We use cookies to collect information about how you use this website. This blog has been taken from Preparing for an Ofsted Inspection by Tim Nelson. It can make all the difference to the impression you make of your leadership and your school. Where a school has received support from the leader of another school, it will be important to establish the extent and the impact of this, to determine whether that leader should be nominated for recognition by HMCI as an exceptional leader. This is a maximum duration, not a target, and the call may take less time. The phone call came on Wednesday morning at 12 on the dot. Their report is written as a letter to parents. Ofsted; Prospectus; Cultural Capital; Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health; Who's who; Contact Details; Governance; History of Alexander First School; Key Information. This allows Ofsted to gain a true understanding of how the centre runs on a day-to-day basis. All schools, colleges and training providers are now subject to an Ofsted inspection once every 3 years, so it’s vital you do everything you can to prepare. As you leaf through the public pages and learn more about St. Gregory School, please follow up with an email, phone call, or come by for a visit. Quick Links Online Curriculum TTS Webmail Office 365 Planet eStream Virtual Office Virtual Desktop West Midlands Consortium Useful Documents Session 3 Job Vacancies MIS Student Information Library Extras Library Catalogue Parent Pay Login Main Home Latest Vacancies Star Students News Curriculum News Sports Scene Fixtures A few simple steps really can help leaders to feel confident and in control. Importance of being prepared (have a prepared script) 3. A key indicator of our performance is how well our pupils achieve academically. The school receives a phone call … This allows Ofsted to gain a true understanding of how the centre runs on a day-to-day basis. Ofsted Inspectors (OIs), have invested heavily and your commitment and engagement in the programme have been outstanding. You can see sample pages or purchase the book here. What about the process for informing and reassuring staff? [Yes/I’m afraid they’re unavailable. It was a serious consultation. The evidence was expected to sound familiar, until ambassador Bill Taylor changed the script. A – “Yes they usually call you before midday to come out the following day. This means a lot to us as we work very hard to provide the best for every child at our school. If you need to pay via invoice rather than online, please get in touch as that is possible. This article chronicles, through my hurried notes, the events between the Ofsted phone call and the final goodbye at St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School in Mortlake. Ofsted chief calls mobiles in schools 'dubious at best' and supports a ban Could you please inform me if Ofsted use any kind of Microscript to arrange their inspections in schools that goes through what they are going to be looking for in a good/outstanding school that is used by inspectors or HMI that isn't in the handbook. Ofsted has warned the education community to be vigilant after a childminder was targeted by fraudsters in a text scam. It includes the '7 strands of excellence' framework to support teachers in carrying out effective book scrutiny in classrooms. When the phone call comes write the details down; in the heightened pressure of the moment it is easy to get things wrong. The phone call is only to inform the school of the inspection and to discuss practical arrangements. Role-Plays: The 7 Steps To Role-Play Interview Success. The latest School Inspection Update from Ofsted gives useful clarification around this important phone call: All have since vanished. Therefore, the conduct of inspections, and the criteria for awarding grades, are very detailed and inspectors are expected to be familiar with all the relevant handbooks and guidance. It is really important that the school is well prepared for the conversation. Ofsted genuinely listened and reflected on what was working and introduced the education-focused phone call instead. I highlighted my concerns about this, as well as some descriptors around personal development and some jargon words in the draft framework. Opportunity to set the tone and direct proceedings . The Ofsted boss wrote: 'There is a real consensus that schools should be the last places to close and the first to re-open, and having argued for this since last spring, I welcome it. It was a visit to verify that our previous inspection results still hold true. Ofsted will normally contact the school by telephone to announce the inspection during the afternoon of the working day before the inspection. Pre-inspection phone call Ofsted have introduced a 90-minute phone call between a headteacher and lead inspector to take place the day before an inspection begins. It is overwhelmingly positive about our school. The last thing anyone needs is more paperwork, evaluation activity or internal reporting. Link to the file in Google docs here. They know who Tribal, Serco or CfBT are and what the call is likely to mean. Ex-Ofsted boss says end-of-term holiday should be scrapped to help pupils catch up and prevent a 'lost generation' Michael Wilshaw says it is a 'great tragedy' that youngsters are missing school Curriculum What was involved in creating the vision for the school?… Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to send a message to Ofsted praising the remote learning that we are offering our pupils. Article tools. Ensure you are always prepared for Ofsted. They know who to contact if … These are set by default and whilst you can block or delete them by changing your browser settings, some functionality such as being able to log in to the website will not work if you do this. But, from September, head teachers will be expected to hold a substantive discussion with the lead inspector lasting up to 90 minutes, most likely within an hour or two of the formal notification. So the simple route through the phone system is: Phone: 0300 123 1231 > Press 3 (Provider) > Press 1 (EY) or 5 (no letters before URN or ‘VC’) > Select nature of enquiry > transferred to an adviser. There will no longer be an opportunity to reflect overnight on how best to articulate your school’s successes and challenges in that key first discussion with the lead inspector. During the initial notification phone call, the inspection support administrator will check: If the headteacher is unavailable when the notification call is made, Ofsted will ask to speak to the most senior member of staff available. This sent chills down my spine. Checking references is a great tool for deciding between equally qualified candidates, or for weeding out applicants who won’t be suited to your organisation’s culture. This could prove helpful in reducing stress and anxiety about responding “cold” to “the call”, particularly if you are off-site. David Didau is great on how teachers can take control of the inspection lesson observation ; his book, the Perfect OFSTED English lesson is superb! If so, inspectors should include this information, giving the names of the school(s), in the ‘information about the school’ section of the report. So useful and thank you all. The education focused phone conversation between lead inspector and school leaders One of the new features of the EIF is that inspectors will hold an introductory phone . Ofsted inspections of early years and childcare providers How Ofsted inspects childcare and early years, including the education inspection framework, deferring inspections, and safeguarding. 2. School leaders tell us they are relieved that Ofsted has dropped plans to arrive on-site within a couple of hours of notifying a school of an inspection. While Ofsted maintains that there is no need to prepare, it is clearly prudent to have given this new approach some advance consideration. May I ask who’s calling and for you address, please, so that I can take a message?] It was a serious consultation. 4. Ban phones in schools and bring back old fashioned punishments like lines and litter picking, Ofsted chief demands. A 90 minute consultation call costs £435 +VAT and is for one person only. Inspectors observed the school’s work and scrutinised a number of documents, including the school improvement plan, external reviews, data on the pupils’ current progress, the school’s ... script as they move up through the school. Once Ofsted has informed the school by telephone that the inspection will take place, it will send confirmation to the school by email. However, during a subsequent live television interview on Monday her partner, Lance O'Brien, received a phone call from the hospital telling him she was still alive. Published 1 … The ability to lead fun and practical phonics sessions sometimes outdoors that target all types of learners in phonics. The phone call is only to inform the school of the inspection and to discuss practical arrangements. Here’s what to do before they arrive, and the information you need to make available by the start of the inspection. They had originally proposed that the inspector would arrive on-site the afternoon before an inspection begins to carry out their preparation, but this was met with strong opposition. Finally, have a plan for the actual call. Cookies. Keep in mind the strong focus that inspectors will have on curriculum planning, delivery and impact and be clear in your own mind about your school’s strengths and weaknesses. From September 2012, schools have been receiving notification of their inspection the afternoon before. Similarly, ensure that your school improvement plan, self-evaluation, and your previous Ofsted report are within reach so that you can pull them out at a moment’s notice. Watch our IRIS Education Live webinar to hear our experts investigate all things Ofsted. Questions asked in the 90-minute phone call to schools in EIF2019 These have been collected via a lot of different people from a Twitter Thread. Some cookies are necessary in order to make this website function correctly. Inspectors must ask the school about the registration status of any alternative providers that they use. It is a must-have for any senior leadership team with an inspection due. Review and revaluate: even before receiving the phone call, identify some initiatives