Education and Childcare Inspector
Further Details

What is the work like?

Education and childcare inspectors work for education and training inspectorates. There are separate ones for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In England, the inspectorate is responsible for inspecting and reporting on the quality of childcare, education and training for ages 0 to 19 is the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). Ofsted's work is carried out by different types of inspectors supported by administrative staff.
Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMIs) are permanent staff of Ofsted and are responsible for:

• inspections of independent schools, sixth-form and further education colleges, youth support services, teacher training and local education authorities
• monitoring the work of the independent inspectors who carry out the regular inspections of maintained schools
• advising on various aspects of education, including curriculum subjects.
• Childcare inspectors are also permanent staff of Ofsted. Their duties include:
• inspections of childminders, day care nurseries, creches, out-of-school clubs and sessional care providers
• investigating complaints about childcare providers.

There are three types of independent inspectors who are not employed by Ofsted. Each inspection team consists of one registered inspector, a number of team inspectors, and at least one lay inspector, whose roles are listed below:

• Registered inspectors select and lead inspection teams and allocate work to members of the team. They have overall responsibility for the conduct of the inspection.
• Team inspectors inspect particular aspects of a school's work (such as National Curriculum subjects).
• Lay inspectors are members of the inspection team, but without any significant personal experience of teaching or school management (except as a governor or volunteer).

In England, there is also the Adult Learning Inspectorate and the Quality and Assurance Agency for Universities.
In Wales, the system of school inspection is similar to that in England. The inspectorate is called Estyn.
In Scotland, schools inspections are carried out by HMIs, who are responsible for:

• inspection of a sample of schools each year
• inspection of further education colleges, community learning and development and the education functions of local authorities
• integrated inspections of early education and childcare with the Care Commission, as well as school care accommodation.

HMIs in Ofsted earn up to £56,000 a year.
Starting salaries for childcare inspectors are around £21,914 a year.

Hours and environment

HMIs can work all over the area covered by their employer.
Childcare inspections generally take one day or less to complete and are carried out by one inspector. Inspectors work from home and carry out inspections within the region in which they live.
Regular school inspections generally take three to five days to complete.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

• The salary for HMIs in Ofsted is up to £56,000 a year.
• The salary range for childcare inspectors is £21,914 to £25,201 a year, plus other allowances and benefits.

There is no set income for registered and enrolled schools inspectors in England and Wales.
HMIs in Scotland are on a scale that begins at £39,000 and can reach £54,000 a year.

Skills and personal qualities

Education and childcare inspectors need:

• professional knowledge of their subject or area of education (except lay inspectors)
• professional knowledge of the education system (except lay inspectors)
• recent experience of working in childcare
• to be able to work well as part of a team
• to be capable of working on their own initiative
• the ability to analyse data
• to be able to exercise good judgement
• to be good at planning and organisation
• understanding of how to deal with sensitive and confidential information
• the ability to solve problems
• good written and spoken communication skills
• to be fair, honest and objective.

Getting in

Ofsted employs approximately 250 HMIs. In 2003, Ofsted received 1,000 applications to be HMIs and filled 49 vacancies.
There are over 1,000 childcare and senior childcare inspectors employed by Ofsted.
There is no guarantee of work for enrolled or registered inspectors. There are currently about 5,800 Ofsted registered and team inspectors.
In Scotland, Her Majesty's Inspectors in Scotland, who are employed by the Civil Service, carry out schools inspections. There are currently around 80 HMIs in Scotland. Competition to become an HMI is always very strong.

Entry for young people

England: Ofsted organises the recruitment, training and assessment for education and childcare inspectors. Applicants must be judged to be fit and proper, competent and effective by Ofsted.
To be one of Her Majesty's Inspectors, candidates need to have significant experience and professional knowledge of education.
To be an enrolled team inspector, candidates should have recent experience of teaching and of working in a management capacity in a school. Lay inspectors are not expected to have a professional knowledge of education and must not have had paid teaching experience.
Wales: Entry requirements for all types of inspector are similar to those in England.
Scotland: Lay member candidates must not have a teaching qualification. Associate assessors must be a practising teacher, headteacher, college lecturer or manager from a college or other educational establishment or service.
HMI candidates need a relevant degree, or an equivalent qualification, an appropriate teaching qualification, significant and successful teaching experience, and proven success in a significant leadership role.
The Inspectorate is responsible for training schools inspection teams in Scotland.

Entry for adults

Inspection work is only open to mature applicants with the qualifications and experience described above.

Training

In England, training for lay and team inspectors is provided by organisations approved by Ofsted. It can take up to two academic terms to become an accredited inspector. Training includes face-to-face sessions plus distance learning and a training placement. Team inspectors who wish to be upgraded to registered inspectors must attend further training.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales (Estyn) organises training for inspectors in Wales. Lay and team inspectors have one week's full-time training. Registered and team inspectors attend updating courses each year. Experienced team inspectors who have performed successfully are able to apply to become registered inspectors. They have to submit a portfolio of evidence and undertake assessments to demonstrate their competence in lay areas.
In Scotland, lay members and associate assessors receive two to three days' full-time training and further on-the-job training. HMIs have an initial training programme of at least three months.

Getting on

In England, HMIs may progress to be assistant divisional managers or divisional managers. With Ofsted, there may be promotion opportunities to become senior childcare inspectors with management responsibilities.
A similar situation applies to Wales as in England for registered, team and lay inspectors.
In Scotland, HMIs work on a graded system, they enter the service at grade C2 and may progress to higher grades through competition.

Related jobs

Educational Psychologist
Education Welfare Officer
Further Education Lecturer
Higher Education Lecturer
Nursery School Teacher
School Teacher
Special Educational Needs Teacher

Further information

Ofsted, Alexandra House, 33 Kingsway, London WC2B 6SE. 020 7421 6800.
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
Estyn, Anchor Court, Keen Road, Cardiff CF24 5JW. 029 2044 6446.
Website: www.estyn.gov.uk
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, T1 Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD. 0131 244 7120. Website: www.hmie.gov.uk
Adult Learning Inspectorate, Spring Place, Coventry Business Park, Herald Avenue, Coventry CV5 6UB. 0870 240 7744. Website: www.ali.gov.uk

Further reading

How we work - Ofsted (available on their website) Inspecting Schools: framework for Inspecting schools - Ofsted (ref. HMI 1525)
Handbooks for Inspecting Schools (separate volumes for each phase primary, secondary, special) - Ofsted
Ofsted Guidance to the National Standards (separate booklets for each of day care, childminders, creches, out-of-school clubs and sessional care) - Ofsted