Ofsted’s Annual Report highlights continued challenges across the sector

Ofsted’s annual report has been published highlighting continuing issues within education at a system level. The issues identified are cited as being ‘created or exacerbated by workforce and resourcing challenges, and which are compounding problems left over by the pandemic’. One area identified is the SEND system with the report stating that as a “system that was struggling to cope well before COVID is creaking and ripe for long-promised reform”. 

Further issues identified are:

Recruitment and Retention 

• Early Years sector is losing staff to higher paid and/or more flexible employment
• Nurseries are closing as they cannot recruit or retain experienced staff
• Social care has similar staffing issues for care homes and the reduction in the number of foster carers impacting on the system
• Schools, colleges and independent learning providers are frustrated by shortages of staff
• Accessing external support services has been impacted by staffing issues of their own, especially in the mental health sector
• Special schools, and mainstream, have difficulty recruiting staff with SEND expertise and have seen increased staff turnover

Absence

• Pupils out of sight of Ofsted are still a concern
• Pupil absence levels are still high 
• Absence of pupils with SEND is particularly high with pupils with EHCPs missing 10% of lessons in the autumn term 2021
• Anecdotal evidence of part-time timetables being used more regularly

Accountability 

• Multi-academy trusts are recognised as having a huge influence and Ofsted want to assess how this is being used
• Ofsted want more scrutiny on PVI settings
• Ofsted want more scrutiny on privately owned children’s homes

Behaviour

• Schools and colleges had highlighted this as a concern following the lockdown return
• Staff absence is making this a continuing issue

SEND system

• External services to support young people with SEND were not always available, i.e. speech and language therapists, mental health support

The foreword from Amanda Spielman, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector states “It has been a difficult year and the lasting impact of the pandemic on children and learners will take time to emerge fully. I have seen how constructively everyone working in education and social care has generally responded to the challenges faced, and I want to recognise the substantial efforts that have been made. I also highlight in the report where more should be done to ensure that this generation of young people get the education, training, care and opportunities they deserve. I trust that this report will help to inform policies that promote the very best futures for our children and learners.”