Your step-by-step guide to Ofsted inspection
Find out what happens before, during and after a section 5 Ofsted inspection under the 2019 framework, and understand what's expected of you at each step.
This article is based on paragraphs 9 to 12 and part 1 of the School Inspection Handbook.
Before the inspection
Notification
Ofsted will contact you by phone to announce the inspection, between 10:30am and 2pm of the school day before the inspection. They'll ask to speak to the most senior member of staff available.
During this call, Ofsted will check:
- The number of pupils you have on roll
- The governance arrangements you have
- Whether you have any special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) provision, nursery provision for 2- and 3-year-olds, or additional resource provision
Following this call, you'll get a confirmation via email and a note setting out key information for you to look at.
The lead inspector's phone call
This call will have 2 elements, which might be in a single phone conversation or split into 2 separate conversations