The negative rhetoric around child care service inspections does not match the reality, Ofsted chief inspector David Bell has insisted.
Bell denied there was any problem with the quality of inspections in practice, warning of a mismatch between people’s first-hand experiences and “a kind of myth making that goes beyond that”.
“I think there is a phenomenon here where providers will say ‘actually the inspection in my setting was really good – but you want to hear what’s happening down the road’,” he told 0-19.
Bell highlighted the results of the recently published 2005 child care provider satisfaction survey, which found that nearly two thirds of respondents “strongly agreed” that their Ofsted inspector was professional and courteous while 97 % agreed that they looked at all relevant aspects of their work.
“I think we do a really good job in this area and I think it’s easy to talk at the level of myth rather than at the level of detail. We have been really keen to drill down into the detail and look at this to make sure that we are providing the best possible regulation and inspection.”
Bell said all child care inspectors had now been trained in how to incorporate the Birth to Three Matters framework into Ofsted’s new inspection regime.
The Birth to Three Matters framework, published in November 2002, covers child development and effective practice, play activities to promote play and learning, and planning and resourcing.
It also recognises the importance of wider issues including equal opportunities, meeting diverse needs and relationships with parents.
