News

Early years: Leading to excellence report finds under fives get better start in life, but there is still more to do

Ofsted's latest report on early years and childcare focuses on leadership and management. It reveals encouraging progress over the last three years.

Almost all providers (97%) now meet national standards – with Ofsted inspections and recommendations playing an important role in this success. However, the report also highlights a wide range in the quality of provision across the country.

The report includes practical resources to help practitioners further improve their work with children within the Early Years Foundation Stage.

You can visit the site by clicking the banner on the right, or read more on the link below.

• 27 Aug 2008

Ofsted’s latest report evaluates the impact of Programme-led apprenticeships

Ofsted finds programme-led apprenticeships are an important alternative to employer-led apprenticeships, but there are concerns that more needs to be done to understand and promote the programme following a fall in participation.

• 18 Jul 2008

Safeguarding Children review shows most vulnerable children not yet benefiting from improvements to services and outcomes

Much has changed in the landscape of children's services since the 2005 review. As a result of improved safeguarding arrangements, most children now feel safe in their homes and communities, and are receiving the quality of care and support that they need. But some children and young people are still not well enough served by public services.

The 2008 review highlights what has improved over the past three years and assesses to what extent the considerable activity that has taken place at both national and local levels has affected outcomes for children and young people. It also identifies those areas that are still in need of improvement

• 08 Jul 2008

Ofsted publishes report on evaluation of language learning

Standards and achievements in modern language teaching and learning across England's secondary schools have improved but speaking was the least developed skill among pupils, according to a report published today by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted)

The report, 'The changing landscape of languages, an evaluation of language learning 2004 -2007' highlights what needs to improve if standards in modern languages are to rise. It looks at how well primary schools are developing modern languages and the progress they are making to ensure that all pupils in Key Stage 2 are able to study a language. The report also looks at standards and achievements in secondary schools.

• 01 Jul 2008

Ofsted publishes evaluation of teacher trainees in response to the Rose Review

Teacher trainees are responding well to recommendations set out in the Rose Review, a new report published today by Ofsted shows.

The report, "Teacher trainees and phonics - An evaluation of the response of providers of initial teacher training to the recommendations of the Rose Review", looks at how the Rose Review has been taken on board by initial teacher training providers in the teaching of early reading skills.

• 27 Jun 2008

Ofsted report finds that a lack of specialist design and technology teachers means expensive school equipment sometimes lies idle

The Ofsted report 'Education for a technologically advanced nation: Design and Technology in schools 2004/07' found that a lack of specialist trained Design and Technology teachers in some parts of the country results in equipment in some schools lying unused.

• 25 Jun 2008