Schools should not bend themselves out of shape in an attempt to catch up after the disruption caused by the Covid crisis, Amanda Spielman will say today.

Ofsted’s chief inspector will tell the Festival of Education this afternoon that for most children, most catching up will happen “in their usual classroom with their usual teachers’.

She will also say that Ofsted’s curriculum-focused inspections are “here to stay” as the inspectorate prepares to resume full school inspections in September.

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Ms Spielman is expected to say: “In a few weeks’ time, schools and colleges will close their gates for the summer, ending the most wretched year and a half for education in living memory.

“School and college staff will regroup over the summer and prepare for a challenging year ahead.

“So much has been said about catch-up - or education recovery, to use the language that sits more comfortably with the sector.

Covid catch-up will mostly happen in normal lessons, says Ofsted chief

“Plans were hatched and then scaled back. New ideas are still being floated ahead of the next spending review. But, as I’ve consistently said, for most children, most catching up will happen in their usual classroom with their usual teachers. “

She will add that the ”magic of teaching - imparting knowledge, developing skills and building confidence - will mostly happen where it always happens”.

“We should not let the pressure to fill learning gaps bend what schools and colleges do out of shape,” she will say.

Ms Spielman will also indicate that Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework - which focuses on the school curriculum and was used for less than two terms before the Covid crisis put inspections on hold - is to remain in place.

There have been calls from school leaders for Ofsted not to return to its existing framework when full inspections resume in light of how much Covid has changed the education landscape.

However, Ms Spielman will say today: “Broadening minds, enriching communities and advancing civilisation is still exactly what’s needed from our schools.

“So when I’m asked how we will inspect in September, I keep those purposes in mind. There are technical answers about methodology, and appropriate answers about meeting schools where they are.

“But there is also the central truth - we still believe in the substance of education, and that’s what we want to see in action. So the Education Inspection Framework, the EIF, focused on the curriculum, is here to stay.”

Ms Spielman has had a two-year extension to her term as Ofsted’s chief inspector. She was appointed in 2017 and her term was due to expire at the end of this year.

Tes revealed earlier this year that she was keen to remain in post to ensure that the EIF, which she has introduced, can have more time to bed in.