Our expert knowledge

These pages bring together Ofsted’s expert knowledge from across our inspection remits. They include key inspection instruments, latest survey reports and examples of good practice.

The pages highlight the work of Ofsted’s specialist advisers in early years and education, learning and skills and social care. Click on the links below to find out more.

Early Years

Subjects in schools

These pages provide links to Ofsted’s latest reports from our subject surveys.

You can also find the grade criteria that inspectors use to make judgements on school subject surveys and examples of good practice seen by inspectors. We are currently developing a range of professional development materials to support school leaders and teachers to drive improvement.
The pages are updated regularly with our latest reports, and include information about the work of our expert National Advisers.

Attendance and behaviour in schools

Disabled pupils and those with special educational needs

Learning and skills sector subject areas

These pages provide links to Ofsted's evidence about sector subject areas in learning and skills.

Careers guidance

Employability in learning and skills

Youth support

Our survey programme is agreed annually between Her Majesty's Chief Inspector with the Department for Education and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Ofsted is currently reviewing the way inspectors gather evidence to inform subject surveys. As a result, no subject survey visits to schools will take place in the Autumn term 2012, other than in English, mathematics and science. Inspectors will continue to visit a small number of schools to report on good practice across the full range of subjects as well as other aspects of provision.

The additional guidance for subject visits are being updated to align with the School inspection handbook published in September 2012. Guidance for all subjects will be updated by January 2013.

Our expert knowledge

Connect to Ofsted

Annual Report 2011/12