Researchers from the University of Oxford and A+ Education compared Ofsted inspections based on the Early Years Foundation Stage with other standardised assessment tools used in many countries, including the Early Childhood Environment Scale (ECERS) and the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS) as well as quality assurance schemes.
The research, which was funded by the Nuffield Foundation, found that some settings judged as "outstanding" or "good" by Ofsted were rated as lower quality on the ECERS and ITERS rating scales.
The report recommended that decisions around quality, especially those that relate to funding and commissioning, should be made using a broad range of quality indicators, saying that currently many local authorities rely on Ofsted ratings to determine which nurseries and preschools receive government early years funding for free childcare provision.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
