Bernadette Duffy, head of Thomas Coram Early Childhood Centre in Camden, London, and the newly-appointed director of Early Education, told Nursery World that she was 'extremely alarmed' that Ofsted inspectors in primary schools do 'not always support' the development of appropriate early years practice in the FS.
She said, 'When inspectors go to children's centres they look at the FS and there's a clear focus on it. But members say that when they go into primary schools, the focus is on the national curriculum and SATs, and as a result the FS can end up getting little attention and the judgements are often made on not enough evidence.'
While some inspectors are 'brilliant', she said, others 'do not always understand the early years and its complexity'.
Early Education is calling for all FS inspectors to have 'appropriate and current' knowledge of the forthcoming Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the national research outcomes, and said they should 'clearly apply'
this knowledge when making judgments about practice.
The revision of the inspection framework provides an ideal opportunity to ensure the FS at primary school is inspected to the same level as elsewhere, Ms Duffy said. 'Hopefully it will be addressed in the supporting guidance that comes out alongside the EYFS in February or March of next year,' she added.
Ms Duffy was elected national chair at Early Education's annual general meeting last month, replacing Manny Lewis, who held the post for three years. She said, 'It's an honour to be elected. Early Education stands for good quality early education, particularly in nursery schools and children's centres.'
For more information on the charity's objectives for 2007 visit www.early-education.org.uk.