which could be cut to save time, and don’t make extra targets for yourself. Of course, Ofsted also want to see your School Improvement Plan (SIP) and – equally – how it is shared with staff. Leaders should keep a cool head and take practical steps to prepare for the phone call from Ofsted, writes Ian Hartwright. Paul refers regularly to Ofsted's School Inspection Handbook in order to link his advice to the grading criteria. There is a risk that this new approach could drive much misdirected bureaucratic activity in schools, adding to the workload of both school leaders and their staff. The Call: 1. Heads will also be asked to identify what they regard as the key areas for inspection “deep-dives”. In our school, senior leaders need to know the ins and outs of the SIP. Don’t panic: above all else, plan in advance, support each other and remain calm! Gavin Williamson said teachers had a legal obligation to give remote education This call consists of two parts: 1) Shorter planning conversation 2) Education-focused conversation The total length of the call is a maximum of 90 minutes. Some cookies are necessary in order to make this website function correctly. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve Ofsted services. You can Call Derbyshire tel: 01629 533190 if you need advice, information or you think you need an assessment of your social care needs. School leaders tell us they are relieved that Ofsted has dropped plans to arrive on-site within a couple of hours of notifying a school of an inspection. Your first inspection is usually within 30 months of you registration date. Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. These are set by default and whilst you can block or delete them by changing your browser settings, some functionality such as being able to log in to the website will not work if you do this. Establish whether the school has any pupils who attend off-site alternative provision, either full-time or part-time. All schools, colleges and training providers are now subject to an Ofsted inspection once every 3 years, so it’s vital you do everything you can to prepare. Ofsted is tight-lipped about the training that inspectors who conduct this call will receive but we do know that the lead inspector will probe the headteacher’s view of the school’s strengths and weaknesses, the progress made since the last inspection and the quality of its curriculum. My name is [YOUR NAME] and [YOUR ADDRESS]. In particular, we judge pupils' outcomes in reading, writing and maths and compare our results to those of other schools. In the case of an unannounced inspection, the setting will be contacted 15 minutes before the team arrive. Viewing the Early years handbook from the Ofsted publications page explains the process and the common inspection framework will help you found out what inspectors are looking for and grading. Ofsted concluded that they do. Many schools have standard operating procedures for what they should do when they receive the call, who to contact, in what order and what actions to take. Thomas Telford School - Quality Through Cooperation. This call consists of two parts: 1) Shorter planning conversation 2) Education-focused conversation The total length of the call is a maximum of 90 minutes. Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. These are set by default and whilst you can block or delete them by changing your browser settings, some functionality such as being able to log in to the website will not work if you do this. Some people do it once a year, I do mine as a working document. When the phone call comes write the details down; in the heightened pressure of the moment it is easy to get things wrong. Click the button at the top right of the page to download. Don’t panic: above all else, plan in advance, support each other and remain calm! make the school aware of its statutory duty to inform parents of the inspection and that Parent View is the main vehicle for gathering the views of parents at the point of inspection; inspectors should remind the school that Ofsted’s letter to parents containing the link to Parent View may be sent electronically as well as a paper copy sent via pupils, If the school has an SEN resource base, the lead inspector will discuss the nature of this resource in more detail. After all, you wouldn't go into an exam without revising first! Curriculum What was involved in creating the vision for the school?… ... the day after the now-famous Trump-Zelensky phone call. After all, you wouldn't go into an exam without revising first! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. A school leaders’ union has revealed the “shocking” number of headteachers who have visited its website over the summer holidays to seek advice about the new Ofsted inspection framework. 7423341, “A few simple steps can help leaders to feel in control”. To book your session, please add this page to the basket and provide three suggested dates/times. This sent chills down my spine. And as well as preparing yourself, take measures to ensure the whole leadership team is equally ready to take the call if for any reason you are not in a position to take it on the day.