Here are the new links -
New EY inspection handbook – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif/early-years-inspection-handbook-for-ofsted-registered-provision
Useful summary document – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif/summary-of-changes
Gill Jones from Ofsted talks about the changes in this blog – https://educationinspection.blog.gov.uk/2021/04/19/early-years-inspection-handbooks-what-you-need-to-know/
Comment: none of the changes were unexpected – we knew that Ofsted would need to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and talk about the new 6 year inspection windows.
Ofsted are keen to reassure us in Gill Jones’ blog that: ‘we’ll prioritise the safety and welfare of everyone involved, following the most up-to-date guidance from Public Health England and provider-specific arrangements’.
Let’s look at what has changed in more detail...
Paragraphs 6 – 26 talk about inspection during a pandemic - we already know that Ofsted are returning to on-site inspections from May 4th.
- Some elements of the inspection might be carried out through a video or phone call. This will be agreed at the start of the inspection. Gill Jones’ blog states: ‘We will usually only use off-site activity to involve parents/carers and those with leadership responsibility who are unable to attend the setting.’
- During the initial phone call, Ofsted will ask if you have used any of the EYFS disapplications during the pandemic. If you have used them, think about how they have impacted your ways of working so you can talk about it with your inspector. If you are not sure, the current disapplications are detailed here -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2/early-years-foundation-stage-coronavirus-disapplications.
- Ofsted will talk about your Covid-19 safety procedures. You should mention any changes such as arrival procedures, extra hand washing, expectations for visitors around social distancing, wearing masks in busy areas (group settings) and whether you are spending more time outside – for example, the inspector might like to bring a coat. The summary document states that: 'inspectors will always seek to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on providers and will take this into account when reaching final inspection judgements.'
- Ofsted will want to know if you have changed any of your curriculum for the pandemic – for example, if you have removed sand or water play, talk about how you ensure children are practicing those skills without the core provision; if you have removed soft furnishings, think about how you are ensuring children still feel cosy and comfortable; if you have stopped going on outings, consider how children are learning about the world around them; have you changed the ways you communicate with parents? You might find it useful to reflect on the changes you have made over the last year and how well they are working...
- If you have staff, ensure they know why the changes have been made and how to adapt the setting and their ways of working to ensure Covid-19 safety while minimising the impact on outcomes for the children. For example, the pandemic might have impacted on children’s wellbeing, behaviour or attachments or maybe parent partnerships have been affected.
- Think about your CPD as well - you might note, for example, that you have not been able to access local authority safeguarding training – but you should be able to talk about the professional development opportunities you have done to ensure you have not fallen behind in your knowledge. If you have staff, this will include in-house training to make sure they are still up-to-date.
Paragraph 19 focuses on the quality of teaching judgement - see point 173 in the new guidance for Ofsted’s definition of teaching. This paragraph states that when making a judgment on the quality of learning, 'inspectors will consider the extent to which leaders have designed an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum'.
- This is your opportunity to talk about your current – and future – curriculum and how you use it to support children’s progress.
- You might want to talk about, for example, how you have focused on a PSED rich curriculum for children adversely affected by the pandemic in their home and family life or extended your physical development curriculum for a child who was mostly confined indoors during lockdown.
Note: the new curriculum – the educational programmes in the EYFS 2021 – do not come into legislation until after 1st September, do you don’t need to talk about those yet.
Paragraph 21 talks about how you supported children’s home learning during the pandemic. You might want to jot down some of the ways you did this, so you don’t forget when asked.
- It asks you to comment on how you kept parents updated ‘with developments and changes’ so think about that – the emails, letters, blogs etc you sent during lockdown and beyond. In Gill Jones’ blog she states: ‘We know that providers have worked hard to provide a safe place for young children during these difficult times, helping working parents and the community to withstand the pressures.’ You might find it helpful to think through how you have done this to share with your inspector.
- Talk positively about the ways you dealt with the changes and how you have supported staff through it, if relevant. Do you have a diary where you jot down changes or how you have dealt with challenges – if so, you can use it to evidence how you have managed everything?
- There will be a focus on wellbeing during the inspection – staff as well as children – and staff includes childminder wellbeing. Think about some of the ways you have done this so you have stories in your head to talk about with your inspector.
Paragraphs 27 to 36 have been updated to inform us how Ofsted are changing from a 4 year inspection cycle to a 6 year inspection window and how inspections will be prioritised.
- Gill Jones states in her blog: ‘We will prioritise providers who:
· were judged less than good at their last inspection, which includes those who received an interim visit in the autumn term
· have recently registered and not been inspected, and whose first inspection is overdue
· were not inspected in the last inspection cycle due to the pause in routine inspection.
We will also continue to carry out any urgent inspection where we have significant concerns about a provider.'
- Note the last cycle ran from August 2016 to April 2020 when it was paused for lockdown.
- Newly registered providers will continue to be inspected within 30 months of their initial registration.
Paragraph 38 relates to childminders who might be self-isolating due to covid-19 and have no children on roll as a result. It links to footnote 5 which states: In a situation where a childminder is self-isolating and as a result has no children present, they should make Ofsted aware during the notification call or a soon as self-isolation commences following notification’.
Writing the report paragraph 10 – Ofsted talk about paediatric first aid in this paragraph. It is important to note that the EYFS 2021 (Annex A – paragraph 5 and footnote 71) states providers must undertake part of their first aid training face-to-face. If you completed a fully online course during lockdown you will need to replace it with a course that is partly face-to-face.
Gill Jones finishes her blog by stating: ‘While we understand that some providers may have concerns, it’s important we do the right thing for children, right now. We know that the EIF, built on research and inspection experience, is the right tool for us to find out how well settings are helping children to thrive, both emotionally and in their education. It’s particularly important that children from poorer families, who may have lost out on the vital foundations of early learning during the pandemic, get back on track, so the educational gap does not get wider. We want to make sure that no child gets left behind.’
If you do have any concerns, it will be important to talk them through with your inspector so they can be dealt with before you get into the inspection proper – you will want to give yourself every opportunity to do the best you can do during your inspection.
Childcare.co.uk has published some inspection guidance to support you –
https://www.childcare.co.uk/ofsted-inspection-anxiety.
I hope this is helpful. Sarah.