WIREDGOV

With the new Ofsted inspection process now in place, further education and skills providers can prepare themselves with new workshops held by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS).

The new Common Inspection Framework introduces grading on equality and diversity, safeguarding and value for money, as well as placing a greater emphasis on the learner journey, Every Child Matters and on providers’ ability to demonstrate capacity to improve.

Developed in consultation with Ofsted and with the learning and skills sector, the new Prepared for Inspection? Building and Demonstrating Capacity to Improve workshops have been designed to help providers plan and prepare for the new inspection regime.

Dr David Collins, LSIS chief executive, said, “Under the new regime it is vital that a whole-organisational approach to continuous improvement is embedded throughout the sector if providers are able to respond to the new framework by impacting positively on the learner journey.

“We’re delighted that through the collaborative work we have been doing with both Ofsted and the sector, LSIS is able to deliver a workshop programme which promotes sector coherence and gives consistent messages to providers about the new inspection process.”

Shorter notice periods before inspection of just two to three weeks, along with fewer inspectors and shorter inspections mean that providers need to be inspection-ready at all times. With this in mind, LSIS has launched the monthly Prepared for Inspection? workshops which draw upon expertise from Ofsted inspectors and leading practitioners in the sector.

Workshop participants will explore the nuances of the new inspection arrangements and Ofsted’s approaches to grading; while working through the key themes such as Leadership & Management, Safeguarding and Equality & Diversity to help providers focus their self assessment and reporting on Capacity to Improve.

Maureen Stephens, director of quality at Royal Forest of Dean College, who attended one of the trial workshops in September, said, “I didn’t want the day to end! The opportunity to provide regular feedback has resulted in a programme that really responds to the needs of providers and also helps them to discover any areas where more in-depth support may be needed.”

The monthly workshops will be held in the north, south and midlands and places are available to providers of adult and community learning; work-based learning; Train to Gain; further education and sixth-form colleges, learndirect and Nextstep.

For details on how to register for the Prepared for Inspection? Building and Demonstrating Capacity to Improve workshops, please visit: www.lsis.org.uk/pfi, call LSIS on 0870 060 3278 or email kiron.mcduff@lsis.org.uk.