How we inspect – local government education services

This guidance sets out the way we will conduct inspections of local government education services (LGES) from September 2024. Please read this in conjunction with our guidance on ‘ What We Inspect in LGES inspections.

Local government education services cover statutory education functions of the local authority for children and young people up to age 25. This includes education services provided on behalf of a local authority by:

• a school improvement service
• a partnership between two or more local authorities
• another organisation commissioned by the local authority (for example, a voluntary organisation or a private company)

These other providers or shared services may be inspected separately from a local authority, and are referred to in this guidance as ‘other education services providers’. In such inspections, inspectors would only apply the sections of the framework that cover the relevant education services.

The guidance sets out how we will follow-up with local authorities, commissioned services or partnership services causing significant concern. Local authorities and their partners can use this guidance to understand how we will conduct inspections. It may also help them self-evaluate and plan for improvement.