Does anyone know how to lodge an official complaint against a department within Ofsted, and who the complaint should be forwarded to.

The background to the complaint concerns a variation request sent at the beginning of August and still not dealt with up to today.

I have been told that the letters and pro formas I have completed and sent in haven't been received by one person, only to find out from another that they have.

I was today told that the centralisation of variations was ultimately to be of benefit in reducing waiting times for variations to be granted :rolleyes: , however they had a massive backlog to clear. :panic:

From contacting Ofsted, it is clear the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing and the words bungling and inept spring to mind.

I have also been told by Ofsted that they work to a four to six week turnaround on variation requests. I will tell my ofsted inspector that I work to the same four to six week turnaround period before allowing an inspection to take place. :laughing:

I beleive the variation will be granted as it concerns my son starting school, but until I have the certificate in my hand, the child, due to start on 1st October, will not be able to.

If anyone is wanting a variation make sure you get your request in as soon as possible as their predicted 4-6 week turnaround time is a little optimistic on their behalf! :rolleyes:

I am not sure but there should be a complaints section on their website - afterall they insist we have a policy to hand for parents!

That is abosolutely ridiculous. I had a Variation granted at the very beginnning of August. It was done over the phone and by email on the Friday morning ready to start at 9am on the Monday. They emailed a copy of my certificate but the new one arrived by the Tuesday morning.

I would create stink if I had applied for a Variation in August (and long before the 'new' system) for the beginning of October and not yet got a response. You need to hammer home to them that they have had nearly two months and that if they haven't got this sorted out in time they will be preventing the parent from working and so affecting the 'Ecomomic Wellbeing' ( under Every Child Matters) of the child and its family.

I would have been on the phone every day I must say. Good luck.

That is abosolutely ridiculous. I had a Variation granted at the very beginnning of August. It was done over the phone and by email on the Friday morning ready to start at 9am on the Monday. They emailed a copy of my certificate but the new one arrived by the Tuesday morning.

I would create stink if I had applied for a Variation in August (and long before the 'new' system) for the beginning of October and not yet got a response. You need to hammer home to them that they have had nearly two months and that if they haven't got this sorted out in time they will be preventing the parent from working and so affecting the 'Ecomomic Wellbeing' ( under Every Child Matters) of the child and its family.

I would have been on the phone every day I must say. Good luck.

yeah i agree you tell em

Found this link about complaints against Ofsted

http://ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Footer/How-to-complain/(language)/eng-GB

But I'd be inclined to get back on the phone to them and see if you can get someone to sort it for you.

I've found Ofsted to be really good if it's them who've made a mess in the first place

Good luck

Hope you get it sorted

Miffy xx

i spoke to a very nice man this afternoon about a variation, we had a bit of a laugh really as he couldn't say 'continuity', i had probs with it too:blush: .
He said what i want should be no problem, he e-mailed me the form immediatley and said it would be granted/not granted within 2 weeks, 3 weeks max!

Both myself and my friend have been told about the 4-6 week turnaround now. My friend applied for a variation end of July and is STILL waiting for a response. Thankfully she has not lost any work as yet - but from Tuesday next week she needs it.

I know two people who have made an official complaint against Ofsted - both times they sent a letter within 24 hours they had a phone call and apology and the situations righted.

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I am so angry with Ofsted! :angry:

I think the main problem was that they sat on my original letter for just under a month, without doing a thing about it. It was only after I called them that it 'magically' appeared!

I think they're basing their 4-6 week turnaround on when I sent in the pro-forma, which isn't on!

I've emailed them again, quoting all relevant dates - which the very nice, I have to say, lad on the phone advised me to do this afternoon. He said that, once they receive the email and realise how long it has actually taken, then they will hopefully action the variation in time for next Thursday. If not, then I'm in the absolutely awful position of having to tell a parent that their child cannot start. How bad will I look then???? :panic:

I'm going to give them time to sort it out before Thursday but, even if it's sorted on time, I'm still going to register an official complaint.

Thanks Miffy for the link to the complaints part of the Ofsted site, I've put it in my favourites ready!

love Shivvie x

Honestly they have time to sort this out before you need the variation - they can grant it and e-mail you confirmation (it just need someone to pull their finger out!) so don't give up yet

It's so wrong to have all this hassle though and it does not look very professional to parents even though it's not our fault!

Miffy xx

I applied for a variation in june ready for september 1st and still waiting so ended up turning the child away as it couldnt be dealt with over the phone as the person dealing with my request was away for a few days!