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Issue 105 | September 2021

Sections

• All Ofsted
• Schools
• Children’s social care
• Further education and skills
• Early years and childcare

All Ofsted
Amanda Spielman at researchED National Conference 2021 – The Chief Inspector discussed Ofsted’s research on education during the pandemic, remote education and curriculum. Ofsted’s curriculum lead Heather Fearn also spoke at the conference and we have published the accompanying presentation slides.
Schools and early education update: academic year 2021 to 2022 – Updates for inspectors and stakeholders with the latest information and guidance about Ofsted’s inspection work in schools and early education settings.
Ofsted to review two education catch-up reforms – Ofsted has been asked by the government to carry out an independent review of two key catch-up reforms: tutoring and teachers’ professional development.
Ofsted and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) say it is time to give prison education ‘the attention it deserves’ – The Chief Inspectors of Ofsted and HMIP have written a joint commentary discussing the impact of COVID-19 on prison education and announcing the launch of a new prison education review.
Inspecting education, skills and work activities in prisons and young offender institutions – From 25 October 2021, this handbook will come back into force for inspections carried out with HMIP. Ofsted will resume full inspections of prison education aligned with the education inspection framework (EIF). The handbook has been revised to cover the impact and context of COVID-19 when making judgements (see paragraphs 20 to 33). Inspectors will apply the handbook with the expectation that the prison is planning to deliver the curriculum making the best use of opportunities permitted at each stage of the recovery, as determined by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
Ofsted pen portraits of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) – Updated HMI pen portraits for all regions.
Ofsted Inspectors: lists – Updated list of Ofsted Inspectors as at 10 September 2021.

Schools
Ofsted launches updated guidance for summary evaluations of multi-academy trusts (MATs) – Updated summary evaluations of MATs guidance explains how Ofsted will carry out these visits.
Video: Lee Owston on MATs and the focus of summary evaluations – Lee Owston, Ofsted’s Programme Director, Schools Inspection Improvement, talks about the focus of summary evaluations, which look at the impact that the MAT is having on improving the quality of education in its schools.
Video: Lee Owston on MATs, summary evaluations and inspection – Lee Owston talks about MAT summary evaluations and how they are a way of gathering wider evidence, beyond an inspection.
Inspecting schools: guide for maintained and academy schools – Updated to reflect changes to inspection intervals following the pandemic.
Inspecting schools: guidance for parents – Updated to reflect changes to inspection intervals following the pandemic.
State-funded school inspections and outcomes: management information – Published management information as at 31 August 2021.
Non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes: management information – Published management information as at 31 July 2021.

Children’s social care
Ofsted’s social care blog: Applying to register a children’s home: top tips – Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s National Director for Regulation and Social Care, sets out some top tips for completing an application to register a children’s home.
Introduction to children’s homes – Clarified our guidance on one manager managing two children’s homes.
Fostering and adoption agency datasets – Added data as at 31 March 2021.
Inspection outcomes of the largest children’s social care providers – Updated to correct two settings that were assigned to the wrong company.

Further education and skills
Ofsted to carry out survey of effectiveness of Skills Bootcamps – Ofsted has been asked by the government to carry out a thematic survey of how well providers are developing and delivering Skills Bootcamps programmes.
Inspecting initial training for the Armed Forces – Updated with details of the EIF.
Further education and skills inspections and outcomes: management information from September 2020 to August 2021 – Uploaded management information as at 31 August 2021.

Early years and childcare
Childminder agencies: registration and suitability – Added guidance for childminders or providers of childcare on domestic premises who want to register with a childminder agency.
Reported coronavirus (COVID-19) notifications by registered early years and childcare settings – Added data for weeks beginning 9, 16, 23 and 30 August 2021.
Consented addresses for childminders and domestic childcare – Updated consented addresses for childminders and domestic childcare as at 31 August 2021.