Ofsted News professionals

Issue 15 April 2013

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Across Ofsted

Literacy is top of the agenda this month. In April, Ofsted published the survey report Improving literacy in secondary schools: a shared responsibility, held the first three in a series of national ‘Better English and mathematics’ conferences and celebrated International children’s book day with a suite of case studies featuring good practice in English and literacy.

Telling Tales describes how a childminder records children’s learning with cheap, easily made storyboards, which create lasting memory books to record children’s interests and achievements.

At Rodbourne Cheney Primary School, Reception and Year 1 pupils share a large unit divided into learning zones, which helps each child understand what they are learning and why.

At Aston Manor Academy, a senior leader and a literacy coordinator support the planning for, and teaching of, the literacy skills developed initially by English teachers.

Don Valley School and Performing Arts College has focused on improving students’ attitudes to reading to enhance their progress in English and their literacy skills across other areas of the curriculum.

English at Peele Community College places independent learning skills at the centre of the Key Stage 3 curriculum.

Literacy: a non-negotiable – We have produced a series of six films, setting out ‘outstanding’ practice in the teaching of reading in three primary schools: Oldway Primary and Ilsham Church of England Primary Academy, both in Torbay, and Tollgate Primary in Newham.

The films are on Ofsted’s website and on YouTube for inspectors to use for school improvement work and their own training, and for schools and nurseries to watch as examples of high expectations.

We also have professional development resources to help primary and secondary teachers evaluate their current English provision. You can download them as powerpoint files for presentation with accompanying notes in Word or pdf.

Schools

News

Following the focused inspections in February and March, Ofsted has written to Portsmouth City Council and Coventry City Council to summarise the findings.

The focused inspections are part of Ofsted’s concerted programme of action to establish why children in some parts of the country have a much lower chance of attending a good or better school than in other similar areas.

Improving literacy in secondary schools: a shared responsibility – This good practice report draws on visits to secondary schools that have been effective in delivering cross-curricular improvement in literacy.

The survey found that the best schools made literacy an integral part of the whole curriculum and their longer term school improvement plans. In fact, literacy was part of the action plan for each subject.

This month, Ofsted also hosted the first three in a series of national ‘Better English and mathematics’ conferences to drive improvement in schools and academies, and to help accelerate pupil progress and raise attainment.

In Manchester and London, headteachers, chairs of governing bodies, and subject leaders for English and mathematics gathered to hear inspectors share evidence of what works well and to discuss ideas and strategies for improvement.

There are more of these conferences to come throughout the year.

Features

Parent View – Schools across the country have been actively promoting Ofsted’s online questionnaire to encourage more and more parents and carers to fill it in. Last month, we produced a toolkit for schools to help them promote Parent View during an inspection and throughout the year with a leaflet, poster and case studies, as well as a video demonstrating how to register, complete the questionnaire and set up alerts about schools. The toolkit, leaflet and video are all on the Ofsted website.

Are your details on EduBase up to date? – Schools should notify EduBase when there are any changes to details, such as a new headteacher or a change in email address. You can update your details by logging in with your EduBase unique login details. To contact the EduBase service desk, email helpdesk@edubase.education.gov.uk.

Good practice

Using modern technology to improve English – Alwoodley Primary School uses a range of information and communication technology (ICT) resources to improve teaching and learning in English. The children are encouraged to experiment confidently with different approaches to communication to understand how language changes to meet specific demands and to appreciate the importance of reviewing and improving early drafts.

Statistics

The quarterly release below contains commentary, charts and tables in pdf format, charts and tables in Excel format, and the underlying data in Excel and comma separated values (.csv) format.

Independent school inspections and outcomes, including regulation compliance – 3 April

News

A single inspection framework for children’s services – On 12 April, the Chief Inspector announced plans to inspect local authority child protection and services for children who are looked after under a single, combined framework.

The decision follows discussions with various local government representatives and a thorough assessment of the initial pilot results.

It means deferring the proposed multi-agency child protection inspections that were planned for launch in June, and stopping plans to inspect services for looked after children separately.

Keeping out of trouble – More local activities and places to go would stop children and young people from breaking the law.

In the report Keeping out of trouble, the Children’s Rights Director for England asks 187 children and young people who are either living in care or in a secure training centre for their views on what the worst kinds of trouble are and how to avoid getting into them.

They think the main reasons why people their age break the law are peer pressure, not having any money and boredom, as well as progressing from the edges of crime. Their top three ways to stop this are more local activities and places to go, jobs for young people and government help for young people.

