Ofsted Annual Report: Steadily Improving Picture in Education and Care, but ‘Social Contract’ Remain

This year’s Annual Report from Ofsted concludes there are reasons for optimism, as education and children’s social care continue to recover from the lingering impact of the pandemic restrictions.

Vanessa King, afPE Assistant Deputy CEO, said:

Children deserve to be taught by a workforce that are optimistic about their future. In order to achieve this, the workforce needs to have the support and resources they need to deliver the very best outcomes for children. The profession needs to be attractive to talented practitioners who believe in the power of education, who enjoy their job, and feel empowered to ensure children grow and develop with strong foundations to embark upon a healthy and happy life.

It is evident in the annual report of his majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s services and skills 2022-23 that the education system has faced unprecedented challenge across all age ranges from Early Years to FE and there are several areas of key national priority.

Early Years:

As alluded to in the Early Years research review, physical development is a crucial prime area of learning and is key to ensure children’s healthy development and future success in life. Within early years, physical development underpins all other learning.

The notable increase in the number of SEND referrals; an increase in 2022 of 16,500 needs to be met with nurturing provision that underpins children’s neurodevelopment, which we know is enhanced through adequate exposure to enriching movement opportunities.

This is why, at afPE, we have prioritised CPD development for the Early Years. We will be launching a suite of two development programs in conjunction with The Leadership Foundation. This will include an Early Years PESSPA programme and, crucially, an early years screening programme to help diagnose areas of concern for motor competency, and teach practitioners how to provide interventions to help children overcome these difficulties.

School Provision:

As expected, primary school inspection data revealed higher judgement for all four key areas of inspection: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management with the biggest difference being in the area of behaviour.

In regard to PE specifically, as afPE knows, there are many cases of excellent practice as evidenced in our Quality Mark schools. These schools ensure a broad and ambitious curriculum to be taught. Knowledgable staff ensure pupil needs are met with appropriate skill acquisition that is developmental. We know that those primary schools that have used their premium funding effectively have upskilled staff to have the confidence and competence they need to deliver provision for children.

However, we are aware this is not a consistent picture, as evidenced in the report. Those schools who have not taken the time to prioritise their curriculum development to ensure it is both ambitious and inclusive for all are those that are referred to as simply delivering activities that do not effectively build knowledge and skill sequentially over time. There may also not have been adequate CPD provision to teach specific areas such as dance and outdoor & adventurous education.

It is also clearly stated in the report that PE is also an area that needs greater priority in secondary schools. Whilst it is quite aptly noted that in some cases students experience a “broad range of activities” as part of their curriculum, there is an urgent requirement for improvement in order to further, “develop pupils’ knowledge and skills.” To support the sector, afPE provides bespoke curriculum development CPD for schools, so if you feel your school would benefit from this, please get in touch with us at cpd@afpe.org.uk to see how we can help you develop an ambitious curriculum offer.
 
afPE continues to advocate for PE being made a core subject throughout all key stages so that it is given the priority that it deserves. Having the status of it being a core subject will ensure PE features as a priority on senior leadership school improvement plans, given the focus for the teacher CPD required to empower staff to have the competence and confidence to deliver the subject effectively, and with the adequate timetabling and resourcing required. This will ensure all pupils benefit from the wide ranging cognitive, social, affective and physical benefits across all domains.

Further Education Sector:

Although there is much good practice highlighted in the report, it is clear that government investment in CPD during Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and in the following years of a teachers’ career is essential. This is particularly relevant in the FE sector where ITT is an area of concern. This is due to issues focused on curriculum provision in a time of uncertainty with regard to the future qualifications best placed to suit this industry, in particular the new introduction of T levels. afPE resonates with this sentiment and will soon be developing a range of qualifications in conjunction with The Leadership Foundation to support the FE workforce. We aim to release these in 2024.

Final Thoughts:

The impact of greater government investment in teacher CPD is needed. This will have huge ramifications for the health of children. It is clear that the effects of the pandemic are still being felt in terms of stubborn gaps in children’s learning and the effects of increasing demand of support services that are stretched to capacity. In particular, demand for SEND and mental health services is particularly strained. We need to equip the workforce to have the training and resourcing they need to deliver a broad, ambitious and inclusive curriculum that meets the needs of children across all key stages. We need to make PE a core subject as we know that a strong emphasis on physical education will help ensure children develop and grow with the best foundations for a healthy future. It is paramount that this becomes a key national area of focus.

afPE is here to support you and your educational establishments. We appreciate all that you do day in, day out. You are the key to unlocking the future of a healthy generation of children and young people that look to you everyday as their roles models. Please reach out to us to ensure we can support you to deliver the best outcomes that you can, enriching the lives of children and young people and teaching them to aspire to have a bright and happy future.

Steve Caldecott, afPE Deputy CEO, said:

afPE is very pleased to see that physical education is seen as important enough to merit some headlines in the Annual Report of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2022/23.

The importance of early years was outlined and highlights how afPE’s screening training programme in this area will be crucial over the coming year.

The importance of physical education is made clear and it is evident that we need to support leaders to reposition and reframe the subject as the report highlights how, in some schools, pupils typically experience a broad range of activities but leaders do not always ensure that these contribute enough to developing pupils’ knowledge and skills. Even where they make enough time for physical education, a broad and ambitious curriculum is not always being offered as sometimes pupils simply experience an assortment of activities.

In a majority of schools, the teaching of dance and adventurous outdoor activity was very limited or ineffective, which suggests key areas which we should develop beyond the traditional games activities.

These findings are not a surprise to many and we have pre-empted some of this with our developing professional learning offer, bespoke school support and professional development day.