Commentary on Sections Schedule 2:  Director of children’s services: consequential amendments Section 21: Framework
126.This section makes provision for a Framework for Inspection of Children's Services ('the Framework').
127.Subsection (1) imposes a duty on the Chief Inspector of Schools to devise the Framework. The purpose of the Framework is to set out the principles which are to be applied by any of the inspectorates when carrying out a relevant assessment (see section 23 (2)) of children's services, including a joint area review under section 20. The purpose of the Framework is to ensure that those assessments properly evaluate and report on the extent to which children's services improve the well-being of children and relevant young persons. The principles may include how the results of an assessment are to be organised and reported by each of the inspectorates, so that their judgement 'ratings' may be aggregated.
128.Subsection (6) provides that the Chief Inspector must consult the inspectorates when devising the Framework. Subsection (7) provides that before publishing the Framework he must consult any other persons or bodies as he thinks fit and obtain the consent of the Secretary of State. The Framework may be revised (subsection (8)).