In May, we published a blog about the upcoming changes for childminders this autumn. The Department for Education is now bringing in these changes on 1 November 2024 to give the early years sector (in particular childminders) more flexibility. These …
In November 2024, we completed our annual programme of Best Start in Life Curriculum Roadshows on the prime areas of learning. In this blog we reflect on where our roadshows have taken us this year, what we spoke about, and …
In this blog, we’ll set out who needs to submit an EY2 form and give you some tips on completing it, which will help us process your submission quickly and efficiently. Do I need to complete an EY2 form? If …
It’s Childminding Week, and we want to recognise the excellent work of childminders like you. Thank you for all that you do to give families much-needed flexibility, and children the best start in life. Almost all of you do this …
We know that many of you in the early years sector continue to face significant challenges, especially around recruiting and keeping well-qualified staff. In this blog, we will highlight: some of the ways these workforce challenges are evident when we …
Keeping children safe is paramount. That’s why we do everything we can to make sure that childcare provision is safe and secure, and that it meets the needs of children at all times. Ofsted has various powers to help us …
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE). The aim of the programme is to help families with enrichment activities and food for children throughout the holiday periods. The programme is for children …
I’ve now been in the post of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector for nearly two months. It has been an incredibly busy but rewarding start to this new role. As you may know, I come from a schools background, having been …
Childminders and childcare workers, such as nannies, are responsible for the safety and well-being of children in their care. Ofsted is legally required to check an applicant’s suitability at the point of registration. For daycare providers, it is the provider’s responsibility …
Once you have submitted your application to register with Ofsted, we will give you a call to discuss your application. At this stage we want to make sure everything you have included in your form is correct, to avoid any …
A child’s early education lasts a lifetime. That’s why giving all children ‘the best start in life’ is crucial and one of Ofsted’s strategic priorities. In this blog, I want to update you on some of the work we’ve been …