Ofsted and phonics

[Pozzled]

Does anyone know how much importance Ofsted place on good phonics teaching, especially in EYFS and KS1? If a school uses mixed methods (including sending home sheets of words to learn) and doesn't follow a robust synthetic phonics programme, can they still get 'Good' or better?

Also, am I right in thinking that it takes around 6 weeks from the inspection to the report being published?

Ofsted only know what they see on the day so if they see good phonics and no evidence of mixed methods they won't know.

Ok. I think it will have been very clear from the start; the school wouldn't have tried to hide it because they believe their mixed methods scheme is the best thing for the children.

I guess what I'm really asking is- if a school tell Ofsted that they use mixed methods, are the inspectors more likely to look closely at the teaching of literacy?

I imagine that a school which does not have proper phonics teaching will do badly on the year 1 nonsense words test. Lots of people believe that mixed methods is the best way forward sadly including OFSTED inspectors.

I suggest you teach your child phonics if you are worried.

Thanks ReallyTired. I am teaching DD1 phonics and can see how much it's helping her with her reading. It's just that it can be hard to find the time to do it regularly. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Ofsted have picked up on the issue and the school will be forced to make changes.

Did you fill in the ofsted questionnaire pozzled? You could put any concerns in the comments section I would have thought.

Yes, Ofsted can give a school 'outstanding' even if it uses mixed methods, as happened at my local school.

Ofsted mostly look at the school's KS2 literacy SATs results and if the school does ok in those then Ofsted will not question the methods used to get the children reading.

KS2 SATs don't specifically check on decoding skills but are based on comprehension.