How can Ofsted conceptualise ‘vulnerability’ in its work within the education and social care sectors? New dates added

In Ofsted’s response to the Big Listen, there is an ambition to increase Ofsted’s focus on how providers are meeting the needs of vulnerable children, learners and young people.

As part of this, Ofsted will be introducing a new inspection criterion on inclusion in order to help direct attention and resources to those with the highest need.  

Ofsted has commissioned research on vulnerability and inclusion. Research in Practice, part of the National Children’s Bureau, is leading a project which aims to help Ofsted develop an evidence-informed conceptualisation of vulnerability and inclusion, for consideration in their inspection and regulatory work in education and children’s social care.

Your views matter

We know that professionals across education and social care work tirelessly to address the needs of vulnerable children and families – and their understanding of vulnerability and inclusion is nuanced and expansive.

Therefore, in addition to reviewing the published literature, we also want to speak to professionals across the early years, education (including further education) and social care sectors.

Invitation to join an online focus group

As part of this project, we held a series of online focus groups between October-November 2024 to hear from professionals across social care and education about how they understood ‘vulnerability’ in their contexts.  

We’re excited to invite you to join us for our next round of focus groups. In these sessions, we’ll share what we’ve learned so far from the sector, test the ‘working definition’ of vulnerability, and talk together about practical and inclusive ways to identify and measure the impact of supporting ‘vulnerable’ children, young people and learners. 

We are running a series of online focus groups, organised by sector. We want to hear from professionals at all levels, across the education and social care sectors.

Before requesting a place, please review the participant information and Ofsted's Terms of Reference for this project. 

The dates are below.

To request your place, please complete this expression of interest form using the link below.

You will then be sent a consent form to sign and return. For any clarification or questions, please email vulnerabilityproject@researchinpractice.org.uk.

Request your place

Conceptualising vulnerability and inclusion

In our short video below, Alice Jones introduces some of the work that has already started as part of the project. 

Further information

You can read further information about the project from Ofsted.  

We are delighted that this work is supported by an Academic Reference Panel, consisting of:

• Prof. Claudia Bernard, Goldsmiths University of London – Professor of Social Work and Head of Postgraduate Research. 
• Prof. Janet Boddy, University of Sussex - Professor of Child, Youth and Family Studies (Education).
• Prof. Christine Cocker, University of East Anglia - Professor in Social Work and Head of the School of Social Work.
• Dr. Carlene Cornish, University of East Anglia - Co-Chair of the Vice Chancellor's Taskforce on Race Equality and Co-Chair of the Academic Staff Workstream on Race Equality.
• Prof. Leon Feinstein, Rees Centre / University of Oxford - Professor of Education and Children’s Social Care and Director of the Rees Centre.
• Prof. Neil Harrison, University of Exeter - Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education.
• Jude Hillary, NFER - Co-Head of UK Policy and Practice and Head of Education Systems and Structures and Optimal Pathways.
• Prof. Rick Hood, Kingston University - Professor of Social Work.
• Dr. Craig Johnston, University of West of England - Senior lecturer at University of West of England.
• Prof. Kristi Langhoff, University of Sussex - Professor of Social Work (Social Work and Social Care) & Interim Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Knowledge Exchange.
• Dr. Birgit Larsson, UEA - Associate Professor in Social Work and Sociology.