Ofsted’s Proposed Changes
As Ofsted have been in the spotlight recently for a number of reasons, it comes as no surprise that there have been a number of proposed changes due to take place in the coming months.
Advanced Warning
Under the new reforms, schools will have a better idea that they are due to be inspected. While they will still have only one day’s notice on the specific day they will be inspected, they will now be notified of the year in which they will be inspected. For outstanding schools which are visited less frequently, this will offer a welcome insight. For other schools, this gives an idea of when they need to ensure that all suggested changes are made by.
Changes to safeguarding inspections
Currently, the safeguarding rating of a school greatly impacts their overall rating, due to the importance of keeping our children safe. This means that a school can receive a “Good” rating everywhere except safeguarding, yet still receive an “Inadequate” rating overall. There are also rare occasions where schools fail because of this.
In this new reform, schools will be revisited for a follow-up and monitoring visit within 3 months. If the school has been able to resolve the safeguarding concerns, it is likely to see its overall grade improve.
Change in the complaints procedure
Ofsted has launched a formal consultation regarding the way it handles complaints following inspections. They are proposing to replace its current internal review process with a direct escalation to the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted (ICASO).
This is accompanied by the facility to contact Ofsted directly the day after an inspection if they have “unresolved concerns”.
Ofsted is launching a formal consultation on changes to the complaints system, aimed at resolving complaints made by schools more quickly through improved dialogue and transparency. The administrative burden on those making a complaint will be reduced.
A number of these reforms have already begun to be put in place, while others are estimated to be in place for September 2023.
We hope these reforms will go a long way in ensuring that we can do the best for our schools, and particularly our students.
We cannot offer support with inspections, but we can offer courses to help improve the knowledge of your Teaching Assistants, that can help you receive the outcome you are looking for. We highly recommend that there are a number of your team who are aware of safeguarding, take a look at our TQUK Level 2 Award in Safeguarding & Protecting Children and Young People.
For more information on any of our courses, or to discuss enrolling multiple learners with us, please contact the team directly.