The consultation on our new inspection framework closes this evening, 5 April.

So far we’ve received over 8,000 responses – the biggest ever response to an Ofsted consultation. That reflects many hours of your time going into making what I think is a strong set of proposals even better.

We started our curriculum research two years ago. This research, as well as existing research and 26 years of inspection experience and evidence, has helped us to develop a framework with the curriculum at its heart. This central ethos of the new framework seems to have struck a chord with many of you.

During the first year of development, we worked with our inspectors, teacher unions, professional associations, researchers and statisticians to gather evidence to underpin the framework. Informal consultation started in the summer and carried on until Christmas: we held or attended 250 events across England.

In January, we published the consultation and our research base. We also put the four handbooks – for early years, maintained schools, independent schools and further education and skills – into the public domain to invite comment. That’s different from how we’ve done things before: four years ago, we consulted only on principles, and said “leave the handbooks to us”. This time we’ve been more transparent and invited commentary on the detail.

Ofsted seeking teacher input

We shared our research findings and made our curriculum material available. Pilots started last summer and they will continue through the summer term. These have been invaluable in helping us to iron out wrinkles. By September, we’ll have completed more than 250, drawing on the expertise of our HMI to test and develop the framework.

This has been a genuine consultation – by which I mean that we have not closed our ears to contrary views. However, we will need to consider both the individual and the cumulative impact of any adjustments we might consider making to the draft framework – so it’s too soon to comment on the outcome of the consultation.

We started analysing responses as soon as they started to flow through, and that work is continuing. In May we aim to publish a summary of responses, our plans for the way ahead and the four finalised inspection handbooks. We’ll also publish further research and an impact assessment.

I want the new framework to support what you do, to reflect what parents want and to meet the needs of children. Once again, I’m really grateful for the input we have had from across the profession, and beyond it, to help us towards that aim.

Amanda Spielman is Ofsted's chief inspector