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In a rush? Here's the quick run-down:
Does the thought of an Ofsted inspector firing questions at you and your staff put you in a cold sweat? If this sounds like you, you're not alone.
But it needn't be this way.
We reviewed key documents and spoke with Ofsted to understand what to expect on inspection day. We've created this article to ensure you and your staff are well-prepared.
Ofsted takes a more hands-on approach to understand how your nursery operates. During the Ofsted inspection, the inspector will take a 'learning walk' through your Early Years setting. You will have the opportunity to explain why you do things the way you do. Ofsted inspections aren’t just a test of whether you know the Early Years handbook, but also whether your staff knows their stuff about day-to-day safeguarding, welfare requirements, and the EYFS.
Before we dive into more specific ways that you can help prepare your staff for Ofsted’s questions, I want to mention that one thing many managers forget to tell their staff is that it’s okay to not have all the answers after all we’re only human. As a manager, reminding your staff how to reply to a question they don’t know the answer to can help ease some pressure.
For instance, they can calmly inform the inspector they feel nervous and can't remember at the moment. Most importantly, remind them to tell the inspector how they would find out the information.
Before your inspection, Ofsted will call you to let you know they are coming the next day. They will also tell you what documents to get ready.
Ofsted will usually call between 9:30 am and 2 pm the day before the inspection however on exceptional circumstances they can inspect any school without notice so it's always best to stay ready. The good news is, If you're running a high-quality nursery and already following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), then you're in good shape and this is your time to shine.
The first call is simply to inform you of the inspection and make any practical arrangements such as organising time for meetings with key staff and which documents you should have ready for the inspection day. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions.
During the initial call, the inspection support admin will ask you some general questions about your setting such as:
Teaching methods may vary based on the diverse needs on children. Let's discuss what kinds of questions Ofsted might ask you on how you support children who require additional assistance such as children with English as an additional language (EAL) and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Understanding how any funding is being spent is an important one. More importantly, you want to be able to provide clear evidence about how the money you’ve spent is making a difference.
How to be outstanding: The Ofsted Inspection Guide
Renewed and updated for 2023: Get ideas, tips, and advice on what it takes to be outstanding from Early Years managers and Ofsted’s Phil Minns and Wendy Ratcliff.
How you are managing your staff is a crucial aspect of the inspection. After all, the effectiveness of your leadership and nursery management will form a significant part of your rating.
Your approach to managing your staff counts during the inspection. There will be a focus on how you lead your staff and run your nursery. The inspector will also inquire about your leadership from your staff and managers. Therefore, it's essential to have effective leadership initiatives in place and have them in place so you're confident of your abilities as a leader.
Want to brush up on your leadership skills?
Check out this article on Famly where we interview Early Years educator Kelly Hill. She shares 4 tips on how to be a better leader in the Early Years.
This is the big one. We've heard time and time again that Ofsted will ask you a lot of questions about safeguarding.
The term safeguarding is used more broadly and according to the latest government guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), it means:
Inspectors expect practitioners to prioritise safeguarding children in Early Years settings. It is crucial for practitioners to meet this standard. While it might feel a bit over the top to be talking about guns and preventative strategies, Ofsted is clear that it is important to be prepared for every “possible” outcome.
If you would like to read up on how your setting can improve on keeping children safe. Check out .gov’s website for guidance on keeping children safe in education.
While you’re there don’t forget to double-check those safeguarding documents.
Several key principles underpin safeguarding to ensure the welfare and happiness of children, mainly:
The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the foundation of safeguarding measures for early years providers to follow. They are based on four overarching principles, including:
At your next Ofsted inspection, you may need to give some examples of your policies and procedures records and explain how they're implemented in your setting.
Review recent incidents, accidents, complaints, and risk assessments to keep them in mind and refresh your memory. This is especially important if you have any recent incidents that were reported to Ofsted.
Double-check any legal policies related to your procedures and ensure they are up-to-date.
This aspect of the inspection focuses on how your nursery supports and tracks the development of children according to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Inspectors will assess how children have advanced in their learning journey since joining the nursery and how your team aids them in achieving developmental milestones.
During the inspection, Ofsted closely observes various activities and interactions between staff and children. They aim to identify strengths in the nursery's approach as well as areas that require improvement to provide better support for children's development.
Make sure that everyone (including yourself) has a great working knowledge of all 7 areas of learning, and how your setting's curriculum meets the requirements of the EYFS.
Ofsted's inspection handbook outlines the essential documents your setting should have prepared. However, they may also remind you of these requirements during the initial call. It's best to be prepared beforehand, so make sure your documents are in order!
What documents might Ofsted ask for?
Guidance from the Danish Health Ministry, translated in full to English.
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The full recommendations from a working group of over 70 nursery chains in the UK.
Please note: here at Famly we love sharing creative activities for you to try with the children at your setting, but you know them best. Take the time to consider adaptions you might need to make so these activities are accessible and developmentally appropriate for the children you work with. Just as you ordinarily would, conduct risk assessments for your children and your setting before undertaking new activities, and ensure you and your staff are following your own health and safety guidelines.
