Early years providers and workers are warning that the introduction of a new Ofsted inspection framework has led to an increasing number of previously good or outstanding settings being unfairly downgraded.
They say that the problem has been caused by a misinterpretation of the rules by inspectors, which if not rectified could undermine government plans to provide free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds because too few nurseries will be allowed to offer it.
Ofsted is unable to confirm exact numbers, but anecdotally nursery workers say 30 or 40 settings are appealing recent inspection judgments. Delegates raised the issue with Ofsted's director of early childhood, Sue Gregory, at the recent National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) conference.
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