News

Inspections must be tailored for the early years

Leading early years organisations have given a positive response to plans for a single inspection framework, but urged Ofsted to ensure that inspections are designed for the early education sector.

Plans for a new common inspection framework for early years settings, schools and colleges, were put out for consultation yesterday.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said a single framework must standardise quality and benefit the whole education inspection system.

But she warned, ‘The features of good provision are the same whether it is in early years or college. Strong leadership, learning and assessment are universal inspection targets; it is then vital inspectors are specifically trained for each sector.

‘The actual inspection process must be tailored to the sector.’

Commenting on Ofsted’s intention to bring in specific inspection handbooks for each stage, she said it was important to have ‘detailed, thorough and robust' training alongside this.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Unlimited access to news and opinion

  • Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here