Ofsted has today announced a full programme of sector engagement
to be launched in September when the final set of education
inspection reforms are published.
The programme of webinars and regional events will continue
throughout the autumn term, offering providers a range of
opportunities to familiarise themselves with the changes, ahead
of inspections under the renewed framework beginning in November.
Ofsted will hold live webinars for different provider types
across each education remit, setting out the key changes to
inspection. Recordings of each webinar will be available on
Ofsted's YouTube
channel afterwards.
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For the early years sector, there will be separate webinars
for childminders; group-based provision; and
out-of-school-clubs.
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For schools, individual webinars will be hosted for
maintained nurseries; primaries; secondaries; non-association
independent schools; University Technical Colleges (UTCs);
special schools; and alternative provision.
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For further education and skills, there will be webinars for
specific provision types, including 16 to 19 programmes;
apprenticeship providers; adult learning providers; and high
needs provision.
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For initial teacher education (ITE), there will be a
webinar for providers of any/all phases of ITE, and another for
providers of ITE programmes for the
further education and skills sector.
Full details of the webinar programme and how to sign up are
available at: Education
inspection framework: engagement programme.
The engagement programme will be bolstered by face-to-face and
online regional events, hosted by local providers, local
authorities and partners. These events will help providers build
on their understanding of the renewed framework, supported by
published materials. Ofsted will share further details about
events in the coming weeks.
Nominees
For many years, Ofsted has successfully used a system of nominees
to support inspections of further education and skills providers.
Nominees help the inspection process run smoothly and
collaboratively, through planning, communication and engagement
with the inspection team. They provide contextual information
about their setting and strengthen the professional dialogue
between inspectors and leaders.
From November, nominees will be introduced to inspections across
other education remits, where relevant. In advance of the renewed
framework, Ofsted will offer a short online training package
tailored for nominees in specific remits. These sessions will
provide an overview of the framework and more information on how
nominees can work together with inspectors during a future
inspection.
More details about the nominee training package will be released
following the consultation response in September.
All education inspectors will complete comprehensive training to
support the transition to the renewed framework. Full inspector
training materials will be published online, via the Ofsted
Academy, once inspectors have completed face-to-face training. In
addition to this training package, Ofsted will undertake pilot
visits to volunteer settings, giving inspectors vital experience
of full, end-to-end inspections before November.
His Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said:
I want to reassure education providers that, through our national
engagement programme and published materials, they will be able
to familiarise themselves with the changes during the first part
of the autumn term – while routine school and further education
and skills inspections are on hold.
Our Inspectors will all receive extensive training between now
and November, and many will have had the experience of a full
pilot inspection. I know there are some concerns about the
timeline for these changes, that's why we are planning such a
comprehensive programme. I have every confidence that our
approach will support a successful roll-out of new-look
inspections in November.
Notes to editors
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It will not be mandatory for every school or early years
provider to appoint a nominee.
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The nominee for early years should be the individual who
knows the setting and children the best. This is a different
role from the nominated individual and will be covered in the
early years webinars.
