Ofsted expects you to monitor the progress of pupils facing barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing
Ofsted's 2025 inspection toolkit specifically highlights the following groups:
- Disadvantaged pupils
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
- Pupils who are known (or previously known) to children's social care
It also expects schools to monitor the progress of pupils with any 'other barriers to their learning'.
Ofsted will be led by your definition of which pupils fall into this category: this is your chance to explain which additional pupils and/or pupil groups you've identified as vulnerable in your school, but these might include:
- Pupils with English as an additional language (EAL)
- Specific ethnic minority groups
- Summer-born pupils
- Refugee pupils
Find this information on pages 11, 13, 14 and 15 of the inspection toolkit.
See our article on understanding pupil groups for more details.
Make sure you're in regular conversation with your SLT