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I am announcing today that, from 1 April 2017, Ofsted will bring early years registration
and inspection fully under its direct management.
This decision underlines Ofsted’s focus on a child’s journey from early years to
further education. It builds on our decision to introduce the common inspection framework
in 2015. It means that Ofsted will have full responsibility for the training and management
of inspectors, in line with our other remits. It will also give us complete oversight of
the quality of inspection.
We have seen improvements in the early years sector in recent years. The proportion of
good or outstanding providers has risen by 16 percentage points in the last five years.
Since 2010, we have delivered a large proportion of our early years work through our two partner
organisations, Prospects and Tribal. I am grateful to the staff and management of these
firms for their work. This work has contributed to the increasing quality of provision in
the early years.
Our current contracts end in March 2017. This provides us with an ideal opportunity to shape
how we will deliver high quality registration and inspection into the future.
Our inspection framework will not change. If you are an early years provider, you will
continue to be inspected under the common inspection framework that was implemented
in September 2015. The same judgements will continue to apply.
Much hard work lies ahead. I am confident that our experience, skills and knowledge
will enable us to make these changes with minimum disruption and maximum efficiency.
I recognise that change can bring with it uncertainty, but it can also bring exciting
new opportunities. We want to engage widely to ensure a successful transition in April
2017.
The first years of a child’s life are absolutely crucial. If we get the early years right,
we pave the way for a lifetime of achievement. If we get them wrong, we miss a unique opportunity
to shape a child’s future. But I am confident that the new arrangements will help us to
improve the lives of children and young people.