How Ofsted inspects SEND provision

Last reviewed on 14 June 2021
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 4835

Understand how Ofsted will inspect your school's SEND provision. Doing so won't just to prepare you for inspection, but also inform your strategic plans as well as how you monitor and challenge that provision.

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Contents

  1. Understand how the inspection framework applies to SEND provision
  2. Know what inspectors will look for
  3. Know how inspectors will gather evidence
  4. How inspectors assess outcomes

Understand how the inspection framework applies to SEND provision

All parts of Ofsted's inspection framework apply to state-funded and non-maintained special schools and mainstream schools' special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision (see paragraph 353). 

In addition to the overall framework, there are some specific factors that inspectors will take into account regarding your school's SEND provision, which we cover below. 

Ofsted doesn't give separate graded judgements specifically on a school's SEND provision. Instead, evidence related to SEND provision is used to inform other judgements. 

Know what inspectors will look for

Is ambitious for all pupils with SEND Identifies, assesses and meets the needs of pupils with SEND Develops and adapts the curriculum so that it is coherently sequenced to all pupils' needs, starting points and aspirations for the future Successfully involves parents and carers in deciding how best to support pupils with SEND Successfully involves other professionals/specialist services (as necessary) in deciding how best

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