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Ofsted Talks

Ofsted · Inspection · Ofsted's own podcast on inspection and what it looks for.

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Tuesday 25 August

Ofsted Talks

Helping families get the right help at the right time: Celebrating 10 years of the Joint Targeted Area Inspection

On this podcast, we have Helen Davis, who's Head of National and Joint Inspection from HMI Probation, Lucy Hart, the Deputy Director and Multi-Agency Operations from CQC, Simon Alexander, the Associate Inspector from HMICFRS and Paul DInverno, Ofsted's HMI Specialist Advisor. We’re also joined by Sarah Jones and Tanya Fulcher from Norfolk County Council. Cait Mellow I'd like to welcome everybody to another episode of…

31 minSave

Monday 20 July

Ofsted Talks

The social care consultation: give us your views on this important issue

We want to make sure that Ofsted plays its part in ensuring children and young people in our social care system are happy, safe and able to reach their full potential. Take part by giving us your views: Improving the way Ofsted inspects children’s social care - GOV.UK Transcript: Tracey Metcalfe My name is Tracey Metcalfe and I'm the Assistant Regional Director for Social Care and Regulation in the North East…

17 minSave

Monday 13 July

Ofsted Talks

Out of school childcare: after school clubs, holiday clubs and more

Did you know Ofsted inspects out of school care for children under the age of 8? This can include activity-based clubs, wraparound care and holiday activities. Find out more about how we inspect in this podcast with guests Craig Jones from the School-Aged Childcare Association and Dan Super from Super Team Sports. Cait Mellow: Hello everybody and welcome to another edition of Ofsted Talks. This time we're talking…

27 minSave

Wednesday 1 April

Ofsted Talks

Apprentices in action: what we found on the inspection of the National Grid under the renewed inspection framework

We spoke to Dan Tingle from the National Grid about how he found the recent inspection under the renewed framework, Joel Dalhouse the lead inspector, and Denise Olander, Ofsted's Deputy Director of post-16 education, training and skills. Cait Mellow Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of Ofsted Talks, the Ofsted podcast. I'm hosting the podcast this time. My name is Cait Mellow and I'm the Head of…

21 minSave

Friday 9 January

Ofsted Talks

Renewed Education Inspections

Want to know more about Ofsted's renewed education inspections? In this episode, Lee Owston (National Director, Education), Lee Elliott (Assistant Regional Director, North East, Yorkshire and Humber), Jayne Coward (Deputy Director, Early Years) and Andrea Dill-Russell (Senior HMI, Further Education and Skills) explore the key changes to education inspections and what Ofsted is hearing on the ground from our pilots…

34 minSave

18 December 2025

Ofsted Talks

All about apprenticeships

Thinking about becoming an apprentice? Is someone you know looking to their future? In this episode we look at apprenticeships, focusing on the North West of England and speak to an apprentice at the University Hospitals of Liverpool group. Hi everyone, and welcome to this edition of Ofsted Talks. I'm Briony Balsom and this time we're exploring all things apprenticeships. I'm joined here today by Lynn Masterson…

26 minSave

19 August 2025

Ofsted Talks

Getting it right from the start

In this episode, colleagues from the National Day Nurseries Association join Ofsted to discuss the report into the importance of the first two years of a child's life: Getting it right from the start: how early years practitioners work with babies and toddlers - GOV.UK Briony Balsom Hello everyone, and welcome to this edition of Ofsted Talks. I'm Bryony Balsam, and this time, we're focusing on early years, on…

25 minSave

7 April 2025

Ofsted Talks

Improving the way Ofsted inspects education

Would you like to learn more about our proposed new report cards, or how we’ll inspect inclusion? Ofsted is consulting on changes to our education inspections. Host Mark Leech (Deputy Director, Communications) speaks to Ofsted’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver, Lee Owston (National Director, Education) and Claire Stewart (Deputy Director, Inclusive Education) about our consultation proposals, including our new…

31 minSave

27 February 2025

Ofsted Talks

Preparation for adulthood

What's the picture of local areas and how well they are working to prepare children and young people with special educational needs for adulthood? What support are they offering to allow young people to reach their full potential? Preparation for adulthood arrangements in local areas: a thematic review - GOV.UK Briony Balsom 0:07 Hello everyone, and welcome to this edition of Ofsted talks. I'm Briony Balsam, and this…

30 minSave

16 December 2024

Ofsted Talks

Serious youth violence: not just a 'city problem'

Ofsted's report into multi-agency responses to serious youth violence: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multi-agency-responses-to-serious-youth-violence-working-together-to-support-and-protect-children Safer London's report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-and-families-experiences-of-multi-agency-support-when-impacted-by-serious-youth-violence https://saferlondon.org.uk/ Briony Balsom…

