Join us for a webchat with Ofsted's Chief Inspector of Education Sir Michael Wilshaw – 11.30-12.30, Tuesday 9 September 2014

[VikkiMumsnet]

As the academic year in England, Wales and NI gets underway, we're pleased to welcome Sir Michael Wilshaw into MNHQ for a webchat on Tuesday 8th September, for an hour from 11.30am.

As Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England since 2012, Sir Michael's responsibilities cover every aspect of Ofsted's work, from inspections to exams, reporting on the quality of education and children's services at both local and national level. His former career includes 43 years in teaching, with 26 spent as a head teacher in London secondary schools – most recently as Executive Principal at Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney.

You can catch up with Sir Michael's most recent views on everything from poverty to private schools here.

Post your questions for Sir Michael below, and be sure to join us live on the 8th, from 11.30am.

Dear Sir Michael, why do you think childminders are not worth using? Many of us are graduates, we work hard to find out about every new idea ofsted comes up with. We put up with inspectors who think we are useless thanks to all your comments.We start work before most people get up, finish work late so parents can work, we teach through play as we know a happy child learns best. We work with parents to ensure their child is school ready, that is able to go to the toilet by themselves, use a knife and fork, be able to wait their turn and be part of a group among so many things we teach. None of this is good enough for you. You want 2 year olds in schools, they are too young. I sensible countries they start school later and their children achieve higher results than our children who are failed by a result based system. What have childminders done wrong? You want us to join an agency which will make it so expensive option for parents and childminders. We have really started to believe that ofsted and all who are employed by ofsted hate us. At least parents and their children like us.

oh homework is nothing but ' busy work' in primary school

coughs
the childminders have arrived.

With their buggies

I am an ofsted registered childminder and I work long hours. I use my own time to update children's records, attended training sessions and I have to pay for my own resources. I work to the best of my ability and follow each and every requirement set out by ofsted. If you ask my parents they will tell you they are 100% happy with the care I give and to me that's all that counts. I'm fed up of the inconsistencies within ofsted and each inspector taking it upon themselves to demoralise us. No wonder so many minders are giving up the profession when it's own head can't celebrate the great things we can do and offer for tomorrows children.
Put yourself in our shoes just for a moment. Think about how you would feel if you tried your best, made mistakes but learnt from them and still get up every single day to work for less than the minimum wage only to be told it's not good enough. Not good enough for who? The powers that be that strike the fear of God into us or the parents? the powers that be have no idea what it takes to be a childminder but I do, it takes a special person to allow other families into our homes and to treat them like our own and we should be celebrating the fact that we are still offering a service to many not making them feel worthless

As other childminders have asked please explain your comment last week, why are we not good enough to care and educate 2, 3 & 4 year olds, why would you think it is better for a child to be in a larger setting with, often, very young staff who have very little experience, I have been a childminder for over 27 years I have worked hard to be the best I can at my job, continuously doing training, have a foundation degree in early years, the children in my care are 'school ready' when they start school so please explain your comment, thank you

I would love to know why you think that I, as a registered childminder who is graded good with outstanding features and currently delivers FEEE to 2, 3 and 4 year olds, am not best placed to "teach" young children. Why would you prefer them to be in a school based setting? I could think of nothing worse than a large group of 2 year olds forced into a classroom, crying because they miss their main carer, staff unable to spend quality one to one time with each child as they are constantly toileting children or having to resolve sharing issues.
All research shows young children develop better in small settings with a secure relationship with their carer.

Who or what are school's really working for?

1. Glory of headteachers and their remuneration
2. League tables
3. Ofsted grading
4. Glory of latest education minister
5. Glory of head of Ofsted
6. Balance sheet of academy chain
7. Exam results
8. To develop curiosity and love of learning in young people
9. Other ( explain)

Please choose, in priority order if more than one answer applies.

As an Ofsted Outstanding registered childminder I would like you to explain your reasons for suggesting that the 2 year funded children should go in to school and not to a " local childminder" your comment implies that childminders are not as good as pre-schools, I and many other childminders are deeply offended by this statement, we work 50 hours+, meeting every requirement whist also managing to meet the diverse needs of the parents. We educate the children and provide one to one support. I think that Ofsted should show more support to childminders and recognise the contribution that we make to our local communities without childminders many parents could not return to work in the knowledge that their children are receiving the best care possible.

