For most people not directly affected by any of these, and for many ordinary workers who are affected, it all sounds rather esoteric. However, it is a significant part of the reforms jigsaw affecting children's services.
For the first time there will, in theory, be a properly integrated approach to seeing whether services for children are performing to expectation across health, social care and education. And all three bodies will be in a powerful position to promote improvement and highlight failure.
However, this will only be of much use if it contributes to the integrated delivery of services. That will not happen if the targets and priorities of the different agencies are still tugging against each other. The joint inspection frameworks that emerge will be crucial.
It will be interesting to gain the views of all three on how the inclusion of vulnerable groups, such as children from immigrant communities or homeless families, can be promoted in schools, and the educational performance of looked-after children improved.
A joint report from the three bodies being replaced (see News, p8) shows that there have been significant improvements already. But it highlights problematic areas as well. Severe pressures are compromising everything from timely assessments to support for disabled children, not only because of financial constraints but also as a result of the challenge of recruiting and keeping quality staff.
How much money services get is a result of politics, and the voices of the inspectorates will find their place among many others in the political decision-making process. But when it comes to finding good people, training them well and keeping them by ensuring that their careers develop and are rewarding, agencies can often do with some more specific help.
It is people, above all else, that will make joined-up working work, so it might make sense for the inspectorates to look not only directly at outcomes for children but also at the people, training and work-places that have to deliver those outcomes.
