Ofsted 'imminent' but I want to leave

[PrincessOfPreschool]

... but don't want to leave my nursery in the lurch. We are a small team of 6.

Ofsted last came to us in Sept 2019. Manager thinks it will happen this academic year but I really want to leave May half term. I don't think it'll happen for quite a while longer and I can't keep hanging on.

We were 'good' last time and no parental complaints. Do you think it's likely to be before summer?

This is not a factor for your decision. An ofsted rating is not dependent on when you leave, but it's hardly going to be improved by someone whose heart isn't in it, vs their replacement newly-recruited and enthusiastic. Make your decision based on what works for you, but never assume you are irreplaceable.

Ehhh, you don't owe them anything.

You leaving will have no impact on the inspection results. They're either compliant or they're not.

You are being a bit daft. I did two days a week for a year in a school where they thought OFSTED were coming the whole time and they cane eighteen months after I left.

Schools can spend years being on Ofsted alert. They’ll turn up when they do. Meanwhile, I’d suggest you do what’s best for you.

Do what’s good for you but give plenty of notice so they have time to make plans.

OFSTED can be ‘imminent’ for years. Just leave.

My heart is very much in it, which is part of the problem. I just can't do that level of commitment/ enthusiasm for much longer. I could keep going and going but then my heart wouldn't be in it. Leaving now is before I get to that point. I know I'm not irreplaceable but it's really hard to recruit at the moment so I feel very guilty.

However, thank you for the unanimous vote to go! I think I felt like I needed 'permission' because there will be a lot of pressure to stay 'till Ofsted'.

Lots of places whose six years were up at the end of 2024 haven't been inspected yet so you could be waiting forever!

I think they'll come around June time

I'm a childminder and they seem very methodical at the moment from the Facebook groups I'm on. People are being inspected around three months before the 6 year deadline.