Guidance

Area SEND inspections: support and challenge following inspection

Guidance for local area leaders on what support they’ll receive depending on the outcome of their inspection.

Applies to England

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This guidance explains how the Department for Education (DfE) will work with NHS England to support and challenge local areas following an area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission.

This guidance is for:

health partners, including chief executives of integrated care boards, executive SEND leads, health commissioners and providers, designated medical or clinical officers, and health officials working in SEND-related areas
local authorities, including directors of children’s services, heads of SEND services, and local authority officials working in SEND services, including in education and social care
parent carer forums
children and young people with SEND, parents and carers

We’ll review this guidance before April 2024.

Published 16 May 2023