Many thanks to everyone who took part in the Ofsted/CQC pilot to test out their methodology for the forthcoming SEND area inspection framework. This has been an intense period for many at an, already, busy time, so thanks once again.

 

We'll see what the framework looks like and it's out for consultation at the moment.  Whatever the final form, it has been really useful to take part in this test.  It is a very different inspection framework than we are used to, in that a key part of it is to look at a small sample of children and their case information and then follow up key lines of enquiry from there.  This is done from a whole area perspective, not looking at one school or one service, and particular attention was paid to health, social care and education, looking at the totality and how it all works together.  

We will be following up on how to take the developments for children and young people with SEND, and their families forward. So more on this anon. I think it is worth noting that the inspectors were paying particular attention to the experience of children with SEN Support. There is also discussion being had I understand, within Ofsted as to how the individual school and settings inspections can align with the area SEND inspections. So, I think this will continue to be a strong area of focus for us all.