Schools with higher proportion of pupils with special education needs or in areas with high deprivation received worse judgments by Ofsted as part of its new framework, casting doubt over the government’s ambition for more inclusion in mainstream schools.

The government published its schools white paper in February 2026, which outlined its ambition to shift away from a system where families feel compelled to secure education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for support, towards building capacity in mainstream schools.

Analysis by the school leaders’ union National Association of Head Teacher of more than 650 inspections since September has revealed that one in five schools with “above average” number of Send pupils have received a “needs attention” judgement for attendance and behaviour.

This has prompted the union to propose a motion at their annual conference this weekend that includes a call for “urgent, meaningful reform of the inspection system”.

Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary said this should “ring alarm bells for the government’s white paper ambition for more pupils with Send to be educated in mainstream schools”.

He added: “There is no lack of ambition on the part of school leaders – they all want every individual pupil and student to achieve the very best outcomes they are capable of. But we also have to recognise that, due to context, for some schools that is a significantly greater challenge than others.”

Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children, Young People and Families Committee Amanda Hopgood (Lib Dem) said that these inspections from Ofsted should “place greater focus on inclusive practice and whether an individual school meets the needs of the community that it serves when inspected”.

She said: “For the Send reforms to succeed, it is vital that children with Send who require support receive this in a mainstream setting where appropriate.”

Cllr Hopgood added that schools “not playing a meaningful role in supporting vulnerable children, including those with Send and who are care-experienced, should be held to account for their lack of action.”