NDNA Responds to Select Committee Report on Role of Ofsted

April 19, 2011 - PRLog -- National Day Nurseries Association, Head Office, 19 April 2011 – National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today responded to the Education Committee’s report ‘The Role and Performance of Ofsted.’

NDNA said that whilst a number of the recommendations were welcome, nurseries would be keen to ensure that any changes ensured an improved inspection system that parents fully understand, with inspectors having the right skills and knowledge to support continuous improvement.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) comments: “The proposal to split Ofsted into two parts is an interesting one, but NDNA believes that more detailed discussions would be required and careful consideration of the impact and benefits of such a move thoroughly considered. Nurseries in particular have a strong role to play in delivering early education and NDNA would want to ensure that any changes in approach to inspection would support both service improvement and the delivery of high-quality early education. NDNA agrees that Ofsted reports could be developed to be more accessible for parents, and it is important to balance providing the depth of intelligence the report recommendation’s outlines with helping parents to understand that an Ofsted report is just one part of the decision making process when choosing a nursery.”

“NDNA welcomes the report’s recommendation that all inspectors need to be experienced and up-to-date with the sectors they work within, including through secondments and supporting this by reporting on the progress of current outsourced inspection arrangements. Although on the whole nurseries find inspections a helpful experience, NDNA continues to hear reports from settings who find that the inspector does not have the right skills and experience to make an informed judgement and there are concerns around consistency of inspection. Measures such as secondments, training and increased preparation time as outlined in this report will help the inspection process be consistent, and ultimately deliver improved outcomes for children.”

Purnima concludes: “A number of recommendations in this report require further discussion, especially in light of the Government’s forthcoming response to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). We look forward to discussing these recommendations in more depth and exploring how the role of inspection in delivering high-quality services is strengthened and enhanced.”

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Notes to editors:  

For more information, to arrange interviews or photographs please contact Hayley Wilson, Senior Press and Policy Officer on T: 01484 40 70 66 E: hayley.wilson@ndna.org.uk M: 07718 803 652

National Day Nurseries Association is a national charity representing children’s nurseries across the UK, giving them information, training and support, so they can provide the best possible care to young children. NDNA is the voice of the sector, an integral part of the lives of nearly one million children and their families.

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National Day Nurseries Association is a national charity representing children’s nurseries across the UK, giving them information, training and support, so they can provide the best possible care to young children.