New SEND Area Inspection Ratings – What You Need to Know
If you’re a parent or carer of a child or young person with SEND, here’s the scoop: Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) now check how local areas work together to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. These are called Area SEND inspections.
The inspections look at how education, health, and social care work together and how well children, young people, and families are supported.
The 3 Ratings
1️⃣ Positive experiences & outcomes – Things are going well ✅
- Most children and families get the support they need
- Full re-inspection in ~5 years
2️⃣ Inconsistent experiences & outcomes – Some things work, some don’t ⚠️
- Families may have mixed experiences
- Re-inspection usually in ~3 years
3️⃣ Widespread or systemic failings – Serious problems ❌
- Significant issues affecting children and young people
- Monitoring inspection in ~18 months, full inspection in ~3 years
What This Means for You
- Your voice matters 🗣️ Share your experiences to help improve services
- Ask questions ❓ About waiting times, support, or EHC plans
- Push for improvements 💪 Use the ratings to hold services accountable
- PCF support 🤝 We raise issues with the council and make sure families are heard
How You Can Share Your Experiences
The Parent Carer Forum (PCF) is here to make sure your voices are heard and we’ve been doing this for years! 💬
It’s so important that parent carers have a say about the services they use every day, whether that’s education, health, short breaks, wraparound care, or preparation for adulthood. Both good experiences and challenges matter.
We represent your collective views when meeting with Ofsted, drawing on:
💬 The results of our 2024 PCF survey
💬 Daily conversations we have through our reps, events, and community networks
💬 Feedback from local third-sector organisations
You can also share your individual experiences directly with Ofsted through their survey:
📌 Want to get involved or find out more?
✅ Your voice matters! Make sure your experiences help shape better SEND services in Cheshire West.
For more information on the PCF and what we do...
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