Inspections of local authority children's services are getting a makeover to create a streamlined, more focused approach. Education watchdog Ofsted and the ~Commission for Social Care Inspection~ (CSCI) have published new procedures for 2006's annual performance assessments (APA), which will see the entire process carried out over an eight-day period.

The aim of the new procedures is to ‘secure a better understanding of benchmarks', and ‘reduce the burden of inspection', according to Ofsted. Councils will have until the end of May to submit an updated self-assessment, and a new template form has been provided to assist councils and give them more flexibility in reporting on their services. Then, over a five-day period in June or July, CSCI business relationship managers and Ofsted inspectors will meet with the authority to discuss the self-assessment, and scrutinise evidence.