Ofsted has today set-out plans to make the following changes to early years inspection and regulation:
- Remove the overall effectiveness grade and replace it with a new report card. Report cards will be introduced from September 2025. The inspectorate will consult on what the report card looks like later this academic year.
- Introduce a new early years inspection framework which is 'more flexible to apply to different types of settings'.
- Introduce the Ofsted Academy to improve training for inspectors. According to the chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, a focus of the Academy will be to retain inspectors, however he said that Ofsted has no issue recruiting inspectors – it currently has 15,000 expressions of interest to become an inspector and a waiting list of HMIs.
- Have a single point of (internal) contact for early years within Ofsted. The inspectorate confirmed to Nursery World this will be Jayne Coward – the new early years national lead working across regulation and inspection. Coward will ensure that the ‘needs and voice of the sector’ is considered in all decision making.
- Streamline its registration process to make sure options and processes are clear to all applicants.
Unlike schools, the move from a single judgement to a report card will not happen immediately for the early years sector.
Until this change is made, all registered early years settings, including childminder agencies, will continue to receive a single headline grade of overall effectiveness alongside the sub judgements.
The inspectorate also wants the Government to review legislation relating to the Childcare Register so fraud in the childcare system can be tackled.
During a press briefing, Sir Martyn confirmed to Nursery World that the inspectorate is considering whether it can follow the same process it will be introducing with schools – notifying settings of an inspection on a Monday, carrying out inspections on a Tuesday and Wednesday and writing reports on a Thursday, before publication on a Friday, and will consult on any plans in December.
The changes are being introduced in response to feedback from Ofsted’s Big Listen, the inspectorate’s biggest ever consultation which ran from 8 March to 31 May.
Of the 16,0333 people who responded, 51 per cent answered questions about early years, this included over 700 responses from those employed in a registered childcare setting.
Speaking at the press briefing, the chief inspector, Sir Martyn said that early years is his ‘number one priority’.
'This is the beginning of a new chapter for Ofsted'.
On the reforms, he added, ‘I promised the Big Listen would be followed by real change. This is the beginning of a new chapter for Ofsted as we reset our priorities, refine our practices and rebuild our relationships. We want to retain the confidence of the children, parents and carers we work for, and regain the respect of the committed professionals we work with.
‘The tragic death of Ruth Perry was a catalyst for this change, but the case for change has been building for years. We recognise the growing challenges facing education and social care, particularly since the pandemic. We don’t want to add to this pressure. Many of the changes we are introducing are aimed at reducing the pressure on those we inspect.
‘We will always strive for higher standards for children, particularly the most vulnerable children. We share that aim with thousands of brilliant people working in education and social care. We are determined to win back their trust and work together in the interests of children and learners.’
