Ofsted has said it will be continuing the current pause on routine inspections of national professional qualification providers for the rest of the academic year 2026/27.

The watchdog will also be applying the pause to routine inspections of early career teacher programme providers.  

In November 2025, the Secretary of State for Education requested the pause to allow inspections to align with the Department for Education’s NPQ review and early career teacher entitlement (ECTE).

This extended pause is to allow Ofsted to continue developing a renewed inspection framework that corresponds to its current approach to inspecting other education remits.

During this time, Ofsted will engage with the sector on the new inspection toolkit, operating guide and report card for NPQ and or ECTP providers.

Routine inspections of providers of both programmes will resume in the academic year 2027/28.