Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

Original poster

Minor Panic attack - please help! (OFSTED!)

17 replies

nomoreamover · 02/02/2009 17:03

Just got a call from Ofsted to say they will be doing an inspection sometime this month.

It will be my first since the EYFS came in - I am having a slight panic meltdown as I am unsure what they are looking for in terms of additional profiles.....

I wasn't due one til the end of the year - but they've brought it forward as they are doing a whole load of others in my area....

Anyone had a recent inspection who fancies sharing what the inspector was most keen to see with regards the framework? Pretty please?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Numberfour · 02/02/2009 17:10

What area are you in, Nomore? I am petrified of my inspection. So sorry that i do not have any advice. How about having a look at recent OFSTED reports online to see what the reports say? Also have you done your SEF yet? No, I have not.... but it is on my to do list, along with everything else!

BradfordMum · 02/02/2009 17:59

LOL you're not the only one who's having their first inspection since EYFS came in! It affects every English Childmimder.
My inspector said in her opinion a completed SEF meant you were ahead of the game.
If you don't fill it in, she will ask you the same questions at your inspection and you will not have time to ponder and think of your answer.
A CM so know had her inspection and it took 7 hours over 2 days as she hadn't done her SEF.
Mine took 2 and a half hours as I had done it.

Numberfour · 02/02/2009 18:24

[shock} 7 hours over two days'! OMF!!

PAPERFREEK · 02/02/2009 18:38

Inspector will want to see you are covering the statutory guidance regulations. What I did was to get out the guidance booklet and mark everything that was MUST with a marker pen in one colour and everything that was a SHOULD with another colour, then check I did everything and that I had a written policy for everything. You DONT need written policies but they do help a great deal if you need to let your inspector know how you agree your policies with parents and how you intend to run your setting. I use one of the EYFS-in-practice evidence files for all my documents. You can view the details for this by looking at their site eyfs-in-practice.com once you purchase the file you get full telephone support for one year. There is a full set of sample policies and procedures in the file (written by an "Outstanding" childminder for childminders). The Inspector will also want to see how you do your observations of the children (samples in the file). The Inspector will also FIRST AND FOREMOST want to see how you interact with the children - how they move independently around your setting/how they access toys themselves - how and when they know how to wash their hands and why (germs make your tummy sick)/how you teach the children about healthy food and exercise. He/she may want to see evidence of the child's work on the walls.

underpaidandoverworked · 02/02/2009 18:38

Mines also due anytime! They're big on assessment and individual learning plans apparently - I bought a fab resource off eBay a few months ago and it has these on it. Around here they've also been hot on written risk assessments - outings and home/environment - and fire drills/ visitors books. Oh, and various inspectors have been looking through cupboards and fridges - so hide those bottles of wine!! Good luck - I've been workng flat out on my files for past month so if you want a list of what I have please email me on christinemasterman dot hotmail dot co dot uk.

Original poster

nomoreamover · 02/02/2009 18:38

I have made a start on the SEF - I really want to get outstanding as I got good in all areas last time with no areas for improvement - so this time it has to be outstanding or I'll feel such a failure!

Am reading the outstanding reports in the area to try and make sure I am ticking all the boxes. I've also gone through the statutory guidance in the EYFS folder to make sure I am ticking all the boxes there too.

I think the SEF will get me there in the end but I know they have buzz words and I just wanted to include them when I talk to her!!!

Most of my mindees have only been with me a couple weeks - so i don't know them very well..

OP posts:

Original poster

nomoreamover · 02/02/2009 18:41

jesus underpaid - checking my cupboards??!!!!

Thats where I hide all the shit that needs sorting!

Paperfreak - all my little ones are under 3 - so not that articulate but hopefully she'll get enough out of them!!

Oh well I just had better crack on with it.....

Thank you for ace responses!

OP posts:

underpaidandoverworked · 02/02/2009 18:45

I can vouch for the 'EYFS in Practice evidence file' - I bought this a couple of months ago and it is fab! It gives you all the guidelines you need to compile your own policies and procedures to make sure you cover all of the Welfare Requirements of EYFS - and the lady at the end of the phone is brilliant, full of advice and support!!! Infact, I was really demotivated before I spoke to her - got my mojo back once I did

underpaidandoverworked · 02/02/2009 18:50

My friend had hidden all her xmas presents in her cupboards cos they have child locks on - and they tumbled all over the floor! . Don't get too stressed about getting outstanding - just be yourself. When I'm inspected will only have an 18mth old with me - he'll probably do the opposite to what I want. But the inspector who rang me told me their main interest is how you intrract with the children and their response to you.

NanaManchester · 03/02/2009 10:35

I can certainly add my recommendations for the EYFS in Practice Evidence File. I know at least one Local Authority that has purchased this for every childminder. They will also help you through filling in the SEF - with advice on what the questions mean and what sort of things to put.
Their website is here.

SammyK · 03/02/2009 11:16

From that website, do you need to buy each seperate product to make the full pack?? Or am I being daft? My brain is not working properly today.

I will be reinspected again soon {dread emotion} as my first aid was out of date at last inspection.

I could do with a file like this that will keep everything in place and organised.

HSMM · 03/02/2009 13:20

Cupboards! and fridges! (Do you think they'll spot the wine fridge under the stairs?

NanaManchester · 03/02/2009 21:56

Hi SammyK. The EYFS in Practice Evidence File contains everything you need. The Presentation Pack comes as a 50mm 4D ring Binder with dividers (printed up in the same sections and order as the Statutory Framework) and example policies and procedures (110 pages in all) mapped exactly to the welfare requirements - all for £27.50! Worth its weight in gold!

NanaManchester · 03/02/2009 21:57

PS. If you can't afford £27.50, the policies and procedures can be bought as a pack for £20 - you can then put them into your own files if you want.

SammyK · 04/02/2009 08:06

Right I get it, you need the top two products, which you can buy seperately, or together (3rd product on website) at a reduced cost of £27.50. Thanks for that.

I need all the help I can get!

Think I will try and scrape the money together for one.

purpledolphin · 01/05/2010 20:56

As a parent when I looked for a childminder I pretty much ignored the inspection reports it was and if I needed one now would be how my daughter interacts with the minder and I asked her to meet my mum, so what she thought too and it was perfect (by the way my child minder got good on inspection)

StarExpat · 03/05/2010 13:05

I didn't care about inspections either. Didn't ask to see them or seek them out online. I'm a teacher, so I know that a majority of what ofsted "checks" for is BS. They are obsessed with forms/paperwork... it has little to do with your actual cm practice. I can tell a good cm from a crap cm just as well as an ofsted inspector can... we're looking at the same stuff - only I'm focusing on the more important stuff (not paperwork).

Flip