Summary of changes
Updated 9 September 2024
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif/summary-of-changes
September 2024
Throughout: we have clarified references to funded places and what should be considered on inspection.
Paragraphs: 50, 174, 203 and footnote 10: wording amended to reflect how the inspector will consider the context of the setting, including where relevant the ongoing impact of COVID-19.
Paragraphs 78, 130, 217 and 247: wording updated to align with part 2 and part 3 of the inspection handbook.
Good grade descriptor for Quality of Education: amendments to bullet 3 regarding an ambitious curriculum for all children.
Inadequate grade descriptor for Quality of Education: amendments to bullet 4 regarding disadvantaged children.
April 2024
Paragraph 3: clarification that, when applying the handbook, inspectors will take appropriate action to comply with Ofsted’s Equality Act duties.
Paragraph 50: clarification regarding opportunities to provide information on and/or discuss potential equalities duties, including reasonable adjustments for individuals.
Paragraphs 50, 68, 71 and 75: clarification regarding Ofsted’s pausing policy.
Paragraph 157 to 158: clarification regarding updated arrangements for handling concerns and complaints in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process.
Paragraph 160: clarification regarding retaining evidence bases.
Paragraph 162: clarification about gathering additional evidence.
Paragraph 164 to 166: clarification regarding updated arrangements for quality assurance in line with Ofsted’s new complaints process.
January 2024
In this update, we have made the following changes:
Paragraph 6: clarification about inspector conduct during inspection.
Paragraph 14 (new paragraph): clarification regarding Ofsted’s role as the inspectorate of settings, not individual staff members or leaders.
Paragraph 22: wording updated to clarify the re-inspection timeline for providers that are judged as inadequate. This is to provide flexibility for the occasions when a provider may not be available for re-inspection within 6 months.
Paragraphs 50: clarification about the purpose of the notification call, including that inspectors will ask providers about what support they may need, if they have any issues or concerns, and clarification on how, when and what happens if requesting a deferral.
Paragraphs 50, 115, 138, 164 and 165: wording updated to reflect changes made to the complaints process and the quality assurance of inspection reports. Also updated to clarify that the provider should be provided with opportunities to raise issues, concerns or seek clarification about the inspection.
Paragraph 52: wording amended to substitute the reference to paediatric first-aid ‘certificates’ for paediatric first-aid ‘arrangements’.
Paragraph 54: wording amended to provide clarification on when and what happens when a deferral request is made.
Paragraph 66: new paragraph added to the ‘start of the onsite inspection’ section to reflect inspector conduct and importance of professional dialogue.
Paragraph 68: wording amended to clarify the steps that should be taken at the start of the onsite inspection such as, agreeing who may accompany staff and leaders during the inspection, agreeing a process for keeping leaders informed during inspection, and obtaining the relevant contact details for a support person.
Paragraph 71 (new section): added to provide guidance on when pausing an inspection may be appropriate.
Paragraph 74: wording updated to clarify how evidence gathering activities help establish a constructive and professional dialogue between the inspector and leaders in the setting.
Paragraph 75 (new paragraph): guidance on how the inspector should consider the well-being of leaders and staff during the inspection.
Paragraph 108: wording updated to reflect that discussions with parents during inspection must take place without the presence of leaders or staff.
Paragraph 130: wording amended to clarify possible impact of several ‘minor improvements’ on inspection judgements.
Paragraphs: 138, 139, 142 and 143: wording revised and amended throughout these paragraphs to reflect the updates made to the ‘providing feedback’ section, including providing final feedback on inspection and who can attend the feedback meeting.
Paragraph 140 (new paragraph): clarification added to explain actions the inspector will take if final feedback is likely to be challenging or raise sensitive issues.
Paragraph: 151 and 156: wording amended to clarify when Ofsted aims to send inspection reports and who these inspection reports can be shared with.
December 2023 (for January 2024 version)
Updates made throughout to reflect the Department for Education’s changes to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework.
October 2023
Removed the duplication in the leadership and management descriptors as this information can be found in the safeguarding section of the handbook.
