Inspection next week - what do you do with your pets?

[underpaidandoverworked]

I have a 'mammy' cat and 2 of her 10 wk old kittens and have basically been told to remove all evidence of them before Ofsted come next week. They tend to stay upstairs anyway when I have children around but obviously need access to food and water - would you just put them upstairs? Problem is, Ofsted won't say when they're coming so would mean locking them away all week. They've been such a big part of the children's lives and their learning and development since they were born as they've watched them growing from newborn (under supervision and subject to risk assessment of course ) and we've had loads of discussions about growing up and life cycles - am I stressing over nothing?? Or is this just my way of taking my mind off the SEF!!!

Their food and water has always been in the kitchen - parents see that when they visit - and I've never had a child try to turn themselves into an 'Iams Cat' yet by eating the food!!! Children aren't allowed into the kitchen unsupervised anyway and I don't have a separate utility area.

What have other cms done with their pets? Help, please............

TBH

I would be most pissed off, if you hid your animals during an OFSTED inspection. Even if I knew about them, it would suggest to me that you do not entirely trust your animals and as such that would make me uneasy.

DS's CM had a dog and made sure it was part of her inspection.

Her dog loved the children and when they were out in the garden, the dog insisted on sitting outside the side gate and keeping a wary eye out.

I'm not on about hiding them, they run around at leisure if they want to and all parents have signed my 'Parent information and acceptance form regarding child/children coming into contact with pets in the setting' form. As a cm I would never have a pet in my setting that I didn't trust with the children and TBH, the kittens are more at risk from the children I look after than the other way round!!!

I'm on about the food and water being in the kitchen - where it has always been! I've discussed this with parents tonight and they can't believe I'm concerned about it as 2 of them have pets who feed in the kitchen too.

BTW, Ofsted will be made aware I have pets when I have my inspection, as required under the Welfare Requirements of EYFS and it will also be on the report when it is published on their website. The children love them and, like I said in 1st post, we've all got so much from them since they were born.

Also, if you read first post, I said that I've been 'told' to remove all evidence of them ( by cm coordinator!!) - it's not what I would do through choice

I would hide my gerbils. Up my sleeves. Then if the inspector looked at me funny, I'd get all offended and go Vicky Pollard on them, "you lookin' at my tits or sumfing?"

I did shut my dog out in the utility during my inspection but I do this whenever I have new people in the house.Be that a friend who is not a regular visitor, tv repair man, or any other new person. My dog is just too friendly and tends to not leave new people alone. I was very honest with the inspector and explained my reasons for shutting the dog out. On an ordinary day my dog is allowed in the same room as the children and they are so used to each other that the dog pays little attention to them and they don't bother with her much either. I don't have her dog bed or bowls in the kitchen, they go out in utility.

Thanks popperdoodles, thought I was going to be 'flamed' earlier!

Online as we post doing my SEF............

Well my inspector cuddled my cat (& fed the chicken) but his food is in the utility room

I can't believe your co-ordinator suggested hiding them

My cats food and litter tray are both in the kitchen. I make sure I have a pet policy and tick sheet to show how often I clean her feeding and litter area. It's also on my risk assessment for the kitchen. Ofsted were fine with that. Think so long as you're aware of it and show how you make sure it's all hygenic, they're ok

Thanks mumnosbest - hope I get a nice inspector like yours