Ofsted Regulation & Compliance
If you are a registered early years, childcare, education or social care provider facing issues with Ofsted, our specialist Regulatory Law Team provides the right legal advice when you need it most.
We can help make representations on your behalf against alleged compliance violations, negative inspection reports and enforcement action. Our specialist Regulatory Lawyers can also guide you through making an appeal to the first-tier tribunal.
For immediate action, get in touch with our Regulatory Law Team now.
Key Areas Cartwright King Can Help You With
Cartwright King’s specialist Ofsted Enforcement Lawyers have represented individuals and education providers across the UK. Our knowledge and experience helps us to prepare and advise you accordingly to ensure that you are treated fairly and a positive outcome is achieved.
Our legal advice and assistance extends to adoption and fostering agencies, childcare providers, children’s homes, colleges, schools and managers.
We can help with:
- Registration cancellation
- Registration suspension
- Decision to adjust, impose or remove a condition of registration
- Registration refusals
- First-tier tribunal appeals – health, education and social care chamber
- Emergency applications to the Magistrates’ Court
- Welfare requirement notices/compliance notices
- Accommodation restriction notices
- Complaints against inspectors or inspection reports
- Interviews under caution
- Criminal investigations and prosecutions
Benefit from a free, initial telephone conversation
If you are facing issues with Ofsted, you need the right legal advice, fast.
That’s why Cartwright King offers a free, initial telephone call with a specialist Regulatory Solicitor, which gives you the opportunity to explain your situation, find out how we can best support you and progress matters quickly.
There’s no substitute for speaking to one of our specialist solicitors to get the right advice, and ensuring that you are well prepared when facing issues with Ofsted.
For immediate action, contact us today for your free* initial discussion.
The discussion is completely informal and confidential, and is an opportunity for us to:
- Get to know you
- Understand your situation
- Agree how you want to proceed
*Please be aware that this is a ‘get to know you’ call and no legal advice will be given.
Why Choose Cartwright King for Ofsted Issues?
You want your case to be in the hands of experienced, responsive and trustworthy solicitors when facing issues with Ofsted. We understand the demands and pressures that come with working in the education sector and remaining compliant with regulations.
We have dealt with many cases involving Ofsted, which means that we are well positioned to defend you in light of allegations brought against you.
As a nationally renowned law firm with a reputation for defending against civil and criminal investigations, we listen, we understand and we genuinely care about your interests and protecting your reputation.
That’s why we offer sound, reliable legal advice to ensure that you understand your rights when facing Ofsted issues.
Cartwright King can defend you against a wide range of issues, giving you peace of mind that your case is in good hands.
Working with a specialist Cartwright King solicitor gives you the assurance of having access to legal counsel who will advise you at every stage of your case. We will do everything we can to secure the best outcome for you.
We are committed to defending your legal rights and your reputation, ensuring that you are treated fairly throughout your case. When you need us most, we will be there to offer sound, sensible legal advice and sure guidance.
We’re a trusted, resourceful Legal 500 top tier law firm with specialist solicitors that are calm under pressure, giving you defence counsel that you can count on.
We're here for you.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Ofsted?
The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) is a UK government department that reports to parliament on matters of educational standards. Ofsted is responsible for monitoring and inspecting several educational institutions, including state schools and some independent schools.
Ofsted has a range of enforcement powers it can use when taking action against an educational provider. If you receive notice of any enforcement action to be taken against you, it is vital that you act immediately and seek legal advice to respond to Ofsted.
Timescales are tight for responding, so get in touch with Cartwright King today for fast legal advice to help you navigate the process.
How often are Ofsted inspections carried out?
The regularity of Ofsted inspections is determined by the outcome of the most recent inspection. Some schools that achieved an outstanding rating in their most recent inspection are exempt from routine inspection, unless serious concerns arise.
Exemptions do not apply to maintained nursery schools, special schools or pupil referral units.
A school that is rated good in its most recent inspection can expect to be inspected again in approximately four years.
Schools rated as requiring improvement can expect to be inspected again within two and a half years (30 months).
An inadequate rating means that a school will be placed in a ‘category of concern’ and may be placed under special measures. The school will be closely monitored and a section 5 inspection will then be carried out within 30 months.
What can trigger an Ofsted inspection?
An Ofsted inspection can be triggered under two sections of the 2005 Education Act.
A section 5 inspection is a routine inspection that is carried out within a certain timeframe. The regularity of section 5 inspections is determined by the type of educational facility that you operate and the outcome of your previous inspection.
A section 8 inspection occurs when concerns are raised about child safeguarding issues and other matters. Also known as a ‘short inspection’, a section 8 is used to assess and monitor schools deemed to be inadequate or requiring improvement.
Schools with a ‘good’ rating will also be subject to a short inspection within an inspection cycle if their most recent rating was good.
What triggers a section 8 Ofsted inspection?
A section 8 Ofsted inspection is administered across all schools, regardless of their rating, and can be triggered under the following circumstances:
- Concerns over behaviour, safeguarding and other matters
- Monitoring education providers requiring improvement or performing inadequately
- Short inspections for schools rated good
Schools rated outstanding, while exempt from section 5 inspections, are subject to section 8 inspections, which can be triggered if serious concerns are raised.
If a school is rated ‘good’ during its most recent inspection, it will be subject to a two-day inspection – known as a short inspection. Two-day inspections tend to occur every four years.
However, should a school previously rated ‘good’ be deemed to have slumped in standards during a short inspection, a full inspection could be carried out.
How do I register with Ofsted?
Your registration with Ofsted depends on the type of provider you want to register as. It’s recommended that you seek advice from a specialist consultant, especially if you are a provider registering for the first time. Getting the right advice from the outset will ensure that your registration runs smoothly.
Should you face issues with registering with Ofsted, or your application is refused, get in touch with Cartwright King’s Regulatory Law Team for reliable legal advice.
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