Eleanor Schooling, Ofsted’s Director of Social Care, has
been explaining why the controversial single inspection framework of local
authorities children’s services in England is running behind schedule.
I can’t say that hearing that these inspections are taking
longer than expected upsets me very much. As far as I am concerned the whole
programme could be indefinitely delayed with no ill effects. But I was
interested to read in Children and Young People Now Eleanor Schooling’s remarks
on why she thinks such a large proportion of local authorities have received
low judgements from her inspectors – about 75% of councils inspected so far are
rated either "inadequate" or "requires improvement".
She is reported as saying that Ofsted has prioritised areas
where “there was the most anxiety”, resulting in a skewed picture. I had to
read that a couple of times to let in sink in. How does anybody know prior to
an inspection taking place what the inspection will show? And what powers of
second sight do Ofsted inspectors have to be able to pre-judge their own
results? And what is the point of carrying out an expensive inspection if there
is another quicker way of making the judgement?
