess I’ve never read a childminder ofsted report...I’m a teacher so was expecting something similar to those!

Ofsted would not allow a CM to practice if they didn't think they were good enough at the registration visit.

To put the ratings in context, I am aware of one CM who always impresses Ofsted but is known amongst many parents locally (who have used her services) to be terrible. So obviously be aware of a CM rating but how they are/act with your child is just as important, if not more.

Hi modgepodge.
Please do 8 disregard this minder because of Ofsted. I have been minding for many years. The inspection grades quite often don't reflect what is Actually going on and very rarely the parents true opinions.
I probably should be a little more concerned about Ofsted but the parents all tell me that as long as kids are Happy (which they are) then so are they. Might not always be in Ofsted best books but have loads of amazing references and best one of all is the 2 year old that I look after has been with me for 2 years and the family has been with me for 14 years so I must be doing something right

I decided to go with this childminder in the end so thanks for the reassurance! Met her a second time when her own kids were there and she was just so calm and lovely with her own kids and my baby and I just thought it seemed perfect. I’m sure her ofsted will be fine when it happens - frankly as long as she is meeting legal regulations and safeguarding stuff, my biggest concern is that she is caring, not observations and so on. I hadn’t realised CMs basically have an inspection before they start minding, so that put my mind at rest 🙂

Hi. I'm sending my daughter to a childminder who is apparently registered for two years but not yet inspected. She says I can sign up for the tax-free childcare through her as she is registered for that. However, when I go on the Ofsted website all I can see is the number she gave me and a message that says 'not yet inspected'. There is literally nothing that connects this number to her - no name or address or anything. I like her and feel comfortable but I just want to check this is normal.
Thanks!

Yes it’s a safety measure because we work from our home addresses. She will have her certificate displayed with her name address and EY number on it for you to view.

Thank you!

As you are a teacher you know how Ofsted work . On my last Ofsted inspection both the children I look after were under the weather put a stranger in the house ( the minded children aren’t used to visitors sitting on the sofa with a Laptop. So didn’t react in the way they normally do to anything. One was on my hip most of the day.I was graded good and to be fair my comments were Lovely and the care side which you are concerned about came up in my report but I don’t think the teaching part of my job was it’s best because nurture was more a priority that day.

My point is don’t base too much on an Ofsted report . Read the recommendations when it comes , but ultimately you will know if you child is happy there. I am a great believer in gut feeling on both sides. I have turned down a couple of families as I felt the way they parented was so different to mine that my setting wasn’t the place for their child. If you feel this childminder is lovely give her a chance and in reality children can and are moved if it doesn’t work.