Inspections had originally been set to resume from January, but this has been put back as a result of the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
Early years
- Ofsted will carry out a programme of assurance inspections from the start of the spring term 2021. These inspections will confirm whether or not a provider is meeting the EYFS requirements.
- Assurance inspections will be proportionate and risk-based. Providers will be prioritised based on the length of time since their last inspection, and any other relevant information.
- Routine graded inspections will resume in the summer term of 2021.
More detail on how assurance inspections work in practice is expected to be published next week.
Setting out the plans for inspections and regulatory work in early years and social care, and a return to inspection in schools and further education providers, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, said,
‘The usual level of scrutiny within the education and care system has been absent since last March, so it’s important that it returns next year as we all hope for a greater level of normality. But we understand the pressure that everyone in education and social care is working under and we want to return to our usual work in a measured, sensitive and practical way.
‘We will not re-introduce graded inspections to schools and colleges before April. During the spring term, we will use supportive monitoring inspections to help those that most need it, focused on how well pupils and students are learning.
‘Routine inspections in early years and social care are also planned for the summer term, but regulatory work will continue in the interim.
‘Our role is to offer the greatest assurance we can to parents and the public about the quality of education and care arrangements for children and learners. These plans will help us support the providers who are facing the greatest challenges during these difficult times. They will ensure that inspection is fair, safe and valuable, while remaining true to our core purpose and principles.
‘Over the coming months, Ofsted will discuss the approach to routine inspection in 2021 with sector representatives and test it through a series of pilot visits, where necessary.’
Maintained schools and academies
From January, Ofsted will resume monitoring inspections of schools judged inadequate at their previous inspection and some schools graded as requires improvement. These will not result in a grade.
Emergency inspections of schools will continue as they have done throughout the pandemic, in response to any serious concerns raised with Ofsted.
Routine inspections, which result in a school being awarded a new grade or being confirmed in its current grade, will resume in the summer term.
Sector response
Early years organisations have backed Ofsted's plans to delay reintroducing full inspections until the summer term, but called for clear guidance for providers and information for parents on what the new assurance inspections criteria mean.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said, ‘It’s the right decision by Ofsted not to resume full inspection activity in January as planned, but delay that until summer.
‘These new assurance inspections with their designations of “met” or “not met” are very different to the routine inspections that the sector is used to. Ofsted need to give providers clear guidance so they have time to fully prepare, they should also be clear with parents about what these categories mean.
‘The early years sector continues to deal with a challenging set of circumstances managing positive cases and self-isolation of staff and children. Nurseries have been looking very different as managers have had to prioritise infection control measures while endeavouring to create engaging learning environments for their children.
‘Ofsted must be clear with both childcare providers and parents what these interim inspection arrangements mean and make sure that newer settings are not disadvantaged by not having the opportunity to be judged good or outstanding in the near future.
‘Before Ofsted resumes full inspections in the summer, they must consult with the sector on how the whole inspection process will be reviewed in the light of the impact of Covid, which will remain for many months to come.’
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said, 'We welcome Ofsted’s measured and phased approach to a return to inspections. Early years providers have been doing their utmost to support children and families throughout the pandemic. As such, they will be heartened to know that while we continue to deal with these exceptional circumstances, they will be judged on their commitment to providing the best possible standard of care and education in light of the unique challenges they are facing.
'It is of course vital that Ofsted provides clear explanations to parents and providers of what the new inspection criteria means in practice, and this will be especially important for any "good" or "outstanding" settings being awarded a temporary "assurance" outcome.
'What's more, as full inspections return in the summer, it is important that providers who have received interim visits - and particularly those who feel they have improved - can be assessed again in a timely manner to obtain an Ofsted rating that clearly reflects the standard of care and education they provide'