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'Together let’s strive to ensure the educators, our children and their families are provided with all they need to grow and flourish '
In the podcast episode entitled ‘Ofsted’s voice must be heard whether we like them or not…’, based on my article of the same name, myself and Angelica Celinska reflected on the recent barriers that have been preventing a collaborative approach, particularly between the DfE, Ofsted and wider voices in the sector.
Being part of shared critical discussion is invaluable in helping to shape your thoughts and provide angles that you may not have considered otherwise. During the podcast recording I had so many reflections, some of which I shared at the time and some of which I required more time to process before sharing.
One of those reflections was about freedom of speech.
Freedom of speech
I briefly drew attention in my previous article to my view that the attempted silencing of critics by the DfE and Ofsted was akin to the restriction of freedom of speech we witness in anti-democratic societies around the world. However, what I did not consider in the same way was how the encouragement to disengage with both bodies is also an attempt to remove the voice from those people with whom they disagree or that they believe have treated them unfairly. This seems to go against the idea that everyone has the right to share their voice and it is not encouraging the creation of a safe space for critical discussion which I believe so passionately should be facilitated to allow the progress and growth we truly want to see.
With this in mind, I pose the following question: does disengagement make a collective goal more likely? Or does it further embed the us vs them culture; making it less likely to work towards a collaborative approach and build a fair and equitable education system?
I acknowledge one criticism which could be levelled at me is that as I was not ‘silenced’ myself then I should not be commenting on the decisions taken by others who have. As Angelica made clear in the discussion the lens through which we reflect on this situation is different because we have not experienced it first-hand. However, I do believe that having the opinion that it is time for both sides to deescalate is a valid opinion to share. As I said ‘two wrongs do not make a right.’
Government funding
Another challenge worth considering is the rollout of the extended 15 and 30 hour ‘free childcare’ programme which is taking place in the Spring and Autumn of 2024 and continuing into 2025. It has been well documented that this has been beset by problems, ranging from parents struggling to sign up for their codes needed to claim the hours before the deadline, to the fact that some settings were not told until at least February what the hourly funding rate they would receive per child would be, this is despite local authorities being told their allocation by the government in November 2023 (Topping, 2024). If, as Sarah Ronan, director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition argues, despite the increase in funding announced it still is a ‘long way short of what was needed,’ (Topping, 2023) then it is clear that further consultation with the relevant stakeholders is vital. Such opinions can only be sought if both sides decide to look past their previous differences to work towards a brighter future for the settings, their educators, children, and their families.
At this point I feel that it is also important to acknowledge something that many families who are looking to access the ‘free childcare’ and some working in the sector may not realise regarding the funding received to deliver the ‘free childcare’ promised. The funding hourly rate announced by the government is not what individual settings actually receive, as for a number of reasons, local authorities take a portion of this for their own use before giving the rest directly to eligible nurseries and childminders (Topping, 2023).
Ofsted’s priorities
Since Sir Martyn Oliver took over as Ofsted’s new Chief Inspector in January 2024 he has been faced with challenges on multiple fronts (see my previous article for background to this: Ofsted’s and the DfE’s voices must be heard whether we like them or not). On Thursday 29th February 2024 he set out his vision for early years and how Ofsted aims to move forward. Contained within this were several interesting glimpses into what will hopefully transmit into actionable change on the part of Ofsted with regards to their future engagement and policy decisions, as well as some of the usual language praising the role of the early years workforce.
An active conversation for several years within the sector has surrounded the terminology used to describe early years, as was considered in both my previous article and the podcast episode. This debate is something that Sir Martyn Oliver indirectly addresses within his piece; as he cites that he wants to ‘make sure nobody thinks the early years is just “what happens before education.” It is, of course, the first stage of a child’s education…’, (Ofsted, 2024).
He also addresses a concern of mine and many others within the sector regarding the decision to pause inspections of schools but not early years settings after a coroner ruled the tragic suicide of Ruth Perry suicide was ‘contributed to by an Ofsted inspection carried out in November 2022” at the school that she led,’ (Adams, 2023). He acknowledges that this ‘was a complicated and difficult decision’ but was taken because Ofsted is ‘the inspectorate for schools, while the Department for Education is the regulator. But for the early years sector, we have both roles’ and ‘so, we continued our regulatory work in the interest of keeping children safe and enabling new providers to open,’ (Ofsted, 2024). This is something I will acknowledge that I had not previously considered and whilst I am still frustrated with their stance, this sharing of the thought process behind their decision was welcome and does make this more understandable in my opinion.
