Ofsted and CQC have published details on how they will inspect services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in a local area from next year.
Earlier this year, CQC and Ofsted asked to hear from anyone who has experience of education, health or care provision for people with SEND. This helped to shape the new inspection programme which will be in use from early 2023.
In the past, these inspections focused on how local authorities meet their responsibilities in the SEND code of practice. (This is statutory guidance produced by the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care.)
The new framework has a greater focus on hearing directly from children and young people with SEND, and their families. This will allow inspectors to get a better understanding of what it's like to be a child or young person with SEND in that local area.
There will also be stronger accountability through ongoing contact with local areas. This will include inspections and monitoring inspections where needed.
When we do inspect, there will be three distinct outcomes so it is clear what improvements are needed and who is responsible for them.
As part of the new framework there will be a series of thematic visits each year. In the first year these will focus on Alternative Provision (AP). A thematic report with findings is expected to publish in Autumn 2023.