Previously Ofsted had intended to resume these from 8 March, after suspending them in January at the start of the third national lockdown.
However, the inspectorate has now said that routine full inspections will resume as soon as possible in the summer term, with the decision kept under review.
Ofsted will continue with regulatory work, such as:
- provision that causes concern
- the need to register new provision
- expansion to existing provision
This will sometimes require on-site visits to early years settings.
‘We are planning to return to full graded inspections as soon as we can in the summer term,' Ofsted said in an update to its coronavirus guidance. ‘Therefore, we have decided not to restart assurance inspections this term as restrictions ease, but we will keep these plans under review.
‘We will continue with our vital regulatory work in early years and children’s social care. This work will sometimes require on-site visits, which will be risk assessed based on the nature of the premises and the urgency of the work. As always, the safety and well-being of children is our priority and we will take urgent action where we have concerns.’
Ofsted also said that as routine inspections are currently suspended, and a provider’s next inspection date is not currently known, it may carry out further on- or off-site regulatory work if it has information that it was holding for the next inspection. Ofsted will publish an outcome summary if it needs to take any action.
- The changes are set out in Ofsted’s rolling Covid-19 update here
