Please find a comment below from the Early Years Alliance following the publication of Ofsted’s response to the Big Listen, a consultation seeking views on Ofsted’s work across the education and care sectors, including the early years.

The inspectorate’s response include several sector-specific proposals including scrapping one-word inspection judgements, introducing a report-card system and developing more nuanced reporting of the strengths of providers.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“It is very positive to see that Ofsted has both acknowledged the wide-ranging challenges facing the sector, and put in place several measures to address these, including – in collaboration with the Department for Education – the eventual scrapping of the one-word judgements.  

“We know early educators go above and beyond to deliver high-quality care and education but Ofsted inspections have long been a cause of significant stress across the sector. As such, we welcome proposals to recognise the importance of educators in the development of a more nuanced reporting of the strengths of providers. 

“That said, for these proposals to make certain that inspections are a collaborative and supportive process, today must mark the start, not the end, of Ofsted’s engagement with the sector. This is especially important given plans to review the early years inspection framework and apply it more flexibly to different types of settings.

“Let’s not be under any illusion: there is a long way to go to transform the relationship between the inspectorate and early years providers, but we are hopeful that today marks the first step in a renewed approach.”