Coronavirus: Schools' Ofsted inspections and special needs review postponed

The Education committee is also postponing pilot and full school inspections by Ofsted.

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) review began last month and was commissioned in partnership with the National Association of Special Educational Needs (NASEN).

Latest travel restrictions which require that anyone arriving into the Bailiwick must self-isolate for 14 days means that NASEN cannot carry out their on-island activities with immediate effect.

Head of inclusion and services for children and schools Nick Hynes said after liaising with NASEN, it was agreed to resume activities later in the academic year, hopefully from September 2020.

'One the future dates have been confirmed, Education staff will contact all colleagues and stakeholders to update them as soon as dates have been agreed.'

He thanked those who had supported the SEND review thus far and apologised for any inconveniences the unavoidable delay causes.

Additionally, Education, Sport & Culture has postponed Ofsted school inspectors coming to the island. They were due in the island next week to carry out sessions in schools to prepare staff for the new inspection arrangements.

Pilot inspections in schools were due to take place during the summer term.

They will be run as soon as possible but not before the autumn term of the next school year.

Full inspections were due to start in the autumn term but will not not be run until the 2021 spring term.

ESC president Matt Fallaize said staff training and pilot inspections were an important part of preparing schools for Ofsted inspections.

'We have made the decision to postpone them in the interests of our schools and staff in schools who cannot be expected to give attention to this matter in the current circumstances.

'We wanted to provide school leaders and teachers with early certainty about inspections and we assure them the new programme of inspections will not commence until schools are ready for them.'