Ofsted has warned about a “vicious circle” of damage caused by pupils’ high absence levels and an increase in the number of children receiving an “unorthodox education” with time spent outside the classroom.
The watchdog has raised concern about the growing number of children whose “pattern of education is disjointed” through part-time timetables and flexi-schooling.
In its 2023-24 annual report, published today, the watchdog also warns that the SEND system is under huge strain, with mainstream schools educating more pupils with education, health and care plans (EHCPs).
Sir Martyn Oliver told a press conference this morning that it was important every school had a Sendco, and that Ofsted is checking whether schools are meeting this need.
The report, which is Sir Martyn’s first as chief inspector, does not provide an overview of inspection grades for any of the sectors it inspects, following the government’s decision to abolish overall single-word inspection ratings for schools this year.
Here are five key issues it highlights.
1. Attendance remains a ‘stubborn and damaging’ issue
Ofsted’s 2023-24 report highlights that school absence has remained higher in recent years than before the pandemic. It adds that the number of pupils who are severely or persistently absent is “particularly alarming”.
The report says that although there had been signs of improvement, attendance levels remain a “stubborn and damaging issue”.
It adds: “These high levels of absence create a vicious circle. Missing education makes it harder to catch up and progress. This can easily dishearten children, and lead to further and more entrenched absences.”
2. Concern over ‘unorthodox education’
Ofsted’s report notes that the absence figures speak to a broader disruption and fragmentation of education for too many children.
It states: “Alongside those who are missing significant parts of their education altogether, we are concerned about the number of children whose pattern of education is disjointed. Again, this phenomenon appears to have grown since the pandemic.”
Specifically, the school watchdog said it was “concerned” about the rise in part-time timetables.
Part-time timetables - when a pupil attends school for less than full-time hours - were previously accepted as a “short-term measure with a clear goal”, Ofsted said.
However, it cautions that the “spread of part-time timetables suggests they are becoming more readily used, which cannot be good”.
Sir Martyn told a media briefing that part-time timetables are not a long-term solution.
“Having children who are missing education - and it’s sanctioned by the headteacher and with no end in sight - is not good, and that’s something that we would want to call out and say is unacceptable practice. I am really concerned.”
The report also raises concerns about flexi-schooling. It adds that a small number of schools allow children to be flexi-schooled, where parents choose to home-educate their children for part of the week.
Sir Martyn said that because schools record this as an authorised absence, Ofsted cannot be sure how many children are flexi-schooled.
3. SEND pressures
Ofsted’s 2023-24 report also highlights concerns over pressures on the SEND system.
The report said that there has been a 140 per cent increase in the number of pupils with EHCPs being educated in mainstream schools.
It says that on SEND, it is “right to consider demand as well as supply” and that “not all children with an identified need will (or should) receive an EHCP”.
The report adds: “The needs of many children with SEND can and should be met in mainstream schools with high-quality targeted support. We should, collectively, look at the early interventions that can be made - for instance in the early years and key stage 1 - to stop needs escalating and becoming entrenched.”
And it warns that if EHCPs are used too widely, “the resources that follow them will always be stretched too thinly for those in most need”.
The Ofsted report also says there are recruitment and retention challenges in relation to SEND.
It highlights that the DfE’s SEND code of practice advises that all schools should have a qualified teacher designated as a Sendco (special educational needs coordinator).
The report adds: “Making sure this arrangement is uniformly in place could make a big difference for a lot of children.”
4. Alternative provision used to fill gaps
Ofsted notes that “unfortunately, we too often see alternative provision (AP) used to fill the gaps in SEND provision”.
It adds that almost one in four children in school-arranged AP placements have an EHCP.
The report says that AP “can and does play an important role for children who, for many different reasons, are not able to attend mainstream schools”. But it adds: “It should be viewed as a fixed-term intervention not a long-term solution.”
5. Early years recruitment challenges
Ofsted highlights the recruitment and retention issues facing the early years sector, warning that many nurseries are “struggling to recruit and retain skilled and qualified staff”.
“The disruption caused by high staff turnover can have a negative impact on children’s learning and wellbeing, with vulnerable children and those with SEND particularly affected,” the report states.
Recruitment and retention were also picked out as major issues in the Bell review, which was commissioned by the Labour party to create a long-term plan for the early years workforce.
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