Ofsted pledges to always act with 'professionalism, empathy and respect' following the death of Ruth Perry

Ofsted has pledged to always act with 'professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect' in response to Her Majesty's Coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths report, published last month.

In its formal response to the report, Ofsted’s chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver sets out the actions the inspectorate has taken and will take to address the coroner's recommendations.

Published today, the response comes ahead of school inspections being restarted after they were paused for two weeks to allow inspectors to receive mental health training.

Within its response, Sir Martyn reveals more details of Ofsted's Big Listen, a ‘comprehensive’ listening exercise across all sectors that the inspectorate operates.

Under the Big Listen, Ofsted will hear from parents, leaders and professionals about the inspectorate’s current approach, the changes being made and whether more can be done to protect children, raise standards and improve lives.

'Nothing is off the table'.

Ofsted's chief inspector says that ‘nothing is off the table’, and that Ofsted is ‘determined to be a modern regulator and inspectorate delivering for children and learners, their parents and carers, and the Government.’

He added, ‘Ofsted will share more of our material with the education and social care professions, and will work with representative groups as we continue to improve the way we carry out our important role in the best interests of children and learners. In doing so, we will build an Ofsted that enjoys greater confidence from the sectors it regulates and inspects, as well as the children, parents and carers we are all here to serve.’

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), welcomed Ofsted’s Big Listen, saying it ‘presents an opportunity for all of the sector to work together in finding effective solutions’.

In its response, Ofsted also sets out other actions it has taken or will take, including:

• Training all inspectors to recognise and respond to signs of distress in school leaders.
• The introduction of a clear and simple process for providers who have concerns about an inspection to speak to an unconnected senior Ofsted employee.
• A new policy on pausing an inspection.
• Bringing in an expert reference group, including external representation, to look at leader and staff well-being 
• Appointing an independent expert to lead a learning review of Ofsted’s response to the tragic death of Ruth Perry.

The Early Years Alliance welcomed Ofsted’s commitment to taking a more compassionate approach to visits, but emphasised the need for the early years sector to be central to the announced reforms, along with school and further education peers.

Chief executive Neil Leitch went on to argue that ‘The hardworking professionals who support children across all areas of care and education deserve nothing less.’

'Ofsted is clinging to delusions'.

However, the National Education Union (NEU) argued that the measures proposed by Ofsted in response to the Coroner’s report ‘do not match the scale of the problem that it inflicts on schools.’

General secretary Daniel Kebede accused Ofsted of ‘clinging to delusions’ when it said that “nothing is off the table”.

Similarly, Community Union said that the measures should 'just be the beginning' and more needs to be done including removing the 'blunt instrument of one word judgements.'

'We know we still need to do more, and we will do more.'

Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, commented, ‘As a fellow headteacher, I was shocked and saddened by the death of Ruth Perry. As the new Chief Inspector, I am determined to do everything in my power to prevent such tragedies in the future. We accept the Coroner’s findings and have responded to the recommendations of her report in full.

‘We must carry out our role in a way that is sensitive to the pressures faced by leaders and staff, without losing our focus on children and learners.

‘We know we still need to do more, and we will do more. Nothing is off the table, as we hold our Big Listen. I know how important it is for the sectors we work with, and for parents and carers, to trust the judgements Ofsted makes. To achieve that aim, we must go about our vital work with professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect.’