Ofsted advises schools and nurseries hit by staff shortages to apply to defer inspections
Fiona Simpson
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Early years and education settings affected by Covid-related staffing shortages have been urged by Ofsted to apply to defer inspections.
The inspectorate paused inspections of schools, colleges and early years settings in the run up to Christmas due to the emergence of the omicron variant of the virus in the UK.
Early years leaders have called for the pause to continue until the end of January.
However, Ofsted has ruled out an extension with inspections set to resume next week.
Writing on Twitter, the inspectorate said it will “encourage schools, colleges and nurseries that are significantly impacted by Covid-related staff absence to request a deferral”.
1/2 We’re not carrying out any inspections this week. When inspections resume, we will encourage schools, colleges and nurseries that are significantly impacted by COVID-related staff absence to request a deferral.
— Ofsted (@Ofstednews) January 5, 2022
It added that around 800 school staff who work part-time as inspectors had been asked to “concentrate on their jobs as school leaders” as cases of omicron surge.
Around 200 full-time inspectors will continue to visit schools and early years settings, Ofsted added, clarifying that the advice to defer inspections also applies to childminders.
Early years leaders have urged Ofsted to continue pausing routine inspections for nurseries.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said: “It is unfair for nurseries to undergo a routine inspection under the current stresses and strains where staffing is a daily concern.
“Nurseries and their staff teams are working flat out to support children and their families. If the government wants them to be able to continue with their essential work supporting our youngest children, ministers need to look urgently at putting practical and financial support in place for the sector in order to keep them going.”
“Inspections of children’s social care, local area SEND services and joint targeted area inspections will continue, as will its regulatory work, with deferrals taking place where appropriate,” an Ofsted spokesperson told CYP Now.