Pause to children's centre inspections could have "very serious" implications

Last year childcare minister Sam Gyimah announced that Ofsted inspections would be suspended until a consultation on children’s centres had been completed. However, despite being promised in autumn last year, the consultation has still not been announced.

Gyimah said it was not considered not “appropriate” for inspections to continue by the Department for Education (DfE), as the inspection framework was likely to change.

However, safeguarding concerns have emerged as the delay has left centres uninspected for almost six months.

Jaine Stannard, head of commissioning and safeguarding lead at charity School-Home Support, is concerned that strugglng centres won’t have the support to improve.

“Often children's centres are the only place that children under five see professionals on a regular basis and if services are not effective the opportunity to pick up any issues in their wellbeing or development may be missed,” she said.

“Without inspections there is a risk that bad practice could be allowed to develop and go unchallenged."

Denise Burke, chief executive at Smallsteps said it raises a number of issues.

“Those centres already rated “inadequate” will have no urgency to resolve issues including safeguarding, and others waiting for an inspection will become complacent,” she said.

“The situation is untenable and chaotic. I'm not sure government understands the implication of delaying the consultation.”

James Hempsall, director of Hempsall's consultancy and a former children's centre manager, called it a “stagnant” situation," pending a consultation that "may or may not happen". He said while inspections are paused, the quality of a centre could change.

“The damage that such inertia can cause at a time when local areas are making budget decisions is huge,” he said.

“At a time when children's centres are under review, services change. Such change can affect efficiency, effectiveness and outcomes. That's why Ofsted inspections should be continuing 'business as usual' until DfE direction is clear, so safeguarding is maintained and accountable."

Michael Pavey, director of campaign group Labour Friends of Sure Start, called the suspension on inspections will have “very serious” implications.

“An initial pause is understandable but this never-ending delay will significantly reduce the amount of up-to-date information available about children's centres," he said.

“It makes it more difficult for councils to decide how to allocate resources to support their children's centres. And it makes it more difficult for centre managers and leaders to know where they need to improve their services."

As at 31 August 2015, 56 per cent of children’s centres were judged “good or “outstanding. Of the remaining, 33 per cent were judged “requires improvement” and two per cent were judged “inadequate”.  

Each children's centre works with more than 300 families on average, according to the latest data.

Ofsted has said that on-site early years provision will continue to be inspected as part of the Common Inspection Framework.