Coronavirus: Ofsted to visit settings, ahead of a return to education inspection in January 2021

While routine inspection of nurseries, childminders, schools and colleges has been suspended since March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, registration visits and regulatory work have continued.

From the end of September, visits will be made to nurseries and childminders to monitor progress and regulatory standards, prioritising those where Ofsted has concerns, but also including a wider sample.

Ofsted will visit some providers previously judged as requires improvement or inadequate and that have associated actions. Inspectors will look at what progress leaders and managers have made to meet the actions set at the previous inspection and how they are improving their practice. 

Oftsed said this would give it time in early September to pilot its approach before publishing short operational notes about how visits will be carried out.

Inspectors will look at what action leaders and managers have taken since the last inspection. In these visits, inspectors will confirm whether the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS are met. Currently, the DfE has disapplied the learning and development requirements until 25 September 2020.

The programme of ‘visits’ are not inspections and will not be graded. but inspectors can use regulatory or enforcement actions if appropriate.

After carrying out the visits in early years settings, Ofsted will publish a short summary confirming whether a provider has improved and is meeting the requirements of the EYFS.

Ofsted said it would focus on ensuring sufficient capacity in the sector, supporting a safe return to education and care and responding to information that causes concern.

It will continue with the early years registration process including on-site registration visits.

Ofsted said it has continued its regulatory work in children’s social care, nurseries and childminders throughout lockdown to make sure that standards are being maintained and that there is well-run, safe and effective social care and childcare available when needed.

The inspectorate will continue with emergency regulatory and enforcement work as concerns are raised.

Visits will be piloted with volunteer schools and colleges from September. A return to full education inspection is planned for January 2021, but this date will be kept under review.

The outcomes of the discussions with school and college leaders during visits will be published in a brief letter so that parents can understand what steps are being taken to help children back into full time education.

Ofsted said the aim was to reassure parents, ministers and the public about how settings, schools and colleges are managing the return to full education of their pupils and students. Inspectors will use the visits ‘to work collaboratively with leaders, listening and providing appropriate challenge‘ and will report back on the national picture across England.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, said, ‘I’ve been impressed at the hard work and can-do attitude of so many teachers, heads and pupils in such uncertain and difficult times. When schools and colleges open their doors fully in September, they will face a new set of challenges, but also a huge opportunity to rekindle children’s love of learning.

‘Ofsted will be part of the rebuilding effort from September. Our visits will help parents understand how schools and colleges are getting children and students back up to speed after so long at home. And we want to help schools, by having constructive conversations and not passing judgement. We all share the same aim – helping this unique generation make up for lost time and get the high-quality education they deserve.’

Local authorities and children’s social care providers, including children’s homes, will also receive visits from Ofsted inspectors, to check on the experience and progress of children needing protection or care. These visits will also not be graded, but if Ofsted has serious concerns, it would use enforcement action.