Why it is important to maintain standards?
After a very successful Ofsted inspection it is easy to become complacent and for standards to drop. Everyone has spent months or years working hard to achieve fantastic results and once recognition has been received management and practitioners can often become slack and forget the best practice that was judged by Ofsted on Inspection day.
Maintaining standards is not only important from a business point of view but also to ensure that the children within your setting are receiving the best possible care and learning that can be offered. Parents often choose good or outstanding settings so their children receive the best start to their early years and are given all the tools they need to thrive in later education. It is therefore important that the level achieved in the Ofsted report is the level of practice that is displayed on daily basis. If standards slip it won’t take long for parents to realise, children to start falling behind in development and the reputation of the setting to slip.
As management you are the driving force for the team and it is vital you set your expectations high and ensure outstanding standards are maintained at all times. It is important to remember that Ofsted can be contacted and return at any time.
Have a look below for our top 10 tips on maintaining standards after Ofsted visit
- Set your expectations and make them known to all practitioners
- Complete regular in house training discussing policies, standards and best practice
- Regularly observe – management and practitioners can all observe one another, this will highlight any areas for improvement.
- Give parents a voice – Create a display or system where parents can tell you want it is they expect and want from the setting
- Work on any recommendations set by Ofsted – Everyone can always improve
- Strive for more and seek perfection – Your Ofsted inspection may have gone brilliantly however practice in the early years is always changing. Keep up to date with any new legislation and initiatives and strive to be the best.
- Set goals or challenges for practitioners – Make sure they are achievable and that it does not create tension but everyone should have a goal to meet,
- Pay attention to details – Sometimes it is easy to forget about the small things such as cleanliness of the building. Ensure practitioners have set areas or small jobs to be across to maintain standards.
- Regularly evaluate – Evaluate policies, procedures, development tools and practice. This will highlight concerns and recognise achievements
- Work closely together – Liaise with other members of management and practitioners so everyone is working towards a set level of expectation and everyone feels they are contributing.
Click here for further reading on top ten tips for Ofsted arrival