CHILDMINDERS CLUB.. Equal ops toys!

[bonkerz]

HELP

A friend has just had her ofsted inspection (shes a childminder too) and she was told she needed more equal ops toys!!

She has all the norm stuff ie...

Ethnic dolls, puzzles with all races on, books with diasbled people and all religions and colours etc and balamory books and toys displaying positive role models.

I cant believe she needs more!!!!!

What do you have? I have all the same as her but am panicking now cos am due for inspection!!

HELP, also where do i buy them apart from ELC?

ANYONE????

Why don't you phone OFSTED and ask them? Surely they must have guidelines on this to help you out?

They do have guidelines and my mate and i thought we had provided enough toys to promote all these thing but obviously not!!!!!!!

Maybe she just had an over-enthusiastic inspector.

Out of interest, when the OFSTED person said she hasn't got enough, did s/he actually suggest what else to buy?

What I think each year is really mad is that we have a large LITTLE TIKES kitchen for DS

The inspectors say it is brill to have it

I keep saying that loads of men are chefs.

I also have buggy and dress up doll,{safari sam}

sorry didn't answer your plea earlier am being bombarded when all I want is to talk to WK.

My ofsted lady said I needed more +ve representations on Multiculturalism.....My DH is Jamaican & a childminder. But MY wedding photos weren't good enough.

Ask at the toy library or at your local school - mine is prepared to leand me stuff pre-ofsted next time - which will save me money

I have loads of imaginative play stuff, have photocopied some pics from books(!) and have homemade posters, dolls, puzzles, books, pics of women docs and women policemen and male nurses and male ballet dancers. Use toy library every week and go to book library every week. Maybe we just got an over active inspector who when she cant find any other fault resorts to lack of equal ops toys instead!!!!
Also have a few balamory toys inc penny pocket in her wheelchair!!!!
And no there wasnt any suggestions!

Write to Ofsted and ask for more advise....my Ofsted insopector often rings me (cos I asked her to) to give advise - and if you do it in writing - you can think carefully about what you want to ask....

Cut pictures out of newspapers and magazines and start a scrap book - you can then do people food, where they live clothes etc etc.
An old cut down white shirt - doctors coat/baker/whatever = when did you last see a white male doctor?
Sarongs make saris/cloaks etc - whztever you can imagine. Scarves can be tied around a head for a turban etc. etc.
Our coking set has a wok/balti dishes

I still had the same problem re disabled toys at my last inspection - the books weren't sufficient she said I needed toys too, but to gradually build it up.
I rattled on about the lady we see all the time in her motorised wheelchair etc etc.
Find a religious calander and have a look to see if there are any festivals coming up other than X-mas. Say something about diwali and Eiid (spelling???)
That way even if you don't have tonnes of equipment you sound like you have really thought about it and it comes across positively.

great...!!ive got my inspection this coming month and have rushing round like a madwoman ,borrowing from every toy library i can find.and im sure she`ll say i need more multi cultural toys too..i swear they make the same remark to every childminder i know..is it standard i wonder!!!we have everything,were multi cultural anyway plus speak two languages, have the dolls!! pictures ,books etc and she said last time about i need more stuff..i really dont understand it and it drives me nuts!!

OFSTED ARE MAD!!!!!

Think that its definately the case that if they cant find anything wrong then they will pin point the multi cultural thing!

Also been told its a good idea to have a list of all the toys you have available and list all your equal ops toys in a separate list! That way the inspector can see what you have even if you dont have it out that day!!!!!!

Have started my scrap book and rang ofsted and asked for advice! they said take the kids to opticians and a mobility shop as a trip and record in the scrap book! Since when was opticians an equal ops?