CSIE has responded to the recent consultation on how Ofsted inspects education. CSIE’s main response was included in the response from the collective voice of the Special Educational Consortium. In its additional submission, CSIE applauds the clear focus on inclusion, and suggests that this is further strengthened by giving it a more prominent place throughout the new framework.
CSIE’s submission focused on three key recommendations:
- to single out inclusion, alongside safeguarding, as a top priority area which inspections will focus on, to highlight its importance and help bring about the cultural shift that is needed.
- to clarify and confirm the meaning of inclusion, using the definition put forward by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and
- to align inspection criteria with existing UK legislation, including the Equality Act 2010 and the Children and Families Act 2014, which establish a presumption of inclusion and duties to remove barriers for disabled pupils.
CSIE also recommends that all inspectors receive mandatory Disability Equality Training, led by disabled people, to ensure that all future inspections are based on the social model of disability and a more consistent understanding of disabled children’s rights.
By embedding inclusion at the heart of inspections, Ofsted can help drive the culture change that is needed for schools to uphold children’s rights, comply with legal duties, and create a sense of belonging and meaningful learning opportunities for every child and young person.
