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How Ofsted inspects inclusion

Understand how Ofsted will inspect the new evaluation area of inclusion in your school. Find out about the standards of the 2025 framework, and use our self-evaluation tool to consider your provision.

Updated
on 22 July 2026See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 52272
Contents
  1. Inclusion is graded on a 5-point scale
  2. Inclusion is also embedded across all other areas
  3. Inclusion is about how well your school supports particular pupil groups
  4. Inclusion will form part of the planning phone call
  5. Inspectors will gather evidence relating to 6 key factors
  6. Inspectors will consider your use of AP
  7. How you'll be graded
  8. Use our self-evaluation tool to review your provision against the framework
  9. Next steps

Inclusion is graded on a 5-point scale

Inclusion is 1 of the evaluation areas that will appear on your school’s inspection report card. 

Each evaluation area will be graded using Ofsted’s new 5-point grading system, with Ofsted expecting most schools to attain at least an 'expected standard' in each area. The exception is safeguarding, which is either 'met' or 'not met'.

During the planning call, the lead inspector will ask you to evaluate your school's strengths and successes and priorities for improvement, including where you believe you currently sit on the 5-point grading scale for each evaluation area.

See the inspection operating guide for more on this.

The grades are:

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Inclusion was previously considered part of the 'personal development and wellbeing' judgement, but has now been pulled out into its own evaluation area and will receive its own grading.

Inspectors won’t only