CYP Now - Review of inspection framework highlights areas for improvement

Research says Ofsted's children's services inspection regime puts too much emphasis on process rather than practice and has flaws in how it gains evidence. Consultant Colin Green analyses whether improvement plans have merit.

Introduced in early 2018, the Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS) framework has been widely praised for being less onerous than its predecessor, the Single Inspection Framework, and leading to a marked improvement in judgments for children's services departments. Since January 2018, the number of authorities rated "inadequate" has fallen, while those rated "outstanding" has risen (see graphic).

Academics from the University of Birmingham have undertaken an independent review into how the framework is being implemented. The review states ILACS "gets closer to social workers than previous frameworks and results in some important insights about practice", but also identifies areas for improvement.

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