麻花影视voices concerns over early years inspection changes
26th September 2014
The Pre-school Learning 麻花影视has criticised newly-announced changes to the early years inspection system.
Writing for early years trade magazine Nursery World, Ofsted director of early years Nick Hudson announced that, going forward, inspections of early years providers judged to 鈥榬equire improvement鈥 will be carried out by Ofsted inspectors, rather than third-party contractors Tribal and Prospects as is currently the case. The same will also apply to providers judged 鈥榠nadequate鈥 where Ofsted is taking enforcement action.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the 麻花影视said.
鈥淲hile the decision to bring inspections for providers judged to 鈥榬equire improvement鈥, and for some of those judged 鈥榠nadequate鈥, back in-house is a good first step, it clearly doesn鈥檛 go far enough.
鈥淥fsted argues that this change will help 鈥榤ake the journey to good or better swifter鈥. This is a clear acknowledgement of the fact that the service provided by third-party contractors is of a lower standard than that of Ofsted inspectors. Sir Michael Wilshaw explicitly acknowledged this in May, saying 鈥業nspection, as far as I鈥檓 concerned, is just too important for Ofsted to simply have oversight of third-party arrangements鈥.
鈥淲e are unclear, therefore, why Ofsted considers it acceptable that the majority of the early years sector will continue to be subject to inspections carried out by contracted inspectors of questionable quality. As such, we would urge Ofsted to extend this change to all early years providers.鈥
Neil also voiced concerns about newly-announced plans to carry out post-registration inspections within 30 months, rather than seven as is currently the case.
He said:
鈥淭his is an extremely concerning proposal. It鈥檚 vital that new providers are inspected sooner rather than later to ensure that any issues within the provision are promptly addressed and good practice is embedded as early as possible. Under these plans, a child could spend their entire early years experience in a provision that hasn鈥檛 been inspected by Ofsted. This is simply unacceptable.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that Ofsted needs to find a way to tackle the current backlog in early years inspections, but this is not the answer.鈥
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Notes for editorsM/p>
- The
- On bringing some inspections in-house, Ofsted director of early years Nick Hudson said:
鈥淥fsted inspectors, rather than our contractors, will re-inspect nurseries judged to require improvement. Coupled with our improvement seminars for these providers, we hope this will make the journey to good or better swifter. Starting from October, Ofsted inspectors will also complete all re-inspections of providers judged as inadequate where we are taking enforcement action.鈥
- On the change to post-registration inspection time-scales, he said:
鈥淔rom now on, we will give more time for post-registration inspection. Rather than an inspection within seven months of registration, we will now undertake an inspection within 30 months.
鈥淭his will free up a great deal of time - we estimate up to 10,000 days - and allow us to prioritise those nurseries, childminders and other early years providers that are not yet good or outstanding. It will also give new providers longer to embed their practice so that at their first inspection they will have every chance to show that they are good or better.
鈥淥f course, if we hear of a safeguarding concern then we will take appropriate action, and that may well include an early inspection. But new early years providers can no longer expect an Ofsted visit within seven months."
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE
- The Pre-school Learning 麻花影视is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
- Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the 麻花影视supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The 麻花影视also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
- For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: