Ofsted and the CQC
have today published guidance for the next series of thematic
visits looking at how children and young people with special
educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are
being prepared for adulthood.
As part of the area SEND
inspection arrangements, Ofsted and the CQC will carry out a series of
in-depth reviews to explore a particular aspect of the
SEND
system between spring and summer 2024.
Read the ‘Thematic reviews of
preparation for adulthood arrangements in local areas’
guidance.
The visits will consider all phases of a child with SEND’s
transition to adulthood, from early years settings through to
post-16 education, to get an in-depth picture of how preparation
for adulthood (PFA) arrangements are working.
These arrangements include any support delivered by local area
partners across education, health and social care that focuses on
the 4 key pathways for preparation for adulthood based on the
‘SEND code
of practice’– employment, independent living, community
inclusion and health.
Ofsted and the CQC
will explore how local area partners work together to make sure
their decisions are focused on young people’s interests and
aspirations. Evidence will be gathered from key stakeholders,
including children and young people with SEND and
their families. Inspectors will consider a range of topics
including:
- how young people with SEND are
being supported to achieve their full potential. For example,
through further education or supported internships
- how young people with SEND are
empowered to make decisions for themselves and live as
independently as possible
- how children and young people with SEND are
supported to participate in society
- how children and young people with SEND are
supported to be as healthy as possible in adulthood
- how local area partners work together to develop and
implement strategies for
PFA
- the enablers and barriers to effectively preparing young
people with SENDfor
adulthood
Lee Owston, Ofsted’s National Director for Education:
The current SEND
system is not meeting the needs of too many children and their
families.
It is vital that every child is provided with the support and
guidance they need to thrive and live as independently as
possible throughout their adult lives. I hope that these visits
provide valuable insight into how we can improve the experiences
of children with SEND as
the government develops its SEND and
alternative provision improvement plan.
Nigel Thompson, Deputy Director of Multiagency Operations at the
Care Quality Commission:
When children, young people and their families face times of
transition it is not only vital that services understand their
needs, but also that those children, young people and their
families are involved in and prepared for the change.
Looking at people’s experiences alongside Ofsted, we will be able
to explore how agencies and health care providers are working
together – where improvements can be made and share good
practice.
Notes to editors
- Findings from the visits will be shared in a single national
report in autumn 2024. This report will list all the areas
visited but won’t attribute findings to individual areas unless
the area agrees to be identified.
- The visits will not result in judgements about local areas.
The overarching report will highlight examples of good practice
and identify any systemic concerns. Where good practice is
identified, this will be shared with the Department for Education
and the Department for Health and Social Care to support their
development of policy for the SEND and
alternative provision improvement plan.
