A big mistake

Childcare: Reporting significant events and changes to health, the now infamous Ofsted guidance which was published on 12 January and retracted the next day, raised some questions.

We all make mistakes, and this was clearly a mistake. What isn’t clear at the time of writing is what caused it. To use Ofsted’s three Is: Was the intention different to the implementation? Or was the impact not realised until the backlash from the sector?

If the intention was different, and it all went wrong in the writing, then what’s in place to prevent that? That is a question we always must ask ourselves: what do we have in place to mitigate mistakes, to catch them before they happen? One of the ways we catch ourselves is through feedback from our stakeholders. The most important ones for us being our children, families and teams. For Ofsted, we are one of its most important stakeholders. Run things past us, let us tell you the unintended consequences, let’s share perspectives. I can see this guidance came from Ofsted’s regulation and social care function, not education. As providers, we can’t separate our work. Care, education, compliance with statutory requirements – they’re all interwoven. I hope the separation of them within Ofsted isn’t narrowing its internal perspectives and isn’t at the root of this confusion for us.

I question whether expert advice had been sought. Who informed the decision to specifically highlight an ADHD or autism diagnosis? Was an equality impact assessment conducted? Was guidance sought on how best to word the domestic abuse reference? For a childminder or the directors who make up the registered person, who we now believe this guidance was really intended for, I understand why domestic abuse is in there. I understand it may be an offence not to report that, but in that context, using the word offence, without any kind of reassurance, could inadvertently discourage someone from getting the help they need.

When we make mistakes, how we respond matters. Ofsted has removed the document and acknowledged the issue within closed forums, yet it hasn’t apologised publicly.

I know some people would prefer there to be no Ofsted, and some would pause inspections currently. I understand. Personally, I do want Ofsted and I do think inspections, with the option to defer, are needed. This system only works if we work together and complement each other to get the best for children, families and teams.