Following their keynote speeches, Ellis MP, chair of the APPG for Babies, and Sir Martyn, Ofsted’s chief inspector, took questions from delegates who challenged them on funding and the new inspection framework, which is set to be introduced in November.
Opening the event, Ellis, MP for Ribble Valley, encouraged delegates to get in contact with their local MPs, many of whom are new to the role, and invite them to their settings to make them aware how crucial the first 1,001 days are for child development.
She said, 'Advocacy is key. If they [MPs] don’t hear from you, they don’t think early education is a priority for their constituents.'
Ellis (pictured below), who says she is in discussion to reconstitute the APPG for Early Years, added, ‘You know how keen politicians are to kiss a baby, right?’
Maya Ellis, MP for Ribble, chair of the new APPG for Babies, speaking at the Nursery World Business Summit on 5 March 2025
Following her keynote address, the floor was opened up to questions.
One delegate asked why early years settings in England aren’t exempt from business rates. (Nurseries in Scotland and Wales are exempt from business rates.) Responding Ellis said the ‘Government is about standardising policy, the same with National Insurance contributions’, while making sure funding is adequate to cover everything. She admitted there is debate over whether the funding formula is ‘correct’.
Delegates also took issue with recent changes to Government guidance on nurseries charging parents for extras, including food and snacks.
One nursery owner asked how meals can be considered ‘optional extras’ by the Government as it creates a two-tier system with parents who are unable to afford the cost sending their child in with a packed lunch, while others pay for food provided by a setting.
Similarly a further delegate questioned how settings can successfully manage packed lunches with children with allergies in a baby room.
‘How do we deal with a baby who leans over and grabs, for instance cheese from another child, and they have a dairy allergy? It’s just not been thought about from our point of view. It adds to the stress of the team. It is poor thinking', she said.
Ellis said she would feed back concerns to the Department for Education and the Treasury, however said she can’t guarantee that the ‘fair funding settlement will come or be improved.’
‘If that doesn’t come, it’s about what else we can ask of Government to at least alleviate some of that. Whether finances come from an exemption or a fair settlement from the Government, that’s still asking for more money.
‘If there is an argument to be made about a sector, like childcare, needing more money, then that will come from a fair funding settlement, which is why we are focusing ort efforts there rather than exemptions for business rates and things like that.
‘The more you can email your MPs and get them pushing for that, the more weight it will be given’.
- Read our exclusive opinion piece from Jayne Coward and Lee Owston on Ofsted inspection reforms
Ofsted
Sir Martyn, Ofsted’s chief inspector (pictured below) then took to the floor to discuss the proposed changes to inspection, including the introduction of new report cards.
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver during his speech and Q & A at the Nursery World Business Summit
A number of delegates expressed their dissatisfaction at the introduction of a new inspection framework, particularly at a time when changes to the EYFS are being introduced, new qualifications and apprenticeships, and the continued rollout of the expanded offer.
One said, ‘Ofsted has completely missed the point. It wasn’t about the grading. It was the way inspection was carried out.
‘A new grading system along with a new EYFS, qualifications etc is being introduced, and now we are being hit by a new framework that is taking a long time to digest.'
Responding, Sir Martyn urged delegates to put their settings forward for Ofsted ‘test visits’, which he described as a ‘research visit’ to test out the new framework and the ‘toolkits’ being introduced the inspectorate to see if they work in practice.
Going into more detail, the chief inspector explained, ‘There are three types of test visits, which are all voluntary. There is no grading.
‘The first type of visit is thematic, where we look at one of the areas of the toolkit and test it out.
‘The second type of visit is a paired thematic where we send in two different inspection teams and they check that they are coming to the same conclusions.
‘The third is an end to end, so right from the beginning all the way through to the end, and that’s very different to pilots.’
There were also criticisms from delegates of the length of the inspection cycle and inspectors, particularly those that are contracted by Ofsted.
Sir Martyn agreed that visiting settings every six years is ‘not enough’, and ‘does not give enough assurance’. However, he suggested that inspecting more frequently would cost more money, money which he thinks would be better served going to the ‘frontline’.
He went on to say how Ofsted has around 12,000 people on the waiting list to become inspectors, across the whole of education.
Sir Martyn added, ‘What I want to do more than anything is turn Ofsted into a peer-led inspection system where we are gathering and organising you to inspect and work with each to provide support. And, where necessary, you are still calling out unacceptable standards.’
He also referred to Ofsted’s new academy under which inspectors receive consistent quality training nationwide, and more regular training than before.
Sir Martyn urged the sector to take part in Ofsted's consultation, which closes on 28 April, attend a webinar they are running on 12 March, and said to get in touch with him with any queries.
Ofsted's Wendy Ratcliff, principal officer for Early Education Policy was also available at the event to answer delegates' questions.
- Sign up for Ofsted's webinar on 12 March about proposed early years inspection changes here
