SEND local area partnership inspection
Ofsted and CQC work together to inspect education, health and care services for children and young people with SEND in a local area, to make sure they are effective across the country.
What is a SEND local area inspection?
A SEND local area inspection evaluates how well statutory services (Education, Health, and Care) support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Wigan. Inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) conduct these inspections every few years to assess the effectiveness of these services.
The government has published guides for parents, carers, children and young people about inspections of local services for children and young people with SEND.
Why is it important?
The inspection helps identify what is working well and what needs improvement. Inspectors will talk to children and families about their experiences, as well as practitioners and managers. They will review data on children’s progress and visit various educational and care settings.
What does it involve?
Inspectors will gather evidence on the effectiveness of provision for children and young people with SEND in Wigan, regardless of having an educational, health and social care plan.
They will look at information from:
- Families of children and young people with SEND, chosen randomly and participation is volntary. You will be contacted by someone familiar like a teacher and asked whether you would like to partake, share experiences either face-to-face, over the phone, or via video call
- Interviews, talking to children and families, practitioners and managers about their experiences
- Site visits, they may visit your school and/or care setting
- Data review, inspectors will look at the data available on children's progress.
As part of the process, they want to hear from children, young people, parents, carers, and professionals.
How can I participate?
During the Inspection, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) want to know what help and support children and young people with SEND receive, what’s working well and what needs improvement.
This can come from:
- Children and young people
- Parent Carers
- Practitioners/ professionals.
Watch an introduction video for parents and carers to explain the inspection process (external link).
After the inspection
After the inspection, the findings will be discussed with local leaders, highlighting what is working well and what needs improvement. An overall grading and a report will be published on the Ofsted (external link) and CQC (external link) websites. For more information, visit the area SEND inspections framework and handbook (external link) on the Government Department for Education website (external link).
Useful information
Children and young people
Parents and carers