Education Scotland carries out a range of inspection and review models across education sectors and establishments. Third sector organisations deliver a wide range of community learning and development (CLD) services and provision. They are included in CLD inspections of local authority areas. More detail on community learning and development inspections is available. Third sector organisations are often involved in inspections of schools and settings as partners. As such, they may be invited, alongside other partners, to meet HM Inspectors as part of an inspection visit.

Periodically HM Inspectors carry out scrutiny activity focused on third sector organisations.  For example, in 2015 and 2016 they carried out reviews in Development Trusts and in places that received Creative Scotland Place awards. In 2014, Education Scotland carried out a review of ‘Big Noise’ in Stirling and as part of a continuing partnership with the Glasgow Centre for Population Health. A further review across three locations was carried out in 2017.  You can read the reports here.

Education Scotland will also carry out reviews of individual national third sector organisations as required. There are two main self-evaluation frameworks, produced by Education Scotland, that third sector organisations can use to evaluate their performance. Third sector organisations who provide community learning and development opportunities can use How good is our community learning and development?  How good is our third sector organisation? is available for all third sector organisations. Those third sector organisation that work in specific education settings, such as early learning or schools, may wish to also become familiar with the frameworks written for those settings. A complete list of inspection frameworks are readily accessible.