A suspension of Ofsted inspections of children's centres "on a short-term basis" was announced in 2015 by then childcare minister Sam Gyimah while a consultation on their future took place. However, the consultation is yet to happen and the suspension has not been lifted.
Under the current inspection framework, the effectiveness of a children's centre's policies and procedures, including those for safeguarding and staff recruitment, is among areas that children's centres are rated on. Concerns have previously been raised that issues may go unnoticed due to a lack of oversight.
In January, charity Action for Children warned that the continued suspension of inspections is "undermining" children's centres.
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
