Alliance welcomes changes to complaint-driven inspection process

17th February 2014

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has welcomed the news that complaints against early years providers will no longer automatically trigger full inspections.

Since September 2012, all providers who have been the subject of a complaint have faced a full 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 inspection, regardless of whether the complaint in question was proven to have any basis. However, 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 have now confirmed that going forward, it will only conduct full inspections when it is deemed necessary.

Commenting on the move, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said:

鈥淐ommon sense has prevailed, and it is positive to see that 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 seems to be finally taking notice of the views of the sector. It鈥檚 vital that any changes to the inspection process are clearly communicated to the sector and we look forward to this new policy being reflected in all relevant 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 guidance documents shortly.

鈥淗owever, while this is clearly a step in the right direction, there is still much to be done to improve current inspection processes. The continued lack of clarity around inspection appeals has created a confusing and opaque process, with less than 1% of appeals filed by early years providers resulting in an improved inspection grade. There is also still a concerning lack of information or data on frequency of downgrades during the quality assurance process, an issue that many providers continue to raise with us.

鈥淲hile any changes that seek to make the inspection process fairer and clearer are to be welcomed, it鈥檚 clear that the fundamental framework of early years inspections needs to be overhauled if we are to improve sector confidence in this process, so that providers aren鈥檛 having to challenge inspection after inspection, as is currently widely the case.鈥

As such, the Alliance has reiterated its call for 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 to:

  • Implement a system of independent assessment at the first stage of the appeals process
  • Delay the publication of inspection reports for any early years providers undergoing the first stage of the formal appeals procedure
  • Improve communication with providers during the quality assurance process
  • Collate and maintain detailed data on the frequency of inspection judgement downgrades that occur following the quality assurance process
  • Introduce provider representation onto the quality assurance panel to work alongside representatives from the inspectorate to ensure objectivity and consistency of approach

For further information, please .

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Notes for editors

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. 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.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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