• Find an early years and childcare inspection report
• Understanding an early years and childcare inspection report
• Types of early years and childcare Ofsted inspects
• Inspecting early years and childcare
• Types of early years and childcare Ofsted regulates
• Caring for children in their own home
• Regulating early years and childcare; applying to be a provider
• Children's centres
  • Inspecting children's centres
    • Before a children's centre inspection
    • During a children's centre inspection
    • After a children's centre inspection
• Safeguarding children
• About our survey reports
• How to complain

Inspecting children's centres

The pages on the left will tell you what happens before, during and after a children’s centre inspection. This page has an overview.

Before an inspection

The Before an inspection page on the left will tell you what happens before an inspection. It covers issues like how long inspections take; giving notice of an inspection; and gathering information prior to the inspection.

During an inspection

The During an inspection page on the left will tell you what happens during an inspection. Inspectors will spend most of their time gathering evidence for making judgements; and talking to people who use, work in or are otherwise connected to the centre.

After an inspection

The After an inspection page on the left will tell you what happens after an inspection. It covers issues like feedback; the inspection report; and what the local authority must do when it gets the report.