Nursery World - Ofsted early years consultation: investment is key, sector says

There has been a mixed response from the early years sector to Ofsted's proposals to increase the frequency of inspections for weaker settings and replace the grade of 'satisfactory' with 'requires improvement'.

Early years organisations raised concerns that without more funding early providers would struggle to improve.

They also highlighted that the Government is removing the local authority support role and the Pre-School Learning Alliance said that training support for the sector has been cut.

Chief executive Neil Leitch said, ‘Changing the judgement rating will do absolutely nothing to improve quality if early years settings are not given appropriate support. The Government is soon to remove the role that local authorities play in supporting their local settings and training support for the sector has been reduced by 40 per cent in the last year.

‘At the same time the Government is proposing that nursery workers look after up to 50 per cent more children – a move that parents themselves overwhelmingly oppose.

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