Ofsted removed the overall effectiveness judgement from inspections of local authority children’s services from 1 April 2026. Four judgements remain: help and protection, children in care, care leavers, and the impact of leaders. How often an authority is inspected now depends on those four.
Ofsted has also consulted, until 28 September 2026, on a renewed framework from spring 2027. It proposes six graded areas, including family help and engagement with family networks, a five point scale with report cards, and a standard inspection every four years. Its response is due in early 2027.
For authorities, self evaluation now needs to speak to the four remaining judgements, and evidence on family help, family networks and kinship care is worth building now. What children and families say through complaints is part of that evidence. Our Complaints Process Health Check and service review work can help an authority see where it stands.
