Exclusive – Nursery World Ofsted survey: Hundreds of nurseries and childminders report stress and sleepless nights before inspections

• Our survey reveals the impact of Ofsted inspections on providers' mental health
• 3,000 people responded

Nursery owners, managers and childminders report feeling ‘on edge’, stressed and anxious in the run-up to an inspection, with many having sleepless nights and some suffering from panic attacks and depression, according to findings from a Nursery World survey on early years inspection experiences.

A total of 3,066 people took part in our online survey, which ran from 29 March to 5 April. Of these, 1,941 users completed the survey in full, while 1,125 provided a partial response.

A total of 2,045 respondents answered a question which invited them to leave comments about how they felt in the run-up to an Ofsted inspection.

Our analysis of these responses shows that there were:

• 768 occurrences of the term ‘nervous’ and 35 of ‘nervous and anxious’.
• 661 occurrences of the term ‘anxious’ and 38 of ‘extremely anxious’.
• 419 occurrences of the term ‘stressed’ and 21 of ‘extremely stressed’.
• 155 references to impact on sleep, 33 to ‘sleepless nights’ and 12 to ‘unable to sleep’.

A word cloud showing how providers felt before inspection

Other common words mentioned in these responses include ‘worried’, ‘apprehensive’, ‘awful’, ‘panic’/‘panicking’, ‘excited’ and ‘overwhelmed’.

Some respondents said the build-up to inspection had impacted their health.

One said, ‘I was prescribed anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication after an Inadequate inspection. In the run-up to re-inspection, the dose was increased as anxiety levels were very high.’

Another said they had ‘ended up on blood pressure tablets’.

One respondent said it ‘severely impacted’ her ‘mental and physical health’, while someone else revealed she felt, ‘Like a zombie. Tearful, terrified and unable to enjoy life.’

The possibility of losing funding should a setting be judged Inadequate by an inspector was also mentioned by some respondents.

Speaking exclusively to Nursery World, one nursery group said as a result of one of its settings being downgraded to Inadequate and losing funding until the next inspection, it lost £15,000 in income each month due to parents removing their children. The group decided to cover the cost of places to around £8,000.

It said that the effect on staff was ‘devastating’, and they felt ‘extremely depressed and demotivated’. The manager of the setting had to be convinced not to leave her position or the sector entirely.

Despite this, 41 per cent of respondents said their inspection experience was ‘positive’. A further 31 per cent said it was neither ‘positive’ nor ‘negative’. For 28 per cent, it was ‘negative’.

Responses

The majority of responses were from nursery managers/owners (66 per cent), while 34 per cent were childminders.

The biggest proportion of respondents (37 per cent) had been inspected within the last three years. A total of 27 per cent were inspected within the last six months, 22 per cent in the last one to three years, and 14 per cent in the last six to 12 months.

For 86 per cent, it was a general inspection. For just 8 per cent, it was a complaint-driven inspection, and for 6 per cent a new registration visit.

How did inspection grades compare with previous inspections?

The survey results show that most (72 per cent) of those who responded received an outcome of Good. A total of 18 per cent were rated Outstanding, 5 per cent were ‘requires improvement’ and 5 per cent were Inadequate.

Most of those who responded to our survey said they kept the same Ofsted grade as their previous inspection.

There were marginally more providers that were downgraded than upgraded.

When asked how the inspection grade compared with the previous grade of the 2,392 providers that responded, 65 per cent received the same judgement, 16 per cent were upgraded, and 19 per cent were downgraded.

Reasons for being downgraded included staffing issues, not being ‘wow enough’, ‘children being too confident’, ‘tatty books’, children's noses not being wiped adequately or by the children themselves, children ‘running in the garden’, and children and staff using words like ‘doggy’, ‘birdy’ and ‘horsey’. Other reasons stated included issues with safeguarding knowledge and staff not being familiar enough with the setting's curriculum.


Was it fair?

We also asked whether nurseries and childminders felt their inspection outcome was fair. According to the results, 66 per cent felt that the judgement was fair, compared with 34 per cent who did not.

Respondents were given an option to leave comments to back up their answer.

