Ofsted’s Big Listen Reforms: A New Chapter for Inspections

In response to significant public concern, including the tragic case of headteacher Ruth Perry, Ofsted launched its largest-ever consultation earlier this year, the Big Listen (Schools Week, 2024). 

Ofsted’s changes, published on 3 September, are designed to address key criticisms of the existing inspection system and to align more closely with the evolving needs of children, particularly those with SEND.

With over 20,000 responses, including over 4,300 from children, the consultation has led to substantial changes in how Ofsted conducts inspections. 

In this blog, I outline the key reforms about SEND and children’s social care, and how they relate to our policy positions about Ofsted.  

Key reforms

Stop unregistered children’s homes

• Ofsted wants the powers and resources to put a stop to unregistered children’s homes, once and for all. 

This is a critical area where Ofsted’s reforms align with our charity’s policy position about Ofsted being proactive in shutting down illegal providers of unregistered accommodation for children.

Scrapping single-word ratings

• Single-word inspection grades have been scrapped with immediate effect and will be replaced by detailed report cards from September 2025. 
• These report cards are intended to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced evaluation of a school's performance, including specific scrutiny of how well SEND students are supported. 

Enhanced focus on SEND

• The proposed report cards will include a new 'inclusion' criterion. 
• Schools that effectively support these students will be celebrated, while those that off-roll or refuse SEND students will be graded down, (Schools Week, 2024).

This change aligns closely with our charity's stance that Ofsted inspections must focus more on SEND provision, ensuring that these students receive the attention and support they deserve.

Area SEND Inspections

• Ofsted and CQC will review area SEND inspections to enable local areas to enhance the support they offer to children with SEND.

Ofsted Academy

• Introduce the Ofsted Academy to enhance inspector training in SEND, ensuring a better understanding and evaluation of these critical areas. 

Crackdown on illegal schools

• Ofsted wants to end illegal schools and keep children in unregistered settings safe and learning.

Ofsted wants the government to introduce stronger regulations against unregistered alternative provisions (AP)

Inspection framework reform to work effectively for SEND and AP

• The new framework will be launched next September. 
• Ofsted is expected to begin pilot inspections of the framework in the summer of 2024-25.

Reducing inspection anxiety

• Under proposals to be piloted this autumn, schools will be notified of an inspection on a Monday, with inspectors visiting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ofsted said this would help “to reduce the stress of waiting” (Schools Week, 2024). 

Reforms to how safeguarding concerns are handled

• Provision to pause the publication of inspection reports if safeguarding concerns are identified, allowing schools and care providers to address these issues without immediate intervention from the Department for Education.