New DFE Statutory Guidance
and OFSTED Changes
•www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/statutory/g00224078/sure-startstatutory-guidance
•www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/framework-for-childrens-centreinspection-april-2013 (page includes links to five further
documents.
Sure Start children’s centres statutory
guidance
April 2013
• Replaces guidance published October 2010
• Statutory duties remain unchanged but there are changes to how
they need to be delivered, incorporating latest thinking on
outcomes for children and families and how integrated and
partnership working will improve those outcomes
Key points
• clarifies what local authorities and statutory partners must do
because it is required by legislation, and what local authorities and
partners should do when fulfilling their statutory responsibilities
• focuses on outcomes for children (the core purpose of children’s
centres)
• clarifies the duty to secure sufficient children’s centres accessible to
all families with young children, and targeted evidence-based
interventions for those families in greatest need of support
• promotes the greater involvement of organisations in the running
of children’s centres with a track record of supporting families
Some key things to note
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Sure Start-On database – types of inspection
Core Purpose unchanged since 2011 but now incorporated
Sufficient Children’s Centres – presumption against closure
Links with partner agencies
Advisory Boards
Safeguarding
Changes to Ofsted framework
• New framework published end of March 2013 and live from April
2013
• New SEF and guidance published April 2013
• Additional guidance expected May 2013
• Monitoring and support to bring about improvement in centres
judged to ‘require improvement’ from September 2013.
The case for change :
Children's centres perform best when they:
– have a detailed understanding of their local community
– reach a high proportion of their target population
– involve centre users in shaping and delivering services
– have strong accountability and performance management
systems
– have high quality evidence - compelling information about the
impact of the centre’s actions on children and families.
Overview of key changes:
• reduced set of judgements (from 20 to four)
• introduction of a ‘requires improvement’ grade
• mixed remit teams on every inspection to ensure coverage of
centre provision
• larger inspection teams and longer inspections for some types of
inspection events
• retention of an optional self-evaluation form
• retention of up to three days notice of inspection
• re-inspection of centres judged to ‘require improvement’.
Changes to the way in which inspections are
carried out
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Simultaneous inspection of Centres within a collaboration
Changes to pre-inspection planning
Professional dialogue
Joint observations
Case studies
New Self Evaluation Form
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Minimum amount of detail required to support your judgement
Intended to be a summary of your much wider self evaluation work
Should include carefully chosen evidence that demonstrates impact
Refer closely to grade descriptors and give appropriate reasons for
deciding an a grade
Quality Improvement Programme
Quality Improvement
Programme
Quality
Improvement
Programme
Resources and
Actions
When
New Ofsted
Children’s Centre
Inspection
Framework 2013
Bespoke Ofsted
Briefings on new
Frameworks and
SEF (2013)
 Phase 2 Centres
completed
 Phase three
centres planning
in progress
Quality Improvement Programme
Quality Improvement
Programme
Resources and
Actions
When
Quality and Improve
Review
New template developed
based on a professional
conversation regarding the
operation, priorities, and
Statutory duties of the Local
Authority in relation to
children’s centres
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EYFS /School Readiness
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Understanding EYFS
data to inform practice
and ensure school
readiness
Tracking children’s
progress
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Phase two centres yet to
be inspected completed
Phase three centres
planning in progress
All centres to be
completed phased
approach.
In planning stages with
LSE
Quality Improvement Programme
Quality
Resources and Actions
Improvement
Programme
Quality
Improvement
Resources
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Revised Environmental Audit and
Safeguarding Audit tools
Children’s centre planning and measuring
form for services and activities.
Exercises for Children’s Centre teams on
Outcomes (short medium and long), Impact
and Inputs/outputs, and using data to inform
services.
Revised Advisory Board members workshop
Template for SEF 2013
Timetable template for Ofsted Inspection
2013
Customer Satisfaction Survey template
When
On Children’s Centre
Webpage and
Children’s Centre ebulletin