Adam Marycz and Angelica Celinska discuss the divisive narrative between the early years sector and the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted. They discuss the challenging, unpleasant and damaging recent events around the education sector and Ofsted, including the case around Ruth Perry, the headteacher who took her own life, as well as the silencing of influential voices in the early years sector by the DfE. 

This is a podcast episode which is a challenging discussion, but it is highly required, as the time for change is now. This episode is steeped in shared reflection, challenge of both sides, critical analysis and pressing considerations for all stakeholders involved in early childhood. 

Read Adam Marycz's articles here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/ofsteds-and-the-dfes-voices-must-be-heard-whether-we-like-them-or-not/ 

Share your voice with Ofsted here: https://us18.list-manage.com/survey?u=0b942007e0712713ed7c55937&id=c5d3c16df0&attribution=false 

The Voice of Early Childhood (TVOEC) will be collating voices from the sector to share with Ofsted as part of our advocacy stance.

Some of the thought-provoking points discussed are: 

01:20 - Ofsted's impact on educators
03:45 - Pausing inspections only for schools
07:10 - Childcare vs education? - Language matters!
16:40 - Banning early years specialists from speaking at events
20:10 - Is the sector's response helpful? 
21:10 - Ofsted need to attend events as delegates too
23:00 - Influential figures need to model professional dialogue
26:34 - Humanising Ofsted and the DfE
30:20 - Do we refuse Ofsted access to our settings?
32:54 - Chief Ofsted inspector Sir Martyn Oliver's response to pausing inspections
37:10 - How do we prevent anxiety around inspections?
37:40 - Let's listen to all voices and be uncomfortable in conversations
40:30 - We are inviting Ofsted onto The Voice of Early Childhood Podcast
42:40 - Ofsted's priorities - 'The Big Listen'
45:50 - Ofsted involving the early years sector in decision making processes
54:40 - Has a line been crossed too far?
59:37 - Share your views with Ofsted through The Voice of Early Childhood (TVOEC)
01:00:44 - Let's challenge each other and have active dialogue and professional debate

You can find more podcast episodes and articles on The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com