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by Jess Gibson

Ofsted has today published its response to the Big Listen consultation, announcing a raft of upcoming changes to its inspections and approach. 

The Big Listen – a consultation seeking views on Ofsted's work across the education and care sectors, including the early years – collected a total of 16,033 responses, 783 of which were early years-specific from families, while 1,152 came from early years organisations. 

The inspectorate's response includes several sector-specific proposals, including scrapping one-word inspection judgements, introducing a report-card system, developing more nuanced reporting of the strengths of providers, and introducing a reformed inspection framework. This will be better suited to the early years. 

Other proposals highlighted by Ofsted in its response to the consultation include:  

• the introduction of the Ofsted Academy to improve training for inspectors 

• the creation of a single point of contact within Ofsted for early years 

• support for government plans to meet demand for early education and childcare places by streamlining the registration process for providers. 

Ofsted intends to use the findings from its research – the third instalment of which is due to be published this autumn – alongside the consultation to shape and implement these changes.  

It also aims to align such changes with the government’s plans for early language interventions, raising the standards of maths teaching across nurseries and preschools, and ensuring that early years practice includes a rich diet of texts being read to children to prioritise.  

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years ÍõÖÐÍõ¿ª½±½á¹û, said: "It’s very positive to see that Ofsted has both acknowledged the wide-ranging challenges facing the sector and put in place several measures to address these, including – in collaboration with the Department for Education – the eventual scrapping of one-word judgements.   

"We know early educators go above and beyond to deliver high-quality care and education, but Ofsted inspections have long been a cause of significant stress across the sector. As such, we welcome proposals to recognise the importance of educators in the development of a more nuanced reporting of the strengths of providers.  

"That said, for these proposals to make certain that inspections are a collaborative and supportive process, today must mark the start – not the end – of Ofsted's engagement with the sector. This is especially important given plans to review the early years inspection framework and apply it more flexibly to different types of settings. 

"Let's not be under any illusion: there is a long way to go to transform the relationship between the inspectorate and early years providers, but we are hopeful that today marks the first step in a renewed approach."