CHILDMINDERS & PARENTS - step this way.......opinions needed on OFSTED and their paperwork and inconsistancies!!

[bloodsuckingLOONEY]

A lot of us on here have moaned away about OFSTED and how they are getting worse and worse. Good childminders all over the country are quitting because they've had enough of the endless paperwork, training etc etc.

I want to get as many opinions as possible and send this thread to OFSTED as I feel very strongly about all this (yeah, yeah, probably hormones but still, felt like this before!)

So.....if you're a childminder....tell me what you think - I know a lot have said but please put on this thread.

Parents - what's more important to you....that we care for your little ones in a home environment, show them love and attention, play with them, take them out in the community etc etc or that we make sure you sign the attendance register, put posters all round the house, have 'wash your hands' signs in the toilet and 'no smoking' signs on all walls of the house, spend time writing endless observations as we go through the day etc etc.

I could have put it a lot better than that but I'm really tired, my eyes are getting blurred! I was going to wait until I was fresh tomorrow but I thought I'd strike whilst I feel so strongly!

ALSO....CHILDMINDERS.....what do you think of the INSPECTORS/INSPECTIONS? Fed up with them all saying different things and making you not know where on earth you stand? Fed up with some inspectors saying they'll never give out an 'Outstanding' grade just because that's them? Fed up with phoning up and being told one thing just to get into trouble for that info not being correct?

Give me all your thoughts as I really do want to send this to OFSTED but we need LOTS of you to come forward!!

Thanks, I'm off for my dinner now

[lottiesmummy]

I THINK WE SHOULD ALL DO THE PAPER WORK THAT IS REQUIRED THEN ALL SEND OUR INVOICES FOR "OVERTIME" TO OFSTED LOL

[maximummummy]

yeah i do the permission forms too but you only have to do one when they start - with the child info and contract don't you?

[maximummummy]

i haven't had any complaints yet

maybe i'm in for a hard time at my next inspection then

i hope not

[lottiesmummy]

I have 2 years till my next inspection (it is every 3yrs isnt it?) I feel I got no help preparing for the inspection at all really, wasnt aware that my home needed to be like a nursery to get a decent grade, but then like others have said an outstanding doesnt mean theyre a good childminder does it, I had a parent come to me over an "outstanding" childminder because I was more approachable and my home was welcoming and homely!

[Marney]

I CANT BELIEVE EVERY CHILDMINDER HASNT BEEN EXPECTED TO HAVE THE SAME FORMS IN USE DOES THIS MEAN ITS EASIER TO BE A CHILDMINDER IN SOME AREAS LESS TO WORRY ABOUT IHAVENT TRIED SHERRY YET IS THAT THE ANSWER DONT USUALLY DRINK MAYBE ITS TIME I DID STILL WAITING TO SEE IFI CAN CARRY ON AS A CHIILDMINDER JUST BECAUSE I GOT VERY UPSET AFTER A VERY BULLYING INSPECTION STILL WORKING IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE CANT BE OBVIOUS OR THEY COULD HAVE STOPPED ME WELL IWAS FINE BEFORE AND IM OK NOW BUT ID BE DEVASTATED IF THEY SAY IM UNSUITABLE BECAUSE ICAN GET DEPRESSED IT WAS THEIR FAULT

[Marney]

I CANT BELIEVE EVERY CHILDMINDER HASNT BEEN EXPECTED TO HAVE THE SAME FORMS IN USE DOES THIS MEAN ITS EASIER TO BE A CHILDMINDER IN SOME AREAS LESS TO WORRY ABOUT IHAVENT TRIED SHERRY YET IS THAT THE ANSWER DONT USUALLY DRINK MAYBE ITS TIME I DID STILL WAITING TO SEE IFI CAN CARRY ON AS A CHIILDMINDER JUST BECAUSE I GOT VERY UPSET AFTER A VERY BULLYING INSPECTION STILL WORKING IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE CANT BE OBVIOUS OR THEY COULD HAVE STOPPED ME WELL IWAS FINE BEFORE AND IM OK NOW BUT ID BE DEVASTATED IF THEY SAY IM UNSUITABLE BECAUSE ICAN GET DEPRESSED IT WAS THEIR FAULT

