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Ofsted to make early years its focus over next five years

Ofsted is to publish its five-year strategy in the spring, which will focus on the early years sector, the chief inspector Amanda Spielman has revealed.
Chief inspector Amanda Spielman speaking at the Nursery World Business Summit on Tuesday 8 March 2022
Chief inspector Amanda Spielman speaking at the Nursery World Business Summit on Tuesday 8 March 2022

Speaking at the Nursery World business Summit in London today (Tuesday), Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said the inspectorate had been discussing how effectively they [Ofsted] inspect and regulate the early years sector and how they can give more prominence to their work.

She said that their next five-year strategy, which will be published in a ‘month or so’, will focus more on the early years.

Spielman suggested that the reason for focusing on the early years is the impact of the pandemic on young children.

She told delegates at the conference how there are still concerns surrounding the impact of the pandemic on young children’s communication skills and language development and their social skills. Providers have told the inspectorate that many first-time parents with children born during the pandemic, are anxious about leaving their child, while children are taking longer to settle, she said.

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