• 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 registered early years and childcare
• Types of early years and childcare Ofsted regulates
• Regulating early years and childcare; applying to be a provider
• Childcare complaints commitment
• Children's centres
• About our survey reports
• How to complain

Inspecting registered early years and childcare

Early years

Before an inspection

We normally give no notice of an early years inspection, so the inspectors can see the provider having a normal day. If the provider gets notice of an inspection then they must tell parents.

During an inspection

The inspector will gather evidence about the childcare by:

• talking to children
• checking documents, premises and equipment
• watching the children – including how the provider is with them, and how well the provider cares for them and helps them learn.

After an inspection

The inspector writes a short report which will include:

• the inspection’s grade
• how good the provider is at looking after children
• how effective any improvements have been
• any further improvements
• any action needed to comply with the Early Years Register
• any action that we will take to deal with a serious issue.

We publish the inspection report on our website within 20 days of the end of the inspection. The provider must give a copy of the report to each parent and to anyone else who asks for a copy.

Childcare

Before an inspection

We normally give little or no notice of an inspection, so the inspectors can see the provider having a normal day. For a home childcarer we will ask permission from the occupier of the home where the provider works to carry out the inspection.

During an inspection

The inspector will:

• talk to the provider, parents, children and staff
• check registration details
• assess safety and risk assessment
• assess understanding of policies and procedures
• look at recruitment policies
• look at arrangements for making sure unsuitable people do not have unsupervised access to children.

After an inspection

We send the provider a letter to confirm if they are:

• meeting their requirements for registration
• not meeting their requirements and what they must do and by when
• not meeting their requirements and what action we will be taking.

We publish the letter on our website within 10 days of the inspection taking place. If the provider is registered on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register then they must give a copy of the report to parents and anyone else who asks for a copy.