If the jury is still out on Ofsted and the way it reports on its inspections, what does that mean for children with SEND?

A Historical Vision for Ofsted

Way back in 2016, Amanda Spielman was appointed as Ofsted’s Chief Inspector. At that stage, she felt the inspection model on offer left a lot to be desired. Spielman thought it was too narrow, overly focused on test and exam results, and as a result, it intensified the workload of school leaders and classroom teachers. Instead, her vision was to shift the focus from performance data to the substance of education in schools.

Raising the Profile of SEND Provision

Spielman was also eager to raise the profile of SEND provision to reflect the 2014 Children and Families Act. The Act secured the presumption of the availability of mainstream education for children and young people with SEND – schools are legally obliged to ensure that education is inclusive.

The 2023 SEND Inspection Framework

Fast forward to 2023, and the launch of a new SEND inspection framework, which was designed to improve the service provided for children and young people with SEND and to ensure that they receive the same ‘cultural capital’ as their peers.

The ‘Beyond Ofsted’ Inquiry

For school leaders, perhaps it all feels a little academic. Frameworks come and go, and some people felt that SEND has been neglected, but inspections still loom large. The ‘Beyond Ofsted’ inquiry following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry showed that school leaders were still unsettled by that tragedy. Her family maintains that her suicide was a direct result of an Ofsted report which downgraded her school. The inquiry, carried out by University College London, found that the inspectorate is “not fit for purpose” and concludes that schools should move to a process which would allow them to “self-evaluate their progress” and work long-term with an external “school improvement partner”.

Proposed Changes to Ofsted’s Inspection Framework in 2025

In 2025, Ofsted has proposed significant changes to its inspection framework, including the introduction of detailed report cards instead of single-word judgments. This new approach aims to provide a more nuanced view of a school’s strengths and areas for improvement, with a specific focus on supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable children, including those with SEND.

Increased Funding for High Needs

Additionally, the Government has continued to increase funding for high needs, with a 9.8% rise in the national funding formula for 2023-2024. This funding boost is intended to improve the support available for children with SEND, addressing some of the long-standing issues with access to services and timely assessments.

Ongoing Challenges in SEND Provision

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Inspections have revealed ongoing inconsistencies in outcomes and delays in service provision for SEND pupils. The new inspection framework and increased funding are steps in the right direction, but it will take time to see significant improvements in the support provided to children with special educational needs.