Early years excluded from Ofsted inquiry as MPs call for alternative to one-word judgments
by Jess Gibson and Shannon Pite
MPs have called for Ofsted to end one-word judgments following school inspections in a report released today by the Education Select Committee.
The report highlights a number of recommendations for the government to improve trust and relations between schools and Ofsted, following an inquest into the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life after an Ofsted inspection at her school.
Commenting, Conservative MP and Committee chair Robin Walker said: “On the now totemic issue of single-word judgements, Ofsted and ministers should heed the widespread calls for change.
“We urge the new HMCI and government to consider a more nuanced system that can provide value to both schools and parents, and as a first step we encourage the inspectorate, Department and schools to make more use of the multiple judgements already included in reports.”
However, the failed to mention early years within its call for removing single-word judgments, focusing instead on schools.
While many within the early years sector have welcomed the call for an alternative to one-word inspection judgement, the Committee has been criticised for failing included early years within the scope of the inquiry.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: “While we welcome the Committee’s call for an alternative to one-word judgments, it is both disappointing and incredibly frustrating that the inquiry’s scope only focused on school inspections.  
“As the Alliance’s own research has shown, not only are Ofsted inspections the greatest cause of stress in the sector, but more than three-quarters of nurseries, pre-schools and childminders support a move to replace one-word inspection judgements.
“Why is it, then, that the early years continues to be such an afterthought in discussions around inspection reforms? Such a short-sighted approach risks negatively impacting the wellbeing of the early years workforce and exacerbating an already acute staffing crisis at a time when we need more educators than ever before. 
"It is absolutely crucial, therefore, that going forward, the needs and concerns of the early years sector are prioritised along those of schools in the ongoing debates around Ofsted reforms. After all, contrary to what many seem to believe, the education system doesn’t begin and end at the school gates."