Childcare Provider Newsletter

Ofsted education inspection framework has been reviewed with effect from the 1^st September 2019.

Ofsted have defined the purpose of the reviewed framework as:

• Putting the Curriculum at the heart of the new framework
• Placing more emphasis on the quality of education and care as a whole. It will ensure that Ofsted considers children’s experiences and how their learning is being developed
• Reducing the focus on data, particularly internal progress data. Ofsted hope that this will help reduce unnecessary workload for childcare providers.

The four point grading scale will remain: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate.

The new judgement areas are:

The diagram below summarises the changes from the existing framework to the new framework for use from 1st September 2019:

Ofsted will continue to inspect the overall quality and standards of early years provision in line with the principles and requirements of the EYFS statutory framework.

There will continue to be a sharp focus on safeguarding under the ‘leadership and management’ judgement.

There will be a new ‘quality of education’ judgement that replaces ‘teaching, learning and assessment’ and ‘outcomes:’

The early years curriculum will be central to the revised inspection framework:

There is a new reference to ‘cultural capital’ within the Ofsted framework.

This is defined by Ofsted as follows:

• Cultural capital is the essential knowledge that children need to be educated citizens
• Some children arrive at an early years setting with poorer experiences than others, in their learning and play
• What the setting does, through its curriculum and interactions, potentially makes all the difference
• It is the role of the setting to ensure that children experience the awe and wonder of the world in which they live, through the seven areas of learning. 

Inspecting before- and after-school care and holiday provision

Providers (including childminders) who only offer care before and after school or during the school holidays for children who normally attend Reception (or older) classes during the school day do not have to meet the learning and development requirements for those children.

For children younger than Reception age, the provider must have regard to, but does not have to meet, the learning and development requirements. In both cases, this means they only have to meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS.

The inspector will consider the criteria for three of the key judgements (‘Behaviour and attitudes’, ‘Personal development’ and ‘Leadership and management’) in reaching a judgement about whether or not the provider is meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS.

The inspector will make a judgement only on the ‘Overall effectiveness: quality and standards of the early years provision’. The inspection will result in one of three possible outcomes:

• met
• not met with actions
• not met with enforcement.

Useful Links and information

• You can find the revised early years inspection handbook here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif

• On 16 January 2019, Ofsted launched a consultation on the draft education inspection framework (EIF) and the associated inspection handbooks.                                                              Information about the consultation response can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/education-inspection-framework-2019-inspecting-the-substance-of-education/outcome/education-inspection-framework-2019-a-report-on-the-responses-to-the-consultation

• Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, introduces the new inspection framework here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byaUliCMi9E&app=desktop

• Gill Jones, Deputy Director Early Education Policy, Ofsted and Wendy Ratcliff, HMI, Education Policy Team, Ofsted have produced the following presentation about the revised framework: https://foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/OfstedWebinar_PDF.pdf

• Sean Harford, Ofsted National Director, Education, discusses changes to the way Ofsted inspects and reports here: https://educationinspection.blog.gov.uk/2019/08/01/changes-to-the-way-ofsted-inspects-and-reports/

• In the following short video, Wendy Ratcliff, HMI, explains what will happen on an early years inspection: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=cG7miTKuWVw&list=PLLqzBnUkspNNK54tPbRsr2SQT6z2mOI4&index=15

• The following is a link to a webinar for childminders about the new inspection framework: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P34VsaSTYio#action=share

• Wendy Ratcliff, HMI, explains what is meant by ‘cultural capital’ in the early years: https://m.youtube.com/watchv=t0eOeG6Iwg&list=PLLqzBnUkspNNK54tPbRsr2SQT6z2mOI4&index=20

• Julie Ann Morris from Ofsted talks about the new inspection framework for before and after school care https://www.youtube.com/watchv=T9OzjIMQuOI&list=PLLqzBnUkspNNK54tPbRsr2SQT6z2mOI4&index=16&t

The above are links to the key information to support you in understanding and implementing the revised inspection framework. The early years team will facilitate more opportunities to explore and consider the framework during the autumn and spring term.

For more information, guidance and support please see the useful links (above) or contact a member of the Early years team on 01724 296650.