Ofsted’s New Game Plan: What questions will Ofsted ask staff?

Big changes are coming to Ofsted inspections, especially with the new rules kicking in properly by November 2025! If you’re wondering, “What questions will Ofsted ask staff?” you’re in exactly the right place. We’ll break down that big question, look at how Ofsted now sees the amazing role of Teaching Assistants (TAs), and get your whole team feeling ready and confident. Let’s get into it!

What Questions Will Ofsted Ask Staff? Lifting the Lid!

Knowing what inspectors might ask can really take the stress levels down a notch. They want the full story of your school, so they’ll chat with all sorts of people on your team. Forget those old-style “deep dives”; now, they’ll ask questions that link everything together.

The Whole Team Huddle: Questions for Everyone (TAs, You’re Key!)

1. Safeguarding: Always Number One!

Ofsted really needs to see that your school doesn’t just have safeguarding policies on a shelf – you actually live and breathe them.

• “If you worried about something a staff member did, or even the Headteacher, who would you tell?”
• “Tell me about your safeguarding training. How do you use it day-to-day?”
• “If you thought a parent might be mistreating their child, what would you do?”
• “How do you flag a safeguarding worry, especially if your manager isn’t around?”
• “What do you need to do as part of the Prevent duty?”
• When you answer clearly, it shows Ofsted your school is on the ball with safety.

2. Your Workload and How You’re Doing:

Ofsted gets that happy, supported staff make a school shine.

• “Do you feel like leaders actually listen to what you think?”
• “How do leaders help you manage your workload?”

3. Living Your School’s Values:

Inspectors want to see that everyone understands and follows school rules and policies.

• “How do you help promote British Values in your job?”

The Leadership View: Special Questions for School Bosses About TAs

Leaders, how you use your TAs is super important to Ofsted.

1. Checking TA Impact:

• “How do you know if your TAs are making a real difference, especially if you’re not watching them all the time?”
• “How do you make sure TAs are totally ready for what they need to do?”
• “How do you check that teachers and TAs know their stuff for each subject?”

2. Helping TAs Grow:

• “What training and development do you offer your TAs?”
• “How do you help new TAs settle in, and how do you know if their training is working?”
• Leaders, you need to show how putting time and effort into TAs helps the kids and the whole school.

3. Making Sure TAs Help SEND Pupils Shine:

• “What’s your big plan for supporting kids with SEND across the school?”
• “How do your TAs help children with SEND get the most out of lessons and make good progress?”
• “How do you check if interventions are working, especially the ones TAs run?”

TA Time to Shine: Questions Coming Your Way, Teaching Assistants!

TAs, this is your moment to show off all the brilliant work you do!

1. Your Role and Why It Matters:

• “Why is the TA role so vital in this school?”
• “How does the school’s curriculum plan help you support kids with SEND?”

2. Helping Kids Learn:

• “What ways do you help pupils who find learning tricky?”
• “How can you tell if children have really ‘got’ something?”
• “How do you support a child who’s struggling or feels stuck?”

3. Keeping Behaviour Positive:

• “What would you do if a child kept misbehaving?”

4. Teamwork and Talking:

• “How do you work and chat with the class teacher?”

5. Your Own Learning:

• “What training have you done recently that’s really changed how you work?”
• “How do you keep your skills and knowledge up to date?”

What the Kids Say: Hearing from the Pupils

Ofsted really listens to what pupils have to say. They always ask questions that fit the child’s age.

• “What are you learning about right now? Why do you think it’s important?”
• “Who helps you learn here? Can you tell me about a time they helped?”
• “If you find something hard, what happens? Do you get the help you need?”
• “Is bullying a problem here? What do teachers do if it happens?” (They’ll ask this carefully to check on safeguarding).

So, What Does Ofsted Say About Teaching Assistants? The Big Picture!

Now for that other burning question: What does Ofsted say about teaching assistants? Good news here – Ofsted’s thinking has really moved on! They now clearly see the “added value of effective teaching assistant deployment.” This means they get the huge, positive difference TAs make when schools use their skills smartly. Wave goodbye to any old-fashioned ideas about TAs just being an ‘extra pair of hands.’

