Inspection reports - what was in yours. Sorry, a bit long.

[underpaidandoverworked]

Many of you will have read my thread 3 weeks ago after my Ofsted inspection, well here's the update.

Received the report yesterday and ,tbh, I could do with a 'plain english' translation . It waffles on about nowt nor something but, I feel, a lot of important info has been missed out of it - I can only guess at the reason for that. Given anyone can input a p/code into the website and view reports for cms in the locality, mine doesn't mention, anywhere, the following

passed dhc
have nvq3 in children's care learning and development
have level 2 food safety award
have completed oral hygiene training course
have completed ncma courses on eyfs
am NCMA member

On top of that, you may remember the file that cost me the outstanding was an obs and assessment file for a child 5yr4m who is in ft education and is in my care approx 4.5 hrs a week - if that. I didn't have a file for the child because had been advised by cm coordinator that didn't need one . Well, report does have that 'action' stated - oh, and it should have been complied with by 14/4 even though only received report yesterday - but there is no mention in the report of the comprehensive obs and assessment file I have for the other children, one of which was available to the inspector on the day, and I know she looked at it. The other was with parents - had only had child, 4yrs 5mths, 4wks and parents were still going through the assessment to let me know what he could already do. The wording in the inspection implies I don't do these files for any of the children. There is no mention of risk assessments or daily diaries.

I've read loads of inspection reports over the last few weeks - have seen some where 'recommendations' should have been 'actions' under the Welfare part of eyfs and feel really frustrated, still. Most reports state the cms training - not sure why mine should be different. Am going to appeal - or complain as Ofsted put it - but wondered if anyone out there got a report that really reflected what they do. . Has anyone appealed and had a 'judgement' changed.

Also, did you know there is a new clause which can be put as a condition on your reg. certificate that states 'When caring for 4 or 5yr old children who are in full-time education, may increase the number in the early years age group by the number of children in full-time education, providing the maximum number is not exceeded [Early Years Register] - it's apparently called the 'Rising 5' clause. You have to apply in writing for a 'variation' to have it put on.

And - while trawling the Ofted website in my mission, have found the following documents which may be useful to anyone due an inspection.

'Evaluating early years provision in settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage before or after school
or during school holidays'

'Inspecting provision before or after school or during school holidays for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage'

Think the first should certainly have been sent out to all providers - I certainly didnt get a copy, only found them by chance.

I had a hideous report - it didn't match the verbal feedback I was given, contradicted itself and contained things that weren't discussed and weren't true. The section about children I look after was factually accurate but the parents couldnt understand it and thought it was wrong. (To me, it looked like a batch of standard sentences thrown together in the wrong order).

The letter accompanying my report said I had to notify within 24 hours of receiving my report if there was anything factually inaccurate. I phoned them and said I couldn't look at it properly while I was childminding so needed more time. So I spent HOURS going through it and made a list of 14 points that were wrong explaining what I do and had told/showed the inspector on the day. Parents were supportive and emailed Ofsted to say what they knew to be wrong. Apparently I'm a very rare case, but they have voided my inspection and I am to be reinspected.
It seems to me that the new EYFS system is seriously failing. I don't believe EYFS is a disaster, just that the inspections need fine-tuning. Instead of a system that safeguards children and gives parents an informed view of the quality of care provided we now have an inspection process that is ridiculed by parents and carers alike. Each inspector is a law unto him/herself - what one childminder can get an outstanding for, another will achieve just satisfactory. We have ever shorter inspections - just a poorly taken "snapshot" from the viewpoint of 1 person, rather than the informed, educated assessment of the overall service provision that parents deserve.

It seems there have been a number of basic errors, even in Outstanding reports. Spelling/grammar checks don't seem to have been made on some reports either. I would urge anyone who finds their report to be inaccurate to contact Ofsted straight away and give them a list of what's wrong and send a copy to NCMA. I wasn't going to bother doing anything about mine. I was too tired, busy, fed up etc. I realised that while we have a legal duty to issue parents with your report, there is nothing to stop us highlighting errors and adding own comments or stapling a list of your own facts to it. But the fact that its on your record for 3 years persuaded me.

And if everybody was to contact Ofsted to point out the errors in their reports, Ofsted might realise that it would have been worthwhile ensuring their own Self-Assessment was top-notch before imposing one on everyone else!

Ayla, thanks so much . I found that a lot of the things I was asked during the inspection weren't even reflected in the report - and a lot of it seemed to have been lifted straight from my SEF . I've been telling Ofsted I am appealing since the day of inspection and I really feel they aren't interested. A head guy who was happy to speak to my cm coordinator on the day of inspection about me - confidentiality - wouldn't speak to me personally the following day.

And I agree, the overall judgement is with me for 3 years - am going to put complaint in tomorrow. Only not by email as you never get a reply .

Also, didn't get a copy of the 'Complaints and Appeals' guide that was supposed to be sent with report - they probably assumed had already read it [if I could find it on webby].

Hope your re-inspection goes well.