Ofsted’s school inspection handbook and monitoring inspection handbook have been updated in relation to how inspectors respond to leaders showing signs of distress and the ways in which inspectors will engage with wellbeing of leaders generally.

The handbooks also now include a new section providing clarity on the pausing policy. The policy sets out the processes that should be followed in the event that inspectors pause an inspection or the school/ responsible body requests for the inspection to be paused. Governing boards should familiarise themselves with this policy to understand when a pause to inspection is likely to be considered.