Summary of changes
Updated 12 June 2026
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-education-ite-inspection-toolkit-operating-guide-and-framework/summary-of-changes
This document sets out changes we have made to inspection guidance to reflect our inspection practice.
September 2026
Initial teacher education (ITE) inspection toolkit
In this update, we have:
- clarified the legislative powers we have to inspect ITE for early years phase teacher degree apprenticeships
- clarified throughout that the inspection toolkit is now also based on mandatory requirements, as well as statutory and non-statutory guidance, professional standards, research and inspection evidence following an update to DfE guidance
- added an evidence gathering prompt for when inspectors evaluate the design of the ITE curriculum within the curriculum, teaching and training evaluation area that they should consider the extent to which it prepares trainees to understand their roles in keeping pupils and learners safe
- updated the theme of inclusive achievement within the achievement evaluation area to trainee knowledge and skills in the gathering evidence section
- added an evidence gathering prompt for when inspectors evaluate the development of trainees’ professional behaviours in the professional behaviours, personal development and wellbeing evaluation area that they should consider the extent to which leaders ensure that trainees understand the importance of professional boundaries and know how to develop and maintain these as a teacher
- moved the gathering evidence prompts for compliance, including safeguarding, to the same page as the leadership evaluation area
- clarified the wording of a strong grading standard within the leadership evaluation area on how leaders work with partnerships and organisations
- updated previous references to the DfE expectations for the delivery of initial teacher education for FE to the delivery guidance for courses of further education initial teacher education
- added references to curriculum content guidance for courses of further education initial teacher education
Initial teacher education (ITE) inspection operating guide for inspectors
In this update, we have:
- made updates to clarify statutory and non-statutory guidance and mandatory requirements
- added information about equality duties on education inspections and clarified that requests for reasonable adjustments and/or adaptations applies to inspection team members as well as providers
- also added an additional section on how inspectors identify evidence or an allegation of discrimination and/or breaches of the Equality Act
- updated that activities previously undertaken by the Inspection Support Administrator (ISA) will now be the Overall Lead Inspector (OLI) or Lead Inspector (LI)
- clarified how the provider will receive the formal notification of the inspection.
- We’ve clarified how the OLI/LI should make team members aware of any agreed reasonable adjustments and/or adaptations
- added information on how providers should contact Ofsted if needed during an inspection
- clarified that inspectors should also refer to the additional guidance to support inspection and evidence gathering throughout the inspection
- updated the phrase professional development to now be professional learning
- added a section to support inspectors during the feedback meeting
- added details of reinspection if a provider ceases delivery of a phase which is subject to reinspection
- also added a new section on what an inspector should do after the reinspection
- updated previous references to the DfE expectations for the delivery of initial teacher education for FE to the delivery guidance for courses of further education initial teacher education
- added references to curriculum content guidance for courses of further education initial teacher education
Inspection information for initial teacher education (ITE)
In this update, we have:
- added a new section which details the legislative powers we have to inspect ITE for early years phase teacher degree apprenticeships
- added to the list of teacher training we inspect
- clarified that the timing of any ITE inspection is determined by Ofsted’s risk assessment process
- updated that activities previously undertaken by the Inspection Support Administrator (ISA) will now be the Overall Lead Inspector (OLI) or Lead Inspector (LI)
- clarified that ITE providers can have an overall nominee as well as multiple phase-specific nominees
- clarified our expectations for providers’ self-evaluation
- added an additional section on meetings and how attendees will be confirmed
- clarified the timing of reinspections
February 2026
Initial teacher education (ITE) inspection operating guide for inspectors
Updated with guidance on the new approach to the reinspection of initial teacher education providers. This guidance can be found under the heading ‘Other matters’.
Inspection information for initial teacher education (ITE)
Updated with further information for ITE providers on the new approach to reinspection.