Oh god my ofsted inspector has just called me - I am so gutted :(

[SammyK]

Because my first aid cert is out of date, I am nnow being graded inadequate in several areas, and inadequate overall.

This means I have n overall grading of indeqaute - and am stuck with it for at least six months!

(My first aid course was booked and I missed it due to illness, and am rebooked on another one)

I am feeling very upset and on the edge right now. A parent came to pick mindee up just after I got off the phone and was very angry on my behalf, and very consoling.

Hmm Ofsted are there to ensure that a seeting offers a safe and stimulating environment for children- how can that be a bad thing?

They assess how strong your policies and procedures are for...say health and hygiene, will ascertain how good your knowledge of child protection procedures are- those are two examples of the 'staying safe' part of Every Child Matters. Lack of first aid would be a concern as you need to have up-to-date training in the event of a child having an accident. Further to that you would not have been insured to give first aid either.

That's just one part of ECM though.
They would also have looked at how stimulating the activities are that the children are offered, and how strong partnerships with parents are too.

All of that aside- you should have had the opportunity at your feedback session to have queried or clarified any of the inspector's concerns- did they offer you that?

Knowing the way that Ofsted work, If my childminder was graded inadequate in several areas I would worry- sorry.

OMG sammyK sorry haven't time to read thread just wanted to say i'm sorry to hear this .

My inspector said I had lots of positive things to my setting, and that her heart sank when she realised my first aid cert was out of date. I am absolutely gutted about it, at my last inspection I was graded good in every area, and do so much more now three years on, my first aid cert fell by the wayside in terms of rebooking it as I had a relationship crisis, followed by the realisation DS was on the autistic spectrum, I then booked one and was ill. I have had a very crappy year, I hadn't not renewed it due to lack of concern or arrogance, I take pride in my work and all the families I mind for are happy with me.

"If my childminder was graded inadequate in several areas I would worry- sorry."

I was not graded inadequate in several areas, until insectors boss told her I had to be due to my first aid being out of date (even though I know of other minders who hav been booked on a course and that has been fine).

ShinyPinkShoes, inspector was happy with my policies, activities, amazed at my 22m old mindee speaking in sentences, the changing facilties I had, feedback from school aged kids, kids art work on all the walls, detaile daily diaries, etc.

I am a good child minder - I know I am am, as do the parents I mind for thankfully.
All my work comes from recommendations from parents or the local primary school who I work closely with.

It is because I put so much into this job that I am so sad at the result of the grading - I do understand about my first aid, and realise why I need it.

I am now concerned about the implications of my grading - I will have to look into this as I don''t want it to cause problems for the parents I mind for.

Will you be able to get on a FA course asap and then are you allowed to get your grading changed, or do you have to go into a kind of specila measures type thing? or wait 3 years as inadequate before you can be inspected again?

The inspector said I will be inspected aain within 6-12 months, and then the inadequate will be lifted. I asked if I got on a more immediate first aid course booking, would they reinspect me sooner, and she said I wold have to call the Ofsted regional office and ask, but she couldn't say that they would.

Obviously they have a certain amount of cms an other settings to inspect, so have their limits which I understand.

I still don't have my written inspection report yet, when I get it I may appeal. I have a lot going on with DS at the moment and don't know if I can summon the energy.

Chin up - people who know how these things work will NOT be concerned, especially if you explain why you got 'inadequate'. Believe in yourself. Bureaucracy has a lot to answer for. The things that make a really good childminder cannot be measured.

Chin up - people who know how these things work will NOT be concerned, especially if you explain why you got 'inadequate'. Believe in yourself. Bureaucracy has a lot to answer for. The things that make a really good childminder cannot be measured.

If the lack of a first aid cert was the only thing outstanding then you may well have been graded as inadequate in 'staying safe' and/or 'being healthy' but not both - and certainly not an inadequate overall.

If that is the case I'd say appeal.

Hi there, sorry to hear about your latest grading, i too as a childminder would be gutted.
I Live in London and have been told all the first aid classes untill April 09 have been booked up and no chance of getting on them as waiting lists are just as huge.

In all honesty though, i have never had a parent ask me what grade i got or to see my inspection report and hope you can take some comfort that same goes for a lot of minders.

Will only really be those who got OUTSTANDING who are really going to shout out 'I got outstanding on my latest perport' as opose to parents expecting it.

OFSTED Definatly put the depressive factor into childminding, as we hear on the news school teachers have the same worries over them, half the time they dig to find something not perfect to be able to give you a recomendation to say they have done something.

Please put in an appeal and try to get your first aid done, and hopefully you will have comfort in seeing a change in your grade.

Overall though hun keep up the good work, whether you got unsatisfactory or outstanding, a parent will know if you are genuine when they visit you and they know if they take to you or not, whatever the grade. You will be fine.