Ofsted will proactively ask all schools due to be inspected if they want to defer owing to the impact of the coronavirus - and will “look favourably on all such requests”.

Sean Harford, Ofsted’s national director of education, also told delegates at the Association of School and College Leaders annual conference today that any decision to refuse a deferral would need to be signed off by chief inspector Amanda Spielman.

He added that the watchdog “can defer the inspection of any school or college that is affected by the coronavirus and we will”.

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He was addressing heads following controversy yesterday about a message Ofsted posted on social media suggesting it was “business as usual for its inspections teams”.

Earlier today, ASCL’s general secretary Geoff Barton called on the government to halt all routine Ofsted inspections because of coronavirus.

Mr Harford said: “The coronavirus as the front of everyone’s minds. You and your colleagues will be making plans for staff absence probably on a large scale.

“You will be thinking what to do if you have to close your schools. How to make sure children are safe first and foremost. I know many people are worried about the toll this will take on them and their teams.”

He added: “As of last night we have a new temporary deferrals policy. This means we can defer the inspection of any school or college that is affected by the coronavirus and we will. 

“We will be proactively asking schools and colleges if they want to request deferral because of the coronavirus and clearly we will look favourably on all such requests. In fact the chief inspector has asked to be personally involved in any decision not to defer in these circumstances.”

Speaking after his own conference speech, Mr Harford said that Ofsted would provide data to the Department for Education on the number of schools and colleges asking for deferrals of their inspections. He said that at least one deferral of a college had already taken place.

Headteachers’ unions are to hold talks with the education secretary Gavin Williamson about the implications of widespread school closures in response to the coronavirus outbreak on Monday.