[Marney]

Sorry it got on twice my own child was distracting me On the news today its anti bullying day I take it Ofsted have an anti bullying policy and health and safety They havent been good for my health Shouldnt we check their policiys before we let them in our homesI DIDNT have much sleep before the inspection when she said explain how you are meeting the standards I said start me off with standards my mind had gone blank she just stared at me She musnt meet many human beings iknow ive been meeting the standards pretty well BUT that was the end of that if she had started me off who knows But her general attitude was there isnt time for you to speak anywayARE OFSTED DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE WITH FEELINGS OR PEOPLE WHO IF PUSHED ARE VULNERABLE TO DEPRESSION As a goverment organisation why are they pushing people out of jobsAnyone else having an inspection record it or make notes

[Marney]

We need a list of all the forms they want us to have whats wrong with ofsted havent they got a policy on working with childminders also could we have bottles of water provided and healthy food sowe dont waste our money when children say dont like it and we have to try something elseIm rubbish with computers but couldnt there be alink made with the hate ofsted site its not just us who hate ofsted

[WaltonAngel]

Well with you there ~ about the bullying. Even complained through the proper channels about their abuse of power. They wrote saying they were considering my remarks and they would respond in due course~ still waiting 2 years later. Well fed up with keeping records/ evidence to prove if I'm any good ~if they popped in regularly they would see!!!!! Plus don't get me started on the added stress they make the inspection to be for no good reason!!!!!! I am also really peeved (so polite!!!) that I have to do their job for them(state how good I am or not!!!!!!)

[AskABusyPerson]

Katymac - whats the deal on written records on Food Hygiene? I've been on a course and passed the assessment for it, what else should I be doing?

I fill in a risk assessment checklist every day eg clean towel in cloakroom tick, age appropriate toys/equipment out tick, stairgates on / door locks etc tick etc etc and also records weekly fire/evac drill on the same form. Is that enough for EYFS (not been on my training yet or had any idea of when the training will!)

I'm with Looneytune on the doing the diary is bad enough when mindees want your attention, doing written obs will be a nightmare! I did see a local playgroup leader doing obs at out local toddler group for her nvq and she had a dictaphone.....I thought that might be an idea!

[Marney]

SOME CHILDREN just dont want to have to try new food at the childminders house Some do but not all I prefer children to feel secure and to treat them as individuALS and not MAKE THEM EAT idont begrudge meals its being left with amelon going of in the fridge or out of date yogurts things you buy thinking this might work THE BOXES OF RAISINS AND DRIED APRICOTS THEY LOOKED GOOD IN LITTLE SNACK BOXES TRIED ON FOUR CHILDREN NO ONE WANTS THEM SO WHAT TO DO is it really our job to decide what achild must eat ithought it was to look after them so mum or dad knows they are happy When mine was at nursery having had a drink when thirsty was what mattered sugar free with e numbers much better than nothing

[Marney]

iVE been waiting weeks now to see if ofsted are going to declare me asuitable person even though icry when pushed by them DOESNT SEEM FAIR TO ME KEEPING ME WAITING LIKE THIS MAYBE THEY THINK ITS A GOOD WAY TO SEE HOW SANE YOU ARE KINDNESS ISNT THEIR THING still the longer they leave it the longer iget to keep working need the money and love minding children still at the end of IT all there are unregistered childminders at least iwouldnt have to pay ofsted or ncma

[Marney]

