Reading professional learning materials for inspectors

We were delighted by the positive response to the reading materials shared during our 2026 summer update and professional learning events. We know that many schools are keen to use these resources to support professional learning with their own staff. 

The materials were developed primarily as inspection support materials for His Majesty’s Inspectors, Registered Inspectors, additional inspectors and peer inspectors. Their purpose was to build a shared understanding of effective practice and strengthen the consistency and quality of inspection activity across Wales. They were not originally designed as school-facing professional learning resources and many require skilled facilitation and contextualisation to be used as intended. Several of the activities, scenarios and case studies were specifically developed for inspector training and are most effective when used as part of a carefully structured professional learning programme. 

For this reason, we are taking a staged approach to sharing resources more widely. Before publication, materials need to be reviewed, adapted and quality assured to ensure that they are appropriate for school leaders and practitioners and can be used effectively outside their original inspection training context. Currently we are able to share  a selection of recorded presentations outlining our enhanced focus on reading that have already been shared through our update training and engagement events:

On February 17 2027, we’ll be holding a joint conference with Dysgu in Cardiff focused on reading, where we’ll be presenting additional reading materials linked to Estyn’s approach to inspection in maintained schools and PRUs. You can find further information here: A focus on reading with Estyn and Dysgu

Additional literacy and reading resources will be adapted and released throughout the academic year as part of our ongoing work to support schools, middle leaders and school improvement partners. 

We appreciate the strong interest in this work and look forward to working with education providers to support improvements in reading across Wales.