During Ofsted’s Big Listen, FIN campaigned strongly for a consistent five-day notice period for all provider types prior to inspection, not just for larger or more complex organisations. This reform has reshaped inspection preparation. The extended notice window, now widely referred to as the planning week, is proving to be a positive development. But it has not yet been consistently applied by inspectors.
Because FIN supports members before, during and after inspection, we are observing how different lead inspectors are interpreting and utilising the five days. Providers are typically offered three planning calls.
The first call, held shortly after notification, focuses on confirming provision details, reviewing QAR (qualification achievement rates) and discussing the data held by Ofsted. Increasingly, inspectors reference Further Education and Skills Inspection Tool (FESIT) data at this early stage. The data helps inspectors understand provider performance, shape conversations during pre-inspection calls and identify focus areas for inspection. It also includes the ‘schools disadvantage’ indicator which primarily identifies students or apprentices who may face socio-economic barriers to learning.
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