How to prepare SEND evidence for an Ofsted inspection

Prepare for Ofsted by making everyday SEND practice coherent and retrievable. Ofsted says schools should not create documents solely for inspection. Inspectors should use evidence the school needs for normal business and statutory duties.

This article was last checked on 20 August 2026. Ofsted has published a new school inspection toolkit and operating guide for inspections from 7 September 2026. Inclusion is a distinct evaluation area and is also considered across the inspection.

What changes from 7 September 2026

The September operating guide puts pupils with SEND within the wider inclusion evaluation. Inspectors may meet the SENCO, include pupils with SEND in case sampling and consider support, reasonable adjustments, inclusion bases and alternative provision.

There is also a separate DfE grant requirement. Mainstream state-funded schools receiving the Inclusive Mainstream Fund must publish an Inclusion Strategy statement by 31 December 2026. The grant conditions say the strategy will be available to Ofsted. Until any future statutory replacement takes effect, the current SEN Information Report duty still applies.

This does not justify an inspection-only evidence pack. Keep the school's normal inclusion evidence current and use the latest Ofsted toolkit and operating guide.

Start with the story of inclusion

Leaders and the SENCO should be able to explain:

• how pupils with SEND are identified
• how teachers adapt teaching
• how APDR decisions are made
• how provision is delivered and reviewed
• how leaders know whether pupils participate and progress
• how statutory EHC plan provision is monitored
• how families and pupils influence support
• what leaders are improving and why

The strongest account connects policy, practice and pupil experience.

Keep routine evidence accessible

Useful evidence may include:

• the SEN information report and SEND policy
• the Inclusion Strategy where the Inclusive Mainstream Fund conditions apply
• accessibility plan
• APDR records
• current provision map
• EHC plan and annual review tracking
• Section F delivery evidence
• attainment, attendance, suspension and participation analysis
• staff training and support
• pupil and family feedback
• external-agency work
• governing-body or trust oversight

Inspectors may sample individual pupils. Ensure records can show the route from need to provision, delivery, outcome and next decision.

Quality-check APDR

For sampled pupils, check that staff can answer:

1. What need or barrier was assessed?
2. What outcome was planned?
3. What provision was agreed?
4. Was it delivered?
5. What changed?
6. What did the review decide?

A polished template does not compensate for missing delivery or review evidence.

Check EHC plan duties

For pupils with plans, compare the current plan with actual arrangements. Identify missing, delayed or vague provision before inspection because it affects pupils, not because an inspector may ask.

Track annual review dates, reports and local-authority decisions. Where the authority controls an overdue action, keep the school's escalation and interim support record.

Review the experience, not only outcomes data

Look at whether pupils with SEND:

• attend and access the full curriculum
• participate in trips, clubs and wider school life
• receive suitable reasonable adjustments
• feel safe and understood
• move successfully between classes or phases
• are prepared for adulthood where relevant

Disaggregate data carefully. Small cohorts and varied needs require context, but context should not become an excuse for weak practice.

Prepare staff through practice

Teachers remain responsible for pupils in their classes. Build SEND discussion into normal coaching, curriculum review and pastoral work. Staff should know the pupils they teach, the adjustments required and where to find current information.

Avoid scripts. Honest, consistent explanations grounded in real cases are more useful.

A short readiness check

• Statutory information is current
• APDR records show decisions and impact
• Provision maps match delivery
• Section F checks are complete
• Review deadlines are visible
• Staff can explain classroom adaptations
• Pupil and family views are available
• Leaders know strengths, gaps and next actions
• No inspection-only paperwork has been created

Unisen keeps SEND evidence connected to routine workflows so leaders can see the current position without building a separate inspection folder.

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