Debbie Worldley, early years consultant
While unannounced visits may feel daunting, they offer the clearest, most honest picture of day-to-day practice in early years settings. Importantly, they help protect children and recognise those practitioners who work tirelessly to uphold best practice, every single day.
Planned inspections give settings time to prepare, which might sound reasonable, until we consider what that preparation can involve. Some settings bring in extra, more experienced staff, staff who are on annual leave and sometimes even staff who are off sick to temporarily adjust ratios or rearrange rooms to create the perfect environment for inspectors. But this does not reflect everyday reality.
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