Full inspections of Early Career Framework (ECF) and national professional qualification providers are being delayed until next year, Ofsted has announced.
The watchdog originally said the inspections would start this spring, but said today they would now not begin until early 2023.
Ofsted revealed the delay today as it published its framework and handbook for inspecting lead providers of programmes for newly qualifed teachers.
Chief inspector Amanda Spielman said the delayed inspections will ensure the lead providers of the programmes are of the “highest quality” and that teachers and school leaders are getting “the best possible support”.
The watchdog said that the launch of the ECF and NPQs “completes the golden thread” of teacher professional development.
How will inspections work?
The monitoring visits, beginning this summer, will consist of a lead provider monitoring visit (LPMV) to judge whether leaders are taking “effective action” to establish the new courses.
Full inspections will start in spring next year, and inspectors will use the four-point scale of “outstanding”, “good”, “requires improvement” and “inadequate”.
Providers will be judged on the “quality of professional development”, “training and leadership” and “management”.
New lead providers will receive an LPMV in the first year of operation and “inspectors will take into account” that the provider is in the “early stages of implementation”.
From the second year of delivery onwards, lead providers will usually receive a full inspection a minimum of once every two academic years.
Inspectors will only inspect DfE-funded lead providers, and as part of the assessment will visit a sample of delivery partners, early career teachers (ECTs) and/or NPQ participants, mentors, induction tutors and trainers.
However, Ofsted has said it will not make judgements about individual ECTs, NPQ participants, delivery partners or mentors as part of inspections.
Inspectors will also report on any failure to comply with the statutory requirements of the ECF and comment on the quality of the mentor training programme provided.
Ofsted said it will carry out “full inspections in parallel” where possible of lead providers offering both ECF and NPQ programmes.
It added that providers will be informed about inspections or LPMVs five working days before the start of the inspection or visit, usually on a Monday.
How will the pandemic affect inspections?
Ofsted said that inspection of ECF and NPQ lead providers will be on site, but some elements could be completed over video or phone calls.m
Schools minister Robin Walker said: “Every child across the country deserves a world-class education - the cornerstone of that ambition is a brilliant teacher in every classroom and so ensuring teacher training is of the highest quality is absolutely vital.
“This new framework will help ensure teachers continue to feel supported as they develop their skills, knowledge and expertise, and ultimately come into the classroom with the confidence to give every child the education they deserve.”
Last year, a survey conducted by school leaders’ union the NAHT found that a third of school leaders were concerned that the ECF would drive people out of the profession.
