Written question asked by Kelvin Hopkins (Labour) on Thursday, 12 February 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 February 2009. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service: Standards

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to review for benchmarking purposes the methods used by Ofsted in conducting inspections of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each region.

Answer: Matters concerning the review of inspection methodology are for Ofsted rather than the Department. In September 2008, Ofsted published a consultation document, "Inspection of Children and Court Advisory Support Services (CAFCASS) 2009-12."Ofsted is currently evaluating the responses to the consultation and its work to pilot the new arrangements. It is intended that a new framework for the inspection of CAFCASS will be implemented from April 2009.

Secondary information