How much notice for an OFSTED instecion?

[LynetteScavo]

Sorry to burst into the staff room without knocking!

I'm told it's 48 hours.

Two of my DCs, at the same school, are adamant OFSTED inspectors are coming tomorrow, and they've known since last Friday. (7yo DD is very concerned about her teacher who is so worried, she apparently couldn't get to sleep until 1am, and has told the class she only had 5 hours sleep - DD wants to take her some of my herbal "night time" tea, bless her)

I thought schools only had 48 hours notice.

And what can I do to support the school/staff, if they are having an inspection?

[MidnightHag]

We had 12 hours notice.

[Flisspaps]

48 hours notice from a Friday would mean the earliest they could go in would have been today anyway (don't count the weekends IIRC)

Other than that, fill in the questionnaire that your children bring home, return it and avoid the school unless it's a dire emergency during the next two school days.

[LadyDamerel]

We're expecting an inspection any day and we've been told that they will ring around 12pm the day before to come the following morning.

So, 18 hours notice, tops, given that they arrive at 8am.

I think the days of them giving lots of notice are over, tbh.

[MirandaWest]

My DCs school got called by ofsted on a Monday and the inspection was on Tuesday and Wednesday.

[LynetteScavo]

I've done the questionnaire - a couple of weeks ago. (Have been holding out with the online - was waiting until the end of the academic year, as I didn't want to make any knee jerk reactions)

The school I was working in today have had their Thursday/Friday menus swapped. DD only has school lunch on a Friday, which is usually fish/veg. As DD is a fish eating veggie, I haven't told the school this year (did tell them last year in Y2 - same school, different site). I feel I need to tell them, but know the bursar will scream at me, if they are having an inspection. (She screams at most people, - her bark is much worse than her bite!), and we are bristly with each other atm, as I screamed was assertive with her on Monday. - Normally we get on fine, honest!

Will before/after school club also be inspected?

I did consider taking in flowers for the reception desk, then thought, even though a large part of the desk is 5 ft high, a glass vase could be a health and safety risk.

[MirandaWest]

We got a letter from the school that day (partly as ofsted wanted us to fill in the parent questionnaire that's on the ofsted website)

[pudding25]

Do they inspect schools on a Monday? When would they let the school know?

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

We found out at 12 yesterday. They were in at 8 this morning.

[TheFallenMadonna]

They don't inspect on Mondays. Too much notice.

[Themumsnot]

We've been told they can now call any time up to 4pm the day before the inspection. They will ask to speak to the head or designated member of SMT. If they cannot be found they will not leave a message. They will just turn up the next morning. That sounds like it could be interesting...

[ilikesweetpeas]

Pudding - for Monday inspections they ring on the Friday, so you get more notice. All other days now get a call by 3pm the day before

[LadyDamerel]

We were told they won;t come on a Monday because they won't give the whole weekend to prepare. You get less than a day's notice (unless you're in Wales, the Estyn system is totally different) so they have a clearer picture of what everything's really like.

I think they spend Mondays writing up their previous week's report.

[pudding25]

Oh damn. I don't work Mondays and always in hope that they will come in then-due an inspection soon.

[EcoLady]

Our Head got the call at 12.30 today. Staff briefed at 1.30.

Their walk around the school starts at 8.20 am tomorrow.

It's my final two days as a trainee. What a way to finish!

[cricketballs]

we are waiting the phone call at any time - they call at around 12 noon the day before they inspect. They won't be in on a Monday as that means the call is made on a Friday and too much time is allowed for preparation. If they don't call by Wednesday afternoon then it will not happen that week. They still have to give some notice to ensure that heads cancel meetings/governors can be available.

I'm am personally gutted as a group I have for 3 periods on a Monday can have a monkey in front of them and they would all make progress whilst a group I have for 3 lessons on a Tuesday are very hard work!

[eatyourveg]

phone call monday inspection tuesday and wednesday

[cmjeffers]

We were inspected this time last year, phone call came on the Thursday - they came in on the Monday.. That said the new framework kicked in in January so that could be the change...

[FourArms]

Phone call Wed lunch, inspected Thu/Fri last week. Much preferred the short notice - can only pull 2am-ers for a couple of days!

[Differentangle]

Can I say that as a parent, I would prefer that there is as little notice as possible - I would like Ofsted reports to reflect what happens on a normal day?

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

I think that's why it changed Differentangle and none of us are saying it's a bad thing...