• 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
  • Inspecting registered early years providers
    • Before an Early Years Register inspection
    • Early Years Register self-evaluation form and guidance
    • During an Early Years Register inspection
    • After an Early Years Register inspection
  • Inspecting registered childcare providers
• Types of early years and childcare Ofsted regulates
• Regulating early years and childcare; applying to be a provider
• Safeguarding children
• Children's centres
• About our survey reports
• How to complain

Inspecting registered early years providers

The pages on the left will tell you what happens before, during and after a registered early years provider inspection. This page has an overview.

Before an inspection

The Before an inspection page will tell you what happens before an inspection. It covers issues like notice of the inspection; the self-evaluation form; and preparing documents for the inspector to look at. The inspector checks a few days before to see when you are at home.

During an inspection

The During an inspection page will tell you what happens during an inspection. It covers activities like discussing the self-evaluation form; gathering of evidence; and the feedback meeting.

After an inspection

The After an inspection page will tell you what happens after an inspection. It covers the inspection report and what happens if we decide that your provision is inadequate. There is also information about what to do if we decide you are an outstanding provider.