Letters to the Editor: Positive involvement can boost Ofsted role

The article Ofsted under the spotlight as criticism of its role mounts (CYP Now, 12 May) reminded me of the factors that provoked the Ofsted Big Conversation in the early years sector.

The revised framework, the integrity of inspectors and the draconian approach all combined to raise the temperature among colleagues. The consensus is that the system was unfair, unhelpful, inconsistent and disparaging to a hardworking and committed sector.

Our response to this was proactive and positive, and resulted in the national Ofsted Big Conversation. These discussions brought people together both virtually and face to face, resulting in a coherent approach. Ofsted, immediately defensive, changed its approach. Under new leadership, it engaged proactively and the result is a richer and more even-handed relationship. Social care take note.

That said, there is much to be done. This includes independent provider representation at both the quality assurance stage of the inspection and the first stage of the appeals process; re-inspection if the setting is not happy with their grade; and re-evaluation of the concept of the school effectiveness test.

Our success so far has been predicated on positive involvement, coherent thinking and keeping the conversation going.

June O’Sullivan, chief executive, London Early Years Foundation

Up boarding school places to combat care

The recent rise in the number of care applications being made serves to highlight the growing needs of vulnerable children (Understanding the factors driving the increase in care applications, CYP Now, 12 May). With this in mind, the Royal National Children’s Foundation (RNCF), the national charity which provides long-term support for vulnerable, disadvantaged young people at boarding schools, has launched an appeal to increase the number of places by more than 25 per cent.

The appeal aims to increase, by 2018, the number of RNCF’s  “assisted boarders” from 370 currently to at least 500 vulnerable young people. They will attend state and independent boarding schools throughout the UK.

RNCF co-funds the school fees for these young people (who usually have one or no active parents and are living below the poverty line) with other charities and the boarding schools themselves.

Research shows that young people benefit hugely from the structure, security, pastoral care and excellent facilities and education at hundreds of boarding schools. Over the past 44 years, the foundation has supported more than 3,500 young people at some 250 state and independent boarding schools throughout the UK, usually for the duration of their secondary schooling.

In addition to transforming the lives of these vulnerable young people, boarding school placements can help under-pressure single parents to keep their family unit together and prevent the need for many more young people eventually being taken into local authority care.

Geoffrey Dennis, chief executive, RNCF