SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 26 Inspection of nursery education

Inspections

6

1

The Chief Inspector—

a

shall secure that relevant nursery education provided at any premises is inspected by F1a member of the Inspectorate or a registered nursery education inspector at such intervals as may be prescribed,

b

shall secure that relevant nursery education, or nursery education under consideration for funding, provided at any premises is inspected by F2a member of the Inspectorate or a registered nursery education inspector at any time when the Secretary of State requires the Chief Inspector to secure its inspection, and

c

may secure that relevant nursery education, or nursery education under consideration for funding, provided at any premises is inspected by F3a member of the Inspectorate or a registered nursery education inspector at any other time when the Chief Inspector considers that it would be appropriate for it to be inspected.

2

Sub-paragraph (1)(a) does not apply to nursery education provided at a school to which section 10 of the M1School Inspections Act 1996 (inspections of certain schools by inspectors registered under that Act) applies.

3

The Chief Inspector may comply with sub-paragraph (1) either by organising inspections or by making arrangements with others for them to organise inspections.

4

Where an inspection under this paragraph is to be undertaken of nursery education provided at premises which are also liable to inspection under section 76 of the M2Children Act 1989 (inspection by person authorised by local authority of premises on which child minding is being carried on or day care is being provided for children), the person organising the inspection under this paragraph shall, before that inspection is undertaken, consult the local authority with power to authorise an inspection of the premises under that section.

5

In prescribing the intervals mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) the Secretary of State may make provision as to the period within which the first inspection of education provided at any premises is to take place under this Schedule.

6

A requirement such as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) may be imposed in relation to particular premises or a class of premises.

7

A person conducting an inspection under paragraph 6 shall report on the quality and standards of the nursery education provided and, so far as it is reasonably practicable to do so, on the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the children for whom the education is provided.