Ofsted confirms plans to change inspections of local authorities’ children’s services ( ILACS ) in 2026 and 2027, including removal of overall effectiveness judgement from April 2026.

Updates to ILACS framework planned to align inspections with broader reforms of children’s social care.

Ofsted to consult on significant changes to inspections in 2026, with a renewed children and families services framework planned for 2027.

From April 2026, the inspectorate will remove the overall effectiveness judgement in ILACS . The move follows the response to the Big Listen consultation and Ofsted’s commitment to making inspections fairer, including by removing overall effectiveness grades across all remits it inspects and regulates.

Ofsted has also announced revisions to the ILACS framew

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