Commenting on Ofsted’s second report into the impact of the
pandemic across education settings, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint
General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“We welcome the Chief Inspector’s acknowledgement that school
leaders are working tirelessly to ensure a continuity of learning
in schools and colleges this term, in extremely testing
circumstances.
“It is difficult, however, for anyone in education to take
seriously the notion that an Ofsted visit is ‘non judgemental’.
That is why the announcement of this programme of visits was held
in such suspicion. Our members have told us the visits were
highly disruptive and added pressure in an already
highly-pressured period, where schools and colleges were
establishing new ways of delivering learning. ‘Nothing else could
be done that day,’ said one.
“Leaders must be allowed to focus on the difficult business of
running a Covid-secure school or college. With many partially
closed, and increasingly so, leaders are already fully aware of
the impacts on learning and are doing everything they can to
maintain a continuity for the young people in their care. This is
hampered by government. The resources and support children and
young people need during these stressful times cannot be magicked
out of thin air. School budgets as we know were already stretched
to breaking point before the pandemic, with Covid the final
straw. We are pleased that Amanda Spielman has heard those
complaints, although it surely did not require 900 visits to
reach that conclusion.
“The disproportionate effects on SEND pupils and students are
clear. A lack of access to external support services, such as
speech & language therapies and delays to assessment
processes and EHC plans, is having a harmful effect on young
people. This again is not the fault of schools, but of a
Government which is consistently underfunding SEND support.
Ensuring every child gets the education they deserve and need
cannot be done on the cheap.
“It is right that the Chief Inspector is standing up for schools,
but she could go much further. Inspections should be suspended,
certainly those planned for January, and she must align herself
with schools in calling on Government for more teachers, smaller
bubbles, extra buildings and curriculum flexibility. That is how
best she and her colleagues in Ofsted can support schools,
colleges and nurseries, and stop Covid disrupting education.”
