inspected today -gutted

[underpaidandoverworked]

inspected today - outstanding in 10 areas but only graded 'good' overall because was advised by cm coordinator only last wk that didnt have to do obs/assessments on child 5yrs6mths who i care for 4hrs a wk - yes,i have posted on this previously but you 'trust' your coordinator to know -and even last week i was reassured it wasnt needed. but guess what - you do. am really angry because i have obs/assessments in place for other children in the setting - even though written obs are apparently not a legal requirement, only a recommendation - and even if i'd been told yesterday i would have had time to put file together for the child as i have enough info in my own diary to be able to 'recall and reflect'. inspector commented i went above and beyond in most areas but that this would have to be reflected in my overall grading.

the parent whose child is at the 'centre' of this is gutted - in her words, 'for the sake of 4hrs, you've been downgraded', and she can't understand the logic any more than i can. i've only been caring for the child for a couple of months anyway so over 4hrs a wk havn't really had time to establish his 'baseline' yet anyway.

please, please don't misunderstand me and flame me on here - i know that to get 'good' is brilliant, but i just feel a little 'cheated' tonight - i trusted the advice i was given to then be told that advice has meant i don't meet the legal requirements of eyfs.

katymac, need your support, know your inspection was difficult. am intending to appeal but is it worth it . advice ladies............

Congrats - you still did absolutely brilliant. Appeal it won't hurt. I have 3 children who's birthdays are October and November, and 2 who are in August/September, so I will have to continue with the fist lot untill they are nearly 6 and the others within 2 months after they are 5 - bloody ridiculous. Why not set an age?

Congrats - you should be really proud, (and understandably a bit pissed off) its still a fantastic grading. Appeal anyway, it will be worth it to settle your mind.

I have 3 children with birthdays October/November and 2 with birthdays in August/September which means carrying on with the first lot untill they are nearly 6 and the others just after they are 5 - how insane is that, I thought they were trying to filter out the age issues.

I've just been on an EYFS course and specifically asked only to be told I didn't have to. One of mine has a bday in Feb 2004 so I should be???? Thanks for bringing this up. Totally unfair for you though.

I suggest everyone reads this

P15 states "Settings only providing for children before or after school or during school holidays
A number of childminders and out of school clubs only provide care for children at the beginning and/or end of the school day or in the school holidays. If registered, these settings must deliver the EYFS. They are expected to work closely with others, including schools also providing the EYFS for those children, to ensure they receive the full EYFS. The provision in each setting should take into account and complement the range of EYFS experiences children receive elsewhere.
Inspectors should grade such provision using the four-point scale, basing their judgements on the nature and extent of what is provided rather than the full EYFS. When reaching their judgements, inspectors should take into account how well the setting works with other providers to ensure that activities are complementary and promote continuity and progression for children. In the report section ?description of the setting/childminding? inspectors should make clear the nature and extent of the provision.
This applies where an early years setting only provides for children in the EYFS before or after school or in school holidays - not where some children attend for longer. For example, it does not apply to provision made by a childminder who cares for a baby all day and for three- and four-year-olds between 12.00 and 17.00 who have attended nursery school in the morning.
The interpretation of ?before and after a normal school day? includes school holidays for children in the EYFS who attend ten sessions in school. Such children are regarded as over five at all times for the purposes of the adult to child ratio. This does not mean that the setting can treat them as over five for the purposes of delivering the EYFS. Settings will still need to deliver the EYFS for these children in line with the guidance for inspecting provision before or after school or during school holidays for children in the EYFS."

I have file on my reception children with a permission letter from mum to talk to the school, copies of my observations with a note saying we have passed these to the school for inclusion in their end of year report/EYFS thingie

