‘Maintains a Good Pace to Lessons': Inconsistencies and contextual factors affecting OFSTED inspections of nursery schools

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores the scope and reliability of Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) inspections of nursery schools. All 513 inspections of nursery schools posted on the Web were coded for content. Thirty‐three nursery schools in three local authorities were visited, and basic data were collected from the schools and matched with that in the OFSTED report, and the headteachers' views on the inspections were sought. The study concludes that inspections were inconsistent, and at times misrepresented the work of the nursery schools. It argues that these inconsistencies and misrepresentations were largely due to the limited framework for inspection, which did not take account of the complexities and diversities of early years provision, and the rapid pace of change in the sector.