Here's a link to the OFSTED group on Facebook where that comment was put in the main description
Yes, our thread is a tad big at 118 messages! I've just picked out a few posts that I thought would give you an idea of how crazy things are, first one is from a Childminder, the rest are from Parents:
"I was heavily criticised for not having disabled dolls....despite having a severely disabled DS2 of my own, and my mindees accompanying me to his SN nursery/special events etc etc.....And I was told that the only way I could have this criticism amended/removed from the report was if I wanted to lodge a complaint that the inspector had behaved "unprofessionally" during the inspection. Well, no, she had been very professional, but has just made me look incapable of providing for any children adequately by the implication that I'm not providing adequately for my own!! Have just c/pasted this from an old thread. Would like to add that the way that this made me feel (namely rubbish, stressed, impotent) meant that I have now stopped childminding. I gave notice to my mindee (only did 1 day a week to give mindee best attention while still meeting DS1 and DS2's needs). We're worse off financially, but stress-wise it's better for me. "
"I have used three childminders for ds1 not for 6 years though, the first was pre ofsted the second and third were fully ofsteded.
they were both great, the first was like ds' second mum, she adored him. I was confident in her ability and trusted her wholeheartedly. then we moved area and ds went to the second cm, It was a rushed decision, I met her afew times before we signed contracts, her paperwork was impecable, I imagine that she ticked all of ofsteds boxes but I had a bad gut feeling about her which I, insanly, ignored. things went very wrong after the first day and I removed him on day 2. (long long story that involved my ds being left in bed at lunchtime where he smeared poo from his nappy up the walls... this was so incredibly out of character, my ds loved his sleep and would always wake up and call out to be got out of bed in the afternoon, and he had NEVER gone near his nappy contents before that or after that, so I am horrified to think what had happened that day. she was very p'eed off that it had happened (?!) there were other things that were very strange about her but her crudentials seemed perfect. we then moved again to the third cm, she was very mumsmy and warm and cuddly and playful, her kitchen was alway a tip (that I ccould see, no need to go in there) the mindees seemed to be very included in her whole family (grandma and all!) so I was very happy with her and in fact she became a friend. so as a parent, if I needed to look again for a childminder I would deliberatly NOT take the ofsted inspection into account, I would go on my instinct and references and reputation where possible."
"OK I'm a parent and have used childminders for over 7 years. When my CM had her last Ofsted I was terrified that it would tip her over the edge and that she would retire - she must be in her late 50s. The paperwork was ridiculous and so was the pressure. The reason I have her as my CM is that all the children in her care are like a little extended family, a gang of all ages who really look out for each other. My two (8 and 6) are disappointed if they are NOT going there after school. If I wanted a formal learning environment I would have chosen a nursery. What I actually wanted was an informal family environment for them where they were loved. She is often seen around the town taking the little ones for long slow walks where they watch things at a child's pace and learn as they go along. I hate the idea of her having any sort of curriculum or set of educational targets. I am one of those who thinks we start formal education too early in this country as it is. Anyway - the Ofsted inspector sat behind motionless behind her laptop and then afterwards said she was cold. (The kids weren't - they move about..) My CM was told off for not having any racially mixed toys...It's as if they are looking for problems. And so for this she was given a "good" and not an "excellent" which really depressed her as she is the most conscientious of people. And as I said earlier, there is so much paperwork...Anyway the parents rallied round with chocs and flowers and her son who is a trainee teacher helped her to come up with the right management-speak language for the forms. And she is still working. But frankly I wouldn't blame her if she just jacked it in. Ofsted should leave well alone and the government should stop trying to institutionalise small children. Let us keep the choice of informal childcare. Yes OK there have to be safeguards but let's exercise some common sense here. They are childminders not penpushers."
"Ok Looney dont know if this will help. I lost the most fantastic CM ever as she could no longer deal with the ** you are having forced down your necks from OFSTED. It took what was an enjoyable job for her (and she loved all the kids as if her own) and turned into hell. When you stay in a small place like where I stayed you relay on good CM's especially when you dont have the option of a Nursery, unfortunatley there are only about 3 left in the place now and when my CM quit it had to take drastic action to to find care for my DS as at the time I needed to keep my job. The CM in question is a very good friend now and offered to whole heartedly help with DS anytime she could and he still loves her so much, she is like a granny to him and a 2nd mum to me. Why are they forcing people like this out of the most important job you can give someone?? "
These are just a few of the posts, anyone reading the whole thread would probably be shocked and some of the comments. Also, OFSTED are SO inconsistant, we don't know where we stand. One childminder was told off for having no scissors in first aid box by one inspector. When had next inspection, was told off for HAVING scissors in first aid box!!!
HTH