Features

Childcare Counsel - challenging inspection judgements

Andrew Manners, from Morgan LaRoche, sets out the process when challenging an Ofsted inspection

As funded places in England are directly linked to an Ofsted inspection judgement, the consequences of an ‘inadequate’ or even a ‘requires improvement’ can be catastrophic.

Providers who want to challenge inspection judgements can use Ofsted’s complaints process which has two formal stages, step 2 and step 3. Providers may be tempted, especially if they feel aggrieved after the inspection feedback, to email Ofsted with their concerns before they receive the report. However, Ofsted may regard such an email as a step 2 complaint. This means that they will investigate it without the provider having seen the report and being able to gather its evidence to support the complaint.

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