Ofsted publishes new inspection framework
Ofsted has published its new inspection framework today (Tuesday 9 September) for all remits which will be implemented from 10 November for early years settings. Nurseries will be inspected every four years on average rather than the current six years.
There are five new gradings based on the “report card” system outlined in the recent consultation. These will be:
- Urgent improvement
- Needs attention
- Expected standard
- Strong standard
- Exceptional
Ofsted will implement a new inspection report card to: “highlight excellence and identify areas for improvement – driving high and rising standards.”
Purnima Tanuku CBE, Executive Chair of NDNA said: “We have long campaigned for meaningful reform of how Ofsted inspects early years to ensure that the quality improvements we all want to see are the focus of how early years are regulated.
“This new inspection framework has the potential to inform and assure parents while working well for providers without being too burdensome. We welcome the fact that Ofsted has genuinely listened and acted on much of the feedback we have given on behalf of the early years sector.
“We have given evidence to Ofsted that our early years workforce are stressed and work long hours, so we are happy with the new focus on professional wellbeing and workload. This must be consistently applied throughout all educational remits.
“We have consistently said that there needs to be equity between different types of early years providers, specifically between private or voluntary nurseries and school providers. It’s vital that parents can clearly understand what happens at all early years settings – including those in schools. These must be subject to the same level of scrutiny and this should include the frequency of inspection.
“We want all Ofsted’s early years inspectors to be experts in their field with the experience and knowledge to recognise best practice in our nurseries. Ofsted has created resources to support nurseries with this big change to inspections. We will be looking at the new framework to ensure we can support and advise providers to improve their confidence going into future inspections.”
The report card will, according to Ofsted: “Provide more nuance for parents and providers, combining at-a-glance grades with narrative summaries of strengths and areas for improvement. Following extensive feedback and user testing of February’s proposed version, the report card has been redesigned to make it more accessible, particularly on mobile devices.”
Inspectors will evaluate whether providers are meeting a new “inclusion” area which will look specifically on how they meet needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A new toolkit for early years providers has been published here.
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver said: “Ofsted exists to keep children safe and improve their lives. “Children deserve the best possible education; their parents deserve the best possible information and education professionals deserve to have their work fairly assessed by experts. The changes we are presenting today aim to achieve all three of these things.
“Our new report cards will give parents a clearer understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement at the places where their children learn. We will work with the professionals in schools, early years and further education to help them showcase the best of what they do – and help them identify where they can improve.”
The new inspection framework follows last year’s Big Listen Ofsted Big Listen – GOV.UK and a 12-week consultation in February on the proposals.
Routine inspections under the current framework will continue until end of September. Then there won’t be any routine inspections until the new updated framework is implemented from 10 November.
Ofsted’s regulatory work will continue throughout, so any urgent inspections or visits will be made under the current framework.
Ofsted has added another webinar date for early years providers on 18 September – you can book on here.
Anyone who can’t attend can watch the webinar recordings on Ofsted’s YouTube channel.
Read Ofsted’s full announcement here.
- Department for Education
- early years
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