Ofsted To Bring All Early Years Inspections In-House From Next April
Ofsted has announced that as of April 2017, it will be handling all early years regulation and inspections entirely in-house. The regulator’s early years inspections are presently contracted out to two providers – Tribal and Prospects, with both contracts due to run until March 31st 2017. After that, Ofsted will bring all early years inspections […]
Ofsted has announced that as of April 2017, it will be handling all early years regulation and inspections entirely in-house.
The regulator’s early years inspections are presently contracted out to two providers – Tribal and Prospects, with both contracts due to run until March 31st 2017.
After that, Ofsted will bring all early years inspections under direct management, giving the regulator full control over the appointment, training and supervision of inspectors and oversight of inspection quality.
According to Nick Jackson, Ofsted’s Director of Corporate Services, ‘As these contracts come to an end, this is the right time to consider carefully what our next steps should be. We have decided that early years inspection should be brought in line with schools and further education and skills, with Ofsted directly managing all inspections.
‘With our experience of bringing schools and further education inspections under our control, we are confident that we can manage this transition smoothly.’
In a public response issued shortly after Ofsted’s announcement, Prospects stated that it was ‘Very disappointed with the decision of Ofsted to insource early years inspection activity from the 1st April 2017.
‘Over the last five years the innovative and quality services delivered through the outsourcing of early years inspection has led to significant quality improvements, as well as increased efficiencies.
‘We have developed a highly flexible, committed and talented workforce to deliver these improvements. Notwithstanding the above, we will work closely with Ofsted to ensure an effective transition to the new arrangements.’
National Day Nurseries Association chief executive, Purnima Tanuku OBE, meanwhile welcomed the move as “Putting the sector on a level footing with schools and colleges,’ before adding that, “Going forward, early years providers want to be assured of consistent, robust inspection and the recruitment, training and oversight of inspectors is crucial to this.
‘A vital component of competency for inspectors is having relevant early years leadership experience.”
Further information can be found at the Ofsted website or by following @Ofstednews
