Schools in England are preparing for new Ofsted inspection expectations from September 2026, after the watchdog updated its education inspection toolkits and operating guides. The changes affect how inspectors will look at SEND, inclusion, attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, mobile phone policies, allergy safety and early years provision.
The updated materials were published on 12 June 2026 and will apply to inspections from September 2026. Until then, inspectors will continue using the current guidance. Ofsted said the updates reflect changes already made, or expected to be made, to Department for Education guidance. Ofsted’s official September 2026 inspection update confirms that future toolkit and operating guide changes will now be made annually before taking effect the following September.
What will change in Ofsted school inspections from September 2026?
One of the biggest changes is a sharper focus on pupils who face barriers to learning or wellbeing. Inspectors will look at whether pupils make progress from their starting points, know more, remember more, can do more and produce high-quality work that reflects the breadth and depth of their learning.
Schools will also need to show that pupils with barriers to learning or wellbeing are being helped to achieve well. This includes pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those who may need extra support to access the curriculum or manage school life.
Inspectors will consider how attainment and progress compare with similar schools, rather than looking only at national averages. For disadvantaged pupils, inspectors will look at whether progress is in line with non-disadvantaged pupils nationally where data is available.
Inclusion will receive closer attention. Schools with inclusion bases will need to show that these settings meet pupils’ needs effectively and help them take part meaningfully in wider school activities. Leaders will also be expected to develop and publish an inclusion strategy explaining how school funding, including the inclusive mainstream fund where relevant, will be used to improve inclusive practice.
Schools will need to engage proactively and quickly with pupils and families to reduce barriers to learning or wellbeing. Where curriculum adaptations are needed, inspectors will look at whether they are planned coherently and create as many opportunities as possible for pupils to learn with mainstream peers.
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Attendance, behaviour, phones and safeguarding under closer review
Attendance will be judged with more context where a school has a significant proportion of pupils with SEND that may affect attendance. Inspectors will recognise that this can influence overall attendance and persistent absence figures, but they will still examine how effectively the school is improving attendance and sustaining progress.
Behaviour expectations will also be tested more carefully. Schools must show that pupils with learning or wellbeing barriers are supported to meet high expectations. Where pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan, inspectors may look at how leaders work with parents and the local authority to support attendance and behaviour.
Mobile phone policies are another new area of scrutiny. Inspectors will check whether leaders have reviewed their policies and communicated expectations clearly to pupils and parents. The update comes amid wider debate about device use in education, with policymakers exploring stricter controls on smartphones during the school day. Recent proposals outlined in England’s planned smartphone restrictions in schools highlight the growing focus on creating distraction-free learning environments.
Safeguarding checks will include whether schools have arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions and whether they have a dedicated allergy safety policy. Ofsted has also updated early years inspection expectations, with inspectors paying closer attention to safe sleeping arrangements, food preparation, weaning and allergy plans.
For early years providers, failure to implement safe sleeping and food preparation guidance effectively could lead to serious inspection consequences. Schools and settings will need to make sure staff understand these requirements and apply them consistently.
The updated inspection materials also refer to the government’s upcoming enrichment framework, meaning inspectors will eventually consider whether enrichment is purposeful and varied where applicable.
Further education and skills providers face related changes. Colleges and training providers receiving money from the new 16 to 19 inclusive mainstream fund will need to show how the funding is being used to strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for SEND learners. Ofsted has also added clearer safeguarding wording around serious mental health concerns, including risks linked to eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal ideation.
For school leaders, the practical message is clear. Before September 2026, they will need to review SEND support, inclusion planning, attendance interventions, behaviour systems, allergy policies, mobile phone rules, safeguarding records and early years procedures. The new inspection approach is less about having policies on paper and more about proving that support is working for pupils in daily school life.
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