School based settings and Reception

Inspectors are required to grade the standards of education and care in any early years provision in schools and to write about its effectiveness in the inspection report. Inspectors’ judgement on the effectiveness of early years provision will include evaluation of the provision for 2- and 3-year-olds. Inspectors will also note if any children receive additional funding.

Ofsted recognise that the disruption to learning caused by the pandemic may have impacted on children’s learning or, development. This could result in some children having a wider than usual range of starting points and gaps in their knowledge. Inspectors will pay close attention to how schools identify and address any of these delays and gaps and what the school is doing to address disruption to learning to ensure that children are well prepared for their next stage of education. Inspectors will use all their evidence to evaluate what it is like to be a child in the early years provision, taking account of the ages of the children and whether they attend part time or full time.

The effectiveness of the arrangements for safeguarding children is reflected in the main judgement for the school.

Inspectors will take account of all the judgements made across the evaluation schedule. In particular, they should consider:

• the extent to which leaders and other staff plan, design and implement the early years curriculum

• the extent to which the curriculum and care practices meet the needs of the range of children who attend, particularly any children with SEND

• the progress all children make in their learning and development relative to their starting points and their readiness for the next stage of their education

• children’s personal, social and emotional development, including whether they feel safe and are secure, stimulated and happy.School inspection handbook - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)