10. Correct use of apostrophes

I am a childminder and would like to know why you said last week that parents of 2 year old funded children should send their children to a nursery rather than to "the local childminder". Why is it that you see us as inferior? As far as I'm aware, we follow the same curriculum and are inspected and graded in the same manner. On top of that we are able to focus on children in smaller groups which is a huge benefit to a lot of children. I am not sure why you would want to make a statement such as the one you did, which implies to that childminders are inferior to nurseries. Why does Ofsted bother inspecting us if we are not worthy of looking after these children?

Hello Sir Michael, childminders would like to ask you why you are so negative about us.

I have been involved in the Ofsted Big Conversation from the start and I honestly thought we were making a difference, but your comment to the Evening Standard last week has set us right back to square 1... Ofsted clearly don't have any respect for childminders.

Yet Ofsted is supposed to be impartial - and DfE have told us very recently that they 'greatly value' childminders - so please explain what is happening.

Do you, for example, have any idea how hard most of us work for little reward?

We have written to you but you have not acknowledged our letter as yet ... it would be appreciated if you could answer some of our points here. Thank you.

www.childcare.co.uk/information/open-letter-to-sir-michael-wilshaw

I would like to know why there seems to be such a discrepancy around the grading of schools and why some schools don't seem to be held accountable for their actions.

As an example, my dc's former school unlawfully excluded, failed to record numerous absences and were also found by a judge to have committed multiple acts of discrimination against a disabled child. They also issued threats when I complained about what had happened. I have full evidence of all this.

Despite Ofsted investigating these matters, they decided that the school was 'outstanding' in all areas. How can that be? This makes a mockery of the whole inspection system in my opinion.

You have previously claimed that you will take the unlawful exclusion of disabled children 'very seriously' yet have failed to do so in my case. How can parents place their trust in Ofsted when, despite receiving such a complaint with proven facts, a school can still be rated 'outstanding'?

oh GOD CHILDMINDERS STOP SPAMMING THE THREAD!

In the light of the campaign to stop schools allowing parents to take their children out of school during term time for a holiday, what do you think of a primary school allowing a Teaching Assistant to take a the final week of the summer term as holiday?

Would you please explain to us the theory and evidence behind your comments in the evening standards, demeaning a job that is important for children and parents, enabling people to get back into work who would not be able to with only school based settings and their rigid hours, thus assisting the British economy.

Through your un evidenced and backed up comments you have managed to damage the relationship between childminders and Ofsted an apparently independent organisation.

Oh yes-I forgot to ask about school absences.

Education is, rightfully, very important. As parents are now fined if their child doesn't attend, how can schools get away with illegally excluding children and depriving them of an education without any penalties at all?

To what extent can schools that serve deprived coastal towns learn from the relative success of those in inner city areas? Are there challenges that are unique to these coastal areas to which, say, London's experience is irrelevant?

Lordnoobson can I assume from your post that you are not a childminder and don't understand how sir micheal a recent statement has affected a valuable part of the early years sector?????

Am I allowed a second question?

I am a home tutor who works for a secondary PRU. My post exists because of a surge in numbers of pupils awaiting a place at the PRU. Do you think that this situation could have arisen partially as a result of Ofsted policy?

cannyjan - no way will he comment on individual cases.

8 people asked the same question.

Do the Inspectors keep up to date with developments across Europe and the US in evidenced outcomes for children with ASD in particular, and does the fact that research published showing the UK as woefully behind in terms of progress for this cohort in particular influence their judgements surrounding SEN provision?

Firstly I would like to inform you that as an OFSTED registered "local childminder" I work towards the same early years goal a nursery does, I comply to the same statutory framework as a nursery does and I insure all the children in my care are developing as they should and that they are learning how to count how to do phonics, and above and beyond all of that life skills. My question is how do you think these children who will grow into adults and have to live a life away from a desk and a classroom cope in the real world if they are not given the opportunity to learn life skills because at the age of 2 they are plonked into a classroom setting? Have you thought of the the psychological affects this will have on children affecting their P.S.E skills because you have interrupted their attachment needs. Perhaps you should research attachment and the importance of it within children's development. How they are able to get this from being passed onto one key worker to the next from the age of 2?

im a registered childminder and get fed up with you keep putting us down. i work with many happy families who rather keep their children with me at 2 as we offer the EYFS the same as any nursery and follow all guidelines.i have a lovely homely setting and as qualified as any nursery teacher. I work long hours and lots of paperwork. Its about time you gave us praise for the good job we do and parents appreciate.

What are your thoughts on what happened last year when Oldfield School in Bath's inspection report was shelved (and subsequently leaked)?

Were OFSTED leant on to suppress the report, given the implications it could have had for the Government's policies to severely curtail local authorities' control of schooling in their areas?