Features

Adoption and fostering quality assurance and data forms – All adoption agencies and fostering services should complete and return the 2013 quality assurance and data form by 30 June.

For fostering services, Ofsted has conducted this annual data collection since 2007 to inform inspection and debate on policy and provision. This year, adoption agencies are taking part for the first time.

If you haven’t received our letter, contact the social care data team on 0300 013 0020 or socialcaredata@ofsted.gov.uk and return your form by 30 June.

Social care online questionnaires 2013: promotional poster for providers – Throughout April and May, we are gathering views on the quality of care in individual children’s homes, adoption agencies, fostering service and residential family centres.

We want to hear from children and young people; families; foster carers and adopters; placing social workers, independent reviewing officers and other professionals.

Up until the end of May, please encourage people to fill in the online questionnaire. You can write the name of your service on this poster and contact us on 0300 123 1231 or socialcare@ofsted.gov.uk if you haven’t received an email with your unique links.

Joint protocol on disclosing the names and addresses of children’s homes – Ofsted is now required to share information from our list of registered children’s homes to Chief Officers of local police forces, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the Department for Education (DfE). We already disclose this information to local authorities.

You can find the agreement for this process on the DfE’s website.

Annual fees for children’s social care services – We have now updated the 2013 list of annual fees for children’s social care services from April onwards. Registered providers can pay their annual fees online with a debit or credit card.

Good practice

Multi-agency Children and Young People’s Partnership Panel supporting youth crime reduction work in Hackney – The Children and Young People’s Partnership (CYPP) Panel in Hackney enables successful collaboration on cases where young people are identified with peripheral gang involvement or are showing early signs of sexual exploitation.

Statistics

The quarterly releases listed below contain commentary, charts and tables in pdf format, charts and tables in Excel format, and the underlying data in Excel and comma separated values (.csv) format.

Adoption quality assurance and data forms 2011-12 first statistical release – 26 March
Children’s social care inspections and outcomes – 4 April

Adult learning and skills

News

Could you change the lives of over four million learners? We're recruiting a Deputy Director, Learning and Skills to be Ofsted’s link with further education across England. If you’ve got the passion and expertise to be the credible voice of learning and skills, have a look at our microsite and apply by 13 May.

Features

A spirit of enterprise – Matthew Coffey, Ofsted’s Director, Learning and Skills, has spoken out about the importance of Further Education and skills in supporting social and economic development by preparing young people for their next step.

Picking up on Ofsted’s November 2012 report Promoting enterprise in vocational courses for 16–19-year-old students in colleges, an article by Matthew in Public Service highlights enterprise and employability skills as a key feature of excellent learning and skills provision. The good practice case study below is a great example of just that.

Are your details on EduBase up to date? – Colleges should notify EduBase when there are any changes to details, such as a new Principal or a change in email address. You can update your details by logging in with your EduBase unique login details. To contact the EduBase service desk, email helpdesk@edubase.education.gov.uk.

Good practice

Using business and enterprise to enhance student progression – Christ the King College in Lewisham used partnership working to enhance students’ experience of their excellent business department. In fact, the Principal describes their enterprise graduate programme as a ‘beacon of success’ in the college.

Early years and childcare

News

Good early years get children off to a flying start – Ofsted has launched a consultation to ensure that good is the only acceptable standard of education and care provided by nurseries, pre-schools and childminders for our youngest children.

The Chief Inspector unveiled his plans for improvement in early years on 19 April during a visit to the Thomas Coram Early Childhood Centre in London.

At the end of August 2012, up to 243,400 children attended early years provision that was not yet good. Through this consultation, we aim to raise expectations and tackle weaker settings from this September. It is open for comment until 24 May 2013.

Features

Childcare providers on domestic premises can publish their contact details on Ofsted’s website – All childcare providers on domestic premises can now give their consent to have their names, addresses and telephone numbers published on the Ofsted website.

Childminders have had this option since September last year, helping parents and carers to find their inspection reports more easily.

If you’re a provider and would like to consent to having your details on our website, the form for providers is on our website with a Q&A document.

Good practice

Calling all dads – Sunbeam Children’s Centre has driven up rates of participation among fathers in the area through its ‘Dads-to-Be Project’. The fathers-to-be now play a more active role, preparing themselves for the birth of their child and the resulting changes to their family life.

Statistics

The quarterly release below contains commentary, charts and tables in pdf format, charts and tables in Excel format, and the underlying data in Excel and comma separated values (.csv) format.

Early years and childcare registered providers inspections and outcomes – 27 March

Inspection updates

Children’s centres self-evaluation form and guidance from April 2013

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