Dropping Ofsted grades would improve provision

If rumours are true, Ofsted will scrap its current grading system of ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’ in favour of a simple ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ approach and as founder of a childcare provider with multiple and consistent ‘outstanding’ grades, it might surprise you to hear that I’m backing the proposed change wholeheartedly. Indeed, I have been a vocal advocate of exactly this for years.

Let me explain why.

Schools and nurseries have become obsessed with attaining the elusive ‘outstanding’ grade. But at what cost? If the constant pursuit of Ofsted’s approval meant children’s care improved, of course, I’d support it. But it doesn’t!

Intentionally or not, the system has created a culture in which professionals do things, change things, say things and try to be certain things ‘for Ofsted’. Schools and nurseries don’t exist ‘for Ofsted’, we exist for children, and everything we do should be to improve the way we care for them, not to tick a box on some paperwork.  Indeed a multi-million pound industry of "experts" are selling services to providers to help attain the grade, money better spent on children and resources.