Ofsted pauses assurance inspections until 8 March
By Rachel Lawler
Ofsted has that it is “pausing” its return to assurance inspections for early years providers until 8 March “at the earliest”.
Previously, Ofsted said that it would be starting assurance inspections at pre-schools and nurseries, but not for childminders, from 18 January onward. It said it would be begin by visiting providers that have not been inspected since they were first registered with Ofsted.
However, shortly after this was announced Ofsted delayed the plans until after the February half-term.
This has now been revised again, with assurance inspections not returning until at least 8 March 2021, taking the decision in line with proposals to begin reopening schools in England.
Ofsted said that it will be continuing with regulatory work and will make decisions on a case-by-case basis to determine whether this work will be carried out remotely, in person or with a combination of the two.
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Ofsted pauses assurance inspections until after half term