One area where delegates from local authority early years services and nurseries were crying out for clarification was on Ofsted's new inspection system. Ofsted Director: Children, Michael Hart, explained progress so far, and Sue Collins, senior training officer for the policy and frameworks team, was inundated with questions, graciously continuing to answer queries face to face during breaks and lunchtime!
However, some questions have no easy answers. Why is it not mandatory to fill in the self-evaluation form when there is so much emphasis on self-evaluation in the new system, for example?
And how will it be possible to prevent the dreaded checklists and tick boxes becoming an integral and detrimental part of early years practice? Mr Hart's speech indicated a heartening appreciation of the 'unique child' being central to Ofsted's judgements. He rejected the notion that documentation by grid would be demanded by inspectors. But can we be confident that this approach will be consistent through the massed ranks of inspectors, some of whom may not have a background in early years? And won't the local authorities demand the tick boxes anyway, as they come under intense pressure to meet targets for the Foundation Stage Profile outcomes?
There is little time left to find the answers!