Ofsted

Join us to hear directly from Department for Education and Ofsted policy leads about the latest changes in the early years sector: ✅ understand how new flexibilities can benefit your provision ✅ get guidance for new applicants on registering as a new provider type (childminder without domestic premises) ✅ ask your questions The webinar will be of interest to: • childminders • childcare on domestic premises providers • anyone considering registering as a childminder or childcare on domestic premises provider Don’t miss out - register now: https://lnkd.in/ehwMNcT3

We have just published official statistics on fostering in England (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024). We found that the total number of fostering households has decreased for the third year in a row.     We also found that:  - the number of mainstream (local authority) fostering households continues to decrease  - the number of family and friends households is continuing to rise – they accounted for 50% of all newly approved fostering households as at 31 March 2024  - the use of independent fostering agencies (IFA) for mainstream foster care is increasing. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dHrnszru 

Jayne Coward, our Deputy Director, Early Years Regulatory Policy and Practice, breaks down the Department for Education's latest changes in the early years sector that came into effect on November 1, 2024. These updates are designed to create more flexibility for childcare professionals by: - introducing a new category of childminder called ‘childminders without domestic premises’ for those working solely outside the home - increasing the total number of people (including childminders and assistants) who can work together under a childminder’s registration from 3 to 4 - giving childminders on domestic premises and providers of childcare on domestic premises flexibility to work most of their time on non-domestic premises, removing the 50% limit. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dt7Dc7cC

Lee Owston, our National Director, Education, is speaking at the #SAASHOW Register your free place to join us at the NEC, Birmingham on 20th November for a content-packed day of education inspiration and innovation! https://lnkd.in/eue4FEFz @SAA_Show

We know that what children learn when they are young has a profound and lasting impact. We also know that schools still face challenges in dealing with the impact of the pandemic on children currently in Reception and key stage 1.   In our last webinar for schools, we: • shared some of the key messages from our recent publication, ‘Strong foundations in the first years of school’ • explored what our research and inspection suggest schools could pay particular attention to in Reception and key stage 1, so that all children gain the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for key stage 2 and beyond • shared practical suggestions on how to consider the impact of the curriculum and how to enable all children, including those with the lowest starting points, to learn what they need to know by the end of key stage 1.   This webinar is relevant to those working in primary schools and, in particular, those teaching in Reception and key stage 1.    Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/dcQM3WXs

Last week, we've published the findings of our children's social care questionnaires. Every year we gather views about children’s homes, secure children’s homes, adoption services, fostering services, supported accommodation, residential family centres, boarding schools, residential special schools and further education (FE) colleges with residential provision. This year we found that: • the responses across the different groups of children were broadly in line with last year’s • most children who responded to the survey were positive about the place where they live or stay and the people they interact with • children living in residential special schools were the most likely to say that they did not get along with their peers • nearly all children living in supported accommodation said that they felt safe where they lived • children living in foster care were more likely than other groups to report getting on with other children in the household. Our can read the most findings from the survey here: https://lnkd.in/e8Ca7jSB

In this article, we explain in more detail the changes that the Department for Education is bringing in from 1 November 2024 in the early years sector, including the introduction of a new childminder type - childminders without domestic premises.

We've published a new analysis looking at access to childcare* in England and how it has changed over the past 4 years: https://lnkd.in/dW4PUEi4 We found that:  - average access to childcare in England has declined since 2020  - the change in childcare access has not been evenly spread across the country  - some parts of the country experience persistently low access to childcare. These areas are disproportionately deprived and have lower than average incomes  - other parts of the country experience consistently high access to childcare. These tend to be in advantaged areas with higher household incomes. * This analysis only includes Ofsted-registered childcare places at nurseries and other group settings, and childminders. 

Our next webinar is aimed at primary schools and those teaching in Reception and key stage 1: https://lnkd.in/dC4NHJWU What children learn when they are young has a profound and lasting impact. And we know that schools still face challenges in dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children currently in Reception and key stage 1. In this webinar, we will: • share some of the key messages from our recent publication, ‘Strong foundations in the first years of school’ • explore what our research and inspection suggest schools could pay particular attention to in Reception and key stage 1, so that all children gain the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for key stage 2 and beyond • share practical suggestions on how to consider the impact of the curriculum and how to enable all children, including those with the lowest starting points, to learn what they need to know by the end of key stage 1. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dC4NHJWU

We spoke to Charlie Taylor, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, our own Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver and policy lead Maria Navarro for an episode of our podcast about the new report into young offender institutions: http://ow.ly/HnTC50TB3X5 - subscribe for all episodes!