• 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

Early Years Register self-evaluation form and guidance

Completing the self-evaluation form online

You can complete the early years self-evaluation form online; go to  https://online.ofsted.gov.uk/onlineofsted/public/launchportal.aspx.

We have designed th self-evaluation form to help you review and improve the care you offer. It helps you and any assistants or staff to look at how you support the children’s welfare, learning and development.

The questions in the self-evaluation form are similar to those the inspectors ask you during your inspection. If your form is up to date and has been completed thoroughly, the inspector gets a good idea before they arrive of what you consider works well and what you want to improve. This may mean that the inspector will not want to check everything you do.

There is no fixed time when you should complete your self-evaluation form. You can complete it as often as you wish and when it best suits you, but we recommend that you update it at least once a year.

To complete your self-evaluation form online, you will need a unique password from us called an Ofsted Security Token (OST), and the guidelines on how to complete the online form. If you have not already received your OST and guidelines, please contact us on 0300 123 3153 and have your Unique Reference Number (URN) ready when you call.

Completing a downloaded self-evaluation form

Alternatively, you can download and complete the self-evaluation form by hand or on your computer. To download a copy go to Early years online self-evaluation form (SEF) and guidance - For settings delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage.

When it is ready, you can post it to us:

Ofsted
Piccadilly Gate
Store Street
Manchester M1 2WD