Are schools given a 'heads up' when Ofsted comes?

[smearedinfood]

I was given a permission slip for my son to go to a City Farm with a few children from other classes, on an appointed day. It's a bit weird.

My son is often described as 'day dreamy' in class and struggles with reading/working memory.

I may be reading too much into this, but I have heard of this before.

Is there anyway of finding out when Ofsted are due to visit as I am wondering if this is coinciding?

Not at an Academy, we are at a state school.

Academies are state schools.

tbh I'd be happy my kid had an opportunity to do something fun and potentially less soul-crushing than the every day curriculum.

If you're in Wales there is more notice given. I'm not sure about Scotland or NI

I have heard of schools which have an 'emergency' trip up their sleeve which can be implemented at short notice to get kids out of the way that they would prefer Ofsted not to see - usually behavioural issues, not dreamy. Likewise, I know a teacher who was struggling and being disciplined and they were sent off on a short notice course when Ofsted was announced.

24 hours isn't long to arrange to get people out of the way, but if you have thought about it in advance, it is possible and I believe it does happen. No idea if it has in this case, but less than 24 hours doesn't sound usual notice for a trip.
Op - have you had this little notice for trips before?

Ofsted ask about teachers on support plans. They look at appraisal information. Sending a struggling teacher "on a course" would be pointless for that reason. You can't hide them.

Impossible. Ofsted ring on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday between 12 midday and 2pm to come in the next morning at 8am. They would not have the time to get a phone call at 1pm on Thursday and then book in and plan and pay for and organise the health and safety and permissions etc for a trip leaving the following morning.

I have heard that a certain large Academy chain ship in their best teachers from other schools on the day and tell the kids it's a cover teacher however...

Ofsted call the school at around lunchtime the day before they visit. Inspections do not happen with any regularity really, so not every three years or anything like that.

Does your son qualify for pupil premium payments? Sometimes these payments are used for things like extra trips.

A year group from my DC's primary was on a trip on Ofsted day. One of the group of inspectors went to see them....

Round here, booking a coach for the following day would be impossible!