Ofsted chiefs defend its work before MPs

Ofsted's two chief executives gave a robust account of the education watchdog's work and performance over the past year to the Education and Skills Select Committee last week. Both Maggie Smith, director of Ofsted's Early Years Directorate, and Mike Tomlinson, the Chief Inspector of Schools, had come before the select committee in Westminster for its annual scrutiny of Ofsted. Committee members were particularly interested to hear about the transfer of inspectors from local social services to the new Early Years Directorate, and about how childminders had reacted to the new inspection regime.