LGA urges Ofsted to postpone monitoring visits during lockdown
Ella Doyle
Monday, January 11, 2021
Ofsted should suspend the resumption of monitoring inspections in schools until at least March, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
Inspections of schools currently judged inadequate were due to begin this month but were not set to be graded, the inspectorate said last year.
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The summer term is set to see the start of routine inspections and grading for schools, according to latest plans, released by Ofsted in December.
Ofsted previously said these will be based on “the length of time since their last inspection and any other relevant information”.
Emergency inspections of schools, where concerns are raised, will continue in this year, Ofsted added.
The LGA has expressed concern over increasing pressure on schools as new Covid-19 restrictions mean they are taking on significantly more students than in the first national lockdown.
Children where one parent is a key worker and those without digital access at home are not permitted to attend school despite being unable to when the first lockdown measures were introduced in March.
Councillor Judith Blake, chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board has said the inspections are likely to increase strain on schools which are “struggling to provide both virtual and actual teaching” and facing “huge pressure on their workloads and responsibilities”.
She said: “Schools and councils need to focus on providing education during the pandemic, without any unnecessary distractions. This is why we are urging Ofsted to postpone the resumption of monitoring inspections for schools, either in-person or virtual, until after February half-term at the earliest.”
“Schools, supported by councils, have gone above and beyond to keep them open to vulnerable children since term restarted, making necessary changes in line with updated guidance at very short notice.”
She added that routine inspections should be delayed “to avoid adding to the considerable burden of school leaders and staff who are already exhausted due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic”.
Inspections of early years settings have been delayed until the summer term. Unions and sector leaders called last week for nurseries to be closed and early years staff to be prioritised for vaccines.
An Ofsted spokesperson said: “We recognise that this is an exceptionally challenging time for local authorities, colleges, schools, and early years and social care providers. But it’s also important that we understand what is happening for children during the ongoing national restrictions, and that we take action where we are worried about children’s safety and care.
“We continue to review the latest advice and public health guidance in preparation for our return to visiting schools, local authorities and other providers.
“Our ungraded monitoring inspections will only focus on lower-graded schools, encouraging and supporting improvement where needed. And our local authority assurance visits will prioritise areas where we can add most value. We will not be carrying out fieldwork in January, so that local authorities can focus on their local emergency response.”