Alliance raises concerns about latest early years guidance for inspectors
21st March 2014
While the Alliance supports some detail in the letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw to early years inspectors dated 17 March — particularly the call for inspectors to focus on what makes teaching and assessment effective, rather than style — the focus on preparation for statutory learning is less positive.
Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch commented:
“We find it fairly ironic that °ϲʹ is delivering further guidance for inspectors when early years practitioner guidance is being stripped back. More concerning, however, is that this latest guidance appears to focus on teaching and learning with no mention of the EYFS.
“A child’s early learning is broad, complex and varied and any inspection process should reflect this; however, the content in the letter could be interpreted as a move towards seriously undermining the intent of the EYFS. It is not the role of the inspectorate to redefine the framework, and we are concerned that this could potentially result in an increase in distorted inspection outcomes.
“The letter also raises concerns about the perceived lack of confidence Sir Michael has in his own inspectorate and does little to reassure practitioners who believe every inspector should have the relevant competencies and skills to make these judgements, including being able to confidently interpret what they observe in settings against the inspection criteria.
To paraphrase °ϲʹ themselves: “Too many inspectors have been ‘bumping along the bottom’ when it comes to their knowledge of early years.” The fact that Sir Michael felt the need to write this letter in the first place says a lot about the state of the inspectorate at the moment.
“The sector has the right to expect high standards of inspection and to be confident that °ϲʹ’s own ‘Only ‘good’ is good enough’ approach is being applied to their own inspection process as well.”
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Notes for editors
- The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
- Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
- For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance,