Written question asked by Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Special Educational Needs: Inspections

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Ofsted reports on schools will consider the identification of, and support for, those with special educational needs within individual schools.

Answer: Section 5(5B) of the Education Act 2005 places a clear duty on Ofsted to report on how well schools meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). During all inspections, inspectors give particular attention to the experiences and outcomes of pupils who face barriers to learning, including those with SEND. Our new inspection framework has ‘inclusion’ as a specific graded area for the first time, ensuring all children are supported to achieve and thrive regardless of need or background. They evaluate how leaders support these pupils, the rationale for their approach, and the evidence underpinning it. This includes discussions with leaders, reviewing data, speaking with pupils, sampling cases and considering parents’ views. Inspection reports always include an evaluation of the experiences and achievement of pupils with SEND. Further detail is set out in Ofsted’s attached toolkit.

Secondary information