Ofsted has updated their early years inspection handbook with some important changes for all early years providers from April 2024. The last update to the early years inspection handbook was in January 2024 when they added information about inspector conduct, inspection deferrals and when inspections might be paused to promote provider wellbeing.
I thought it might be useful to unpick the summary of changes –
**Paragraph 3 – Ofsted makes reference to the Equality Act 2010 and clarifies that Ofsted will comply with their duties under the Act which they already do, so it’s just written confirmation.
**Paragraph 50 makes further reference to the Equality Act in relation to the notification call, when the inspector contacts the setting to discuss the inspection. The handbook now provides an opportunity for providers to ask for ‘reasonable adjustments’ to be made – it doesn’t give examples, but I would suggest this is when a provider should state, for example, that they have a disability request or need to apply for a deferral to the inspection if they are currently not working due to late pregnancy.
**Paragraphs 50, 68, 71 and 75 further clarify Ofsted’s ‘pausing policy’ which was introduced in Jan 2024. This is where there might be exceptional circumstances which lead to an inspection being paused or deferred until a later date. There is more information here –
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deferring-ofsted-inspections
**Paragraph 75 states that inspectors should take ‘careful’ account of wellbeing of leaders and staff members. This change was introduced earlier in the year but it’s important to note in the context of changes Ofsted are making to their inspections.
**Paragraphs 157 - 158 refers to Ofsted’s new complaints policy – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted/about/complaints-procedure
The policy is clearly set out in the early years inspection handbook, in a series of steps (set out in a flow chart) which suggest that complaints will be dealt with quicker than currently. Also see the changes set out in paragraphs 164-166.
**Paragraph 160 refers to Ofsted’s privacy notice in relation to retaining evidence about the inspection –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-privacy-notices
**Paragraph 162 talks about how inspectors gather additional evidence through, for example, sending 2 inspectors to a setting or carrying out a further inspection visit if it is shown that the original inspector did not gather sufficient evidence because the inspection was paused.
**Paragraphs 164 – 166 - there’s a lot of updated wording about making complaints. The first complaint should be made to the inspector during the inspection and will be added to the inspection evidence. If the complaint is not resolved, the Ofsted inspector will contact a ‘senior Ofsted leader’ at the time and this might mean the inspection is paused. The complaint can also be raised the day after the inspection with an independent inspector (not the inspector who carried out the inspection). When the report arrives, there is also an option to lodge a formal complaint which will be investigated by an external body – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complain-about-ofsted/complain-about-ofsted-for-events-that-took-place-after-4-april-2024#independent-and-external-review
The updated Ofsted early years inspection handbook and list of changes is here –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif
I hope this helps, Sarah.