Nursery World - Learning & Development: Key Stage 1

The revised Early Years Foundation Stage and its Characteristics of
Effective Learning provide an opportunity to change practice in Key
Stage 1 - and the new Ofsted inspection framework allows for
flexibility, says Kim Porter.

In September 2012, the third change in just over a year was made to the inspection framework for schools in England. The changes made to the framework are significant, and present increased possibilities for creative and innovative practice in Key Stage 1 classrooms. At the heart of this change lies a seeming contradiction between Ofsted and the Department for Education's drive to formalized teaching with the new Ofsted inspection framework fundamentally being about children's learning and how this can best be achieved (Ofsted 2012a).

Inspectors have been directed to leave their own subjective views on styles of teaching at the door and observe the learning in lessons. What are pupils doing? Are they all actively engaged? Do children know what they need to do to improve? This is a genuine opportunity for practitioners to organize their environment, resources and delivery in a non-traditional way, and for children who are motivated, engaged, persistent and thoughtful to show the progress they are making.

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