From April 2013 Ofsted have made changes to the inspection framework for Sure Start Children’s Centres
The main changes are in a reduced set of judgements, from 20 to 4, and a change from satisfactory grading to ‘requires improvement’ grade.
There is also the recognition that children’s centres are organised through the local authorities in different formats which has been taken into account in the new framework.
For instance, where a children’s centre is part of a cluster, but with individual governance, the inspection will take place for each centre. It is hoped that connecting children’s centres can be inspected at the same time, so joint services would only be visited once.
The handbook and framework are useful management tools for all involved in children’s centres and can be downloaded freely from Ofsted.
As we use them in our work with children’s centres they are also available from www.smithmartinpartnership.com.
Sue Martin
Children’s Centre consultant