15 June 2026

All Schools and Setting

Ofsted Inspection Updates - Effective September 2026

The DfE and Ofsted have published important updates to inspection materials that will come into effect from September 2026. These changes are part of Ofsted's ongoing reforms to improve clarity, consistency and trust in the inspection process.

Key Messages:

  • Ofsted has published updated inspection materials (toolkits, handbooks and guidance)
  • Updates will now be made annually, aligned to DfE policy changes
  • The focus is on clarity and consistency, not a new inspection framework

Please see: What you need to know about the September 2026 updates to education inspections - Ofsted: education

Recommended next steps:

  • Review updated Ofsted materials and summary changes
  • Audit:
    • SEND provision and communication with families
    • Safeguarding systems (incl. mental health awareness)
    • Behaviour and mobile phone policies
  • Plan staff briefings for September
  • Align school development plans to latest national guidance

Head Teachers' Termly Summer 2026

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend last Tuesday's meeting. A summary of the session and actions sheet, and the presentation slides are provided below.

Please note that the Autumn 2026 meeting will take place face-to-face at the Civic Centre on Tuesday 9 November at 9 am. A calendar invite has been sent already.

DSL Cluster Meeting

The next DSL Cluster session will take place on Thursday 25 June 2026, from 10 am to 12 pm, and will be held online via MS Teams.

During the first part of the session, we will share the updated Level 1 Safeguarding training slides. We also anticipate including any KCSIE updates, should they be released in time. This portion of the session will be particularly beneficial for newly appointed DSLs.

The second half will focus on the Stronger Families Referral Form. Helen Smith, Head of Service Social Care Delivery Transformation Lead, will be attending to support a review of the Stronger Families Hub portal. She is keen to ensure the form enables partner agencies to:

  • Provide relevant and accurate information
  • Navigate the process as easily as possible

Helen is seeking valuable feedback from DSLs on what improvements or updates may be needed, so your input will be very important.

If you have not yet signed up for this session, please ensure you do so as soon as possible, and the joining link will be sent to you: DSL Cluster Registration Form

SEND Advisory Service Development Working Groups

The SEND Advisory Service (SAS) is currently reviewing how we can develop our offer in response to the Schools White Paper and the SEND Reform Consultation. As part of this process, we are keen to gather your feedback, reflections and suggestions to ensure our future direction aligns with the needs of Hillingdon schools.

We would therefore like to invite you to attend a virtual Working Group Meeting.

  • Primary School Working Group Meeting on Friday 3 July, 9:30 - 10:30
  • Secondary School Working Group Meeting on Friday 3 July, 13:00 - 14:00

Please contact sasadmin@hillingdon.gov.uk to be sent the meeting link.

Best Start in Life Strategy

Hillingdon's new Best Start in Life Strategy (2026-2031) is now available and sets out our shared ambition for every child to have the best possible start in life - safe, healthy, happy and ready to learn.

The strategy has been shaped by local data, national guidance and, importantly, the voices of families, and focuses on early identification, improving access to support, and strengthening partnerships across education, health and community services. Alongside this, a clear and accessible parent/carer version is now available, providing families with a simple overview of what support is on offer and how services will work together to help children thrive from pregnancy through to school age. 

Summer Support for Families

Bookings open for the summer Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme on Monday 29 June at 10 am. This government-funded initiative offers free holiday clubs for school-aged children up to Year 11 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. A range of activities will be available across the borough, including sports, martial arts, paddle boarding, creative arts, film making, multi-activity camps and SEND-friendly sessions - all with a nutritious meal provided each day.   

If you know a child who would benefit from attending, you can submit a discretionary place request form for consideration.

Carers Week 2026

Please see the Hillingdon Safeguarding Partnership's Carers Week 2026 briefing.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities. This briefing contains useful information for schools on support available for Young Carers.

School Census - Reports Query and Identifying Queries and Errors in COLLECT

The school census formally closes on Wednesday 17 June.  The database remains open for a few days to enable last minute data correction.

Reports Query:

  • Do not run the Reports on the same day you have submitted your return.  The COLLECT database will be updated overnight on the day you submitted your return with your data.  Running the reports on the submittal day will deliver empty reports.
  • The DfE takes two to three business to clear the Reports query from your return.

Identifying Queries and Errors in your return: Please read the documents linked below explaining how to view your errors and queries in COLLECT, and how to resolve them.  Some of these documents have been previously shared with you.  Errors are data errors the DfE expects schools to change erroneous data.  The DfE has never been known to authorise a return that has data errors.  Queries are inconsistencies between two or more data items. 

The DfE does accept a Return Level Note that explains the data inconsistency. Before contacting LBH for support please try to resolve your own Errors/Queries 

Thank you to all the schools that entered the correct notes.

Marc Sherman, Business Intelligence Team