Nursery World - Editor’s view - Settling the score

Ofsted’s planned move away from an emphasis on data will be welcomed by schools, as the phonics check causes concern

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman made a fascinating intervention with her speech last week about the planned new approach to inspection under the forthcoming framework.

Flagging up a shift away from the current obsession with test scores, she said that the ‘focus on data is coming at the expense of what is taught in schools’.

Cue loud cheering from teachers throughout the land!

Her comments are particularly interesting in the light of the latest phonics screening check results and a new survey that finds huge opposition to the test (see our News story on page 12).

The phonics screening check is just one of many tests that young children are subject to – with the Baseline and ‘Baby PISA’ due to be added soon.

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