Ofsted and CQC SEND Inspection – September 2025

Notification of Ofsted and CQC inspection of local area arrangements for SEND

Ealing Council has received formal notification that Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will begin their inspection of local area arrangements for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) today (8 September 2025).

The inspection schedule is as follows:

• Inspection planning, data and key document collection from 8 September 2025
• Offsite fieldwork will begin on 18 September 2025
• Onsite inspection will take place from 22 to 26 September 2025

This Local Area SEND inspection will evaluate services jointly delivered by education, health, and social care. Inspectors from Ofsted and the CQC will assess how effectively the Local Area meets its statutory responsibilities for children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND.

Attached for your reference are:

• Area SEND Self-Evaluation (full document)
• Self-evaluation executive summary
• A reference guide to the Area SEND Inspection

The Self-Evaluation reflects our collective assessment of local SEND services and outlines the priorities we must evidence during the inspection. It has been developed collaboratively across education, health, and care partners to ensure alignment and consistency.

Do please note that this is not an inspection of education providers but education providers may be asked to contribute to the area-inspection and evidence base. If contacted, you will want to familiarise yourself with the guide and self-evaluation summary ahead of the inspection. If your setting is selected by inspectors, you may be asked to pull together a small group of children/young people to give them an opportunity to reflect back their experiences within and beyond the setting. Inspectors may also contact settings in relation to sampling individual cases selected by the team.

You will be contacted by our team in advance if your setting is involved in these meetings 22 - 26 September.

The Self-Evaluation reflects our collective assessment of local SEND services and outlines the priorities we must evidence during the inspection. It has been developed collaboratively across education, health, and care partners to ensure alignment and consistency.

Further information

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Aretha Banton (Assistant Director, SEND and Inclusion): bantona@ealing.gov.uk