Nursery World - Ofsted updates early years handbook to clarify how inspections can be paused

Ofsted has added guidance on when pausing an inspection may be appropriate within its Early Years Inspection handbook, as well as how an inspector should consider the wellbeing of staff.

Ofsted has updated its Early Years Inspection handbook following changes brought in after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, PHOTO: Ofsted

The amendment of the handbook follows measures announced by Ofsted in its response to Her Majesty’s Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following an inquest into headteacher Ruth Perry’s death.

The inspectorate has added a new section to its handbook to clarify that the inspectorate will consider pausing an inspection when there is a ‘significant’ event involving a member of staff or a child, or ‘significant’ concerns about leaders’ welfare.

It says it will consider events on a case-by-case basis and will be ‘sympathetic to the pressures’ on leaders and staff.

The paragraph on ‘Pausing inspections’ states, ‘There may be occasions when it is difficult or inappropriate for an inspection to continue. For example, there may be a significant event involving a member of staff or a child, or significant concerns about leaders’ welfare. We will consider these on a case-by-case basis, and will be sympathetic to the pressures on leaders and staff.

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