Inspection coming up soon

[lou]

hi all,
im quite new to this(the forum) so bear with me!!
I have been registered since 2004, and had my last inspection in dec 04, therefore i will be due another one by dec later this year.
My first inspection was fine, i wasnt fazed by it at all and happily gained a "good" outcome, but am starting to feel slightly nervous about the next one. Not sure if it just because it is 3 yrs since last one or because so much seems to have changed in the way of showing the inspector "evidence" of pretty much everything!
Does anyone have any handy advice or tips or should i just relax??
Thanks Lou x

[deeb66]

hi Lou

The inspections have changed a little since your last one. When you get inspected again will depend upon your area - my last inspection was 4 years ago now.

Before it was generally talking to the inspector and showing her some paperwork etc but now in order to recieve Good or Outstanding you have to have a lot of evidence to support what you say - things like policies and procedures and photo's of the kids doing certain activites is also a good idea.

You are probably doing everything you should be but you just have to think 'how can I prove what I am saying' and start to put the proof in place now so that the inspector can see that it is an ongoing thing.

Dee

[lou]

thanks dee,
I am in Somerset, i thought the inspections were every 3 years or does that vary?

I think you are righti probably am doing most of it already i just need to make sure it is all in place for when the inspector comes.
I have all policies and procedures and i take lots of photos of the activities we do, i also keep diaries for all the children and have forms and permission slips for pretty much everything!!!

does anyone do a newsletter? do you think thats a good idea or not really worth while if you are doing a diary already?

[sarahnev707]

For my own personal development I -

Made a list of the ECM outcomes and put the standards into them (a bit like a blank portfolio)

Then I looked at each standard in turn and asked myself how I could prove I was meeting and/or exceeding the expectations in that standard

If I was achieving that standard, I referenced where the evidence was - if I wasn't, I looked again at what the standard was asking for and what I was doing, then put it on my personal development list and got it sorted!

I've done an online safeguarding children course, taken a food hygiene course, booked a healthy eating course, read books on disability awareness from the library, looked into the costs of inclusion, got subs to magazines to update my knowledge, done an NCMA quality first and am getting mailings from lots of different online organisations to fulfil various areas of the standards - as those are places where I recognised I had a shortfall of information

It's how I learned to do it years ago when I was teaching..... hope it helps you!

Sarahx

[lou]

thanks sarah, thats all very helpful.

you said you did an online safeguarding children course? do you have any info on this?
thanks louxx

[angela234]

Hello Lou I was registered Dec 2003 and also got good last inspection, last week i had my inspection i think it was pushed foward because i've just had a new conservatory as a play room, i was so pleased i got outstanding.

The inspector spent most of her time looking at evidence of what i do through photos, plans, themes with a break down of activities for a theme. She also watched as i worked with the children. Just be yourself.

I have policies not too many and they are short and simple but they cover all the important issues.

Point out what you have, i found they didn't ask so i told her.

I also have a folder of information leaflets available for parents (bullying, keeping children safe, child proctection, car seat laws etc)

She said it was all the extras i do that got me outstanding.

Have you tried reading other childminders ofsted reports they will give you some ideas of things they look for

Let us know when you hear from them

Angela

[deeb66]

Hi Lou

Yes I do a monthly newsletter which gives a general outline of what we have done in the last month and what I am hoping to do in the next.

Depending on the month the newsletter may have anywhere between 1-4 pages giving all sorts of information. I find it very useful as I can fore warn parents of up coming events etc and helps to prove your 'working with parents'

Hope this helps

Dee

[lou]

thanks everyone for all your help, i think it will be best to be as prepared as poss so will try to get organised from here!!
lou xx

[sarahnev707]

Hi Lou

It was one from educare underwritten by the nspcc -

I think it was about £25 plus vat

You do the test, send it back then get your certificate - you keep the paperwork (which is professionally printed) as evidence and to refer to in the future

Sarahx