Nursery World - Special Report: Ofsted inspections post-pandemic

With inspections back in full swing post-pandemic, some early years settings are voicing serious concerns about the process and are calling for change. By Annette Rawstrone

An incredibly difficult and turbulent time for the early years sector is covered in last year's Ofsted annual report. Not only were providers – from September 2021 to August 2022 – continuing to deal with the pandemic's aftermath, but they were battling with underfunding and severe recruitment problems, while, by the end of the academic year, the cost-of-living crisis was closing in with energy and food prices skyrocketing.

The report says that recovery from the pandemic remains ‘a work in progress’ and acknowledges that providers’ resilience is being tested. It adds that if the sector is to be strong in the face of future challenges then problems with recruiting and retaining staff must be ‘urgently addressed’. It states, ‘The early years sector is competing with, and losing out to, higher-paid or more flexible employment. Nurseries have closed because they cannot recruit or retain high-quality, qualified and experienced staff. Some have become over-reliant on apprentices to fill gaps, which has a knock-on effect on the quality of education and safeguarding.’

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