Ofsted 'busts myths' as inspections go in-house

This means that, from 3 April, all early years inspectors will be employed directly by, or have contracts with, Ofsted. Third-party organisations such as Prospects and Tribal previously carried out most inspections on the inspectorate’s behalf.

The online myth-busting document follows a similar format to one that Ofsted has been using for schools.

It is a working document that will be updated on an ongoing basis and has been drafted to clarify issues raised by inspectors and the sector, and following input from providers to last year’s Government review of the childcare sector, Cutting Red Tape.

Ofsted said its aim is to make the inspections process as simple to understand as possible and correct common misconceptions. The document should be read in conjunction with the Early years inspection handbook.

Moving in-house

Ending the use of third parties gives Ofsted full control over the selection, training and management of early years inspectors, bringing the sector in line with schools and further education colleges.

Ofsted has also said that bringing the process in-house will give it complete oversight of the quality of inspection.

The contracts for Tribal and Prospects ended in March. In 2015, Ofsted renewed their contracts for two more years. However, it had already brought the inspection of ‘requires improvement’ early years settings in-house.

Ofsted told Nursery World that 138 early years inspectors previously employed by Tribal and Prospects will now be directly employed by Ofsted. In addition, there are 270 early years inspectors contracted to Ofsted; for example, people in the sector who do some inspection work but it is not their main job.

Ofsted confirmed they are all undergoing induction and training specifically to work as early years inspectors. Asked if it was costing more to bring inspections in-house, a spokesperson said no.

The move to bring early years inspectors in-house has been warmly welcomed across the sector by early years providers, organisations, and members of the Ofsted Big Conversation (OBC), a campaign group launched in 2013 in response to mounting concerns about early years inspection.

Jennie Johnson, chief executive of nursery group Kids Allowed and organiser of the North West OBC, said, ‘We are delighted inspection is coming back in-house. It can only aid quality and consistency issues by having the professional development of the inspectors as the direct responsibility of Ofsted.

‘Removing an unnecessary link in an already complicated chain can only be a good thing. It also removes what we believed were perverse unintended consequences of the original contract between Ofsted and its third parties.’

In addition to making the myth-busting campaign available via social media, Ofsted has a new Childcare Registration Facebook page to encourage new childminders to register.

Early years inspections: myths

‘Ofsted has produced this document to confirm the facts about our early years inspections and to dispel those myths that can sometimes result in unnecessary workloads for registered child carers. It should be read alongside the Early years inspection handbook.

‘Our aim is to expose misconceptions and highlight specific practices that are not required by Ofsted, so that we can make the inspection process as clear and straightforward
as possible.

‘The purpose of Ofsted’s early years inspections is to make sure that registered child carers are providing a good quality of care and education, as required by the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

‘Inspection plays an important role in helping parents to make informed choices about the type of care available for their child, and advising parents and carers about the quality of care young children are receiving.

‘Inspections are not designed to catch staff off guard, nor do inspectors prepare a list of trick questions to ask providers. Inspectors are qualified professionals, trained to evaluate the quality of an early years setting, highlighting both good practice and areas for improvement.’
The myths, published online at gov.uk, include:

Notice period prior to inspections