The ability to pause Ofsted inspections in circumstances where there are concerns for leaders’ wellbeing will be extended to cover children’s social care and early years providers, the inspectorate has said.
Plans to pause inspections in state schools only were announced in January alongside changes to Ofsted’s complaints procedures following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry last year.
However, amended policy announced last week (5 April) lays out “the steps inspectors will take when it is necessary to pause activity during childcare, education and social care inspections and regulatory visits”.
The guidance published by Ofsted adds that “under exceptional circumstances, Ofsted may agree to formally pause an inspection, for example, when leaders require support due to concerns about their wellbeing, or an incident prevents inspectors from gathering sufficient evidence”.
