parent focus group meetings for Board members to attend if desired. 5 – education update 74 – analyse inspection intervals for outstanding schools with the reasons for any unusually long gaps to report at the next Board meeting. National Director, Education 6 – social care update 75 – conduct an analysis of whether local authority monitoring visits have improved services for the next Board meeting. National Director, Social Care 7 – strategic priorities 76 – report back on the metrics agreed by the measurement and evaluation group at the next Board meeting. Director, Corporate Strategy 7 – strategic priorities 77 – share copies of the one-page report on what the Director, Corporate Strategy
In relation to paragraphs 8 and 9 of his report, the COO explained that we do not need the number of interim inspections of children’s provided for in the Corporate Plan. This is because regional risk assessment has identified fewer providers to inspect than originally assumed under the plan, leading to a reduction of interim inspections of good homes. The COO assured the Board that recent bonus awards were in line with other regulators and SCS rules. Linda Farrant, as the independent member of the SCS Pay Committee, assured the Board that the process was robust and rigorous. Education update The Board noted the education update. The Board repeated its request for an analysis of inspection intervals for outstanding schools with reasons for any unusually long gaps [action 74]. The Board agreed that the gaps between inspections of outstanding schools is a risk that DfE and Ofsted should share, but that it should sit primarily with DfE. The Director, Corporate Strategy, said that he had been working with the DfE on independent schools and there had been movement on key areas. The COO clarified that Ofsted has no power to inspect FE subcontractors. He confirmed that Ofsted has started using public data on subcontractors to prime contractors of apprenticeships. HMCI commented that FE subcontractors are just one of many multi-layered structures across our remits, others being childminder agencies in early years, trusts in social care and MATs in schools. She said that accountability mechanisms need to fit the structures that actually operate. HMCI highlighted that Ofsted’s mythbusting work was the most frequently cited source of advice used by schools in a recent study on teacher workload. Social care update The Board noted the social care update. The Board discussed whether local authority monitoring visits had led to overall improved services, and asked to see an analysis of this at the next Board meeting [action 75]. The Deputy Director, Social Care Inspection, commented that there are a range of outcomes following a monitoring visit, with varying degrees of engagement with Directors of Children’s Services. To date there have been no complaints following a visit. Strategic priorities The Board approved the strategy in Annex A and Annex B, subject to further amendments and finessing with the communications team. The Board noted the progress made by the measurement and evaluation group and asked the group to continue consideration and recommend metrics. A report from this group on metrics will be presented at the next Board meeting assess