A joint inspection of SEND services in Leeds is now underway. This is relevant for organisations supporting children and young people, particularly where services are delivered in partnership with education, health or social care.
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are carrying out an inspection of how local partners work together to support children and young people aged 0 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
What Is It?
This is a joint area inspection of SEND arrangements across Leeds.
It looks at how effectively education, health and social care services work together as a system to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. This includes early support, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and alternative provision.
The focus is on how the local partnership operates as a whole, rather than assessing individual organisations or services.
SEND inspections can result in three outcomes:
- Strong arrangements leading to positive experiences and outcomes
- Inconsistent arrangements requiring improvement
- Significant concerns requiring urgent action
Why It Matters
For the Third Sector in Leeds, this inspection reflects how well the wider system is working together, including the contribution of voluntary and community organisations.
Organisations may be involved directly where they are commissioned to deliver services, or indirectly through the support they provide to children, young people and families.
This is also a key opportunity to ensure that the voices of children, young people and carers are heard, particularly where organisations are supporting engagement or acting as a trusted link into communities.
Inspection Timeline
The inspection takes place over three weeks:
- From 13 April 2026 – pre-inspection activity and information gathering
- Week commencing 20 April 2026 – remote meetings with partners
- Week commencing 27 April 2026 – onsite visits to services
Inspectors may visit a range of education, health and social care settings, including services commissioned by Leeds City Council or NHS partners.
Surveys Now Open
Inspectors are inviting children and young people with SEND, their parents and carers, and practitioners to share their views through a survey.
Responses are anonymous and will only be seen by inspectors.
Survey link:
https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/p/AreaSend/10420261
The survey is also available in accessible formats, including easy read.
Deadline: 09:00 on 21 April 2026
How Organisations May Be Involved
Inspectors will gather evidence in several ways:
- Surveys capturing the views of children and young people with SEND, their parents and carers, and practitioners
- Meetings with local partners and community groups
- Visits to education, health and social care services
If your organisation supports children and young people with SEND, you may be asked to:
- Share information about the services you provide
- Contribute insight on the experiences of the people you support
- Attend a meeting with inspectors
- Support engagement with families and carers
There is no requirement for voluntary or unpaid workers to take part.
Next Step
If your organisation works with children and young people with SEND, consider how you can support this process.
This includes sharing the survey with the people you work with and encouraging responses before the deadline, as well as supporting engagement with families and carers where appropriate.
Further Information
These resources provide more detail on how the inspection works and what it means in practice. They may be particularly useful if your organisation supports children and young people with SEND, or works alongside statutory partners.
One minute guide:
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/one-minute-guides/ofsted-and-cqc-inspection-framework
A short, accessible overview of the inspection process. This is the quickest way to understand what inspectors are looking at, how the system is assessed, and where services across Leeds fit within that wider partnership.
Full inspection framework and handbook:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook
Detailed guidance used by inspectors. This sets out the criteria for judging local SEND arrangements and can help organisations understand how partnership working, early help, and outcomes are evaluated at a system level.
Overview webinar for professionals:
A recorded session from Ofsted and CQC explaining recent updates to the inspection approach. This is useful for managers and leaders who want a clearer understanding of expectations and how inspections are evolving across education, health and social care.
These resources can help provide additional context during the inspection period, particularly for organisations involved in partnership working or supporting children and young people with SEND.
