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Introduction

This page explains what you need to know about an ECF and NPQ full inspection or lead provider monitoring visit (LPMV) and what information inspectors will ask you for.

For full inspections, inspectors will make graded judgements against the following key judgement areas:

• overall effectiveness

• quality of professional development and training

• leadership and management

For LPMVs, inspectors will focus primarily (although not exclusively) on the effectiveness of leaders and managers in delivering a high-quality training programme for early career teachers (ECTs) and/or NPQ participants.

Conduct during Ofsted inspections

Ofsteds code of conduct sets out the expectations for both inspectors and lead providers. At the start of the inspection (usually during the preparatory conversations), the lead inspector will explain these expectations and will ask lead providers to read the code.

Inspectors will uphold the highest professional standards in their work. They will treat everyone they meet during inspections fairly and with the respect and sensitivity they deserve. Inspectors will work constructively with leaders and staff, demonstrating professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect at all times.

Information to share with inspectors

Inspectors will need you to provide some key information as part of the inspection.

Some information will be used by the lead inspector during the preparation stage and must be made available on the day of the reflective, educationally focused conversation (on the same day as the notification call). Further information must be provided by the start of the inspection.

Full details can be found in our ECF and NPQ inspection handbook.

Information that lead providers must have available on the day of the reflective, educationally focused conversation (on the same day as the notification call)

Lead providers must provide, where relevant:

• a list of all ECF and/or NPQ delivery partners

• the main location of delivery partners, and indication of whether training is delivered in person or remotely, and information on any specialist areas of the training they deliver

• the number of early career teachers (ECTs) assigned to each delivery partner and each ECTs phase (for example, primary or secondary)

• the number of NPQ participants on each course being offered

• the number of NPQ participants assigned to each delivery partner

• information about the ECF and/or NPQ training curriculum, including an overview of the training calendar with start dates and planned end dates

• information about the mentor training curriculum, including an overview of the training calendar

• how inspectors can access course or programme handbooks or other relevant information

• general information, such as key staff names and responsibilities, office locations and practical arrangements, for example about travel, to allow for effective and efficient planning

How to submit the information

You should submit the information securely through the lead provider portal. We will provide instructions on how to access the portal when we notify you of the inspection.

Information that lead providers must provide by the start of the inspection or LPMV

Any pre-existing evidence of:

• how lead providers gain an understanding of the experience and expertise of trainers and mentors

• how lead providers monitor the quality of aspects of the programmes delivered by the delivery partners

• the professional development and/or training provided for trainers and/or facilitators in delivery partners

• strategic oversight and/or governance processes

• self-evaluation and subsequent improvement planning

Seeking the views of stakeholders

Inspectors will talk to a range of stakeholders, including ECTs, NPQ participants, mentors, trainers, induction tutors and school leaders about important aspects of the lead providers work. Inspectors will work constructively with stakeholders in line with our code of conduct, demonstrating professionalism, courtesy, empathy and respect at all times. Staff (including leaders at all levels) may always be accompanied by another appropriate person when speaking to inspectors. However, it is important that staff are able to express their views freely to inspectors. Therefore, meetings with ECTs and NPQ participants must take place without the presence of any leaders or ECF mentors, unless there are relevant exceptional circumstances.

Inspectors should take careful account of the well-being of leaders and staff and adjust their approach or activity, as appropriate, as they go about their inspection work in the best interests of ECTs and NPQ participants. If inspectors see or suspect that a staff member (including all leaders and the lead provider representative) is upset or distressed at any point during the inspection, inspectors should respond sensitively. Where appropriate, inspectors will consider suitable adjustments to enable the staff member to continue. Where appropriate, inspectors will inform those responsible for the persons well-being. The lead inspector should contact the regional duty desk and/or regional Senior HM Inspector (SHMI) for teacher developmentto discuss what action to take.

There may be exceptional occasions when a pause to inspection needs to be considered. We will consider these on a case-by-case basis.

We also invite the following stakeholders to complete an online survey during the inspection:

• delivery partners

• school leaders

• ECTs and/or NPQ participants

• mentors for ECTs

We ask that lead providers send out information about the inspection and a survey link to stakeholders before the start of the inspection. You will find a template letter for this purpose in the notification letter for this inspection. These surveys are confidential and complement the evidence gathered by inspectors during the inspection.

All surveys will be open from the point of the notification call, and will close at:

• 9am on day 2 of the inspection, for LPMVs

• 9am on day 3 of the inspection, for full inspections

More information about ECF and NPQ inspections

Full inspections will normally consist of 4 full days on site within the same week. LPMVs will normally consist of 3 days on site within the same week. Inspectors will spend most of their time carrying out focused review activities and gathering evidence to inform their judgements.

Inspectors will make their final judgements when they have collected and considered all the evidence.

The ECF and

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