I woke up this morning to the news on the radio that the Government believes the one-word Ofsted judgements for schools in England has ‘significant benefits’ and should stay.
Meanwhile, the sector remains sceptical that the changes to Ofsted’s complaints procedure will make any real difference further along the line (online, 11 April). The phrase ‘banging your head against a brick wall’ comes to mind.
Whether being heard relates to the well-documented woes with Ofsted or the challenges of the Government’s expanded childcare programme, the sector is just not being listened to.
Take the latest report by the National Audit Office; has this really told us anything we didn’t already know? (online, 24 April).
Among its arguments is thatthe Government’s timetable for the expanded offer is ‘ambitious’ and set amid ‘significant uncertainty around feasibility, costs and benefits’.
It also highlights issues with the planning and delivery of the programme, including the DfE’s failure to consult with the sector ahead of the roll-out. All these issues are underlined in our analysis on page 6, which goes behind the Government’s latest headlines proclaiming the initiative’s success.
If ever it were needed, here is a true indictment of the way the sector is being swept along on a tide of policy that it has had scant opportunity to have a real say in. And it is worth remembering that in referring to ‘the sector’, this includes many more stakeholders than the big groups.
Perhaps there needs to be a return to the campaigning spirit of the 1970s and 1980s? It’s good to see veteran campaigner, author and academic Helen Penn publishing a new book, which returns to the argument of old: why does the UK continue to place such a low priority in investing in our next generation’s care and education?
