Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the removal by The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 of the requirement to inspect children’s homes twice a year which have been judged requires improvement or inadequate, what assessment he has made of (a) in what circumstances and (b) at what frequency those children's homes should be so inspected.

The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 suspend the routine inspections of children’s homes until 25 September 2020. The need for these regulations is being kept under review. Ofsted continues to have powers under section 31 of the Care Standards Act 2000 to request information from and to inspect children’s homes. It has risk assessed all children’s homes and is undertaking off-site and on-site activity to monitor provision where necessary.

Ofsted is working with the department to consider how best to return to routine inspection when the time is right. Risk assessment, including the previous inspection judgement, will inform priorities.