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Early years

Key Ofsted reports in early years 

• The impact of the Early Years Foundation Stage - 10 February 2011. This survey evaluated the impact that the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage has had on provision and developmental outcomes for young children, with a particular focus on their personal, social and emotional development and communication, language and literacy skills. It also considered a range of other factors that are drivers or barriers to improvement.
• Early years: Leading to excellence - 27 August 2008. Leading to excellence: a review of childcare and early education provision 2005–08 is the third review of inspections of registered childcare and early education. This year, the report focuses on how well settings – such as nurseries and childminders – are organised, led and managed to promote positive outcomes for children and ensure they progress well.

The guidance inspectors use to make judgements during survey visits to schools 

• The guidance documents that inspectors use can be found on the Resources for inspectors page.
• Early Years Foundation Stage. The revised, simpler framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) was published on 27 March 2012, for implementation from September 2012.
• The evaluation schedule for the inspection of maintained schools and academies from January 2012 - 30 March 2012. The evaluation schedule provides outline guidance and grade descriptors for the judgements that inspectors will report on when inspecting schools under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 from January 2012.

Case studies of good practice in early years

We have examples of good practice in early years on the Ofsted website.

National Adviser

Linda McLarty is the National Adviser for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Linda has inspected early years care and education since 1997, and has worked for Ofsted since 2001. She became an HMI in 2009. Previous roles within Ofsted include managing a mixed-remit team of early years and social care inspectors and two years experience as a quality development manager. Linda was a member of the National Training team from the beginning of 2005 until 2009. As an HMI Linda was seconded to the Quality Assurance National Team until her appointment as National Adviser.

External links

• Early Education
• National Children's Bureau
• 4Children
• Association for the Professional Development of Early Years Educators