Ofsted’s New Inspection Framework 2025: prioritising wellbeing in schools
From November 2025, schools in England will follow a refreshed Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF). The update puts greater emphasis on pupil emotional health, personal development, inclusion, attendance and safeguarding. It also asks inspections to consider the wellbeing of staff and leadership teams.
We welcome these new areas of focus, which recognise the importance of supporting pupils’ emotional and social development in schools. This is increasingly seen as essential for learning, behaviour and creating a positive school culture.
Why wellbeing is being prioritised
Social and emotional development has always been part of school life, but the updated framework recognises the strong evidence showing that pupils who are supported in these areas are more confident, resilient, and ready to learn.
Focusing on these areas benefits the whole school:
- Positive relationships and strong social skills support a calm and inclusive culture
- Staff support and wellbeing contribute to overall school effectiveness
- Early emotional and social support can prevent challenges later in pupils’ education
What a whole-school approach might involve
A coordinated approach ensures emotional and social development is part of everyday school life, rather than one-off lessons or assemblies. While schools will tailor approaches to their circumstances, whole-school approaches often include:
- Leadership and management prioritising inclusion and pupil development
- A clear school ethos and culture promoting positive mental health
- Embedding emotional and social learning across lessons, assemblies, and routines
- Supporting staff health and morale alongside pupils’
- Using pupil voice to shape initiatives
- Monitoring impact and adjusting strategies as needed
- Involving parents, carers, and external support where relevant
- Peer mentoring or buddy systems
- Incorporating emotional and social activities across subjects
Putting it into practice: social and emotional learning programmes
Social and emotional learning (SEL) programmes provide a practical way for schools to support children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The Skills for Life programmes, Zippy’s Friends, Apple’s Friends, Passport and SPARK Resilience are examples of SEL programmes that align closely with the Ofsted framework’s emphasis on personal development, inclusion, and wellbeing. The programmes help teachers bring emotional learning into everyday lessons, routinesand the wider school environment. Resources and guidance help schools make wellbeing a consistent part of school life rather than a one-off initiative. Through this whole school approach, the programmes have been shown to help pupils develop emotional literacy, coping skills and resilience - skills that support learning, relationships, and everyday life.
Practical considerations for school leaders
When planning or strengthening a whole-school approach, leaders might consider:
- How to make emotional and social development visible across the curriculum and school culture
- Which staff need training or support to deliver initiatives effectively
- How to involve pupils and gather feedback to guide practice
- Ways to measure the impact of wellbeing initiatives over time
- Opportunities to link with external support or evidence-based programmes
These steps help schools respond confidently to the changes in the Ofsted framework while keeping the focus on pupils’ outcomes.
Further guidance and resources
For schools looking to explore emotional and social development further, these resources may be useful:
- Ofsted Education Inspection Framework 2025 overview
- DfE guidance on mental health and wellbeing in schools
- Partnership for Children’s Skills for Life as a Whole School Approach to Wellbeing Resource
These resources can help schools develop a whole-school approach and provide practical ideas for embedding personal development across the curriculum and school culture.