32 minSave

2 October 2024

Ofsted Talks

Young Offender Institutions: a decade of decline

Here's the report discussed in this episode of the podcast: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thematic-review-of-the-quality-of-education-in-young-offender-institutions-yois Mark Leech 0:03 Hello. Welcome to Ofsted Talks. My name is Mark Leech, and today I'm hosting a conversation about young offender institutions, or YOIs for short. I'm very pleased to be joined by not one, but two of His Majesty's chief…

24 minSave

21 August 2024

Ofsted Talks

Good decisions: children with complex needs in children’s homes

Host Mark Leech listens in to Lisa Pascoe, deputy director (regulation and social care policy), Helen Humphries (specialist adviser for residential care) and Jenny Bird (research lead) as they discuss the findings from our recent research report ‘Good decisions: children with complex needs in children’s homes’. Read the report ' Good decisions: children with complex needs in children's homes ' Read the blogs…

24 minSave

17 May 2024

Ofsted Talks

Ofsted Big Listen

In this episode, Mark Leech (Deputy Director, Communications) speaks with Wendy Ratcliff (HMI, Early Education), Dan Lambert (SHMI, Schools) and His Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, about Ofsted's Big Listen. Ofsted's Big Listen closes on 31st May and we want to hear from everyone we work with and work for. Take part here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ofsted-big-listen . Transcript: Mark…

14 minSave

22 April 2024

Ofsted Talks

Alternative route: what's the picture of alternative provision?

Briony Balsom Hello, welcome to Ofsted Talks. I'm Briony Balsom, and today we're talking about alternative provision. Firstly, let me welcome our guests, here today with us we have Mark Vickers who's chair of the National MAT CEO network for alternative provision and special educational needs and disabilities and CEO of Olive Academies, we have Grace who attends the Olive Academy in Cambridge. Jo Fisher the Chair of…

21 minSave

12 April 2024

Ofsted Talks

Ofsted's English subject report: telling this story

In this episode Mark Leech, Deputy Director of Communications, talks to Kirsty Godfrey, Senior HMI, and Zoe Enser, HMI, about Ofsted's recently published English Subject report. Transcript Mark Leech 02:02 Hello and welcome to another edition of Ofsted Talks. My name is Mark Leach and today we're going to be talking about English. We've recently published our subject report looking at the teaching of English in…

17 minSave

18 March 2024

Ofsted Talks

Supported accommodation: how we listened

Ofsted will inspect supported accommodation from September 2024. To support this work, we carried out a consultation where we not only received responses from the sector, we spoke to young people about what they wanted and needed from their supported accommodation. Read more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofsted-confirms-plans-for-inspecting-supported-accommodation Briony Balsom 0:09 Hello and welcome to…

15 minSave

20 February 2024

Ofsted Talks

Introducing Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty's Chief Inspector

In this episode, Briony Balsom (Head of Internal Insights) talks to our new HMCI, Sir Martyn Oliver. Transcript Briony: Hello, I’m Briony Balsom and welcome to Ofsted Talks, the Ofsted podcast. Ofsted Talks is the official Ofsted podcast, and we cover everything from early years to schools, social care to further education and skills, alternative provision, special educational needs and more. Today you join us for a…

6 minSave

20 November 2023

Ofsted Talks

Building a great curriculum in further education and skills

On this episode, we're talking to two further education and skills leads from Ofsted about the FES curriculum and what it means for students and teachers. And have you seen this report we've published into FES curriculums for business, both classroom-based and work-based? https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-and-skills-report-business-education Anna Trethewey: So, today we’re talking about…

18 minSave

13 November 2023

Ofsted Talks

In conversation with the MoD on Ofsted’s ’Welfare and duty of care in Armed Forces initial training’report

In this episode, Mark Leech (Director, Strategy and Engagement) talks to Paul Joyce (Deputy Director, Further Education and Skills), Helen Flint (Specialist Policy Adviser, Quality and Training) and Commander Kate Scott of the Royal Navy about Ofsted's recent Welfare and duty of care in the Armed Forces initial training report. Transcript Mark Leech Hello, welcome to another edition of Ofsted Talks. And today we're…

30 minSave

9 November 2023

Ofsted Talks

Further education and skills: Are colleges meeting skills needs?

In this episode, Mark Leech (Director of Strategy and Engagement) talks to Richard Beynon (Senior HMI, FES Policy) and Kate Hill (Specialist Adviser, FES Policy) about enhanced inspections and how colleges are meeting skills needs. Transcript Mark Leech Hello everybody and welcome to another edition of Ofsted Talks, the Ofsted podcast. My name is Mark Leech and today we're going to be talking about an area of work in…

12 minSave