Sir Martyn Oliver did also take the opportunity to confirm that like inspectors of schools, ‘early years inspectors will also have training on recognising and responding to visible signs of anxiety,’ (Ofsted, 2024).
The ‘Big Listen’
Perhaps the most welcome part for me however is where Sir Martyn Oliver lays out his ‘priorities.’ He defends the decisions made so far that were potentially made without consideration of the views of the wider sector as being ‘necessary, pressing, and will make a real difference,’ (Ofsted, 2024). However, he says he wants to develop any further changes with input from all of us. These will be influenced by a new initiative launching in March called the ‘Big Listen.’ This will be open to everyone involved in early years; educators, parents and children and more information will follow soon.
How can you get involved?
One of the core values at the heart of The Voice of Early Childhood is advocacy. Sharing the ‘voice’ of everyone matters. Your voice matters.
The Voice of Early Childhood wants to advocate for you, and the ‘Big Listen’ is one of the many ways we intend to do that. Whilst information on this initiative is limited right now, we have already begun collecting your views and we will announce more information on our approach to the ‘Big Listen’ in the coming weeks. But for now, click here to complete our online form to have your voice heard.
An offer to Ofsted and the DfE…
In the final part of Sir Martyn Oliver’s piece he says over the next 5 years (the length of his term as Chief Inspector) he will be ‘visiting settings, attending events, and contributing to webinars, podcasts, blogs and articles.’ As Angelica shared on the podcast episode, this is our public appeal to Sir Martyn Oliver or any other representative of Ofsted or the DfE to engage with us too. You are welcome on the podcast, you have already been invited to The Voice of Early Childhood Conference 2024 as delegates, and these invites will remain open now and into the future.
Together let’s strive to ensure the educators, our children and their families are provided with all they need to grow and flourish and be the best version of themselves and lets start that today.
Key takeaways
- The silencing of the DfE and Ofsted critics does not support freedom of speech, and neither does denying the DfE and Ofsted the opportunity to share their voices with the early years sector: two wrongs don’t make a right.
- Involving Ofsted and the DfE at early years sector events can provide educators with the chance to share their voices and practice with them.
Critical considerations
- Does disengagement make a collective goal more likely?
- How can we start to move towards building a fair and equitable education system?
- How can we start to deescalate the divisive narrative between the early years sector and Ofsted and the DfE?
Would you like to share your voice with Ofsted?
HMI Chief Ofsted Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver announced that ‘…I want any future changes we make to be developed with input from all of you. I don’t believe it’s the job of a Chief Inspector to impose their own views or cause frequent disruption to the sectors we regulate,’ (Ofsted, 2024. My priorities for the early years sector).
Ofsted will be launching the ‘Big Listen’ to hear voices from the sector, but we don’t know what this will look like yet. So through our advocacy focus at The Voice of Early Childhood (TVOEC) we are collating the early years community’s voices. Do you have something to share with Ofsted?
Fill in the below form and we will share your voice with Ofsted through either the TVOEC podcast if they agree to come on as a guest, through an open letter or other ways – whatever is most appropriate.
References
Adams, R. 2023. Ofsted inspection contributed to headteacher’s suicide, coroner rules. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/dec/07/ofsted-inspection-contributed-to-headteacher-suicide-ruth-perry-coroner-rules. Date accessed: 3rd March 2024
Marycz, A. 2024. Ofsted’s and the DfE’s voices must be heard whether we like them or not. The Voice of Early Childhood. Available at: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/ofsteds-and-the-dfes-voices-must-be-heard-whether-we-like-them-or-not/. Date accessed: 4th March 2024
Ofsted, 2024. My priorities for the early years sector. Available at: https://earlyyears.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/29/my-priorities-for-the-early-years-sector/. Date accessed: 3rd March 2024
Topping, A. 2024. UK government’s free childcare scheme in disarray, charities say. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/jan/15/uk-governments-free-childcare-scheme-in-disarray-charities-say. Date accessed: 3rd March 2024
Topping, A. 2023. £400m for UK early years sector will ‘buy time’ but isn’t enough, experts say. Availbale at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/nov/29/400m-for-uk-early-years-sector-will-buy-time-but-isnt-enough-experts-say. Date accessed: 3rd March 2024
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