Early years resources, information and updates
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to find all the information you need from us so that you can focus on the children you educate and care for. This blog explains some of the resources …
Lee Owston, National Director Education
Early years inspections: frequently asked questions
Since we published the renewed inspection framework on 9 September 2025, we’ve put on lots of online and face-to-face engagement with early years settings to answer your questions. We’re publishing the most frequently asked questions below, so you can see all the …
Celebrating childminders and welcoming change
Posted by:
Yvette Stanley, National Director Regulation and Social Care and Lee Owston, National Director Education, Posted on:
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Categories:
Early years
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 …
Maintaining quality early years provision in the face of workforce challenges
Posted by:
Lee Owston, National Director Education, Alex Jones, Director, Insights and Research and Yvette Stanley, National Director Regulation and Social Care, Posted on:
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Categories:
Early years
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: Workforce challenges and issues Some of the main workforce issues include …
Updates on Ofsted's early years work in 2023
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 …
Ofsted's 2023 priorities for early years
Posted by:
Lee Owston, National Director Education and Yvette Stanley, National Director Regulation and Social Care, Posted on:
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Categories:
Childminder registration, Early years, Nannies
Before looking ahead to what 2023 will hold for the early years sector, it's worth reflecting on the year that has just passed. Ofsted ended the year with the publication of our annual report, which provides an overview of what …
Welcome to Ofsted's early years blog
Posted by:
Yvette Stanley, National Director Regulation and Social Care, Lee Owston, National Director Education and Alex Magloire, Deputy Director, Early Years Regulatory Practice, Posted on:
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Categories:
Early years
Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's National Director Regulation and Social Care; Gill Jones, Deputy Director, Schools and Early Education; and Alex Magloire, our Deputy Director, Early Years Regulatory Practice, launch Ofsted's new early years blog.