Commenting on inclusion and SEND aspects of The Big Listen, Jo Fisher, Chair of the ADCS Standards, Performance and Inspection Policy Committee, said:

“ADCS has long called for a greater focus on inclusion in school inspections, so it’s positive this will be a feature of the planned report card and stands to be given a higher profile in a revised inspection framework.  This echoes the views of children and young people responding to The Big Listen who wanted inspectors to focus more on the school environment and how happy and supported they feel.

“ADCS welcomes the Ofsted and CQC review of the area SEND inspection framework and we will engage with this fully.  Supporting children with additional needs and disabilities is a partnership endeavour, health and schools play a key role alongside the local authority but currently it is only the local authority that is held to account when weaknesses are uncovered.  There are also significant systemic issues the government itself has recognised, from funding and workforce to the sufficiency of specialist school places and teacher training.  No single local authority can solve these issues alone.” 

ENDS