WIREDGOV

Ofsted has yesterday confirmed the appointment of the two companies chosen to undertake day to day inspection and registration visits.

Tribal Group Plc has been appointed to cover the contract area for the South region and Prospects Services Ltd has been appointed to cover our work in the North and Midlands.

Early years inspection and regulation are important parts of Ofsted’s work. The outsourcing of parts of this work will sharpen Ofsted’s focus on making improvements to create a better service for children. The transfer of day to day inspection and registration visits will enable Ofsted to focus on the quality of provision in the early years sector. These changes will bring greater value for money, giving Ofsted the ability to work in a more flexible way, better able to respond to the challenges of a changing national agenda while maintaining high standards of inspection. Over time, the outsourcing of day-to-day management of inspection will create opportunities for strong early years practitioners to train to inspect and to work closely with experienced inspectors and share good practice.

Outsourcing routine registration visits and elements of early years inspection will also provide an integrated approach to childcare and early education which matches the delivery at a local level.

Ofsted has successfully worked with a number of companies in the private sector in providing high quality inspections for schools for many years. Following a competitive tender process, Ofsted has confirmed the successful bidders from the private sector to work with it in providing some elements of the inspection and regulation of services for early years.

The contract makes provision for Ofsted’s early years inspectors and support staff to transfer to the new contractors. Transferring staff with good expertise and strong knowledge of early years work will ensure that early years inspections and registration visits continue to be carried out by very experienced inspectors

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert said:

'Ofsted has a track record of delivering high quality inspections through partnership with a number of contractors, providing good services for the children, parents, young people and adult learners who rely on our work. I am confident that we will have an equally productive relationship with these companies.'

Ofsted will work towards the contracts starting on 1 September 2010.

1.The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

2. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 020 7421 5866 or via Ofsted's enquiry line 0300 123 1231 between 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday - Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057359.