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Leading early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has called on a new inquiry into the education inspection system to be expanded to include the early years. 

The ‘Beyond Ofsted’ inquiry, chaired by former schools minister Lord Jim Knight, describes itself as "an inquiry into the future of school inspection" and aims to set out an alternative framework for an inspection system “fit for the increasingly complex needs of schools”. 

However, the inquiry currently makes no mention of education settings outside of the schools sector, including early years settings, which are also subject to Ofsted registration and inspection, and currently receive the same single-word Ofsted judgements as schools. 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

“Inspection should be about working collaboratively and supportively with education settings to ensure that children and young people receive the best possible quality of provision. However, we know that there are increasing concerns that under the current system, this is simply not the case and as such, it is absolutely right that questions are being asked about whether the existing inspection regime is fit for purpose. 

“But the education system doesn’t begin and end with schools. Nurseries, pre-schools and childminding professionals are all required to register with, and be regularly inspected by, Ofsted, and we know that many share the same concerns as their school colleagues: that the current system – and in particular, the single-word grading approach – has created a culture of fear and stress within the sector that is simply not sustainable. 

“It is incredibly disappointing, therefore, that the new inquiry currently focuses so narrowly on schools, with no mention of the early years. We urge those leading this review to meet with early years representatives, including the Alliance, with a view to urgently widening the scope of the inquiry. We’re clear that any reform of the inspection system must apply to the entirety of the education sector, and not just part of it.”