July 2023 (for September 2023 version)
In this update, we have amended and added information on the inspection process, including:
- how we judge safeguarding, including a definition of an open and positive culture of safeguarding
- what inspectors should consider when deciding if a provider has the capacity to improve
- who the inspection outcome may be shared with
- the link between the provider’s curriculum and the behaviours and attitudes of the children at the setting
- who can be present during meetings that take place on inspection
- an amendment in the quality of education judgement to refer to how practitioners and leaders use assessment to plan suitable activities
April 2023
Minor changes
Paragraphs 133 and 135: updated to reflect that an inspector will ‘advise’ the provider to inform the local authority of their inspection outcome.
Paragraph 135: additional bullet point which refers to the post-inspection survey.
November 2022
Minor changes
Paragraph 9: Wording amended to clarify that research visits are not linked to inspection activities.
Paragraph 46: New bullet points added to refer to the privacy notice and code of conduct.
Paragraph 48: New footnote added to clarify that inspectors do not need to see DBS checks for childminders and any known assistants and/or household members on inspection.
Paragraph 53: Footnote amended to clarify that checking of the number and staff and their qualifications, including paediatric first aid certificates, will usually be done in discussion with the provider. However, in some cases, inspectors may ask to see staff qualifications and first aid certificates.
Paragraph 98: Wording amended to clarify when inspectors may ask for PFAC and to match the wording in the EYFS.
Paragraph 175: First sentence deleted to remove the implication that teaching cannot be ‘top down’ or formal.
Paragraph 199: Wording amended for clarification about requests on no children on roll (NCOR) deferrals.
Paragraph 231-245: ‘Annex A’ incorporated into the handbook as a new section named ‘Applying the EIF to inspections of before –and after-school care and holiday provision’. Updated paragraph numbers and references throughout the handbook.
July 2022
Major changes
Part 3: New section on inspecting childminders under the EIF. All previous references to childminders in parts 1 and 2 have been removed and incorporated in this section.
Minor changes
Paragraph 5-8: ‘Privacy notice’ heading renamed ‘Gathering personal information on inspection’. Information in this section has been updated to focus on inspectors’ powers to gather, use and store evidence.
Paragraph 9: New paragraph added to explain that Ofsted may carry out research as part of our inspection activities.
Paragraph 10-13: ‘Clarification for providers’ heading (previously paragraph 53 to 56) has been renamed ‘Common misconceptions about inspection’. Information in this section has been updated to reflect an inspector point of view to reiterate that the handbook is for inspectors primarily, as outlined in paragraph 3.
Paragraph 22: Clarification added about notifications to Ofsted.
Paragraph 24-35: Minor amends to made to inspecting ‘no children on roll’ and references to ‘childminders’ moved to new part 3.
Paragraph 46: Updated COVID-19 guidance. Addition of bullet explaining that the lead inspector may ask about the number of staff and their levels of qualification.
Paragraph 53 and 62: Minor amends regarding inspector’s Ofsted ID badge to prove identity in line with IVR.
Paragraph 60: Clarification added that inspectors will not usually arrive before 8am on-site.
Paragraph 63: New footnote to clarify that checks on the number of staff and their qualifications will usually be done in discussion with the provider.
Paragraph 70: Clarification added to bullet 2 regarding what inspectors will talk to children and staff about.
Paragraph 100: Clarification that meetings with leaders and staff must take place without the presence of any senior staff.
Paragraph 102: Clarification added that inspectors may speak to parents on the telephone if more convenient.
Paragraph 144: Additional information added on how a school can use the Ofsted logo if judged good or outstanding.
Paragraph 163-164: Relocated paragraphs previously in the ‘Inspection and the COVID-19 pandemic’ referencing how we will take the impact of COVID-19 into account on inspection.
Paragraph 192: Relocated paragraph which was previously in ‘Inspection and COVID-19 pandemic’ section reflecting that inspectors will seek to understand how leaders have adapted their approaches as a result of COVID-19.
Annex A: Additional information added on how a before-and after-school provider or out of school setting can use the Ofsted logo if judged good or outstanding following Annex A inspection outcomes (in line with new paragraph 140).
February 2022
We have updated the footnote in paragraph 6 to: ‘Ofsted defines the transitional period as the period for which transitional arrangements for schools remain in place. These are intended to be reviewed in time for September 2022’.
