Ofsted is planning to halve the length of its remote inspections after the February half term.

Updated guidance from the watchdog states that before the break, remote monitoring inspections will last two days and involve two inspectors.

After half term, they will be cut to one day. However, two inspectors will still be involved.

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The guidance states: “Before February 2021 half term, remote monitoring inspections will usually last for two days and involve two HMI.

“After February half term, remote monitoring inspections will normally last for one day and involve two HMI.

“The lead inspector will discuss the start and end times of each day, including the logistics of working remotely, with the headteacher during the notification call.”

Ofsted announced last month that its monitoring inspections of schools would be carried out remotely until after the February half term in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

The watchdog was due to start going back into schools to inspect but said it changed its plans after the government issued advice to the public to “act as if you have the virus”.

Ofsted has since said that its inspection activity will be done remotely until 8 March at the earliest.

This is the date on which prime minister Boris Johnson has said schools could begin to open more widely from the national lockdown.