NCC have requested schools circulate the following letter giving details of the upcoming Local Authority SEND Ofsted Inspection:

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will carry out jointly an inspection of your local area. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, the government placed new duties on the local health, social and education services that provide for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The inspection will evaluate how effectively the local area:

• identifies the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities

• meets the needs of these children and young people so that their outcomes and chances of participating fully in society improve.

  The views of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the views of their parents and carers will be gathered during visits to a number of early years settings, schools, colleges and specialist services. These views are critical to the inspection process. During the inspection, Ofsted and CQC inspectors will be keen to speak to as many children and young people and their parents and carers as possible.

   

  The inspection will also include an online webinar to allow other Northamptonshire County Council parents and carers to contribute. The webinar will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 15 May 2017. It will led by the lead inspector, who will ask parents and carers about their views and experiences on how effectively Northamptonshire County Council is fulfilling the above responsibilities.

   

  If you would like to take part in this webinar then please follow this internet link http://bit.ly/LASENDNorthamtonshire

   

  While we understand that many parents and carers may have views on their experience that extend before the introduction of the reforms in September 2014, it is important that this date is used as the start for gathering evidence about the impact of the reforms. We would also like parents and carers to understand that we will not be able to follow up or comment upon individual cases.

   

   

  Information on local area duties toward children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities can be found on the Department for Education’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

   

  Diana Choulerton

  Her Majesty’s Inspector