CHILDMINDERS letter to ofstead what would you want included

[MJW1999]

Hello this is more a question for childminders. I have a great childminder set up ready for my LO in a few months and they are due to be inspected soon. I have been asked to email over a parent feedback for them to show their inspector. I want to know how would I format it and any key points that will help my childminder get the rating they deserve! They really are great and I’d love to reflect this in my email but I haven’t got any idea how to format it and I don’t want it to be unusable or confusing. Any templates drafts or completed ones that I can look at or any other feedback would be really helpful. I will not copy it as I have my own positive comments but I just don’t know how to format it all. TIA xx

Have you not used the childminder yet, are you just preparing to?

We’ve had settling in sessions but not full time yet. I am going to comment on the support they’ve given to settle LO in etc.

They won't be interested unless your child is currently on roll, sometimes only if they are present on the day of inspection.

Okay well I still would like to do one incase as they’ve helped a lot settle my LO into their care 🤷🏻‍♀️

You are really over thinking it, you don't need templates or formats.
Just email saying "Lara is a great childminder because of X, Y and Z".

Just a little note, that’s all I did, they won’t b look for essays.

Thank you 😊

Only talk about what you've experienced to date - so really pleased with how the settling sessions are going, and looking forward to having baby Billy in full time.

Sorry to Thor's who say keep it simple but the more detail the better....X put themselves out to give us information on financial schemes.
Settling was done at the baby's pace and talked through with me on how we all felt it was going and what would be the next step.
Through the process I felt........listened to/ supported/ Etc.
Ofsted are very interested in the settling in process, working with parents, and support with issues like finance, getting support with eating, development, food banks, abuse etc so if you say helped with setting up childcare grant or whatever it ups the grade. .
If a childminder goes above and beyond, has looked after you or your child in emergencies or difficult times, is a listening ear or whatever Ofsted wants to know and it absolutely does help your childminder in inspection.

You don't know that she's a great childminder yet and the fact she's asking for parents who haven't used her yet to give good feedback rather than families who have used her previously is a bed red flag to me

Why is it a red flag? The childminder will have asked all the current families for such a letter. To have one from someone who has only done settling in hours could be great as OFSTED are keen to see things like the settling process and working with parents as Jannier said. Having a range of parents giving feedback helps build a rounded picture.

@Mammalamma it's a red flag because she's essentially asking the op to lie rather than just using current or previous customers. Ofsted don't need loads of letters, but they need transparency

But she hasn’t asked the op to lie, she’s merely asked for feedback. Why would you assume she’s asking op to lie? The childminder is merely asking for feedback on the op’s experiences so far 🤷🏼‍♀️

I wouldn't give feedback based on settling in sessions......

She is a great Childminder. She also has asked other parents. She’s childminded for my family for years. She’s been exceptional in the settling in process and truly has reassured me as a FTM who has to return to work. She hasn’t asked that I lie nor has she forced me to do this. I simply asked for some advice on the format of it not asking you to tell me not to do it or if it’s a red flag…….. Personally I think that if you haven’t got anything constructive to say then don’t say anything at all… you may be bored and wishing to cause drama but most people on here ask a specific question for an answer to that question not for judgement from other mums. Idk if you have an issue with childminders in general or not but I wasn’t asking you your opinion on that or if it’s a red flag I asked how to write it.

I think it’s lovely that you want to write a letter of support. Just go over how welcome you and your little one have been made to feel, the points that you think are great and how you feel about leaving your little one with her. She sounds like a lovely childminder and it’s good for OFSTED to see that she is recognised for that. You could always add in the letter that you’re happy to be contacted should the inspector require any further information. I wouldn’t worry about the format as such, just imagine your writing to a friend to say how lovely your experience has been.

Thank you 😊 I deal with them with my work so know how much of an anxiety inducing time it can be and really want to show the inspector the positive experience we’ve had. Thank you for your response. She really has gone above and beyond for us (as she does with all parents) and she does offer more free settling in sessions than what others do which is also to help both child and mother/care giver feel reassured which we felt would be a good idea to show to the inspector.

She's asking for feedback on the way she's offering settling in and how supportive she is in that process....you obviously put in your feedback settling started on x we have done X sessions totalling y hours. I am due to start a full time contract on ...... Just as you would for a reference in a job.
Childminders are asked to get feedback from all current families...ie those with contracts post covid settling and supporting attachment is a big thing with lots of children struggling.
Ofsted also asks to meet or phone parents to discuss the service so like to come when children are picked up/dropped but call if that's not possible.
How much of the inspection process are you familiar with?

If settling has begun the op is a current customer and the child will be in the attendance register....Ofsted looks at the register and can see the child comes an hour or two....they also ask about ages of children, any send, ESOL, funded children etc it's very detailed.

It's a brilliant idea

Why? They are often the most important times for children and families and if not done right can cause issues. People really do underestimate the importance of good settling and building positive relationships I guess because few nurseries bother.

Why assume she's not asking all contracted families? Don't you like childminders or something?

@MJW1999 childcare settings aren't the kind of situation where you say something nice or say nothing.

@jannier I don't have any problem with childminders, I just would never give feedback after a couple of settling in sessions or trust the feedback of someone who does.

But it's not about buying a product or service the point of the inspection is gathering evidence of all service users from starting to leaving if you ask a parent 4 years in how did you find settling your child they wouldn't even remember if they felt that improvements could be made or were impressed because it's irrelevant to them....the input should include anything that could be better too.
The inspector takes hours looking at everything you wouldn't get an outstanding rating on one feedback form. In fact very little paperwork is looked at most is observation and verbal questions fired at you while you're working so no time to think...ie whiles feeding a child or in the middle of a messy activity you may be asked what is that child( who's wondered off having finished and self selected a toy from the cupboard) getting from that activity to meet next steps? Where are they in their development? And it's continual.
My inspector spent 5 hours grilling me while watching and 15 minutes talking to parents with 15 or so looking at paperwork. It's a tough process no breaks I didn't even get a drink.