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Please find below a comment from the Early Years Alliance following the news that Ofsted inspections in early years settings will continue, while inspections in schools will be paused. During this time all inspectors - including early years inspectors - will receive mental health training.  

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

“It is extremely worrying and entirely unacceptable that Ofsted’s decision to pause inspections does not include early years settings.   

“Our own research clearly shows that inspections are not just a cause for concern for providers but their biggest cause of stress. Why, then, is the early years continually forgotten when steps are taken to address wider concerns about Ofsted inspections? 

“The fact that early years inspectors, like schools inspectors, will receive mental health awareness training is undoubtedly a positive step but we are yet to receive any explanation as to why nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are continuing with inspections while this training is undertaken when this is not the case for schools.  

“We therefore call on Ofsted to ensure that inspections in early years settings are paused in line with schools immediately, and crucially, that any changes to the way that inspections are carried out going forward include the early years sector. After all, we know – and Ofsted knows – that the education system doesn't begin and end with schools.”