earlyyears.teachwire.net
19
nursery business
An Ofsted inspection
is an important event
for any nursery, but it
needn’t be a stressful
one, if you and your
staff are prepared, says
Theresa Johnson...
F
eeling anxious about an
impending Ofsted inspection
is completely normal, but the
anticipation is usually worse
than the actual event. All
inspectors
should
put you at ease from
the very beginning; after all it’s your
opportunity to showcase your hard work.
They are there to see what you do well,
and to ensure that the children in your
care are safe, secure and making suitable
progress. However, it’s important that you
and your team are prepared, to ensure
you can present your setting at its best...
INVOLVE EVERYONE
Call a staff meeting to talk through the
inspection process. Share the
Early
Years Inspection Handbook
and
Inspecting safeguarding in early years,
education and skills settings
(Ofsted,
August 2015). Does your setting have a
clear vision and mission that is shared
and known by all staff and parents?
Revisit your last inspection report and
remind staff of any previous actions and
recommendations so they are focused.
Talk to the children and their parents
so they know what to expect, too. The
inspector is likely to want to talk to them
about their experience of your setting, and
it’s helpful if parents understand what the
inspection is for and why aiming for
‘outstanding’ is so important to you. Keep
a display folder of all the cards, letters and
emails you receive from parents – even
Christmas cards that say “Thank you for
all you have done this year”. All feedback
is important.
USE YOUR SEF
The Ofsted self-evaluation form (SEF) is
most effective when used as a
continuous reflective tool. Ofsted can
look at this before their visit to really get
a picture of the setting before they arrive.
Make sure you capture the thoughts and
feelings of children and parents. Training
certificates and a CPD log alongside
identifying the impact of the training
demonstrates your setting’s commitment
to staff development.
ADVANCE WARNING
In a group provision you will
normally
receive a call at, or just after, midday, on
the working day before the inspection.
Have you kept Ofsted up to date with
any changes in telephone numbers? If
the provider or their representative isn’t
available, the inspector will ask to speak
to the most senior member of staff. The
call shouldn’t be excessively long and
will focus on arrangements for
inspector
calls...
An
Theresa Johnson is
Development Manager
at the Professional
Association for Childcare
and Early Years (PACEY).
