Ofsted

[pleasestoprainingplease]

Just needed to rant and vent today. I had my inspection yesterday. Not my first rodeo! I really thought I had nailed it. I know my children totally, work with parents always, great resources, opportunities and have a strong curriculum. However I fell short again. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I work so hard everyday. I always spend time thinking ahead. Go on training, extend my knowledge etc but on that 3 hour snap shot I just didn't sell myself enough.

I got a good. Which is I suppose fine. But so frustrating when other settings that have pulled wool over Ofsted's eyes or had an inspector who has actually been in the job previously or has some hands on experience seems to be an advantage. Im just so cross with myself.

The inspector couldn't understand why I was so disappointed. I told her that parents will look at outstanding rated childminders first. They get first dibs and I will have to wait for years to try again.

Just sorry needed a rant and moan. I have family in the same type of jobs and both have outstanding. Just feels so unfair.

Anyway someone tell me you're pleased with your good childminder and it didn't put you off going to visit a good one?

Our good primary school was a million times better than the outstanding one when mine were small (we managed 3 primary schools due to moves).
I'd always read why you got the grade you did, and would focus on some bits (that directly impact the kids day to day) rather than an amazing paperwork trail.

I wouldn’t automatically think that a childminder rated as outstanding was better than one rated good. I’d visit and make my own judgement. I definitely wouldn’t discount you based on a good judgement.

Thank you both so much for taking the time to reply. I'm feeling better that you've both not discounted "good" settings & that you're happy to visit & read the report. She did say some lovely things so I really hope that's all on there & comes through. Thank you

I've said it before in relation to schools. Good is better than Outstanding in my opinion as Outstanding is all about the paperwork.

Exactly this - settings that aim for outstanding have to take their eye off the ball when it comes to humanity, warmth and true caring in order to have time for all the box-ticking nonsense.

Well done for getting the good - you have done nothing wrong - you were just judged by one person on one day. Are the children happy? Are the parents happy?

The only really use for OfSted is to winkle out settings where there are serious safeguarding concerns.

And parents tend to make their decisions on gut instinct when they go round and see places. and on the recommendations of other parents.

I couldn’t have cared less about outstanding or good. In fact we chose the good childminder because, though she admitted she focussed less on the paperwork, what she had was years of experience with children and a lovely warm manner. My dc adore her (my oldest is at secondary now & still pops to hers once a week or so for a cuppa and little catch up).

i think you’re placing more emphasis on this than any parent I know did when choosing childcare. Ofsted is just part of a judgement.

It's almost impossible to get outstanding these days, and any parent will see your passion and that's what matters. Not what Ofsted says.

This

I used to be a Childminder and can totally understand. I worked so so hard, went above and beyond with all my families, spent hours each week keeping on top of all the paper work and training Ofsted required. I had worked in Childcare for a decade beforehand and had a degree in Childhood Studies. Getting an Outstanding really meant a lot to me, maybe it shouldn’t have, but it really did. I had my first inspection after two years childminding and I just got the impression the inspector didn’t like me very much. She gave me a “good” and the reason she said I didn’t get an outstanding was because my garden didn’t have a mud kitchen and not enough permanent outdoor toys and decorations. Honestly, that was the only thing she said I could improve on. I sobbed after she left. And I quit Childminding for good 6 months later as I just felt totally demoralised by it, completely changed to a new career outside of childcare.
Every family I was childminding for told me that they felt I deserved outstanding - one of the mums gave me a huge hug and said she didn’t care what the inspector thought, as they all knew I was the best. Which was really lovely. But I can totally sympathise and send you 💐 The inspector gives you a grading on observing you on one day for a couple of hours and it’s so subjective to one persons personal opinion.

Ex teacher and hubby works in a school that's part of a huge trust that helps other schools- outstanding is near impossible I think from what we have both seen and heard. I worked at an 'outstanding' primary and I was miserable, so much paperwork that came in front of the kids too. It was all for show and I quit teaching.
We are happy sending our daughter to a nursery that is good and then school the same.
Don't beat yourself up, ofsted are knobs

It's very hard to get outstanding you have to go through the inspection handbook and make sure your meeting everything to get each grade up to outstanding miss one thing on the lower grades and you can't get it. Did you go through the handbook before inspection? Then you have to make sure you tell or show the inspector each of those things....mostly through your learning walk as non of it is paperwork it's down to you to remember it which is not easy whilst caring for the children and answering endless questions on why what etc. My inspection was full on no breaks for just under 6 hours, I didn't even go to the loo or have a drink. Then I had to discuss her feedback and justify why I hadn't added colour into a batter pancake mixing activity....it was in the fruit that went on it as well as the free flow painting, drawing and games.
I've never got work from being outstanding and can't charge more it's just a pain because one day I won't get it and it will look like I don't put the same effort in as over the last 10 years.

I used 2 childminders who were ‘good’, outstanding wasn’t on my list of requirements at all. I mostly went on gut feel then just checked the ofsted after I’d pretty much decided to make sure it wasn’t terrible. My second one told me she’d been told by the inspector she/the setting had the capacity to be outstanding but she didn’t want to waste time on paperwork 😂 (she never bothered with a learning journal or an app or anything). As a teacher who also detests paperwork I fully sympathised with this!!

I honestly don’t think many parent are fussed about good/outstanding with childminders. Gut feel, as well as practicalities such as opening times, location and whether you actually have availability on the days they need are likely far more important.

Not a CM but regarding schools for my child starting this year, the outstanding one, wasn't outstanding.
We are hoping he gets the good rated school.

In my experience parents do not care about Ofsted gradings and choose a childminder based purely on what sort of person they are/getting a good feeling from a setting.

I've known childminders with inadequate gradings that don't lose any parents over it.

I would be put off by an Unsatisfactory... but a RI or Good who have taken criticism on board and working on it would be no problem. Outstanding who think they are perfect and overlooking problems would be a bit off putting. (But an Outstanding could be trying to improve, and a Good brushing over problems)

The nursery my DD was at was closed by Ofsted a few years ago. But with a new manager and the community coming together it was allowed to reopen... they really took the critism on board. I believe its Outstanding now, 7 years later.