Ofsted has launched a consultation on changes to the inspection of local authority children’s services. The proposals focus on the child’s journey as a key element in the inspection of child protection and for children in care. Through inspection, the changes aim to improve the services children receive and how these impact on their lives.

It is proposed that inspection will look at all stages of a child’s experience from early intervention right through to when a child is referred to the children’s social care services and on to their exit from the child protection system. Direct observation of services in action, including interactions with children and families, will be a key part of the new system.

Inspection will also consider whether the quality of early help could have prevented the child from entering the child protection system in the first place and the impact of the failure to provide such help might have had on the child.

The review of the inspection system follows the recommendations from The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final report; A child-centred system.