31 October 2025 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

ILACS

On Monday we received the call triggering our latest Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS). Please find the guidance document

As Kent has an Outstanding judgement, this is a short inspection, albeit with a larger team, with the verbal feedback taking place on Friday 7 November. The inspectors will want to speak with schools through two routes - one is the individual pupil case that they will be considering as part of the evidence base and the second is talking with school leaders from a selection of primary and secondary schools and post 16 provision that they will choose from a long list.

Keeping up with developments - new LinkedIn pages

I have talked previously about the many examples of good practice going on across the Kent system and I am really pleased that the independently chaired SEND Partnership Board as well as the sector chaired post 16 Pathways for All now have their own LinkedIn pages and are posting content. If you are interested in keeping up to date with what is going on and sharing with family and friends, please follow on LinkedIn through the links below:

• SEND Partnership Board LinkedIn
• Pathways for All LinkedIn

How to find the new pages on LinkedIn:

• Open LinkedIn on your mobile or laptop
• Locate the Search Bar (usually at the top of the of the screen)
• Search Kent SEND Together
• A selection of pages and groups may appear with the same name; the right page has this logo to help you find it:
  
  
• Select follow to keep up to date with the posts!

The Pathways For All - Kent LinkedIn page is now live to share important updates, events and information about post 16. To follow this page please follow the same steps above (searching Pathways For All - Kent). There may be multiple pages with the same name, the logo will help you find the right page:

Headteacher briefings 

Ofsted will be leading the next round of Headteacher briefings but we are very fortunate to also have Dame Christine Lenehan DBE who will join two of the meetings on Wednesday 5 (North) and Wednesday 12 (South) November.

Please register for your place

Lunchtime leadership lounge - Tuesday 25 November 2025

Join Christine McInnes and guest Mark Vickers, CEO of Olive Academies, for an engaging lunchtime leadership lounge conversation on Tuesday 25 November.

Register for the lunchtime leadership lounge on Tuesday 25 November from 12:30pm to 1:30pm

And finally...

There have been two notifications from the DfE. On Monday 20 October the DfE published the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper

On Wednesday 22 October a letter from the Secretary of State for Education Bridgit Philipson to the Chair of the Education Select Committee was published.  The letter describes the principles underpinning the Government reforms and announces the delay of the expected White Paper to allow for a further period of co-creation and testing policy options. I was really pleased to contribute to a conversation on the draft policy which does reflect the approach and work we are doing in Kent.

With best wishes

Christine McInnes
Interim Corporate Director, Children, Young People and Education