They want to raise aspirations and contribute to the long term achievement of ambitious standards and better life chances for service users. Their educational, economic and social well-being will in turn promote England's national success.

To achieve this they report fairly and truthfully; they will listen to service users and providers; and they will communicate our findings with all who share their vision, from service providers to policy-makers. They do not report to government ministers but directly to Parliament (and to the Lord Chancellor about children and family courts administration). This independence means you can rely on them for impartial information.

The Education and Inspections Act, which established the new Ofsted, specifically requires that in everything they do they should:

• promote service improvement
• ensure services focus on the interests of their users
• see that services are efficient, effective and promote value for money.

They carry out hundreds of inspections and regulatory visits each week, publishing their findings within the Inspection reports area of their website. Their themed and subject specific findings and recommendations on wider issues within the care, learning, and skills agenda, as well as statistical information, can be found in the Publications and research area of their website.

And you can find more detailed explanations of which services they inspect and regulate, and how, and the latest guidance documents in the Forms and guidance area.