Well nothing in the post Prob want to know what id done so wrong Id recorded one child as half an hour or three quarters on three mornigs two mornings always an hour Because the time of arrival varied so much onthree days IF ONLY IWAS MEAN I COULD HAVE JUST CHARGED THREE POUNDS EACH DAYso this is a breach of regulationsI SHOULD HAVE PUT ARRIVAL FIVE PAST QUARTER PAST TWENTY TO i only charched for half anhour or three quarters before school the inspector looked blank when itold her it was so as not to offend parents it was also because charging for twenty minutes or ten out of three pounds was too much for my maths ability So i then get a lettr from an ofsted manager to let me know i could have been prosecuted but on this occasion they will keep it on record Apparently its afire risk but iknow if anyone else is in the houseIm usually qute sane and definitely soberAnd do schools record the exact minute every child out of a thousand goes in school

[Katymac]

Fridge & freezer temps once a day plus hot food temp once a day

[maximummummy]

marney - i think the whole POINT of a register is to REGISTER what time child arrives and leaves your care it has nothing to do with what you charge the parent - i always charge from the time they're booked in (mine are always late)

[Marney]

SO IF IHAD PUT NINE EACH DAY IWOULDNT HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF KEEPING INACCURATE HOURS AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TOLD OFSTED COULD HAVE PROSECUTED ME EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS ACCURATE! SO BE LESS ACCURATE WISH ID KNOWN

iTS ON MY REPORT DIDNT KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS OFSTED ARE SO KIND!

[maximummummy]

typing in caps is really hard to read so i cant be bothered to read all your posts marney - what i said is in your register write the ACTUAL time the children come and go it's not rocket science

[ThePrisoner]

Marney - a lot of childminders fall foul of this rule, that you have to record the exact time a child arrives, not just what their contracted hours are. I write down both. No doubt, Ofsted will probably still have a problem with it.

(And to echo maximummummy, don't type in capitals!! And use some full stops!!!)

[Marney]

Thanks the prisoner not meaning to annoy just not done typing till now only just got the internet. found afull stopAt least im not alone in being in bother about the register.The register does say approx time arrival or departure. It isnt funny being told ofsted could prosecute you The whole thing has been too much .One day everything is okay the next you might be stopped from workingThanks for your message Walton angel . I am writing exact times now honest.

[mollylou]

uh oh, I thought the register was for me! I began by filling in all the times but got so fed up with it I ended up just putting 'full day' as all the times/hours were the same everyday. I had no idea it was for Ofsted to see! Good job my next inspection isn't for another 2 yrs. I better get my act together!

[mollylou]

I'm a Merton CM by the way. My friends and I are all completely overwhelmed by all this 'Early Years' rubbish. I only started CMing in Jan 07 thinking it would be a great opportunity to be a stay-at-home mum and earn a living too. Previously a nanny for a very chilled out lovely family, I can't believe how stressful Ofsted make childminding. Never had any of this as a nanny (and I earned more).

[franyfroo]

friend of mine had 3 hour inspection yesterday. didnt ask to see any paper work (not even register) she has put her all in to the business. network coordinator told her to do obs, diarys, scrap books, plans, menu plans, photo albums, parent and child questionaires. she has spent months doing all this. on top of that has training coming out of her ears. inspector just said, dont need to see any of that!!!! and gave her a good. needs to add a child protection number to records (cos they have to find something ) and that was it. is it really worth all the work and all that stress. inspector said she doesnt expect to ever give a childminder an outstanding grade.......

[AskABusyPerson]

Thanks Katymac re fridge and freezer temps, I rarely do hot meals (mindees hardly ever with me for tea) so will do the hot food temps when I do a hot meal!

[Marney]

Ofsted still making me wait .They havent decided if im unsuitable yet so still childminding.A lot of important ofsted people seem to be on holiday from what ive been told.Isnt it important to protect children from unsuitable childminders Have been getting some legal advice which has been very re assuring .They have such high expectations of us we have to have everything up to date no mistakes but they can leave people waiting as long as they choose to find out if they are going to be pushed out of their job or not,I Dont think they would be happy to wait so long themselves maybe they wouldnt have to

[Marney]

Walton angel you cant wait forever phone human rights helpline 08456015901 .Ofsted must have a duty to respond in a reasonable length of time.If not why not.