Ofsted has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to children’s social care inspections, with His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver setting out reforms affecting two inspection frameworks between 7 July and 28 September 2026.
The consultation covers the framework for inspecting local authority children’s services and the social care common inspection framework for providers. Ofsted said the proposals are intended to place children, young people and families more clearly at the centre of inspection activity.
The proposals affect local authorities and a range of children’s social care providers inspected or regulated by Ofsted. They include report cards, revised grading arrangements, changes to inspection scheduling and stronger scrutiny of unregistered children’s homes.
Ofsted Opens Consultation On Inspection Reform
The consultation proposes changes to the inspection of local authority children’s services and children’s social care providers. Ofsted said the reforms are intended to use system-wide insight to address pressures across the social care sector.
The consultation is open to children, young people, families, carers, practitioners, local authorities, providers, inspectors, social care experts and the Department for Education. Responses are being invited through an online survey, alongside regular stakeholder discussions.
- Consultation period: responses are open from 7 July until 28 September 2026.
- Frameworks affected: ILACS and SCCIF would both be updated.
- Participants: children, families, providers and practitioners are invited to respond.
Report Cards And Five-Grade Scale Proposed
The proposals include removing the ‘overall experiences and progress’ judgement for providers inspected under the SCCIF. Ofsted said both frameworks would move towards report cards and a 5-point grading scale.
According to Ofsted, the revised approach would provide a clearer and more nuanced picture of inspection findings while better reflecting the complexity of children’s social care.
Proposed Inspection Changes
| Area | Proposal | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Grading | 5-point scale | ILACS and SCCIF |
| Reporting | Report cards | Both frameworks |
| SCCIF judgement | Remove overall judgement | Providers |
Inspection Changes Linked To Government Reforms
The proposals are designed to complement the government’s wider programme of children’s social care reform, including greater support for families to remain together safely and increased use of wider family networks when decisions are made for children.
The consultation also refers to helping children build enduring relationships with people who are important to them. Ofsted said inspection would evaluate the quality of practice alongside the progress and experiences of children and families.
Unregistered Children’s Homes Face Stronger Scrutiny
Ofsted said the consultation includes a proposal to make the placement of children in unregistered children’s homes a limiting criterion in the ILACS framework. This would affect the proposed ‘impact of leaders’ evaluation area.
Ofsted warned that unregistered children’s homes are outside its inspection and regulatory system and may present greater risks for children. The consultation links this issue to the availability of suitable accommodation for children in care and care leavers.
- Unregistered homes: Ofsted said their use has grown in recent years.
- Sufficiency duty: leaders would face broader evaluation of suitable accommodation.
- Inspection effect: use of unregistered homes could limit judgement outcomes.
The Framework Focus
| Framework | Inspection Scope | Proposed Focus |
|---|---|---|
| ILACS | Local authorities | Leadership impact |
| SCCIF | Care providers | Provider inspection |
| Both | Children’s experiences | Family engagement |
Local Authority Inspection Scheduling May Change
The consultation also proposes changing the timing of ILACS inspections. A standard inspection of a local authority would take place every 4 years, plus or minus 6 months.
Focused visits and monitoring visits would be carried out between standard inspections. Ofsted said this would help prioritise inspection activity where it is most needed.
Children And Families Central To Inspection Plans
The proposals place greater emphasis on listening to the lived experiences of children, young people and families throughout the inspection process. The consultation will include discussions with parents, carers, providers, local authorities, inspectors and wider social care specialists.
Stakeholder Comments
Sir Martyn Oliver
Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector said;
“Every child deserves to grow up in a loving home. Despite the tireless dedication of the social care workforce, many children and families don’t get the support they need. Some of our most vulnerable children are living in illegal unregistered homes. Under our proposals, local authorities that have not done enough to secure safe and legal places for children to live will have this reflected in their judgements.”
“The changes we are proposing will work in parallel with the government’s reforms, so that Ofsted plays its part in ensuring children and young people in our social care system are happy, safe and able to reach their full potential.”
“Building on our current frameworks, we want to strengthen the inspection and regulatory system where this is most needed. New approaches, including a 5-point grading scale and report cards, will better reflect the complexity of children’s social care.”
“We’re clear that only by working together with children, young people, families and practitioners can we secure lasting improvement in children’s social care.”
Ofsted’s consultation proposes significant changes to the inspection of local authority children’s services and social care providers. The plans introduce report cards, a five-point grading scale, revised inspection scheduling and stronger scrutiny of unregistered children’s homes. Responses received before 28 September 2026 will help shape the future inspection framework.
Sources: Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
