Ofsted inspections will not restart next week for schools, new chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver has confirmed.

Sir Martyn has paused them as he launches an internal inquiry into how the regulator responded to the death of headteacher Ruth Perry. However the halt in inspections will only apply to schools, not early years settings.

The new chief inspector started his 5 year term on 2 January pledging to do more to support the mental wellbeing of staff and more training for inspectors.

On his appointment, Sir Martyn Oliver said:

“I’m delighted and honoured to join Ofsted as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills.

“My full job title highlights the breadth of our work. We help raise standards for children and learners at every stage of their lives. But the public probably know us best for inspecting schools. Over the last year, since the tragic death of Ruth Perry, our inspections have come under great scrutiny. I’m determined that we learn from this to improve the way we work and respond fully to the coroner’s inquest, taking tangible actions to address the concerns raised. A lot has been done already, but a lot more can be done now – starting with a robust programme of mental health awareness training for all our inspectors. That begins next week and will become an integral part of how we train and develop our people.

“Along with immediate training on mental health awareness, one of the first things I want to do is listen – to parents, to professionals in the sectors we work with, and to people with an interest in our work. We are here for children, their parents and carers – and we will serve them best by working constructively, respectfully and empathetically with the experts who are responsible for their education and care. Our people come from these sectors. We understand the pressures they are under – and we will make that clear as we go about our work.”

While this is welcome news for schools, leading experts are disappointed that the early years sector are excluded.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive, Early Years Alliance said: “It is extremely worrying and entirely unacceptable that Ofsted’s decision to pause inspections does not include early years settings. 

“Our own research clearly shows that inspections are not just a cause for concern for providers but their biggest cause of stress. Why, then, is early years continually forgotten when steps are taken to address wider concerns about Ofsted inspections? 

“The fact that early years inspectors, like schools inspectors, will receive mental health awareness training is undoubtedly a positive step, but we are yet to receive any explanation as to why nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are continuing with inspections while this training is undertaken when this is not the case for schools. 

“We therefore call on Ofsted to ensure that inspections in early years settings paused in line with schools immediately, and crucially, that any changes to the way that inspections are carried out going forward include the early years sector. After all, we know – and Ofsted knows – that the education system doesn’t begin and end with schools.”