Ofsted / CQC inspectors have announced today, Monday 6th October 2025, that they are returning to Hertfordshire for a monitoring inspection. This follows the Local Area SEND Inspection that took place in 2023 which found that there were “widespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), which the local area partnership must address urgently.”
This is the lowest of the three possible judgements that Ofsted / CQC could have made and means that inspectors must return to monitor how effectively the local partnership has responded to the areas for priority action that were identified.
In a full SEND inspection, a survey for families is issued to gather views on SEND services. However, this monitoring inspection will be focussed on two areas: use of data, and better partnership governance and quality assurance. A family survey will not be issued this time.
However, HPCI is keen to understand how families feel about how SEND services may have changed in the last two years. We have set up a very quick anonymous poll with only one question – please click on this link to share your views.
The Ofsted guidance says that inspectors will meet with parents and carers, but we do not yet know what this will look like. We know that inspectors will have an online meeting with HPCI, as your parent carer forum, to gather our views. But if we are made aware of any opportunities for parent carers or groups to share information, we will let you know.
There are two possible outcomes to this monitoring inspection. The local partnership will be found to have taken either effective action or ineffective action to address the areas for priority action.
Whatever the outcome, it is vital that the work that has been undertaken over the last few months to listen to families continues, and that the development of the new SEND Strategy for Hertfordshire addresses our concerns and improves the experiences of our children. We will keep you updated as this work develops.
