Ofsted changes inspection phrasing after DCS backlash

Earlier this month CYP Now reported that inspectors had found "serious concerns" in six of the first nine councils to undergo no-notice safeguarding inspections.

But the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) argued the phrase was inflammatory and did not necessarily mean a child was being put at risk.

Before publishing letters containing the inspection findings Ofsted changed the term to read "areas for priority action".

ADCS president Kim Bromley-Derry said: "We are really pleased that Ofsted has recognised our concerns about the language that was being used to describe problems found in the unannounced inspections."

But while the association welcomes Ofsted's reaction to its concerns, it will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the inspections.

In a piece written for CYP Now earlier this month Bromley-Derry raised fears that the inspection did not provide an accurate picture of services. He said that while regular checks were crucial, Ofsted's inspections are unable to robustly scrutinise different agencies' roles in child protection.