(b)by any additional inspector authorised under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the M1School Inspections Act 1996;

but he may be assisted by such other persons (whether or not members of the Chief Inspector’s staff) as the Chief Inspector thinks fit.

(6)For the purposes of this section a local education authority shall provide the Chief Inspector with such information as may be prescribed, and shall do so in such form and—

(a)within such period following a request made by the Chief Inspector in any prescribed circumstances, or

(b)at such other times,

as regulations may provide.

(7)In this section and sections 39 to 41 “the Chief Inspector” means—

(a)in relation to a local education authority in England, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools in England; and

(b)in relation to a local education authority in Wales, [F1Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales or Prif Arolygydd Ei Mawrhydi dros Addysg a Hyfforddiant yng Nghymru];

and in those sections references to “the inspector” in relation to an inspection under this section are references to the person conducting the inspection.

(4)The Chief Inspector may arrange for any report under this section to be published in such manner as he considers appropriate [F2; and section 42A(2) to (4) of the School Inspections Act 1996 shall apply in relation to the publication of any such report as they apply in relation to the publication of a report under any of the provisions mentioned in section 42A(2).]

[F340 Inspector’s rights of entry etc.E+W

(1)This section applies where a local education authority are inspected under section 38.

(2)The inspector, and any person assisting him, shall have at all reasonable times a right of entry to—

(a)the premises of the local education authority,

(b)the premises of any school maintained by the authority, and

(c)any other premises at which relevant section 19 education is provided, other than premises which are or form part of a private dwelling house but are not a school.

(3)The inspector, and any person assisting him, shall also have at all reasonable times a right to inspect and take copies of—

(a)any records kept by, and any other documents containing information relating to, the local education authority or any school maintained by the authority, and

(b)any records kept by a person who provides relevant section 19 education that relate to the provision of that education, and any other documents containing information that so relates;

which he considers relevant to the exercise of his functions.

(4)Section 42 of the School Inspections Act 1996 (inspection of computer records) shall apply for the purposes of subsection (3) as it applies for the purposes of Part 1 of that Act.

(5)Without prejudice to subsections (2) and (3), the local education authority and the governing body of any school maintained by the authority—

(a)shall give the inspector and any person assisting him, all assistance in connection with the exercise of his functions which they are reasonably able to give, and

(b)shall secure that all such assistance is also given by persons who work at the school.

(6)It shall be an offence wilfully to obstruct the inspector or any person assisting him in the exercise of his functions in relation to the inspection.

(7)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(8)In this section—

• “document” and “records” each include information recorded in any form; and

• “relevant section 19 education” means education provided to a child by virtue of arrangements made by the local education authority under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 (exceptional provision of education at schools or otherwise).]