Guidance
Thematic reviews of the SEND local offer
How Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will conduct thematic visits to local areas focusing on the education, health and social care provisions available for children and young people with SEND as outlined in the local offer.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The Area SEND inspection system includes thematic visits to a small number of areas each year to investigate a particular aspect of the special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) system in depth.
This guidance explains how Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will conduct the 2026 visits, which will focus on the provision available across education, health and social care for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Updates to this page
Published 2 April 2026