- Changes to the ILACS
framework to take effect from April 2026, including removal
of headline judgement.
- Updates align inspections with children's social care reforms
and revised statutory guidance and tackle the use of unregistered
children's homes.
- Ofsted to consult on renewed inspection framework for social
care inspections in summer 2026.
The changes ensure inspections will better reflect how local
authorities are delivering for children and their families, in
line with recent social care reforms and changes to statutory
guidance, including ‘Working together to safeguard children' and
the ‘Children's social care national framework'. The updates will
come into effect on inspections carried out from 1 April
2026.
The updated inspection framework places greater emphasis on
family networks and purposeful multi-agency working, recognising
that keeping children safely with their families where possible
and high ambitions for children in care and care leavers are
central goals of the reforms. In addition, the framework reflects
the importance of professional development for senior leaders and
collaboration between social workers and practitioners with
different qualifications or areas of expertise.
The updates also put more focus on ending the use of unregistered
children's homes. Many children continue to be placed in homes
that are not registered with or inspected by Ofsted, putting them
at risk of harm. Under the updated framework, inspectors will
challenge local authorities on their use of unlawful unregistered
homes and how they plan to stop using them.
Removal of headline judgement
In November 2025, Ofsted confirmed the removal of the headline
judgement in ILACS
from April 2026 following feedback to the Big Listen
consultation. The updated framework will continue to make 3
practice judgements – about help and protection, children in
care, and care leavers – alongside a judgement on the impact of
leaders.
With the removal of the headline judgement, Ofsted has set out
how and when local children's services will be inspected:
- Local authorities judged good or outstanding for the impact
of leaders and at least 2 practice judgements will usually
receive one focused visit before a short inspection.
- Local authorities judged requires improvement to be good for
the impact of leaders or at least 2 of their practice judgments
will usually receive 2 focused visits and then a standard
inspection.
- Local authorities judged inadequate for any practice
judgement will receive monitoring visits and then a standard
inspection.
Ofsted will also continue to consider local authorities'
self-evaluations, data and intelligence before deciding when and
how to inspect.
Further consultation
Last year, Ofsted announced plans to reform more broadly how
local children's social care services are inspected.
A consultation with children, professionals and local leaders
will open this summer on proposals to develop a renewed children
and families services inspection framework. Further details will
then be refined, in consultation with the sector, for
introduction in 2027.
His Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver
said:
Children's experiences and progress are at the heart of all our
work, and we've worked closely with the sector, experts and
government to shape these important updates to our ILACS
framework.
The changes will ensure our inspections reflect the focus of
ongoing reforms across children's social care, including a
stronger emphasis on family help, multi-agency working, and
supporting children to remain safely with their families.
They will also strengthen ILACS for
2026 and provide a solid foundation for the development of our
renewed children and families services inspection framework,
which we'll soon be consulting on for implementation in 2027.