Many felt it was the system of inspection itself that was at fault and needed improving.

One respondent said that the inspectors were ‘affable and made it as good an experience as they could’, but noted that ‘there are always some issues’ over which they have ‘little control’.

Another said, ‘One of the reasons we were found not to be Outstanding was we had a member of staff who was brand new to the sector; we were penalised for having trainees. The perception of the difference between Outstanding and Good is unjustified, never mind the crazy ramifications if one is RI or Inadequate.’

One said, ‘6 years of hard work summed up in one word. We were split judgement, but all parents read is “requires improvement”.’

Another said, ‘Ofsted should not be a fear among the education community. Judgements that are based on a couple of hours on a random day of Ofsted choosing is not a clear judgement against a setting.’

We also received many comments from providers unhappy about how the inspection was carried out on the day and the attitude and behaviour of inspectors.

One said, ‘Inspector responses contained the words, “from my observation today …”. she spent 90 per cent of her time with head down, typing. She did not see or hear anything relevant – her final report could have been written as a sample report for Good at any nursery anywhere.’

Of the positive comments, one said, ‘We agreed and were happy with the report and how she described our setting and staff. We felt she understood us and what we were implementing.’

Negative comments included: ‘Bias attitude. Outdated approach. No knowledge of our ethos. Picking on silly non-significant things. Not taking into account that our apprentices are still learning, both quit after the inspection. Intimidating approach.’

Among those who did not feel the inspection outcome was fair, one said, ‘She was polite and business-like. She said the reason I would not get Outstanding was because I did not extend the children's education by not giving them a list when playing shops and trying to answer all her questions, both at the same time. It seemed ridiculous to me.’

Others put forward ideas for how Ofsted could improve.

‘I don't feel that anyone can judge how effective a setting is in one visit, especially when you are filled with anxiety! I think you should be judged on how happy the children and parents are in the setting and if you have a good setting for them to thrive in.’ The respondent suggested regular meetings to share ideas and build knowledge and confidence.

Speaking to Nursery World after the survey took place, a childminder said, ‘Ofsted needs a total overhaul. It's not fit for purpose, and now things are becoming more open to public scrutiny, I believe that more people will come to realise the inspection reports are often not worth the paper they are written on!’

Future inspections

A word cloud showing how providers feel about future inspections

When asked how they felt about future inspections given their previous inspection experiences, respondents mentioned feeling nervous, ill, anxious and intimidated, with some saying they were ‘dreading them’.

One said she was ‘living in fear daily’. Another respondent commented, ‘Ofsted rang me in January 2023 for inspection. I resigned immediately.’

A number of respondents said they were thinking about quitting, cancelling their registration or retiring before their next inspection.

One respondent said, ‘It's caused that much stress I’ve lost 9 stone. I feel like because of their standards I will be given Inadequate; even though I give 100 per cent, it's never good enough. I’ve got brain fog and easily forget – so terrified.’

However, some respondents were more positive about inspections going forward, using words such as ‘unfazed’, ‘not concerned’ and ‘feeling more comfortable’.

One said, ‘I welcome inspections as I feel regulation in the sector is vital.’

How could Ofsted improve?

When asked if they think Ofsted should change anything about the inspection process, responses included comments about changing the grading system, making sure all inspections are consistent, bringing back no-notice inspections, all inspectors to have early years experience, and ensuring the process is more supportive, positive and collaborative.

One respondent said, ‘Ofsted inspectors have no need to make people feel intimidated. They do not need to try to make professionals feel inadequate. We know our children and our families. They have a quick snap-shot of our setting. They do not need to ask trick questions or try to trip staff up! An inspection is a very stressful experience and really shouldn't be that way! If a setting makes you feel welcome then be friendly back.’

A few people said ‘everything’ should be changed, and/or the inspectorate scrapped altogether.

In response to our survey, an Ofsted spokesperson said, ‘Our inspections are first and foremost for children and their parents – looking in depth at how well and safely early years settings are run. We always want inspections to be constructive and collaborative and, in the majority of cases, providers agree that they are. We are committed to regularly engaging with the early years sector to dispel some of the common misconceptions we hear about inspections.’