Ofsted’s Open Consultation: A New Approach to Education Inspections
Ofsted’s Open Consultation: A New Approach to Education Inspections
Keeping You Informed with Uniform Education
At Uniform Education, we love keeping our community abreast of the latest changes and updates in education. With a strong SEND focus, we understand the importance of ensuring that every child, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities, receives the high-quality education they deserve.
The latest Ofsted Open Consultation is one of the biggest shifts in the way schools, early years settings, and FE providers will be inspected. This consultation, which runs from 3 February to 28 April 2025, is your chance to have a say in how education providers are assessed. The changes are due to be implemented from November 2025 for schools and January 2026 for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) inspections.
What’s Changing?
Ofsted’s new proposals aim to create a fairer, more nuanced inspection system, moving away from single-word judgements and introducing detailed report cards. Here’s a breakdown of the key proposals:
1. Report Cards Instead of Single Judgements
Gone are the days of an overall effectiveness grade. Instead, schools and providers will receive a breakdown of their strengths and areas for improvement across multiple areas, such as:
Leadership and Governance
Curriculum
Teaching and Learning Development
Behaviour, Attitudes & Attendance
Inclusion (with a sharper focus on SEND)
Safeguarding
This shift acknowledges that education is complex and cannot be reduced to a one-size-fits-all rating.
2. Education Inspection Toolkits
New inspection toolkits will guide Ofsted inspectors in evaluating different education providers, ensuring that standards are applied consistently and fairly. These toolkits will provide clear guidance on expectations across different settings, helping school leaders understand what Ofsted will be looking for.
This is particularly important for SEND provision, where we at Uniform Education see first-hand the need for tailored approaches in mainstream and specialist settings. The focus on inclusion means schools will need to demonstrate how they support disadvantaged learners and those with SEND.
3. A Five-Point Grading System
Rather than a binary ‘good’ or ‘requires improvement’ judgement, the new grading scale will provide more clarity:
Exemplary – Exceptional practice that sets a benchmark for others
Strong – Secure, with above-standard practices
Secure – Meeting expectations
Attention Needed – Improvements required, but with capacity to improve
Causing Concern – Urgent intervention required
A separate safeguarding judgement will continue to be ‘Met’ or ‘Not Met’.
4. Removing ‘Deep Dives’
Instead of subject-focused deep dives, inspections will now involve broader discussions with school leaders about the context, challenges, and successes within their school. This change aims to make inspections less stressful and more reflective of real educational progress.
5. Greater Focus on SEND and Inclusion
One of the biggest takeaways from The Big Listen, Ofsted’s large-scale consultation, was the need to strengthen the focus on SEND provision. The new approach will:
Ensure that schools are held accountable for how they support SEND students.
Introduce a separate inclusion category to highlight how well SEND learners are supported.
Provide greater recognition of progress in SEND settings, acknowledging that traditional academic metrics aren’t always the best measure of success.
Why This Matters to You
These changes will impact teachers, school leaders, parents, and students. At Uniform Education, we believe that this new approach could create a more balanced, fairer system – one that values the hard work schools do in supporting all learners, especially those with additional needs.
As an SEND recruitment specialist, we work closely with schools, LSAs, SENCOs, and specialist educators to ensure that the right staff are placed in the right settings. If you are a SEND professional looking for work, or a school seeking expert SEND support, register with us today at www.uniformeducation.co.uk.
Have Your Say
The consultation is open until 28 April 2025. We encourage everyone in our community—teachers, TAs, LSAs, parents, and school leaders—to get involved and share your views.
🔗Respond to the consultation here
Uniform Education will continue to keep you updated on the latest developments in education policy and Ofsted reforms. Stay connected with us for further insights and expert guidance on how these changes could impact your school or career.
