The new myth-busting document from Ofsted, published in April, aimed to dispel misconceptions about Ofsted inspectors needing to be presented with large amounts of paper evidence at every visit or not presented with a cup of tea (offering drinks to Ofsted inspectors will not be seen as bribery). But as I was reading them, I realised that as well as being taken in by myths, providers often don’t know the legislation or procedures that explain the seriousness of the issues surrounding the facts. For example, Ofsted can carry out no-notice inspections. But what is the legal basis for this?
No-notice inspections normally, but not exclusively, take place when someone has raised concerns about a setting. This refers to the Childcare Act 2006, which gives Ofsted inspectors immense powers. Not only are inspectors able to enter the setting, but they are able to remove information, take photographs, ‘inspect children’, carry out surveillance and interview staff.
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