Annual estate management returns begin Autumn 2026. Here's a practical, no-panic starting point for multi academy trusts to get evidence-ready against the DfE's School Estate Management Standards.

Since November 2025, Ofsted's framework has treated school grounds as real evidence — behaviour routines, accessible outdoor zones, safeguarding checks, and how estate investment ties back to your development plan. For schools and multi-academy trusts, that means grounds, cleaning and caretaking now need a planned, KPI-driven schedule, not an afterthought. Here's what to check before term is fully underway