Ofsted today focuses on the great results you see when TAs get good training, and schools use them well. Think better-engaged pupils, kids achieving more, calmer classrooms, and even less stressed teachers! So, inspectors aren’t asking if TAs should be there; they’re looking at how good their work is and how well-planned it is. Schools need to show how TAs help kids learn and become more independent.

Unlocking TA Superpowers: Ofsted’s View on Smart TA Use

Ofsted loves it when schools use TAs strategically, just like experts (such as the EEF) recommend. This means:

• TAs Add To, They Don’t Replace: Teachers are always the main people teaching. TAs “add value to what teachers do,” they don’t take over. Kids who struggle still need quality time with their teachers, and TAs can help make that happen.
• Helping Kids Fly Solo with Scaffolding: Great TAs help pupils learn to do things for themselves. They don’t become “Velcro TAs” (stuck to one child). Instead, they use scaffolding – giving just enough help and then slowly stepping back. Asking open questions and giving kids “thinking time” really helps.
• Running Top-Notch, Planned Interventions: Research shows TAs are brilliant at running “structured interventions” one-to-one or in small groups. These need to be “well chosen, evidence-based, targeted and relevant,” and clearly link back to what’s happening in class.

This smart way of using TAs feeds right into the “Quality of Education” part of the inspection. TAs need good subject and curriculum knowledge. How a school uses its TAs is a big teaching decision, and Ofsted will check how it helps achieve curriculum goals, especially for kids who need extra support or have SEND.

Investing in Awesome: Training and Development for TAs

Ofsted expects schools to make sure TAs are “fully prepared.” That means great training (CPD).

• CPD is Key: It keeps TAs up-to-date, builds their confidence, and sharpens their skills. Good CPD is “sustained, evidence-based, and collaborative,” always focusing on helping learners and meeting school goals.
• Professional Standards & New Qualifications: There are published professional standards to guide schools. Plus, new National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) let TAs specialize in areas like SEND, which really boosts their professional status.

This push to make the TA role even more professional is clear. With the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) aiming to set up national standards by 2025, Ofsted will increasingly expect schools to be proactive in developing their TAs.

Dealing with Real-Life Hurdles

Schools face real challenges, like tight budgets and finding time for TAs to plan with teachers. Ofsted does think about your local situation, so be ready to explain how you cleverly manage these things to support your TAs.

The Ofsted Shake-Up: Big Framework Changes from November 2025

Ofsted inspections are changing to be more open and fair.

• Goodbye, Single-Word Grades: From November 2025, a new “five-point grading scale” (“Exemplary, Strong, Secure, Attention needed, Causing concern”) replaces the old overall grades.
• Hello Detailed Report Cards: Schools will get “detailed report cards” looking at up to 11 areas like Curriculum, Leadership, Behaviour, and Inclusion.
• Different Inspection Types: All regular inspections will be full and graded. Those old subject “deep dives” are out; instead, Ofsted will do a “complete assessment” across all areas. This means they’ll look at how TAs contribute to everything.
• Thinking About Your School’s World & Wellbeing: Ofsted will look more at your “local context” (what’s going on around your school). They’ll also focus more on “teaching quality, staff wellbeing, and pupil support,” not just exam results.

These changes mean Ofsted wants to see how everything in your school works together effectively, with TAs playing a really important part.

Your Roadmap: Doing Great Under Ofsted’s New Framework

Ofsted’s 2025 way of working looks at the whole picture. For TAs, this is brilliant – your role is clearly valued! Using TAs well is something leaders absolutely must do.

To get ready:

• Use TAs Smartly: Make sure TAs help teachers, build kids’ independence, and run interventions that are proven to work. Clear roles are vital.
• Invest in Your TAs: Give them ongoing, useful training that links to standards. Look into NPQs.
• Get TAs Involved in Curriculum Support: Make sure TAs know their subjects and have time to plan with teachers.
• Build a Super Strong Safeguarding Vibe: Everyone needs thorough training and to feel they can speak up.
• Look After Staff Wellbeing: Tackle workload issues and support everyone, including TAs.
• Show Your All-Round Impact: Make it clear how TAs help out in all parts of school life.

The Ofsted scene is changing but with smart planning and a focus on what really makes a difference, your school and your amazing Teaching Assistants can handle these changes with confidence!

Ready to excel? Check out our online Teaching Assistant Course at Wise Campus and elevate your teaching career!