Ofsted | Information about early years and childcare

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Are you ready for your inspection? A guide to inspections of provision on Ofsted's Childcare and Early Years Registers

Are you ready for your inspection? is designed to help you to think about some of the implications for you as a provider when we inspect you.
Information for parents and carers using childcare services

We register and inspect those who provide childcare for children aged from birth up to their eighteenth birthday.
Framework for the regulation of those on the Early Years and Childcare Registers

This framework should be read in conjunction with the Early Years Foundation Stage and the regulations.

Single equality scheme 2010-13

Ofsted has published its single equality scheme, with the 2010 action plan. The Equality Action Plan 2011-12 was added in August 2011. Our scheme, including the priorities and action plan, has been developed with the involvement and engagement of children and
Ofsted Audit Committee minutes

Here you will find the minutes from recent Ofsted audit committee meetings.
Official statistics: Early years and childcare registered providers inspections and outcomes

This page has statistics on the inspection of early years and childcare providers in England.

Schedule for the release of official statistics

This document announces the planned schedule for the release of official statistics by Ofsted.
Registered childcare providers and places in England - December 2008 onwards

Ofsted has a database of registered childcare providers in England, including the maximum number of places a provider may offer at any one time. This page has figures for December 2008 onwards. The
Consultation calendar

The calendar will be updated regularly. Completed consultations will be kept for a year so people can refer back to the findings.If you have any comments or queries about the calendar, please emal

Our spending

As part of the Government's drive to make public spending more transparent, Ofsted has published its spending of over £25,000 since April 2010.
Notification of serious childcare incident

This form is only for notifications from local authorities of serious childcare incidents as defined in Chapter 8 of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010.
Early years: April 2012

This newsletter provides inspectors and stakeholders with information and guidance about our inspection work in early years.

Ofsted’s website: continuing to improve

24 Apr 2012

The results of our website survey during January 2012 have helped us to make further improvements to the site since it was re-launched in July 2011.
New Early Years Foundation Stage in September

28 Mar 2012

A new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) will take effect in September 2012.
Ofsted seeks views on the regulation of early years and childcare providers

09 Jan 2012

Ofsted is consulting on changes to the way it registers and inspects early years providers, including nurseries and childminders, following the recent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The changes will coincide with the revised EYFS, which the Government intends to publish in September.

Raising ambition and tackling failure - The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills 2010/11

22 Nov 2011

Ofsted today publishes the Annual Report 2010/11, drawing on over 31,000 inspection visits across the schools, early years, children’s social care and learning and skills sectors in England.
Next HMCI

03 Nov 2011

Announcement from the Education Select Committee
Ofsted statistics show a rise in the number of childminders

27 Oct 2011

After a long period of decline, the number of childcare providers in England has now risen steadily since September last year. Prior to this numbers had fallen each quarter since the end of 2008.

The next HMCI

14 Oct 2011

Baroness Sally Morgan has welcomed news about the new HMCI.
Children’s Book Week

05 Oct 2011

Children’s Book Week, between 3 and 9 October, is a national celebration of reading for children of primary school age.
Ten years for early years

26 Sep 2011

This September marks 10 years since Ofsted took over the responsibility for regulating and inspecting all registered early years childminding and childcare settings in 2001.

Official statistics released

09 Sep 2011

Ofsted has released updated statistics about the outcomes of inspections in learning and skills providers, early years and childcare registered providers, social care providers and children's centres.
Department for Education confirms appointments to Ofsted's Board

24 Aug 2011

Education Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed a number of appointments to the Board of Ofsted.
Welcome to our improved website

27 Jul 2011

We have brought a fresh look to our website to make it easier for you to find the information you need.