Ofsted today announced that it will implement all 4 changes
proposed in its recent consultation on post-inspection
arrangements and complaints handling.
The changes are:
- Enhanced on-site professional dialogue during inspections to
help address any issues.
- A new opportunity for providers to contact Ofsted the day
after an inspection if they have unresolved concerns.
- New arrangements for finalising reports and considering
formal challenges to inspection outcomes.
- Direct escalation to the Independent Complaints Adjudication
Service for Ofsted (ICASO)
and a periodic review of closed complaints using external
representatives.
Read the ‘Changes to Ofsted’s
post-inspection arrangements and complaints handling’
consultation outcome.
The consultation, which
ran from 12 June to 15 September 2023, received over 1,500
responses, an increase of over 150% from the consultation Ofsted
ran in 2020 on the same subject. Responses were received from
providers in all the sectors that Ofsted inspects and regulates.
There was strong support for all 4 proposals. Over 80% of
respondents were in favour of proposals 1,2 and 4, and just under
80% of respondents were in favour of proposal 3.
The proposals will come into effect in 2 phases:
Proposals 1 and 2 will come into effect in January 2024. Ofsted
will provide all inspectors with guidance on developing and
formalising the enhanced professional dialogue essential for
successful inspections. At the same time, Ofsted will let
providers know that they can contact Ofsted with any unresolved
issues on the working day after the end of the inspection.
Proposals 3 and 4 will come into effect in April 2024. When
providers receive their draft report, they will be able to
highlight minor points of clarity or factual accuracy, or raise a
formal complaint to seek a review of the inspection findings and
judgements awarded.
Ofsted will also remove the current internal review step in its
complaints process. From April, if complainants are concerned
that Ofsted has not correctly followed its complaints-handling
process, they will be able to escalate their concerns directly to
the ICASO.
Ofsted will also introduce the periodic reviews of closed cases
at this point.
Ofsted’s Chief inspector, Amanda Spielman said:
I’m pleased to see the high levels of support for our proposed
changes from those working across education and children’s social
care. We have also piloted enhanced professional dialogue and
allowing providers to contact us the day after the inspection and
these worked well.
I’m confident these changes will help resolve complaints more
quickly, reduce the administrative burden on those making a
complaint, and increase transparency in the process. I hope they
will also help providers feel more comfortable about raising any
issues with us.
