Over the past couple of months the heat has been turned up on Ofsted’s handling of inspections and its complaints process.

Early years providers have been calling for the regulator to work with the sector in order to have a more streamlined and transparent process.

HMCI Amanda Spielman’s recent announcement details her response to the early years and school sector.

She stated:

“In recent weeks there has been much debate about reform of school inspections. I want to acknowledge the continuing debate and the strength of feeling, and I want to set out some of the things we’re doing and reflect on the suggestions of more radical reform.”

However, Spielman continued by saying that:

“Our current inspection process was introduced in 2019 after extensive consultation with the education sector, and we have had good feedback from the vast majority who have experienced a new-style inspection.”

Ofsted complaints process

After an inspection by Ofsted, early years providers have the opportunity to challenge the content, findings and judgements outlined in the report.

The complaints should be submitted within 10 working days of publication of the report. Where a provider has concerns about or disagrees with the findings or judgements in an inspection report, they will usually want to prevent the report from proceeding to publication.

Complaints can be made to Ofsted to request that the publication of the report is withheld until their complaint has been considered.

However, Ofsted complaints process will only do so in exceptional circumstances and a challenge to the inspection process or disagreement with the inspection findings alone are not normally considered as those circumstances.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said: “We have been saying that Ofsted’s complaint process is not fit for purpose and in need of review for a number of years. Too often, providers who want to challenge factual inaccuracies or complain about the conduct of inspectors find the process is too long or do not trust they will get a thorough or fair hearing.

“Inspection and regulation is a vital activity to ensure the highest quality of provision is maintained and that children’s wellbeing and safety is maintained. However, Ofsted as the regulator, has to be constructive and supportive to everyone to be able to perform that role. A fair and transparent complaints process is a vital part of this and this must come out of this review process.”