Children’s services inspection reforms working, review finds

4 Jun 14
Ofsted’s revised inspection criteria for children’s services is succeeding in shifting assessments on to the experiences of children, young people and families, according to an independent expert analysis.

By Vivienne Russell | 4 June 2014

Ofsted’s revised inspection criteria for children’s services is succeeding in shifting assessments on to the experiences of children, young people and families, according to an independent expert analysis.

Professor Eileen Munro led a 2011 government review of child protection, which recommended a move away from an inspection approach focused on rules and targets to one that prioritised the experiences of children and families.

Consequently, Ofsted revised its inspection framework, incorporating what had previously been separate judgements on protection, care, adoption and fostering alongside a review of local safeguarding boards.

Munro analysed the outcomes of the first 11 inspections under this new regime, which together with Ofsted’s own evaluation, confirmed that the judgements are ‘fair and secure’, the watchdog said.

‘The evaluation of our early inspections is very encouraging, and we are indebted to Professor Munro for her invaluable analysis. As Professor Munro points out, achieving cultural change across a whole sector is never easy – and the same also applies for inspection,’ said Debbie Jones, Ofsted’s national director for social care.

‘The fundamental changes we have made to the framework – so that it is principally concerned with the experiences of children, young people and their families and the value of professional practice – does provide a harder test.’

Meanwhile, Ofsted has introduced a revised inspection framework for teacher training. From June 9, a two-stage process will apply, with inspectors reviewing the quality of training in the summer term and then following up to check they are implementing what they have learned once they begin working in a classroom in the autumn term.

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