Ofsted to extend pause on inspections of NPQ and ECTP providers

The Minister for School Standards has requested that Ofsted extends the pause on inspections of national professional qualification (NPQ) and early career teacher programme (ECTP) providers.

The current pause on routine inspections of national professional qualification providers will continue for the rest of the academic year 2026/27.

We will also be applying the pause to routine inspections of early career teacher programme providers.  

This extended pause is to allow Ofsted to continue developing a renewed inspection framework that aligns our inspections of NPQ and ECTP providers with the current approach to inspecting other education remits. 

During this time, we will engage with the sector on the new inspection toolkit, operating guide and report card for NPQ and or ECTP providers. 

Routine inspections of providers of both programmes will resume in the academic year 2027/28.