GovWire

Introduction

If you are publicly funded to provide post-16 education and/or training, you will normally be subject to Ofsted inspection.

Inspection may take the form of a monitoring visit or a full or short inspection.

Inspection involves inspectors gathering evidence from the provider to arrive at judgements using the evaluation criteria set out in the further education and skills inspection handbook. They will gather that evidence through observing teaching and training, through speaking to managers, teachers, trainers and learners, and through analysing provider documents, data and information.

The focus of inspection is on the provider and on how all of the individuals within the provider work together to make sure learners receive the highest quality of education and training. The focus is not on inspecting the specific individuals that work within the provider.

Conduct during Ofsted inspections

Ofsteds code of conduct sets out the expectations for both inspectors and providers. At the start of the inspection or monitoring visit (usually during the planning call), the lead inspector will explain these expectations and will ask providers to read the code. Inspectors will work constructively with leaders and staff, demonstrating professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect at all times.

Notice of an inspection

We will normally notify providers up to 2 working days before an inspection, unless the inspection is unannounced. However, we will notify some providers of an inspection 5 or 6 days before. These providers include:

• further education colleges
• sixth-form colleges and designated institutions
• other very large and complex providers (who will have been notified of this by Ofsted)

We will notify the provider on the morning of the notification day and will email the notification letter. The lead inspector will then contact the provider as soon as possible.

While it is important that we carry out our inspections as planned wherever possible, sometimes there may be a reason why an inspection may not go ahead, and so a provider may request a deferral of its monitoring visit or inspection. We will decide whether this should be granted in accordance with ourdeferral policy. The lead inspector will liaise with the provider to ensure that, wherever possible, the inspection or monitoring visit can go ahead.

Before the inspection visit

Providers should nominate a senior member of staff to act as a link between staff and the inspectors.

The nominee should:

• understand the providers programmes and operations
• ensure the cooperation of staff at all levels
• have authority to carry out the role with autonomy

The nominee will:

• provide information for the lead inspector to support inspection planning
• brief the providers staff about arrangements
• inform learners and employers about the inspection
• attend team meetings, including the final team meeting
• coordinate feedback arrangements during and at the end of the inspection
• act as a link with the lead inspector and ensure that documents are available and that staff can attend meetings
• provide details of any requests for adaptations that may need to be made to the inspection process because of an equality issue. For example, this could be a reasonable adjustment because of a disability.

Further education colleges, sixth-form colleges and designated institutions should select a skills nominee because the inspection will focus on how well the college is contributing to meeting skills needs.

Other providers may have a shadow nominee on an inspection or monitoring visit. The shadow nominee will act as an observer and support for the provider and the nominee. They will not normally contribute to discussions with inspectors.

The lead inspector will hold a telephone planning meeting with the nominee. The senior leader (usually the CEO or principal) and shadow or skills nominee (or other senior managers) may also attend.

The lead inspector will normally ask the nominee/ senior leader who is responsible for the nominee(s)/senior leaders welfare.

Following the planning meeting, we will send a short pre-inspection briefing letter that sets out the plan for the inspection.

The lead inspector will give the provider an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns, or to seek clarification, before and during the inspection. They will explain how the provider will be able to raise any matters during the inspection itself.

During the inspection visit

A full inspection will normally last between 2 and 5 days on site. Short inspections will normally last no longer than 2 days on site and monitoring visits will usually last between 1 and 2 days.

The number of inspectors involved in the inspection will vary according to the size and complexity of the provider.

Inspectors will spend time collecting evidence both on and off site.

Evidence-gathering methods include:

• observing teaching, training and assessment in practice
• speaking to trainers, teachers and learners about the education and training provided
• scrutinising learners work
• having discussions with learners
• analysing provider and learner records showing planning for, and monitoring of, learners individual progress
• meeting with learners, employers, staff, governors, councillors, trustees and the providers partners, if appropriate (and in particular in the case of colleges, meeting with skills stakeholders)
• using learner, employer and other surveys

There may be exceptional occasions when it is difficult or inappropriate to continue with an inspection and the inspection needs to be paused. We will consider each situation on a case-by-case basis using our published guidance.

At the time of inspection

Providers will share a link to an online survey to gather views from:

• learners at the provider
• employers using the services of the provider
• parents and carers of learners
• staff at the provider

You can read the questions for each survey.

For college inspections, there will also be an online survey for the colleges skills stakeholders.

There is more information about the main activities that our inspectors carry out when they inspect further education and skills providers in the further education and skills inspection handbook.

At the end of the inspection or monitoring visit, inspectors will provide feedback to the nominee and senior leader so that the provider is clear about the grades/ judgements awarded, that the grades/ judgements awarded are provisional and, although unlikely, may be subject to change through moderation and quality assurance. Inspectors will also explain that the provider has an opportunity to raise any issues or concerns or to seek clarification about the inspection, and can also contact Ofsted on the working day after the end of the inspection, if needed.

After the inspection visit

Following the inspection, the lead inspector will write a report outlining the findings of the inspection or monitoring visit. We will normally send providers this draft report within 18 working days of the end of the inspection.

We expect leaders to share the inspection outcome and findings with whoever they deem appropriate. Leaders may also share inspection outcomes, in confidence, with others, not involved with the provider, provided the information is not made public. This may include leaders colleagues, family members, medical advisers, and/or their wider support group in confidence.

Providers will normally have 5 working days to comment on the draft report, inspection process and findings. The provider can highlight minor points relating to the clarity or factual accuracy of the report, or it can submit a formal complaint seeking a review of the inspection process, including the judgements made or concerns about inspector conduct. If it only submits minor points of clarity or factual accuracy, we will consider and respond to these when we share the final report with the provider, normally within 30 working days after the inspection. We will publish the final report onour reports website5 working days after sending it to the provider.

After the inspection, we will invite providers to complete an online inspection survey. The survey asks for their v

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