Ofsted recently published their annual report. You can read the report here:
Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2021/22 publishing.service.gov.uk
The report details the key themes and findings from Ofsted’s inspections over the last year including those under the education inspection framework (a total of 4620 schools were inspected) and the local area SEND framework.
The report reflects the growing importance of SEND in the education system as an area that is increasingly in crisis and letting many young people down. In particular, the report highlights many themes that have been repeatedly raised by the NNPCF in their conversations with both Ofsted and the Government. For example:
- The greater strain placed on the SEND system by the pandemic
- The inaccessibility of key services such as speech and language therapy
- Delays in assessments for EHCPs
- The risks of over-identification of SEND by schools for children that had fallen behind in the pandemic
- Concerns about the increase in elective home education
- The use of part time timetables and off-rolling
- Problems with access to mental health services
- High levels of exclusions for children with SEND
The report also provides an analysis of the local area SEND inspections conducted by Ofsted. Out of the 151 local authority areas, 55% required a local area inspection. The best performing region was London with 33% of local areas receiving a WSOA and the worst was the East of England with 82% needing a WSOA.
Mrunal will be presenting the NNPCF response to the report when the launch panel is reconvened and forums will have the opportunity talk to Ofsted directly at our face to face conference in Bristol.