Understanding inspections in schools:

A guide for parents and carers Estyn is responsible for inspecting a wide range of education and training provision in Wales, and will soon be inspecting your child’s school.

How do inspectors take account of my views of the school?

Estyn wants to know your views on the school. You can do this by: • completing an online questionnaire via the direct link or QR code provided by the school. The questionnaire is the easiest way of making inspectors aware of your views. • attending a meeting with inspectors.

The school will inform you of the date and time. How will an inspection benefit my child? An inspection tells you about the standards and quality at your child’s school. It gives the school an expert view on its work, outlining what it does well and helps it to improve. Who inspects the school?

The inspection team is led by a Reporting Inspector who has considerable experience of teaching and education. Each inspection team also includes a lay inspector and a peer inspector. Lay inspectors have not worked as teachers in a school, while peer inspectors are headteachers or managers from another school.

Each school may nominate someone to liaise directly with the inspection team to keep the inspectors informed about the school and its work. How will the school be inspected? Inspectors follow the guidance set out in these two documents: What We Inspect; How We Inspect How will inspectors take account of my child’s view of the school?

During the inspection, inspectors will ask groups of children how they feel about the school, their work and how well they are getting on. All learners in key stage 2 and above will have the opportunity to complete an online questionnaire before the inspection.

How will I know the inspectors’ views on the school?

Inspection reports are published on the Estyn website 45 working days after the start of the inspection. The governing body will also send you details of the report. What will be included within the report? The report will have overall evaluations on: • learning, wellbeing and attitudes to learning • teaching and learning experiences • care, support and guidance • leadership and management

What happens after an inspection?

All schools must produce an action plan based on the recommendations in the inspection report. The inspection team will consider and report whether the school requires any follow-up activity. The three types of follow-up activity are: Special measures: this is the most intensive level of statutory follow-up. It involves a small team of Estyn inspectors making regular visits to review the school’s progress following the publication of the inspection report Significant improvement: involves a small team of Estyn inspectors visiting the school to monitor progress about 12-18 months after the publication of the inspection report Estyn review: this is the lightest touch of follow-up, as it is not statutory. It involves reviewing the progress the school has made towards addressing the recommendations highlighted in the report about 12-18 months after the publication of the inspection report

How can I contact Estyn? Email: ic@estyn.gov.wales Tel: 02920 446446 Feedback about inspections: feedback@estyn.gov.wales For further information on Estyn please visit our website