December 2021
Paragraph 35: Clarification on timing of re-inspection of providers judged ‘requires improvement’.
Paragraph 36: Clarification that where a provider is no longer meeting requirements, we ‘usually’ take steps to cancel their registration.
Paragraph 101: Clarification that when inspectors discuss children’s learning and development with staff, there will be a particular focus on communication and language.
August 2021 (for September 2021 version)
Major changes
Paragraph 96: Clarification on the use of a provider’s internal progress and assessment data on inspection.
Paragraph 152: Clarification on exemptions from the learning and development requirements of the EYFS and how this will be looked at on inspection.
Paragraph 181: A new section providing clarification on providers offering a specialist early years curriculum.
Minor changes
Paragraph 8: Clarification on use of video/telephone calls on inspection, if appropriate.
Annex A, Paragraph 14: Clarification that where a setting has a ‘met’ judgement, inspectors will usually report on what the setting needs to do better, but will not raise recommendations.
June 2021 (for September 2021 version)
Major changes
Paragraphs 6 to 24: Changes to the inspection and the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic section. The changes mostly concern the changes to the EYFS disapplications. All updates in relation to COVID-19 are made in this section unless specified.
Paragraphs 25 to 28: New section on revisions to the EYFS from 1 September 2021 has been included to reflect the reforms to the EYFS (and who it applies to) and Development Matters to provide clarity.
Paragraphs 52 to 55: New section providing clarification on our requirements for inspection to dispel myths about inspection that can result in unnecessary workload for providers.
Implementation grade descriptor: Added the word ‘including’ in Implementation (2nd bullet) to clarify that leaders should provide effective support to all staff, including those with less experience and knowledge of teaching.
Outstanding grade descriptor: Amendments to ‘outstanding’ grade descriptors for personal development.
Good grade descriptor: Amendments to ‘good’ grade descriptors for personal development.
Good grade descriptor Amendments to ‘good’ grade descriptors for leadership and management: 2nd and 5th bullets
Minor changes
Paragraph 36 to 37, (and 71 and 79): Update to provide clarity and reflect the changes to inspections we prioritise.
Paragraph 42: Clarification that where a provider has no children on roll (NCOR), an inspector may reference within reports what a setting needs to do better, even when the outcome is ‘met’.
Paragraph 64: Clarification that inspectors will ask about any additional support and/or arrangements for children who need special educational provision, including responses to any emerging needs or difficulties.
Paragraphs 65 to 66: Updated to reflect the documentation an inspector must see on inspection and what they may need access to.
Paragraphs 71, 79 (and 36 to 37): Update to provide clarity and reflect the changes to inspections we prioritise.
Paragraphs 81 to 82: Clarification on activities for gathering evidence, children with SEND and the most disadvantaged children.
Annex A, Paragraph 14: Clarification that even when the outcome is ‘met’, an inspector may reference within reports what the setting needs to do better.
April 2021
This section outlines changes to inspection practice. This does not include corrections or changes made to improve clarity in how the framework is written.
Paragraphs 6 to 26: we have included a new section on ‘Inspection during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic’. This covers:
- why changes have been made
- how these changes will be reviewed
- inspection preparation and planning (including COVID-19 secure arrangements for inspections)
- reaching inspection judgements,
- EYFS learning & development requirements, curriculum and disapplication,
- leadership (incorporating assessment and disapplication),
- EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements and disapplication
Paragraphs 27 to 36: updated to reflect the move from inspection cycle to window, covering selection and prioritisation.
Paragraph 38: added a footnote relating to COVID-19 where childminders may be self-isolating and have no children on roll.
Paragraph 126: amendments to first and second bullets.
Paragraphs 144 to 157: updated to reflect new arrangements for publishing reports and handling concerns and complaints.
Paragraph 71: COVID-19 addition of footnote where children or staff may be self-isolating.
Paragraph 75: COVID-19 addition to second bullet on the progress check for any children aged 2.
Paragraph 100: COVID-19 addition of footnote on disapplication of paediatric first aid (PFA) certificates.
Paragraphs 115, 159 and Annex A: added a new paragraph to refer users back to the COVID-19 section.