A number of services are available to initial teacher training (ITT) providers following Ofsted inspections and surveys. These include individually tailored feedback and guidance on post-Ofsted action planning and evaluation.
Current post-Ofsted action planning procedure
The current procedure reflects the differentiated approach of the new Ofsted inspection framework 2008-11 according to which ITT providers who offer employment-based, primary or secondary ITT are inspected. The outcomes of the inspection are published on the Ofsted website as a report which focuses on:
- the overall effectiveness of the provision in securing high-quality outcomes for trainees
- the capacity of leadership and management at all levels to secure further improvement and/or sustain high-quality outcomes
The report also grades the ITT provider on both the aforementioned foci. These grades are then utilised to allocate one of the following overall grades to the ITT provider:
- Grade 1 - Outstanding
- Grade 2 - Good
- Grade 3 - Satifactory
- Grade 4 - Unsatisfactory
Recovery support following an Ofsted inspection
The Quality and Inspection team is responsible for post-Ofsted inspection action planning and for managing support for providers in recovery following an inspection. The TDA requires providers who have attained a grade 3 from their inspection to submit a post-Ofsted action plan (POAP). A review of the POAP is then carried out by a Quality Specialist. Following this, feedback is offered and TDA monitoring visits are arranged with the provider to assist them in improving their provision. Information on how to prepare a POAP can be found further down the page.
ITT providers who are deemed to have a grade 4 provision will initiate the TDA non-compliance procedures.
If the ITT provider wishes to undertake a recovery, they will be required to submit a recovery plan, milestones document, and contingency plan to the TDA Accreditation Committee. If the Committee decides that the provider’s recovery plan is viable, the Quality and Inspection team will coordinate appropriate packages of support including regular meetings with Quality Specialists and feedback on the recovery plan.
Preparing a plan following an Ofsted inspection
This section describes the purpose, content and format of a POAP.
Purpose
The purpose of a POAP is to ensure that arrangements are in place to address all the issues raised in the inspection report successfully, and thus improve the quality of ITT.
It needs to be written for those who implement it and those who monitor its progress and evaluate its success. It also needs to be sufficiently clear and detailed for external readers at the TDA who will assess the action plan.
In addition to the issues raised in the inspection report, the POAP should focus on any issues relevant to the provider’s ITT provision more generally, including action to be taken in relation to overall management and quality assurance arrangements.
Content
The elements of a POAP should be expressed in such a way that they are clear enough for an external reader to understand. The TDA uses the evaluation criteria listed beside each element in the PDF below to evaluate the POAP.
Elements and evaluation criteria of a post-Ofsted action plan (PDF, 39KB)
Format
Action plans may be submitted in any form, including tabular and prose. They should be clear and easy to follow for those using and monitoring the action plan. The length and detail of the action plan depend on the number and complexity of the issues.