Ofsted is the regulatory body that ensures all schools and nurseries are operating effectively and ensuring all children are able to reach their full potential. Unlike schools nurseries get no warning of an inspection, they just turn up on the day. Some may say that this is unfair but I feel that what Ofsted then get is a true reflection of a typical day at the nursery – what they see is what they get and what the children and families of the nursery get as well.
We have to follow many many rules and regulations from Ofsted, some you agree with whole-heartedly and others you have to grin and bear the bureaucracy.
The day of our last inspection fell during a school half term, so some members of staff were on holiday with their children, meaning we had our trusted support team in place. However on this day we also had 2 members of staff fall sick and one was coming in late because of an emergency appointment, but as always with a bit of moving of staff and covering by the manager we were all in ratio and everything was set up for the children’s arrival.
Then a knock on the door, member of staff opened it, closed it again and said the words ‘Ofsted is here’. Well for me that has been working in early years for 16 years this is ok, I have been through at least 5 inspections before but for some members of staff this is the first one so nerve racking for them to say the least. So a quick 10 second pep talk to stay calm and do your usual very best, and then let them in.
Straight away the Ofsted Inspector was lovely. They are not all like this, some are very aloof, some have never worked in early years and it is difficult to say how they can make a judgement, but in this case we were fortunate to have an Inspector that had worked in early years, her degree was in early years and she knew exactly the issues and challenges, as well as the joys surrounding working with this age group.
She was keen to speak to parents, as they always are, so a note was put on the board and straight away 3 parents were queuing up to talk to her. This meant staff had the opportunity to help younger members of the team to feel ready for the inspection.
After the talk with parents the Inspector then spent at least an hour in each room, observing play, resources, interactions, small group work etc. For the first time there was a joint observation of a single member of staff running a small focus group for 30 minutes, very intimidating and nerve racking for them but I thought they were brilliant.
Ad the Inspector moves around the rooms I also went round to check the staff and children were ok and not put under pressure by a stranger in the room. The children had no issues, someone extra to chat to, cover in paint and ask for a story to be read!!
Then came for the one to one time with me. Time to go through endless reams of paperwork, forms, statistics, computer generated graphs, monthly learning outcomes (you see they are important!) and policies to ensure they are all correct, working and up to date. After that the Inspector is left alone to put everything together and maybe summon me back if a piece of evidence is missing or if there is anything else I would like to put forward for evidence. At this point you frantically rack your brains to wonder if you have got everything out to show. Have we remembered the photos of the farm visit, the insects visit, all the walks we do, people that have come in to visit the children and all the other trips and extras that we do for the children.
At 3.00 the fated time to sit in the office with the door closed for the final judgement from Ofsted. Luckily for me the chair of the committee was also able to come and sit with me so I am not alone. The Inspector talks about our previous inspection when we were rated outstanding. How the parameters have changed so much since then that this outcome would only be graded as a good now if not requires improvement. How much legalities have changed, ideas and theories and also a change of management within the nursery. Also the percentage of early years gaining an Outstanding now is much much lower than it was 4 years ago. Hold bated breath – but you are still Outstanding.
For a moment you can’t quite believe the magic words, the elation is slow to kick in, then you realise you have missed what she has just said. A quick glance and smile at the chair makes me realise this is not a dream.
Of course we then have to keep the outcome a secret until the official paperwork comes through, just in case someone from on high changes our outcome, rare but it does happen. Trying to be casual when parents ask how it went, wanting to shut it from the rooftops but having to keep it quiet until then. A huge sigh of relief, a very well done to the staff for keeping a level head and showing that this is what we are all about. A child and family centred nursery, not for profit but for the benefit of the families and a wonderful place to work.