reading recent posts, this is where it is such a 'grey' area . schools know exactly what they have to do, staff are trained and paid well to deliver - we've been thrown in at the deep end without proper 'simplified' guidelines from ofsted about what we should actually be doing [not that i'm suggesting we are simple, far from it . i did all of the ncma eyfs training that was available in my region, have been working towards it since sept 07 yet still i missed this - and my cm coordinator wasn't aware of it either. if a child is classed as over 5 for ratios, why should it be different for eyfs . there is somewhere on page 17 which is totally contradictory - will find 2morrow and post - even ofsted guy admitted that to my cm coordinator when she rang them. should contradictions not have been ironed out before it was brought in, or in the case of a 'contradiction' some leeway [probably wrong word, don't flame me ]be given. i deliver eyfs to all children in my setting but just don't have the 'written' obs and assessments for child in question. i have my personal diary entries where i have spoken to parents, i feed info to and from school to parents, i have photos of what child has done - i feel that this should be sufficent. all cms i've spoken to today have admitted they don't have formal obs/assessment file for reception children some don't do obs once child starts nursery, they pass their file on to the setting and they take over. as i said previously, if i wasn't doing this for any child in my setting then fair do's, but i have files for the other children - i just took advice and it turns out it was the wrong advice on this occasion . inspector commented i should look upon it as a learning experience - waiting for call from them tomorrow

might apply for any jobs that come up for ofsted - feel like i know eyfs inside out now . on second thoughts.........

I minded a little one untill he went to school in September, his birthday is in October so formally covered by the EYFS untill he is 5 years 11 months. I am due to have him approximately 10 days over the school holidays this year and understand I should EYFS him. I won't. Its stupid. He has 4 years worth of diaries, photos, art work, scrapbooks from me already.

And what makes him different from a little girl I have who is 5 in August so won't have to be covered?

There are reasons that children have holidays to allow them to have fun and relax during school terms. Why are our under 5/6's being "pushed" more than older children. I understand its learning through play, but during the holidays it should be more towards fun and play.

Sorry, if this a complete muppet question, but if you looked after my reception age child for an hour after school, you would have to deliver the EYFS curriculum? But if I as the parent took said child home after school instead and let them chill out and talk about their day (or not!) I wouldn't have to fulfil EYFS? Just as well there isn't an OFSTED for parents!

Congratulations on your outstanding grades - very impressive.

ofsted for parents - might be a case of watch this space

Another crackpot anomaly of the EYFS is that it doesn't apply to the children of CMs no matter what their age is.

To be covered by the EYFS, a child has to be being minded for reward (ie you are paid to do it), therefore a CMs children are automatically exempt.

talking of anomalys - reception children classed as over 5's term-time, but under5's in holidays - .

spoke to inspector today and she advised me to appeal - they can't change judgements once they are submitted apparently, but once i've received copy of report i need to write to ofsted. also am going to try to bully local authority into going through eyfs with fine tooth comb and putting a training course together which clarifies everything we should be doing.

btw, i did the ncma eyfs training and trainer couldn't answer a lot of the questions that were thrown at her so if we aren't being given the right advice by those who are supposed to be 'in the know', how the hell are 'we' supposed to what's right or wrong .

sorry to keep this thread going - am officially a middle aged cm on a mission

I had this after a question i emailed to ofsted

The Early Years Foundation Stage ratio requirements for childminders state:

'where four- and five-year-old children only attend the childminding setting before and/or after a normal school day, they may be classed as children over the age of five for the purposes of the adult:child ratio'

After consultation our Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) colleagues have confirmed that their intention was to maintain the status quo. Therefore, despite the wording in the statutory framework of 'before and after a normal school day', we will interpret this requirement in line with DCSF policy intentions.

Where children aged four and five are in full time education (attending ten education sessions per week) they can be counted as over the age of five, for the purposes of the adult:child ratio only. This still applies during weekends and school holidays.

It is important to note you must still deliver the EYFS to rising fives. In addition you must still register on the Early Years Register if you care for children between the ages of birth and the 31st of August following their fifth birthday unless you are exempt from compulsory registration, even if all these children are rising fives.

To be classed as rising fives children must attend 10 sessions of education a week. During any school half-term holiday periods, any children aged 4 who attend school full time will also be classed as a rising five.

Thanks for answering Underpaid - I suspect that somewhere there is a plan for OfMumsnDads!

Crazy crazy and stupid, yes I think you should appeal but do remember you work for the parents who obviously think you are wonderful, and so you are... dont let the buggers get you down, I have a feeling things will change for the better soon, too many good cms leaving because of decisions like this.. hugs and good luck..